The Silver Telegram

Did you know that Generation Y are also called Millenials? Neither did I, what I do know is that this generation is  having a rough time out there in today’s job market. I recently went through the hiring process and when putting my ad out there, I was inundated with responses. Some of which I wonder, even read the post before firing off their inadequate resume.

I was amazed by two things:

1) The number of responses – Within one hour, I got at least 20 resumes. Pretty impressive speed the kids have these days. It also means there are hungry employees out there.

2) The quality of responses – While there were clearly some candidates that possessed quality and professionalism, a larger number of them didn’t know how to follow directions or write a good cover letter.

Here is my attempt to give a little boost to the “millenial” generation that are applying for PR/Marketing jobs today. Make things a little easier on yourself and a little less frustrating for us.

Read The Entire Job Listing – Easy enough? Wrong. I hate to sound like ‘mom’ here but ‘slow down kiddos’. Take the time to read before you apply. Quality over quantity. To get better results, apply to the jobs that feel closest to your experience, knowledge and/or interest. As an entry level applicant, you may not have the experience, but if you can flex your knowledge about the subject presented in the posting, you’ll go much farther and sound more interesting. Remember, much of what PR and Marketing professionals do is research, so flex your research skills here.

Follow Directions - If the job posting asks you to include your resume, references and a cover letter, then do it. If it asks you to include links, do that! This isn’t that hard. To be completely honest with you, I’ve had conversations about this with other professionals. They agree, we just don’t have time to go through all those resumes, so the ones that don’t follow the rules get cut first, simple as that. If you are lacking in an area and know it, call it out in your email, so that we (employers) know that you’re at least paying attention and you can potentially get to the next round.

Do Your Research - This can be very impressive when done right. If you’re getting ready for an interview, be sure to lookup the company and its accomplishments beforehand. Check out their client list and see if you have any connections there. Check out the people who are interviewing you on LinkedIn. If you don’t know for sure, take time to check out the company employees. If you’re not that well-versed in the company focus, familiarize yourself with key words, current trends (this is as easy as Googling or looking it up on Wikipedia) and even check out their social media to see what they have been talking about.

Stay Busy - The big worry in today’s economy is that there aren’t any jobs. That’s not entirely true. What’s lacking is money. In the meantime, keep yourself busy. Volunteer the skills you’ve learned to a non-profit organization that interests you. Approach companies like the one that you would like to work for and let them know you’d like to intern. Get involved in your community, church or local events. Take on projects for friends, family or family friends. Write, Write and Write some more. The great thing about the digital age is that anyone can publish a blog. There are tons of opportunities to write and contribute. Determine some areas that interest you and go for it. This way, when you apply, we can see that you are not an idle person and you have been gaining experience in alternate ways.

Pay Attention To Details – As easy as it may sound, when we get caught up in the speed of life and begin to feel rushed, things slip. This may not be intentional, but in the job market you only have one opportunity to make a first impression. Pay attention to your resume, pay attention to your cover letter. Spellcheck! Twice!

Highlight your Accomplishments - This is something that everyone can do a little more of. When sending out your resume and listing positions you’ve held, make sure you highlight any notable accomplishments. Did you secure media coverage? Double the bar on Twitter followers? develop an internal communications policy for your non-profit organization? Whether you are getting paid or not, they are still accomplishments that your future employer would be happy to hear about. You can list it under your positions or better yet, create an area for accomplishments near the top of your resume, so that they are visible and not hidden throughout.

Network! - Networking comes back to you at the most unexpected times and its so underutilized, especially by Generation Y. There are plenty of events to go to and people to talk to. If you’re not already networking in your local PRSA, SMC or marketing association, get on Meetup.com and head to some events. Go to events with something to offer and a business card. Also, give yourself a networking goal of # of people to connect with. If you’re digital, start networking on LinkedIn and Twitter. On LinkedIn, send personalized notes, join groups, comment on different industry topics. On Twitter, follow people that you admire, news agencies and trends. Above all, always follow up.

Dress for success  - This applies to networking, interviews, chats with your mentor and anything that involves your professional life. Dress the part. You may not need to go to networking events in a full business suit, but dress like you’re serious about something. Appearance matters, especially in PR and marketing. You’d be surprised what a clean appearance can do for your when you’re up against a competing candidate that may not have been as buttoned up.

Think about your career – If you have yet to find a position, you definitely have time for this. Really take a minute to think about your career and what you want it to look like. It’s okay if the position you take today doesn’t last the rest of your life, even employers get that, but have some goals in mind. Make sure that with any employment you take, you can learn and grow from it in some way (it may not be the way you expected). Stay enthusiastic about your future prospects and always, always always ask questions.

With these suggestions, I expect you should stand a better chance in today’s job market. If only, I had posted this and included it in my employment post, my process would have been much easier. However, I definitely lucked out and found someone, who must have gotten the inside track before hand. Now you have it too. Good luck with your search and keep your mind open to new possibilities.