“Be persistent (but not annoying), stay true to what you are interested in, and rest assured that you will find a job that is likely an even better fit than you would have found by filling out a standardized application.”

—Alex Radu, Commerce, Queen’s University

Being in a business program that has strong connections with a number of large corporations, I started my job search by emulating what students around me were doing: applying to large consumer packaged goods, accounting and consulting firms that recruited students directly from our program.

These companies were actually coming to us, hands outstretched, asking for resumés and cover letters. So, it only made sense to give them what they were looking for.

In retrospect, I realize that this is a privilege that most other university students do not have.

Having said that, after jumping through the hoops of these large corporations’ systematic recruitment processes, and getting turned down numerous times, I found myself becoming very jaded to this type of job hunt.

The process was painfully repetitive: attend on-campus information session → submit resumé and cover letter → fill out online application → attach resumé and cover letter again → wait for response → interview → get turned down → hopelessly wonder why.

Though I began each new application excited about the prospects of the job, by the end I had lost much of my passion and zeal.

It was at this point that, through the Impact Entrepreneurship Group, I was introduced to the world of start-ups and small businesses, which breathed new life into my job hunt.

I began doing research on start-ups in Toronto and contacted the ones I felt strongly about joining. I outlined my experiences, what I wanted to get involved with, and conveyed my genuine interest in the company.

This sometimes resulted in the chance to go for coffee with the CEO or founder, which allowed me to get a feel for the company’s culture and openly discuss what I could bring to the team.

This was it.  No more faceless applications, no more jumping through unnecessary hoops, and no more generic e-mails turning me down without any sort of explanation. Finally, an application process where I was dealing with real people who were incredibly passionate about their work. Plus, they were equally interested in me and what I could bring to the table.

It was a whole new world of job opportunities.

Where I am now

This summer, I am working as a Marketing Co-ordinator for Redwood Strategic.

This is not a job I got through a career centre or any form of on-campus recruiting.

I met the founder, Dave Wilkin, last year at a conference and was captivated by his energy and his belief in the power of what his company does. After the conference, we kept in touch and met on several occasions to discuss Redwood Strategic, its employment needs, and the kinds of experiences I was looking for. We soon found a mutual fit and Dave hired me as a Marketing Co-ordinator for the summer.

I am extremely excited to jump right into things and work with Dave because I truly believe in the company and what it does.

My recommendation for career centres and schools

Because there are so many small businesses out there, it is impractical for career centres and schools to directly connect students to what is likely an overwhelming number of jobs.

Also, smaller companies often don’t recruit regularly (or in a specific, structured manner) like larger corporations, making it difficult for career centres to inform students of deadlines or application instructions.

So, instead of posting these jobs, career centres and schools should empower and teach Gen Y-ers to pursue these types of positions on their own.

Resources should be devoted to educating students on how to research jobs, and then helping them to follow through with a compelling application and interview prep.

My recommendation for students

My advice is to not restrict yourself to only applying for positions you find through career centres or job boards.

First, take some time to research the fields you are interested in.

For example, if you are fascinated by technology, start attending conferences like CUTC to get an idea of who the key industry players are, and who you may be interested in working with. If you discover a company you would be excited to work with, send them an e-mail or call them directly.

Please do not make the mistake of sending out a massive number of generic e-mails.

When you approach a company, it will benefit both you and the employer if you are genuine and honest. Explain exactly what you want to do, and why you are interested in working there. The company will recognize that you’ve done your research and that your application isn’t from a template you’ve used for hundreds of other positions.

Be persistent (but not annoying), stay true to what you are interested in, and rest assured that you will find a job that is likely an even better fit than you would have found by filling out a standardized application.

This #StudentVoice belongs to:

Alex Radu
Student
Commerce
Queen’s University

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