February 2020 Candidate One Writer/Contributor
Congratulations! You have graduated or are near the big day!! You have spent the last 2 to 8 years of your life, possibly more preparing for your dream career and are finally ready to begin the job hunt process. There are a few important steps to take before the application process begins. Ask yourself the 3 most important questions in stepping into the interview arena.
Do you know or have an idea of the companies you would like to work for? Do you have resume’ package designed to showcase your achievements and that defines your experience and/or education? Are your social media accounts in line with your career desires? Ask yourself these 3 questions before putting your applications on career sites.
Preparation is key There are steps to this process and ways to get yourself ready to shine. With some attention to detail, you can nail the interview and the career of your dreams. Here are the 3 answers to making sure you are prepared to begin applying for jobs in your new career field.
1. Have a list of employers! Probably one of the easiest steps to take and more than likely something created while you were in the education stage of your career. A top 10 list is a clean way of deciding where you will begin applying for employment. Many contacts can be made by attending course work seminars, meeting people in your industry through practical settings, field trips and social media platforms.
Match your employment prospect list by researching company turn-over rates, employee ratings and overall company ratings relating to the options you desire most in your career.
2. Have a resume’ package that includes a customizable cover letter. You will need to personalize a cover letter for each application you submit along with a resume’ that highlights your achievements. Make sure you include references. Companies will make these calls especially if you are new to your field. References should include at least 1 of your class instructors.
Your resume should highlight not only your education but any special achievements, groups, leadership activities and any other special accomplishments including your grade point average upon graduation. At this point in your career turning your classroom time and accenting activities into experience is important. Be sure your resume’ package points out these special achievements.
3. Clean up your social media accounts. More than half of job search candidates do not design their social media profiles to represent their field of work. Clean up your social media profiles and take time to develop the image you wish to present to prospective employers.
Social media profiles have become a strong resource for candidate opportunity. Employers are looking for employees that present a passion for their field of work on their social media profiles. They also seek to reduce the number of applicants by viewing social media profiles and nixing employment candidates.
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