4 Ways College Grads Can Make a Lasting Impression on Employers

4 Ways College Grads Can Make a Lasting Impression on Employers4 Ways College Grads Can Make a Lasting Impression on EmployersIf you recently graduated, youre probably aware that youre going to have to do something different to stand out from all the other job candidates youll compete against. What you lack in experience youll have to make up for in innovation.Prezi is a presentation tool that has changed the way we view and create presentations. Peter Arvai, CEO and co-founder, offers the following tips for how new grads may use Prezi to get the attention of hiring managers1. Seek an alternative to the traditional rsum. Job seekers and human resources managers alike are over-saturated with the standard Microsoft aber ja template rsum. With more easy-to-use tech and design tools accessible to professionals, were starting to see more interesting alternatives to the paper rsum.Prezi, which was originally adopted by people sick of PowerPoint presentations, is now adopted by job seekers using it to create prezums. Part presentation, part social profile, these visual and interactive rsums are getting the attention of employers.When Michael Dwyer was invited for an interview for a teaching position at Arcadia University, a small private university located outside Philadelphia, he used Prezi to present his job history. Now, hes the assistant prof of media and communications at the school.Prezi can be used for more than just rsums After Nicole Plati had an interview with the public relations firm Borders + Gratehouse, she used the site to send a thank-you note and reiterate her interest in the company. The note helped her receive an offer with the firm. 2. Dont just tell your job history. Weve been trained to focus on where weve worked and what weve done in our rsums and LinkedIn profiles, but another way to stand out is to tell your unique story. Who you are is as important to employers as what youve done, especially if you have little job experience. After all, if yo ure hired, youll need to mesh with the company culture.The prezums, as well as tools like About.me, provide you the opportunity to share more of your personality than you could with a standard rsum. Charity Temple is a multimedia producer and freelancer designer. In addition to providing all the expected info about her job history in her prezum, Temple also included a few images and details about what she does in her spare time. Making paper models and traveling might not relate to the job she wants, but it gives employers a better sense of her personality, making her more affable and appealing as a job candidate.3. Be active on Twitter. If youve used Twitter for fun, now is the time to take a more professional approach. Arvai says A professional and well-rounded social media presence gives potential employers greater insights into your personality and interests outside of the workplace.Find companies you admire or would love to work for, and follow and retweet what theyre sharing o n Twitter. Also follow companies in your industry so that you stay well-informed on your field. Be aware of what youre posting, and keep it professional. Dont post anything you wouldnt want a potential employer to see.4. Get Linked. You have a LinkedIn profile to show off your professional experience, but you can also use it to subscribe to company updates for the employers for which youre interested in working. This can keep you informed on whats happening at the company and allows you to show that youre on top of the companys news when you go in for an interview.You can also connect with people who work at those companies to build your network. Dont make a blatant plea for a job, but as you build the relationship, you can let them know youd love to work for their company, and ask if they have advice on getting hired.Lindsay Olson is a founding partner and public relations recruiter with Paradigm Staffing and Hoojobs.com, a niche job board for public relations, communications, and social media jobs. She blogs at LindsayOlson.com, where she discusses recruiting and job search issues.