TIPS ON JOB-SEARCHING

While perusing the Craigslist part-time job ads a couple days ago, I stumbled upon the following ad:

Small business owner mid-30’s looking for part time help from someone energetic, hard working, and flexible.

Would be need 10-20 hrs per week.

Some of the tasks include filing, copies, calls, answering phones, and giving the owner massages.

Great pay.

Thanks 

Sounds good, I thought initially. “Great pay”, easy hours, a nice office setting. But I felt like I’d missed something. I re-read the message. Yep, there it was, in plain print. “Giving the owner massages.” That short phrase threw the whole deal into question.

What did the job poster mean by it, I wondered. Perhaps it was just a typo. Possibly he had meant, “giving the owner messages.” That would make more sense, right? But I had the sinking feeling that this was for real. The mid-thirties small business owner needed a little company.

This ad is a perfect illustration of the sort of hit-and-miss scenario that characterizes job-searching. You apply to 50 jobs you want and 5 you don’t want, and you get hired for the job you didn’t want. You get called in for an interview, impress the boss with your attitude and expertise, then learn they gave the job to the girl who rushed in to the interview 20 minutes late. Believe me, I know all the scenarios, and have lived through most of ’em. Ever since I left the hallowed halls of my university nearly 2 years ago, my life has been one big job search. It’s been stressful, discouraging, anxiety-provoking, and sometimes downright miserable. I’ve pounded the pavement on strange streets. I’ve knocked on doors and been turned away. I’ve bade goodbye to co-workers who’d become the best of friends. 

But through it all, there’s always been hope. There’s always been a job out there for me, and some of them I’ve really loved. I’ve proudly shaken the hand of new employers. I’ve walked home from a hard-day’s work feeling like I earned that paycheck. And through it all, I developed a first-hand knowledge of job-hunting that I’d like to share with you!

WHERE TO LOOK

CRAIGSLIST
As the “giving owner massages” ad illustrates, there are always a few bad apples to be found on this site. But many of them are legit. I’ve found several jobs, gigs, and internships through Craigslist.

SEARCHING OLD SCHOOL
Sometimes, nothing beats old-fashioned pounding the pavement. Try your local neighborhood first. With any luck you’ll be able to walk to work, one of of the bonuses of living in NYC. If you don’t find any openings in your neighborhood, try bigger streets. I recommend hitting Times Square, or 5th Ave in Manhattan. There are always openings in these high traffic areas. Simply walk into a store and ask if they are hiring.

JATCHED
Check out JATCHED.com! JATCHED, which is featured in our new book, the NYC Student Guide, is a job-matching service that pairs college students with prospective NYC employers.  

REVAMP YOUR RESUME

Your resume should always be up-to-date and reflect all your abilities. Employers don’t know anything about you except what your resume tells them. Are you hard-working? Do you always go the extra mile? Don’t assume the employer knows, tell them. Sometimes it’s not good enough to just type that you were a copy-editor for the campus paper. Describe how many times you worked overtime in the staff room.

BE WILLING TO SETTLE FOR LESS SOMETIMES, BUT ALWAYS KEEP REACHING FOR MORE

Sometimes you’ll have to work a couple shifts at McDonald’s before you score that perfect job. Remember a paycheck is a paycheck. And in the meantime, think of this as only one step in the path of following your dream.

SEE UNEMPLOYMENT AS AN OPPORTUNITY

Right now, you don’t have a job, but think of it this way. At least you’re not stuck at a job you hate! Endless opportunities await you. You can work anywhere, or do anything you want. You just have to keep looking, have the right mindset, and always follow your dreams!

Written by Megan Soyars, Campus Clipper blogger

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