How to find a job in a global pandemic

Hello again blog,

It’s been a while (10 months…). I created this blog to help me get a job, and it worked. I figured since I have gone through the ebb and flow of unemployment, I might have something valuable to share.

I quit one job, then I got fired from my next job

I don’t speak very openly about this, partially because no one really asks, “Have you ever been harassed at work?” But unfortunately, I have been, and I’m not alone. I’d say the majority of people have been harassed at work in one way or another by the time they’re 24.

I got my dream job just out of university and I was thrilled. I was working in marketing, trying to learn new things, meet new people, and become a creative genius. Obviously it didn’t go as planned. A few months into the job and a few too many screaming arguments between my coworkers later, I decided to quit. I’m leaving out a lot of details out of respect to the company and with the great hope that anger management therapy has been sought out by the employer.

In any event, I was jobless. I had a stellar degree from UBC, a can-do attitude, and a killer resume with co-op experiences; yet, radio silence from everywhere that I applied. I was unemployed for about 3 months. They were definitely not good months. I didn’t know what I was doing.

Then comes my next job. Another dream job. Then I got fired due to budget cuts. Back to square one. That’s when I got proactive. That’s when I refused to let myself become a miserable human. I knew I needed a job, but I also wanted to make an impact in some way. So I started this website.

What to do when you’re unemployed and seeking opportunities

1. Re-vamp your resume

Do you do any design work? No? That’s ok, that’s why Adobe Spark and Canva exist. I re-vamped my resume before applying to jobs on Indeed and I got way more emails and calls. If you’re a visual person, let your resume reflect that. You can create a custom resume in free design programs like Spark and Canva, or you can download a free Word template. Add a picture of a landscape to your resume, but not a pic of yourself because that can develop a subconscious bias among recruiters.

I downloaded an Adobe Illustrator template for my resume and I loved it. Shoot me an email and I’ll send you the link to it!

2. Apply to Jobs

This might sound silly, but it really isn’t. I know so many people that don’t apply to positions because they don’t have all the requirements, experiences or education. Here’s advice that my co-op coordinators told me when I was in school and that I will pass along:

“If you have 70% of the qualifications, APPLY.”

Employers LOVE ambitious people. Reach out to companies that you want to work for and apply for any position that even remotely relates to what you want a career in. You might just end up where you want to be.

Apply to jobs through LinkedIn, Indeed, and company career pages.

Quick tip: On Indeed.ca ALWAYS upload your resume, never apply with the Indeed ‘fill-in-the-blank’ resume. It is far too dry and unattractive for recruiters.

3. Network to find a job

For example:
Remember Bob, that old coworker you had? Well, he works at an awesome company now and you might be a good fit too.

Obviously right now isn’t the best time to go out to networking events, but you can join some online if you’re game for some Zoom call conversations. The best network I find is LinkedIn. There are so many people willing to help out job-seekers. Reach out to old friends, new friends, random people who work at cool places, and more. It’s important to remember that you don’t have anything to lose. You never know where you’ll end up after striking up a conversation with the right person.

4. LinkedIn to find a job

Chatting to people on LinkedIn is a great way to get some leads for opportunities. But there’s more strategy involved than that. You know all those weird connection invites you recieve on LinkedIn? Accept all of them. Yep, you heard me. ALL.

You’d be surprised at how many opportunities flood into your inbox when you give people a way of connecting with you. And that leads me to my next LinkedIn point:

Make sure your LinkedIn profile is “Open to Recruiters” or “Actively Job Seeking”.

That way the right people can find you and present you with an opportunity. That being said I feel like I should leave a disclaimer: If anyone is creepy or gives you a bad vibe, block them. LinkedIn is a professional platform but unfortunately, that’s not the only reason people use the network.

5. Make a website to find a job

I may be biased, but I think a website is a fantastic way to get noticed, especially in the creative industry. There are lots of website builders that have free options for you to create your own site. You can showcase a portfolio, you can write a blog, or you can create an online resume that’s interactive. The options are endless. Having a website shows your employer that you’re ambitious, have a technical skillset and are creative. Who wouldn’t want to hire that person?

6. How to interview to get a job

In this day and age, we are typically interviewed by baby boomers or gen x. In my interviews, I had to tell my employers that “I may look young but I am qualified for the job”. Now, I was somewhat desperate for an opportunity when I said that, but I was tired of getting turned down because I appeared to be younger than I am. Not in my demeanour, but in my appearance. Would I really want to work for a company that doesn’t hire me because I look like a recent university graduate? No. But at the time that wasn’t what I was thinking, I was thinking that I need to start making money and disclosing that I’m qualified verbally in interviews seemed to be the only way to make it happen.

Should you do this? I want to say no, because judgemental employers often are not good employers, but if you are desperate, then stand your ground and tell them that your appearance does not hinder your ability to do the job.

The REAL trick is to interview with CONFIDENCE. If you aren’t confident, then you need to fake it until you make it. You have a resume, you have skills; you can present yourself confidently. Practice answering interview questions. There are a ton of resources online that you can pull from. A lot of employers used the “STAR” interview method (situation, task, action, and result). Brush up on possible STAR questions and you’ll go into the interview looking as confident as ever.

I’m not an employment expert, but I’ve had my fair share of jobs at my young age. It’s so important to carry yourself knowing your worth because then others will be more inclined to see it too.

You will find another job. Don’t give up looking.