We asked W. P. Carey Alumni: What is the best action you took to help you land your current job? Give your best advice for soon-to-be grads!
Here is what they shared:
- Take a One-track Approach
- Ask for Help
- Target, Research, and Follow-up
- Think Long Term and Work On the Skills You Will Need
- If You’re a Creative/entrepreneur, Consider a Sales Job
- Boots On the Ground Experience is King
- Unlock The Power of LinkedIn
- Your Resume Will Always Have Room for Improvement
Take a One-track Approach
Like many soon-to-be college graduates, I started my job search by casting a wide net. I probably had sent out resumes, cover letters, and applications to 50+ different companies and landed only one interview (which I flopped).
My ASU Career Coach recommended that I take a targeted approach and focus on one job I could be really excited about instead. Just a month before graduating, I found that the Alaskan Brewing Company was hiring a Digital Marketing Specialist and thought, “This is it.” Instead of superficially introducing myself, like I’d done with all the other employers, I found the hiring managers’ emails and put together a proposal that simulated the process and work I would’ve put out if they’d already hired me. By the time I landed the interview, they didn’t have to guess if I was the right fit.
Ryan Lange, Digital Marketing Specialist, BS Marketing (Digital & Integrated Comms Specialization) ‘21, Alaskan Brewing Company
Ask for Help
A professor at W. P. Carey once told me that no one will ever be as helpful and generous to you in your life as when you are a new graduate. And, that may just be the truth. Many people across all different industries are willing to help, introduce, guide, and mentor you if you just ask.
Tap into connections that you know, and utilize LinkedIn messaging for those who you do not. You may be surprised how many “strangers” are willing to be very impactful in your life.
Brooke Willardson, Regional Consultant, BS Marketing ’19, Apollo Global Management
Target, Research, and Follow-up
Build a list of companies and industries of interest and target them. Look at your network and see if you know anyone at the company or know anyone who knows anyone at the company. Research the company/industry to find roles of interest. It should be obvious, but follow up with people at the companies you apply to – don’t just apply online and wait for a response.
Far too often, candidates in the ATS get overlooked for many reasons. Even if you don’t have a network at the company, find someone who works for the company (LinkedIn is generally the best tool for this) and ask for help in finding the right person to connect with.
Don’t worry about annoying the person . . . most people like to help, and even if they don’t, you are not in any worse of a position. The effort alone can make a big difference.
Andrew Carroll, Director, Global Talent Development Technology, MBA ‘09, Korn Ferry
Think Long Term and Work On the Skills You Will Need
After graduation, I accepted a position at a company that was recognized for best practices in my professional field. They also had a good program for aspiring leaders and a formal mentorship program. This decision helped me understand very early in my career what the key characteristics of a successful professional are: leading great teams, holding oneself and others to high standards, and maintaining a good work-life balance. Having these skills helped me stand out from the crowd and gain respect from my peers, which ultimately helped me land my current job.
Leonardo Azevedo, Head of Procurement, BS Supply Chain Management ‘14, Key Capture Energy
If You’re a Creative/Entrepreneur, Consider a Sales Job
One of the most fruitful decisions I made for my entrepreneurial journey was to first take on corporate sales. It was in doing so that I gained not only the capital to eventually go full-time in my business, but the skills in time organization, client communications, and the confidence to interact in higher-level meetings.
On the side, I maintained the business I hoped to go full-time with one day, and directly applied what I was learning in it to fill my time on the weekends with some of my first projects and clients. Undoubtedly, this was one of the more busy and trying times in the early stages of my working career, but I can say with confidence that the experience was pivotal in getting my business off the ground.
Today, I’m full-time in my video production business, and have been for a number of years now. It’s common that I’m still implementing ideas and practices I learned from my initial sales role, and I consider it a great avenue for any creative or entrepreneur’s path that calls for it.
Nolan Tondreau, Founder/Creative Director and Head Strategist, BA Business Marketing; Sports and Media Studies ‘18, Tune-In Television
Boots On the Ground Experience is King
I have always wanted to do impactful work; the kind of work that changes the world and improves the lives of others. Sustainability was something that I was passionate about and I knew there were a variety of jobs with fancy job titles in nonprofits and businesses working on many issues. Trying to go straight for one of those jobs didn’t make sense – what experience did I have?
If I wanted to impact communities, I knew getting hands-on experience would open my eyes to more issues and build skills that a corporate job couldn’t do for me. I graduated and then: I drove the Planters NUTmobile around the US and met 40,000 people; I was a public school teacher in rural Taiwan; I lived in the Rocky Mountains and served with the conservation corps.
My jobs couldn’t have been more disparate, but they gave me the most incredible experience impacting communities firsthand, in person, from the ground up – those stories and skills allowed me to get my dream job.
Danny Holton, Global Impact Manager, Business Sustainability ‘20, Hormel Foods
Unlock The Power of Linkedin
LinkedIn – It may seem obvious to create a profile as a business student or someone who is looking to expand their network or find a new job. However, I can’t begin to count the number of people I’ve met who either don’t have an account or have created one but it is incomplete or outdated.
After years of consistently being active on the platform, I began receiving messages from recruiters to interview and apply to various companies, such as Google, which is how I landed my current job. I couldn’t be happier with the company I’m currently with, and I encourage all business students to create a LinkedIn profile, bring an existing one up to date, and/or continue to stay active.
You never know who may notice you and where a simple message may take you.
Benjamin Stone, Account Director, BS Marketing ‘15, Casual Astronaut
Your Resume Will Always Have Room for Improvement
Whether you are targeting internships or full-time positions, your resume will always have room for improvement. Work closely with your Career Coach at the Career Services Center and meet with them frequently to update your resume.
Additionally, ask older students who have successfully secured positions in areas of interest to review your resume. Their feedback will come from fresh experiences that can greatly increase your chances of moving forward in the hiring process.
This process doesn’t stop even 10 to 30 years into your career, so get used to it!
Jessica Kim, Marketing Manager, BS Management ‘13 & MBA ‘16, Primus Pharmaceuticals
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