by Nida Ansari Given the nature of the ever-changing job market and the state of the world, searching for a job is a different experience for everyone. Whether it’s a change or development in an industry’s practices or a literal global pandemic, a myriad of variables can change what the job search process looks like every couple of months. The process is even more varied for co-op programs: you’re a student, you’re looking for entry-level positions most of the time, and you’re consistently trying to apply for jobs while also taking courses and staying involved in school. For some Psychology students, it isn’t hard to find the job they want. And that’s great for them! With Experience Guelph and/or their personal networks as resources, some students are more than confident in their abilities to find the best suited role for them. But for others, like me, job searching was a strenuous and time-consuming activity. I don’t think it had to be – in fact, if I knew a couple insider tricks before I started, I might’ve been less hard on myself during the whole process. Now, like I said, the job search process is completely different for everyone and will vary depending on when you are searching and when you’ll be working. My experiences can only serve as one example of a Psychology student job search, especially since it was one during a pandemic. That being said, here are some things I think Psychology co-op students should keep in mind when going into their own job searches to ease the uncertainty of it all. At least I know they would have helped me! Extra curricular and volunteer involvement matters more than you think. I thought that having little to no professional experience before searching for a job was going to be the reason why I wouldn’t be able to find one. That’s not true at all! In fact, extra-curricular and volunteer experiences were the main roles that helped me bulk up my resume and get the job I have this semester. Any experience is good experience - it matters most how you present them! Writing a cover letter and resume to compliment each job posting is so important. It is not as simple as copy-and-pasting your entire resume and cover letter for each job application! Recruiters will notice when you are being generic and when you are being genuine. It will take a lot of energy and time, but it’s important to cater to each job posting’s requirements directly. Something I have done is have one document where I keep track of all of my roles (jobs, volunteering, clubs, etc.) and update a list of my achievements/duties for each of those roles. That way, I can pick and choose which points I can highlight so they match what the job posting is looking for. I don’t rewrite my resume every time, of course, but I’m not saying the same thing about myself every time, either. Sometimes you’ll have to choose between a dream job posting and an important school deadline. As a reminder, your job search terms, at least at the University of Guelph, happen during your full-time, academic terms. That means application deadlines are bound to be due on the day you’re studying for a midterm or finishing an essay. My genuine advice to you – even if applying for a certain job would help you achieve your long-term career goals, also remember that participating in your courses and managing your time well-enough for assignments and deadlines is just as important to maintain your short-term academic goals, which, in turn, WILL impact your long-term academic AND career goals. There will be plenty of chances to apply to jobs (even if you feel like there isn’t), but there will not always be a chance to get an extension or re-do an exam. That being said, not all jobs will be dream jobs. You will not be a therapist in your first co-op term. In fact, you probably won’t even be one in your last one, either. Some jobs we assume we’ll get as Psychology majors actually require way more training and certifications than co-op students are qualified for. With that in mind, be ready to start at the bottom and move your way up. You can build your transferable skills in any position and use those to plan ahead for what your future career may look like. You can definitely seek out therapy or mental health related jobs, but just be aware that it is not rare to start in the corporate field for your first co-op term(s) before getting into the “psychology-specific” roles. In interviews, it’s always a two-way conversation. It may or may not take a while to get to the interview stage (it did for me, at least), but when you do, it can be nerve-wrecking regardless of how you got there. It can be hard to remember how you wanted to present yourself because you’re too concerned trying to always say the right thing to make the interviewer impressed. Because of that, we sometimes forget that in an interview, not only are we trying to portray our best self so we can be selected, but we are also finding out first-hand what the company is like. To that I say, use that moment to your advantage! Don’t be afraid to ask questions about what the company atmosphere is like, or what your day to day routine would look like in the role. As well, don’t be afraid to ask what the next steps are, so you aren’t left hanging after you end your interview. It shows the interviewer that you were engaged during the conversation, but it also helps you understand the kind of working environment you may be getting yourself into. Like I said, even with practice it is possible you still forget what to say, but having this in mind ahead of time may help to calm your nerves. It’s not personal – they don’t hate you! I can admit that I am a people-pleaser. I always hope that at the end of a conversation, I made a good impression on someone, and that they liked me or what I do. But of course, it is almost impossible to be the “best” person for every job interview. Even if you think you are meant for a job, there are always a range of factors that impact if you get the job or not. And it can be dejecting to hear that you didn’t get a job that you thought was going to be the one. But trust me – it’s nothing personal. You just have to do the best you can, and there is only so much you can control in the interview process. Be proud of yourself for going through the whole process even if you don’t get the job! It is always meaningful experience and practice for the next one, and you’ll always be one step closer to perfecting your interview routine. Depending on your current trajectory, you may be searching for jobs right now or will be searching for jobs next semester. To you I say: all the best, and believe in yourself and your ability to succeed. It’ll go a long way! - Nida Nida is a second-year Psychology Co-op student at the University of Guelph, and is the Marketing Coordinator on the Psychology Society. Are you a Psychology co-op student at the University and want to share your experiences, whether that be in the application process or your best interviewing tips? Make sure you fill out our submission form and send it back to us so we can showcase your ideas! Resources
Get more information about job searching and career-related workshops via Experience Guelph: https://experienceguelph.ca/
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