One statistic says that only 75 - 80 % of jobs get posted...or maybe it's the other way around and only 20 - 25 % get posted. Regardless...there are a chunk of jobs out there that you will never find out about unless you network.
You probably know 150 - 250 people. Many of you may have more "friends" on Facebook and other networking sites. If you start letting your network know what kind of employment you are seeking...those people start talking to their 150-250 friends...and before you know it you're contacting your friend, Jane Doe's, cousin's, father-in-law who is the CEO of your dream employer. Did you just hear angels singing?! aaaaaaaaaaahhhh!
But, you ask, how DO I network? Do I just call someone? In some cases, yes. But first prepare your resume and research the career you are hoping to enter. That way, you can happily forward your resume when someone asks for it, and you can also speak intelligently to that afore mentioned CEO about the industry he has mastered.
Here are a few ways to network:
Informational Interviews: This is where you are NOT asking for a job, but just asking someone for 20 minutes of their time to learn more about their career, how they got there, tips for entering the field, etc. Now, if they happen to be impressed with you and your brilliant questions and ask for your resume, well, you of course have it handy, but don't dupe someone with saying you are coming in for an informational interview and then harass them about a job.
Attend Career Fairs: These are people who are reaching out to connect with you because they need employees. So, take advantage of it. It gets more than just your resume in front of them, it adds a face and a voice! (Check out the schedule!)
Professional Organizations: Join professional organizations related to your career of choice. This is a great way to find-out who is moving about, up and out of companies and get to know people BEFORE you get into an interview setting with them or their supervisor. (Its always nice to have someone feeding them positive information about you before you get there.)
Alumni Groups: Especially if you are still trying to decide what you want to do, there isn't a professional organization that relates to your career or you just want an additional way to network, take advantage of another commonality that connects you to people: your alma mater! Auburn has clubs in cities across the United States. Sororities and fraternities offer this opportunity as well.
With any of these methods, your goal is to get to know people and share yourself, particularly your strengths with them. Also,remember the world is very small. They say if you know seven people, you know the world. So always treat everyone respectfully and assume everyone has access to your Facebook and MySpace pages. You never know who people are, who they are related to and who they know.
I recently connected a student to a friend of mine so she could network with him, and it turned out they had met previously through her ex-boyfriend. Neither recognized that connection through emailing each other...only when they met face-to-face. Good thing she hadn't acted a fool when she met him in a non-professional environment before.
If you need more information, check-out www.auburn.edu/career. Also, here is a tip sheet on networking and informational interviewing.
Resume: Objective or Not
So, does that little line or two on your resume really mean anything?! Yes and no. (You're loving that riding the fence answer, aren't you?!) Okay, so here are the pros and cons to having an objective on your resume:
Pros:
- It shows you have career direction and know what position you want with the company/organization.
- It demonstrates your confidence.
- It allows you to highlight specific skills you hope to convince the employer you can use with their company because your resume illustrates your past successes using them.
Cons:
- It is redundant to the information they just read in your cover letter.
- It takes up precious space on your resume that you need to demonstrate your past successes.
- You don't actually know the title of the position you want or you don't care, and you don't want to point that out by stating "entry level position."
- It often ends up being a string of clichés or other drivel that no one really wants to read: "seeking challenging position with a growing company" or "opportunity for career advancement" (Really??? Because all of the other applicants are seeking dead-end jobs?!)
So, if you have the room on your resume or you are attending a career fair and/or otherwise won't be attaching a cover letter, here are the things your objective SHOULD do:
- Fit your background/career desires.
- Show your confidence in career goals.
- Focus on the level of responsibility, type of work environment, specific skills or education you are seeking.
- Be clear and concise, indicating how your abilities, skills and background relate to your objective.
Is a one page resume that big of a deal?
We get asked a lot if a resume really needs to be just one page. The easy answer for a college student is "Yes, one page is enough." However, in a competitive job market, you want to include enough information to get the reader's attention. Just make sure you aren't including everything you have ever done (especially high school). This isn't your autobiography. It's your resume and everything on the resume should convince the employer why you are the best person for that job. They say that you may only get 30-50 seconds for someone to scan your resume. You certainly want what they read to be meaningful!
Another thing...make sure that what you are including translates outside the Auburn community. For example, people who don't "know Auburn," would be more inclined to think that Miss Auburn is a pageant title instead of the official hostess of the University. They wouldn't know that this person had campaigned for the position and supported a platform. "Diamond Dolls" and other leadership positions supporting our awesome athletic teams are another group that would be better "marketed" with some explanation...unless you are seeking an "evening" job. (Google "diamond dolls" if you aren't convinced.)
The hard part about this...especially if you are a campus leader or have worked a ton of jobs to support yourself while attending college...is that while these positions and jobs have been important to you, they might not amount to a "hill of beans" when being considered for a particular position. So, try to step back...look at each experience...and ask yourself some questions: Does this translate as a leadership position to an employer? Is this getting redundant? Did my involvement in this organization consist of more than my sending in $50 and receiving a certificate? Do I want to be asked about this in an interview? Will this show that I can really manage my time? Does this show that I have been recognized in the past so the employer will also want to "recognize" me?
Want another opinion?
http://internships.about.com/od/resumetipssamples/a/onepageresume.htm
Take this quiz to see if your resume will stand out in a crowd.
Sometimes, all of the information you have on your resume needs to be there, but you may just need some help formatting it on the page. Regardless, Career Development Services can help! Walk-in hours (M-F, noon - 4 p.m.) are great for resume help. You can also email your resume through eResume Review and get feedback within 48 hours.
To get started, pick-up a free copy of our career handbook in 303 Martin Hall or review it on-line here. We also have a free tool that can help you get your resume started called Optimal Resume. Just make sure you still edit the Word version as it doesn't automatically create the perfect version.
Another thing...make sure that what you are including translates outside the Auburn community. For example, people who don't "know Auburn," would be more inclined to think that Miss Auburn is a pageant title instead of the official hostess of the University. They wouldn't know that this person had campaigned for the position and supported a platform. "Diamond Dolls" and other leadership positions supporting our awesome athletic teams are another group that would be better "marketed" with some explanation...unless you are seeking an "evening" job. (Google "diamond dolls" if you aren't convinced.)
The hard part about this...especially if you are a campus leader or have worked a ton of jobs to support yourself while attending college...is that while these positions and jobs have been important to you, they might not amount to a "hill of beans" when being considered for a particular position. So, try to step back...look at each experience...and ask yourself some questions: Does this translate as a leadership position to an employer? Is this getting redundant? Did my involvement in this organization consist of more than my sending in $50 and receiving a certificate? Do I want to be asked about this in an interview? Will this show that I can really manage my time? Does this show that I have been recognized in the past so the employer will also want to "recognize" me?
Want another opinion?
http://internships.about.com/od/resumetipssamples/a/onepageresume.htm
Take this quiz to see if your resume will stand out in a crowd.
Sometimes, all of the information you have on your resume needs to be there, but you may just need some help formatting it on the page. Regardless, Career Development Services can help! Walk-in hours (M-F, noon - 4 p.m.) are great for resume help. You can also email your resume through eResume Review and get feedback within 48 hours.
To get started, pick-up a free copy of our career handbook in 303 Martin Hall or review it on-line here. We also have a free tool that can help you get your resume started called Optimal Resume. Just make sure you still edit the Word version as it doesn't automatically create the perfect version.
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