I get endless emails from recent graduates who tell me they have “applied everywhere” and have had no luck finding a job. When I dig deeper it is usually because these grads have not approached their search with a clear direction or strategy. Following are my time tested times to make a job search more productive. Spamming career web sites with your generic resume is an ineffective way to find a great job or internship. Instead, utilize the following ideas and initiative (with a little patience too!) to secure a meaningful job or internship. With the increased acceptance of remote or hybrid jobs or internships, your own tenacity and persistence will set you up for success.
1. Don’t wait for a public job listing or advertisement! Determine where you want to work and identify the person for whom you’d love to work. Check the company’s blog, the press room and investor relations sites, follow it/them on LinkedIn and other socials, set up a Google alert…do some research. Armed with this information you can write a short cover email (or LinkedIn message) about something the company (or executive) said, wrote or did. Indicate that you would love to learn more about its work. Once you start a dialogue, write a note about an idea you have for a client. Down the road, email your resume and a well-written cover note explaining how you would be an asset to the organization. If you can provide a compelling reason why the company should hire you, you’ll be amazed to see them create a position for you, especially as a low cost remote or hybrid internship position.
2. Subscribe to the free email newsletters in your industry and related areas. For PR, the advertising, social media, PR and marketing trades are a great resources. There are industry trades for sports, entertainment, healthcare, fashion, and more. When you see a new client win or other announcement from an agency or corporation, write a note of congratulations. Tag the organization and repost their LinkedIn news and comment on an agency win or event. The company or PR firm will probably staff up to service this new business. As a follow up, send your customized cover note and resume showcasing how you will be the perfect team member to help deliver results for this client. Send a query regarding remote or hybrid internship options and make sure explain why you would be well-suited and disciplined enough to successfully work remotely.
3. Always share acccomplishments! Every day I read milestones, promotions, new job news, and executive appointment announcements in industry trades and on LinkedIn and other socials. My congratulatory comments and shout outs to my professional and alumni network are sincere. These long term relationships I’ve cultivated make an impact.
4. To connect with someone via LinkedIn, always include a personal message. Here are two examples: “I read about your new client” or “I loved your quote in The New York Times.” Include a short sentence about who you are: “I’m a student with my own travel public relations blog,” or “I’m a junior-level marketing professional interested in crisis communication” or “I’m an alumna from your college and would love to learn about your career path and successes.” Never just blindly ask for a job or a “follow.”
5. Exercise patience. Take the time to develop a rapport with your new contacts. Don’t just ask for an internship or job, ask them for their insights, tips, and advice. Help them learn who you are. Show you are insightful and smart, and good at tracking and spotting trends. Consider all of your contacts as possible mentors or business partners down the road.
6. Customize, customize, customize. When you do apply to job web sites or published job postings, be sure to CUSTOMIZE your resume EACH TIME. Include key words used in the advertisement, in your cover letter, reference a specific achievement or skill that is relevant to the job, highlight a specific project or example that relates to the business need. Taking the time to make your resume and cover letter a specific fit for THAT position will increase your chances of getting a call back. Check my www.pr109.com web site to see samples of resumes and cover letters that include search engine key words that will get your resume to the top of the pile.
7. Maintain a meaningful and proactive social media presence. This means start a blog and post articles or commentary a couple of times a week, build your LinkedIn profile, maintain a Twitter account (even if you just aggregate content and retweet articles). Link your professional online portfolio and resume to these platforms (remove phone numbers and addresses from public resumes). Think about the type of job or internship you want and gear your content to your professional social media persona. If you are on SnapChat or Instagram, that’s great. Just think about what an employer would garner about you from your activities.
8. Volunteer. If you aren’t working now or if you need to fill an employment gap, volunteer. Working for your local non-profit association, animal shelter, political party or religious group will help you remain connected with potential references, employers and contacts. It will also help you to build timely and relevant portfolio and resume-friendly skills. Any fundraising, video work, social media work, writing or leadership activities are employer friendly. And THESE CAN AND WILL count for internship credits. Professor Brown can help the organization design an internship that makes sense based on the organization’s needs and your skill set.
9. Consider graduate school or continuing education courses. Many quality graduate programs have been revamped their curriculum to include employment-ready skills and knowledge. Some programs are specifically designed to help career-changers or the unemployed. Identifying a professional program that works for you may also lead to additional internship and practicum opportunities, plus, many faculty have extensive professional connections and career resources.
10. Look at the company where you currently work. Do you work in retail? Restaurants? Sales? Hair salons? Grocery stores? Auto dealerships? I can help design an internship on top of your current work situation. Do they need web site help? Video editing support, social media, fundraising, crisis management? Contact Professor Brown BrownL50@wpunj.edu and we can come up with some strategies to build internship work into your current job.
Networking doesn’t have to be daunting. By telling anyone and everyone that you are actively searching, you are opening yourself up to opportunities. Friends, customers, relatives and neighbors love to share their ideas, insights and contacts with friendly, confident, smart and positive people. And now more than ever, companies are seeking low cost support to help their business stay open and succeed! You must show them how your great skills and initiative will contribute to their business growth and survival!
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