Wednesday, July 13, 2011

New Grad n00b to Experienced Professional

As a new graduate it's unlikely you have all the experience required to step into a career with 110% confidence. The skills and experiences you have from previous employment, internships, volunteering or class can help you. The only thing you need to do is recognize what skills you've obtained that are transferable into your field of work. I'll let you in on a little secret...by tweaking your resume (not lying!) and using key words to target an employer, your chances of beating your competition are automatically raised.
When you are applying to a large company or online in general, your application is put through a large database and saved on-file for about 3-6 months. During that time period, HR can use search words to find the "perfect candidate's" application in just one click. The more key words your resume uses, the better chance you have of being found in the database. (Even if it doesn't go through a database, employers recognize certain words while skimming your resume better than others.) I'm not telling you to use the same word 10 times in your application. Read the job posting, note the requirements that you qualify for, and then use a variety of key words within your application. It's that simple.
For example, by working in customer service you can break it up into various skills such as oral & written communication, time management, active listening, critical thinking, attention to detail etc. Use these transferable skills within your accomplishment statements or cover letter and you'll sound like a pro in no time!

Now when they ask in the interview why you'd be an asset to their company you have a handful of quality skills to offer. For more help with writing your application and brainstorming transferable skills view your Degree Exploration Guide on our website or visit us in the Resource Centre for a hard copy. D.E.Gs are our #1 resource provided to students because they're so handy!


Evaluating Ideas, Theories and Evidence,
Samantha Del Duca

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