Solving A Jobseeker ’s Struggle: How to Get A Job
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| The calls I missed |
The photo in the background is a screenshot of my call logs (missed calls). When I received those calls, I was employed. I'm the kind of person who does not look at my phone when I'm at work, and I put my phone in silent mode. I did not bother knowing who called because I'm happy with my job. Now that my contract ended, my curiosity aroused. I looked at my email to know what I did during those months, and I saw the emails from the organization I sent my applications.
This post is for all those job seekers who are losing hope of getting a call from the organization they are applying.
Note: The government sector might be different from the private sector because my experience has proved that, "kapit" (connection/backer in English) is necessary to get a slot in the government agencies in my country (and most probably to all or most countries). It's more on, "who you know" than, "what you know" or "how much you can give". Those with political connections (or have the money) are lucky because they often get the job even if they are not qualified. That's a sad truth that I have endured. So, to all who think they are dumb because they cannot get a job, think again. Probably it's not about you, but it's with the system.
Graduation Season
It’s graduation season (in some schools). Many graduating students might be pressured by now. Those with honors may be confident, but do not expect it’s easy unless you have truly learned from the lessons taught in your university (or school) and you know how to apply them in the real world.
It’s not about your grades
Believe it or not, grades do not matter a lot today. So when you write your application letter and resume, avoid highlighting your grades. Focus more on how did you get that grade. What did you do to deserve that grade? Maybe you just gave many gifts to your professor (or teacher) so he/she gave you that grade or you were able to get a copy of the questionnaire from those who took the test first ( that’s cheating by the way ). A person with integrity is highly valued (probably) in all organizations, so make sure your grades do not reflect any form of cheating. Do your best to prove that you are worth the try and the organization will not regret hiring you.
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| The missed opportunity (based on my theory) |
How to get noticed and get a job
1. Make use of free legit job sites. There are jobs in one site that may not be available in the other. To make sure you will not miss any great jobs that you may fit, register in all those sites and sign up for their email list so that you will be updated with the latest job openings.2. Think well about your profile. Your profile photo and everything you write in your profile can tell a lot about you. Be authentic and avoid copying others' profiles. Most employers look for individuals with originality. Copying other's work will never do you good. You may get a call from the employer or the hiring officials, but remember that job hiring is a lengthy process. The call is just the beginning.
3. Show your creativity in your profile. Many hiring managers or employers are looking for candidates who have creative minds because they believe that those kinds of individuals have the solution to their problems or can think out of the box solutions.
4. Fill out all the information asked including adding more info about you. Putting more relevant information in your profile (like if you have a blog or vlog) is a form of leverage. You are above from many job seekers if you go the extra mile because that’s what employers want. That means, you are capable of giving them outputs beyond their expectation.
5. Before sending an application, make sure you have read everything in the job posting and you have researched about the organization. Many job seekers’ mistake is that they do their research only after they are invited for an interview. It is very important that you know about the organization you are going to send your application because first, if you are using jobstreet.com, you need to write a pitch before you can send it; second, you may have conflicting beliefs (or values) with the people in the organization; third, you may not get a career growth in that organization; and last, once you get in and you found out that the 2nd and 3rd reason above are right, you might want to leave. That will get you into bigger trouble, so better do your research first.
6. Choose what’s best for you and never give up. You know who you are. You are more aware of your capabilities. You know what you truly need or want. Use your knowledge to decide what’s best for you. Then find, acknowledge and grab the best opportunities. It is hard to choose especially if you have the right skills and talent. If you’ll experience this, try to filter your choices based on your current situation and your future plans. Think thoroughly and if there are people you think can give you good advice, then ask them. Their opinion can be very valuable, but do not let them belittle your decision. You know more about yourself and what you are capable of doing, so follow what you think is the best for you, others or the future.
Why am I writing this?
You may think “Who’s this girl saying all these stuffs and how credible is she that I should read this post or follow what she said?”. I understand if you are thinking that way. Honestly, I am currently unemployed (waiting for the order from the government agency my mother is working). I missed so much opportunities since the day I graduated. I chose to listen to my parents’ opinion and follow their advice. I am truly disappointed in myself for not choosing which I think is the best for me. I do not want you to be like me. That is why I am writing this.
Although my parents also wants the best for me, but they do not know my capabilities. They are not even aware of this blog. I don’t often go out of my room (unless I have chores to do), so they think I am just sleeping the whole day. I don’t want to be criticized by them anymore so I decided not to tell them what I’ve been doing online. This blog is one of the best decisions I made. I almost deleted this blog months ago and that would be the worst decision I would’ve made.
As I read the posts I have published and on drafts, I realized how this blog helped me in recovering from depression. This might help you too.