Successfully Navigating the Recruiting Process

Deciding what you want to do for a living while still in college can be very difficult. I didn't decide on a major until my third year of college and didn't choose what industry I would work in until my forth year. As a result, my undergraduate education was a five-year experience and that is OK. However, those who decide on a general field early in their education are at an advantage because they can tailor their college experience towards a desired career path. 

Once you decide what general field you would like to begin your career in, you should learn what the terminal degree required for that field is. You should learn what the typical hiring process is for that industry. For example, to work as a geologist in the oil industry, a Master’s degree is required. Also, oil companies hire almost exclusively from their past intern pool. They find their interns by a very structured recruiting process on select campuses and at professional meetings. So when I am approached by someone who has finished their undergrad geology degree, has no plans for grad school, has not done an internship, and is now applying to internet job postings at oil companies; I know they have a very difficult path to getting their foot in the door. You can learn what entry level job requirements are required for your field by networking with established professionals as early in your education as possible.

Once you know how to tailor your education for your desired career path and what the recruiting process is for your industry, you work on secure interviews. But before the interview, a recruiter’s first impression of you is your resume. Take the time to have a few different people look over your resume looking for errors. An established professional can look over your resume and make sure that you have emphasized the correct things. I generally prefer simple, concise resumes without flowery language or unusual formatting. 

The primary purpose of the interview is for the interviewer to learn as much about the behaviors and skills of the candidate as possible. The best way to predict a candidate’s future behavior is to learn about their past behaviors and the consistency in which they demonstrated those behaviors. To obtain this information, interviewers will simply ask. If they ask you about your leadership skills, that really is what they are trying to learn about. They are not likely asking trick questions. A good response to an interview question includes an action you took that displays a behavior or skill and the positive effect it had on your organization. 

Want to really impress recruiters? Demonstrate understanding of a key principle of the industry you are applying to. You should understand the values and value drivers of the company you are interviewing with. You should understand what things they consider important, their strategy, where they operate, and how your skill set would add value to them. They are looking to hire someone who will be a good fit into the culture of their organization. They are probably looking for someone who works well in teams and is someone that they would enjoy working with. Coming across as a likable and genuine person goes a long way. It is a competitive job market, considering these small things can prove to be the difference of being hired or passed over.

By Tyson Perkes

Tyson Perkes is a geologist and corporate recruiter in the oil industry.