ELISA ZERVOS, a career advisor at St. John's University came in to our communications class to address the "job hunting" phenomena that so many recent college graduates enter upon leaving the halls of the coveted universities. She addressed the key aspects of what employers are looking for and some technology that may affect the job finding process in the future. While she definitely gave us a great presentation, I wanted to highlight just a few key components of her chat and how those things pertain specifically to creatives like me!
1. "Find work that aligns with your values, skillset and goals"
You are someone's greatest asset. You're also your own greatest asset. You are far more valuable operating from a place of conscious desire and inspiration. Of course, work isn't always "fun" but, you should always be working for something in line with your soul's desires. If your heart's not in it, your head sure won't be.
2. Your internet footprint is more important than ever.
With the internet providing new opportunities for young entrepreneurs and businesses to touch new clients, it's important to remember how your profile touches potential new employers.
For creatives, this profile is not limited to your LinkedIn profile. In fact, for most people it's more than advantageous to display as much of your professional work as you can in a clean and concise format. "Your LinkedIn is not your resume." Likewise, your social media and internet platforms should not be just limited to your past internships and pictures of you at a desk. Your online brand is an opportunity to share a different side of yourself with an entirely new and original audience. For me personally, this has always been in the form of a website. I enjoy designing layouts and organizing information, so creating my own platform seemed like the best way to "align my values, skillset and goals" with one another to achieve a desired product. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there. I'm just as guilty as every other artist of this -- imposter syndrome will end your career. If you don't take the leap, if don't publish the work or send the pictures/video no one will ever experience the message you've embedded into your creative practices. No one will feel your energy. Be confident in your work and through this confidence, you'll find the motivation and diligence to continue to thrive.
3. BE SOCIAL!
While many people will go into an office building and sit down for a traditional interview, it is becoming more and more common to FaceTime or video conference to submit your interview to a potential employer. while this doesn't sound like rocket science, you have to consider the fact that being presentable for video content is another form of internet media literacy that you should know in order to optimize your chances of securing the job.
This means that being personable is now more challenging than ever. While it may seem tempting to let the techies and online influencers take all the glory, we ambiverts and introverts need to remember that putting yourself out there is a necessity whether IRL or online.