Work Search Strategies

Through customer service, “You learn people skills, how to properly communicate with people, how to interact with them, as well as how to work in a team,” Jordan explains. He was also able to further develop these skills while he volunteered for the university’s Week of Welcome. 

You may have heard that Arts students are equipped with a variety of soft skills that employers look for. It’s true! Not only did Jordan rely on his retail and volunteer experience, but he also mentioned the skills that he learned from his courses.

“One example that comes to mind is group projects,” a common scenario familiar to most Arts students. There are many different skills that derive from group projects: teamwork, leadership and maintaining positive relationships to name a few. Group work can involve conflict management when perspectives differ between members– especially when you have to reach a compromise to move forward with the project. Another example is public speaking, which can be practiced through presentations and classroom debates.

Understanding your experience and your skills will help you get ready to create a targeted resume.

Resume Writing

Your resume is arguably the most essential element when it comes to applying for jobs. It is the employer’s first impression of you and it shows them what you can bring to the role. Before Jordan secured his AWE work term, the resumes that he previously used to apply for retail jobs were generic; a “one size fits all” template. It wasn’t until he had his resume and cover letter advising appointment with the Career Centre that he realized how much time and effort was required to develop a targeted resume. 

“It was definitely a different kind of game.” Jordan had applied to a total of seven positions before he secured his first work term.Despite the lengthy process, Jordan found the process worthwhile.

A tip that stuck with Jordan was the formula-like method of describing experience in a resume. Check out the example below:

Your resume is your ticket to a job interview. Targeting your resume through providing specific examples can help employers understand why you are a good fit for the role and make you stand out from other applicants. 

Challenges

Although we all hope that the job hunt will be smooth sailing, it’s also perfectly normal for people to encounter setbacks. Remember, job search burn-out can impact anybody. 

“I think the most challenging aspect was just spending so much time applying to a job and not hearing back.” It’s a combination of both time and energy that can be exhausting. From allocating hours to writing targeted resumes and cover letters, reading through postings on job boards and preparing for job interviews, it should come as no surprise that job seekers can fall victim to burnout. 

Some AWE students approach the job search with a narrow scope, only applying for positions that are directly related to their field of study. Despite Jordan’s wishes of working in a government job, he also opened his mind to a variety of other industries. “I applied to anything that I found interesting– anything that I thought would be both work experience and a learning experience.” Exercising flexibility in your work search process can lead to unique work experiences that can diversify your soft and hard skills, expand your network and open doors for future career paths.

Jordan's Final Piece of Advice

So, despite all of these challenges and the lengthy work search process, how did Jordan do it? What is his advice to anyone else struggling with their work search?

“My first piece of advice is keep applying. There’s always new jobs being posted. Apply, even if you don’t hear back from the ones you’ve already applied to.” Jordan also recommends taking advantage of the services and resources provided by the Career Centre. Recent graduates are also able to access their services for free!

Finally, if you’ve applied for numerous positions, but haven’t received many responses from employers, it might be time to take a closer look at your resume and cover letter. 

At the end of the day, make sure that you are staying motivated! If you find yourself dreading the process, try asking yourself what is the most difficult part of the process that is preventing you from applying to positions. After the holidays, the hiring season will be back in full force. Buckle up!