Applications & Career Development College Certificate – 12 Credits

  • Be a ‘Brand Name’ Applicant  – 6 Credits
  • Market your Career Brand 101– 3 Credits
  • Get One Foot In 201 – 3 Credits

 How do you get at least one foot planted on the floor, inside the office door of the company or companies you want to work with?

We have created an opportunity for this to happen:

Course 3: Get One Foot In 201

There are three essential ways to get your foot in the door of your prospective employers office.

Get YOUR “www” in THEIR “www” doors:

  • Follow them on twitter and FB – and creatively respond to their posts
  • Keep an eye on their upcoming events and attend when possible – be sure to indicate how you learned about their event
  • Respond to blog posts by contributing writers of their companies
  • Join their LinkedIn networks and responsibly inquire on company culture and practices through engaging in conversation with employees willing to help

 Get on their radar:

Become familiar with their work by subscribing to newsletters and other publications. Use the knowledge you acquire here to creatively communicate with important contacts of this organization such as HR directors, recruiters, department heads (obviously of those in which your interested)… use your creative minds.

 Now – Walk into their office:

Do so with a strategy – schedule an informational interview with someone who can answer some of your questions about the company, their work and your “how do I get in here” questions. The Goal: Get them to slip your resume to the HR department. All it takes is a little ego boosting and congeniality.

It is important to bear in mind that what you do when finally get into the office matters, so make a good impression:

  • Ask sensible and relative questions
  • Prepare yourself to compliment some of the higher ups (if you know what I mean: “Charlie, I loved your article on numbers, but your point of the fraction methodology was phenomenal” Continue elaborating. Sell yourself to make them want you.)
  • Scan their company culture (dress code, communications styles, etc). This will come in handy when you are going for the interview
  • Ask to meet your future colleagues (maybe not in those words)
  • Get as many business cards as possible

With these tactics – you should get one foot planted in SOLID. It’s all on you hereafter.

Congrats, you have officially completed your Applications & Career Development College Certificate. Now go secure that job!

Advice

August 28, 2011

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