Tips for Getting That First Job
College students who plan to begin their job search this spring can look forward to a healthy job market. Job opportunities for recent graduates will expand by 4 to 6 percent this year, according to a survey of 864 companies by the Collegiate Employment Research Institute at Michigan State University. And many large employers have expressed eagerness to recruit young graduates. But landing that first post-college job is never easy.
Here are tips to help you ace your first job interviews.
Research the employer. "Don't make the interview your first interaction with a firm or company," advises Dan Black, director of campus recruiting for Ernst & Young, which plans to hire 3,300 new graduates this year. Instead, learn something about the company beforehand. You don't have to peruse financial statements, but it would be a good idea to at least read the firm's website or chat with someone who works there.
Dawn Dilullo, a director of recruitment for Walgreen Co., says she is always impressed by students who have ventured into a Walgreens store and talked to employees or managers to find out about the company. "Talk to some people who are in similar positions and who have a really good understanding of the job," Dilullo says.
You could also attend career fairs, company presentations, or pre-interview nights, says Black: "The more you get to know a firm and its representatives prior to an interview, the more comfortable you are going to be in an interview setting."
Come with questions. An interview is a conversation, so it's a good idea to pepper the discourse with questions of your own. "Ask, 'What is my day going to be like? What are the typical hours?' Things that really show you are serious about looking at us for a career," suggests Maureen Reim, another director of recruitment for Walgreen.
"When a student comes with a list of questions, it really shows they're interested and are looking at your company very seriously."
Black recommends that you ask about opportunities for advancement and what you need to do to get promoted.
Emphasize your internships. "We're looking for individuals who bring strong academic credentials in addition to work experience through internships or co-op experiences," says Leslie Chappell, director of university relations for Lockheed Martin, which plans to hire 4,500 entry-level professionals this year.
And talking up your relevant work experience might actually pay off. Almost half of all employers (46.2 percent) offer higher starting salaries to new hires who have relevant internship experiences, according to a National Association of Colleges and Employers survey. On average, they boost the entry-level salary by 6.8 percent.
But it's not only high-profile internships that employers are interested in. Tom Gilligan, vice president of human resources for Sherwin-Williams, wants to hear about academic experiences, clubs, organizations, and summer jobs–even if they were only waiting tables or landscaping–provided that you can tell your story with enthusiasm.
"What we're really evaluating," he says of job applicants, "is how well we think they're going to be able to build relationships with our customers and coworkers."
Tell a good story. Corporate recruiters don't just want to be told that you are an exemplary leader or have great computer skills. They want you to give examples of times when you've demonstrated your stellar qualities.
"Identify a situation when you had to provide exceptional customer service and be able to tell a story about how you have been successful in that area in the past," says Pam Webster, a corporate recruiting manager for Enterprise Rent-a-Car, which expects to hire about 8,000 recent college graduates this year.
Black advises: "Don't talk in the hypothetical. To really impress, give me specific examples, and tell me about things you have actually done."
Dilullo often asks recent graduates to describe situations where critical thinking skills were key. "How people behaved in previous positions is indicative of how they would be in future positions," she explains.
Amy Van Kirk, director of campus recruiting for PricewaterhouseCoopers, is looking for young people who can indicate an ability to continuously learn. "We look for people that hunger for knowledge and then want to articulate it with others," she says.
So, think up some telling anecdotes about your past before you walk into your interview, and be prepared to share them.
• More tips on how to graduate into a great career
• More information on choosing a career