Welcome!

1. Welcome! “Marketing Me”

2. Presenters Marny Barnes Practice Leader, Information Technology RecruitmentPeople First H.R. Services Gerri Acorn Co-op Coordinator Dept of Computer Science

3. Objectives of this Workshop To provide you with information that includes: • Researching trends • Preparing job search materials • Understanding good job search strategies • Preparing for networking events

4. Effective Job Search Strategies • Understand the Marketplace! • What are the fastest growing sectors? • small to medium businesses • do not apply only at the large companies however ……. did you know about? MB Hydro’s and MTS’s programs for new grads? • In Manitoba? (Insurance, Finance, Health)? • Research / Stay Current! • CIPS - Canadian Information Processing Society / Manitoba Chapter ( http://mb.cips.ca ) • ICTAM - Information and Communications Technologies Association of Manitoba( www.ictam.ca ) • Gov’t of Manitoba ( http://gov.mb.ca/ctt/profiles/infocom/index.html )

5. Job Search Strategies con’t • Follow the business news • Know who is doing what • Seek out news releases on large projects, new initiatives, acquisitions, and growth • Yahoo, Google, Twitter, LinkedIn • 50 Best Workplaces in Canada – 2012 • http://www.greatplacetowork.ca/best/list-ca.htm • What is going on in your community? • Career Fairs • Job Fairs

6. Networking…..Networking….Networking • Ask for job-leads from: • family members • friends • people in the community (CIPS, Chamber of Commerce, Women in I.T…………) • staff at career centres – Career and Employment Services: http://umanitoba.ca/student/employment • and of course ……………. http://coop.cs.umanitoba.ca Co-op Students: • Co-op interviews • Contacts from Co-op employers • Co-op and / or Computer Science peers (Note: employers want known entities – Employee Referral Programs) • Create personal cards!

7. In addition ……….. • Recruitment firms • What they do • How they do it • Why you should consider using one

8. Your Online Identity • What does it look like? • How important is it? • How well do you manage it?

9. Job Boards (e.g. Monster.com) • Using Large Job Boards effectively • Monster, CareerBuilder, Workopolis, Dice, are the predominant and most popular of the general job seeking websites. They offer an avenue to search and apply for hundreds of positions while putting you in front of recruiters, hiring managers and company leaders. The downside of these sites is that you are one of countless others looking for positions. The key to using job boards is to set yourself apart. So how do you do that?? http://www.infotoday.com

10. Suggestions • Key words!! • Update resume every few days (older resumes are ignored). • One size fits all resume?

11. Pursuing an Employer Go after employers for whom you would like to work! • Don’t know anyone who works there?

12. The Dreaded Cold Call Before you make the call, you should know: • who to ask for • what you are going to say • Make sure you know something about the company! • what your objective is for the cold call • anticipate the questions and practice your responses

13. The Dreaded Cold Call con’t Your objectives should include: • Finding out if there are any current openings and if so, details of the position(s). • Being invited to submit an application package (even if there are no current openings). • Determining to whom application packages should be addressed. • Knowing how the employer wants your application submitted (on-line, e-mail, hard copy). • Transcript? – make sure you offer to include this! • Obtaining the names of two or three other employers who may be interested in your skill set. Optional: • Setting up an Informational Interview.

14. Unique Selling Proposition (USP) • What is the one thing that makes you unique for the particular position? • What makes you better than the other candidates applying for this position? • What can you offer that no other candidate can? • What is the one reason the employer should want to hire you above all other candidates? - Adapted from: www.quintcareers.com

15. One more thing ….. • Always be respectful of the company representative’s time “Have I reached you at a good time?” “Do you have a few spare minutes?”

16. Career Fairs & the like! • Career fairs are about building contacts and developing relationships! • Remember: first impressions are lasting ones

17. Prep! • Research the employers that will be attending • Is there any recent news about them? • Bring along your notes! • What is your USP for that employer? • Be ready with your elevator pitch! • Dress like you would for an interview

18. Bring • Business (personal) cards • Include: name, degree, graduation date (if applicable), contact information • Portfolio with pen and paper (for making notes & referring to notes) and carrying business cards (yours and theirs)

19. Follow-up • Send a thank-you note • Attend any information sessions

20. Active vs Passive “When networking, never just wing it…you should always think about your goals, the message you want to convey, and how you want to shape the relationship with the people you meet.” Anne Gordon

21. Putting together your application • Soft and transferrable skills (leadership, communication, adaptability, self-motivation) are still important. • Accomplishments must be clearly outlined! • Passion / interest is becoming more and more important!

22. Key Words / Phrases • Need to be considered for both resume and cover letter. • How closely does your application match the employer’s focus / job posting? • Use the position posting to modify your resume.

23. Competencies

24. Re-building Your Resume Refer to resume sample hand-outs

25. Re-Building Your Resume (con’t) Objective Statements (optional): • Must, show the direction you are wanting to take and / or • match the position title for which you are applying.

26. Re-building Your Resume con’t Summary / profile statements • Provide a quick picture of you • Should match competencies / values that the employer is seeking (while being completely honest) • Include at least one accomplishment: • Where possible, focus on money, time, and amounts, (something that can be measured or is quantifiable) e.g. Managed a student organization budget of $7,000.

27. Re-building Your Resume con’t Summary / profile statements example: Summary of Qualifications: • University of Manitoba Computer Science Co-op student with expected graduation date of December 2012. • Over one year of software development experience with three different employers. • Successfully completed several applications, taking them from the analysis and design phase through to implementation. • Experienced in both large and small team environments with ability to work independently to meet strict deadlines. • During last Co-op work term created a web-based system which allows Enterprise Clients to report issues they are having with non-production releases of EISI’s signature product, Naviplan. Development was done using VB.Net, ASP.NET, ADO.NET, HTML and Javascript.

28. Re-building Your Resume con’t Combination Resume Vs Functional Resume

29. Re-building Your Resume con’t Combination Resume Format (Co-op and other students with I.T. Work Experience) • Objective (optional) • Profile / Summary (include special awards) • Work Experience (include accomplishments) • Additional Skills • Education & Awards • Interests and Activities • Volunteer Experience (can be moved)

30. Re-building Your Resume (con’t) Functional Resume Format (for students with no I.T. work experience) • Objective (optional) • Goals and Interests • Education & Awards • Skills • Relevant Projects? • Work Experience (include accomplishments) • Interests and Activities • Volunteer Experience

31. Cover Letters Refer to Resource section of the Co-op web site: coop.cs.umanitoba.ca Keeping these additional things in mind: • Whenever possible, find out who will be reviewing your application and address your cover letter / email to that person • In the last paragraph • indicate a time when you will be following up with a phone call • advise them of any times when you are not available (travelling, etc) • Co-op students – “change it up”

32. Three Most Common Cover Letter Mistakes • Not addressing letter to named individual • Indicating wrong company name or position • Failing to be proactive by requesting an interview • Take the initiative to ask for the interview • Tell the employer that you will follow up • Follow up! • Stating with what the employer can do for you rather than what YOU can do for the them • Making them too long ………….. Blah, blah, blah • Not paying attention to detail 

33. Questions?

34. Sad But True Job hunts can take awhile

35. Four Things to Remember • No one owes you a job. • Job hunting success is in direct proportion to job hunting effort. • Successful job hunting requires a willingness to change your tactics. • Using the same resume and cover letter for every job is not going to work!

36. On-Line Applications • Email • Attach both resume and cover letter or embed cover letter? • Attachments - PDF • Complete the “Subject” line! • Web Forms (job boards) • Plain text / pdf ? • No fancy html, graphics • Key words!!

37. Now You Wait 

38. Your Voice Mail • Do you have a message on your voice mail that makes you unique and that your friends think is cool? Lose it! • Do not answer your cell phone when in an inappropriate place! • Never answer your cell phone during a conversation with an employer (interview or otherwise).

39. Once the Waiting is Over 

40. Prior to the interview • Don’t hesitate to ask questions of the person setting up the interview… • Who will be in the meeting (names and titles)? • Who to ask for when you arrive? • What is the exact location of the meeting? • Ask for a contact number in case you need directions. • Have your own list of objectives for the interview!

41. Consider…………. • Do some research on the interviewer(s) to determine • Memberships • Any work done for / with charities • LinkedIn • Facebook • Twitter

42. Arriving for an interview • How early is too early? • Late? – not even an option! • Leave your cell phone in the car or turn it off.

43. Interview Questions for new grads  • How has your education experience prepared you for a career in industry? • If you could do so, how would you plan your university career differently? • What do you expect to be doing in 5 years? • Have you ever had difficulty with a supervisor or instructor? How did you resolve the conflict? Provided by Wawanesa Insurance

44. Prepared Questions • Should include those about: • Employer • Direction • Growth • Culture • Should not include those about: • Compensation • Hours • Benefits

45. Video re questions to ask in an interview

46. Want the job? Tell them!!!!!

47. After an Interview Immediately: Send the interviewer(s) a thank-you letter or e-mail. You should: • Thank them for taking the time to interview you • Invite them to contact you if they have any further questions • Confirm your interest in joining their company

48. Salary Expectations & Negotiation • Starting salaries • Addressing salary in a cover letter or interview • Appropriate salary negotiation • Other benefits or negotiation items

49. Employer Incentives • COGHI (Graduate Hiring Incentive) • See handout

50. Speed Meet & Greet Prep • Attire: business casual • Bring: business (personal) cards • Check out list of employers • Do your research • Have questions / comments • Find out who has worked, or is working, there • Have your USP (Unique Selling Proposition) and Elevator Pitch prepared!