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Since landing my job at John Deere, I have had numerous people, including professionals, ask me how I was able to secure a job at a Fortune 500 company. What most people don’t know is that I also had a job offer at GE and HydraForce. All three of these companies have excellent reputations within their respective industry and it was not an easy decision. However, a few factors made the offer from John Deere sound much better than the other offers. To be fair, I gave the other companies a chance to counter-offer, but sometimes that works in your favor and sometimes it will not. Throughout the entire job-hunting phase, I never had to waste my time with Monster, CareerBuilder, or any of the other job finding sites. In fact, I did not even bother to visit my own university’s career placement office for assistance. The key to my dream job was simply networking.

Rule #1: Aim Big, Win Big

No matter what school you go to, there is no reason why you cannot work for a company such as GE, John Deere, Microsoft, Google, etc. The advantage of going to a bigger school such as UCLA, University of Michigan, Purdue, etc. is the fact that it is far easier to be exposed to larger corporations. However, that is only a minor setback. Almost every company hires an individual based on their qualifications. If you feel that you are qualified for a particular position within a particular company, go for it. No company will hire a poorly qualified student from MIT over a well qualified student from University of Georgia in the same field of concentration. That’s why, I suggest you follow the principle, “Aim Big, Win Big.” This basically tells you to aim high because there is no point in aiming for a company that is below your own expectations. The moral of this point is: never let the size of a company deter you from your dream job..

Rule #2: GPA Is Just A Gimmick

GPA is pretty much over-rated in my opinion. What really matters is the professional experience you have gained during you collegiate career. If you have a 3.85 GPA with no work/internship experience and someone else has a 3.36 GPA with relevant internship/work experience, I’m willing to bet that the latter is definitely in a far better situation than you. GPA is primarily used as a prescreening tool to filter out large volumes of resumes. On that note, if your GPA is not above 3.0, you will struggle to find a job and I highly suggest you start improving your grades. You should always remember that if your GPA is below 3.0, don’t worry because you can still get a great job. You just need to make sure you can interview well and are a great talker. The moral of this point is: do not worry about your GPA, but focus on the skills you need to land a job: have great goals and stories and articulate them well during an interview.

Rule #3: Learn to Network

This is perhaps the most important tool you will ever need to remember. Many of the jobs out there require you to know somebody in order for you to get your foot in the door. Why is that? In my view, I think it is because most companies find it far more reliable if they have one of their existing employees recommend somebody for a job. More often than not, most employees will only recommend people they themselves would trust, thereby reducing the chance for a new employee not working out. Networking is really the art of talking to others and finding out how they can help you advance. Believe it or not, you have friends because of networking. Networking isn’t only for professionals, but also personal friends. The more you network, the more connections you’ll have to a variety of resources. The moral of this point is: networking can land you a dream job or at least an interview without having to go through the snail-channels such as Monster.com or your school’s career placement office.

Rule #4: Attend Conferences

Are you an engineer? Are you a med student? Many different fields of study have annual conferences in various locations throughout the US and the world. Attending any of these is a pure gold mine for networking opportunities. You get to meet not only industry professionals, but also other students and peers who could become your best friends or even a ticket to your dream job. Conferences bring together people from all over the world and introduce them to a world that they all can thrive in. You can learn about new techniques or new areas of research going on in your field. However, the most important part is the chance to showoff your networking skills and get the chance to interview for a great company. The moral of this point is: attending conferences is a great way to land an interview or even a job.

Rule #5: Befriend Your Recruiters

One of the most common things I see at job fairs is how inept students are at talking to recruiters. They tend to think of recruiters as gods and generals that are way too holy for them. First things first, recruiters are your friends. These guys and gals are the ones who will filter your resume and let the hiring managers know whether or not you deserve a second glance. Get to know them! There is nothing wrong in talking to a recruiter on a more personal level and treating them with respect and kindness you would show to your friend. Try to avoid talking about crap that does not pertain to the job. Rather, talk about their experiences and how they cope with various situations. In a way, interview the recruiter while you are talking about a job. The recruiters know what they are looking for, try to subtly find out what the perfect candidate should have and mold yourself to that image. You don’t need to change or alter your personality, but you do need to present yourself in a more unique manner that will capture the recruiters’ attention. The moral of this point is: get to know your recruiter and talk to them as you would a friend.

Rule #6: Just Ask

Worst comes to worst, just ask around for a job. Family friends are a great way to find out if they can hook you up with a job. Many students these days are too shy to even ask their own friends for a job. There is nothing wrong with a college student asking for a job. Often, companies like the fact that you initiated a question and are seeking a job. Sometimes they might even call you for an interview. Your professors are also another great resource for jobs. They have many contacts in the industry and could assist you with finding or securing a job at a great company. No matter who it is, just ask and you may earn more than just a job!

Disclaimer: The rules I have outlined above are simply steps that I have experience with. Your mileage may vary and it is certainly possible that none of my tips can help you. Either way, good luck with your job search. Your career awaits your presence!

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