Work Get the Job
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Contents
College-educated workers in the U.S. hold an average of
12 jobs in their lifetimes,
and more than 4.5 of those jobs come between the ages of 25 and 34.
(Source: The Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Finding a job is something you’ll do throughout your career, not just when you graduate. The data show that workers change jobs between three and four times in the first decade of their professional lives.
This chapter covers essential job-hunting skills:
- Finding and creating opportunities
- Applying for the job
- Interviewing, whether face-to-face or by video
- Following up, including negotiating your job offer
Section OneFind Opportunities
Many different paths lead to great jobs. Large organizations have established pipelines, websites, and staff tasked with advertising and hiring. In smaller organizations, the job description exists solely in the mind of a business owner who is feeling a pain point and thinking about hiring someone to help. Here are four ways to discover employment opportunities.
1. Visit your campus career services office
If your college or university has a career services office, use it! These offices provide job-hunting advice, career counseling, and access to a dedicated group of alumni who want to see you succeed. Start early—well before your last semester—to position yourself strategically and take advantage of all your career services office offers.
2. Search job boards online
Each of the job boards below acquires its postings differently, so you’ll need to perform a few searches to see which gives you the most useful results and services.
Activity 12.1
Search for jobs or internships on at least three job boards. Use filters to narrow your search.
Write down a list of key skills and experience that are valued in your industry and plan out how you’ll acquire those.
Alumni Advice
“LinkedIn is absolutely necessary to getting a job.
“Because of my polished LinkedIn profile, I’ve been contacted by recruiters at Facebook, Dropbox, Houzz, and many other tech companies/start-ups. When networking, I don’t use business cards at all. I simply look people up on LinkedIn, then I ask if we can connect.”
Scott Christensen
Product Designer at PwC's Emerging Tech Group
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Indeed is a giant job posting aggregator with advanced search functions that allow you to pinpoint job openings that match your criteria. |
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Monster provides a lot of useful career resources, such as job search advice by industry, salary calculators by location, and resume help. |
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Glassdoor uses reviews from real people inside a company to give you invaluable information about company culture, the hiring process, and salaries. Use GlassDoor in your job search. |
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CareerBuilder scans the data in your uploaded resume and recommends jobs to you. It also offers information about how you stack up against others applying for the same jobs. |
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If you have a specific company in mind, go through its website to see if job opportunities are posted. Check back regularly to see if new positions are posted. |
3. Propose your own role
Look for pain points in organizations around you and then propose your own role. If you’re alert and networking, you’ll see ways you can help. When you see a customer interaction done badly, or hear someone complain about a constant frustration at work, think about how you could improve the situation. Sometimes proposing to work on a limited contract to address a problem will yield an offer of long-term employment. Get in the door and then prove your worth.
Treat your job search like a part-time job. Spend time every week doing job-search activities. Regular effort yields significant rewards.
Section TwoApply For the Job
1. Design
Resume design is important and somewhat industry specific. An appropriate resume in advertising, for example, might look out of place in accounting. Recruiters in every industry, however, value clean, uncluttered resumes. Your career services center can help you tailor your resume’s design to your target industry.
If you don’t have access to career services, spend time looking at sample resumes online. Do a search for “[your field] resume [current year].” As we discussed in Chapter 5: FORMAT, notice how formatting, font, color, graphics, and spacing have huge impact on resume readability and credibility. Design your resume to make it easy for the reader to access key pieces of information, such as keywords, job titles, and dates.
Find a few resumes that look good to you and emulate their design principles as you work on your own. If you don’t feel confident in design, this may be a great time to crack open your wallet and pay someone for help. A great-looking resume design can keep you in the running for a great job.
Remember that your resume may first be viewed on the recruiter’s handheld device. Check to see how your resume looks in a small format. Keep your paragraphs and sections short. Choose standard fonts—this isn’t the time to be experimental or cute. Use clear headings and maybe one accent color if appropriate for your target industry. Save as a PDF so your formatting is stable on any platform.
Activity 12.2
Do a search for “[your field] resume [current year].” Notice how formatting, font, color, graphics, and spacing can have a huge impact on resume readability and credibility.
Online document design platforms like Canva, Venngage, and even Google Docs offer well-designed templates for a variety of industries.
2. Use key words
Search the job description for key skill words. Humans and computers search for keywords when screening resumes. Increase your odds of being selected by referencing the skills being sought.
3. Content
If you don’t have much pertinent work experience, highlight your education by listing academic accomplishments like
- GPA
- Scholarships and awards
- Club affiliations and leadership positions
- Job-relevant coursework
- Projects
If your key skills can be demonstrated through an online portfolio, create one. Include writing samples, projects you’ve worked on, code you’ve written, or case studies from a class. Employers want to see what you can do.
The rest of your resume will be a listing of your work experience in reverse chronological order. List any paid work that relates to your target job or demonstrates your key skills. Include unpaid work if your responsibilities or accomplishments are relevant. Experiences like organizing a large event, running a donation drive, or being part of club leadership can all be valuable in demonstrating what you bring to a job.
Don’t be afraid to add a quirky accomplishment to your resume such as “Summit County sheep-shearing champion.” If your resume is memorable, you’ll have a better chance of landing an interview.
Remember that the substance of your resume will often drive your interview. Hiring managers may see your resume for the first time when they sit down to interview you. As they work their way down the page, asking you questions, be prepared with something extra to say about each item. Prepare PAR stories from your resume that demonstrate your skills, interest in the industry, and cultural fit.
Perhaps most important, because business loves numbers, be sure to quantify any accomplishment you can. Numbers convey credibility and experience on resumes.
Activity 12.3
Write two quantified accomplishments for your last or current job.
| Quantify | No | Yes |
|---|---|---|
| Focus on results, not responsibilities. Quantify wherever possible. | I scooped ice cream. | Served 200+ customers daily; suggested method that reduced wait time by 50%. |
| Remember to take note of quantifiable successes at your current internship or job. | Developed a social media campaign. | Increased sales by 25% by developing a targeted social media campaign. |
4. Structure
Recruiters don’t read resumes; they scan them. A logical flow and strong headings are key. Your name should be the first and last thing a reader notices, so make it stand out with size and possibly color. After your header, you can lead with a skills summary section or go straight to your education.
Later in your career, you might list your experience first, but if you’re just graduating from college, your education may be your most impressive asset. Resumes should always list your most valuable and job-pertinent assets first.
Skip the “Objective” statement. Your objective is already clear: you want the job you’re applying for. Also, an objective statement is YOU-focused (bad) rather than AUDIENCE-focused (good). Another section to skip: “References.” Employers will ask for references when the time comes.
5. Grammar
This is where a tiny mistake could cost you a future job. One careless error in grammar, spelling, or punctuation gives employers an easy “no,” and your resume may quickly be deleted. Run your resume by several skilled editors until you’re sure it’s error free.
Cover Letters
Your cover letter is your “human voice” approach to the job. It gives you the opportunity to name drop connections you may have within the company, briefly list your differentiators, and promise more proof in an interview. To make your cover letter a great ambassador for your skills, pay attention to these eight tips.
Read Customize Your Cover Letter to the Job Ad from monster.com
Section ThreeAce The Interview
Putting in time to prepare for your interview is crucial to your confidence and success.
You’ve already researched your industry. Now you need to know something about the organization you’re interviewing with, the target position, and the person you’re meeting with.
Prepare PAR stories
PAR stands for PROBLEM, ACTION, RESULT. Interviewers like to ask behavioral-event questions to figure out how you react to challenges. Be prepared to convince them of your skills by using keywords from the job description to prepare personal stories that show problems you faced, the actions you took, and what the results were.
Your stories should be brief, engaging, and job related. Seek feedback from people you trust when coming up with your PAR stories. You may realize you have more skills than you thought.
Make a table of PAR stories like the one below, with column headings for key words, problem, action, and result. Those key words should come from the job description (see above).
Review your PAR stories before each interview and update them throughout your career when you conquer a tough challenge. You’ll be instantly ready to prep for your next interview. Also, you can read them to make yourself feel better after a bad day.
| Key Words | Problem | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leadership | My student team had been working on a project for weeks, but we weren’t having success. No one was stepping up to take responsibility for our deliverables. The due date was fast approaching. | I created a schedule that ensured completion by the due date, then talked to each person on the team to get their commitment. I put in double shifts to help a new team member get up to speed. | The team rallied behind my schedule, and we kept in close contact to complete the project on time. The professor was very pleased with our work and asked to use our project as a model. |
| Analytical | Our client delivered a 40-page document of required changes that made my team feel overwhelmed and discouraged. | I stayed late and created a spreadsheet showing which person could best make the changes requested and how we could accomplish them quickly. | My boss was surprised and pleased the next morning. He agreed with all my assignment suggestions and put me in charge of the team. |
Look over this sample PAR table. Read over some of the examples stories to get ideas.
Cultural Fit
Check out this excellent Infographic on Interview Intelligence
The questions you ask your interviewer are one of your best ways to demonstrate cultural fit. Plan ahead by reviewing this article: Good Questions to Ask at the End of an Interview.
Practice
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How quickly 30% of the interviewers know whether they will hire the applicant or not. |
Source: "How quickly do interviewers reach decisions? An examination of interviewers' decision-making time across applicants." Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology (2016).
Look over these sample interview questions arranged by skill.
Interview Formats
Interviews are conducted in various formats, depending on an organization’s resources, the job level, and location.
- Recorded video (HireVue, Big Interview, etc.)
- Live video (Facetime, Skype, Hangouts, Zoom, etc.)
- Phone
- In-person
Here’s what you need to know about them:
Recorded Video
The first step in many organizations’ interviewing process is a recorded video interview using a platform like HireVue. In these interviews, you respond to pre-recorded questions by speaking to your device’s camera. The platform captures your response and sends it to be analyzed by artificial intelligence and/or a human being.
Speaking to a blank screen can be disconcerting because you receive zero feedback from the interviewer: no nods, glances, or verbal cues. If you make a mistake in your response, you might be allowed to re-record, or you may be stuck with it, depending on how the hiring organization has configured the tool.
All of this suggests the need to practice. Consider the following tips as you approach a recorded screening interview:
- Become familiar with the technology so you won’t be surprised by the way it works. Many of the platforms offer advice, such as this helpful HireVue blog.
- Compose a backdrop. Make sure your interviewer sees you in a clean, simple environment.
- Orient the light toward your face or to your side, (not above or behind you). Strong overhead light can make you look spooky. Natural light is the most flattering, so try to sit facing a window.
- Make sure the camera is at eye level. Place your laptop, tablet, or smartphone on a stack of books so that your interviewer isn’t looking up your nose.
- Choose a solid-colored shirt and make sure it’s pressed. Wrinkles show up more on camera. If you need to wear a white shirt, wear a suit jacket over it.
- Don’t drum your fingers or use the keyboard to type notes during your recorded response. Sensitive microphones will magnify every sound.
- Look at the camera, not the screen, especially when you want to emphasize a point or convey sincerity.
- Smile! Exude energy, confidence, and optimism.
Live Video
Nearly everyone in the working world is now used to video meetings. A live video interview is simply a one-on-one video meeting. In addition to the tips above, consider two additional points.
- Double check the interview time and time zone. Video interviews are often conducted across great distances. Make sure you’re online, ready to impress, at the right time.
- Maintain a constant distance from the webcam. Avoid moving your chair, and minimize extremes of leaning forward or back. Your head and upper torso should consistently appear on screen.
Phone
Like recorded video, phone interviews can be nerve-wracking because of limited feedback from your interviewer. You can’t see a reassuring nod or smile to tell you you’re on the right track, but at least you can hear verbal cues. In addition to securing a quiet spot and double-checking your interview time, these two simple tricks will make a big difference in helping you come across as calm, confident, and upbeat.
- Remain standing and walk around
- Smile (even if no one’s in the room)
Although people can’t see you, you will sound better if you’re smiling, moving, and well-dressed than if you’re slouched on the couch in your pajamas. Also, moving helps you shed stress.
In-Person Interviews
Face-to-face interviews are inefficient and inaccurate, but they’re still remarkably common—especially as a final step in the hiring process. Lots of information (most of it non-verbal) flows back and forth in this sort of interview.
If you’ve never been to the location where you’ll be interviewing, plan on an extra half hour of travel time in case you get lost or stuck in traffic. Better yet, make an “after hours” trip to the location so you know how to get there, where to park, where the main entrance is, and other such details.
At the start of the interview, as soon as you’re seated, take out a pen and paper to make notes. Taking notes helps you look alert and capable. It also helps you remember points you’d like to bring up.
Your interviewer will probably start with an “ice-breaker” question. Be prepared for the classic, “Tell me about yourself.” Give a brief personal pitch that you’ve practiced so many times you don’t even need to think about it. Connect your background and strengths to your target job.
Wondering what to wear for your interview? Check out this comprehensive but concise guide, with separate advice for women and men: Appropriate Interview Attire in 2021: Virtual, Hybrid, or In-Person
Section FourFollow Up
Accepting and Negotiating
If all goes well, you’ll be extended an offer, which sometimes has a time limit attached. Take some of the time you are given to think about whether the job and company are a good fit for you. Consult with your mentors and significant others.
Do your research so you can negotiate an offer that reflects both your value and your values. In addition to salary, you can negotiate vacation time, relocation benefits, remote work, project assignments, etc. Your subsequent salaries rest on the foundation of your first one, so get your salary and benefits package right.
If you don’t receive an offer, don’t get discouraged. Everyone has more interviews than offers. Use the experience as an opportunity to learn what you can do to succeed next time. Ask what advice your interviewer would give you for future interviews, and what skills or experiences the successful candidate possessed that you should gain. Then get to work improving your chances of landing your dream job.
In Conclusion
Landing a job that challenges and supports you is a great accomplishment. Now go to work and use the principles you’ve learned throughout this book to communicate your ideas with clarity, brevity, and power. Solve problems, manage projects, and lead teams with skill and insight. As you do, you’ll be given new opportunities and new jobs. Make them count. Do good in the world.
To access the previous PDF version of the online textbook, click here. Note: The PDF version will not reflect any updates or changes.
Learn More
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Bold citations are referenced in the chapter text.
Articles
"39 of the Best Questions To Ask at the End of an interview." Indeed Career Guide. July 13, 2022. Accessed July 2022.
“Appropriate Interview Attire in 2021: Virtual, Hybrid, or In-Person.” College of Health Care Professions. June 3, 2021. Accessed July 2022.
Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Number of Jobs, Labor Market Experience, Marital Status, and Health: Results from a National Longitudinal Survey.” US Department of Labor News Release. August 31, 2021. Accessed July 2022.
Frieder, Rachel E., Chad H. Van Iddekinge, and Patrick H. Raymark. “How Quickly Do Interviewers Reach Decisions? An Examination of Interviewers’ Decision-Making Time across Applicants.” 2016. Journal of Accupational and Organizational Psychology 89, no. 2 (2016): 223-48. Accessed July 2022.
Granovetter, Mark S. “The Strength of Weak Ties.” American Journal of Sociology 76, no. 6 (1973): 1360-80. Accessed July 2022.
Hagh, Carol. “Don't Ask for a Raise -- Negotiate It.” Harvard Business Review December 2, 2021. Accessed July 2022.
“Interview Tips for Your Virtual Interview.” HireVue/Candidates. Accessed July 2022.
Isaacs, Kim. “Cover Letter Tips for Finance Professionals.” monster.com. Accessed July 2022.
Isaacs, Kim. “Customize Your Cover Letter to the Job Ad” monster.com Accessed July 2022.
Lepore, Meredith. “You Have 7.4 Seconds to Make an Impression: How recruiters see your resume.” The Ladders. January 30, 2020. Accessed July 2022.
Monster.com. “Sample Sales Cover Letter.” Accessed July 2022.
Spackman, Andy. "Interview Intelligence: Demonstrate Your Passion by Doing Your Homework." LinkedIn Pulse. June 2, 2016. Accessed July 2022
Yoon, Jaewon, Hayley Blunden, Ariella Kristal, and Ashley Whillans. “Why Asking for Advice Is More Effective Than Asking for Feedback..” Harvard Business Review. September 20, 2019. Accessed July 2022.
Videos
Voss, Chris. "Never Split the Difference." Talks at Google. May 27, 2016. Accessed July 2022.
Websites
Canva Resume Templates. Accessed July 2022.
Google Docs Resume Templates. Accessed July 2022.
HireVue. Accessed July 2022.
Venngage Resume Templates. Accessed July 2022.