Are you a new grad looking for a job? Here are some questions I get asked the most…
If you are a student who is about to graduate, or recent alumni, the following questions may have crossed your mind, even though you may have felt afraid to ask. Many of you will complete the degree requirements without ever thinking about a career path or getting any work experience while going to school. Fear not! The tips below are meant to help you.
Jose Cabral, Ryerson University career consultant & George Brown College instructor and content designer
1 – “I do not have experience. How can I find a job aligned with what I am studying?”
The idea of experience as in applied knowledge should not be limited to that acquired in the classroom. Any experience, from volunteering to paid internship, co-op, part-time jobs will let students practice and develop skills that can be transferred to the future jobs. If one has the ability of greeting customers as a cashier, for instance, they should be able to greet coworkers in an office setting. The environment may change but, the communication and customer services skills, to name a few, can be transferred.
You can consider getting an internship after graduation by signing up with Career Edge or the Ontario Internship Program. There are many more so make sure you search and review the requirements to assess whether you qualify as a new graduate.
2 – “I have been applying online to many jobs but, no calls for interview yet.”
I can imagine how frustrating this can be. The idea of using one résumé to apply for many jobs is not the most effective method. Instead, I would suggest you read the job posting carefully, think about how you meet the qualifications and what relevant experience can demonstrate that you have used the skills in the past. A résumé of quality is always customized to the position by conveying abilities and experience as they pertain to the job, which usually helps the recruiter/hiring manager quickly assess whether the candidate qualifies and make the decision to invite the candidate for a job interview.
3 – Some of my classmates have gotten offers already and there is a lot of competition out there, how can I stand out?
One of the ideas is to write a cover letter even if not required. If you invest the time and effort to convey how your values, interests, abilities and experience connect with the role and the organization, it will certainly show the employer that you are really interested and going beyond the minimum required résumé. Keep in mind that employers do not hire solely based on qualifications but, also personality.
4 – Networking feels fake. Do I really need to do it? Urgh…
The effectiveness of recruitment channels worldwide in 2017 (Statista, 2017) showed that job boards and career sites were the least effective ways with which recruiters found candidates, whereas internal referral and social media shares were the most effective. Now, how would employees know that you are seeking opportunities if no one tells them? By conducting information interviews, or attending networking events, you can meet professionals and genuinely develop rapport with them by showing interest in what they do and the organization they are with.
Figure 1 – Effectiveness of recruitment channels worldwide in 2017, by effectiveness score
5 – Do I really need a LinkedIn profile? Why?
As per the U.S. News (Fertig, 2017), about 95% of recruiters are using LinkedIn as a major sourcing tool to find candidates to present to their client companies. In order to be found, it is essential to have a complete profile. You may have an idea from the job posting regarding what keywords to have on your profile. It is also important that your headline field describe your personal brand rather than simply stating your job title, and make sure your profile is about your accomplishments in each of your jobs rather than just listing the positions you’ve held. Review LinkedIn for Students for tips to make yours an All-star profile.
Lastly, as always, I suggest you check in with your Career Consultant, Coach or Counsellor for further assistance on identifying your interests and suitable career path. Happy job search!
References
Fertig, A. (2017, May 5). How Headhunters Use LinkedIn to Find Talented Candidates. Retrieved from U.S. News: https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/articles/2017-05-05/how-headhunters-use-linkedin-to-find-talented-candidates
Statista. (2017). https://www.statista.com/statistics/881148/effectiveness-of-recruitment-channels-worldwide/. Retrieved from Statista: https://www.statista.com/statistics/881148/effectiveness-of-recruitment-channels-worldwide/
This week’s blog comes from Jose Cabral, a Ryerson University career consultant and George Brown College instructor and content designer!