Be Yourself When Searching for a Job

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One of my favorite authors, Oscar Wilde, had a great quote that has always stuck with me – “Be yourself, everyone else is taken.” It’s also the best advice I can give you when searching for a job. I’ve heard many recent college graduates complain about writing standard cover letters because they look so boring and my answer to that is, why? They don’t have to look boring. Infuse yourself in your job search. If you are a creative person, let that show through – especially if you are looking for a job in a creative field or looking to work at a creative, up-and-coming company. I’ve told many recent public relations and marketing graduates to turn their cover letters into press releases. I can say the same for advertising majors (write an ad instead of a cover letter) and journalism majors (write a feature story). While these might seem a bit out-of-the box, if you were doing the hiring isn’t that what you would want? Trust me, every cover letter and resume generally looks the same. If you are applying for jobs through a popular search engine, you especially need to stand out.

It’s often said that you must make yourself indispensable at work. I think the same can be said when looking for a job. It’s your responsibility to show potential employers that you are the employee they need to hire. I don’t suggest going about this by nagging the company or calling incessantly, but showing that you are a go-getter and hard worker will go a long way in the eyes of a hiring manager. Many college professors will assist you in terms of what looks best for a cover letter and resume and how to approach an interview. I suggest asking a trusted professor to help you tap into what works best for you and your major and tweak it before applying for jobs. Good luck!



By: Amy Muldoon




Amy Muldoon graduated from Penn State University in 2005 and worked in corporate public relations for three years before returning to graduate school to become an English teacher. Her strengths include: drafting speeches, writing talking points for media interviews, making corporate presentations, and writing for publications.
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