What I’ve Learned From Past Job Searching Mistakes.

I’m on the Job Market Again. This Time Feels Different.

When I chose to be an intern this summer, I knew it was a temporary solution to a large problem — getting hired for a full-time role.

Despite the fact I have to job search again, I feel more confident in my job search. I’m actually getting interviews, which was rare during my last job searching period.

Below I outlined some aspects that I learned through my time job searching in March 2021 to now. As with most things, job searching takes time and practice.

Find a Way To Stand Out

Hiring is a numbers game and takes luck. Throwing your resume in a virtual pile with several dozens or hundreds of other resumes will most likely end in failure or a non-response.

Getting your “foot in the door” is about being noticed.

Making personalized introductions on LinkedIn, sending an email to a hiring manager, or reaching out to employees at company can make a difference.

Informational interviews can also be a strategic and an educational tool to find your direction, but also form authentic relationships.

Find a Way to Tell your Story

If you’re switching careers, leaving academia, or a fresh undergraduate looking to start their first role, find a way to talk about your career journey.

Resume are static and impersonal and don’t explain to hiring managers and recruiters the “whys” behind your resume.

Telling your career journey helps other people connects dots and shows where your going. It also be foster an emotional connection to your journey.

Posting content to LinkedIn or starting a blog can give you a space to reflect on your journey and show how you stand out. Finding a way to tell your story may not result in a job offer, but it can very well get your foot in the door for an interview or informational interview.

Experience is Hard to Beat

It can be frustrating to hear from a hiring manager or recruiter that you lack experience, but at the end of the day, experience sells. Organizations want to see that you have the proven skills required to do the job.

Taking on an opportunity as a intern (paid hopefully) can feel defeating, but it very well can pay off in the end. Volunteering for a non-profit can also be a great way to build your resume.

Don’t be Attached to a Single Organization

Having a “dream company” isn’t always a bad thing, but getting your hopes up and putting your time and mental energy into one opportunity can leave you feeling devastated.

Once you land an interview, challenge yourself and try to schedule another interview. The fact that you got an interview means something.

My advice: Always have a backup plan. Most importantly, keep interviewing until you have an offer in hand.

These are my brief points that I learned, but continue to reach out to people, upskill yourself, and find ways to stand out. Be different from the rest of the crowd.

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