Your First Impression May Say It All

You may possess a remarkable skill set, impressive experience and an excellent grade point average. But, you are at a disadvantage if you don’t know how to present yourself to employers. What am I getting at? Professionalism.  More specifically – professionalism and interviewing.

Employers take your interview appearance very seriously. How you dress for that important meeting reflects how much you respect the people you are talking with. Do you take them and their company and opportunities within their company seriously enough to dress your best? If not, why should they make time for you on their already busy schedule?

You need go no further than the video links on our website to see a comprehensive set of guidelines for how to dress for an interview (http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=CAREERSERVICES2&p=/Featured_Videos/).

In brief, wear a solid color, conservative suit and professional shoes. Women, add a coordinated blouse and neutral hoisery.  Men, add a white, gray, or blue solid long sleeve shirt, a conservative tie, and dark socks.  Hairstyles should be neat and professional and nails trimmed and clean. Women, keep makeup to a minimum. A same day shower is imperative and use only very light perfume or aftershave.  Minimal jewelry is advised—one pair of small tasteful earrings is appropriate for women. Otherwise, body piercings need to be covered. The same goes for tattoos. Carry a portfolio containing a pen and several copies of your perfect resume printed on bond paper with a laser printer.  

That’s it. Think “professionalism”. In the words of an employer, “you can never dress too conservatively for an interview”.  In the words of another employer, "why would you shoot yourself in the foot by not dressing professionally?"   

Questions? Call a counselor. We are happy to answer your questions. Or. . .better yet, schedule a mock interview and wear your interview attire. You can practice feeling professional as you practice answering professionally. 

Get a job!

~jan

WSU Career Services    

Finals

At this time in the semester, I am glad I am not a student. So I don’t have to take finals.

At any other moment in the semester, I would be happy to be a student.  I moved to Wichita to attend Wichita State 25 years ago. I was recently divorced and strongly believed a college education would make me more employable and allow me to take better financial care of my kids. It is a decision I do not regret.  

Which brings me to the point of this blog. Education is so valuable for so many reasons. In many cases, it teaches you skills directly transferrable to a job in your field of choice. Ideally, education teaches you to think. And, problem solve. And affords you immeasurable amounts of knowledge.

So, continue to study. Study hard. Take advantage of the opportunities available to you in college. As you turn in your final, take a big sigh of relief. And, smile. Smile because that final is over. More importantly, because you have the opportunity to get a college education.

Rachel's Job Search: Celebration

Phase 4: Celebration

 I will always remember the phone call of my first job offer. I was driving home and heard my phone ringing so I pulled into shopping center and answered. The director of the department got right to the point and said they would like me to be part of their office. I was completely overwhelmed. What I meant to say was “I am so thrilled! Ever since the interview, I have known that this is the job that I want and the news couldn’t come at a better time.” Instead, I said “I have to tell you, my grandmother died.” The eternally gracious director expressed her apologizes as I whacked my palm against my forehead thinking “Why did you say that, idiot!” I stumbled through awkwardly trying to explain that both my husband and I had lost grandmothers in the past week and we both needed some good news and this was good news. The very kind director saved me by moving on the explaining the next steps of the process.

After hanging up, and thinking “Did I really just start that conversation with ‘my grandmother died?” it dawned on me: I had a job. I drove home in silence with a huge grin on my face. I wanted to tell my husband in person to see the look on his face. We went out for dinner that night and saw friends, all the while celebrating the payoff for ten months of the unknown. There were plenty of hurdles to come, the paper work, moving, the first day, training, making new friends, etc., but at that point, the search was over. Later I would reflect on the experience and realize how much I had learned about myself, how lucky I was to have such a wonderful supportive family, and how I had developed patience and coping skills I would use for a lifetime. But in that moment, all I could do was smile and think “I have a job.”

Rachel's Job Search -- Interviews

·         Revisiting my skills. I pulled out the notebook from my Career Development class and reviewed all of my reflections and personality assessments. This was perhaps the one thing that made me feel the most at ease with the process because it helped me feel truly confident in my abilities and able to communicate how those related to the position.

·         Practicing interviewing. Once I had the invitation for an interview, I knew I should practice by actually saying answers to questions out loud. I felt really uncomfortable with the idea of mock interviewing so I didn’t take advantage of that and I probably should have. Instead I used my daily 45 minute commute as practice time, recording the entire trip on my phone, asking and responding to questions out loud. Later I would play the recordings back to identify areas or questions I needed to work on. 

By the time interviews came around, I felt well prepared which alleviated a lot of the nervousness and stress. However, the most difficult part was not the interview itself, but the emotional piece that went with the dealing with rejection to being constantly on edge waiting to hear something. It took me awhile but I slowly found ways to cope:  

·         Identifying a support system. In my situation this was mostly my family and my mentors. I actually found it kind of difficult that the rest of my friends and classmates were going through the process and often didn’t turn to them to support. It was too likely that we would start comparing or trying to one up each other in misery points.

·         Keeping busy and remembering I still had a job. Because I was a student, my internship supervisor was very supportive of my job search but after about a week of spending all my energy and focus on my search, I realized I needed to refocus my energies back to my work projects. That actually worked out well because it helped keep me distracted.

·         Setting up search process rules. When I first entered this stage I checked my email almost every ten minutes. My phone was either on my desk where I could see it or on vibrate so I could hear it. I was as jumpy as a cat. Once I realized I could not continue this way, I instituted a rule that I could only check my job search email every two hours and my phone stayed in my purse on silent only to be checked during breaks. It may sound ridiculous to have rules, but I think I was a much better functioning human being for it.

·         Staying organized. Again, the job search process involves a lot of lack of control so by staying organized I was able to have some sense of ownership. It was also helpful once several applications were out there. After a while all the job descriptions started to run together so having things organized made it really easy to review everything if I did get invited for an interview.

·         Widening my search. By April, I was still waiting to hear back about two jobs but all the others had come back very clear “nos.” It didn’t seem like any new positions were being posted to my regular circuit of HR websites. I was going to go crazy if I didn’t do something so I decided to start looking outside of my ideal area. This meant widening my scope from working at a college to working for anything related to education or non-profit organizations. I revisited my skills and tried to think about how they could be utilized in different areas in addition to starting to scope out different job postings sites.

April was a rough month. Even though I had an in person interview that went great, the pressure was beginning to get to me. In addition to the search, I had the Comprehensive Exam for my Master’s degree, my husband and I were making regular trips to Wichita to find a place to rent, we were making concrete moving plans, and work was getting busy with not only projects but the added work of preparing to transition all of these projects to a new person. This sort of limbo lasted for about a month and a half and almost every day I had to remind myself, that eventually, something would work out.

Tomorrow: Celebration!

Rachel's Job Search Phase 3

Phase 3: Interviewing (The Waiting Game)

 This part of the job search process can only be described as an emotional roller coaster. With several applications out, there were the highs of invitations for phone interviews followed by the lows of cold form rejection emails. The interview part was actually easier for me than the waiting so I’ll start there. I had both phone and in person interviews and ended up being happy with all of them even though only one turned into a job. I think the reason they went so well was because of the prep work I did which included:

·         Reviewing the application materials. Remember my computer files where I saved all the documents relating to each position I applied for? Yep, those came in very handy here. I would go back and review the job description and my notes, doing some reflection on the way to see if there was anything I could add. I also reread my cover letters and any short answer responses so I was reminded of what they knew about me from my application.

·         Researching the position, office, and organization. I spent a lot of time on different department websites reading mission statements, taking note of special programs or projects, and reading about staff members. I also always looked at the bigger organization (in my case the student affairs division and the university) to know about recent important issues.

·         Reaching out to my network. I knew several people who had worked at one of the schools I applied to and sent a few emails just letting them know I had been invited for an interview and asking if they had any tips or insight. This proved invaluable in the sense of getting a real understanding of the school’s culture and values.

*Be careful with these last two. It is good to be aware and knowledgeable but not a good thing to be creepy or to misrepresent your skills, values, or abilities to get a job. You won’t be happy in the long run and hiring committees can usually tell. Always think about middle ground of what they need and what you offer.

Rachel's Job Search Continued

Phase 2: Applying (Jumping in Feet First)
 

There was no magic time when I suddenly realized I should start applying for jobs. During Fall 2010 I had found a few jobs that had seemed interesting but I always had a reason to not apply. “I could do this, but it isn’t exactly what I want,” or “It is really too early, they would probably want someone to start before I’m done with school.” One way or another, I talked myself out of submitting an application. That was until one Monday in January, when one of my good friends announced that not only had he applied for a position but he had a job offer. Uh-oh, I thought, I should probably get a little more serious about this. 

About a week later I applied for my first job. I was on the fence about applying because it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. I had sought my mentor’s advice and she wisely reminded me that there was no harm in applying and that job searches were kind of like dating: both the interviewee and the interviewer were simply trying to figure out if they were a good fit. So the first job I applied for was an “I don’t really know if this is right for me at this point in my life” which was fine because I didn’t get invited for interview. This was not surprising in hindsight. As I explained before, this was apparently just my chance to practice writing an atrocious cover letter and to turn in a resume with the word “education” misspelled. Irony at its finest. Did I mention have your resume reviewed 8 million times by 8 million people? Also, just a tip, if you spell out your headings in all capital letters, Microsoft Word doesn’t spell check those words so you might double check all of those. 

Once I got my resume all fixed up, I also started to work my connections. A close high school friend offered to pass my resume along to an administrator at one of the colleges I was interested in. My mentors contacted old colleagues to inquire about jobs. In the oddest turn of events, my mother started up a conversation with a stranger on a plane that somehow ended up being a potential job lead. For me, none of these actually panned out in my search process out. Although, oddly enough, once I started working at WSU, some of these connections showed back up and have led to opportunities after being hired. This was a great reminder for me that my field, like most others, is very interconnected and every contact could be somebody who knows somebody.

Once I got past the hurdle of applying for that first job, the rest came much easier. Through the roughly three months (January, February, and March of 2011) of this phase, I applied for six jobs, all the while keeping the following advice in mind:

·         Apply for anything you think you might be happy with and are qualified for. Let the employer decide if you aren’t qualified enough and use the interview to determine if you are a good fit for each other.

·         Get good at seeing your transferable skills and how they relate to different positions.

·         Write a separate cover letter for each position. You might even reorganize or tweak your resume for each job depending on what you want to highlight.

·         Create a “Job Search” folder on your computer and in your email. I created a subfolder for each job and saved the job description, confirmation emails, and all of the documents (resume, cover letter) I submitted to help keep things straight.

Job Search Experience (continued)

· Getting all my ducks in a row. This was the simultaneously the hardest and easiest part for me. I relied heavily on mentors and friends to help me put these pieces together. In hind sight I probably should have used my University Career Center, but hey, hind sight is 20/20, right? The two biggest items for this were:

o Resume. I had an old resume I had used to apply to grad school and severely underestimated the time it took to add to it and spruce it up quite a bit. Once I had what I thought was the best resume ever, I had it looked over by close friends who promptly tore it to shreds. This was very hard for me and it took me awhile before I let anyone else look at it. Eventually I got my head around the fact that they were simply trying to help me make it the best possible and that it really was helpful to have several different sets of eyes on it.

   Cover letter. I didn’t write one of these until I found a job I actually applied for. This was probably a mistake as my first one was absolutely atrocious. Needless to say I did not get invited for an interview with that one. If I had it to do over again, I would have written some practice ones for jobs I was just looking at for research. After the second cover letter, I started to get the hang of it. I began printing off the job description and writing down an example of something I had done that either fulfilled the requirements or demonstrated a similar skill set. This helped tremendously in figuring out where to start and what to highlight.

This phase of the process started in August of 2010 (I graduated in May 2011). It continued all the way through the fall semester. Some of my classmates waited to start this process in the Spring and for most of them, it worked out one way or another, but those of us who started in the Fall had an easier time exploring more possibilities and were more prepared to take any opportunities that crossed our paths. By Winter Break I felt ready to get out there and by the time the Spring semester started I was in the thick of a whole new phase of the search.

Rachel's Job Search Phase I (cont)

·         Identifying what was important to me. My search was structured around my husband’s education, which meant, specifically in the Wichita area. But beyond location, I had to figure out what I wanted to do. Breaking that down into smaller categories was very helpful. Specifically, doing the Flower Exercise from the book What Color Is Your Parachute helped me list out my preferences free from job titles which helped me keep an open mind while searching.

·         Training myself to think in transferable skill sets. Again, What Color Is Your Parachute led me through some very helpful exercises in identifying these groupings and then thinking about different types of jobs I could use them in. I also took the StrengthsQuest (also called the StrengthsFinder) assessment which helped me focus in on what I was really good at. This also ended up being very beneficial when I got to the interview part of the process. But the details of that are for another day.

·         Figuring out where to search. I knew I had to search in the Wichita area, and I knew that my first preference would be to work at a University so I found all of the schools in the area. I then bookmarked the Human Resources website for each school and started checking them every other day for positions. Some of my friends used job posting boards like higheredjobs.com or careerbuilder.com but because I knew I was geographically restricted, at this early point in my search, these didn’t make much sense for me. Later I expanded my search but this was my starting place.

Job Search Continued From 11 21 11

Phase 1: Accepting Reality and Preparing (Sheer Terror)

I remember the first day of the capstone course of my master’s program. Our professor asked us to line up according to stress level in relation to how we felt about finding a job after graduation. As my classmates slowly made their way to varying places along the wall of stress, I made a B-line straight to the “can’t even articulate how anxious” end of the line.

We all struggled with getting started. Some of us felt limited by geography because of a significant other; others had no restrictions and had a hard time finding a place to start. Some of us were so concerned about landing something, anything, we were ready to take the first job no matter what it was. Others had such high expectations that they could have been offered the university president’s job and they would have turned it down because the benefits weren’t exactly what they wanted. None of us knew how salaries worked or who to address cover letters to or how to sell our experiences without overstating our abilities.

Although this stage was initially very overwhelming, once I got past the fear, this was actually the easiest part for me because it had the most pieces that I could control. I also realized that the best way to deal with all these questions was to ask. At the time I was enrolled in a Career Development class which was immensely helpful because it helped me develop not only the “props” of a job search but also forced me to do some really beneficial reflection as well. For me, the process went something like this: (to be continued tomorrow -- check back to see Rachel's process)

Story of a Job Search by Rachel Gibson

Thought it might be both helpful and interesting for you to read of someone else's job search. Helpful in terms of ideas that might be useful to you. And, interesting in terms of a "misery loves company" sort of perspective.

What follows is an introduction to part one of a series of notes I will share with you from the recent job search conducted by Rachel Gibson, our newest Career Counselor.

"I’m a planner. I attempt to anticipate and organize everything. From the minute to minute details of a vacation schedule to the color coded hangers in my closet, I like to coordinate every detail. Naturally, the thought of embarking on my very first long, confusing, overwhelming job search in which I had no control, terrified me. Although, now sitting a little more comfortably from the other side with a job, I realized I gained a lot more than just a job through the ups and downs of the process. 

As I quickly learned from talking to my classmates, every person’s experience is very different and no matter how many people are going through the same thing, there are those times where it feels like you are the only one in the world struggling. People find jobs in different ways, usually in ways that relate to their personality. Some people find jobs through connections, some through relentless determination, some through impeccable organization and planning, but all with a little bit of luck. The most important advice I could give would be to set up yourself up so that when you do find yourself in a lucky situation, you can take advantage of it. This was my experience. It is definitely by no means the “right” way to do things but I hope it gives you some ideas. At the very least I hope it gives you some comfort to know someone’ else’s process, complete with its ups and downs."

Check back in tomorrow for Phase 1 of Rachel's job search.

~jan

Time Management

Every morning, I engage in a ritual that I have evolved over the years. This adds immeasurably to the quality of my day, and to my productivity, as well. 

Would you like to experience your own expansion of possibilities? Here are some of my favorite ideas and tips. 

A morning ritual is a special promise you make to yourself – and keep. You commit to open your day using your best energies. What you do can create a bridge between your essential self and whatever demands you will confront as your day unfolds. 

So it's most valuable to create a morning ritual that infuses you with well-being and helps guide you when things get rocky.

Of course, your ritual will be unique to you.  

The following sentence completion exercise will help you identify your individual needs and preferences. Then, you can create a ritual that enriches you in any number of ways: 

1. "The hardest thing about getting up is ________."  

    Morning rituals help you journey from fast asleep to wide awake.  Transition rituals might include selecting the ideal music to rouse you, gentle yoga stretches, a sizzling dance video, or simply a quiet moment with a fragrant cup of tea or coffee.     

2. "My day always goes better when I start it by ________." 

    Morning rituals help you correct your course if you "get up on the wrong side of bed."  Try time-honored favorites like allowing unedited thoughts to take shape as you journal, flowing with T'ai Chi, connecting with your animal companion, or reading something uplifting.  

3. "If I had 10 more minutes in the morning, I'd use it to _____________."  

    Morning rituals send you prepared into your day. Pastimes like writing your intentions for the day, updating your To-Do list, assembling your evening meal in a crock-pot, or firming up tentative plans can each help ground and center you.  

Can you find those ten minutes somewhere? Anywhere? Good! Try incorporating just one activity and see how it adds to your day. 

Do you wonder what the difference is between a ritual and a routine? 

Sometimes, it's simply the level of mindfulness you bring to the moment. Routines can often feel rushed or monotonous – they get you through one part of the day on your way to the next chapter. Rituals, on the other hand, send down roots this instant. And your inner wellsprings nourish you.  

Honoring what you do honors who you are. So you imbue your activities with meaning. When you engage in rituals mindfully, you fully occupy the moment. And time expands.  

This is no small achievement! You genuinely appreciate more moments by focusing your attention and intention upon your movements, moment by moment. Why not maximize this potential when you first greet the day?

Finally, morning rituals can prepare you to respond to upcoming challenges with proactive presence. Experiment and note the results. You may very well enjoy enhanced health, focus and gratitude!

TIP: Keep your morning ritual fresh and appealing to ensure its success. 

Ritual does not mean rote. Ensure that your new ritual meets your changing needs. Energize your activities with variations that engage you and stimulate you. Remember that rituals can do much more than anchor your upcoming day with a meaningful new morning tradition. A morning ritual can deepen your receptivity to the unexpected, as well.    

ACTION STEP: 

Before bedtime, consider how well your ritual served you.  

Did it help orient you, balance your energies, inspire you or focus you?  Are there portions of your ritual you rush through or skip altogether? Throw away any "shoulds" and rework your ritual until it regenerates your enthusiasm and commitment. Keep in mind which challenges stretch you and which ones generate strain. Go for the stretch! 

EXPLORATION: 

Your day may challenge you to flex where you wanted to stay focused, and to focus where you'd hoped to relax.

When your morning ritual includes pastimes like memorizing favorite quotations, you plant in your imagination special phrases that may serve as mantras. And when you move your energy with pleasurable activity during your morning ceremony, you may feel more sure-footed in any number of ways when new challenges come knocking.  

See how far-sighted you can be, even when you look within!

"Used with permission from Paula Eder, Ph.D., The Time Finder Expert.  Paula is an internationally-known coach and published author who mentors spirit-driven entrepreneurs and small business owners, from the inside out, to align their core values and energy with their time choices and behaviors so that they make more money, create more freedom, and find more time. 

More on Networking

Just two more days until The Art of Networking.  So here come a few ideas you might use as objectives  for the evening – and for other events that offer the opportunity to connect with people.

Set a goal to talk with two or three people. This works! As an introvert, going to meetings with the objective to meet three people makes all the difference in whether I actually walk up to people and start a conversation – or run for the door as soon as the meeting is over.  I have met some incredible people I would never have met if I hadn’t pushed myself a little (or a lot) to take the initiative to meet them.

Turn off your cell phone. Yes, completely off.  If your phone were to ring it would be embarrassing—and that funny little sound it makes when it vibrates is louder than you think.

Do not head immediately for the hors d'oeu·vres-no matter how hungry you are. The people you meet are more important than the snacks.  

Smile. Sounds so simple but sometimes hard to remember.

Since we’re on the subject of mouths, remember your breath mints. Note: I didn’t say gum which is way too easy to start chompin’ and poppin’ when you are nervous.

Keep a distance of 18 inches or so between you and the individual you are talking with. Any closer and you might find that person backing away.

Look everybody you talk with in the eye and genuinely listen as they speak with you. You just might be surprised what you learn.

Ask for business cards. If you have business cards of your own, put a few in your pocket but don’t offer one unless the person you are talking to asks.  Important note: put the business cards you collect in a different pocket than your own business cards. 

Don’t dominate any one person’s conversation. Talk with a person and learn a little about them. Give your 30 second commercial. Tell them it was nice to have met them. Ask for their business card. Move on to another person.

Send each person you meet a note the following day telling them it was a pleasure to meet them and thanking them for the opportunity to talk with them. 

Networking. . .that's what it's all about. 

Get a job!

~jan

“The way of the world is meeting people through other people. “  ~ Robert Kerrigan

30 Second Commercial

Congratulations! You are going to attend The Art of Networking next week. You want to develop your "elevator speech" aka 30 second commercial.

As yourself:
1. What are my key strengths?
2. What are some adjectives to describe me?
3. What am I trying to let others know about me?
4. Why am I interested in this person or their company or industry?

Outline your elevator speech.
1. Who am I?
2. What do I have to offer?
3. What problem can I help solve?
4. What do I want the listener to do as a result of hearing this.

Finalize your elevator speech.
1. Write a sentence about each note you wrote to answer the questions above.
2. Connect all these sentences, adding words and phrases to help them flow.
3. Review what you wrote and cut out long or unnecessary words or jargon.
4. Finalize your speech making it no longer than 30 to 90 seconds.

Familiarize yourself with your speech. You want to sound spontaneous and fresh each time you use it--not memorized.

Networking

If you’ve been anywhere close to our office, or website, you’ve heard the term networking. In fact, you’ve probably heard it more than once. So, what is the big deal about networking?  

Networking is crucial to your job search. So much so that it is how 65% of people find jobs.

Networking is about connecting with people. And, reconnecting.  And, building relationships.  And, maintaining those relationships.

We heard a great networking success story last week. One of our WSU Alum landed the job he wanted out of state. How? He contacted a connection at WSU to say he was job hunting. That person told her staff. One of her staff had a connection . . .who  had a connection at the company our Alum wanted to join.  Bottom line: our alum has been in his new job a couple of months now.  

Anywhere people are gathered is a place to network. Another of our former students got a job through a lead he heard about from someone he met in line at the grocery store.  Another through a connection he learned about from his barber. A few years ago, I found a great job through a tip I received in an elevator.  So, really "What's not to like about networking?"

We believe in networking so much we’ve organized a special event. The Art of Networking will be from 5:30 – 7:00pm Oct. 26 in the Ulrich Museum of Art. Take advantage of this chance to have fun as you enjoy horde ours and learn more about networking in a relaxed setting. 

Don’t wait. RSVP now to jan.mead@wichita.edu or 978-3435.  

Get a job! 

~jan

Jan Mead, Assistant Director, Wichita State University

The Art of Networking

You've heard us say -- more than once -- in fact, lots and lots of times -- how important networking is to your job search and your career. Heck, networking is important in all of life. So, here's your chance to learn how. Oct. 26, from 5:30 to 7:00pm, Lauren Brunner-Jenkins, who works in Human Resources with Emprise Bank, will be here to walk you through the technique of networking. As if that wasn't enough, you also get the chance to practice with local employers. Call me today at 978-6834 or email jan.mead@wichita.edu and reserve your place for The Art of Networking, to be held in the Ulrich Museum of Art on Oct. 26.

Get a job!

~jan  

Dress for Interview Success

For Women:  The safest and “almost can’t go wrong” choice is a suit, including either tailored trousers, or a skirt of at least knee length.  Black, charcoal gray, or dark brown are all good.  Along with the suit, wear a simple style shirt in white, gray, light blue, or ecru. Neutral colored hosiery with tailored pumps (closed toe and heel) will complete your outfit. Make sure your heels are not so high to cause you to teeter.  

Jewelry should be minimal and conservative. As in one pair of stud earrings, a simple necklace, watch, and no more than one ring on each hand.  Nothing clunky or clanky – which could be distracting to you and the interviewer.  Piercings need to be removed other than that one pair of earrings and all tattoos need to be covered.  Keep fragrance and makeup minimal. This isn’t the time for that cute beach bag, or any large bag for that matter. Carry a small leather purse or . . .forget  the purse totally and carry a portfolio or brief case. Nails should be well manicured.  

Men? The recommendation of a suit still holds. Charcoal gray or navy with a white shirt are safe choices.

Shine those shoes  and  wear mid-calf length socks the same color as your suit. Add a conservative tie. Your belt needs to have a very basic buckle and be the color of your shoes.

Both Men and Women: Wool, wool blends, or very high quality natural and synthetic fiber blends are acceptable fabrics for suits for either men or women.  Avoid lower quality acetate / rayon blends. Tip from a high end men’s clothing shop:  If your budget forces you to buy a lower price suit, have it professionally altered. You will look like a million bucks.

Everything should be clean and well pressed.  Cut off labels, tacking stitches, and any loose threads.

Follow these guidelines and you should be “lookin’ good”.  Get a job!

~jan

 

Do It Right

I just met with a student doing everything right. We believe in confidentiality so I’ll call her Susan. Susan, who is a sophomore, came in for help with a job search. She said “I am ready to do something in my field of study. I feel not only will it help me with work experience, but it will help me in my classes.”

Susan is definitely right – getting experience in her field, while she is a student, will help her get the job she wants when she graduates. She is taking several positive steps.

1.       Susan registered on Hire a Shocker and completed her profile.

2.       She searched job postings and in a matter of seconds found a job she is interested in.

3.       She left my office planning to go apply with the employer who has the job opening.

4.       She made an appointment to come in next week and work on her resume, cover letter, and reference page.

5.       She is also going to schedule an appointment for a mock interview so she will be prepared  when she gets that call inviting her to come in and talk about that job.

When it comes time for Susan to enter the job market as a new graduate, she will be far more marketable to employers than her classmates who didn’t think ahead.

Why not follow Susan’s example?

Get a job! 

~ jan

Telling Your Stories

Rachel Gibson, Career Counselor here at WSU Career Services, recently reminded me of a great technique to prepare for behavior based interview questions. It would be easy to prepare for interviews if you knew what questions were going to be asked. Of course, you don't, but here is a method to prepare that just might be the next best thing.

Behavior based interview questions ask you to think of a time you demonstrated a skill important in the job you are interviewing for. So. . .as part of your interview prep, think of three to five stories that a) stand out to you for whatever reason or b) you are proud of and want to share. Write out each story, read it, and ask yourself "what skills does this story demonstrate?", making note of these answers. You may want to take this a step further, and write down a story for every skill requirement listed in the job posting.

Career Services is happy to help with this exercise, so if you're a person who does better taking things through--or if you could benefit from the opportunity to practice telling your stories, make an appointment.

Credit for this exercise goes to Richard Bolles, author of What Color is Your Parachute, available for checkout in our Career Library.

Get a Job!

~jan

Jan Mead
Wichita State University Career Services

Job Search

Looking for a different job? Want to keep your current job until you land that new one? Want to receive a positive reference and recommendation from your existing employer? Here are a few words of advice – it’s not a good idea to look for a new job on your current employer’s time.

What does this mean? 1) Don’t include your work phone number or email address on your resume, cover letter, or application. 2) Don’t update your resume at work – or print it on office stationary. 3) Don’t search for or apply for jobs when you are at work – or supposed to be at work. If your supervisor comes to your desk to find you talking to someone about a new job, updating your resume or job search correspondence, or conducting internet searches not related to your work with him, he will probably not be happy. Say goodbye to the idea of a positive recommendation.

Another good reason not to include your work phone number or email on your resume or job search correspondence – it does not make a good impression on potential future employers. As a prospective employer, it gives me a negative vibe about you if I think someday you’re going to be looking for another job on my time.

When you are called for an interview, try to schedule it before or after work or during your lunch hour. If you can’t do either, take a vacation day or personal leave.

It all comes down to common sense, courtesy and respect for your current employer. Ask yourself how you would want to be treated if you were an employer. It is a small small world and it’s amazing how news travels far and fast. You want the news about you to be good news.

Get a job!

~Jan Mead

It Never Goes Away

It never goes away. Sounds ominous doesn’t it. What am I talking about? Anything you put on the Internet. I just heard a pretty computer savvy guy say that anything you put on the internet is “out there” –archived--for eternity. I don’t know if this is true, but in the interest of safety (yours and mine), I’m going to assume it is.

Please let me remind you one more time to be careful what you post on Facebook, Twitter, and similar sites. Reportedly, Facebook reserves the right to change privacy settings at any time, so those “funny” things you post and think only a few people will see, more than a few people might see.

What does this have to do with career? Employers are very selective in who they hire. Why wouldn’t they be? Everyone they hire is a reflection of their organization. Of the employers I talk with, it is the regular practice of many to Google prospective employees and check their Facebook pages, in addition to conducting reference checks.

So, that picture of you holding a bottle of alcoholic beverage in one hand and making an obscene gesture with the other hand, followed by a potentially offensive comment just might not be so funny if it costs you a job opportunity.

Be cautious. Be professional. Get a job.

What Employers Have to Say About Resumes

In the meetings we had with employers over the past two weeks, we learned some good things to share about resumes and job search correspondence.

Employers like cover letters. They actually read them. The first paragraph should be what you know about them. Second paragraph -- how you are a match for them. Third paragraph -- thank them and ask for an interview.

Employers don't like resume templates. Their suggestion is to use Word, which gives you more flexibility than a template.

Make sure your resume is clear and easy to read. Tailor your resume for their position.

Include your skills and clarify your competence in those skills. For example: "Proficient in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint"

Don't discount your experience. Another example: customer service experience shows you have interpersonal skills and can deal with a variety of people. That's valuable for many positions you might be interested in.

Show progression -- how you've advanced in your career. If you are an experienced candidate, don't go back any further than 10-15 years in work history. The world of work changes quickly. And, you don't necessarily want to indicate your age in your resume -- maybe it's better to get in front of the employer before he/she realizes your age.

The information in your resume actually has to be your information. If it gets you an interview, but you haven’t actually done the work, it really doesn’t do any good.

Why is all this so important? You hope your resume will lead to an interview which will lead to a job offer. Right? Well, as one of the employers said: "It's my market right now. I can be choosy."

Pick up a Starter Kit. Or, download it from our website at www.wichita.edu/career. Get started. Schedule an appointment with one of our counselors to see what they have to say about you and your resume. Be prepared. "Get a job!"

~jan

Career Exploration

Want to know yourself better in relationship to what career(s) might be best matched to your personality?

Come to Career Services! We offer assessments to help you. One of these is the Strong Interest Inventory. In 30 minutes you can complete this paper and pencil assessment and have it on its way to be scored. When your results come back you will sit down with a Career Counselor and learn your Holland Code, which is an excellent resource to research careers that would be matched to your personality. You also receive a list of the top 10 occupations you are most likely to find rewarding based on comparing your results with those of people with interests similar to yours who are satisfied in their careers.

Pretty good information for only $18 and half an hour. . .

Summary Statements

Our staff was fortunate to meet with a group of employers this week to learn their preferences regarding resumes. One of the first topics that came up was objective statements. These employers had this advice for you – ditch your objective and replace it with a summary of experience.

One healthcare employer receives almost 20,000 resumes a month. Another employer from the banking industry received 200+ resumes a week. Of course, that means they don’t have much time to spend on any one resume. However, all agreed that a well thought out and well prepared summary statement gets their attention and “directs them to the rest of the resume”.

What is a well thought out summary statement? Answer = one that uses important keywords and points out accomplishments and achievements, and shows what you can do for the employer to whom you are sending your resume. A summary statement needs to be targeted for a specific job, so if you have more than one job you are targeting, you will want to tailor a summary statement and resume for each job.

A sample summary statement follows:

MBA graduate with PHR certification and more than five years experience in human resources. Handled all human resource functions for financial institutions of more 100 to 150 employees. Recruited and hired employees to staff five branch locations in addition to filling positions at corporate office. Contributed to 20% reduction in employee relations issues and 15% decrease in turnover for two year period. Involved in community with leadership roles in Society of Human Resource Development, American Society of Training and Development and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

One more thought: be sure you proof your summary statement. Just as this information can influence an employer to keep reading, a typo or grammatical error can stop him on the spot.

Come back to this blog for more information regarding resumes next week. Straight from employer’s mouths to your eyes--how much better can you get?

Network with Training and Organizational Development Practioners

Information follows regarding a great opportunity to network with training and organizational development practioners, as well as learn new techniques useful in the workplace.


July Lunch n’ Learn – July 21, 2011 over lunch
Dealing with Drama in the Workplace: Opportunities for Training and OD Practitioners
Speaker: Nate Regier, Ph.D., Partner, Next Element
Thursday July 21st@ Butler CC (715 E 13th Street in Andover)
12-1PM (Meal/drinks provided), networking begins at 11:30 AM
$15 for Members (local or nat’l)/$20 all others
RSVP to sherry.alexander@wichita.edu

Roughly ten percent of daily workplace interactions qualify as effective communication. The rest…Drama. In this entertaining and eye-opening presentation, Dr. Regier outlines the dynamics and roles of Drama, how people recruit others to join them, and the predictable consequences for productivity, morale, and engagement. The presentation will finish with strategies and implications for trainers and OD professionals. At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:
• Identify the three roles of the Drama Triangle
• Identify the three roles in the Compassion Triangle
• List behavioral indicators of invitations into Drama
• List three strategies that trainers and OD practitioners can implement in their work with clients.

Hope to see some of you there. . .

~jan

Change

A great poem just came my way. It's too good not to share. Here it is --


An Autobiography in Five Chapters

1) I walk down the street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I fall in.

I am lost — I am hopeless.

It isn’t my fault.

It takes forever to find a way out.

2) I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I pretend I don’t see it.

I fall in again.

I can’t believe I’m in the same place.

But it isn’t my fault.

It still takes a long time to get out.

3) I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk

I see it is there.

I still fall in — it’s a habit.

My eyes are open.

I know where I am.

It is MY fault.

I get out immediately.

4) I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I walk around it.

5) I walk down a DIFFERENT street.


~Written By Portia Nelson

Who am I and what do I want to do with my life?

Trying to decide on a major and not making much progress? Really don’t know where to start? Well, do we have a deal for you?!?

Spend an hour with a counselor in Career Services and walk away with some great information to help you explore potential majors, careers, and jobs.

One of the resources we offer is a card sort. Color coded in bright colors, the Vista card sort helps you clarify your interests, skills, values, and traits. The result is helpful information in itself, but you also end up with your Holland Code –a great tool to help you identify majors and occupations matched to your personality.

Your fellow students tell us they find the card sort valuable. Comments include:

“I liked it. It helped me figure out who I am.”

“This was fun. It was kind of an eye opener. I have to interview next month for a promotion—I always struggle with ‘here are my skills’. Here is my answer right here.”

What are you waiting for? Call 978-3435 to schedule an appointment. Come play cards. . .

~jan

Twenty Great Questions to Ask in Informational Interviews

Thinking you might like to give informational interviewing a try, but aren't sure what to ask? Look no further for sample questions:

Tell me a little about your background. How did you get started in this field?

Why did you decide to work for this company?

What do you do during a typical day?

What is your favorite aspect of your work?

What is your least favorite aspect of the job?

What are the rewards and frustrations of this field in general?

What sorts of changes are occurring in your occupation?

How is the outlook for employment in this field?

What degrees, skills and experiences are important for someone entering this career?

What courses and past experiences proved the most valuable for you in this job?

How is my experience so far for entering this field? What else should I do?

What are the typical entry-level jobs?

What can you tell me about this company’s atmosphere and culture?

What is expected outside of work hours in terms of availability, social events, etc?

How flexible are dress codes, work hours, work locations, and job schedules?

How has your job affected your lifestyle?

How long do people typically work in their jobs here?

What would be the next step in your career?

How are salaries in this line of work?

What other fields or companies do you think I should research?

Some of these questions should get you started. You will think of other questions you want to ask as you talk with your interviewee. And, one of your questions can always be "Do you know someone else it would be helpful for me to talk with?"

I hope you get out from behind your computer and meet someone face to face. Give informational interviewing a try!

~jan

Get out from behind that computer

Get out from behind that computer and meet some people!

A great way to meet people and learn more about careers and jobs is to conduct informational interviews.

Important to remember is that an informational interview is not a way to get a job or job leads. An informational interview is to get information only: information regarding the other person’s job, career path, education.

Why would you want to talk with someone regarding their job, career path, education? To get ideas for your own job, career path, education, of course. And, to have the opportunity to add a person to your professional network.

Why would someone want to take time out of their already hectic schedule to talk with you about their “job, career path, education”? I don’t know for sure, but my assumption is people like to talk about their work and want to help other people – especially people just starting out.

Know someone working in a job that sounds interesting to you? Give them a call. Ask for 15 minutes of their time to come in and visit with them about their work. On the day of the meeting, dress nicely in professional dress, arrive on time, leave when your 15 minutes is up, and send a thank you card.

Or, have an interest in a career but would like to talk to someone actually working in the field? Call WSU Career Services (978-3435). We’ll help you find someone to talk with. And. . . we’ll even give you sample questions for your informational meeting.

Until next week --

~jan

Ask for the Job

Want that job you interviewed for?

Let the employer know.

You assume the organization knows you want the job. Why else would you have applied and agreed to an interview? However, interviews can be very revealing. Managers want to know if you are interested in joining their organization after meeting them and learning more about the position.

How do you let the employer know you want the job?

Tell them. At the end of the interview, tell them you are very interested in the position and ask what the next steps are.

And, then, tell them again. Send a thank you note.

Get a job! Ask for it --

~jan

LinkedIn

One of your classmates has had great results using LinkedIn as part of her job search.

What did she do?

She registered on LinkedIn
She posted a comprehensive profile.
She joined groups, including the Wichita State University Alumni group, professional groups pertaining to her field of study, and employer groups.
She got recommendations from professionals who could speak to the quality of her work.
She started discussions with her groups, asking questions that “made her sound smart”. (She is smart by the way—very smart.)

And, the result? She has received lots and lots of advice and good information. Even better -- an employer discovered her on LinkedIn and flew her out of state to interview last week.

Don’t know about LinkedIn? It’s an amazing online professional network of over 100 million professionals.

Check it out. What are you waiting for? http://www.linkedin.com/

Congratulations on Your Graduation

Many of you graduated this past weekend. Congratulations! I've been fortunate to meet some of you and hear your stories. Juggling all your many roles: student, campus leader, full time worker, parent, spouse, caregiver/son or daughter, grandparent. Many of you left your homes in other countries to come to the U.S. to study. You've humble me. I admire you.

As you move on to the next stage of your life and career, remember how far you've come.

And, at least for a few days, celebrate. Celebrate you!

~jan

CAREER TRIVIA

Can you guess what career this is?

The person who has this job calls himself a problem solver.
He talks with Senior Management "all day long".
He travels – all over the Midwest--sometimes to the Virgin Islands.
He works in teams, often in groups of 4-6 people but sometimes in groups of 50-60.
He demonstrates strong leadership skills.
What he likes most about his work is that every day is different.

His advice to students is:
Have a passion for what you do. And, meet everyone you can. Network, network, network. The more people you know, the better off you will be when you are ready to get a job in your career field.

Comment on this blog and get a free t-shirt!

Career Fair Tomorrow!!!

With the Career Fair tomorrow, I want to remind you of a few things not to do.

1. Don’t dress like you are just going to be hanging out at home. First impressions are ‘oh, so important’.
2. Don’t approach an employer with the question “So. . .what do you do?” It’s your job to research each company you want to talk with before the Career Fair.
3. Do not—absolutely do not--say something rude to an employer such as “Why did you come to the Career Fair if you aren’t even hiring?” Anytime you can get in front of an employer, you have an amazing opportunity to make a positive impression. That same employer who is not hiring today might be hiring next month. Employers sometimes create jobs for candidates who wow them. I could go on and on about this. Bottom line = remember your manners.
4. Do not walk from table to table focusing on, and picking up, the giveaways. You are there to talk with employers and sell them on your qualifications and promise for their company. You do not do that by grabbing at stress balls, or pens, or water bottles. Get the picture?
5. Do not walk around the Career Fair with your friends. Meet those guys for a nice long talk after you leave the fair. Don’t be joined at the hip when you are meeting employers.
6. Do not bring your baby—no matter how cute—to the Career Fair. You are there to impress potential employers with your professionalism, not your parenting skills.
7. Do not talk on your cell phone while you are at an employer’s booth. This is rude. Again, remember your manners.
8. Don’t blow off the Career Fair because it’s a nice day outside, because you need to study, because you are tired – for any reason, other than something very serious—such as your death. This is an amazing opportunity to meet employers. Take advantage of it. See you tomorrow. 4:00-7:00pm Koch Arena.

~jan

Preparing for the Career Fair

Planning to attend the Career Fair next week? If your answer is “yes”, good for you! If your answer is “no”, I have to ask why not? Whether you are a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or grad student this event is more than worth the time you will invest. Anytime you can connect with an employer, go for it. Now. . .what you can do this week is prepare for the Career Fair. And, one of the ways to prepare is to research the employers you want to talk with.

We have made the research really easy for you. Go to our website (http://careers.wichita.edu), click on “Events” on the left side, and then click on “Employers who will be attending”. Scroll through the list, clicking on any and all of interest to you. That last click takes you to the employer’s website. Some of the things you want to find out include the company’s products or services, company growth for the past five years, future plans, the mission statement, names of managers, locations, corporate headquarters, their competition, and their history.

For even more information regarding what to do to make the Career Fair as valuable an experience as possible to you, go into your Hire A Shocker student account and access the Resource Library. It’s all there for you, from how to dress to how to prepare business cards.

See you next week--Thursday, April 7, 4 - 7pm, Koch Arena. Be there!

~jan

Advice from a May Grad

Earlier this week I had a conversation with a May graduate excited about his new job. The conversation went something like this:

Me: “Congratulations! How did you land your job?”
MG (May grad): "I talked to everyone I came in contact with for the past 2 1/2 years."
Me: “So, networking huh?
MG: "Oh, yeah – lots and lots of networking."
Me: “Sounds as if you're good at networking.”
MG: "I am. Do I like it? No. Did I do it? Yes -- I wanted a job. This is my life. And, the alternative to getting a job was going home, with my master’s degree, to live with my dad."

Business cards

Preparing for the upcoming Career Fair? It's a good idea to take a supply of business cards.

Many employers will not be able to accept your resume. Therefore, it is a good idea to have business cards ready to hand over.

For help with your business cards, check out these two resources, suggested and tried by one of your fellow students:

1. Microsoft Publisher and
2. website that automatically generates one for you with a logo of your choice: http://www.degraeve.com/business-cards/

Looking forward to seeing you at the Career Fair!

~jan

Phone Interviews

Gone seem to be the days when an employer would pick up the tab to fly you across the country, put you up in a hotel, and feed you a steak dinner just to be able meet you for an initial interview. Chances are much more likely you will have your first interview with any out of area employer by telephone.

Sounds easy, doesn’t it. No need to shower, shave, shine your shoes. Instead you can just lounge around, be comfy, and answer a few questions. Right? Well, not exactly. . .

In some ways a phone interview is more difficult than a face to face conversation. You can’t judge what the interviewer is thinking by the expression on his face or his body language. Neither can you win him over with your award winning smile and your firm handshake. Your success depends entirely on how well you answer the questions tossed your way. Here are a few suggestions to help you handle that phone interview like a pro.

Prepare. Any question you might expect in a face to face interview is fair game for a phone interview. Go over the sample questions in Ace the Interview. Schedule a mock interview with Career Services. In fact, you may want to schedule a mock phone interview.

For the actual interview itself, choose a quiet location where you can be free from interruption. Just to be safe, you may want to use a land line rather than your cell phone.

While you don’t have to dress in your best business suit, get out of your comfiest sweats. Shower, shampoo and put on a pair of khakis and a nice shirt.

Planning to lounge on the sofa? Don’t. Sit or stand up. Maybe you want to stand at your kitchen counter with your resume, cover letter, and some notes within reach. You’ll also want a glass or bottle of water and pen or pencil and something you can take notes on, if needed.

Get a little caffeine or something energizing into your system. I recently heard from a candidate who blew a phone interview by yawning. Learn from him.

Smile. I’m serious . . .smile. Your voice will be more positive if you smile. Speak slowly. Speak clearly. And, don’t ramble. Answer the question asked of you-- and then stop. If the interviewer catches you off guard with a question you weren’t expecting, it is ok to say “May I have a minute to think about that, please?” Or, “Could we come back to that question?”

Hey, I have an idea! Call Career Services and schedule that mock interview. Might as well prepare now. And, then you'll be "good to go" when that employer calls and says "Is this a good time to talk?"

Get a job!

~jan

Job Search Making You Tired?

Frustrated, discouraged, exhausted by your job search? Looking for a job is hard work at best. In a down economy, it can be overwhelming. Maybe it would help to step back and reassess. Here are a few ideas.

Take care of yourself. Exercise, meditate, get a massage, read a book, eat dark chocolate, pet your dog. Spend time with people who are supportive of you. Do whatever works for you, but find some positive ways to deal with the stress of looking for a job.

Step back from the computer, get out of your sweats, and get out with people. Applying online can feel like you’re working very hard to provide information that goes in a big dark hole. Use your computer for research and a tool, but don’t rely on it exclusively.

Sign up with a temporary agency. You can try on organizations and jobs, meet new people, develop skills. . . and bring home some dollars.

Network with the idea that it isn’t just asking everyone you talk with for a job lead. The street goes both ways. Networking is about building and maintaining relationships. So, get out there and build some relationships. Maybe you can help a few folks while also helping yourself.

Volunteer . The payback is multiple. You spend time with good hearted people, which has value in itself. You get content for your resume which can show experience and help bridge the gap between jobs. And you have a perfect opportunity to build relationships, which, of course, just might result in a job lead.

Join a civic or professional organization—or two! Spend time with like minded people talking about and learning about things you believe in. Maybe even make a new friend or two.

Open yourself up to new ideas. Realize you don’t have to land the “perfect job” right now. There may be a job or two for you on the way to the perfect job. With that in mind, conduct informational interviews with people working in jobs you might have an interest in.

Get some help. Join a job search group. Visit the Workforce Development Center. Talk with trusted friends and colleagues. Make an appointment with us! You don’t have to do this alone. We’re here to help.

Happy New Year!

Does the New Year have you looking at your life and contemplating changes? Job changes? Or, even bigger, career changes? Although, with the present economy, now may not be the best time to be looking for a new job, it is a great time to be putting some things in place to help you get started in a new direction when the economy improves—or, if you’re lucky, even sooner.

Start now to explore jobs or careers of interest to you. Refer online to the federal government resources, Occupational Outlook Handbook and O*Net, to get a great overview of any job you could probably ever think of. Conduct informational interviews with people actually doing the kind of work you are interested in.

Look at the many skills you have – what ones would be transferrable to the job you are considering. If you need to bump up your skills, is there experience you could get that would be helpful? Start making connections with people working in your desired field. Make connections and get experience by doing volunteer work in the field you are contemplating. Is there training you could/should be taking that would help you break into the line of work? Lucky for you if you can take classes/get training, or reimbursement for training, through your current employer.

This exploration and research will take some time. I encourage you to do it anyway. You and your happiness are worth it!

Happy New Year! Have fun exploring --

~jan

For more information on topics mentioned in above paragraph, read previous blogs.
Informational interviews April, 2010
LinkedIn, April 2010
Volunteering, January, 2010