Written by: Kyla Williams
It’s no secret that the current job market is slow, oversaturated, and incredibly frustrating (with a huge emphasis on that last one). This is especially true for those of us seeking full-time, entry-level roles upon graduation. We all have heard the horror stories: we see young professionals across various fields who are having challenges navigating the current job market, whether it’s the infamous ghosting from employers or the bait-and-switch job descriptions. Let’s not beat around the bush; it is extremely hard out here.
Landing a job in general is challenging on its own, but the current state of the job market is enough to make anyone lose their mind. I definitely did. While I unfortunately do not have the magic secret to getting the coveted “We are pleased to offer you…” email amidst this chaotic employment-seeking landscape, I do know a thing or two about refining your candidacy for a communications or media-related career, and trying your best to stay grounded in the process.
First, a little, tiny bit of tough love
As aspiring professional communicators, the first thing we need to do in the job search is accept that jobs in marketing, advertising, PR, communications, and several other disciplines in the industry are very competitive (even aside from the current state of the job market). Think about it, we get to do a lot of cool stuff, and many of us not only learn from our classes and internships, but we also enjoy them and are passionate about what we get to do! It’s not a bad thing that it’s a competitive industry; we just have to be prepared to not only stand out in an applicant pool, but confidently present ourselves to employers why we’re worth their time, with the evidence to back it up, of course. Which brings me to my next tip.
It’s all about your personal brand
If you’ve been joining us at our Quotes events this semester, you know that your resume,
LinkedIn and a portfolio are all very important in your professional development. You might be sick of hearing it, but I cannot stress enough how much having an updated and refined professional e-presence helped me in internship and job searches. These materials are often employers’ first impressions of you — and we all know that first impressions have a lot of potential to go either way. I would not recommend that you dedicate time to developing these materials. I would also insist that you connect them to each other. People respond to and resonate with consistency and narratives (my fellow Ad/PR majors can vouch for me on that). Job searching is essentially self-marketing, so make your personal brand a memorable one that employers would want to learn more about. Don’t forget to nail that elevator pitch too!
Be A Sponge!
They say the best way to land a job these days is through your connections, and I certainly agree. However, I’d argue there’s a little more to it than that, and telling people starting out their careers to network and hope for the best is a little vague, so let’s talk about it.
When I say be a sponge, I am saying to open yourself up to a multitude of experiences and to soak it all in. As UCF students, when it comes to networking and resources, right here is a great place to start. There are so many organizations and resources to help you with your professional development and networking; you just need to take advantage of them. If you’re an NSCM student, even just clicking on those emails you might not usually pay any mind to can lead to opportunities to meet professionals and go to events that you wouldn’t have otherwise thought of. If you’re close to graduating, this looks a bit different for you, but there are still so many opportunities through professional development organizations to meet professionals and attend events. Putting yourself out there in this way can be nerve-racking, but you can’t soak in the experiences if you stay away from the water! You never know what putting yourself out there is going to do, and maintaining those relationships can potentially lead to great things.
And Remember…You’re Trying Your Best
Like I said earlier, by no means would I ever claim to know the cheat code for landing a job during these challenging times. I’m learning a little more every day about how to navigate job searching and professional development, but I like to keep in mind that I’m just an individual with no control over the job market itself. Some days will be tough, and it’s hard to not let all the rejections and ghostings get to you. I’d even say it’s close to impossible, as we’re only human. There are several things out of our control regarding the job search, so once you’re confident in the candidacy you put out there, all you can do is take care of yourself in the meantime. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of the “rejection is redirection” in this context, because you can only be redirected so many times before you start to feel like you’re losing your way (and your mind). Instead, I’ll conclude on this note: you only need one “yes.” Whether you get five or five hundred “no’s,” the one “yes” will be all that matters.
You’ve got this, truly. Good luck!
Quotes 