By Joie N. Marhefka
It’s summer – the time of year when our biomedical engineering technology students at Penn State New Kensington typically are completing their internships and preparing for graduation. Of course, this means that they are also looking for their first jobs in the field. Therefore, I thought it would be a good time to share some tips for job searching, as they could be helpful not only to students and recent graduates looking for their first position but also to anyone looking for a new opportunity.
Networking
When looking for a new opportunity, I’ve heard people say that “who you know is as important as what you know,” and I believe that there is some truth in that. Classmates, previous coworkers and even people that you’ve met at a conference could help when looking for that perfect position. I’d also recommend checking in with your alma mater. I often have contacts who reach out to me with opportunities, not only entry level, but also for more experienced professionals, and I’d be happy to share these with alumni. Our campus job board also lists these positions, and I would think that other schools have similar resources.
I’ve had several recent graduates use LinkedIn to find positions. LinkedIn can be a great way to make connections that could lead to opportunities. I’d recommend creating a professional looking LinkedIn profile and keeping it up to date. That way, a prospective employer might find you. If you are looking to work in a certain city or for a certain company, a LinkedIn search can help you to connect with people who work there. HTMjobs.com is another great free resource for people looking for a healthcare technology management job.
Resumes
Everyone has their own preferred style for resumes. Rather than focusing on that, I’d suggest looking at the job posting when writing a resume. That way, you can include key words in your resume and focus on required skills. My preference is to show where you have applied skills in jobs or activities on your resume rather than just listing the skills. I’d also recommend thinking of examples you could give during an interview for each skill mentioned on your resume. Finally, advice that I always give my students is to make sure to check the email and voicemail for the number on their resumes on a regular basis.
Cover Letters
I always recommend writing a cover letter, especially if the job posting asks for one. A cover letter offers the opportunity to explain how you are a good fit for the position. My first piece of advice on cover letters is to focus on what you can contribute to the company rather than what the company can do for you. My second piece of advice is to write it in your own, normal words rather than using fancy words and canned statements that don’t sound genuine. Finally, make sure that the letter is addressed to the correct employer (if you are applying to multiple companies).
References
I’d suggest having a list of professional references available when going to an interview. I’d also recommend asking people if they are willing to be a reference before giving their contact information to a perspective employer. One of my pet peeves is getting a call or email asking me to provide a reference for someone when I wasn’t even aware that they were looking for a job.
Interviews
I believe that the best way to be successful in an interview is to be prepared. I’d recommend taking some time before the interview to learn about the company for which you will be interviewing as well as the position. Another good way to prepare is to practice answering typical interview questions. There are many lists available online. I’d also suggest thinking of some questions to ask, as that is a good way to show interest in the position. After the interview, it is a good idea to follow up with a thank you note or email.
While this is certainly not an exhaustive guide to getting a job, I hope that it provides a few tips and things to think about when applying for a first job or a new position. Finally, I want to congratulate all of the 2023 graduates and wish them luck in their job search and new careers!
Joie Marhefka, Biomedical Engineering Technology Faculty at Penn State New Kensington.