Written & Published by Sacred Heart University
You may not have experience at a 9-5 job, but you have skills companies are looking for.
One of the most overwhelming things about being a new graduate is finding that first job. You may think you lack experience because you haven’t been in a full-time role before. Not true! As a new graduate, you bring a fresh perspective into the workplace. There are many skills you have that are valuable to companies.
Sacred Heart University’s Center for Career & Professional Development provides support for students as they begin the job search process. Heather Sabino, director for the career center in the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology (WCBT), and Justin Triscari, assistant director for the career center in the WCBT, have advice for new graduates as they begin looking for full-time positions.
Showcase transferrable/soft skills
Although you may not have tangible experience yet, that doesn’t mean you don’t have skills. A company is looking for an entry-level position. Have you worked at a restaurant? As a camp counselor? These jobs require you to successfully work in a team, communicate effectively and delegate responsibilities to others. These skills are needed in any position, so companies like to hear how you have tackled them.
Have goals
A standard interview question is: “Where do you see yourself in five years?” Employers know you are not completely sure where you are going to end up, but they would like to know you at least are thinking about the trajectory of your career.
“They will want to know why you chose this specific role/company and how this position will help you to reach your goals. They love to see you thinking not only about the immediate next step but also the future, even if that most likely will change,” said Sabino.
Have a positive attitude
It is okay to acknowledge that you may lack experience. However, you must have a positive attitude and put a positive spin on the experience you do have. Focus on what you can bring to the table. Talk about when you successfully collaborated with others on a project or the time you led a team. Mention your great time management skills and how you helped solve a problem or resolve a conflict.
“In an interview, it is okay to say, ‘This might be a challenge for me, but I am excited to try and to learn.’ You must show ambition and a willingness to widen your skill set,” said Sabino.
Do research on the company
Employers appreciate research and the ability to talk about what goes on there and how you can contribute. This shows you have a sincere interest not only in the position but in the company itself. Employers are impressed when they can see you have taken the time to learn about the company, its mission and goals.
“It can even be as simple as checking the interviewer’s LinkedIn profile to see how long they have worked with the company. If they have not been there too long, you can ask them what their new hire process looked like and the challenges they have found in their first six months,” said Triscari.
Are there differences when hiring candidates with a bachelor’s degree compared to a master’s degree?
Companies look for different levels of experience when hiring candidates with bachelor’s degrees compared to graduate degrees. They understand that if you just graduated with your bachelor’s degree, you may have only had one or two internships. Companies want to see and hear that your work experiences are applicable to the role you are pursuing. They also like to see how you were involved on campus, such as playing sports, joining a club, taking on a leadership role or participating in community service projects.
There are two types of graduate students: working professionals looking to advance their career or fifth-year students who just graduated with their bachelor’s. Either way, employers want to know how and why you have chosen a specific area of interest to study and work. However, with fifth-year students, they understand you may not have tangible work experience yet. Overall, companies have a higher level of expectation for those with a master’s degree no matter their work experience.
“The best rule of thumb is to always look at the job descriptions to see what they’re looking for. You may see ‘bachelor’s required, master’s preferred,’ which encourages those with a master’s degree to apply,” said Triscari.
Are you a student looking for help in your job searching process?
Sacred Heart University’s Center for Career & Professional Development can assist you in your job search by looking at your résumé and cover letter and helping you develop interview and job search skills and strategies. They also have a platform called Pioneers Connect that allows you to reach out to SHU alumni directly to establish connections. To learn more about their services, contact them at careerdev@sacredheart.edu.
Read the article here https://www.sacredheart.edu/news-room/news-listing/what-are-companies-looking-for-when-they-hire-new-graduates/