With the year coming to a close, finding a job in 2010 is likely going to be at the top of many resolution lists. It’s been a tough year for job-hunting, especially for those of us at the bottom of the experience totem pole. But, with a little luck (and a lot of patience), the new year might be the time that things will start turning around. With that in mind, I thought I would share a reader question, sent to me by the lovely and super awesome Karen:
(Have a question of your own you’d like to ask? Send it in!)
Hi Alana,
I’ve graduated from university and am now interning at a small ad agency (though unpaid). I totally agree with the struggle to find a job! I don’t have much experience in Marketing or Public Relations, what I want to get into, but I’m still trying. My only experiences that I have is being a TA for a university course, summer camp counsellor and some retail experince. As well, I have some volunteer experience with a charity and a school club. I’m currently going to take a Public Relations course in the upcoming new year, and should have a certificate by the end of the summer next year. As well, I’m hoping that with my internship it would provide some sort of experience, but it would be great to have a paying job.
Any advice? Thanks!
-Karen
Hi Karen,
Well, I totally understand your plight, and I can tell you that the good news is that the trouble you’re having is VERY common to PR grads like yourself (is that good news?). The bad news of course, is that there really isn’t any one surefire way to land a job in a field like this (or in most fields, for that matter!). In your case (and in the case of all those other smart, qualified and generally awesome yet unemployed recent grads), your success will depend on a number of factors. You’re clearly doing an awesome job so far, having landed yourself an internship (paid or unpaid, it’s still great experience), and having some volunteer work. The next (and probably mot important) step, is going to be networking. ‘Networking’ gets thrown around so much these days that it’s almost cliche, but especially in an industry like public relations, who you know has A LOT to do with what kind of opportunities you find. You don’t have to walk around with business cards, or go to fancy networking events but be sure to be open with those you meet in work-related situations that you are enjoying your internship and are looking for similar work once it ends. Often times as an intern it can feel like you are working hard almost for nothing, but a good employee rarely goes unnoticed. Your internship may not have a job to offer you, but the people you worked with there are sure to have friends in the industry. If they liked working with you, they may recommend you for positions they heard about through the grapevine, especially if they know you’re unemployed.
In the meantime, there’s always the good old fashioned resume route – checking job postings websites like Media Job Search Canada, Charity Village, Mandy.com, Eluta, Indeed.ca, Monster, Workopolis (and The Savvy Girl’s Career Guide, ahem) is a good habit to get into. Keep your resume polished and up-to-date, and apply to EVERYTHING (with a well-written, targeted cover letter, of course). The Junior and Entry-Level Communications Facebook Group is another great resource to find job listings, as well as to connect with other young people in your field looking for a job.
Having said all that, I think it’s important to keep in mind that at the end of the day, finding a good job takes patience, perseverance, and, let’s face it, a bit of luck. You may not be able to control the types of opportunities that come your way, and you certainly can’t control the competition you’re up against, but you CAN choose to keep your head up and stay focused. If you keep at it, you WILL find a great job eventually, but it may not happen as quickly as you like (or it might! Who knows!). Remember that there ARE advantages to being unemployed. You have time to think about your goals and direction, you can take time for yourself, and you have the chance to gain other kinds of experience that will help strengthen your resume and broaden your connections and industry-contacts (a friend with a fabulous job says she owes it all to the volunteer experience she gained while unemployed!). Remember not to be too hard on yourself, and to keep an open mind. You never know when the job you’ve been looking for will open itself up to you.
I learned two important things after graduating university. One, job hunting sucks (let's be honest). And, two, it's even worse when you've just spent the last four years at school with little more to show for yourself than a fancy piece of paper and a large debt load.
