#118: Lauren Stein – Communication skills go both ways, employers
“I was beyond pleased to get a form e-mail from a company after I applied, telling me they were looking at more seasoned candidates, but thanking me for my application. Sure, it was a No, but at least I knew that. I could continue to focus on other postings and let that small glimmer of hope rest in peace.” —Lauren Stein, Graduate, Concordia University
It’s a rush, really, getting that e-mail or phone call. Hopefully you know the one. When those hours of rewriting, reformatting, self-branding and keywording have inspired someone, based on that piece-of-paper version of yourself, to ask whether the flesh-and-blood You might be available to meet. What’s almost better is actually knowing someone with the power to bypass that stack of paper-people, who can immediately get you some face-to-face interaction with a decision maker.
I was bursting with anticipation when I recently discovered, thanks to some LinkedIn sleuthing, an opening for a social media/communications position at a company that just happened to employ an old acquaintance of mine. I sent my contact a message immediately, pouncing on the opportunity, eager to find out who I could send my information to. As a recent graduate of the Concordia University creative writing program and an emerging writer, let me tell you, the worst part isn’t getting that rejection letter, it’s waiting for it to arrive.
The awesome part of working your network, as I’ve discovered, is that waiting is almost non-existent. I heard back from my contact the same day, not only with a request for my paper-self, but an inquiry about my availabilities so that an interview could be scheduled. Of course I didn’t blink twice, immediately adhered my CV to an e-mail, sent it off, and within hours had an interview set and some pep in my step. I didn’t want to think it was in the bag, but I won’t lie and say I wasn’t over-confident.
Things got a little murky when, the following day, my contact had to swap our interview to another time. Being that he would be around my neighbourhood during the weekend, my contact suggested we meet at a cafe which would, in turn, help me avoid schlepping across town to the company’s headquarters. Works for me, I thought, and proactively suggested a place and time.
I never received a confirmation.
Fast forward to the scheduled time and place: I decided to assume that no response leaned toward the affirmative. I was prepared, dressed appropriately, arrived early. And I waited. I waited for a half hour before I sent my contact a message to ask if we were still meeting. I waited another 15 minutes to see if maybe he got lost/stuck in traffic/couldn’t find parking/slept in. After 45 minutes, feeling dejected and foolish, I decided I’d waited long enough. I did get a response from my contact, about 10 minutes later, stating that the position had already been filled right before the weekend began.
Ordinarily, I would shrug this experience off, frown at the lack of professionalism and continue on my way. However, this isn’t the first time this sort of thing has happened.
Where I am now
I’m still on the prowl for career-launching employment, but am currently part-timing at a coffee house and I’ve applied to the Creative Book Publishing post-grad certificate at Humber College. I’m also writing and submitting my work to various literary magazines, for which, even after over 100 days of waiting, among thousands of other authors, I always get some kind of response.
My recommendations for employers, schools and career centres
To employers and friends, friends of friends, and other acquaintances with jobs: A lot of importance is placed on communication skills. There are few job postings that don’t tout this as a key qualification. Us new grads are bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and especially keen to communicate and communicate properly. Make sure you hold the same standard. Just because you might be doing us a favour, or we’re not involved in your company (yet), and might be a dime-a-dozen these days, doesn’t mean we don’t deserve to be treated as professionally as established professionals. Regardless whether the company is a tiny magazine with 5 or fewer employees, or a huge corporate beast, humans appreciate respect on all ends of the employment spectrum.
Everyone is busy, busy, busy, but it’s easier now to send off quick communiqués than it ever was. I was beyond pleased to get a form e-mail from a company after I applied, telling me they were looking at more seasoned candidates, but thanking me for my application. Sure, it was a No, but at least I knew that. I could continue to focus on other postings and let that small glimmer of hope rest in peace.
My recommendations for students
Like most things that involve putting yourself out there (job hunting, writing, dating, Canadian Idol auditions), the easiest thing to do is get discouraged. If you’ve just graduated, whether you’re working part-time or volunteering alongside your job search process, don’t wallow if things aren’t working out.
If you’re like me and can’t stand the waiting, but need a break from the singular focus of cover letter writing and CV revamping, find something non-career related to get the edge off. Some activity or hobby that you’ve always enjoyed doing, or have always wanted to try. I rehearse with a couple of dance troupes a few days a week, it keeps the creative juices flowing, my blood pumping, and works as a fantastic outlet for frustration over job-related disappointments.
This #StudentVoice belongs to:
Lauren Stein
Graduate
Creative Writing
Concordia University
Click here to share your own story.
