Job Search Tips for New Grads

Steve RayeManaging PartnerBrand Action Team1 Darling Dr.Avon, CT 06001Sraye@comcast.net860-676-7900http://thebrandactionteam.blogspot.com

The Résumé

Résumé Tips• It should tell a story• Do your homework…customize resume for the opportunity

– Tools: Google, Hoovers, WSJ, BusinessWeek, trade publications• Make it easy for them to remember you and find you.

– Save file as Lastname_Firstname_Resume 3_11_10• Keywords

– Look at the job description, other posts from same company on Monster/CareerBuilder for similar positions

• Separate Responsibilities from Accomplishments• Don’t make stupid mistakes:

– Print it out to review for format, spelling errors: remember, spell check is necessary but not sufficient!

– Have someone else read your resume AND your cover letter before you send it out.

• Most important WIIFM!

WIIFM

• What’s in it for me?• Read between the lines• Try to determine their point of pain/need.

Be Specific, Use Numbers• Instead of... "Experience working in fast-paced environment"

Try... "Registered 120+ third-shift emergency patients per night"

• Instead of... "Excellent written communication skills" Try... "Wrote jargon-free User Guide for 11,000 users"

• Instead of... "Team player with cross-functional awareness" Try... "Collaborated with clients, A/R and Sales to increase speed of receivables and prevent interruption of service to clients."

These Sound Nice, But Are Empty

• Detail-oriented• Determined• Efficient• Experienced• Flexible

• Aggressive• Ambitious• Competent• Creative

Résumé Miscellany

Its function is to screen out, not screen inObjective: should you include one?

Only if it contributes to the “story”

This doesn’t:“A challenging position that allows me to utilize my

skills and experience to add value to the company.”

Résumé “Misteaks” to Avoid

Typos and poor editing communicate carelessness

•Instrumental in ruining entire operation•My ability to complete projects on time is unspeakable•Education: Curses in liberal art•Personal: Married, 1992 Chevrolet•“ I have an excellent track record although I am not a horse.”•I am a rabid typist•Personal interests; donating blood, 15 gallons so far!

Disaster Checks

• Google yourself• Clean up your Facebook and MySpace

pages

Responding to Job Posts

Do Your Homework

• Research the company/division/function• Understand their needs and interests• Do they write a blog, have they been

published, given a speech

Cover Letter is Critical• Use the cover letter to highlight your USP…

what makes you different, but more importantly what makes you uniquely suited to the job.

• Don’t repeat your resume, distill it.• If you respond by email, ALSO send a written

cover letter and resume with a handwritten note saying “Second Submission; I’m very interested.”

Don’t Make Stupid ErrorsSays: sloppy, don’t care

Don’t Make Stupid ErrorsSays: sloppy, don’t care

Don’t Make These Errors

in

You don’t know me, Dear Mr. Soandso would be more appropriate!

Don’t Hide Behind E-mail!Be bold!

Be different!

The Interview

Checklist

• Look ‘em in the eye• Firm handshake• When offered a drink say “YES”• Use the time to LOOK and SEE

– Things that decorate the office tell you things they want you know/think about them: Kids pix, hobbies, interests

Come Prepared to Lead the Interview

• Most people are lousy interviewers• You can guide them

– BUT you need to have a plan– What do you want them to know about you?

• Have a plan, what 3 things do you want them to know about you?

• What do you want them to say about you when you leave?– Orient your answers…and your questions to those

things

STAR

• Situation• Task• Action• Result

Networking Interview• “Do you mind if I take some notes?” (says “I recognize what you

have to say to me is important.”)• 2 objectives for this meeting:

– Having just graduated, I don’t have first hand knowledge of the opportunities out there, so I’m looking for help identifying the types of jobs that would fit my interests and background

– I’d like to ask for your help in referring me to folks you know in those business to whom you think it would be good for me to talk. (Implicitly communicate you recognize the person has to make a value judgment about you before giving reference)

• Make sure for each reference that you have:– Name, phone number and permission to use the referees name.

• Make sure to ask the “Three Questions”• FOLLOW UP EVERY INTERVIEW WITH A PERSONAL

NOTE…with a lagniappe that says, “I listened”

Objective for the Meeting

• To get the NEXT meeting• So don’t leave it to them to take the next

step, they won’t.

Three Questions1. You’ve interviewed and hired a bunch of other people

for other positions…what has separated the ones you hired from the ones you didn’t?

Of the ones you did hire, what separated the great employees from the simply good employees?

2. Which competitor do you most admire and why?

3. Five years ago you might have been asked where you thought your company and the industry would be in five years. What would you have predicted?

And if you were to look out to the next five years, what do you think your company and industry will look like?

Typical Questions You’ll Get Asked

Prepare for them!• Tell me about yourself?• What are your most significant

accomplishments?• What are your weaknesses/How would

others describe them?• Why are you qualified for this

position?• What are your career goals?

After the Interview1. Close with defined next steps:

• I’ll get back to you on XXX with YYY

• I will report back on how the referral meetings went.

• I will check back with you by email re: ZZZ

• Would it be ok if I followed up by email in two weeks to fill you in on these things?

2. Send personalized follow-up note, ideally handwritten, or at least neatly typed on good paper using a real stamp, not a postage meter.

• Refer to something in the conversation

• Include a lagniappe, cartoon, quote, news clip relevant to a topic in the conversation.

Final Thoughts

• Don’t hide behind email• Be bold• Be prompt• Be groomed• Be prepared: pen, pad, resume, cards• Don’t expect feedback, or even

acknowledgement• Follow up with handwritten or neatly typed letter• Stay in touch, even if they don’t