Monday, February 27, 2012

Increase Your Chance for an Interview

With the unemployment rate at 8% or higher, the competition for vacant positions is very high. To improve your chances of landing an interview, here are a few suggestions:

  1. Only apply for positions that you are actually qualified for. You should have either education or work experience to meet the position requirements. Applying for openings that you are not really qualified for will only increase your frustration when you do not receive a call for an interview.
  2. Do not send generic resumes/cover letters/applications. Your package should be specific to the position requirements. Tailor your resume to address the skills and requirements as listed by the employer.  Write your cover letter for the position you are applying for, not a generic letter for all employers.
  3. Read the position description! To improve your chances of landing that interview, you must address the needs of the employer. In most cases, the advertisement will tell you what the employer needs. Do not ignore this.

Keep in mind that you are trying to fill an employer's needs. Put yourself in their shoes and see if your application package addresses those needs. If it is not clear on paper that you are a good fit, you probably will not move to the interview phase.

Friday, February 3, 2012

How do I gain the experience employers want?

Good question.  When many students graduate from college, they only have their education to highlight on their resume.  Many employers are seeking work experience, so how do you get both?

  1. Consider internships.  While you are completing your education, you may be able to work as an intern in your field of interest. Many times the work experience will count towards your degree (consult with your academic advisor about this).
    • Positives - this is your chance to actually work in your field and learn from professionals in a real world environment.  This is actual experience you can document on a resume.
    • Negatives - the only real negative is that many internships are not paid positions. Just consider that the time invested is as valuable as your degree and will pay off in the long run.
  2. Volunteer.  There are many non-profit agencies that are very short-handed and rely on volunteers to support their efforts.  Similar to an internship, this counts as experience and can be listed on your resume.  The biggest difference is that there is usually not as much structure and you may be doing many tasks that are unrelated to your major as well as relevant work.