I’m not having any fun hunting for jobs.
It’s difficult consistently stepping outside my comfort zone, extending myself to strangers, currently working for free – all without any guarantee better things are coming my way. I wish I wasn’t in the predicament so many Generation Y members find ourselves in: overqualified for many service positions like servers and customer service, while also lacking experience for positions requiring 3-5 years of established work history. To attain the needed experience, requires a job, which requires experience. . . and the cycle continues.
I graduated from college in December 2009 and December 2010 will appear quickly. Lately, mostly due to frustration, I realized since the economy doesn’t seem to be changing, I needed to make a change if I am going to earn the job I want. Currently I am using a minimalist approach to job hunting. Fortunately, I’m now receiving much better results and I want to share them with you for two reasons: 1) Provide some ideas to job hunting you can take if you or someone you know is struggling to find work and 2) Offer a glimmer of hope to job-seekers because I understand the feelings of frustration and hopelessness.
Photo Credit: AfterCollege.com
My Minimalist Approach To Job Hunting: First, I want to say my approach might not work for you, although I truly hope it does. But at the very least, you can gain an additional method to use in the attempt acquire a job. What do you have to lose?
I am learning that about 85% (I made that number up from personal experience) of successful job hunting comes down to who you know.
My whole approach to job hunting is now:
1) IDENTIFYING people I know who are established in my chosen field.
2) MEETING in person – the in person part is crucial.
3) FINDING out A) how can I help them? B) can they help me? and C) if they can’t help me, who do they know who can and getting introduced to that person.
4) REPEAT STEP 2-3.
That’s the minimalist approach list right there. It’s very simple. Although simple doesn’t = easy. Read below if you want to know why these steps are working and what results I’m getting.
Photo Credit: Drexel University Libraries
Identifying established and influential people in your field narrows your focus to people who actually have the power to get you a job or put you closer to the people who can. No matter what happens, you don’t want to end up in what is probably the most frustrating place I have found myself in while searching for jobs — The Black Hole.
The Black Hole is what I call the place where my resume goes after I send it to some anonymous Human Resources person online. The Black Hole is gigantic. And the Internet loves to suck people’s resumes there, never to be seen again. So don’t apply to positions you want online if you have the option of submitting them in person. I have spent too many days wondering did the HR person even receive my resume? Did I have the right email address? Is something wrong with my email account that is blocking incoming emails?
Avoiding the Black Hole is what makes meeting in person vital. I have used LinkedIn, called my old college professors,contacted friends and friends of friends to get me in contact with step 1: people who are established in my chosen field.
Surprising to me, people are more friendly and willing to help then you might believe. I have snagged one internship from a scheduled 15 minute turned 1.5 hour conversation at Starbuck’s. I was offered my current internship after talking shop for 20 minutes at Border’s. My current boss is also now my mentor. So follow step 2: get yourself out there in person and meet face-to-face. If somebody can interact with you and learn who you are, they are much more likely to take the extra effort to put themselves out there for you to get a job or introduce you to somebody.
It’s easy to get caught up wondering only what can the person you’re meeting with do for you. What I have made a conscious effort to do is find ways that I can be of value as well. So when you’re using step 3 to ask the right questions, make sure you are ready to give as well. Nobody likes somebody who just takes. For instance, I work for free at my current internship. However, I am getting hands-on-training from someone who has attained a massive amount of experience working large events, receiving numerous introductions to similarly well-connected individuals, and getting one step closer towards the job I want.
This is the first, but not last, post in my Minimalist Blueprint: Work series. If you get a chance, check out the first post in my Minimalist Blueprint: Space series.
Great post, Reggie! It’s really true, as they say, that it’s “who you know.” Three of my current great job leads came from connections. I think that social networking is a great tool to keep you in touch with former coworkers and to create your own personal resource network. You really showed initiative in getting those two internships. I know that things will turn out great for you! Looking forward to your future posts on the subjet.
Hey Sheri — as I’m finding out, the “who you know” quote is real, whether it’s fair or not. Thanks for the encouraging words, and I hope to keep making progress where I want to go. The exciting thing is seeing more opportunities present themselves and slowly, but surely, I’m getting there
Reggie,
I found your blog through miss minimalist. As I am Gen-X, it’s nice to see those following start to pick up the minimalist values.
Your statement about having to work customer service roles which you are over-qualified for stuck a chord. I wasn’t hit by the recession, but about 3 years ago I made a massive change in my life. I left a career and a position I had held for 8 years in which I managed around $1,000,000 annual operating budget and moved to the mountains where I worked as a $9 bellman.
The point I’m trying to make is that if you are qualified for better things and are a hard worker, you won’t remain down for long. It took me about 4 months to move up the ladder into a job that is immeasurably better than what I had. There was a massive amount of doubt and chagrin when I first made the change, but as sit in my office this morning sipping my coffee and watching the orange glow of the sunrise on the distant mountain range, I am happy beyond words that I made the leap.
Stick with it. Work hard, work smart, and it will come. Sadly, those are attributes that are rare today. On the flip side, it means those who have them will prosper.
Thanks for the blog. I’m adding it to my subscriptions.
Matt
Hey Matt – I can only imagine it must have took a lot of courage to make a sudden switch from a job you’ve been doing for so many years to a new location and lower pay. Thank you for the encouragement. I was brought up, along with most of Generation Y, that going to college, getting good grades, working hard is the key. While I still am happy to have went to college, I know many people and friends who are struggling because decisions made by those in charge that effect the entire economy. I am going to keep on working hard and smart. Sometimes it’s frustrating, but from stories like you just shared it’s so encouraging to know that basically, if I keep on grinding, and continue providing value, I will get to where I want to be.
If you don’t mind, can you share what was your decision for switching careers?
I am always interested in the why with those type of stories because it takes such courage to basically job without a net. But from what I’ve learned so far, most people who have made the jump ultimately end up happier. Thanks for the add too!
On the chicken-egg situation of experience, it can help to have a cool project of some kind to demonstrate what you are capable of. Being able to show “something you’ve done” helps you stand out from the crowd, and can give prospective employers the warm, fuzzing feeling they crave. It’s all about making them feel comfortable, they don’t want to screw up, which is why most employers are cautious, especially in this difficult times.
Hey Tony. Yeah you hit on another thing I’m realizing. On some of the interviews for full time salary positions, they ask for examples and I guess they aren’t up to par. So I talked to my boss/mentor recently and he just gave me a bigger project with more responsibility that will give me something really concrete that I can “show off.” My writing samples haven’t been wowing them, I guess. But at least I’m keeping a sense of humor about it … sort of lol. If you have any others tips, I am all ears too.