Are you ready for the Fall Career Fair? Come on. . .are you really ready?

Do you have lots (as in 30) copies of your recently critiqued resume printed on bond paper and ready to hand out? Do you also have lots of your business cards to hand out to employers who can't accept resumes? Have you researched the employers of interest to you and are you ready to offer your 30 second commercial to them?

Is your suit pressed and your shoes shined? Don't forget your shirt -- it needs to be pressed also.

Do you remember your manners? Employers paid a chunk of change to come to the Career Fair to meet you. Be sure and say thank you to them for coming and for taking time to talk with you. Remember, although some recruiters may not have immediate openings they will attend the career fair knowing their situation may change and they may have openings tomorrow -- or next week -- sometime in the future.

We'll see you Thursday at the Career Fair. We're looking forward to it. Hope you are too!

~jan

Oh. . .just in case you forgot to get your resume critiqued, we'll be doing walkins tomorrow and Wednesday morning.

Dress to Impress

"Dress to impress!" What does that mean? Let's start with what it doesn't mean: wrinkled clothing, trendy outfits more appropriate for a Friday night out than for meeting employers (think too much skin showing as in low cut tops or short shorts or skirts--or too tight to be comfortable items), the distressed look, t-shirts, workout clothes, flip flops, any kind of smell other than bath soap.

Show me a job seeker in a well pressed business suit and shirt, dark socks (neutral color hoisery for women), polished and shined dress shoes--I get so excited I want to capture the moment with a photo for our website. Say cheese!

Business style trousers or khakis, a dress shirt and tie for men; dress shirt or blouse for women along with trousers or a skirt no shorter than knee length--that's almost as good. Nice trousers or khakis and a polo style shirt also works.

Bottom line -- you want to impress employers . . .in a positive way. That might take some effort. Good things do.

~jan

Do you have an interview scheduled? Planning to come to the Fall Career Fair on September 16? Going to a networking event? Don't be surprised when you meet an employer if the first words out of his mouth are "What do you know about our company?" Remember this about that question: it is not an invitation for you to ask "What do you do?" The question is intended to find out if you're on the ball and have done your research.

You are so lucky because so much information is available on the Internet. Take advantage of your luck and start searching.

Using your favorite search engine, go to the organization's website and read all you can. Pay particular attention to the company's products or services (including latest endeavors), growth for the past five years, future plans, mission statement, names of managers, locations, corporate headquarters, who the competition is, and their history. With the above information in hand, you should have a good overview of the organization.

If you are interviewing, don't stop there. You want all the information you can gather. Ask everyone you know including instructors, classmates, friends, neighbors, relatives, the folks at Career Services,(you get the idea) if they know anyone who works for the organization of interest to you. If so, find out if they can refer you to that person so you can ask some questions and get an insider's perspective of the company. You may even want to visit the library, and ask the research librarian if they can provide any other information.

If you follow these guidelines, you should be ready to answer that question "What do you know about our company?" Relief. . .now you can move on to "Tell me about yourself". We'll talk about that in our next posting. ~ jan

Want to make your resume stronger?

Want to make your resume stronger? Take a look at your professional experience/work history section. Does it read like a job description? Be truthful now -- did you, in fact, cut and past your job description into your resume?

Here's a tip: your resume will be more effective if you focus on accomplishments and achievements and results of what you did, rather than job duties. How do you do that? Think of what you did really well -- what you brought to your position that someone else wouldn't have. Did you create something new? Did you reduce something negative? It may help to look at each of your work history statements and ask yourself "so what?"

Example: "Helped create fliers and posters.". Let's look at this statement and what it really means. This person worked as part of a team with two other people. Employers really really value teamwork, so let's change "helped" to "Worked in team of three". Now we have "Worked in team of three to create fliers and posters". So what? The fliers and posters marketed new products. Stronger yet: "Worked in team of three to create marketing pieces advertising new products".

One more important point. . .business increased 25% the next quarter. We have a lot of good information, probably too much for one point. So, we break it down into two accomplishment statements.

First statement:"Created marketing pieces advertising new products, working in team of three." Second statement: "Contributed to 25% increase in business for first quarter of FY 09". Compared to "Helped create fliers and posters", we came up with two dynamite accomplishment statements, pointing out teamwork, creativity and results.

Important to remember: don't exaggerate! You may be asked to speak to anything in your resume and it's very important to be honest. Bottom line -- give yourself credit for your accomplishments and achievements, remembering to be truthful.

~ jan

Temporary Assignments as a Job Search Method

Looking for a job, but haven’t found what you want? You may want to consider working as a “temp”.

Some potential benefits of working a temporary job include:

$$$$$$s! Not a small thing to most people in the job market.

A productive alternative to sitting home sending out resumes day after day after day. . .

Networking. Working a temporary position is a great way to connect with lots of people including supervisors and coworkers—and even other people working as/looking for work as a temp. Example: I landed my first job out of college based on a job lead from a woman I met in the elevator at a local placement agency.

An effective way to prove yourself – with an organization and with the people you work with/for. This can lead to a great reference. . .or even a full time job. Many companies use temporary assignments as selection tools. Another example: I moved into two great positions by starting as a temp.

The chance to try out companies and positions. Just as companies may try people out as temps before bringing them on as full time employees, you can try out companies while working as a temp.

Experience to add to your credentials and resume. Temping may offer a chance to enhance skills or learn new skills.

Filler for gaps in employment. Prospective employers look at resumes with an eye for gaps in employment. Temping shows you had the initiative to “get out there” and work at a time when you would otherwise have been unemployed.

How to find a temporary job? Look at the yellow pages under “Employment Agencies”. Print off copies of your current resume on high quality bond paper and visit the agencies of interest to you.

Temping. . . might want to think about it. Worked for me. Could work for you.

~ jan

Facebook

You may think Facebook is your way to connect with your friends. And, it's okay to say anything you want to because, afterall, it's your friends you are talking to. You might -- no, you really need to -- remember lots and lots of people have access to what you say to your friends on Facebook. "Lots and lots of people" includes employers.

In every meeting I'm at with employers when the subject of Facebook comes up, employers say they look at what job candidates have posted on Facebook. They make decisions not to hire people because of what they read on Facebook.

You may be asking "why would employers even care what I say on Facebook?". Employers invest a lot of $s in any person they hire. They want to know your talents and strengths. They also want to know who you are as a person and how you will represent their organization.

If you need a guide as to what is ok/not ok to put on Facebook, use the Grammie Measure. Ask yourself "Would my Grammie be proud of me if she read this?" If you see Grammie shaking her head no, rolling her eyes in horror, and picking up the phone to call you -- better not post it.

Facebook is a great way to connect with your friends. Just don't let it ruin your chances at a job.

That Hidden Job Market

I just read the morning edition of the Wichita Eagle. Two articles got me even more excited than my morning coffee. Airbus plans to expand from 200+ to 350 employees in the upcoming year. And, Boeing has signed a five year, $100 million contract with the U.S. Navy. I'll talk about what I would do with this information regarding Boeing in a future blog. This morning, I'll share my ideas about Airbus.

If I am an engineer looking for a job, this is my plan.

I will print off a copy of my letterhead on high quality bond paper, dress up in my best professional clothes, drive to Old Town,and stop in at Airbus. Using my best manners, I will ask if I can speak with the manager of human resources. When I get in front of the HR manager, I will deliver my carefully prepared 30 second commercial, tell her how interested I am in her company, and ask if I can leave my resume. I will ask for her business card so I can follow up.

I might get "no, you cannot speak with HR" as an answer from the receptionist. If so, I will graciously thank the receptionist, give her my 30 second commercial, tell her how interesed I am in her company, and ask if I can leave a copy of my resume. If she tells me "no, you have to apply online", I will again graciously thank her, ask her to tell the manager of human resources that I stopped in, and tell her I will indeed apply online. Best case scenario: I get to talk with HR. Worst case scenario: I will connect with someone in a company that is growing and expanding. That person just might have more influence than I imagine. And, that person just might tell HR--and/or a manager in engineering--that "the nicest engineer dropped in today. . ."

It takes work to get a job! There's a "hidden job market" out there. . .work it!

~jan