Something I Learned in Los Angeles

On our field trip to Los Angeles in February, my NMC family and I were fortunate enough to meet several amazing companies and CEOs with an extensive range of career interests. I learned a lot about myself and many other cultures, which usually happens on these trips, but when we went to Disney, I learned a specific job-related approach I had never heard before.

In all my college and post-graduate years, no one had ever spoken to me about approaching a new job search until I met the great people at Disney. A Disney expert shared a new way of applying for jobs that could be used anywhere--not just at Disney. The latest and innovative approach was to write down three keywords you seek in a position and three skills you possess that could be useful to an employer. Once completed, use the search function on the career site for a prospective employer. Take a moment to type in words you have chosen in your job search. Once done, see what appears.

Although some of the career opportunities may appear out of your league, try not to worry. There may also be job openings that may not seem like a perfect fit, but we should remain open-minded about these opportunities and put our judgments aside. If we can learn new skills and adapt what we currently know, Disney advised that we apply for these positions despite our fears. If there are any requirements we could not fulfill, the advice was to work on our own--as a personal investment--to gain those skills and apply again.

Before the LA trip, I can honestly say I was not aware of these job-seeking tactics. I might have found a job sooner if I had learned these tactics beforehand. My key takeaway from the advice I received from Disney was “how to successfully search” for a job. I feel we often search for jobs based on our degree, how much it will pay, where the position is based, and more. We hardly ever search for employment using keywords such as “creativity,” “analyzing,” or things related to what we see ourselves doing every day.

In addition to the search tactic, another critical take away for me was not to be so afraid. Jobs out of state or positions that may seem unsuitable for a recent college graduate can be intimidating. But sometimes you have to take that leap of faith and see where you land.

After meeting with Disney, I won’t be as worried or shocked about taking a job that isn’t related to my degree or accepting a position where I may lack some knowledge. Disney did not just explain careers as a journey but noted that that life is one big journey that we will eventually figure out once we arrive. It is terrifying to look at things this way--especially for someone who likes structure and straight paths. However, it is also important to face reality. The sooner we accept this, the better off we will be.