Job Search 101 for new grads with some tips from the guy who's doing the evaluating and interviewing.
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Job Search Tips for New Grads Steve Raye Managing Partner Brand Action Team 1 Darling Dr. Avon, CT 06001 [email_address] 860-676-7900 http://thebrandactionteam.blogspot.com
The R s um
Rsum Tips
It should tell a story
Do your homeworkcustomize resume for the opportunity
Make it easy for them to remember you and find you.
Save file as Lastname_Firstname_Resume 3_11_10
Keywords
Look at the job description, other posts from same company on Monster/CareerBuilder for similar positions
Separate Responsibilities from Accomplishments
Dont make stupid mistakes:
Print it out to review for format, spelling errors: remember, spell check is necessary but not sufficient!
Have someone else read your resume AND your cover letter before you send it out.
Most important WIIFM!
WIIFM
Whats in it for me?
Read between the lines
Try to determine their point of pain/need.
Be Specific, Use Numbers
Instead of... "Experience working in fast-paced environment" Try... "Registered 120+ third-shift emergency patients per night"
Instead of... "Excellent written communication skills" Try... "Wrote jargon-free User Guide for 11,000 users"
Instead of... "Team player with cross-functional awareness" Try... "Collaborated with clients, A/R and Sales to increase speed of receivables and prevent interruption of service to clients."
These Sound Nice, But Are Empty
Detail-oriented
Determined
Efficient
Experienced
Flexible
Aggressive
Ambitious
Competent
Creative
Rsum Miscellany
Its function is to screen out, not screen in
Objective: should you include one?
Only if it contributes to the story
This doesnt:
A challenging position that allows me to utilize my skills and experience to add value to the company.
Rsum Misteaks to Avoid
Typos and poor editing communicate carelessness
Instrumental in ruining entire operation
My ability to complete projects on time is unspeakable
Education: Curses in liberal art
Personal: Married, 1992 Chevrolet
I have an excellent track record although I am not a horse.
I am a rabid typist
Personal interests; donating blood, 15 gallons so far!
Disaster Checks
Google yourself
Clean up your Facebook and MySpace pages
Responding to Job Posts
Do Your Homework
Research the company/division/function
Understand their needs and interests
Do they write a blog, have they been published, given a speech
Cover Letter is Critical
Use the cover letter to highlight your USPwhat makes you different, but more importantly what makes you uniquely suited to the job.
Dont repeat your resume, distill it.
If you respond by email, ALSO send a written cover letter and resume with a handwritten note saying Second Submission; Im very interested.
Dont Make Stupid Errors Says: sloppy, dont care
Dont Make Stupid Errors Says: sloppy, dont care
Dont Make These Errors in You dont know me, Dear Mr. Soandso would be more appropriate!
Dont Hide Behind E-mail! Be bold! Be different!
The Interview
Checklist
Look em in the eye
Firm handshake
When offered a drink say YES
Use the time to LOOK and SEE
Things that decorate the office tell you things they want you know/think about them: Kids pix, hobbies, interests
Come Prepared to Lead the Interview
Most people are lousy interviewers
You can guide them
BUT you need to have a plan
What do you want them to know about you?
Have a plan, what 3 things do you want them to know about you?
What do you want them to say about you when you leave?
Orient your answersand your questions to those things
STAR
Situation
Task
Action
Result
Networking Interview
Do you mind if I take some notes? (says I recognize what you have to say to me is important.)
2 objectives for this meeting:
Having just graduated, I dont have first hand knowledge of the opportunities out there, so Im looking for help identifying the types of jobs that would fit my interests and background
Id like to ask for your help in referring me to folks you know in those business to whom you think it would be good for me to talk. (Implicitly communicate you recognize the person has to make a value judgment about you before giving reference)
Make sure for each reference that you have:
Name, phone number and permission to use the referees name.
Make sure to ask the Three Questions
FOLLOW UP EVERY INTERVIEW WITH A PERSONAL NOTEwith a lagniappe that says, I listened
Objective for the Meeting
To get the NEXT meeting
So dont leave it to them to take the next step, they wont.
Three Questions
Youve interviewed and hired a bunch of other people for other positionswhat has separated the ones you hired from the ones you didnt?
Of the ones you did hire, what separated the great employees from the simply good employees?
Which competitor do you most admire and why?
Five years ago you might have been asked where you thought your company and the industry would be in five years. What would you have predicted?
And if you were to look out to the next five years, what do you think your company and industry will look like?
Typical Questions Youll Get Asked
Prepare for them!
Tell me about yourself?
What are your most significant accomplishments?
What are your weaknesses/How would others describe them?
Why are you qualified for this position?
What are your career goals?
After the Interview
Close with defined next steps:
Ill get back to you on XXX with YYY
I will report back on how the referral meetings went.
I will check back with you by email re: ZZZ
Would it be ok if I followed up by email in two weeks to fill you in on these things?
Send personalized follow-up note, ideally handwritten, or at least neatly typed on good paper using a real stamp, not a postage meter.
Refer to something in the conversation
Include a lagniappe, cartoon, quote, news clip relevant to a topic in the conversation.
