How to Navigate a Job/Career Fair

Good morning, everyone!  Tomorrow is a big day at NEIU - our Fall 2012 Diversity Community Job and Volunteer Fair happens tomorrow from 12-3.  (If you are looking for a job, I highly recommend attending - it's free and open to the community, along with students and alumni.)

We have 68 companies attending - up A LOT from last year's 35ish.  It's very exciting stuff.

Now, I know for many of you, the idea of attending a job fair does not sound fun at all. I remember the first time I ever attended one - I was so nervous and intimidated.  However, while job fairs don't necessarily translate directly into interviews or jobs (though they can), they are an integral part of the job search process, especially for college students and alumni.

Now, for some helpful hints/tips for navigating your first job fair:

1. Research the companies you want to talk to.  This is a big one.  The employers there will expect you to have done your research.  Most job fairs have lists of the companies attending, and sometimes also the positions for which they are recruiting.  Pay attention to this and do some research, writing down notes and talking points.
2. Practice your 30-second pitch.  You need to have something to say to these recruiters, so practicing (not memorizing) an elevator pitch is a good thing to do.  Talk about who you are, why you are interested in them, and why you are a good fit for their organization/position.
3. Print out plenty of resumes.  You will need more than you'll think you'll need, so print out a lot.  If you happen to have resume or other high-quality paper, print them out on that.  Make sure everything looks good when you print them out, and be prepared to give a copy at the door of the fair.  (Also, be sure to put them in a padfolio so that they don't wrinkle or get folded.)
4. Dress professionally.  This means a suit.  At the very least, wear business casual attire (basically the suit minus the jacket).  DO NOT wear jeans, t-shirts, mini skirts, high heels (they will just hurt your feet), low-cut attire, sweats, sneakers, flip flops, or anything too revealing. 
5. Walk around the fair first before you talk to anyone.  Get the lay of the land, observe others talking to companies, and just get a feel of the order you want to approach the recruiters.
6. Before talking to your "dream companies," talk to a company you don't know anything about or when you are less interested in.  This will help you practice your 30-second pitch for real and allow you to build up your confidence before you talk to your "dream company" and blow it.  Talk to as many companies as you need to before you are ready for the big ones. 
7. Be prepared for long lines.  More than likely, you are not the only person who wants to work for said organization.  Be prepared to wait in lines for at least 5-10 minutes.  This is why high heels are not recommended.
8. Ask for a business card.  Be sure to get some contact information from the recruiter before you leave.  (Give them your resume too.)  On the back of the business card, be sure to jot down something that will remind you of the conversation that you had with this person.
9. Follow up.  If they tell you to apply online, do it.  Send them a thank-you note within 24-48 hours of the fair, thanking them for their time and reminding them of your conversation with them and why you are a good fit.  If you have recently applied, let them know of this as well so they can keep an eye out for your application.
10. Don't expect immediate results.  While you may get invited for an interview at the fair, or a few days later, it may take weeks or months before you hear anything.  If you are interested, follow up with them regularly (but not to the point that you are stalking them or calling them daily). 

Job fairs are a great way to meet many companies in a short period of time.  Even if they aren't recruiting for positions of interest, still talk to companies you may be interested in for other positions.  You never know when they will have openings.  In addition, it's great to talk to companies at fairs to ask questions to a real person.

If you have any questions on how to prepare, see a career counselor/advisor, as they can help you get prepared.  Good luck!

TIP: Send a follow-up thank you note!

So you just had an interview.  It went well, from what you could tell.  They have told you that they will let you know in the next few days if you are going to receive an offer.  What should you do in the meantime?

I recently heard from a student that her "mind was blown" when she heard from a friend that she should send a thank-you note after each interview.  She asked me if this was true - yes, I told her.  You should always send a thank-you note after each interview!

In fact, you should send it within 24-48 hours of that interview.  While it is not often the deal-breaker (or deal-grabber) for many employers, it can make a huge difference and in general is a great practice.  Here's why:

• It shows them you are very interested in their position - so interested that you will take the extra few minutes it takes to type up an e-mail and send it to them.
• You can ask questions you forgot to ask in your interview.  Maybe they didn't tell you when you'd hear from them - now is the time to ask.
• You can bring up things about yourself that you forgot to bring up in the interview, or clarify things you feel you didn't explain as well as you would have liked.
• You can re-emphasize how much of a good fit you are for the position.
• You can remind them of who you are - and what sets you apart from the rest of the candidates.
• And finally, who doesn't like getting a thank-you note?

Thank you letters can be in e-mail or snail mail form, but most employers prefer e-mails as it's quick and convenient for them, and you can be sure that they received it.  They should be short/concise, but tailored directly to that interviewer and your conversation with them about their position.  If you interviewed with more than one person, send each of them separate and somewhat different thank-you notes.  They will appreciate it!

As with any form of written communication, double-check everything for spelling or grammatical errors, or typos before sending.  And be sure you have their name spelled correctly, along with their e-mail address.  Then click "send."

You may or may not hear back from them in regards to your note, though it's usually not a bad thing if they respond.  I recommend even sending thank-you notes to employers that you are not that interested in - you want to leave a lasting impression on them of professionalism.  These little notes do the trick!

What is your biggest weakness?

Ah, the dreaded "weakness" question.  What is your biggest weakness?  I will tell you my honest opinion of this question: it's a horrible interview question.  Good interviewers will no longer use this question.  However, most people who conduct interviews for positions are not seasoned interviewers, and thus many are told to ask this question.  So how do you best answer it?

First, I will answer that question with how not to answer it:

Don't say you don't have a weakness.  I have heard this.  This just makes it sound like you are lying or really cocky.  Both are bad first impressions that will become a lasting negative impression on the interviewer.  We all have weaknesses - we are human. 

Don't spin a negative into a positive.  This is what many people have been told to do for years.  However, it sounds like you are either BSing the interviewer, or it just sounds super corny.  My favorite: the "My biggest weakness is that I'm a huge perfectionist.  [example of how this can be a weakness]  However, while this can be a bad thing, it's also great because I am detail-oriented and won't quit until the job is done correctly."  Blah blah blah.  They've all heard this before and it just sounds cheesy.  Be honest and genuine, not a fake broken record.

Don't be too honest and overshare or bring up something that's detrimental to the position.  On the opposite side of being fake and cheesy, you also don't want to be so honest that you dig yourself into a hole.  I once had a student that I was conducting a mock/practice interview with that answered this by giving me a list of at least 3 weaknesses and examples to boot!  Don't do that.  Also, if you know Excel is a required skill for the position, for example, don't tell me you are not strong at Excel.  It won't help you in convincing them that you are good fit for their position.

So, how should you answer this question?

Talk about something that is/was a weakness, but you are working to improve upon this weakness.  Give a specific example and talk about the steps you are taking specifically to improve this skill/quality, and maybe even an example of how it has improved. 

For example, "Something that I am working to improve are my public speaking skills.  A few years ago, I could barely stand in front of a classroom of students and give a speech.  However, recognizing this was a weakness, I decided to sign up for some Toastmasters groups.  In these groups, we were assigned to give a speech each week.  At first, I was really nervous, and was shaking, but I went through with it each week.  The rest of the group members provided feedback on how to improve, as well as things I did well.  This helped me feel more confident and allowed me to keep practicing.  In fact, just this past week, at work, I had to give an impromptu talk to a group of over 100 clients.  I barely flinched.  Aftewards, I received many compliments from both the clients and other staff members about how great of a speaker I am and that I am a natural.  While I definitely still have room to improve, this is something that I am proud to say I am working to overcome."

This example should be specific to you and not anything that would be completely detrimental to the position. 

(One thing I will discuss in a future post is how to appropriately give examples like the one above using the STAR(T) method.)

The key to answering any interview question, including this horrible one, is to think about the reason behind the question.  For this question, they want to know that you can recognize your own strengths and weaknesses, and work to improve any weaknesses that you have.  We all have weaknesses, especially when we first start in a new position, and they want to see that we won't just settle in knowing our weaknesses, but we also seek ways to improve ourselves.  In addition, it shows that you are human.  Be genuine and honest, but not too honest.  It will go a long way!

The Entry-Level Catch-22: Getting the "1-2 years of experience"

Here's the situation:  You have just graduated from college/grad school and are looking for your first full-time, entry-level position.  You are ready to apply the knowledge that you learned in the classroom to the real-world setting.  You have all of the skills necessary, are excited, and enthusiastic.  You start to search for jobs and what do you see?  The "Must have 1-2 years of experience in the field."  You double-check that this stated it was an "entry-level" position.  This begs the question:

How do you get experience if no one is willing to give you the opportunity to gain the experience?

It's the dreaded Catch-22 of job searching.  I was there once, and I was just as frustrated.  However, there are things that you can do to gain the experience to help you land the position:

• Volunteer.  Yes, volunteer in your field.  While it is not paid full-time experience, it's still related experience, and will also allow you to meet people in your field.
• Intern.  I don't care if you've already done one internship - do another one!  It's hard to find an internship for post-graduation, but they are out there.  If you are interested in a company, ask what unpaid or part-time opportunities are available to get your foot in the door.
• Find a part-time position in your field or at the company of interest.  Once you get your foot in the door, people will get to know you and also recognize your abilities.  They are more likely to hire people internally than externally.
• Network and join professional organizations.  Attend conferences and other meet-up groups.  (Meetup.com is a great resource for this.)  This won't necessarily give you the experience, but will keep you current in the field, and allow you to network with people at organizations of interest.
• Take classes or work toward a certification, license, whatever else is extra in your field.  For instance, if you are in the IT industry, work toward some certifications.  This again keeps you current and up-to-date on the latest trends.  And, it makes you more marketable.
• Apply anyway.  You never know.  You may think your experience and qualifications do not meet their standards, but let them decide.  It doesn't hurt to apply - you have 100% chance of not getting the job if you don't apply, and you have at least a chance of getting a call back if you do apply.
• Find an unrelated job that allows you to gain related skills or experience.  This is the "plan B" of sorts, but can help you talk about how while you have not worked directly in the field, you have gained similar or related experiences and skills.

All in all, stay active.  Don't just sit at your computer sulking and then apply to any job under the sun.  Keep yourself current and keep applying and networking!

For those of you who are still in school, keep all of this in mind.  Employers are looking for people with related experience, so do at least one internship before you graduate.  At least one!  Internships are a great way to learn about what you like or don't like, and also an even better way to network and get your foot in the door.  In addition, you'll have gained that experience that they are looking for. 

You may be able to find a company that is willing to train, and that is great.  Many do not have the resources now to do so, and thus, using the tips above can help you get the experience necessary to land that dream job!

Tip: A Positive Attitude Goes a Long Way...

"I'll never get a job." "There are no jobs out there." "No one will hire me." "I'm not getting any calls back." "The economy and job market stink."  I could go on and on with all of the negativity that I hear from job seekers, the media, and the like.  And while some (or all) of these things could be true at one point in time, letting the negativity take over and allowing it to show to others can be a huge detriment to your job search.

Think about this: would you rather talk to someone who was always down and complaining about something or someone who was upbeat, positive, and looking to new opportunities/the future?  Or how about this: are you more likely to approach someone (a stranger) to ask for help if they are smiling (not creepily) at you with a friendly face or someone who looks angry and upset about something?

While no one can or should judge a book by its cover, we do make assumptions about how a person might act or react by how they look and act, especially a person's facial expressions or attitudes.  This means that the awesome first impression that you are trying to make with an employer of interest could start with your attitude when you are applying for that job.  It really does make a difference.

Here are some tips for keeping a positive attitude throughout the job search:

1.  Allow yourself time to do something you like to do each day.  It could be to read, sleep in, watch your favorite show, listen to music, take a bath, go for a run, play with your dog, spend time with friends, go out to eat, and so on and so forth.  Do whatever it is that makes you happy.  This will re-energize you and get your mind off of the job search.

2.  Start catching yourself thinking negatively, and then switch it to a positive thought.  This is when it really helps to journal and make note of the positive things that have happened each day.  Take all of the negative experiences (e.g., a bad interview) and write down what you can learn or have learned from that experience.  Use it as an impetus to do well in the next interview or submit an even better resume.

3.  Vent.  Talk to people about your search.  If you are frustrated, let it out on a friend or relative.  Get it out before you apply to positions or before you go into the next interview.

4.  Exercise.  Yes, this is a great way to relieve stress, but it's also a good way to clear your mind and get refreshed.

5.  Surround yourself by positive people.  That means turning off the news, stopping reading negative news articles online, and not spending time with all of the negative people in your life that try to bring you down.  Surround yourself with people and things that are positive and good for your job search.

These are just 5 small tips for getting that positive attitude out there.  The final tip: fake it until you make it.  Smile more.  Talk positively.  The more you do this, the more you will start to believe these things and act this way naturally.  Above all, be yourself and look forward to the new opportunities that await you.  You can do it, you just have to believe in yourself!

So do I really need to submit a cover letter?

Ah, cover letters.  Do you really need them?  I get this question all the time from students and alumni alike.  No one wants to write them, because they are a pain in the behind.  Are they really necessary?

I guess the question you want to ask yourself is "do you really want the job?"  If the answer to that is "yes" then yes, you need to write a cover letter.

Don't start moaning and groaning on me.  They are not that bad to write.  Once you've written one, they are a lot easier to write, tweak, and send out to the next employer.  However, please, please, please - do not send the same cover letter to every employer, only changing the contact information.

Yes, you need to tailor your cover letter to each employer/position to which you are applying.  Yes, that takes time.  However, if you spend two seconds just changing the contact information and such, you may 1 - accidentally forget to change something and 2 - will more than likely never receive a call back.  Instead, if you spend the 10 minutes it takes to really tailor the cover letter to the position, you will be sure that you are sending a great product AND you will probably get more interest from employers.

Here are some quick tips on cover letters:

1.  They should be one page (or less).  I have seen some that are longer, and really, just like with resumes, it may depend on the position, but no one really wants to read a 5-page cover letter.  Keep it concise, but interesting.

2.  Use the job description for the position to which you are applying for "clues" on what to put in your cover letter.  What are the requirements for the position?  What makes you think you are a good fit for that position?  Emphasize how you have the qualifications, skills, and experience needed and how you demonstrated those skills.

3.  Give a specific example without repeating your resume.  Think of the cover letter as a "teaser" for your resume.  They should be reading this first, and so you want them to read this and think "I NEED to look at this person's resume!"  Include a specific example from an experience that talks about how you demonstrated whatever skill set that you are referring to.  For instance, "Your position requires experience in working with international students.  I have over 3 years of experience working with international students gained from my position at University of Illinois.  For instance, while serving as an advisor, I worked with international students from China and Japan and assisted them in obtaining internships, along with CPT."  (You get the idea.)  Don't just talk generally about the skills and experiences that you have, give an example! Everyone can say they have the experiences, but show them that you have them!

4.  Use "confident" language.  Avoid saying "I feel" or "I believe" or "I think."  This makes it sound like you aren't 100% sure if you are a good fit for the position.  Yes, you want to be humble, but you also want to come across as confident.  If you aren't sure if you are a good fit, how can they be sure?  TIP:  I have a habit of saying "I feel" a lot in cover letters.  I often just let myself write like that, without paying too much attention.  I then go back and look for these phrases and replace them with "I am confident that" or just take out the "feel" and instead of saying "I feel like I am a good fit" I say "I am a good fit for this position because...."  Make sense?

5.  Keep it concise!  Again, while you want to give examples, you don't need to write a novel.  Your resume will provide more details on those examples.  You want them to want to read your resume and also talk to you in person.

Those are just some quick tips.  As far as the format of a cover letter:

1.  Include your contact information first.  You can left justify this or you can use your same header from your resume.

2.  Include the date next, a couple of spaces down.

3.  Include their contact information.  This includes the name of the person you are sending it to.  If you don't have a specific name, try to get it.  If you can't find it, then use the position title at least.  Never say "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam."

4.  Start out with Dear Mr./Ms. [last name]:

5.  The first paragraph should tell them what position you are applying for and where/how you heard about the position.

6.  The second/third paragraphs (can be 1 or 2 paragraphs) should be the part where you really detail why you are a good fit for the position, using the tips mentioned above.

7.  The third/last paragraph should refer them to your enclosed resume, as well as thank them for their consideration and tell them you are looking forward to speaking with them soon.

8.  Sign it.

If you are e-mailing your documents, you can copy this into the body of the e-mail and then also attach a hard copy to the e-mail, along with your resume.

Cover letters are also a sample of your writing, so be sure to have someone else look over it to make sure you didn't have any typographical or grammatical errors, or any spelling errors.  Also double check your contact information and the person's contact information to which you are sending it!

There you have it.  Cover letters can be a pain, but once you get the hang of them, they are really not that bad.  In fact, if you don't have a ton of related experience that is evident from your resume, this is a great time to explain why you are making a switch to a different field.  Use cover letters to your advantage, even if they are only "optional."  

An Introvert's Guide to Networking

Networking - what does that word conjure up for you? 

When people used to tell me "you need to build your network" or "you need to attend networking events" all I could think about was being in a room full of strangers and awkwardly trying to start (and maintain) conversations with people.  At the end, we'd exchange business cards, and that would be that.  It sounds easy enough, but I was always super nervous about these types of things, and thus would avoid them at all costs.  After all, I am introverted, shy when first meeting people, and just don't like to be around large groups of people for long periods of time.  Networking is not for me, or so I thought.

The term "networking" is such an overused term and especially when discussing job searching.  We tell job seekers that the best way to find a job is through networking, but what does that really mean?  Does it mean I have to know people in high positions at my desired companies?  What if I don't know anyone in my field?  How am I supposed to go meet random people and will I even do that successfully since I am so introverted?

Well, I have news for you - you probably already are networking.  Yes, you have a network.  It's made up of your family, friends, co-workers (past and present), your Facebook friends, classmates (old and new), professors/teachers, your connections on LinkedIn, Twitter followers, neighbors, family friends, and on and on and on.  Basically - anyone you have met and have started to develop some sort of relationship, whether it's personal or professional, is part of your network.

When you think of your network that way, it doesn't sound so intimidating, does it?  Knowing that this is your network, here are some tips on how to build and maintain this network to eventually lead to career success:

1. Make a list of the people in your network.  Don't limit it just to close friends and family, think about all of those that are listed above and beyond.
2. When was the last time you talked to these people?  Write down their contact information or try to connect with them on LinkedIn or Facebook.  Send them an e-mail or give them a call.  Meet up with an old friend for a cup of coffee.  Rekindle those relationships.
3. Maintain those connections.  This doesn't mean you need to talk to everyone in your network every day, but touch base with them every now and then.
4. It's not all about you and not just about "knowing someone."  It's about developing a relationship and talking to them about their lives, and maybe even offering to help them out with something career-related or otherwise.  Ask about what they are up to and how they are doing.  People love to talk about themselves and love to feel like you are there for them.  But be genuine.  The more people you help for the sake of helping, the more people will want to help you.
5. Build your network.  Do things you enjoy - join a gym, a running club, a Zumba class, or go for walks with your neighbors, join a sports team, find a MeetUp (www.meetup.com) group in the area that is about something you enjoy (not necessarily career-related).  Attend conferences and join professional organizations (tip: students get cheaper rates in these, so join them early!).  Use LinkedIn and the groups on there to meet people in your field.  Don't be afraid to send a message to a 2nd or 3rd connection or another group member.
6. Maintain these new connections just as you do your older ones.  When you get a business card, send a follow-up e-mail to touch base.  (Tip: Write on the back of the business card something to help you remember the person and what you discussed with them.)
7. Volunteer - you never know who you will meet, and you are also helping a great cause.
8. Use Facebook to your advantage.  Go to your high school reunion or college reunion. 
9. Talk to family and friends.  Tell people what types of jobs you are interested in and looking for, and the types of companies you are interested in.  You never know who might know someone who might know someone... you get the idea.

The key with networking is to realize that the purpose is not to meet people to help you find a job.  The purpose is to develop relationships with people in which there is a reciprocal understanding and want to help each other out.  And this takes time, so don't decide today that you want to network with someone so they will help you get a job tomorrow.  That's not how it works.  Developing and maintaining your network takes time, but it is worth it in the end, especially for you introverts out there!

Finally - networking is not just for when you are job searching, you should be doing this all the time.  That's why LinkedIn is great, because it can help you keep up with your network during the job search and beyond.  Don't stop talking to people once you find a job, instead let them know that you got the job and thank them for any help they offered (even if it was just to listen to you vent).  This is so important and often overlooked!

TIP: Utilize Career Services!

My tip for today is one that, if you take nothing else away from this blog about job searching, you should remember and pass on to everyone you know.  And I mean everyone.  And this tip is: take advantage of all of those who want to help you in your job search, but especially career services professionals.

Yes, I mentioned this before, but it needs to be repeated and have a whole post dedicated to this topic.  Why?  Because we are underutilized.  Weird, huh?  You'd think with the downturn of the economy and the job market being competitive that we would have students and alumni lining up outside our door.  While we have gotten much busier, we definitely are not being used as much as we should be.  Some students/alumni claim that they didn't know we exist.  Yes, that might be part of it.  But now I am telling you: we do exist and we want to help you.  And I promise, we are friendly people and will not try to scare you.

Career Services offices (or named something similar) exist at every university out there.  In fact, the university you attended may have more than one office.  They are not just for juniors or seniors who are looking for a job either, they are also often open to all students at the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as alumni.  Sometimes there is a fee for alumni to receive services, but check with your school.

What does Career Services offer?  Thanks for asking.  Services of these offices include (but are not limited to):

• Help deciding on a major
• Help deciding what to do with a major
• Help through a career transition
• Resume and cover letter critiques
• Mock/practice interviews
• Job search assistance
• LinkedIn/networking assistance
• Online job boards that are free and connect you to local employers or employers that have a connection to your school
• Online and paper resources (such as sample resumes, interviewing tips, and so on)
• Newsletters
• Workshops on various topics
• Events, like job/career fairs
• Alumni days to connect you to alumni or students to you, as an alumnus/a

...and so on.

In addition, I know that I personally partner with the people that I work with and offer assistance with applying to grad school, connect them to people to network with or conduct an informational interview with, or even just give them miscellaneous tips along the way.  I've also helped with discussing offers, negotiating salaries and benefits, and even deciding how to turn down an offer or an interview.

If you didn't know your school had a Career Services office, check the website and contact them.  I can bet you they exist and are ready to help you.

What do you do if you didn't attend a university or they are charging you as an alumnus/a and you want free services?

There are a few things you can do:

1. If you know me personally, you can talk to me.  I love this stuff and am always willing to help.
2. If you attended any school for even a little while, check to see if you can utlize their services.
3. Find a community college in the area - more often than not, they also have these services and should serve the entire community (often determined by county).
4. Find a local community career center.  They often have free or fairly affordable services available, as well as job clubs and other networking groups.
5. Find an independent career counselor.
6. Utilize your local WorkNet (unemployment) office.

If you live in the Chicago area, I know for a fact that the Naperville Community Career Center is a good resource, as I used to volunteer there.  North Central College's Career Development office is free to students, alumni, and the last I heard, parents of students too.  Benedictine University has free services for students and alumni (they also have an awesome webinar series and speaker series).  University of Illinois has free services for students (and they have over 20 career centers on campus depending on your college), and an awesome Alumni Center (that does charge) for their alumni.  Northeastern Illinois University does not charge students or alumni and you can use us for life.

So, there you have it.  Any of you who are reading this who are going away to school soon, take advantage of the office as early as you can.  I always tell students that those who utilize career services tend to be the ones that get internships and jobs after graduation.  If you come into my office and I get to know you, I will think of you when we hear about positions, and I will personally e-mail you about an opportunity, or let an employer know about you.  It's just as much a great resource as it is a good network of which to be a part.

TIP: Google Yourself.

Have you ever been bored and just decided to search your name on Google to see what comes up?  Have you found some funny things, things you forgot about, and other random stuff?  I'm always amused at what I find.  Try it out.

Here's what comes up when you Google my name, "Tory Nair."

1. My LinkedIn profile (yet another good reason to sign up for LinkedIn - see previous post for 6 more reasons.)
2. WhitePages info (which is always inaccurate or delayed)
3. My Twitter account (which has sadly never been used - I need to get on that!)
4. Info about someone else named Tori Nair (notice the spelling of the first name)
5. My Google+ picture

And so on...

In searches for myself, however, I have also found:

• A petition I signed to bring back the Oreo Madness dessert at TGIFriday's (yes, I am passionate about my Oreo desserts)
• Information/times for 5ks/races I've run
• My wedding pictures
• My old online journals/blogs
• My wedding blog/website
• Friends' wedding blogs/websites

And so on...

This is what employers will find too if they search you, so if you haven't already done so, Google yourself.  Don't just Google your usual name, search for any names you've gone by, as well as your e-mail address (especially the one you list on your resume).  See what comes up.  If you don't want it up there for everyone to see, see what you can do to take it down.  I will point out that if you sign any online petitions, be careful what you sign before you sign it.  While my online petition was pretty funny and inocuous, others that are more politically oriented may offend some employers.  When I went to remove my signature on the petition I signed many years ago, I had to pay to get it removed.  Yes, pay.  That's why I say to be careful.  There's only so much you can control of what's out there about yourself.

This also is a good time to remind everyone to be aware and stay on top of privacy settings for Facebook, Twitter, and other social media, as well as to just be aware of what you put out there on the internet.  If you comment on a public post on Facebook, it will come up in a Google search.  If you comment on a blog or article, that will also come up.  Be aware of this and think about how you want to portray your online self.  You can also use this to your advantage by posting things that you would want to come up in a search - an online portfolio, if you will. 

Now go ahead and Google yourself and see what comes up...

LinkedIn is a MUST!

Many of you who know me personally (or follow me on Facebook), know that I am obsessed with social media, especially Facebook and LinkedIn.  I'm sure you figured it wouldn't be long before I posted an entire post singing the praises of LinkedIn.  Well, here is that post.

For those of you who have been living under a rock, LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com) is a wonderful site that is dedicated specifically to professional networking.  Like Facebook, you create a profile for yourself and you connect to other members.  Unlike Facebook, however, the main goal is not to connect to as many people as you can, but instead to make and maintain professional connections through an online network of people.  Think of it as an advanced Rolodex. 

LinkedIn is great for many reasons.  I will dedicate another post on getting started on LinkedIn, but for now, I am going to persuade all of you nay-sayers out there (I know there are some left!) about why you need to be on LinkedIn.  (Keep in mind: I am not getting paid by LinkedIn to say any of this.  While that would be nice, I have seen the results of using LinkedIn in your job search and beyond and believe in it 100%.)

Here goes:

1.  Employers/recruiters are using LinkedIn to find candidates for open positions.  Don't believe me?  Well, I can tell you firsthand that I have been contacted directly more than once via LinkedIn for open positions that would fit my qualifications, skills, and interests.  In addition, yesterday I visited an employer in Chicago that specifically said that they are using LinkedIn to recruit candidates.  If you aren't on LinkedIn, how are they going to find you?

2.  Many jobs are posted on LinkedIn.  Lots.  And not all on the "Jobs" tab.  Many are posted in Groups in the Discussions section.  (Keep in mind: In order to post a "Job" on LinkedIn, you need to have a paid account, and thus, many places will just post open positions in the Discussions section of groups as that is free and still can be seen by many potential candidates.)

3.  It's a great place to contact people within your network and maintain connections that may be beneficial in your job search.  I know this because I did this in my last job search.  I was applying to a position at a university.  I was/am connected to someone from that university, whom I had met at a few different professional organization meetings/conferences, and so I reached out to her just to find out what she knew about the position.  She was able to give me some more "insider" knowledge, as well as let her boss know that I had applied.  I did this for a few different places, and while it didn't necessarily lead directly to something, it was very helpful in my job search.

4.  You can connect to new people and build new connections.  Groups are great for this, as well as connecting to people with whom you have shared connections.

5.  You can learn more about different companies, industries, people, career paths, and so on.  One thing I did in my last job search was research my interviewers prior to my interview.  In my last interview, I found out that one of my interviewers was a huge dog lover (as am I), and so I tried to find an opportunity to bring that up in the interview.  Luckily, I was able to and it built a connection for later when I was hired.

6.  You can keep up with "old" connections in a less awkward way than sending random e-mails every now and again.  Ever wonder what that friend you had in a couple classes in college is doing now?  What about people from high school?  Yes, you might be friends with them on Facebook, but LinkedIn will tell you more about their professional life.

There you have it - six reasons (of the hundreds I have) to join LinkedIn today.  It's easy to join, and like I said, I will post something about tips about getting started on there.  Feel free to find me on there: http://www.linkedin.com/in/torynair. 

TIP: Be prepared!

(cue Lion King music)

One of the biggest pieces of advice I offer to anyone looking for a job or internship is to be prepared.  This goes for resume writing, networking, job searching, attending job fairs, interviewing, negotiating a salary, and so on.  Lack of preparation in this day and age can equal lack of a job.

What do I mean about being prepared?  The key is treating your job/internship search as if it is your full-time job.  No, that doesn't mean you need to spend 24/7/365 dedicated to job searching, but it does mean you need to do more than just write one resume and send it out to 10 companies, or 100 companies on Monster.  It means you need to actually take the time to prepare your documents, prepare interview questions, research the company, and so on and so forth.

Here's a quick way to see where you are stuck in your job/internship search:

Problem 1:  "I'm submitting my resume everywhere, but I'm not getting any calls or interviews."

There are two potential causes to this problem: where you are looking for said jobs and/or your resume.  You also may not be submitting enough resumes.  But remember: quality over quantity, people!  If you submit 100 of the same resume to different employers, I can almost guarantee you you will not get an interview for a position that you are actually interested in.  Be sure to tailor that resume and be sure to have someone else (other than a friend or your spouse/significant other) look at it.  Have it reviewed by a career services professional - we give you honest, objective advice! 

The other takeaway here is to be sure to apply to company websites or through connections you have made in addition to mega job boards.  Would you rather compete with 10 other people or 1,000,000 other people?  Again, both of these tips require extra preparation and time spent on the job search.

Problem 2:  "I've been getting calls and interviews, but I'm not getting any second interviews or offers."

I have a lot of people that come into my office and I review their resume over and over and over again only to find out later that they have been getting interviews for jobs that are actually interested in and qualified for.  The problem then is not the resume (it got you the interview!), it may be your interviewing skills.  I don't care how awesome you think you are at interviews, everyone (and I mean, EVERYONE), can benefit from practicing their interviewing skills.  Again, this is where a career services professional comes in handy - they often conduct mock (practice) interviews and can give you objective feedback on what you are doing well and things you can improve upon.  Don't waste time on your resume if you are having this problem - yes, it can always be improved, but focus your energy and preparation on your interviewing skills.  Get tips - read articles - and practice, practice, practice!  Also, be sure to research the company and prepare multiple questions to ask them about the position and the company itself.

You should be spending more than a couple hours a day on your job search.  It should take you time to prepare each resume and cover letter, to apply to each job, to search for jobs, to network, to attend events, to interview, to conduct company research, to evaluate an offer, and the list goes on and on. 

Don't go in unprepared because it will show - and that's the last time you'll ever talk to that employer!

Tell me a little bit about yourself...

So you landed an interview.  Congratulations!  You get to the interview and you seem to have made a good first impression - you shook the interviewer's hand with a confident handshake, you've been making strong eye contact, and you made small talk on the walk back to the interview room.  Now you are sitting confidently in the chair waiting for the first interview question.  And then you hear it - tell me a little bit about yourself.

Seems simple enough, doesn't it?  However, what exactly do they want to know about you?  How much should you tell them?  Should you go on and on for 5-10 minutes on all of the great things about yourself?  Or should you just talk for 30 seconds or less and highlight some important characteristics?  Is this the time to talk about personal attributes? 

This question is a very poor interview question.  Yes, I said it.  The idea behind it is to help break the ice, but often times the people who are using it really don't know what they want to get from this question other than to make you feel more comfortable without jumping right into the "tougher" questions.

The best way to answer this question is to imagine that the interviewer instead asked you what brought you here today?  Or why should we hire you? 

How would you answer those questions?  You need to focus on highlighting or summarizing your professional career history, mentioning your educational experience, where you have worked, and then talk about at least three qualifications or skills that you have gained from these experiences that set you apart from the rest of the candidates.  Be sure these are related to the job for which you are interviewing.

For instance, "As you can see on my resume, I just recently completed my Masters in Counseling from Loyola University in Chicago.  Through that program, I completed a year long clinical internship at Rush working with clients... [details of your experiences].  Through these experiences, I have gained skills in conducting group therapy sessions, as well as a certification in conducting assessments.  In addition, when working with the children in the unit, I was able to work with groups of children aged 3 to 10 in dealing with the loss of a parent.  This has given me the skills necessary for this grief counselor position here... [more details on how this relates to the position at hand]."

The idea here is you are being specific and are talking about how you demonstrate the skills that are needed for this position.  However, don't tell them too much - you want them to ask more questions about specifics - this is just a teaser for what's to come.

People always ask me the exact time limit you should have for this question.  To be honest, you are not being timed in the interview, so be detailed but concise.  Pay attention to your interviewer.  They will give you nonverbal cues (yawning, looking around the room, looking at their watch) if they are bored or no longer paying attention.

Don't be fooled by how simple the question seems.  Prepare for this question.  Don't ramble on - jot some ideas down beforehand because more than likely you will get this question in one form or another.  If you prepare for it, you will be able to answer it confidently.  (Don't memorize or rehearse it too much, though - you don't want to sound like a robot.)

Now, go ahead - tell me a little bit about yourself!

TIP: Parents Aren't Always Right...

... especially when it comes to job searching tips.

Happy 4th of July everyone!  I figured since today is Independence Day, what better day to talk about becoming less dependent on our parents.  (Hey, it's a stretch, but an important topic nonetheless.)

One of my biggest pet peeves at work is when I hear someone tell me that "my dad told me..." or "my mom said..." or the worst is "My [family member] helped me with my resume."  While it's great that these family members want to help out, what it often means for me as a professional is that I have to be careful with what I say so as not to put down said relative/parent but still somehow tell the student that their parent/relative was, in fact, wrong.

The thing is - most parents/relatives/friends are coming from a great place - they want to help.  They have looked for jobs before and they have much more experience doing so.  As such, they feel, as part of their duty as a significant person in your life who cares about you, to dispense advice so as to help you find a job.  The problem is not really them - it's who they are to you.  Because of how important they are to you, you listen to them and automatically assume they are right.  What kills me is when they are wrong and yet you, as their child/friend/relative, insist that I am wrong and that they are right. 

Here are some "bad" tidbits of advice that parents give:

1.  Your resume should always be one page.  As we saw in the last post, that is definitely not always true.

2.  You should major in [some major that they deem amazing] as it will give you the best chances on getting a job after graduation.  This is one of my least favorites.  I will write another post about this, but there is no guarantee no matter what major you choose that you will get a job or even have a better chance of getting a job after you graduate.  It's all what you do with the major!

3.  You don't need to work while you're in school - you need to focus on your grades.  If you are ever a parent, please promise me you will never do this to your kids.  Now some kids are smart and will still find a part-time job on-campus or at a retail store or something, or some will use their free time getting involved in student organizations or something, but if all you do is focus on your grades, you will have nothing to put on your resume other than where you went to school and your GPA.  That's it. 

4.  Call a company daily to follow-up.  Persistence pays off.  Please don't do this.  Do you like to be called daily by the same person asking the same question?  No, didn't think so.  Don't do this to the poor HR rep at the company either.  Yes, you need to be persistent and you do need to follow up, but not to the point that you annoy them.

5.  You need to go to [name of choice school that they deem amazing] if you are going to major in that - the program is highly ranked.  See #3.  It's all what you do with it, people.

These are just a few examples.  Please don't let your parents do your work for you - you are in college now (or beyond), so apply to jobs yourself, write your own resume, write your own cover letter, talk to your career services office about questions you may have as they are trained in this and talk to HR professionals on a regular basis.  Don't let your parents become those "helicopter parents."  Thank them for their advice, but make up your own mind and do what you need to do to get the job done. 

As the saying goes, if you feed a man a fish, he'll eat for a day.  If you teach a man to fish, he'll eat for a lifetime.  The same is true for your job search.  Own it.

One Page Resume Myth

I hear this all the time: "I was told I should only have a one-page resume" or "Since my resume is only supposed to be 1 page, I cut out...."  Whenever I hear this, I always want to ask "who is telling you this?" Not every resume is supposed to be only a page long!

Now, I will preface this by saying that every field is different, every company wants different things, and everyone has different things to offer.  For instance, when I worked with accounting students who were applying for entry-level positions in Big 4 accounting firms, a one-pager cut it.  But for many people not in these more business-related fields, and even for people who are applying to positions within business, a one-pager doesn't always best highlight your accomplishments.

My rule of thumb:  If you are cutting some great and/or related experiences off your resume in order to fit it on a page, then you probably have enough experience to be on 2 pages.  However, if you go to a 2nd page, be sure to include your name and page 2 somewhere on there, as well as be sure to fill up at least 1/3 of that second page.

I've seen some resumes that should be on 2 pages squished onto one with tiny margins and font and no spacing.  No one is going to want to read your resume if there are no white spaces!  (Insider tip: Flip your resume upside down when printed and look at the overall layout.  Is there a good balance of white space and text?  Flipping it upside down forces you to focus on the formatting and less on the actual content.  Don't believe me, try it out!)

I've also seen some resumes that are very boring one-pagers and then when I talk to the person, they have a lot of great stuff that is either being downplayed on their resume or isn't even there!  This undersells your experiences and will not interest the employer enough to call you for an interview.

If you aren't sure, contact a career services professional.  I will post another post about using us, but we are everywhere.  More than likely we are at your university/college, in your community, or at the unemployment office.  USE US.

Moral of the story: Use the best format and page length that fits with your experience, the industry to which you are applying and that fits with the position and company.  One page can work, but doesn't have to be this way.

However, please please please do not write an 8-pager as no one wants to read all of that...

TIP: Don't make excuses!

As a professional who works with mostly "traditional" students, I realize that I am on the very cusp of the "Millenial" generation.  Much of this generation comes across as very entitled and as a generation who feels like they deserve a lot for not much effort.  Now this is not true for all, and especially not all of the students and alumni I work with, but I have viewed this time and time again in various settings, from my current campus, to a high-ranked business school, and finally at smaller, private suburban campuses.

My biggest tip when it comes to job searching: be open to everything.  As a previous supervisor of mine once said, "You have 100% chance of not getting the job if you don't apply.  If you apply, you at least have a chance."  In addition, another supervisor of mine says "You can always turn down an offer later - don't rule out anything just yet."  (I've had some good supervisors, can't you tell?)

It's so true, though.  I applied to my job at my previous insitution completely on a whim.  It was an "Assistant Director" role and I thought there was no way that they'd hire me because I was fresh out of grad school and this would be my first "real" job.  Then I got the interview.  I interviewed and it went really well, but I was still convinced they'd hire someone with more experience in the field.  Then I got the offer.  I accepted, even though it was 2 hours away from where I was living and everything I knew.  It was one of the best decisions I've made in my entire life.

Every day I hear students making excuses as to why they aren't going to even apply to a particular job or company, or why they aren't looking here, networking there, attending this event, so on and so forth.  What they don't realize is that it's often those opportunities that you take advantage of that you least expect anything to come from that lead to something big.  Take advantage of any conversation you can have (even with that stranger sitting next to you on the bus, train, or plane) instead of staring at your smartphone or listening to your iPod.  Don't decide you aren't going to apply to a job because it would be an hour commute.  Figure that out once you get the offer.  Don't rule out a company just because you've never heard of them or something seems iffy in the job description.  Go on the interview - learn more about the company and position, then decide.  You never know what could happen.  And even if you don't get the offer, you've still made some connections.

Don't make excuses and don't pass up opportunities.  You honestly never know where they will lead you.

Welcome to Eat, Sleep, & Job Search!

Welcome readers to my first blog post on Eat, Sleep, & Job Search!  Look forward to posts on here about all sorts of tips and tricks relating to your job search and beyond.  Some will be simple and seem like common sense, and others will be more "insider" insights.  Feel free to comment and ask questions, as I love to answer anything and everything about job and career searching!

First things first - a little about me.  I'm a professional in the career services field - I work at a large, diverse, urban commuter campus in Chicago in the Career Services office.  Many of the tips and tricks that I will share here will be based on my own observations and common questions I receive from students, alumni, and friends alike.  If you'd like to see a certain topic discussed here, just let me know!

That's it for now - until next time, happy searching!