So You Think You Can Interview?

Take this quiz to see how you SCORE in the reality competition of interview preparedness:

1. When preparing for an interview, which of the following should you AVOID?
A. Prepare extra copies of your resume
B. Dress in a coordinated business suit
C. Research the company
D. Contact the employer to inquire about salary, benefits, and whether you will have an office with a window

2. All of the following are true about your resume EXCEPT:
A. In general, a resume should be 1 page only for an entry-level position
B. A resume should include your Facebook relationship status, interests, astrological sign, and all the pages you like
C. A resume is your opportunity to sell yourself
D. Formatting should be consistent throughout your resume

3. Which of the following is the MOST important thing you should ensure is accomplished in your cover letter:
A. Introduce yourself and your skills
B. Provide a proper greeting and salutation
C. Review the job description and outline the skills requested that you possess
D. Format appropriately
E. Explain what days you are not available to work due to animal care needs
F. A – D
G. All of the above

4. Which of the following is NOT true of a good interview:
A. Interview candidate had a firm handshake and good eye contact
B. Interview candidate answered questions directly and concisely
C. Interview candidate walked into the CEO’s office and said “I’m just checking out my future digs”
D. Interview candidate was able to provide examples of their experience

5. Which of the following tools IS NOT a good tool for researching the company?
A. LinkedIn/Facebook/Other Social Networking tools
B. Internet/Company’s Website
C. Informational Interview
D. Word of Mouth
E. USF Career Center Resource Room & Internet Resources
F. Posing as a UPS professional in order to meet with the hiring manager

Answers:
1. D
2. B
3. F
4. C
5. F

Was your SCORE not what you expected? Consider making an appointment with a Career Counselor to go over your interviewing skills or discuss your overall job search strategy. Call 813-974-2171 to make an appointment today.

Happy Job Searching!

Read Full Post »

Shannon Love Talks Business Cards

Greetings Blog Readers! 

In the Spring, we held a competition for a Guest Blogger spot on our blog.  The quality of the entries we received was excellent!  Below is one of the many excellent entries we received:

Have you ever been out, had a person flirt with you, and then discover that you don’t have a pen or paper to write down your name and number? How about a potential employer? Writing your number on a napkin with the waitress’s pen is one thing for a date, but humiliating when looking for a job.

One of the most important lessons I got drilled into me my first year in college was to always have business cards with me. Unfortunately, it wasn’t just by someone telling me the importance of business cards- it was by missed opportunities.

           I was in a service group, related to Kiwanis International, and met a very well known attorney (who happened to be a Kiwanis member!). He mentioned he was looking for a new legal assistant and asked if I would be interested. Of course, I said yes. However, I was also excited when he asked for my name and e-mail- until I realized I was completely unprepared. Not only did I not have paper, but I also didn’t have a pen! Asking for a pen, and writing my contact information down on a napkin was an embarrassing situation. I never got a call or e-mail from him, and looking back, I completely understand why.

           Too often, college students approach college as a chance to simply have fun. And sometimes, we also add the chance to get an education. One of the biggest things that college students miss, however: the opportunity to network with individuals! After this, I immediately printed up business cards. The cards themselves aren’t expensive- you can purchase a kit from Wal-mart for less than ten dollars or go to a site such as Vistaprint.com and get them made very cheaply. Not only are the cards the perfect professional touch, but it also provides an easy way for me to assure I have everything a potential employer needs to contact me should they ever wish to do so. Then, should I ever meet someone- at school, a job fair, a student conference- my contact information is always ready.

Here are a few tips to consider when creating a business card for the first time:

• Keep it professional. When you were 13, the e-mail Kitten497@aol.com was cute. Now, however, something along those lines is not recommended for your job hunt. Consider going to Gmail and getting a simple e-mail, or using your school e-mail address.
• Emphasize your knowledge of technology. Let it be a well-known rule- NEVER put your Facebook on your business cards. Facebook is for your friends and select business contacts to catch up, not for the potential business employed. Instead, consider creating a basic Linked In account (www.linkedin.com). It’s free; more professional based, and can include things such as groups (I highly recommend the USF Alumni group), past employer positions, skills, and contact information.
• Make it interesting. Too many college students assume that anything business related has to be dull, but you can find ways to incorporate fun. Add a witty quote that’s related to your style. For example, I love a quote from Aristotle- “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.” Add your own- and look at it whenever you feel the need for a motivation!

Thanks for reading!

Shannon Love

Read Full Post »

A USF Student’s Guide to a Professional FWS Job Search

Great!  You were awarded the opportunity to seek an FWS job because you filled out your FAFSA by March 1^st, ensured your financial aid file was completed in a timely manner, and met all of the other requirements in order to qualify.  Now it’s time to start your FWS Job Search.

Where do you start?  If you haven’t done so already, you should come to the Career Center with a print-out of your “Award Overview” screen from OASIS showing you have accepted your FWS award.  When you get to the Career Center, the front desk representative will have you complete a Resume Release Form.  This will get your account started.  However, in order to view FWS jobs, you will also need to upload a resume.

Never created a resume before?  No problem!  The Career Center has a number of online resume resources and an FWS Advisor and an FWS Graduate Assistant that can help.  You can call 813-974-2171 to schedule an appointment.

The FWS program is designed to give you the experience of searching for a job.  It mimics the real world experience and the real world labor market.  As such, just like the rest of the job market right now, the FWS job market is rather competitive.  This is because there are more students looking for jobs than there are jobs.  This means you will need to put your very best foot forward!  But, don’t despair!  This only means that after participating in this experience, you will have a head-start on job search skills which will help you be successful well into your future!

Here are a few tips to keep your FWS job search professional and competitive:

1. When you complete the Resume Release Form and your resume, use your USF email address.  When job searching, it is important to always use an email address that is associated with your name.  This helps brand your name with your qualifications.  It is also especially important not to have an inappropriate email address such as:  “sexywoman4U@hotmail.com” , “myeternallove@yahoo.com” , “likesBIGtrucks@tampabay.rr.com” , etc. 
2. Review your outgoing voicemail message and in-call ring tones to ensure they are appropriate before giving out your phone number to potential employers.  For example, if your in-call ring tone plays “Rude Boy” by Rihanna, you may want to consider cancelling that feature while you are job searching!  If you answer your voicemail with a joke or casual message intended to get a laugh from your friends, you may want to consider changing it while engaged in the job search process.   
3. When searching for jobs in Career Connections, you should:
   • Apply to the most recent job postings first.
   • Follow the application instructions closely.
   • Be sure to include a well-written “Message to Employer” if the application instructions ask you to “Submit Resume” through Career Connections.
   • Make sure your spelling and grammar are accurate in all communications. 
   • Avoid using text speech (such as using “U” vs. “You”) when communicating with an employer about a job.
   • Follow-up with the contact listed in Career Connections within a week of applying for the job.
   • Dress as nicely as possible when you go to your interview.  Avoid t-shirts or shirts with writing on them, flip-flops, shorts, low-cut tops, or anything that looks too casual.  Try a polo or solid color shirt, slacks (khakis are always a good and relatively inexpensive choice), and nice, closed-toed shoes or dress shoes.  If you’d like more advice on ways you can dress nicely without having to go purchase something, you may want to consider scheduling an appointment with the FWS Advisor or her Graduate Assistant.
   • Be early to any interviews or appointments.  Be sure to factor in things that can come up in transit to the interview so that you don’t have to find yourself in that uncomfortable experience of explaining why you are late.  Being late will also likely cost you the job.
   • Bring extra copies of your resume, a copy of your FWS “Award Overview” screen from OASIS, a copy of your class schedule, and a list of references to your interview.
   • Follow-up after every interview with a personalized thank you letter.  Be sure to use your best handwriting (if handwritten) and proper spelling and grammar.
   • If you come to the FWS Job Fair on Thursday, September 2nd from 11am – 2pm in the MSC Ballroom, be sure to bring a copy of your FWS “Award Overview” (for admittance) and follow the same tips as if you were coming to an inteview (dress, copies of resume/references/class schedule, follow-up, etc.)

Overall, just remember that the FWS job search requires you to put your best foot forward and is, for many of you, your very first employment experience.  On campus hiring departments are looking for student workers who present themselves professionally, who show up on time, who are dependable, and who can do the jobs that they need done.  Your goal is to show them that you are the person they need for their job and that you will be dependable during the entire course of the employment experience with them. 

Our advice is to treat every job like your dream job.  Why?  Because every job gives you the opportunity to learn valuable skills that you can take with you for the rest of your career and every job provides numerous contacts to build your employment network.  This will be key when it comes time to apply for graduate or professional school and/or conduct your full-time job search!

Best of luck and Go Bulls!

Read Full Post »

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? WHAT ABOUT NOW?

Most of us recognize the title of this blog as a famous cell phone commercial and most of us have also had the experience of being in the middle of an important conversation on the phone and have lost reception.  Although frustrating, if it’s a conversation with a friend or family member, they will usually understand.  However, what if it’s an employer on the other end who was in the middle of asking you interview questions related to a wonderful job opportunity and you get disconnected.  Then you risk the possibility of an annoying game of phone tag or worse yet not being able to call the employer back due to the call being made from a restricted number. If you are job searching and haven’t given this concept much thought, I encourage you to start thinking about it. Phone interviews are becoming more and more popular as a way to narrow down candidates to be considered for a face to face interview.  It is also an easy and convenient way for an employer and candidate to connect without the unnecessary expenses of travel and lodging.

One of the most important factors to keep in mind during a phone interview is that it is a professional interaction and although the interviewer cannot see you or what you are doing it is still imperative that you ‘act as if’ the interviewer can.  This means that painting your nails in your PJ’s or doing bicep curls in your gym shorts during your phone interview may cause you to treat the conversation more casually and this is not recommended.  If you know there will be a phone interview involved in the hiring process then do your best to schedule it in advance so you can prepare.

A major challenge to consider with a phone interview is the fact that so much of our communication is non-verbal and cannot be observed during a phone interview.  In one study by UCLA it was determined that 93% of communication effectiveness is determined by non-verbal cues. For example, during a face to face interview an interviewer can be impressed with your eye contact, smile and handshake which can convey positive characteristics.  This means that it is even more important to portray in your verbal communication what cannot be observed in person.

Here are some tips to make the most of your phone interview:

• If possible use a land line or find a location where the cell phone signal is strong (4 bars) in order to prevent poor reception or dropped calls.
• Turn call waiting off so you won’t risk the possibility of being interrupted and losing your train of thought.
• Secure a quiet place for the phone interview. Remove anything distracting (ie. kids, pets, music)
• Have your resume as well as any notes you may have on your strengths, achievements and the company in front of you to refer to when necessary.
• Have a notepad and pen available to take any notes.
• Dress in professional attire to help you transition from a casual atmosphere and attitude to one of professionalism.
• Use your tone of voice to convey enthusiasm
• Smile while on the phone
• Do not interrupt the interviewer
• Avoid negative words (i.e. cant, wont, haven’t)
• Reflect your interviewer’s style (if your interviewer uses industry terminology so should you)

If you are caught off guard by an employer’s call for a phone interview and you are in the middle of something then politely try to request another time to conduct the interview.  If this is not an option then follow the above steps as closely as possible.  Find a quite place, even if that means leaving your friends in a restaurant to jump in your car.  Remember, if you are job searching you should constantly be practicing how you would answer popular interview questions over and over in your head so you can respond on the spot if necessary.

So in your job search be prepared for this growing trend of phone interviews, who knows maybe text interviews will be next!

Daneen Whatley, MS
Career Counselor
University of South Florida

Read Full Post »

Hiring Managers Want Candidates Who Fit Just Right, Not Those Who Are One Size Fits All

As the economy has slumped, so has the typical job seeker’s expectation of finding a job just right for them.  It is all too common to hear today’s job seeker state: “I am not picky, I’ll take anything.”  I just need a job.”  Most people are aware that they shouldn’t say this in an interview with a potential employer, thank goodness!  However, they fail to see the importance of squashing this attitude altogether.

Your attitude and interests play a huge role in your job search, sometimes without you even realizing it.  Subtle cues can be detected by others in your written and verbal word choices, energy level, facial expressions, etc.  Therefore, it’s important for you to do some soul-searching before beginning your job search.  This is important even if your goal is landing a part-time job to help cover your college and living expenses.  Here is a great article about how it’s okay to have different job search goals, but important to remain focused in how you represent yourself. 

Employers want to hire someone who knows what they want, has a great attitude, is a fast learner, and seems like they will be able to perform the functions of the job.  Therefore, those who capture this kind of presence will have the greatest likelihood of being hired.  Let that person by YOU!

If you’ve never had a job before, aren’t sure what you would be good at doing, are afraid to close yourself off to any opportunities, or are just plain having a hard time with your job search, it might be a good time to seek some assistance from the USF Career Center.

We have Career Counselors that are available to assist you by conducting personality, interest, and value assessments and provide you with job search coaching.  The job search process and your success are up to you, but a Career Counselor can help you get on the right path!  So, if you think you’re too busy to schedule an appointment, think again about the money you could be earning if you could just find a part-time job!  Then, call 813-974-2171, to schedule that appointment.

Best of luck in your search and thanks for reading!

Read Full Post »