Landing the Job/Internship as a Leeds Student!

As an undergraduate student who hasn’t gone through the application process for internships or jobs quite yet, it can be quite scary to navigate the process. When I was a student, there were many questions running through my mind when it came to applying for jobs: Do I have enough experience? What are the “right” things to add to my resume? Will my cover letter stand out? Do I know the necessary “technical stuff” to prove to an interviewer that I am qualified for the job that I’m applying for? How will I prove that I have sufficient knowledge and capability to perform well as a recent college student?

Many of these questions can be nerve-wracking, especially when you haven’t been through the process before. As someone who experienced this process throughout college and who recently switched careers as a young alumnus, I can confidently say: if you put the effort in, the process may seem less daunting. Below, you’ll find some tips and tricks I found most helpful while navigating the hiring process.

How should I prepare my resume and cover letter for roles I am passionate about?

1) Research the industry first. Different industries have certain preferences regarding the content outlined in a resume. Accounting and finance might have specific technical skill requirements. Yet, marketing or advertising roles might focus more on the creative skills involved. Some hiring teams like in the data science industry even request applicants to provide a portfolio of projects. Incorporating keywords or phrases from a job description and aligning with industry terminology enhances the likelihood of your resume reaching the hands of an interviewer.

2) Reference your skills. As a student, lean into your experiences from your classes or previous jobs. Being able to succinctly describe how your skills align to the positions you are applying for will help you stand out to interviewers. Previous jobs (including customer service and retail jobs) show your ability to stay organized while managing multiple responsibilities, such as academics and extracurriculars. Additionally, participating in leadership roles within student organizations can demonstrate your ability to take initiative.

3) Supplement your resume with a cover letter. Your cover letter is the perfect place to describe what hasn’t been addressed in your resume. Why are you passionate about the role? How do your values align with those of the company you’re applying for? The cover letter gives you the opportunity to elaborate on questions like these. While some companies state that cover letters are not required, a well-written cover letter can be an easy way to stand out against others applying for the same role.

4) Use your resources. Once you feel comfortable with your resume and cover letter, I recommend leaning into the resources Leeds has to offer. The Leeds program provides ample resources for students like you to take advantage of and benefit from. Visit a career peer or career advisor to review your resume. Send your resume to a mentor or professionals you might know in the industry. The more eyes you have evaluating your application documents prior to submitting them to an employer, the more refined they’ll be (and may help in landing the interview).

Ok… I landed the interview, now what?

Congrats! You made it through the hard part — you put together a quality resume and cover letter and now it’s time to shine in an interview. Here are a few tips before heading into the big day:

1) Start prepping! Research common questions asked in an interview for the specific industry (LinkedIn and YouTube can be great resources for this). When I switched career paths, I wanted to prepare for various types of questions that might have been asked of me in the new industry. In doing so, I felt prepared for the interview because I researched and became familiar with many of them prior. Luckily for students, most questions that you’ll be asked will be behavioral questions — employers recognize that you are still in college and generally will only ask a couple technical questions (if any). Employers hiring college students typically focus more on whether you bring a great attitude and can-do mentality to the workplace.

2) Set up mock interviews with mentors and friends. After researching potential questions, ask your mentors and friends if you can practice with them. While this can feel uncomfortable, it is a great way to get into “game day” mode prior to the interview and calm some of those nerves.

3) Research your interviewers. Oftentimes, you will know who your interviewer is prior to the meeting. If not, you can try reaching out to the recruiter to find out who you might be speaking with. Knowing details about your interviewer such as their educational background, previous roles, and job duties allows you to ask genuine and thoughtful questions about their history with the company.

4) Bring multiple copies of your resume to the interview. Print multiple copies of your resume so that your interviewer(s) can reference it throughout the interview. You can also keep a copy for yourself to review while answering questions about previous experiences.

5) Prepare questions. Coming prepared with thoughtful questions is a simple, yet noticeable way to stand out. Stay away from the basic questions like: why do you like your job? Think more critically about how to connect with your interviewer. Instead, maybe ask: After looking at your profile on LinkedIn, I see that you’ve been with the company for 4 years in a couple different roles… what is keeping you with the company and what keeps you motivated day-to-day?

6) Relax & don’t be afraid to fail. Before heading into your interview, do something that helps you to relax and calm the nerves. Jam out to your favorite song. Meditate. Dance in the bathroom. Heading into your interview with confidence can make a world of difference. You might not get the first job that you apply for (it happens to most of us). With that said, take the opportunity to reflect on what went well and what can be improved upon to get ready for your next application (and then crush the next one!)

Conclusion

To leave you with a few thoughts: Make sure you prepare. Research the industry, company, and your potential interviewers. And — go in with confidence. With these tips and tricks in mind, I hope you’re about to go out there and crush the application and interview process. Best of luck to you, fellow Buff!

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