The Job Search: Lessons Learned

Happy 8/9/10. If I hadn’t had to fill out tax form after tax form today, I would have never known it was such a cool day digit-wise. My summer employment is ending in less than two weeks, and new employment will hopefully be starting. The summer flew by! It feels like I barely experienced it, but such is the life of a now actual adult. Work has taken the place of childhood playtime. As I am journeying down this road of job applications, interviews, and e-mails, I am learning a lot of lessons. Some things I have done correctly, and a lot of things I have done wrong, but I am hoping to send wisdom to those who have not yet begun this challenging process.

The one thing I wish I had done more of while at school was networked/stayed in touch with former employers. I had no idea how important references were until I started this search. In my short twenty-one years, I have been employed at a number of different places. Some were big companies and others were small local businesses - and I did a fine job at all of them. When it recently became time to get a reference list together, I was sending out frantic e-mails that started with “I hope you remember me!” Thankfully they did, but that's not the way you want to approach references if you have the choice to do it differently. If you leave a job on good terms, no matter how big or small the job, always keep in touch.

At my first job, I worked as a Page in my local library. My supervisor was an awesome guy who I really connected with. He was young, fun, easy going and had the best middle name I had ever heard of – Igby. When I left my job, he stayed around for a little while and then traveled to another state (Wisconsin possibly?) to pursue a better job. I wish I would have kept his contact information on file and e-mailed him from time to time. I was unable to use him as a reference (because I had no idea where he was or how to contact him), and I feel he really could have said some positive things about me since we worked so well together.

I am beginning to network again through people I have met while working my summer job, work colleagues of my parents, and that friend who has a friend who has a friend at such and such a place. I am keeping a log of e-mail addresses, sending notes out often reminding professionals who I am and what I am looking for, and searching for jobs in companies where I know a current employee. I’ve been told time and time again that it is who I know that will get me that coveted job, so I plan on meeting a lot of people in the next few weeks.

Life is all about learning from past mistakes, and I never realized how much knowledge I would gain in such a short period of time. I’m learning how to write effective e-mails; I’m learning how to write cover letters (so many I can’t keep track anymore); I’m learning how to use my time wisely in an interview; I’m learning how to dress. So many great life lessons are coming out of this job search, and I’m actually enjoying the majority of it. All of the potential possibilities keep me excited for what my future holds: A corner office with a view someday would be nice.