Are you getting the experience you need?
Be sure to take advantage of the opportunities around you to gain the experience and connections you need to be successful, such as:
- A part-time job, internship, or co-op in the field you want to pursue
- Performing well in your classwork
- Develop meaningful professional relationships with your fellow students and your professors.
- Learning all you can from your mentors
- Utilizing the resources offered by your career services office
- More on part-time jobs, internships, etc.
Do you have a strong resume?
Often, students and recent graduates feel like they do not have a lot of experience to put on their resume, but this isn't necessarily true. Potential employers look for the following when reviewing the resume of a student or new graduate:- Transferable skills
- Work experience (preferably in the industry of the position you are applying for)
- Results: How you performed in your responsibilities
- Leadership experience
- More on resume resources
Do you make a good first impression?
What's the first thing a potential employer sees when you meet for the first time? There are some basics you should take care of when you walk into an organization for an interview:- Always be polite to the person at the front desk. He or she is often asked about first impressions of candidates.
- Dress professionally.
- Minimize jewelry and skip the perfume or cologne. My great uncle used to say, "Perfume should compliment a lady - not introduce her." In this case - a confident smile and handshake should introduce you.
- Basic hygiene is a must - bathe, brush your teeth, comb your hair, clean your fingernails.
- No limp fish handshake! You don't have to strong arm your interviewer, but a firm handshake is a must.
- More on what to do before an interview
How Are Your Interviewing Skills?
If you've never been in a job interview, the thought of sitting in front of a stranger and convincing them you are right for a job or internship can be daunting. Don't wait until the last minute to prepare! Here are a few tips to help you determine what you need to work on.
- Practice with a friend, mentor, professor, career services staff or family member. (Most career services offices offer assistance for practicing interviews.)
- Eye contact is important. While you don't want to stare down your interviewer (or interviewers), don't stare at the floor or let you eyes bounce all over the room.
- Don't tell your life story when an employer asks, "Tell me about yourself." Specifically, give them a brief summary of your background as it relates to the position you are applying for. No more than 2-5 minutes.
- Follow up after the interview, but don't hound the interviewer. These days, an e-mail to follow up with an employer is perceived to be acceptable, but nothing beats a thoughtful, handwritten thank you note.
- More on what to do during and after the interview
How will I remember to do it all?
Are you scratching or holding your head and thinking "How am I going to remember all that?" Don't worry - if you're reading this blog post or any of the others at StudentBranding.com - you are probably way ahead of most of your classmates. That is why it is so important for you chart your progess in your career search strategy - regardless of where you are in school. It avoids you having to try and remember to do all of these things right before you graduate. Author: Lanie James serves as Employer Development Coordinator for the Career Services office at Oklahoma State University, also known as HireOSUgrads.com . She holds both a B.A. in Journalism Broadcasting and a M.S. in Mass Communication from OSU. Her research emphasis focused on emerging and social media in Career Services. She also serves as the President of the Oklahoma Association of Colleges & Employers (@OkACE). Connect with Lanie on LinkedIn or Twitter @JLanie.Related posts:
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