This post is based on an earlier post by Jenny Olin Shanahan.
The good news is that employers definitely value the skills your college education is supposed to provide. The bad news is that most employers now doubt that college graduates actually have those skills. Fortunately, your undergraduate research scholarship or creative activity gives you an opportunity to prove what you know. The key is to concentrate on your broad skillset, not the content of your project. A company hiring you for public relations or marketing may not express interest in your discoveries in Civil War diaries, for example. They will express interest in all of the abilities you have gained as a result. Here are some tips on how to make your undergraduate research experience a part of your job search.
Written communication
Strong skills in written communication rank #1 on the NACE survey of what employers want across all jobs. That’s great news because we’re all great writers in the arts and humanities, right? Your major on your resume will precede you. Don’t be surprised if employers praise you for being a good writer, even without much evidence.
But what employers really value is the “communication” part of “written communication.” In your materials, be sure to describe the written document, report, or presentation your research resulted in with an eye to how it conveys complex information to its audience. If your project required you to write a proposal, you may be able to refer to that too, especially since it is essentially grant writing, a highly valued skill. In your interview, you can talk about how your written communication was essential in order to get an important point across.
Critical thinking & analysis
Analytical and problem solving skills also rank highly on the NACE survey. Employers hire applicants who can demonstrate who can get, understand, and use different kinds of knowledge in order to solve new problems in inventive ways. Critical thinking is fundamentally creative, a hallmark of undergraduate research in the arts and humanities. Since this is an intangible skill, you might think it’s hard to show, but employers will respond well if you talk about how you overcame specific challenges in your scholarship or creative activity. In fact, overcoming challenges is a common topic for questions in interviews. How did your research expand your knowledge and skill-set so that you could produce something new?
Applying knowledge to real-world problems
The best problem-solving of all happens when you apply your academic knowledge to real world problems. Thinking about your project this way can also help you articulate your work for employers who, after all, are not usually experts in the area you studied. Employers want to hear actual examples, so be as specific as possible about your project. Consider the impact of your work, beyond the immediate results: are you bringing to light an unknown text which will allow others to understand a moment in literary history in a new way? Are you filling in a gap in the historical record? Are you making the world a more beautiful place? Don’t undercut your persuasiveness through vagueness (“Usually,” “most of the time,” et al.) and needless hedges (“I believe,” “I think”).
Working effectively on teams
Many undergraduate research projects involve students working over several years. Often, this means students of varying interests and skills work toward a common goal. Employers want to hire applicants who have experience contributing to a team objective, and who can fill many different roles. Emphasize the specific and varying ways you contributed to the success of your research project.
In the interview, be prepared to talk about a specific example in mind. Ideally this is one in which you have led a successful project. Be ready to describe what you did, what happened, and how it was successful. Every good story needs a key moment: organize your narrative around the single most important thing you did!
Ethical decision-making
Integrity, resilience, accountability, and ethical behavior: often employers group these traits under the heading “professionalism.” As you describe your research experience, consider these questions: was there information you needed to keep confidential? Did you need to understand and follow legal and ethical standards for the use of copyrighted or proprietary information? Did you organize your efforts responsibly for the benefit of your co-workers?
In the interview, you might be asked to describe a specific time when you had to handle a tough problem. You can use your answer to demonstrate your attention to and experience with ethical decision-making.
Oral communication
Employers want to know that you can present complex information in a clear, understandable way, especially to non-expert audiences. If you have ever presented your work either on campus or at a conference you have great evidence of your communication skills. In your written materials for a job application, be sure to describe both sides of your undergraduate research. Explain both production and dissemination of knowledge–in language appropriate to the opportunity.
Your working relationship with your faculty mentor is also directly relevant to the communication you will have with a supervisor at your new place of work. In preparation, think about how you might answer the following interview question: “If you had to communicate with a faculty supervisor/research manager, how did you keep them informed, ask for guidance, and otherwise ensure the success of the project?”
