Comments on: #WednesdayWrite: What’s Your Advice for Job Searchers?

By: Moqi Zhang

Moqi Zhang — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 16:41:09 +0000

My tip is to do a research on companies I want to apply, and find out some topic I are really interested, and I will think about some pieces of advice for those companies, which will let me impress my interviewer. For job search, I always search some companies I really like and send my resume to them even if they don’t post recruitment advertising.

By: Clement Boateng

Clement Boateng — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 14:12:04 +0000

I think the most important thing for a new job searcher is consistency. Searching for a job in college (especially with your first internship) can be frustrating because it is easy to get rejected by the companies you aim for. However, that should not discourage you. The more you get rejected, the more you have to keep applying. Once the job applications are done, one should give a follow up call if the the person in charge has contact information provided. Talking to recruiters and following up on applications does not guarantee a job but it can put one ahead of others in the selection process.
Building a nice resume also forms a big part of landing a job. It is usually hard to get outstanding things to put on your resume when you have not had your first internship yet. However, put things that can relate to the job you are applying for such as certain applications you have used in some classes. It is always a good idea to get expert advice on resume before using it for an application.

By: Kelvin

Kelvin — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 16:45:17 +0000

I totally agree with you Caed. Everything you said is spot on. Being yourself might not be for everyone (just because some lifestyles would not be acceptable in some companies) but you can easily fake it until you make it. Doing background research is very important because it tells recruiters how serious you are and how much you want to work with them.

By: Katie

Katie — Sat, 14 Apr 2018 01:05:48 +0000

My unique piece of advice is to be unique. I’ve been fairly successful in internship/co-op recruitment and I think one of the main reasons is my chosen course of study. I apply for Chemical Engineering roles, and I have the requisite classes/GPA. But what sets me apart is my History major and the research I do with it. It sets me apart from other applicants and shows that I have other passions, but mostly it highlights intangible skills that recruiters look for. Having such different majors means I have to take a TON of classes, indicating a good work ethic and time management skills. Being a history major likely means I’m a good writer since it’s liberal arts, and I can back that up with two research papers and an editor position. Lastly, it gives me something to talk about, which is important because I find most interviewers like to get a sense of who you are, and this gives them some idea. I don’t mean that it’s necessary to have some weird second degree, but having a quirky passion will highlight skills that other applicants can’t demonstrate as well as make you a unique person in the eyes of the interviewer.

By: Katie

Katie — Sat, 14 Apr 2018 00:58:46 +0000

I definitely agree with what you said (and I did read the whole thing, not just the TL;DR). The same thing happened to me my freshman year, and I ended up working two jobs while taking two classes over the summer. That experience, though not related whatsoever to my field, was definitely a determining factor in getting hired for both an internship and co-op. And once I completed those, even though they weren’t in the fields I wanted, I was able to get enough experience to be hired into exactly what I want to be doing. So I totally agree with you: take every opportunity you can, it will likely pay good future dividends.

By: Caed Cunningham

Caed Cunningham — Thu, 12 Apr 2018 20:17:02 +0000

I agree with everyone’s advice. I think from my own experience the best advice I can give is also the cheesiest; be yourself and be confident. I have found that even if you’re intimidated and really unsure of yourself you don’t want that to translate to the recruiter. Confidence is huge and in this case (and many others) faking it until you make it is an effective strategy. I would also suggest that in order to affirm confidence really do as much background research as you possibly can on the company you are speaking with. Knowing some of that information and being ready to bring it up conversationally and to have questions is huge and says a lot.

By: Mackenzie Knox

Mackenzie Knox — Thu, 12 Apr 2018 13:45:29 +0000

My department hosts industry visits frequently and I agree that meeting them in person helps a lot. I am still gaining experience in my industry so my resume is not as strong as it will be. I applied to tons of internships but only heard back from the companies that I met with in person. That face to face interaction speaks bounds more than any resume or job application will and I contribute part of my success to the ability to meet with the recruiters face to face.

By: Alexander Tsai

Alexander Tsai — Thu, 12 Apr 2018 02:19:35 +0000

Everybody’s advice so far is great and I agree with them all. Another advice that I would like to add is more focused towards the failures and unsuccessful efforts when going through job applications. I have had a lot of experience with getting rejected for a job and I am sure a lot of people have in college. Although it is disheartening and defeating at first, just remember that it is all part of the process and that you may go through 10 rejections before getting that 1 acceptance offer! Doing poorly or not getting a job only makes you more prepared for the next job interview! You learn from your mistakes and do better the next time around. Each job interview/process that you go through gives you more experience each time so it is always productive no matter the outcome. So remember, keep your head up high and continue to apply to jobs until you land a few offers.

By: Cassie Bienert

Cassie Bienert — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 20:14:52 +0000

One tip I can give is to not be afraid to apply for a job that does not exist. For my internship I emailed the head of the company wand asked if I they needed help during the summer – I also attached my resume for reference. I told then I had done some research about the company and gave some specific examples about why I wanted to work with them. They asked for references and what my “goals” for the summer internship were, and finally they gave me the job. My employer told me that summer that she liked the initiative I showed and that most people do not follow that route – she was impressed. (I would caution not to sound rude when asking for a job)

By: Cassie Bienert

Cassie Bienert — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 20:11:52 +0000

I was going to comment about the same thing regarding asking questions and doing research. It looks great that when you can show you have knowledge about the company and can ask thoughtful questions. I think recruiters are happy when they get to talk about their company and they associate that happiness with you.