I’m sitting in on the Landing a Job and Succeeding in Industry: Bridging the gap  between in-class learning and job-related skill session at the GHC. The focus is on five different areas students can pursue outside of the classroom in order to stand out to employers: membership and participation in professional groups, competitions, training & certifications, research & teaching assistantships, and internships/professional experience. A recruiter from EA pointed out that she often has over 100 resumes on her desk for something like 12 interview slots, so it’s incredibly beneficial for students to have unique experiences that will set them apart from other applicants.

It’s interesting (and reassuring!)  from an academic advisor perspective to hear a lot of the advice we give to students echoed back from industry reps. I’m glad the message we’re sending is consistent.

A few highlights from the session (in no particular order):

• Companies, like Microsoft, look for student participation in competitions. In their eyes, this demonstrates a problem solving drive outside of the classroom.
• Research and teaching assistantships are work experience. As the EA recruiter said, having an RA and/or TA position on your resume demonstrates smarts. Also, both are good opportunities to connect with faculty and the faculty member’s network.
• Strong communication skills are a must for computer science jobs.
• Network, network, network. Take every opportunity you can to network.!It will set you up for success. You can do this through internships, professional organizations, competitions, and RA & TA-ships. You will even establish a very useful friend-of-a-friend network through these connections. But, as one panelist pointed out, keep in mind there is a difference between networking and stalking. Treat recruiters with the professional courtesy you wish to receive. Constantly calling and emailing potential connections is not a way to endear yourself to them. I have to say, this is true when contacting your advisor, too.
• Internships are an excellent opportunity to apply your theoretical knowledge in a real world setting and to work with the latest technology. Professional experience as a student also gives you the chance to “try out” a job to determine if it’s right for you. It also allows you to see what corporate culture will be a good fit for you in the long run.
• Certifications can be useful in showing companies that you’re up on the latest technology. They may be particularly important to smaller companies with limited resources for training new employees. There are opportunities to pursue certifications via distance learning/online, and to access free software for this.
• Many students had questions about the interview process. How do I calm my nerves? What do I do if I don’t know the answer to the question? The company reps were quick to point out that *everyone* gets nervous before interviews; that’s just part of the deal. Being as prepared as you can and knowing how to calm yourself down is helpful. One panelist gave the example of taking a sip of water to give herself a moment to collect her thoughts. All of the panelists stressed that you should talk out a problem you don’t know how to answer, utilizing a white board or piece of paper, if you can. Of course, if you’re on a phone interview, you should tell your interviewers that you’re working out the problem on paper, so they know what your silence is about.

Overall, the panelists did an excellent job of conveying important themes to the students in attendance. The message throughout the session was that demonstrating a passion and drive for problem-solving, both in and outside of the classroom, will give you a competitive edge in making a successful transition into the working world.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!