Feel Like Giving Up?
July 23, 2009
So the summer may have just started for high school kids, but for most university students, it started two months ago. The lucky ones have already found jobs to keep them occupied over the summer. The others have probably spent these last two months searching frantically through job boards and sites just hoping that someone will take a chance on them.
But it's even harder now. Not only do we have to face the fact that most employers feel that we just don't have the right experience for the job, but we also got a lot more competition than before. A lot of the older, more experienced workforce who have been affected by the struggling economy are often looking for the same kind of jobs as we are. When you're out of work and need the money, you'll find that you become less discriminating as to the type of work you're willing to do. A top executive may be willing to work entry level positions if it means putting food on the table for their families. It's just unfortunate that we're also only qualified for the same entry level positions. So if you've been struggling like I have, just remember not to take it personally and keep trying.
There may come a time when you just want to give up. You'll think that no one will hire you this summer and you'll try again next year. But what do you do now? For me, staying at home all summer and not accomplishing anything doesn't have the same draw that it did when I was younger. So I decided to try what my friend did and find an organization to volunteer at. I volunteered a lot in high school but when I hit university, I focused more on my schoolwork. When I really started looking again, I found a lot of causes and organizations that I realized I would love to volunteer at. Suddenly, I wasn't feeling quite so disappointed in myself. The idea of spending my summer volunteering for something that I can really support sounds just as good as working. It may even sound better than working at a temporary job you dislike. Volunteering is a great way to spend your summer. Not only does it get you out of the house but it's a good way to give back to society. You'll also find that it's a lot of fun and a great way to build your skills.
Speaking of skills, it's always a good idea to get a few people to look over your cover letter and resume. I often find mine look much more professional after I let my friends look them over. When you're reading your own cover letter and resume repeatedly, you'll find that you just start skimming through it. Friends can often make suggestions about formatting or help you to reword any awkward phrases. There are also a lot of great resources available to you from career centres to websites to books. If you put forth a little more effort, you'll find yourself feeling more confident in your ability to land that job. Good luck in your job search and if you feel like giving up, give some of your time to organizations that really need it instead.
About the Author: Dharshika P. is a third year Biology student at UofT who enjoys writing, classic rock and appreciates a good cup of coffee.