Fall 2010 Job Search Guide

2010 Career Services Fall and Spring Semester Hours of Operation Mon. - Thurs.

Fridays

8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

LBJ Student Center Suite 5-7.1 Service 24/7 at: www.careerservices.txstate.edu

Board of Regents Bernie C. Francis, Chairman............................Carrollton Trisha S. Pollard, Vice Chairman.........................Bellaire Dora G. Alcala......................................................Del Rio Charlie Amato...............................................San Antonio John E. Dudley...............................................Comanche Dionicio "Don" Flores..........................................El Paso Ron Blatchley .............................Bryan | College Station Greg Wilkinson......................................................Dallas Michael Truncale.............................................Beaumont

Charles R. Matthews, Chancellor

This guide cannot be copied or reproduced in any way without prior written approval of Career Services.

This information is available in alternate format upon request from the Office of Disability Services.

A member of The Texas State University System

Job Search Guide Job Fair Preparation................................................................3 Your Job Search Tips for a Successful Day at the Job Fair.............................4 Overview of Career Services................................................5 Assessing Yourself: Job Search Readiness..........................6 Steps to an Effective Job Search..........................................8 Going Online with Your Job Search......................................10 Résumés The Résumé.......................................................................11 Résumé Critiquing Guide....................................................12 Sample Résumés................................................................13 Letters Cover Letter Format and Sample........................................14 Sample Thank-You and Acceptance Letters.......................15 Withdrawal and Rejection Letters.......................................16 Job Interviews Guidelines for International Students..................................17 On-Campus Interviewing Procedures.................................18 Guidelines for Job Interviewing...........................................19 Some Do's and Don'ts in Interviewing.................................20 How to Dress for Interviews................................................21 Questions, Questions, Questions.......................................22 Behavioral Interviews — What are they?............................24 The 'Case' for the Case Interview.......................................25 The Second Interview.........................................................26 Job Offers Tips on Salary Negotiation..................................................27 Accepting or Rejecting an Offer..........................................29 Assessing Your Salary Needs.............................................30 Choosing the Best Offer......................................................31 Professionalism The Matter of Manners: Guide to Dining Etiquette.............32 Professional Image.............................................................34 Making the Transition From College to Career...................31

plan.

Dear Seniors:

ion of your on the complet ng si cu fo be u will Marcos and niversity-San During 2010 yo U te ta S s xa as how, er at Te decisions such or academic care aj m e lv vo ills and his will in ployed. The sk em your future. T be ill w u whom yo te will be the where, and with d at Texas Sta ire e to qu ac ve ha u y. We would lik et ci so to knowledge yo ns io rtant contribut source of impo ributions. ize those cont help you maxim g Career an outstandin d pe lo ve de is to e have e of this office os rp To this end, w pu y ar im sist you in e. The pr counsel to as d Services offic an es ic rv ur abilities sional se patible with yo m co provide profes t os m t employmen obtaining the and interests. eer Services the staff of Car ith w t si vi to you will find you mester. I know I strongly urge se ll fa e th in iendly. ssible dgeable and fr le as early as po ow kn l, fu lp ar and a ient, he llent senior ye ce ex them to be effic an r fo s best wishe You have my reer.

Greetings successful ca Stud

Joanne H. Smith

Sincerely,

Smith Dr. Joanne H. irs for Student Affa nt Vice Preside

search. contact.

This booklet will guide you in the steps to take for success. ents:

Congratula tions on yo ur success to develop here in colle your plans ge! As you for life afte is here to a r college, p work hard ssist you in lease know any way th ing studen that our sta at we can. ts take adv ff Typically, o antage of o ur graduatur services in the follo Caree wing areas r Planning : — assista school vs. nce if you the work w a re orld, and/o debating g jor may ap r if you are raduate ply in the w unsure of h ork world.

ow your m a Job Se arch Strate gies — a or improve ssistance if upon your you need to jo emphasis learn abou has been p b searching skills an t d techniqu la ced on the search bec es. Recen use of new ause we w tly, ant you to technology ment. feel comfo in the job rtable in th at environ Emplo yer Contac ts — oppo tact with e rtunities fo mployers th r you to ma rough care résumé re ke direct c er days, ca ferral syste onmpus interv m. iewing and a We are es pecially ha p p y our service s more con that this year we will again offer veniently a This manu nd efficien more of al p tly through you need to rovides more details our Web s on all of ou do in order ite. r se to use them cess in the developme . I wish you rvices and what n c t and imple would also ontinued s mentation uclike to enc of your care ourage you share your er plans. I to success sto stay in tou ch with ou ries with u r office and s.

We look fo rward to as sisting you .

Sincerely,

Curt Schafer

Curt Schafe r Director of C

areer Serv

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JobFair FairPreparation Preparation Job

Tipsfor foraaSuccessful SuccessfulDay Dayat atthe theFair Fair Tips

Job Fairs

Remember:

A Job Fair or Job EXPO provides an important step in the career exploration and job search process. These events are formatted to provide an open forum where large numbers of students have an opportunity to interact with numerous employers. Organizations participate in these events to meet students, recruit employees, and provide information about career options. Career Services invites you to attend all of our special events throughout the year to gather information and to begin developing a network of contacts.

You will take from this event exactly what you put into it. Be assertive and positive.

For Seniors, Graduates and Alumni

• Don't stand in a long line; keep moving and return • Don't stand in a long line; keep moving and return later. later.

• The day is designed so that you may have informal • Don't hesitate to approach a representative. conversations with the employers and maybe • Have your résumé ready, and be prepared for an even a formal interview. interview.

• Don't hesitate to approach a representative or to • If the employer says they do not have a position in join a group already in discussion. your field, ask for the address of the Human • Take notes during your conversations if you wish.

Resources Office so you can write or e-mail.

• Be sure to ask about internships, co-ops and sum Nearly all employers hire all types of majors. mer employment.

The person you are talking with may not be aware • Be sure to send a thank-you letters to employers of all the opportunities offered by his/her company. thanking them for the opportunity to visit with • If you make an appointment for an interview, keep it. them.

• Be sure to send thank-you letters to employers thanking them for the opportunity to visit with Sample Questions them.

Tips for Success at Job Fairs • Research the companies. At least two weeks prior to the event, visit www.careerservices.txstate.edu ( Jobs4Cats) for a tentative list of employers attending.

• Be prepared to go beyond the face at the booth. Sometimes the company isn't hiring for the position that you want. Get the name of the HR Director or the hiring manager of the department in which you are interested.

• Make a great impression. Dress professionally. Refer to information in this guide on "How to Dress For Interviews." Come prepared to give a brief introduction of yourself and your goals to each recruiter you visit.

• Follow up after the fair. Collect business cards and write thank-you notes or letters.

Sample Questions • “What is the ideal profile of the person in this job?”

• “What skills do you use that make you successful at what you do?”

• “Which parts of your job are most challenging?”

• “What does your company do well versus its compe- tition?”

• “What recent changes have forced your company to refocus its efforts?”

• “What has the impact of these efforts been?”

• “What is at the top of your to-do list?"

Notes:

Job Search Guide 2010

For Undergraduates

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Job Search Guide 2010

• “In researching your company, I discovered that you offered several different kinds of internships.

Could you tell me more about __________?”

• “How is your internship structured?”

• "What would an intern do in the job on a typical day?”

• “What advice do you have for me, as someone who is interested in this career field?”

• "I am a (classification) and I am looking for a summer job or internship with your (company/ agency) in the field of (career field)."

Notes:

Assessing Yourself: Job Search Readiness

Overview of Career Services

T

he Texas State Career Services office provides assistance to undergraduates, graduate students and alumni who seek help in formulating and implementing career plans. Our services consist of career planning, career counseling, job search preparation and employer connections. If you are not a Texas State undergrad or graduate, check with your Career Services office for additional information.

Career Services is open year-round. During the regular academic year the office is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Summer hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students can call 512.245.2645 or stop by the LBJ Student Center, Room 5-7.1, to schedule appointments.

You are encouraged to visit our Web site to find out more about our office: www.careerservices.txstate.edu

Workshops

Y

ou may soon have your diploma in hand, but how ready are you to tackle the job search? Before contacting employers, you should do your homework and be well prepared to communicate your job search objective, your skills and qualifications and how these relate to particular employers. Your responses to the following questions will provide an assessment of your job search readiness and point you toward some helpful resources.

Workshops are scheduled each semester on a variety of job search topics, including résumé writing, interviewing techniques, researching prospective employers, salary negotiation and other career related topics. Presentations can be made to organizations and classes, as well.

On-Campus Interviews From late September until mid-November and again in February, March and April, representatives from business, industry and government visit campus to interview Texas State students. Procedures are described in detail in this guide and are also available on our Web site at www.careerservices.txstate.edu.

How Much Do You Know About Yourself?

Career Information Center

Job Fairs

• 10 station PC lab • Job postings and internships databases • Sigi3 and other career exploration resources • Job search sites and Internet links • Employer literature/binders • Information on majors and career fields • Directories such as the City Book of Lists, Chamber of Commerce,

and National Association Directories • Videotapes on companies and the job search • Salary survey information

Employers are invited to visit the Texas State campus throughout the year to speak with students about their organizations and what qualifications they seek in new hires. The job fairs coordinated

by Career Services are: Fall Job and Internship Fair (October), Health Professions and Social Services Job Fair (October), MassComm Career Fair (October), Construction Job Fair (October and February), Teacher Job Fairs (November and April), Summer Job Fair (February), and the Spring Job and Internship EXPO (February).

• Clearly articulate what you have learned during your university

preparation as it relates to the type of job you are seeking?

• Explain the reasons you selected your major and minor?

• Identify and describe your greatest strengths?

• Recall prior experiences and activities and list five things you did

well? Five things you enjoyed most? Five things you learned?

• Describe prior experiences and activities in terms of

transferable skills?

• Prioritize your top five work related values?

• Describe your ideal work environment including the characteristics

that would make you happiest and most productive?

• Clearly state your career goals?

• Explain the contributions you expect to make to a

prospective employer?

• Identified your geographical preferences and limitations?

Individual Assistance Students are encouraged to discuss job search plans with the director, associate director, assistant directors, career advisors, and career counselors in Career Services. Individual career counseling appointments are recommended at least 1-2 days in advance for these services. Our professional staff is also available to review résumés and cover letters and offer suggestions for possible improvements.

Can you...

All students are invited to take advantage of this unique opportunity to network with employers and to learn more about potential job possibilities with their organizations.

Employers frequently advertise specific job opportunities through Career Services. These announcements include full, part-time and summer jobs, internships and work-study positions. These jobs are accessible through Jobs4Cats on our Web site. We also provide a résumé referral service to employers to assist them in filling job vacancies.

If you answered "no," you would most likely benefit from individual career counseling. The most appealing candidates are those who are knowledgeable about who they are and can effectively sell themselves to potential employers. Clear and confident answers to the above questions are essential in conducting a successful job search.

How Much Do You Know About the World of Work?

The Enigmatic GPA

Can you...

Multiply the credit hour of each course you have completed by the numerical value of the letter grade for each separate course (i.e., A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0). Add them together to obtain the “Grade Value Sum.” Next add the number of credit hours (not grades) for all courses in question to obtain the “Credit Hour Sum.” Divide the “Grade Value Sum” by the “Credit Hour Sum” to obtain your GPA. Pass-fail courses and non-credit courses are not included when calculating GPA. For example:

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National Multicultural Job EXPO 2006

• List 10 job titles or employment fields that would match your

qualifications and interests?

• Identify the types of organizations that employ people in these

positions/fields?

• Name at least 10 organizations that you plan to contact regarding

employment opportunities?

• Discuss the structure, services, programs or products of the

organizations you plan to contact?

• State reasons for your interest in each of these organizations?

If you answered "no," you should learn more about the world of work Job Search Guide 2010

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Job Search Guide 2010

before proceeding with your job search. By doing so, you will be able to identify opportunities that most closely match your qualifications and interests. If you need help generating job possibilities, check out the Career Services Web site link to “What Can I Do With a Major in...?”

Also, information at interviews with individuals who work in areas that interest you are an excellent source of information. A handout is available in Career Services to get you started. For assistance in researching employers, you might find the Internet Resources links helpful. Refer to information in this guide on what you should research.

Are You Ready to Contact Employers?

Have you...

• Prepared a résumé that accurately reflects your knowledge,

experience and accomplishments?

• Had your résumé critiqued in Career Services?

• Composed a letter of application, a follow-up letter and a

thank-you letter?

• Determined the salary range for people with your major and for

positions you are considering?

• Prepared to answer the questions employers are likely to ask you in

an interview?

• Developed an action plan with timeframes to implement your

job search?

• Developed a record-keeping system to enable you to keep track of

your job search?

• Name several relatives, friends or other acquaintances who might

know of jobs in your field?

• Registered and posted your résumé online?

• Checked the list of on-campus interview dates?

• Marked your calendar for this year's job fairs?

Counselors are available to provide individual feedback on résumés and job search letters and to conduct mock interviews.

Broaden your search It is essential that you use each and every resource available rather than focus on any one lead. Once you answer "yes" to each of these questions, you will be well on your way to a successful job search.

Good luck!

“

The noblest search is the search for excellence.”

­— Lyndon B. Johnson 36th President of the United States, 1963-1969

Southwest Texas State Teachers' College Class of 1930 (now Texas State University-San Marcos)

National Multicultural Job EXPO 2006

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Steps To An Effective Job Search

L

earning to search for satisfying, professional employment is a skill you must master. It is a critical skill since job hunting is an activity you will repeat throughout your life. Students often become underemployed because they have not learned this process. The following information covers the basics of what you must know to become a successful job seeker.

1. Define Your Job Objective Self-assessment is your first step and it’s absolutely essential. It’s impossible to know where to look or how to market yourself if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Identify your areas of interest and abilities. Determine your interests, from sports or health to environmental or international issues, then take action in that direction. No one will search you out. Opportunities arise and you become focused when you take action. If you are unsure of your interests and abilities and how they relate to careers, make an appointment with a career counselor to assist you in the self-assessment process. In addition to gathering and analyzing information about yourself, it is necessary to learn about the world of work in order to define your objective. Your research will give you a chance to examine the feasibility of your goals. This type of information can be obtained from the following sources, which may be available in your Career Services office.

• Visit Your Career Center

Printed occupational information, such as career books, occupational guides and directories, can be used to clarify and confirm your initial impressions about a career field and to obtain occupational descriptions. Computers are also available to use for your career planning and job search purposes.

• Research Employers in Job Choices

This publication from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) contains brief descriptions of employers throughout the country, along with information about the people they hire.

• Use Computerized Resources

The e-DISCOVER program allows you to type in a code for an occupation and get answers to questions regarding position description, skills, salary, etc. A link to the "Best College Student Job Search Sites" is included on the Texas State Career Services Web site on the "students" page.

• Network with Professionals

Speaking to someone about the type of work in which you are interested expands on the information you obtained through printed and computerized resources, and you will gain a valuable contact. Attend a Job Fair or participate in job shadowing to network with employers.

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Job Search Guide 2010

• Get Experience

The final method of learning about the world of work is to sample various work experiences. This may be done through job shadowing, internships, volunteer activities and part-time employment. Career Services can also assist you in obtaining this experience.

2. Identify and Target Potential Employers In looking for employment, students will often read a few ads, sign up with an employment agency and then go home and wait. Unfortunately, the wait can be a long one. In order to conduct a successful job search, you will need to take a more active approach and discover where the opportunities are in your occupational field and whom to contact. This information is available in employer directories, professional journals, company literature and organizational Web sites.

Again, these resources are available in the Career Information Center and the Career Services Web site through the Internet Resources links. Use these resources to establish a list of potential employers.

3. Develop Job Seeking Tools and Skills To effectively market yourself you will need to create a professional résumé and polish your interviewing skills. Additional information is provided within this manual to assist you in these areas.

4. Initiate Contact Since many available positions are never advertised, it may be up to you to initiate contact with a prospective employer to find these “hidden jobs.” Employer contact may be passive (responding to an ad) or active (telephoning and introducing yourself ). Below are four methods for making contact with employers.

• Look for Job Postings

Job postings can be found in journals, newsletters, newspapers and online. They are useful because they tell you about jobs that somebody wants to fill immediately. To respond to a posting, contact the organization to obtain the name and address of the individual responsible for hiring. Tailor your response to fit the job. Highlight experiences and accomplishments that directly relate to the specific opening. Be sure that your reply sparks the reader’s interest. After two weeks, follow up with a phone call checking the status of your application and inquiring as to possible interview times.

• Personal Contact

Personal contacts are by far the most effective method of identifying prospective employers. Contacts may be established through friends, relatives, co-workers, clubs or organizations. The ongoing development of these contacts, sometimes referred to as networking, is an important component of a successful jobsearch strategy.

• Developing a List of Networking Contacts 1. Make a list of all the people you know.

2. Contact the individuals and ask for help. Gather information about career areas, job openings and referrals.

3. Advertise that you are job searching and follow up on all leads. Talk with anyone and everyone.

4. Remember that first impressions are important. Preparation is the key to being articulate and confident.

• Direct Contact 1. Probably the most important step in the job-search process is to meet face-to-face with the potential employer. Remember, you cannot market yourself as effectively on paper or over the telephone as you can in person. People are hired as the result of interviews, and the primary goal in all of your job seeking efforts should be to obtain an interview. This is known as job scoping—you are contacting the employer and arranging an interview to learn of opportunities.

2. Practice explaining your marketable skills. Prepare a brief description of your background and outstanding accomplishments.

3. Call the company to learn the name of the person who has the power to hire you. Contact them directly.

4. Ask about future openings and for advice on your job search.

5. Schedule the appointment at the employer's convenience and at the employer's office.

6. Write a thank-you note and continue to check back periodically.

5. Make a Commitment to Your Search Be persistent and patient. It is not unreasonable to devote six months to job searching. The person who gets the job today is the one who persists and doesn’t give up. Pursue all possible avenues and be ready to experience rejection. The more “no’s” you hear, the closer you are to that one important “yes.”

Be willing to commit several hours a week to job hunting and maintain a positive attitude. This shows that you are confident and shows what you can do for an employer. This attitude comes from knowing who you are and what you want to do, having the information you need, and knowing how to conduct an effective job search.

“

Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you.” ­ Aldous Huxley — English novelist and essayist

Going Online With Your Job Search

I

f you are looking for a job, the Internet is an informatio superhighway that gives you access to numerous career, employment and company sites with just a few mouse clicks.

At the Starting Line Before you go online, be sure to have your résumé ready to send to employers electronically. You may want to have two versions of your résumé. One version should be a plain text version in case you encounter sites that will ask you to input your résumé data as opposed to uploading a document. Your plain text résumé will make it easy to copy and paste into those databases. In Microsoft Word, there is the option to "Save As" a plain text file (.txt).

View the Net From the Employer's Perspective Employers from corporate America to government agencies are increasingly turning on to the net. They are actively hunting for talent through commercial résumé data banks, niche sites for a specific profession and their own corporate home pages.

Preparing Your Electronic Résumé You may choose to send your résumé via e-mail or post it on databases located on commercial online services, bulletin boards, newsgroups or mailing lists. For résumés, the Internet is predominately a text-based (not voice/video-based) tool. The first impressions you make during your job search are always the strongest, so it's critical that the application letter and résumé you send via e-mail immediately set the right tone with the reader. Figuring out how to get discovered and stand out on employers' computer screens is actually quite simple. The answer is, key words!

Today's Internet search programs leverage off of key words, and key words tend to be nouns. Pay attention to the job descriptions, skills, software programs and talents the employer is seeking. Use key words in your application and resume so that they naturally fit the key word searches a hiring manager would employ when scanning the résumé databases. Some applicants even create a “key word” section, along with experience and education.

Close the Sale the Old-Fashioned Way Placing your electronic résumé in various places on the Internet is one thing, but getting a job is quite another. The Web may give you access to job leads, but your success will hinge upon your ability to follow up and close the sale during the interview.

After making your online applications, look for contact information. You will want to follow up with telephone calls. It is recommended that you verify that your application was received. A telephone call will also allow you the opportunity to reiterate your interest and help the employer make an association with a résumé.

You will encounter employers that do not allow telephone calls, however you should continue to follow up on your application with the contact means provided in the posting.

Because organizations put so much information on their Web sites, you can now conduct your research in a fraction of the time that it would take using traditional means. So there's really no excuse for not being prepared for your interviews. Be sure to give as much consideration to interviews that you have obtained through online job searches as you would to those received through more traditional means. And finally, always follow up with a thank-you e-mail.

Suggested Job Search Sites Visit the Career Services' Recommended Internet Resources link for easy access to job search Web sites. You can find it under the student menu.

E-mail Etiquette (“Netiquette”) Always think before you send a message. How you communicate using e-mail is very important.

Think about the impression you are making!

• Be aware of your e-mail address ­— make sure that it is appropriate and does not convey immaturity.

• Never write messages that you wouldn't want to be public knowledge.

• Make your subject line meaningful (ex: Interior Designer Position or Alexia Bobcat Resume for Project Manager Position).

• Keep the length of your e-mail messages reasonable.

• Always use correct grammar and spelling.

• Remember that electronic job search correspondence requires the same level of professionalism as traditional methods.

• Never use all uppercase letters in your messages as it is interpreted as shouting at a person.

• Close the message with your name, address and phone number.

Job Search Guide 2010

Résumé Critiquing Guide

The Résumé Overview A résumé is a brief history of your accomplishments that you prepare for potential employers. It should formulate a clear picture of your career goals and competencies in an easy-to-read style. The résumé should be well organized so that the reader can identify your strong points at a glance. An effective résumé markets your skills rather than simply listing responsibilities, with the goal of securing an interview.

When mailing, faxing or e-mailing a résumé, you should always include a cover letter. Keep in mind that your résumé serves as a guide for you and the interviewer while discussing your background in an interview and acts a reminder of your professional identity in the ensuing deliberations. The following guidelines will help you in creating an effective résumé.

W

Include relevant full and part-time jobs, internships, summer jobs, volunteer experience, extended research projects, assistantships and extracurricular activities.

Presentation Concerns

Honors and Awards

Have you ranked in order the different sections (after your heading and objective) from most to least important? While still maintaining chronological order, did you begin with what you see as most relevant, most impressive about your (education, work, skills, etc.)?

If you helped defray college costs consider indicating what percentage of your education you paid for (see sample résumés in this guide).

List offices, committees, responsibilities and results of projects and activities. This illustrates leadership qualities and how you spend your time. Significant offices held should be listed first.

Layout/Appearance

Include memberships, speeches and publications.

Is it typed without mistakes and formatted in an easy-to-read manner? Is your résumé scannable? Have you used white space, (margins, spacing and capital letters) effectively?

Skills

List name, school address, zip code, area code, phone number and e-mail address where you can be reached during the day. List two phone numbers if no answering machine is available or if you can accept personal phone calls at work. Also, list a permanent address and telephone number so that an employer can reach you when you leave Texas State.

Computer (hardware and software), foreign language proficiency or level of ability.

Prepare a brief, clearly defined statement of the type of position for which you wish to be considered. The objective may be stated: (1) by job title (2) by level or type of responsibility (3) in terms of skills you wish to use or develop (4) a combination of all three. If you have difficulty in defining your career objective, visit a Career Services professional for some assistance.

Develop a focus to target your degree to specific employers and positions. Two or three different résumés may be needed.

Your career objective represents the theme of your résumé, with the remaining information supporting your goal.

Education Begin with the most recent degree (omit high school). Include degree received, date of graduation, university, location and major.

Experience List position, organization, location and dates of employment in reverse chronological order.

Use action verbs when writing your job descriptions, state the positive aspects of your work, include accomplishments and skills learned, and quantify with numbers when possible.

Length/Relevance Can you provide a rationale for each piece of information included (in terms of its relevance)? Have you presented the material concisely? Have you considered an opening summary section if your résumé is two pages?

References List “References available upon request.” It is not appropriate to list your references on your résumé.

Writing Style

Sample List of Action Verbs

Does your text convey all of your important qualifications through key words, skill summaries, action verbs, and the use of appropriate examples? Have you avoided generalities and focused on specific projects, products, etc.? Have you used short concise statements, and avoided using personal pronouns (I, me, my)?

(use correct verb tense)

Management: administered, analyzed, consolidated, contracted, coordinated, delegated, directed, evaluated, improved, increased, planned, prioritized, scheduled Communication: addressed, arbitrated, collaborated, convinced, corresponded, created, formulated, interpreted, mediated, promoted, reconciled, wrote Creative: acted, conceptualized, customized, designed, developed, established, illustrated, initiated, performed Financial: allocated, appraised, audited, balanced, budgeted, calculated, forecasted, marketed, projected

Helping: assessed, assisted, clarified, counseled, demonstrated, guided, motivated, represented Research: collected, diagnosed, examined, extracted, inspected, interviewed, investigated, organized, researched, reviewed, summarized, surveyed

Have you checked for uncertainties regarding spelling, sentence structure, wording or punctuation?

Many organizations will scan an applicant's résumé into a database when he/she applies for a position. You will need to make sure that no important information is lost in the scanning process. To make sure that you increase your chances of being electronically selected, follow these simple guidelines:

Technical: assembled, computed, devised, maintained, operated, overhauled, programmed, solved, upgraded

• Use plain, white, 8 1/2" x 11" paper.

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Are your name and address clear?

Have you included your phone number(s) and e-mail address?

Career Objective Does your career objective describe the position without sounding too specific or too vague?

Have you used phrases to describe your career fields?

If your goals are diverse, are you using résumés with different objectives for various interviews?

Education Is the name of the degree, major, date of graduation and institution clear? Did you include specific areas of study? Have you included honors/awards; high GPAs? If you lack significant work experience, have you presented course projects, special research or other education-related experiences?

Experience Have you emphasized skills and used action verbs?

Have you explained actual activities and accomplishments?

Are experiences cited in reverse chronological order, most recent first?

If you've included a “Highlights of Qualifications” section, have you emphasized job-related qualities?

Have you included technical skills?

Have you provided clear and concise examples of how you have demonstrated these qualities or skills?

Guidelines for Scannable Résumés

Teaching: advised, adapted, coached, communicated, enabled, encouraged, explained, facilitated, informed, instructed, persuaded, set goals, stimulated, trained

Job Search Guide 2010

Heading

Personal Qualities/Special Skills

Grammar, Spelling, Syntax

Final Notes

Are you proud of the way your résumé looks and reads? If you were an employer, would you want to interview the person represented by this résumé?

Content Concerns

Sequencing of Information

Identifying Information

Career Objective

hen reviewing your résumé, ask yourself these questions to see if your résumé needs improvement in any of these areas:

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Job Search Guide 2010

• Use popular, nondecorative typefaces.

• Use a font size of 10 to 14 points.

• Avoid graphics and shading; don't compress spaces between letters.

• Avoid horizontal and vertical lines (borders).

• Avoid italic text, script and underlining • Use bold sparingly, and preferably not on key words.

• Avoid staples and folds.

• Place name alone on first line.

• Clearly state functional and geographic preferences in career objective.

Consider inserting a summary or key words list near the top of the résumé, in which the most important key words that identify your skills and other qualifications are listed in plain type. Remember, when your résumé is scanned it is being read by a computer, not by a person!

Sample Chronological Résumé

Sample Functional Résumé Polly A. Parrot

Richard M. Smith Present Address: 3124 West Sixth Street San Marcos, TX 78666

PERMANENT ADDRESS: 111 Main Street Houston, TX 75555

(512) 754-0102 bobcat@txstate.edu

(713) 222-3333

OBJECTIVE

Seeking a position with an advertising agency.

EDUCATION

May 20XX BA, Mass Communication, minor in English Texas State University-San Marcos Paid for 80% of college education while maintaining a 3.5 GPA

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Current Address: 111 LBJ Street #123 San Marcos, TX 78666 (512) 754-0000 bobcat2@txstate.edu

August 2005 - Present. Intern, GSD&M, Austin, Texas

• Assist in creating business-to-business brochures, including art design.

• Write copy for flyers and display ads.

• Make cold calls to prospective clients.

• Position requires extensive use of desktop publishing programs.

•

20XX-XX. Production Manager, B&J Co., San Marcos, Texas Supervised 3 employees editing advertisement for Radio Sports.

20XX-XX. Ad Sales/Reporter, University Star, San Marcos, Texas Sold ads for University Paper.

Social Events Reporter.

EXPERIENCE

20XX-XX. Summer jobs and part-time work.

SKILLS

Photography; Computer Proficiency; Research and Analysis; Public Speaking; Customer Service.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND HONORS

• President's Scholarship • Vice President of American Marketing Association • Editor/Historian of Mortar Board

REFERENCES

Available upon request.

OBJECTIVE

Seeking a position as a human services counselor.

HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

• • • •

Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Extremely sociable; able to put clients at ease.

Well organized, detail oriented, resourceful individual.

Confident, poised, strongly self-motivated.

RELEVANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS Presentation/Communication Skills: • Facilitated individual and group therapeutic discussions among clients.

• Trained clients in basic coping skills.

• Motivated adolescents in meeting goals.

• Documented client progress reports.

• Compiled records and schedules and catalogued laboratory reports.

• Presented workshop on multiculturalism.

Fall 2004. Intern, Target Market, Houston, Texas Coordinated initial layout for introducing advertising company for Crest Inc.'s advertising campaign.

Permanent Address: 9876 Puzzle Drive New Orleans, LA 70102 (504) 999-4567

•

Organizational/Management Skills: • Delegated responsibility for creating and producing educational and entertaining programming for community and students.

• Managed $50,000 budget for Campus Entertainment Committee.

• Negotiated contracts for musicians, speakers, performers, caterers, and media outlets.

• Organized student volunteers to work on campus entertainment programs.

• Developed publicity flyers/posters, wrote press releases, and created public service announcements.

• Assisted in creating guidelines for administrative review board.

• •

Society of Collegiate Journalists, Advertising Club, American PROFESSIONAL Marketing Association, National Speech Communication ORGANIZATIONS Association.

Job Search Guide 2010

EDUCATION

BA in Sociology, minor in English, May 20XX Texas State University-San Marcos Cumulative GPA: 3.2 Major GPA: 3.5

EMPLOYMENT

REFERENCES

2000-Present. Mental Health Worker. Oaks Treatment Center.

19XX-19XX. Medical Records Clerk. San Marcos Free Clinic.

19XX-19XX. Student Coordinator. Campus Organizations.

Summer 19XX. Counselor. Youth Opportunities Unlimited.

Summer 19XX. Village Leader. Lutheran Outdoor & Retreat.

Available upon request.

Job Search Guide 2010

Sample Cover Letter Format

Sample Cover Letter

• Always enclose a cover letter when you mail or e-mail a résumé.

• Cover letters should be individually typed and signed.

• Cover letters should be brief, one page, and follow the general guidelines given below.

• Leave a 1" margin on all sides; make top and bottom margins equal.

Your Street Address City, State Zip Code Date of Letter Contact's Name Title Company Name Address City, State Zip Code

Rocky Berry Hall San Marcos, TX 78666 October 15, 20xx

Address your letter to a specific person. Employers tend to be complimented when you know their names and titles. Consequently, it is worthwhile to make an effort to find out. If you cannot find out the contact's name, address to the "title" of the contact.

Dear Mr. Alexander: Your opening paragraph should arouse interest on the part of the reader. Tell why you are writing the letter, the specific position or type of work for which you are applying, and how you learned of the opening. Give information to show your specific interest in this company.

Your middle paragraphs should create desire. Give details of your background that will show the reader why you should be considered as a candidate. Be as specific as possible about the kind of job you want. Mention why you are interested in the position, the organization, its products or its services. Above all, indicate what you can do for the employer. If you are a recent graduate, explain how your academic background makes you a qualified candidate. If you have some practical work experience, point out your specific achievements or unique qualifications. Don’t make the reader try to guess what you would be interested in.

Refer the reader to your general qualifications on your enclosed résumé. Use as much space as you need to tell your story, but keep it brief and to the point.

In your closing paragraph you ask for action. Indicate your desire for a personal interview. You may want to suggest alternative dates and times or simply advise employers of your flexibility as to the time and place. Repeat your phone number in the letter and offer any assistance to help in a speedy response. A positive request is harder to ignore than a vague hope.

Sincerely, Sign your name here Your Name Enclosure

Ms. J.B. Price Labor Relations Manager Golden Enterprises, Inc. 185 Broad Street Chicago, IL 60600 Dear Ms. Price: Mr. Curt Schafer, Director of Career Services at Texas State, recently suggested that I write you concerning your opening and my interest in a labor relations assistant position. With a BBA in personnel management and courses in labor economics, collective bargaining and labor law, I am confident that I could make a positive contribution to your organization.

The last two summers, I worked as a general laborer on a production line, once in a unionized shop and once in an unorganized plant. My ability to appreciate several points of view on labor problems should prove to be a major asset in my future career performance. Before I left my last summer job, my supervisor had recommended that I be hired as a first-line foreman after graduation. Although I am enthusiastic about the foreman’s position, I think my energies and resourcefulness might be better suited to tactfully handling union-management problems as a third party in the grievance steps. This assignment has been a four-year goal for me in college. My enclosed résumé better highlights my education and experience. My leadership roles in campus politics should strengthen and support my abilities to serve as a labor relations assistant. I am eager to speak with you to show you why I am a strong candidate for the position.

I have friends in Chicago that I could stay with on weekends, so any Friday or Monday would be ideal for an appointment. In three days I will call you to see if your schedule might be open. I look forward to getting together with you soon. Please call me for additional information.

Sincerely,

James J. Assertive James J. Assertive Enclosure

13 Post Road #456 San Marcos, TX 78666 Month, Date, Year Mr. Jules Spinner, Director Technical Design Group Gulf Coast Engineering Systems, Inc. 1220 Warwick Avenue Houston, TX 74211

8123 West Avenue #788 San Marcos, TX 78666 November 2, 20xx

Express your sincere appreciation and re-emphasize your strongest qualifications in paragraph 1.

Draw attention to the good match between your qualifications and the job requirements in paragraph 2.

Ms. Melissa Bliss, Executive Director The Virginia School of Performing Arts 8989 Princess Anne Road Virginia Beach, VA 23465

Sample Thank-You Letter

Sample Withdrawal Letter State your decision, and provide and explanation in paragraph 1.

Dear Ms. Bliss:

Dear Mr. Spinner:

I am writing to inform you that I am withdrawing my application for the program coordinator position with the school. As I indicated in my interview with you, I have been exploring several employment possibilities. This week I was offered an administrative position with a local city government agency and, after careful consideration, I decided to accept it. The position provides a very good match for my interests at this point in my career.

Thank you very much for interviewing me yesterday for the associate engineer position. I enjoyed meeting you and learning more about your research and design work.

My enthusiasm for the position and my interest in working for GCES were strengthened as a result of the interview. I think my education and cooperative education experience fit nicely with the job requirements, and I am sure that I could make a significant contribution to the firm over time.

I want to reiterate my strong interest in the position and in working with you and your staff. You provide the kind of opportunity I seek. Please contact me at 512.333.4444 or II_engineer@yahoo.com if I can provide you with any additional information.

I want to thank you very much for interviewing and considering me for your position. I enjoyed meeting you and learning about the innovative community programs you are planning. You have a fine school and I wish you and your staff well.

Reiterate your interest in the position. Use the opportunity to provide or offer supplemental information not previously given in paragraph 3.

Best Wishes,

Jane Job Seeker

Again, thank you for the interview and your consideration.

Jane Job Seeker

Sincerely,

Ivan Interviewee

Ivan Interviewee

(Sample letters excerpted from NACE’s Job Choices 2004)

Express appreciation for the employer’s consideration and courtesy in paragraph 2.

507 Shore Drive San Marcos, TX 78666 Month, Date, Year Ms. Jane Krebs, Division Manager .

International Corporation Data 1212 Corporation Lane Houston, TX 74333

Confirm, accept and reaffirm your employment decision in paragraph 1.

Mr. George Duvall, Manager Sales and Marketing Division Colonial Properties, Ltd. 1700 Colonial Parkway Dallas, TX 77777

In rejecting an offer, you should

demonstrate your professionalism by acknowledging the job offer in paragraph 1.

Dear Mr. Duvall:

Dear Ms. Krebs:

Sample Acceptance Letter

1234 Pine Alley San Marcos, TX 78666 November 2, 20xx

Thank you very much for offering me the position of commercial leasing agent with Colonial Properties. I appreciate your discussing the details of the position with me and giving me time to consider your offer.

I am writing to confirm my acceptance of your employment offer of November 12 and to tell you how delighted I am to be joining Data International in Houston. The work is exactly what I have prepared to perform and hoped to do. I am confident that I can make a significant contribution to the corporation, and I am grateful for the opportunity you have given me.

Sample Rejection Letter

As we discussed, I will report to work at 8 a.m. on January 2 and will have completed the medical examination and drug testing by the start date. Additionally, I shall complete all employment and insurance forms for the new employee orientation on January 3.

You have a fine organization and there are many aspects of the position that are very appealing to me. However, I believe it is in our mutual best interest that I decline your kind offer. This has been a difficult decision for me, but I believe it is the appropriate one for my career at this time.

I want to thank you for the consideration and courtesy given to me. It was a pleasure meeting you and your fine staff.

I look forward to working with you and your fine team. I appreciate your confidence in me and am very happy to be joining your staff.

Regards,

Joe Student

Sincerely,

Joe Student

Carol Coed Carol Coed

Paragraph 2 should show thoughtful consideration.

In paragraph 3, express appreciation. letters excerpted from NACE’s Job Choices 2004) (Sample Confirm logistics in paragraph 2 and express your appreciation for the opportunity in paragraph 3.

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National Multicultural Job EXPO 2006

Job Search Guide 2010

(Sample letters excerpted from NACE’s “Planning Job Choices 2003”)

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National Multicultural Job EXPO 2006

19

On-Campus Interviewing Procedures

Guidelines For International Students

I

f you are an international student at Texas State University, you may be able to obtain work experience even though you have a student visa. Your student visa may allow you to do practical training related to your academic program. This training can be done while you are completing your courses or after you have completed your degree. You may also be able to do an internship or co-op experience if the work is closely related to your academic program.

First, go to the International Student Office to discuss your visa status, practical training hours and other employment options.

It is up to you to know and to clearly explain to employers your eligibility to work for them.

If you are not a U.S. citizen, clearly explain to potential employers that you are eligible to work legally here with a student visa.

Explain how long you can work under this arrangement.

It is important to realize that some organizations that recruit students at Texas State are government agencies or government contractors and thus, they can only hire U.S. citizens. However, there are other private sector businesses which can hire international students.

Begin Your Job Search To begin a search for a position, you will need a well-written résumé that represents your knowledge, skills and abilities. Include volunteer experiences, club participation—especially if you have held a leadership position—and class projects that can serve as demonstrations of your teamwork and knowledge. For more information on résumés, please read the section in this guide. You can receive assistance with the sentence structure of written English on campus from the Writing Center.

Career Services has professional staff who can critique the content and format of your résumé. This service is available either on an appointment basis or through the 24-hour résumé critiquing service.

To maximize your chance of finding an internship or full-time position, you will need to use as many job search strategies as possible. You can start by going to the Career Services Web site at www.careerservices.txstate.edu and registering with us. Also, check out the “Internet Resources” link for numerous job hunting Web sites and résumé and job posting databases. Career Services strongly recommends that you participate in on-campus interviewing, the Fall Job and Internship Fair in October and the Spring Job and Internship EXPO in February.

For detailed information on preparing for interviews visit our Web site and click on Students > Job Search Guide > Job interviews.

“

When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town, and as an older man, I tried to change my family. Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize now that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation, and I could indeed have changed the world.

-Changing the World

An Unknown Monk 1100

Job Search Guide 2010

Uploaded Résumé

You must have a résumé uploaded as one of your documents on Jobs4Cats to participate in on-campus interviewing.

Qualified Schedules 1. Login to Jobs4Cats from the Career Services homepage, www.careerservices.txstate.edu.

2. From your personalized main menu, select "Schedules" in the maroon navigation bar at the top of the screen.

3. To see all the schedules, select "Future Schedules" 4. To see schedules only for which you qualify, select "Qualified Schedules."

5. For more information on any schedule, click the ID number of the schedule.

If the "Current Sign Up Method" is "Open"

6. Click the "Sign Up" button to skip down the screen to the interview "session" information, and click on the interview date.

7. Click "Sign-up" for any of the available interview times.

8. Submit the document required by the employer in the pop-up "Student-Document Selection" box, click the "Save" button.

Interview Critique Policy Job candidates need to know how they are faring in their job search, so Career Services provides a means of evaluating your interview skills. Recruiters are asked to complete the optional interview critique (evaluation) form for each candidate with the understanding that neither their name nor the company’s name will be revealed. Students who have completed at least two on-campus interviews and have at least two critiques on file may schedule an appointment to discuss their results.

We wish you success in your campus interviews. If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail Josie Garrott ( JG01@txstate.edu).

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Job Search Guide 2010

9. Jobs4Cats will tell you that you have successfully signed up for the interview timeslot, and your name and résumé should appear at the selected time.

10. To cancel or switch your time, click the appropriately named link.

If the "Current Sign Up Method" is "Preselect"

6. Click the "Request Interview" button to skip down the screen to the interview "session" information.

7. Submit the document required by the employer in the pop-up "Student-Document Selection" box, and click the "Save" button.

8. Jobs4Cats will tell you that you have successfully submitted a request to interview, and the "Cancel Request" button will appear.

Future Schedules 1. To see schedules within a date range, by your classification or

Y

ou have now reached the interviewing stage of the job search process. All of your efforts up to this point have been designed to obtain an interview. Now you must put your best effort forward to secure the position.

Interviewing is a mutual exchange of information. Open communication between the employer and the job candidate facilitates the effectiveness and productiveness of the interview.

As the applicant, you need to focus your energy on selling yourself. Your main objectives are to communicate information about your skills and qualifications clearly and accurately, connecting this information to the requirements of the job for which you are interviewing. In addition, it is important that you seek additional information about the position and employer. This process will benefit you in deciding if the position is an appropriate fit.

The interviewer’s main objective is to assess how closely your qualifications match the requirements of the position and company.

Preparing for the Interview Successful interviews require preparation. Since employers are able to sense how prepared a candidate is, it is crucial that you commit sufficient time and energy to this process so you are able to articulate your best qualifications. Here are some suggestions: 1. Practice answering questions you may be asked in the interview. Thinking about your responses in advance will help you more effectively articulate the most important information you want to communicate. Refer to sample questions in this guide.

2. Research the organization and position before the interview. Reading “the literature” will tell you a great deal about a company. . . its corporate personality, its job openings and what they’re like, its benefits, etc. Employers are very impressed by your initiative when you do this research.

Other research items include: services, products, clients, forecast of anticipated growth, accomplishments, list of subsidiaries (if the organization is a corporation), descriptions of operating divisions, organizational chart, names of top executives, financial review, geographic locations of facilities, history of development, expectations of employees and contributions to the industry or field.

3. Prepare questions to ask the interviewer that reflect your knowledge of the position and company.

4. Know the routine of an interview. Schedule a practice interview in Career Services or ask a friend who’s had a few interviews to tell you what they were like.

5. Record the time and place of your appointment and the name of the interviewer. Obtain good directions and parking information. Visit the site prior to the interview, if possible.

6. Wear professional attire that is appropriate for the position.

First impressions are extremely important.

7. Bring extra copies of your résumé in a portfolio and have your papers arranged for easy reference (résumé, references, transcripts, writing sample, etc.).

How to Act During an Interview 1. Rule Number One: Don’t act. Be yourself ! For two good reasons. First, because the only company you are likely to be happy working for is a company that liked you just the way you are. And second because few students can play a role well enough to fool an interviewer anyway.

2. Don’t Overdo It: Act naturally and professionally. You should be on time. Be friendly and courteous, but not too casual. Have your thoughts and questions well organized.

3. Sell Yourself: When asked a question, take the opportunity to talk about your goals and strong points. Often this may alert the interviewer to an attribute that didn't show up on your résumé.

4. Tell It Straight: A lie will only get in the way of a good student/company match later on. If a company does not meet your expectations, you probably should not work there.

After the Interview 1. Send a thank-you letter or e-mail to the interviewer. This is an excellent opportunity to remind the recruiter of your qualifications.

2. Second or follow-up interviews may be held a few weeks after the initial interview. These interviews usually take place at the organization’s office, may last several hours to a full day, and may involve testing and socializing.

3. You may or may not receive an on-the-spot job offer. Recognize that organizations are also interviewing graduates and it may take weeks before hiring decisions are made.

4. If you do not get an offer after the first few interviews, do not be discouraged. Many well-qualified people go through numerous interviews before finally being hired. With each interview you are gaining valuable practice and expertise for handling the next one.

“

O X Some Do's and Don'ts in Interviewing

Guidelines for Job Interviewing

A good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while he gets to know something.”

­ Wilson Mizner — Broadway playwright, The Deep Purple

Job Search Guide 2010

DO

DON'T

• Research the company and examine its ratings.

• Act naturally.

• Be prompt, neat, courteous and follow through on

promises. Ask relevant questions.

• Allow employer to express him/herself.

• Evaluate objectively.

• Follow procedures.

• Make yourself understood.

• Listen to the other person.

• Present informative credentials.

• Think of your service and contribution to the organization.

• Be late for your interview.

• Present an extreme appearance.

• Come unprepared.

• Criticize yourself.

• Become impatient, emotional, frozen or tense.

• Talk too much or too little.

• Oversell your case.

• Make elaborate promises.

• Try to be funny.

• Unduly emphasize starting salary.

• Linger over fringe benefits.

Traits on Which You Will be Evaluated

1. PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS. Do you have good grooming, manners and body language? Do you maintain good eye contact?

2. SELF-EXPRESSION. Are you forceful or vague in expressing your ideas when responding to the interviewer’s questions?

3. MATURITY. What about your overall sense of balance in life?

Can you make value judgments and decisions?

4. PERSONALITY. How do you act/behave? Are you outgoing?

Shy? Overbearing? Quiet? Tactful? Enthusiastic? Warm?

5. ATTITUDE. Do you have a good attitude? Do you exhibit a

positive or negative attitude?

6. EXPERIENCE. What about your academic achievements?

Involvement in extracurricular activities? Job accomplishments? Did you help the employer see the connections to the position for which you are applying?

7. ENTHUSIASM AND INTEREST. Are you really interested in the employer, job and industry?

8. CAREER GOALS. What do you want to do in your professional life?

9. RESEARCH. Did you visit the company 's Web page? Did you research media coverage or financial information on the company?

Keys to Successful Interviews 1. Practice, practice, practice. Do a practice interview in Career Services.

2. Learn as much as you can about the organization beforehand— know its products, services, profit margin, management, culture, dress code, etc.

3. Allow plenty of time to get to the interview (10-15 minutes early) and, if possible, visit the site in advance to time how long it takes to get there.

4. Carry a portfolio with extra copies of your résumé, a list of references, and a list of questions to ask. You may refer to your list. Do not take notes.

5. Think about how your experiences in work, classes and activities can relate to the job you're seeking.

6. Speak slowly, clearly and enthusiastically about your experience and skills. Don't be afraid to pause for a moment to collect your thoughts.

7. Be positive. Employers don't want to hear about negative experiences unless you focus on a positive result.

8. Be honest. Don't try to cover up mistakes. Instead, focus on how you learned from them.

9. Be assertive. Remember that the interview is a way for you to learn if the job is right for you.

10. Ask the interviewer for a business card and send a thank-you note or e-mail as soon as possible.

Excerpt from NACE's “Planning Job Choices 2001”.

How to Dress for Interviews

Sample Interview Questions

Your primary goal in dressing for an interview is to feel great about the way you look while projecting an image that matches the requirements of the position and the organization. Some interviewers will decide in the first 60 seconds whether they are interested in you or not (based on personal impressions). Plan your interview attire in advance. Clothes should fit well, be clean and pressed; hair and nails should be well groomed. Some helpful guidelines for looking professional in the interview are listed below.

1. What led you to choose your major? Career field?

Men's Wardrobe

Women's Wardrobe

Suits: Two-piece, single breasted, conservative business suit in a traditional color, such as navy blue, black or charcoal gray. Wool or wool blend, solid or thin pinstripes. Single vent, American-style cut.

Suits: Long-sleeved jacket, straight or pleated skirt, in dark colors. Length just above knee, no mini's! Conservative styles are best.

Shirts: Simple style; white button-down or classic collar is preferred. The cuffs and collar should be the same color as the body; stripes should be very subtle. Make sure your shirt is well-ironed, without wrinkles.

Socks: Calf-length. Patternless socks matching color of pants or shoes is suggested.

Shoes: Polished leather dress shoes that match the suit. Black lace-up shoes, cap toe, and wing tips are the most conservative.

Ties: Made of silk and coordinate well with the suit.

Suggested styles include a simple stripe or repeating pattern; limit to three colors. Select a neutral background color, such as navy blue or maroon.

Jewelry: Limit to watch and one ring. Remove earrings or noticeable piercings! Belt should be leather and match or complement shoes, simple buckle.

Hair: Conservative hair style that does not distract from your goal to achieve an image of professional maturity. Avoid strong aftershave and cologne.

Blouses: White or soft pastel colors. Avoid bold colors, dramatic prints or low-cut necklines. Material should not look shiny or unnatural. Cotton or silk is ideal.

Collars: Fully buttoned. A scarf is acceptable if it is neither too bright nor displayed too prominently.

Stockings: Beige, tan or colors that match the skin tone.

Shoes: Simple pumps with one-to-two inch heels.

Shoes should be high-quality leather, and color should match suit and be polished.

Hair: Keep hair out of face in a conservative style that projects a professional image of maturity.

Jewelry: Watch and one ring on each hand and one bracelet if any. Post earrings only. Remove noticeable piercings!

It is true that workers are no longer conducting business as usual in some environments regarding what is worn to work. Are you meeting with customers or making a presentation? Show professional respect by choosing to dress casual on another occasion. Also, be sure to choose clothing that fits your body type properly and comfortably.

Finally choose colors and styles that are traditional - they never go out of style!

Adapted from Letitia Baldrige's New Complete Guide to Executive Manners; The Business Causal Dress Code written by Mary Lou Andre for msn.com.

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Job Search Guide 2008

3. What do you know about us? What is it about the actual work in this field that attracts you?

3. What would you say are some areas that need improvement in the company culture?

4. What do you consider to be your greatest strengths? Weaknesses?

4. In what areas of the organization do you expect growth?

5. Would a former employer rehire you?

5. Is there an opportunity to transfer from one division to another?

6. How has your college experience prepared you for your career?

6. What are the long range plans for this company?

7. Pick one project you've been involved in, discuss the overall objective of the project, your role in the project, a conflict that arose and how you or the group went about resolving it?

7. What are the prospects for future promotions?

8. How do you handle difficult customers?

9. What kind of ongoing training is available? What is your organization's professional development philosophy?

9. If you were hiring for this position, for which qualities would you look?

10.In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our team?

11. What do you do at work that demonstrates you're a team player?

12. What has been your experience in presenting the results of your research or other work?

15. Describe an experience where you were asked to develop a program. What were the results?

16. Describe a situation when you had to use your creativity to complete a project.

17. Give me an example of how you convinced your supervisor to assign you a project.

Women's Wardrobe

• khakis, chino or gabardine trousers • shirts with collars (polo-style or button down) • sweater with collared shirts underneath • loafers with colored socks

• slacks, skirts or city shorts (top of the knee) with coordinating tops • a jacket, sweater or blouse to finish the outfit • flat leather shoes with coordinating trouser socks or hose Job Search Guide 2010

2. What are your career goals, and how are you preparing to achieve them?

14. How do you work under pressure?

Men's Wardrobe

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Questions Applicants Ask

1. From your experience, what are some of the best things about this organization?

2. What is the management philosophy of this organization?

13. What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?

Make-up: Subtle; no glitter or shimmery colors. No frosted or bright lipstick or eye shadow. Avoid excessively long nails and trendy or bold nail polish. Do not wear strong perfume or cologne.

Business Casual

?

Questions, Questions, Questions

18. What is your expected starting salary?

8. When was the last layoff ?

10. What career advancement opportunities are offered for someone in this position/department?

11. What will my top priorities be if I am hired?

12. Is an advanced degree a factor in promotion?

13. How and when will I be evaluated?

14. What are your expectations of me for the first six months in this position?

15. What is the retention rate of people in this position?

16. What percentage of time will be devoted to individual responsibilities versus team-oriented functions?

17. What is the work ethic of this organization? Do people arrive early and leave late? How would you describe the work/life balance?

18. Does the organization have a process for employee-initiated ideas or for sharing creative ideas? Do you know how many of the ideas were implemented or approved?

19. Why should I hire you?

19. Can you tell me about the history of this position and why it is open? Any anticipated changes in the future?

20. What criteria are you using to evaluate the organization for which you hope to work?

20. How does staff interact with their peers? Management? High level executives?

21. Describe a major problem you have encountered and explain how you dealt with it.

21. I would like to work for your organization. How long will it the hiring decision take?

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Job Search Guide 2010

Job Search Guide 2008

25

Young will have to change names to escape 'cyber past' warns Google's Eric Schmidt

By Murray Wardrop The private lives of young people are now so well documented on the internet that many will have to change their names on reaching adulthood, Google’s CEO has claimed.

Eric Schmidt suggested that young people should be entitled to change their identity to escape their misspent youth, which is now recorded in excruciating detail on social networking sites such as Facebook.

"I don't believe society understands what happens when everything is available, knowable and recorded by everyone all the time," Mr Schmidt told the Wall Street Journal.

In an interview Mr Schmidt said he believed that every young person will one day be allowed to change their name to distance themselves from embarrassing photographs and material stored on their friends' social media sites.

The 55-year-old also predicted that in the future, Google will know so much about its users that the search engine will be able to help them plan their lives.

Using profiles of it customers and tracking their locations through their smart phones, it will be able to provide live updates on their surroundings and inform them of tasks they need to do.

"We're trying to figure out what the future of search is," Mr Schmidt said. “One idea is that more and more searches are done on your behalf without you needing to type.

"I actually think most people don't want Google to answer their questions. They want Google to tell them what they should be doing next."

He suggested, as an example, that because Google would know “roughly who you are, roughly what you care about, roughly who your friends are”, it could remind users what groceries they needed to buy when passing a shop.

The comments are not the first time Mr Schmidt has courted controversy over the wealth of personal information people reveal on the internet. Last year, he notoriously remarked: “If you have something that you don’t want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place."

Earlier this year, Google was condemned by the privacy watchdogs of 10 countries for showing a “disappointing disregard” for safeguarding private information of its users.

In a letter to Mr Schmidt, Britain's Information Commissioner Chris Graham joined his counterparts in countries including Canada, France, Germany and Italy, in raising concerns over its Street View and Buzz social networking services.

Behavioral Interviews – ­ What are they?

Tech Recruiters Sweetening Offers to Lure Workers

By John Zappe Since May, almost a third of IT recruiters have had to sweeten their offers to tech professionals in order to get them to sign on with a new company.

The No. 1 sweetener, as might be expected, is more money. But flexible working arrangements, including telecommuting, and commitments to new technologies, also rank high as talent attractors.

“Money is important,” says Tom Silver, senior VP/North America for Dice. But other incentives can be compelling, he adds, especially to those candidates who live in metro areas, where telecommuting might be worth more than a few extra dollars.

Workplace flexibility “is a big deal,” says Silver.

Dice released the results of a late August survey of 1,357 recruiters, consultants, and staffing firms who look for IT professionals on Dice.com.

Although 69 percent reported they haven’t needed to improve candidate offers, the other 31 percent said they have. And the No. 1 reason — cited by half of them — is that the labor pool is getting smaller as IT hiring picks up. Another 22 percent of recruiters who have sweetened their offers say they had to because “technology professionals are still hesitant to leave their current employer.”

Silver says the tightening labor market for IT is due to a pickup in hiring. Since August of 2009 Dice has seen a 40 percent increase in the number of openings advertised on the site.

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics bears out what Dice is reporting. In July of 2009, the job openings rate for information occupations was 1.8. A year later, it was 3.5. For the private sector as a whole in the U.S. the rate in July was 2.7, up from 2.0 a year ago. (The job openings rate is the ratio of openings divided by total employment plus the number of job openings.)

Hiring, on the other hand, is about the same as it was a year ago.

The BLS puts the hiring rate at 2.6 for information workers in July versus the 2.7 rate of July 2009. For all private sector workers, the rate stood at 4.1 versus the 3.9 of July 2009.

Those numbers suggest that IT recruiters are increasingly having a hard time finding the talent they want. Silver says that after money, a powerful attractor for tech professionals is the nature of the work and especially the opportunity to be involved with new and emerging technology.

In tech, he says, “the skills and skill requirements are always changing.” Workers want to keep abreast of those changes and improve their skills, so recruiters who can offer those opportunities — the “latest and greatest,” Silver says — are at an advantage.

Indeed, the Dice survey shows that after money and flexible working arrangements, recruiters offered the opportunity to work with new technology as an incentive. Among all recruiters those who have had to sweeten offers and those who haven’t company culture is their favorite selling point, followed by the type of projects.

What this should mean to a recruiter is that money is important, but flexibility and challenging projects can be deal-makers.

26

Job Search Guide 2010

“T

ell me about a time when you were on a team, and one of the members wasn't carrying his or her weight.” If this is one of the leading questions in your job interview, you could be in for a behavioral interview. Based on the premise that the best way to predict future behavior is to determine past behavior, this style of interviewing is gaining wide acceptance among recruiters.

Today, more than ever, every hiring decision is critical. Behavioral interviewing is designed to minimize personal impressions that can affect the hiring decision. By focusing on the applicant's actions and behaviors, rather than subjective impressions that can sometimes be misleading, interviewers can make more accurate hiring decisions.

Behavioral vs. Traditional Interviews If you have training or experience with traditional interviewing techniques, you may find the behavioral interview quite different in several ways: • Instead of asking how you would behave in a particular

situation, the interviewer will ask you to describe how you

did behave.

• Expect the interviewer to question and probe (think of

“peeling the layers from an onion”).

• The interviewer will ask you to provide details and will not

allow you to theorize or generalize about several events.

• The interview will be a more structured process that will

concentrate on areas that are important to the interviewer,

rather than allowing you to concentrate on areas that you

may feel are important.

• You may not get a chance to deliver any prepared stories.

• Most interviewers will be taking copious notes throughout the interview.

The behavioral interviewer has been trained to objectively collect and evaluate information and works from a profile of desired behaviors that are needed for success on the job. Because the behaviors a candidate has demonstrated in previous similar positions are likely to be repeated, you will be asked to share situations in which you may or may not have exhibited these behaviors. Your answers will be tested for accuracy and consistency.

If you are an entry-level candidate with no previous related experience, the interviewer will look for behaviors in situations similar to those of the target position. They will be probing for more information if your examples are not specific.

27

“Describe a major problem you have faced and how you dealt

with it.”

“Give an example of when you had to work with your hands to

accomplish a task or project.”

“How do you prioritize when scheduling your time?”

"Tell me about a time at work when your schedule was suddenly Job Search Guide 2010

interrupted. How did you handle it?”

“Give me an example of a situation in which you had to make a

decision quickly.”

Follow-up questions will test for consistency and determine if you exhibited the desired behavior in that situation: “Can you give me an example?”

“What did you do?”

“What did you say?”

“What were you thinking?”

“How did you feel?”

“What was your role?”

“What was the result?”

You will notice an absence of such questions as, “Tell me about your strengths and weaknesses.” or “What are your goals for the next five years?”

How to Prepare for a Behavioral Interview • Recall recent situations that show favorable behaviors or

actions, especially involving course work, work experience,

leadership, teamwork, initiative, planning and customer service.

• Prepare short descriptions of each situation; be ready to give

details if asked.

• Be sure each story has a beginning, a middle and an end, i.e.,

be ready to describe the situation, your action, and the

outcome or result.

• Be sure the outcome or result reflects positively on you (even if

the result itself was not favorable).

• Be honest. Don't embellish or omit any part of the story. The

interviewer will find out if your story is built on a weak foundation.

• Be specific. Don't generalize about several events; give a

detailed accounting of one event.

A possible response for the question, “Tell me about a time when you were on a team and a member wasn't pulling his or her weight.” might go as follows: “I had been assigned to a team to build a canoe out of concrete.

One of our team members wasn't showing up for our lab sessions or doing his assignments. I finally met with him in private, explained the frustration of the rest of the team, and asked if there was anything I could do to help. He told me he was preoccupied with another class that he wasn't passing, so I found someone to help him with the other course. He not only was able to spend more time on our project, but he was also grateful to me for helping him out. We finished our project on time, and got a 'B' on it.”

If the interviewer probes for more details it's important that you not make up or “shade” information.

The 'Case' for the Case Interview Why Employers Use Them 1. to measure how well you identify, structure and think through problems 2. to test your ability to listen, gather information and communicate conclusions 3. to test your level of resourcefulness and ability to “think on your feet”

What They Are The case interview consists of one or more word problems based upon “real-life” situations. In each case question, you are asked to analyze a problem, identify key issues and discuss the steps you would take to address the situation. Questions can range from the most simple to the highly complex. No matter what type of questions you are asked, preparation is key to your success.

The Second Interview

2.

Business Operations— Reveals your understanding of basic business operations; tests your level of intuition; tells how well you generate viable solutions to real-world issues. Example: Lopez Corporation is experiencing a labor shortage, particularly in their production line. The unemployment rate is less than two percent and competing employers pay an average of $2 more per hour.

What staffing strategy will enable Lopez Corporation to alleviate the shortage and fulfill production commitments?

3.

Business Strategy — Tells if you can identify strategic issues; identifies how well you develop recommendations for action; predicts your ability to analyze core business issues. Example: Vallejo Airline is considering the acquisition of a smaller airline.

We've been asked to determine the long-term attractiveness of the acquisition. How will you approach the project?

4.

Logic — Tests your creativity; assesses how well you handle a challenge. Example: How could you estimate the weight of the carpet in this room?

How to Approach a Case Question Listen carefully to the question. Jot down points to help you think through the problem. Make sure you clarify any points that are unclear.

Assess whether you have all the information you need. If not, ask the interviewer about any missing information. The interviewer may intentionally leave out some key points to test you.

Remain calm; take time to think through your answer.

Begin by defining issues and potential solutions— not answers.

Employers are more interested in how you approach the problem rather than one right answer in the case. Construct questions that you will use to test the potential solutions.

Develop an appropriate framework for structuring your answer.

Then, explain your plan for delivering the answer. Don't assume the interviewer will know where you're going. Begin with the most important points first. Then, follow your framework until all points are covered.

Summarize your answer by reviewing how you approached the problem and the action that should be taken from that point.

Several Categories of Questioning 1.

Marketing — Assesses how comfortable you are with numbers; tells how well you compile data and logically proceed; shows how resourceful you are.

Example: You are contacted by Curt's Pizza to help them develop a plan for entering the home delivery market in a community where K&J Pizza has the dominant position. As lead consultant to Curt's Pizza, what would you do?

How You Will be Evaluated • How do you analyze the problem?

• How well do you focus on the key issues?

• How do you ask for additional details?

• How do you identify information to solve the problem?

• How well do you organize your thoughts?

• How do you present the information?

“

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these." ­–­George Washington Carver Scientist and Inventor 1864-1943

Job Search Guide 2010

A. PREPARING FOR YOUR VISIT

1. Travel Arrangements

If you are traveling out of town, be sure to make arrangements in advance. The company will usually pay your expenses. Be sure you know the logistics involved before you leave.

Tips on details that make a difference: Will a company representative make reservations for you (airline? hotel? rental car?) or are you expected to do this?

If it is up to you, consult a travel agent. You need to be as rested as possible that day and do not need the stress caused by confused travel arrangements.

Second interviews usually last the better part of a day.

If your visits are local, plan to visit only one company per day.

1. Schedule for the Day

Some organizations provide you with an itinerary of the day’s interviews giving the name, title and areas of responsibility of the persons with whom you will be meeting. Try to understand how each person on your schedule relates to the others. If you are not provided with this information, ask for it and take notes. It is very important that you ask questions throughout the day, this will demonstrate your interest and knowledge of the organization.

2.“Pragmatic” Interviews

Be prepared for the “pragmatic” interview. An employer may outline a problem which the company is currently facing and ask you for suggestions on how to solve it. Remember that most employers really don’t expect a solution, but they will be interested in how you approach the problem to analyze possible alternatives.

2. Expenses

3.“Stress” Interviews

Be sure to keep receipts to turn in to the company’s accounting office. Some companies reimburse you at the time of your visit. They “walk” your papers through accounting and give you a check at the end of the day. Don’t expect cash. Other companies mail you the reimbursement. If you are visiting two companies on the same trip and they have both offered to finance the trip, you should notify each company so that they may share the expense of your visit.

THIS IS IMPORTANT. They expect you to make these kinds of arrangements.

Occasionally, you will encounter what is called a “stress” interview. In this case the employer is deliberately difficult. Stay calm and think carefully about your responses.

Be sure you understand the position for which you are interviewing.

The recruiter’s effectiveness is judged by the quality of candidates brought in, so rely on that person to help you. Call the recruiter if you have any questions about the position.

Some firms use psychological testing. These are usually written tests and are designed to evaluate your suitability for a particular type of assignment.

4. Other Considerations

Many employers will assume that you have the knowledge to do the job, so they are interested in evaluating other qualities, including your social skills and motivation. Questions will concentrate on your interests and what you have done outside the classroom.

3. Position for Which You are Being Interviewed

Fill out necessary employer forms, and send them in advance of your arrival. It’s a good idea to bring copies of these forms with you as well as extra copies of your résumé. Plan your wardrobe. Bring a portfolio with you. Reread company literature or research their Web site again; jot down any questions you may have.

B. THE DAY OF YOUR VISIT The day of your second interview will probably begin with a visit to the Human Resources Office and a chat with the recruiter with whom you initially interviewed. You may be in and out in an hour, but more likely you will talk to several people. You will probably meet with your potential supervisor and potential co-workers. Also, it is likely you will meet with at least one representative of middle management. At the end of the day there may be a final conference with a human resources representative.

Don’t be afraid to take time to think through your answers. The object of the stress interview is to evaluate your behavior and maturity in difficult situations. Such an interview may come at the end of the day when you are tired and feel most defenseless.

4. Psychological Tests

5. Evaluating Your Other Qualities

6. Lunch and/or Dinner Arrangements If a lunch and/or dinner is arranged with middle management, consider it part of the interview. Try to find common grounds of interest, such as golf, tennis or travel. Stay away from controversial or political topics. Do not feel that you have to be a stand-up comedian or comedienne. Be a polite, responsive listener.

C. FOLLOW-UP If you do receive a verbal offer, you may wish to accept on the spot or you may wish time in which to make a decision. If the latter is the case, do not hesitate to say so. Always ask for a written confirmation.

Such a letter will probably cover fringe benefits, moving arrangements, starting date, etc. It is good to give the company a time frame in which you will make a decision.

1. Letters of Appreciation

2. Employer Response If you do not hear from the employer within three weeks, then you may want to contact the employer (by phone, if you choose) to inquire about your status.

When you return home, take time to write a letter of appreciation.

This will demonstrate your continued interest, good manners and attention to detail.

Tips on Salary Negotiation

T

he following is a list of strategies and tips that will help you along the bumpy road of salary negotiation. It is important to be confident, enthusiastic, professional and polite as you enter the ring. But, above all, be yourself !

Right Time to Discuss Salary Do not discuss salary until you have been offered a position. Discussing salary during an interview is considered unprofessional because the purpose of an interview is to demonstrate your skills and abilities and how they match the company's needs. Waiting until you are offered the job will give you the leverage you need to possibly negotiate for a higher salary.

Other Benefits Benefits and perks are also valuable when negotiating salary and can add up to 40 percent of your salary. Negotiable benefits include stock options, hiring bonuses, moving stipends, employee discounts, tuition reimbursement, vacation and sick leave. Perks include company cars, club memberships, parking, expense accounts, cell phones and laptops.

Research the Company Before You Negotiate It is vital to gather information about your prospective employer prior to negotiations. Learn what the company does and its status in the business community. Most importantly research the salary range of the job you are applying for. You can find salary ranges by using the Career Services Web site to find links to several useful sites with salary and cost of living information.

Start High and Work Towards the Middle Example 1.

If the employer offers you $35,000 and you believe you deserve $38,000, ask for $40,000 and then work backward toward your target salary.

Example 2.

If your research indicates that the average salary for the position is $28,000, you might give the employer a range of $28,000 to $42,000. Aim for the top!

Know Your Market Value There are no clear-cut guidelines for assessing your market value. Based on company research, your education and experience, and your skills and capabilities you should be able to personally assess what you are worth.

Never Stop Selling Yourself When negotiating for the best possible salary and benefit package, it is important to continue showing the employer how hiring you will improve the organization's bottom line, services, image, etc. Remind the employer of transferable skills you have that may save the company money.

Be Willing to Walk Away Negotiating for a salary may take the form of a game. You make an offer, the employer counter-offers. The game continues until a mutual decision is made. Never go into a bargaining session thinking that you must accept the position. The employer may see your desperation and offer you much less than you are worth. You may appear more confident if you are willing to walk away.

Put the Offer in Writing After you have successfully negotiated the salary and benefits package, it is vital that you put your agreements in writing. Write down the terms such as salary, benefits, perks, job title and starting date. This will provide a record in case there is a question in the future. Remember, always be professional as you go through this process.

As you get more experience you will become more comfortable and more skilled.

Good luck!

Job Search Guide 2010

30

Weird Things Said in Job Interviews Rachel Zupek Hiring managers are amazed by what job applicants say during interviews.

"I'm not wanted in this state."

"How many young women work here?"

"I didn't steal it; I just borrowed it."

"You touch somebody and they call it sexual harassment!"

"I've never heard such a stupid question."

Believe it or not, the above statements weren't overhead in bars or random conversations -- they were said in job interviews. Watch man sing his resume to get an interview Âť Maybe you were nervous, you thought the employer would appreciate your honesty, or maybe you just have no boundaries. Whatever the reason, you can be certain that you shouldn't tell an interviewer that it's probably best if they don't do a background check on you.

(And yes, the hiring manager remembered you said that.)

We asked hiring managers to share the craziest things they've heard from applicants in an interview. Some are laugh-out-loud hysterical, others are jaw dropping -- the majority are both. To be sure, they will relieve anyone who has ever said something unfortunate at a job interview -- and simply amuse the rest of you.

Hiring managers shared these 43 memorable interview responses: Don't Miss How to answer: 'Why should I hire you?'

Six signs it's a job scam Rate your office etiquette More CareerBuilder.com stories Why did you leave your last job?

"I have a problem with authority." - Carrie Rocha, COO of HousingLink Tell us about a problem you had with a co-worker and how you resolved it "The resolution was we were both fired."- Jason Shindler, CEO, Curvine Web Solutions What kind of computer software have you used?

"Computers? Are those the black boxes that sit on the floor next to the desks? My boss has one of those. He uses it. I don't have one.

He just gives me my schedule and I follow it." - Greg Szymanski, director of human resources, Geonerco Management, Inc What are your hobbies and interests? "[He said] 'Well, as you can see, I'm a young, virile man and I'm single -- if you ladies know what I'm saying.' Then he looked at one of the fair-haired board members and said, 'I particularly like blondes.'" - Petri R.J. Darby, president, darbyDarnit Public Relations Why should we hire you?

"I would be a great asset to the events team because I party all the time." - Bill McGowan, founder, Clarity Media Group Do you have any questions?

"If you were a fruit, what fruit would you be?" - Megan Garnett, Articulate Leadership Team, Articulate Communications Inc. "What do you want me to do if I cannot walk to work if it's raining? Can you pick me up?" - Christine Pechstein, career coach "I was a Chamber of Commerce Executive once hiring a secretary. [The candidate asked] 'What does a Chamber of Commerce do?'" Mary Kurek, Mary Kurek, Inc. Visibility Consulting "Can we wrap this up fairly quickly? I have someplace I have to go." - Bruce Campbell, vice president of marketing, Clare Computer Solutions "What is your company's policy on Monday absences?" - Campbell "If this doesn't work out can I call you to go out sometime?" - Christine Bolzan, founder of Graduate Career Coaching "How big do the bonuses really get once you make associate? I hear it's some serious cash." - Bolzan "[The candidate asked,] 'Can my dad call you to talk about the job and the training program? He is really upset I'm not going to medical school and wants someone to explain the Wall Street path to him.' The dad did call. Then that dad's friends called and I ended up doing a conference call with a group of concerned parents ... long story." - Bolzan "If I get an offer, how long do I have before I have to take the drug test?" - Bolzan "When you do background checks on candidates, do things like public drunkenness arrests come up?" - Bolzan "Can I get a tour of the breast pumping room? I heard you have a great one here and while I don't plan on having children for at least 10 or 12 years, I will definitely breast feed and would want to use that room."- Bolzan "So, how much do they pay you for doing these interviews?" -- Jodi R.R. Smith, Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting Why are you leaving your current job?

"Because I (expletive) my pants every time I enter the building." - Abbe Mortimore, Human Resources Manager, True Textiles, Inc.

Accepting or Rejecting an Offer 1. Verbal Offer Versus Written Offer You usually can expect a written offer two to three weeks after the second interview. Verbal offers are not commonly extended. Be wary of any offer that is not written!

2. Negotiating for More Time Some employers, when extending an offer of employment, require an acceptance or rejection by a given date (often a week or 10 days after the date of the offer). Other employers leave their offers open-ended, requesting that you notify them as soon as you have made a decision.

If an employer sets a deadline that you find uncomfortable, request an extension of time in which to consider the offer—a week or two is usually reasonable. Immediately contact employers with whom you still have interest, and from whom you have had no response. Inquire as to your current status with that organization and explain that you are now under pressure to make an employment decision. Such an inquiry may prompt some employers to expedite the hiring process for you. However, other employers will be unable to do so, and you will then have to decide whether or not the proverbial “bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”

3. Weighing Your Offers Once you start interviewing, you may begin to receive job offers. Weigh your choices carefully and evaluate each position and how it fits with your career goals. Salary, as long as it is in the range of current offers for similar positions, may be a secondary consideration.

The decision you make about which job offer to accept should be based on a number of personal preferences. Experience shows that three factors play an important role in job satisfaction: position, organization and supervisor. Review what you have learned about each of these factors and use the following questions to guide your decision:

The Position • Why is it available?

• How long has it been open?

• What happened to the previous employee?

• What would your specific responsibilities be?

• Are the goals set for the position realistic and attainable?

• Can you successfully perform the duties of the position?

• What is your growth potential in this position?

• Can this position provide bridges to future opportunities?

• How does the position fit into your long- and short-term career goals?

• Do the daily work activities appeal to you?

• Are your salary and benefit requirements satisfied?

• Is there opportunity for advancement?

• Will you be developing new skills and expanding your experience?

• Are the demands of the job compatible with your lifestyle?

Assessing Your Salary Needs 1. Knowing Yourself and Your Needs

The Organization • Is the organization growing or downsizing?

• Is the organization a result of an acquisition or a planned expansion?

• Has this growth affected its performance? How will it affect you

and your position?

• Who are its competitors?

• What is the tenure of its management?

• Does the management team consist of new hires or people

promoted from within the organization?

• Does the organization have a high retention rate of employees,

or do they have a problem with attrition?

• Are the values of the organization compatible with your own?

The Supervisor • How long has he/she been in this position?

• To whom does he/she report?

• What was his/her previous work experience?

• What is his/her growth potential?

• Do you think you can work well with this person?

• Do you have a clear sense of management style?

List all your anticipated monthly expenses. Be sure to include transportation, new wardrobe, change in rent, professional memberships, car insurance, etc. Discuss with your parents regarding expenses that they may have been paying that now become your responsibility, i.e. car payment, car insurance, renter's insurance, gasoline, cell phone, medical insurance, etc. If you have educational loans, you will also need to factor this into your budget. Check the cost of living in the area where you will reside to determine the cost of housing and the other associated expenses, such as rental insurance.

Examine your list carefully to determine a baseline salary meeting your necessities. Consider other items such as entertainment allowances, charitable giving and savings. All of these considerations should give you a good idea of what salary you need to maintain your desired lifestyle.

2. Research Current Salaries and Benefits It is good to be aware of the current salary range for positions you are seeking. Some employers may ask you what salary you will be willing to accept. Some positions have non-negotiable beginning salaries.

To research current salaries in your field of interest, review a recent job listing in the “National Association of Colleges and Employers Salary Survey” which is available in the Career Information Center in Career Services. Understand that in addition to salary, compensation may include benefits such as health and dental insurance, sick and vacation leave, as well as profit sharing. Remember, benefits increase your earnings (especially where profit sharing or bonuses are involved). Many employers have regularly scheduled salary increases, commissions and bonuses, educational reimbursements, travel expenses, etc.

Lastly, determine what skills and experiences you bring to the table.

What makes you competitive and marketable?

Career Services Suggests You Also Evaluate...

Determining which job offer to accept can produce excitement and anxiety. While you are excited to proceed with your career, you may be confused by the decision-making process. Sometimes job seekers receive offers soon after the first interview. Many panic and believe this opportunity represents the only offer they will receive. Other times, job seekers receive simultaneous offers from different organizations. At these moments, the decisions appear difficult. Be sure to proceed carefully. The job you choose should meet realistic personal goals. Speak to a career advisor about weighing your options and making good decisions.

4. After Reaching a Final Decision When you have reviewed all your offers and made a decision, write your letter of acceptance (and letters of regret). Be sure the letter includes your understanding of the job title, salary, location, moving expenses and starting date.

5. Ethics of Accepting or Rejecting an Offer Once you have accepted a position, you are ethically (and sometimes legally) obligated to take that job, even if you receive a better offer a few days later. Telling an employer “no” after you have already said “yes” is unethical and unprofessional.

“

Even the most rational approach to ethics is defenseless if there isn't the will to do what is right.”

­ Alexander Solzhenitsyn — Russian novelist, Nobel Prize for Literature (1970) Job Search Guide 2010

32

Register with Career Services' Jobs4Cats to view part-time jobs, internships, co-ops, summer jobs and full-time employment opportunities. This is a password-protected system, so you must go through the registration process on our web site, beginning with Job and Internship Postings

Resume and Cover Letter Critiques Professional resume and cover letter reviews are offered through halfhour individual appointments with our counselors. We will help you edit any document you might require for employment application.

Students are encouraged to make use of our 48-hour Resume Critique service - resumes or cover letters can be emailed to our office and will be returned within 48 hours with constructive feedback.

Helpful Handouts for you to use * The Application Process for Graduate School * Building an Accomplished Curriculum Vita * The College Student's Guide to Career Planning * Finding Your Way Through the Online Job Search * How to Compose an Effective Cover Letter * How to Create a Job-Winning Resume * Making an Impression with the Phone Interview * Preparing for the Successful Job Interview * Preparing to Conduct an Information Interview * Seeking Resources to Compile Employer Research * Showcase Your Experience with a Career Portfolio Suggested "Job-Winning Resume" as a Microsoft Word.rtf (download file and and save to your computer)

The Matter of Manners: Guide to Dining Etiquette

Choosing the Best Offer

E

valuating job offers is not a simple process. Many issues need to be considered in making your final decision. Answer yes or no to each of the questions below for each of your offers. We don't expect that you know everything about the position or company, but take an educated guess.

The Career Services staff will be happy to provide additional assistance to help you make your final decision.

Which is the right job for me?

A worksheet to aid in decision making

Job Offer #1

Use of Skills:

Job Offer #2

Job Offer #3

Will your skills, interests, course work, work experience be utilized to their greatest extent?

Commute:

Is the trip to and from work within satisfactory limits?

Training:

Is there sufficient job training to meet your needs?

Advancement:

Is there an opportunity for upward mobility and advancement within the organization?

Status:

Does the position carry the prestige you require?

Job Security:

Does the position carry long-term employment stability?

Knowledge and preparation are key to a successful business dining experience. The following information and tips, developed with the input of recruiters, should address the questions and alleviate the stress so that students can focus their attention on the real purpose of the day—to sell themselves to the employer.

Attire Most invitations to join a recruiter and/or company representative for lunch or dinner will be accompanied by general direction on expected attire. If the organization fails to communicate this information, it is acceptable to ask the recruiter. However, if the meal is scheduled as part of the interview, the candidate will wear their interview attire to the meal as well. Candidates are generally dressing for the interview rather than the meal itself. If there are any questions about what to wear, candidates will never go wrong with dressing in “ business professional attire.”

Benefits: Is the benefits package satisfactory?

Salary:

Is the salary offered satisfactory?

Hours:

Do the hours of work agree with you?

Environment:

Does the physical environment appeal to you?

Location:

Is the community, where the job is located, conducive to your life style?

Dress Code:

Are you comfortable with the dress standards?

Co-Workers:

Will you enjoy being with the people with whom you will be working?

Work:

Are you motivated and satisfied by the position?

Company:

Are you comfortable with the values of the company?

D

uring the interview process, company recruiters are looking to hire intelligent, hard working, dedicated new employees.

This includes hiring graduates with good social skills.

Companies will typically host a lunch or dinner as a part of the second interview or site visit. Yet, the thought of dining in a business setting often sparks an array of questions or downright terror in job candidates. “What do I order?,” and “Will I be judged on my table manners?” are just a few of the questions that perplex the student who is preparing for this experience.

What to Order Much of the “What should I order?” anxiety is eliminated right away because meals are often served in a company dining room where the menu is largely pre-determined. Recruiters favor a buffet because it provides some variety and works well with time constraints.

If this is not the case and a student finds himself struggling with a menu, follow a simple practice—let the host take the lead. Then, order in kind. If the host does not order first, the candidate may ask the host, “What do you recommend?” or “What do you typically enjoy here?”

Candidates should select an item in the medium price range on the menu rather than the most expensive item.

Whether food selections come from a buffet or menu, always consider the type of food being ordered. Never order anything that is messy to eat, unfamiliar, or difficult to eat with a fork.

In addition, candidates are advised not to overindulge, but at the same time, not to skip the meal either. When a person just takes a few pieces of lettuce from the buffet, or two bites from their plate, it may signal that the person is not capable of handling the situation.

Conversation

Other: Total number of yes responses:

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Conversation can be the trickiest component of the company-hosted meal. In observing successful people, one will generally observe a common characteristic—they possess good interpersonal skills. Employers are looking for strong communication skills in the people they inter-

view and the lunch or dinner is an excellent place to demonstrate these skills. Candidates should strive to come across as relaxed and friendly and should convey an interest in the company. The conversational tone should always be positive.

Generally, the topics of conversation should steer clear of personal matters and controversial topics such as religion and politics. Through conversation, candidates should express an interest in the position and department for which they are interviewing and discuss general topics related to the field or industry.

Is This Really Part of the Interview?

Answers to this question vary among companies and recruiters. Some say that the lunch/dinner is a time for the candidate to relax and ask questions about the organization such as what it's like to work there and what the people are like. The host for the meal is not asked for feedback on the candidate. On the other hand, some use the meal as another way to evaluate the candidate. They might look for the ability to interact in a group setting, which can provide insight into the person's potential as a team player.

All recruiters agree that table manners count. Even if candidates are not formally being evaluated on behavior, they are making an impression and they should make that impression a good one.

• Be on time.

• Turn off cellular phones and pagers.

• When arriving at the door first, open the door for other people to follow.

• Always stand during introductions.

• Use your full name when introducing yourself.

• Address others by their title and last name.

• Do not touch anything on the table until the host does.

• Be sure to drink from your own water glass (it is on your right).

• Dab your mouth with your napkin several times during the meal.

• Know which fork to use.

• Never put a piece of used silverware on the table—put it on your plate.

• In passing sugar, cream, bread, salt and pepper—offer to the left, then pass to the right.

• Half way through the meal, offer bread again if it is in front of you.

• Do not eat a cherry tomato or a pitted olive—leave them on the plate.

• All wrappers are placed under the rim of the bread and butter plate or the meal plate.

• Take three bites then rest your utensil on your plate; do not eat very much slower or faster than your host.

• Leave yourself time to talk.

• Cut one bite at a time and take small bites.

• If you drop a utensil, ask a waiter to bring you another one—never bend over to pick up the dropped utensil.

• When you are finished eating, place your utensils at the four o'clock position on your plate with the tines of the fork down.

• If you have to leave your chair during the meal, move to the right and place your napkin in the seat of the chair.

• Avoid alcohol at all times in an interview situation.

Adapted, in part, from Kaleidoscope, a publication of the National Association of Colleges and Employers, Winter 1996.

Your Professional Image

The Formal American Place Setting Water Goblet

Y

our professional image is a projection of your qualities and characteristics exhibited by you onto the people in your profession, determining how they assess your competence and character.

Champagne Flute

These days, you can’t just have the credentials, you must have the swagger and know how to carry yourself as a professional as well.

Red Wine Glass

Salt Shaker

By now, you know the basics of the interview and your résumé, but what can you do to maximize them? You are going to have to know the ropes of professional etiquette, dress and networking. How you develop these characteristics will form your professional image and presence.

Pepper Shaker Butter Spreader

A person could be very qualified for a job, but poor judgment in appearance, manners or social skill might be enough to cost them. You have to be the full package and having a polished professional image is how you market this package and get the career you want!

Dessert Spoon

White Wine Glass Bread-andButter Plate

Sherry Glass

E

mployers will take note of....

professional e-mail addresses

appropriate cell phone ring back tones

professional voice mail recordings

Web sites and social networking accounts such as Myspace and Facebook

spelling grammar, format and language usage in your emails

effective writing skills in all correspondence

your expression of maturity in your e-mails and all other corrspondence

professional conversational skills

your body language such as your handshake, facial expressions, eye contact and stance

Dessert Fork

Career Counseling • Individual Career Counseling Students are encouraged to discuss their choice of major, as well as related career plans, with the counseling staff of Career Services. Appointments for these services are recommended at least 2 - 3 days in advance. Our professional staff is also available to review resumes and cover letters, and offer suggestions for possible improvement.

Place card

• Assessment Inventories Career assessments can help students understand their skills, interests, personality traits, work values, and how these relate to majors and jobs. If you are interested in an assessment, contact Career Services at 512.245.2645, and counselors can assist you with the assessment process.

• Information on Majors More than 40 handouts provide information on each major with regard to related areas of the work world, typical employers, professional associations, and job search strategies. Everything from Health to Communication to Business to Education, we have a helpful array of take-home information for practically every occupational field.

Soup Spoon

Salad Knife

Place Plate

Dinner Knife

Dinner Fork

Salad Fork

Here are some free assessments for feedback.

Napkin

Job Search Guide 2010

• Career Resource Library Our career library offers a wide range of books, magazines, and brochures addressing all occupational areas. Career books, occupational guides, and directories can be used to clarify and confirm your initial impressions about a career field, and to obtain occupational descriptions. Ten computers are also available for your career planning and job search needs.

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Job Search Guide 2010

Making The Transition From College to Career

C

ongratulations! You've graduated, and you have a job! That’s exciting, but you may experience surprise and frustration during your first year of work because your expectations don't match the realities of the workplace. Behaviors, attitudes and “ways of getting things done” in college and on the job are very different. How well you manage yourself during this transition period is key to how you will be perceived and accepted by your boss and co-workers — and how satisfied you will be in a career that you have worked hard to launch.

Consider this time as another step in the learning process and in your professional development. The following steps will help you focus on what employers want to see in new hires, and then will contribute to successful performance during your first year on the job.

Ten Steps to First-Year Success 1. Adopt Success-Related Attitudes — Observe people in the organization who are respected and successful. Model your attitudes and behavior after them. Keep an open mind and be ready to learn. Be flexible, adaptive and a hard worker. Most importantly be positive . . . about yourself, your abilities and your employer.

2. Adjust Your Expectations — Day-to-day tasks, interactions and the corporate culture may not be what you anticipated.

3. Master Breaking-in Skills — Learn the “rules to play by” and the way things are before you offer ways to improve them. Admit what you don't know and be patient. Acceptance comes by learning the organization's norm and rules, and by fitting in with the team.

4. Manage the Impressions You Make — Follow through with steps 1-3, assess what the organization expects from you, and evaluate everything you do in terms of how your actions may be perceived by those who don't know you.

5. Build Effective Relationships — Learn to appreciate and negotiate differences, avoid or manage conflict, see others' perspectives, work on teams, and network with key co-workers. Find a mentor who is well respected and listen to him/her.

6. Become a Good Follower — Learn the skills that make you an easy employee to manage. Congeniality and cooperativeness are very important. Supervisors want people who care about the needs of the organization and who have realistic expectations about their career progress. Self-starters who are responsible are a real asset to any organization, as are people with the ability to communicate. Keep these traits in mind, and work to improve in the areas where you may be weak. Above all, be loyal; if you can’t say something positive, say nothing at all.

7. Understand Your Organization's Culture — Each organization is unique, with its own rules, norms, values, beliefs and general atmosphere. These govern how things are done, who is listened to, and who can initiate change. You will be expected to fit in and embrace their

Notes

values and work style until you have been accepted as part of the team and have a track record of proven performance.

“

8. Develop Organizational Savvy — Learn the formal organizational structures and procedures, but pay attention to the informal ways things get done.

9. Understand Your New-Hire Role — Effective new employees understand the importance of this transition period: pay your dues, accept menial/routine tasks cheerfully, and look carefully at the role the organization wants you to play.

10. Acquire the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities You Need — Employers expect you to need development, so be proactive and ask for help and training. Master professional skills such as managing your time; setting priorities; juggling multiple projects; writing letters, memos and reports; selling your ideas; meeting deadlines; and motivating yourself.

Ch..Ch..Changes

Contrasts Between College Life and the First Year of Work

In college

At work

• given frequent and concrete feedback • urged to create and explore knowledge • allowed to choose your performance level • encouraged to focus on your development • encouraged to think independently • taught “right” answers • allowed personal control over time and interests • exposed to few significant changes • given a flexible schedule with lots of direction • required to demonstrate less initiative

• given infrequent and less precise feedback • required to produce results with your knowledge • required to produce Alevel work all the time • required to focus on results for the company • required to do things “the company way” • taught that there are few “right” answers • required to pursue the interests of others • exposed to frequent and unexpected changes • given structured schedule with little direction • required to demonstrate lots of initiative

you are:

you are:

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Job Search Guide 2010

Learning is not attained by chance.

It must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.” ­— Abigail Adams Wife of U.S.President John Adams