Although hiring processes may differ across industries, roles, and countries, jobseekers struggle with remarkably similar areas: Writing a resume that captures the attention of potential employers, performing at the interview, and knowing how to network.

These are areas that ESSEC Asia-Pacific Career Services Manager Venon Sim strives to help Master in Management (MiM) students at the ESSEC Asia-Pacific campus excel in so they may enter the job market with confidence and poise.

Although the exact programs each year may change based on student needs, here are four areas he focuses on

1 | Learning the Art of Good CV Writing

Job seekers may have many questions about how long a CV should be and what format the information should be in.

Sim tackles these questions in his workshop so MiM students understand the must-have features of a CV, the reasons for different formats, and how they can tailor their own to meet the requirements of the industries they want to join.

Particular emphasis is placed on the language one uses to ensure one’s CV is captured through the Applicant Tracking System (ATS)—a program commonly used by large organizations with a massive volume of applicants.

“What is most important is to be able to use strong verbs like ‘spearhead,’ ‘kickstart,’ and ‘collaborate,’ and to be able to match the words used with keywords in the job description,” Vernon shares, adding that as MiM students usually have extremely diverse career aspirations, he follows up from the workshop with the offer of one-on-one consultations for students to refine their CVs further.

2 | Refining Interview Skills and Elevator Pitches

A separate workshop is also run to help MiM students hone their job interview skills.

The key to addressing this component is practice, so besides explaining the common questions one can expect and how to best tackle them, students can also present their elevator pitches to their classmates and the workshop facilitators.

The goal is simple: Students obtain a broad range of collective feedback on their strengths and weaknesses and know how to improve for the future.

3 | Lessons on the Power of LinkedIn

Numbers show that almost 95 percent of recruiters use LinkedIn to source suitable candidates.

Job seekers with a comprehensive LinkedIn profile have a 71 percent higher chance of getting an interview, making the platform—and how one networks on it—a game-changer in the job search.

In addition, ESSEC boasts of a MiM alumni network size of 65,000 and counting, most of which are contactable on LinkedIn.

As such, Sim says, “We want MiM students to be able to leverage this platform to connect with alumni and make meaningful connections for their futures.”

To do this, he organizes a dedicated LinkedIn workshop that educates students on the do’s and don’ts of profile creation and posting, complete with tips on bringing this virtual networking offline.

Testament to the success of these lessons, he notes that “at postgraduate networking fairs, recruiters have shared that they appreciate how well-done ESSEC students’ LinkedIn profiles are.”

4 | Industry Insights in Asia

Finally, Sim also caters to students who hope to find work in Asia by arranging career fairs and guest talks from industry leaders and alumni.

These sessions are aimed at helping students understand the business in Asia—whether the roles available or the salary they can expect—so they know if the region is a good fit and can tailor their approach when reaching out to local companies and MNCs in the area.

Undoubtedly, many MiM students may prefer to seek employment elsewhere. However, Sim’s experience has shown him that the qualities that recruiters look out for often transcend geographical boundaries.

As a firm believer of how “your network is your net worth,” his goal is to help MiM students build a strong foundation of job search skills to make an impression and confidently build their own networks and, in turn, their future net worth.