SEARCH EARLY
Find out what companies interest you! Use school resources, family/friend connections, and do some of your own online research. There’s thousands of jobs out there, you just have to find them! Depending on the industry, companies recruit as early as August of the summer before all the way through April right before summer starts so doing your research is key.
RESUME, RESUME, RESUME
On average, employers take all of 10 seconds to look at a resume, that is if they even see them at all. As technology increases, some employers simply put the PDF files through a program that will filter out good and bad resumes. Therefore, it is key to use the job description to tailor your resume specifically to that position. USE THOSE KEY WORDS. It is what the programs will pick up on so that eventually your resume will be reviewed by an individual in Human Resources.
Formatting your resume is everything! Make sure your name sticks out and that you only have the most relevant information on there. As long as the formatting is consistent throughout the page, you’re golden.
COVER LETTER
Many companies don’t require a cover letter, but still give you the option to upload additional files other than your resume. Write a cover letter! This is your opportunity to take everything on your resume and make sense of it to the employer. Prove to them you are the ideal candidate – use those key words again! Provide examples of how you learned/ applied those skills in previous experience, let them know what your main goals are as well. The header on your cover letter should be the same as your resume, you want all career documents to be consistent throughout.
BEING OFFERED AN INTERVIEW
Congratulations! You’ve made it past the resume, cover letter test! But what’s next? Well, if the company say value in your skillset and felt that you align well with the job description, you’ll be offered an interview. As college students, it is very common that companies will start with a phone interview. Personally, I find these more nerve racking than in person interviews because without the use of body language, it can be hard to interpret how certain things come off over the phones.
Research the company and their ideals before going into the interview. If it is a phone interview, keep the job description in front of you and reference it as you answer questions. If you are interviewing in person, dress very professional. I have always been told ‘dress for the job you want, not the job you have’. It is always better to be overdressed than underdressed when going into a job interview. One tip that has helped me is googling common interview questions and practicing them ahead of time. Be prepared to have anything thrown at you. At the end of the interview, the interviewer will always ask if you have any additional questions to ask them. Always ask questions and have a few prepared ahead of time. Asking them questions at the end shows you have genuine interest in the job and the company overall. You can ask their opinions on the company, their daily work routine, or about different opportunities for growth within the entity. It is also nice to send a thank you not to the interviewer for taking their time to meet or speak with you. This can also help you stand out from other candidates.
ACCEPTING AN OFFER
Now you’ve officially been offered the position, congrats! At this point you know you’ve proven yourself to the company, but the work doesn’t stop here. When accepting an offer, remain professional. Discuss pay with Human Resources, the length of the position, and about any potential paperwork that needs to be taken care of.
REJECTION
If you are not offered a job, that is okay. There are tons out there! I truly believe that what’s meant for you in this world will always be for you. Being rejected from one company does not define you. If may not have been a good fit for you in the end anyways. Continue to improve your professional skills and keep an eye out for my internships. Remember, everything happens for a reason!