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What kind of experiences will make me marketable when I'm applying for jobs?

#experiences #marketable #jobs #graduate

graduate experiences marketable
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Ken’s Answer

Experiences that might help make you more marketable include developing and communicating a career focus, participating in such activities as volunteer and shadowing and internship opportunities, obtaining career related part time employment during school and summer employment,and participating in career related professional associations to which people employed in your career area of employment belong.


It all starts with getting to know yourself better. Getting to know yourself and how your personality traits relate to people involved in various career opportunities is very important in your decision making process. During my many years in Human Resources and College Recruiting, I ran across too many students who had skipped this very important step and ended up in a job situation which for which they were not well suited. Selecting a career area is like buying a pair of shoes. First you have to be properly fitted for the correct size, and then you need to try on and walk in the various shoe options to determine which is fits the best and is most comfortable for you to wear. Following are some important steps which I developed during my career which have been helpful to many .

Ken recommends the following next steps:

The first step is to take an interest and aptitude test and have it interpreted by your school counselor to see if you share the personality traits necessary to enter the field. You might want to do this again upon entry into college, as the interpretation might differ slightly due to the course offering of the school. However, do not wait until entering college, as the information from the test will help to determine the courses that you take in high school. Too many students, due to poor planning, end up paying for courses in college which they could have taken for free in high school.
Next, when you have the results of the testing, talk to the person at your high school and college who tracks and works with graduates to arrange to talk to, visit, and possibly shadow people doing what you think that you might want to do, so that you can get know what they are doing and how they got there. Here are some tips: ## http://www.wikihow.com/Network ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/nonawkward-ways-to-start-and-end-networking-conversations ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-questions-to-ask-your-network-besides-can-you-get-me-a-job?ref=carousel-slide-1 ##
Locate and attend meetings of professional associations to which people who are doing what you think that you want to do belong, so that you can get their advice. These associations may offer or know of intern, coop, shadowing, and scholarship opportunities. These associations are the means whereby the professionals keep abreast of their career area following college and advance in their career. You can locate them by asking your school academic advisor, favorite teachers, and the reference librarian at your local library. Here are some tips: ## https://www.careeronestop.org/BusinessCenter/Toolkit/find-professional-associations.aspx?&frd=true ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/9-tips-for-navigating-your-first-networking-event ##
• It is very important to express your appreciation to those who help you along the way to be able to continue to receive helpful information and to create important networking contacts along the way. Here are some good tips: ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-informational-interview-thank-you-note-smart-people-know-to-send?ref=recently-published-2 ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-tips-for-writing-a-thank-you-note-thatll-make-you-look-like-the-best-candidate-alive?bsft_eid=7e230cba-a92f-4ec7-8ca3-2f50c8fc9c3c&bsft_pid=d08b95c2-bc8f-4eae-8618-d0826841a284&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_20171020&utm_source=blueshift&utm_content=daily_20171020&bsft_clkid=edfe52ae-9e40-4d90-8e6a-e0bb76116570&bsft_uid=54658fa1-0090-41fd-b88c-20a86c513a6c&bsft_mid=214115cb-cca2-4aec-aa86-92a31d371185&bsft_pp=2 ##
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much!! This is very helpful and I will use this in the near future. I really appreciate it! Natalie
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Rob’s Answer

That's a great question.  From personal experience both individually and as a father the approach I took was to think about everything you do in a functional experience way.  For example, are you a team player?  Are you a leader?  Are you a great at time management?  Employers are looking for folks that have these sort of skills so think about how you can either develop or quantify that you have these skills.

For example:  If you played on a sports team (that was a team sport) you most likely had to be a team player.  If you were captain of that team or some other organization your are probably a leader.  If you balance multiple tasks and responsibilities (school, work, activities, etc.) you are probably great at time management.  Quantify and articulate these experiences for marketability.
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Kathy’s Answer

To be very marketable for any job, you truly need to show who you are and your passion for the field you are looking to get a job in. To do this you should show activities, volunteerism, internships and other key activities within your desired field. Reach out to others you know in the field and work with them on a personal marketing plan. Network, network, network!
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Linda’s Answer

Study abroad experiences help you to develop a more global perspective. That perspective can be invaluable when applying for jobs.
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Gina’s Answer

Internship opportunities, clubs/organizations and if you're in college fraternities/sororities are a great vehicle for socializing but also philanthropy.
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Dawn’s Answer

I have been a hiring manager at my company. I always looked for outside sales success when hiring for an open sales position. Showing that you have not just past experience, but success is what a hiring manager is looking for. Don't be afraid to share what you have accomplished, no matter how much or how little; it's still success. You'll be able to show your progression as you add on to your career.
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