When Davida Morris was appointed to the Senate last month, she found herself out of a job, literally. With her appointment as Senator, she was no longer allowed to work for a Government agency, something she had done since returning home after college.

But the 26-year-old St. Mary?s graduate saw her predicament as just another challenge and approached the institution that had helped her find work almost three years before ? the Bermuda Careers Centre.

Sen. Morris explained how fresh out of college with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and Sociology, she returned to Bermuda with a job lined up, or so she thought.

However things did not go according to plan and instead she found herself looking for work for more than seven months.

It was at that point that she approached Derek Smith at the Bermuda Careers Centre for help.

?He helped me with my resume and gave me interview tips, which was very helpful and also gave me cover letter tips which was extremely helpful,? she recalls. ?These are things I still use and need to use now because I am back looking for a job.?

She says being out of work for so long was very hard for her as she very much wanted to pursue a career in psychology, but as she recalls, it was not that easy with only a Bachelor?s degree.

?I tell anyone, if you are going to study psychology, go straight through and get your Masters, it?s easier because then you are more qualified. You can get work with a Bachelor?s, but it is limited and it is a difficult field to get into because you are competing with a lot of others with a Bachelor?s,? she suggests.

She kept busy by working for temp agencies and doing research.

?But at the same time, I had previous contacts because I had worked in the Government?s summer employment programme so I was known and did have experience, so when something did come up, I was able to get the position because I had the experience and was familiar with the agency I had applied for,? she says with a broad smile.

However her search for a permanent job did not end there as this was simply a contract position and despite her initial reservations, she followed Derek Smith?s advice and put her name on the substitute teaching list.

?In the beginning I was like ?Is this something I want to do?? but I?m glad that I did because honestly, I really enjoyed it,? she says with a chuckle.

Sen. Morris says it was rather amusing because by the time she was offered her permanent job, she was considering becoming a full-time teacher and was actually looking for work in the field.

?It?s great to have options and I think that?s one thing that I did get from the Bermuda Careers Centre because I was able to see options that I didn?t see for myself,? she concedes.

?Find out what your skills are and where you passion lies, what you really like to do and how you want to make a living because honestly, it?s no fun having a job that you go to day in, day out and you don?t want to be there!?

She suggests finding out if what you want to do is also viable for Bermuda: ?Because Bermuda has a limited job market, you have to be careful that your desires can be met by the Island.?