Tigers Prepare

To Bow, or Not to Bow, That is the Question.

noreply@blogger.com (Torey Palmer) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:22:00 PDT

Fair Spring is upon us and campus is awash with the visual delights it brings. Seersucker is resplendent in striped glory; white bucks gleam with care; pastel colors abound with new vigor; and the bow tie graces the neck of many an Auburn Gentleman. With all of these clothing inspirations strutting before us, some may even be tempted to purchase a new bow for their job search or to jazz up their already established professional wardrobe, but before you saunter into your favorite men’s clothier and commit to becoming a member of that most noble and honored league of bow wearers there are several things to consider…

On the Job Interview

It is important to note that bow wearers are in the tie minority. When you see them you notice them. Bows are individual, striking and at times loud. It takes a certain amount of moxy to confidently wear a bow in a straight tie dominated world. They do a magnificent job of drawing attention to oneself. So at this point you’re likely saying to yourself: “By Jove, then the bow is the perfect way for me to stand out from my peers and have jealous looks cast upon me. I’m rushing to the haberdashery this very instant.” Cool your jets Bennie. As a bow tie wearer myself it brings me great pain to write these next words, but… DO NOT wear a bow tie to your interview. Yes you will stand out, yes you will be remembered, but often not for the reasons you desire.

I know, you’re likely a little morose at this point. I’ve spent all this time discussing how amazing bow ties are and now suddenly, a stupendous let down. You’re thinking, “But Torey, Robert Frost said to take the road less traveled and it made him happy as a lark in springtime. Surely he knows what he’s talking about.” Don’t listen to Robert Frost, he’s a dead poet laureate. I am your alive career counselor, and in this instance conformity is suggested.

Picture if you will, this scenario. Two dapperly dressed gentlemen interview for a position. Both are smartly fitted in dark suits; matching shoes and belt; well-manicured and coiffed hair; but one wears a straight tie, the other a bow tie. They both provide articulate, well-delivered and thought out answers to pivotal interview questions. Our traditionally tied friend is remembered later for his pointed responses, the diverse use of language and delivery. Our bow tie wearing friend is remembered as “that guy who wore a bow tie”. Which of these do you think wins? If you guessed the former, you would be correct.

The entire, let me repeat that, entire point of an interview is to be remembered for how well you sold your candidacy as a potential employee. Instead, if all you are remembered for is your accoutrement selection, then you have failed. In the vast majority of interview situations the bow tie is not your friend. Stick with the traditional, if however tired, straight tie. Your future paycheck will thank me and you for it, and once you have the job you can reward yourself. Go on, newly hired employee, get that bow, you deserve it.

On the Job

Once you have secured your hard-won employment our tie discussion changes. Without question, our dear poet laureate friend Frost gives terrible advice about the interview attire, but on the job he’s not that bad. However, before you break out that brocaded floral paisley number in tasteful lilac, cream and accents of gold, you should pay attention to your workplace culture. Notice what your fellow employees are wearing. Are ties of any sort common? Have you seen an elusive bow before? Is there a strict dress code policy? Will you be castigated, called mean names and subjected to all sorts of heinous treatment for daring to wear a bow? Ok, maybe not that last one, but you get the picture.

A bow tie can be a great way to punch up a drab professional wardrobe or to showcase a little personality. (I have a fondness for those tasteful floral paisley numbers; bold stripes and polka dots, but that’s just me.) Recognize, the thing about wearing bow ties is that you must be confident. One cannot wear a bow tie think every whisper a verbal jab or every finger pointed a spear of judgment. They could just be marveling at your taste and refinement. Will disparaging comments be made, probably, but they’re likely just jealous. Pay them no mind.

Bow ties are fun, and if you are going to wear one have fun with it. Don’t be afraid of their tying complexity (Pro Tip: They’re Not), nor the looks of the passerby. We started with a question —–should you bow tie or should you not bow tie– and now an answer: it depends. As in all things, use critical thinking, do your research and above all else ask your alive career counselor if you have a question.

What Do You Do with a B.A. in English?

noreply@blogger.com (Addye) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 08:30:00 PDT

My sister-in-law, who is a freshman in college, came to visit sunny Alabama for spring break. We talked about her college classes, her friends, joining the intramural bowling team, and finally came to the topic every relative of every college freshman trots out during family gatherings since, well, the dawn of higher education.

Her major.

Turns out, she likes her ancient history class and knows all the names of early Roman emperors. She fantasizes about traveling to the Mediterranean to dig up the bones of our pre-historic ancestors. I thought as hard as I could, accessing all my career super-powers, and acclaimed, “Have you thought about majoring in history or anthropology?”

She had, of course. Astonishing how many people know what they want without even a counselor’s super-powers. Then:

“But you can’t do anything with a history major.”

Ah, my friends, here, as Hamlet says, is the rub. What will the history major do after she’s graduated? Or, for that matter, the English, art, philosophy, music, Spanish, or theater major? It’s no secret only a select few write the next great American novel or land roles on Broadway, and these few not only made the best grades, gained huge amounts of related experience since age five, and created connections with all the right people. Plenty of liberal arts majors have done the same. The “professional” liberal artists of our generation also were born under some, even if it’s barely twinkling, lucky star. The hard truth is that, yes, almost all liberal arts majors do not “do” what they “went to school for.”

But not being able to do anything with a liberal arts degree? That’s just unimaginative. You’re a liberal arts major, right? Haven’t you learned to be creative? To find answers to problems in new ways?

What about those excellent writing skills you gained in Personal Essays 311? You learned to work as a team with every cast and crew member for the curtain go up on opening night, right? What about that verbal fluidity you loved cultivating in Ethics, ferreting out holes in classmates’ arguments? And hey, didn’t you perform well under pressure during your senior recital, even though you also took four classes and served at Mellow Mushroom this spring? These are called transferable skills , and, my dear liberal arts major, employers want them.

I’ll tell you another secret: these employers don’t care if you developed these skills as a business major, family studies major, or liberal arts major, but they need you to make that connection between your degree and your transferable skills for them. It’s up to you to explicitly flash the following in neon lights: “Developed Strong Leadership Capabilities Through Stage Managing Cast Of 50.” Otherwise, they’ll never know how jam-packed full of skills that theater degree really is.

Who are these employers? And how do you find them?

Honestly, they’re everywhere. Now, these employers certainly do not hire liberal arts majors for positions that require specific degree paths (think nurses, engineers, architects, etc.), but every engineering firm and every hospital needs people to organize, schedule, promote their services, and basically keep their business running. Find a company or organization you like, and look at the position posting section on their website. I guarantee you’ll find positions for the liberal arts major, more than likely camouflaged in titles like “Coordinator,” “Outreach Assistant,” or “Social Media Editor.” Truly, liberal arts majors can be found anywhere, and do not just end up in education (tell that to the aunt who inevitably asks at holiday dinners, “What are you going to do with that- teach?!”), unless, of course, they want to be teaching.

But there’s another glitch to gaining that position. Not only does the savvy liberal arts major market her transferable skills well, she plans ahead. She knows that it’s not enough to just have a degree, but that almost all employers are looking for related experience. If she’s going to be hired right after graduation, that means she has to gain experience while still in school. This means pursuing an internship, co-op, or volunteer opportunity within the industry in which you’re hoping to work.

So, go on, major in your most-loved subject, and create a career plan. Be prepared that, more than likely, your career following graduation may not be exactly in that subject area. This may be frustrating. I argue that if you’re convinced you shouldn’t major in art because you won’t be able be able to use that degree, well, then you spend your entire college career and beyond not doing art. But if you major in art knowing you might not get to use all aspects of your art degree, you at least spend four years immersed in your passion, and then hopefully are in a better position to either engage in art in your spare time following graduation while earning a living, or find ways to incorporate your passion into your current position.

For example, an English major who works in a career center can volunteer to write a blog post on using a liberal arts degree.

Shari Black

Graduate Assistant in the Career Center

pursuing PhD in Counseling Psychology

Bachelor of Arts in Theater and English

"This is my experience..." Intern Spotlight - Bradley

noreply@blogger.com (Meaghan Weir) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 08:55:00 PST

Bradley Addison, a senior in Supply Chain Management at Auburn University, landed a full-time job with Dow Corning after interning for them during summer 2012. I talked to Bradley recently about his internship experience and asked for his advice to other students considering an internship experience.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am currently a senior and will be graduating August 2013. I have always enjoyed being involved on campus with various student organizations such as ASCMA, DEI, Alpha Kappa Psi, and the College of Business Student Council. I always make a point to take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way and to take the initiative needed to be successful. My goals are set high and I will use my strong work ethic and drive to achieve those goals.

Where did you intern and when did the internship take place?

I participated in a Procurement Internship with Dow Corning this past summer 2012 in Mt. Meigs, AL.

Describe your internship experience and the responsibilities you had.

I was given goals and responsibilities for my internship that allowed me to get a picture of Dow Corning and the industry that it was in as well as gain some experience in the Procurement function of the organization. My goals/responsibilities included:

Analyze site spend and achieve an annualized cost savings goal
Map and document workflows of the site to identify bottlenecks and improve efficiency
Evaluate INCO terms of supplier base
Interface with site suppliers
Present findings and project progression to site and corporate management

My internship experience was very valuable not only to my professional development, but to my industry knowledge development as well. I applied things I learned in the classroom to my internship and then applied things I learned during my internship to the classroom. I could apply the concepts I was learning in class to the real-world experiences I had with my internship.

I was even flown out to Kentucky to participate in an intern trip that toured the company’s facilities in Kentucky and Tennessee. It was a great networking opportunity!

Have you participated in any other internship opportunities during your college career?

This was my first true internship experience. I have worked for the Auburn University Career Center since I arrived at Auburn as a student Peer Event Planner but have not worked directly in the Supply Chain Management area of a company.

Do you recommend that other Auburn students participate in internships and why?

I not only recommend, but think that it is essential for students to participate in an internship. It will give you an immediate advantage when searching for full-time employment. Even if you end up not enjoying your internship as much as you would have liked, it will still give you great experience and will provide you with effective talking points during an interview. You will gain hands-on experience in your field of study and will have incredible networking opportunities with professionals in your field. Cast your net wide and apply for as many internships as you can. Do not get discouraged if you are rejected! With enough effort you are almost guaranteed to receive some type of internship.

What are your career plans following graduation?

I was interviewed at the conclusion of my internship for full-time positions. I was offered a job and accepted it within a couple of months. I will be moving to Midland, Michigan to work at Dow Corning’s corporate headquarters in a Transportation Management and Supply Chain Planning role.

If you are willing to relocate, career opportunities will greatly increase for you!

Student Perspective: Overview of Career Center Resources

noreply@blogger.com (Meaghan Weir) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 07:01:00 PST

In addition to providing excellent resume assistance and career guidance, Auburn University’s Career Center offers a myriad of services to those students who are currently in search of part-time or full-time opportunities, co-op positions and internships. Traditionally, job searches were conducted through use of local newspaper advertisements and bulletin boards; however, due to advancements in technology, the national influx of recent graduates as well as national job shortages, locating and acquiring positions has become an almost daunting task. Furthermore, thanks to online services such as: Interview Stream, Career Shift, Going Global and USA Career Guides, Auburn graduates remain at the top of their game in job placement.
Listed below, you will find brief descriptions of the previously named services and how they may be used to aide you along your job search:

Interview Stream is the pioneer of online video interviews. This remarkable software provides students who will be interviewing for jobs and on-campus positions with the resources necessary for acing the interview process. Through use of Interview Stream, students may engage in virtual interviews specifically customized with questions relative to the position in which the student may be applying for, view examples of successful interviews, and watch interview webinars that provide tips from interview experts on how to successfully market oneself to a potential employer. Students have the option of using Interview Stream services on their PC, Mac or iPad as long as each of these technologies is equipped with a video camera and microphone. The student then has the option to watch, assess and share their interview for further critiquing.

Career Shift provides job hunting and career management solutions proven to aide job seekers in securing employment. As stated on Careershift.com, “CareerShift is available to everyone simply by signing up and logging in; or through institutions and organizations nationwide.” CareerShift is a top performer in providing assistance to students in landing jobs. The “My Jobs” function allows the user to view every job posted at every website. “My Contacts” facilitates the networking process by allowing the user to find, save and organize a list of contacts. “My Documents” allows the applicant to upload or create, edit and save resumes and other documents related to their job search. “My Campaigns” allows the applicant to send documents via mail or e-mail. Lastly,“My Calendar” reminds the applicant of arranged appointments and interviews; the applicant has the ability to setup both e-mail and text reminders.

Both Going Global and USA Career Guides are services created by Mary Anne Thompson. These sites are comprised of individuals representing many different countries who all share the commonality of having worked outside of their native countries. GoingGlobal.com provides students with access to career and employment services for more than 80 worldwide locations. It is the only career resource of its type. Local experts who also provide annual updates regarding those positions have researched each posted job. Thompson and her staff are committed to encouraging international employment and delivering useful and unique material to help applicants make an informed decision regarding job opportunities away from their homeland.
For further information regarding use of these resources, please contact the Career Center at 334.844.4744 or via e-mail at cdsserv@auburn.edu.

Peer Career Advisor Post by: Kierra Rumph

Halloween Inspired Job Search To-Do List

noreply@blogger.com (Meaghan Weir) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 09:55:00 PDT

1. Make a boo-tiful resume

Your resume is often the first impression you make on a recruiter. First impressions begin forming immediately when recruiter opens your resume and according to a study completed by The Ladders, you only have about 6 seconds to convince them of your awesomeness as a candidate before they move on to the next resume in the pile. In order to help the recruiter make the decision to bring you in for an interview, it is very important that your resume have a clear structure and an organized layout. Also, the study found that recruiters focused most of their attention on the applicant’s name, education, job experience and job start and end dates. Taking time to improve content organization and formatting can help recruiters quickly locate the main information they are seeking from that first 6 second review.

Action Steps: Visit the Auburn University Career Center during walk-in hours M-F noon-4pm for one-on-one help with your resume and use the AU Career Handbook for tips and samples.

2. Rid the skeletons in your social media profiles

Your past actions on the World Wide Web can come back to haunt you and with more companies reviewing applicant’s online profiles than ever, taking time to clean up your online presence is vital to the job search. First, Google your name to see what displays in the first two pages of results. Don’t like what you see? Check your Facebook privacy settings if you don’t want that information readily available to anyone and everyone. Keep in mind though that even the strictest privacy settings will not prevent recruiters from getting information. Remove any unwanted pictures, status updates and comments. Lock your Twitter feed if not using in a professional manner. Check your Pinterest account settings to turn off the search ability function in Google if you don’t want your latest pins popping up in a search of your name. Increase your activity in professional networking sites like LinkedIn to push your professional profile higher in Google search results.

Action Steps: Go to Google and search all variations of your name. Clean up social media profiles and build a professional profile in LinkedIn. Consider starting a professional Twitter handle or blog related to your industry. Sign up for Google Alerts when new information with your name is posted on the web.

3. Brew up a killer elevator speech

When meeting a recruiter face-to-face, a well prepared pitch or elevator speech can make a great first impression. Think about how you would wow a recruiter in a limited amount of time if taking a quick elevator ride with them. The elevator speech is a brief pitch of who you are, what you do, why you’re good (or the best) at what you do, and where you want to go from here. An ill prepared introduction makes it easy for a recruiter to pass up on reading your resume and inviting you to interview for a job. If you can’t sell your best skills and assets, why should he or she take time to read between the lines.

Action Steps: Prepare and practice your elevator speech before the next career fair, employer information session or networking event. Visit 15secondpitch.com for help writing your pitch.

4. Scare up some professional references

Most recruiters will ask for references at some point in the hiring process. And unless specifically stated otherwise, they don’t mean character references from your favorite Aunt Josephine or your best friend Sara’s mom who’s known you since preschool. To prepare for this request, think about 3-5 people who can serve as professional references and can speak about your skills and qualities as an employee or student. Start with current or former supervisors from your internships and part-time jobs who can talk about your on-the-job skills. Think about professors that you have developed a good relationship with or advisors who have gotten to know you well as a student. Talk to each person first to verify that they are willing to be a positive reference for you. Supply your references with a copy of your resume and the description of the job you are seeking. They will be better prepared to answer questions about your skills and abilities to perform that job when contacted by a recruiter.

Action Steps: Develop your list of professional references and discuss your job search plan with each to prepare for a call from an employer.

5. Develop hauntingly good interview skills

The interview is a chance to show your fit for the position and with the company. More than likely, if the recruiter has invited you to interview, he or she is fairly confident in your ability to do or learn to do that job. Now they are assessing your overall fit. Researching the position and company prior to the interview is a great way to learn about the organizational culture (i.e. conservative, zany, laid back, structured, etc.) and communicate your fit. Also, preparing for the interview by practicing typical questions may help you feel more confident about your skills when the interview time arrives. Know your best skills and qualifications and how they will benefit the company. Communicate how your previous experiences have prepared you for this new position. Make sure the employer knows why you are the best candidate for the job.

Action Steps: Develop your interview skills through online resources like Interview Stream or schedule a Mock Interview with a career counselor. Research the company by reviewing the website and talking to people you know who currently work or have previously worked for the company.

Wishing you a job search that is filled with treats and no tricks!

12 Seconds to Make It or Break It

noreply@blogger.com (Meaghan Weir) — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 06:30:00 PDT

Though the art of resume writing has been around for decades, the specifics of building a resume have undergone many changes. A person used to be able to get by with a resume full of good experience; this is no longer the case. To be competitive in the job market, one must not only have the experience on their resume, but also make the experiences stand out. Here’s why:

An employer will spend an average of 12 seconds looking over a resume for the first time, with a range from 5-40 seconds. That is less time than you’ve spent reading this blog so far, unless you have superhuman reading abilities. You would be lucky to get anything over 20 seconds. In these first 12ish seconds, the employers will make the decision to either pursue you as a candidate for the position or cut you from their job search. Obviously, they will go back and take a more extensive look at your resume if they choose to pursue you, but good experience alone will not guarantee that you make the first cut.

You may ask, how can I make my experiences stand out to an employer? Lucky for you, we have many tricks that we often use to do just that. Bold and italics are going to be your new best friends. You want to use these on information that will sum up your experiences. For example, the college you attended, the degree you received, past places of employment, past job titles or internships, or any type of certification or skill that would apply directly to the position being applied for. This is the information that the employer wants to see on his/her first look at a resume. Though be careful when using these methods to be consistent: if you bold one job title, bold them all; italicize the company name for one, do it for all. This helps give your resume a clean and organized look.

Experiments have been conducted on employers that track their eyes while they read through resumes. The results show that the employers spend the majority of their time scanning down the left 2-3 inches of the page. So this tells us what? Put the important information, such as job title, degree title and employer on the left side of the page (see how I bolded that sentence to indicate its importance?). Also, avoid using passive verbs or phrases to begin a sentence or bullet point, such as “Responsible for coordinating…” or “Got the data from…”. This is the first word, and probably the only word this employer will see in this sentence, so make it a good one! Instead of saying “Responsible for coordinating,” just say “Coordinated,” or instead of “Got,” use action verbs such as “Retrieved and analyzed the data from…”. Big words make us sound smart; therefore, use big words. And if you are having trouble coming up with such big and strong words, the AU Career Center has a whole page of them (page 13) in our handy dandy Career Handbook.

Lastly, avoid writing in paragraphs. People are turned off by the idea of large chunks of words and are much more likely to read a single line. So instead, try to bullet your paragraphs into individual thoughts, and attempt to keep them to one line. Writing in bullets also allows you to use incomplete sentences, leaving out unnecessary articles (the, a, an). Remember, you’ve got about 12 seconds, so it would be beneficial to leave out all the extra filler words and make your bullets concise.

If you find yourself in doubt while building your resume, our Career Handbook also has many examples and general guidelines to follow. By using these methods, you can ensure that the good stuff on your resume doesn’t get overlooked by a potential employer. Make the important things stand out and you will increase your chances of getting past that first cut and into an interview.

-Daniel Meadows
Peer Career Advisor

But Can’t I Just Apply Online….At Home?

noreply@blogger.com (Meaghan Weir) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 06:30:00 PDT

An all too common scenario in college recruiting today is the tendency for students to express frustration and confusion over why employers attending career expos and networking events continually send them to the company’s online job site to apply. “A majority of the employers were just telling me to go to their company's careers page and submit my application for any available positions,” students say. “It felt like a major waste of time because that's something that I can easily do at home.” But while 100+ job seekers may be sitting at home in their PJs, applying for a position with said company on the internet, you as the proactive job seeking student may be talking face-to-face with the recruiter or hiring manager for that very position at a career expo.

Many companies use online applications and resume drops to track candidates from start to finish during the hiring process. Students who pique a recruiter’s interest at a career networking event could potentially be on a short list of candidates that he or she is looking for when reviewing online applications. At Auburn University, quite a few companies attend career expo and then return later in the semester to hold on-campus interviews. Those companies use the Tiger Recruiting Link (TRL) system to collect resumes and set up interview times. Recruiters often look for career fair standouts to be in the TRL applicant pool. Furthermore, meeting face-to-face with company representatives allows students the opportunity to learn first-hand the qualities and skills they seek in their employees. This information is invaluable when tailoring resumes and cover letters for the online application process.

So, the short answer is yes, you can apply online at home and you may land interviews using that strategy alone, but the student who does his or her due diligence in researching employers, attending career fairs and meeting recruiters in person prior to applying online, may be sitting next to you in the interview waiting room. And who might have the leg up in that situation?

**It’s not too late. Check out Tiger Recruiting Link (TRL) for a list of employers hosting information sessions later this semester. For those wondering why they should attend info sessions….check out this post.**

Top 10 Reasons to Attend Career Expo

noreply@blogger.com (Meaghan Weir) — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 07:31:00 PDT

10. Because neither Snooki nor Honey Boo Boo are offering jobs right now. Step away from the TV for a night.

9. You will make your parents happy.

8. It is FREE! Why not take advantage of the many opportunities to network?

7. This is real social networking.

6. It will pay off, literally. $$$

5. Size up your competition.

4. A chance to get dressed up and impress the ladies/gentlemen. You’re going to like the way you look, we guarantee it.

3. This is the largest concentration of employers on this campus at once all semester. And they want to talk to YOU!

2. The Career Center is "All in" with staff members and volunteers on hand to answer any questions you may have.
1. The Auburn Creed says “I believe that this is a practical world and that I can count only on what I earn.” – This is a great chance to go and earn it.

Auburn University Career Expos are Monday September 17 (Engineering & Technical Majors) & Wednesday September 19 (All Majors) from 3-8pm in the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center.

Breaking Down the Resume: Experience Section

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Mantooth) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:31:00 PDT

The goal of the Experience Section is to communicate past successes and outcomes to a potential employer so the reader can visualize you bringing those skills to their organization/company. The goal is NOT to list everything you have ever done (keep that list somewhere for historical purposes), but instead list only those jobs, leadership or volunteer experiences that are relevant to the job you are seeking. So, what does this look like?

Employer; City, ST
Job Title; dates of employment (month year - month year)

Start with an action verb/skill that communicates relevant or transferable skill
Avoid listing tasks and starting with the following: work, assist, help, learn (these generally bury your skill set)
Avoid jargon that is specific to the organization or company that won't be understood by others
Quantify when possible, using numbers to talk about how many you supervised or worked with on a team or how much money you managed

Research says that employers spend from 15 seconds to a minute on the initial scan of your resume. We read left to right so it is important for the skills being sought by the prospective employer to be listed on the left. I ran across this great Business Insider article recently and so appreciated the visual image of a resume being scanned: "The two resumes below include a heat map of recruiters' eye movements. The one on the right was looked at more thoroughly than the one of the left because of its clear and concise format:"

This image also shows how important it is to "top load" your resume. The most important information should be in the top third of your resume. For most college students that will be their Summary of Qualifications and Education...and hopefully at least one related internship or job.

The Auburn University Career Center has lots of great samples of Experience sections in the Career Handbook. There is also a useful list if Action Verbs. Check it out!

A Senior's Perspective: Be a Helper

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Mantooth) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:00:00 PDT

One of the things that I have learned through this internship at the Auburn University Career Center is the value of hard work. Every week may not be packed full of tasks, and there may be times when I feel like I have nothing to do. There are, of course, other times when I'm begging for no more tasks.

The lesson learned from this realization is this: A great employee is the one who takes advantage of the down times. It’s not wise to take on additional tasks or volunteer to help when things are already piling high on your desk. However, those days that aren’t quite as frantic are the perfect times to ask around for who needs help or take initiative on a project. This not only takes the load off another coworker or your boss, but it also can have some intrinsic value. Doesn’t it feel good when you help out? So, why not help out!?

Michelle Tillis Lederman, author of "The 11 Laws of Likability" and founder of Executive Essentials, a corporate training and coaching company based in New York, NY, said, “Pursue the relationships that feel authentic to you to expand your resources, knowledge base and support network, and offer your help. If you don't have anything to do, find something. Build your brand as someone who pitches in."

Another thing to highlight while we’re “pitching in,” is to maintain a positive attitude. The importance of a good attitude cannot be stressed enough. It really can be the difference maker in whether or not you get a job offer.

One of my friends completed her internship in accounting this spring and received a job offer from a Big Four accounting firm in the city of her choice. When the bosses called her in to offer her the job they told her that the thing they loved about her was that she remained positive and uplifting through her entire internship. She later confided in me that she had actually made some mistakes and at times wasn’t 100 percent positive she was doing the right thing. She is incredibly smart, but this was her first time to do real, outside of the classroom accounting work. She didn’t feel extremely confident in all of her decisions and actions because she wasn’t positive that they were correct. However, she also told me that she realized that the only thing she could control was her attitude and outlook. Her knowledge base is only so deep right now, but she could smile, be nice and have a good attitude. For those very things she got a job offer.

For this reason, I stress to you to make the most of your time at your work or internship. Your helping out, smiling or maintaining a positive attitude could be the difference between being unemployed and employed.

Paige Robinson '12
Career Center Intern

A Senior's Perspective: Emotional Intelligence

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Mantooth) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:40:00 PDT

For the last four years, I’ve been drilled with exams, quizzes and writing assignments all of which are necessary for my learning. However, now that I’m on my way out and into the working world, I’m being told my emotional intelligence is more important. Emotional intelligence refers not to your IQ or book knowledge, but to the ability to manage emotions.

The one thing that really stuck out to me when evaluating my emotional intelligence is how I handle stress. You don’t have to have a full-time job to occasionally fall under the curse of being stressed out. With finals coming up, I’m imagining roughly 90 percent of us will feel quite overwhelmed. While I’m no expert at managing stress, I have been conscious of my reactions to stress for quite a while. Last semester was the hardest academic semester I’ve had at Auburn, and I also was shoulder deep in planning a wedding. This semester my course load is much easier, but I am now ear deep in wedding planning. Through this year, I’ve learned several things about managing my stress and reacting well to stress.

Writing things down helps keep me from getting overwhelmed. When I write things down, I know that I won’t forget it. Keeping a planner up-to-date is one of the best things I’ve done throughout my college career. It keeps me from double booking and wasting time.
Exercise can be used to prevent stress and relieve stress. I haven’t always been great about exercising. A lot of times when I am stressed I feel like exercise is a complete waste of time. However, this semester I’ve been very disciplined to exercise more, even if it’s only a 30-minute walk. What I’ve found is that the physical activity works out my anxious jitters and usually gears me to productivity. This is great because on the days that I’m not very busy, I get things finished thus leaving my next day a little less busy. It keeps things from piling high and keeps me feeling better. It also helps when I’m in the middle of a stress out phase. Taking a break from the hustle and bustle of school and work to move my body leaves me feeling more relaxed.
Concentrated breathing sounds silly, but helps a lot when feeling stressed. As previously stated my academic schedule is not very strenuous this semester. I am fortunate enough to be able to take a stress reduction course in the physical education department. One of the best things I have learned is the use of meditation and breathing. I don’t always have the time for a 30-minute guided breathing exercise, and I’m sure most of you don’t either. However, in those times of gut-wrenching stress or anxiety, close your eyes and take 10 slow, deep breaths. It sounds silly, but taking that time to concentrate on your breathing slows your heartbeat and relaxes your body. Chances are you were tensing either your jaw or shoulders. By taking the time to breath slowly, you can relax those muscles.

These are just a few of the things that I found help me relax. Everyone is different, so maybe there are some other good activities you can do to unwind from your day. Whatever it is, realize that how to react to situations, stressful or not, plays a key role in how you are viewed as an employee.

BONUS: The Auburn University Career Center and DEI are co-sponsoring a Stress Relief Panel (WITH free food) on Thursday, August 26. Check it out here.

Breaking Down the Resume: Education

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Mantooth) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 06:30:00 PDT

Education...at this point, if you are a college student, school is what you know, and that degree you've worked so hard to obtain is what you have to offer an employer. Hopefully, you have proactively obtained related experience to compliment your career goals as well, and eventually your experience will trump your education. But recent college graduates should typically follow the Summary of Qualifications or Objective section with their Education section.

So, what does should that look like?

INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING

EDUCATION
Institution Name; City, ST
Degree and Major; Graduation Date
- Minor
- GPA

List degrees from present to past.
The most common suggestion is to only list your GPA if it above a 3.0. However, some recruiters just want to know what it is, period.
Study abroad experiences should be listed in this section if there was not a working/intern component.
Include honor societies in this section if you are a member of only a few that wouldn't constitute dedicating an entire section to honors. (If your GPA is strong, you probably don't need to dedicate a great deal of space to listing every honor society you were invited to join and paid the money to do so.)

DO NOT INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING

High school information, beyond your sophomore year, should not be included...even if you were valedictorian.
Employers do not need to know every institution you attended for transfer credit.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

You have a Bachelor of or a Master of...there is no "s" at the end. For example, I have a Bachelor of Communication and a Master of Education, not a Bachelor's of Communication or Master's of Education.

If you want to include applicable coursework, remember that the employer only wants to know those courses that are unique outside of your major. As a communication major, I would NOT need to list Intro to Communication. Duh. If however, you have pursued unique electives that make you unique from people in your major, it makes sense to list those if applicable to the job you are seeking.

CAREER HANDBOOK

For additional tips and examples, check out the Career Handbook at www.auburn.edu/career.

A Senior's Thoughts: Honesty & Integrity

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Mantooth) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:52:00 PDT

Our next topic should be rather obvious. It is entitled “Be honest, have integrity.” Sadly, many new employees overlook the importance of good morals in the workplace. Not only does your conduct represent yourself, your family, your university and your hometown, but you also now reflect your company. No company wants a cut-throat, sneaky employee, no matter how great of a sale representative, doctor, lawyer, teacher or nurse you may be.

If you are like me, you feel pretty good about your integrity. I’m not stealing money from my organization or committing tax fraud. I’m a good person. However, let’s think about the following:

Do you sneak off from work 10-15 minutes early? If being paid an hourly wage, leaving early means you are taking money that you actually did not work for. This is also referred to as stealing.
Do you take home office supplies for personal use? This is also called stealing. Your organization bought these supplies for office use. By taking them, you are forcing your organization to buy more supplies sooner than they should, thus they spend more money.
Did you say you were proficient in a skill or application that you really aren’t? We see this a lot. Many people say they are proficient in Adobe Creative Suite or all of Microsoft Office when really they only have working knowledge of them. If you say you can do something on your resume, you will be expected to perform at your job. Tell the truth on your resume!
Did you say you were fluent in another language, when really you can only hold an elementary conversation? This is another example of lying on your resume. In many instances employers will hold you accountable and begin speaking Spanish or French to you in the interview. If you know you wouldn’t be able to converse, then don’t say you are fluent.
Do you participate in workplace gossip? Talking about other employees or your boss in a negative way is an incredibly painful thing to do. You may think you’re not gossiping because you aren’t saying anything, but listening to others gossip makes you just as guilty. Gossiping can tarnish your reputation, cause co-workers to lose respect for you and seriously hurt the person you’re gossiping about. Even if you are frustrated, do not vent to your co-workers. Remember, if people gossip with you, then many times they will gossip about you! Stay out of any and all drama! In the words of Thumper the Rabbit, “If you can’t say nothing nice, then don’t say nothing at all.”

In conclusion, we are all held accountable to our actions and words. We’ve all heard the common saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” If you have ever been the one that is lied to or talked about, then you know this is completely false. Employers do not want to constantly wonder whether their employees are telling the truth, can actually complete the assignment or are talking badly about them. Take some stress off of your superior and be a dependable, honest, morally-sound employee. I guarantee it will pay off!

Paige Robinson '12
Career Center Intern

A Senior's Perspective: Going Beyond the Textbooks

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Mantooth) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 06:30:00 PDT

This week’s topic couldn’t exactly be done in a week. Going beyond the textbooks by finding quality experience is something that needs to be done continually throughout our college careers. However, I will take this time to reflect on some things I’ve done and ways you can too!

In order to find quality experience in your field, you must first know your field. If you don’t, please go to www.auburn.edu/career and click on the Career Assessments tab. Take an assessment or two, and then come see a career counselor to discuss your results. You may not leave your career counseling session with a major, but it gets you a step closer by knowing your strengths and weaknesses.

If you are the lucky college student who actually knows what you want to do with your life, then get on it! In the Career Rookie article “6 Tips for Success All College Seniors/ New Grads Should Know,” Heather Huhman, founder and president of Come Recommended, said, “A degree isn’t going to be your golden ticket to gainful employment, worthwhile experience is.”

Here are some things you can do:

1.    Join a major-related club or organization. Many majors at Auburn University offer specialized clubs for each major. For instance, COSAM has Alpha Epsilon Delta, Medical D and a Pre-Pharmacy Club. In my major, public relations, we have PRSSA, which is a precursor for PRSA, the club for public relations professionals. Any of these clubs show that you care about the latest trends in your field and that you care about furthering your knowledge and abilities in your field.

2.    Gain volunteer experience. Volunteering, no matter the cause or organization, is a valuable thing to do. It puts you in contact with a diverse group of people and forces you to work toward the same end goal. It also shows that you care about your community and the people in it. Even better, get involved in a volunteering organization like Project Uplift or IMPACT that allows you to volunteer weekly. Another great thing about volunteering is that is doesn’t usually require previous experience or involvement. Even if you have never done anything else, you can still volunteer!

3.    Obtain and internship in your field. It seems that these days obtaining a job without an internship is nearly impossible. Employers like to hire people who have actually put their book knowledge to use. Luckily, many Auburn University majors require an internship. If yours doesn’t, consider a summer internship or come to the Career Center for more information on our job shadowing program. This program puts you in contact with professionals in the Auburn/Opelika area that you can observe for a day.

4.    Leadership, leadership, leadership. What is better than being involved? Leading the involvement. Once you find your niche, take on more responsibility. Whether it is your volunteer organization, social sorority or fraternity or professional organization, gaining leadership experience is crucial. No, you don’t have to be president of everything. If you can be and want to be, go for it! However, you can also become team captain or the manager of a club project.

Paige Robinson '12
Career Center Intern

A Senior's Thoughts: e-personality

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Mantooth) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:17:00 PDT

Last week, I shared my attempt to reduce my spending. That is something I’ve been continually working on, although coming back to Auburn to an apartment with no food and new warm weather didn’t make it easy. This week, however, I’ll be focusing on monitoring my e-personality. Have you ever thought about this? We’ve all heard that you only get one first impression, but have you ever thought that your first impression could be on Facebook or Twitter? Think about it. If you tweet something that is retweeted, chances are someone you do not know now knows your name and associates your name with something you said using 140 characters or less.

I began the monitoring process by Googling my name: Paige Robinson. On the first page of websites, the only two things that showed up were my LinkedIn profile and the website I created for a class. While, I’d like to appear more upon that Google search, two isn’t bad. When I Googled: Paige Robinson Auburn, I got much more interesting results. Everything on the first page was me. It was videos I did for a class, articles and my resume. Various articles, websites and videos kept occurring even up to the third page. These were all good things because they market my skills: video production, editing, feature and news writing and social media.

Next I analyzed my social media accounts. I’ve done this before and regularly update them, but I still took the time to check them out. I had no profanity or bad pictures on my sites. I did have some high school yearbook invitations on my home page on Facebook, but I promptly deleted them.

The scary thing now is Facebook’s timeline. If you’re like me and didn’t start college off on the best foot, you have to go back to 2008 and clean everything up. This is one thing I did learn from this experience. Everything you post on a social media site is present. Luckily, you can delete photos from your site, but you have to take the time to really go through it. That is one thing I am doing now and plan to continue. It’s embarrassing to see what I posted as a high school senior, and I definitely don’t want a future employer to see that!

If you have never monitored your e-personality here are my recommendations:

Google yourself. Make needed changes based on those results.
Review your tweets. Do they have profanity? Do they allude to inappropriate topics? If so, delete them.
Look at your Facebook pictures. Do they have alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, drugs or profanity in them? If so, delete them.
Look at posts on your Facebook wall, groups you’re involved in and your recent activity. Are they alluding to crude subjects? If so, delete them.
Complete your LinkedIn profile. Why have a profile if it doesn’t adequately show your skills? Make sure each division is filled out to the fullest.

*Maybe you’re wondering what to do with pictures or posts regarding alcoholic beverages if you are 21 or older. My advice is just delete them. Better safe than sorry. What if your boss is extremely conservative? Is that something you would want him or her to see? Remember this could be your first impression; just take them down.

Paige Robinson '12
Career Center Intern

Handling Unexpected Phone Interviews

noreply@blogger.com (Meaghan Weir) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 06:00:00 PDT

Many recruiters use phone interviews as a way to screen applicants before inviting top candidates in for face-to-face interviews. Ideally, the phone interview will be scheduled in advance, allowing you time to prepare by finding a suitable environment, reviewing your resume and the job description and getting into the proper interview mindset. However, a recruiter may call with the intention of conducting an on-the-spot phone interview, giving you no or little time to prepare. Often they do this with the goal of assessing your ability to handle unexpected or impromptu situations. To maintain some control over your interview environment and your nerves, there are a few options you can consider: answering the call or allowing it to go to voicemail.

Option A: Answer the phone call

Situation 1: You are at home and answer the call

Following introductions, politely ask if the recruiter is willing to call you back in five to ten minutes to allow you time to find a quiet space in your house in which to conduct the interview. This also gives you a few minutes to review the job description (keep your applications handy) and company, collect your resume and situate yourself at a clear desk or table in a quiet place.

Situation 2: You are not at home and answer the call

Following introductions; express your excitement and interest in conducting a phone interview. Then politely explain to the recruiter that you are currently in a meeting, at a family commitment, driving down the road, or otherwise occupied at the moment and cannot immediately begin the interview. Give the recruiter several options (preferably later that day) that you will be available, letting them know you appreciate their flexibility. Make sure you write down the date and time of the interview.

Option B: Allow the phone call to go to voicemail

If you do not recognize the number of the caller, think it might be a recruiter and know that you are not prepared to conduct an interview at that moment, the most advantageous option for you is to let the call go to voicemail. Make sure your voicemail message is basic and professional and includes your name and number. Return the recruiter’s phone call as soon as possible, but be prepared in case they want to begin the interview immediately. Set up your quiet spot, notify roommates not to disturb you, review the job description and company information and have your resume out.

Unexpected phone interviews can be very stressful, but knowing you have some control over the situation can help you be more prepared, calm and confident. Just remember to always respect the recruiter’s time by calling back or re-scheduling the interview time promptly, be professional and polite and don’t take advantage of the situation.

Breaking Down the Resume: Objective vs Summary

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Mantooth) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:06:00 PST

I’ve been at this for over a decade…since 1998 to be specific. Needless to say, the look of resumes has changed during that time…there are technologies to add that didn’t exist before…virtually everyone agrees that bullets are more effective than large blocks of text…but over the past couple of years I’ve also observed the slow disappearance of the objective and the appearance of the summary.

Be it a “Summary of or Highlight of Qualifications,” this section seems to be gaining ground as we learn to communicate our message in a more and more succinct fashion. (Thank you Twitter for the 140 available characters.) And while the objective is indeed succinct it seems to leave something lacking in an incredibly competitive job market.

So, what’s the difference? What do they look like?

OBJECTIVE
Formulaically, an objective should state the purpose of the email and what skills/personal traits you offer to support that purpose. Here is an example:

To obtain a career counseling position in a dynamic office of forward thinking professionals where I can achieve personal and professional growth.

This statement only communicates what I want, not what I offer. They all think they're dynamic and forward thinking...ha! Your goal is to communicate what you offer, not what you want. Let me try again:

To obtain a career counseling position utilizing interpersonal, organization and creativity skills.

This at least communicates a specific position I am seeking and three skills (listed in the job description) that I possess and offer to the position, but I think I can do better...on to the summary.

SUMMARY
Formulaically, a summary should communicate your skills and personal traits that make you a specific fit for the job you are pursuing through three to five bullets. Here is an example:

Self-motivated professional with over 12 years of related experience
People person who enjoys talking to people one-on-one
Team player who contributes to goals of the office
Strong communicator (verbal and written) comfortable speaking to large groups

Ok…the good thing about this example is that the bullets are succinct. The bad thing is that almost every office professional who exists (if they are as old as I am) could claim these. You DO want to use key words listed in a job description and “self-motivated”, “people person” and “communicator” might show up, but you want to be more specific. So, what makes ME stand out?

Respected career counselor with over 12 years of experience and numerous active leadership roles at the university, state, regional and national level
Experienced supervisor consistently identifying and utilizing strengths and nurturing growth potential of direct reports
Diligent achiever, organizing career-related programs to support established learning outcomes with an attention to detail and positive attitude
Effective communicator whether building one-on-one relationships or presenting to groups of 5 to 400
Creative and self-motivated designer and writer skilled in developing publications, marketing pieces and social networking strategies to reach a broad and diverse audience

This set of bullets communicates specific outcomes and details that make me a unique candidate but still communicate the fit for the position.

So, what do you think? Regardless, you need to have something at the top of your resume that coaches the reader in what to look for on your resume. Tell them why they have this document in front of them. And yes, it may seem redundant to your cover letter, but you know what? Not everyone reads the cover letter!?! So, in order for your resume to be a stand-alone document, consider what will work best for you…an objective or a summary.

Now go forth…and update your resume!

A Senior's Thoughts: Spending

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Mantooth) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 13:34:00 PST

After reading this article on Career Rookie, I realized there are many things I need to either begin doing or learn how to do better for my future career and life. If you read the article, you see that the author gives six tips for college seniors or recent graduates. With that being said, I have decided I am going to focus on one of the tips each week. When I say focus, I don’t mean read it, think about it and blog about it. I mean that I am going to purposefully change things in my life to work at each tip.

The first tip is to cut expense fat, so this past week I have been very carefully watching my spending and my budget. This is rather difficult being an engaged girl (Wedding stuff is so expensive!) who loves to eat out. I focused mainly on dining out because my expenses (rent, utilities, etc.) are pretty set as are many college seniors’ right now and the largest percentage of my budget goes to groceries or dining out.

Let me warn you, dining in isn’t quite as easy as you would think especially if you enjoy eating out like I do. At one point this week, I almost caved. I was going to cook a Bertolli pasta meal that had been in my freezer for months. I sat it out to let it thaw, and then put it in the microwave. Without thinking twice, I glanced at how long it takes to microwave it and began to zap it for 10-12 minutes. The problem is that I didn’t fully read the directions. Had I, I would have seen that I should put the contents of the bag into a microwavable dish. Well, I’m talking to my roommate in her room and began to smell something unpleasant. I glanced in the kitchen, and there were flames in the microwave! I began screaming and opened the door to put out the fire. All things in me said, “Give up and go out to eat.” However, I held strong, and ate in using the supplies of my pantry: bread, peanut butter and jelly. That was at least $7 saved.

Another thing I realized this week is that outside of college, I won’t have a dining plan. Whenever I get low on cash (usually at the end of the month) I just eat on campus. While yes, this is real money that I spend on campus, it sometimes does not feel that way since you can only use it on campus. One thing I do recommend is using your tigercard to your advantage. This money is mandatory, so you might as well spend it. That $300 is $300 you don’t have to spend out of your checking account. Follow me: any money that isn’t spent out of your checking account now is money you have for later. I saved more money by foregoing lunch off-campus, and instead using my tigercard.

While I’m focusing on dining, there are some other things I thought of that can cut spending. One is using Netflix or Hulu instead of getting cable. Many of you don’t have this luxury right now because you have roommates and a cable bill already. When you move out and get new roommates, this is a viable alternative. You may not get to watch your favorite tv show at its true time, but who does nowadays? So many people pay for DVR or Tivo, that it’s very common to watch shows 2-3 days late.

Also, consider foregoing a gym membership. If you use it everyday, then I think you’re definitely not wasting money. But many of us pay for a membership, and then only go twice a week. That really adds up! If you pay $50 a month for a membership and only go twice a week, then you’re paying roughly $6.25 a visit. That is $12.50 a week that could go to other things like going to the movies! Exercising outside is refreshing anyways.

Now that I’ve become more aware of how much I spend, I really do want to be wiser in my purchases. I can do this, and you can too, by making meals at home. If you have roommates, choose a night each week for someone to cook. This is really nice because you don’t have to worry about dinner two nights out of the week, and you get leftovers for lunch! Additionally, use your tigercard. By not using it, you’re throwing away $300 that could have been used to get lunch. Also analyze your perceived needs for things like a gym membership or cable. Are they, in fact, needs? Join me in becoming wiser about spending habits, and then come back next week when after I’ve learned to monitor my e-personality!

Paige Robinson '12

Oh, the places your resume will go!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Mantooth) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:27:00 PST

I got an interesting email last week. It was from a recruiter from J.P. Turner out of Atlanta, Ga. Guess how he got my name, email and resume? Tiger Recruiting Link!

That’s right, there is a way that companies can come to YOU, not the other way around. In TRL, you can opt to have your resume and cover letters open to registered employers/recruiters. I obviously checked that box, and now I have been contacted.

Apparently, employers can look through internet based resume books, large books full of YOUR resumes, and then make their selections. This recruiter was looking for business, marketing and public relations (that’s me!) majors to meet the needs of an open position and internship program. This makes me extremely excited because I didn’t even have to fill out an application. In the email, he asked me to call him if I was interested in interviewing, and the rest is history.

What is holding you back from creating an account on Tiger Recruiting Link? This is a valuable resource that only requires a few clicks. If you don’t have an account yet, watch this video to learn how to create yours:

Paige Robinson '12
Career Center Intern

Phone Interviews: Land or Cell

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Mantooth) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:24:00 PST

The question was posed to me, "Should a student REALLY try to use a land line instead of a cell phone for an interview?"

My first instinct is yes. If you, like me, want to eliminate as many challenges to the job search process as possible, I recommend using a land line with a plugged-in-the-wall, attached-to-a-chord phone. (Yes, these still exist.) It eliminates the chance for a dropped call and increases clarity.

However, as I ponder this recommendation I fully recognize that most college students do not have immediate access to a land line and if they do have one, it is likely a cordless phone...and the clarity issue may be hampered there as well. And I recognize that if one can access a location with strong reception, the clarity on cell phones is pretty good these days. However...should a student wish to use a land line, the Auburn University Career Center can make a room and phone available to students. (Even if you want to use your own phone but just have loud roommates or a dog, you can typically use one of our interview rooms as well.) Please call 334.844.4744 to schedule an appointment.

Regardless of whether or not you think a land line connection is necessary to the job search, I DO recommend the following phone etiquette for college students as they prepare for the job search:

Make your message professional (no waiting music or inappropriate message to your BFFs). "Hello, this is Name. Sorry I missed your call. Please leave a message, and I will get back to you as soon as possible."
If you will not have access to your phone for some time (Spring Break), change your message: "I am out of the country and without cell service. Please leave a message, and I will be happy to return your call after xzy date." You don't want employers thinking you don't think they are important enough for a returned call...or email.
During the job search, don't pick up calls from unknown numbers when you are in places where talking would be difficult (restaurant, Tiger Transit, in route somewhere where you can't write notes, class!, etc.)...you can call back! If you DO pick up the phone and realize it's an employer and you are in a bad location, quickly apologize and ask if you can call them back at a designated time when you are in a more appropriate situation. Don't tell them, "Ugh...sorry...I'm in class. Can I like call you back later or something?" The answer will likely be, "Don't bother."
Find a location where reception is 100% available at an optimal level.
During a phone interview, turn off other alerts so you aren't interrupted by the ever present update "bing" of Facebook, Twitter, other calls, text messages, instant messages, etc.
During a phone interview, eliminate distractions (TV, radio, animal, etc.) and let roommates know that you are going to be interviewing so they can respect your need for a quiet environment.
Don't use your speaker phone.
Do smile during your interview.
Don't Facebook or Tweet about your interview experience...really.
Do immediately start writing your thank you note (email or snail mail) after the phone interview.

For more interview tips, check out this tip sheet.

Crash Course for the Job Search Finals (Part One of Three)

noreply@blogger.com (Meaghan Weir) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:15:00 PST

As the fall semester comes to an end, students are busy finalizing papers, completing projects and studying for final exams. For those graduating in a few short weeks, the added pressure of conducting a job search looms closely overhead. My congratulations goes out to those who started the search early and have already secured post-graduation employment or acceptance into graduate/professional school. However, it’s not too late for those still on the hunt. Take this crash course in conducting an effective search and you’ll be prepared to ace the job search finals.

1. Establish Your Career Objective

To find a career that fits well with you, it’s important to know what you want. Think about these three questions: (1) What is important to you in your life? (2) What are you most enthusiastic about? (3) What do you want from an employer or a career? To help answer these questions, make a list of interests, skills, achievements, experiences, goals and values. Remember, no job will be perfect, but knowing what you want from your career and life will help you weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each opportunity

2. Brand YOU

Personal branding has been a bit of a buzz word lately in career planning, and for good reason: it’s critical to marketing yourself. Think about how others perceive you and how you want to be perceived. Take steps to make sure the person you are in your personal and professional life matches with the image you want to portray to others. Communicate your brand clearly and with consistency throughout the job search process in your online presence, your appearance, and your personal interactions with others.

3. Motivate Yourself to Make a Plan

Let’s face it; job hunting is a job within itself. Sleeping in til 11:00 am on a weekday is not the best use of your time as a job hunter. Don’t sit around waiting for the perfect job to fall in your lap; instead, take an active role in your future. Make a daily schedule and set aside time to make phone calls, research companies, write resumes and cover letters, and prepare for and attend interviews. Establish deadlines for accomplishing tasks such as, “By Monday December 14 I will have used Tiger Recruiting Link and corporate websites to research and identify five companies I’m most interested in working for, taking notes on what interests me about each one.” Break the overall task of finding a job into smaller pieces. Taking one step at a time will prevent you from becoming overwhelmed.

4. Do Your Research

Education does not end at college graduation. Employers expect applicants and employees to stay abreast of trends and developments in their industry. Visit the websites of professional associations in your field to find articles and news or follow people at the top of the industry on social media applications like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Also, research the variety of careers available to someone with your educational background. Look for opportunities to align your education and experience with interests and values listed in Step 1. Investigating your options may uncover new leads on jobs you hadn’t previously considered. For example, a public administration major with an interest in health and wellness may explore career opportunities with healthcare facilities, nursing homes, or community agencies with a focus on public health.

Your Assignment: Tackle Steps 1-4 this week, take a quick breather and come back next week for Steps 5-7.

Priorities

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Mantooth) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:36:00 PST

Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed by the influx of school assignments, job requirements, involvement and social obligations and just plain life? Yea, me too.

This semester has been one of the most fun and exciting ones of my college career, but it has also had some of the most stressful and hard times. This is the last semester of really hard classes for me. I’m in all of my higher-level public relations courses, which require group project after group project and portfolio builders after portfolio builders. I’ve been in a group building a campaign for a local crisis hotline, and I’ve been building my own website from the ground up (no, I had never written HTML code before). I’ve also created a magazine, brochure and video tutorial, written several press releases, a job description and specification and performed a Jewish wedding (for my religion class). To say the least, scholastically this semester has challenged me in ways I did not know were possible.

I also, obviously, am the career center intern, which keeps me rather busy on Mondays and Wednesdays. And did I mention I’m engaged? This is definitely the most exciting part of my life right now, but makes it extremely difficult to concentrate on anything other than flowers, stationery and colors. I sit in class and literally wage war on my mind to remain concentrated on the material, because if I’m completely honest I’d much rather wedding plan than do homework. Also, now that I am officially committed to someone for the rest of my life, my job search becomes a bit more real. Before, if I didn’t get a job right out of college, then I could hope that my parents would pick up my slack. However, that isn’t the case anymore. On May 12, my last name is no longer Robinson, and my parents should not be picking up for me. (Note: Even if I was not engaged, I would not want them to. However, now the fallback plan is completely removed.)

How do I keep sane in this sea of schedules, assignments and meetings? I have set my priorities. By no means am I claiming to be the best at time management, but I have become really good at it. Below are my tips on effectively and efficiently managing your time.

1. Get an agenda, and write EVERYTHING down.
My date book gets me through the day. I write different errands I need to run in a bulleted list on the right, and all assignments due are on the left. This way I am prioritizing my mandatory things over my “can wait” things.

2. Have the ability to say no.
Earlier on in college, I never said no. If you asked me to lunch, to go on a walk, to send my notes, anything, I said yes. I had to learn that it is not rude to say no. It is rude, however, if you agree to go to lunch and cannot concentrate on any conversation because all you’re thinking about is what all you should be/need to be doing. I may or may not have been guilty of this in the past.

3. Be proactive.
Work on things ahead of time. I have this huge project due the last day of class, so I could let it slide, and then do it all in 7-8 days without sleeping. However, I’ve chosen to work on it a little along the way, and now I’m almost finished. There were some weeks I was too busy with other assignments and couldn’t devote a lot of time to it, but on those relaxed weeks I would spend a lot of time on it. This is paying off because instead of spending my entire Thanksgiving break doing this project, I now can use that time to choose invitations, stationery and my cake for the wedding.

4. Establish good working relationships with your professors and employers.
I truly love all of my professors! Maybe yours are really scary and mean, but mine definitely are not. I wouldn’t know that if I never spoke to them though. They can be your best friend or your worst enemy. One week, my mom came to Auburn to help me get some things planned for the wedding. The only day she and I could get together was a Tuesday, which conflicted with one of my classes. Because I had been talking to my professor throughout the semester AND been going to class consistently (MAJOR IMPORTANT), she told me not to worry about missing class and that she would fill me in on what I missed.

I promise you can do all the things you want to and still succeed in school and in your future career. Start prioritizing your activities, and you’ll see a huge change in your calendar and stress level.

Paige Robinson '12
Career Center Intern

One-Size-Fits-All? A Bad Resume Bargain

noreply@blogger.com (Meaghan Weir) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 06:00:00 PST

Properly fitting, tailored clothes look better on you and make a better first impression than a baggy one-size-fits-all t-shirt. You take time looking through racks of clothing and trying on different sizes to make sure the style and size fit your body type. The same should apply to your resume and cover letter. However, much too often, applicants send out the same generic “one-size-fits-all” cover letter and resume package that lacks proper fit to the job description and fails to fully flatter their best qualifications. Taking the extra time to make sure your marketing materials are tailored to each job description and company culture allows you to highlight the specific skills the employer desires and shows an attention to detail and added interest in the position. In short, it makes a better first impression.

Most job descriptions give you all the information you need to write a resume and cover letter targeted to the company's specific needs. If the description states “Ability to work independently with occasional assistance from supervisor or others in a collaborative manner,” then you will want to highlight experiences you’ve had working both independently and in team settings. If the position involves “managing strategic customer and supplier relationships,” you will include relationship building experience and showcase your interpersonal skills. Make sure the vocabulary in your resume and cover letter mimics that of the job description. HR departments and computer scanning systems often search for certain keywords that match their specifications.

To go one step further, tailor your resume and cover letter not only to fit the job description, but to fit the company’s individual values and mission. Visit the corporate website and read the “About Us” or “Careers” section to learn about the company’s goals and values. Highlight shared values and reasons why you want to work for that company. This is not permission to get too soft and mushy; remain professional, but show some personality and enthusiasm for the company. For example, GE describes their company as a “diverse set of businesses in which to work, and a development-focused culture in which to grow” in the “Why GE?” section of their webpage. If one of my reasons for wanting to work at GE is an interest is cross-disciplinary collaboration or I am personally focused on growth and development, I might highlight this match in my cover letter or included collaborative experiences in my resume.

Tailoring your resume and cover letter to fit each job does take more time than sending them out willy-nilly, but HR professionals can tell when you put in the extra effort. A representative from a government agency visited Auburn last spring and I asked him what made a resume stand out from the crowd. His response was that resumes that were tailored specifically to fit his job and his organization were the ones that made it into his “Yes” pile. He was interested in meeting with and interviewing students who went the extra mile to make sure that their resume fit the job description.

You wouldn’t show up to a job interview in a poorly fitting one-size-fits-all suit, so why would you send in a generic one-size-fits-all resume? Tailor your resumes and cover letters to help land the job you want.

Office Lessons

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Mantooth) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:25:00 PST

This post does not pertain to my job search or resume or cover letter writing, but I think it is still very important. Today’s post is on affirmation. No, I’m not going “love languages” on you. I’m merely pointing out the effectiveness and necessity of affirmation in the workplace.

One of my weaknesses is giving and receiving compliments. I feel fine without being complimented, so it never occurred to me that others may really need that verbal encouragement. I know it sounds like I’m giving a relationship lesson, but continue with me. Affirmation is very important in relationships, both working and non-working.

Last week I watched a webinar on the myths of careers. It included many great lessons, but one of them was on the myth of modesty of your achievements. The speaker said it is important to express your successes, not hide them. She said that when you or a team you’re on have finished a project successfully, a great way to recognize the success is send an email highlighting the project and the people who worked on it. Do you see how this is beneficial for you?

When you send that email out saying thank you to everyone for making this project so successful, not only is your name tied to the success (bonus points with your boss?), but you are affirming your co-workers. Happy co-workers are always a good thing. Who doesn’t like being told thank you or that they did a great job? I am confident that if you are consistently affirming your co-workers, then they’ll begin affirming you and working harder for you.

One example of this happened to me Friday. One of my tasks as an intern at the Career Center is to plan two orientation breakfasts a semester. I invite another office on Auburn University’s campus to come to the Career Center for breakfast and a discussion of our services. The main goal is education of our services and an improved relationship between the two offices.

This Friday was our first breakfast, and everything went really well. There were zero crises. After it was finished, most, if not all, of the career counselors told me how wonderful I had done. Some of them even told me twice! As I said earlier, I’ve never been the person who craves compliments or pats on the back, but I must admit it felt nice. An email was even sent out thanking everyone for his or her work, and it highlighted me specifically! The rest of the day I was so happy, and even did work on my way to North Carolina for a family trip. If it motivated me, the “I don’t need compliments” girl, to go above and beyond, then what could that do for others?

The lesson here is one I am learning, and I want to impart to you. Encourage co-workers. Not only can it make their day, but it also can help you out when you’re in a pinch!

Paige Robinson '12
Career Center Intern

Branchout vs. LinkedIn

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Mantooth) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 06:00:00 PDT

I feel that most people know what LinkedIn is, but for those of you who do not know, this is what it is. LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network and allows you to connect with contacts to exchange knowledge, ideas and opportunities regarding your profession.

Most people probably do not know about BranchOut. It is a Facebook application that helps you expand your professional network into your Facebook friends.

Today, what I want to do is compare the two options giving you the pro’s and con’s of both.

LinkedIn
One great thing out LinkedIn is that it’s already established. This isn’t a new idea; people have been using it for years and having success. Your contacts can refer you to their contacts for jobs or knowledge-seeking opportunities. I’ve read numerous stories on how people found jobs through their contacts on LinkedIn.

Maisha Walker on inc.com said, “One of the simplest ways of using LinkedIn is just as a ’modern Rolodex’ a list of the people you want to communicate with on a regular basis so that they remember you're out there, what you have to offer, and why they like you. The only tools you need for this is your LinkedIn profile, sending LinkedIn invitations to people you know and an hour per day to make phone calls.”

As Walker said, using LinkedIn is fairly simple. One of the other things I love about LinkedIn is that you can upload your resume, and it will put your information in your profile by itself. Of course, you should proofread it all to make sure it is in the appropriate place, but my resume loaded without an issue.

I really like that LinkedIn’s reputation is unblemished, and everyone on it are there for the same reason: to build their professional careers. Yes, some people may be job searching, while others are building their personal brand or advertising their company, but it is all career-oriented.

Branchout
As stated earlier, BranchOut is a Facebook application, so finding friends is very easy. As long as you already have an account, which most people’s grandmothers even have accounts, then it shouldn’t be a problem. This is the main gimmick for BranchOut-simplicity. Their argument is, “Why have another profile when you can just add to the one you already have?” I understand this logic, but I have a few concerns.

First, the majority of Facebook users created their account for the social aspect, keeping up with family and friends. If users begin adding BranchOut to their profiles, then Facebook may not be purely social anymore. My other concern stems from one of my previous posts. Most college students and even some adults do not have the most professional Facebook profiles. I would think twice before mixing my social life with my professional life. If your photos, quotes, wall posts etc. are completely clean, then this isn’t a worry for you. However, many people should take this under serious consideration.

However, according to BranchOut's privacy policy, you should be able to avoid the "mixing" problem: BranchOut only shows your name, profile picture, work history, and education and other professional information you choose to share on BranchOut. Our use of limited information keeps your private life on Facebook and your professional profile on BranchOut. This means that your status updates, photo albums, and other personal information are not visible on BranchOut to your contacts, including employers, recruiters and your professional contacts. For this reason, BranchOut is also the perfect place to connect with professional contacts when you do not want to friend them on Facebook.

In summary, my recommendation is to join LinkedIn. With it being branded as a professional networking site, you never have to worry about mixing your social and professional life or annoying people with requests to join. Although, it will require a little more work (adding contacts and updating your resume), I find no problem in a little work. This is already making networking easier than it should be, so who cares if I have to search for contacts and proofread my profile?!

If you would like to learn how to network effectively, check out the resources available through the Career Center.

Paige Robinson '12
Career Center Intern