One of the hardest things about adulting is finding the job that’s right for you. As young adults, it is sometimes discouraging to assess the saturated job market and prepare yourself for job hunting. In this week’s adulting series, Ms. Simmone Bowe gives her advice on how to get ready for the job in this new year. Ms. Bowe is a certified speaker, corporate trainer, personal development coach, HR strategist and consultant, amongst other things. Ms. Bowe has authored 7 books including Help! I Need a Job and By Design: Principles for Choosing a Career. Are you ready for the job?
What is your advice for young adults who are trying to find a job in 2021?
- Focus is key. It is very important to have a clear idea of what you want. Never go into the job market saying you will do anything – because you won’t, and it shows hiring managers that you don’t have a career path. It also says you won’t stick around very long because you will want to do something else somewhere else after a while.
- Prepare. Take advantage of free courses, webinars, and joining associations/networks and professional groups.
- Be open to opportunities outside of your comfort zone and your geographical location. This is truly the era of remote work.
What distinguishes a good candidate from a great candidate for a job?
- Career progression – This is when the hiring manager can see that your job moves match a career path in work and academic preparation.
- A great resume – Your resume’ should have a nice format with no errors.
- Organizational fit – Your ability to fit into the culture and community of the organization is very important.
What are some ways that young people can make themselves more marketable?
- Beef up their resume in the areas where they may not have enough information ie academic background, part time or volunteer positions in the areas that support their career path
- Show civic and professional involvement outside of work or initiatives that former jobs may have had ie community service.
- Join professional development organizations like Toastmasters to improve communication and leadership skills or take webinars/workshops on areas they know they need to excel at.
- Get visible to show your value wherever you are. Opportunities come to people that others know about and are familiar with.
How should young people go about their job search?
- Start with your network first. Many jobs are not advertised but are referrals. Let friends and family know you are looking, and rest assured someone knows about an appropriate opportunity for you.
- Get a LinkedIn profile! People do not realize the power of this platform designed specifically for the professional that is looking for work and the organization that is looking for the right person for the job. Maintain a great profile and engage on the site by posting and commenting.
- Join a job board to be notified of jobs both in The Bahamas, regionally, or internationally.
What are some common errors that you have noticed in people’s job applications?
- Not following instructions – answering questions properly or not at all, not sending it where requested or any other directive
- Not listing experience and academics in reverse chronological order – most recent going backward
- Putting in irrelevant information like hobbies, personal information, unprofessional photos, unprofessional email addresses, unreachable contact numbers
What is the most important thing young people should consider when applying for jobs?
- Self Confidence – knowing how to interview well and present well in various interview settings, whether one on one, in a panel, over a meal, or in a social setting.
- Being open to start fresh and build their careers from the bottom if necessary. You won’t always get the top position especially without experience. You gain experience by working, sometimes in roles you know you won’t want to stay in for the long term.
- Thinking long term and not quick fix. How does this job fit in to your long term career goals? Am I prepared to stay on this job for at least two years to maximize the learning experience?
Know your worth and how to negotiate your worth from the outset.
Do you think The Bahamas is a viable place for young talented, Bahamians? What encouragement would you give young Bahamians who are fed up with the Bahamian job market?
I think it is and it isn’t. A lot of companies favor younger employees for innovation, speed, lower salary requirements, and perceived more time on the job; however, there is discrimination at work where younger professionals are not treated with respect and are made to ‘pay their dues’ so to speak. My encouragement is twofold: never be so fast to run away from tough environments because there are important lessons to learn and grow from as a professional. Secondly, never be afraid to leave and go where you are celebrated and appreciated, if that is a new job or a new country.
What is your top career tip for surviving your twenties?
Preparation! In my twenties I was very focused on advancing as a professional and so I did a number of certifications, I attended conferences and workshops and really immersed myself in my profession. I joined associations and learned how to network and offer myself for service. I became more visible as a result and more comfortable presenting and interacting with various audiences. I was observant, I asked a lot of questions, and I secretly followed people I admired to see what they were doing to be at the top of their game. So if you can get a mentor and be a curious learner, you will pave the way for a successful career in your thirties and beyond.
We hope you found these tips useful. All the best on your job hunt!
If you need assistance with your resume’, feel free to reach out.
Which tip stood out to you the most and why? Let us know in the comments!
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