TIP: Be prepared!

(cue Lion King music)

One of the biggest pieces of advice I offer to anyone looking for a job or internship is to be prepared.  This goes for resume writing, networking, job searching, attending job fairs, interviewing, negotiating a salary, and so on.  Lack of preparation in this day and age can equal lack of a job.

What do I mean about being prepared?  The key is treating your job/internship search as if it is your full-time job.  No, that doesn't mean you need to spend 24/7/365 dedicated to job searching, but it does mean you need to do more than just write one resume and send it out to 10 companies, or 100 companies on Monster.  It means you need to actually take the time to prepare your documents, prepare interview questions, research the company, and so on and so forth.

Here's a quick way to see where you are stuck in your job/internship search:

Problem 1:  "I'm submitting my resume everywhere, but I'm not getting any calls or interviews."

There are two potential causes to this problem: where you are looking for said jobs and/or your resume.  You also may not be submitting enough resumes.  But remember: quality over quantity, people!  If you submit 100 of the same resume to different employers, I can almost guarantee you you will not get an interview for a position that you are actually interested in.  Be sure to tailor that resume and be sure to have someone else (other than a friend or your spouse/significant other) look at it.  Have it reviewed by a career services professional - we give you honest, objective advice! 

The other takeaway here is to be sure to apply to company websites or through connections you have made in addition to mega job boards.  Would you rather compete with 10 other people or 1,000,000 other people?  Again, both of these tips require extra preparation and time spent on the job search.

Problem 2:  "I've been getting calls and interviews, but I'm not getting any second interviews or offers."

I have a lot of people that come into my office and I review their resume over and over and over again only to find out later that they have been getting interviews for jobs that are actually interested in and qualified for.  The problem then is not the resume (it got you the interview!), it may be your interviewing skills.  I don't care how awesome you think you are at interviews, everyone (and I mean, EVERYONE), can benefit from practicing their interviewing skills.  Again, this is where a career services professional comes in handy - they often conduct mock (practice) interviews and can give you objective feedback on what you are doing well and things you can improve upon.  Don't waste time on your resume if you are having this problem - yes, it can always be improved, but focus your energy and preparation on your interviewing skills.  Get tips - read articles - and practice, practice, practice!  Also, be sure to research the company and prepare multiple questions to ask them about the position and the company itself.

You should be spending more than a couple hours a day on your job search.  It should take you time to prepare each resume and cover letter, to apply to each job, to search for jobs, to network, to attend events, to interview, to conduct company research, to evaluate an offer, and the list goes on and on. 

Don't go in unprepared because it will show - and that's the last time you'll ever talk to that employer!