It is up in the air whether handwritten cover letters or digital portfolios will help graduating students clinch a job. However, Madison business professionals said finding a balance between using both old and new media seems to be a key component in the process.
Sheri Rice Bentley, director of public relations and communications specialist at Madison-based advertisement agency Knupp & Watson, said students should understand when and how to specify media with different audiences.
In using new digital media, Rice Bentley said society is communicating more informally than ever before.
When was the last time you wrote a cover letter, or a handwritten thank you note?"" she asked.
According to Rice Bentley, the ""old fashioned"" forms of communication required an element of graceful writing and style the more informal new mediums lack.
However, she said it is important for upcoming graduates to research and understand new forms of digital media as potential junior employees, specifically Twitter, RSS feeds and Web 2.0.
""It's an area where your youth can be perceived as an advantage,"" Rice-Bentley said. ""Take advantage of that.""
Steve Van Dinter, regional director of media relations and public affairs for St. Mary's Healthcare of Wisconsin, echoed Rice-Bentley's advice.
""Organizations from giant corporations to local businesses are clamoring to find out how to use the latest in social media and other digital technologies,"" Van Dinter said. ""They don't want to be the last organization to adopt these tools. The more graduates understand about how all of these things work, the more valuable they will be to a future employer.""
According to the two experts, setting up a personal blog or website may be a good way to showcase skills and personal experience.
""It shows that you understand some of the newer technologies and that you aren't afraid to use them,"" Van Dinter said.
However, Rice Bentley cautions students against using inappropriate blog content.
""[It] is fine as long as it's clean and clever, not ranting and overly personal. Showcase your good writing skills, not your party lifestyle,"" she said.
As distinguishing as these new media can be, both advisors remind students of the importance of traditional methods.
""I'd use new media to help but don't rely exclusively on these mediums,"" Rice Bentley said. ""Think of those pieces as supplements, not a substitution for the real meat of a well-crafted resume.""
As a general caveat, both experts urge undergraduate students to be cautious of posting potentially damaging personal content on the Internet.
""Chances are the company you're applying to knows how to search for people on these social networking sites. While you may have your profile locked down, if your profile picture shows you doing something questionable it may lessen your chances of getting that job,"" Van Dinter said.
Rice Bentley insists balancing traditional professionalism will get you ahead, even in the digital age.
""Students should be cultivating their professional persona from the get-go,"" she said. ""That means learning how to dress, eat in public, speak with higher-ups, make small talk and socialize with clients while remaining professional.""
Rice Bentley and Van Dinter said their number one piece of advice for students was to stray from talking excessively about what they could gain from a particular position.
""Don't forget to focus on what you can bring to an employer, not what you wish to gain,"" Rice Bentley said. ""In this situation it's not about you, it's all about them.""
Many university career services offer workshops for students to gain tips on applying for jobs. The College of Letters & Science Career Services, for example, works to help students develop a job search strategy, connect with potential employers and produce resumes and cover letters, according to its website.
In a letter on the site, L&S Career Services Director Leslie Kohlberg tells students despite the current financial crisis, job opportunities are still available.
""Current conditions may require you to be more flexible in your job search. But remember that persistence, determination and optimism play a major role in any individual's success,"" she wrote.
