BrainTrust Helps College Seniors Get Ready to Break Into New Media
Staffing agency strengthens its position as `talent agents for the new media economy`
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE via COLLEGIATE PRESSWIRE)--Oct. 4, 2000--BrainTrust, a new breed of staffing agency committed to matching fast-track talent with companies driving the new media economy, has created user-friendly tips for college seniors interested in exploring new media opportunities. With over four years of industry experience and relationships with more than 300 online companies across all market segments, BrainTrust is well positioned to give students and recent alumni ground-zero advice on how to best market themselves to Internet companies and most effectively navigate the job search process.
Concurrently, BrainTrust is touring a number of top East Coast universities to educate students on the tremendous range of opportunity in new media and to answer questions about breaking into the industry, working for a dotcom and evaluating start-ups, an especially hot-button topic in light of the industry`s recent turbulence. Throughout the tour, BrainTrust is sharing its ``New Media
Cheat Sheet`` with students, an at-a-glance guide to the industry`s beginnings, buzz words and key players, with tips to help first-time job seekers understand and evaluate stock options packages.
Although there`s no steadfast formula for landing that perfect online opportunity, BrainTrust recommends that students take a three-pronged approach of ongoing research, smart packaging and proactivity:
PREP WORK
-- Get Informed. Learn as much as possible about new media, from its culture and lingo to its key industry players and newest technologies. Attend on-campus information sessions, and start reading the industry pubs (for example, the Industry Standard, Fast Company and Red Herring), many of which have free daily e-mail newsletters.
-- Get Involved. The online space is perfect for people who are long on initiative, so get involved in new media as early and as much as you can. Intern with an online company, join (or start) your campus` new media club, and learn the basic Web skills to put your resume online.
-- Network, Network, Network. Don`t be shy about contacting friends or even friends of friends for job search advice and company contacts. Subscribe to your school`s alumni networking lists, and regularly attend alumni and industry networking events.
-- Practice Makes Perfect. Interview as much as possible to fine-tune your skills. From informational interviews to meetings with every company that sparks your interest, getting in front of people is always valuable, and you never know where you may find the perfect opportunity.
RESUME TIPS
-- Get Beyond Spellcheck. Proof your resume fanatically for errors in grammar, style and logical structure, paying close attention to your use of dates, verb tense and formatting.
-- Play It Web-safe. E-mail your resume in simple, style-free ASCII (text only) format, with Web-safe apostrophes, single spaces between sentences and no forced returns.
-- More Can Be More. Don`t underestimate the value of volunteer work, language skills or expertise in a sport or hobby -- they all indicate an involved, vibrant and motivated individual. Account for long gaps in time, even it means highlighting the four months spent waiting tables or traveling with friends.
INTERVIEW BASICS
-- Be Well Informed. Research companies you`re interested in at length, and be prepared to speak specifically to why you`re well matched for them. Know what they do, how they differ from their competitors and who`s on their management team. Always come prepared to ask good, informed questions.
-- Dress to Impress. Many online companies are more casual than their traditional counterparts, so find out ahead of time what is typical interview attire. Often, you`ll feel more comfortable and make a better impression if you opt for a less formal presentation.
-- Be Prepared to Meet the Team. New media companies, especially true start-ups, tend to involve a number of team members in the hiring process, so be prepared to meet with a range of people and market yourself to both peers and upper-level management.
-- Be Yourself. Highlight your past accomplishments and transferable skills, but be careful not to oversell your knowledge base or ability. New media companies value raw skills and enthusiasm and are not expecting you to have loads of professional (and especially online) experience. In short, always be yourself.
-- Say Thank You. Remember to ask for business cards, and make sure to send a thank you note to everyone you meet. A well-written (and especially a hand-written) thank you goes a long way towards making a lasting impression.
About BrainTrust
Founded in 1996,
BrainTrust matches well-educated, highly screened candidates with companies driving the new media economy. BrainTrust enjoys a strong word-of-mouth network and relationships with over 300 leading new media companies in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and as of this November, Boston. Additional information is available online at
www.braintrust.com or by contacting Heather Gaw (415.977.1180,
[email protected]) or Carol Walker (415.882.9494,
[email protected]).
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