Recent graduated looking for a job? Not to worry. Keep the following tips in mind as you send out cover letters and resumes, and you’ll have a leg up on the competition.
The following tips are compiled from a recent review of entry level job candidates.
1. Don’t send emails from your Blackberry or iPhone.
2. Don’t sign off in lowercase (- david). It lacks respect and professionalism.
3. Make sure that your online "tracks" are clean: your Twitter account doesn’t use profanity or refer to drunken nights out, you’re fully clothed in your Facebook thumbnail.
4. Don’t be inappropriately casual or informal.
Example:
I just graduated from NYU Stern School of Business with an MBA in Finance, and my initial job offer blew up so I’m looking for a full time job.
5. Don’t ramble in your cover letter about your personal search for meaning in your career. We want to hear about why you are great for our job, not how you’re feeling about your professional life.
Example:
Most of this background is particularly important to me, but really doesn’t establish any prior experience for the position. What my background does establish is that I am very passionate motivated and will stop at nothing to learn the job at hand. I started out in all of these positions as a clueless individual and left two out of the three places a well informed expert.
6. Don’t just say "I can excel at anything I put my mind to." Everyone says it, and it’s a cop-out. Use hard facts and examples to show how you have excelled.
Example:
As I would do for you, if you would just give me the opportunity to sit down and talk to you about the position. You will soon realize that I truly believe that anything I put my head to I truly can accomplish including the position you are offering today.
("As I would do for you"? Come on.)
7. Don’t mention irrelevant experience:
Example:
I have five years of experience in running a busy cash register where I have acquired the skills to converse and build relationships with customers.