6 Tips for GenY on the Job Hunt

Make social media a selling point. Depending on the type of jobs you're applying for, your knowledge of social media could be the thing that sets you apart from other, more experienced candidates. "A nice approach would be to present ideas to the people you're interviewing with about how the company could leverage social networking and use new technologies," says Lim. "Many companies right now still do not know how to take advantage of the 500 million people on Facebook. This is a clear way to differentiate yourself." If your prospective employer is already savvy in social media, Pollak suggests subscribing to its Twitter feed to "find out what they're talking about; what's important to them," and use this knowledge in the interview. "Companies don't want to train you—they want you to hit the ground running. It really puts you in a position of almost looking like a colleague already," she says.

[See How to Use Twitter to Find a Job.]

Be creative in articulating your skills. "A lot of times, Millennials entering the working world don't know how to translate what they've done into what employers are look for," says Floren. For example, if a job posting calls for leadership skills, think beyond the obvious. You may have never been the president of anything, but "maybe you were a camp counselor or you're the oldest child," she says. "There are a lot of ways leadership can be expressed." Employers aren't necessarily looking for someone who's managed a department—sometimes they're just looking for potential.

Don't forget etiquette. Seemingly little things, like leaving your cell phone on the table, can hurt you in an interview, says Pollak. Follow interview etiquette to the letter. Be prompt—but don't go overboard. "A lot of recruiters say it's annoying when candidates show up too early," she says. Thank-you notes are still very important, and Pollak says within today's corporate culture, E-mail is acceptable: "I'm a big fan of sending it the same day. If the interview was at 10:00, I would love to see a note before 5:00."

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