Over the next few weeks, thousands of new college graduates will be donning their cap and gown and proudly participating in their graduation ceremonies. For some fortunate new graduates, the job search will have been over many months ago and they’ll be able to relax until they start their professional careers. But for most graduates, the summer will be spent searching for their first full-time job. Although parents and relatives might be giving all kinds of advice about job searching to these newly minted grads, and no doubt those efforts are well intentioned, they are probably not providing the contemporary strategies new grads need to be successful in a job search.
So, after the celebrations have ended, here are some updated job search rules to get started:
1. Figure out what you are truly passionate about, find jobs and organizations that align with those ideals, and then identify your relevant competencies and skills in the field. Employers are now screening for new hires that specifically want to work for their organization. They often speak about passion as an important indicator for how driven and successful a potential employee will be in the role. If you take the time to really explore and solidify your thinking on this, and then apply for jobs that are “the right fit,” you will be more successful in getting employers interested.
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2. If you haven’t worked with your college or university career center/alumni office, or you haven’t checked in for a while, now is the time to seek them out and get support. Sometimes there are developments in the market, information or a contact you may not be aware of, or they can identify some areas for improvement. This may include perfecting your professional “pitch” or your networking skills. The rules for the job search keep changing and they may be in the best position to advise you.
3. Customize your resume for every job you apply for and please, name your resume with your name, instead of “my resume.” In the past, you could have one or two resumes that were somewhat generic and would be used for a wide variety of jobs. That approach simply isn’t effective any longer. Almost every talent acquisition organization utilizes an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) that searches resumes and applications for “key words”. The key words used by the system algorithms and recruiters are often the same terms used in the job description. Since most hiring managers are on overload, the goal of the recruiter is to identify fewer candidates, but ones that are more qualified for the role(s) they are trying to fill.
4. Make and build connections that can get you behind the recruiter curtain. Despite all of the emphasis on technology and compliance, there are more hidden jobs than ever before. Employers would rather consider someone they know or who comes highly recommended from a trusted friend or colleague. LinkedIn, other social platforms, professional and trade associations, and school alumni groups are important to stay on top of to build your professional brand and presence.
5. Refine your social strategy. Your on-line presence matters, especially now that employers frequently “Google” candidates before interviewing them. If they discover thoughtful comments, involvement in professional and service activities, and authentic recommendations, they’ll go forward with the process. If there are inappropriate postings, an empty LinkedIn profile, or virtually no on-line presence at all, they may not bring you in.
6. Excel at phone, virtual, and asynchronous interviews. Most likely your first-round interview will not be held in-person. It’s important that you practice using different interview formats, as you will still have only one shot at making a great first impression. Preparation is key, especially bearing in mind sound quality as well as finding a location free of distractions and with good lighting. It is important to practice expressing yourself clearly and finding ways to display your genuine interest and enthusiasm for the position. These are situations where tone, inflection, and eye contact mean even more than an in-person interview where you might have an opportunity to recover from a mistake.
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7. Be smart, but not pretentious. In other words, display confidence, but be humble in your responses. Most jobs involve being part of a team and no one wants to work with someone that they feel is a “showboat” or who won’t be a strong collaborator.
8. Follow-up. I know with online applications, it can often feel like your resume is going into some type of vortex, with no ability to know where you stand. This is a great opportunity for you to stand out. Find out the hiring manager’s contact name, by doing some targeted research, or even calling the organization and asking who leads a specific department. Once you have that information, you can send them a targeted follow-up email that highlights some of the skills you think the employer is looking for.
As everyone involved in career services, recruiting, and talent acquisition will tell you, things are changing rapidly. In fact, change seems to be the only constant. Right now, there are a great many jobs available for college graduates, but in order to be successful you will need to be aware of and able to apply these new rules to your job search.
