How to stand out as a cyber co-op student - Part 1
Author: Crystal McDougall, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist/HR Generalist
Part 1: The Application
I recruit co-op students to join DBG every 4 months. We have hired co-op students in many cybersecurity-related positions over the years and some of the co-op students impressed us so much that they were offered full-time jobs after graduation. Co-op opportunities are a great way to kick-start your career, so it’s important to stand out among the other applicants to ensure your success. I’ve come across a lot of different applications and have seen co-op students excel and others fail. In some cases, this result may have been different with a bit more effort put into the application itself. In this 3-part article series, I share some of my knowledge and experience with you to help you stand out as a co-op student. Part 1 will focus on the application itself.
Start with your grades
When I post a job with a school, I typically receive a bundle of many applicants which includes a cover letter, resume, and an unofficial transcript/grade summary for each applicant. The first thing I look at are the grades overall, and the grades for the most relevant classes for the position. The best thing you can do to be an optimal candidate for a co-op role is get good grades! I feel like that could be a whole different series, and I’m certainly not qualified to write a series on how to get good grades in a technical program, but this is definitely a consideration when it comes to which co-op students we select to interview.
To write a cover letter or not to write a cover letter… that is the question.
In a full-time recruitment process, I don’t put too much emphasis on a cover letter. I think they can be a great tool to express your interest and explain anything on your resume that is a bit different than the usual career path for that role, but they aren’t always necessary. However, when someone does take the time to submit a cover letter, I always read them. I know that isn’t the case for all recruiters, but I actually really enjoy reading cover letters (I know…I’m weird). Nevertheless, for co-op students, I highly recommend that you take the time to write a cover letter, specifically one that is customized for the position you’re applying to. The reason I say this is because you’re up against several other students and chances are you may not have a ton of professional experience on your resume to really make you stand out as an experienced candidate yet.
You could make a cover letter template, swap out the company names and job title, and call it a day, or you could write a letter outlining why this position grabbed your attention, why you’re the best choice for it, and what you hope to learn from the position. Of course, the latter is the better way to do it, but regardless of the option you choose, make sure you proofread it and get a friend (one who is good with grammar) to proofread it as well. The number one way that a cover letter can be the reason you’re screened out is if you submit one with the wrong company name or job title in it (you’d be shocked at how often it happens).
The do’s and don’ts of resumes
Writing cover letters and resumes is a big task and there are so many different articles and opinions on how to do this right. My preferences with resumes differ from other recruiters out there so I won’t go on about my subjective thoughts. The gist of it is, to be brief, clear, and accurate.
Include:
A summary of your skills, abilities, and experience.
Your work history (with accurate job titles and employment dates).
A list of your education and certifications (with accurate titles and dates).
Do not include:
A photo of yourself (it just isn’t needed).
Your unrelated interests and hobbies (this one is up for debate. My boss personally loves seeing this but I prefer that it’s not included on the resume as it can potentially lead to bias. But it’s my article so I’m still including it on this list).
Any personal information about you that isn’t relevant to the role such as your age, marital status, etc. (this may open you up to potential bias…. You get the point here).
References available upon request” (we know 😊, don’t waste the space on this, use it to tell us why you’d be an amazing addition to our team).
Double, triple, and quadruple check!
Proofreading your resume and cover letter is extremely important. Attention to detail is a skill that can be easily demonstrated in the application process and is a universally required skill. Read and re-read your resume and cover letter. I cannot stress this enough. The number of times I have received applications that have typos in them is far too many to count. There is no shame in asking a peer to lend an extra set of eyes to your application to make sure there are no errors. Even the most experienced professionals get someone to take a look at their resume, some even pay professionals to help with their resume!
Apart from the standard spelling and grammar proofread, also check for:
Formatting inconsistencies (e.g., do you end your points with or without a period consistently? Is the font, font size, and formatting the same throughout?).
The company name and job title should be correct! Double-check for proper spelling and capitalization.
Do your resume and LinkedIn profile reflect the same dates/titles and information? These should align.
It’s OK to be selective
I get a lot of applications that just don’t make sense. It seems obvious that the student applied to anything and everything on their school’s co-op job board. I understand you might be worried about securing a spot, but I think being stuck in a position you don’t actually like or one that doesn’t make sense for your career goals is a worse outcome.
When you apply to a ton of jobs, you’re likely going to get overwhelmed with interviews and not be able to prepare for them as diligently as you would like. You may also not have the time to customize your application for each of those positions and end up using a boilerplate template that isn’t relevant to the job itself. Do yourself a favor and read through the job postings carefully to make a short list of jobs you’re interested in applying to.
The process doesn’t end when you click “Apply”
When you’ve applied to a position, I recommend taking the time to look up the company and hiring manager/recruiter on LinkedIn. If you’re able to reach out to the recruiter to express your interest in the role and let them know you hope to hear from them, this could really set you apart from the large list of applications they receive. Doing this shows you’re passionate and that you take initiative, both are very admirable characteristics in any employee (student or otherwise). They may also be more likely to remember your name when they see your resume. Just a simple introduction will do the trick.
Any back-and-forth communication is also part of the process. Remain professional in your emails and interactions with the hiring team. Avoid the use of slang (seriously, because I won’t know what you’re even talking about. Maybe other recruiters will know what you’re trying to convey but it isn’t worth the risk! I still have to Google what “GOAT” means every time my son says it…). In this role, you also may have to communicate professionally with internal and external contacts in a variety of communication styles (oral and written communication). This is your opportunity to show the hiring team that you know how to do that. Be clear in your communication and share relevant information.
Of course, there are a lot more ways you can stand out as a co-op student overall. Next week, I will be posting “How to Stand Out as a Co-op Student - Part 2: The Interview”, which will explain ways you can stand out in the interview process. Stay tuned!
If you have any tips that I haven’t shared on how to stand out as a Co-op Student in the application phase, share them below! If you’ve found this article useful, feel free to share it with your peers (or not… you could always hang on to the competitive advantage 😉).