I’ve met with hundreds of students to provide career support!

Before you start your job search, here are my top three job search tips that can improve your search and your application materials.

TIP 1: Visit The Organization’s Website Before You Apply

You might find the job posting on LinkedIn, Handshake, or Indeed. However, when possible, go directly to the organization’s website before you apply to gather important information such as:

1. The most current information about the position and if the position is still open.
2. Details about their mission, vision, company culture, objectives and hiring practices.
3. Specifics about the role that you might not find on Handshake.
4. Who to contact if you have additional questions.

Answering these questions will help you determine if you really wish to apply. If not, you’ve just saved yourself a lot of time preparing application materials! If the role feels like a good fit, this research can improve the quality of your application.

For example, “[Name of organization] focuses on community outreach and supporting youth engagement in after school activities, which aligns with my knowledge of community-based practices.” You can elevate your application by illustrating that you have done your homework about the organization and connected it to the experience you are bringing to the position.

TIP 2: Tailor Your Resume and Cover Letter for the Position

Your resume and cover letter should be tailored for each role you apply for. There are elements of your resume and cover letter that will not change; however, organizations will be looking to see if your experiences and qualifications align with their job description. Additionally, many employers utilize an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software to find certain keywords and evaluate a candidate’s skills and strengths.

For example, if you are applying for a teaching position, Is the job posting using action words like ‘present’ or ‘facilitate’, ‘provide instruction’ or ‘teach’? Take note of the specific words the organization has used in their posting and mirror the language in your resume and cover letter. 

Taking the time to tailor your applications materials before you apply will indicate to the employer that you’ve done your research and helps them see how you are a good fit for the position.

An impactful way to tailor your resume is to list your most relevant experiences at the top and move less relevant experience below. Your experiences are valuable, but you want to be strategic. Include those that align best with the skills and qualifications the organization is looking for.

For example, let’s say you are applying for a research internship. Your resume should highlight your research experience and list your work in the lab at the top. It you’re applying for a teaching position, you should move your tutoring experience to the top.

You can also use this strategy for your cover letter. If in your research you discover that collaboration is a skill that the organization values. You can refer to this skill and how you have relevant and demonstrated experience. Here a few examples:

• “Collaboration is an important value in the workplace. In my previous position as a front desk assistant, I was required to manage multiple calendars and schedules for all the employees in the department.”
• ” I led a student club where I was able to find ways for members to work together while also acknowledging their diverse skill sets and experience.”    

TIP 3: Track and Follow Up on Submitted Applications

As you apply for different positions, it is helpful to keep a document, in Excel for example, where you can record the information you collect about the positions, application requirements, contact information, important dates, notes about the company, etc. Keeping and tracking this information in one place will help you stay organized and on top of important information and deadlines.

It is normal to feel anxious after submitting a job application! It can be easy to get impatient waiting for a response. Keep in mind that every organization is different in terms of how the application review and hiring processes work, and the timeline can vary. Some organizations will follow up on your application within a few days while for others it takes longer. Try your best to be patient. If you have not heard from the organization after two weeks, you can reach out and ask about the status of your application. Sending an e-mail to the hiring manager or your main contact at an organization is a recommended way of following up.

Get Support

If you are an enrolled student or have graduated from the University of Arizona within the past year, you can make an appointment on Handshake to meet with a member of the Career Education team to review your application materials. Meet with us in-person, on Zoom or over the phone.