Adulting Archives 001: Job Hunting Tips for Class of 2020
Congrats class of 2020! I know you guys just worked your butts off the last 4 years. Only to have graduation ceremonies canceled, the economy crash and enter the job market during the biggest public health crisis of our lives… but hey, you have a degree now! Listen, there’s no way to sugarcoat it, the situation isn’t ideal… And it’s okay to have a lot of feelings about it. Of course, getting our country healthy again and the virus under control should be our top priority right now but it’s okay to feel frustrated by the situation at the same time.
Instead of applying and interviewing for jobs in a booming economy, you’re left wondering if you’re even going to be able to get a job at all. Plus… if you’re like I was, the realization that you have to start paying on those student loans pretty soon is scary as heck! So yeah, the situation isn’t ideal, but I’m here to tell you that you’re going to get through this. How do I know? Well, I graduated from college in 2009 in the dead of the great recession. Yeah, the current sit isn’t totally the same, but there are definitely some parallels on the economic side so hear me out. Today I’m sharing 4 job hunting tips to help you through, because while there is certainly a lot out of our control, there are still plenty of things you can do to stand out and find work even during the most trying times.
Be Flexible
My first tip is to be flexible. I know you had big dreams for what your first job was going to look like, and that could still happen, but I want you to take a step back and try to look at things a little differently. The reality of it is, your first job is likely not going to be your forever job and that’s okay. In fact, in many industries, employees often only stay a few years before moving onto a new opportunity — especially early on in your career. That’s not saying that you need to settle, but widening your view will certainly give you more options especially right now. Something you’ll notice when you start applying to positions too is a lot of these “entry-level jobs” already expect you to have 1-2 years of experience. This always felt like a catch 22 to me, but the bigger takeaway here is that getting your foot in the door and actually getting some professional experience is of utmost importance. So my recommendation is to widen your scope on companies or types of positions you can apply for.
Take Advantage of Social Networking
Networking has never been so important and it’s time to step up your game networking online! Working in social media, networking online has always felt more comfortable to me and now that it’s the only option, it’s time to work it! I don’t want to say “who you know” is the only thing that is going to get you a job, but it can definitely help. Don’t freak if you don’t currently have any connections in the industry either though. I didn’t know a soul when I started out. It just means you should really take advantage of this tip.
If you have connections in your personal network, start there. You can ask those you know to send an intro email between you and the person you’re interested in connected with. No connections yet? That’s okay too here are some other places to consider:
Alumni Networks & Career Centers: See if your school has any upcoming alumni events (virtual of course). My alma mater, University of Oregon, put on a great virtual event that was an online chat pairing alumni with graduating seniors. We had 10 mins to chat with each and give them advice (the same tips I’m giving you) and I let all of those I connected with that I was happy to be an ongoing resource for them. Boom, so during an hour each senior made 6 connections how cool is that? People are getting creative right now so definitely check with your school to see if they have anything similar going on and if they don’t maybe you even recommend it!
Linkedin: Obviously, LinkedIn is the go-to professional network and it’s a gold mine for finding people you can reach out to. Not only can you reach out to specific people directly, but you can also find groups and connect with others through conversations on posts.
Instagram & Facebook: Sure, these aren’t “professional” networks but they are still great places to connect with others especially if you already follow business pages or professionals you’re interested in connecting with. Focus on engaging with their Instagram posts regularly for a bit and then I recommend taking it off the platform and sending them a professional email. Facebook Groups are also an awesome way to meet new people. There are groups for just about everything and local groups for where you’d like to live and work can be very helpful.
Virtual Zoom Meetups: Now that everything has gone virtual, look out for different events you can attend. I’m apart of some local business owner networks that have been hosting networking sessions and virtual happy hours. In some ways, because we have to take turns talking now that they’re online, I’ve actually gotten to know some people better than I may have at an in-person event where you can only talk to so many people over a few hours.
Companies you Admire: Then if there are companies you admire already, go straight to the source! If it’s a big company like Nike, it will obviously be tougher, but if there’s a smaller business you appreciate reach out directly to them!
The way I look at any social networking efforts is each time you put yourself out there you’ve introduced yourself to one new person. You may not hear back from everyone, but they’re still going to get your message and it will be good practice for putting yourself out there. Next up I’m chatting what you should actually be doing when you reach out to these people too.
Set up Calls or Informational Interviews
So what is the actual point of your networking efforts? To introduce yourself to others and build relationships! I recommend asking specific questions via email, requesting a 30-minute call or virtual informational interview. The more clear and direct you can be the better. Please don’t ask the general “pick their brain” question either — such a pet peeve. If they agree, during that time you can spend it asking them questions about their positions, what it’s like to work at the company they work for, any advice they have for standing out at a company like theirs, and other things that you’re genuinely curious about.
This isn’t time to just ask them for a job. It’s about building personal relationships with others. This is more about setting the groundwork for your professional network and learning about positions and companies you may be interested in. Here’s the thing too, when you’re genuinely interested in learning from others and respect their time, they may actually have someone in their network that they think could help you with your job hunt. Say whattt, I thought I just said this wasn’t about asking for a job. It’s not directly but it can help. It’s really about building those connections so that when you DO see a job posting that you want to apply to, you have a personal connection on the inside. Or, if that person learns of a position that could be a good fit, you want that conversation and connection you made with them to be top of mind for them. Follow?
Yes, this strategy definitely takes some time but it’s one that can benefit you not just now but long-term. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve sent positions or advice their way because we met up for coffee one time. Dang, remember the days we could do that?! Plus, since we’re all stuck at home right now anyways, you might as well meet some new people. I’d even say that people may actually be more likely to reply to your messages or set up calls right now for that very reason.
Be Personal in Applications
Last tip of the day… be personal in your applications! Again, depending on your industry and the company you’re applying for this advice will vary. When you can though, I suggest adding a personal touch when emailing out your resumes and cover letters. I used to do a lot of hiring for a boutique PR firm I worked at and this made such a difference. Yes, you may be sending the same resume and a modified intro email to everyone but if you can add a personal touch it will be noticed. Maybe you call out something about a campaign they did or a client they work with… or how you really appreciated one of their latest Instagram posts. Be authentic about it of course, but these little touches show you’ve actually paid attention! And even if you applied to 50 jobs that day, it makes them feel like you are actually interested in the work they do and not just getting a paycheck and that will help set you apart.
That’s in for today crew! Welcome to adulting. It ain’t always pretty, but if you can learn to be scrappy you’ll figure it out.
