Just closing out another college recruiting season and I think it is time to give colleges students a little feedback on the process and maybe a few hints. Before I begin let me say that I am certain that all of these young people are quite smart and very well trained, but isn’t anyone preparing them to find jobs? I know that some of them go through classes or workshops but a lot of graduating seniors are not properly prepared for the career fair or to secure employment after graduation.
Yes, I know that it is a very tight job market but that is all the more reason to be prepared and to do your best.
Disclaimer: This is just my opinion. I am trying to help both the students and recruiters like myself. If you don’t agree with all or part of what I that’s fine it’s just my opinion. Take it for what it is worth. If you agree please pass this along. If you disagree ignore it.
Every company has a different approach to college recruiting but I think what I outline here will be useful for many companies and most situations. I will try to write more entries for general job hunting but this one focuses on college career fairs.
Let’s take a look at three areas: Your Resume, Career Fair Meeting and Following Up.
My first two pieces of advice for your resume are:
If you are you really interested in working for a company, follow the instructions for submitting your resume. These instructions were not developed on a whim. There are reasons for them that go beyond the scope of this article. While some companies will still work off of a paper resume many companies will require you to submit your resume electronically. Again follow the instructions. It is also worth noting that you should attempt to do it well. I have seen several flawless resumes submitted electronically and the additional online data that is required for the application is a mess. Take your time and did it right. Yes, I know you are still going to school. Yes, I know you have a lot of these to do. Yes, I know that if you do not do it well your resume will be eliminated. Reason: If you can’t do a good job entering your data applying for a job it is probably a good indicator that you won’t do a good job with the company’s work.
I have heard many students complain that they have to submit resumes to a lot of different companies, and that it is too much work in addition to their school work. Sorry, welcome to life. If you don’t submit your resume as the company requires either you cannot follow instructions or you really don’t want to work for that company. A couple of candidates that I’ve met at college job fairs have actually called me a few months later trying to get an interview. The first thing I ask is, “did you submit your resume online?” That has a significant effect on what the next steps are, if any.
I understand the need express ones creative side, I don’t think your resume is the place for it. In my opinion your resume should be a neat professional looking document, not a statement in modern art. The resume should also be something that does not have to be “figured out”. For graduating seniors your degree information should all be in one place that is easy to find. Your degree, when you will graduate and your grade point average should all be in the same general area, and well arranged.
This also applies to graphics arts and marketing types. When you submit your resume online it will first be read by a computer, and the software that is normally used to evaluate resume cannot deal with fancy graphics, it will just dump your resume. If you have a portfolio or work samples that you like to share with a prospective employer include a link to an online portfolio or website in your resume. This way the employer can click the link and check out your work. Posting your resume free on The Resume Box (www.resx11.com) is another way to make this link usable by prospective employer and link to a unique URL for your resume.
You have been waiting in line to see you a recruiter from your dream company. It is finally your turn to speak to a representative, a deep breath and bit of final mental preparation and you step forward to make you best impression. The recruiter, at least one of them, has been evaluating you at least since you go in line. I suggest that you think that you are being evaluated, by somebody the instant you walk into the building.
Once you start talking with the company representative relax, be truthful and try to have fun. Here are a couple of things it is probably better to not say:
Do your research before you come to the career fair. At least look at the home pages of target companies and if you have any real interest in working for the company go through their website. Yes, I know that you are busy, I know that you have school work to do, but you are competing for a job. It really impresses most recruiters when you can talk intelligently about the company. If you see a company at a job fair that interests you that you did not research take your smart phone out to the break area and at least go through the home. Attend job fairs before your senior year so you can see who is hiring collect information and research them when you can (I am starting to see more students doing this).
Most companies will have some sort of swag items to give away. It is okay to not take any, but we want you to take something with you as a reminder of our organization and to do a little advertising for us. And yes we watch what you take! Nothing wrong with taking one or two things, even the nicer items. There is a red flag is when you grab a bag and start loading it with a will. Yes I said help yourself but I want to see what you are going to do. Remember you are be evaluated before you see me and well after you see me.
There is a reason why most recruiters do not carry personal business cards to college job fairs and hand then out to everyone they meet. Hopefully you can figure that one out on your own. Business cards are normally given out a little further down the selection road. But a resourceful candidate can figure out how to send a polite thank you email. You could probably also figure out a front desk phone number with a little more work. But no phone calls please. I visit 10 schools and meet on average 200 students per school. I don’t have enough time to field 2000 phone calls. We will contact you if we have interest. Promise. There is a fine line between eager and annoying.
I know that the younger generations don’t think of old folk as being social media savvy but I am not that impressed with most of the younger crowd either. I digress, sorry. Most of the college students I talk to have Facebook accounts, okay maybe all of them. And yes Facebook is the largest social media network and it can be used for job hunting and related activities but currently Linked In is the, again in my opinion, the number one social network for job hunting. Especially for professionals. If you don’t have a Linked In account, get one. If you don’t know what Linked In is Google it (Or maybe Bing it). Start your network with your classmates.
Also make certain your Facebook profile is appropriate and there is anything there that might discourage a prospective employer. No I did not say it was fair.
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