Five job-landing tips for young adults

More than 50 percent of the work I do today involves speaking, training, and consulting with industry leaders about how to manage, engage, and motivate the next generation in the workforce. It’s been an incredible evolution in my own career, allowing me to work with and speak to industry leaders from across North America and across every sector (law, healthcare, education, trades, family businesses, and even entrepreneurs). I think I’ve seen and heard it all! I love to take the real-time data and insight I gain and bring it back to parents and educators, explaining that this is what the job market is looking for! So whether you have a 15-year-old trying to land his first job or a 24-year-old applying for summer jobs in between her studies — these tips will apply to all! Enjoy!

Show up early

For anyone who is a baby boomer or Generation X, you will be surprised that I even suggest this. And yet (lack of) punctuality remains one of the greatest irritants for hiring managers. I repeatedly hear that the younger generations either show up just on time or even late for their interviews! This is a generational difference.

Older generations (yes I’m referring to Gen X and boomers) will interpret being even a few minutes late as “a sign of disrespect” while a younger generation will often think “I’m only late a few minutes, it’s no big deal.” If you want to get hired, do yourself a favor and show up nice and early!

Do your research

Whatever the job is you are applying for — do your research! Many hiring managers tell me they are shocked that young people haven’t researched the company online, haven’t even visited its website, and don’t really understand the business before the interview.

Spend some time researching the company you are applying for! What is it? What does it do? Who is its audience? What are the different areas within the business? How do you think you can add some value? Being pro-active and well-researched will help you stand out — and be sure to share your insight.

Create a WOW resume

Gone are the days of dull, one-page resumes on white paper filled with words! I recently did some consulting with one of our former Strategic Career students. After our course she had found her career direction (which was energizing and exciting), but now she needed help to land the job. I asked her to bring in her resume, and when she showed it to me I saw it as boring and uninspiring, even though I knew her to be an incredibly artistic and creative personality!

I expressed that, in my opinion, her resume wasn’t reflecting who she is. She agreed. I suggested she Google “creative resumes” to get some ideas: add color, her picture, graphs, and charts. The difference was a WOW resume! When she got an interview at her dream job, the first thing the hiring manager said was, “Very impressive. I’ve never seen a resume like yours before. It really stood out in the pile of hundreds of resumes on my desk!” And yes, she got the job!

Rehearse

Learning to rehearse is just a great habit if we want to do something really well. I suggest this to all of my clients. It doesn’t matter if I have a 16-year-old trying to land his next job, or I’m working with a nationally-ranked skier emotionally preparing for her next race. Mentally practicing is not enough (although I also believe in the power of visualization). Our entire body needs to fully rehearse out loud and experientially, so that when it’s show time, your muscles have the memory to take over in a stressful “no-time-to-think” situation.

Even though I have worked in TV for nearly 20 years, I still rehearse what I’m about to say, out loud in the car, on the way to the studio. So be sure to practice out loud what you will say and how you will say it. Also, pay attention to your body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions.

Leave daddy and mama in the car

Two of my favorite people in the world are my parents. They are my supporters, encouragers, and cheerleaders. When I was a young person, they would drive me to a job interview, help me rehearse answers to possible interview questions, and then wait in the car while I went into the interview myself. Unfortunately, this is not a trend that has caught on!

I repeatedly hear from hiring managers that parents are calling companies to see if they are hiring young people, parents are handing in resumes (on behalf of their children), parents are calling managers to see if their young person got the job, and, yes, parents are sitting in the waiting room with their teen (and even adult!) children for the interview (including a superintendent of education who told me a 25-year-old teacher applying for the job had her mother attend the interview with her).

If you want to land your next job, hiring managers want to see independence and confidence. They want to know you are ready for the job and can handle the full responsibility. Mothers and fathers, we love you and your support! Just stay in the car and be there for your children after the interview is over.

Dr. Karyn Gordon is a regular contributor to “Good Morning America,” best-selling author of “Dr. Karyn’s Guide To The Teen Years,” and a motivational speaker. Visit her at www.dkleadership.org and on Twitter: @DrKarynGordon.