When you move out of Lexington or into a new residence farther away from campus don't just take your bed spread, computer and corn hole set. Don't forget to bring all of those retreat binders and meeting minutes from your dedicated time in the student organization of your choice. All of those skills and experiences you had while getting involved on campus can be more valuable than you think and here are some tips on how to capitalize on those skills once you begin (or continue) your job search. Here are some tips to help market yourself, because if you are already involved on campus you are one step ahead of the other candidates!

1) Polish your Resume

Make sure you relate your resume to the position and industry you are applying for. Don't be afraid to move more relevant experiences to the top and change your objective (if you have one). ALWAYS check for misspelled words because employers often throw out resumes at the first sign of grammatical error.

2) Don't Sell Yourself Short!

Include statistics and numbers of people you have lead or managed in your organizations. Numbers always stand out on a resume and cover letter, so if you lead a retreat of 50 people that is impressive because it shows that you CAN and WILL continue to be a leader. Did you set a goal for your organization/committee and it was successful? If yes, then great, this shows you are forward thinking and have experience with strategic planning. If not, then remember what you learned from that situation and spin it as a positive thing.

3) Keep People in Mind who Succeeded Because of Your Help

Did a student in your organization that you mentored move into a leadership position? This is a great opportunity to show that you can lead and transition someone, because you might have to do that with one of your new co-workers. Not everyone can be a leader, but if you can effectively lead others to be successful that can help you stand above the rest.

4) You are Going to have to Learn to Adapt to Your New Work Environment

Your co-workers and boss will be different than you and it will be a completely different environment and you will no longer be in charge of what goes on around you and sometimes the type of work you do. Show the employer that you are adaptable to change by giving examples of times when you have persevered through change, like a new organizational leader or advisor, and your group was better for it.

These are not the only things to consider when looking at your leadership skills/qualifications and a potential workplace. Make sure you research your employer and that the company culture fits your work style, which your student organization experiences helped you determine. If you need any additional help with career services please come by the James W. Stuckert Career Center on campus (www.uky.edu/CareerCenter). Don't forget about our Last Minute Job Search Workshop on Tuesday, April 14th from 10:30am-2pm, a one stop shop to prepare you to find a job. Register at www.ukalumni.net keyword: minute. Good luck!