Hire Me!
Real-world advice for new grads

Thousands of really smart, employable graduates are pouring into the Triangle job market this month.

How can you stand out from the crowd? By brushing up on the three R’s.

Not reading etc., but real-life skills: Researching potential employers, reassessing experience and relaxing in interviews.

Research shouldn’t be a shock to any student’s system. If it’s done well, it should quell some interview anxiety because you’ll have topics to discuss and questions to ask.

It’s the reassessing that may be difficult for novice job hunters. And, experts say the most common mistakes new grads make are writing a generic resume and reciting pat answers to interview questions.

“Make sure you do yourself justice,” says Brad Karsh, president and founder of JobBound.

Karsh suggests that if what you’ve written about your past job or internship experience could apply to any other applicant, throw out your resume and start over.

Instead, write something compelling, relevant and impressive.

For example, instead of explaining that you entered numbers into a database, think about what else was involved: How many numbers did you enter, did you create the database, what was it used for and how did it benefit the company?

Karsh says companies look for candidates who have real-world skills, such as managing, leading, convincing and motivating people.

Also, he says it is “absolutely critical” to show you can achieve results. Provide specific and concrete examples of those results, even if it’s something as simple as expanding your comic-book collection and selling it for profit.

Deirdre Dale, owner of The Placement Co., agrees.

Promoting yourself as punctual, organized and dependable is not going to set you apart from other candidates, she says.

Instead, Dale recommends finding out what strengths the position calls for and presenting yourself accordingly.

“The cover letter is an ideal place for that,” says Karen Allen, director of a university career center.

“As a hiring manager, I look to see if the writer has thought about what my needs are and matched her skills to that.”

Because people will spend only a few seconds reading your resume, Karsh suggests listing highlights (skills, abilities, results) first and putting the least important items (dates) at the end of the entry.

Don’t pad your resume with items such as “ability to do research on the Internet.” That may have been impressive eight years ago, but today it’s standard.

Allen advises having a friend or career counselor proofread your resume, adding that a spelling or grammar mistake will land you automatically in the “no” pile.

She also warns against limiting your options. Be open to working for smaller employers rather than restricting yourself to big, well-known companies.

When you’re preparing for interviews, don’t waste time scripting standard answers.

“It’s just not real, and the person won’t remember you,” says Izabella Tyszler, a college senior who plans to launch an aggressive job search this summer.

Although she acknowledges that it’s tough, she already has had enough interviewing experience to know that it’s key to relax and be yourself.

Instead of crafting responses based on what you think the employer wants to hear, think about how best to answer commonly asked questions: Where do you see yourself in five years, what are your weaknesses?

If you’re prepared, the questions shouldn’t throw you.

Also, when you aren’t stressing out about giving the correct answer, you can let the tone of the interview guide your response, Dale says.

For example, in a relaxed atmosphere, humor may be appropriate.

She has had interviewees who’ve said “Chanel shoes” or “chocolate” when asked to name a weakness.

Karsh says to trade clichéd answers (“I’m a perfectionist” or “I work too hard”) to that question for “refreshing, well-though-out” replies that show not only your weakness but also how you’ve overcome it.

Also, be ready to respond quickly and succinctly if the interviewer requests that you “tell a little about yourself.”

Dale cautions: Don’t ask the person to clarify “do you mean personally or professionally?”

Another tip is to try to get the interviewer talking. Dale says it’s fine to ask a question such as, “What can I tell you about myself that will land me this job?”

Additionally, she says, it’s vital to keep an “I will get this job” mindset.

Some women shy away from the idea of selling themselves, she says.

Make sure, too, that you look the part.

Whereas a halter top and sandals will likely put you out of the running, you can’t go wrong with the classic skirt suit, pumps and minimal jewelry.

Don’t wear super-high heels or perfume, either.

And, as if you didn’t have enough to remember, also pay attention to your body language and don’t forget to smile.

If you land informational interviews, don’t confuse them with informal meetings, says Karsh.

Dress up, research the company, be professional and come with a list of questions as well as extra copies of your resume.

Always send thank-you notes and follow up after the interview.

© 2006 BY WN/CHICAGO TRIBUNE
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