Three-month job search. Here’s what happened.
I closed the door to walk out into crisp January air. I was pissed. I knew I shouldn’t have expected a fat salary just being out of college, but I couldn’t help gritting my teeth. $30,000 is what she told me. I felt disrespected and questioned every news source that said average salary out of college was $50k.
Now rewind to November 1, 2018, with me here.
— job hunting SUCKS.
That’s why I want to share all of my tools + resources, and hopefully shed some light on the cutthroat working world outside of the classroom. Ready? Month-by-month, let’s do this.
November
I only had one interview for the entire month of November. Was it just because it was the end of the year? Was it because I was still in school? I don’t know. Regardless of the number of LinkedIn, Glassdoor and Indeed applications, I wasn’t getting any feedback. That’s when I went to the fridge, opened a bottle of wine, and sat at my desk until 12:30 a.m.
I decided to do a hard reset on how I approached job applications. That meant updating my resume, actually writing a cover-letter, updating my LinkedIn and of course cleaning up my Instagram and Twitter. And yeah, there’s a lot of resources out there and it’s important to comb through them. BUT…
I don’t like following old industry news and I tend to break a lot of the conventional rules. Sharing your story is that important. Don’t settle.
Think of this as polishing and sharpening who you already are. The keyword here is marketable. That’s why we can’t use the shotgun approach — fresh graduate or not… Don’t Do It. That’s why I did the research and published this article to share with each of you.
You don’t have to purchase anything with these links. I only used the free guides + content + webinars + blogs made readily available.
- Jena Viviano — First off, she’s incredible. Self-made career strategist and boss lady, she equips hundreds of women (and men) to land that job, make that career change, or ask for that promotion. Personal branding isn’t easy. Jena knows that and she’s built her livelihood on helping us out. Plus, she has tons of free resources on her website right here.
- Ashlyn Carter — I found Ashlyn through Jena’s website. Naturally, I knew writing is make or break for applicants so I knew there was value here. Think of this as the long term investment in yourself. As I said, the keyword here is marketable. Ashlyn helps you do that. Plus, she has tons of free resources on her blog.
- Creative Circle — Okay I can’t tell you how I found this staffing agency. November was a blur I guess. Looking for jobs? They have listings across the U.S. In need of career advice in the creative industry? You need to check out their blog.
December
This was graduation month for me. Bottom line — very few people hire in December. I guess people just like to keep their books clean in prep for the new year. Therefore, enjoy the time with your family + friends. Yes, keep looking for jobs, keep reading books and apply for positions. But — also know that once hired, you’ll have limited family time.
And that’s time you can’t get back. And here’s the funny thing. Companies like that time off too. Usually, they’re already in holiday mode as it is.
January
This is when everything blew up. It started while I was in New York. I actually did a phone interview while waiting just inside World Trade One. Fast forward to January 9. At this point, I knew if people were hiring it was now.
Step one: list the top 10 advertising agencies in Little Rock, AR; Fayetteville, AR; Memphis, TN; St. Louis, MO, and Nashville, TN.
Step two: visit each agency's career section of their website. If they have positions, apply. If nothing is listed, call them and ask.
Step three: follow-up with an email. Simplicity. Simplicity. Simplicity. Thank them for the phone call and tell them to look at the attached resume and cover letter — that’s it. Did I mention simplicity?
Step four: interviews. Dress the part. Bring the writing examples. Ask the hard questions. Also, everyone loves a funny + embarrassing story. Don’t be afraid to be yourself and share a laugh with them.
February
Seven weeks. Roughly 49 nights of waking up, making coffee and opening my email. This was the time it took from graduation to February 1 for me to accept my first job offer.
Did I settle? No. I definitely turned down a handful of other offers.
Could I have gotten a better job? Possibly. That’s a risk you have to take. I chose to take the opportunity in front of me.
Why did I choose this specific opportunity instead of others? Growth. And not just in a specific discipline — it was across the whole agency. I’m the person who likes getting their hands in everything. I needed a fertile place that could house real growth and not just shout corporate commands.
What’s next? It’s time to do great work. I’m sure I’ll let you know how it goes.
