At the beginning of the year, the vision I had for the spring of 2020 included graduating from the Professional Writing program at Centennial College, doing some job interviews, and eventually, landing a dream job. I mean, I had just spent six months working tirelessly to reach the coveted identity of "professional writer".
Well, we all know what happened next. Unfortunately, a worldwide pandemic makes it difficult to land interviews and find that dream job, and so my hopeful plans vanished in the blink of an eye. As the weeks went on, it was hard to ignore my growing anxiety, not necessarily from the current state of the world (because let's be honest, there's more than enough anxiety going around now), but from what my future career opportunities would look like.
Now, I know this sounds pessimistic; to be honest, pessimism was my main attitude for a while. However, I’m slowly starting to feel gratitude for this pause. New grads tend to burst into their job search full of determination, constantly moving forward, and never taking the time to pause or reflect on their achievements. This forced respite can allow us to take the time to appreciate the journey of our education.
That same sentiment can be applied to job searching.
Being stuck at home can actually allow for more time and effort being put into looking and applying for a job. This quarantine has given me the chance to reflect on what I want in a future job and ultimately, a career. And although that job may not be currently available, at least I have a better understanding of what I’m looking for in a future career when applying to different jobs.
Although there aren’t any guaranteed ways to improve your chances of getting hired, here are some tips that have helped me with my job search over these last couple of months:
Get into a routine. Wake up at a reasonable hour, change out of your pajamas, set yourself up at a desk or table, and start applying. Applying for jobs is the same as writing: the only way you’re going to do it is by starting. Take an hour or two each day to look for new jobs, write up the perfect cover letter and resume, and apply.
Add to your resume. There are a multitude of free online courses at places like Coursera and a number of international universities. This is a great time to either brush up on previous skills you’ve already learned, or to add new skills to your experience.
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t hear back from the companies you’re applying to. Just as you’re uncertain of what the future holds, so too are many companies unsure of what their next steps are.
So yes, times are uncertain right now. Yes, we’re not sure what the future will look like in the next few months. But if you’re looking for a job as a new grad, don’t be discouraged with the way things currently are. Practice gratitude for this pause & good luck with your job search!
Commentaires