Three great tips from a college recruiter

Last week I had a recruiter come in to speak in my career management class, and I wanted to share three great tips that she gave to my students.

1.  Turn the interview into a conversation.
The recruiter advised my students not to get nervous about their interviews. (I know that's easier said than done!). However, she recommended treating an interview as "having a conversation." One of the primary things that recruiters are looking for in a candidate is their ability to fit in with the team and company. The more you can be personable, develop rapport with your interviewer and ask engaging questions, the more you will increase your chances of landing the job.

2. Be strategic about your LinkedIn headline.

Most students tend to put statements like, "Current student majoring in X at Y university," as their LinkedIn headline. The recruiter suggested that instead you put key words in your headline regarding the type of position you are seeking so that when recruiters do a search on LinkedIn to find appropriate candidates, they'll find you. So change your headline to something like, "Junior marketing student at Y university seeking position in social media or graphic design."

3. Connect with recruiters on LinkedIn.
To be honest, this was a surprising one to me. I assumed that recruiters didn't want students they didn't know invading their professional online space. And, although this particular recruiter welcomes students connecting with her, I need to warn you that there are some recruiters who wouldn't appreciate this approach. She stated that she didn't mind students adding her to their LinkedIn network, but she didn't want them sending her emails through LinkedIn because she didn't have the time to read them nor the inclination to respond. When in doubt about connecting with a recruiter on LinkedIn, I would highly recommend you speak with your college's career services center to get their advice.


By connecting to recruiters on LinkedIn, they'll see your status updates on their LinkedIn home page. And by posting frequent updates relevant to your field, you can position yourself as someone who is staying current with the latest developments in the industry, as well as staying "top of mind" with the recruiter.

Cover Letters: Hit 'em with your best shot - right away!

I often review students' cover letters before they send them to the employer. There have been many times when students do a terrific job of expressing their enthusiasm and interest in the position/company and why they would be a great fit - but sometimes they do so in the last paragraph. I always advise them that they need to grab the attention of the recruiter from the get-go and to make their first paragraph compelling enough that the reader wants to continue reading on.  So, take a moment to review your cover letters to see if you are putting your best foot forward - in the opening paragraph.

Seniors: Looking for a job? Practice MOTS

I have been meeting with a lot of anxious seniors lately who are concerned about their prospects of getting a job. Typically, I run down my checklist with them to make sure they are completing all of the necessary steps required in the job search.  Many times students assure me that they are indeed doing all of these things but are looking for some additional secret strategy from me, like a magical key that will unlock the hiring doors to the world of employment.  Unfortunately, there is no such key.  The "un-magical" answer is to adopt what a local Boston weatherman used to say about the weather in Boston:  MOTS - meaning "more of the same."  And this is exactly the approach to adopt in securing a job.  Keep on doing what you've been doing and eventually it will pay off. Actually, I guess if I had to say what the magical key to landing a job is, it would be perseverance.  

Seniors: Are you ready for fall recruiting?

Since summer is my favorite season, I always hated those relentless and annoying back-to-school commercials that infringed upon the lull of the all too short summer season and yanked me back to the stark reality of fall, which is why I'm reluctant to post this today.  On the other hand, since the goal of my blog is to help you succeed in your career, I feel the need to post this now, lest you miss out on the critical fall recruitment window.  Because, just as they say in those equally annoying commercials for bankrupt businesses, "once it's gone, it's gone."

Many seniors are surprised when I tell them that certain companies, industries and programs recruit only in the fall semester for full-time positions.  They mistakenly think that all companies recruit in the spring since it's closer to graduation.  The accounting, finance and consulting industries, for example, typically recruit in the fall, as well as several leadership and rotational programs.  Bigger firms, with more formalized programs, tend to recruit in the fall, as opposed to smaller firms which might hire more on an ad hoc basis.  However, since many seniors have their sights on the top firms, it's in your best interest to get ready sooner than later.  I always tell my seniors to be ready to "hit the ground running" at the beginning of the fall semester.

So, what does that mean?  First of all, it means making an appointment with your college's career center.  Fall appointments in my career center fill up very quickly, and I would assume it's the same on many college campuses, so you should book an appointment as soon as possible.  I would suggest calling now to book a September appointment.

Listed below is my senior "to do" list for the fall recruiting season, which I recommend you discuss with your career counselor at your appointment.

• Make sure your resume is perfect and is strategically targeted to the industry you want to enter
• Have a cover letter reviewed to make sure you're writing them correctly
• Schedule a mock interview to practice and perfect your interviewing skills
• Attend your school's career fair (even if you think there are no companies you're interested in - I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised)
• Go to as many industry and company events as possible to network with recruiters
• Establish a LinkedIn profile or update the one you have
• Practice and hone your 30-second pitch so you can deliver it flawlessly

By gearing up early, you'll be able to take advantage of any and all opportunities that come your way this fall.  Come spring break, you'll be in that enviable position of being able to totally relax while some of your friends are scrambling to gear up for the industries that recruit in the spring!

Do resume fads and gimmicks really work?

A solid resume is one that shows you understand not only the job that you’re applying for, but also how your skills and experience can benefit the employer. If you can do that, your resume will be effective, regardless of the format: http://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2012/05/18/recruiters-tell-us-do-resume-fads-really-work/2/