April 2, 2018

Every six months, Drexel University students job search to find the perfect co-op that will help them gain real-world professional experiences. To ensure that you stand out in your job search, you need more than just a resume. Luckily for you, we crafted a guide to make sure your future employers see your potential!

Before the job hunt

Perfect your LinkedIn account

LinkedIn is the place where you can brag about everything you have accomplished in the past without space limitations. Add your professional experience, projects that you are working on and classes you have taken. To make sure your LinkedIn stands out, ask professors and past employers to endorse and recommend you on the professional network.

Create a company spreadsheet

Before applying for jobs, make sure you have a list of places where you can see yourself flourish. Add contact information, position title and notes that will allow you to understand the company more thoroughly and make yourself the perfect candidate. If possible, add the contact people on LinkedIn and engage with them prior to the job search process to ensure your name stands out before your resume is received.

Craft the ideal resume

When writing your resume, make sure you have the right information for the right company. Create different resumes depending on the position you are applying for, focusing on past experience that will make you the perfect candidate. Bring writing samples, marketing and business plans, examples of ideas that have been executed and press that mentions the companies you have worked for/created yourself.

Certify yourself

Having a certification on your resume will help you stand out from other job seekers that have taken similar classes and extracurricular activities. Websites like HubSpot Academy and Google offer certificates in marketing, coding, data analysis and more - and some of them are free!

Personalize cover letter

Standard cover letters are long gone! Make sure that when you are required to send a cover letter, it is as personal as it can be. Address it to a specific person in the company and not to “the hiring manager” or “to may it whom concern.” Add an anecdote that pertains to the company, or a fun fact about you that can be related to the position to which you are applying. Make your cover letter as memorable as you!

Once you land an interview:

Update yourself on the company

Before going to your interview, make sure to do an environmental scanning of the company’s interests. Research the buzz around the organization, review its blog and check if they have been mentioned in the media in the past few months. Bringing up a fact during an interview will show you did your research and that you are genuinely interested in the company.

Sent a handwritten note

As soon as the interview is over, make sure to send a quick email thanking the interviewer/s for their time. If you want to stand out from other people applying for the same position, send a handwritten thank you note! The moment you step out of the interview, write a thank you letter addressing one memorable thing that happened during your meeting to make yourself more relatable. Mail it as soon as you can, and make sure it is delivered in a timely matter.

Bring samples of your work

No matter what position you are applying for, you need to show that you are capable of achieving your goals. Bringing samples of your work from past experiences can set you apart from those who do not. Show the interviewer writing samples, engineering projects, design or photography portfolio, or any example that shows what you are capable of accomplishing!

Most importantly, remember to stay true to yourself. The company you apply for will be your new home, and it is important to maintain your personality and let it shine through.

Orly Margulis, Communications, Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship