mtsu/~career

1. The mission of the Career Development Center is to prepare and engage students in a comprehensive career development process with a focus on lifelong learning. This is accomplished by providing innovative resources and integrated technology, which will assist students to effectively transition from an academic setting into their career field. www.mtsu.edu/~career K. Nicole Green, Career Coordinator College of Basic & Applied Sciences Jones Hall 309 494-8797  kngreen@mtsu.edu

2. Six Steps to Career Success

3. Tools for Success www.mtsu.edu/~career

4. Lightning JobSource Includes all employment opportunities: • Full-time • Part-time (on- and off-campus) • Internship (paid/unpaid, credit/non-credit) • Co-op Open your account today!

5. Registration with LJS • Open an account at: www.mtsu.edu/~career • Click on the LJS logo • Click on Students • Click Register • After submitting, the CDC will create your account and email your username and password to you • Please allow 1-2 business days for this to occur!

6. Special Events Resume Workshop Tues. April 6th and Wed. April 7th | 1:00pm | BAS Computer lab Using Lightning JobSource and Networking Tues. April 13th and Wed. April 14th | 11:30am | BAS Computer lab Resume Drop Tues. April 20th and Wed. April 21st | Drop off your resume in KUC 328

7. I’m sure Mom’s proud. . . 2006 survey of 1100 employers by CollegeGrad.com 26% of employers used the internet to research potential candidates 12% of those were led to social networking sites 51% of those did not hire a candidate based on what they found 63% of those viewing social sites did not hire based on what was found! www.pipl.com

8. And, for some good news. . . • College Grad.com • LinkedIn.com • And a word about recruiters • According to Nick Braden…“80% of employers are now using LinkedIn as their primary source for employee recruitment.”

9. Why is Networking Important? • Establishes a connection • A referral generates 80% more results than a cold call • Two-thirds of new hires did not respond to an opening posted on the Internet, anywhere

10. The Law of 250 • Every person knows as least 250 people • Each of your contacts knows at least 250 people – that’s 62,500 at your 2nd level • Each of your 2nd level contacts knows 250 people – that’s over 15,000,000

11. Corollary to Law of 250 • Typically not your 1st level contact that eventually hires you – contact will probably be 2, 3 or 4 levels deep • Some sociologists have found that “acquaintances are more likely than family members to give individuals direct information and to recommend them for opportunities.” Mark Granovetter, “The Strength of Weak Ties”

12. 4 Layers of Separation You Level 2 Contact Level 3 Contact Level 4 Contact Level 1 Contact Your Friend Alice Alice’s Uncle Bill Bill’s Friend Carol Carol’s Boss David

13. Tips and Techniques Develop Interpersonal Skills • Assert yourself positively • Ask good questions • Be a good listener • Present yourself attractively • Be viewed as knowledgeable or skillful in a particular area • Show interest in empowering others

14. Say what? • “May I ask for your advice?” • Develop a 10-second sound bite • Expand to a 30-second elevator pitch • Prepare a set of opening lines • Statements/questions for career fairs, parties, professional association meetings, etc. • Practice, practice, practice

15. Possible Resume/CV Sections • Name & Contact Information • Objective • Education • Experience • Skills • Activities • Honors

16. Resumes • Try to stay on one page, if not put last name on all pages • Stay consistent and on the conservative side • Avoid repetition • DO NOT use templates in Word • Your resume will look like everyone else’s • Difficult to upload on web or to email • If you print, use good quality paper, business letter format

18. Name & Contact Information

19. Some Sample Headers

20. Name & Contact Information • Include name, complete address, phone number and email address • Keep it large • Include both the local and permanent address if you will be moving elsewhere after graduation • Appropriate email address - hotmail, yahoo, or gmail

21. Objective A MUST in this job market! • This should be tailored for each job that you apply for! • Include skills, position title and company name • Catch the reader’s attention quickly • BAD OBJECTIVE: • A position that will allow me to use my utilize my education and will allow room for growth and advancement opportunity. How could this objective be improved?

22. Better Objectives For this job:Aerospace degreed candidate with over five years progressive experience in the aviation industry as well as management and finance experience seeks Airport Manager position at Winchester Municipal Airport For this internship:Aerospace Administration candidate with excellent customer service as well as one year experience in aviation industry seeks Safety & Security Internship for Fall 2010 with Southwest Airlines.

23. Education

24. Education • Typically near the top – Get a format that you can keep consistent throughout • Omit all high school if you have your degree • Know your degree, major, and concentration and write it out! Bachelor of Science in Aerospace • Include the month and year of graduation • Include G.P.A. if it is over 3.0 • Add relevant courses, if desired • Honors?

25. Experience

26. Experience • Put all your experience! • Include paid positions, independent research, research projects, significant class projects • Reverse chronological order (formatting!) • Organization, City, STPosition title, dates of employment • Duties for each entry – use bullets

27. It’s all in the words! • Focus on skills and duties transferable to the position you are applying. It should read more as accomplishments and what impact you made rather than a job description • Use action words and numbers where appropriate • Which sounds better? • Put together a report or Compiled and summarized data using MS Excel • Maintained records for all accounts orManaged over 1,000 accounts receivable and payable accounts working directly with the Chief Financial Officer.

28. Skills • List a summary of skills you possess • Really depends on your skills and the job • Group by type or skill level • Quantify

29. Honors, and Activities • Include dates, be specific with accomplishments or leadership roles

30. Reference Page • Include three to five references on a separate page • Make sure you let your references know that they are listed on your resume • Be sure to include the person’s name, title or relationship to you, company, address and phone number • Email?

31. Cover Letter • Always send a cover letter • Address to a person, if at all possible • Like an objective, each cover letter should be tailored to the position • Cover letter should be able to stand alone • If applying by email, put the cover letter as your email and refer to the attached resume. • If printed, use proper business letter formatting

32. Cover Letter – 1st Paragraph Why you are writing • What position are you applying for? • Did a mutual friend refer you? • Why are you interested? • How did you learn about the job? • Reflect your attitude, communication, and enthusiasm in your writing.

33. Cover Letter - 2nd Paragraph What you have to offer • Refer the reader to your resume • Call attention to your education, qualifications, skills • Address any/all specific skills listed in the job description that you possess • Give more detail or information than on resume, if possible

34. Cover Letter - 3rd Paragraph How you will follow up • Close by reiterating your interest in the position • If you have a phone number or email address, indicate you will follow up with a phone call“I will contact you in the next two weeks to see if you require any additional information regarding my qualifications.” • “…to see if you need any references.” • “…to ensure receipt of my resume.”

35. Interviewing • Always go to an interview…you never know! • Practice • Maybe they will tell someone else!

36. Types of Interviews • Traditional • Do you have the skills, enthusiasm and work-ethic? • Will you be a team player and fit into the company? • Behavioral • Past performance indicates future performance • Tell me a specific example about a time you had to handle multiple projects at once • Situational • Gives specific situations you may encounter on the job • Consider a situation where you and a co-worker are jointly working on a project. You divided up work in a manner you both agreed to. However, your co-worker fails to do his or her share of the work. What would you do? • Telephone, Group and Panel • Over two days, meals

37. Way before the interview • Prepare, prepare, prepare! • Practice, practice, practice! • Do your research… • Know yourself, the employer/school, and position/program • Consider your skills and strengths • Ashland University – Transferrable Skills • Webinar this week…

38. Dress for success! • Dress nicely • First impressions are invaluable • Shows you are serious • Male • Conservative, 2-piece suit, white shirt and simple tie • Always a jacket and tie • Pressed clothes • No visible piercings • Neat, trimmed hair and nails • Clean dress shoes • Female • Conservative suit • Minimal jewelry and makeup • No visible piercings • No perfume

39. The day before • Know where you are going and how to get there • Be on time, or even better, 5 to 10 minutes early • Bring a nice portfolio with paper, pen and extra copies of your resume • Samples of work? Reference page?

40. The Questions • Practice your responses to common questions • Give examples…STAR • Use the interviewers name when appropriate • Eye contact • What about an unexpected, tough question? • Prepare questions for the interviewer • Elevator pitch…research interests, experience, hobbies

41. After the Interview • Write down any unexpected questions for reference later • Immediately follow up with a thank you note • Give them 7-10 days before calling • Know it takes an average of 3 months to find a full-time position…don’t get discouraged • Don’t talk money…until they make an offer

42. Negotiating Salary • What if an employer asks you “What are your salary requirements?” • Know your market…how competitive are you? • Know your walk-away amount • Figure in benefits • Medical, dental, 401k, stock options, vacation and sick leave, flexible work hours, company car, relocation expenses, sign-on bonus?

43. Walk-In Hours No need for an appointment, just drop by KUC 328!

44. Questions? K. Nicole Green, Career Coordinator College of Basic & Applied Sciences Jones Hall 309  494-8797  kngreen@mtsu.edu www.mtsu.edu/~career/CBAS.htm