College students in the job market all want to know: What do employers really look for when hiring? Matt Lowney, a corporate recruiter, career consultant, and co-host of Career Talk, a radio talk show in Nashville, Tenn., decided to share some common things that hiring managers consider in potential employees.
The Application
Many people send out their résumés and are frustrated when they don't hear anything back; no acknowledgment that their résumé was ever received. But according to Lowney, due to the high volume of résumés employers get, it's impossible for them to respond individually. More employers are now requiring people to apply online or email their résumés. That way, those who are not going to go forward in the interviewing process will get an electronic rejection letter. Lowney adds that résumé typos are a definite no-no.
"It's a red flag," he said. "Hiring managers may be lenient if you're a new grad, but if you put on your résumé that you pay attention to details and then have a typo in the next sentence, it's an excuse not to set up an interview."
Interview Attire
Stick with a conservative style of dress. The younger generation's style of dress tends to be way too casual for an office interview, according to Lowney. "They know they need to wear a suit, but they want to express themselves," he said.
Allison Abney, a journalism major at the University of Memphis, knows how to dress for an interview. "I wear business attire. Black pants with a button up shirt."
Job History
Recent firings are less likely to hurt new grads, but Lowney said that it does need to be addressed. "What have you learned from it?' he asked. "And avoid placing blame."
Job hopping doesn't hurt a candidate if the reason for leaving was for better money, better work environment or you were laid off, he said. But hiring managers do consider 3-5 years with the same company as a solid work history.
Money
Who should mention money first? "Negotiation 101: He who talks first loses. Candidates should not be the ones to bring it up. Leave that to the hiring managers," he said.
The Interview
Pay attention to your non verbal communications. "It's not good. Fidgeting means you're hiding something," he said. Employers may overlook anxiety in new grads, but as Lowney said, "There are ways to show you're not nervous."
People have been asked unusual questions during an interview, but Lowney believes that employers are getting away from that practice. "It keeps (them) from getting sued," he said. "So they ask the same questions to everyone."
Many employers are gravitating towards "team interviews." That's when two or more people - some supervisors or some employees - sit in on an interview. That means there will be more people to impress.
Abney likes the concept of team interviews. "I like it," she said. "I like to shine and be the center of attention."
Keep in mind that some team interviews are not always in person. That's what Erik Olsen, who earned a degree in industrial and system engineering from Virginia Tech, found out when he received a call from an employer wanting to set up a phone interview. Olsen was prepared for the 20 minutes he spent talking to three different people because he had learned beforehand who would be questioning him.
Lowney has a theory on the concept of team interviews. "If the person they hire turns out to be a ‘dud,' then everybody gets blamed," he said.
Thank You Letter
Even though electronic thank you notes are gaining popularity, older hiring managers still like handwritten thank you notes. Lowney feels that if the candidate pool has been narrowed down to five and only two candidates write a thank you note, the letters may sway the hiring manager's decision.
After Olsen's group interview, he wrote out three individual thank you letters. "There's no reason why you can't do it," he said.
"I always write a thank you letter," Abney said. "It helps to suck up."
Matt Lowney's interview tips:
*Don't be arrogant. Great candidates who are know-it-alls will get screened out.
*Men should wear a suit jacket for a week if they're not used to wearing a suit.
*List areas for improvement when asked about strengths and weaknesses.
*Be prepared for a quick tour of the company.
*Ask questions at the end of the interview. "It's shows you've done research."
© 2007, InCharge® Education Foundation, Inc.
