Searching for experience is work and there are a number of activities you can do to help you find meaningful experiences.

In this chapter you will explore five questions you need to consider when searching for experience. At the end of this chapter, you can put these pieces together to create you own experience search plan.

1. What Types Of Experiences Am I Searching For And Why?

Reframe your thinking: What counts as experience?

When you think about the word “experience,” what comes to mind? A paid job? Maybe a role in an office or lab? While those are great examples, it’s important to remember that experience isn’t limited to formal or paid positions. There are many ways you can gain career-building experience.

Whether you’ve worked a summer job in retail, volunteered at a shelter, joined a student club, or started a personal project – you’ve gained valuable experience!

Below highlights different types of experiences you can gain:

Regardless of what kind of experience you pursue, the opportunity may help you:

• Gain insight on how different workplaces function
• Build your professional network
• Explore different industries
• Develop transferable skills or competencies like communication, collaboration, and problem-solving

Taking the time to reflect on your “What” and “Why” can help you identify meaningful experiences tailored to your interests and professional development. For example, if you are interested in applying your communication skills, enjoy working with children, and want to explore teaching as a profession, you may be interested in shadowing an elementary school teacher, working at a summer camp or volunteering for children’s programming at your local library.

2. When Are My Experiences Of Interest Available?

Be aware of typical recruitment cycles.

There are times of the year, where certain types of student-focused opportunities tend to appear. If you missed a common recruitment period – don’t sweat it. These are not an exact rule, and some programs or organizations have their own processes that may differentiate. Below are some typical recruitment cycles to be aware of:

3. How Do Recruiters’ Find Candidates?

In addition to understanding when recruiters are hiring, it’s important to be aware of the candidate pools they typically select from. Thinking from the recruiter’s point of view can help you position yourself within those pools and increase the likelihood of getting noticed.

4. Where Do I Find Opportunities?

Many job seekers begin their search by applying for opportunities online through large job boards like Indeed or Monster. While this is a common and useful method for finding opportunities, relying solely on it can limit your chances.

Passive job searching means you are waiting for opportunities to appear and responding to them—usually by submitting applications online and waiting for a response. While this approach can work, relying on it alone can put you at a disadvantage.

To improve your chances, you need to be an active job seeker—someone who is proactive by taking initiative, building connections, and uncovering opportunities that aren’t always advertised. Incorporating proactive search strategies can help you stand out. When you connect directly with people in your field, you become more than just a name on a résumé. You give employers a chance to see your personality, motivation, and potential—things that don’t always come through in an online application.

The image below includes a variety of ways you can search for opportunities, starting with passive strategies and progressing into more active strategies. For tips and details about these search strategies, visit the next chapter, Where can I find experience?

5. How Do I Effectively Apply For Opportunities?

Now that you’ve explored active strategies for finding opportunities, it’s time to focus on how to effectively apply for these opportunities. Applying with confidence and purpose involves preparing strong, tailored application materials and staying organized throughout your search.

Before you start applying, take time to prepare your materials and gather the support you need. Think of this as building your job search toolkit. Then, make a plan for organizing and tracking your activities. Staying organized helps you stay motivated and avoid missed opportunities. Below are 7 steps to help guide you in your search:

Quick Chapter Recap

• Apply active search strategies: Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you, take initiative and use a mix of strategies.
• Focus on creating high-quality applications: Regularly revise and tailor your résumé, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile.
• Stay organized: Save all your applications, the job description/postings you’ve responded to and a tracker of when you applied, and should follow-up on your application.
• Ask for support: Talk about your search with friends, family, peers, and mentors—you’re not in this alone.
• Take care of yourself: Build in time for rest, reflect on what you can control, and practice self-compassion throughout the process