Applying to your first job? Check out these Tips.
Posted May 21, 2020 01:29 AM
To start this off I would like to explain a bit f my background so you all get a better understanding of how I came about these tips. These tips are for anyone, but I would like to specifically dedicate this to recent college grads who are looking to land their first job.Background:
After getting out of college I could not believe how challenging it was to find a job within a company. After editing my resume over 5 times I was able to land a low-tier position within a company that I hated. Needless to say, I only worked there for about a year before I could not take it anymore. After, I sought help from Resume Editors to get my resume perfect. Almost 2,000 applications I sent out across multiple online platforms.. still no hits. I then decided to take a more unique approach to revamp my Resume which then helped me land a dream job. Currently, I am the youngest National Sales Engineer in a Cybersecurity company.
Where to start?
The first step to take when creating a resume is picking the right online Resume creator. My favorite one to use was MyPerfectResume. This website seemed to be the easiest to use along with multiple different customizations you can use for your resume. Also, they included tutorials to guide you along the way. If you would like to use other resume builders I suggest taking a look at:
- ResumeGenius
- Resume.com
- Zety
If you do not feel comfortable making this Resume yourself for the first time, you can always hire online help to create one for you. Some of the sites mentioned above have services to accomplish this, but the best help you can find online usually comes from Upwork. Looking around locally isn't something I suggest because some editors are not that well established.
Resume Layout:
- Do not go over one page.
- Use small font sizes. Not too small making it unreadable.
- Keep it to a standard font. (Verdana, Arial, etc..)
- Pick a clean theme.
- Align your content to the left side of the page.
- Add Contact Info (Make sure you have a clean email address), Education, Only jobs you have had in the past 5 years, Social Media Profiles (LinkedIn), Skillsets.
- Put Contact, Education, and Profiles first.
- Leave out broad skills. (Communication, Hard-Worker, Team Player, things like this) Skills need to be specific to the job category you are applying for. In my instance, it was things like Python, Kali Linux, Metasploit.
Customization:
Now that you have your resume created it is time to upload it to a job searching website. The two I used the most were Indeed and LinkedIN. The hardest part of this is trying to apply to jobs with a resume that matches the job description and you can't just change your resume each time there is a different skillset or description for the position. The best way to go about it is to find jobs that match your skillset or ones that you are confident you can adapt too. In my resume, I had the top pieces of software Cybersecurity companies are looking for their employees to be able to use.
If there is a specific job you really want, then that is the time for you to customize your Resume too it. Adding a Cover Letter is a must as well giving a summary of your experiences and a bit as to why you would be a good fit for the position.
Interview:
There is a high chance you will be going on multiple interviews. These are the best tips I can give you:
- Always wear a suit and tie.
- Study the company before-hand.
- Create a list of questions to ask.
- Study updates on your skillset the night before so you know what you are talking about.
- Hand shake, eye contact.
- Sit up straight, make sure you are well-groomed.
- Remember your manners.
Remember to not get discouraged. It took me over 2000 sent resumes to finally land the right position. Go on as many interviews as you can, the experience is a great way to become better at interviewing. Do not let a company take advantage of you by giving minimum wage, always be polite and shoot high.
