This week we get the opportunity to talk to Giuli Williams, a Campus Recruiter from Southern Company. She shares a little about who Southern Company is, what they do, and how much she loves working there and recruiting new talent.
1. How long have you been working at Southern Company?
I have been here for almost 2 years and have loved working with Engineers! In my former life, I worked in the financial sector, so it’s been a fun and different change of pace.
2. Could you tell us a little about your company?
Simply put: we are an energy and utility company; we make it, move it, distribute it, sell it and everything in between! It’s a fairly large institution (roughly under 30K), but our values guide us and our vision and that’s something you see, whatever group you work for. Whether you want to work in Generation and create, regulate, or make power in a nuclear or gas facility or work on power lines and substations, we keep the lights on and are doing it in an environmentally-cautious way!
3. What made you choose this company?
The people. There are some amazing people that work here and they push you to become a better person, professionally and personally!
4. What do your daily responsibilities look like?
My job changes every day! Sometimes I am at a Career Fair sourcing candidates or interviewing them and others I am onboarding students and coordinating internal events with our students. The one thing that remains consistent is the student piece. We do a lot to deliver a great candidate experience.
5. What is the best part of your work?
Being able to hire amazing talent and see them blossom!
6. What kinds of things do you look for in a resume when looking for employees?
A resume is generally a first impression, so you want it to be a positive one! At first glance, format would be the first thing I notice but very soon after, content. If you do not have a lot of work experience, that’s fine, but have you gotten involved on-campus? Have you worked on meaningful projects? Do not let the fact that you do not have tangible work experience scare you because there’s typically more you can pull from your experiences and background!
7. What kinds of qualities are most attractive in a potential employee?
When I meet students at a Career Fair, I look for someone with confidence that is excited to learn more about Southern Company. Having a verbal business card goes a long way!! If I meet them in a more casual setting, good questions and engagement is also great.
8. How can students better engage with you and your company?
We would love to engage with you! If you have questions, do not hesitate to talk to us on-campus or email me directly! We are all pretty friendly and are happy to chat with you!
9. Do you have any inside advice on how to better secure a job with your company?
Initiative and openness to feedback—we have a lot of applicants but being coachable and hungry are two key drivers at Southern Company!
10. Do you have any overall advice for students, since you have been in their shoes, on how to pursue a professional career?
Go to everything and anything!! There is never a better time for you to connect with people that are eager to hire you. Mock Interviews also go a long way — you can be personable, marketable, and sociable, but practice makes perfect when it comes to interviews! Now, don’t get me wrong, we expect people to be excited and nervous but if your answers do not have meaningfulness behind them, it comes off as though you are unprepared and disinterested. Last thing—BREATHE. We have all been here and are human, so don’t forget that!
If you want to continue connecting with Giuli, you can connect with her on LinkedIn.
