Be more than just a piece of paper

When pursuing a competitive internship, job, or research opportunity, it is important to find ways to stand out from the rest of the pack. Simply sending your application may not be enough for an employer to get to know you better. To help employers think of you as more than just your resume, you can try these two simple tips:

1. Give your employer a follow up phone call.
Instead of just following up with an email after submitting an application, actually give your organization contact a phone call. Not too many people do this anymore, so this will help separate you from the rest of the applicant pool. Just remember to map out what you want to say. You don't want to sound completely unprofessional when discussing your application status.

Phone calls are great, but remember if the company says "no phone calls", then DO NOT CALL. In this case, calling seems like you can't follow direction and that probably isn't the impression you want to make.

2. Go to company information session, and stay late if you can.
Many times companies will have info sessions where you can learn more about the company. This is a great way to meet with company recruiters and learn more detailed information about an organization. This is also a great place to get some of your pressing, well-researched questions answered.

Moreover, many recruiters will hang around after the informational session is over, and this is a great opportunity to get some one-on-one time with a company representative. During this time, you will be able to not only learn more about your dream position, but also the recruiter gets to learn more about you as a person.

Conclusion
The key is to find ways for employers to know you as a living, breathing person, not just a pile of application materials. To do this, it takes some more time and intentionality, but it is definitely worth it for your dream opportunity.

For more tips on making a good impression with employers, stop by Quick Questions from 11 am to 5 pm in the Career Center or make an employment with a Career Advisor!