By Christi H

It may come as a surprise to many of us, but those all-nighters we pulled and 30-page papers we wrote do not automatically earn us our dream career. Oftentimes, they don’t even land us a clue as to what this dream career may be. Job searching is much harder than it looks, folks.

As experienced by most undergrads, career aspirations change drastically and frequently over the years. Upon my final year of undergrad, I decided that before committing to another degree, I would explore careers. Entering the job market with a degree means you are going up against seasoned professionals with years of experience and interviewing skills. 

I’ve gone through this process and was lucky enough to acquire two executive ‘mentors’. They helped me overcome the obstacles often plaguing recent graduates. And they could offer me valuable insider information, which I will now pass on to you.

Informational Interviews.

This is the most important part of job searching. This is your opportunity to ask as many questions about the industry, in as many different industries as you want, in order to find out if it suits your interest without the pressure of being on a formal interview. It also ensures that if a position becomes available, you are at a huge advantage over other applicants because you’ve had face-time with someone on the inside.

Your job is to run the conversation. YOU are the interviewer here. Have more questions prepared to ask than you think you have time for. These questions may include:

• What kind of experience/skills do you look for in an applicant?
• What are the most important personal characteristics for success in the field?
• What’s a typical day like? How much travelling/time spent in the office?
• What opportunities for advancement are there?
• What are your favourite and least favourite aspects of the industry/job?

Even if the company tells you they ‘aren’t hiring,’ they may think of you when a position is available. Or pass your name along to another contact that is hiring. Bring a nice notepad and pen, take notes.

Research.

Before any initial contact is made, do some basic research on the company in question. Recent mergers, major departments, new products, big clients, even a little bit of company history goes a long way. It’s also guaranteed that you won’t get the job if it’s clear you know nothing about the position you’re applying for. Many interviewers ask, “How did you prepare for the interview?” and research on the company should be part of your response. Going into an interview unprepared is like going into an exam without studying. Except it’s in person, you’re the only one writing, and the professor is doing you a favor by being there.

Name names.

When appropriate, always include the name of your referring contact in an initial email or phone call.  A “Referred by…” in a subject heading or phone call can mean the difference between deleting and returning your email/voice mail.  Also, make 100% sure you use the correct names and spell check.

Test drive a career.

If you’re not sure about a certain industry, look for a maternity leave position. These positions are shorter and non-committal if you decide the job isn’t for you. If you decide it is, work hard to impress during your stay and you could end up with a full-time offer.

Ride-alongs or job-shadows are also a great way to gain insight into an industry without committing to an interview. While also developing relationships within the company.

Say thank-you.

Be sure to send an email (or card when appropriate) about a day after every informational interview. Thank the person for their time and insight!

Keep track of your accomplishments.

If you currently have a job, you may not be thinking about applying elsewhere just yet. However, this is an important time to be updating your resumé. Keep track of your accomplishments and achievements at school, work, and volunteering. I found that I had a hard time remembering assignments and tasks I completed while I was working. If possible, keep a record of these things as they occur. This way, you will have a list of useful accomplishments to choose from when it’s time to rewrite your resumé and apply elsewhere. It’s crucial for job searching!

Cater your resumé to the position.

Do not make the mistake of sending out a generic resumé. Most companies have software that searches for keywords in the cover letter and body of your resumé and discards those that don’t meet this requirement. If you are applying for a sales position, highlight accomplishments and personal attributes that display your success in or aptitude for sales. Searching online for keywords of interest is also helpful when writing your cover letter.

Your cover letter should assert what you will bring to the desired position, not just be a summary of your resumé. Also, include the specific name of the person and position you are applying to/for on your cover letter.

Be persistent while job searching.

In order to get my first interview with a Rep from a Pharmaceutical company I was most interested in, I sent six emails, made four phone calls, and rescheduled it three times over the course of three weeks. Six emails and two phone calls later, I got a response saying I should contact them once I graduate – in a month.

Nearing my graduation, I re-connected with these Reps. And one FINALLY granted me an interview 3 weeks later.  I completed this interview and passed the second round. Now I’m up for a second position on a new team developing in a different department in the fall.

Yes, there is a difference between being persistent and annoying while job searching. However, if someone says they will call you within a specific period of time and they don’t, it is completely acceptable to send a polite reminder. After all, as recent grads, we need to claw our way into interviews and opportunities. Or else we end up forgotten or ignored. Also, after leaving a voicemail, my advice is to follow-up with a brief email restating the purpose of your call and your contact information.

Never say no (to a meeting).

Meet with as many different people as you can when you’re job searching. Even if you aren’t interested in their industry or you don’t think they’d be particularly useful, they may connect you with someone who is. I once met with a Rep from San Francisco. I thought it would be a complete waste of time because his company was solely in the U.S. However, he happened to hire a Rep I’d been desperately trying to get in touch with, and sent her an email telling her to get back to me, which she finally did! So, you never know where someone has worked and whom he or she knows, even if you live on opposite sides of the continent.