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3. EXPERIENCES THAT STRETCH YOU
Many people will tell you that the
greatest growth comes from situations
that stretch you beyond your comfort
zone. Recruiters are looking for proof
you’ve embraced and learned from
experiences like this.
“I like to see experiences that have
made you uncomfortable,” says Koewler.
“Those experiences are about rounding
out what you have done, working with
other people and problem solving.”
Sometimes the type of stretch
experience the recruiter is looking for
depends on company values. Because
community service is important to Bayer,
Margherio says they look for that on
applicants’ resumes.
Gogolin adds that volunteer activities
are a great way to learn more about an
individual and how they are willing to
stretch themselves.
“A lot of times what your passionate
about shows through your volunteer
work,” she says. “We want to see you be
part of something greater than yourself.
We also want to see them making friends
outside their circle.”
These stretch activities don’t end
with volunteerism and extracurriculars
though. Wilbur-Ellis also pays attention
to see if students are pursuing
internship opportunities in different
areas of agriculture even if it’s all within
the same company.
4. YOUR REAL IMPACT
You can have all of the right type of
activities to list on your resume, but
unless you can show the impact of
those experiences on you and those you
served, the value of those experiences
might be lost.
“Quantify things on your resume” says
Margherio. “Leading an organization of
100 is different than leading an
organization of 3. Quantify as much as
you can in those spaces.”
Gogolin agrees that numbers help
the recruiter understand the value of the
experience as well as showing that you
understand that and have made
discoveries on your own.
“We’re looking for statements that
show impact and resourcefulness,” she
says. “Remember to tell your story. We
don’t know anything about you beyond
the paper in front of us. Why do we want
to talk to you?”
Don’t be afraid to tout your
accomplishments to help answer that
question.
“If in your internship you helped save
X amount of dollars, indicate that,” says
Margherio. “Quantifying the things
you’ve accomplished is a great way to
help me see what you’ve contributed.”
A lot of the people you are competing
against will have similar experiences to
list on their resumes. Being able to
quantify what you’ve accomplished will
help you stand out.
5. INTEREST IN SIMILAR
OPPORTUNITIES
Every job has a different list of
requirements and desired qualifications.
That’s a good cue that your resume
should change based on the job you’re
applying for. When you take the time to
call out your most relevant experiences
and qualifications for a role, it improves
your chances of looking appealing to a
recruiter.
“Highlight key experiences that are
related to the role you’re applying for,”
says Gogolin. “Give examples of how
you’ve used your skills for a successful
outcome. Tell your story and be proud
of it.”
When comparing candidates,
recruiters are also looking at who shows
the most interest or excitement in a
particular field or role.
“The other thing that stands out to
me when I talk to students often is their
level of interest,” says Mulvaney. “The
level of interest shows by some of the
things they do in school.”
Especially if you’ve decided to make a
change in majors or career direction, you
don’t want to make the recruiter work to
understand your interest.
“We want to understand where
you’re at and where you come from,”
says Koewler. “Make a dedicated effort
to getting experiences that correlated
directly to what you’re trying to get into.
You have to start somewhere.”
As you go through your collegiate career,
take advantage of the opportunities
that are available to you from the career
center and your professors on campus to
professional development organizations
and individuals in your network.
If you’re looking for specific skills to
add to your repertoire, Gogolin suggests
project management, personal financial
management, negotiation and public
speaking. Overall, be curious and open to
the experiences and people around you,
she says.
“The biggest thing is that it’s never too
early to start thinking about what’s next
in your career,” says Koweler. “Whether
you’re a freshman or a senior moving
toward graduation, always have an eye
on what’s after graduation.”
AG
Get involved
A N D T A K E T H O S E
L E A D E R S H I P
O P P O R T U N I T I E S
as early as you can.
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