Kema Christian-Taylor, Author at Job and Internship Advice, Companies to Work for and More

Hired for the Holidays: Your Job Search Strategy for the Season

If all you want for the holidays is a job, it’s not going to come in your stocking — but that doesn’t mean getting hired shouldn’t be on your wish list. As 2015 comes to a close, employers want to ensure that their leftover hiring budget isn’t allocated elsewhere, and they’re eager to fill up positions before the New Year starts. Additionally winter is coming, which means winternships are coming: many students have longer winter breaks — some lasting anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks long, and employers want to capitalize on their free time.

Here’s why you should ramp up your efforts this holiday season.

Less competition

Because of the common misconception that no one is hiring during the holidays, many job seekers will relax their job search even though the number of open positions hasn’t decreased. If hiring needs haven’t been met by the holidays, then employers are still looking to place candidates in open roles. Continuing your job search when other candidates are stalled means that the odds are in your favor.

Not to mention, January and February mark the strongest hiring periods of the year. Even if you don’t get hired by Christmas, making sure your materials (resume, cover letter, references and letters of recommendation) are updated and ready to send to employers will allow you to be a more competitive candidate when the new year arrives.

Holiday parties

Spirits are high, and people are ready to mingle – what better way to leverage your job search needs than attending a holiday party? While you shouldn’t go around shouting, “Do YOU want to hire me?!” before anyone’s even had a chance to sip some eggnog, holiday parties are a great way to network with friends and friends of friends who may be able to put in a good word for you at their respective companies. You may even have the opportunity to get your face and name in front of the decision-makers. At WayUp, we often use our parties to pitch our company to potential candidates so that they can’t wait to apply!

Employers are human too.

Not everything can be planned ahead of time, which means that employers may be faced with unexpected hiring needs this season. This past summer on WayUp, we saw companies posting summer internships well into July, and we’re expecting the same pattern for winternships. As a job seeker, you should be ready at all times: Don’t let anything hold you back when the perfect opportunity comes up.

Happy Holidays! Keep your eyes peeled for all the incredible jobs and internships coming in this season.

13 Things You Didn’t Know About Working For Starbucks

You probably know that a Starbucks espresso can get you through your all-nighters during finals week. You know that their pumpkin spice latte is fall in a grande cup. But did you know that Starbucks is also an incredible place to work?

Here are 13 reasons why you should consider a career at Starbucks. So check them out and then click here to learn more about Starbucks and apply for their open roles—like their barista job—on WayUp!

1. 70 Percent Of Starbucks Employees Are Students Or Aspiring Students

When you’re working at Starbucks, you’ll be surrounded by like-minded coworkers and managers. Starbucks is dedicated to the academic and career success of its employees. See #2 to see how far their dedication goes.

2. Starbucks Provides Full Tuition Coverage Through The Starbucks College Achievement Plan (SCAP)

Starbucks offers full tuition coverage to all full- and part-time employees in partnership with Arizona State University. Employees can choose from over 70 online degree programs, and you are not required to stay with Starbucks after you earn your degree.

3. SCAP Students Have A Support Team Ready To Help Them Get Through School

This includes a dedicated enrollment counselor to guide you through the process of joining, success coaches, academic and career advisors, and 24/7 tutoring on a variety of subjects as well. This interactive program keeps you connected with campus at all times.

4. More Than 80 Percent Of Starbucks Employees Approve Of Their CEO

Starbucks employees are happy with leadership at the company. And according to Glassdoor, 77 percent of them would recommend the company to a friend.

5. There Are More Than 87,000 Drink Combos

It’s no shock that customization of drink orders at Starbucks is intense, so much so that there are 87,000 possible drink orders (and counting) at any given Starbucks — and baristas can make most (if not all) of them.

6. You Can Take Home A Free Bag Of Coffee Each Week And Choose One Free Food And Drink Item Per Shift

Amazing, right?!

7. Employees Get A 30 Percent Discount On All Food And Beverage Items

Once you’ve claimed your free food, drink, and weekly bag of coffee, you’ll still save some serious cash on everything else you buy.

8. You’ll Smell Like Coffee All The Time

That basically means you’ll be everyone’s favorite person.

9. Starbucks Employees Are Called “Partners”

Starbucks believes in calling all employees partners because the term fosters a sense of equality and shared vision. In the company’s words: “we are all partners in shared success.”

10. Every Partner At Any Level Is Eligible To Receive An Annual Grant Of Company Stock

Unifying the team isn’t the only reason Starbucks refers to employees as partners. The Starbucks Bean Stock program allows partners to share in the financial success of the company through an annual Starbucks stock grant.

11. Starbucks Employees Who Work At Least 20 Hours/Week Are Eligible For Medical Benefits

This includes 100 percent coverage for preventive care.

12. You Will Learn Key Career Skills Like Great Customer Service, Teamwork, And Working Efficiently Under Pressure

Nothing will test your endurance like a long line of customers ordering extremely specific drinks at 8am. But you won’t be alone. The whole team will be in it together, working in synch at each station. It’s an experience that develops trust, time and project management skills, and most of all, your confidence.

13. You’ll Probably Never Burn Your Coffee Again

Because you’ve made thousands of amazing cups of coffee for thousands of happy customers.

Starbucks is hiring baristas across the country. So check out their open positions on WayUp and apply!

Barista Application Tip!

Did you know you can submit your application to up to 5 stores at one time? In order to stand out after submitting your application, stop by the store(s) you applied to and introduce yourself to the manager or shift supervisor. Let them know you recently applied and what excites you about the opportunity. If you don’t get a call for an interview within 60 days, you can re-apply to the same or different stores. Good luck!

Former Googler and CEO of WayUp Shares Interview Secrets

Want to nail your first interview? Take this advice from our CEO.

Liz Wessel was a former Associate Product Marketing Manager at Google for 2 years before starting WayUp to create more jobs for college students. As WayUp’s CEO, Liz has interviewed hundreds of candidates – some of whom impressed her, and some of whom…well, let’s just say they didn’t get a second-round interview.

Her method for a successful interview? REAF: research, enthusiasm, ask questions, and follow up. Here’s how you can rock and REAF your way into landing a second-round interview.

Research

There are the 3 things you should know like the back of your hand before you walk into your interview: the company, the job, and your interviewer.

“Look for 3 things that you think are going to surprise your interviewer – things you think the interviewer doesn’t even know about the company,” says Liz, who read a book about Google in preparation for her interview and ended up surprising her interviewer by referencing the name of the person who created Google’s logo. It made a positive impression that eventually led to her full-time offer.

When it comes to researching the job, Liz says to look employees up on the company website who have the same or a similar position title, or to find their LinkedIn or Twitter accounts. This will allow you to see what kinds of projects they’ve carried out in the role and help you to have a better understanding of what your responsibilities will be.

Finally, research the actual person you’ll be interviewing with. While you may not know who you’ll be interviewing with in advance, it’s ok to ask in order to find out. Look for information on the person and find out where they went to school and other fun facts about them. You may come across a commonality that you can naturally bring up during your interview to make a stronger connection!

Enthusiasm

Assuming your interviewer isn’t already in HR, people are volunteering their own time out of their work day to interview you–and there’s nothing worse than sacrificing time away from your work to meet with someone who doesn’t even want to be there. “[Candidates] try to play it cool,” Liz says. “I don’t want to hire you if you’re too cool for this company.”

You can convey enthusiasm through great posture and interview body language. Make sure you’re smiling and engaging with your interviewer. Make comments like, “I’m so excited to be meeting you!” and “Thanks so much for taking the time to speak with me!” Your positive attitude will go a long way.

Ask questions

You should have 3 questions minimum prepared for the end of your interview. An example of a bad question is, “If I weren’t going to get the role, what would the reason be for that?” because this type of question puts the interviewer in an awkward position. Instead, Liz recommends asking, “Where would I have the most opportunity to learn in this role?” to get feedback on your interview weaknesses.

Liz’s two favorite questions to receive are “What makes the employees at your company all-stars? and “What keeps you up at night?” The first is great because it can give you insight into how you can be successful at the company – and the answer can help you display those traits during your second interview. “The second question shows me they care about the challenges the company is facing,” Liz adds.

Follow-up

There are two email addresses you should have by the end of an interview: the email of your recruiter and your interviewer. Assuming you already have access to your recruiter’s email, you can politely ask for your interviewer for his or her business card in case you’d like to follow up with any questions. If your interviewer says no, don’t take it personally. “They’re probably interviewing a lot of different candidates and don’t want to be spammed with 50 questions.”

Liz recommends you follow up over email thanking them for their time within 12 hours of the interview. For your email to the interviewer, Liz recommends adding in a “P.S.” that either makes the interviewer smile or reminds him or her of the commonalities you shared during your interview.

What if you don’t hear back? Liz says that you shouldn’t assume you’ll get a response immediately after your follow-up – and if you don’t, that doesn’t mean you didn’t get the job. “I didn’t receive an offer from Google until 2 or 3 months after I interviewed – let alone the 5 months it took from the time I submitted my application,” Liz said. However, if your interviewer says that you will hear back at the end of March and you haven’t heard back on April 1st, it’s ok to send a note asking about the status of your application.

With these tips, you can confidently walk into any interviewer prepared to answer questions about the role, the company, and how you can contribute to the business.

5 Ways to Turn an Internship Into a Job

This is my favorite challenge. Let’s face it, what’s the point of doing internships anyway?

Yes, to get hands-on experience. But in the end, many college students are looking for that job offer.

Internships are not only beneficial for you to test-drive a career; they’re beneficial for your employer to see what your skills really are on a more in-depth level than just an interview and resume. They get to see you in action.

So how do you turn an internship into a job? Two words: be irreplaceable.

Make yourself worth something to the company. Add value to the position you’re in, and you’ll be irreplaceable. If you’re just stuck doing coffee runs and licking envelopes, they can find someone else to fill your shoes in two seconds. But, if you’re bringing new ideas to the company or increasing their following on social media, you’re giving yourself value as an employee.

You know you have value when you leave your internship to go back to school and the company feels that it’s missing “something.” What they’re missing, is you.

I’ve had quite a few interns with my company Headbands of Hope. Unfortunately, most of them were replaceable…except for one.

My first ever hire with my company was an intern that blew my socks off. She started as a campus representative at her school. Fast forward a couple months down the road, she was head of all the campus reps in the nation.

Eventually, I stopped giving her tasks because she was so good at creating her own tasks that I didn’t want to waste her efforts on things I could do myself. As an intern, she was my go-to person for events or any networking opportunities I couldn’t make. She gained my trust to be the face of the company when I couldn’t.

Needless to say, she was hired immediately following her graduation. When an employer finds someone who’s irreplaceable, they have a very hard time letting them just leave, whether there’s a position available or not. Even if the company isn’t hiring at the time, they’ll make room for someone who proves his or her value.

Here are some steps to turn an internship into a job:

1. Arrive Early

This may seem simple, but being there before your boss walks in every day says a lot about your work ethic. Notice how I didn’t say, “Leave late.” I don’t think leaving late says as much as coming early. I appreciate employees who find efficient and effective ways to do their work and don’t need to work into the night. Arrive early, and work efficiently.

2. Don’t Wait for Tasks

If you wait for tasks to come to you, you’ll most likely get the stereotypical “intern” ones: filling coffee, licking envelopes, or making cold calls. But, if you’re proactive and create your own tasks, you’ll prove yourself as a “real” employee and your supervisors can see your value. If you take the initiative and put some great ideas together for say their annual fundraiser, your next task will probably not include making coffee…unless it’s coffee for you because of all the professional tasks that were just handed to you.

3. Speak Up In Meetings

I remember when I interned at NBC’s TODAY Show in New York City, every once in a while they’d bring interns into their staff meetings. Everyone would go around the room and say an idea if they had one. Most interns were under the impression that these meetings were to “observe how meetings work.” However, those are the kind of interns that write down sandwich orders.

When I spoke my ideas, a lot of them were shut down, just like other producers. But all it takes is that one idea that they run with. For me, it was a rock paper scissors robot that predicted what you’d throw and won every time. Who knew that was the pitch that they’d choose? No matter what business meeting you’re in or what your profession, contribute in front of people in meetings. It shows that you’re not afraid and you’re prepared with ideas.

4. Make Your Work Measurable

It’s one thing to bring a “positive attitude” to work every day, but it’s another to have measurable success that can be seen by your supervisors. What will get you hired are increased sales through the clients you yourself worked with. Or increased “likes” on Facebook after you started doing their social media. Anything that you can measure to show your value to the company is huge because numbers don’t lie.

5. Make It Known: You Want the Job

Lastly, make it known that you want the job. You won’t be considered for the job if you don’t seem like you want to work there. Request a meeting with your boss in the middle of your internship. Explain how much you believe in the company and what they do. Then, present measurable evidence of your work that you’ve done and express your interest in a position at the company post-graduation. If they say they’re not hiring or “We’ll see,” ask what steps you can take now to prepare yourself to come on full-time.

Jessica Ekstrom is the founder of Headbands of Hope, a college leadership speaker and a graduate of North Carolina State University.

Unpaid Internships: How Else Are You Compensating Your Hires?

For every business that posts an unpaid internship or job on WayUp, we always ask the same question: Are there any additional benefits to the position? It’s not that students aren’t willing to work without being paid (as proven by the number of applicants each unpaid listing on WayUp receives). The real issue is what they can get out of the experience. Is it the opportunity to network with experts in the field? A guaranteed letter of recommendation? The potential to work full-time?

It’s no surprise that when you hire an intern, you’re making an important investment in your company – not just because you may want to hire that intern for a full-time position, but also because that intern can become an advocate for your business. They can go out into the world and talk to their friends, family, and strangers about your brand. They can convert the people in their network to customers of your service or product just by word-of-mouth; they can even become customers themselves. That’s why it’s incredibly important to put time and effort into creating a positive internship experience. The best way to do that is to make sure your interns know one thing: that despite the lack of monetary compensation, they are valued and valuable.

How do you ensure that this message comes across? Funny you should ask…

1. Give them real responsibilities.

Yes, compensation can come in the form of the type of work you give your interns – so our recommendation? Don’t just have them fetching coffee or copying files. College students want to learn – not just to build up their resumes, but to expand their skill set. Giving your interns real responsibilities–like mapping out a marketing strategy or pitching a new article for the blog– shows them that you have faith in their abilities. It also benefits your company – you have a young, new hire who can think in new and creative ways, coming up with the ideas you may need to help your company grow and reach new audiences.

2. Schedule recurring lunches.

We understand that every company has a budget – especially the small ones (#scrappystartupshoutout), so you don’t have to pay for your interns’ lunches every day. However, it’s incredibly important that you get to know your interns and show them that you care about how their experience is going. During these lunches, you can also give them valuable feedback about how they can develop professionally (which produces more efficient workers for your company) and receive valuable feedback from them about ways the company can improve.

You should also make sure your full-time employees are interacting with your interns, giving them the advice and guidance they need to excel during their time at your company.

3. Give them the opportunity to present their learnings.

Whether it’s halfway through the internship or at the very end of the program, give your interns the opportunity to show off what they’ve learned. They’ll be able to practice and hone their presentation skills, learning how to clearly and succinctly voice their ideas and analysis to other professionals. Allowing them to present will send the message that they work they’ve contributed is incredibly important — that their voices are being heard and their accomplishments are being recognized. In other words, you’ll show them that they are valued – which is exactly what every employee wants.

So as you hire your next batch of interns, think about how you can make your unpaid internship program a mutually beneficially experience — an investment in their abilities as well as an investment in the growth of your company. We promise that putting the extra effort into creating this positive experience will ensure that your interns will talk more about how incredible your company is and less about the lack of pay. So how else will you compensate your interns?

How Aramark Guarantees Its Employees Are on the Road to Success

This article is sponsored by Aramark, which is hiring recent grads to work on its Hospitality Management, Sales, and Facilities Management teams using WayUp now.

“I really hope my company doesn’t set me up for long-term success!” said no employee ever.

Chances are if you’re just starting the exciting career road, you want a company that cares about what you’re doing and where you’re going. Not sure where to get that sort of attention? We know just the place: Aramark.

What are the top three ways the food, facilities management, and uniforms services provider Aramark makes sure its employees are as successful as possible from day one? Check them out below, and once you’re as in love with Aramark as we are, apply to work on their Hospitality Management, Sales, and Facilities Management teams on WayUp now!

They Help Employees Guide Their Own Careers

In today’s world, a job isn’t just a job, and Aramark knows that. Instead, it treats each employee’s career path like a personal journey by helping employees find the best position for them based on their own interests.

For example, many Aramark employees will see what other areas of advancement are out there and have the opportunity to go after them. There’s a good chance they could see themselves trying on a new career path for size!

They Make Collaboration a Priority

If you’re a company with tons of amazing employees who have a diverse group of interests, what’s the best thing you can do? Have them work together, of course!

Aramark wouldn’t be one of the largest services and facilities providers in the world if it didn’t let great minds collaborate. Team members are also quick to give kudos and gratitude to one another.

One way Aramark does this? The organization offers a number of resource and interest groups, including Aramark PRIDE for employees who identify as LGBTQ, Women’s Business Resource Network for female professionals, and Aramark Salute for veterans.

They Are a Responsible Company

People and service are at the core of everything Aramark does, and several core values lie at the heart of everything Aramark does, including:

Leading by example and working to increase transparency.
Seeking continuous improvement.
Finding innovative, responsible, and cost-effective solutions.
Empowering others to also be responsible and aware of their actions.

Being responsible might seem a like a small gesture, but it definitely goes a long way. More importantly, it can only make you more successful in the long run.

If you want to steer your own ship, love collaboration, and believe in the importance of kindness, it’s time to take action: Apply to work on Aramark’s Hospitality Management, Sales, and Facilities Management teams using WayUp now!

6 Overused Words and Phrases You Definitely Have on Your Resume

Writing a resume can be incredibly daunting and difficult, which sometimes results in you using the same generic buzzwords and phrases that everyone else uses.

But when it finally comes time to apply to that dream job or internship, you are going to want to make sure that your resume stands out among the rest of the students applying for the same position. In order to write a successful and compelling resume, I’ve compiled a list of overused words and phrases usually found on resumes (and how to make ‘em better).

1. “Organized”

This one’s a doozy whether you use it as an adjective or a verb. Being organized should be a given when you are applying for a job. Why would a hiring manager want to hire anyone who is disorganized? By using this term to describe yourself, you are just wasting valuable real estate on your resume and the hiring manager’s time. If you really want to highlight your organizational skills, try providing a real world example like, “Created and implemented an easy-to-use filing system for 10,000 documents that streamlined the sales process.”

2. “Performed Data Entry”

As a generation, students have grown up uploading content. At this point, hiring managers can assume that students applying for a job or internship can and should be able to upload content or perform simple data entry into programs like Excel.

In order to make your uploading and entry skills stand out though, be specific and say something like, “Curated multimedia content” for those pursuing a job in the communications industry, or “Collected data to be entered into the management system,” for those in a more number and statistics heavy field. Give numbers of other specifics if you can.

3. “Team Player”

Again, this is an issue of redundancy. Any job that you will ever work at will expect and require you to work as a team player. Collaboration is key in most, if not all, fields, and saying you are a team player is an ineffective term.

However, if you really want to highlight the fact that you play well with others, use phrases like, “Managed a group of seven people, which led to a 124% increase in output.” By saying you managed a team and showing impact, you are telling a hiring manager that you can delegate tasks to people while also working with them to produce the best results.

4. “Proficient in Microsoft Word”

If this is on your resume, take it off right now. In today’s job market, it is assumed that people (especially young people) are able to handle Microsoft Word at the least. To make your skill set stand out, highlight the fact that you know a specific video editing software or Adobe Creative Suite.

And obviously, don’t stretch the truth about how well you know a certain program; you don’t want to say you’re “proficient” at Excel when you don’t know a single function.

5. “Responsible For”

The whole point of a resume is to highlight what you were responsible for at your previous jobs or activities. Phrases like this bog your resume down in superfluous terms that will take your resume right out of the running. Be concise and action-oriented with your bullet points, and don’t waste time or valuable space.

6. “Improved”

This word is not as bad as the previous ones, but what puts it on this list is because so many resumes have it but fail to be specific. You might have improved a system or improved customer relations, but there is no concrete data behind the sentiment that a hiring manager can use to assess how successful you would be. Instead of using “improved,” use something like “increased by 47%” or “decreased by 22%” to display the actual success of your situation.

Now that you know some words to stay away from, pull up those resumes and get to revising them. The sooner your resume stands out, the sooner you will land that killer job or internship.

5 Tips for Building Your Network in College (Even If You’re in the Middle of Nowhere)

When I began my college journey, my mom told me a story about her relationship with one of her professors who guided her towards the job she works at today and who she still talks to on Facebook every now and again. “You have to build a network, Allison,” she told me (and has continued to tell me ever since). “That’ll get you a job.”

Certainly, I thought, there was more to getting a job than just “networking” (whatever that word meant), but there is truth in what my mother told me. Networking—building relationships and connections with people who can lead you to incredible opportunities—is just as important as any other skill or achievement you have written on your resume.

So when I began studying in a small private liberal arts college in a rural Southern town, I began to wonder: How do I create a network at such a small college in the middle of nowhere?

You’re probably wondering the same thing. Luckily for you, I’ve compiled a list of tips and ideas to help you get started on building your network when the options seem few and far between.

1. Understand the Power of Being a Big Fish in a Small Pond

A friend’s father told me this tidbit of advice years ago when I told him where I’d be attending college, and it’s been the best way to motivate and inspire me to build my network. Developing a network at a college in the middle of nowhere means that you need to stand out and make yourself known on campus.

While this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be the most popular person on campus, it does mean that you need to stand out in the minds of your peers (your professors, especially, at this time) as someone worth knowing.

2. Talk to Professors and Administrators

Ultimately, networking involves people, and talking to your peers will help you develop those relationships and connections that sometimes can lead to unexpected opportunities for you. Professors are also great people to begin to network with, so talk to them outside of class or during their office hours. Sometimes, professors even bring in colleagues or speakers to campus, both of which are perfect opportunities to ask questions, make statements or introduce yourself to begin building your network.

Talking to counselors and other administrators will also help you to grow your network. They are a bountiful source of connections and are there specifically to help you make and utilize those connections.

3. Get Involved

Involvement can mean a lot of things, but it’s a great way to get yourself into a new experience where you can build meaningful relationships that may lead to future employment opportunities.

Besides just extracurricular clubs and intramural sports, other ways to get involved include undertaking internships (this is especially cool if you can get one with a professor on campus), volunteering on campus or in the community (like at the local community garden or animal shelter), joining a committee (for example, I just joined my school’s Women’s Leadership Committee) and traveling.

This last idea is really great when you can befriend international students on campus or meet up with other kinds of people who all enjoy exploring an unknown place, because you all get a shared experience and a deeper connection to each other. Involvement shows that you care about issues and hobbies outside of your academic work, and your involvement in these areas may help land you a really cool, fun job or internship later on. You never know until you try!

4. Take Advantage of On-Campus Events

Schools organize potential networking events all the time, including forums, seminars, lectures and panels with professionals. In-person connections are where you first want to make yourself noticeable to future employers or admissions counselors, but the follow-ups with the people you meet are just as, if not even more, important. If you get any business cards, make sure to reach out and remind the person who you are.

The virtual connectedness of technology today makes keeping in touch a lot easier than sending snail mail or visiting a place in person. Social media can be used to connect with people, future jobs or graduate schools. By simply posting or tagging the company, school or professional in relevant posts or tweets, you show investment and interest in what that organization or person has to offer.

Emails are also often effective ways to keep in touch with future employers or professionals. One way you can reach out to your network connections is to send a message saying how interested you were in what they had to say at the event. Asking a question or two about any further information or involvement with the company or school also helps you stand out as someone to remember. You can even ask if there are any internships or potential positions opening up in the future, or you can ask for advice and guidance on how to enter into a career field.

The key point to remember about taking advantage of those on-campus events is showing interest beyond the event itself.

5. Make Networking Work for You

The word “networking” sounds incredibly formal, technical and intimidating when you first think about it; I know it sounded that way for me, but networking is not as hard to do when you’re honest and open about yourself with those people you want to make connections and relationships with. Just as you would try to make a friend in an informal way, you try to make a relationship that is more professional but still personable. Honesty, sincerity and friendliness go a long way in creating your professional network, especially when some resources found in larger cities are not available.

One last tip about networking that is important to consider: Try not to think about it so much. It’s definitely important to recognize a networking opportunity when you see one and to take advantage of that opportunity, but I’ve found that it works best to think about networking not as “networking,” but as just introducing yourself and speaking a little bit to someone about some common idea or experience.

It’s hard to know at this time where you’ll end up exactly, so developing a network when you’re in the middle of nowhere is especially important. It may seem difficult to do, but the fun thing is that you can get creative with how you network.

Ad Sales Q&A With Sam Goodman From Snapchat

Advertising Sales is an industry that sells advertising space to business and/or individuals. Find out more about what working in Ad Sales means and how to snag an Ad Sales job from Sam Goodman, a member of Snapchat’s Ad Sales team. For recent grads or current students, working on advertising for on-campus and local businesses is a great way to start. Plus, there are always entry-level jobs as planners, associates, and agency reps that are suitable for those new to the industry who want to learn more about the field. Sam lays out several ways to stand out, like nailing your job interview or using advertising platforms in creative ways to show companies how you stand out as an applicant.

Tune in to learn more about this industry and how to break in.

10 Exciting Entry-Level Jobs For Recent Graduates

About to graduate from college but don’t have a full-time job lined up? Don’t panic! The right opportunity, a positive attitude and the interview tips will help you land the job you’re searching for. Check out these 10 amazing entry-level positions to help you get started!

Marketing Intelligence Analyst, Merkle
Merkle is the nation’s largest privately-held agency that works with Fortune 1000 and leading nonprofit organizations to drive change and innovation. As a Marketing Intelligence Analyst, you will help Merkle deliver actionable data-driven recommendations and work cross-functionally to implement client solutions.

Front-end Web and Mobile Software Engineer, GroupAhead
Work full-time in San Francisco with this exciting startup that builds apps for fraternities, sororities, clubs, organizations and more. You will partner with the CTO to own the iOS experience for hundreds of thousands of users. This job has full benefits.

Research Associate, NERA Economic Consulting
If you majored in Economics, Finance or related disciplines like Accounting, Statistics or Computer Science, this is the job for you. You will be assessing natural resource damage, the protection of intellectual property rights, and navigating the credit crisis landscape.

Associate Teacher, Success Academy Charter Schools
Redefine what’s possible in public education and get on the job training in the classroom alongside more experienced teachers. You will be hands on with students and learn what it takes to see success inside the classroom. This position has full benefits.

Product Marketing Communications Manager, Look
Develop positioning and messaging, uncover trends and help build communities for this up and coming startup in San Francisco.

Synthetic Biologist, TAXA Biotechnologies
Are you interested in a biotech startup career or DIY Bio? This kickstarter startup genetically engineers organisms and is looking for full-time help in conducting molecular biology lab work.

Full Stack Developer, Parachute Health Solutions
Help build Parachute’s suite of web applications which focus on improving care delivery and filling healthcare service gaps.

Graphic and Web Designer, Synergos, AMC
Oversee website management and graphic design for this global non-profit that fights poverty and helps solve complex issues related to health and nutrition, agriculture, education and employment.

Volunteer Teacher in Honduras, Bilingual Education For Central America
Become an agent of change by helping to provide access to high-quality bilingual education to children throughout Central America. Need we say more?

Operations Associate, NextGenVest
Take advantage of this rare opportunity to work closely with NextGenVest’s VP of Operations to engage users, develop and maintain operational processes, and scale marketing and outreach campaigns.