What I've learned from my job search so far

US Capitol photo by Tara Siuk

Two months ago I made a bold move: I quit a job that I liked to find something that better fit my passion for progressive public policy. I had been searching for jobs for a few months before I quit, but I wasn't able to invest much in the process while working full time. As someone who likes to stay busy, having so much free time on my hands made me restless at first. Since then, I've learned a lot that has made me a better person and stronger future employee. Here's what I learned so far, and I hope that this post helps and encourages those in a similar situation:

People want to help
I am extremely grateful for the friends, acquaintances, friend-of-friends, and flat out strangers who have donated their time to meeting with me, shared their experiences, and forwarded job opportunities. I'm still nervous when I reach out to schedule informational interviews, but I nevertheless push myself to do so. It is difficult for me to ask for favors, but I am always pleasantly surprised when I do, and I am eager to pay it forward down the line.

There are many opportunities to learn
Without any obligations during business hours, I'm finally able to attend panels and conferences on subjects I'm interested in, from topics related to my job search (like how to fine-tune your resume) to more academic matters. I've learned about emerging global trends at the Pew Charitable Trusts and youth civic-engagement tactics at the GovHub. LinkTank publishes a great schedule of events in the DC area which I highly recommend, and I make it a point to attend at least one event a week. Not only do I walk out of these events a smarter person, but I get to build my network from meeting other conference goers and by engaging in discussion in person and through social media, In addition to these one-day events, I am also taking an online data science course through JHU/ Coursera to learn new skills relevant to public policy. Many of these coursers are free or very low-cost- I recommend checking them out.

Each job application makes you stronger
After hours and hours of searching for jobs and writing cover letters, I've nailed down my career narrative and identified my clear skill sets. Although it sometimes feels like my job applications go into a black hole, I walk away from each application with a better idea of who I am and what kind of job I want. Each week I find myself making small changes to my resume, and it's growing stronger and stronger. I've received a lot of solicited and unsolicited feedback on my cover letters and resume, and taking the time to implement these suggestions has made them better.

Investing in paid job-search services can be worth it
There are myriad useful, free websites out there, but I'm glad I've invested in some paid ones as well. I bought a subscription to Brad Traverse Jobs, which posts jobs related to public policy and government affairs and found it immediately useful. By consolidating so many intriguing jobs in one place, it is well worth the $5 a month. I also started a free one-month trial of LinkedIn Premium to build my network, find jobs, and make new contacts. At $29 a month, I'm not sure I will continue after the trial ends tomorrow, but it was helpful. In addition to the many online jobs boards, I found these free websites useful for public affairs: Democratic House Resume Bank, House Bulletin, Senate Resume Bank, DC Public Affairs Jobs, and my county government's job board. However, for Capitol Hill jobs--even more so than other jobs-- it really is about who you know, so I am making sure to complement my online networking with in-person networking.

Small goals are important, too
Obviously, my main goal throughout this process is to get a job in my desired field. But setting smaller goals makes me feel more accomplished along the way. An easy goal is setting a target number of applications to submit each week (mine is pretty small because I'd rather focus on crafting the perfect cover letter for a job I really want than send out a bunch of generic ones). I'm thankful that I have enough savings and support from my husband to take this time off to job search. Still, I've set a date a which I will take a part-time job, internship, and/or start temping until I can find a permanent position. That date has given me the confidence and leeway to not give up, as well as something to look forward to.

All work and no play is dull
At first I felt guilty for spending time on hobbies instead of searching for jobs. However, there are only so many hours a day you can check the same job boards again and again. Investing in the things that make me happy, well, makes me happy! I finally got around to making a scrap book for my wedding, volunteering, picking up guitar again, and getting more involved with local organizations. I've even been able to travel a bit and visit some friends and family, and I've read a ridiculous number of books.

My search continues with some hopeful possibilities brewing, but this post is a reminder to myself and others in the same situation that it is not a waste of time. Some days I'm excited by the many possibilities before me, yet others I feel inadequate, discouraged, and hopeless. But that's all ok- this is a learning experience, and we can do this!