Intern Blog

There’s no way around it—today’s job market is tough. And with so many students going after the same elusive entry-level jobs, it can seem impossible to stand out from the crowd.

Ann Shoket, Editor-in-Chief of Seventeen magazine, also graduated during an economic recession and identifies with all of the difficulties it presents. Her best advice? Don’t worry if you can’t get your ideal job right away.

“Even if you have to take a job that is not your dream job in the world, just take a job and figure out what there is to know from that place,” says Shoket, “Even when I knew I wasn’t doing the things that were my favorite things in the world, even when I was working on stuff that just wasn’t right for me, I was thinking about what I was learning.

Shoket was one of over 50 top female professionals in the media industry who came to mentor students at the New York Women in Communications’ annual Student Career Conference. The women shared unique career advice beyond the typical resume and cover letter tips, explaining exactly what they are looking for from potential employees.

Find Your “Wow Factor”

For entrepreneur Jessica Styles, what most job seekers are lacking is the “wow factor.” As the founder of a professional consulting firm, the FAB Network, Styles attends a number of networking events every week. “If you’re around a lot of people… you can’t say anything generic,” advises Styles.

A “wow factor” is a specific trait you have that sets you apart from everyone else in the room. For Styles, it was her sense of style. During her post-grad job search, Styles would wear big, bright accessories to make herself memorable. “Whatever your thing is—maybe you’re really funny—that’s going to be your icebreaker,” coaches Styles. Not only will this help create conversation at the event, it will also help you identify yourself in future correspondence with any contacts you made.

Turn Connections Into Relationships

As you’re attending networking events such as career fairs or conferences, Mediabistro founder Laurel Touby suggests turning your cell phone into a database of connections. “Make a list of the people who you want to reach and then start contacting them one by one,” says Touby.

Once you have these contacts established, Touby suggests turning them into real relationships. “Instead of my going after people when I need them,” she explains, “I go after them all the time, building a relationship constantly.” This way, when it comes time to start asking around for a job, you have this database of real relationships to reach out to already in place.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

While it may seem obvious, many of the women stressed the importance of monitoring your social media profiles. “Think: every email you send, every tweet that you put out, every post on Facebook—this represents you,” says Karen Robinovitz, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Digital Brand Architects.

Sarah Durham, Principal and Founder of communications firm, Big Duck, agrees. “Don’t give people ammunition to diminish the impact of your professional achievements,” advises Durham, noting that this is particularly important for recent graduates who are not yet known in the industry.

Of course, presentation is not only important online. Both Durham and Shoket note how important it is to show up to interviews informed and enthusiastic. Durham cautions against “lazy networking,” referring to when students show up not having any questions prepared and without any real knowledge in the company.

For Shoket, it’s all about body language: “Sit at the edge of your seat and be engaged with the person who is interviewing you. It’s the most important thing that I can imagine. You will not sabotage your chances any more soundly than if you lean back in your chair or sit back and relax.”

Keep Up Your Confidence

Especially in today’s economy, students applying for competitive positions are undoubtedly going to face some obstacles. However, Shoket encourages students to keep positive about postgraduate opportunities and not to take these roadblocks personally. According to Shoket, the job search ultimately comes down to just “getting your ideas around” and staying open to new opportunities, remembering all along that there is no single path to getting your dream job.