UAF Career Services

How To Turn Job Interviews Into Job Offers

2011-11-29T12:51:00.000-08:00

"I can do the job, so why don't I get the job offer?"

Being confident in your professional skills and being able to transfer that confidence in your competence to recruiters and hiring managers are two very different but equally important skills.

Who gets the job offers? The people who turn job interviews into job offers with the greatest ease are the people who are able identify and discuss the recurrent problems that lurk at the heart of their work, these people are seen to "get" the job in ways that other candidates don't.

Read on to find out how to turn interviews into job offers.

Article by: SimplyHired.com

SINCE YOU ASKED: Should I use social media to help with my job search?

2011-11-18T10:07:00.000-08:00

Listen: Look at a company's presence on Facebook, follow its Twitter feed, get a feel for what the company is saying, and what people are saying about it. If you actually "listen" to the dialogue, you will get a sense of the culture and pulse of the organization. You can learn a lot through photos, videos, stories and feedback from users. This is a great starting point for your career search that can help form impressions and make decisions.

Engage: People often underestimate social media as a relationship builder. A decade ago, you could only look at a career site, but today it's a two-way street. If you have specific questions, first search for the answers. Never ask a question that can be answered on the company's website. If you send a well-thought-out question, you can usually get to the right place and get a response. Plus, you will get the added value of commentary from other users.

Build Relationships: The whole idea is use conversation platforms to get your questions answered and build a relationship. And the earlier the better! For instance, if you are looking for an internship, consider how many of your friends who have already graduated are out in the workforce and connect with them.

"The whole idea is to leverage your connections as you build relevant relationships."

Steven Ehrlich, Global Vice President, Client Development at TMP Worldwide
Becky Parson, Senior Project Manager, University Relations at AT&T

SIFE* 2011 / Career Connections

EFFECTIVE LISTENING: Discover Why Good Listeners Get More Jobs!

2011-11-18T09:43:00.000-08:00

An Excerpt from Effective Listening: The Key to Successful Interviewing
by: John G. Igwebuike
Associate Professor of Legal Environment of Business
Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs
Alcorn School of Business (ASB)

Communication is two-sided: there is a sending side (speaking and writing) and receiving side (reading and listening). To have one without the other, or to emphasize one at the expense of the other, results in ineffective communication. Why is listening so vital in an interview? We must first understand that a job interview is essentially a strategic communication for the purpose of exchanging information.

Consider why listening can make or break an interview:
a. Effective listening contributes to effective speaking
b. Employers want employees who are good, courteous listeners
c. The interview is an opportunity for you to interview the company. Careful and attentive
listening gives you the essential information you need which will later assist you in your
decision-making.

Silence is golden. Don't be afraid of short pauses. When asked a question, take time to think, understand the question, and formulate your answer. Remember, the word "silent" is "listen" with the letters transposed.

Ask a question - and then listen. Towards the end, the interviewer usually will ask if you have any questions or anything you wish to add. It's best to have prepared a few questions and to listen to the answers you receive. Remember, one of the key purposes of the interview is for you to gain knowledge so that you can make the right decisions.

Effective listening can give you an edge to say that current job market is fiercely competitive is an understatement. What is a job seeker to do? Improving your listening skills may give you the necessary leg up. Start by demonstrating your interest to the interviewer. The following tips will help you remember to LISTEN:

L - Lean slightly towards the interviewer, or sit up straight to show your attentiveness through your body language.

I - Ignore distractions such as a ringing phone, knock on the door, visitors, etc. A key quality of really great conversationalists is that they have a unique way of making you feel as though you are the most important person to them.

S - Smile in a relaxed manner with confidence. What shows on the outside, grows on the inside. A smile builds rapport and relaxes you so that you can really pay attention.

T - Take a few notes. Jotting down a couple of points is fine. Beyond that, note taking becomes distracting. When you look down to write on the notepad, you break eye contact with the interviewer. Train yourself to make mental notes of important points.

E - Eyes are the windows to the soul. Maintain eye contact to the degree that you and the interviewer remain comfortable.

N - No cell phones. This seems too simple a point to even mention, but you'd be surprised a the number of recruiters who tell me of cell phones sounding off to all manner of musical notes, beats, beeps, and jingles to ruinous consequences for the interviewee.

SIFE* 2011 / Career Connections

Lighten Up

2011-11-18T09:27:00.000-08:00

Let's face it, we live in an acroynm-happy world. We are all familiar with NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), ASAP (As Soon As Possible), and SIFE (you'd better know what that stands for!), but did you know that Jeep came from GP (which stood for "General Purpose" vehicle), that scuba stood for "Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus," and that laser stood for "Light Amiplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation"?

Social media has expanded our use of acronyms to the point that we wonder how we ever communicated without them. Think you know them all? Try this quiz (answers below).

1. BTW
a. Buy the Winnebago
b. Bye the Wednesday
c. By the Way

2. DM
a. Don't Move
b. Direct Messaging
c. Doughnut Machine

3. HTH
a. Hope that Helps
b. Hi There Honey
c. Head to Heart

4. IMHO
a. Igloos Make Houses Obsolete
b. I Might Have Overeaten
c. In My Humble Opinion

5. JV
a. Junk Vehicle
b. Joint Venture
c. Just Vague

6. LMK
a. Let Me Know
b. Let's Make Knishes
c. Letters Mean Knowledge

7. PRT
a. Parson Russell Terrier
b. Please Retweet
c. Pretend Rocks Talk

8. SMO
a. Search Media Optimization
b. So Many Onions
c. Should Move Over

9. UGC
a. Unusually Ghastly Contact
b. User Generated Content
c. Ugly Green Coat

10. YMMV
a. You May Move Vertically
b. Your Mom Must Vanish
c. Your Mileage May Vary

Answers: 1-c, 2-b, 3-a, 4-c, 5-b, 6-a, 7-b, 8-a, 9-b, 10-c

SIFE* 2011 / Career Connections

2010-02-19T10:09:00.000-08:00

It Could Be Who You Know.....

When they're looking for new hires, many organizations tap their own employees for suggestions. And not casually - these organizations have formal "employee referral programs" to help them find new hires.

In fact, in a recent survey, employers cited their employee referral programs (ERPs) as among their most effective means for hiring new employees. (Some even have such a program to help them identify good prospects for internships.)

As a result, if you have a contact within an organization that has an ERP, you could get the inside track on a position before the company goes outside to look for candidates.

ERPs are just another reason why networking is a good way to find a job.

For more information see: JOB Choices 2010 Diversity Edition

2010-02-19T09:48:00.001-08:00

Selling Yourself During the Interview

Words on a printed page or computer screen can only tell an employer so much. To "bring life" to your candidacy, they want to see and hear you during an interview to better gauge your fit with the organization.

There are different types of interviews and a variety of questions that will be asked. Sizing up your interviewer will help you present yourself in the most positive light during the interview. Learn how to engage the interview.

"No matter the type of interview, show them that above all you have the ability to listen," says Carolyn Cummings-Altemus, national director of diversity and executive recruiting for the Boy Scouts of America. "Focus on what the interview is saying and respond to and ask questions based on what he or she is saying."

At some point during the interview, the tables will turn and it will be your turn to ask the questions. For many recruiters, a good indicator of the research , resources link, you have done isn't how you respond to the questions they ask you, but the depth of the questions you ask them. Make sure to ask intelligent questions, even general ones.

For more information see: JOB Choices 2010 Diversity Edition, UAF Career Services (students page)

2010-02-19T09:42:00.000-08:00

No Job...What Now?

If you don'thave a job upon graduation, take heart and take charge. Continue to make use of the services of the Career Center, and keep working and adding to your network. Your flexibility, creativity, and foresight can benefit you greatly in this situation. Consider taking a nontraditional approach to your employment.

"A student without a job at graduation should consider taking an internship with a company that accepts recent graduates or accepting a position that is not exactly what they wanted but with an employer for which he or she desires to work," Chapman says.

For more information See: JOB Choices 2010 Diversity Edition

2010-02-04T14:09:00.001-08:00

20 Tips for Navigating a Networking Event
By Courtney Pike, Director of Operations, JobBound

Two out of three people get a job through networking.

Most job seekers spend the majority of their time scouring online postings and blasting their resume to job boards. Ask any hiring manager or recruiter where they find most of their candidates, and most likely they will say through a referral or a recommendation.

Since networking is the key to getting your dream job, you need to make sure you know the rules of the game for networking events.

Sure, you may be intimidated by the ubiquitous evening networking event. It may seem scary, but everyone in that room is there because they want to network and talk with people just like you.

Here are a few, quick tips to ensure you have a successful networking event:

Do your prep work and know what type of people will be in attendance.
Read the news so you can be up-to-speed on current events and potential conversation topics.
Make note of who the event organizers are so you can thank them at the event. (Usually they are the most connected people in the room).
Dress the part. Make note of the venue and expected attire.
Think of about five conversation starters or opening lines. It doesn't have to be deep - weather, sports, local news, reasons for being there, etc.
Arrive on time. You can meet the organizers and work a smaller room.
Focus on the people, not the food. It is difficult to shake hands and continue conversations when your hands and mouth are always full.
Drink in moderation. No one wants to hear you slur your story about your job search over your fifth glass of pinot.
Position yourself in a high traffic area.
Be assertive. "Hello, my name is...." Introduce yourself and start conversations.
Say something after your name to help lead the conversation. "Hi, I'm Courtney, I'm new to YPC. Are you a YPC member?
Try not to talk with the same two people the whole night. Sure, it's more comfortable, but you can follow up with those two over coffee another day.
To keep the conversation going, focus on things you both know about - the guest speaker, the networking event, or the organization hosting the program.
Listen and ask questions. Remember, it's not all about you.
Hand out your business cards to those you shared a conversation with, but don't fling them out like flyers.
Request a business card from those you would like to follow up with.
Bring a wingman if you're intimidated; just don't spend the entire evening chatting with your friend.
Tell the event planners thanks and that you enjoyed the event.
Jot down notes on the business cards to keep track of everyone you meet.
Follow up!! After the event, get connected on LinkedIn, and send a personal email to request a meeting to continue conversations.

Remember, you simply are meeting people, making connections, and creating relationships. A quality network is a crucial part of your job search.

2010-01-04T16:54:00.000-08:00

Dressing For The Job

The rules of dressing are as individual as the workplace, and what is considered "professional," "business casual," and "appropriate" vary.

Consequently, it is a good idea to ask your manager or a human resources representative at your organization for guidance before you start, but, if that is not possible (or if their advice is unclear), experts recommend that you dress conservatively on your first few days on the job as a precaution.

After you've started the job, take a look around at your co-workers to gauge what you should - or shouldn't - wear. If you're dressing one way and it's not how your co-workers dress, then you're projecting that you don't understand the culture.

Ultimately, your workplace dress should be guided by your aspirations. Look at the people who are in the roles that you want to have someday and model your dress after theirs. Dress for the job you want.

Job Choices for Business & Liberal Arts Student: 2010

2010-01-04T16:35:00.000-08:00

Career Connections: Preparation for Success
Brenda Barnes Chairman & CEO, Sara Lee Corporation

At Sara Lee, when we find employees that share our values, there is no end to what we can accomplish. And when an employee finds a company that shares their values, they will be happy and committed to that organization. Some tips for success include:

Have passion for what you do. If you enjoy what you do, and have passion for your hard work, people will take notice.
Do good work! Being the best at something will open more doors for your career than anything else.
Take an active role in your career. Find things you are interested in. Get started on your internship for next summer. Take classes in areas that will benefit you down the road. Study abroad to gain language skills and international exposure.
Take risks. Do something you have never done before. Get out of your comfort zone and you may discover talents you never knew you had.
Treat others with respect. Live by your values and treat others with respect. Value the input of others.

Career Connections Fall 2009

2010-01-04T16:26:00.000-08:00

The Best Advice I Ever Received
Julie Hamilton, President, Global Walmart Group, The Coca-Cola Company

Julie leads the customer team that is responsible for growing and managing the relationship of The Coca-Cola Company's business portfolios and brands with Walmart, the organization's largest customer.

Named on of the "Top Women In Grocery" by M Magazine and Nielsen in 2008, she serves on the boards of the Network of Executive Women in Retail, Children's Miracle Network and SIFE.

She says, "The most important lesson was to treat people the way you would want to be treated and don't ask people to do something you wouldn't be willing to do yourself. That's been an important foundation for how I learned to build, work with and lead teams as well as my approach with customers.

"Another valuable piece of advice I had was to always keep learning and challenging yourself. That might mean picking up an extra assignment or taking on extra work. You will benefit by learning new skill sets, gaining new perspectives, and meeting new people, all of which will help you grow personally and professionally.

For detailed information see Career Connections Fall 2009

2009-10-16T16:53:00.001-07:00

The Networking Challenge

Make the most of your networking

Finding people to contact is just part of networking. Try these quick tips to make the most of your conversations with networking contacts:

Send an e-mail to introduce yourself when requesting a meeting. Explain (briefly) what you have in common and describe what you hope to learn through your conversation. Include a date and time that you will follow up by phone to schedule your meeting time if you haven't heard back; then, follow through!
Research the industry, organization, and person yhou will be meeting prior to your conversation.
Consider information that you are learning in classes, internships, or student organizations that might be interesting to your target contact.
Make a list of questions to ask. Customize the questions to be specific to the industry and the person you will be contacting.
Treat professionals with respect. Use appropriate grmmar and spelling when writing messages. If you've scheduled a meeting, don't cancel. Arrive 15 minutes early.
Whether your conversation is in person, on the phone, or via e-mail, follow up with a thank-you note to show your appreciation and improve your chances of creating a productive relationship.

For more information see: Job Choices 2010

2009-10-16T16:22:00.000-07:00

Succeeding in a competitive Job Market

Flexibility: For the ambitious job seeker facing a competitive job market, perhaps nothing is more important than flexibility. That means considering options outside of your comfort zone, but it doesn't mean your job search should be unfocused or disorganized. And don't just stop at opening your mind to different job options, be open to relocation.

Start Now: Many students don't think about their job search until senior year. The key is to not sit back and wait: TAKE ACTION NOW.

Use your career center: Your campus career center should be your first stop. Schedule an appointment with a career counselor to explore your career options. Take part in the resume writing, interviewing and other job-search-related events.

Employers say that the lack of research is obvious in interviews and that researching the company, and specific job, if possible - is perhaps the single most important thing a potential employee can do before interviewing. Candidates who fail to do so can come across to employers as disinterested and lacking initiative.

Know what employers want: Most job postings will provide a general list of requirements - the "hard" skills. Perhaps cheif among these is the work-related experience. As a rule, employers prize experience in potential employees, as it provides some evidence that you can, in fact, do the job. For most college students, work-related experience is gained through participation in an internship, volunteer activity or part-time job. (And experience doesn't have to be paid to count.)

In addition, many employers screen candidates based on GPA (generally 3.0 and above is the cut off for consideration).

Finally, employers look for "soft" skills - communication skills, leadership abilities, ability to work in a team, and the like. Employers look for well-rounded individuals. These individuals offer more than just an academic record. "They also participate in sprots or hold leadership positions in student organizations. They have the ability to listen, write, and speak effectively.

Connect with employers: In a competitive job market, it's especially important to use everything at your disposal. While you're in college, take advantage of any opportunities to interact with employers provided through your school. Once you have graduated, you'll find it is not as easy to get access to a group of employers in one location.

Some contacts may be available to you through your school: "Check with your school's alumni association." says Christopher Carlson, manager of university recruiting for Booz Allen Hamilton. "Try to identify alumni who are at companies of interest."

Be thoughtful, be informed: Conduct your job search armed with information and insight so that you don't dismiss a job out of hand or ignore potential opportunities.

Your first job is not likely to be your last, so look at how a job may help you gain experience and develop important skills, even if it's not what you expected to be doing.

For more information see: Job Choices 2010

2009-07-15T14:17:00.000-07:00

Cultural Understanding Critical to Care

Minority applicants to medical schools are on the rise. Organizations liek the Association of Ameican Medical Colleges have launched campaigns to increase awareness of the glaring gap (see Aspiring Docs) and increase recruitment of diverse individuals to the health care industry.

An article by the American Medical News in late 2008 reported that first-year medical school enrollment for Hispanics was up by 10 percent from the previous year and that American Indian and Alaska Native enrollees increased by more than 5 percent from the previous year. Enrollemnt for African Americans had also increased, but only slightly.

Ultimately, the answers lie in elementary and high school education to prepare all students for careers in health care. Often, students from under-represented groups are not exposed to enough science and math in high school to be able to excel in those classes in college that would prepare them for advancement to medical school.

Affirmative Action Register: Summer 2009

Climbing Careers

2009-07-15T14:09:00.000-07:00

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, wage and salary employment in the health care industry is projected to increase 22 percent through 2016; this is very significant compared to the 11 percent increase for all industries combined. The health care industry is expected to provide approximately 3 million new jobs in teh 2006 - 2016 period.

Affirmative Action Register: Summer 2009

2009-06-30T16:20:00.000-07:00

Corporate Careers With Social Impact
Looking to mesh your passion and your paycheck?

You might be surprised by the opportunties in the business world. In the corporate sector, "careers with social impact" is an umbrella term often used to describe innovative work that aims to make positive social or environmental change on a large scale. It is also used to describe careers that measure their impact based on a triple bottom line or blended value approach.

Triple Bottom Line (TBL): is type of accounting that takes into consideratin social, economic, and environmental impacts and benefits. it is also referred to as a "People, planet, and profit" approach.

Blended Value: proposes that "all organizations...create value that consists of economic, social, and environmental value components - and that investors...simultaneously generate all three forms of value providing capital to organizations." (Jed Emerson)

Corporate Career Options:
Job seekers should keep in mind that social impact can be integrated into any job, company philosophy, or industry. Often the best opportunities to create social impact are in places wehre the history may be troubled but the potential for change is great.

Positions:
Rarely do companies hire externally for specific positions that are focused on sustainability or CSR. Often these ositions are created for or filled by a current employee who has taken the initiative to incorporate social change into their mainstream job or deparment.

Positions focus on issues such as "the development of environmental policies, decreasing the company's environmental footprint, and stakeholder engagement." (Net Impact Environmental Sustainability Career Guide).

for more information visit: www.idealist.org

2009-06-30T16:04:00.000-07:00

Advising - Four Myths About Federal Service
Students often have misperceptions about government service. Here are the four most common myths and the realities that debunk them.

MYTH #1: THE "BUREAUCRACY" MYTH
Myth: Federal employees are paper pushers who are caught up in bureaucracy. Your work as a federal employees does not make a difference.

Reality: Young federal employees get to work on substantitive issues that affect the future of our coutnry. For students who want to make a difference, the federal government is arguably the best place to contribute.

MYTH #2: TEH "LOW PAY" MYTH
Myth: Salaries for federal employees are low. Hence, you are better off going to work elsewhere.

Reality: Entry level salaries are competitive with many industries. Plus, federal employees advance quickly with the possibility of increasing their salary by 150 percent in just two to three years! The benefits and work/life balance of government offers are often better than any other sector.

MYTH #3: THE "WASHINGTON" MYTH
Myth: Say goodbye to your friends and family. If you work for the government, you have to work in D.C.

Reality: In fact, 84 percent of federal jobs are outside of the D.C. metro region, with 50,000 jobs abroad.

MYTH #4: THE "POLITICAL SCIENCE" MYTH
Myth: Federal employees are all social sciences majors. The government does not need people with other academic backgrounds.

Reality: Federal agencies do not just need social sciences majors. In fact, some of the highest need areas are public health and medicine, engineering, the sciences, business and accounting and informatin technology. There is a place for every background in federal service.

For more facts and information on federal service visit:
http://makingthedifference.org or http://ourpublicservice.org/OPS/programs/calltoserve/