Take It or Leave It: Free Advice

I love how social media has enabled me to connect with people from around the world. When I had this idea for this blog back in April I decided to see what else was out there. I’m pretty sure I googled “recent grad job blog” or something like that. I came across a recent Boston graduate looking to go into advertising. We’ve been conversing about the job search in the last few months. We’ve never met yet I feel like we are leading parallel lives. This is her blog: Confessions of  Recent College Graduate. Great person and candidate. Advertising people in the states: You want her on YOUR side.

Anyway, here is her recent post: A Slightly Better Economy.

She talks about her recent experiences in the job search, the positive signs of the economy, and submitting resumes to “Whom It May Concern”.

I commented on her blog and here it is as I’m sure not everyone will click on her blog (though you should because it’s a great post). This is what I’ve been thinking about in the last little while.

“Lauren,

I think you’re right. There is much more movement in the economy which is good to hear. For folks in marketing and advertising, it’s a tough industry as many companies/agencies have let their employees go. That being said, I know that the hardest part for companies is retaining good people.

I went to a networking event which had 200+ people there. It was interesting and I’ve found that my interests have changed slightly (erm…maybe dramatically) from two years ago or even a year ago. Maybe it’s because I have had a bit of corporate experience and I’m much better at reading between the lines. Anyway, I was speaking to some other recent grads and they all asked me what site I used to look for postings. I personally haven’t looked at postings in a while but threw out a couple sites (Eluta, Workopolis etc.). I suggested that they target companies they want to work for. They all seemed to brush my advice off. Bad call as your chance of targeting a letter to someone and doing an informational interview with him/her at the company is much higher than sending a resume via online posting. 500 seems quite small. I’ve heard of 7,000 applications for one online posting within a couple days.

My advice to you: target the agencies you want to work for (research, see if you have connections with this company/person, meet with them for coffee, keep in touch) and you’ll be in a better position. Network, volunteer, and invest time in what would make you a better marketer/account exec. Make this job search not just a job search but an investment into your future. You’ll thank yourself later.

Jenmy”

Thank You Business Career Centre

The latest headline in the job search world besides Jobless Rates Hold Steady is the story of the jobless grad suing her university. After three months of searching (how hard did she really search and three months is not a long time in the bigger picture) a recent grad has not found a career opportunity and has decided to sue her alma mater because they have not tried hard enough to find her a job. I can understand her frustration with the job search since I think many of us have gone through that stressful process of looking for employment. However, taking it so far to suing your university? That’s taking it too far. I heard once “blaming others is an excuse for your own faults.” Yes, life is tough with debt and the stress of a job search but how is entering into legal disputes going to help you? How will it help you get a job because if employers Google your name (and they will, trust me) they’ll see “GRAD SUES UNIVERSITY FOR NOT FINDING HER A JOB”. Sounds like a lose-lose situation to me.

That being said, I think that career centres are not given enough credit. They do so much work behind the scenes to help their students. I love my Business Career Centre. They’ve been very helpful to me over the last few years and even now after I have graduated. I am always seeking to help them back by sending them information that I hear about. I think the Queen’s Business Career Centre is top-notch.

My suggestion to students is to know that it’s never too early to start career planning and to work with your career centre. What do you want and what are the steps you need to take to get there? Are there information sessions with employers, resume workshops, and mock interviews you can be a part of?

My suggestion to recent grads is to get back in touch with your career centre and university. Some people have strong ties to their university (myself included) and are always willing to help. Talk to your previous professors, career counselors, and alumni network. Don’t forget to give back! Volunteer with your local alumni association! Plan an event, volunteer time, or donate what you can.

Pay it forward. It’s good karma.

As my friend so eloquently puts it: Enthusiam and Dedication

I have a friend that I met during frosh week of university. Over the course of five years, I have seen her grow and become an amazing person. She was heavily involved in the Queen’s Commerce and Queen’s University community. After graduation she worked as a Business Professional for a entrepreneurial company in Toronto and recently decided to return to her home province of  Nova Scotia. She is a superstar. It’s interesting to see that after five years that we’re in the same boat of being between opportunities and being in the same mental mindset about the career vs job, job titles, and the life journey in general.

Message to NS Employers: HIRE HER NOW!! She’s a business rockstar!.

She also has a blog and I highly endorse it. She writes extremely well in a honest and genuine way. This is her latest post on the career search and how Gen Y (people between the ages of 19-29) defines their career titled: Enthusiasm and Dedication.

Amazing. I am in awe of her. She’s a strong-willed person and a very savvy person. I know she’ll go far in life.

Funemployment

I learned a new word today via a friend’s Facebook status. The word is “funemployment”.

Urban Dictionary defines it as “a happy time in one’s life when one is not employed and is not wanting to be employed.” Googling the word means that you would get 186,000 results. I think there are a lot of definitions of funemployment and I think I have my own take on it.

Here’s an article a friend sent me about it titled “Unemployed? More like Funemployed!” Yes, I think it’s important to balance fun with the job search since it is an extremely stressful process. However, blatantly not looking for work and living off savings or EI probably isn’t the best situation. I think as long as you’re being proactive and really looking into what you want to do for your next career step then your time will be well-spent. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t have fun but ask yourself what do you want to say about your time off work when you do start working? After having this lifestyle for the last few months, I have gone through different ups and downs. I have seen my peers go through the same thing and some of them really saw this time as an opportunity (while between opportunities). Something important to consider is updating your skills whether it be taking a class, listening to different speakers in your industry or taking on a project that will enhance your skills.

Let’s put the F in Funemployment but do it in the right way.

Take Mental Health Days

The inspiration for the title of my blog “Between Opportunities” came from an article written by Craig Redmond, a creative director in Vancouver. We’ve never met but have exchanged some e-mails a couple months ago when I told him I penned my blog after his article about being unemployed. Here’s a copy of the article. I ripped it out of Strategy magazine (January 2009 issue) and had it hanging next to my calendar for a while.

One of my favourite lines from the article is “Take Mental Health Days”. Being unemployed is exhausting. It’s a poor paying one to boot. There are some days that I get overwhelmed by the entire job search process. It’s important to take time for yourself. It can’t always be “GO GO GO” because it will take its toll on you emotionally and physically. What I do to relieve stress is to go for walks and explore Toronto by foot. It’s hard when you’re an unemployed high achiever but know that you can only do so much. Control what you can control and things will fall into place when it’s right.

Second Post to the Blog-off Contest

Hello all.

Here’s my second post to the Blog-off Contest. Thank you so much to those who clicked on the link and posted comments. I greatly appreciate it.

http://communitymarketing.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/05/goodbye-privacy-hello-exhibitionism-.html

The blog post is about how I gave up my privacy and became an online exhibitionist. Not in the sexy way…but you’ll have to read the post to find out. Please click on the link and post comments.

Merci.

We are the New Radicals

I discovered a fantastic used bookstore through a friend of mine. BMV has 4 locations in the Toronto area. They’re at Yonge and Eglinton, in the Annex, Yonge and Dundas and I can’t remember where the other one is. Unfortunately they don’t have a website or maybe I just can’t find it. Google it. Or look at the subway ads, they also have subway ads up.

Anyway, this past weekend I was looking for various career related books to add to my collection. Between my housemate and I, we have over 10 career books. And that list is continuing to grow. I added two books: 1) What Color is Your Parachute 2008 and 2) We are the New Radicals

The latter one I finished reading 20 minutes ago. And I adore it! It’s good timing that I read it, it’s exactly what I’m looking for. What is it about? Its target is middle-aged urban professionals looking to change their career to have a more meaning. It’s a very easy read, mostly stories about people the author has worked with to help them alter their career path after hearing their inside voice “I’m successful at what I’m doing but is there more? What can I do to make this world a better place?”. It’s a great read and I recommend it to someone who’s looking to do more with their life. What’s amazing is that it has so many Canadian examples! It’s quite surprising actually. It gave me a lot of different ideas/things to pursue. I actually have it tagged. Blue stickies are people I will reach out to for an informational interview, green for great quotes, and orange stickies are things I need to look into such as a website or magazine. It’s moments like these that keep me motivated in the search for a new opportunity.

I need to go get more stickies now.

Interesting article from FORTUNE

In times like these (crappy economy) you’ll find that there are tons of newspaper and magazine articles and books about how to find a job. That market is definitely booming. So is the EI office which is flooded with applications…

An interesting article I found was in FORTUNE magazine dated April 13, 2009. It’s titled “How to Find a Job”.

Key takeaways (Bissonette reference if you’re from Queen’s Commerce):

• Applying for a job that’s posted online is like buying a lottery ticket – Chances are your resume won’t be called back for an interview (I think I just heard that bubble burst)
• Get creative in your job search
• Network
• Don’t take a job if it’s not the right fit because when companies start hiring again you’ll have experience you didn’t want and not in the direction you wanted anyway

It was a very good article – pick it up if you can. In times like these, think about what your unique value proposition is. And sell it. Connect with people. Although applying online is a good start, the people that actually get those jobs are very slim. But I can say that I know a couple people have their dream job thanks to Workopolis (you know who you are). Just know it’s a terrible numbers game. I want to have a Workopolis success story but I also know it’s more likely that I’ll find a job by targetting what I want. The amount of research I have to do is ridiculous (the list gets longer everyday) but it’s the type of thing where I’ll have to sit my bottom down in a library and do my due diligence and research and connect and take risks.

You may need a cheerleader to help you along so maybe a friend to push you. Or I can be your cheerleader. I think I’m peppy enough. In fact, my former boss told me in my first round interview that she thought I was perky. And then she offered me a contract on the spot. I’ll be in your corner cheering for you!