Copyright: Photo by Malcolm Garret from Pexels.com
Let’s face it. It is that time of year again. The time where all the retail stores are getting their “back to school” signs and advertisements out in light of the upcoming school year.
Since the retail stores are getting ahead of the game, we too thought this would be a great time to talk about the school year. Especially for the graduating college seniors who are thinking about what their next steps will be. Below you will find a 3-step senior year guide. Diving into how to best prepare for what comes after graduation.
Step 1: Resume creation or editing
As you are working towards finishing your college career and looking into what positions are out there, it is important that your resume not only tell your story but stands out. When looking for the best candidate, recruiters will tend to focus on these three areas:
- Education You are already ahead of the game! Many companies look at your education. Where did you go to school? What was your GPA? These are great items to note right away on your resume so companies can check off the fact that you have a degree in the field they are hiring for.
- Experience Your work experience is similar to the body of your resume. Your past career experiences are very important to show future employers that, whether related or not, you have working experience. Your keywords should include core competencies that fit the specific position you are applying for. It is encouraged to edit your resume to fit the position you are interested in but in an honest and ethical way.
- Activities or involvement It is great to show that you like to be active outside of school. Listing other activities, volunteer outreach opportunities or even accomplishments are great to share with a potential employer. Your resume is your chance to show off a little bit and be confident in the things you have already done.
Step 2: Google yourself
As you know, most companies do background checks on all candidates. Did you know that also includes your social media accounts?. Be aware of how you are portrayed online. Are we telling you to stop posting to your favorite social media sites? NO! We want to remind you that everyone can see what you are posting, including your future employer.
Step 3: Networking is key
We understand that looking for a job is a job in itself. It is not easy putting yourself out there and landing a career as soon as you graduate. The fact is 53% of college graduates are unemployed or in a job that doesn’t require a bachelor’s degree. Joining a local member organization is a great way to network and you will gain education for your future career as well. Here are a few member organizations to take a look at – some of these even have student memberships available – and all of these are members of UMSA (Upper Midwest Security Alliance), host of Secure360.
- ASIS MN Chapter
- BCPA
- CSA MN Chapter
- ISACA MN Chapter
- ISSA MN Chapter
- InfraGard Minnesota
- ISC(2) Twin Cities
- MN State IT Center of Excellence
- OWASP MSP
We don’t want you to be one of the 53%! This is why we have an all-encompassing student focused event that brings the networking opportunities to you. Student360 is your chance to get your name and resume out there before you graduate. We will have educational speaking sessions to attend, mock interviews to participate in and opportunities to give your resume to leaders in some of the top cyber security companies in Minnesota. Student360 will be held at Target Corporate’s North Campus in Brooklyn Park, MN on January 31, 2020. Attendee registration is NOW OPEN!
Best of luck to all of the graduating seniors out there – hope to connect with you at an industry event soon.
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