Welcome back to the Knockout Newsletter, brought to you by The Final Round. The workplace is changing by the minute, and you need to be ready. Our objective is simple: every other Tuesday, we send you insight to help you knock out the competition, advance past the final round interview, and grow in your career.
Thank you for joining us in the ring. Let’s go…
What’s New?
Business Insider Feature!
AJ Eckstein, our founder and host of The Final Round, recently became a Contributing Writer for Business Insider!
𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰: "2 Snapchat 👻🟡 Recruiters (Alex Bader and Lauren Turrisi) reveal how to land a job at the social-media giant — and the biggest mistake candidates make"
The article is based on our podcast interview with 2 Snapchat Recruiters and includes ways to stand out to a company like Snap, know what brands Snap owns (Bitmoji, Snapchat, Spectacles), learn about hiring trends and open roles, and demonstrate how you can align with their company values. This advice holds true for every recruiter across every firm you interview with.
Now It’s Your Turn
This article is a great example of putting yourself out there. Through consistent networking and building a content strategy, AJ was able to get featured in one of the biggest business news media outlets in the world. Of course, creating content is a long journey, but with enough persistence and determination, you can make these large features happen. Here are some tips to help you stand out on LinkedIn, your Resume, and throughout the business world:
Differentiate yourself. Don’t just post your accomplishments on LinkedIn. Post about news you came across and your reaction to it, quotes you found insightful, or even industry questions you want others to help you answer. Simple posts like these will drive desirable attention to your page, and help you develop your professional brand.
Comment on other creators’ posts across LinkedIn. Demonstrate your passion and curiosity for their work by providing insight and asking questions. Not only will the author of the post see your comment, but their followers will also take note.
Network effectively, not just efficiently. Blanket copy-and-paste connection messages won’t catch the attention of your desired connections. Be personable, whether it’s online or in person. Talk about shared experiences, desires, passions, or industries they have on their LinkedIn profile. Taking the extra minute or two to research the person or company will really go a long way.
Don’t skip out on certain sections. Don’t just address the education, experience, and skills components of your Resume or LinkedIn Profile. Go a step beyond that. Don’t be afraid to include passions, interests, awards (and whatever else makes you, you!). There are millions of Resumes out there, and millions of LinkedIn profiles. If you want to make an impression, you have to be a little different.
Understand industry formats for Resumes. The typical format for a Resume may be different across various industries. The Resume outline desired by recruiters in consulting differs from that desired by students interested in marketing roles. Do your research - there are desired formats for a reason!
Read the full article on Business Insider here!
Why X Company?
How do you answer the common yet difficult interview question: “Why X Company”?
AJ was recently featured on The Offer Letter Podcast where he discussed the importance of doing your research rather than just applying to every role. Candidates must understand what differentiates one company from another, especially competitors in the same industry such as Consulting, Banking, and Tech.
Take the time to research, ask questions, and do a deep dive into every firm you are applying for… because what the firm is like on the inside might not be all that it seems.
In the episode, the host of the podcast, Michael Manzano, agreed with AJ that recruiting is like dating. You must show you are interested, while also demonstrating you’re not desperate. Finding this healthy medium may seem difficult, however, we have tons of resources on our site to help guide you throughout the networking and recruiting process.
Be sure to watch the full episode on Apple Podcast here!
Business Buzz
What’s going on in the world of recruiting, careers, job/internship searches, employment, and layoffs.
Just as it’s important for you to stand out as a candidate, companies are trying to stand out and appeal to you! According to Business Insider, here are some of the companies that appealed most to business school students, and are some of the best at both attracting and retaining talent.
Google (17%)
Apple (15%)
Tesla (13%)
J.P Morgan (12%)
Disney (12%)
Amazon (12%)
Nike (10%)
Netflix (10%)
Goldman Sachs (10%)
Spotify (9%)
On The Final Round Podcast, we’ve had the opportunity to interview many Recruiters across many different firms, many of which made the list above!
Read the full list here.
Note: Just because your desired (or current) firm didn’t make the list, doesn’t mean the firm shouldn’t appeal to you. People value different aspects of a company such as salary, perks, culture, work life balance, exit opportunities, employee resource groups, diversity, and more. Make sure you do your own research to better understand what company most appeals to you.
Highlight Quote from a Best-Selling Author
Spotlight Episode - PepsiCo Recruiter
In Episode 20 of The Final Round Podcast, best-selling author and Former Lead Campus Recruiter Daniel Botero discusses the importance of career fairs (and how to make the most of them), the right (and wrong) way to apply to a job, and best practices to sell yourself in the interview.
Be sure to listen to the full episode here!
The Final Question
What steps are you taking to stand out? Let us know by commenting below!
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Written by Bryan Hanley; Edited by AJ Eckstein