Long before you finish your final class and take that last exam, you should begin preparing for the next leg of your journey ~ your career. Throughout my career, I’ve interviewed, hired, worked with and mentored hundreds of recent graduates and I’ve picked up a few nuggets of wisdom along the way:
Create Your Brand – Everyone knows the importance of brand to a business, but building a personal brand with value and meaning will help you stand out from the rest. Done properly, a personal brand is much more than just self-promotion. It can establish confidence and credibility, as well as help you define priorities and focus on those aspects of your life you value most. To help you establish your brand:
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- Make a list of the talents and accomplishments that set you apart.
- Identify the value you can provide a potential employer.
- Develop your story – what makes you unique – and be able to tell it succinctly.
Be Social, But Be Smart – Is your brand reflected in your social media? Ask yourself: are there posts on your feeds you wouldn’t want your mother to see, let alone a prospective employer? Social media should be viewed as an extension of your resume, so make sure that it shines a positive light.
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- Statuses, Comments and Photos – Profanity, negative comments, questionable photos and videos, etc. will throw up a red flag to potential employers. Review it all and delete accordingly.
- Be a Thought Leader – Blogs and YouTube provide an opportunity to create content that demonstrates your depth of knowledge, creative ideas and solution solving abilities.
- Match Your Resume to Your LinkedIn Profile – Be sure to use your social media as an opportunity to expand your resume, not just duplicate it. Demonstrate and expand on your accomplishments and portfolio material.
Reach Out – Developing your network is about building authentic relationships with people in your circle of influence that will extend your reach into their network.
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- Find a Mentor in Your Field – The right person can provide insights into the industry better than any website and be a good source of possible job connections.
- Line Up References – Ask your circle of teachers, friends and coworkers to endorse you on LinkedIn for the skills you’ve listed and to write a positive review of your work. Be sure to return the favor.
- Share Your Successes – Don’t be shy! Let your work market you!
Do the Legwork – There’s no reason to go into an interview blindly these days. Show your interest in the company and the position by knowing all you can. It will instill confidence to speak from an informed perspective and to ask targeted questions.
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- Know what, how, why and where the company does what it does.
- Being able to succinctly understand and explain the strategy can be a difference maker.
- Know the leadership team and read their social media content.
- Read company and industry news releases, analyst reports and articles to identify successes and challenges.
- Identify areas where you could immediately contribute.
- Know your story – the strengths and unique attributes you can bring to the company. What puzzles have you solved? Employers are always looking for creative problem-solvers.
And one last bit of wisdom – stay real. Be willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish both company and personal goals. Take on the tasks early that no one wants to do and don’t stop. Lead by doing the work, not by watching.
You’ve worked hard to reach this milestone. Enjoy the journey and remember to thank those that helped you get here!