<p>Let’s come up with a list of things that college grads these days need to know as they go on a job search. Input from HR managers are especially welcome. If you disagree with something, just say so.</p>
<p>I’ll start.</p>
<ol>
<li>Write a catchy cover letter that is tailored to the job and the company.</li>
<li>Make sure the top third of the resume catches HR’s attention or it will be tossed.</li>
<li>If you’re a senior and have no job experience, get a job/internship now while going to school (provided you can maintain grades that won’t limit your grad school options).</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>Write a catchy cover letter that is tailored to the job and the company.</li>
<li>Make sure the top third of the resume catches HR’s attention or it will be tossed.</li>
<li>If you’re a senior and have no job experience, get a job/internship now while going to school (provided you can maintain grades that won’t limit your grad school options). </li>
<li>Network. Only ~7% of jobs can be found through job boards and everybody applies to them.</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>Write a catchy cover letter that is tailored to the job and the company.</li>
<li>Make sure the top third of the resume catches HR’s attention or it will be tossed.</li>
<li>If you’re a senior and have no job experience, get a job/internship now while going to school (provided you can maintain grades that won’t limit your grad school options).</li>
<li>Network. Only ~7% of jobs can be found through job boards and everybody applies to them. </li>
<li>To prepare for job interviews, come up with at least 5 stories that you can work into your answers to various questions. Typically, these stories need to demonstrate efficiency, teamwork ability, initiative/leadership, multi-tasking skills.</li>
<li>This is part of networking, but if you’re part of a club/frat/sorority, be sure to let people know you’re job-hunting and what your target fields/companies are. This is where those connections will help a lot.</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>Write a catchy cover letter that is tailored to the job and the company.</li>
<li>Make sure the top third of the resume catches HR’s attention or it will be tossed.</li>
<li>If you’re a senior and have no job experience, get a job/internship now while going to school (provided you can maintain grades that won’t limit your grad school options).</li>
<li>Network. Only ~7% of jobs can be found through job boards and everybody applies to them.</li>
<li>To prepare for job interviews, come up with at least 5 stories that you can work into your answers to various questions. Typically, these stories need to demonstrate efficiency, teamwork ability, initiative/leadership, multi-tasking skills.</li>
<li>This is part of networking, but if you’re part of a club/frat/sorority, be sure to let people know you’re job-hunting and what your target fields/companies are. This is where those connections will help a lot.</li>
<li>Have an interview suit/shoes, etc. and make sure it is clean and ready.</li>
<li>Prepare some writing samples. A lot of time they can be about any subject you choose (be sure to cast yourself in a positive light).</li>
<li>Find out if you need any additional computer skills such as knowledge of a specific software for the work you seek. Learn it.</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>Write a catchy cover letter that is tailored to the job and the company.</li>
<li>Make sure the top third of the resume catches HR’s attention or it will be tossed.</li>
<li>If you’re a senior and have no job experience, get a job/internship now while going to school (provided you can maintain grades that won’t limit your grad school options).</li>
<li>Network. Only ~7% of jobs can be found through job boards and everybody applies to them.</li>
<li>To prepare for job interviews, come up with at least 5 stories that you can work into your answers to various questions. Typically, these stories need to demonstrate efficiency, teamwork ability, initiative/leadership, multi-tasking skills.</li>
<li>This is part of networking, but if you’re part of a club/frat/sorority, be sure to let people know you’re job-hunting and what your target fields/companies are. This is where those connections will help a lot.</li>
<li>Have an interview suit/shoes, etc. and make sure it is clean and ready.</li>
<li>Prepare some writing samples. A lot of time they can be about any subject you choose (be sure to cast yourself in a positive light).</li>
<li>Find out if you need any additional computer skills such as knowledge of a specific software for the work you seek. Learn it. </li>
<li> Make sure you match each of the listed job qualification requirements with your resume or cover letter and touch on the job description using the same language or you’ll be eliminated by the scanners/sorters of the resume (digital or human).</li>
<li> Find a outside recruiter that you click with and work with them. Many desireable salaried entries into companies come from the hoards of “contract” workers these days and they will be filling positions that are generally “not posted” by the companies.</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>Research the company prior to your interview. Find ways to demostrate how you would fit well in their corporate culture.<br></li>
<li>Be early for your interview. Make a dry run from your home to the interview site so you know where it is. Basic but it’s crucial.</li>
<li>Have a several friend mock interview you and video tape it. It’s practice and it will will help you identify and eliminate verbal and/or physical tics.</li>
<li>Be polite to every person you encounter be it on the phone or in person.<br></li>
<li>Write a personalized, thank you note after the interview.<br></li>
<li>Listen to the questions being asked carefully. It is far better to let a few moments of silence go by while you form your answer than for your answer to show that you were not listening carefully.</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>When you attend an interview, be aware that the interview process is in play even before and after the formal sit-down. If the bigwigs walk you to an elevator and chat “informally” through hallways, they are still sizing you up. So continue to answer thoughtfully. It’s still “The Interview” as long as you’re in their presence.</li>
<li>Many interviewers begin with a very brief icebreaker question, such as the weather or traffic outside. Reply briefly and lightly. The real questions come next.</li>
</ol>
<p>Great idea, but may I petition to remove the word “catchy” from tip #1? Cover letters that were written to be “catchy” usually scream “I’m trying too hard!”</p>
<p>“1. Write a catchy cover letter that is tailored to the job and the company.”</p>
<p>This is usually good but sometimes it does not help. Some HR managers are just illiterate and don’t bother to read long cover letters.</p>
<p>“2. Make sure the top third of the resume catches HR’s attention or it will be tossed.”</p>
<p>This may not work when you go through a job search agency. The agencies usually reformat the resumes and put their names on them.</p>
<p>“5. To prepare for job interviews, come up with at least 5 stories that you can work into your answers to various questions. Typically, these stories need to demonstrate efficiency, teamwork ability, initiative/leadership, multi-tasking skills.”</p>
<p>Be prepared to adapt to different styles of interview. Some interviewers have friendly conversation. Some have pressure attitude and seem unfriendly. Do not be turned off because of this.</p>
<p>“8. Prepare some writing samples. A lot of time they can be about any subject you choose (be sure to cast yourself in a positive light).”</p>
<p>I would add: Bring past school projects if they are good.</p>
<ol>
<li>Be clear about why you want to work in that industry and that company- if possible, target only one or two industries you want to work in, and tailor your resume and cover letter for that </li>
<li> Ask for an informational interviews in your targeted industry/company- this takes the pressure off of the people you network with- they don’t have to recommend you for a job just to talk to someone. Network to find people who work in the industry you want to work with, and ask for 15 minutes of their time to find out more about the types of jobs in that industry and the qualifications you need. Then ask them if they can recommend anyone else that you should talk to. Keep going… you will meet lots of people and will click with someone. If you are prepared, and well spoken, they will recommend you for a job.</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li> Quantify your accomplishments, even for your part-time summer job. Don’t say, “Performed excellent customer service.” Say, “Kept average customer waiting time below 8 minutes.” This shows an understanding that your performance in a “real job” is going to be measured. Even while working a part-time or temporary job, think about how your accomplishments can be measured, and be ready to report those measurements to a prospective employer. Even sweeping the floor or taking out the garbage can be measured somehow.</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>Use local Newspaper as primary source. I found most of my 9 jobs thru ads in local newspaper.</li>
<li> Do not trust recruiters.</li>
</ol>
<p>24 needs more explanation. Just telling young’uns not to trust recruiters isn’t very helpful.</p>
<ol>
<li> Remember that recruiters are paid by the company, and so they work for the company, not for you. Even reputable recruiters are not finding you a job out of the kindness of their hearts. Do your own research into what the job entails and what it should pay, and be your own advocate when the time comes to negotiate. The recruiter gets his or her fee whether you love your new job or hate it.</li>
</ol>
<p>^24. In my case, they basically did not disclose to me that company is close to be leaving our city or even being in very bad shape. I got lucky that I had much better opportunity (found it thru local newspaper) and did not pursue recruiters’ palce beyond initial interview. Couple months later I heard that company did not exist anymore. Since then, I have never used recruiters. And since I have found first 2 of my jobs thru local Newspaper, I continue successfully using it. Looking back, jobs that I found either thru networking or consulting, were nowhere near as good as jobs that I found myself thru newspaper ads. I know that this is unusual, but I found that most people underestimate this opportunity and do not respond to local ads. I believe, it is a mistake.</p>
<p>^ Miami - I agree. I have had 2 very wonderful jobs, one very long term which I found through a newspaper ad and my current job which I found on my local Craigslist.</p>
<p>My experiences with recruiters have not been positive. They are interested in filling a position and not necessarily with getting you in the right position. I have worked with them twice, the first time the recruiter got very upset with me because I wouldn’t take a job offered. I had a bad feeling about it. The second time, I ignored my “gut feeling”, but let the recruiter talk me into a job I was very unhappy with.</p>
<ol>
<li>Go with your gut.</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li> Along with professional clothing, bring your professional speech and comportment. While it may be normal for you to say, “It sucked,” or “crap” or even “jeeze” among friends or family, slang during an interview is not going to help you get the job. (even if those on the job swear like a sailor.)</li>
<li>Stay positive during the interview. Even if something in your history seems negative (such as short work experience), you can probably find a positive way to state the same facts, which leaves the interviewer with a more positive overall impression of the conversation. (such as saying what you accomplished during that time, for instance.)</li>
</ol>
<p>I woudl add to 27. Stay positive and be yourself. if you do not know something, state it openly, if you do not remember another thing, say that you can only estimate, make a joke out of it, but never ever be untrue. I was hired for position that stated clearly that i do not know anything about it, i even did not know what the name of it meant. They still believed in me somehow. It was a great learning experience for me and I was very successful at it. I did not lie, I even asked for more money than they offerred. I got whatever I have asked.</p>
<p>I’d skip the cover letter and spend the time on sending out resumes.</p>
<p>I’d also pursue internships - but only ones that follow labor law. If a for-profit company if offering you an unpaid internship, 9 chances out of 10 they are offering it in violation of federal and state minimum wage laws.</p>
<p>^I do not know anybody who is giving up internships in this market or doing any kind of investigation if company is in violation or not. Internship is a step into job market, it is simply not very smart to say no.</p>