10 Tips on Interviewing

I've been interviewing for the past 3 weeks. Some of them went well, and some didn't.
Let me impart my "wisdom" upon you...

1. Go to the pre-night info session before the interview. Most companies will hold an info session the night before the interview so you can learn more about the position, the company, what they're looking for, and meet the recruiters. This is a great chance to learn about the company and get to know the recruiters before you even do the interview.

2. Do your homework. Make sure you know why you're interested in the position and why you're interested in the company. Come up with at least 3 questions you want to ask the interviewer (not things that can be found on their website).

3. Dress the part. Wear a suit. And if your suit is black, make sure you're wearing black socks.

4. Get there early. 10-15 minutes early. Some companies will have recent graduates there to "warm you up" before the interview.

5. Greet your interviewer with a firm handshake and a friendly smile. Make small talk with him or her as you walk to the interview room. Ask them about the weather, about their flight in, whatever, just avoid awkward silence.

6. The first question you'll probably hear is "tell me about yourself". Make sure you have a concise answer (1-2 minutes) where you talk about what you've done and how it relates to the current position.

7. They'll ask you about your strengths, a time when you worked with a difficult team, a time when you came up with a creative solution, a time when you were a leader, etc. It's always a good idea to come up with some examples you can use before the interview. But, don't memorize your answers; you'll sound rehearsed. Be genuine.

8. At the end of the interview, ask them questions. To make it more like a conversation and to show you're paying attention, ask follow up questions about their responses.

9. Remember to get your interviewer's contact info and ask about the next steps in the recruiting process.

10. When you get home, send them a thank you note. Via e-mail or snail mail. Or both.

Resume: 6 Things to Remember

1. Give them what they want. Show them that you are qualified by including the experiences most relevant to the position. Researching the industry and the position will help you decide what to emphasize. You can even make a list of your experiences and

accomplishments and then pick and choose from it when preparing a resume for a new type of position.

2. Keep it simple. Remember, in many cases your resume will be given only a 30 second chance. There is no time for complex sentences. Keep your points focused, concise and clear. The goal of the resume is not to give an exhaustive recap of your past. It is to grab the reader’s attention so that he/she will want to give you an interview.

3. Demonstrate results. Don’t be afraid to use numbers, percents, and dollar amounts. Also, highlight your strengths and accomplishments upfront. There is no reason to save the best for last. Impress them right away.

4. Organize and format. Make sure your resume is organized in a way that will make the information easy to absorb. Check for consistency and parallel structure. Look at it as a whole and see if looks nice. It should be pleasing to the eye. Fill up the page and think about white space. Make sure it is down to one page.

5. Use a variety of strong action verbs. Use the verbs to tell a story and to highlight your strengths. Start your bullet points with the verbs. This way, when employers skim through the bullet oints, the first word they see will already communicate your strengths and experiences. This link provides more resume writing tips as well as a great list of action verbs http://careers.wustl.edu/documents/ResumeCoverLetterWriting.pdf.

6. Get it reviewed. It’s difficult to notice your own mistakes. Ask a friend to read it, or better yet, come to Quick Questions where students trained in reviewing resumes can help. We won’t only look for mistakes, but also provide you with tips and suggestions on how to make your resume even better.

Wait…What CAN I do with my Humanities Major?

When I introduce myself to people as a Classics major, their reaction is almost invariably (right after “what’s Classics?”) an inquiry as to what I plan to do after graduation.  For myself and other Humanities majors, the assumption is all too often that the answer can only be “go on to graduate school and eventually teach.” While teaching is an important and rewarding profession, it’s not for everyone—nor is graduate school. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that, but there IS something wrong with the assumption that a Humanities degree is restricted to that career path.

In fact, an increasing number of businesses and companies are targeting Humanities majors in the same way that business graduate schools and law schools are seeking students who aren’t necessarily Business, Economics or Political Science majors.  A Bachelor’s degree in the Humanities can demonstrate the ability to think, read, and write critically, specialize in a field, learn new skills, and motivate oneself to work hard, among other skills. These are all valuable characteristics for any career path and employers recognize the importance of having employees with diverse educational backgrounds and skill sets.

The Career Center and the various major departments do provide pamphlets entitled “What can I do with a major in...[insert your major here]?” but that’s just the first step. Talk to your Career Advisor about what WU Alumni with your major have gone on to do after college. Look through CareerLink and come visit the Career Center library to see what careers you may be interested in. But most of all, let go of any preconceptions or assumptions about what you can or cannot do with your particular major; you’re not locked into any career path. In the same way, more explicitly “pre-professional” majors like Engineering and Architecture do not necessarily go into those fields after graduation.

Most often, Humanities majors feel like teaching is the only option for them simply because they don’t know what careers are actually available in the job market. So start researching and enjoy your major for what it is—a great education in something you are passionate about—and not as an indication of what you have to do for the rest of your life.

Parents and Networking

This weekend is Parents Weekend, and we all know that means… free dinners! But it’s also a great chance for something you may not be thinking about. Networking! No matter what you want to do after you graduate, you can end up with a couple contacts if you take advantage of this weekend and talk to the right parent.

If your friends know what you want to do after Wash U, they will probably let you know if there’s a way they can help you out. And now is a really important time for them to know, because if their parents are coming to town, you can actually have an in-person conversation with a parent in that field or who has connections to that field. This really doesn’t have to be anything formal, but chances are high that some parent will ask you what you want to do after you graduate. Even if you really don’t have much of an idea, if you can come up with a general response, you’re giving that parent a chance to help you out. And in this economy, we really can use all the help we can get!

So just spend a couple minutes thinking about a general way to describe what you're hoping to do after you graduate, and talk to a few friends about your plans. There are few things that involve little time and risk and give you the chance for a big reward, but this is definitely one!

Who do you want to be?

It’s amazing how fast three years can fly by. I remember, like many other freshmen, I thought I was destined for a career as a doctor. Now as a senior, I am now no longer on the pre-med track and still trying to figure out what I want to do with my life. I would be lying if this time was not nerve-racking, but I must admit that it is exciting. In less than 9 months (Yikes!), I will be out in the world, exploring new options and breaking out of the Wash U Bubble. In less than 9 months, I will be one step closer to being a “real” adult. An adult that has a full-time job and doesn’t depend on meal points to purchase food.

As many of us in the Class of 2009 are about to leave the comfort of Wash U, we are looking towards (or dreading) life after graduation. Is it grad school, a job, or a fellowship program? Is it going back to live near our families, or venturing to some new locale? As I was pondering these things, Carol Moakley (one of the many amazing advisors at the Career Center) suggested that I asked myself one thing:

“Who do I want to be?”

I know it sounds philosophical, but as we all begin a new chapter in our lives, it’s important that we learn more about ourselves and our priorities. The more you learn about your passions and your desired lifestyle, the easier it will be to find opportunities that are a good fit for you.

So to my fellow seniors, take a deep breath. The next stage after college is an important, but is only one part of figuring out what is our purpose in life. In the upcoming months, explore different options by talking to people in fields that interest you, going to company informational sessions, and reading books about industries that intrigue you. Apply to jobs, transitional programs, or graduate schools that appeal to you most, while remaining mindful of deadlines.

Life after graduation is a whole new story, and your first chapter, isn’t your last. So try not to worry…too much.

I'm in sort of an interesting spot this year. As a double major in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies and English, potential career paths were hard to pin down. I'm currently a senior, and a great class I took on women's health last year inspired me to follow the path I've now chosen. Instead of going into social work, or working for an NGO, I've decided to go to nursing school after graduation, and am really excited about it. I see nursing as a concrete way to make change and do something interesting.

It took quite a bit of last-minute planning for me to ge to the point that nursing school is a reality. I had to juggle around classes, drop a thesis project, and take summer school, but I'm really doing it, and am so happy I took that leap.

My advice for people who have no clue about what they want to do after graduation is to deeply explore your interests: take classes that inspire you, do research on things you're excited about, and think outside of the box. We're still young-we have decades in which to change careers, change mindsets, and start over. It is never too late to try something new. If you don't know what you're interested in this point, come into the career center and take a self-assessment or two. Strengths Quest and Strong Interest Inventory are great places to start.

Good luck in your own search!

-Sarah

Are we planning our Careers or are we just trying to plan the next two years?

I’m a junior this year. Writing that sentence gave me chills (If you’re a junior, or have been a junior you will know exactly why I said that). I think I‘m at this weird cross road in my life where I’m re-evaluating everything. I constantly hear the phrase, I have to figure out what I’m going to do with my life, but I wonder if that‘s what I’m really doing? Though I’m interesting in consulting, I don’t think that I’m going to do that for the rest of my life. Thus, I made a plan, just like all Wash U students do, but what does that mean? Nothing, but the funny thing was it really made me feel good to know that I did have some type of direction in my life. But how stable is that plan? In truth I may get into a consulting internship this summer and realize that I hate it and then what am I supposed to do? Am I supposed to start a new Career? So I’ve decided, that at this point in my life, I’m not planning my Career, as if it’s the only one I will ever have, I’m planning my next two years. I don’t think it’s fair for me to decide exactly what I’m going to do until I retire at 20 years old. I’m sure that my life and interests will change along the way. In ten years will I even want to be in Healthcare? Maybe by then, I would have picked up some artistic skills and put all my money into redefining my craft (well maybe). I have no idea what’s going to happen. So I guess my advice for those flustered juniors and stressed out seniors is try not to focus on planning out the rest of your life, focus on planning the next two, the rest will fall into place.

There’s still time…

My sole goal for last summer was to figure out what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. By the time mid-August rolled around and I was packing for my senior year of college, I still hadn't found the answer. But, I realized that I still have time. Yes, I used to get annoyed when everyone I talked to would tell me "you still have time". I'd been hearing that phrase since high school and figured, "I'm graduating soon; I'm running out of time". But the truth is, the first job you take is unlikely to be what you do for the rest of your life. Don't freak out if you don't know what you want to do yet. Many people do transitional programs such as Teach for America or Americorps for a couple years. Business students may work for a consulting firm for 2-3 years, and then move on to do an MBA or get a job in private equity. There are also management development training programs where you rotate through several different functions before you decide which you want to focus on. If you're interested in research, you can take a research assistantship position in a lab before deciding if grad school is right for you.

Last summer, I told myself that I was going to finally decide between getting a job and going straight to graduate school. I did a lot of research. I did informational interviews, talked to professors and career advisors, and took the GRE and the GMAT just in case. And still, by the end of the summer, I hadn't had an epiphany yet. Apply for jobs or apply for grad school? I realize now that the best thing for me to do is to not rush into grad school. Don't go to grad school because you don't know what else to do. Don't go if you have no idea of what you want to do with the degree when you're done. Grad school is a huge commitment: time-wise and money-wise. Make sure you're committed. I realize now that I can do both: work for a few years and get some real-world experience, then go to grad school later if I still wish to do so.

If you don't know what you want to do with the rest of your life, don't freak out. You still have time. You have the rest of your life to figure it out.

-Fannie

Focusing on the Job Search

It’s hard to believe that for so many of us, senior year is here. It’s a time to be excited as we close our academic ventures and focus our attention on maximizing the memories and important relationships of our college experience. However, it is also a time of transition as we each decide on the next step after college. For many of us, jobs are in the near future and pursuing a job search may be a full year project.

For many of us applying for jobs, our industries have not started recruiting. Our finance and consulting peers are hitting the job search now and getting offers, but what should the rest of us be doing while we wait for jobs to open in our fields? On top of that, how do we deal with feeling inadequate or unprepared when pursuing the work force. Work may still feel like that distant entity that we only correlate with our parents and “real” adults. But how can we feel confident in pursuing a great job when there seems to be a lot of competition? How do we get excited about applying to jobs when the economy doesn’t seem promising? How can we be so sure that we want to work when we still can’t answer that enduring question: What do I want to be when I grow up? If you find yourself questioning and unsure like me, here are some suggestions that can help us get focused and make us feel more prepared for pursuing the job search.

1. Learn about yourself. In understanding what jobs fit us best, we need to first understand ourselves: our skills, our weaknesses, our passions, etc. You can achieve this through personal reflection. Keep a journal. Ask those close to you what your strengths and weaknesses are. Also take advantage of self assessments offered by the Career Center. Just walk in and ask the front desk. These assessments are particularly helpful with identifying your personality as a best fit within the job force.

2. Make yourself feel more comfortable with the industry that you think interests you. Read up on the industry first. Most importantly, get out there and meet people. Informational interviews are a great way to do this. Find out what kinds of skills are necessary, what your daily tasks may be. The great thing about this is that informational interviews are another great way to network. You’ll get your name out there and show others within the industry how interested and dedicated you are.

3. Finally, share your interests and ideas with those around you. Searching for a job can be very stressful. There’s no reason to hold it as a personal burden that you deal with by yourself. Talk to those around you. Express your concerns, fears, questions, excitement or whatever you’re feeling at the time. I’ve always been pleasantly surprised with where great advice, encouragement, or answers to prolonging questions came from.

These are just a few tips that can help us get started with the job search. It is a process. Hang in there and I’ll continue to keep you updated as I undergo the same challenge. Best of luck!

-Kimberly

Mock interviews!!! Get them while they're hot!!!

It was 8am on a sunny Thursday morning as I took the Metrolink down to the medical school to meet my mentor. I had just pressed out the wrinkles in my new suit and my professional attire helped me to exude confidence. Despite the fact that my mentor told me he would ask difficult questions I felt prepared. We met in his office, shook hands and began, establishing an easy exchange. Things were going quite well until he started asking me questions I had never heard before. I was broadsided and started to lose my composure stumbling over my vision of the next ten years of my life and the goals I had formed about my career path. To say the least, it was a complete disaster. Or was it? It was a mock interview after all and though my mentor was proud to have caught me off guard, he did get his point across about what it takes to truly be prepared for an interview. Most importantly, I learned from this experience and when I interviewed recently I knew exactly what to expect, answering questions fluidly and coherently.

Whether you are planning on entering the workforce, applying to graduate programs, or preparing for an internship, learning how to present yourself to others is an important skill to have. The Career Center offers mock interviews which can give you a chance to practice and find your common slip-ups before you ever shake the hands of a recruiter. In addition, we have resources such as packets of commonly asked questions, how do dress, and skills to help you promote yourself. This process is especially important if you are a senior who is beginning their job search. If you have not heard about it yet, I strongly encourage you to sign up for the Senior Prep Series or SPS. It is required in order to apply for jobs listed on CareerLink and it includes a mock interview for the job of your choice which will help you to come ready and confident for your first interviews.

-Stephanie

Job Search: Start Now

Senior year is here and it’s hard to believe that in eight short months my title as “student” will be taken away and replaced with “alumnus”. I have to admit, this change of title scares me because I know what it means. It means that a chapter in my life that I have really enjoyed will come to an end. It also means that a new chapter will begin, and with it will come the time to get my first real job. AAAAAAAAAAAAH!

So to make the transition into real world a bit easier, I have set a goal for myself. I want to graduate Wash U. with a job already lined up. Although I still don’t know what I want to do with my majors, I do know that hiding from the future won’t get me anywhere. I have eight months to find a job, and I am starting now.

I have set aside time each week to work on my job search (here is a link to help you get started with your job search http://careers.wustl.edu/documents/job%20search.pdf). It’s much easier for me to do something in many small chunks, over a long period of time, than all at once. I usually try to get an hour or two in each week. What I have found is that the actual job search is not as daunting and scary as it seems. It’s really not that hard—the hard part is finding time to do it and actually doing it. It’s kind of like writing a term paper. You don’t want to do it—you’re tired and have a million other things to do—but once you start it’s not so bad. So, yes, I have chapters to read, tests to study for, and projects to work on, but I remind myself that I do all that because I hope that it will help me get a good job. And no matter how great my grades are, I know that the job won’t find me, I have to find it. So that’s why every week, even though there are other things I would rather be doing, I sit down and work on my job search.

So to my fellow job seekers, my message to you is be proactive and start your job searches now. You will thank yourself when it comes time to start that new chapter in your lives.

-Julia

Take the Internship Success and Stipend Class!

If you're thinking of getting an unpaid internship this summer, you should strongly consider enrolling in the Internship Success and Stipend Class that starts next Friday, October 3, and meets weekly for the remainder of the semester. Summer stipends are not guaranteed if you take the class, but the Career Center will consider your completion of the class when making its decisions. Last spring, I took this class, and it probably contributed to the Gephardt Institute's decision to offer me a stipend that enabled me to intern at a non-profit in New York City.


The class only meets for an hour a week, so as long as you don't have a direct conflict, it really won't take up much of your time. There is some homework, but most of it is relevant to your internship search and will help you get the most out of your internship.


This is a great way to learn about maximizing your internship experience. Also, if you are planning to go abroad in the spring and are considering an unpaid internship when you return for the summer, this is your best chance to get financial help! RSVP on CareerLink soon!


-Daniel