Apparently there is a large gap between employers and recent graduates when it comes to what applicants think they are worth in the job market. That’s a problem. Read here for further details but in a nutshell, 40% of employers say that most entry level job applicants don’t have the basics skills required to fill the position. Ouch. Furthermore, employers give more weight to “soft skills” (e.g., communication, critical thinking, professionalism) than academics when hiring new candidates yet students did not recognize these skills as being very important for job advancement. Oy.

So what can you do as a student or new grad to avoid this little problem? Being able to translate your academic experience in a way that is relevant to the employers will be your best bet and increase your chances of clinching the job.

1. Research- You can’t know what is relevant to that particular employer until you understand the job itself and the industry. That requires planning ahead and a bit of research but it is a critical step. Be current on industry/company trends and news. Look at the job posting to see what skills they are specifically asking for. Once you understand what the position requires and what is important to the employer/company, you have a better chance of actually addressing these in your resume, cover letter, and interview.

2. Market yourself- Now that you know what skills and qualities are emphasized and are needed for that job, find a way to communicate your fit. Is it highlighted in your resume? Perhaps you worked on a class project that required you to do some of what they are asking for. Use the same keywords in your resume and cover letter. Are there examples from your time on campus you can use to illustrate soft skills? Since soft skills are behavioral, it is a little more difficult to illustrate than hard (technical) skills. Just saying that you have excellent communication skills doesn’t do much for the employer. Everyone will say that they are strong communicators but few people actually are. Giving an example to prove that you possess this skill is more powerful. Need help on how to do that in an interview? There is a handout for that on our CCD website.

3. Gain the necessary skills- If you realize that you don’t have a skill that will be critical for the job, do your best to acquire it. You may have to be proactive to do this. If most of the jobs you are interested in require knowledge of a specific kind of software or experience with leading projects, gaining this knowledge before hand will give you an edge again other candidates. You can take outside training or specifically ask a mentor to learn something more technical if it is not already provided in your courses here. Also, look at student groups and volunteer opportunities as a venue to gain leadership and management experience. Raise your hand if they are asking for group leaders so you can stretch your muscles and gain stronger soft skills.

We just wanted to share a great article on the Huffington Post. There has been a lot in the media lately about women and success in the workplace. We want to know what you think! Comment after reading the article (click the picture).

Do you have an interview coming up? Curious about what your recruiters will be thinking when you do on campus recruiting this fall? Click the photo to go to the six things they are thinking when interviewing candidates. Also, don’t forget that the Center for Career Development is still open during the summer! Now is a perfect time to make an appointment to figure out your career options or to prep for fall recruiting.

* Don’t wait. Ask them now!

Whether you are doing an internship this summer or taking the summer to figure out what you want to do, informational interviews are a must. It is a chance for you to learn more about possible jobs that you may want to do after graduation and also a good way to network. Though it may sound daunting, it isn’t as hard as you think. Talking directly with people who have done specific kinds of work is the best way to find out about potential careers. To find our more about informational interviewing and for a list of questions to ask them, download our handy guide to informational interviewing here. Then read about our Peer Career Advisor’s, Meredith Jackson, experience with informational interviews below and start scheduling your own interviews to take control of your career exploration.

Informational Interviews

At the end of the fall semester of my sophomore year, I was burnt out. I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue studying biochemistry, because I wasn’t sure what I would do with it after graduation. I knew I loved biology, but for a while, I contemplated switching to something more practical, like civil engineering. One cold day in January, I remember coming to the Rice Center for Career Development, feeling miserable about my lack of direction. What advice did I receive? Informational Interviewing.

Informational interviewing involves contacting professionals with a job you are interested in, and picking their brain about what it is really like to work in that environment, how they prepared for it, and what their advice is for working in that industry. It started out with a plan. I identified several career fields I had considered in the past (it was a long list). I then sent a few brave emails to friends of friends, family members, and alumni who either had careers in these fields or knew someone who lived there.  Almost every person I contacted was friendly and open about meeting up. So, when I traveled back home for spring break, I cleared my schedule for conversations with people from all different backgrounds. I interviewed neuropsychologists, brain tumor researchers, an epidemiologist, a pediatrician, a lawyer, a business developer for a biotechnology company, and an environmental health specialist. Each interview lasted about an hour, and it consisted of a mostly casual conversation. I had the undivided attention of each of these accomplished people during that time, and I made the most of it by asking everything I could think of to learn about the ups and downs, drawbacks and advantages of their chosen career paths.

Ultimately, I think the most important lesson I came away with was that very few people start out after college knowing exactly what they want to do. Career development is a process, not a defined, singular path. I learned to be less worried about life after graduation, because, as each person I interviewed emphasized, the important thing is to try new things and to learn to adapt and to discover new opportunities. Each of these interviews gave me a perspective that has helped me to eliminate some careers and to explore others in more depth. Was there ever a moment of epiphany? A time I thought “Wow, this is exactly what I want to do?” Of course not. I don’t know that there will ever be a moment like that, but informational interviewing has certainly helped to give me the information I need to make more educated decisions about the vast array of career options available after graduation. Finally, informational interviewing helped me to keep my expectations realistic. There’s a saying that goes something like “you can’t steer a ship unless it’s moving.” Informational interviewing, while not a cure for career indecision, is a great way to get your ship sailing.

Meredith Jackson, Wiess PCA

*cue dramatic music

So you have a new gig and an awesome new computer to work with. The boss is around but you have a few personal emails that you need to get to. While you finish up your emails, you forgot that you need to finish your purchase on Amazon and catch up on the celebrity gossip.Oh, and don’t forget to update your Facebook status. No big deal. Right?

Well…technology makes it easy and cheap for employers to keep tabs on what you are doing on company time. It doesn’t mean that your employer is checking up on you every minute of every day, but they certainly could be! Even if what you are doing or looking at online isn’t offensive, if it is on company time and/or property, it could be an issue. Every company also has a different culture. Using headphones to listen to music as you work may be an acceptable thing so long as you are productive and get the work done while a different employer may frown upon it. Just be a conscientious worker. Look around you. What are others being praised (or reprimanded) for? Are you the only one using headphones on the entire floor? If you would not want an employer to read your personal email, it is probably best not to send it from their network. If you are spending an excess amount of time at work playing Candy Crush, rethink that for a moment. That doesn’t mean that you can never ever surf a bit during a break or check on your personal items. Just be aware of what is acceptable in that workplace culture and when in doubt, ask or just don’t do it.

Now the school year has ended (the blog took a little hiatus too), many of you have started internships or your full time jobs. This summer, we are going to explore good practices as employees. Continue to check in with our blog this summer to explore these topics and comment below if you would like to hear about a certain topic!

How many of you soon to be graduates are a bit worried about dressing the part when working? It may seem a bit silly to be worried about what you wear but you want your new co-workers to see you as a competent and polished professional. For tips on how to make closet transition from sweats and tees to blazers and heels, click the pic for a cool short video!

Let’s face it. Your resume is probably not going to read like a New York Times best seller but that doesn’t mean that it has to be boring. How can you make a resume more interesting, you ask? Well, go beyond just listing the duties of your previous jobs. Take the time and think about what you actually did in regards to the big picture and be more descriptive. This means quantifying when possible and using action oriented words. You can read a great article that was just posted in the Houston Chronicle (click the picture below) for more information. Also, check out the Center for Career Development’s Resume Guide to get even more help with resumes. There is even a handy-dandy action words list that can help you develop your resume entries.

Click to read more!