7 answers
Jay
Student
Charleston, South Carolina
1
Question
Asked
489 views
I am about to graduate from university and it's my first time looking for a real job/career. For someone with little to no experience on the workforce, how can I market myself so that I that employers will want to hire me?
I am currently a student at Virginia Tech about to graduate in December with a degree in Criminology.
#college
Login to comment
7 answers
Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
1340
Answers
California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
DO YOUR RESEARCH
A great tip for starting your career is to investigate all the public services on Glassdoors page, put your Criminology skills to the test. It will help you get a feel for their FBIs culture, figure out what questions they commonly ask in interviews, and even discover what salary you’re likely to be paid.
TAILOR YOUR RESUME
Your resume is still one of the most critical tools of a job search. A lot of resumes I see are full of responsibilities (instead of tangible achievements) and jobseekers send the same resume to various openings. One of my best tips for finding a new job is to have an achievement-oriented resume that includes quantifiable achievements that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. Make yourself an obvious fit. Study the words and phrases that are used in the job description? Make sure you include them in your resume (provided you have that experience, of course). Tailor your resume to each job – the recruiter should know within a few seconds of looking at your resume that you have the skills they are looking for.
BUILD YOUR BRAND
Building your brand simply means showcasing your expertise and passion online where employers searching the Web can find it. Most recruiters, including myself, use LinkedIn as their primary search tool and if you’re a professional, you need to be using LinkedIn to your full advantage. It’s a great resource for finding people working at companies that interest you and also for positioning yourself to be found by recruiters and hiring managers with relevant openings.
ASSEMBLE A NETWORK
For the vast majority of jobseekers, a large and strong network of contacts — people who know you and want to help you uncover job leads — results in more job opportunities. Networking – in person and online – is essential to your success in your job search. It also helps you to get a good idea of what is out there and available, so you can be more strategic in your job search. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people on LinkedIn, and if you know someone working at a company that interests you, ask for a referral. Hiring managers would prefer to interview people who came recommended before sorting through the resumes arriving via a career website.
DON’T JUST HIT SEND
If you rely only on submitting online applications, you could be looking for a job for a very long time. By the time you apply, the company might be in the final interview stage, or the job might have even been filled. Contact companies that interest you directly - you might get in contact with an internal recruiter or schedule informational interviews with people who work in those companies. Ideally, you want to be known to the people who might influence you getting your foot in the door. It takes a great deal of time and effort to find a new job. In a long job search, it’s easy to get discouraged and distracted, but by focusing on achieving daily goals you can motivate yourself while also building a foundation for success. Looking for a job can be stressful. So, take some time to meditate, exercise, watch a movie or whatever it is that helps you unwind. Create a good support network – having people to brainstorm with or vent your frustrations to will help the process be less painful.
BE PREPARED FOR JOB INTERVIEWS
Before you get called for your first interview, develop responses for common interview questions, and then practice them — ideally using the mock-interviewing technique with a friend, network contact, or interview coach. The more prepared you are for the interview, the more comfortable you’ll be – and the more likely you’ll succeed.
DON'T LEAVE IT TO CHANCE
A quick note (by email is fine) of thanks that emphasizes your interest and fit with the job and employer will not get you the job offer, but it will help make you stand out from the majority of jobseekers who do not bother with this simple act of courtesy. Your work is not done once the interview is complete or the thank-you note sent. Following up with the hiring manager regularly shows your interest and enthusiasm for the job. The key is doing so in a way that is professional while not making you sound pesky or needy.
Hope you’ve found these tips for finding a new job useful Jay.
First – Having both a positive attitude and outlook is extremely important. Employers can sense desperation and despair; organizations want to hire positive and competent people. If you’ve been unemployed for a long period and depressed or recently downsized and angry, find a way to shrug it off when job hunting or you will only be hurting yourself.
Second – Remember that you may need additional training or experience, especially if you are entering a new career field.
Third – You may need to consider temping or volunteering for a short period to gain experience and build network contacts that can lead to a full-time position.
Fourth – In the most extreme cases, you may need to consider relocation to a place that has a higher concentration of jobs in your field.
A great tip for starting your career is to investigate all the public services on Glassdoors page, put your Criminology skills to the test. It will help you get a feel for their FBIs culture, figure out what questions they commonly ask in interviews, and even discover what salary you’re likely to be paid.
TAILOR YOUR RESUME
Your resume is still one of the most critical tools of a job search. A lot of resumes I see are full of responsibilities (instead of tangible achievements) and jobseekers send the same resume to various openings. One of my best tips for finding a new job is to have an achievement-oriented resume that includes quantifiable achievements that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. Make yourself an obvious fit. Study the words and phrases that are used in the job description? Make sure you include them in your resume (provided you have that experience, of course). Tailor your resume to each job – the recruiter should know within a few seconds of looking at your resume that you have the skills they are looking for.
BUILD YOUR BRAND
Building your brand simply means showcasing your expertise and passion online where employers searching the Web can find it. Most recruiters, including myself, use LinkedIn as their primary search tool and if you’re a professional, you need to be using LinkedIn to your full advantage. It’s a great resource for finding people working at companies that interest you and also for positioning yourself to be found by recruiters and hiring managers with relevant openings.
ASSEMBLE A NETWORK
For the vast majority of jobseekers, a large and strong network of contacts — people who know you and want to help you uncover job leads — results in more job opportunities. Networking – in person and online – is essential to your success in your job search. It also helps you to get a good idea of what is out there and available, so you can be more strategic in your job search. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people on LinkedIn, and if you know someone working at a company that interests you, ask for a referral. Hiring managers would prefer to interview people who came recommended before sorting through the resumes arriving via a career website.
DON’T JUST HIT SEND
If you rely only on submitting online applications, you could be looking for a job for a very long time. By the time you apply, the company might be in the final interview stage, or the job might have even been filled. Contact companies that interest you directly - you might get in contact with an internal recruiter or schedule informational interviews with people who work in those companies. Ideally, you want to be known to the people who might influence you getting your foot in the door. It takes a great deal of time and effort to find a new job. In a long job search, it’s easy to get discouraged and distracted, but by focusing on achieving daily goals you can motivate yourself while also building a foundation for success. Looking for a job can be stressful. So, take some time to meditate, exercise, watch a movie or whatever it is that helps you unwind. Create a good support network – having people to brainstorm with or vent your frustrations to will help the process be less painful.
BE PREPARED FOR JOB INTERVIEWS
Before you get called for your first interview, develop responses for common interview questions, and then practice them — ideally using the mock-interviewing technique with a friend, network contact, or interview coach. The more prepared you are for the interview, the more comfortable you’ll be – and the more likely you’ll succeed.
DON'T LEAVE IT TO CHANCE
A quick note (by email is fine) of thanks that emphasizes your interest and fit with the job and employer will not get you the job offer, but it will help make you stand out from the majority of jobseekers who do not bother with this simple act of courtesy. Your work is not done once the interview is complete or the thank-you note sent. Following up with the hiring manager regularly shows your interest and enthusiasm for the job. The key is doing so in a way that is professional while not making you sound pesky or needy.
Hope you’ve found these tips for finding a new job useful Jay.
Doc recommends the following next steps:
Thank You Erin. “Our generation has the ability and the responsibility to make our ever-more connected world a more hopeful, stable and peaceful place.” — Natalie Portman
Doc Frick
Thank You Katie. “Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation’s compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain loving one another.” – Erma Bombeck
Doc Frick
Thank You Tsion. “If our hopes of building a better and safer world are to become more than wishful thinking, we will need the engagement of volunteers more than ever.” — Kofi Annan
Doc Frick
Michele Lee
Marketing Associate
3
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Michele’s Answer
Congratulations! This is a huge accomplishment and you should be very proud of yourself. Leaving college can be a whirlwind of emotions and feel very stressful when looking for a job (trust me, I get it). When looking for jobs, first focus on 3 major things: your interests, interpersonal skills and professional skills. Reflect and consider what makes you happy (regardless of what your major in college was) and write a list out.
Next, consider what you have been doing throughout your years in college/summers in between and beef up your resume with any experiences and projects; this includes any part-time jobs, internships, class projects, online certification courses, etc. If you feel like you're lacking things to add - look up online courses and certifications to assist, there are plenty of things online that are free and/or affordable. Highlight your resume to reflect your list you wrote out as well.
Afterwards, go on LinkedIn and/or your Student/Alumni job portal (if your university has this, I know most do) to connect with your immediate network through searching industry categories by scheduling a quick phone call. This is a great way to show that you're a proactive graduate and want to learn more; this will lead the way for any potential informational interviews, mentors and even job openings! Doing this will also get you thinking about potential jobs you didn't even consider to begin with. Make sure to explore the associated jobs and the descriptions to learn more about what your industry is looking for in a candidate.
Most importantly: do not be too hard on yourself - looking for a job is a job in itself! There is no such thing as a linear career path and remind yourself that you're still very young. Now is the time to try leaping into different sorts of jobs and figuring out what it is that you don't want in order to figure out what you truly want for yourself. Never assume you're not qualified for a job - always try because you never know what could happen.
Best of luck & more!
Next, consider what you have been doing throughout your years in college/summers in between and beef up your resume with any experiences and projects; this includes any part-time jobs, internships, class projects, online certification courses, etc. If you feel like you're lacking things to add - look up online courses and certifications to assist, there are plenty of things online that are free and/or affordable. Highlight your resume to reflect your list you wrote out as well.
Afterwards, go on LinkedIn and/or your Student/Alumni job portal (if your university has this, I know most do) to connect with your immediate network through searching industry categories by scheduling a quick phone call. This is a great way to show that you're a proactive graduate and want to learn more; this will lead the way for any potential informational interviews, mentors and even job openings! Doing this will also get you thinking about potential jobs you didn't even consider to begin with. Make sure to explore the associated jobs and the descriptions to learn more about what your industry is looking for in a candidate.
Most importantly: do not be too hard on yourself - looking for a job is a job in itself! There is no such thing as a linear career path and remind yourself that you're still very young. Now is the time to try leaping into different sorts of jobs and figuring out what it is that you don't want in order to figure out what you truly want for yourself. Never assume you're not qualified for a job - always try because you never know what could happen.
Best of luck & more!
Thank you so much for the advice!
Jay
I am in the Army as a CBRN Specialist...can I add the certificates and training i received there to my resume even if it has nothing to do with the job I am looking for?
Jay
Yes absolutely - you can always connect what skills you learned and apply it back to job description/posting!
Michele Lee
Erin Foster
Physicist
1
Answer
Minneola, Florida
Updated
Erin’s Answer
First off, congratulations! This is a huge first step!
When first graduating college and looking for work with little to no "work experience", it might be best to set up your resume to be project based. Think about your time in college. Did you work on any large projects while in college that are relevant to your career goals? Did you do a senior research project? Did you do any type of volunteer work that highlights any of your skills? Did you present any of these projects? Did you get to use industry standard equipment in class or on a project? These are all things that can be listed in a resume but sometimes get forgotten because you don't tend to think of them as "work experience".
Create a resume that has every accomplishment you think it noteworthy on it. Don't worry about how long this resume gets to be, it won't be the final version you send to any job. Once you have this resume, save it and call it "Running Resume" or "Full Resume" or whatever you need to in order to remember this is your main one with everything. The reason you want this is so that 1) you aren't starting from scratch every time, and 2) you don't forget an accomplishment that would look really good to a recruiter for the job you're applying for. From there, you're going to want to use this resume as a template for the actual one you will be sending for a job application. I'm going to give you a bit of advise that might not make you happy, as it does take more time, but it's best to tailor each resume you send to each job. There is no "one resume fits all". It takes a long time, but it will get you better results. (Trust me. I'm only four years out of college and this was the best advice given to me, and it was the reason I started getting job interviews. Sending my one same resume over and over again wasn't getting me anywhere.)
When you see a job you're interested in, save a new copy of your main resume and then tailor it to fit that job description. Make sure that you use the same words that are in the job description. For example, maybe the job wants someone who is detail oriented? Make sure you 1) list a project or experience that shows how you are detail oriented, and 2) use the words "detail oriented" in the resume. Notice how I said to list a project that proves you're detail oriented? That's the second best advice I received. Don't just list a bunch of skills with no proof you have any of them. Anyone can say they're detail oriented, creative, smart, organized, and a public speaker. A good resume will show those skills through experience. (Again, being straight out of college, most of your experience is probably project based as opposed to work experience based.) For example, instead of saying "public speaking" in a huge running list of skills, list a project you worked on that shows you're a good public speaker.
Make sure you use the same wording that's in the job description. For example, I worked at a job where part of the job description was, "Assists medical physicist in commissioning and acceptance testing of all new treatment machines and software." The new job I was looking at wanted someone who could "work well within the established team". So I changed that job experience to be, "Worked well with medical physics team in commissioning and acceptance testing of all new treatment machines and software." It's the same experience, I just tailored it to fit what the new job wanted. Another example is the description, "Participates in formulating and updating department policies and procedures pertaining to QA." The new job wanted someone who could "develop procedures, training plans, and implementation and auditing processes to ensure that..." So on my resume I changed my previous work experience to be, "Participated in developing, updating, and implementing department policies and processes pertaining to QA." I tailored the experience I had to match the skills they wanted. (Notice how none of it is a lie? Do not lie. Changing the wording to match what the job wants does not mean to completely make it up. The experience is still the same.)
If you don't have a LinkedIn, I would suggest making one. The free version works fine. LinkedIn is a good place to put information that doesn't quite make the cut for a resume. For example, I have a lot of volunteering experience. It looks good to employers, but it takes up too much space on my resume. So I have my LinkedIn listed on my resume. If a recruiter likes my resume enough, they'll then look at my linked in and see all of the other experience I have. You can also use LinkedIn to build up your network. When I applied to the job I have now, I sent the application and then searched on LinkedIn for recruiters from that company. I sent a request to a handful of them. They all accepted the request to connect. One of them was the recruiter that called me for my initial interview and decided to set up the in person interview with me.
When first graduating college and looking for work with little to no "work experience", it might be best to set up your resume to be project based. Think about your time in college. Did you work on any large projects while in college that are relevant to your career goals? Did you do a senior research project? Did you do any type of volunteer work that highlights any of your skills? Did you present any of these projects? Did you get to use industry standard equipment in class or on a project? These are all things that can be listed in a resume but sometimes get forgotten because you don't tend to think of them as "work experience".
Create a resume that has every accomplishment you think it noteworthy on it. Don't worry about how long this resume gets to be, it won't be the final version you send to any job. Once you have this resume, save it and call it "Running Resume" or "Full Resume" or whatever you need to in order to remember this is your main one with everything. The reason you want this is so that 1) you aren't starting from scratch every time, and 2) you don't forget an accomplishment that would look really good to a recruiter for the job you're applying for. From there, you're going to want to use this resume as a template for the actual one you will be sending for a job application. I'm going to give you a bit of advise that might not make you happy, as it does take more time, but it's best to tailor each resume you send to each job. There is no "one resume fits all". It takes a long time, but it will get you better results. (Trust me. I'm only four years out of college and this was the best advice given to me, and it was the reason I started getting job interviews. Sending my one same resume over and over again wasn't getting me anywhere.)
When you see a job you're interested in, save a new copy of your main resume and then tailor it to fit that job description. Make sure that you use the same words that are in the job description. For example, maybe the job wants someone who is detail oriented? Make sure you 1) list a project or experience that shows how you are detail oriented, and 2) use the words "detail oriented" in the resume. Notice how I said to list a project that proves you're detail oriented? That's the second best advice I received. Don't just list a bunch of skills with no proof you have any of them. Anyone can say they're detail oriented, creative, smart, organized, and a public speaker. A good resume will show those skills through experience. (Again, being straight out of college, most of your experience is probably project based as opposed to work experience based.) For example, instead of saying "public speaking" in a huge running list of skills, list a project you worked on that shows you're a good public speaker.
Make sure you use the same wording that's in the job description. For example, I worked at a job where part of the job description was, "Assists medical physicist in commissioning and acceptance testing of all new treatment machines and software." The new job I was looking at wanted someone who could "work well within the established team". So I changed that job experience to be, "Worked well with medical physics team in commissioning and acceptance testing of all new treatment machines and software." It's the same experience, I just tailored it to fit what the new job wanted. Another example is the description, "Participates in formulating and updating department policies and procedures pertaining to QA." The new job wanted someone who could "develop procedures, training plans, and implementation and auditing processes to ensure that..." So on my resume I changed my previous work experience to be, "Participated in developing, updating, and implementing department policies and processes pertaining to QA." I tailored the experience I had to match the skills they wanted. (Notice how none of it is a lie? Do not lie. Changing the wording to match what the job wants does not mean to completely make it up. The experience is still the same.)
If you don't have a LinkedIn, I would suggest making one. The free version works fine. LinkedIn is a good place to put information that doesn't quite make the cut for a resume. For example, I have a lot of volunteering experience. It looks good to employers, but it takes up too much space on my resume. So I have my LinkedIn listed on my resume. If a recruiter likes my resume enough, they'll then look at my linked in and see all of the other experience I have. You can also use LinkedIn to build up your network. When I applied to the job I have now, I sent the application and then searched on LinkedIn for recruiters from that company. I sent a request to a handful of them. They all accepted the request to connect. One of them was the recruiter that called me for my initial interview and decided to set up the in person interview with me.
Gloria Ortiz
Instructional Designer
838
Answers
Irving, Texas
Updated
Gloria’s Answer
You may not have practical experience in the workforce, yet you do have experience with your degree to get started. I would apply for jobs that have the skills that you learned through your degree program. I am not sure about how your university supports graduates entering the workforce. You should check into those support mechanisms that you may have access to in order to get into a place. You should also consider jobs that may not be your desired job just to get started using your skills. I am not sure what job you would want with a criminology degree, so you would need to consider what you are willing to do now if you cannot do the job you want without experience.
Joseph Yang
Senior Finance Associate
5
Answers
Livingston, New Jersey
Updated
Joseph’s Answer
Hi Jay,
Besides work experience, what can also help your resume is learning as much as you can about the career you want to pursue. This can help your resume as well as provide an additional talking point during interviews. For instance, see if there are any classes offered (online or in person) in your desired career or books that interest you, or even podcasts you can listen to. Taking a class might also introduce you to open positions, as the professor might have connections in the industry, or you might strike up conversation with a classmate and find that their company is hiring.
Besides work experience, what can also help your resume is learning as much as you can about the career you want to pursue. This can help your resume as well as provide an additional talking point during interviews. For instance, see if there are any classes offered (online or in person) in your desired career or books that interest you, or even podcasts you can listen to. Taking a class might also introduce you to open positions, as the professor might have connections in the industry, or you might strike up conversation with a classmate and find that their company is hiring.
Ilyas Karzai
Sales Manager
3
Answers
San Jose, California
Updated
Ilyas’s Answer
Hi Jay,
Great question and hope you find exactly what you are looking for. Great question and hope you find exactly what you are looking for. My advice comes down to Networking, Flexibility, Positivity, Persistence and Organization.
Everything that others I have said is important, like: building a tailored resume, creating/updating LinkedIn, using campus resources. I would really emphasize that you need to leverage your networks, whether they are at school or your friends, your parents/siblings and their friends. Networking and flexibility will be key. Be willing to learn and take roles at companies that might not end up becoming your "career" but you can add value to the organization and you can learn from your experience there.
The other keys are stay positive and be persistent. There will be a lot of No's or no responses and that is okay. Stay focused on what you are looking for and keep applying, seek feedback, adjust as needed but keep trying. I had a friend once apply to the same company over 50 times before he got hired. That might not be the norm, but rejection is just part of the process.
The final key is to stay organized, keep track of where you applied and what resume you used. Even try to write down interview questions and keep a notebook of all the different types of questions you get asked, so that you can prepare and be better next time, even if it’s for a different role.
Good luck to you!
Ilyas
Great question and hope you find exactly what you are looking for. Great question and hope you find exactly what you are looking for. My advice comes down to Networking, Flexibility, Positivity, Persistence and Organization.
Everything that others I have said is important, like: building a tailored resume, creating/updating LinkedIn, using campus resources. I would really emphasize that you need to leverage your networks, whether they are at school or your friends, your parents/siblings and their friends. Networking and flexibility will be key. Be willing to learn and take roles at companies that might not end up becoming your "career" but you can add value to the organization and you can learn from your experience there.
The other keys are stay positive and be persistent. There will be a lot of No's or no responses and that is okay. Stay focused on what you are looking for and keep applying, seek feedback, adjust as needed but keep trying. I had a friend once apply to the same company over 50 times before he got hired. That might not be the norm, but rejection is just part of the process.
The final key is to stay organized, keep track of where you applied and what resume you used. Even try to write down interview questions and keep a notebook of all the different types of questions you get asked, so that you can prepare and be better next time, even if it’s for a different role.
Good luck to you!
Ilyas
Linda Heuser
Retired professor
35
Answers
Portland, Oregon
Updated
Linda’s Answer
Jay, I'm going to make my answer short and sweet. Use campus resources to assist you in this important endeavor. An office, such as Career Services, is there to help you in the areas that John suggested in his answer to you. Hopefully, this office at your university is staffed with people who are qualified and eager to launch you on a successful career path.