The key to a successful job search
On avoiding burnout when applying for non-academic jobs
Hi there, I’m Emily! 👋 Welcome to Hired Humanities, a biweekly newsletter devoted to helping humanities students build careers they love.
Welcome to the first "formal" issue of Hired Humanities! Now that you know a little more about me, I thought I'd kick things off by talking about the biggest mistake I made in my early non-academic job search. I’ve come to call it the Scattershot Approach, and it's taught me a ton about what’s needed for a successful job search.
What is the Scattershot Approach?
The Scattershot Approach is rushing to apply to any job that's remotely appealing and/or nominally related to your academic work. Or, in other words, it means going ham on job applications without an ideal role or career in mind.
My own early job hunt is the consummate example of the Scattershot Approach.
When I first left my graduate program, I panicked. Though I had made the choice to leave, I still found myself totally shellshocked without my routines and a clear pathway to success. On top of that, the loss of my stipend hammered home the need to figure something out— and fast.
So I did what any good academic does in the face of adversity: I put my nose to the grindstone and started writing. Yet instead of producing scholarship, I was producing job applications.
Now, it's hard for me to say how many applications I wrote in the early days of my job search, but it was a lot. I thought the number of applications I submitted was directly proportional to the likelihood for success, so my main goal was to get my resume in front of as many people as possible. As a result, anyone in the Nashville area who posted ads for entry-level jobs even tangentially related to writing received an exceptionally convoluted cover letter and resume from yours truly.
And guess what? None of those jobs ended up panning out.
The problem with the Scattershot Approach
I learned the hard way that blasting out a bunch of cookie-cutter resumes and cover letters to as many jobs as possible is going to make you look like a bot at best and clueless at worst. Additionally, I discovered the most insidious aspect of the Scattershot Approach: that it's a recipe for burnout.
Without a sense of direction, it's nearly impossible to know what you're working towards. And when you don't know what you're working towards, how can you track your progress and know you've succeeded? Sure, sending out 100 applications may seem like a productive goal, but it isn't a true measurement of success if you don't have any interviews to show for it and are demoralized at the end of the day.
That's why it's so important to give yourself time to figure out what industries you're truly interested in and research what roles you're qualified to do. Having a target in mind will help you clarify the steps you need to secure that illusive first job outside of the academy, or, if you've already been working in industry for awhile, determine how to get to the next level. Instead of spinning your wheels with generic resumes and lackluster cover letters, you'll be able to track what's working and what isn't, identify which skills you need to work on and weed out the job posts that aren't a good fit.
In short, focus is the key to a successful non-academic job search.
Three questions to bring focus to your job search
If you've been doing the whole scattershot thing, don't panic! It's a completely normal reaction to the stress of figuring out what comes next. More importantly, it's possible to reign in that urge and bring focus to your search, even if you aren't 100% sure what your goal is.
Below you'll find three questions that I've found essential to maintaining focus during my own job searches. Future issues of Hired Humanities will explore strategies for determining your target role more specifically, but asking yourself these questions each time you evaluate a job post should provide some clarity around whether or not it's worth applying.
1. Does this job excite or interest me?
If the answer is strong no, think twice about applying. Seriously— it's okay to take a pass on a job that really isn't appealing to you!
If the answer is yes, save the job description (I use a Google doc). As you build up a job description database, it'll become an indispensable tool for identifying what job functions interest you most and help you "reverse engineer" your ideal role.
2. What's motivating me to apply to this job?
Are you applying out of true excitement for the opportunity, or to get out of a bad financial situation? Or do you think this is the only job you're qualified to do?
There are many reasons why one would apply to a particular job, and one reason isn't necessarily better or worse than another. It's important to examine your drivers so you can set appropriate expectations for the outcome of the job application.
If you're applying out of anxiety — which is the main engine of the Scattershot Approach — then you'll want to be extra attuned to whether the job really is a good fit as you advance through the interview process. Let me tell you, I applied to jobs that were the furthest from where I wanted to be when I was at my most panicked. If I can spare you from having to sit through an excruciatingly awkward interview during which you realize that you could never work for the company, then I count that as a major victory.
3. Would taking this job move me in the right direction?
This final question is ultimately a reminder to go with your gut. The "right direction" is something that only you can determine. If you feel a glimmer of hope at the thought of working in this role, or if it seems like it's a step forward for you, that's a sign that it's worth pursuing or at least examining more closely.
A parting note
Thanks for tuning in this week! Before signing off, I want acknowledge that time to consider options is, in many respects, a luxury. I don't want to minimize the very real need to support yourself and, possibly, your family. It's perfectly okay to take a job to fulfill your financial needs while you figure out what to aim for longer term. I am not advocating saying "no" to every job until you've determined your dream career, but I encourage you to consider how much time you can give yourself to take a breath and evaluate your goals.
More than anything, you deserve to give yourself space to figure out what you want to do.
See you in a couple of weeks,
Emily
Reading List
A few of my favorite links
🔎 If you love the idea of a career that sits at the intersection of people and technology, check out The Muse's overview of UX Research.
📧 Wondering how to network professionally in a pandemic? The New York Times has some great tips for expanding your network virtually.
💻 Speaking of virtual life, businesses that are building apps on top of Zoom are having a moment— especially in the education space. It’ll be interesting to see how this trend progresses. EdSurge has the details.