The Entry-Level Job Hunt: Top 5 Tips to Ensure Success
Minister of Blogging Enlightenment Matt Grant is out this week, and has thus passed the torch from his worthy hands to me, Alex Weaver, as the new Marketing Coordinator here at Aquent, Boston. I am not taking over as Aquent's new Blogger Extraordinaire. However, my reasons for donning the golden keyboard this week are partly due to my relative inexperience in the field. I have been chosen not because my college days we spent blogging with the best, but because I meandered through four years of college writing papers on dead poets and ancient authors and yet somehow I ended up landing a job in the ever-elusive and seemingly impenetrable marketing industry. How did I do it, you may ask? The short answer, to be frank, was slowly and painfully. But I prevailed, and in the end, came out with a couple lessons learned along the way. So sit back, give your mouse-hand a rest, and enjoy my Top 5 Tips for The Entry-Level Job Search.
1. First thing's first: Join the Masses and Be Proactive. The biggest "problem" with Generation Y is all a matter of perception. The general discourse is that the term "work your way from the ground up" terrifies us half to death. But recent study findings and news articles seem to say otherwise about the majority of 13- to 25-year-olds in the US. The internet boom may have opened the doors for rapid career advancement and speedy job security, but that doesn't mean that everyone should be thinking CEO their first day on the job. The internet has produced an uber-aware young populace that realizes the importance of giving back: civically, environmentally, and professionally, which is great - until it causes us to lose sight of the merit of an old-fashioned job search.
When it comes to the job search, being computer savvy should not mean placing too much stock in simply posting your resume online. This is a great and necessary step to take, but it only works if you take a genuine and personal interest in the direction of your career search. Especially in an industry such as marketing, where getting the proverbial foot in the door can feel very daunting, it is crucial that you take the helm and steer the ship towards those companies where you really want to work. In the end, your career search may quite possibly be the only time when being that intense backseat driver really pays off. After all, it is the experience you should be after, not the fancy title or winning company softball team (though this never hurts).
2. Pay close attention to your resume and networking opportunities. These two things combined represent perhaps the most potent job search weapon you can arm yourself with. Generalized resumes do not stand out in a crowd, just like saying that you think marketing is "cool" during your interview is probably not going to get you the job. What will tip the scales is a resume loaded with keywords that parlay your previous working experience - no matter what it was - into applicable marketing contexts. Burger flipping employs organization, team skills, and fast thinking...seriously.
Similarly, going into a career search without networking is like snowshoing in ice skates - it just doesn't work. Utilize your college's Career Planning Center, your family, friends, and any possible acquaintance, no matter how obscure, who can get you the contact information of someone involved in the industry in which you want to work. The network you start to build is not necessarily going to lead you to an acceptance offer (thought it can), but it will build your knowledge about the industry and render you better equipped for that next interview. In other words, networking builds not only who you know, but what you know.
3. Don't just research job openings, research the companies that really appeal to you. Finding the right job can be frustrating, especially when you are coming out of college and have little to no applicable experience. Instead of pouring over the countless job entries requiring 2 or more years of related experience (something you do not have unless your desired job field is cramming for economics tests), make a list of the companies that you would love to work for and go after them directly. Sculpt your resume and a cover letter to highlight why you would be great in marketing, for instance, and then send it directly to those companies' HR departments. More often than not, you will be told that there are no openings for someone of your experience level. But one major lesson I learned is that many entry-level positions are not posted but rather filled internally and, upon further prodding, opportunities can be unearthed from places that initially seemed hopeless. So if Google Advertising is where you really want to be, give them a call and tell them so - it absolutely cannot hurt.
4. When interviewing, consider the company culture as well as the specific job description. One recent study found that college students are willing to accept an average of 7 percent less starting pay to work for companies with cultures they truly value and respect. First and foremost, of course, it is important that you demonstrate why you are the best candidate for the job. But it is also crucial that you prove why and how you will be a good fit in the company culture as a whole. Talent is everywhere; the right attitude is not.
5. Do not give up (because a motivational list isn't complete without a cliche, right?). Finding a job is not easy, especially as a recent graduate who is coping with the loss of free food and housing. But it may also be the most important thing you do since nailing those SATs. Do your research and find a fit that you are satisfied with - no matter how long it takes. The job you really want is waiting; it's up to you to find it.
In the end, it is important to realize that your first job search after college will not define the rest of your professional career; but it will undoubtedly shape it. Whether a coffee shop barista, a mail room specialist at an advertising agency, or a junior investment consultant, understand that though this first job will not define you forever, it is also not to be underestimated. Put in the time and make it count, because the last thing you want your first job to be is just another stepping-stone in a lengthy path of short-lived employment. So instead of beginning your professional career as a serial Job-Hopper, pay close attention to this recipe for success to help ensure you do it right the first time.
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