2015 Diversity in Careers and Education Expo

FREE and Open to The Public

• How to Write a

Great Cover Letter

• What Not To Do On Social Media

• Tips for Writing a Better Resume

• Five Things to

Know Before a Job Interview

• Five Rules for

Dressing for Success Sponsored by

Parking Available The AFRO American NewspapersGarage - 2015 Diversity in Careers and Education Expo -

In Partnership with the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR)

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Diversity in Careers and Education Expo 2015 Letter from the Editor

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mbarking on a job hunt can be a disheartening experience. You’ll hear about a job that would be perfect for you only to learn that it went to someone else. Someone in hiring won’t get back to you. You will be told that while you are a great candidate, unfortunately the position went to someone else.

And that’s fine. Rejection is part of finding a job. But it doesn’t have to be the only part. Over the next several pages The AFRO has assembled tips and best practices on how to present yourself to potential employers so that you stand out from everyone else.

A publication of the

Afro-American Newspapers

What makes a great cover letter? How should you dress for an interview? What should you do about your Facebook page? What should you know before you even go to an interview? These are the topics you will find broken down and explained in this issue.

The Baltimore Afro-American Newspaper 2519 N. Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21218 (410) 554-8200 The Washington Afro-American Newspaper 1917 Benning Road NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 332-0080

To get you started, here’s a tip that didn’t make the issue for reasons of space. Just relax. You’ve done your preparation, you’re dressed appropriately and you’ve arrived early. Take a deep breath and trust in yourself.

John J. Oliver Jr. Chairman/Publisher Director of Advertising Lenora Howze

Kamau High Managing Editor khigh@afro.com

Editor Kamau High

Please Be Sure to Visit the Following Employers, Educators, and Training Institutions: - Baltimore City Community College - BGE - Community College of Baltimore County - Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation - FedEx Ground - Johns Hopkins Medical - Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services - Maryland Higher Education Commission - Maryland Live - Maryland State Police - Maryland Transportation Authority - NappStar - Southern Management Corp.

- Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative - Southwest Airlines - Volunteers of America - Walmart

Graphic Designer Denise Dorsey

- The Afro American Newspapers A 2

The AFRO American Newspapers - 2015 Diversity in Careers and Education Expo

High School Class of 2016 Adult Learners Veterans

Higher Education

EMPOWERS LEARNERS

to Change their Worlds

www.mhec.maryland.gov Application deadlines for state scholarship and grant programs begin March 1st.

For complete details and all deadline dates go to www.mhec.state.md.us/financialAid/descriptions.asp

Discover Scholarship Opportunities Governor Larry Hogan

Lt. Governor Boyd K. Rutherford

Jennie C. Hunter-Cevera, Ph.D. Acting Secretary, Maryland Higher Education Commission

The AFRO American Newspapers - 2015 Diversity in Careers and Education Expo

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How to Write a Great Cover Letter

By LaTrina Antoine Washington, D.C. Editor lantoine@afro.com

March 1, 2015

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ou’ve done the hard part, creating a distinct resume that shows all of your work talents in the best light. The cover letter should be easy, right? No. The cover letter is yet one more step that can either make you the perfect candidate for the job or the worse.

Cover letters are business letters. They are short and straight to the point – a cover letter should not exceed three-quarters of one page.

Do your research Cover letters are used to introduce the applicant to the hiring manager, so the letter should always begin with a date, your name, home address or email address. Also include the company’s information, the company’s name, attention to the hiring manager (i.e.

Attn: John Doe) and the company’s address. There Continued on Page 6

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The AFRO American Newspapers - 2015 Diversity in Careers and Education Expo

CAREER AND EDUCATION EXPO WORKSHOPS The following FREE workshops will be conducted at the EXPO throughout the day: Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) • The Maryland State Approving Agency Division of the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) will present valuable Information for veterans and military-affiliated beneficiaries who wish to pursue higher education. Participants will learn about the Post-9/11 GI Bill and other forms of VA educational assistance.

• The Office of Student Financial Assistance will share information about various state scholarships and grants programs that assist in paying college expenses, including how to prepare, apply and complete the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) form.

• The Office of Outreach and Grants -“Money for College”, an overview of federal and state financial aid that is available to Maryland residents.

MD Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation (DLLR) • “The Resume Doctor” - Get information on writing an effective resumè that showcases your background & experience • Financial Literacy - Tips on budgeting, saving, and using your hardearned dollars wisely!

Workshop schedule will be posted and announced at the EXPO. The AFRO American Newspapers - 2015 Diversity in Careers and Education Expo

5

How to Write a Great Cover Letter Continued from Page 4

are some companies that do not provide physical addresses, but a little research gives you one quality that other applicants will be missing, persistence.

What to say? Who to say it to?

Most people start a cover letter off with “To whom it may concern…” Do not do this.

Cover letters should seem professionally personal, so again, do some research. Ask around to find out the name of the hiring manager who will review all incoming applications. Address the letter to that hiring manager using “dear” the person’s surname and a colon. (i.e. Dear Mr. Doe:)

Writing the letter First paragraph: States the exact position you are applying for, add any additional information, such as job number etc. that accompanies the position title. In the first paragraph let the hiring manager know

how you found out about the position.

Mentioning names of current employees always helps to get the recruiter’s attention.

Finally, say exactly what you can bring to the company through the specific job.

Try to use the same language in the job description.

Second paragraph: The second paragraph is a brief run through of your professional and educational experience that pertains to the job you are applying for and its functions. Identify the skills that you have that will contribute to the position (i.e. excellent attention to detail). Again, you will want to use the specific words used in the job description. Depending on the job, you can include a third paragraph that lists your community involvement and volunteer work. If the job you are applying for does not pertain to any volunteer work or community involvement you are or were apart of then leave it out.

Fourth Paragraph: Your final paragraph closes the deal. Express your gratitude for the opportunity to apply – “thank you” should always be mentioned at some point in the first sentence of the last paragraph.

Mention, briefly, the ways you can use your skills to contribute to both the company and the position, again. Remember to use the same language used in the job description. Finally, leave the door open by suggesting that you should talk about your qualifications more fully and let the recruiter know how they can contact you by mentioning both your email address and phone number.

Salutation Use a professional salutation to end the letter (i.e. Sincerely or Best Regards), then your full name. You should separate the salutation from your name with an extra line.

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The AFRO American Newspapers - 2015 Diversity in Careers and Education Expo

What Not to Do On Social Media

By James Bentley Associate Editor jbentley@afro.com

potential employers the type of individual they want to be part of their organizational or campus community. There are a number of social media sites but for our purposes we will focus on the big three: LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when preparing you profiles:

I

f you put something on the Internet, then by definition it is no longer private and you can no longer be upset when whatever that was is used to make a decision on you as a person. In 2015, employers are researching the social media profiles of prospective employees before extending offers of employment. This means there are a new set of rules as to what you should and should not allow on your profile when looking for work.

Your personal profile is essentially your online brand and how you brand yourself is very important and should be treated as such because everyone is watching.

The goal is to use social media effectively in your job search and demonstrate to

Avoid tacky profile pictures.

This picture is your 1st impression and as the old adage goes “You never get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression”. It should be a picture with professional attire (shirt and tie or dress, suits if available) and a plain background if possible.

Remove questionable pictures from your public profile.

Remove all pictures that portray Continued on Page 8

Community College of Baltimore County Great Jobs. Great Benefits. Great place to grow.

With excellent benefits, competitive pay, wide-ranging learning opportunities, With excellent benefits, competitive pay, wide-ranging learning and an exciting work environment, CCBC may be exactly the employer you’ve opportunities, and an exciting work environment, CCBC may be exactly the been lookingyou’ve for. CCBC the college of choice forcollege over 70,000 students and employer been is looking for. CCBC is the of choice for over 200 businesses each all with unique and requirements.

70,000 students andyear 200–businesses each goals, year –strengths all with unique goals, strengths and requirements.

We are currently hiring for: We• areClassified, currently Administrator hiring for: and Professional Positions • Classified, Administrator and Professional Positions • Facilities Management Positions • Facilities Management Positions • Upcoming Faculty positions for Fall 2016 • Upcoming Faculty positions for Fall 2015 • • Various Adjunct Faculty Positions Various Adjunct Faculty Positions • • Various Part Time Positions Various Part Time Positions For a complete our openings and apply, please visit our For a complete listlist ofof our openings and to to apply, please visit our employment page: http://www.ccbcmd.edu/jobs employment page: http://www.ccbcmd.edu/jobs CCBC committed ensuring equal opportunity and nondiscrimination CCBC is is committed to to ensuring equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in in hiring and employment practices. committed equal treatment allall hiring and employment practices.

WeWe areare committed to to equal treatment for for all applicants and employees and will not discriminate based on race, all applicants and employees and will not discriminate based on race, color, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, ancestry, veterandisability, status, sexual religion, gender, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other basis protected by law. orientation or any other basis protected by law.

The AFRO American Newspapers - 2015 Diversity in Careers and Education Expo

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What Not to Do On Social Media Continued from Page 7

Avoid bashing or using disparaging remarks about past jobs or bosses.

Social media is not the place for this type of message to be disseminated. It reflects poorly upon you and employers will take note of it.

you in anything but a positive and productive light. No pictures with firearms (even if you’re a 2nd amendment enthusiast), nudity or semi-nudity, drugs or paraphernalia (again even if you’re in a state where it’s legal).

Proofread your profile and have someone else proof it as well.

It is a very simple thing but it has huge ramifications. When you don’t proofread your profile and miss simple spelling mistakes (that even spell check misses) it shows a lack of organization and due diligence.

Avoid frenzied arguments and controversial topics online.

Everyone loves a good debate but social media is not the place to hold one. Everyone does not need to know your stance on every issue that is brought up throughout the day.

We’re looking for: Banquet Server Front Desk Attendant Leasing Sales Manager Leasing/Sales Professional Service Manager Service Maintenance Technician Competitive pay and full-benefits package for most positions.

Apply online at www.smc.jobs A 8

Learn about the security and privacy settings and use them to your advantage.

Facebook and Twitter allow you to keep certain information, such as photos, posts (made by you and friends), events and interests, private. If you are not using these sites to enhance your professional brand then you should use the settings to restrict the information others are allowed to see about you.

Keep your social media profile up to date.

You always want to provide a recent picture of yourself. This is all marketing your brand and you should always update your profiles to reflect changes in your career.

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The AFRO American Newspapers - 2015 Diversity in Careers and Education Expo

Tips for Writing a Better Resume

By LaTrina Antoine Washington, D.C. Editor lantoine@afro.com

for a position, especially if it is submitted electronically.

R

esumes are still the standard record of work history that all employers require before they consider hiring a person for any job. However the look, depth of content and lasting impression of resumes has changed over the years.

Effective resumes no longer require a standard objective that stipulates what the applicant wishes to do with their career, instead the employee wants to see what an applicant can do and has done. The first start to any good resume is a professional summary that caters to the job description.

In fact, the whole resume should cater to the job description.

Use key words Using key words from the job description, will make your resume stand out from the thousands of applicants searching

Use a clear format Resumes should be in chronological order, starting from the most recent position held. Each job should point out any where from two to five significant duties in that position.

Be specific When describing the duties you conducted on each position, be sure to include strong verbs and be very specific.

Don’t forget to use quantifiers whenever possible (i.e. managed sales team of 20 employees).

Education Education, although very important, should always come towards the bottom of any resume. Employers are generally more interested in seeing what experience you have in the field.

Avoid simple mistakes Above all proofread, proofread and proofread. One immediate way to get your resume tossed out is with simple spelling or grammar errors.

Keep it (relatively) simple The length of resumes varies, depending on experience. Although you don’t want to make your resume too cumbersome and long, you do want to show your experience.

For those who have been in the professional market for a while two to three-page resumes aren’t necessarily bad, for those right out of school, the resume should be limited to one page.

Contact information varies per each person. Some put it all down (i.e. home number, cell number, email and home address), while others limit the amount of information provided. Whichever your preference, make sure that the information you do provide is valid and continuously checked.

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Take advantage of this resource offered to job seekers and businesses by the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation utilizing the Maryland Workforce Exchange Virtual One Stop System (MWE-VOS).

Larry Hogan, Governor  Boyd K. Rutherford, Lt. Governor  Kelly M. Schulz, Secretary

The AFRO American Newspapers - 2015 Diversity in Careers and Education Expo

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Five Things To Know Before a Job Interview

By Kamau High Managing Editor khigh@afro.com

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job interview is a lot like a date. Both people are trying to figure out if they should make a commitment to each other while at the same time trying to show their best self. The person doing the interviewing is comparing you to all the other people they’ve interviewed not just that day but over the past several weeks. You want to stand out, but not in a bad way.

Here are some tips that can help you take your job interview to the next level.

1. Be prepared Don’t just look at the company’s web site. Read recent news articles about it. What are people saying about the company in forums and on blog posts? Is the company struggling or doing well? Make sure you have something to say if asked what the company should do differently. The answer is less important than the ability to show that you are ready to offer solutions.

2. Respect the person interviewing you Arrive at the interview 10-15 minutes early. Don’t bring drinks with you. Turn your phone off. Make eye contact. Offer a firm handshake when you first meet. Be nice to everyone you meet

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from the person who brings you into the interview to the security guard at the front desk. The person with hiring power might just be filling in at the front desk while the administrative assistant runs an errand.

3. Be ready to talk about yourself Why do you want this job? What makes you different from all the other candidates? What is your biggest strength? What is your greatest weakness? Where do you see yourself in five years? What is your biggest accomplishment? What is your biggest failure?

These are all common interview questions and you should have concise answers that put you and your skills in the best light.

4. Say thank you Thank the interviewer for taking the time to talk to you. Follow up with a thank you email that references something positive that came up during the interview.

5. Keep your politics to yourself Unless you are interviewing to work on a political campaign, keep your views on politics and religion to yourself. You never know when what you think is common and mainstream might be deeply offensive to someone else. Plus, no one wants to listen to your plan on how to reform the government no matter how brilliant you think it is.

The AFRO American Newspapers - 2015 Diversity in Careers and Education Expo

Five Rules for Dressing for Success

By Kamau High Managing Editor khigh@afro.com

E

very workplace is different. At some jobs everyone, women included, wear suits and closed toe shoes. At others, T-shirts and jeans are not only acceptable but you would stick out in a bad way if you wore suit. Here are some rules to keep in mind as you decide what to wear to an interview:

1. Ask ahead of time The best way to know what to wear to a job interview is to ask head of time. When the Human Resources person sets up your appointment ask them what the company’s dress code is. Then, follow it.

2. Try on your clothes ahead of time If you haven’t been on a interview in some time it’s best to try on your interview clothes a few days before the interview. They may need to be washed, altered by a tailor or have a rip repaired. Have you

gained or lost weight since your last wore your dress clothes? Better to find out while you still have time to make sure you can do something about your outfit than right before the interview.

3. Do not wear logos or messages A job interview is not the place to send a message or sell a product. No matter how relevant or cool your shirt with a message may be, including shirts with designer logos on them, leave it at home. Not only does it make you seem unprofessional, your potential employer may disagree with your message.

4. Less is more Perfume, cologne, accessories and jewelry should be kept to a minimum. Not only is it distracting but your potential employer might think you care more about your appearance than doing the job.

5. Dress like you already work there

Unless you are applying to work at nightclub, don’t dress like you are going to one. This includes revealing clothing for men and women. Remember, the goal is to stand out just not a bad way.

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The AFRO American Newspapers - 2015 Diversity in Careers and Education Expo

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