Are you beginning a journey down the road to your ideal position in the workplace, be it an internship or part/full-time employment? Good! No need to be scared. It’s going to be rewarding, I promise! Just take a deep breath and keep reading.
It’s true that job shortages have surpassed client shortages. It’s been this way since roughly 2007. This means many things, but perhaps most importantly it means that there are hundreds, sometimes thousands of people trying to fill the same position as you. Still, don’t be scared! Really. Just remember:
- It takes time. More specifically, it can take up to 30 weeks and 17 interviews before you get a job offer. Don’t throw in the towel after a month. Be patient. Learn how to increase your resume response rate. Keep your eye on the prize.
- Network. It’s no longer enough to simply browse a job board and apply to the positions you find listed there. Here’s why, and what you can do about it.
- Right now, 10 times more people are attempting to find employment through job boards than 10 years ago. This means if you’re trying to land a job within a smaller company, you’ll have on average 500 competitors. Number of competitors for a position within a larger company? 1,000.
- Only 10% of employers find candidates through job boards. 80% find candidates through people they already know, such as current employees.
- So what can you do? Meet people, get your name out there, and secure connections. One way you as a New College student can do this is through the New College Alumnae/i Association. Browse the site and read about the many ways you can meet and speak with an alumnae/i in order to find out where they are now and how they got there!
- Do your research. Learn everything you can about the company you’re applying to work for. Know their challenges, issues, and opportunities. Know what problems they’re facing, and come up with ways you can help fix them.
- Prepare a stellar résumé. On average, it takes employers only 15 seconds to look at a résumé and decide if they want to interview the candidate. So give them something worth reading. How can you do this?
- Customize your résumé for each position you’re applying for.
- Demonstrate value, not experience. Be detailed about what you’ve done.
- Tell the employer what’s in it for them. How is your presence in the company going to be helpful?
- Be confident, be consistent, and be ready. The next opportunity could be right around the corner.
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Information for this post was presented during a Jan. 11 session by Katy Collins (Campus Life Coordinator of Student Activities) and Beth Bowen (Student Life and Career Center Coordinator) and is credited to Phil Rosenburg, founder of recareered.com.
Reblogged this on UW Land Arch.
Thank you! I’m glad you found it informative!