Hey Students & New Grads, Let's Be Real - this SUCKS! 5 tips to get through job loss from a Campus Recruiter who's been there too

Hey Students & New Grads - Let's be real, this SUCKS! Like really, massively sucks. With COVID-19 and an ongoing pandemic, a lot of top companies have been forced to make some extremely tough decisions; offers at some companies have been rescinded, start dates have been changed, and the question of whether your internship or new grad job is still a real, tangible thing is now up in the air. We are told when we are in school of all the success that will be bequeathed upon us when we graduate! That the world is our oyster! That we will succeed simply because we graduated!... Sure. Whatever. That's very 2019 passé... Can we all just acknowledge that 2020 is an absolutely horrible time to be a new grad or be a student with an upcoming internship, and yes, it SUCKS. There, I said it. Here's the thing though - I've now been on both sides. First as a student who's offer was rescinded in 2016, and now as a Campus Recruiter on the opposite end. Here's my story of how I had my internship rescinded in 2016 and 5 tips for how I overcame it.

I honestly thought I was "bullet proof"... Then I received the call...

In 2015, oil and gas prices crashed. Living in Alberta (a province very dependent on the successes - or failures - of the oil and gas industry), I had a fear that my student internship would be at risk, but I didn't think it would materialize into anything. I told myself that I was good! I had a job already lined up for Summer 2016. I absolutely slayed the interview, and had 3 prior internships under my belt - I honestly thought I was "bullet proof"... Then I received the call in March of 2016 from my Campus Recruiter to inform me that because to financial pressures, they were needing to rescind my offer due to economic turmoil on the company. That folks, was how I lost my 2016 student internship.

Now in 2020, I am a Campus Recruiter at a global top 10 design firm - I now know first hand how hard those calls are to make, both to candidates, but also what it's like to receive the call as a once candidate myself. I have learned a lot over the past 5 years, but I still remember how hard that Summer in 2016 was. It was too late to find an alternate internship and I was left with not many options; the economy was hit very hard and even finding a retail job was hard to come by, leaving me completely unemployed for the summer. Looking back, what did I realize and how did I overcome it? Here are 5 tips on how to overcome losing a job as a student or new grad from someone who's been there and done that.

1. It's okay to mourn the loss of a job:

Given the circumstances right now, we have so much to be thankful for when we compare our situation to others in this pandemic. Your feelings however, are still valid. You are allowed to be pissed, upset, angry, uncertain, and fearful. You are allowed to have real, human feelings about losing a job. Again, for the people in the back - YOUR FEELINGS ARE VALID, even in a pandemic. You need to properly mourn the loss of a job, or what you thought that job would look like post grad... For me, after I got the call that I lost my internship, this looked like a lot of crying, eating of feelings, and sappy playlists - maybe not the most productive use of my time in retrospect but it's how I grieved... What is important beyond my personal pity-party is that you need to process this change, however it may look to you. It is a loss that you are allowed to grieve, and you need to properly process your feelings to move through this.

Again, for the people in the back - YOUR FEELINGS ARE VALID, even in a pandemic.

2. A lot things are out of your control (but don't forget what is in your control):

I had my pity-party for a week or two (see #1), then decided that I can overcome this. I realized that there was literally nothing I could do - it wasn't me - I already landed the job, so I knew the company didn't have anything against me, or they wouldn't have hired me to begin with! Say it with me - it's not you! If an offer is being rescinded or a date changed, it likely has nothing to do with you and is an external pressure beyond your control. You will also likely never be told exactly why this happened to you and why you are the one losing the job (enter legal HR jargon here), which may leave you with a lot of anxiety over the uncertainty of it all. So what can you do?

Ask yourself what you can control. Try to distinguish between what's in your "swim lane" and what's outside of it. Start by focusing in on what you do have control over, and realize what you don't. Once you realize what you can control, start focusing in on how to make the best of what's within your control - I found this helped me grieve the job, but also made self-reflection a lot easier in a time of uncertainty. You can control your attitude, how you treat others, and your wellness, just to name a few. It's easy to get caught up in the would haves, should haves, could haves, but you need to (in the words of a popular Disney movie) let it go and manage what you do have control over.

3. Don't be afraid to ask for help (people may surprise you) :

This is something I have always struggled with, and when I reflect on it, asking for help is something I could have done a better job of in 2016 when I lost my internship. I used that internship money every year to cover my yearly expenses and part of my student tuition. Without Summer employment, I was low on funds, didn't know how I would feed myself, and was worried about my mental health. I am a very prideful person and asking for help doesn't come easily for me. What I learned though is that people are more supportive, selfless, and caring than you may think.

My largest regret was that I waited so long to ask for help and I put myself through so much mental turmoil...

I put it off as long as I could, but I needed to ask my parents for money to get through the summer as I couldn't find another job (thanks Mom & Dad), and had to apply for another student loan. I also confided in a close friend who actually bought me groceries one week because I was struggling so badly; it was embarrassing to disclose my finances to someone, but seeing how willing my friends were to help will stay with me forever. Lastly and probably most importantly, did you know that most post-secondaries have mental health resources that you can use and is often included in your tuition? Reach out to your school Mental Health Services and confide in your Wellness Team at your school. You have more people on your side than you think and sometimes just having another ear to confide in is all you need to overcome! My largest regret was that I waited so long to ask for help and I put myself through so much mental turmoil, so I urge you to ask for help and support from your networks as soon as you realize you need it. It does not make you look weak to ask for help, it makes you human, and was pinnacle in me mentally processing job loss.

4. Put your energy into something (including yourself):

When I lost my internship, I personally chose to take Spring classes to keep busy and still continue working towards my degree. For everyone, this may look different - maybe you want to travel over the summer, or take an online course, or maybe get really fit and healthy. Maybe it's as simple as reading every book by your favorite author. Regardless of what it is, set goals and have something to work towards each day to keep your spirits high and self-reflect. I also want to mention here that it's totally okay to use this time off to take a mental break. Being a student is hard work, and sometimes not doing anything is what's best for you. I personally did the required accounting classes I was avoiding over the summer, and actually discovered that I liked accounting, which in turn led to me minoring in accounting - who would have thought?

You can also focus on more volunteer work, club events, and extracurricular passions if you'd like. The year I didn't have a job, I ran for Student President, started a few clubs (shout out to MRU Visual Arts Club), volunteered with a few committees and organizations, and joined the HR Club at my university where I found a passion for HR. My involvement with clubs and extracurriculars influenced my career path and led to my job the following Summer in HR. Up to this point, I knew I wanted to finish my business degree, but I was working in IT and pursuing that path. The Summer I had without a job influenced my career path by helping me realize what I like (and most importantly - what I didn't), and because of all the extra stuff I had time to do and put on my resume, I found an internship the following year in HR because I was a more well-rounded candidate.

5. Maintain connections and build your network:

If I've learned anything from losing an internships, one of the most important lessons was to not put all my eggs in one basket, and to continue to network (even though I have a job lined up). After you finish grieving, it's the perfect time to work on your personal brand and your relationships with your connections. Staying engaged with your network can help keep your spirits high, and may connect you with the right person who may have another opportunity available for you now, or in the future. It also doesn't hurt to maintain your connections, go to networking events through school clubs or professional networks, or ask someone for a coffee just to catch up.

Networking is not only about job searches (a lot of us are guilty of this, myself included). Work on networking year-round! Chat with your connections for friendship and support, ask for their advice regarding how to get through job loss if they've been there too, and see what they have learned over their career regarding change. Picking your mentor's or connection's brain may help you put things into perspective and give you valuable tips to overcome. Sharing some of this camaraderie with others may help you to learn that hardship and career uncertainty can be part of life, but that this too shall pass.

In Summary:

I hope that you know that you are not alone, you are valued, and that there are people in your circles who have gone through similar experiences and have made it out of this type of situation stronger.

Are we now all in agreement that it's really a bad time to be a Student or New Grad on the job hunt? I was chatting with some friends over the weekend who are still students, and I can empathize with how overwhelming this all is, which is why I was inspired to share my experience with you all. I hope you know that it's okay to grieve your job loss (your feelings are valid), obsess over what we can and cannot control, ask for help when we need it, put your energy into other things (including yourself), and maintain and use your networks for support. I know hearing about how I lost an internship and how I overcame it may not be a lot of comfort right now for some due too all the uncertainty. We are all unique individuals who manage and process experiences differently, but I hope for some my experience acts as a glimmer of hope.

Please feel free to share this with anyone in your network who you think could hear this right now, and I would love to hear about your experiences with job loss or job uncertainty, or how you made it through tough times. What are your top tips to help students and new grads right now? What advice would you give to anyone who is going through job uncertainty? I hope that you know that you are not alone, you are valued, and that there are people in your circles who have gone through similar experiences and have made it out of this type of situation stronger.

Until next time!

Laurie Gaal: Talent Acquisition Consultant - Future Talent at Stantec Consulting Ltd.