It is believed that the job market for upcoming college graduates will be highly competitive although improved since previous years. 30% of employers plan on offering recent graduates between $30,000 and $40,000 in starting salaries while 19% plan to offer between $40,000 and $50,000.
Employers have reported that they consider the following as work experience:
- 13% sports participation
- 21% participation in the management of fraternity and sorority activities
- 23% participation in school organizations
- 31% classwork
- 40% volunteer work
- 50% part time jobs
- 62% internships
While employers in the workforce state that a graduate’s experience is highly influential when a student is applying for a job, the following are also influential:
- Educational background
- Enthusiasm level
- Arrives to the interview prepared and is knowledgeable regarding the company
- Fits well with the company
- Comes armed with good ideas as well as good questions
When you are preparing for an interview, you should consider the following:
Show Relevant Experience
Regardless of whether or not you have a large amount of work experience, make sure that you include other experiences such as campus activities and involvement in your community. Many different types of experiences are valued by employers and should be included on your resume so as to provide your potential employer with as much information about yourself and your interests as possible.
Use Social Media
Use social networks such as Facebook and LinkedIn in order to reach a diverse audience of contacts and possible employers. Additionally, make sure that you remove any information or pictures that could be detrimental to your image and your professionalism.
Obtain Your Own Background Check
Many employers conduct employment background checks of their potential employees in order to gain more information regarding their previous life. This information will typically include previous employment and income history, criminal history, sex offender results, drug testing, credit history, and driving records. The employer may use this in order to determine whether the individual is a good fit for the job opening and for their company.
The employer is typically required to inform the potential employee that they will be conducting a background check on them. Before you apply for a job, it is a good idea to check your own background information so that you are familiar with the data that your possible employer will be viewing.
In order to conduct your own personal background check and get a head start on the competition, you can use background check services such as http://www.mybackgroundcheck.com.