Sunday, June 7, 2020

4 tips to refocus your post-graduation job search

As graduation approaches, its time to jump-start your job search. Have you spent more hours than youd like completing online applications or sending out resumes without landing an interview? Are you struggling to make the right connections or meet new contacts? Did you miss important networking opportunities, meet ups, or key industry events? Are you feeling overwhelmed or demotivated with the long job search process? Rest assured, you’re not alone. Most job seekers wouldn’t be telling the whole truth if they didn’t admit to feeling slightly discouraged at times. Finding the right role can sometimes seem like an exercise in luck rather than science. To help you refocus on your job hunt, we asked Katharine Boshkoff, Vice President of Global Career Development and Alumni Relations, to share her top four tips from Hults international student advising program—also known as Hult’s ROADmap for career success. 1. Knowing and showing your skills This may sound obvious, but if you aren’t crystal clear what skills recruiters deem essential, desirable, and nice-to-have for your target job, you will not be able to demonstrate that you have them. You should structure your resume to highlight these essential skills—they should jump off the page so that recruiters can quickly see that you tick all of the boxes. The days of the generic resume are gone.   Savvy job seekers customize every single resume to meet the unique requirements of each position. Why? Because online sites are becoming increasingly dependent on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to screen the sheer number of applications they receive. These AI systems look for very specific skill clusters. And if you want to be one of the few candidates these systems select for interviews, your skills will need to be an almost-perfect match. This means customizing your resume with the keywords, vocabulary, and synonyms found in the specific job description. A note of caution: be careful not to use exact sentences lifted verbatim from the job description. The Automatic Tracking Systems can detect this copy-and-paste technique and will reject your resume right away. Savvy job seekers customize every single resume to meet the unique requirements of each position. 2. Harness the power of LinkedIn’s 500-million-strong community LinkedIn is THE professional networking site, with more than half a billion users across 200 countries. It is crucial that your profile is up-to-date. Recruiters aren’t that interested in what you did at high school—they want to know about your recent experience and how that experience is informing your chosen career path. When updating your profile, remember that search engines aren’t the only place keywords are important nowadays. Keywords woven throughout your LinkedIn profile will help your existing connections, as well as potential new ones, to find you easily when theyre hiring. Make a list of your chosen industry’s buzzwords and use them in the main body of your profile. You could even consider using them in your personal LinkedIn URL. Harnessing your passive search potential is an increasingly important component of any job search. Don’t forget that LinkedIn is a powerful tool to conduct online networking as well. Joining groups that share your interest is a great way to engage with like-minded professionals and learn about new opportunities. Finally, LinkedIn is now the fact-checking system of choice for hiring managers and recruiters. You should expect that anyone you interview or network with will review your LinkedIn profile. They may also look at your network contacts to find people for informal reference checks. Make sure that you look as professional on LinkedIn as you do on your resume! 3. Network, network, network Some experts estimate that as many as 80% of all jobs are found through networking. As much as students hope that jobs will come to them on campus, it’s unlikely you’ll secure your dream job from the comfort of your own desk. Getting off campus and meeting with people outside the educational sphere is hugely important, and our students are always surprised by the size and power of the hidden job market. For those unfamiliar with this concept, the hidden job market refers to the vast number of jobs that are unlisted or get filled before being listed. To be first in line for a job, it’s important to connect with a company insider who can act as a referral to the hiring manager, even  before the job posts or another candidate is put forward. Don’t forget your personal network too—they know you best and are the most likely to vouch for you to their own professional contacts. Additionally, networking with colleagues or  Hult alumni provides an invaluable opportunity for you to learn about roles and discover new companies. If you are a career switcher, don’t neglect the opportunity to ask about what’s really involved in a position or get feedback on your resume and your suitability for the role. While online job applications are hard to avoid entirely, we advise our students to dedicate about 20% of their job search time to online applications and 80% to networking. Some experts estimate that as many as 80% of all jobs are found through networking. 4. Do an internship Employers overwhelmingly cite internship experience as one of the most important factors behind their decision to hire recent graduates. Internships give you the opportunity to gain industry knowledge and on-the-job skills that are hard to learn anywhere else. It also allows you to accumulate case studies showcasing your abilities.   You can then use these as examples on your resume or during interviews. Youll also be able to see if you have any technical skill gaps or if you need to adapt your working style for your target job or company.   Plus, theres no doubt that your confidence will improve from dealing with real-life business tasks. Internships can help you build strong personal references too, which are hugely valuable on resumes. And of course, your internship could lead directly to a job. Historically, approximately 50% of our students in internships convert these opportunities into full-time positions. Curious to learn about the employment outcomes for recent Hult grads?  Download our Global Careers Report.   Hult offers a range of highly skills-focused and employability-driven business school programs including a range of MBA options and a comprehensive one year Masters in International Business. To find out more, take a look at our blog Top 10 questions to ask when looking at business schools. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to learn about the business world, the future, and yourself. Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .

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