Fife=Fries with Life: On The Job Search

Because life has happened... IM EXPANDING

Fife=Fries with life!!

You have a degree; I promise you will be making $500,000.00 a year. Yes you will be in the “President Obama wants more of your money bracket.” –NOPE that’s false. After getting married, relocating, and quitting my job I have learned a lot about searching for a job. So on my quest of wanting to be exposed more to fries… I must be on a quest to get a job so I can afford the quest for my fry’s… lol

JOB SEARCHING 101- according to FIFE…

Things I Have Learned While Looking for a Job 

• You will hear NO or nothing at all, but someone will say YES
• You must remain positive and keep positive people around; there will be many hard days (Try not to let the “No’s” affect your self-esteem. You are great, you are just undiscovered. Don’t let the comments “You need to get a job now” by your family and close people around you make you feel as if you are worthless. Don’t let the fact that you don’t score the job right away and cant go out like you use to make you depressed. Explore fun home activities. Life can get boring and depressing when you don’t have money, but try to keep it fun and interesting! The fun part is hanging out with friends who are always happy and are more optimistic during these moments in life!! Friends who may come over and bring some chips and wine and grab a redbox verses asking you to go the movies!!)

• YOU MUST NETWORK, no matter how uncomfortable this maybe.  (I have found that my anxiety level in meeting new people has increased because I always want to put my best foot forward and of course SCORE A JOB!!! I sometimes put sooo much pressure of perfection on myself because of the burden of employment that I don’t get to enjoy my network or meeting new people. But this has to be done!!! Don’t be intimidated, breathe, relax!!!)

Common Myths on the Job Search 

•  I don’t have the skills they are looking for (Honey Boo-Boo YES YOU DO)
•  I can only find a job through the Internet (Statistics prove this wrong)
• If I send my resume they will see how AMAZING I am (lol…we would all have jobs)
• I’m Overqualified (No we can all work at McDonalds)

In the beginning of my job search I was very hopeful, excited, motivated, looking for that good pay so that I could pay all my bills, go shopping and take some well deserved and well needed vacations. HOWEVA….

No one really warned me on the work that I must put in, the positivity it takes, the writing skills, and the patience I would gain while on this journey. So what did I do, probably what the rest of the world did: INTERNET JOB SEARCH…lol

www.Indeed.com; www.monsterjobs.com; www.snagajob.com; www.ziprecruiter.com; www.Christianjobs.com; you name it I was on it. What did it yield me NOTHING!!!!! Absolutely NOTHING!!!!

I have experience, I was willing to do anything even be a bank teller, janitor, administrative assistant, anything. Well as bills started piling, credit plummeting, no more help from family, and being stretched to the max, I was at my lowest point and could not see my way out. What did I do? I started calling friends and family and began to meet with the career center at Duke!!! JACKPOT!!!! Even though I still have not landed any employment I am hopeful and would like to share or at least begin to share what has been shared with me!!! Be blessed and pray that the right job finds me, as I am search for it!!! 

1.  Who are YOU? So this is most important!!!! What you bring to the table, your experience, your skills, and how you present them to match up to what the employer needs is very important. YOU MUST I repeat YOU MUST make sure that on your resume, during the interview, you find what they need and you tweak yourself to become JUST THAT!!!! But if you don’t know what you bring to the table and how to sell yourself…no one is going to want you!!! :/
2. Have a strategy! What DUKE calls a having a TARGETED SEARCH: I was applying to any and every thing. Do not do that. Know where you want to work, what you want to do, what location, and even identify the top 10 organizations you would like to work for and then hit those hard. I know you have an immediate need, most people do, but it is about creating long term revenue. Keep in contact with your bill collectors let them know as soon as you can make a payment you will.
3. Research & Preparation: After you have sought out your companies its time to research them. You need to know the ends and outs of the company as much as possible. This is possibly where you allow the Internet to work on your behalf. Twitter, Facebook, and even Google, find out what is new and trending for the company. See who has possibly started new projects, promotions, etc.a.     Then use the information to setup informational interviews, to make good networking contacts, send out emails, make phone calls etc. Once you are in the informational interview this information you have gathered during your research will come in handy. J BLINGGGGG!!!
4. RESUME: By the end of this process you will have tons of resumes… maybe even hundreds. Each resume must be individualized for each job position you are applying for. Key words, key phrases, job descriptions, etc all must be tailored for each resume. I will do a whole blog over resumes!!! RESUME WRITING IS INTENSE!!!
5.  Network: Contact people. Past professors, past employers, mentors, aunts, uncles, cousins, distant relatives, friends, EVERYBODY. Please do not feel that you are using them because you are…lol… just kidding. Really you are building a network of support a web of hope. Somebody out there knows someone who knows someone who has the perfect position for you. You just have to find that person, seek them out, sell yourself, and hopefully you will be exposed to the JOB!!!

I hope that you are encouraged if you too are in my position and searching for employment. If you are on the verge of graduation, start preparing now!!! Peace, Blessings, and ENJOY FRIES WITH LIFE!!!!