Networking by email

I just saw a great example of a networking email. It is brief but includes important information. The three paragraphs include:

1st paragraph--a summary of the kind of work you are looking for
2nd paragraph--a brief summary of your most recent work
3rd paragraph--your education, including any recent courses or certifications
Closing--a thank you for keeping you in mind
Your name
"Resume enclosed" notation

An example follows:

I will complete a BBA in Human Resources from Wichita State University in May and am available for an internship in Human Resources. Pay is irrelevant. I am looking for an opportunity to gain practical experience.

Although I am interested in all aspects of Human Resources, I worked two years as a technical recruiter from 20XX through 20XX. In addition, I am hopeful that my background in accounting will also be advantageous in the field of HR.

Please keep me in mind if you hear of opportunities.

Sincerely,

Jan Larrer

Resume attached


Remember WSU Career Services is here to help with your job search correspondence!

Career Services
Wichita State Universit
978-3435
careers.wichita.edu
203 Grace Wilkie

Five Good Reasons to Volunteer

There are many reasons to volunteer. Let me list a few.

1. To include in your resume.
2. Work can be paid or unpaid. Volunteer work can be a good way to fill a gap in employment.
3. You can maintain skills, or develop new skills, through volunteer work.
4. Volunteering is a great way to meet people and develop relationships. When you volunteer, you work alongside other good hearted people. If those people see you do good work and demonstrate good personal qualities, they may very well think of you if they hear of a paid job opportunity.
5. Working as a volunteer can be a great confidence booster, especially if you're out of work--or job hunting for any reason. Volunteering will get you out of the house and out around people, which can be a very good thing.

Questions? Come see us in Career Services!

Employer Information

Want to know the inside scoop on a particular employer? You might want to check out Vault.com. You can access Vault through our website (http://careers.wichita.edu). Just go to the "Career Exploration Resources" link; then click on "Vault Online Career Library". To research employers in general, or read reviews regarding a certain employer, go to the "Companies" link.

Glassdoor.com is another resource which includes "inside information" for a multitude of employers.

Google, Vault, Glassdoor.com -- there's a lot of information out there. It's yours for the taking.

~jan

Know all those holiday parties and family dinners coming up? They provide the perfect time to network--to meet new people and build rapport. Be ready to start conversations with questions such as "What will you be doing over the holidays?" Or, "How do you know the hosts?" Or, How long have you been a member of this organization?"

A common question at social gatherings is "What do you do?". Be prepared to ask that question--and also to answer that question. "I graduated earlier this month from WSU with a degree in communications. I hope to find a job in advertising here in the Wichita area."

Be ready to start conversations with questions such as "What will you be doing over the holidays?" Or, "How do you know the hosts?" Or, "How long have you been a member of this organization?"

A caution: don't (do not) take your resumes to holiday social events. This isn't the time to ask someone for a job or a job lead.

Do take your business cards! You may very well meet people who will ask how they can get in contact with you later. And, a great way for you to end a conversation is "It's been a pleasure to meet and talk with you. May I have your business card?" As they give you their card, hand them your card.

After the event, take the next step and follow up with people you met by sending a short note saying how nice it was to meet them, how much you enjoyed your conversation, and ending with best wishes for a happy New Year.

Networking is about relationship building. The holiday season offers lots of opportunities to network. Happy holidays!

It's Only Your Life

"It's only their life" said the recruiter when he talked about how casually students dressed for recent interviews. He couldn't believe people looking for jobs wouldn't dress to impress potential employers. Have an interview? Get your suit cleaned and pressed. Do the same with your dress shirt or blouse. Shine your shoes. Get your hair trimmed. Clip your fingernails. Shower but skip the fragrance.

Any questions? We'll be happy to talk with you regarding anything to do with your job search.

It's your life -- take it seriously.

~jan

Withdrawal Letters

Remember hearing that an interview is your chance to find out about the organization you are interviewing with? During or after an interview you may decide the job you interviewed for is not a good fit for you, or that you are not interested in working for that employer. If this happens, send a withdrawal letter. You don't need to give a lot of detail regarding why you are no longer interested--you don't want to "burn any bridges". You do want to be professional and courteous. Thank the employer for their time and consideration and say you would like to withdraw from consideration. Say what position you interviewed for and when you interviewed. Use business letter format. For more information, or an example of a letter of withdrawal, contact us. ~ jan

THANK YOU FOR THE INTERVIEW?

Want to stand out as a candidate. . .in a good way? Send thank you notes! Within a day or two of your interview, send a personalized note to each person you interviewed with. Point out something about the organization and what the person said that made a positive impression on you. This is an opportunity to tell your interviewer you are interested in his company. A thank you note is also a great way to remind the interviewer(s) of the strongest things in your background making you the perfect candidate. Be sure to look back over your thank you note carefully to make sure you don't have any grammatical or spelling errors.

Not interested in the company after your interview? Read my next blog on withdrawal letters.

~jan