By Abby Bender, HR Manager, Clasen Quality Coatings, Middleton, WI
Abby Bender
Graduating from college and transitioning to the ‘real world’ can be a scary thought. You’ve picked a major that you think you’ll like, but really you don’t know. You need to find a job and pay bills. And, worst of all, you have to get up early!!!
Don’t fret…it’s really not that bad. In fact, it’s awesome! Granted you have to make the first hurdle of getting a job, but after that, things change big time. Now you have MONEY! No more studying, no more tests, and no more being dependent on your parents. So how do you land that first job??? Here are a few tips I’ve learned along the way…
Build your resume. I’ve looked at enough ‘new graduate’ resumes to make a person go crazy. Don’t make me even crazier by sending a resume in that has your name, address, and your degree listed and nothing else related to the job I’m hiring for. I’ve seen that resume a million times. If you want to stick out in a pile of resumes among your peers, you have to set yourself apart with experience. An internship is a great way to do this – it will also help you figure out what type of full-time job you may want down the road. I don’t want to hear that you don’t have time because your school schedule is too busy. You’re not. You’re just not making it a priority.
Take the time to write a cover letter. I realize that cover letters have gone by the wayside. I’m not going to lie – I don’t always read them. But if I’m trying to decide between two equivalent candidates and one has a well-written cover letter and one doesn’t, who do you think I’m going to pick? Bingo! The extra effort can make the difference. Oh and have somebody read your resume and cover letter before you send it off. The more opinions, the better! You may have a glaring typo and because you’ve read the darn thing over and over, you have overlooked it. Don’t let your resume end up in the trash because of simple mistakes.
Practice interviewing. I know it feels weird, but it will be worth your time. The internet has a million sample interview questions out there. Even if you just start by reading them to yourself and answering them to a mirror, it’s better than nothing. Make sure you are maintaining eye contact, sitting up straight, and not doing weird nervous ticks. Then eventually you should have a friend or relative ask you the questions and have them critique you. When you get to an actual interview, make sure you answer the question that is asked. It seems so simple, but candidates that ramble or don’t answer the question completely are SO frustrating for interviewers. A few other random tips: Research the company that you are interviewing with. Bring a copy of your resume and have questions for the interviewer. Dress professionally. Guys and girls, that means wear a suit. And last but not least, be confident (even if you are sweating profusely under that nice suit).
Take a job even if it is not your ‘dream job’. You might think this means you are selling yourself short, but you have to be realistic. The economy isn’t so hot, you have little to no experience, and you’re living at home with your parents. When I was in college, I envisioned my first job like an episode of Ally McBeal. (Hopefully, I haven’t aged myself too much with this reference.) I imagined going to work in a power suit, going out to fancy lunches, and having my own corner office. It was great…in my head. In reality, my first job ended up being a glorified administrative assistant within an HR department. I had a tiny, dark cubicle and my fancy lunch was a PBJ and a carton of milk. And I did wear a suit (even though none of my co-workers did) that I got on clearance at Shopko. I had to fulfill part of my dream. I worked my butt off in that job, looking for additional projects and responsibilities to help out my manager and it paid off.
Consider moving. Easy for me to say, right? I know…You have a life, family, and a significant other established in a certain area; why the heck would you move? Because it opens up opportunities! Big companies (if that’s your thing) have plenty of jobs, but they may not be down the street. Being able to relocate opens up a world of opportunities (literally). And typically, large companies are going to pay for you to move. Worst case scenario, you don’t like it and you move home. Best case scenario, you find a job you love, while your friends are sitting at home unemployed.
Once you land your first job, enjoy it! I know, getting up early isn’t fun. It took me a good year to get used to it. I think you’ll find that being in the ‘real world’ can be just as fun as college (in a different way). Good luck!
I can’t end without a shameless plug for my current employer, Clasen Quality Coatings, Inc. We love our UW-Madison graduates! Check out our website for current career opportunities: www.clasen.us
About Abby….
Abby Bender is the Human Resources Manager at Clasen Quality Coatings, Inc., a confectionery coating manufacturer with four locations throughout Southern Wisconsin. In her position, she manages all functions of Human Resources and a small staff of Human Resources representatives.
Abby graduated from UW-Madison in 2003 with a major in Management and Human Resources. After college, she worked for First Federal Bank (now Associated Bank). After a couple years, Abby moved to the manufacturing industry, working for Quebecor World (now Quad Graphics) as a Human Resources Generalist. In 2006, she relocated back to Madison, where she now lives, works and plays. Go Badgers!
