With the summer internship search and post-graduation job search in full swing for many students, I couldn’t help but think about a NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) report I read in back in November 2021.
According to NACE, employers plan to hire 26.6% more graduates from the class of 2022 compared to the class of 2021. This news is fantastic to not only to the class of 2022, but to all students who are seeking roles, including internships—it means employers are hiring now more so then the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Currently, there are a lot of great roles being posted on Handshake, Linked-In, and Indeed, and while this data is promising, it is important to remember to not grow complacent in the job search, despite seemingly favorable odds. The job search is an ongoing process and being proactive in the preparation of job materials is more relevant than ever. Why settle for a job, when you can have THE job?
Keeping this data in mind, I’ve detailed below some important things to keep in mind when you are preparing your application materials for an awesome role.
- Take time to research the company before applying the role. What is their mission? What drives them? What makes them unique to their industry? This information will also help you tailor your cover letter to the role later.
- Tailor your resume (and cover letter) to the role. Look at the job posting and highlight key adjectives and phrases the employer uses to explain their ideal candidate, and make sure those skills and adjectives are mentioned within the context of both your resume and cover letter.
- Don’t forget to network! Make new connections through Linked-In, CareerShift, or myPenn. Reach out to Penn alumni and non-Penn alumni alike to ask questions about the industry and build your industry/company knowledge.
Be proactive, not reactive, and seize the opportunities that could be out there. Career Services is always here to help (you can sign up for appointments on Handshake).
And if you’d prefer to just do your own thing, we have tons of resources on preparing application materials here.
