Every spring semester professors ask, “who is graduating in May?” I was always bitter and just stared into my lap as hands around me went up, but not this semester! This semester, every chance I had to publicize that as of May 9, 2015 I will be a college graduate I did! I will write a post after graduation on my long, difficult journey to becoming a straight A, college grad but for now I just want to share some advice and insight that I have been so lucky to have received because not everyone is so lucky and not everyone knows to prepare well for the next step. 

Typically, going to college is a path to reach a desired career. I guess that’s me, but really it’s more self fulfilling. I don’t want to look back when I’m 40 and say, ” I wish I graduated college.” So, as a soon to be college grad looking for a career I was overwhelmed with what to do. What does a resume look like, what’s a cover letter, how do you handle an interview? These are all things that you need to know, and you need to know well! I am very lucky with my past work experiences, my parents influence on my work ethic and the people I surround myself with on a regular basis, so I used my resources to my advantage! Here’s my advice to you: 

  • Get as much advice on your resume as possible! I sent my resume to at least 6 different close people in my life, in different jobs, different ages and I took the best of each and came up with a resume I am so proud of.
  • Stay true to you! I am not a suit and pants, white paper with black text, traditional resume person. That’s not my personality, so my resume has a creative format and a little color, and it’s ok to have more than one resume layout to find the job you are looking for! 
  • What’s a cover letter? I had no idea so again, I asked a woman who I trust and does hiring in her career and I did my own research. Look up examples, visit credible sites for their advice articles, try a preset format in your word software and then customize it where you feel comfortable. I have been told, and I truly live by this: your resume (+ cover letter) is you on a piece of paper. I write an entirely new cover letter for each company I apply to. Use their name in the cover letter, personalize it. Research the company and know some facts and info to incorporate into your cover letter, this shows you are actually interested and took the time to look into them. Be genuine make your needs in a job environment and values a key point. Don’t be fake, be you, I have a little attention grabber in my cover letters, a little funny comment or sass and that’s me! If a company doesn’t like that, then I don’t want to work there. 
  • Interviews…. Since I have held few jobs, for long periods of time I am not a pro at interviews. An interview, besides your resume is your first impression to the company so you need to ace it! I again, asked people close to me for advice and help and was so blown away when a regular customer at my work place now offered to practice interview me over a couple of weeks. She got interview questions from her HR department and sent them to me to prepare, I dressed up, I did my hair, I did my makeup and I showed up prepared as if this was a real interview. I wanted to show her I respect her time and I am taking her advice seriously. She would ask me questions, let me answer and then critique me. She would look at my resume and ask me to go into more detail or explain this or tell me a time when…. I learned a lot from her so here are my key pieces of advice: 

1. The first question she asked me is what is my brand? What? What does that even mean? Know your brand! This means when someone asks you to tell them about yourself, think of yourself as a brand, what do you represent. What are your best qualities, what do you stand for.

 2.  Eye contact! Don’t be a creep and stare at your interviewer but look them in the eye when they are talking to you, show that you respect them.

 3. It’s ok to take some time to think about your answer to the question, be genuine, not rehearsed. It’s ok to say, ” I haven’t thought of that could you give me a second to think?”

 4. An interview is just as much interviewing the company as interviewing you! Have questions for your interviewer. Examples: what is the work environment like, how many people will I directly be working with, how do you review the positions success, is there room to move up in the company, and most importantly if the position is a previous position and just opened ask why! Why is this position open? This gives you insight into whether or not it’s a high turn over job, if the person got a promotion or if they got let go and why. 

5. Bring a hard copy of your resume with you to your interview. Be prepared and it’s also a resource for you to link back to in conversation. 

6. Lastly, after an in person interview send a thank you note. Show you appreciated the time they took to get to know you and found you have potential for the job. 

The key to acing an interview is practice. Don’t think that you are above it. 

  • In your resume, put that you will provide references upon request. I found this dumb, I figured why not provide the info upfront, won’t that show that my references are genuine enough that I don’t need to give them a heads up? Its not about you. When you have references who are willing to speak for you, give them the respect of letting them know they will be contacted soon. Ask for the best phone number or email to provide the company with or a time they can best be reached so that your references are just as prepared and available as you are. You don’t want an interviewer to call multiple times and keep missing your reference. 
  • If you live in the suburbs and are applying somewhere in the city, leave your address off your resume. Some companies will write you off right away because of distance . This is a great piece of advice I was given, and commended on during an interview. It’s a smart move. 
  • Dress for success! Dress like you want the job, do your hair, take your piercings out and be professional. Show that you respect the person interviewing you enough to clean up. 
  • Be on time, be early and if you are going to be late… Call them and let them know. My dad got lost one time on a way to an interview because of construction , he called and let them know the situation and he got the job because he did that. He was the only one to call. 
  • Even if you don’t want the job, take the interview, practice and be respectful because people talk! You don’t know who knows who so put on your best face! 
  • Lastly, at the end of a good interview your last question should be, “what’s my next step?” 

I know this is a lot but I’ve done all of it and been complimented on how well I was prepared and how well I presented myself. Be unique where you can, places get 100’s of resumes, make yours worth reading, spell check and it’s ok to be nervous no matter how well you prepare, it’s genuine and humbling. 

Go out and tackle the world! Be prepared and with preparedness comes success and with success comes confidence.