The majority of college graduates are all facing the same problem right now. How do you get a job without experience? How do you get experience without a job? With the economy in somewhat of a hiring freeze, here are some tips on how to break into the job you want.
Network. Think of all the people you have engaged with and kept contact. If they have a connection to the field you desire, ask them if they can introduce you or get a contact name. Persistence can be key. Keeping in contact will help you to stay on that person’s radar for future openings.
Social Media. If you haven’t already, follow your prospected companies or industries on Twitter or begin engaging with them on Facebook. LinkedIn is another good way. This will allow you to stay on top of what’s going on with specific companies/industries and give you a one-up when you land a meeting.
Sell yourself. Create a list of your strengths and turn it into a story. Almost every employer will ask you ‘Tell me about yourself’ in an initial interview, so prepare what you’re going to say in advance. Most of all do not create a chronological story of everything that’s happened to you in the past 5 years. Pick the highlights to help you stand out.
Don’t ask for a job. When initially contacting a company, its best to ask for advice or a meeting to discuss what they do. People love to talk about their businesses and could give you some insight on what’s going on. If you are prepared by asking the right questions, you may find out what direction the company is taking and if they are looking to hire.
Share your opinions. This can sway an employer by showing how much or how little you know. Look over the company’s website to understand what they do or who they work with. If the interviewer doesn’t ask you something direct about the company, it could be a good chance for you to mention something you saw and allow you to tell them what you think about it.
Spamming is a no-no. Never send out mass e-mails to companies. When creating e-mails to send out, do some digging and find out who the contact person is. Generate each email to be specific to each company. You would hate to send an email with the wrong contact or company name; that calls for an immediate ‘delete’ which will never set you up for an interview.
Curiosity didn’t kill the cat. Asking questions show that you’re interested and want to know more. Whether you know the answer to your question or not, it shows that you have done some research and that you are engaged in what’s going on with the company/industry.
