10 Things Employers Say Every College Student Should Know About Getting a Job

At first the students didn't catch on. Then, they saw some of their friends have difficulty landing a job. They noticed that not as many recruiters were coming to campus to talk about available jobs. They began hearing more about people being laid off and losing careers that took decades to build.

Finally, they knew: They were about to graduate and try and get a job in a very, very tough market. The anxiety of being burdened with thousands of dollars in student loans, competing against much more experienced applicants that were flooding the job market and the erosion of many jobs overnight has hit graduating college students hard.

I spoke with many of them recently when I visited my alma mater, Oklahoma State University, as the Paul Miller journalism lecturer. They asked lots of questions about what they can do to improve their chances of landing a job, and I passed along the information I have been receiving from employers.

The key is that it shouldn't just be college seniors who need to be much more proactive in this market. Employers predict it may be tough going for the next couple of years, so sophomores and juniors need to also pay attention.

Here are some tips from employers who regularly recruit and hire college graduates:

1. Work on your personal brand. What makes you unique? How have you committed yourself to a cause or a passion? “You need to get accomplishments under your belt,” says Cathy Chin,employee experience manager for I Love Rewards, a web-based employee rewards and recognition program in Toronto, Ontario.

2. Look the part. "You can always wear a suit to an interview and look OK standing next to someone in jeans," Fuller says. "But not the other way around. Then you've made a faux pas. Dress like you're going to the White House."

3. Step forward. Bob Daugherty, U.S. sourcing leader from PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York, says he was impressed with a student after the young man not only showed up early for a presentation but sat in the front, asked questions, introduced himself and offered a resume after Daugherty’s talk. “The kid was a sophomore,” he says. “This is somebody we want to keep track of.”

4. Do the homework. “The people we hired had great phone interviews showing a lot of personality, poise and confidence. When we narrowed it down to a top 10 to interview in person, they showed up very polished and knew about us and our competitors. They weren’t going to have to be spoon fed if we hired them,” says Sue Fuller, director of talent management for EDL Consulting in Northbrook, Ill..

5. Walk the talk: “We want to see if you’re going to fit in with our company, and that means doing your research and being able to speak intelligently about the subject and our company,” Chin says. “But we’re also watching you when you walk around, from the minute you come into our lobby. Do you look at our awards? Are you nice to the receptionist? We want to see that you’re fully engaged.”

6. Learn to network: All those interviewed agreed that both graduates and undergraduates need to work on networking with other professionals, their faculty and the college career center. Students should strive to not only make these business connections in person, but also through online networking sites such as LinkedIn. A word of warning, however, comes from Fuller regarding some less-than-professional behavior online: “We’re very mindful of how people behave online. We do check. Business is about reputation and relationships, so we’re looking to see how they manage themselves online.”

7. Be yourself. "Our candidates showed up very polished, in suits. They were poised and polite. They were confident. But they showed their personalities and had just such a wonderful appeal because of their demeanor. They didn't have too many expectations, but they were not desperate," Fuller says. "They were there to impress us, but they were also authentic."

8. Working hard matters. Many of the students I spoke with at OSU worried about whether they had the right stuff on their resume. Was an internship necessary? What about extra-curricular activities? What if they had stayed out of school a couple of years to work? How important was a grade point? The employers I spoke with all said the same thing: They want to see students who have put energy and enthusiasm into whatever they were doing. So, being active in a fraternity and campus activities, participating in a college sport, working hard at a job that showed you moved up the ladder, having a terrific grade point, receiving awards -- those things were worth something to an employer.

"I like to see a demonstration of their passion and what they're giving back to their school. I want to see energy and enthusiasm and an ability to develop relationships. Some kids are so focused on getting those internships, but I think a big part of going to school is just enjoying yourself and taking the time to experience different things. Just do something different and enjoy yourself -- diversity makes you unique," Daugherty says.

9. Check the attitude. While there's been much written about the fact that some young workers can made demands about what they want and don't want in a job, the tough times may have changed that scenario. "The pendulum has swung back," Fuller says.

Still, Daugherty says that top graduates still have the "upper hand" when it comes to jobs. "This student body is one of the most talented I've seen," Daugherty says. "They're smart and communicative."

Adds Chin: "Don't be overbearing. Be energized, but don't make it about 'me, me, me.' When you come for an interview, we're watching you from the lobby. Do you look at our awards on the wall? Are you nice to the receptionist? Are you fully engaged and looking around?"

10. Keep the faith. All the employers emphasized that there are still plenty of good jobs available to college graduates, and students should remain hopeful. "There are lots of employers who understand that college graduates don't have a lot of experience. But they want that. They want that ball of clay to mold," Fuller says.

What other suggestions do you have for college graduates looking for jobs?

Get Rid of the Big Fat Lies -- and the Little Skinny Ones -- on Your Resume

"Welcome, Ms. Smith. Please have a seat."

"Thank you. I'm very excited to have this opportunity to interview with Blubber, Inc.."

"Great! Well, let's get down to it. It says here that you attended the University of Florida and graduated in 1995 with a degree in business. Is that correct?"

"Yes. I worked very hard and learned so much. I'd really like to put that knowledge to work for Blubber."

"That's very interesting, Ms. Smith. But could you please explain why the University of Florida says you graduated with a degree in fine arts, with an emphasis on basket weaving in Africa?"

"Oh, uh, that must be a mistake. I'm sure we can clear that up."

"OK, then let's move on. You also say that you had the project management job with XYZ Corp. for three years. But their records show you worked as an office assistant, and never headed up a $2 million project."

"Yes, I did. Well, not technically. I worked for the woman who did, but I was heavily involved. I wasn't specifically the project manager, but I was pretty darn close."

"Uh huh."

"Really close."

"Ms. Smith, I have to tell you we're concerned about some of these discrepancies. Didn't you read our ethics rules when you applied for this job? That we have specific rules about truthfulness and full disclosure?"

"Well, sure I did. But I thought they were more like guidelines, rather than actual rules."

"Goodbye, Ms. Smith. And good luck -- you're going to need it."

Right now, I want you to look at your resume. Look at it hard. I want you to find any errors, and I'm not talking about typos or grammatical mistakes. I'm talking about inflated information that doesn't just make you sound worthy -- it turns you into a liar.

Times are tough, and you're desperate to land a good job. Or maybe you started padding the resume so long ago you're not sure anymore what's true and what's not. But here's the deal: Obama is headed for the White House.

You may wonder what that has to do with you, but it's going to have a big impact. The vetters for jobs in the Obama Administration are checking everything from text messages and e-mails of job candidates to whether they've ever gotten a ticket for more than $50. Tough? Yes, but that's to be expected for the president-elect who is promising big change in the way business is done.

While a private employer may not be quite so tough, I think candidates are going to be checked out as never before. Already, employers are being advised on how to spot resume fraud, and with the glut of candidates on the market, employers have the luxury of not only taking time to vet candidates thoroughly, but making certain that they know exactly who they are hiring.

So, it's time to come clean. Here are some facts that are easily checked -- either by an employer or the background checking company they hire -- to make sure you are telling the truth:

1. Schools. Make sure your dates are correct, as well as the major field of study, GPA, etc.
2. Honors. Everything from graduating at the top of your class to an industry award can be verified with a couple of phone calls by an employer.
3. Job titles. While many former employers will only verify your dates of employment, it's easy enough to use online resources to find people who used to work with you and can talk about your past work performance, titles, duties, etc.
4.Credit history. If you are applying for a position where you will have anything to do with money, chances are good your credit history may be reviewed. Be prepared to explain why it's bad, if that's the case, and what you're doing to improve it.
5. Criminal history. Unless you're applying for a government job, it won't be required that you answer if you were charged with a crime. And, most employers are willing to even overlook some convictions if it was a youthful indiscretion or you got caught with one too many glasses of wine in your system. If you were convicted of a crimes that involve sex, drugs or theft, it's going to be tougher. On the application, simply note that you would like to discuss the issue. Remember: It's pretty simple to access court records concerning a conviction, so it's better to come clean in person and try and explain it rather than lying outright.
6. Online. First, try and clean up your reputation with these tips. Second, get your story together on how you'll explain anything that an employer digs up about you online. It's better to show you've learned your lesson rather than trying to lie about something unflattering that is revealed on the Internet.

What other issues should a job hunter consider to pass the vetting process?