Celebrating 50 Years with 50 Job Search Tips! | ECPI University

As ECPI University celebrates its 50th anniversary, we are taking time to celebrate all that we do to help our graduates succeed. Career Services plays a tremendous role in this process. Our advisors begin working with students from the moment they arrive on campus.

At Freshman Orientation we teach the basics: resumes, cover letters, and interviewing skills. As students’ progress through their degree program, we help them secure an externship where they can gain real-world experience. When it’s time to begin the job search, students meet on-on-one with advisors who help them polish resumes, cover letters, and interviewing skills.

After 50 years, we’ve given out a lot of good advice. We know that landing a job is a job in itself. It takes discipline and careful planning. With that in mind – and in honor of our 50th anniversary – here are 50 job search tips that just might make the process a bit more manageable.

Resumes

  1. Begin with a Self-Assessment – Take time to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses.
  2. Don’t List Everything – A resume is not your life story. Think of it as a marketing document designed to capture an employer’s attention, enticing them to learn more.
  3. Put Your Best Stuff at the Top – Make sure your best experiences and accomplishments are located in the top third of your resume.
  4. Lose the Objective Statement – Unless you need to explain why you’re switching careers, it eats up space which can be better used.
  5. Limit yourself to One Page – Yours will be one of many resumes being reviewed. Resume screeners are looking for a brief snapshot, not your life story (see tip #1).
  6. Keep it Simple – Use a basic, but modern font such as Helvetica, Arial, or Century Gothic with a font size between 10 and 12. And don’t forget – white space is your friend. You want your resume to be easily read.
  7. Keep Work Experience Recent and Relevant – Only include the past 10 -15 years and positions relevant to the one for which you are applying.
  8. Limit Bullet Points – No more than five or six per section.
  9. Proof of Performance – Use numbers. Quantifying your accomplishments tells employers you are goal-driven.
  10. Vary Your Use of Words – Don’t simply repeat the words “responsible for” line after line. In other words, keep a thesaurus nearby.
  11. Use Keywords from Job Description – Not only does this align your background with the posting, it serves a lesser-known purpose – more and more, employers are using computers to screen resumes using those very keywords.
  12. Skip Graduation Dates – The reviewer simply cares that you “did” graduate, not “when.”
  13. Include All Online or Continuing Education – Employers expect new hires to be lifelong learners.
  14. List Only Relevant Job Skills – Stick to ones most closely associated with the position and leave out skills everyone is expected to have like “proficient in Microsoft Word."
  15. Stay Away from Controversial Topics – Leave out activities related to religion and politics.
  16. Remove “References Available Upon Request” – If they’re interested in you, they’ll ask.
  17. Be Prepared to Revise – You may need several versions of your resume to accommodate different jobs and varying requirements.

Search Strategies and Preparation

  1. Get Organized – Before randomly applying for jobs, map out a strategy and a daily routine to keep yourself focused.
  2. Do Your Research – Learn everything you can about the company and the person who will be interviewing you.
  3. Develop an Online Brand – Employers are researching candidates online. Make sure your LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter accounts communicate an attractive online presence.
  4. Conduct Informational Interviews – Even if an employer is not hiring, but someone is willing to meet with you, take advantage of the opportunity. What you learn will likely be helpful in future interviews and you’ll begin to build a network.
  5. Meet with Other Job Hunters – Seek out people just life yourself. You’ll be able to share ideas and strategies and develop a solid support system.
  6. Practice Telling Your Story – Develop short stories and anecdotes that reinforce your experience.

Cover Letters

  1. Don’t Restate Your Resume – Your cover letter should tell a story, providing examples of experiences that have prepared you for the position. It also provides an excellent opportunity to display your writing ability – one the most highly-prized of all the soft skills!
  2. What I Can Do for You – Don’t explain why this is your ideal job. The employer has a problem to solve. They need a qualified employee. Demonstrate why you are that person!
  3. Don’t Draw Attention to Skills You Lack – Resist the temptation to say, “Despite my limited experience in...” Instead, stay positive and focus on your strengths while emphasizing your transferable skills.
  4. Speak Plainly – Avoid overly-formal words that ring hallow. Speak with sincerity and be straightforward.
  5. Review Online Templates – If you’re having trouble at first, jumpstart your imagination by reviewing some of the many cover letter templates available online.
  6. Limit Adverbs – Stay away from “I’m absolutely thrilled” or "I am very excited!”
  7. Stay Away from Meaningless Words – Everyone is a team player and self-motivated. Stick to your skills and experiences.
  8. Sell Yourself – Some people have trouble bragging about themselves. Consider writing this from the perspective of a person who knows and admires you.
  9. Have Someone Else Review – Before sending it off, have someone you respect read your cover letter and provide feedback.
  10. No Generic Salutations – Greet the hiring manager by her/his full name. Avoid greetings like “To Whom it May Concern” or “Dear Sir or Madam.” If you can’t determine the name of the hiring manager, look up company executives on the employer’s website and pick the most appropriate person. Otherwise, a generic title demonstrates that you have a particular person in mind such as “Dear Network Security Analyst Hiring Manager” or “Dear Production Manager Search Committee.”

Interviews

  1. Dress for Success – Dress in accordance with the company’s culture. It’s always best to overdress than under.
  2. Be on Time – Arrive 15 minutes early. Make sure you know how to get to the location and allow extra time or travel.
  3. Be Warm and Gracious to Everyone You Meet – From the parking attendant to the receptionist, employers are keenly interested in how you interact with others.
  4. Focus on What Interests the Interviewer – Match your qualifications to what the employer is looking for. In other words, sell what the buyer is buying.
  5. Have a Couple 60-Second Commercials – These are short, succinct stories that illustrate examples of how you handled a challenge or reached a goal.
  6. Anticipate Common Questions and Practice Answers – This preparation will enhance confidence and ease nervous responses.
  7. Be Authentic – While you may have rehearsed your answers, make them candid and straightforward, avoiding canned responses which can come off phony.
  8. Don’t be too Familiar – You can still be authentic without being overly casual. You’re not there to make a new friend. Try to mimic the style of the interviewer.
  9. Don’t Appear Desperate – That can be a big turn off. You’re there to help them. They’re not there to help you.
  10. Ask Questions – If you did a thorough job researching the company, you’re bound to have some questions. Focus on areas related to the job and its impact on team performance. Example: “What projects can I contribute to right away?”
  11. Avoid Negative Body Language – Sit up straight, limit hand gestures, and watch for restless legs.
  12. Beware of Touchy Subjects – Never say anything negative about a previous employer, and avoid talking about financial issues, child care, or your age.
  13. Don’t Overshare – Limit talking about personal information.
  14. Try to Recover from Bad Answers – If you flub an answer, calmly ask if you can answer the question again. If you feel like the interviewer is losing interest, ask them a question. Most people love talking about themselves.

Follow-up

  1. Send a Thank You Note – Begin with a note sent through regular mail. Keep it short and simple. Compliment them on the pleasant environment they created for the interview and that you hope to see them again soon.
  2. Follow Up – If you’ve not heard back, send an email. It’s less intrusive than a phone call and does not put them on the spot. Ask them where they are in the hiring process or if they need additional information.
  3. If You’re Not Hired, Find Out Why – What you learn may help when you apply for the next job.

If you would like to learn more about ECPI University and how we help our students develop solid job search strategies, visit our Career Services webpage. For other information, click here to email, chat, or speak with an admissions advisor. 

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