Atlanta Job Leads - Internships / First Job Hunting Tips / Resume Pointers
Jenny Jeansonne
INTERNSHIP AND FIRST JOB HUNTING ADVICE FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS/RECENT GRADS
Because I see so many resumes, I wanted to help out all the college students and recent grads in finding internships and first jobs. A few mistakes on your resume can have a HUGE IMPACT, and cost you the position you’re applying for.
BEFORE YOU APPLY OR SEND YOUR RESUME OUT:
1) Find an easy to read resume format. Use “how to” resume books from your college career center, Barnes and Nobles, etc….
2) Make sure grammar, spelling, and punctuation are perfect. Resume should flow and be cohesive
3) Check all TENSES of verbs – either start always with verb or don’t – COHESIVE and CONCISE is KEY!
4) Do NOT use the same verb over and over and over….Redundancy means you lack of creative thinking skills
5) You only need your NAME, CELL, EMAIL and LINKEDIN URL
6) Do NOT put your address. A) very dangerous B) limits you if you apply to jobs not in that city (resume tossed in the NO pile)
7) Do NOT put your GPA unless its above 3.8 – NO ONE IN THE REAL WORLD CARES (if they want it, they’ll ask)
8) WORK EXPERIENCE should come before your EDUCATION section on your resume
9) Do NOT put your graduation year – it dates you as YOUNG, INEXPERIENCED, etc…(if they want it, they’ll ask)
10) Get a professional EMAIL address – do not use anything kiddie/promiscuous/etc...
11) Tailor each resume prior to sending it to apply to a job – try and match your resume to each job description
12) Resume Objective – NOT REQUIRED – HR people DON’T CARE, (if they do, they’ll ask for it)
13) After each line of your resume – ASK SO WHAT? Make valid points, back w/ data/numbers/budgets/etc
14) Make a list of your TOP 50 companies you want to work for
15) Who is your Top 10 Career Idols – how did that person get to the role? What companies did they start? What positions have they had along the way to their climb to the top? Ask your parents friends, family members, read biographies, etc…
LEVERAGE LINKEDIN:
1) Join linkedin.com
2) Fill out FULL PROFILE including professional looking profile picture
3) Linkin w/ as many people as you can – everyone. This isn’t Facebook, so don’t “reject” anyone on Linkedin
4) Join atleast 25 relevant Linkedin Groups, (Alumni, Local, Industry, Greek Affiliations, etc)
5) Each LinkedIn Group has a JOB section in it – JOB GLODMINE
6) Participate more on LinkedIN than you do on Facebook – ask questions, answer them, etc...
7) Use LinkedIn to Search for Hiring Managers / People that work at certain companies where you are applying
JOB LOOKING AND APPLYING
1) Indeed.com, Google “job title” “city”, there are thousands of job search websites out there
2) Social Networks – Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
3) Internship Websites
4) Family / Friends / Neighbors (3 Foot Rule – if someone is within 3ft, start a conversation!)
5) College Career Center – weekly visits until you get a job/internships
6) Personal Contact/Business Cards (Name, Email, Cell, Linkedin URL, 3-5 bullets of what you do)
7) Look for college alumni – leverage your alumni network database. Ask Career Services or Professor for help.
8) Think outside the box. Millions of other students are doing the same thing you are right now!
9) FOLLOW ALL DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO APPLY TO THE POSITION EXACTLY AS DIRECTED!
BOOKS TO READ
1) 60 Seconds and You’re Hired – Robin Ryan (I SWEAR by this book)
2) 250 Interview Questions – Vanderbilt Business School
3) $100K Resume Book
4) Any of the books in the Career Section at B&N / Borders / Amazon (Research, Prepare, Research, Prepare)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Sign up at every staffing firm/recruiter site you can – Most co hire “contract” first then turn to Permanent.
- Growth and Money is in SMALL and MIDSIZE companies right now. Esp PRIVATE companies.
- Get ideas from Atlanta Business Chronicle, Business Week, WSJ, RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!
- Start a BLOG (wordpress or Blogger) and be a SME in what you want to do, especially if you are transitioning into a different industry.
- Learn how to TWITTER, post on FB what you are looking for…LEVERAGE SOCIAL MEDIA outlets….
- Go to Association meetings – ie – I went to AIMA, AMF, AdFed meetings, bc their members do what I wanted to do, and they were
employed….you volunteer at the meetings and attend for free. You will meet people that work at one of your target companies
- DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP/INFORMATION/ADVICE. You’d be surprised how many people will take 5 minutes to help
someone – esp if you can say “I know so and so, and I was wondering……”
- Be OPEN, do not pigeonhole yourself to one co, city, job function, Keep an OPEN MIND!
- Concentrate on your abilities/talents/what you bring to the table. Find a job that you want and can grow w/ the company…if you do
what you love, the money will follow.
- Utilize your spare time to get involved w/ Volunteer work, take a class, network, brush up on skills
- DO NOT EMAIL YOUR RESUME WITHOUT A CLEAR VISION OF WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AND WHAT YOUR “5 KEY
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS ” ARE IN THE BODY COPY.
- Apply for Jobs that have similarities to your career background – you never know what positions a CO will hire for next!
SUBMIT YOUR PROFILE AT STAFFING COMPANIES / TEMP AGENCIES:
Here’s a great way to get into big companies…thru Staffing Companies / Employment Agencies
Fill out profiles for Staffing Firms around the city you are trying to get a job and that staff your target Companies…
You could temp your way to a permanent job and be exposed to the right people internally to get hired full-time:
DEFINE YOUR WORK WITH APPROPRIATE ACTION VERBS (see VERBS attachment)
