As a social media intern in the Career & Co-op Center, my mentor, Dr. Victoria Barbeisch, taught me not only social media skills but also important information to help me land a job so I can use these skills after I graduate from UML.
It’s not uncommon for many students to have experienced some level of rejection or ghosting in the job search. It feels like with AI on the rise, it’s nearly impossible to break through in the entry-level job industry. But once you learn about these three common missteps in job searching and how to navigate them, finding employment, either on campus or after you graduate, feels less intimidating.
Resumes need to be easily read by computers
The first day I came into the office, Dr. Barbeisch reviewed my resume with me and explained that, even though it was very visually appealing, it was not a good fit for applications in the long-term. Unfortunately, job sites are using computers and AI to review job prospects (and reject them) way before a human gets to look at your resume. Because of this, you need to have your resume be computer-friendly or appropriate for applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Computers read materials line by line, so text boxes or double-column resumes create confusion for ATS systems. Additionally, graphics are unreadable to ATS, so images that highlight skills that look cool on paper to ATS either treated as junk characters or removed from review.
What does help on your resume is using keywords. This means that when you’re applying to jobs, look at the job description and see which keywords they use to describe what they are looking for in the role, and where appropriate and true to your experience, put those keywords on your resume. This allows a computer to see that your resume fits the criteria for the job.
Small changes can make a big impact on your resume. You can find more information on how to improve your resume to be ATS friendly through our blog post, Understanding Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS): A Guide for Students
You actually have to reach out to employers
So it turns out just applying to jobs isn’t enough; you do have to reach out to employers to get on their radar. Not only has Dr. Barbeisch told me this, but so have different hiring managers or professionals I have spoken with at events or during interviews.
You want to have a more personal connection with the people interviewing you for the job you applied for. Doing so helps them put a face to your resume. I have been told that when I’ve had conversations with prospective employers or industry professionals, I stand out because many applicants don’t take the extra step. I get it, this is more work, and it does take time, but this is one area that can really help and be a big payoff when it is done well. You can also set up these conversations with companies you like or professionals you respect, even if there are no current openings – this is commonly referred to as an “informational interview” or setting up a “career conversation.”
If you do successfully set up and meet with someone, make sure you follow up with a thank-you email; this also stands out to employers in a positive way and shows your dedication and interest in a role. Remember, in a world full of AI resumes, it’s important to take extra steps to show you are human. If you need help preparing for an informational interview, I’d suggest checking out our blog Interviewing for Information.
Don’t copy and paste your cover letter
Yes, you can have a template that you reuse when writing a cover letter. Unfortunately, you can not copy and paste the same cover letter for every job. The reason you shouldn’t do this is that you might miss out on writing keywords specific to that job or diving deeper into relevant experience you have that you want to specifically highlight on your resume. Plus, the worst-case scenario – including the wrong hiring manager or company name in your cover letter by accident will get you removed as a potential applicant before you even get a chance to have an interview.
Writing a cover letter does take some time out of your day, so definitely use a template to help with efficiency and to make sure you’re hitting all the right points. On the Career & Co-op Center website, career.uml.edu, there is a detailed page that gives great examples, dos and don’ts, and samples to help you out. You can find all of that under the ‘Gain Experience’ menu item, Write a Resume or Cover Letter.
Closing thoughts
Trust me when I say, I understand the difficulties of losing motivation when applying to jobs. It definitely is a draining task, but it needs to happen. Learning what kinds of missteps can happen during this process not only helps you avoid mistakes but also allows you to have a better workflow when you are applying, which in turn makes the process a little less daunting. I hope knowing these three common misunderstandings when applying to jobs helps you as much as they helped me. Good luck, and remember, you will land a job; it’s just a matter of time.
