Giving your Job Opportunities a PLUS

Gabriel Garza

Sometimes good enough isn't enough. Nowadays, we live in a very competitve world where you have to stand out in many things to be successful. College students face big challenges when they try to get a good internship or job. Prior preparation for applications and interviews is essential. Most of the instiutions recommend to give a good impression on Career Fairs, Resumes and Interviews, but sometimes you have to go beyond to either make a good impression or not make a bad one. 

As the Cannon Career Center recommends, the most important thing to get a job is to ace the interview. "Your best opportunity for snagging a job offer comes through your interview." As well, a Career Services website states: "The first impressions are often the most important impression you will make upon anyone. When it comes to finding a job, your resume will make the first impression upon and HR manager or recruiter at a Job Fair."

These are all very important things that students should do, but sometimes you have to go beyond, and students should take into account these facts taken from The Wall Street Journal Digital Network. Forty-Five percent of employers use social networking sites to research job candidates. "Eighteen percent of employers reported they have found content on social networking sites that caused them to hire the candidate. The top examples include: Profile Provided a good feel for the candidate's personality and fit within the organization; Profile supported candidate's professional qualifications; Candidate was creative; Candidate showed solid communication skills; Other people posted good references about the candidate."

To go beyond also means to be cautious and not make a bad impression. The article also mentioned that these were examples of why an employer did not hire a candidate: " Candidate posted provocative or inappropriate photographs or information; Candidate posted content about them drinking or using drugs; Candidate showed poor communication skills; Candidate lied about qualifications."