Advice for a college student
I sent out a similar message before but I need several more responses for my assignment. In my personal finance class we are learning about networking by reaching out to people on various networking websites. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to give any advice they have for entering the professional world. Do you have any tips for standing out to future employers? Thank you so much for your time!
Recent grads always ask employers if they have jobs that meet their limited skills and abilities. However, instead of tailoring the interview to you, I'd recommend asking them the following, "What are the top three problems facing your organization today?" First, that lets them know you care about their business. Second, when they answer the question with, "We need to cut costs and increase the quality of our new hires," you can respond by how you would help them in those areas. It may be like a subtle difference, but if you come off as a "problem solver" instead of just a "job seeker," you will definitely stand out from the rest. Good luck!
#1 Don't get discouraged. Entering the professional world is not easy and will take a lot of perseverance. Unless you are one of the very few lucky ones with a family business you can jump into after college, you will face rejection. Take it on the chin and move on.
#2 You absolutely MUST set yourself apart from others in some way. It doesn't even have to be a special skill related to the job, but it needs to be something that will stick with the hiring manager. Maybe you have the record for the most hole in 1's at a prominent golf course. Maybe you like to hang glide in your free time. Something that can give you the wow factor (and if its related to your field even better).
#3 Get a dozen or more people to read and critique your resume. No matter how good you are, you will make mistakes, or have some wording that someone else may pick up on and be able to propose an update. Make it stand out, but not overly flashy. 2 pages maximum and ALWAYS include a specialized cover letter that's short and too the point. The cover letter should immediately jump into why your are the best fit for the role and then afterwards list your qualifications. Hiring manager will only read the first sentence, unless it stands out to them.
#4 Network, Network, Network! Every single event of any kind in your field you can find locally, or with reasonable travel. The more people you know in the business, the more likely you are to secure a role. You don't need to be done with college to begin doing this either, start doing it early and often. Even mixers for happy hour, weekend gatherings, etc. Anything you can find. It is always much easier to get a position because you know someone in the company.
Hopefully this helps with our project and your career search!
Following up on your applications can be really helpful! Just make sure they don't say "Do not contact" on them.
Some advice (not already stated): Realize that your dreams are your end goal and not your beginning. The "dream job" isn't out of your reach but realize that those opportunities are the anomaly and not the frequency. Be ready to accept "starter jobs" to get yourself some experience. Never compromise your values but be flexible in your vision. One hand will always pay the other. You may find a job that has great pay and benefits but the cost will be your home/work life. You may find a good position with tons of autonomy but you'll likely have to sacrifice in the form of salary. These are just two examples. Don't create work where there isn't any. Most entry-level jobs have been established to function as part of an existing unit. Excel in this job but refrain from trying to change the job itself. Refrain from being overly ambitious. It's easy to jump into the professional work force and be ready to change the world. The problem with this is that many come in and try to upheave the entire system. Many come in with very high hopes only to be let down to realize that there is a GREAT DEAL of things far beyond their control and level of influence. Don't expect yourself to know everything from the start. Be teachable and have reasonable expectations. Your future employer will appreciate it and a good employer will utilize your skills and abilities to their fullest. If they don't, then the perhaps the job wasn't as good of a fit as you thought. Lastly... Know your worth but realize that companies will try to get the most of you as they can. Although the job hunting/position filling game has changed in the past decade or so, don't believe the negative hype that there aren't enough of jobs out there. If you play it smart, you'll find a job in no time. So you don't have to worry about accepting a sub-par position because there isn't something else out there. Stay true to yourself and be patient.