Trying to find a full-time job after graduation is one thing, but trying to find a full-time job during COVID is an entirely new thing. Here is how I found my first full-time job during COVID.
A little background into my situation…
I graduated in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in public relations. Instead of trying to find a job straight after graduation, I decided to go back to school for one more year. This is where I obtained my post-graduate certificate in event management. During this program, I really took a liking to event planning, but more specifically wedding planning. I became a certified wedding planner in 2019 through The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada.
Throughout my time as a student, I always had a part-time job. I also had two full-time co-op work terms, where I was able to gain experience in my fields of study to use on my resume. However, trying to find a full-time position for me was a lot harder than I had anticipated. I sent countless resumes and cover letters and applied to jobs that weren’t in my field of study. Everything you can imagine happened, from not hearing back from potential employers (why do they ghost??? just let a girl know!?) to different types of interviewing, submitting work samples and not securing the position. It was a never-ending cycle of constantly feeling defeated. Nevertheless, I continued to apply and to persevere.
And then COVID hit…
I continued to apply, but it seemed a lot of businesses were trying to navigate this new normal for themselves and hiring wasn’t top of mind. Again, I tailored each resume and cover letter to each specific position but was still coming up empty-handed. But finally, what felt like years to achieve, I only just recently secured my first full-time position. Throughout the last two years, I’ve been able to learn a lot about the job application process. From my experience, I’ve narrowed it down to the top five things that I believe helped me secure my current position. Check them out below:
Learn from Past Mistakes
Look at what you’ve done for past applications or interviews, and reflect on how you could do better next time. Interview preparation was key for me when applying to jobs as I tend to be more introverted.
Reach Out
Reach out to friends and family members, you never know who will have a good job lead. SO many jobs are not posted online, use your network. Plus once you do reach out to your network I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what happens!
Keep an Open Mind
Don’t be afraid to keep an eye out for careers that are different from what you’d ordinarily apply for and try something new. Even if you don’t plan on it being “the dream job” it’s still a great experience, a way to make money during difficult times, and you could end up loving it more than you’d expect!
Like I said previously, I went to school for PR and Event Coordination, but managed to find a job in fashion. It required looking outside the box and accepting a different career field than I had originally been looking for. It might not be “the forever job” I had imagined, but it’s the first step into a great company. Regardless of what happens in the future, it’s a great experience, steady pay, and could end up turning into “my dream job” down the line.
Make Sure it’s Something You’ll Enjoy Doing
Find a position where the environment and responsibilities are a legitimately good fit for you because you’ll care more about what you’re applying for.
Persevere
DO NOT GIVE UP! As hard as it is, continue applying to jobs. Reach out to friends and family. Learn from past mistakes, but whatever you do KEEP GOING! Your persistence and determination will help pay off in the end.
This post isn’t meant to scare or dishearten those who may be looking for their first full-time job. Instead, I hope that by sharing my experience, you can learn and try a few things that worked for me! 🙂
That said, if you’re feeling a little defeated and could use some motivation to help you persevere your own job search check out Brooklyn’s post on How to get Gritier here. Grit or quit ladies!
