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
Monday, March 28, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
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."
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."
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
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
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
Monday, March 7, 2011
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
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
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