How to Land Your Dream Internship

9 Tips for Finding the Perfect Job

After spending decades striving to gain the knowledge necessary to earn a diploma, it is now time for college graduates to put their education into action. Searching for a job can be extremely exciting, nerve-wracking, and overwhelming at the same time. Experts predict strong competition for job seekers in 2014, as more than 10.9 million Americans are currently unemployed. Here are some tips that could set you apart from the rest.

1.Take the time to build a strong resume

Make sure that your resume is a fair representation of your work experience, skills, and personality. It should be detailed-oriented and give specific information about your qualifications. Tell them why you would excel at this position. Customize your resume and cover letter to fit the specific job that you are interviewing for.

2.Confidence is key

Be prepared to discuss your success stories, strengths, and skills. Talk yourself up. Think about how you would like to present yourself to the company. Now is not the time to be humble. Let them know what you have to offer their company.

3.Network. Network. Network.

Although experience, confidence, and talent are absolutely essential when finding a job, knowing the right people will help as well. In fact, it may be the only way to get your foot in the door for some companies. Networking involves creating a solid group of strong professional relationships. Ask your network of colleagues, family, and friends for any potential job opportunities in your field.

4.Show your personality

Making a favorable impression on colleagues, co-workers, and other people in the industry can go a long way. Many employers are looking for someone who stands out from the crowd. Your unique personality, pizazz, and attitude could be just what they are looking for. Not to mention that people thrive when they are able to work in an environment where their talents and creativity are appreciated.

5.Be passionate

If you have a passion for what you do, let it show. Employers want to hire people who are passionate about their career. People who truly love what they do are more efficient and productive. They simply make better employees.

6.Research the position and company you are interviewing for

When looking for a position, find out more information about the company. Make sure that you are fully aware of what the position entails and what the company stands for.

7.Recreate your social media profile

Social media has become a popular route for networking with websites such as LinkedIn and twitter. Before you begin applying for positions, make sure that all of your social media profiles are free from content that may jeopardize your ability to get hired. It’s not uncommon for employers to check a potential employee’s social media profile in order to get a better idea of who they are.

8.Be persistent

Don’t sit back and wait for the company to call you back for a second interview. Let the employer know that you truly care about the position and aren’t just randomly applying to various jobs.

9.Show your skills

Applying for an internship is the ideal way to get into the inner workings of a company. While you’re there, be sure to show them your amazing skills, personality, and creativity. Before your internship is over, you may be offered a full-time position.

9.Apply, apply, and apply some more

Look at this as a numbers game. Apply for internships through your university’s career services, normal job websites likes Indeed or Monster, and specific Internship search engines like YouTern.

Most importantly, never give up. There may be several bad interviews or positions that were not the right fit, but it is crucial to remain positive. The right job will come along. You simply need to keep trying and put your best foot forward.

Ms. Career Girl

Ms. Career Girl was started in 2008 to help ambitious young professional women figure out who they are, what they want and how to get it.