Ahh recruiting season. Where we, as college students, are expected to put every important aspect of our lives on one piece of paper. We then give it to companies, in hopes that they find us interesting enough to give us a job. Sounds easy right? WRONG!
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As a sophomore in Actuarial Science here at Purdue, this is my first “official” recruiting season and it is extremely scary. We spend all of freshman year joining every club we can find and hoping we don’t fail Calculus 2, in hopes of being good enough to get hired as an upperclassman. Then once we make it to the point where companies consider us to be worthy of a job, we must impress them with elevator pitches and a stellar interview.
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If you are struggling on how to do this or where to even start, look no further. We will get through this together!
- Write a killer resume
Arguably the most important document you will create in your college career, a good resume is crucial in getting your name out there! A great resume reflects your best self. You want whoever is reading to know that you are qualified for the job or internship and you have what it takes. If you have trouble making your resume, there are tons of templates online for you to follow.
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While some might think that the academic portion of your resume is the most important, I would say that the extracurriculars section is just as crucial. These recruiters want to see that you are a human being. You need to be able to excel outside of the classroom just as much as you do inside. It also shows that you can balance tasks when you have a lot of extracurricular responsibilities as well as academic responsibilities.
- Nail the Interview
If you make it this far you are doing something right! The company was obviously impressed with your credentials and now they want to know more about you. Don’t panic! The whole purpose of an interview it to get to know you face to face. These people will potentially be working with you in the future, so they want to find someone that they will be able to get along with that can also do the job. It’s very important to just be yourself. If you go into the interview extremely nervous, it will show in your voice and actions. Your interview will go so much better if it is a comfortable conversation. Just remember to make eye contact and breathe!
An important thing to do before going to the interview, is have answers prepared for the most dreaded questions that can be asked. Such as, “What is a time that you failed at something?” or “What are your biggest strengths?” You might think that these aren’t too hard of questions, but when you are put on the spot and asked what your weaknesses are, it might be hard to think of some. It’s always a good idea to have a couple of scenarios figured out in your head that could apply to these types of questions, because it is highly likely that they will be asked.
3. What do I do now?
After the interview, it’s a good idea to normally follow up with the interviewer. Send them an email a day or two after thanking them for interviewing you and making sure they get the point that you are serious about the opportunity. Most employers appreciate this, because it shows that you are committed.
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If you didn’t get job, it’s okay! There will be plenty more interviews to come in your future. It’s important to not get discouraged and keep trying. Your time will come! Best of luck!