Published: 13 May 2021
The job market is tough at the best of times. That goes double for right now.
The economy is opening back up, we’re able to visit shops and cafes and finally get to see people after what has been an incredibly difficult year.
But easing restrictions are having an impact on the job market. If you’re looking to start your career right now, you’ll have to learn to work with it.
The government spending review estimates that by June this year almost 2.6 million people will be out of work.
That’s 7.5% of the population, with the majority of those affected applying for jobs.
In the second half of last year, there were reports of thousands of people applying for entry-level jobs which, pre-pandemic, attracted just hundreds.
So, how do you cope with the application, interview and (occasional) rejection process?
The answer is one word: resilience.
A popular buzzword in team-building exercises, it can be simply put as your ability to ‘bounce back’ when something doesn’t go the way you want.
That makes it a particularly useful skill to have when facing the challenging world of pandemic job applications.
Learning resilience
A resilient person has a few typical characteristics:
- They’re positive – avoiding only seeing the negative in a situation.
- They love growing their networks.
- They’re not afraid to ask for help.
To take on these features on yourself start by finding ways of meeting new people.
That comes with its challenges right now but start by joining interest groups through apps like MeetUp.
As a University of Sunderland in London student, you’re in luck. You have a ready-made community of fellow students and dedicated staff you can build your communications skills with.
Start by inviting some of your classmates to a WhatsApp group or visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to interact with your colleagues.
Learn
You’re a student, so you’re used to treating life as a learning opportunity.
That’s no different when things aren’t going to plan. So, if you don’t get the job you wanted, why not try and learn some lessons?
Asking for feedback might be the simplest way of doing that.
Sending an email to the interviewer or HR Manager and politely requesting information on why you didn’t get the role is a perfectly acceptable thing to do.
You’ll get tips on what you need to work on the next time around.
But you’ll also show the hiring manager that you were serious about the job and keep yourself in a good position if you want to apply for another role in their company.
Remember though, with so many applicants they might not be able to give you feedback. That’s ok, but it’s worth asking.
You can still write down how you thought the interview went, be honest with yourself and try and work out what room you have for improvement.
Being upset that you didn’t get the job is completely valid, but make sure you get something practical out of the experience too.
However, the job search is going, the most important thing is to believe in yourself.
You have the skills and knowledge you need to achieve your goals. You will get there.
The University of Sunderland in London’s Careers and Employability office is here to help you get ready for life after graduation.
To have a one-to-one chat with them, book a meeting through Compass.
Alternatively, email careers-london@sunderland.ac.uk. Find out more by following #WeAreSunLon on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.