5 Things to Consider When Applying for a Job
Global: An Extraordinary Guide for Ordinary Heroes
When you’re first starting out in your career, getting a job is goal number one. And, trust me I remember, it can be intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be. Here are a few points to keep in mind to help lower your anxiety and raise your expectations.
Will the position inspire and challenge you?
If the position isn’t going to inspire and challenge you, then it’s not worth your time. When you’re first starting out, it can be easy to settle because you’re just happy to have a job – any job. But don’t do it – it’s not worth it! I’m not saying that you won’t have to start at the bottom of the totem poll because you will and that’s ok – that’s how you learn. But you should start at the bottom in a job that you find interesting. If you can’t picture yourself learning and growing in the position, then don’t apply for it. At the beginning you will be expected to do tasks that don’t constantly challenge you, but there should still be tasks in the position description that do sound challenging and like a growth opportunity. So don’t play it safe and only apply for jobs you think you could do in your sleep. Apply for jobs that you’re not 100% qualified for – not ones that require 10 times as much experience as you have, but ones that might be a bit of a stretch. It is rare for someone to be 100% qualified for a job they apply for. Who knows? You might have more of the required qualifications than anyone else applying, or there might be something else about your unique experience that is really relevant. So apply for the jobs you really want, not just the jobs you think you can get. Of course, if you have to settle for a job that isn’t inspiring, don’t sweat it – look for learning opportunities in that job and be on the lookout for a job that is a better fit.
Is the organization a good fit for you?
So much of your experience in your career comes from the institution you work for. Is it big and bureaucratic? Is it small and innovative? Does it support a work/life balance or expect you to be chained to your desk 24/7? These things matter because they will impact not only your 9 to 5, but also the rest of your life too. So do a little research, as around, consult the internet and find out more about the institution’s ethos, work culture, if there’s room for growth, etc. Glassdoor is one resource for this sort of research. And, of course, it might be impossible to tell before you start your job and that’s ok. Just remember that, if the office culture feels bad or toxic, you don’t have to stay. There are places with more positive, supportive work environments and places with more challenging work environments. You can try to create positive change for the work environment from within, which can be hard to do especially if you’re junior and if it’s a big organization. Or you can move on and find a work culture that’s a better fit for you.
Are your documents in order?
Now that you’ve found a job that seems inspiring and challenging at an organization that seems like it has a positive work culture, now’s the time to apply for the job. Are your documents in order? By that I mean your cover letter and resume and sometimes a writing sample. Presumably, you’ll apply for a lot of jobs before you land one. People take different approaches to job hunting: some spend a lot of time on each application, researching the organization carefully, crafting the perfect cover letter, and adapting their résumé so that it’s tailored to each position. This can be good, but you’ll send out fewer job applications than if you send out identical cover letters and résumés for each position. I always took the middle road: initially, I spent a lot of time crafting my résumé and writing a cover letter, asking friends to edit both to make sure they were flawless. The important thing with your cover letter is that you align the skills/experience you have with those highlighted in the job description. When it came to applying for a job, I would send out my standard résumé, which at the time even included school-sponsored activities like being on an editorial board during grad school. My cover letter was mostly standardized, but I would do quick research on the position and the organization so I could adapt the first and last paragraphs of the cover letter. That way, potential employers would know that I’d taken the time to consider the details of the position. By taking this approach, I was able to send out lots of job applications!
How wide can you throw your net?
The answer is as wide as possible! Even though I applied for a lot of jobs doesn’t mean that I landed loads of job interviews. I once heard someone claim that for every 20 job applications you send out, you’d be lucky to get one or two interviews. Don’t be daunted, just get out there and apply for a lot of jobs! Throw your net wide – go ahead and do it! What do you have to lose? Planting the seed is what counts – if you get the job and it’s not the right fit, you don’t have to accept the job offer. Send out 20 resumes, send out 200! The more jobs you apply for, the greater your chance of getting one. Use your network – ask friends and professors for suggestions on where to apply. Stalk the job page of specific organizations you want to work for and use LinkedIn to set up job alerts for these organizations. Ask for informational interviews to find out what your dream organization is looking for in a strong candidate. And beyond everything apply apply apply! Worst-case scenario is you won’t get the job. Best-case scenario is that you get the job and it propels you on to an inspiring and rewarding career.
I’ve included a great, long list of internationally-related job sites in Annex 1 of my book, Global: An Extraordinary Guide for Ordinary Heroes and below are a few suggestions:
Are you ready?
Now this might seem silly. Here you’ve been working diligently to get a job and jumpstart your career – of course you’re ready! And you probably are totally ready! Just a few practical things to consider to doubly make sure. Clothes is one. Clothes you most definitely have, the rights clothes you’ll have to make sure you have. When I started my first internship at Mercy Corps, I was criticized by my supervisor because, in their opinion my clothes weren’t appropriate. I didn’t own any professional clothes and being a poor college student I went to a thrift store to get what I thought would be professional clothes. Turns out that my skirts were maybe a little too tight and short for what my supervisor thought was appropriate. And then when I first started at the State Department after grad school, I had learned to wear looser and longer skirts, but I didn’t own any suits. Luckily Filene’s Basement had plenty of affordable suits and I was able to stock up. Funny enough, I haven’t gone to the problem of replacing most of those old suits, so the majority of my suits are cheapo suites from 14 years ago! They still get the job done! Another thing to consider is that you’ll have to be mentally prepared to be somewhere all day almost every day. This might seem totally silly because, yeah, of course you have to show up for your job, but I remember this being a particular drain when I first started working for InterAction during my last semester of grad school. I had been so spoiled by the wonderful schedule of grad school where I had a few classes and an internship, but my schedule fluctuated each day and I had a lot of free time to get homework done. Having to be in the same place at the same time all day almost every day felt suffocating at first. So it’s good to be mentally prepared! Also, among other considerations, be ready if you have to figure out a commute, relocate domestically, or even move abroad. Hold on – it’s going to be an exciting, challenging and awesome ride!
Want to learn why a career in international relations in awesome? Check out my blog post about it. And check out my blog post about 6 ways to jumpstart your international career.
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