Forum - Ask the Hiring Manager

QUESTION:

How does an older student leverage their past experience, particularly with regard to salary, during the recruiting process when the companies coming to campus are looking to hire entry-level people?

From: Joel F. Renzo


ANSWER FROM BRIAN KRUEGER:

The best way you can leverage past experience is to make it applicable. The most appropriate is if your industry experience would apply. For example, I was working with a recent college grad who had 15 years ad agency experience and had just completed a degree in Computer Science. The obvious answer is to seek work in Comp Sci for one of the large ad agencies that has an in-house computer system. Another person I assisted had 10 years as a lab technician for a hospital. Again, the obvious answer was working for a hospital on lab information systems.

After the industry connection, you can often make a direct work connection to the type of work being performed and your past experiences. Often you will have experience either with specific or ancillary job functions.

Beyond the direct connections listed above, you need to emphasize your maturity and proven work ethic. But note that this is not always to your advantage. There are companies that will discriminate in favor of more "standard" backgrounds. Don't sweat it. The great majority of companies will value your experience and maturity.

But don't get caught up thinking that it will provide a huge dollar value. It may be able to pump your salary 10-30% above the going starting wage, but unlikely to be more. Keep your expectations reasonable at the entry level and look for your advancement and increases after you have proven yourself.

Happy hunting!

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All job search information at this forum is provided by Brian Krueger, author of the book College Grad Job Hunter, the definitive guide for college grad job search. Used by permission of the author.