APU Careers Careers & Learning

Getting Ready to Land a Great Job

 

Businessman jumping in the air, land jobBy Jeremy Smith
Faculty Member, School of Business at American Public University

Before completing a college degree, have a plan so that you can pursue the job you desire. People often finish a degree just to find out they need additional credentials. Many positions require a college education, but also require experience and certifications.

It can also take a lot of time to put together a resume and position yourself for a quality career. Therefore, you should develop a plan so that you can work on all of the qualifications you need to land a great job.

  • Research your goal position online to understand the requirements for that career and how much it will pay. Look at the degree(s), certification(s), and experience the positions require.
  • Create a resume. Developing a single resume is not recommended. Organizations will often look over your resume in less than 30 seconds and this is why each resume should be customized for the particular position. Often, employers will have a computer scan resumes and having the key words that are in the job description will increase the probability that the resume will go to the next round in the interview process.
  • Monitor several job listing sites for openings, using a variety of relevant search criteria. For example, if you are looking at becoming an operations manager, you may search for “operations manager,” but you can also search for “warehouse manager” to find additional positions.

Prepare for Interviews

The first step in preparing for an interview is to conduct research. Research the organization: learn about the mission statement, core competencies, and executive board. Interviewers often ask questions about the mission, history of the organization, and core competencies.

Write down key points that you want to make during the interview as well as answers to questions that you expect.

Make sure that you get plenty of rest the day before the interview. Be sure you know how to get to the interview location and plan to arrive early.

It is important to go into the interview with confidence and looking professionally sharp. When asked a question, respond with details. At the end of the interview, ask open ended questions that show that you are ready for the job and that you are interested in the position.

Mind the Details

There are many steps involved in making a successful career move. Paying attention to all the details should help you to complete the process more quickly. Doing each step well should help you to stand out from the crowd. Success takes planning, so start now.

About the Author: Dr. Jeremy Smith earned a bachelor degree in Business Management in 2006 and an MBA in Operations Management in 2008. March of 2011 Dr. Smith earned his Ph.D. from Capella University with a focus in Organizational Management. Dr. Smith began his experience by working for an IT manufacturer in Chicago where he started in their retail stores and quickly advanced throughout the organization and quickly became VP of Operations. Dr. Jeremy Smith continued his experience as a top leader for Office Depot and CVS Pharmacy. He has lead these organizations by controlling their logistical distribution strategies as well as retail core competent ices. Today Dr. Smith owns multiple businesses in Florida and is also a lead consultant for resellers in northeast Florida.

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