As a fresh graduate who has been job hunting for two months now, unemployment can feel intensely intimidating.

It has been a uniquely challenging phase in life where I’ve had to focus on my sense of self, my presentation of it and also decide on my goals for my profession.

Unemployment can also feel scary because of the newfound independence.

Thankfully, I had some practical tips that were a light to my footsteps during my job hunt as a fresh graduate. Hopefully, these tips can help you out as they did for me.

5 TIPS FOR THE JOB HUNT

1. Talk to adults about your job situation

There is no simpler way to learn about the ways of the working world than to hear directly from experienced individuals.

My family didn’t know much about my industry, but they knew about job hunting and the hiring process in general.

It was initially difficult to open up, but I’ve since learned that they are an additional pillar God has given me during this period.

For example, I never knew that I could ask companies to expedite my job application outcome when I had an offer, until I shared my situation with my relatives.

I wouldn’t have thought about googling it either as I never knew that it was even possible.

2. Get a sense of direction by tracking your job hunting progress

When I started job hunting, everything felt like a mess. It was a tedious and difficult process to both research on companies that I considered applying to and remember my impressions of them.

Finally, I did up a spreadsheet to keep track of my evaluations of the job openings based on the criteria I had.

The spreadsheet served as a record of my core ideals for my first job and the overall progress of my job hunt across job portals.

After job searching for weeks, I became demoralised by the lack of response to my applications.

In that period, the spreadsheet was particularly helpful in reminding me of my job criteria especially when I found myself applying for openings I had previously only considered in passing.

I reflected on the importance of these criteria and prioritised them. Ultimately, the spreadsheet served as a record of my core ideals for my first job and the overall progress of my job hunt across job portals.

3. Prepare for your interviews

I struggle to piece my thoughts together when under stress.

After my first interview ended horrendously with my superficial opinions, it led me to research on common interview questions for my profession and collate my answers in a document.

It helped tremendously that I could think through my responses in advance and build my answers upon them for other questions I didn’t anticipate.

Ultimately, these questions guided my personal reflection to better understand myself and my profession.

It was only when I understood how the Lord has shaped me in my experiences and skills, that I could present them boldly and with a grateful heart.

4. Know that it’s okay if you mess up

The entire job hunt is a learning process.

Even though some of my mistakes may have led me on a longer route, they were probably the best way God could ingrain lessons in me and prepare me for the right job when it arrives!

God has plans for you in this period. You are not defined by your livelihood. You are a child of God.

Indeed, I better understood my job criteria as I applied for jobs. It was the frustrations I faced that made my priorities for my first job unequivocally clear to me; the struggles strengthened my resolve to hold on to them.

This was likely a lesson that I could only properly learn and appreciate through experience. 

5. Don’t belittle God’s provision

It was a struggle to remain steadfast in my job ideals and resist feeling insecure about my abilities.

I’ve learned that it’s okay to get a reality check of my job criteria and reevaluate them. It’s also alright if I ever decide to accept a job that doesn’t fully meet my expectations to gather experience for a company I’m aiming for.

Most importantly, I needed to remember that God always provides sufficiently. To trust in that means resisting the urge to apply for or accept a job I know I would regret.

The right one will come, and He will see me through it.

So don’t let yourself be clouded by anxiety or desperation during your job hunt.

God has plans for you in this period. You are not defined by your livelihood. You are a child of God. Focus on eternity and trust your Almighty Father.

If He can save us from the most difficult problem that ever existed – sin – He’s definitely got this too.

And as for me – I’ve just started my job this week!

So far it seems that God has set aside this job for me! It’s such a great fit – the people, environment, travelling route, growth and opportunities to reach out to others spiritually too!

Waiting can feel painfully impossible, but in God, the very best based on our needs and capabilities will arrive in His perfect time.