After graduation I accepted a position at a company that was recognized for best practices in my professional field, they also had a good program for aspiring leaders and a formal mentorship program. This decision helped me understand very early in my career what are the key characteristics of a successful professional, who leads great teams and hold themselves and others to high standards without compromising work life balance. Having those skills helped me stand out from the crowd and gain respect from my peers which ultimately helped me land my current job. B.S. in Supply Chain Management, graduated July 2014
One of the most fruitful decisions I made for my entrepreneurial journey, was to first take on corporate sales. It was in doing so that I gained not only the capital to eventually go full-time in my business, but the skills in time organization, client communications, and the confidence to interact in higher level meetings. On the side, I maintained the business I would hope to go full-time with one day, and directly applied what I was learning in it to fill my time on the weekends with some of my first projects/clients. Undoubtedly, this was one of the more busy/trying times in the early stages of my working career, but can say in confidence that the experience was pivotal in getting my business off the ground. Today, I'm full-time in my video production business, and have been for a number years now. It's commonly that I'm still implementing ideas/practices I learned from my initial sales role, and consider it a great avenue for any creative/entrepreneurs' path that calls for it.
Like many soon-to-be college graduates, I started my job search by casting a wide net. I probably had sent out resumes, cover letters and applications to 50+ different companies and landed only one interview (which I flopped). My ASU career coach recommended that I take a targeted approach and focus on one job I could be really excited about instead. Just a month before graduating, I found the Alaskan Brewing Company was hiring a Digital Marketing Specialist and thought: "This is it." Instead of superficially introducing myself like I'd done with all the other employers, I found the hiring managers emails and put together a proposal that simulated the process and work I would've put out if they'd already hired me. By the time I landed the interview, they didn't have to guess if I was the right fit. [B.S. Marketing (Digital & Integrated Comms Specialization) Class of '21]
A professor in WP Carey once told me that no one will ever be as helpful and generous to you in your life, then when you are a new graduate. And, that may just be the truth. Many people across all different industries are willing to help, introduce, guide, and mentor you if you just ask. Tap into connections that you know, and utilize LinkedIn messaging for those who you do not. You may be surprised how many "strangers" are willing to be very impactful in your life.
Build a list of companies and industries of interest and target them. Look at your network and see if you know anyone at the company or know anyone who knows anyone at the company. Research the company/industry to find roles of interest. It should be obvious, but follow up with people at the companies you apply – don’t just apply online and wait for a response. Far too often candidates in the ATS get overlooked for many reasons even if you don’t have a network at company, find someone who works for the company (LinkedIn is generally the best tool for this) and ask for help in finding the right person to connect with. Don’t worry about annoying the person…most people like to help and even if they don’t, you are not in any worse of a position. The effort alone can make a big difference.
I have always wanted to impactful work; the kind of work that changes the world and improves the lives of others. Sustainability was something that I was passionate about and I knew there were a variety of jobs of fancy job titles in nonprofits and businesses working on many issues. Trying to go straight for one of those jobs didn’t make sense — what experience did I have? If I wanted to impact communities, I knew getting boots on the ground experience would open my eyes to more issues and build skills that a corporate job couldn’t do for me. I graduated: I drove the Planters NUTmobile around the US and met 40,000 people; I was a public school teacher in rural Taiwan; I lived in the Rocky Mountains and served with the conservation corps. My jobs couldn’t have been more disparate, but they gave me the most incredible experience impacting communities firsthand,in person, from the ground up — those stories and skills allowed me to get my dream job. Business Sustainability, 2020
Whether you are targeting internships or full-time positions, your resume will always have room for improvement. Work closely with your career coach at the Career Services Center and meet with them frequently to update your resume. Additionally, ask older students who successfully secured positions in areas of interest to review your resume. Their feedback will come from fresh experiences that can greatly increase your chance of moving forward in the hiring process. This process doesn't stop even 10 to 30 years into your career so get used to it! MBA - May 2016 B.S. Management and B.S. Management - May 2013
LinkedIn – It may seem obvious to create a profile as a business student or someone who's looking to expand their network or find a new job. However, I can't begin to count the number of people I've met who either don't have an account or created one but it's incomplete or outdated. After years of consistently being active on the platform, I began receiving messages from recruiters to interview and apply to various companies, such as Google, which is how I landed my current job. I couldn't be happier with the company I'm currently with, and encourage all business students to create a LinkedIn profile, bring an existing one up to date, and/or continue to stay active. You never know who may notice you and where a simple message may take you. BS, Marketing – 2015
The transition to college is thrilling and full of potential, but it's also fraught with difficulties and decision-making. Students need to work part-time, intern, or participate in cooperative education programs while still in school to obtain experience in the workplace. In addition to preparing students with real-world experience to discuss in interviews for jobs, these kinds of exercises develop lessons that can't be taught in a classroom, such as negotiating, connection development, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork. As you discover new ideas and skills, gaining real-world experience will test your ability to be open-minded and modest. Seize the opportunity to acquire and venture beyond your comfort zone by using such circumstances.
Applying for any position that even somewhat fits your profile on the job advertising boards is never a smart idea. Concentrate on positions for which you are more qualified. Look at the job description, consider it, and decide if the task that the firm is asking of you is a strength of yours or if you truly want to undertake it. It is pointless to send out applications at random. Additionally, since companies aren't interested in applicants who are either overqualified or underqualified, you'd only receive more rejections than interview requests.
Applying for any position that even somewhat fits your profile on the job advertising boards is never a smart idea. Concentrate on positions for which you are more qualified. Look at the job description, consider it, and decide if the task that the firm is asking of you is a strength of yours or if you truly want to undertake it. It is pointless to send out applications at random. Additionally, since companies aren't interested in applicants who are either overqualified or underqualified, you'd only receive more rejections than interview requests.
When I graduated from the W. P. Carey School of Business in May 2018 with a degree in Marketing, I had no idea what my next steps would be. All I knew was that if I wanted to land a great job, I’d have to put myself out there and make sure people noticed me. So, rather than just applying for jobs online like everyone else, I decided to get proactive about it and dive into networking events and conferences to increase my chances of getting hired. At these events, not only did I hone my elevator pitch (a skill every soon-to-be grad should master), but also made sure that when the time came for an interview or even a follow up conversation with someone who could help me take the next step towards employment - that they remembered who I was! This tactic has served me well throughout my career since then as well; making strong connections is key when you’re looking for opportunities! W. P Carey Alumni | Degree: Marketing | Graduation Date: May 2018