During her college years, Xingjie Tan served as the class learning secretary, gained extensive experience in student activities, and completed three corporate internships. Actively participating in the 25th Autumn Recruitment season, she secured three offers, including ones from leading foreign trade companies like Jin Hao and Mei Bo, with a 90% interview success rate. She is a shining example of excellence from the 21 International Trade (Class 1) program.
I. Preparing as an Elite: Striving to Be a Versatile Talent
1. Engaging in Student Work to Gain Rich Experience
In her freshman year, Tan Xingjie joined the Student Union as a member of the Academic and Technology Department. Her responsibilities included compiling grade rankings, assessing comprehensive quality evaluations, organizing scholarship defense activities (such as national and provincial awards), and helping with the freshman debate competition. For her, the most significant takeaway was learning to organize events and, more importantly, mastering how to structure and present her achievements effectively. She believes that showcasing core competitiveness and fluent communication are critical, whether for job interviews or scholarship applications.
2. Sharpening Communication and Thinking Through Debate
From her freshman to junior years, she was part of the debate team of the School of Finance and Trade. She led her class to win third place in the freshman debate competition and helped the school debate team secure third place at the college level. Debate not only fueled her passion but also enhanced her skills in articulating ideas clearly and communicating effectively under time constraints. This training significantly improved her verbal and logical thinking abilities, benefiting her professional and interpersonal growth.
3. Leading the Career Elite Association to Gain Workplace Experience
In her sophomore year, Tan served as president of the Career Elite Association. She invited industry experts and alumni to share experiences, organized campus recruitment activities, and led association members to participate in various career workshops. Collaborating with other student organizations and associations, she expanded resources and influence. During this period, she organized mock interviews, helping members understand industry trends and career paths. More importantly, she defined her career goal early on: becoming an HRBP (Human Resources Business Partner).
II. Taking Initiative: Committing Fully to Autumn Recruitment
1. Preparing Strategically During Summer Internships
During her summer internship, she decided to stay on campus to prepare for interviews. Analyzing her academic experiences and strengths, she defined her career direction and began addressing her gaps by studying human resources fundamentals, such as the Six Models and Three Pillars. She also sought advice from friends who had already secured offers and participated in interview coaching sessions. Her efforts led to an HR internship opportunity with a listed company, Focus Technology.
2. Adopting Targeted Strategies for Job Applications
Starting in September, while balancing a three-hour daily commute for her internship and attending classes, Tan actively sought out interview opportunities. Initially, she submitted applications without specific targets, applying to over 50 positions and completing various assessments. However, after struggling to pass initial HR screenings, she realized the importance of focused job hunting and adjusted her strategy:
(1) Online Platforms: Platforms like Boss Zhipin, 51job, Qianchengwuyou and Zhilian Zhaopin became her primary application channels. Tan advises caution with articles that label Boss Zhipin as fraudulent, emphasizing the importance of clear, concise resumes, especially highlighting key details such as education, professional skills, and internship experience.
(2) Campus Recruitment: Participating in campus job fairs allowed her to communicate face-to-face with HR representatives, enabling her to identify her strengths and weaknesses. She believes that courage and initiative during interviews are more important than ever.
(3) Internal Referrals and Recruitment Events: By leveraging her network, including internal referrals and recruitment talks, she secured numerous interview opportunities. Her key strategy was to use the 'Law of Attraction' to maximize her visibility: setting clear goals, visualizing them, and ensuring her resume frequently appeared in HR's sights.
III. Building Expertise: Sharpening Interview Skills
Tan refined a set of interview strategies during her journey to securing multiple offers:
1. Embracing the Law of Attraction
This involves clearly defining goals, visualizing them, and making continuous efforts to bring them closer to reality. She emphasized leveraging resources and ensuring her resume was memorable to HR managers.
2. Specific Interview Techniques:
(1) Avoiding a Student Mindset: When asked why she was interested in foreign trade, she avoided simplistic responses like 'I’m good at communication.' Instead, she tied her skills and traits to the job’s requirements, highlighting her suitability.
(2) Using Data-Driven Responses: In interviews, she detailed her internship achievements, explaining how she accomplished tasks, overcame challenges, and delivered results, rather than reiterating her resume.
(3) Steering Clear of Over-Honesty: For instance, if asked why she wanted to work in foreign trade, she avoided blunt answers like 'It pays well.' Recognizing companies value employee stability, she emphasized her commitment and long-term interest in the role.
IV. Attention to Detail: Precise Positioning for Success
Amidst fierce competition, Tan's precise strategies helped her stand out:
(1) Immediate Availability: Companies often prefer candidates ready to join immediately. Preparing for a swift start post-offer gave her an edge.
(2) Valuing Internships as True Learning: She stressed that internships are platforms for acquiring practical skills and deepening expertise, rather than just earning income or convenience.
(3) Proactively Seizing Opportunities: Tan highlighted that self-doubt often leads to missed chances. She encouraged others to bravely pursue every opportunity, as success favors those who take the first step.
By meticulously honing these critical details, Tan demonstrated exceptional professionalism and profound career insight during interviews. Her unwavering effort and accumulated experience enabled her to secure multiple high-quality offers during the Autumn Recruitment season. Her determination and expertise not only ensured her immediate success but also laid a solid foundation for her future career path.
