The HRL Blog January 31, 2021
Hi everyone!
It’s Brennan Lupyrypa writing here, Director of Technical Affairs at HRL, and this month we have a topic which is dreaded by almost everyone - job applications. Having gone through the co-op application process twice now, I thought I would share a few of my thoughts and some tips for success. The first time around I was unable to get a job through navigator and got one through a personal job search, and most recently I was successful at getting one through navigator. For this blog post, I am going to provide you with 3 tips that I have taken away from reflecting on my past experiences.
Tip 1: The importance of cover letters
It’s true - cover letters will often make or break whether you get an interview or not. The unfortunate reality is that most jobs have so many applicants with similar experiences and the cover letter is a great place to stand out. It may seem like a lot of work to write a cover letter for each application, but even just 1-3 sentences in the first paragraph that is specific to the company can be enough to separate you from the other applicants.
Tip 2: Resumes - how to encompass your life's work on one page
Make sure the format is professional and fits the needs of the job you are applying for. Try to make your resume specialized for each job posting as much as possible. Create 2-3 resume templates to have on hand and you can use the one that fits best with the job you are applying to.
Tip 3: Use your co-op advisor and career center to your advantage
You will find an abundance of information about resumes, cover letters, interview skills, and more on the Navigator website! As well as the career center calendar which is full of very helpful events with potential employers and skill-building exercises.
If you have any questions or uncertainties at all, your co-op advisor should be the first place you go to.
There you have it - a couple of ever-important tips and resources that will help you land your first co-op job! We know all students have a lot on their minds, so if you forget - don’t worry! We have dedicated a whole series on Instagram to these tips and tricks + more! Check it out and give us a follow if you don’t already - @hrlaurier! Until next month - thank you all so much for being here!
Director of Technical Affairs, HRL