Career Services Spotlight – Lena Bilik, MPA ’19, Children’s Aid

What is your new job? How did you obtain it?
My new position is Policy Analyst at Children’s Aid Society. I found the job on Idealist.org, with no referral.

How long were you actively job seeking?
I was actively job seeking for about 2.5 months.

What was your job search strategy during this period?
I had a set amount of time every day that I would apply to jobs, and made sure to stay on top of all of the relevant job boards each day. I also reached out to former contacts and employers, and had a few informational interviews. I kept a spreadsheet of the jobs I’d applied to, and interview schedules. Before really starting my search, I met with Suzanne from the Marxe Career Services office and she helped me determine the kinds of positions I wanted and was qualified for.

What do you think were the secrets to your success?
I think the amount of time I spent on each cover letter was important, as well as the sheer volume of applications I sent out. This led to a good amount of interviews, which provided good interview practice. I also found that checking in often with organizations where I’d had interviews was the right move; don’t give up on someone just because you haven’t heard from them in a few weeks. I first interviewed for the job I now have in late June, had a second interview in July, and got an offer in mid-August. I just kept reaching out to make sure they knew I was really interested in the position and the mission of the organization. Suzanne at Marxe Career Services was also a huge help throughout my search.

What advice do you have for job seekers out there?
Stay positive, these things just take time! And definitely take full advantage of the resources provided to us through Marxe Career Services.