Finding a job right out of school can be a nerve-wracking experience, whether you are trying to align yourself in the right path out of high school or coming out of post-secondary. Interviews and job applications can be an intimidating situation, but don’t fret, we brought an expert on how best to prepare yourself for that big interview day.
Amanda Hudson is a double-certified HR expert with almost 20 years of people management, she has created her very own consultancy agent called A Modern Way To Work. I was super grateful that she was willing to take the time to answer some questions.
Let’s start with aspects before the interview, topics such as degrees, portfolios, or creating resumes and cover letters.
Degrees, portfolios, resumes, and cover letters
Q: On average, how does a degree affect one’s pay ceiling?
A: Great question – I think for most jobs what degree you have matters less and less every year. Employers want to know you can do the job, there are always exceptions like doctors and lawyers. Great companies compensate for what value you and your role bring to the organization and that can be completely separate from your education.
While in this day and age the degree still holds value, it isn’t considered a necessity. There are many entrepreneurs, artists, and other professionals who have succeeded without degrees. While we are on the topic of artists…
Q: For artistic positions, do portfolios hold just as much weight as a resume?
A: From an HR perspective they’re probably equal, from a hiring manager’s perspective the portfolio is probably more important.
In essence, if you are applying for a job that requires artistic skills, it’s best to be able to show your work through a portfolio. If you want to check out some portfolio services, check our other blog. (link to Art Portfolio Services blog) Now onto building your resume!
Q: What’s one aspect that applicants often overlook in terms of resume curation?
A: So much! My advice to job applicants is that their resume and cover letter should look different for every application. Tailor your language, history of work, what order you put things in etc. to align most closely to the job posting. If they’re using certain words to describe work you’ve done, steal those words – if they want education but you have experience – put the education section at the bottom of your resume. Be strategic about how you lay out the story on your resume.
Q: For applicants who don’t have a lot of work experience to flesh out their resume, how does one go about writing a cover letter? The cover letter should discuss what the resume does not, but what if the resume isn’t as fleshed out as one might like?
A: I think a resume should be about you and the cover letter should be about them. Use the cover letter to showcase your research and knowledge about the company. Show that you truly understand the challenges you think this role will have and discuss why you’re suited to overcome them.
Q: For a high school student who has little experience, do volunteer or passion projects hold as much weight as paid work experience?
A: To me personally yes – if you can show that these past projects have you doing the work you’ll be doing in the role you’re applying for I think they’re incredibly important.
Creating a resume and cover letter can be a daunting task, especially if you haven’t made one before. I hope that these answers helped you get a better grasp of the importance of this stage in job hunting.
Interview
Q: What specific character traits do you as a recruiter look for in an applicant during the interview process?
A: A history of successfully doing the work they’ll be asked to do in this job.
Q: How can an applicant display these traits effectively?
A: Save every job posting you apply to – sometimes they get taken down. Make a list of how your experiences align with what the hiring manager is looking for. Also, write out your greatest competencies with examples and make sure you share those regardless of what questions they ask you.
Q: What level of persistence do you deem acceptable or admirable? For example, if an applicant goes outside the normal application process such as the company job board and emails you directly.
A: An email is ok, maybe even one follow-up – connect with the recruiter on LinkedIn. But I personally wouldn’t do much more than that. But also if you think you have a genius way to be persistent, run it by a few people and if they think it falls into the realm of acceptable go for it.
Interviews can be nerve-wracking but remember they are also a learning experience. You are learning just as much about the organization as much as the recruiter is learning about you. A simple interview can reveal the work culture and give you an insight into the organization. By showing that your passions, work experience, and skills line up with the company that you are applying to, you can raise your chances of scoring that job!
