It’s the time of year when the reality of graduation sets in and college seniors begin the professional job search. Lets not deny it; it’s a daunting task to start looking for a specialized job. You’re probably thinking...Where do I start? What should my resume look like? What am I supposed to do?!?
When I sought advice about my resume and cover letters, everyone told me something different. For example, I was originally taught to write a cover letter in a three-paragraph fashion. My English teacher demanded a different way. My father suggested another format and my brother and sister showed me an alternative template. My advice is to pick one and go with it. I had the most success with the three-paragraph style so I stuck with that.
My resume has been evolving since I was 18 years old. My sophomore year of college, I took on the four section style, as I like to call it. My resume is divided into education, career related experience, memberships/accomplishments and technical skills. It’s pretty simple but it does have a catchy black line border!
Applying for the job. This can be extremely overwhelming so take it one step at a time. I graduated a semester early so I started applying for jobs around the end of October. I put together a prospective job application cover letter. This is an application applying for a position that isn’t necessarily open within the company, but one you’d like to be considered for in the future. Within the cover letter, I described my experiences and accomplishments and how I could be an asset to the company.
There were days I would sit down and apply to places for three or four hours at a time. I’d be “in the zone” and wouldn’t want to stop. To identify job opportunities, I would literally search for topics like, “Advertising agencies in Kansas City, MO,” and apply to every place on the list. I figured, the more I got my name out, the better chance I had at finding a job. The process was time consuming, but I was able to land interviews with companies in New York, Arkansas and around the Des Moines area.
I ultimately chose Trilix (where I interned during the summer of 2010) because it is close to home and a great company atmosphere. Times are tough for college graduates, and many are left job searching for months. I’m thankful that I was able to find a job quickly. If you’re a graduating senior, I recommend that you apply anywhere and everywhere you can. And network like it’s your job.