Tag: postgrad

How to Answer: Would You Work Holidays And/Or Weekends?

There are several questions you might encounter during an interview for an internship or entry-level job. One question you’re likely to come across, particularly if you work in the hospitality or retail industries, is “Would you work holidays and/or weekends?”

Why do employers ask this? It’s to gauge your flexibility and your ability to juggle work and other commitments. In some cases, your answer can directly affect whether you’re hired for a position.

Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare your answer.

1. Be realistic about your time.

If the employer is looking for someone who can be available 24/7, and you know that just isn’t feasible for you, be honest from the start rather than having that miscommunication later. It’s much easier to take on more work later than to scale back after you’ve agreed to perform the job.

Say something like: “I have no problem with working on holidays or weekends as long as I can set my schedule as far in advance as possible.”

Pro Tip: Don’t give more detail than necessary. If your grandma has already asked for your help executing Thanksgiving this year, that’s wonderful, but your future employer doesn’t need to know.

2. Know your limits.

Remember that the employer has needs too, one of which is the confidence that a candidate can fulfill all of a job’s requirements—time commitments being one of them. Still, most employers will work with you around legitimate concerns and/or scheduling issues if they feel as though you are the best person for the job and you’re straightforward with them about your scheduling needs from the start.

Say something like: “Unfortunately, because of my family commitments, I can’t commit to working every holiday, but I could definitely give up some when the company needs it.”

By demonstrating flexibility and commitment to the position, you’ll impress the interviewer and get one step closer to landing the job.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as How Much Should I be Paid at an Entry-Level Job? and find answers to common interview questions such as Tell Me About an Accomplishment That You’re Most Proud Of.

5 Careers That Require Less Than 2 Years of Training

Having a successful career starts with knowing what you want to do and working hard to pursue your goals. Although for many students this means getting a bachelor’s degree, a four-year course is not the only way to be successful. In fact, there are many in-demand jobs that require less than two years of college or technical coursework, which is great news for students opting for an associate’s degree or certification. With this training under their belt, they can graduate more quickly and begin to establish a career in an economically stable industry.

Here are five career paths that require less than two years of training.

1. Civil Engineering

Civil engineers are trained to work in the electro-mechanical industry and assist with planning, budgeting and overseeing the development of public projects. Bridges, waste treatment systems, highways, interstates, dams and city landscaping ventures are just a few jobs in which civil engineers are qualified to work.

Why you should consider it: Some technical schools offer civil engineering certification and degree programs that take less than a year to complete. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that civil engineering job opportunities are expected to grow at a faster than average rate over the next decade.

2. Licensed Practical Nurse / Licensed Vocational Nurse

Licensed practical and vocational nurses perform all the same duties as registered nurses with the exception of more specialized tasks like prescribing medication. Earning an LPN certification can take less than two years and students who complete an LPN or LVN program become certified to measure vital signs, take blood pressure, give injections and monitor medical equipment.

Why you should consider it: According to the BLS, this career is expected to grow 16 percent before 2024, meaning the need for LPN/LVNs is very high right now and the median pay is over $42,000 a year.

3. Radiology Technician

Radiology technicians help doctors conduct CT scans, mammograms and X-rays. Radiology techs also work closely with patients to explain the technical aspects of radiology procedures, prepare patients for scans or X-rays and make sure that physicians receive radiology scan results in a timely manner.

Why you should consider it: It’s a fairly lucrative field and you can train quickly. According to the BLS, radiology techs can make $57,000 a year after completing a two-year associate’s degree.

4. Massage Therapist

Alternative healing therapies have become really popular over the past 20 years, including therapeutic massage. Massage therapists use their knowledge of human anatomy and physiology to help clients identify pain points and then treat them using a variety of massage techniques.

Why you should consider it: The demand for massage therapists is expected to increase by 22 percent between now and 2024 and you can get trained fairly quickly. With 500-1,000 hours of training, massage therapists can earn a median salary of around $37,000.

5. Paramedic / EMT

Emergency medical technicians and paramedics hold an extremely important position in society by being the first responders to accidents and medical emergencies. And although it requires a high level of skill, training to be a paramedic can take as little as a few weeks, with more specialized training lasting up to two years.

Why you should consider it: It’s a rapidly growing field that’s expected to experience a 24 percent increase in openings by 2024, with an average salary of around $31,000 per year.

Having a great career is all about identifying your interests and finding out what steps you need to take to get started. By knowing what to expect from these careers, you can make a decision that’s right for you.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as How to Write a Resume: The Basics and find answers to common interview questions such as What’s Your Dream Job?

6 Ways to Impress Your Boss

Whether it’s a paid or unpaid internship, an entry-level job or a part-time job, there are several things you can do to impress your new boss right off the bat. Following these steps will help you learn your job quickly and make a positive impression on everyone at the company.

Here’s a guide of what you should do in your first month on the job.

1. Set up meetings with team members

Make a point of setting up individual meetings with your co-workers so that you fully understand their roles and how their positions interact with yours. No need to make them formal — these can even be walks or coffee chats. Be proactive and focus on learning everything there is to know about the company. Once you get a firm grasp of the inner workings of the organization, your value becomes much greater and so do your chances of impressing your boss.

Added bonus: Your co-workers will appreciate that you took the time to get to know them and that you’re taking an interest in their work.

2. Ask questions

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. This is a key part of the learning process and your manager will be expecting you to do so. Asking questions not only shows your interest in the company but also your commitment to learning and growing with the organization. Challenge yourself to ask at least one question about any new task you’re given. This will help you learn new things more quickly and speed up your transition into the new role.

3. Try to own at least one big project

Being proactive about getting involved in company projects is a great way to demonstrate your commitment to the role and to show your manager that you’re enthusiastic about the opportunities available to you. Focus on a particular challenge the company is trying to overcome or an innovative idea that they haven’t had time to execute. Volunteer to take on the project and bring it to fruition. This will show your boss that you’re serious about making a difference and adding value to the organization.

4. Be a team player

Collaborating with your co-workers is another wonderful way to demonstrate value. Offer to help your team members with projects that are a good fit for your skill set and try to anticipate challenges that you might be able to address. Being a team player will give your boss a better sense of how you handle tasks and show them that you’re committed to the role.

5. Send weekly progress reports

Sending weekly reports is a great way of showing that you’re organized and focused on results. Be sure to send this over email at the end of the week and include everything you completed that week as well as outlining the things that you still need to learn and areas where you hope to improve. This will show your manager that you’re self-aware and able to proactively assess your own performance. It will also give him/her insight into where they can be most helpful in your onboarding.

6. Ask for feedback

Setting up a meeting with your boss is a big win. This will help you understand their expectations so that you can ensure you’re meeting them. Come prepared with three questions to ask and take notes during the meeting. Your questions can include things like: What keeps you at night? What do you expect of me? How will my performance be measured? At the next meeting, outline the steps you’ve taken to address your manager’s comments and show that you’re proactive about meeting their expectations.

Whether it’s your first job or your fifth, starting a new job will have you thinking about how to impress your boss. By following these steps, you’ll be sure to nail your first few weeks at the job and make a positive and lasting impression.

 

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as 3 Ways to be More Productive at Work and find answers to common interview questions such as Why Do You Want to Work Here?.

GPA vs. Intangibles: What Really Matters

Is the common thought of needing a 4.0 grade point average to be hired at a top company true? At the WayUp Internship Google+ Hangout, we asked hiring managers from Google and Ashoka how much a GPA matters versus what really matters when applying to an internship.

GPA vs Intangibles: What really matters? Video Transcription


Nathan Parcells, CMO, Looksharp:

A student from UCLA named Jessica was wondering how much does GPA matter in the application process.


Cosmo Fujiyama, Search Team, Ashoka:

That’s interesting. Actually, interesting because I haven’t thought about that. I would rather look at the PSA instead of the GPA, which is the problem solving ability.

My new term for thinking about what’s relevant and what’s translatable because these metrics unfortunately don’t apply in real life, outside of the university system.


Jessica Safir, University Programs Coordinator, Google:

When you’re a student, that’s your full time job, is being a student, so we expect that you take academics seriously and that you’re doing well in your classes and one thing we do, you know, when you apply we ask that you upload your transcripts so we can see your grades so we do take it into consideration but it’s not sort of this end all be all.


Cosmo Fujiyama, Search Team, Ashoka:

Don’t worry about that C+ in Chemistry. Been there.


Jessica Safir, University Programs Coordinator, Google:

Because we don’t stop at your resume where it says education, and then stop looking.


Jeff Moore, Lead Engineering Recruiter, Google:

You know, if your resume is no internships, no external projects or interests, name, school, GPA, it’s going to be taken really seriously ’cause it’s all we’ve got. But if you’ve got this well-rounded background where you’re doing lots of different things and that’s gonna weigh more heavily than the GPA is. And so I think that’s a really important piece to it, as well.


Hayley Darden, Search Team Leader, Ashoka:

I think excellence is really important and if it doesn’t show up somewhere in your experience and on your resume as something that you value, you know, we notice that. We notice overall excellence. We notice caliber. We notice those things for sure. But I would also say that someone who’s been pursuing outside experiences has been involved and has clearly valued excellence and delivered at that kind you know, level consistently, that’s part of their narrative.

I wouldn’t be troubled by a lower GPA.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as What is an Internship? and find answers to common interview questions such as What’s Your Dream Job?

How to Handle Feedback at Work

Whether you’re just starting your first internship or already settled into a full-time job, constructive feedback is something you’re likely to encounter sooner rather than later. Why do employers give feedback? It’s to ensure that you know what’s expected of you and to show that they care about your work and want to help you be successful in your position.

Here are some things you can do to make the process of receiving feedback as effective as possible.

Ask for feedback

Taking initiative and asking for feedback is a great way to show your employer that you’re committed to doing a good job and passionate about finding ways to improve. The best way to do this is to set up a one-on-one meeting with your manager and ask them for feedback on specific things you’re working on. For example, if you’re in charge of creating a presentation deck for a certain project, you can walk them through the presentation and get their advice on what you can do to make the presentation as effective as possible.

Pro Tip: Asking for concrete feedback on specific things is a great way to maximize the advice you’re receiving. Don’t just say, “Is there anything I could be doing better?” Instead, focus on a task you’re working on and ask a direct question such as, “Am I taking the right approach here?” This will give your manager a chance to provide detailed feedback while also setting the tone for them to provide more general feedback when needed.

Take time to process the feedback you receive

For most of us, the prospect of receiving feedback makes us feel somewhat defensive and our initial impulse might be a “fight or flight” response to being criticized. However, by retraining our brain to think of feedback as helpful, we can overcome this impulse and find productive ways of incorporating it into our work. The best way to do this is by taking some time to process the feedback before responding to it. Instead of addressing it immediately, thank the person and take some time to think about what they’ve said. Once you’ve done that, you can respond and address specific points that you’d like to clarify or expand on.

Pro Tip: The key to keeping an open mind in this situation is to realize that the person giving you feedback has only one goal: to help you improve. By making this your focus, you can ensure that you’re receptive to their advice and that you act on the information you receive.

Agree on action items

Since feedback is designed to help you improve, having a concrete way to implement it is really important. In order to do this, make sure to walk away from the meeting with a concrete list of next steps. For example, going back to the presentation example, if your manager has asked that you add additional slides or metrics to the deck, be sure to outline what those slides or metrics will look like and come up with a timeline for when you will implement the changes.

Try it out

Once you’ve outlined your next steps, it’s time to apply the feedback. The key to doing this successfully is to focus on each step carefully and to take into account both the overarching and detailed points of the feedback you received. However, it’s also okay to push back on elements that don’t feel right to you. For example, if you implement a change to the presentation deck and you feel like it doesn’t add any real value, it’s okay to say so and to brainstorm other things you can do instead.

When handled in an open-minded and receptive way, constructive feedback can be a powerful tool that will help you succeed in your role and develop new skills along the way.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as How to Become a Confident Public Speaker and find answers to common interview questions such as What’s Your Dream Job?

How to Dress for a Job Interview for a Waiter/Waitress Job

Although you may think of casual attire or a uniform when you think of a waiter or waitress job, preparing for an interview in the food service industry is still a formal process. Like with any job, you may be able to dress more casually once you’ve been hired, but while you’re still in the interviewing stages it’s important to be as professional as possible.

1. Pick a conservative outfit that that reflects your personal style

You’ll want to dress conservatively, even if you’re interviewing for a casual restaurant. For men, this means clean, wrinkle-free khakis or slacks with a nice button down shirt. For women, it means nice pants or a skirt and a blouse or casual dress. Stick with neutrals if possible but do add personality to your outfit with a colorful but tasteful tie or scarf. It’s important to remember that appearance does matter, especially when you’re interviewing for client-facing positions.

2. Make sure you’re comfortable

An interview for a restaurant job can often be more like an audition rather than a typical job interview. You may be expected to show off your waiter/waitress skills, or the manner in which you would potentially serve customers if hired. Not only will you have to explain your skills and job history as with most interviews for part-time jobs, internships, or entry-level jobs, but a potential employer may want to see you in action. With that in mind, it’s important to ensure that your outfit isn’t too tight or uncomfortable and that you can move around easily while wearing it.

3. Wear the right shoes

You know you’ll be doing a lot of talking, walking, lifting, even potentially reaching over tables to retrieve items or clean tables, so think smart when it comes to your footwear. Although you won’t typically be doing as much as usual on the day of the interview, the possibility does exist. Wear sensible, fashionable shoes. Avoid anything that may hinder your appearance, such as sandals, sneakers or heels that are difficult to walk in.

Learning how to dress for an interview is an experience in and of itself. Although it might sound a bit intimidating if you’re never interviewed for a waiter or waitress position before, by following these tips you’ll be sure to start the interview off on the right foot and impress the hiring manager.

Next, learn more about succeeding in your new job such as 5 Things You Must Do to Prepare for Your Video Interview and find out about common interview questions such as What Are Your Salary Expectations?

How to Give Feedback to Your Manager

Giving and receiving feedback in a professional context might seem a bit intimidating at first. If that feedback is aimed at your manager, it’s likely to be even more intimidating. How can you ensure that you’re not offending your manager while also giving them feedback intended to improve your relationship and their work?

Here are some steps to follow when giving your manager feedback.

Establish a positive relationship with your manager

One of the keys to giving feedback (in any context) is ensuring that you have a relationship with the person beforehand. Since feedback is meant to help the person on the receiving end, knowing them and their work is a key factor in being able to deliver the kind of thoughtful observations that will help them improve. In order to establish this relationship with your manager, it’s important to build trust by taking initiative in your role and by asking for feedback yourself and acting on it. This will go a long way toward showing your manager that you value the relationship and that you’re providing them with feedback designed to improve on an already positive working relationship.

Ask for permission to give feedback

Before giving your manager any feedback, it’s important to ensure that they’re receptive to it and that the timing is right. You can do this by asking them if you can share some thoughts on an existing project or if they are providing you with feedback on something and you’d like to expand the conversation, you can offer them some feedback in return.

The best way to ask for permission by framing the question as something that would be helpful to you as their employee. For example, when giving feedback related to a particular project, you can say something like, “What would be really helpful to me would be to have some concrete steps in place for this next phase.” This will show your manager that your feedback is ultimately related to delivering the best results possible and will help them understand how they can help you do that.

Depersonalize the feedback

Another key component of giving your manager feedback is to make it impersonal. Rather than saying something like, “I don’t like it when you do XYZ,” you can say something like, “Something that’s worked for me very well in the past with previous managers has been XYZ.” This will shift the focus away from anything personal and onto your professional relationship.

Write it out

Once you have a clear idea of what you want to say, it’s important to write it out and refine your delivery. This is a great way to ensure that your feedback is both effective and sensitively. After you have an initial draft, take another look at it and practice saying it as you would to your manager. If something doesn’t sound quite right, refine it and try again. By the second or third draft, you’ll likely have it just right and you’ll be ready to discuss it with your manager.

Although giving your manager feedback might seem a bit stressful, by focusing on how you can improve your working relationship and how you can help them help you, you’ll be able to deliver the kind of feedback that managers appreciate and that makes the whole team stronger.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as How to Get a Mentor at Work and find answers to common interview questions such as Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?

How to Answer: Tell Me About a Time You Went Above and Beyond the Requirements for a Project

One of the more common interview questions you’ll get during an interview for an internship or entry-level job is: “Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond.” This interview question is industry and role-agnostic and the purpose of it is to understand whether you are the type of person to overachieve and reach for the stars, or whether you are the type of person who does exactly as they’re told, without ever questioning what you can do better.

Luckily, you can practice your answer to this question ahead of time, so here are some things to think about as you formulate your answer:

Think about a project where your original goal had been very clear.

Now explain the original goal in a clear and concise way. It’s important that you give an example where the interviewer can understand what was expected of you, before you try to ‘wow’ him with your story.

Discuss the opportunity you observed that made you think that going “above and beyond” would be beneficial.

For example, if you were given a goal to “eat a pie of pizza”, then eating two pizzas would not be beneficial toward accomplishing your goal. However, if you were given a goal to interview 3 people who ate pizza, but instead interviewed an entire restaurant, then you have a larger sample size, which can help you evaluate the survey outcomes more accurately.

Describe exactly how you went above and beyond the requirements.

It’s important to make sure that you’re using an example that shows YOU as the driver of ambition, and that you weren’t just following someone else’s over-achieving ways.

Explain the outcome.

Finally, explain the outcome, and why going ‘above and beyond’ was the right thing to do.

Extra points if you’re able to include a humble comment along the lines of: “When I’m passionate about something, I tend to be the type of person who goes above and beyond to get something done.”

Say something like: “In my summer internship in the strategy department at Pizzeria Dos, I was asked to find out what customers thought of our new white tablecloths (we had just switched from red tablecloths). I was told to ask 10 customers in total by stopping them on their way out of the restaurant. Instead, with my boss’s permission, I decided to add a small questionnaire to the checks of every customer who came in for the next 2 days. This way, I could reach more people in a scalable way, without bothering those who were in a hurry to get out. I printed the questionnaires on small pieces of paper, so the entire study cost no more than $10 in supplies. I then collected all 50 of the completed evaluations and learned that people hated the white tablecloths because they could see the stains from their dripping cheese too easily. I’m happy that I could deliver 500% of the number of opinions my boss wanted, and that I was able to do it without bothering customers and still getting an unbiased opinion.”

By answering this question with a specific example, you’ll be able to show the interviewer that you’re ready to go above and beyond your assigned duties and to be a team player for the company. This is a great way to show how motivated you are, and to stand out among the pool of other candidates.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as 7 Phone Interview Tips That Will Land You a Second Interview and find answers to common interview questions such as What Motivates You?

How to Answer: Why do You Want to Leave Your Current Role or Internship?

“Why do you want to leave your current role or internship?” is never an easy question to navigate during a job interview. However, it is a common interview question that will likely be asked at many interviews for both internships and entry-level jobs.

So why do recruiters ask this question? They are curious to know your reason and want to make sure that you won’t have the same reason to leave the position for which you are interviewing. How an interviewee answers this questions also says a lot about how they handle people and difficult situations; being able to answer well does involve a certain level of maturity.

Here are different reasons why you may wish to leave your current position and how to address them positively and professionally in an interview.

You dislike your current job and/or boss.

If your reason for wanting to leave is because of an uncomfortable work environment or a pesky manager that you just don’t see eye to eye with, provide the interviewer with this information in a polite, professional way.

Say something like: “Throughout my time in this role, I’ve realized that my team lead and I were headed in different directions. Though it was a difficult decision to make, I feel ready for a new challenge.”

After stating your reasons, try to bring the conversation back to something positive and remind the interviewer why you’re interested in the new job you’re interviewing for.

Here’s the one thing not to say when in this type of situation: Avoid, at all costs (especially during a job interview) badmouthing your current company and/or manager. There are sure-fire ways to say you’re not pleased in your current position or with your current manager, without actually saying it. While it might feel good to get your feelings off of your chest, save it for a friend or family member, as it’s definitely not going to land you a job.

You’ve professionally outgrown your current role.

There’s nothing more frustrating than having to get up every single day to go to a job that you’re just not that into. There are ways that you can try to turn a job you hate into a job you love, but if that’s no longer an option, here’s how you can position yourself.

Say something like: “I have achieved everything that I can achieve in my current role and feel that in order to keep grow during this early stage of my career, it’s time to move on to a new company with more room for growth. I’ve decided to pursue a position where I can learn more about this industry and benefit from strong leaders. I know that this company places a lot of emphasis on mentorship so the opportunity to learn and contribute is something I’m really excited about.”

If your reason for moving on has to do with the fact that you’re currently working in an internship or part-time role and you would like a full-time position, you can tweak this answer to fit your experience.

Say something like: “I’ve enjoyed learning about the retail industry throughout my time with my current employer. For the past three months, I’ve been the number one salesperson on the floor and this has made me realize that I’m ready for a new challenge and a full-time opportunity.”

Try to avoid making comments such as, “I’m bored in my current position.” This kind of talk comes off negatively, and may make the interviewer question if you’ll lose interest in the role and move on quickly. Remember that an employer wants to know that you are loyal and responsible, and that you will not leave after a couple of months when the job is no longer new and exciting.

You want to earn the market rate for your position and industry.

If your current position as a college student or recent grad is volunteer, providing an honest reason (you need a paid position) won’t be perceived negatively by the employer.

However, students and recent grads who are paid the market rate for their work should be careful about saying they are leaving for more money. Employers know that you’re looking to improve on both a personal and professional level and that includes a financially sufficient role. Adding something positive about the potential new employer in your response to the interview question is a great way to highlight your interest in the company while also being honest about your job search.

Say something like: “I’m currently in a volunteer position at a similar firm, and my goal is to find a role that not only challenges me professionally but also compensates me appropriately financially.”

Whatever your reasoning for looking for a new job, be sure that you present yourself in a positive manner during the job interview. No employer wants to employ someone who may potentially bring a toxic attitude to work. Interviews can be stressful, as your career history is being examined under a microscope and you have a limited amount of time to convince your potential employer that you’re the best fit for the job. Remember that with effort and some practice beforehand, you can walk away from the job interview with confidence and a favorable phone call in your future.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as How to Get a Job in Sustainability and find answers to common interview questions such as What Are Your Hobbies?

How Do Employers Evaluate Resumes?

There are few things as important to a job search as writing a resume. You’re tasked with creating a concise document that captures your entire essence in order to grab an awesome opportunity. As you squeeze years of achievements and memories into a few bullet points, it’s not only important that you’re happy with how it reads, but that your audience likes it. And for the best odds of your audience—your future manager—enjoying your resume, it helps to know how they will read through it.

Here are some of the most common things they look for.

They look at your education

Even though your major and GPA don’t define who you are, these are likely the first stop on an employer’s journey through your resume. It’s a good jumping-off point for them to understand the topics you find interesting and gain a sense of how committed you are to your education and your future success. An employer will walk away from this section wanting to know:

  •      That you meet their GPA expectation
  •      That you’re studying something interesting and relevant to the job
  •      What school you go to (possibly several if you studied abroad)

They scan your experience for brand names and key stats

When looking at your previous work or internship experience, there are generally 2 key trends an employer will seek out: relevance and impact. A great way to show that you have relevant experience is through brand names. If an employer is looking to hire you for a media job, for example, and sees that you worked for a major TV network, that’s a great start to your application.

If your past companies aren’t famous or recognizable, don’t worry — the work you did can still be relevant, and the impact is key no matter the role. This is where statistics come in: always use numbers to describe what you did and quantify the impact. If you’re scanning a resume with roughly 400 words and suddenly the number 80% pops up, chances are you’ll notice it right away, and so will your employer.

They look for unique skills and hobbies

Hobbies and skills are treated very differently across industries, but no matter the volume, each fun fact adds a lot of personality to your resume. An employer may read 100 resumes in a day, and even if they gave yours a good score and positive feedback, they are likely to remember you more for citing your mastery of guacamole making than for simply being a good fit. Keep these items detailed and unique to you—many can say they like “travel” but not everyone lists “spontaneous trans-Pacific travel.”

For skills, each entry not only completes your profile but is also a new search keyword. On WayUp, employers are most commonly using search tools to find specific experience or skills. So if there’s a programming language you know, show it! The same goes for other things like being proficient in Photoshop or having an in-depth knowledge of social media platforms.

They’ll walk away with highlights and a few notes

Resume-readers love to take a pen or pencil and mark up your resume, circling those juicy numbers described above or writing down questions for follow-ups. Realistically, the final notes they produce will be 1-3 bullets. This should lead you to ask: Did each piece of my resume tell the reader something new? For example, say you worked in 3 restaurants, so you try to be thorough and give each its own header, dates and bullet points showing your responsibilities and impact. This could take up half of your resume and all an employer will walk away with is “has server experience.” Push yourself to condense items that tell the same story, and to expound upon experience that shares something new.

Even with all these best resume practices, each employer is a different person. The same exact resume in different hands might get reviewed differently. A common system for reliable decision making is for a company to have each reader give notes on a five-point scale (from “definitely hire” to “definitely don’t”). You can’t pick your resume reader but never forget that the journey begins with submitting your application.

At the end of the day, you’re the one telling your story. So be proud of your resume and tell it like it is, but know that targeting it to your audience will dramatically improve your odds of matching with a great opportunity. Ready to create your own? WayUp’s user profiles act as digital resumes, making it easy to put your best foot forward with employers.

 

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as How to Set Internship or Job Goals and find answers to common interview questions such as How Have You Displayed Leadership?.