The majority of employers are looking for and attracted to candidates with relevant experience. So with no previous office experience, how do you increase your appeal? It’s simple – read the job description and apply your experience in the following areas.

‘Relevant Coursework’

Consider your college experience your job. Those class projects you labored over for the past couple years are relevant experience. Previous research papers, on-line simulations, business plans, market analysis, creative writing assignments – the list goes on and on – are all fair game to be included on your resume and discussed in an interview.

The most effective way to communicate this experience is to include a ‘Relevant Coursework’ section on your resume. You can include this either in the body of your resume, or in the ‘Education’ portion of your resume. Just remember – everything included on your resume should be there for a reason, and should have talking points in an interview – everything on that piece of paper is fair game.

Part-time job

Juggling a job and school is impressive to any employer – especially if you maintained your grades. Whether it was filing papers, hosting at a restaurant or working in a retail store, with those jobs came a set of responsibilities, skills and experiences employers can tap into.

Be sure to include these positions on your resume under ‘Work Experience’. Tailor each item on your list of previous job duties to the job description you are pursuing. Look for keywords in the job description you can include in your resume, such as ‘organized’, ‘communicated’ or ‘led’.

These bullet points should almost always begin with an action word (verb). For example, if you were a bank teller you would list:

• Refer customer to bankers based on account indicators to enhance their banking experience
• Conduct routine customer inquiries to answer and solve account problems or discrepancies
• Maintain and balance a large volume cash drawer daily with an impeccably small margin of error

Leadership Roles on Campus

Great! You were a Residence Assistant – now capitalize on that and show the true value and impact you had through your leadership role.

• How often did you participate?
• What rules or regulations did you enforce or enact?
• Did you reduce the number of vandalism from the previous year?
• Did you create any lasting bonds, provide advice, or help a younger student through a tough time?

Clubs and Extra-Curricular Activities

You haven’t had a job because you have been dedicated to playing sports, managing sports, participating in a fraternity, sorority or other organization – are you screwed? Of course not! Your time and involvement has proved not only dedication, but has likely taught you a great deal about leadership, teamwork, relationship building, decision-making, problem solving, time management, communication, or budgeting. All valuable skills to employers.

Volunteering

Many employers value the extracurricular and volunteer activities a student is involved in more-so than the job duties they performed. These activities give employers some insight into your interests, values and passions. Whether it is tutoring a neighbor, friend or relative, playing board games at the local senior center, or serving food to the less fortunate in a soup kitchen, they are ALL important in the mind of potential employers.

]]> http://www.collegiatemoney.com/blog/capitalize-on-your-college-experience-5-areas-of-employer-interest/feed/ 0 http://www.collegiatemoney.com/blog/college-graduate-expectations-money-isnt-everything/ http://www.collegiatemoney.com/blog/college-graduate-expectations-money-isnt-everything/#comments Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:43:57 +0000 admin http://www.collegiatemoney.com/blog/?p=50 As most young graduates are beginning to learn, it takes more than an undergraduate degree to be making the big bucks. As students graduate, leave school, and embark on a life of their own without the security of their parents or low-interest rate school loans, they are bombarded with the reality of paying off student debt, as well as their own necessities, rent, and utilities. This is coupled with the realization that many will earn, at best $40,000, in their first entry level position.

Although money is very important as a college graduate, choosing a career or job position based upon one factor – Money – is the wrong strategy. There are a multitude of other factors at play not only in employer compensation but in personal development and industry economic conditions as well.

Beyond money, here are some things to consider when looking for that first career opportunity:

Think Long-Term

• Where would you ultimately like to be? Your first job should work to build towards this end goal. Selecting a career path based on an entry level salary is a a short-term decision that can potentially lead to a costly career meltdown or change in the future.

Industry Reports

• Reported industry salary numbers are median figures, half of people in the field earn more and half earn less.
• Often times, the reports predicting growth or wage increases in the field you chose upon entering college are just that – predictions, not facts.

Interests

• Focus on your interests – when you become an expert in the field you truly love and enjoy, the money will follow. People and companies pay for true knowledge, understanding and talent – make your interests work for you!
• Selecting a career based on the statistics, such as job-growth and money can be a recipe for disaster. Ensuing boredom or the loss of interest in your field can make for a miserable career choice and limit your career growth opportunities.

Skills & Abilities

• If you don’t have the skills and abilities to do the job, it can be hard to find or keep a job. That should be pretty obvious!
• Don’t waste your time pursuing a job outside your skills and abilities, instead find the areas you need to work on and find a position where you can work on them

Values

• Are you ready to be consumed by your career right out of the gates? If so, maybe you deserve that $75,000 a year. For most college grads, 70-80 hour weeks are not in the cards.
• Also, many high-paying careers may require for you to concede your sense of integrity, and pride to be successful and appease your co-workers.

Personality

• Being cognizant of your personality traits can help you find a position that in time can make you big money.
• Are you introverted and shy? Maybe you shouldn’t be pursuing a job as a pharmaceutical sales consultant or an account manager where you are intricately involved with clients.
• Your personality also plays into the type of company you choose to work for. Corporate culture can impact the way you feel, think and act both inside and outside of the workplace.