Part 2: Young and without relevant work experience amidst a global pandemic? Why we need to invest in ourselves, others, and feedback
"A great camera doesn't produce a great photographer. A good tool can enhance our ability to create quality of life, but it can never create it for us." - Stephen R. Covey
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote the first part of this article. In that piece, I primarily reflected on my professional journey, career challenges, and shared my conviction that empathy and affirmative actions would be necessary to help provide the needed career opportunities to fresh graduates and young professionals struggling to find jobs amidst a global pandemic.
My position has not changed.
While I continue to believe so, I am also pondering if such expectations/actions alone could be sufficient? This is why I am writing a sequel, sharing three self-help tips and suggestions that I think many more fresh graduate and young professional can leverage to better position themselves in a challenging job market.
1. Invest in Yourself
"The best investment you can make is in yourself ."- Warren Buffet
Especially at the early stage of our career journey, it is my opinion that this is a primary investment we all have to prioritize, as the work and effort we put in (internally) will eventually show up and prove valuable to us when we need them most.
I once read about the story of the Chinese Bamboo Tree shared by Stephen R. Covey in his book "First Thing First". According to Stephen´s account, for the first four years after it is planted, all the Chinese Bamboo´s Tree growth is underground. For those years, the only visible thing above ground is the little bulb and a tiny shoot coming out of it. But in the fifth year, the Bamboo Tree grows up to eighty feet.
For me, the metaphor of the Bamboo Tree is very symbolic. Even if the right opportunity is not within sight today, it is crucial that we continue to invest in ourselves while waiting for it by watering and feeding our mind with the right content and resources.
Read books written by others, attend career seminars and workshops, watch videos (Youtube can be a useful resource) or listen to podcasts to learn from the knowledge and experience of others.
As Stephen R. Covey concludes, an hour a day spent "sharpening your saw" creates "private victory" that makes public victories possible. And ultimately, you will reap the fruits of your effort in your harvest.
2. Invest in Others
“The way to achieve your own success is to be willing to help somebody else get it first.” – Iyanla Vanzant
One of my favourite ways to invest in others is by volunteering. This could be one of the most profitable self-help techniques we can engage in while waiting for the right opportunities. I too have benefitted enormously from my volunteering experience, gaining more knowledge about my areas of interest, building a valuable network as well as skillsets that I have translated into my professional life.
Do you have knowledge and expertise in Web Development? Why not consider helping an NGO create or manage their website?
You will not only be providing valuable skills and insights to the benefit of others around you, but might end up earning hard and soft skills that will prove valuable towards your professional success, help you improve on your craft, and also gain relevant working experience.
3. Ask for and Use Feedback
"If at first, you don't succeed, find out why." - Stephen R. Covey
As I have previously written in another article titled; 2 REASONS why WE need more FEEDBACK under THE NEW NORMAL, one way we can improve on ourselves is to seek feedback from others we have engaged with or engaging with. We can ask for and receive feedback from mentors, friends, and even job recruiters. Did you take part in a job interview and got rejected? You can reach out to the recruiters and ask for feedback. This could be in the form of a simple message in response to a rejection email.
"Thank you for your message. I really appreciate you getting back to me.. Please, if you don't mind, I would appreciate your feedback on what I could improve in the future if I decide to apply again."
Although this is not usually a given, most people (recruiters) are empathetic and happy to provide you with feedback when you genuinely ask for it.
Finally, at some point in our journey, we all will find ourselves in situations that we didn't create, but end up limiting the opportunities and chances available to us. It is under such circumstances that the actions we take will really matter. And while I might not have all answers towards providing the needed opportunities for fresh graduates and young professionals amidst a global pandemic, it is my sincere hope that alongside organisational empathy and affirmative actions, many more fresh graduates and young professional would be open to investing in themselves, in others, as well as asking for, and using feedback towards continued growth and improvement.
Book Recommendation: Manners Will Take You Where Brains and Money Won't: Wisdom from Momma and 35 Years at NASA