This year has flown by, and Summer is nearly here. While it is important to rest and recharge after a semester of hard work, you can also use this time to gain experience, work on your cv and even earn some cash!
At St Catherine’s, we have a fantastic team of staff that are dedicated to helping you get that competitive edge during your studies so that you can graduate and walk into a great job.
Here are five tips you can use to help you rock the application process!
Polish up your Resume
Your resume is often the first place potential employers will look to learn more about what you have to offer. It is your first chance to show them your most relevant experience, skills and talents that make you a perfect fit for the role. All jobs are different, so it’s important to personalize your resume to suit the specific requirements of the advertised position. While different roles will require different specifics, here are some general rules for your resume
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Keep it to one page
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Only include the important stuff
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Use clear language and key words
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Make it easy to read with simple fonts and minimal colour
St Catherine’s offers resume workshops and feedback sessions throughout the year, so you can elevate your resume and score yourself an interview. Anything you just can’t fit on your resume, you can put on your LinkedIn profile (which you can include in your resume contact information).
A common mistake people make is thinking that LinkedIn is for people who already have professional jobs. That couldn’t be further from the truth! If you’re not sure where to begin, St Catherine’s holds LinkedIn workshops throughout the semester, as well as opportunities to take your professional headshots for your profile for free!
Get in Touch with Your Referee’s
When applying for jobs or internships, you’ll often be asked for 1 or 2 referee’s; these are people that can vouch for your work ethic, character and sing your praises to potential employers. It’s important to maintain professional relationships with people, especially if you think they could be a good referee for future job applications.
You can reach out to a high school teacher, a previous employer or organization you’ve volunteered with to help you with this. Be sure to ask their permission and notify them that they may be contacted by potential employers. Living at St Catherine’s gives you the opportunity to grow your professional contacts, and get a foot in the door that you otherwise may not have the chance. Remember, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know that counts.
Nail your Interview
Interviews can be daunting, but building up your interview skills is super important when applying for jobs, internships and scholarships. Practice makes perfect, so find a friend to help you rehearse your interview or join in one of our St Catherine’s interview workshops. These workshops are intended to help you practice staying cool during interviews while selling yourself as an excellent candidate. You will receive feedback and invaluable advice from staff, alumni and friends of the College with professional experiences in a vast number of fields.
Another helpful tip is choosing the right outfit for your interview. While business casual is a safe bet, all jobs and roles are different so it can be difficult to decide. A helpful rule is to dress like you already belong at the place you’re applying for, as if you would be ready to start work straight away. If you’re going for a prestigious vacation program, be sure to dress smart and even bring a blazer. If you’re going for a more hands-on summer job, see if they have a uniform and try wear something as close to it as possible.
Remember that while it can be rewarding to fill your free time with work and extra-curriculars, it’s important to take some time out to look after yourself otherwise you will burn out. Make sure you also make some time for fun! If you’re in need of some inspiration, check out the Top 5 things to do at St Catherine’s over Summer.
Good luck with your applications!
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