Tips for the New Grads You Know
By Catherine Kaputa, founder of SelfBrand (
www.selfbrand.com), a brand strategy company that works with people, products and companies.
A lot of parents have told me that U R A BRAND! is a terrific graduation present. After all, what you need to know to get (and succeed) at your first job is completely different from what you learn in school. And now the book is a tad newsworthy since it was just awarded the Ben Franklin award for best career book in 2007 by the Independent Publishers Association, and received a bronze medal in the IPPY awards at the Book Expo America this last weekend.
Here are 4 tips from the book - important and practical - for the new grads you know:
1. Think Beyond Your Transcript
Most students just list summer jobs and relevant courses from their transcripts on their first resume. They don't think creatively about what they learned outside of the classroom that would be appealing to hiring companies.
Here are some ideas. If you have participated in a group classroom project, you are skilled in "cross-functional team collaboration." Place it prominently on your resume. Do all your papers on deadline at 3 am? List "performs well in demanding, competitive work environment" as a key trait - it's an attribute highly sought after in many industries. Do your best thinking with three things going at once like my son? Then you're "proficient in processing large amounts of information and juggling multiple projects at once."
2. Keep a Brag Book
Most people fumble when an interviewer asks them about job accomplishments and achievements. And it's even harder for new grads because most think they haven't done anything yet.
Failing to market yourself well in a job interview is less likely to happen if you keep a "brag book." Keep a notebook or file of accomplishments, complimentary letters and emails, newspaper clippings, and successful school assignments.
You can even put important classroom projects in a case study format, outlining Challenge, Action, Results, to dramatize your achievements. Put a positive comment your professor wrote on the paper in quotes at the top or bottom of your project "case study." That way you'll have a ready prep document to review along with the research you've done on the company.
3. Tell a Story with Your Resume
Don't make your resume a laundry list of your courses and part-time or summer jobs. Think of telling a story about Brand You. A resume that sells you must focus on a message and use action words to bring your self-brand story to life.
Put a positioning statement at the top that defines you and the value you can bring in an interesting way. Follow it with a succinct list of key skills and knowledge areas. All the detail in your chronological list of summer jobs, internships and courses should relate to each other. The body of the resume should tell a cohesive and intriguing story about you and what you've done, and of course, it must be relevant to the job you are seeking.
4. Break Ground on Building a Network
You'll find the more people you know, the more opportunities will come your way, and the more help will be there when you need it. After all, business success is about accessibility. And networking gives you accessibility.
But new grads often blow it by not understanding the hidden rules of networking. Above all, don't ask for too much. Don't say I'm looking for a job on Wall Street. Do you know anyone?" Say I'm targeting private equity or I'm interested in these 3 companies. Can you suggest one or two people to talk to?" And keep the conversation upbeat. Don't depress your network with your fears and problems.
Get the perfect gift for new graduates: U R A BRAND: How Smart People Brand Themselves for Business Success
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U R A BRAND
How Smart People Brand Themselves for Business Success.
By Catherine Kaputa with foreword by Al Ries.
Order from
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Who We Are
Catherine Kaputa is a brand strategist, speaker and author. She is president of
SelfBrand, a marketing consultancy that works with companies and individuals
who want to unlock the optimum marketing focus and game plan.
Speaking and Workshops: Visit www.selfbrand.com
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