Each school year, the thoughts on the minds of many upperclassmen are about getting an internship for the summer or a full-time job for their life after college. Now, I realize that introduction probably scared away about 90 percent of college students who read it. I mean, "full-time job" and "life after college" in the same sentence? What is this, a Stephen King novel?
Still, it is a subject that must be discussed at one time or another. Ignoring your career and the real world altogether may lead to some very undesirable consequences (like homelessness or law school). Fortunately, there is no shortage of information aboutprospective employers and how to present yourself as a desirable job candidate here at the University. But, beyond career fairs and résumé review sessions, you need to realize that employers often evaluate college graduates using less obvious and sometimes unconventional methods.
When dealing with companies who are interviewing a broad base of applicants, you need to stand out. Make it clear that you are the best and act surprised if they don't offer you a job as soon as you walk in the door. Let them know that the other applicants are lazy, underqualified, résumé-padding, unloyal, fake, overqualified and dim-witted. Also, don't forget what the wise Andy Bernard from "The Office" said will take you to the top: name repetition, personality mirroring and never breaking off a handshake.
But, on a slightly more serious note, you will need more than a high GPA and a list of activities to land the job offer you desire. The interview is often what separates you from everyone else, and making a good impression is key. Having a personality can be just as important as having experience with Excel. That reminds me, if you've ever used Excel, even just once, mention it on your résumé. Companies are obsessed with that program.
Be prepared to answer a wide range of questions when you arrive at your interview. And I don't just mean knowing how to present your weaknesses as strengths -- but also mention your strengths every time you are asked a question -- I mean be prepared to talk about almost anything. Interviewers might want to feel you out, test your knowledge or just keep you on your toes and see how you respond to the unexpected. I've had friends who blanked when asked the yield rate for 30-year U.S. treasury bonds during an interview for a financial services company. I know others who've been asked seemingly meaningless questions like, "Why are manhole covers round?" or "How are M&M's made?" Failing to come up with answers to questions like these could pose a problem.
Another fairly recent hiring technique you might experience during an interview is brainteasers and riddles that test logic and core math skills. I was asked several of these in an interview this summer, and they got pretty tough. My favorite question (and possibly the hardest) seemed impossible at first. Say there is a nursery with two baby boys and any number of baby girls (from 0 to infinity). A woman gives birth to a baby and sends the baby to the nursery. A nurse then picks a baby at random from the nursery, and it happens to be a boy. What is the probability that the woman gave birth to a boy?
Here's a hint, the answer isn't 50 percent and you might need to use Bayes' Theorem to solve it. If you can't figure it out and want to know the answer, then good luck getting a job, you unhireable hobo. Also, feel free to e-mail me for the solution. If you're an employer for a well-to-do company and you're impressed by my use of fancy, shmancy terms such as "Bayes' Theorem," feel free to e-mail me offers for employment as well.
In reality, you shouldn't worry or pay too much attention to these hiring shenanigans, though. As a future graduate of one of the top public universities in the nation, I'm sure your natural talents and top-notch education will shine through to employers. Unless of course, you lack those qualities, in which case I recommend thinking long and hard about why manhole covers are round.
Daniel's column runs biweekly Tuesdays. He can be reached at mcnally@cavalierdaily.com.
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