Searching for a job in a pandemic

So no one told you life was going to be this way.

Yes, we’re quoting lyrics from the Friends intro song — could they be anymore relevant? Though you probably didn’t plan on starting your job hunt during a pandemic, it can be done.

Kellan Van Cauwenberghe, soon-to-be member of the SAIT alumni family and POD Marketing Inc.’s newly hired SEO/Marketing Science Coordinator, shares his experience and advice for students who are still on, or, just starting their hunt in the new normal.

When did your job hunt start and what resources did you use?

For the majority of 2020, as graduation was creeping closer and closer, I spent time applying for jobs online. Little did I realize, my job hunt had actually started much earlier than that. I was asked to join SAIT’s Marketing Program Advisory Committee near the end of the second year of my degree. There, I met the Vice President of Ops & Member Solutions at POD Marketing Inc. I took up his offer to tour the POD office and continued to stay connected throughout the years. He contacted me in late December about possible opportunities coming down the pipeline at POD. Shortly after, I met with the Director of Digital Advertising & SEO and was offered a position.

How did you stay motivated while looking for a job?

Always remember you spent time at SAIT for a reason. SAIT gives you so many different pieces of knowledge that should not go to waste. Believing in yourself is key.

What was your first day of work like?

My first day consisted of heavy onboarding, getting set up on my computer, company email and meeting the entire company on a Monday morning Zoom weekly kick-off meeting. I learned about the different aspects of the company, roles, culture and strategy while moving through different meetings with Marketing Directors as the week went on.

What advice do you have for SAIT students about to graduate and still on the job hunt?

Don’t ever discount the value of networking throughout your time at SAIT. As students, we seem to brush it off throughout our days but in many cases when job hunting, it's not what you know, it's who you know. Additionally, attend different webinars and create a space — it could be a blog or even a website — to publish relevant content if you have it.

Is there anything else you want to share?

As students, do not overlook what you can learn when you take time to experiment in different platforms like Google Analytics, HubSpot, Canva and SEM Rush, as I use several of these platforms for work on a daily basis. Having the added familiarity can be extremely helpful when first getting your feet wet in the workplace.

Get help getting hired from Career Advancement Services

Support from Career Advancement Services is still available online through My Career Hub. Register today to access our job board, download resources and book appointments to meet with a Career Advisor virtually for resumé reviews, practice interviews, LinkedIn help and more. Access is free for all SAIT students and alumni.