The Career Advice I Needed to Hear
Over the past few months, I’ve had the pleasure of speaking as a panelist at several University of Toronto Career Centre events, such as the Next Steps Conference that took place this past weekend. Not long ago, I was an attendee at this same event, anxious at the prospect of graduating with no path in mind. I always found it comforting to hear stories of students who had figured it out — and when I graduated, I was eager to offer whatever shred of hope or advice in my power to provide.
For those nervous soon-to-be-grads — particularly to the humanities majors — here are the most valuable tips and reminders I have to offer.
Don’t be afraid to wait, especially when it comes to making a big commitment like grad school. When I was in fourth year, I fully intended to apply to grad schools. I asked my professors for references, submitted a scholarship application, and set about writing my personal statements only to realize that nothing was flowing. I was changing my mind daily about programs, so I stopped. A year of time and experience has given me so much insight into what I love, what I miss, and what I should avoid, making me much more confident in seeking out the right path going forward.
Don’t be intimidated by the numbers. It’s scary when you hear that a classmate has applied to 200 jobs or that your dream job posting has 500 applicants. Always remember that in these scenarios, quality matters far more than quantity. Unedited resumes and cover letters, sometimes addressed to the wrong organization, are submitted daily. Taking the time to tailor your materials, research, and show up organized and prepared already puts you ahead of hundreds. This could mean that you’re not applying to as many jobs — I applied to fewer than twenty and only got one interview — but the ones you devote time to will be more meaningful to you and therefore are more likely to pay off.
Don’t underestimate your skills. As a writer, I sometimes assume that everyone can write well. After all, we all write every day — texts, emails, shopping lists, cards… But that definitely does not mean everyone can do my work. A valuable thing I’ve learned this year is that writing is as much a skill as coding or data analysis, and I won’t undervalue it again.
Follow your passion, but be open about that means. I’m passionate about helping young people by using words, and that can mean a whole range of jobs across several industries — including the one I’m in now. As the keynote speaker of Next Steps, Jesse Wente, expressed, following your passion is always the best choice, but passions can change and they can look differently than what you’d expect. Embrace that. Try a few versions of it, because sometimes, your top choice might not be the most practical in this moment. Along the way, you could stumble across something that works better or eventually end up building the skills you need to achieve that ideal goal.
You don’t have to know everyone. As an introvert, the concept and need for networking terrifies me. I’m here to tell you, it doesn’t have to be that way. Of course it’s important to keep connections, but don’t go out of your way to engage with people you don’t care about, because they’re not going to care about you either. Make friends and talk to people who interest you — and leave it at that. I knew nothing about my current organization before seeing it on LinkedIn and knew no one who worked there. That didn’t matter.
Find a way to prove you can do the work, and nothing else will matter. During my few months of intensive job searching, I learned to spin my experiences in a number of angles: communications/marketing (never taken a marketing course in my life), student services (not in an education program), journalism (never been paid for a piece), customer service (never had a paid job in this field), administration (never worked in admin), but I knew I was entirely capable of doing all of those jobs. Find a way to prove that (i.e. put together a portfolio, draw on your volunteer experiences, show your ability to learn quickly and lead, etc.), and that can make up for gaps in training or work experience. Bonus tip: apply to non-profits, who are more willing to take chances on young professionals. You will also learn and get to take on so much in a short time.
No one has it figured out. It can be easy to look at graduates with stable jobs and envy their positions, but many — myself included — still feel lost. Many of us are still facing big career changes ahead. Many of us will go back to school. Just last April, I was attending these panels as a student. Now in January, I’m the one giving advice. A year from now, I might very well be back in the crowd once more — and that’s okay.