For the past two weeks, I have been relentlessly sending out cover letters, resume, filled out applications and linked in connections. From places who clearly said they are hiring on their website or on indeed.com, to straight up cold emails to company websites in hopes to strike lightning in the eyes of a recruiter on his or her lunch break. Even though I have no shortage of places to send my resume to, one thing that makes me uneasy about the whole process is how accessible it is to give people your resume. This leads me to believe that the age of information and social media is quickly turning the job market into the job supermarket.

Websites like LinkedIn and Monster.com are making it very easy to increase the reach of your resume. The only problem is that this ease can generate clutter for job applicants. My sense of self worth takes a hit every time I hear the discouraging testimonial from employers or recruiters who say that they get 50 resumes a day in their inbox. As qualified as you may be to satisfy the requirements for a job, you are still fighting for your space on a shelf along with many other people. As a Tennessee resident looking for a job in New York City, all it seems I have until the big move in July is a cluttered inbox. You are special among special people.

This drives the reality that you are a product in the introductory stage its life cycle, employers are consumers, and your college is the brand you represent. I am the orange lawnmower vying to cut the some of the finest grass in the country, and I am sitting smack dab in the center of the Lawn and Garden Center of a Home Depot which shares a parking lot next to Lowes and a zip code to the Tractor Supply Co. This concept is nothing new, but I think what could be said to graduating college students is the importance of developing a big idea to get your value proposition to stand out. We have a unique set of skills we gained in college, so its important to think outside of the box and find ways to demonstrate those skills, especially to those who do not know us. Much like Blend Tech demonstrated their blending powers with the viral Youtube videos asking the simple question “Will It Blend?”, I need to find ways to reassure employers that I can effectively cut their grass, turn on a dime, and save gas. I know the lawnmower analogy sounds a little “out there,” but its the kind of creative thinking that gets you noticed by creative companies. Even if you are looking for a job in account services, there is a lot that a person can bring to a working environment when he or she believes that nothing is truly a bad idea. 

Whatever you choose to do to demonstrate the accolades on your resume, make sure that ties back to your value proposition and that it is not too costly. Costly in terms of money you do not have, and time of which you have too much. Your tangible resume and cover letters will always make you a serious consideration among employers, but the intangibles such as leadership, initiative, and creativity are better demonstrated than said. 

For college graduates in advertising, your first major client is yourself.

-Dan