For those of us that just graduated from college this past spring, we have been dealt with a unique situation that no one in our lifetime has ever seen. No amount of planning or preparation could have helped us be ready for what we were going to face after we moved our tassels during virtual graduation. Whether you are a recent graduate, young professional, or a current college student struggling to find a summer job, there are still some ways you can succeed in your job hunt.
Here are some ways to stay motivated during your job hunt!
Contrary to what you might think, or what others might say, you need a plan when it comes to job hunting. Whether this plan involves you making a list of companies you want to work for, jobs you would like to have, or creating a schedule that forces you to devote time every day to the search. Create a plan that works best for you and go from there! If you are a recent graduate, your plan should look different than someone looking for a summer job before college, or something to do around their hometown before returning for the fall semester. Graduates should take some time every day to devote to the search until you land some interviews.
Stick with your plan, and keep going, even when the going gets tough. Whether you planned to spend an hour or so a day applying to jobs and saving job listings or you planned to spend an entire day a week doing that, stick with it! Once you get into the groove of searching and applying, the process goes much faster and you quickly become more efficient over time. While it will start to feel tedious after some time, remember that you are trying to set up your future! It’s worth the investment now.
This is perhaps one of the most important things you can do to motivate yourself and increase your ability to find a new position! If you are a recent college graduate, go ahead and change your resume to say that you graduated. Update your cover letter while you are at it! If you can, try to have someone review your resume and cover letter to ensure you are presenting yourself as best as you can to future employers. Consider your word choice, and make sure you include everything that is most important!
You have probably seen commercials for Linkedin, Indeed, Glassdoor, and other services that are offered to help those like you on the job hunt streamline your process! Most colleges and universities have some sort of career center with services that are offered to you for little to no cost. Make sure you take the time to fill out your online resume, cover letter and include all of your skills to ensure you are setting yourself up for success! Pick two or three employment services and alternate between them to make sure you are finding as many jobs as possible.
Whether this means you connect with people in a similar situation as you, or you go out of your way to contact people that could give you advice on your job search. Reach out to social media influencers who have your dream job and ask what steps they had to take to make it. Do not be afraid to engage with people you do not know in order to take some big steps in your career! Who knows, maybe one of your connections might help you land a job.
Once you have some people in your circle, or maybe contacts you have not thought of before, reach out and utilize them! Do not nag them incessantly for help, but make sure you are putting yourself out there and reaching out to them. Many people land their jobs as a result of the people they know! There is no shame in getting a job this way. It’s just how the world works!
Talking to others reminds you that you are not alone in the search! You will probably find that your friends are just as frustrated or discouraged as you. Bouncing ideas off of each other can give both of you new ideas or jobs to search for! This is all about expanding your range of jobs you are looking for, which can ultimately lead to you landing a job.
What kind of work would you actually enjoy? If you can nail down the type of work you know you would love, it will make your job search easier! Make a list of companies you would love to work for and see if they have any openings. Worst case, you can always send them your resume and ask if they would keep you in mind for future employment opportunities!
These companies are looking to fill open positions as quickly as possible. While these positions might not be at the top of your list for dream jobs, they can provide a steady income as you search for something you truly love! Look for jobs at local grocery stores, restaurants, or coffee shops to see if there are any openings.
If you are in-between college semesters or are a recent graduate, consider applying for an internship! These are great resume boosters that will help you have a leg up over your competition as you continue to job hunt. Experience means something to an employer, so the more relevant experience you have in the area of work you are interested in, the better! Even if you are a college graduate, still apply for internships. Utilize your downtime in-between jobs to gain more experience!
Whether you are considering doing an internship, or a job, try to focus your energy on applying for positions that are remote! With the second wave of the virus coming soon, you will want to have work that cannot be canceled because of COVID19. Remote work ensures you will have work, even when others don’t!
These jobs might not be your favorite, but focus on jobs that are nearby where you currently live so you do not have to worry about potentially re-locating! Look for jobs in your hometown, or ones that are within reasonable driving distance to ensure your commute will not be too miserable. Use your friends and family to find some great local opportunities!
You could work one or two jobs if they are only part-time positions! Not everyone wants to take part-time jobs, so if you try applying for these, you just might get one. Plus, not having a full-time job gives you some more working experience, but will not take up so much of your time that you have to stop your search.
You are not the only one struggling here. There are so many other people in different stages of life that have either lost their jobs, or found themselves in a tough place. Just keep applying, and keep the faith, you will land a job sooner than you think!
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