You’re finally getting close to being done with your program, or are getting a head start on the job application process and going for those grad roles. It’s an exciting period in your life where you get out of the academic realm and into the real world that will test all you hard and soft skills. Now you just have to prove to a potential employer that you have what it takes for the role. Here are some tips about the overall application process, to ensure you have the best shot at landing the coveted face-to-face interview:
1. Make sure you resume/CV is polished
Nothing will turn off the person reading your resume like obvious typos and grammatical errors. These things happen more often than you would think! So make sure to triple check your writing and try having a friend look it over too. The worst is including how “detail-oriented” you are and having your graduation year listed as 2031!
2. Always send in a cover letter
When I was hiring for an assistant, the easiest way to weed out those who were not to be taken seriously is to see if they have a cover letter. Not submitting a cover letter along with your resume shows the employer that you couldn’t be bothered to think about the company or position they were applying for. Now that doesn’t really sound like someone you want working for you.
3. Make sure to highlight your relevant skills
I remember we had an open position for a engineer/salesman and someone applied who had spent years working in sales at a tortilla factory. We gave it a chuckle and moved on. Make sure the hiring manager can see clearly how your skills are relevant to a position you are applying for. Otherwise, it’s easy to dismiss someone if the lines aren’t clearly drawn connecting prior experience in a seemingly unrelated field. Again, this is where the cover letter plays an important role.
4. Don’t limit yourself
Although it can be easy to just apply to the same type of role or within an industry you are comfortable with, you should try to diversify as the results could surprise you. You don’t always need all of the skills the job description requires. There are many things that are industry or even company specific that you won’t necessarily know going in. The main thing to stress to potential employers is that although you don’t already know everything, you are a quick learner and comfortable teaching yourself new skills with tutorials or online walkthroughs. This way, when an interview question comes up about a particular software or skill you don’t possess, you already have a prepared out that isn’t just “I don’t know,” which is a sure way to look bad in an interview.
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