By actively being part of the recruiting team at SEP, I get to speak with many college students that are looking for internships, co-ops, or full time positions. I feel like it is part of my job to help out with the recruiting here at SEP. The best part is, I really enjoy meeting and talking with people who are getting ready to begin their first career, or even start a new career.
Many of the people I meet are what I would consider to be an “ordinary” recruit. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. An ordinary recruit would be someone who is memorable and has a resume that is both applicable and informative.
However, some of the people I meet are what I would consider to be a “notable” recruit. This can both be a good thing and a bad thing. A notable recruit would be someone who makes a lasting first impression. This first impression is key, in my opinion.
When it comes time to interview a recruit I will remember things like: were you dressed for the part, did you show interest in our company, did you ask questions, etc. To be on the positive end of “notable”, a recruit should be conscious that a first impression might be the only impression.
So, for all of you recruits out there…here are a few things that you should keep in mind when attending a career fair, meeting with a recruiter, or interviewing for the first time:
- Don’t wear your pajamas when you come to talk to someone.
- Be curious about the company, culture, type of work, etc. You want to get an idea of what the company is and does.
- If you have a “goal” on your resume, make sure to tailor it based on who you are meeting with. For example, if you are meeting with a software company – tailor it to software. If you are meeting with a hardware company – tailor it to hardware. Don’t have a generic “catch all” goal. The only signal that sends to me is that you didn’t plan ahead.
- Spend 15 minutes to read over the company’s website before you talk with that company. This is a great way to start up discussions – location, recent news about the company, company blogs, etc. This is also a great way to show that you’re interested.
There are not any set rules, but if you were talking to me…these are the kinds of things that I would remember about a first impression of a recruit.
While #4 is definitely true (and possibly the most important of the four), it’s amusing that for a candidate to have read your advice they likely have already followed it.
You are absolutely correct. I imagine that most serious candidates take the time to research a company first, anyway. Thanks for the comment.
It is somewhat of an ironic post…advice that likely won’t reach the correct audience.
Matt this is a great post. It is interesting to me because most of the things you mention seem like “no-brainers” for college graduates or higher level undergraduates. It is really a shame that more universities do not dedicate more time to career preparation and presentation.