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Jengo's Job Search Tips

Tip #2: Avoid the New Graduate "Catch 22"
Many desirable job openings for new graduates will indicate "experience required," but how do you avoid the ever-problematic "catch 22" situation when you have the qualifications but you don't have professional experience?

1. Understand how to interpret the word "experience." What do employers really mean?
2. Realize that the bottom line for companies is to hire people with the key skills needed to do the job they want done. You need to know what these key skills are.
3. You need to be strategically aware of how your skills match employer's needs. Develop a comprehensive list of your skills by analyzing all past experiences.
4. Make sure your resume and cover letters highlight these skills and learn how to discuss and give examples of your skills as you prepare for interviews.

Details from the Director

1. "Experience" doesn't have to be full-time paid experience. It can include a combination of academic, research, volunteer, internship, leadership, extracurricular, and full- and part-time work experience. Remember that job descriptions always describe the ideal candidate, and that ideal person seldom exists. The candidate who gets hired is the one who meets the bottom line requirements and shows the greatest potential for being a good match with the organization and the position.
2. What employers want most is someone who has the appropriate skills to do the job. Someone who can talk effectively about his or her skills and provide proof of these skills (give specific examples of past successes) will always outshine someone who has the experience on paper but can't "sell" themselves. Your job is to understand what skills are desired (through interpreting the job description and industry research) and show how your past achievements and successes predict your future success in the areas desired by the organization.
3. Developing a list of your skills is not always easy, as most of us don't have any experience thinking about our abilities in a structured way. Several resources can help you get started. The Skills for Success booklet published by the Career Center, the list of active verbs in the Resume Handbook, and the skills assessment chapter in What Color is Your Parachute (available in the Career Center library) provide guidelines for creating a personal skills list. IF you'd like a jump-start, Career Center staff members are also happy to give you assistance with this important process.
4. Any marketing materials you produce as part of your job search, such as your resume and cover letter, need to include clear evidence of your skills. This is not accomplished by simply listing job duties and responsibilities for your various experiences. Future "Jengo Says" tips will give you specific guidelines about how to create really effective materials for your job search.