Recruiting Season/Interviewing

And I'm not talking about Sorority Recruiting.

I'm talking about the cold. hard. job recruiting season. Sometimes I think it coincides with hunting season for a reason.

You can run and you can hide, but you shouldn't.

Tomorrow I will be at University of Houston, once again to help out with my fellow Coogs with their interview skills in the Finance Association Interview Competition. This should be fun for me because I was once where you all are. I'm not the most credible source, but Bauer trained me quite well apparently. I landed a job with one of the big 4 accounting firms, aka the #2 most attractive employer in the world (second to GOOGLE) so I'm here to help you if you need it! I've bombed my fair share of case studies and interviews, but chin up. You can do it. Here are a few tips to make your interviews and job hunts a little less painful. 

1. ONE PAGE RESUMES. Repeat after me. ONE PAGE. One page for every 10 years of work experience I believe is the common professional rule. 

2. Skills/Activities: There's a huge difference. Karate is an activity, not a skill unless you're looking for something in the military field. Make sure and list organizations,leaderships, and sports under Activities and Microsoft Office as a skill (for example)

3. Proficiency: If you're going to say you are proficient in Microsoft Excel on your resume, back yourself up by knowing how to use Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP's, and how to run Macros. Oh, and Keyboard Shortcuts. They save you and are also impressive.

4. QR Codes and Links on your resume: I don't think I'll be scanning the QR code on your resume with my smart phone. Sorry. And if you're giving me a hard copy of your resume, I can't click on a hyperlink with my finger?

5. Tailor your resume for the job you are going for. Tailor the objective of your resume, too and don't leave it out. List skills that are relative to the position you want. 

6. Don't lie in your interview. They can probably tell. Be yourself. That's what most recruiters/interviewers like to see. Someone they would want to work with. 

7. Brush up on knowledge of the company. You don't have to be arrogant about it. But at least know a little bit about the type of company, locations, what they're  known for, news on the company, etc.

8. Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. I mean, Olivia Pope knows what's up.Oh, and wear comfortable, low heels if you plan on walking around a career fair all day.

9. Remember the names of the people interviewing you. When you thank them for their time at the end of the interview, saying their first name is very profesh.

10. A follow-up email is a must. Even though its cliche and what everyone does post-interview. 

11. Experience: be able to elaborate about tough projects in school you've worked on in detail

12. Ask them questions about themselves. Most recruiters love to talk about themselves because 9 times out of 10 they're successful people. And not to mention they're getting breaks from their desk to mingle with college students. Its Amazing.

PS. I once was pulled aside at a career fair my sophomore year by a lady recruiter who reminded me to take the strings off my suit. Here I am walking into career fair with a little bit of confidence thinking I did good by buying a brand new suit and bam, someone ruins my world. Okay dramatic, but recruiters are good cops, not bad cops! Keep that in mind.