The number 1 thing PH employers want to hear about in a job interview

MANILA, Philippines – The resume is a tool to help you get your foot in the door and land you that first interview with a company you’re eyeing.

But when you’re a fresh grad with no previous full-time work experience, the job hunt can feel really intimidating. Jobstreet’s recently released Jobs and Salary Report had an interesting sidebar about what employers value – and grades are NOT at the top of the list.

Instead, internships come into the spotlight – 80% of the surveyed Philippine employers said that this was what they would like fresh grads to highlight in their interviews.

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Grades took second place at 52% (a drop from 58%, the response in 2014), but take a look at what placed a close 3rd: a part-time job, at 50%.

That marks an increase of approximately 10% from the response back in 2014.

For this study, around 450 respondents were surveyed in a study that ran for two weeks, according to Jobstreet.

Moreover, the same study names other traits employers look for in fresh grads, both in terms of functional skills and behavioral skills. Communication skills and trainability are important, they say, as are willingness to learn and initiative.

All this underscores the merits of landing an internship or some type of work experience before trying out for your first full-time job.

Some schools may require undergrads to take an internship a little later, perhaps in junior year. But you may not want to wait until this requirement – if you’re free for the summer, it might be worth applying for an internship simply to gain some experience.

Never mind if the projects for interns are a little smaller; this will depend on the internship program at the company you’re eyeing. But let’s say you aren’t too happy with the tasks given – at the very least, you will be exposed to the working world, perhaps to an office environment that won’t feel so alien when you’re busy interviewing for a job after college.

Observe and speak up if you see something that needs improvement – who knows? You might see something the other employees don’t.

Getting an internship might be a great option for those whose passions and core interests might not be aligned with their college major. Work experience in the field you are interested in might help you land a more permanent job later on.

Send a cover letter to human resources – but if you know someone in the company, the better. Attend conventions and free events in your field, if there are any – there might be employers there who might be open to taking on a few interns for the summer.

Either way, even if you aren’t graduating yet, it’s never too late to get cracking on that dream career. Good luck! – Rappler.com