Mingyang (Caitlin) Zhang is learning everything she can to find her first job before convocation. In the newest episode of the Econ Job Search Podcast, the fourth-year economics and mathematics student spoke with Chloe Linda Chayo. While a student at the University of Toronto, Chloe’s paper for ECO475 placed in the Arthur Hosios Scholarship in Economics. The Department of Economics spoke with Caitlin about what she learned from Chloe.
Department of Economics (DOE): Chloe is a recent alumna from the class of 2023, so her first job search stories are still very fresh. What did you learn from that freshness of experience?
Caitlin Zhang (CZ): Chloe touched on good points about finding our first job. Many job descriptions require some prior experience, which makes it challenging to meet the standard—and can even cause us to lose hope. However, Chloe mentioned a helpful strategy: spend time identifying what makes you unique, the spark within you that can help you stand out in a pool of candidates. So, one key takeaway for me is the importance of reflecting and analyzing ourselves before hitting that “apply” button.
DOE: Are there any tips from Chloe that you have integrated into your own job search techniques?
CZ: Don’t be afraid to apply for positions you might not be fully qualified for. You will already have a no when you don’t apply for it. She also mentioned “habits beat talents,” to encourage us not to be scared of those “talented people” who we will be able to outwork! So have strong faith in yourself, whether you are applying jobs or developing your skills.
DOE: What do you think is the most important take-away from your conversation with Chloe?
CZ: Be mindful of your surroundings and the people around you. Be the person to bring people together and to start small initiatives. And always be prepared for when opportunities, or luck, comes your way.
View episode 1 of the Econ Job Search Podcast with Caitlin Zhang.
Return to the Department of Economics website.
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