Mastering the Resume to Experiencing Career Success: Top 10 Career Tips from 3Mers

Who better to explain how to successfully obtain and navigate through a career at 3M than 3Mers themselves? We asked 10 3Mers for their top career tips, and this is the great advice they came up with:

The Resume:

1. “Keep your resume concise and easy-to-read, but make sure that you provide sufficient information about previous employment history, leadership experience, and any skills you possess that would be relevant to the job application.” – John, Reporting and Analytics Analyst – Data Intelligence

2. “Be sure to attach measurement and results to your experiences and accomplishments. Results communicate not only your skill sets but the real-world business impact of your work. “– William, Communications Specialist

The Interview:

3. “Before an interview, research the company, their products, trends and news. Understand how it might apply to your role within the organization.” – Bhanu, Senior Software Development Engineer

4. “If you see an obvious experience gap or shortcoming on your resume or when an interviewer is going through your credentials, ask the interviewer some questions regarding things you can improve upon to show you are ready for the role. It shows a level, not only of determination, but of self-awareness and humility if you are willing to continually improve your skills.” – Anand, Cutover Analyst

5. “Be yourself – oftentimes recruiters are looking for the right person, not necessarily the perfect resume. Having the experience and skills are always important, but those can often be taught.” – Miles, IT Analyst

6. “Remember to focus on the simple yet important skill of being comfortable in conversation with new people. Practice with someone who you don’t normally discuss your background or skillset with to help prepare.” – Abe, IT Cybersecurity Analyst

7. “It’s always important to ask the interviewer questions about the culture of the company, and why they like working at that company. It’s important that you have the same values as the organization you plan to work for.” – Nic, IT Analyst

Your Career:

8. “I’ve heard great advice that parallels the investment world’s mantra: ‘Past performance is no guarantee of future results.’ Don’t worry too much about mapping your career to match that of a current leader; the environment, trends, and values of the company are different now than years past. Instead, look for past trends, be aware of the history, but focus on the future and cut your own path.” – Beth, Disruptive Technology Program Engineer

9. “You have to take charge of your own career and try not to feel too complacent. When you start to feel comfortable, that means you are ready for a new challenge. Ask for something new, more or different to continuously learn and grow from the experiences.” – Alina, Manufacturing Engineer

10. “When you’re going about your day at work, take note of the activities that energize you or that make you lose track of time because you’re so engaged. And, take note of those that leave you feeling drained or anxious. As you evaluate career opportunities, think about whether the new role will allow you to do more of what energizes you – and if it does, go after it!” – Angela, Communications Specialist