Have you ever found yourself applying for over 100 internships in a month, constantly checking your mailbox for responses, and grappling with self-doubt? If so, you're not alone. Many students face similar challenges.
It's been 8 months since I relocated to Canada to pursue my studies. Settling into a new city has been no easy journey, especially when it comes to finding internships. I'm eager to share some of the lessons I've learned with my network, particularly fellow international students.
Exploring Career Options
As a recent graduate diving into the field of digital marketing through an intensive program at George Brown College, I wasn't entirely certain about my career path, but I was enthusiastic about exploring. Attending weekly seminars as part of my Digital Seminar Series exposed me to various career possibilities.
One seminar, led by Blair Roebuck, sparked my interest in marketing science. Her case study on the Rotman School of Business demonstrated how data analysis can inform marketing strategies and enhance the user experience of a website. This perspective challenged the common perception of marketing solely as sales-driven, highlighting its role in providing seamless customer experiences.
Inspired by this, I reached out to Hoffer Liao from the advertising agency GALE, who provided valuable insights into the field of data science. Now, I'm motivated to translate my interest into tangible skills and continue building my portfolio in this area.
Navigating Job Search Challenges
However, securing the "dream job" is no easy task, especially with limited experience and fierce competition. Learning to cope with setbacks has been a journey, but insights from speaker - Danielle Humilde have been very helpful to me.
"Success looks different for everyone” - Danielle Humilde
Her past experiences and struggles resonate with me deeply. What impresses me most is her ability to overcome challenges. Initially facing limited experience and knowledge in the marketing field, she encountered difficulties in establishing a career. However, she persevered, seeking internships through her network and actively seeking advice from professionals. Eventually, she established her own business.
I can empathize with the struggles and disappointments of facing numerous rejections. I've been in that position, as have all the speakers who generously shared their experiences with us. Recognizing that it's never easy to redefine "success," I'd like to offer an alternative perspective:
Consider success as every small milestone you achieve. For instance, enrolling in an online course, applying for a volunteer program, or developing a portfolio for your job search are all significant accomplishments. I'm confident that these achievements will pave your future steps, as they have in my own experience.
What's Next?
I'm excited to announce that I've secured an internship at Prosh Marketing, thanks to the invaluable feedback I received from speakers. As I prepare to embark on this new chapter, I'm happy to share some job-hunting and networking tips I learnt from the seminar series.
Crafting an Effective Portfolio
I would be proud to say that Roshni, the founder of Prosh Marketing and also the one who interviewed me for the internship position, has appreciated my portfolio. (I would be very happy to believe that the portfolio has granted me the opportunity to secure the interview!)
During the seminar, many speakers emphasized the effectiveness of a portfolio. I used Canva to design mine, so no need to worry about the layout! I am also starting to build my personal website to serve as an interactive portfolio.
As a personal tip, I would suggest:
Customizing your portfolio for different positions: For example, for positions that focus more on design and creativity, include more samples of your work using Adobe Creative Suite.
Don't include too many samples; choose the best ones!
Networking, Networking, and Networking
Networking does not have an absolute definition. Sending a LinkedIn invite could be one, but that alone isn't sufficient.
What I've done is connect with the Hiring Manager after interviews, send a follow-up thank you message, and inquire about staying connected. Even if you haven't secured a position at this stage, you can certainly attempt to reach out to HR when you've developed more mature skill sets in the future.
I've connected with all speakers from the seminars on LinkedIn. However, what I should do better is reach out to them regarding my career options. At this stage, I've only followed and reacted to their posts. But the most ideal approach is to engage in meaningful conversation, which I plan to do in the next step.
Build Your Experience with Freelance or Volunteer Projects
As speaker Megan Schidel shared, she never stopped developing her portoflio through freelance projects when she wasn't in a full-time position. I would also recommend every international student who is struggling with limited local experience to do this.
I've been searching for freelance opportunities on Fiverr and Upwork. I've helped clients from the US maintain a newly-built website and conduct an SEO report. This can definitely strengthen your portfolio and help you better develop your project management skills.
I've also signed up for the Glocal Foundation of Canada to explore volunteering options. I would love to share more about this in the future.
Active in Job Searching
I've been using Indeed, LinkedIn, Monster for job searching, as well as the George Brown Network GBCareers which I have secured my internship. These websites do provide a lot of opportunities, but they can also be overwhelmed by too many applicants, making it hard to hear back from employers. The best way is to reach out to your networks, as mentioned above.
Though I'm still navigating the job market as a newcomer to Toronto, I hope that sharing my experiences and insights from the seminar series can help others on their career journey. I would share more on the internship journey in May, please stay tune and I am excited to learn about your journey as well!
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