I recently completed a 3 month internship, I'm now an au-pair, working part-time in a cafe, and searching for a job in the creative industries. Finding a degree-related job while juggling other responsibilities has been one of the hardest challenges I've faced, and it's taken a while to get into a positive headspace about it. I thought I'd share some advice on how to cope with what can be a draining experience.
There's no expiration date for where you want to be. Whether that's to become a marine biologist, or publishing your first novel, it's OK to go slow. Working in retail, or whatever part-time role you find yourself in doesn't make you a failure. It also doesn't need to be temporary. There are no rules about the work you choose post-graduation, so take the advice of others with a pinch of salt (mine included!) There's no rush.
Keep track of the applications you've sent out, to get a sense of how many you've been doing, but also, it can be nice to jot down what else you've been getting up to. This usually cheers me up, reflecting on recent experiences, rather than dwelling on how many hours you've spent scrolling and crossing your fingers...
First up, prioritise the roles. As tempting as it can be to apply for that dream position straight away, it may not be an entry-level opportunity. If in doubt, send over your details and situation, prove your passion and discuss how you could go about reaching that position. Who knows, they might have a work experience or internship vacancy which hadn't been advertised yet. Apply for the roles you have the most experience for and you are most suited to, rather than getting your hopes up for a job which ultimately you just aren't qualified for at this stage.
Be Realistic. Make the most of the filtering options on job sites, to make life easier. This way you avoid looking through the vacancies which just aren't you. Consider how far you'd be willing to commute, the company size you'd like to join, your salary expectation, etc...
Be Realistic. Make the most of the filtering options on job sites, to make life easier. This way you avoid looking through the vacancies which just aren't you. Consider how far you'd be willing to commute, the company size you'd like to join, your salary expectation, etc...
Create a template for your cover letter, but tweak it for each role. Add in evidence to prove that you've actually researched the company, dropping in a line about what you've liked that they've recently done for example. They will probably receive an insane number of applications, with predictable key words blurring them all together. This can seem daunting, but there's no harm in getting creative here, share something you do that is memorable. Are you a dog-walker in your spare time? A stand-up comedian as a side hustle? Let 'em know! Getting into the habit of promoting yourself can feel awkward, but it usually gets easier once you get a sense of who you are and what you're looking for.
There's no expiration date for where you want to be. Whether that's to become a marine biologist, or publishing your first novel, it's OK to go slow. Working in retail, or whatever part-time role you find yourself in doesn't make you a failure. It also doesn't need to be temporary. There are no rules about the work you choose post-graduation, so take the advice of others with a pinch of salt (mine included!) There's no rush.
Keep track of the applications you've sent out, to get a sense of how many you've been doing, but also, it can be nice to jot down what else you've been getting up to. This usually cheers me up, reflecting on recent experiences, rather than dwelling on how many hours you've spent scrolling and crossing your fingers...
Reward yourself - it might seem like a small thing to send off a selection of application letters each day, but it takes a lot of energy, and it's easy to fall into an isolated cycle, beating yourself up when that rejection email (or no email entirely...) comes through, or an interview doesn't go as well as you'd hoped. Scheduling fun plans might not fit the spontaneous quota, but setting time aside for laughing in the pub or going for a wander with friends is definitely a positive thing. Solo binge-watching Killing Eve with a giant hot chocolate is also my kind of down-time...
Hopefully this has been a helpful read! Feel free to send over any of your tips - I'm aware that there will be heaps I've missed out here. Big love to all those figuring it all out, too.
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