If you're aiming to secure a job during winter break, now is the time to act. By tailoring your resume, leveraging Collegiate DECA networks and engaging with industry professionals, you can set yourself apart from other applicants. Follow these three essential steps to boost your chances of landing that position.
1. Tailor Your Resume and Cover Letters for Every Application
- Research the Company and Job: Understand the company’s culture, mission, and what they value in employees. Use this information to highlight specific skills or experiences that align with the job requirements.
- Emphasize Relevant Skills: If you’re applying for marketing internships, for example, focus on the digital marketing campaigns you’ve worked on in Collegiate DECA, another role, or any related coursework. Use clear metrics to show your impact, such as 'Led a team of 5 to increase social media engagement by 25% during a DECA campaign.'
- Use Keywords from the Job Description: Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes. Ensure that your resume includes keywords that match the job description, but only if they accurately describe your qualifications.
- Create a Strong Narrative: Your cover letter should not just repeat your resume. Instead, tell a story that demonstrates how your experience, DECA leadership and passion make you the ideal candidate for the role.
2. Leverage DECA Resources and Network
- Talk to your DECA Advisors and Alumni: Your DECA advisors and alumni likely have industry connections and can recommend you for internships or seasonal positions. Reach out and ask for guidance on where to apply.
- Attend Virtual DECA Career Events or Networking Mixers: Many organizations, especially during winter break, hold virtual networking sessions or career fairs. Attend as many as possible and come prepared with an elevator pitch highlighting your DECA experience and career goals.
- Reach Out to Past DECA Event Judges or Industry Professionals: If you’ve connected with any industry professionals at DECA events, now is the time to follow up. Send them a message on LinkedIn or through email reminding them of your interaction and asking for any insights or opportunities in their company or network.
- Join Industry Groups on LinkedIn: Many industries have LinkedIn groups that post job openings, host discussions or offer networking opportunities. By joining and engaging in these groups, you will increase your chances of discovering hidden job opportunities.
3. Get Organized and Apply to Jobs Daily
- Set Specific Goals for Applications: Dedicate a set number of hours each day to job hunting. For instance, commit to applying to 3-5 jobs daily, or spend 2-3 hours refining your materials and researching companies.
- Create a Job Application Tracker: Use a spreadsheet or tool like Trello to track all your applied jobs. Include columns for company name, position, date applied, next steps and follow-up reminders. This ensures you can keep track of deadlines and follow up with employers after a week if you haven’t heard back.
- Use Job Search Engines Efficiently: Utilize platforms like Handshake, Indeed, LinkedIn and industry-specific job boards to search for positions. Use advanced filters to find internships or entry-level jobs that fit your criteria. Set up alerts on these platforms to get notified about new openings.
- Balance Quality with Quantity: While applying to many positions is important, it’s better to submit ten high-quality, tailored applications than 50 generic ones. Be thoughtful and take your time to ensure each application stands out.
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