After graduating from Western this past April, Justin Bansal found it difficult to find a job. It’s now November, and the search continues.
“I didn’t know how bad the situation was until I graduated. I don’t think anyone can really understand all the things we have to deal with – unless you’ve been there,” said Bansal, who earned a degree in Business Administration. “Family and friends are constantly asking you what you’re up to and your answer hasn’t changed the last 50 times they’ve asked, ‘I’m still looking for a job.’
“Unemployment can really confuse us students. After graduating from university, we think becoming employed shouldn’t be too difficult. It’s a whole other story when you get out there on your own.”
But a tough market has not squelched the creativity and perseverance of this young alumnus.
When his applications weren’t working, Bansal knew he had to do things differently. He had been told that resumes are a ‘work of art,’ and remembered reading many articles highlighting some really creative resumes that looked like Facebook profiles or Twitter profiles.
Thus, Bansal’s ‘Google resume’ was born. Bansal’s resume resembles a Google search you would do on a computer, in this case, when you search ‘Creative + Team + Player + Detail + Oriented + Talented + Born-Marketer,’ it asks ‘Did you mean: Justin Bansal?’
“No matter how difficult it gets, I’m not ready to give up on my job search,” he said. “That’s why I research tactics to stand out among the rest and believe taking actions like these really demonstrates my determination and creativity.”
Earlier this month, he released his resume as a part of a campaign to get hired by Loblaw Companies Limited.
“I believe that working at Loblaws will be more than just a job,” he said, citing the company that was selected recently as one of Canada’s top employers for the sixth year in a row. “I can actually have a career there, and gain a strong foundation in the retail business.”
He purchased ads through Twitter to target specific online users for their support. With a set budget, he was able to target users based on their interests, accounts they followed and location. In just a few days, he acquired almost 7,000 impressions and 400 engagements.
“My wish was it would go viral on Twitter, but no one can really control that,” Bansal said. “I’m still waiting for a response from the company, hoping they see how determined I am and how much I really want to work for them.”
Sarah Dawson, Western alumni career coach, applauded Bansal’s energy.
“Creativity can yield results. Recent grads should go beyond the job postings to find work,” Dawson said. “Go and talk to people. That human interaction is key. New grads should always ask employers for short, informational meetings – hopefully before graduation.
“It’s about having more information than ‘the masses’ as well as increasing your name recognition with the employer later on. The reality is most people are gaining employment with an internal reference. An informational meeting can get you one of those.”
In order to nab those meetings, Dawson recommended leveraging the Western alumni network as well as the LinkedIn alumni search tool.
While there have been times along the way where Bansal had lost his confidence, this latest endeavour has him once again self-assured that his perseverance will be rewarded.
“I’m fighting for myself, as well as other recent graduates who deserve to be acknowledged and given a chance in the real world,” he said. “We’re not asking for a high salary; all we want is an entry-level position where we can apply our education and receive mentorship so that we can advance in our careers.
“These actions I have been taking demonstrate things my resume can’t. They prove things about my character and attitude and really show I am determined. I hope Loblaws offers me a job, but if that doesn’t work out, I hope this campaign is still motivational for other recent graduates out there, as I can understand their situation.”
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FIND OUT MORE. Western Alumni Relations recently introduced a new career initiative to support ongoing alumni career success. Visit alumni.westernu.ca/benefits/career/ for a window into your future career.