Get Grateful

In order to maintain the energy level required for job hunting it is crucial to seek out positive sources of inspiration. One major source of energy is gratitude. It may sound silly but taking ten minutes a day to think about all the things you have to be grateful for can make all the difference in the world. The reality is if you were born in Canada or a country of similar wealth you've already won the country of origin lottery. Over 80% of the world's population lives on less than $10.00 a day. Please let that sink in for a moment.

If you were born in a wealthy country like Canada just by default you're already doing better than 80% of the people in the world. It's hard to get down on yourself when you remember that over a billion people go to sleep hungry every night. I am extremely fortunate to be born in such a wonderful place. A place where I have the right to healthcare and an education, the freedom to pursue an interesting career, and a vote in deciding what direction my country will take politically. We all take these freedoms for granted at times. It's easy to go negative when things aren't going exactly how we want in life. It's important to remember just how good we have it.

The Occupy movement has been one of the most compelling news stories of the year. One of the main themes of this movement was that of the 1% versus the 99%. The most curious thing about this theme is that those supporting it in Canada seemed to forget they were part of the wealthiest 20% of people living on Earth. A group that regularly takes advantage of inexpensive products produced by way of cheap labour from poorer less developed countries.

Things won't always go as you plan in life, but you can choose what perspective to take. I choose to be grateful and to be aware of how good I have it. No matter how difficult the economy in a country like Canada I am certainly living better than 80% of the world population today. That realization makes it feel almost petty to be upset about something so trivial as having to hunt a little longer to start my career.

Build New Skills

After a much needed night out at the rink watching the Ottawa Senators playing the Boston Bruins I feel energized. It really is important to stay connected to the things you're most  passionate about. My brother is in town for a month from Vancouver and will be helping me learn some new skills. After attending Queens University for Computer Science he's certainly never had to want for a job. A long discussion on a bus ride home from the hockey game and I'm all set to start learning some basic web development skills. These will be skills I can add to my resume and use to build a side income in times where work can be hard to come by in most fields of work.

In addition to this I've applied to volunteer with Ottawa Police Services and hopefully this will lead to a plethora of new learning opportunities. If accepted I'll have the chance to work closely with a potential future employer and learn much about their expectations of prospective employees. The main point of this blog of course is to encourage all job hunters out there to start volunteering and contributing. The more you get out and do the more people you get to meet. These people are going to help you build skills and build your resume. There is nothing worse than a large blank gap in a resume where a hiring manager can see the individual was clearly doing nothing. At that point it just looks like the job hunter wasn't even trying despite job hunting diligently. Getting out in the community and making an effort to contribute unpaid is key. So get out there and do it!

Attitude is Key

I've read a significant amount about job hunting recently and almost every article that I've come across has at some point discussed attitude. The experts appear to have formed a consensus that it is an absolute must for job hunters to maintain a positive mental attitude. It's not uncommon or even hard to understand why many people get depressed during the search for employment. The process of applying for work is one of continuous rejection. It is very difficult mentally to fail over and over again and maintain the same level of dedication to a task. However it is very important to persevere through the hard times and remember that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I feel that perhaps the most important thing is to keep doing the things that make us happy. Most of us will be able to achieve this simply by remember to spend quality time with friends and family. One equally important notion is that it is essential to avoid interaction with those who only seek to commiserate. Nothing will bring down your mood faster than having to sit and listen to how hopeless the job hunting landscape appears. Another very good tip that I've read is to get out and volunteer. Job hunters can build excellent skills and experience by volunteering and as a bonus it feels great to contribute.

I am probably one of the largest hockey fans on the planet. I'm passionate about the sport and probably know far too much about it. However being able to lose myself in my passion for hockey allows me to take a mental break from all the challenges I'm currently encountering in my life. It's important to remember not to forget about the things that keep you up at night. The things you really genuinely care about. The work you would do for free if money wasn't an issue and someone gave you the opportunity.

I've known my whole life that for me that work would be in sport. I've always loved being active but furthermore I loved the positive emotions of empowerment that sports brought into my life. Sports bring together people from all walks of life to compete on a level playing field irregardless of background or family wealth. On the field everyone competes as equals and everyone deserves respect. In my time playing sports I learned how to build relationships, take constructive criticism, and work toward challenging goals. I learned to accept failure as just another bump on the road. I also learned to believe that if you aren't failing much you probably aren't challenging yourself enough. Real development takes hard work on weaknesses rather than just repeating the things we have already mastered. Sport has taught me many lessons in life and that is why I seek to give back through sport. I know that one day I would like to run a volunteer organization that helps youth engage in sport. I want others to have the opportunity to experience the joy of sport and learn the things I did.

So If you're getting down on your job hunt try to remember what you're passionate about and seek out an opportunity to engage with it. It will bring up your mood and you'll be reminded of what's most important.

The Journey Begins

     My name is Benjamin Gallant and I graduated from the University of Ottawa in the Criminology program in December of 2009. Unfortunately for me it was only after I finished my schooling that I realized this would be the time when the real challenge began. The economy was crashing and all around Ottawa a collective clash was heard as windows of opportunity slammed shut. Government agencies and private companies tightened their belts in anticipation of the many difficult months to come. Like so many students in my program I figured that good grades combined with an invaluable student internship at a government agency would make me a lock to land a job fresh out of school. In short, I was stupid. Not a day goes by where I don't regret failing to work harder to find FSWEP placements (Federal Student Work Experience Program), summer internships, volunteering opportunities, and networking contacts. I thought if I just focused on my grades things would turn out just fine. It turns out that was a very bad idea.

     I've now been job hunting for almost two years with only a small degree of success. That being the fact that I've managed to keep myself at least partially employed and gain some experience working for the federal government. However, I just can't shake the feeling that I'm just not doing things right. Firing off one resume after another and hoping to win the lottery that is the online job boards has me wearing thin. I've been thinking to myself over the past few months that there has to be a better way. In the past few days I've gone out and bought a bunch of books that agree with how I'm feeling. This blog will be a journal of myself trying out those techniques and providing real feedback on what seems to work and what doesn't. I welcome any contribution of ideas, networking contacts, or assistance in finding a job.

Happy Hunting