Career Management Presentation

Things You Should Know “ If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.” – Cheshire Cat, Alice in Wonderland Managing your career search should be planned, not left to chance The people that will get jobs are those that know what they want and have a plan to obtain it If you do your research, have a plan, and use available resources, you will succeed!

Things You Should Know 75-80% of all job openings are NEVER ADVERTISED Market consists of visible and hidden opportunities It’s essential you approach both Increased competition for fewer job openings Jobs are filled from a variety of sources – know them and which are the most/least effective

Preparation and Planning Define Your Career Priorities Resume Preparation Winning Cover Letters and Correspondence Using your (Social and Professional) Networks Tips for Successful Interviewing

Purpose of a Resume For Applicants: Make an effective introduction Market yourself to employers Differentiate yourself from other candidates To advance to the next step in the recruiting process – the interview! For Employers: Vehicle to screen for qualified candidates Opportunity to evaluate communication/writing skills Provides info from which questions can be generated Serves as a reminder of candidate to hiring manager when evaluating

Resume Basics Short and sweet (Goal is 1-2 pages) Sharp and simple (Easy to read, bullet points, standard fonts) Selling vs. Standard (focus on skills and accomplishments) Is it relevant? (Again, remember your audience) Proofread, proofread, proofread Shows communication/organization skills Shows attention to detail

Components of a Resume Contact Info Objective Work Experience Education and Certifications Activities Other Relevant Headings (Awards, Recognitions, Languages, Published works, etc.)

Contact Info Current and/or Permanent Address Phone Contact Information (provide a primary contact number) Email (list one and make sure it’s not goofy) Personal Web Page (if relevant)

Objective Tailor the objective to your audience State what you want AND what you offer Be confident, not cocky Remember this might be the first assessment an employer makes

Work Experience Basics: Name of company, location, job title, dates worked Include jobs, internships, volunteer work, independent projects, etc. Keep it active and use powerful verbs Avoid gaps of time Make it sell (skills and accomplishments)

Education Basics: Institution, Degree (Bachelor of Science), Graduation date, Area of Study, GPA (if 3.0 or above) Include ALL degrees Special Programs (study abroad, etc.) School Projects No High School!

Activities Clubs, Organizations, Volunteer Activities, Athletics, even Hobbies Focus on leadership Provide necessary descriptions Remember this is where you can really differentiate yourself!!

Other Relevant Headings Computer Skills Languages Honors and Accolades Published Works Speaking Engagements or Lectures

Duties vs. Skills Duties Managed cash register Responded to customer complaints Answered phones and filed Made deposits and withdrawals Ran team meetings Made bulletin boards and posters Waited on tables

Skills vs. Duties Skills Customer service Organization Management/Leadership Communication Analytical/Research Technical Financial/Data

Duties, Skills, and Results What were your major duties for the position? What special skills or knowledge did you use to perform these tasks? What aspects of your personality did you use to perform these tasks? Were you recognized for your abilities? Did you achieve anything in the course of performing these tasks? How did I add value to the organization? What did I do to help them be efficient, productive, etc.?

Duties vs Skills Made bank deposits and withdrawals … becomes instead… Ensured accurate deposits and withdrawals while maintaining high levels of customer service

Skills vs. Duties Responded to customer complaints … becomes instead… Leveraged my problem-solving skills by proactively addressing customer complaints

Skills vs. Duties Ran team meetings … becomes instead… Motivated staff and encouraged teamwork to reach established sales goals

Accomplishments Have you ever: Saved your employer money? Increased an employer’s profitability? Improved your employer’s service delivery? Been recognized for your performance? Been a part of a team that improved profitability, delivery, etc?

Accomplishments Consistently recognized by supervisor for providing excellent customer service Worked closely with fellow team members to achieve branch of the year designation Assisted sales staff to exceed monthly sales quotas on a regular basis Implemented new budget changes saving $3 million in annual expenses

Resume Style and Format Font size: 11 pt and up Name should be biggest item on page No logos or artwork (unless design/graphic arts) Use bold, italics and underline, but sparingly Be consistent

Resume Style and Format White Space: the empty space between design elements Too little white space may appear busy, cluttered and difficult to read Too much white space may appear incomplete

Cover Letters Heading Date Inside Address Salutation Body Complimentary Close Signature

Cover Letters Introduction to you and your resume Tells what job you’re applying for and why you’d be a good fit Highlights areas that aren’t easily explained in resume Tailored to the company and job applying for

Cover Letters (Introduction) First paragraph who you are position you are applying for how you heard about the position personal contacts in organization (if applicable) reason for applying (interest in company)

Cover Letters (The Sell) The Body (2 – 3 paragraphs) state how you qualify for the position demonstrate your skills with specific examples convey enthusiasm about the position/company what you will contribute to the company do your homework – know about the company

Cover Letter (The Close) The Last Paragraph: state what action you’d like taken (i.e. an interview) and what materials are enclosed (i.e. resume) state that you will contact to confirm receipt of resume (if possible) leave phone number and/or email thank the reader for their time

Cover Letters (General Tips) Do not exceed one page Should be written in business professional format Address to a specific individual State the specific position to which you are applying Next step is (usually) your responsibility

Thank You Letters Send 24 hours after your interview Note, Letter or Email? Brief and to the point Personalize the content Re-iterate your interest, abilities

Thank You Letter (Example) Dear Ms. Smith: Thank you for taking the time to interview me yesterday for the position of Sales Representative with your organization. Your discussion of operational procedures of ABC Corporation, as well as your expectations of sales associates, was very informative and interesting . I am confident that I would make a strong contribution to your staff by increasing profits and expanding your market.

Thank You Letter (Example) As discussed in our interview, my qualifications that would directly relate to your company include: - Over four years of broad based experience in the travel, hospitality, and retail industries. - My ability to effectively handle many different projects simultaneously. - My experience with the QUEST Total Quality Management Program at the University of Maryland.

Thank You Letter (Example) Again, thank you for taking the time to consider my candidacy. If there are further questions, please feel free to contact me at (301) 405-1111 or via email at mjones@gmail.com. As we discussed, I look forward to hearing from you the week of May 6th with your final decision. Sincerely, Mary Jones

Other Job Search Letters Follow-Up Letter (career fair, networking event, etc.) Accepting/Declining Job Offer Withdrawal of Application Response to a Rejection Letter

What Networking IS… Establishing Trust Being a “Generous Listener” Mutual: There must be Give and Take A skill that is honed and practiced over time A link to the “Hidden Job Market” -- 80% of all jobs are landed this way

Networking IS also… Keeping in touch with old friends as they go to new places and have new experiences Developing new social and professional contacts Talking to professors and other professionals about their career journey Going to events to meet people with similar interests as you, whether they are called “networking events” or not Making an active effort to share your knowledge with those who would benefit

What Networking IS NOT… Exchanging Resumes/Business Cards A sure fire way to get a job Directed by the contact Schmoozing with a stranger to ask for a job Manipulating just to get something you want from someone Putting on a personal show to impress someone

Exercise: Create a Strong Personal Network 1 st : Make a list of everyone you know: friends, classmates, professors, family, friends of the family, neighbors- and write them down. Be exhaustive. 2 nd : Prioritize list considering that person’s job, location, interests, and daily environment. 3 rd : Begin calling and/or e-mailing those you believe will have the most useful advice

Other Places to Expand Your Job Search Network Career Fairs Professional Associations THE INTERNET Informational Interviewing Job Agencies / Headhunters

Internet Networking Sites Social: Facebook, MySpace, Yahoo360, Twitter, Orkut, TagWorld, Friendster, Bebo, Hi5 Professional: LinkedIn, Xing, Ryze, Ecademy, Yorz, Spoke, ZoomInfo JobBoards: Monster, CareerBuilder, SimplyJobs, Dice, HRHouston, YahooHotJobs, WSJCareerJournal, CitySearch, Guru, Freelance

Informational Interviews: What are they? An informational interview is asking a professional who works in your area of interest what it is like to do the kind of work they do. Set up on the phone or in person to learn more about the in’s and out’s of a particular job function/position/field/industry. Allows one to ask what knowledge, skills, and abilities are needed in order to enter the field. Makes a new professional contact and referral source

Informational Interviewing Tips Know your interests prior to setting up the interview Identify contacts in your area of interest and via e-mail, phone, or letter Prepare Yourself: Research contact person’s occupation, company, industry Prepare specific questions to ask before you conduct the interview (See Informational Interviewing handout) Remember to respect the other person’s time. Your are asking a favor from these people, so be courteous and professional

Agencies and Headhunters No Cost to You Only Paid if You are Placed Maintain vast networks with companies Many employers opt to work through agencies vs. posting their opening on-line Most agencies team on searches (power in numbers)

Agencies and Headhunters (Rules of Thumb) Find out who they represent (Recent Client List) Local vs. Regional vs. National vs. Global Don’t overextend your agency coverage Make sure you’re comfortable with your representative (career counselor vs. just after a fee) Don’t sit back and wait for them to find you a job…

Leveraging Your Networks Find out what they’re hearing and seeing Assist before you ask for assistance Prioritize your networking hierarchy 20 People Searching on your behalf is better than you alone

Follow-up This step in the process is CRUCIAL- you cannot keep a strong personal/professional network without this step. Send thank you notes to your list of contacts. Ideally keep in touch with your key contacts every 2-3 months via phone and/or e-mail. Remind contact who you are, refresh them of your encounter, meeting or discussion; update them on your current status or progress; offer them to help and/or remind them of their past promises.

Summary Points: Keys to Good Networking Treat your contacts with care Know what you want to say to your contact Don’t ask for a job Be professional Follow-up with your contacts Stay in touch

Interview Components First Impressions (icebreaker) Interviewer Questions Applicant Questions Closing

First Impressions – Do’s and Don’t’s The Don’t’s Arrive late Poor handshake Minimal/poor eye contact Not good with pleasantries No knowledge of company Request comp/benefit info Negative about past job Weak resume/cover letter No prepared questions No career plan/path The Do’s Arrive on time or early Firm handshake Maintain good eye contact Be prepared for small talk No knowledge of company Be positive/sell yourself Know the company Have questions ready Have a powerful resume Know your career drivers

First Impressions The 3 minute rule Dress and behavior Verbal skills Non-verbals

First Impressions: Dress for Success

Know the Types of Interview Questions Credential What certifications do you possess? Where did you complete your education? Experience Have you ever audited a public company? Tell me about your leadership experience? Opinion What are your strengths? weaknesses? Why should we hire you for this position? Behavioral Describe a situation where you had to motivate a team to accomplish a task. Tell me about a difficult client you had to manage and keep happy.

How Interviewers use Candidate Responses Competencies Drive behavioral questions Answers should tie back positively to specific traits Skills/Experience Some jobs require specific skill sets or experience Answers will determine which/how much you possess “ Fit” Employers have to match certain criteria for a proper match Salary expectations Availability to work (start date) Willingness to travel Candidate responses will drive that assessment

How to Answer like a Rockstar S ituation T ask A ction R esult

Candidate Questions Specific and relevant Training/mentoring/coaching Upward mobility / career path Determine if the position will be a good fit Does it help you meet your professional goals? Does it match your priorities and career drivers? Avoid questions that could easily be answered by reviewing the company website or brochure Shows lack of preparation Demonstrates poor initiative

The Closing Ask about next steps/timeline Reaffirm your interest in position/company Thank the interviewer for their time

Following Up Take some notes on the interview What went well? What might you improve? Send a thank you note or letter to the interviewer(s) Don’t leave anyone out. Shows tremendous interest/initiative Wait patiently

Honorable Mentions Get suit pressed Print extra copies of resumes/references Prepare questions for the interviewer Research the company Think about questions you might be asked Find interview location early Contact your references

Other Types of Interviews Phone Interview Case Interview Group Interview Mealtime Interview

What’s Next? Second Interviews The Offer Offer Evaluation/ Negotiation Acceptance

Career Management Presentation

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