"problem" not "job"

Every once in a while I'll run across a helpful tip on my MSN home page. Today was one of those days. You probably know by now that one of the things you are supposed to do in an interview is let the interviewer know why you would be a good fit for the position. The article I read suggested something that might help you with this: Remember that an employer has a "problem" not a "job." Employers are not just looking for someone to fill a currently empty spot they have. Employers are looking for someone to solve specific problems that they have (e.g., sales are low, creative advertisements are needed, fifth graders need to be taught science, data must analyzed and interpreted, etc.). Taking this perspective allows you to focus on what the employer needs, not your needs. Now you're able to sell yourself by thinking of specific ways you can help solve their problems before you get to the interview, and then making sure you address these ideas throughout the interview. Show the employer that you have the experience to solve the problems that they have.

How to make networking work for you

Healthcare is one of those career fields that has always been deemed recession-proof, but the amount of education and training required in order to garner a position in this industry often leads people to wonder, “How can I get a job using the skills and experience that I currently have?” For me, networking played a large role in securing an internship at the Midwest Cardiovascular Research Foundation in summer of 2006. I was going for a check-up and was talking to the nurse about my interest in research and medicine and she passed my name on to the director of the center. He asked me to submit a cover letter and resume describing my experiences and eventually I was hired. However, my networking did not stop there. By working in conjunction with this research center, I had the opportunity to meet other doctors who then set me up with shadowing opportunities in the operating room. I made a lot of great contacts that summer and it proved to be an invaluable experience.

How can networking work for you?

1. Talk with your family physician about shadowing. Shadowing can open up many doors to potential internships.
2. If you live near a university with a hospital, see if your parents know anyone that works there and contact them.
3. If you are interested in a research position in healthcare, talk to your advisors and see if they know anyone who is looking for a research assistant. If not, they might hear about an open position.
4. Check postings in your major department or in a science department to see if any schools are offering summer medical school prep programs.

Show off your experiences

So now you’ve got your interview, and you are so close to that perfect internship or job, and you want to make sure that you can represent yourself in a way that shows the hiring manager that you would be a perfect fit for their company. How do you do that? Well one of the best ways is to conduct as much research as possible on that company. The more you know about the company, the more you can tailor your representation of your experiences to the position. Look for articles, press releases, videos, anything that is attached to the company that gives you an idea of what the culture is, and then think hard about how you bring out some of those in your experiences. For example, at the Weinstein Company in New York, a Marketing Coordinator’s desired qualities and skills include:
1) A professional appearance and telephone manner.
2) Must be able to interact and communicate with individuals at all levels of the organization. Position continually requires demonstrated poise, tact and diplomacy.

So if you were applying to this position, think about how some of your past experiences fit; maybe when you worked as a customer service agent, you had to deal with many different kinds of people; so you had to communicate effectively with different people -> that’s #2 on the list. Concrete examples also help a lot in demonstrating your capabilities, so show off as much as you can!

Stand out!

A great way to really make yourself stand out is to be as enthusiastic as possible in your interactions with employers or recruiters. When you speak to them, make sure to make eye contact and smile, that shows that you enjoy the interaction and the experience, which further shows that you would be a good person to work with. Later on, when they review your resume, they will recall your chat as a pleasant one, which works in your favor.

Be more than just a piece of paper

When pursuing a competitive internship, job, or research opportunity, it is important to find ways to stand out from the rest of the pack. Simply sending your application may not be enough for an employer to get to know you better. To help employers think of you as more than just your resume, you can try these two simple tips:

1. Give your employer a follow up phone call.
Instead of just following up with an email after submitting an application, actually give your organization contact a phone call. Not too many people do this anymore, so this will help separate you from the rest of the applicant pool. Just remember to map out what you want to say. You don't want to sound completely unprofessional when discussing your application status.

Phone calls are great, but remember if the company says "no phone calls", then DO NOT CALL. In this case, calling seems like you can't follow direction and that probably isn't the impression you want to make.

2. Go to company information session, and stay late if you can.
Many times companies will have info sessions where you can learn more about the company. This is a great way to meet with company recruiters and learn more detailed information about an organization. This is also a great place to get some of your pressing, well-researched questions answered.

Moreover, many recruiters will hang around after the informational session is over, and this is a great opportunity to get some one-on-one time with a company representative. During this time, you will be able to not only learn more about your dream position, but also the recruiter gets to learn more about you as a person.

Conclusion
The key is to find ways for employers to know you as a living, breathing person, not just a pile of application materials. To do this, it takes some more time and intentionality, but it is definitely worth it for your dream opportunity.

For more tips on making a good impression with employers, stop by Quick Questions from 11 am to 5 pm in the Career Center or make an employment with a Career Advisor!

A Reminder:

The other day in our Career Peer meeting, April M. said something that every Wash. U. student absolutely needs to remember: we are all talented, are receiving a great education, and as such,are very well off, even though we are immersed in an unrealistically competitive environment. As a Wash. U. student, you have more going for you than you might think. One of those things is the Career Center!

The job/internship is fraught with anxiety and fear for some, but needn't be. Sure, there are lots of things to tackle, like getting your resume in good shape, writing a cover letter, and learning interviewing and networking skills. However, there are some easy and small steps you can take to make these tasks manageable.

For instance, many students come into quick questions with cover letters and resumes that need some work. That's perfectly fine. In fact, that's great! Nobody is born knowing how to construct a good resume or cover letter. These are somewhat arcane skills that must be learned, and there is no better place to start than the Career Center.

The Moral of the Story is this: fear not, you are smart, motivated and ambitious. You will not always be competing against the likes of Wash. U. students, and even if you are, once you take a few simple steps to prepare, you'll knock their socks off.

Architecture Career Fair

Designers,

It's that time of year!  Architecture firms from around the country are coming to Wash U soon.  It's now your chance to meet them face-to-face!  A little nerve-racked, but looking for summeror full-time employment?  We can help.

Do this:

1. Visit our Architecture Portfolio & Resume Review session from 6-8pm tomorrow (Wed. 2/11) in Givens Hall.

2. Stop by the Architecture How to Work a Career Fair session from 12-1pm on 2/17 in Givens Hall

3. Come to the Career Fair on February 25th from 5:30-8:30 in givens Hall.  Make sure to know which companies you would like to meet before you come.

Good Luck!

Things to Consider as You Move Forward with Your Job/Internship Search

Try using CAREERlink in other ways than just looking for available positions. Use it to build your target list by searching for companies by industry and city, or to get names of hiring managers at companies you are interested in. Don’t forget that there are other career networks such as CareerBuilder, Monster, and HotJobs. Check them out and post your resume. Just remember where you post it (you don’t want your boss finding it five years from now and getting the wrong idea). Also keep in mind that privacy (or lack there of) could be an issue. Don’t include your address and home phone number—e-mail and cell number should suffice.

Spend extra time tapping into the hidden job market. You are now competing with more people for the advertised jobs. So think of ways to find the unadvertised jobs—this means building your network. Ask friends, friends’ friends, friends’ parents, parents’ friends, professors, alumni, career advisors—you get the point—if they know anyone who does what you are interested in. Finding the contacts is not the hard part…that hard part is actually doing something about it once you find them.

If you are a senior, consider applying for an internship—it could buy you more time to look for a job. It could also help you get your feet wet if you have never actually done anything related to field you want to work in. After the summer, they may just hire you full time!

As you continue with your job search remember to stay organized. Keep track of the companies you apply to, the materials you send them, and approaching deadlines. Also keep in mind that just because you applied doesn’t mean your work is done. If you have not heard back from the company contact the hiring manager. Don’t let an opportunity slip by because of disorganization or laziness.

Keep up the hard work!

Follow up correspondence

Sending a thank-you letter may seem obvious, something your mother drilled into your head as a child when learning proper etiquette, but when it comes to landing a job it can make all the difference. Polls have shown that about 50% of applicants do not send a thank-you note or follow-up email after an interview. This form of correspondence is not just a means of showing appreciation, but is also an opportunity to rehash important skills and to emphasize why you are a great fit for the company. With that being said, here are some helpful hints to writing a great follow-up letter.

• The letter will have a similar format to a cover letter and you can bring it to Quick Questions for a review.
• Remember to address it to the individual you interacted with.
  
• You should begin with something that will catch the employer's eye or remind them about your interview, such as what aspect you enjoyed most about talking to them.
• If you forgot to mention an important qualification, this is the opportunity to add it in.
• Close with a statement of appreciation and hope for the future.
  
• Some FAQs I found helpful can be found here http://www.quintcareers.com/thank_you_letters.html
  

Standing Out

As we all know, right now, there are a lot of people looking for jobs, and not as many jobs out there. What can you do to stand out to recruiters?

The number one most important thing is to show your interest! Do this by preparing well for career fairs and interviews by researching the company.

• Know current events affecting the company (e.g., new legislation, new acquisitions/mergers).
• Be prepared with 3 questions you can ask the recruiter to show that you've done your homework and that you know that you are interested in the company. Make these questions about topics that you can't find the answer to on their website. Ask about how a new current event is affecting them. Ask about the most challenging and most rewarding aspects of the job. Ask about community service projects they've worked on.
• If you've been networking and know some people in the company, don't be afraid to drop some names (don't be obnoxious though!)

Be friendly, energetic, and show confidence!

• Greet the recruiter with a firm handshake
• Keep a smile on your face
• Be excited and animated when you discuss your past experiences!
• Mock interviews and public speaking workshops can help with this

Show them what's unique about you

• Consider putting a brief "Interests" section on your resume. This is where you can talk about your passion for rockclimbing or jazz music. These can be great conversations starters and will make the recruiter remember you.
• If you have a personal website that looks professional that showcases more of your skills (e.g., artwork, graphic design, past papers and projects) put the link on your resume.

Follow up.

• Send a thank you card after interviews
• If a few weeks have passed and you haven't heard back, it's okay to call them on the phone to check on the status and reiterate your interest
• To keep in contact with past employers, people you've had informational interviews with, and other people in your network, you can send cards on non-denominational holidays (e.g., New Years, Fourth of July) to keep in touch

Here are some helpful links:

• http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/departments/college/?article=jobfaircrowd
• http://www.talentzoo.com/news.php?articleID=13
• http://www.usatoday.com/money/jobcenter/jobhunt/resume/2002-11-13-online-recruiters_x.htm