"Proceed With Confidence" - A Day of Mock Interviews with College Students & What Companies Want in New Hires

The conversation of careers and college graduates finding their first job has become more and more challenging as young adults find college accessible. I'm in mom groups where this is always a hot topic. A new article came out this month talking about how companies are not happy with Gen Z's and are firing them at an alarming rate. The reasons include lack of motivation, lack of professionalism, poor organizational skills, challenges with feedback, lack of relevant work experience, as well as difficulty working in teams.

I will share a personal story about my senior college daughter who engaged in a paid internship this summer with an environmental science consulting firm. She was one of 7 interns with the only "requirement" asked of them was to write a 3-page scientific paper at the end of their research internship. She was THE only one who did it. The other 6 did not. Did I mention a "paid" internship? Not to mention, science students can write a 3-page paper in their sleep as they write all the time. This story reinforces the challenges companies are having with the new hires. I wanted to have a "professional session" with the 6 who did not complete the request. What they don't realize is when it comes time to get a letter of recommendation for their first job, which is part of the benefit of engaging in internships, they will not get it.

I've had the honor for years to be invited to spend the day with local universities as a guest mock interviewer for their soon-to-be graduating students. I always enjoy this experience and am taken back to my 20s when I started working, my first job, at a university in Texas. Guiding and mentoring young people has always been a passion of mine and I find that even close to 35 years later, things still haven’t changed much. In addition, I began teaching professional and personal etiquette at universities because I saw a need. Don’t get me wrong…I’m not perfect (and… humble as Tip 1) but the “devil is in the details” and this goes for preparing for the almighty interview and that first professional job.

Tip 1: Be Humble

As each new group sat down for me to fire questions at them, I found them poised and ready to fire back. They were very impressive, focused, and ready to receive the constructive feedback I had for them. A question I always ask is “Tell me a time when you received constructive criticism, what was it and how did you handle it?” Some struggled to find a situation, some were spot on answering how every employer would want, and others shared the story mentioning they were “insulted” by the comments from their employer but ultimately made the changes. I knew that response would come and I shared with them the perception that exists is this generation is not open to feedback. They know it all! We talked about how, as new professionals, you do NOT know it all. You aren’t supposed to! What you should take away is the desire to be “humble” and learn, learn, learn. Life is about learning from others and growing and the only way you get better is to ask for feedback. Honest, constructive, downright hard to hear, feedback. In our society, we often view conflict as a bad thing and that someone loses. Striving to learn to be open to both good and bad interactions makes you a better force to be reckoned with.

Tip 2: Connect, Connect, Connect!

I ask the question “How many of you are on LinkedIn?”. Only a handfull of students raise their hands. In my career counseling practice, I still find this to be the case with my college clients. As I’m known to do, I gave them an assignment…get on there before the end of the week. There is NO TIME in your life when you are going to be around people who are in the same situation as you right now! This is your own little Chamber of Commerce so take advantage. You are missing the opportunity to build your professional connections and personal branding. I had one student, after the session, send me a connection and invite me to lunch to talk about my financial portfolio as she was an intern for a well-known insurance company. Although I graciously declined, I LOVED she took the bull by the horns, reached out, and asked me to lunch! ROCK ON!

As a previous Chairwoman of a local Chamber of Commerce, I’d be remiss to not talk about the importance of networking at local professional organization events. I remember attending my very first Chamber meeting while in college in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Buying my first suit, I was dressed for success and ready to mingle! Little did I realize that the little tag attached to the sleeve of the suit SHOULD come off before you leave the house after a new purchase. What’s even funnier is NO ONE mentioned it to me at the Chamber event, showing how seasoned professionals are so kind. It’s hard to walk into a room full of people you don’t know, especially for introverts! But it matters! 90% of the jobs people get are because of WHO THEY KNOW. 90%! Get inexpensive business cards or use digital ones like dot., dress for success and feel confident as you learn about other people and what they do. Listen, listen, listen, and then connect on LinkedIn.

Tip 3: Social Media is for Social Communication…LOCK IT DOWN!

Social media was created for this generation. This age group knows better than any other however it continues to amaze me this most important piece is missing. Lock Down Your Page! Ask another professional to try and "Find Stuff On YOU"! See what is out there so companies are seeing the best version of yourself when they do their search. When you walk into that interview, for the skilled manager, they have already done their research on you, just as you’ve done your research on them. Your face-to- face interview is NOT your first impression, your social media is.

Tip 4: So…What’s Your Starting Salary Requirements?

I end each session with this question and a most of the time I get THE same answer. $50K. It’s now more of a research opportunity on my part because I do enjoy data and constantly wonder “Where are they getting this figure?” This figure is directly related to degree, past experience, location, etc. which can be found on the Department of Labor website but for the “majority” of college graduates, it’s high. Do not put a value on what you are paid in relation to what you are worth with your first job! The goal is to get your foot in the door, work your tail OFF, and show you are willing to do whatever it takes to move up! Your worth comes from your performance and ability to get along with others. I often wonder what the correlation between the statistics about young adults not being able to get a job in relation to not getting a job that they accept because the salary isn’t X? Within the workforce, you need to prove it.

Tip 5: Bad News…The Most Qualified Person DOESN’T Get The Job!

Oh the stories I could tell, and I know from other colleagues, they have them too! Unfortunately, the truth is, even though you are THE best person for the job, you have the highest GPA, every activity known to man on your resume, and are saving the world…you may not get the job. This is a hard pill to swallow but it's reality. So what makes you different? What makes you stand out? I was absolutely blown away by the amount of students who had created their own companies when I did mock interviews. They aren’t waiting for college to be over, they are jumping in feet first now, which I think is incredible! Make sure you are coming out of college “balanced!” What does that mean?

GET INVOLVED! Find an organization you truly care about or create one. Don’t do it to put something on your resume, do it because you’re passionate about it.

VOLUNTEER! Find a cause that speaks to you. More non-profit organizations are looking for people to lend their time than can be solicited.

GET A JOB! Due to academic rigor many young adults are not working in high school through college. I fully believe this is leading to the disconnect in our workforce. Part-time jobs are so much more than spending money. It teaches you foundational skills for your professional career.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Create a company or non-profit and lead the cause. When I looked to hire people, I wanted depth. I wanted diversity. I wanted someone who was more than a high GPA. I wanted the whole package and someone who could balance the demands of life. Show your "Story of Seriousness".

Tip 6: And Most Important…PROCEED WITH CONFIDENCE!

Finding your first job could possibly be the most stressful time you have experienced to date. There is nothing more soul-shaking than putting yourself out there and being told “You aren’t good enough.” With each young adult I visit with, I truly want to put my arms around them and say “It’s going to be okay…I promise!” What was the most eye-catching quality I saw in the ones that stood out to me? CONFIDENCE! I saw it in their eyes, their smile, their face, their demeanor. Did they have the perfect answers to the questions? Nope. Did they make me take notice and want to know more, YES! My company's tagline is “Proceed with Confidence” because I believe it with every ounce of my being. No matter what you do, whether you mess up or not, it’s how you handle the situation, the stress, and the interaction. We’ve all been there! And most people are empathetic.

So when you don’t get that dream job, learn from the process, be gracious in your follow-ups, and keep Proceeding with Confidence!

Reeder Consulting: College and Career Paths is a specialist in the career development field and the number one career counseling company in San Antonio, TX working with clients in all 50 states. We help individuals engage in career and aptitude testing to process information through meaningful conversations and give clarity to the stress of career decisions to Proceed with Confidence. www.reederconsulting.com