The best job-search advice comes from the employers who are hiring—and the advice they offer isn’t a secret. The real secret is: it’s the rare job seeker who takes this advice seriously. If you take a few minutes to follow this advice, you’ll be better prepared than your competition for the job.
Here are the not-so-secret secrets from employers and other experts on the job market for new college graduates:
This is the easiest step you can take—and typically, the most neglected! What products or services does the organization produce and sell? Where is it located? How well did the company do last year? What activities by the company have been in the news lately?
Use this information to customize your resume and cover letter for the position you want. Impress the interviewer by knowing something about the company. Google the organization and become familiar with the company through its web site. Read recent business news that mentions the organization.
“Find out what your dream companies are, go to their web sites, read their annual reports, and seek them out,” says Bethany Cooper, associate director of career services at the University of New Hampshire (UNH).
Employers say a high GPA is important because it demonstrates your knowledge of the subject matter. However, they’re looking for people who have more than book smarts—they’re looking for such “soft skills” as communication skills, a strong work ethic, teamwork skills (the ability to work well with others), initiative, interpersonal skills (able to relate well to co-worker and customers), problem-solving skills, and analytical skills, according to Job Outlook.
Extracurricular activities, employers say, are where you learn and practice many of those soft skills: organizing a volunteer project; leading a team to victory; working as part of a group on a task.
“[Employers are] looking for the well-rounded candidate who can work well with others and function effectively in the workplace,” says Marilyn Mackes, executive director of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Get experience while you’re in college through an internship or a co-op program. About 95 percent of employers responding to an annual survey said a candidate’s experience is a factor in choosing who to hire. And, nearly 36 percent of new college graduates hired from the Class of 2007 came from employers’ own internship programs, the survey reported.
Employers use their internship programs as a way to rate potential hires: Does this person have the skills needed to take a full-time job? Is he trainable? Will she get along with co-workers? Does this individual have potential to grow into a leader?
“Two summers of internship experience is a powerful statement on your resume,” says Terri Moore, manager of diversity and recruitment programs for Time Warner Cable. “Before you leave your internship, quantify your impact on that institution. Ask your manager to take a look at your resume and ask them to tell you if your position reads as it should. This will propel you forward.”
“It’s WHO you know” is a powerful statement for finding the job you want. Your professional network can include anyone who might have a connection to the job or organization where you want to work. According to a survey of employers, personal contacts—such as though made through on-campus recruiting, career/job fairs, an internship or co-op program, employee referrals, faculty contacts, and student/professional organizations—are important places organizations find new hires.
For example:
- A nutrition major connected with an alum from her university who introduced her to people—including a hef—in the food services department where she was interning. The chef offered advice on how to specialize her major. If she decides to apply for a full-time job, she already knows people at the organization who can recommend her.
- A law enforcement grad asked a friend’s father—who just happened to be the attorney who teaches some classes at the police academy—for a recommendation. He was accepted to the police training program and graduated. Since then, the friend’s father has served as a mentor as he progresses in his career.
Online applications won't go away, employers say. An increasing number of employers want to funnel all applications directly through their organization’s web site into a data base that hiring managers can search to fill positions. Plus, recruiters mine job boards and search engines for online resumes.
How can you ensure that your application makes you a one-in-a-million candidate rather than one-of-a-million candidates? Online recruiting expert Maureen Crawford Hentz, manager of talent acquisition at OSRAM SYLVANIA, offers some tips:
- Keyword loading—including adding job titles and specific skills—is one of your most important strategies. List titles of positions you’ve held and the names of major companies you’ve worked for (recruiters look for competitors’ names).
- Post your resume on “niche” web sites.
- Create a headline if you’re posting your resume on a job board.
- Don’t post your phone number and use a separate e-mail address set up specifically for job hunting on your online resume.
- Write an intelligent book review on a book in your field for Amazon.com. When a recruiter Googles your name, you’ll make a good impression.
What would it be worth to have someone, who is in daily contact with potential employers, show you how to write a winning cover letter, critique your resume, practice interviewing with you, connect you with people who are working in your field, and give you access to thousands of job opportunities?
Find the career center on your university or college campus today. Employers use this resource to find new hires, so shouldn’t you be there?
Picture this: You find yourself on the elevator with the recruiter from XYZ Widgets Inc. You want to start your career there. You turn to the recruiter, hold out your hand to offer a nice, firm handshake, and say: Well, exactly what should you say? What are the secret words that tell the recruiter that you are a great job candidate?
Be prepared with a 60-second “commercial” that’s all about you. Tell the recruiter:
- Your name, your class, your major.
- The kind of opportunity you are seeking and what relevant experience, strengths, and skills you would bring to the company.
- A tidbit you know about the company that will let the recruiter know that you’ve researched the company and are very interested. (Hint: Ask a question: “Can you tell me about [name of a product]?” Or, “I’m interested in your rotational training program. Can you tell me a little about it?”)
Whether it’s an information session with an organization’s CEO, a mock interview with a volunteer employer, or a career fair staffed by managers from an organization, you’re competing to leave a good first impression.
“The time to be ready is not the time to get ready,” says Harold Bell, director of career services at Spelman College. “Part of the ‘hidden job market’ is when you are meeting informally with an employer. For example, employers go to career fairs or volunteer to conduct mock interviews. If they see a candidate who would be a good fit, it will turn into a real interview. If you’re putting yourself in front of employers, be prepared.”
Your mother and your best friend may know you well, but they’re not the people who can give you a good reference, says Kelli Robinson, a former career counselor. Potential employers are looking for people who can answer the question: Are you going to perform the duties of the job?
Who should figure among your references? Supervisors, co-workers, faculty, or advisers. If you voluntarily coordinated a fund-raising effort for an organization, the organization’s supervisor could be a great reference. It doesn’t matter that you weren’t paid.
One final way to stand out in the sea of job candidates is to remind people that you are serious about getting the job. A thank-you note can be that reminder for the recruiter you meet at a career fair, an employer who conducts a mock interview, a hiring manager who spends 30 minutes interviewing you for a job, and everyone who serves as a reference to employers.
Some quick tips on writing that note:
- Keep it short and confirm your interest. “Thank you for the opportunity to discuss [name of the position] at XYZ Company.”
- Spell the recruiter’s name and title correctly.
- Send your note immediately.
If you follow these tips from employers, the status of your job search won’t be a secret. Employers will recognize you as a serious job candidate—and you’ll have a leg up on your competition. Good luck in your job search!