Posted by By Mriganka Maroo, CAS Class of 2024, Wasserman Career Ambassador
Hi guys! My name is Mriganka Maroo, and I am a sophomore at CAS, majoring in Economics. I am also a career ambassador for the Wasserman Center. I recently attended a DICP (Diversity Internship and Career Preparation Program) session with Sujin Dolan, the director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Business transformation at AMC Networks, and an NYU alum. She shared some insightful recruitment and job application strategies.
Sujin started the session with a few fun facts that shed a little light on the recruitment process:
- 60% of resumes with bad grammar are rejected.
- Referrals are a great way to boost your resume up to the top of a recruiter’s pile.
- You should expect to hear back within 3-6 weeks of your interview, so the recruitment process is very fast-paced.
For the remainder of the session, Sujin focused on 2 important aspects of the application process: the resume, and the interview.
When it comes to resumes, Sujin stressed the importance of consistency and good formatting, and using action-oriented words and buzzwords from the job description. A recruiter herself, she focused on how the key to a good resume is how easily readable it is and recommends bulleted descriptions to achieve this purpose. Another hot tip she shared is using numbers such as dollar values and percentages to quantify your achievements, as they convey the scope of work you have done. She reminded us that a resume is like our personal marketing document; so, while following all hints, tips, and tricks, remember to lead with and focus on your individual strengths, and see how they make you a good candidate for the job or industry you’re applying to. Lastly, she recommended sharing your resume with and getting feedback from a friend, a professor, a mentor, or career coach. Since you dedicate so much time to perfecting your resume, getting a fresh perspective is important to ensure that others understand exactly what you are trying to communicate.
When preparing for an interview, Sujin’s most important recommendation was to research and learn about the company you’re going to interview at! As someone who conducts interviews for AMC Networks but has candidates talking about AMC Theatres, she outlined the importance of knowing the difference. She suggested looking up the leadership, services or products, people, and core values of the company, and interacting with current employees to learn about the company through an insider’s perspective. Ask yourself, “What would an employee or an insider at this firm know about it, and what are the nuances of this firm?” If you have answers to these questions, you’re good to go! She insisted on asking questions during your interview, as it communicates to the interviewers that you’re engaged and genuinely enthusiastic about this opportunity. Learning a little bit about your interviewers to establish a personal connection is a great way to stand out. However, her tip to truly differentiate yourself and impress the interviewers is by carrying printed copies of your resumes and other application materials to give to them, as this makes their jobs much easier.
Small changes to your resume and small habits you pick up during the interview process can go a long way in improving your chances of getting your dream job. So, pay attention to these, and don’t forget to incorporate them into your practices to stand out!
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