7 Things That Helped Me Get a Job in a New City
In September 2017, I moved to Toronto without a job and started my new one by the end of the month. Here’s what helped me to get a job in a new city (excluding my degree and previous experience):
1) Applying, applying, applying
As someone said it before, looking for a job is a full-time job. I applied for more than 200 jobs and had over 15 phone and in-person interviews before finding the right opportunity. It’s good to track for what position and where you are applying to see how much progress you’re making every day. Set a goal of 5/10/15/20 jobs per day and make sure it’s met. Sometimes you won’t see the positions you like, and it’s okay, you can always apply for more jobs later when there are new postings.
2) Being rejected
That doesn’t sound helpful at first, but being rejected is a great thing. Of course, I didn’t feel like it after getting another “we will keep your resume on file” email. However, rejection means you’re getting replies (and they’re better than silence!).
3) Staying positive
Rejection hurts, we as humans are wired to perceive rejection as painful and internalize it. That’s okay, feel the pain and keep applying. Looking for a job is like dating - you won’t find the right person until you get rejected or until you reject a few. The most important is to find the right fit for both - you and your future company. Even if you get hired somewhere really impressive, but you won’t feel like you belong there - you won’t stay there long, so there’s no reason to beat yourself up after another rejection email.
4) Not listening to everything people say
When I moved to Toronto, I was told by many people that connections are everything, and it’s all about who you know. I knew only seven people in Toronto when I moved here, two of whom were actually looking for a job themselves, and five others were working in unrelated industries. Please, don’t let anything or anyone discourage you. Just do your job (looking for a job) every day and make sure you are developing your skills. If I were to hire someone, I would choose experience and fit over connections any day and so would some employers. It's all about what you know.
5) Staying relevant
When you are looking at some job requirements, you’ll see programs, certifications or software that are new to you. Don’t get scared - write them down, see if you can get certified or learn a new software while you’re doing your job search.
6) Taking care of yourself
I don’t know about you, but I usually feel down when I don’t have a job to go to. And so do many people. It’s important that you take care of and support yourself through this tough period. Schedule some fun activities with your friends and family, enjoy your hobby, exercise and eat well. If you’re on a budget, find some free meetups to join, take walks and go sightseeing. It’s crucial to keep a positive attitude and rely on your support system during this time.
7) Reading
If reading is your hobby - great! If not, that’s alright, too. An excellent book that I highly recommend if you’re currently looking for a job is “What Colour is Your Parachute” by Richard Nelson Bolles.
First, this book is written in a very positive language which is exactly what you need when you’re stressed out about not having a job. Second, it is a step-by-step guide on how to pick the right one, land and pass an interview and find your strengths and values in the workplace.
Hope you enjoyed reading this, if you’re currently looking for a job, I wish you the best, don't give up!