Alumni Advice: Job Search Strategy
We asked alumni on St. Thomas Connect “What advice do you have for students and fellow alumni who are job searching?” You can learn from these words of wisdom below!
Looking for more job search advice? Check out our resources here on Career Edge!
Tap into your Tommie Network
St. Thomas alumni stress that networking isn’t just a buzzword, it’s about building genuine relationships. The Tommie Network is here to help!
“I would highly recommend leveraging the Tommie network. Start with LinkedIn and look for the Tommies in the industries, roles, and organizations that you’re interested in. Even better if you can find Tommies who engaged in similar clubs, sports, or were in similar programs as you. They can be great resources in helping you navigate the process. From there, it’s all about resilience and persistence; not taking rejections personally, and continually refining your candidacy so that each application is better than the last.”
Eshan Varma
“Lean on your network and your extended network to get your resume into the hands of a hiring manager. Talk to everyone about your job search and see if they know someone who may have a job connection. Do not be too proud to ask for help. Being able to get your resume directly into the hands of a hiring manager increases your chances for interview exponentially. I got a job because I spoke to the new left fielder from our softball team.”
Tom Fischer
“Network with intention. Build connections with people who are doing the job that you want, and the people who hire for the job you want. Cultivate relationships with the people who are active, engaged advocates for you, and be that same network connection for others.”
Daniel Hildebrandt
“Make as many connections as you can. It doesn’t matter if these connections are for the job you want, connections always help. Recruiters and people looking for new hires know each other, and they can be of GREAT help finding opportunities.”
John Alpers, PhD
“Connect with business owners & executives. Develop relationships with them and stay in touch. Develop a “here’s how I can help an organization” story. Businesses are looking for employees who solve problems, take initiative and create solutions, not problems. Be their problem-solver!”
Gregg Johnson
Optimize Your Applications
Your application materials are your first impression. Thomas Engrav and Linda Ladley both recommend having the most up to date and polished resume and LinkedIn possible. Here is other advice to stand out:
“The job description is a wish list. Don’t self-reject. Apply if you are interested in the job and meet the minimum requirements. Also, modify your resume to match the keywords and order they are using; they have a problem, which is a lack of someone with those skills. Make sure it’s clear that your skills can solve THEIR problem. Last, network! Anyone you know at the company who can vouch for you is huge toward actually getting your resume read, vs filtered out by HR or the algorithm. “
Christopher M. Flynn
“With how workplaces have changed you are now probably competing against more people for any one position than ever before. But that means the hiring manager is going through my resumes than ever before as well, so help them by standing out somehow. But stand out in a way that relates to the position that you are trying to get show them from your first interaction with them why you are the right fit for the role. Also, stand out in a way that is genuine to you and do not worry if it is not unique focus on being yourself over doing something that has not been done before.”
Micheal Gumbert
“Consider how your skills set can be leveraged in roles outside your past work experience. The work force is redefining how work is getting completed. It is an exciting time to be creative in how a career develops.”
Jodi Harmon, MBA
Acing the Interview: Practice, Prepare and Be Yourself
The interview is your moment to shine. Our alumni advise a multi-faceted approach to ensure you’re ready to impress employers.
“Interviewing is a lot like sports, practice makes perfect. Look up common interview questions in your job field and record yourself responding to those questions. You will often find you do more quirky things than you realize. Do your research on the company and people you interview with and write down multiple questions to ask at the end of the interview. It goes a long way to show you care. Overall, the job search is a lot like everything else in life, hard work pays off.”
Pete Fitzsimmons
“Every interview is practice and an opportunity to make a connection and develop your interviewing skills. Think about any past experience that you can apply to the job duties and responsibilities (even if they don’t seem like a direct connection). Be prepared to talk about how you have used past experiences to learn, grow, and overcome challenges. Also, never underestimate the power of a ‘thank you’ email.”
Beverlee Shellum
“Practice, practice, practice your interview answers. When someone asks, “tell me about yourself”, keep it to 3-5 minutes and highlight skill set you have learned in your life.”
Janelle Anderson
