Tips for graduates on what HR managers really want when they’re recruiting

When you’re just about to finish university or college and start out on the career ladder, everything can seem pretty daunting.
Where do you start, what does all the jargon mean, and you’re probably thinking ‘how can I improve my chances of getting the job I WANT?’

I came across a blog post called What HR managers want on the career advice site Secrets of the Job Hunt and thought I would share some of its advice with you because this is an aspect that we usually don’t think about.
The post itself links to an interview with Libby Sartain, from Yahoo who answers questions like “How can a candidate break through the noise?” or “What makes a cover email and resume ‘pop’ for you?”.

This last question highlights one thing that all candidates should be focusing on from the very first moment: showing a unique personality.
If you watch the following video you’ll see why personality is a key driver when recruiting someone:

Nevertheless, Libby Sartain goes a step further saying that a candidate should be able to show their personality even through the cover e-mail (otherwise, how would an employer differenciatte between you and others?).
She suggests candidates do a self-discovery experience based on writing a 50 to 75-word “elevator pitch” for an imaginary listener, while answering the following questions:

Who are you?
What do you stand for?
What is your next big personal objective?
How would you like to contribute in your next role.

She says that being able “to boil down your entire existence into such a short package is one way to discover your essential personal statement to the world. At least, what you’d like your essential personal statement to be”.

Of course, help is also at hand at RB.
We have our own excellent Student Tool Kit which has been pulled together using tips and advice from RB’s graduates, interns and trainees from all over the world.
It’s all aimed at giving you that head start in your career. To make sure you have all the information you need to go out and get the job you want.

Hope it helps!