In Your Shoes: Role Reversal and Job Applicant Success

Abstract

Research shows students often do not understand the expectations of employers and, as a result, how to prepare recruiter-relevant career communication. To help our students, we conducted a role reversal exercise where we asked students to put themselves in the shoes of recruiters and to make decisions as if they were actual recruiters hiring candidates who best met the job criteria listed in a job description. The exercise was designed to help students develop effective resumes and to prepare for job interviews. Students reported that the exercise changed the way they usually prepared resumes and approached job interviews.  The exercise made them aware of the importance of including specific and relevant information on resumes and gave them insight as to the types of questions they should anticipate in job interviews.