Surviving the hiring process

Individuals seeking employment in Anchorage or at UAA may struggle to find a job due to uncontrollable external factors in the hiring process.

In January of this year, I transferred from a college in Massachusetts to UAA as I missed being around family and my boyfriend. When I landed in Alaska, getting a job was my top priority; and while I tried to find off-campus jobs, my lack of transportation made it difficult — if not impossible. In order to get a job, I looked for one on campus.

I reached out to The Northern Light in December to check the reporter position’s availability. I was told to apply by members of  UAA’s faculty, and did not hear back from HR for months. This was no fault of TNL management or anyone in the department; this is just the hiring process at UAA.

I have been employed at four different workplaces since I began working — two on campus, one in Massachusetts and one in my home state. The longest application process was six months, and I had already found another job in Massachusetts by the time the employer contacted me. 

This is not a problem limited to Anchorage or UAA, but one affecting many U.S. citizens, according to The Wall Street Journal.  

Looking for employment and being ignored consistently can be heavily discouraging, especially for applicants without much experience. However, I believe surviving the hiring process includes three major points. 

Prospective employees should understand that endurance is needed when entering the workforce. I have spent hours sending in applications that resulted in approximately six responses. 

There are going to be job listings posted that are no longer open. Hiring managers are going to be behind on going through applications, and in that time you’ll wonder if there will ever be a response.

Finding the job that fits you takes time. 

Applicants should be proud of themselves. In interviews, I am either confident enough to brag or I am in my head; and from personal experience, having more confidence can yield better results. 

Confidence does not mean the mindset should be one of superiority or arrogance, but rather a pride in the skills acquired over time and applied to your resume. 

I have experience as a youth soccer coach and I loved coaching the kids, and this experience is usually brought up in interviews. They give me confidence in an interview. Talking about experiences and skills you have a passion for can help with confidence during the interview. Find the experience that makes you confident.

Finally, don’t be afraid to reach out. Asking questions to employers shows them that you are interested. When I reached out to The Northern Light, I was put in contact with TNL management while waiting for the application process to finish with HR. 

While you should not contact the employer too often, finding a balance in communication could strengthen the engagement between a future employee and the employer. 

The hiring process is stressful. It can take weeks or months to be notified that you weren’t accepted for the job. It happens. While everyone’s experience is different, endurance, skillful pride and establishing connections could help others in surviving the hiring process.