13 Resume Tips to Get You Noticed

13 Resume Tips to Get You Noticed 13 Resume Tips to Get You Noticed As a professional resume writer, I work with each client individually to come up with the best presentation of their unique blend of skills, experiences and personality traits but I also have a bag of tricks that help me present them effectively. If youre not getting the reaction you want to your resume, here are some suggestions.13 Resume Writing Tips1. Start with a clear description of the type of role you are seeking. Keep it short and clear (e.g marketing Manager, Senior Engineer, Administrative Assistant etc.) Recruiters are busy people and they probably have multiple vacancies to fill. Make it easy for them to know where you fit.2. Customize that description when applying for a specific position. If your resume is headed Administrative Assistant but youre applying for a position billed as an Executive Assistant, then change the header to reflect that title.3. Before you get into your career history, give a bri ef but concise description of how you add value. Dont use a jumble of over-used words or professional jargon. Just describe what makes you a valuable employee in your own words. For example, one resume I saw recently started with fiercely competitive sales manager who never gives up, is passionate about his product and knows how to use that passion to convert leads into loyal customers. That might not be the best sentence construction in the world, but its so much mora compelling than the standard Accomplished sales manager with 15 years of experience and a proven record of results.4. Inject personality all the way through your resume. Dont feel hemmed in by resume conventions about word choice. Write as you would speak in an interview.5. Replace passive words with active verbs. Eliminate things like responsible for managing team of 13. Instead say manage team of 14 or even better lead and motivate team of 14.6. Spend no more than 3 or 4 sentences per position describing your job re sponsibilities. Unless you have a really unusual job, employers know the general outlines of your job responsibilities. And they dont care what you were supposed to do every day they want to know what you did do.7. Focus 90% of your content on the impact you have made. Describe the changes you made, the actions you took, the problems you solved, the results you delivered. And wherever possible, quantify.8. Always provide context. If you tell me that you increased sales by 15%, I have no idea whether that is good, bad or average for your company and/or your industry. But if you say increased sales 15% during market downturn when most competitors were losing ground, now I understand the accomplishment.9. Tell me what other people say about you. Use LinkedIn testimonials, quotes from performance reviews, product reviews or client thank you notes to give a perspective other than your own. Just as with a product, third-party testimonials can add great credibility to your claims. (Just m ake sure you can back up the quotes if asked for evidence that they are real)10. Format your resume nicely with plenty of white space. There are lots of resume samples online choose a simple, clean style that highlights your key skills and selling points.11. Include a link to a well-written LinkedIn profile, Visual CV or online portfolio that is stacked with great endorsements. Many people will click through and all those glowing endorsements will help make your case.12. Make sure that your resume contains all the keywords employers in your field generally look for. To find out what these are, look at job postings and note all the words that appear frequently. Doing so will help you get past automated applicant systems and inexperienced HR screeners.13. Choose a common system font for your resume. A fancy font may look nice but will actually hurt your chances because if the recipient doesnt have that same font installed, your resume will lose all its formatting and appear highly u nprofessional.For more resume writing tips and detailed information on how to create a compelling resume, check out my free resume writing course or my book, The Complete Guide to Resume Writing.

How to Succeed at Work as a Single Parent

How to Succeed at Work as a Single ParentHow to Succeed at Work as a Single ParentMillions of single parentsnavigate work-life balanceevery day- without a co-pilot.It can be a challenging way of life from both perspectives as a parent and also asan employee. How can you balance your need to be a good, involved parent with your work? Get tips for how to thrive in the workplace as a single parent. Seek Out Family-Friendly Companies When it comes to accommodating employees with kids, not all companies have the same policies and attitudes. Search online for lists of family-friendly companies. During your interview, look forsigns that the company is accommodating to parents. Either before or after the interview,check on LinkedInfor connections youmighthaveat the company. If any are parents, ask for their take on the companys attitude and policies toward working parents. You might also be able to get insight through reviews onsites like Glassdoor. If you find that your current field do esnt work for you as a single parent and you want to shift to a new role, explore ourlist of best jobs for working parents. Be Open with Your Manager If you are currently employed and become a single parent, its worth it to be open with your manager- even if youre a private person. Sharing your situation will increase your managers sympathy and help him or her understand why youre turning down opportunities or unexpectedlyneed to work from home due to child-related circumstances. Its possible that sharing your situation with others, from your manager to HR, will reveal options at work that you werent aware of, such as a reduced-rate childcare perk offered by the company or the ability to work a flexible schedule (more on that below). Figure Our Your Schedule When youre a single parent, juggling your schedule is a constant challenge. You have the hours when you need to be working and the hours when you need to be parenting- sometimes, these two categories might overlap. Consi der looking for jobs at companies where working a flexible schedule is an option. You can also explore this option at your current workplace, talking to your human resources representative and your manager about the possibilities. A part-time job might be the answer or a day each week when you can work from home. Find out moreinformation on flexible schedules, along with tips on how to ask your employer for this schedule. Merge Your Work and Home Calendars To avoid moments where the much-anticipated dance recital and that essential Q3 meeting umstand on the same day and time, combine your personal and work calendars. That way, itll be easier to see scheduling conflicts in advance and avoid them. Delegate, and Accept Help Even as a single parent, you probably cant handle everything solo. If you have friends and family who are available to help out, accept their offers. And at work, try to abandon any go-it-alone attitude. If you have a team, be part of it, and not a solo oper ator. If you supervise staffers, give them responsibilities. An intern can tackle an expense report, with you reviewing at the end. A staffer can write the first draft of office-wide correspondence and then eventually take on the task completely. Delegating responsibilitiesis ultimately helpful to the people you supervise- by letting people handle additional tasks, youre letting them know you trust them, and youre also helping them build skills and add bullet points to their resumes. Set Expectations Either at your current job, or during your job interview and early days at a new company, strive to set expectations. If you can travel for work, but only if you have three weeks advance notice, make that clear. If you are eager to lead projects, but need to be able to work from home to get an hour back in transportation time, say so. If youll need to miss a few hours of work every few months for parent-teacher conferences or school performances, talk to your manager about the best way for you to make up those hours. Setting expectations in advance will reduce surprises for both you and your managers and set you up on a path where you can succeed as an employee (and have your needs as a parent accommodated). Be a Good Worker Even if you land at a company thats accommodating to your needs as a single parent, you still need to be a good employee. When youre at work, so long as there isnt a crisis with your kids, doing your job should be your primary focus. Even the most understanding employer and company still has a bottom line thats related to thecompanys success, and work getting done. Think Through Your Boundaries Some experts may recommend that you make the boundaries between home and work firm- when youre at work, focus only on working, and at home, focus solely on your kid. Thats one option, and may work for you. But you may also find that its helpful to leave work early and answer emails at home while your child does homework. When it comes to bei ng a single, working parent, theres probably no one right strategy, so do your best to find the option that makes sense for you, your kids, and your workplace.

Job Interview Question Are You Interviewing With Other Companies

Job Interview Question Are You Interviewing With Other CompaniesJob Interview Question Are You Interviewing With Other CompaniesInterviewing necessitates preparation on multiple frontsfrom buying nice clothes to researching the company and rehearsing answers to interview questions. But regardless of how well-prepared you may be, there are some dimensions of the interview process that always give candidates pause for example, it always feels a bit uncomfortable to discuss your other prospects. For that reason, this question is always complicated to field With what other companies are you interviewing and at what stage are you in their interview process?Of course you want to make it clear that you are a hot prospect who is in demand, but it is also important to be honest with your befhigung employers. Dont say you are currently interviewing if you are notits not the right way to start out your relationship with a potential employer. If you are interviewing, be upfront about timeline de tails the interview team needs to aid them in their decision-making, but also be strategic about what you want to share and what you would prefer to keep private.Some consideration and practice will help you handle this question in a way that makes you feel comfortable and in control. Consider these approaches for each scenario in which you might find yourselfYou are interviewingSometimes it seems like interviews come in waveslike you wont get a single call for two months, and then you will receive two in a week. So lets say you had an interview earlier that week, and it went great and you are excited about it. Now in a subsequent interview that you are a bit less excited about, they pop the question Are you interviewing anywhere else? How do you respond?First of all, you want to be honest and upfront about the details of that process and how it impacts your subsequent interviews schedule-wise. Also, remember, you cant trust yourself in an interview to make decisions about the big p icture. Even if you think you are leaning more towards one job than the other, the interview is not the place to decide that, so be on guard against disclosing too much about how you feel about your final decision. It is ritterlich to say I interviewed earlier this week at xyz company, and I feel it went well.At this point it would be a good idea to restate your interest in the job and company where you are currently being interviewed and let the team know that you will inform them if there is a development with xyz company and then move the conversation forward. You indicate that you will relay any developmentsenough said. If they should ask more about the xyz company or position, it is fair to move the focus back to the job you are interviewing for and your enthusiasm around that opportunity. You are the one who gets to compare these two offers, not them.They may ask you what factors would be most attractive to you as counter offerssuch as salary, paid time off, etc., and that is fair game. Think carefully about what matters most to you, so that if this comes up, you know what elements of a compensation package are most important to you, and you can respond strategically.You are not currently interviewingThis is nothing to be ashamed of youve secured an interview, and you have to give yourself credit for that. Your resume rose to the top of scores of others. So feel confident you are already turning heads with your credentials.You do not have to inform them of interviews that you had but that didnt pan out. That is your private information, and your dont have any obligation to mention it. You do have to be honest, but you dont have to disclose all the details of your job search. Prepare an answer to the question that is honest, classy and strategic.Here are some ideasI am just beginning my search, and I am thrilled to say that this is my first interview since I started looking for increased responsibility in my field.I am very pleased to have the chance to i nterview for this position, and although I am actively looking for opportunities, this is the only position for which I am currently interviewing.Stick to your BoundariesYou have power in this conversation, and while those interviewing you have the chance to ask you a lot of questions, you have the authority to set your boundaries. The details of your job search are your private business. Be honest. Be prepared. Be confident and stick to your boundaries.Check out how to answer other common job interview questionsWhat Motivates You?What Major Challenges and Problems Have You Faced? How Have You Dealt With a Difficult Customer?Do You Have Any Questions For Me?Where Do You See Yourself In 5 Years?Why Did You Leave Your Last Job? What Are Your Salary Requirements?Whats Your Greatest Career Accomplishment?

How to Work With Someone You Hate - The Muse

How to Work With Someone You Hate - The MuseHow to Work With Someone You Hate There she is again. That fake smile. That annoying laugh. Everyone else seems to think shes the second coming of Sheryl Sandberg, but she grates on your nerves like a fork dragging down a dry chalkboard. You cant put your finger on why, exactly, but your gut is telling you, Dont trust her.If you could, you would just avoid this parteicular colleague completely. The problem is, you have to work with her every day. Its bad enough to dislike someone that you have to see five (or more) days a week. Its even worse when it feels like nobody else is particularly bothered by him or her. Its just you. As a psychologist and life coach, I hear a lot of frustrated diatribes about that one person at the office who feels like a prickling thorn, wrecking your workplace zen. Heres my take on how to deal with a co-worker who you (ugh) just cannot stand.Remember That Its Okay to Not Like SomeoneGasp Really? Yes. A lot of peo ple feel intensely guilty for not liking or thinking negative thoughts about a certain person. But actually, its perfectly okay to dislike someones personality. Its no different than not liking a particular shirt in a clothing store, a particular fragrance, or a particular item on a menu. You are menschenfreundlich, and all human beings are wired with individual likes and dislikes. Its okay for you to have certain preferences, just like your super annoying colleague has his or her own preferences, too.Remember That a Feeling and Acting on a Feeling are Two Very Different ThingsPrivately not liking sohonigweinhing or someone and thinking to yourself, Nope, no thanks is not a problem. The problem arises if you act on your feelings in an outward, hurtful way. Like tossing red paint on the shirt that you absolutely cant stand in the store, for example. Or treating a co-worker rudely and inappropriately. Part of having your emotional act together is being able to feel a certain way witho ut needing to act on that feeling.Remember That Gossiping Only Hurts One Persons Reputation YoursIt can feel so tempting to chitchat around the proverbial water cooler about how awful that certain co-worker is. Many people try to use snarky gossip as a way to bond with their co-workers, earning their laughter and what they think is their respect. But engaging in that kind of behavior only makes you seem like an insensitive bully. If you truly want to bond, ask people about their current obsessions (the healthy kind), their passions, the music they love, their secret dreams and projects- or stick with a simple get-to-know-you question, like, Whats been the best part of your morning so far? Build a reputation as the most positive, inspiring person at the office- not the snarkiest.Remember That When Someone Pushes Your Buttons, Theres a Reason for ItIf someone profoundly bugs you, in a cant-get-over-it kind of way, the emotions youre feeling are not coming out of nowhere. Its likely th at this person reminds you of someone else who hurt you in the past. Maybe the co-worker who drives you nuts constantly interrupts you when youre speaking- just like your mom used to do (and still does). Or maybe your colleague acts a certain way in one-on-one meetings with you, but then puts on a completely different face and demeanor for group meetings when the boss is watching. And this reminds you of your perfect older sister who always won everyones affection and praise, even though she was so mean to you when the two of you were alone together.If someone at work irritates you, and the feeling of frustration is very intense and lasts more than 15 seconds, thats a good sign that something from your past is being triggered. That something is often (though not always) connected to a situation from childhood. Do some soul searching or free writing to see if you can connect the dots, understand yourself a bit better, and ultimately, forgive whoever hurt you in the past, so you dont have to carry around the burden of resentment any longer.Remember That You Can Express Yourself Honestly- Without Being UnprofessionalIf your co-worker is doing something specific that upsets you, you can- and should- have a civil conversation about it. Ideally, it should happen sooner rather than later, before it blows up into something irreconcilable. Be specific, reasonable, and matter-of-fact with your request. If your co-worker is continually breaking promises or missing deadlines, for example, say, Hey, I know youre probably swamped with emails. I am, too. But when you say that youll email me your portion of the project by 4 PM, and you dont follow through, it makes it tough for me to work efficiently and move projects forward on schedule. In the future, if youre sensing that you wont be able to send something on time, Id appreciate a quick heads up. Thanks.It truly is possible to talk about an issue without resorting to an accusatory tone, rudeness, or other unprofessional be havior. Model the kind of respectful communication and workplace conduct that youd like to see. Rather than moaning, snarking, or gossiping, be a beacon of excellence- and that will inspire everyone around you to rise up, too.Remember That Everyone Just Wants to Be LovedD.H. Lawrence once wrote, In every living thing there is the desire for love. Thats the truth. Everyone- you, your boss, your favorite co-worker, and your least favorite co-worker- are all human beings who want to love and be loved, in one way or another.We all try to get love in different ways (some of us, in not so healthy ways). Your co-workers irritating need to constantly take credit for everything and be the center of attention might be born from a place of deep personal insecurity. In other words, her love tank might be running low and garnering external praise and attention is the only way she knows how to fill it. In every situation, try to remain compassionate and remember that, ultimately, were all just tr ying to get our emotional needs met in the best way we know how.Go forth. Do the best work that you can. Its okay to not like someone- and its okay if someone doesnt like you. It doesnt make either of you bad or wrong. Just different people with different preferences and different skills and attributes to offer the world. Nothing more- and certainly nothing less. Photo of annoying co-worker courtesy of Shutterstock.

10 Impactful LinkedIn Headline Examples from Real People

10 Impactful LinkedIn Headline Examples from Real People 10 Impactful LinkedIn Headline Examples from Real People Your LinkedIn headline is one of the fruchtwein visible sections of your LinkedIn profile. Not only does it stretch across the top of your profile page, it also introduces you on newsfeed posts, the People You May Know section, and LinkedIn job applications. Whether its being viewed by your business contacts or a recruiter, your LinkedIn headline is key to making a positive impression and explaining exactly what you bring to the table.Its also one of the most important fields for LinkedIns search algorithm. Not only should your LinkedIn headline portray you as a credible member of your industry, it should also contain strategic keywords that help you appear higher in LinkedIn searches. LinkedIn Headline KeywordsLinkedIn has said it themselves If you want your LinkedIn account to be a way that people discover you or your company, youll want to place an emphasis on keywords words which people will search for on LinkedIn and that will show up on search engines.If you want your LinkedIn account to be a way that people discover you place an emphasis on keywords.LinkedIn Help Center (2017)By default, LinkedIn creates your headline based on your current job title and company. For example Web Developer at Jobscan. With 120 characters to work with, relying on the default LinkedIn headline is a wasted opportunity. There is plenty of room to include additional details and keywords that help you stand out and show up in more search results. For example, the default headline could be expanded to readWeb Developer at Jobscan Full Stack Engineer Front End Specialist HTML5, CSS3, Bootstrap, JQuery, PHPThis 111 character headline expands on the skillset and specialization and adds specific hard skill keywords that a recruiter or other user might search for on LinkedIn.Can recruiters find you based on your headline? Jobscans LinkedIn Optimization tool analyzes yo ur headline to see whether or not it contains the right keywords for your job interests and industry.Optimize Your LinkedIn ProfileBelow are some real-life examples of strong LinkedIn headlinesLinkedIn Headline Examples for Job SeekersIf you search on LinkedIn for unemployed, youll be shocked to find hundreds of LinkedIn users in your extended network with some variation of this headlineRecruiters on LinkedIn are after the best candidates for the job, period. Theyre not typically limiting their search to users who are actively job hunting. Its OK to mention that youre looking, but what you can actually do is far more important.Its also helpful to be specific. Experienced media professional seeking new opportunities is better than just unemployed, but it still reveals next to nothing about your skillset. List hard skills when possible.Identify the most important hard skills with Jobscans LinkedIn Optimization tool.Here are three quality LinkedIn headline examples from real job seeker s.Jan is a long-time software developer looking for a new opportunity. His LinkedIn headline acknowledges that hes on the hunt but also includes hard skills that a technical recruiter might search for.Amanda is job hunting after moving to a new city. She doesnt mention that shes seeking in her headline, but does in her profile summary. Her LinkedIn headline features the specific job title shes targeting even though she hasnt held that exact job title in the past. This headline is geared towards recruiters and hiring managers.Unemployed job seekers can learn a thing or two from experienced freelancers. Theyre not unemployed but are always on the lookout for the next opportunity. Destiny is a freelance social media marketer with a LinkedIn headline optimized for finding her next gig. Not only does it contain two key job titles that people are likely to search for, she lets other users know shes available.The right job title is the most important keyword you can include in your headlin e. Jobscans LinkedIn Optimization tool analyzes your profile against jobs youre interested in and industry data to show you the exact titles and keywords you need in your headline.LinkedIn Headline Examples for StudentsFor a student with limited professional experience, it can be difficult to know what to put in a LinkedIn headline. Here are three good examples of students using their LinkedIn headline to find their first real job or a summer internship.Tristan is looking for his first opportunity after earning a degree in digital media arts. His LinkedIn headline clearly states the types of roles for which hes qualified, and that hes available and willing to work his way up.Without extensive professional experience, students should focus on the skills theyve learned and would like to develop in an internship. The word internship itself should also be included for any recruiters or department leads searching LinkedIn for interns. Neelam accomplishes this with her LinkedIn headline a nd uses every single one of the available 120 characters.Like Neelam, Megan uses the full length of her LinkedIn headline to display as much information as possible. Her availability date is included alongside search keywords like selling, sales, sales management, and marketing.Optimized LinkedIn Headline ExamplesWhether youre discreetly trying to attract recruitersor simply making sure your LinkedIn connections know what it is you do, your headline should expand upon LinkedIns default job title at company. Use the remaining characters for your most important hard skills, specializations, or goals. Here are four more examples of real optimized LinkedIn headlines.Think about who you want looking at your profile and appeal directly to them in your headline. Type in exactly what they need to know before anything else.Look to your most influential peers for some ideas.Need specific ideas foryour LinkedIn headline?Jobscans LinkedIn Optimization tool analyzes your LinkedIn headline for fr ee. Instead of manually scouring LinkedIn and job descriptions for keywords to put in your headline, Jobscan automates the process by scanning your LinkedIn headline against multiple job descriptions youre interested in.Jobscan then provides missing keywords, actionable tips, and real examples from other similar users.To sum it upYour LinkedIn headline is one of the most visible sections of your LinkedIn profileExpand upon the default headline by usingall 120 characters to include top skills and specialtiesAppear in more LinkedIn searches by using strategic keywords in your headlineCreate opportunities by sharing what you can actually do instead of unemployed or studentWhats next?Try LinkedIn OptimizationLinkedIn Summary Examples and TipsHow Recruiters Find You in LinkedIn Recruiter SearchWhat Employers See When You Apply on LinkedIn

What You Should Do to Find Out About Resume Profile Example Before Youre Left Behind

What You Should Do to Find Out About Resume Profile Example Before Youre Left Behind What You Dont Know About Resume Profile Example Achievements will cause you to stand out. 9 Resume Cover Letter Examples 2013 When you should land that very best job then you need to have a stellar resume. You may also understand the Student Resumes. Employers wish to know just what you did or learned so they know what you need to offer as an employee. The majority of states require Child Care workers to be authorized. Searching for employment proper now could be quite tough. With your LinkedIn Profile, you have the chance to engage with different people. Resume Profile Example Options Resumes are an essential document in regards to applying for work or a position inside an organization. Resume examples free of charge will aid you in a step-by-step path of on advice on how to compose your resume. Bear in mind, recruiters are always able to look over your LinkedIn profile for the complete story. Writing a personal profile can be an intimidating task even once you know just what information to include. Dont forget that your resume is your very first field of protection with respect to touchdown your preferrred job. Resumes ought to be targeted effectively at the particular kind of marketing job applied for. Resume profiles are the very first chance to highlight someones relevant career experiences, skills, and what goals they are trying to achieve while in zu sich or his next position. The resume profile is among the vital elements of a good teaching resume. The summary is intended to give the possible hiring manager a reason to keep on reading your resume. If youre a professional with experience in a certain area or in many fields, a career summary will highlight each of the skills you have acquired. A good Sample Resume Free with a suitable format is essential to be able to catch the interest of the employer when theyre looking for prospective recruits. The C hronological Resume Examples are an essential document for individuals who would like to land in with work. The references have to be in the exact 2-column format as the remainder of your paper. Rather than stating what you would like, make the previous sentence of the profile statement all about your urge to add to the employer. The statements have to be meaningful and impressive with lots of of perfection. Now, its getting more and more common to find a summary statement or an expert profile instead. By customizing your resume for the job which you want, you can show employers youve got the abilities and experience theyre searching for. Write down what skills you used, and the way they may relate to the job that you desire. Its also advisable to figure out ways to demonstrate your analytical abilities and detail-oriented strategy. For students that are new to the work market, interests and activities are a superior method to show employers you have skills they are searchin g for. Different job postings are likely to have different search phrases, different job duties listed, etc. Many jobseekers neglect to use their private network so as to find job opportunities. Your resume will be broken up into sections. If so, your resume can nevertheless be quantified, and provide the hiring manager a concrete idea of the range of your abilities and abilities. Energetic and goal-driven instructor whos devoted to helping each and every student reach her or his entire potential, irrespective of academic capabilities or challenges. When it might appear a tiny premature, its essential for students to create good social networking habits from the get-go. You didnt choose to be a teacher as you wished to turn into rich, you did it since you have passion for education. Below youll discover various teacher resume examples, in plus-rechnen to writing tips and secrets thatll teach you the knowledge you want to land your dream job. You might not have direct experienc e however, you may have relevant or transferable experience. As an educator, you understand that knowledge is the secret to profile. As an educator, you are aware that knowledge is the secret to success. Administrative understanding, experience and leadership led to the growth of the most effective and powerful administrative department within the NCF.

3 Tips on Landing an Automotive Engineering Gig

3 Tips on Landing an Automotive Engineering Gig Dirty, dull, and dated Thats the perception many still have of the auto industry, but that picture is very far from reality. Todays auto industry is truly high tech and offers diverse career opportunities, especially in engineering. From electrical systems to sound engineering, the expertise needed to design and manufacture cars and trucks is vast. Vehicles are now one of the most sophisticated products we purchase. Cars are smarter, safer, and more connected in fact,there are more micro-controllers in the average cartoday than there were on the Apollo 11 spaceshipAccording to the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), the automotive industry as a whole employs nearly 1.6 million people, many of whom are directly engaged in designing and engineering the cars and trucks of the future.If youre interested in automotive engineering, there is a job out the re waiting for you.As a vehicle systems engineer at Argonne National Laboratory, one of the Department of Energys national laboratories, I assist with molding the future of this nations automotive workforce. I help organize the EcoCAR 3 competition, an elite four-year competition giving students from 16 competing universities the opportunity to gain hands-on, real-world experience by redesigning a 2016 Chevrolet Camaro.Thats why Im here today to offer you three ways tojump-start your engineering career1. Find an Accredited UniversityWhen deciding on a university, begin by researching programs with accreditation from the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET). Potential employers may not consider you if your degree is not from an ABET-accredited school.Accreditation should be a minimum requirement. Consider the quality and reputation of the engineering program alongside the cost of tuition some schools carry more weight than others.For example, Virginia Techs Colle ge of Engineering is accredited, has a reputable name, and is an economical state school with competitive tuition. Taken altogether, this makes for a verycompelling value proposition.2. Realize the Value of University Student CompetitionsStudent competitions like Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions (EcoCAR 3), Formula SAE, the American Solar Challenge,and Baja SAE are great waysto deepen your understanding of the automotive industry while gaining the real-world skills you will need for the workplace.Solutions to these competitions complex challenges cannot be found in a book, and the answers are not right or wrong. Teams must collaboratively choose the best options by applying engineering fundamentals and concepts to navigate the problems posed to them.Engineering competitions are intense, but also highly impressive to future employers. Getting involved gives you the opportunity to learn valuable career and life lessons before entering the workforce.3. Gain Soft SkillsSoft ski lls are just as important as the hard engineering skills that higher education will teach you. Beinga professional in a workplace setting, interacting with management, communicating with your teammates via schmelzglas or in person, and presentingengineering information to peers are all vital, real-world skills that you can learn via extra-curricular activities.My advice is to take on multiple internships or co-op positions and workwith different companies in various environments to learn where and how you fit in to the industry overall.I myself completed two internships, the first with Mainstream Engineering in Florida and the second with General Motors in Michigan. Both internships provided experience and benefits that have helped me succeed in my role at Argonne. However, it was my involvement as the team leader for the Virginia Tech team in the EcoCAR 2 competition and not my GPA that really landed me the great gig I have today.Graduating with a bachelors degree will help you l and a job, but it should be stated that a degree alone may not be enough to get you the job you really want. To land your dream job, youll need to distinguish yourself from the competition. For that reason, experience is vital. Get involved, whether through competitions, internships, co-ops, or extracurricular activities. Doing so will set you up for future career success, no matter what industry you have your eyes on.