6 answers
Hello
Student
Manhattan, Kansas
1
Question
Asked
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I have completed BS in Computer Science and also MBA and MS in Businesses Analytics. I did two intarnships during MS. One was at Cintas as Management trainee rotational position and the other was strategy intern at Huhtamaki. Despite this strong background, I am still not getting any interview calls. I made 600 applications since I graduated in December 2024. Currently I am on 1st year of total 3 years of STEM OPT. What is happening? Am I making any mistake? What can I do to fix it on an urgent basis?
I have completed BS in Computer Science and also MBA and MS in Businesses Analytics. I did two intarnships during MS. One was at Cintas as Management trainee rotational position and the other was strategy intern at Huhtamaki. Despite this strong background, I am still not getting any interview calls. I made 600 applications since I graduated in December 2024. Currently I am on 1st year of total 3 years of STEM OPT. What is happening? Am I making any mistake? What can I do to fix it on an urgent basis?
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6 answers
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
1091
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hello,
I am sorry to hear that you haven't had any positive response yet. Your background seems solid, but the market is tough.
The one thing that stands out to me from what you wrote is "600 applications". That seems crazy. You can only do that with a relatively generic application. It would be better to use a more targeted approach.
Do some research what kind of role would be most suitable, what industry you would like to work in and what's required for that role. Use LinkedIn to make connections to people in those kinds of roles and to recruiters in those industries. Ask for informational interviews to get more background information. Also research the companies that advertise positions before you apply. Use your connections from your internships and from LinkedIn to get referrals and target your application to a specific job at a specific company.
Of course, I can't fully diagnose what might be going wrong from a few lines, but if you are concerned it might be time to involve a career coach or a recruiter to move forward. At the very least have someone go through your application materials to see if anything can be improved. Your university should have career services that can help.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
I am sorry to hear that you haven't had any positive response yet. Your background seems solid, but the market is tough.
The one thing that stands out to me from what you wrote is "600 applications". That seems crazy. You can only do that with a relatively generic application. It would be better to use a more targeted approach.
Do some research what kind of role would be most suitable, what industry you would like to work in and what's required for that role. Use LinkedIn to make connections to people in those kinds of roles and to recruiters in those industries. Ask for informational interviews to get more background information. Also research the companies that advertise positions before you apply. Use your connections from your internships and from LinkedIn to get referrals and target your application to a specific job at a specific company.
Of course, I can't fully diagnose what might be going wrong from a few lines, but if you are concerned it might be time to involve a career coach or a recruiter to move forward. At the very least have someone go through your application materials to see if anything can be improved. Your university should have career services that can help.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Hello Karin, Thanks a lot for your review and very valuable suggestions. It may sound really crazy, but I made those applications. Initially, I did not have a strict filter on where to apply. I was applying to positions that asked for a bachelor's degree plus two tears of experience. I researched online and found that with two masters degrees, the experience requirement may get covered. But that really does not seem to be the case.
Hello
I started the job application process with a single page resume with bullets, each comprising of action verbs, action areas, and business impacts for all the projects related to two summer internships. Then, I changed my resume to include blocks of information such as summary, education, skills, etc. I took help from several online websites to refine it multiple times. Never got a chance to show it to a live person and get it reviewed. Recently, I changed the resume to two pages to include more details about the projects and certifications such as Tableau, etc.
Hello
Let us see how it changes the results. I was worried about 2 pages because I was not sure if it would go through the ATS system. I like your suggestion about involving a career coach or a recruiter. But I am not sure how to get in touch with a reliable paid service. If you have any suggestions, please share. Once again, thank you very much for your help.
Hello
Brent Harris, CSM, CSPO
Functional Business Analyst
1
Answer
Bloomington, Illinois
Updated
Brent’s Answer
Hello! Getting a entry level position is harder than ever, and it can feel discouraging! Keep your head up and keep at it! With that in mind, I have a few suggestions for the approach that may lead to better results:
1. As stated by a previous user, 600 applications would likely mean a generic application being sent. With the automation tools being used today, it is important that each application contains key words from the job posting. When applying, you may need to swap skills on and off the resume based off the listing. When the job listing has a skill listed that matches a skill you have acquired, make sure to update it to match the verbiage used by the employer. This will give you a much higher chance of making it through the first round of resume selections.
2. In the same vein, make sure to avoid repetitive language choices within your resume. Remember that there is a person somewhere that will be reading this resume, and you only have a small percentage of time to retain their attention. My high school English teacher instilled the rule in me that a descriptive word should be used no more than twice in a short paper, and it is a rule that has served me quite well in my writing. If someone reads the same word over and over, they tend to lose interest and stop digesting the words on the page! As an example, instead of having three bullet points beginning with the word "Helped", instead we would say "Helped", "Assisted", and "Provided support". Keep your readers on their toes and they will be much more invested in what you are saying!
3. In today's climate, unfortunately a degree is not enough to separate yourself from the crowd. Take opportunities, online and otherwise, to gain certifications. These should be related to your desired work, but also take the time to get some more personal passion project certifications. While these wont be on every resume you submit, they can help balance out your certifications section and also are a conversation starter, while helping you figure out where your true passions lie. As mentioned in step 2, don't forget about the human element of resume selection!
I hope these steps help you land your dream job!!
1. As stated by a previous user, 600 applications would likely mean a generic application being sent. With the automation tools being used today, it is important that each application contains key words from the job posting. When applying, you may need to swap skills on and off the resume based off the listing. When the job listing has a skill listed that matches a skill you have acquired, make sure to update it to match the verbiage used by the employer. This will give you a much higher chance of making it through the first round of resume selections.
2. In the same vein, make sure to avoid repetitive language choices within your resume. Remember that there is a person somewhere that will be reading this resume, and you only have a small percentage of time to retain their attention. My high school English teacher instilled the rule in me that a descriptive word should be used no more than twice in a short paper, and it is a rule that has served me quite well in my writing. If someone reads the same word over and over, they tend to lose interest and stop digesting the words on the page! As an example, instead of having three bullet points beginning with the word "Helped", instead we would say "Helped", "Assisted", and "Provided support". Keep your readers on their toes and they will be much more invested in what you are saying!
3. In today's climate, unfortunately a degree is not enough to separate yourself from the crowd. Take opportunities, online and otherwise, to gain certifications. These should be related to your desired work, but also take the time to get some more personal passion project certifications. While these wont be on every resume you submit, they can help balance out your certifications section and also are a conversation starter, while helping you figure out where your true passions lie. As mentioned in step 2, don't forget about the human element of resume selection!
I hope these steps help you land your dream job!!
Hello Brent, Thank you for your time on writing a reply to my question. I am grateful for that. I will say that my initial applications were generic, say about 200. But later, I started adapting the approach that you suggested. Initially I stuck to just one page resume, I tried few good templates. Due to visa, many applications were turned down instantly. That indicates that the resume did not go through the ATS system. Or it may be due to my YES answer to the question, "Do you now or in future require sponsorship". That is something I can not change.
Hello
Then I started taking help from AI tools to write a new section in my resume such as how I fit the role. That changed my resume to a two page resume from one page. It increased my time to apply for a job significantly, but I believe that is worth the effort. All the bullets in my resume are based on action verb, method and result format.
Hello
When I amalyze the applications I made and the rejections I received, I see a pattern. The jobs I applied to require Bachelor's degree with zero to three years of experience
Hello
But with my BS in Computer Science and two masters degrees and with two internships, I think that my candidature should fit the role and apply. But recruiters probably don't see that equivalence between one to two years of experience and my two masters degrees. I am not sure how to bridge this gap and convince the recruiter to at least give me an opportunity to earn an interview call.
Hello
Jason White
Lead Product Manager- Network Security
179
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Jason’s Answer
Hey,
So with 600 apps I would assume they are either generic and not tailored to the specific position or company so that would be the first thing I would do is make them specific to the particular company.
A few questions I might ask you is you mention the degrees and the internships.
1. Have you spoke to the career centers at the schools you've graduated from to see what opportunities and connections they have with employers that might help you get your foot in the door? I'm sure they have relationships with employers as they have career fairs and can likely get you in touch with recruiters so that is a good next step.
2. along those lines I would recommend you begin to network with recruits at companies offering college hire programs to see if they have any openings for someone with your skillset. the best place to begin is with the companies you interned at. They likely already are hiring people so if they didn't want to re hire you full time that is something I would follow up on and learn why so that you might be able to improve in those areas or at least get a reference should you need one.
With someone of your experience and education level the key to remaining hired is relationships. meeting people and learning how you might be able to add value to what they do on their job. Your School (even though you graduated) will likely have resources that can help you with this. The job market is also tough right now so give yourself some grace in the process.
So with 600 apps I would assume they are either generic and not tailored to the specific position or company so that would be the first thing I would do is make them specific to the particular company.
A few questions I might ask you is you mention the degrees and the internships.
1. Have you spoke to the career centers at the schools you've graduated from to see what opportunities and connections they have with employers that might help you get your foot in the door? I'm sure they have relationships with employers as they have career fairs and can likely get you in touch with recruiters so that is a good next step.
2. along those lines I would recommend you begin to network with recruits at companies offering college hire programs to see if they have any openings for someone with your skillset. the best place to begin is with the companies you interned at. They likely already are hiring people so if they didn't want to re hire you full time that is something I would follow up on and learn why so that you might be able to improve in those areas or at least get a reference should you need one.
With someone of your experience and education level the key to remaining hired is relationships. meeting people and learning how you might be able to add value to what they do on their job. Your School (even though you graduated) will likely have resources that can help you with this. The job market is also tough right now so give yourself some grace in the process.
Grace Hartmann
Product Owner
2
Answers
College Station, Texas
Updated
Grace’s Answer
To improve your chances of getting the job you want, it's important to customize your resume. Here are some simple steps to do that:
1. Look at the job description for the position you're interested in.
2. For each requirement listed, think about any experience you have that fits. Use numbers to show your achievements whenever you can.
3. Be clear and to the point.
For instance, if the job asks for leadership skills and you led a project with three classmates during your master's program, you might write: "Led a team of 3 in researching XYZ, organized tasks, and met deadlines. This led to high grades and a successful project."
Lastly, don't hesitate to ask trusted friends or family to review your resume and cover letter. Share the job description with them so they can help ensure your resume matches the job. Their feedback can be very helpful!
Tailor your resume to the job you're applying for
Ask a friend or family member you trust to review the job description and your resume/cover letter.
1. Look at the job description for the position you're interested in.
2. For each requirement listed, think about any experience you have that fits. Use numbers to show your achievements whenever you can.
3. Be clear and to the point.
For instance, if the job asks for leadership skills and you led a project with three classmates during your master's program, you might write: "Led a team of 3 in researching XYZ, organized tasks, and met deadlines. This led to high grades and a successful project."
Lastly, don't hesitate to ask trusted friends or family to review your resume and cover letter. Share the job description with them so they can help ensure your resume matches the job. Their feedback can be very helpful!
Grace recommends the following next steps:
Hello Grace. Thank you so much for your great advice. It tried to customize each application every time. I tried using the action verb for each bullet point on the resume. But with just two summer internships, it may not be converting into interview calls. I am trying to customize each cover letter. However, I like your suggestion about writing the significant achievements from Masters degrees also into the similar bullet points. I will incorporate it in the resume. Let us see how it changes the result. Thank you once again.
Hello
Mike S.
Technical Writer
23
Answers
San Jose, California
Updated
Mike’s Answer
Wow. You have done a lot of great work already. This is a tough time. I call it the "AI Recession". Many employers are trying to see if fewer workers can do the same amount of work that previously required a larger group.
You are already being flexible about the exact title and responsibilities. That is good.
But the basics remain the same. Try to stay positive. Network. Have your "elevator pitch" (a one-minute description of why this company needs you) ready. Tailor your resume for each opening.
For economic reasons, you may need a temporary job to keep you going during your search.
Also, be true to yourself. Try to make sure each job is one that you really want to invest in.
I wish you the best of luck. I am confident that you will do well.
How to create an elevator pitch:
You are already being flexible about the exact title and responsibilities. That is good.
But the basics remain the same. Try to stay positive. Network. Have your "elevator pitch" (a one-minute description of why this company needs you) ready. Tailor your resume for each opening.
For economic reasons, you may need a temporary job to keep you going during your search.
Also, be true to yourself. Try to make sure each job is one that you really want to invest in.
I wish you the best of luck. I am confident that you will do well.
Mike recommends the following next steps:
Hello Mike, Thank you so much for your great advice. I will definitely work on the elevator pitch.
Hello
Theresa Groff
Recruiter
2
Answers
West Chester, Pennsylvania
Updated
Theresa’s Answer
Hello! This is all really good advice that is being offered. One factor that might be an obstacle is your visa status. Some employers are unable to support individuals who need any form of sponsorship, including OPT.
My advice is to network, network, network. Be ready with your elevator speech but make sure you are targeting companies who can employee you.
Talk with other peers who have been successful in gaining employment with their OPT status. See if they can make introductions or refer you.
Larger companies like big pharma, big tech normally consider OPT candidates.
Also, go in person to networking events that might allow you to introduce yourself in person.
Good luck!
My advice is to network, network, network. Be ready with your elevator speech but make sure you are targeting companies who can employee you.
Talk with other peers who have been successful in gaining employment with their OPT status. See if they can make introductions or refer you.
Larger companies like big pharma, big tech normally consider OPT candidates.
Also, go in person to networking events that might allow you to introduce yourself in person.
Good luck!
Hi Theresa, This is really a good advise. I started working on my networking via LinkedIn and other platforms to reach out to multiple recruiters and professionals already in my desired fields. When I send connection request to 4 professionals, one is successful. 25% success rate. I say it is great compared to having none. When I send them a follow up question about the position, I hardly get success in terms of response. But I think the market is that way and I am hopeful that these days will also pass. Once again, thank you for your time. Please suggest any methodology I can use to get a better percentage of professionals respond to my follow up questions after they accept my connection request.
Hello