I'm a contractor with my position about to end and I'm looking for a new opportunity and feel so discouraged.

9 Comments

1. Tomilyn RichardsAugust 2,2022 at 11:09AM UTC

   What type of work do you do?

2. AnonymousAugust 2,2022 at 6:11PM UTC

   I do data standardization and annotation

3. AnonymousAugust 2,2022 at 2:58PM UTC

   How you gain experience depends on the type of work.

   There are always temp agencies, organizations like upwork, or community volunteer opportunities to use to gain exerience.

4. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistAugust 3,2022 at 1:09AM UTC

   If this was a contract, you presumably knew that there was a good chance it would be ending.
   How much experience do you have?

   What have you done so far in your job search? Where do you have your resume posted? How often are you updating those profiles? Is your LinkedIn profile filled out and up to snuff? Are there specialty job sites you could be using? Do you have a degree? If so, are you utilizing the University's job site or alumni network?

   Please let me know if you have any questions. GOOD LUCK!

5. AnonymousAugust 3,2022 at 2:56PM UTC

   I knew it'd be ending; I've been on the hunt for a few months now and interviewing but nothing goes beyond an interview or two.
   Some health issues came up that also overtook kind of everything. I have my resume on LI, Indeed, I'm in my graduate alumni job group. I have an MA (in humanities and a language.)

6. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistAugust 3,2022 at 6:44PM UTC

   What do you do?

   How often are you updating your profile on the job boards like Indeed, Monster, ZipRecruiter, Careerbuilder, Glassdoor, etc? I would recommend you update them every week or two.

   Your resume is generating interest - so I also recommend maybe polishing up your interviewing skills.

   One thing I recommend to candidates is to tape themselves asking themselves questions and then answering them. I promise you, that answer will sound a whole lot better the 20th time you say it than the first.

   This will allow you to edit your answers to precisely get across what you want. I used to practice in the car, in the shower. Doing this can help improve your confidence if you get nervous or help you stay on point if you sometimes ramble.

   And please make sure you listen and answer the question you were asked. I've had candidates talk for 5 minutes and not answer the question I asked them.

   It's also VERY IMPORTANT to have good questions for your interviewers. I have seen this sink several candidates. You can NOT have no questions when asked.

   If, at the end of the interview, you're still interested in the position, don't be afraid to tell them that. Ask what next steps look like, what their timeline is and say "I hope to hear from you soon or I'm looking forward to next steps - I am really interested in this position".

   And personally, I always send a thank you email if I want the job.

   Please let me know if you have any questions. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

7. AnonymousAugust 4,2022 at 10:23PM UTC

   Thank you so much! I'm really trying to fix my interviewing skills. I stammer and the anxiety around it makes it worse in interviews.

8. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistAugust 5,2022 at 12:09AM UTC

   You are very welcome!

   I definitely think you're someone who could benefit from taping yourself. And the practice can help you become more confident.

   You've got this! You're talking about you and you're already the Subject Matter Expert on that ;o)!

9. AnonymousAugust 3,2022 at 2:58PM UTC

   I got my MA last June and this has been my first non-service industry or TA job.