Hi everyone!
Happy June, and I’m really glad you’re here with me today. 🙂 I would like to express my gratitude for your investment of time in reading my post. Following the example of my last post, I’ll be sharing some personal experiences to illustrate how a Coach can assist you with any personal challenges you may encounter. This month’s topic revolves around the moment when students are endeavoring to find their first opportunities for career development.
Seven years ago, upon completing college, I found myself in quite a lose-lose situation. This led to an anxious period of my life, filled with frequent questions like “How in the world am I going to find a job?” At the time, I didn’t realize it, but I was essentially engaging in personal coaching, which eventually helped me secure my first job just two months after defending my thesis. (Disclosure: Coaching doesn’t have to be exclusively for students struggling to find a job; it can be beneficial during studies for any goal a student might have.)
In this post, I’ll focus on my experience while attempting to gain traction in the job market. If you’re interested in how a Coach can assist you during your studies, you can find more information here.
Let’s delve into the specifics of that journey.
I was keenly aware of the unfortunate emphasis most interviewers placed on ‘experience.’ I remember thinking, “Surely, they must understand that gaining experience during our studies is challenging. So, why emphasize it so much?” This question lead me nowhere so, I set out to pursue the next best thing: volunteering, workshops, involvement in student organizations, or any additional extracurricular activities that could showcase my proactive nature and willingness to put in the work. And indeed, my proactive approach was acknowledged during my first job interview. My interviewer emphasized that my enthusiasm to learn and develop made me a candidate they could trust and invest their time in.
So, how can I assist you during our coaching sessions? We can sit down and discuss your areas of interest (even if you’re unsure what they might be). Don’t worry; we have plenty of coaching tools to help you discover them. Together, we can create a concrete action plan to boost your motivation and self-esteem as you navigate your professional journey.
Before landing that first job, I remember being everywhere—attending free trainings, workshops, and student activities. I was eager to make myself recognizable in the market, absorbing every opportunity for growth. Even if I had attended a CV workshop multiple times before, I kept going back for more because I believed there was always something new to learn.
After completing my CV, I noticed I had been quite active in applying for numerous positions, yet I received zero callbacks. Not one. This realization caused my motivation to drop sharply. I felt lost, unsure of what to do next. Then, one day, it hit me: “What—or better yet, who—is standing between me and my ideal job?” At that point, I simply desired to work with people; HR was my goal. Naturally, the answer was recruiters.
So, I sat down at my computer and investigated into understanding this aspect of the job search process better. Soon after, a free training opportunity arose. It was a two-week program organized by the Ministry of Youth, focusing on business skills for individuals under 30. During this program, I encountered a gentleman who shared his inspiring story. When he returned from college in America, he had no connections in his home country. He printed 20 copies of his CV and began knocking on company doors, introducing himself. Remarkably, one of those 20 CVs landed him his first job- which latter on helped him get to the leadership role more efficiently.
While I admired, applauded, and supported his approach, I knew it wasn’t suitable for me as an introvert. Instead, I decided to take a different route, motivated by his determination. I began emailing recruitment agencies—not to review my CV, but to inquire about volunteering opportunities to shadow a recruiter. Out of the handful of emails I sent, one freelance recruiter, whom I fondly refer to as “wonder woman,” gave me a chance to shadow her for a week. I’m forever grateful to her, not only for providing insight into the recruiter’s mindset but also for being the stepping stone to my first job—a role I’ve cherished for the past seven years.
Coaching isn’t about following a predetermined path to success. Instead, it’s about fostering the authenticity of each individual. There are countless routes to achieving a goal, and with the guidance of a Coach and the aid of coaching tools, we uncover your unique path for career development. So, if my story doesn’t resonate with you, don’t be discouraged. Together, we can tailor a roadmap that aligns with your aspirations. That’s the essence of coaching support—empowering you to define and navigate your own journey.
This experience taught me a valuable lesson: You need to put in the work. Sitting around and waiting for a miracle job won’t suffice. As someone who has navigated through this journey, I can support you in creating your ideal plan to secure that first opportunity and gain valuable experience. But remember, coaching isn’t about me dictating what you should do; it’s about guiding you to define the best path toward your goals. The concrete work and actions are entirely up to you. You’re in the driver’s seat, and I’m simply along for the ride, enjoying the journey as your supportive co-passenger. 🙂
Coaching offers numerous benefits for students, for example:
If you believe my experience can help you reach your goals, let’s schedule a free consultation and explore how we can work together.
If you have more questions, you can always contact me via: students@milosavljevicivana.in.rs
Thank you for your time.
Ivana
CAREER COACH @ IM Coaching