So where to start? Do you grab the classifieds and a highlighter, settle in at a coffeehouse and begin circling the things you want in bright, happy circles? On nearly every street corner in the city you will find employment newspapers for your viewing. Job Finder, Employment Source, Top Jobs, they’re all there, free to anyone who passes by. That means there are hundreds of other people, just like you, viewing and applying for the same jobs you’re seeing. At least that was the pessimistic way I thought.
Perhaps the internet will work. It’s so easy. You can watch The Price Is Right while you’re submitting dozens of resumes.
So that is where I started. I felt so good after submitting ten resumes with beautiful cover letters via e-mail or fax, at the trusty Kinko’s on Division and Dearborn. My presence in the job market was official. When I didn’t get many responses from my prospective employers I started wondering how I was going to stand apart from the rest of the other job hunters in Chicago. There were generic messages but nothing great.
I think employers want to see you face to face. It’s best to physically meet with someone whenever you can. This way they can remember your bright and hard-working smile. A lot of the time e-mail is the only route they’ll allow. It takes a long time for companies to sift through their online inquiries. But money is running short and you need a job now!
Temp agencies are a good way to get some sort of income while you are submitting resumes. It takes about an hour and a half to register and good agencies will get you a job the same week. There are tons of companies that use temp agencies. I’ve worked in some cool offices downtown while temping. If you’re new to the city temp work is a great way to get lost and find your way all over the place. I’ve temped at places like Turner Broadcasting and McCormick Convention Center. Jobs usually pay between nine and 11 dollars an hour. Always keep a resume handy because there are companies that may be willing to hire you away. When there isn’t any work for you some agencies offer tutorials in Microsoft Office. This is a great way to add to your skills while you’re looking.
Don’t be scared or too proud to use your connections. It really can be all about who you know. Getting an interview based solely on an internet resume can be a long shot. Unless you’ve got skills and experience that perfectly match an employers request it can be hard to stand apart from the rest. Whether it’s your dad’s college roommate or a friend’s cousin’s sister, ride their coattails wherever you can.
A college degree is a good thing but it can only get you so far. If you’re like me, and many others, you graduated with a degree in something ambiguous like psychology or communications. A degree is valuable but you have to find the right situations. If I knew where they were I’d tell you.
There are definitely some “don’ts” in the job hunting game. Be wary of anyone who wants to meet with you right away. Either you are spectacularly amazing or they want to use you in their pyramid scheme. I found my way to Chinatown one particularly rainy and windy day for what the overexcited woman on the phone call an “outerview”. Basically, a bunch of us sat and listened to her babble on about how 97% of the population works for 3% of the population and don’t you want to be your own boss? She never clearly told us what we would be doing but it involved forking over 300 of our precious dollars. At the end of the meeting half of the people in the audience turned out to be with the company and they all turned to the victim nearest them and asked with vacant eyes “so what package do you think you’re going with?” It was like something from a horror movie. The even had samples of some health drink they wanted us to sell. Needless to say I did not want a taste. Creepy.
It is very hard not to get discouraged during the job hunting process. You are trying to sell yourself and a lot of companies will not respond. If you’re lucky enough to have a connection or a sweet resume, congratulations. For those of us with less fortune however, it is important to stay positive. If you’re feeling down it will show through in the way you job hunt. Your cover letters will suffer and once you do get an interview your lack of confidence could affect your performance. You are not alone. Your fellow job seekers know just how bad it sucks. Just remember, most everyone you see had to apply and interview for their jobs. It’s probable that they got rejected along the way too.
There are lots of places to work while you are between dream jobs. Check out hotels like The Peninsula or The Four Seasons. You can get full benefits while working there and there are usually a good amount of job openings. Try banks too. At JPMorganchase.com you can submit your profile online and apply for different jobs at many locations.
It’s been three months for me and it’s been a tough haul. I am, however, finally getting phone calls from jobs I applied for months ago. You’ve got to get that callback and then use your dashing personality and stunning good looks to get the job. Even though some of you are probably my competition I wish you the very best of luck. If you come up with any good tips, please let me know!
