The Wackerle Corner:
From student to professional

By: Andrea Emery
News Editor

Many of us can’t count on our fingers and toes how many different jobs and co-curricular activities we have been involved in since coming to Monmouth College. As you prepare for job and internship interviews this spring, it is important to not only be prepared to share those experiences with potential employers, but also take the time to explain what these experiences mean and how the experiences and qualities you have can be beneficial to an organization.

According to Marianne E. Green, assistant director of the Career Services Center at the University of Delaware, “You’re not exaggerating or bragging if you accurately, but positively, interpret what you have accomplished in jobs, internships, and activities.” It is very important to remember these words of advice. You are not “just” an intern, “only” a volunteer or “merely” a club member.

Through each of these experiences you have gained valuable knowledge and you should start viewing yourself as a young professional anxious to use this knowledge in the professional world.

The following are several different steps you can take to market yourself as a true professional:

Use vocabulary of your chosen field whenever possible in your resume and in interviews. Use the key words of your chosen field to show potential employers you are familiar with the industry.

Examine and narrate your out-of-class experiences as they relate to your career goal. Choose to write and speak primarily about situations and experiences which reflect upon your field of interest.

Convey what you learned and what you did in your related job, internship or activity. Share with potential employers the insights you gained about an organization while working there.

Quantify your actions whenever appropriate. Use numbers to show future employers what you have accomplished and give them a tangible idea of what you can do for their organization.

Control the way your information impacts employers through sequencing and amplification. Use your resume to carefully place both experience and related experience categories. You can tie in extra-curricular activities here to amplify your resume.

Take credit for your contributions. Don’t be afraid to voice how you contributed to an organization. This shows potential employers you have the ability to contribute to their organization as well.

Take stock of occurrences spotlighting your personal attributes. You should be able to provide examples of how you dealt with problems, met deadlines, or multi-tasked in your previous experiences. All jobs and activities can be tied into an interview or resume to show how you can be successful with their organization.

Showcase your skills and talents with a portfolio. You can market your skills by bringing to interviews a portfolio showcasing your abilities and talents related to a particular career field.
Using these tips can help you make the transition from student to professional. Now that you know you have the experience, make sure you are letting employers know you have it. If you are prepared, believe in yourself and successfully market your skills and abilities, you have a good chance of landing a job in your career field of choice.