I have been receiving a bit of criticism lately about how my blog is becoming very resume-centric, and that there are a lot of blogs that do that already. Many people do provide resume ideas, so I am going away from that a bit and showing you the whole picture- what really matters.
1. Attitude - Here's a bit of perspective - 600,000+ people are UNEMPLOYED (if you missed econ that day, it means WILLING and ABLE to work- so, it doesnt include anyone whos not actively looking for a job). You are not in any of this alone - its the nature of our cyclical economy and I believe that the economy WILL get better. So, stay positive, actively work on your job search, and still try enjoy each day as much as you can - you are not getting it back.
2. Network - Who you know may not help you keep your job, but now more than ever, it will help you get one. Even if you aren't entirely comfortable with the idea, talk to everyone you can. Engage yourself in real life and online conversations everywhere - you really will be surprised at how someone may be able to help you. Join job-clubs, go to conferences, stay in touch with campus visits, and keep learning about new opportunities.
3. Experience - I already blogged about the things you can do to gain experience - Now's the time to create your own projects, research for a professor, go abroad to work, or do some probono work! Or here's an interesting one - Start a [Click Here for Continued Article]
The Whole Enchilada - What really matters (in your job search)!
Posted by Maithreyi RamanHi All,
So, here is the blog entry on CV's as promised. Its on my Examiner Page, so please click here to view the article! It has useful tips for research and what is often needed to get a research project...which is a Curriculum Vitae (or CV). Click here to learn More!
I am launching a new series called, a "1000 hires- Straight from a Recruiter". Occasionally, this blog will feature guest interviews from recruiters and HR Managers who have hired (or considered) over a 1000 candidates. It will provide really valuable advice straight from the source, and will give you guys the opportunity to ask them any questions you would like. We launch that series this week with an awesome recruiter from Wells Fargo!
To help this series along, please send/comment about any questions you would like to have answered from hiring managers, and a request (if you have one) for any companies in specific that you would like to see here.
First of all, as most of you can tell, I am revamping the blog, so please excuse the broken links for a few days. This Week, I have several posts about research, searching for a job online and interviewing, so stay tuned!
Now - the blog entry -
Most people don't realize it, but an interview IS a two way street! Every one answers interview questions, but great interviews do something different...they ASK great questions. Asking thoughtful questions shows that you are interested in their company and how you will fit into it, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, you are interested in your interviewer as a person(not just a potential employer). So, don't be afraid to ask questions at the end of your interview.
WORDS OF CAUTION - We have all heard our instructors say that there is no such thing as a bad question <- They were not thinking of your life as a young professional when they said that! THERE ARE BAD QUESTIONS. In an interview, do not ask about:
- salary, benefits, hours, or anything related (all of this will be addressed once you get an offer)
- someone's personal life (other than maybe an occasional question about how they made the decision to work in this field or at this place)
- about office gossip/drama
- information YOU SHOULD HAVE READ ABOUT before coming to the interview - (ie, asking about what the company does or about what products they have released)
- HOW YOU ARE DOING IN THIS INTERVIEW
But DO ASK your interviewer:
- How has the current economic situation affected the way you do business?
- In what ways do you feel that the company philosophy and culture transcends to you on a daily basis? (Asking them for their take on the management philosophy and culture not only gives you something to think about, it may show you the interviewer's candid thoughts)
- What would be my career path if I joined as a [your position]?
- How does your company encourage/support further education?
- How does the team's dynamic work when it comes to major projects?
- What is the technology I should familiarize myself with, if I were to have this position (if accepted)?
- Always end with the question - Is there any other questions you have for me?
Its really unfortunate for us college graduates that there is no course in networking (or any other real life skill, actually). But if there was such a course, I'm sure you would have to know all of the following to get an A+:
- ANY-TIME IS NETWORK TIME - A few days ago, I was standing in line in the cafe I usually go to, and in front of me was this really cute kid, and his father. When the boy's dad saw me, I mentioned how cute his son is, and he replying with "He looks cute now, but hes a handful!". The conversation continued as I stated that maybe I will only know how much work they are, when I become a parent, many many years from now. This remark naturally led to him asking me about what I do... Soon enough, he gave me his business card to contact him if I wanted to do any consulting work for his start-up! The lesson? stay professional and talk to as many people as you can. You never know where the next big job offer may be!
- GIVE, AND YOU SHALL RECIEVE! Although I generally like volunteering for the sake of giving, I cannot tell you how many highly qualified and extremely successful people I meet when I spend time volunteering. Getting involved with a charity or a community event leads to important connections and positive sustained relations, while helping an important cause that you and the people you connect with believe in.
- STAY IN THE LOOP! - I always feel like college students do not do this enough, but join both the campus organization and the local chapters of professional organizations that are in your major! You may have to pay a small fee (pls check if there is a student discount), but it will be worth the investment!
- TWO WORDS THAT COULD GET YOU A JOB! Send your follow up emails (two words- THANK YOU), and connect with them on linked-in and twitter! Even consider adding recruiting managers from companies you really want to join as linked-in contacts (most people wont reject you). Word of Advice - Check to make sure you have nothing too unprofessional (ie, wild party pictures) on your myspace or facebook before adding them!
Look this list over, and make sure that you are doing everything you can to ensure that you are casting the widest networking net you can at this time! It takes a lot of time, and seems like busy work, but it has its grand payoffs that you wont regret!
Next Entry- As promised, COVER LETTER BASICS!
I hope that things are going well, and that everyone is still managing to stay afloat despite our daily dose of dismal economic news. The topic for today...you guessed it!
Since most schools (and cities) have great resources, they set up some form of a career fair to help their students meet recruiters. I got my main internship offer from a CF, and so I really hope that you attend and give it a chance.
Here are things to take to the career fair:
2. A list of top 8 companies you want to attract, and cover letters and resumes stapled together for each of those companies (I order these alphabetically by company name since there is a lot of chaos on the day of the CF)
3. A notepad and pen to take notes in (notes such as contact information, or when you are supposed to call someone)
4. A place to store a representative's card.
And Just a few rules that we occasionally forget:
* Decipher your terrain - When you go in, read the map, learn where your top 8 companies are, and then, decide your plan for moving through the fair efficiently, keeping your priorities in mind.
* Dress Appropriately - Even if you think no one is going to care, you never know. Wear professional attire.
* Be respectful of stationary - I will never forget the story I heard about a student walking away with a rep's globe that he himself bought, out of good will, to decorate his company table! Point is, (especially if it looks really valuable), ask before taking something, and don't "fill up" on any of the giveaways.
* Master The Approach - Say hello, make eye contact and then present your resume. Employers report that they get the following a lot - Student X hands their resume, and then says nothing while the rep goes over the resume, forcing the company representative to initiate the conversation. How is this different from submitting your resume online? Point is, Take Initiative, and establish good contact (use the 45 second pitch if you need help!).
* Before and After - Do your homework -
Before: Learn a bit about the company you are interested in, and a lot about their products and competitive differentiators (ie, what makes this company different from their competition.
After: Follow Through (see previous blog)!
Recently, one of the blog readers sent me an important question that gets asked a lot. So, I felt like posting up the answer to help anyone who may be in a similar situation:
" I feel like I understand the technical knowledge that the job requires, but whenever it comes to facing an interviewer or meeting someone at a career fair, I feel like I dont connect well to the person across from me, which may be the reason I am having a hard time getting any [interview] callbacks. What are some ways I can improve my communication skills?"
Again, good question. Experts from every magazine from the "Harvard Business Review" to "Self" emphasize that if there is one component that could keep you from getting what you want is your ability to communicate your thoughts effectively. In my experience (in computer science/engineering where, unfortunately, some people don't bother learning to talk to anyone else) the key differentiator between those who get a job offer (or close a deal) and those who do not is an individual's ability to connect well with others. Here are some tips I use, and some tips I ran into during my research:
*Is anybody there? - There is a high chance that the person in front of you is trying to understand you, and will be able to pick up if you are genuinely reaching out of your comfort zone to speak with them. Use your facial expressions, body language and attentive mannerism to show a genuine interest in the person's thoughts and ideas.
*I'm sorry, I'm a bit nervous - If you are a bit nervous and find yourself stuttering a lot, its okay to say that you are nervous(and infact perfectly natural in first impression situations). Pause (read: breathe) and then continue. Just remember the point you are trying to convey, and continue with that point in mind.
* Hey Fool, leave a message, aite? Peace! - If your voicemail is nothing but funny, or worse, obscene, make sure you change it to something that communicates your name, and your maturity. If your myspace or facebook picture is not something you could show your (conservative) GRANDFATHER, it shouldn't be your profile picture. Being unprofessional can seriously turn off your employer.
* Is there something you suggest?- If you are meeting someone, do not ask what they can do for you. Tell them about your problem, and ask if they have any advice or suggestions for you, and they will automatically be eager figure out new ways to help solve your problem! Try it.
* Follow Through - An important part of communication is what you do after- write those thank you letters (within 24 hours), send a general email connecting (if they could use your help with something you talked about, mention it here), and connect with them on linked-in! Just follow through.
If you are having a hard time, practice communicating professionally with your friends (you will get over how lame it is eventually)-If nothing else, it will make you more comfortable during more professional encounters. Good luck :)
For those of us whose mom or dad doesn't run his own FORTUNE 100 company, the first encounter that we have with representatives who decide whether we will ultimately decide our fate with the company will be through the resume.
If you can imagine the thousands of resume they get each month (sometimes even each day), it is not hard to see why they usually do not spend over 60 seconds deciding which pile (to call back or not) your resume belongs in. That means you have 60 seconds to make the best impression and get them to call you back to discuss a position further. So, don't get caught making the same mistakes as every one else with your resume!
Here are the 5 most common mistakes (and lesser known) and how to fix them now.
1. Resume uses a Microsoft Office Template (or any other template).
They are considered templates for a reason - it USED TO BE (maybe as far back as the dot com days) that you can plug in your strengths and experience, and some one will look at it, and give you a job. These days, using a "cookie-cutter" resume, is almost a sure way to ensure that your resume wont be given the needed attention.
The Lesson? Look at multiple resumes formats to see how they are formatted, but be original and create your own format. With that said, Include all the necessary information, but don't use the same hundred templates EVERYONE has access to. Your potential head-hunter will thank you for the change.
2. Your resume is printed with your passport photo and fancy Cursive font to show off just how creative you are.
Bad Idea! Yes, its important to be original, but this is hardly the occasion to show off your knowledge of all the fancy cursive fonts. First of all, most resumes will be read online. If it gets uploaded, all that creativity in paper choice will surely be a waste of time (and money), and all that creativity and designs on the resume may just make your resume hard to read.
The Lesson? Don't Be too Creative (unless you are looking for a position that requires a creative resume). Print your resume in regular 8.5 X 11 sheet of paper (unless you have over a decade of experience, you shouldn't require more than one page of paper), avoid any non-normal fonts (ie, use Arial, Verdana or Times New Roman). and please do not put a picture of yourself or something (worse: someone) you like. When it comes to formatting--Keep it simple and focused.
3. Your resume lists your accomplishment as an 10th Grade Associated Student Body Class Representative.
It often looks unprofessional to employers if you are well into your college years, and still mention all your high school accomplishments. It makes them wonder if you are trying to take up space, or more importantly, if you have lost creativity and leadership skills in the last few years. It begs the question of why you are not as involved now, and may actually work against you.
The Lesson? Although many of us have done (some) things we are proud of in high school, it is time to let it go, and reposition ourselves. Now that you are in college, list your accomplishments in college. You should work on joining clubs or working on short term projects to boost your resume so that you can cut the high school umbilical cord. Not sure you have enough material? List your interests and relevant course experience, emphasize what you have gained in your previous jobs (in a proper bullet-es fashion), or even state your relevant project experience. When applying to my first position in programming, I stated two projects I worked on and helped lead in the classroom setting, and the skills I gained from that. It helped me a lot, and I think it can help you!
4. Half your resume looks like an essay and the other half of the page is empty.
Most recruiters mention that they see this all the time....Either the margins are too big (which makes them wonder if you dont have enough information and are trying to trick them), or the resume ends abruptly, leaving over half the page empty. Do not show a lack of organization and thought by scrunching up all your information or not including what matters.
The lesson? First of all, dont try any crazy margin tricks (stick with the 1 inch margin all around)-- employers have seen every trick in the book, and its likely that they will pick up on yours. Second, I know that you must have enough material to format your resume properly and still use as much of the prime real estate in your resume as you can. See the previous point to find our tips on what to end if you dont have enough in your resume.
5. Your resume is not accomplishment-driven and rather, is project driven.
Its really important to remember that employers are human beings and they need to know that you are too. At the end of the day, they want to know that you pay attention to detail, work hard and learn from your past experiences (and hopefully, they will want you to have a decent sense of humor)! So, telling them all the details of your project or drowning them in technical jargon is likely to get your resume dropped from the list, so be careful.
The lesson? List things that you have learned in a subtle way. For example, instead of stating that you programmed the DTL design management protocol for the ABC, state that you used XYZ tool to complete a project that will allow users to do "A, B, C". Even if your employer or hiring manager is not familiar with the tools you are using, they know what you have helped make possible or even better, what you have helped lead.
NEXT POST - Mastering that Elevator Pitch - Your 60 second script to getting a call back!