By Will LinkWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. The Internet and social media have drastically changed the job search process and workforce in the past decade. Much of the commonly held advice regarding the job search years ago has now evolved into new trends and practices. Therefore, advice given to undergraduates and recent college graduates as they look for their next role is not as rigid as it once was. Here are some job or internship hunting tips that are still applicable today, but require a new approach. Past - Pound the Pavement Present - Follow Instructions and Connect Digitally If you were looking for a job in years past you could likely show up at an office and ask the hiring manager if the company had any open positions. You might have even been able to fill out the application or hand in your resume in person. In the era of LinkedIn, Indeed, and other online job boards this method of job hunting is almost non-existent. Since almost all applications are based online, showing up in person will make it seem like you have not paid attention to or followed the application instructions. Building security is also much stricter in most offices today than it was a decade or two ago, which makes it difficult to meet with a hiring manager on the spot. Your primary means of contacting the employer during the early stages of the hiring process should be through email or LinkedIn. These digital communication platforms will allow the person reviewing your application to respond when they can best get back to you. Following up with a recruiter via email or LinkedIn also prevents you from interrupting the recruiter during any busy or awkward times. Some job postings today might also explicitly state that phone calls from applicants will not be accepted. Past - Job Hopping Makes You Look Like an Unreliable Candidate Present - Job Hopping Helps You Gain More Experience and Skills Many workers from previous generations graduated from college, remained with one company, and maybe worked multiple roles within the same company until they retired. With an increasing number of Gen-Z workers job hopping today due to the gig economy, this career trajectory is rare. Serial job hopping and many lateral moves can look negative on a resume or other application documents. However, if you are constantly moving up to higher positions, job hopping will make you look like a more appealing candidate. Many of our peers are taking on part-time jobs or side hustles in the gig economy in order to pursue projects that resonate with them or learn new skills before getting their first full-time opportunity. While some people argue that job hopping can indicate to a potential employer that you are unreliable or disloyal, changing jobs or working for a variety of companies in a shorter period of time can give you a more diverse skill set and make you appear more open to flexibility in your duties. If you are offered an opportunity that you believe will get you into a leadership role quicker, increase your responsibilities, or broaden your horizons, you should take it. Serial job hopping and many lateral moves can look negative on a resume or other application documents. However, if you are constantly moving up to higher positions, job hopping will make you look like a more appealing candidate. Past - Sell Yourself in an Interview Present - Market Yourself and Have a Conversation During an Interview Sometimes we’re told that when interviewing we have to sell ourselves to the hiring manager. This is not the only component to an effective interview, however. Some hiring managers might dislike the idea of a sales pitch during an interview. Constantly pushing your skills on the interviewer can also come across as inauthentic. Instead, treat a job or internship interview as a give and take between you and the employer. View it as an opportunity to learn about the company and role itself. Just as the employer is evaluating whether or not to make you an offer, you are evaluating whether the position will be a good fit for you during an interview. Make sure to prepare questions for your interviewer such as what they like about working at the company and what challenges they face. The hiring manager will also likely ask you about your hobbies and interests outside of your work or academic courses as well. When you are not only focused on selling yourself in an interview, you will appear more relaxed and be able to have a better conversation and learning experience. Past - Take the Highest Paying Offer at the Biggest Company Present - Evaluate all of the Opportunities Available to You When offered the choice between a large corporation or a startup, you might think that your best option is to take the former because of the potential for a higher salary, more benefits, and better chances of job security. This is not always the case, however. During the 2008 economic recession it became evident that large corporations can go through massive layoffs in times of hardship. One benefit of working in a startup is that because there are fewer employees, you will likely receive more responsibilities and have the possibility of earning a leadership position earlier in your career. Working for a startup or company with fewer employees allows you to acquire more skills at a faster rate than you would at a larger corporation. For more information on the benefits and drawbacks of working for different types of companies check out our Company Size Matters series of blog posts. Read thoughts from these Marist students who completed internships at corporations, non-profits, the federal government, and a start up in our Company Size Matters series. Career and job searching trends have changed dramatically in the past decade and much of the long held wisdom has evolved into new ideas and suggestions. Many good intentioned people can give you advice that is no longer applicable to your specific job search. You should always seek advice that is relevant to your own career goals and the positions that you are applying for.
When in doubt, conduct more thorough background research on the company to see what their application processes and culture is like. One way to accomplish this is through an informational interview. The career coaches and other staff members in the Marist Center for Career Services are always there to help put you in position to secure the job or internship that you are looking for.
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