3 sure ways to get your first job out of college, I wish I had known

“If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail” – Benjamin Franklin

As a senior undergraduate student, your first job is your biggest cause for worry.

If you are already a senior, hopefully you have taken the right steps.  If you still have time before you become a senior, these 3 tips will definitely help you land your first job well before graduation day:

  1. College selection:

Select the college that has the best co-op program.  In the Philadelphia area it is Drexel university.  There could be others.  Check with family, friends, neighbors, and shortlist universities that offer co-op programs.  Make this your first “must-have” college selection criterion.  Your co-op employer is your doorway to your first job when you graduate.

2. Internships:

Try your hardest to get an internship in your sophomore year.  The leads you get and the network you build will help you land your internship in the year that counts, junior year. Freshman year, sure.  But you probably won’t get one.  With more than an 80% chance, your internship employer will offer you your first job when you graduate.

3. Campus interviews, university job fairs:

If you missed  (1) and (2) above, then acing the campus interviews and making an impact at job fairs is your best chance.  Find out in advance the employers that will be present, do research on their companies, hit up contacts you have already established and give it your best shot.

It is never too early to begin networking.  We cover that in the transformational job search strategy.  Our guides and courses help you write better and get noticed.  Better writing is a great way to make a great first impression and get noticed.  That in turn helps you find your first and subsequent jobs.

If you have these 3 mistakes on your resume, it will end up in the rejection pile faster than you can say oops

On average a recruiter spends 6-8 seconds on a resume, to decide if they should read it.

On average about 11% of resumes are considered suitable for the roles applied for.

More statistics here.

Your resume has to be spot on, to go to the next level.

While you must have the skills and experience for the job in question, here are 3 mistakes to avoid on your resume at all costs:

  1. Spelling, grammar :

Needless to say, if there are typos in your resume, it does not go well with the reader.  Great case for rejection.  Use ChatGPT to proof-read your resume.

2. Inconsistent formatting, fonts, spacing, etc.:

Ensure your fonts, indents, usage of bullets, positioning work duration, etc. are consistent.

3. Lack of relevant keywords at the beginning:

The fastest way to indicate your fit for the job is through keywords.  The job description, when examined carefully, reveals those keywords.  Put the top three keywords in the summary section at the beginning of the resume.  This will increase the chances of your resume getting a much higher consideration.

The above apply for most jobs when applied directly.  The big exception is when you are asked to submit your resume.  We cover that in the transformational job search strategy.  Our guides and courses help you write better and get noticed.  Better writing is a sure way to find your next job, get customers to take action and generally have your ideas and thoughts recognized.

Have you tried the latest Ai tool, ChatGPT, to improve your writing, yet?

Ai is here and you can begin using ChatGPT today to improve your writing. 

I asked ChatGPT to provide a guide on how to improve your writing.

Here is what it came up with:

How to improve one’s writing.

  1. Read extensively: Reading a variety of books, articles, and other writing can help you learn new styles, vocabulary, and improve your understanding of grammar and sentence structure.
  2. Practice regularly: The more you write, the better you will get. Set aside time to write regularly and experiment with different writing styles.
  3. Get feedback: Share your writing with friends, family, or writing groups, and ask for constructive criticism.
  4. Know your audience: Consider who you are writing for and tailor your language, tone, and style to meet their needs and expectations.
  5. Edit and revise: Good writing takes time and effort, so make sure to revise your work and make edits as needed to improve clarity and impact.
  6. Study grammar and style: It’s helpful to have a solid understanding of grammar rules and writing styles, so consider taking a course or reading a book on the subject.

Ai tools are here, real and can be used.  However, you need to know their limitations.  Download out our ChatGPT here.  Accelevaite provides guides and courses help you write better and get noticed. These will to help you write better, get noticed and grow sales.  Better writing is a sure way to find your next job, get customers to take action and generally have your ideas and thoughts recognized.

Why you are sending resumes and not getting attention.  You are missing a key part.

On average a recruiter spends 6-8 seconds on a resume, to decide if they should read it.  If you want them to spend more time on yours, include a cover letter.

A cover letter sets the stage before the recruiter opens your resume.  It works in your favor.

There are several other reasons why it’s important to include a cover letter with your resume:

  1. Personalizing: A cover letter allows you to personalize your application and provide additional context and details about your qualifications, experiences, and motivations.
  2. Explaining fit: A cover letter provides an opportunity to explain why you’re a good fit for the company and the position. It also helps you highlight your relevant experience, skills, and achievements.
  3. Demonstrating interest: A well-written cover letter shows that you’re genuinely interested in the opportunity and took the time to tailor your application specifically to the company and the position.
  4. Standing out from the crowd: In a competitive job market, a cover letter can set your application apart from others and help you stand out as a strong candidate.
  5. Providing additional information: A cover letter can provide additional information that doesn’t fit on your resume, such as gaps in your employment history or explanations of job transitions.
  6. Showcasing your writing skills: A cover letter is also an opportunity to demonstrate your writing skills, which can be an important factor in some industries.
  7. Building a connection: A cover letter can help build a connection with the hiring manager, making them more likely to remember you and consider you for the position.

In short, a well-written cover letter can complement and enhance your resume, providing additional context and details that can help you stand out as a strong candidate and secure an interview.

Your resume has to be spot on, to go to the next level.  The cover letter gives a precursor to your resume and increases the chances of a closer look.

The above apply for most jobs when applied directly.  The big exception is when you are asked to submit your resume.  Read about that and a game-changing approach in the transformational job search strategy. 

Accelevaite provides guides and courses help you write better and get noticed.  Better writing is how you attract attention of recruiters and hiring managers and influence them to take action.

3 laser-focused keyword strategies to precisely target your ideal audience

Writing and publishing content online starts with keyword strategy. You need to target relevant keywords to reach your target audience.

With more than half the world on the internet, most of your audience is online.  They are looking for content, products and information and using search keywords to find those. 

Your content, profile, products and blogs better rank high in search results.  Precisely at the top of page 1.

So how do you come up with the right keywords to ensure your content reaches your desired audience?

Here are 3 laser-focused keyword research strategies:

  1. Google Autosuggest as a keyword strategy: As you type in your search terms in the box, Google lists out prompts below.  These are terms that people have searched for.  Keep glancing through the changing list for additional keywords.

On the results page, at the bottom of page 1 (if you have continuous results display set to off) you will see additional keyword prompts.  These are “related” keywords.

2. Your competitor’s keywords:

On the search results page, note down the top results.  These are sites or businesses that are ranking high for the exact same keywords that you are interested in.  They are your competition.  Check out their website.  Look into their “home” and “about” pages for keywords that they are targeting.  Also read some of their blogs and you will get an idea of the audience they are addressing, their messaging and the keywords they are targeting.

3. Reader, customer reviews: Where reader comments are available, examine those for questions or complaints.  These can give you suggestions for keywords relevant to those readers.

Where customer feedback is provided, take a look at the three and four star ratings (where top rating is a five star).  These are good fit customers, who like most things about the product, site, service that your competitor offers.  However, they have some unmet need, dissatisfaction or question about the competitor’s offering, hence the second-level rating.

These offer great insights into the keywords to target.

4. Bonus strategy – leverage Ai: Or simply ask an Ai tool such as ChatGPT to list out keywords.  Ask it to refine the list.  Ask it for popular or common searches.  Ask it for commercial potential keywords.  Ask it to keep listing.

Keywords are akin to a route map before you embark on your journey.  You still have to undertake the journey.  But the map shows you direction to reach your destination.  Keywords show you the method for your content to reach your readers.

Don’t leave home without it.

At accelevaite.com we provide guidance and examples to help you write better and get noticed.  And to reach your customers and engage them better.  Check out our guides and courses and begin improving your writing.  Better writing is a sure way to find your next job, get customers to take action and generally have your ideas and thoughts recognized.

Top benefits of having better relationships

  1. Increased productivity. Stronger relationships can lead to more effective collaboration and teamwork, increasing productivity and efficiency.
  2. Better communication. When relationships are strong, communication is more open, honest, and effective, leading to better outcomes.
  3. Improved morale. Strong relationships can create a more positive and supportive work environment, leading to higher morale and job satisfaction.
  4. Increased job satisfaction. When people feel valued and connected to others, they are more likely to be satisfied with their job and feel more motivated to do their best work.
  5. Improved customer satisfaction. Strong relationships with customers can lead to better customer service, increased loyalty, and improved customer satisfaction.
  6. Greater support and resources. Strong relationships can provide access to a wider network of resources and support, helping you overcome challenges and achieve your goals.

In summary, stronger relationships can bring increased productivity, better communication, improved morale, higher job satisfaction, improved customer satisfaction, and greater support and resources.