What Employers Look for in Recent Graduates

What Employers Look for in Recent Graduates

Whether you have eagerly awaiting college graduation since you were a little kid or you have held some trepidation about the day, the moment is drawing close, and it promises to be a big one. Motivation and determination are key ingredients to success in your occupational pursuits, but so are strong communication skills and experience in the field.

The Ability to Communicate Properly
Your cover letter and resume do not simply tell potential employers about your job history and education; they also provide a glimpse into your writing skills. The world is connected more now than ever because of sophisticated technology, social media and constant emails. As a result, employers generally want to know that you have the ability to write well. If you are going to represent the company through written text, then the business wants to know that you are going to make a strong impression. Verbal communication skills are key too.

Degree that Matches the Job
Some will argue that real-life experience in a particular field is more important than a degree. This debate may go on for centuries, but that doesn’t change the facts of the matter. So many people are graduating from college with degrees, and others are hoping to pursue careers too, that businesses have to narrow down their pools of applicants. In fact, some companies use applicant tracking software. With this type of software, your resume may never even be read by human eyes if you do not have the proper degree listed on there.

Attention to the Job Posting
As an employee of any company, you are going to have to know how to take direction. Your resume and cover letter are the first samples of whether or not you can accomplish that goal. Read through the requirements of the job to find out what the position entails and what the company is looking for. Then, craft your letter toward those requirements. Not only do you show that you are the right fit for the job, but you also highlight the fact that you are not simply sending out the same material to scores of positions.

Internship Experience
Chances are, if you are just graduating from college, you probably have not had a job in the exact position that you want. However, you could have maintained an internship. Procuring internships during your college years is intelligent because these positions help you to put the skills that you are using in the classroom to good use. Also, if you had an internship with the company to which you are applying, then a stronger chance may exist of you getting a job as long as you left a good impression with the business.

Something Different
Businesses receive applications on a regular basis, and many of these cover letters and resumes sound exactly alike. If you want to land the job, you need to figure out what sets you apart from the rest of the applicants. Maybe you have job experience that directly relates to the position that you are applying for, or perhaps you have a volunteer history that is difficult to beat. Think about the opportunities you have taken and the different skills that you have. For example, you might be trilingual, or you may have creative design skills that could enhance your ability to perform the job.

Professional Interview
You have probably heard people make comments about your generation that sound rather unsavory and even unkind to you. Do not be the reason why your desired employee believes in these stereotypes. While few and rare exceptions do exist to this rule, you generally want to show up at the interview in a suit. Make sure that your nails and hair are well-kept and that you are not wearing an excessive amount of makeup or jewelry. This all does not mean that the job, company or employer is superficial. It means that you need to show respect for the job. Be courteous and polite during the interview. Try to prevent your nerves from getting the best of you, especially if you are someone who tends to talk an excessive amount when you’re feeling nervous.

Employers are going to have different qualities that they want to see in their potential employers, and conducting some research into the mandates and expectations of the field will help to paint you an even better picture.

 By Amy Klimek

Amy Klimek is an experienced HR recruiter and VP of Human Resources for ZipRecruiter, a company that simplifies the hiring process for small to medium size businesses. Prior to that Amy has held similar roles at Rent.com, eBay and US Interactive.

For Amy, corporate culture isn’t about dogs and free lunches, it’s about empowering employees and creating an enriching environment for people to excel.