Sacramento State graduate students who want to make the best impression on potential employers may want to take some advice before making that first approach.

Gisele Larson, college relations manager of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, said her tips are beneficial for anyone who seeks a job in the ‘real world’ following graduation.

A 20-year employee of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Larson is a seasoned recruiter for the company who has given numerous presentations and informational meetings about what students should do to land job opportunities following graduation from college. There are six main points that she focuses on.

First is the need for students to get involved with extracurricular activities both on and off the university campus. Larson said that students should participate in school leadership roles and keep themselves occupied by going out into the community to engage themselves.

“Individuals who can handle a lot show balance. When I am looking at a résumé, I look for not only the extra work, but the positions. We want leaders?” Larson said.

In addition to involvement on campus, Larson advises students to prepare “flawless” résumés that reflect their accomplishments and experience in the work world.

“A flawless résumé is one of the most important job search tools. A good résumé should reflect a well-balanced college experience,” Larson said. “It’s important not to discount any job you’ve held and to carefully list appropriate experience for the job on your résumé. The primary objective is to stand out.”

While résumés are essential in demonstrating one’s skills and relevant work, Larson said it is very important to keep them short and to the point.

“We see so many résumés. It is important to have a résumé that shows everything about you in one page,” Larson said.

Renee Latoures, student assistant for Sac State’s Career Center, said it is important that students update their résumés as their experiences changes over time.

“A lot of times students have part-time restaurant jobs and the résumé they used to get that job is less formal than how the new résumé should be,” Latoures said. “After you graduate, you need to make a more professional résumé that highlights your skills and qualifications.”

Latoures said the Career Center offers many outlets for students to look to when searching for a job, such as internship opportunities, walk-in counseling, résumé critiquing and on-campus recruiters who advertise through the center. On-campus recruiters are people from businesses who are looking for employees on school campuses.

Whereas résumés and involvement on campus are top priorities when seeking recognition from future employers, Larson said students must do their “homework.” This means they should look up the history and philosophy of the company in order to answer questions respectively and thoughtfully.

“There is so much info on the Web. You should have a good idea on what you are applying for,” Larson said. “Employers will know if you put your work in. It shows that you are prepared.”

Down her line of tips, Larson stresses the importance of an interviewee’s disposition and dress attire, as first encounters and impressions are very important. She said students should demonstrate that they are professional and can represent the business cordially. Larson said that students should bring a portfolio to illustrate their work and experiences.

“Each student should invest in a good suit; you never know when you will need it,” Larson said. “Once you are hired, the company will let you know what you are allowed to wear.”

Many students often anticipate their ‘dream job’ toward the very beginning of their careers, but Larson said it’s important to keep an open mind, as they may not get that most-desired job right away. Instead, students should focus on building their experiences; it may lead to a love of something new, she said.

“Searching for employment after graduation can be an exciting and challenging time for students,” Larson said. “You may discover talents in areas you never imagined and a career you truly enjoy.”

Larson also said that graduates searching for a job should not be scared to take entry-level positions because they may offer a chance to learn and really figure out what one wants to do within that company.

Sac State graduate Mikhail Ress-Nathans said he settled for the first job he was offered within his career and absolutely enjoys what he does.

“It has been really hard finding a job after I graduated in the fall,” Ress-Nathans said. “I took the first job I could as a physical education teacher and I love it,” he said.

Senior engineering major Sam Wilkie said he thinks job searching will be very tough for him once he graduates from Sac State.

“It is really competitive out there and employers are getting more and more applicants who are totally eligible for the position they may be offering,” Wilkie said. “This all happens in May when graduated seniors are looking for jobs. I just hope that I will be able to get a job quickly and easily when I graduate,” he said.

While her tips are beneficial to graduate students, Larson said to begin looking into job opportunities immediately. In other words, students should not wait until the last possible moment to search for a job. Students can look into job opportunities before graduation to get a head start, Larson said.

“If you are graduating in spring, try to have some interviews in the fall,” Larson said. “I am always amazed to see freshmen at career fairs looking for job opportunities.”

Students who want to learn about possible career paths can visit the Career Center on campus where it offers a booklet called “Career Search Manual Etiquette.” In that manual, students are given advice on what to say or practice in order to perform well in a job interview.

Students can also go to www.csus.edu/careercenter for more information on career possibilities.

Vanessa Johnson can be reached at [email protected].