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!

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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!

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Mind the Gap

No, you have not just stepped on or off the tube in the London Underground!  No, this is not an advertisement for clothing, either! 

The gap I am referring to is that sometimes unavoidable, yet ever-so-obvious gap in your employment history on your resume.  Not to fear!  Yes, a gap in your employment history can be seen as a dreaded obstacle to overcome when preparing and conducting your job search.  But, with the unemployment rate hovering around 10%, having a recent gap in employment history is really not too surprising.

If the gap isn’t recent, there’s still no need to fear!  No matter the reason for your gap in employment, there are some definite things you can do to ensure this fact is conveyed in the best possible manner.  In some cases, a gap in employment history can be something you want to highlight on your resume.  For instance, a recent employer shared with me her admiration for women who take time off to care for their children, yet manage to stay active in professional organizations and volunteer work.  So, as you can see, that dreaded gap may not be as limiting as you thought!

Searching Google using “resume gap” as your search terms, you will find a number of resources discussing this topic.  Four themes emerge from these resources:

1. Don’t lie:  Almost all existing advice on the topic stresses this point.  If you have a gap, don’t try to avoid it or hide it.  Your resume is your sales advertisement, so use it as such.  If you are trying to sell a gas- guzzling vehicle to a customer clearly concerned about “Going Green”, you would not want to lie about the average miles per gallon.  After all, they are going to figure that out anyhow.  Instead, you would make sure the sticker is visible and you would answer the MPG question honestly should it be asked.  However, you would spend most of your time discussing the features of the car that would be most attractive to the buyer and, if possible, find a reason why this car is the only one that can meet the customer’s unique needs despite its high MPG.  Ideally, you could also find a feature about the car which appeals to the customer’s environmental consciousness.  The same concept applies to resume writing.  Sell your unique value to the employer and minimize any deficiencies by showcasing how you can overcome them.
2. Be brief and show growth:  If the gap is due to a termination or layoff, and it was recent, you’ll want to spend some time deciding how best to address this.  There are a number of articles with conflicting advice on this topic and you’ll need to determine which advice is best for your particular situation.  Most all advice, however, suggests that you keep busy during the period of unemployment.  If possible, stay active in professional organizations, business networks, and volunteerism.  This way, you will have professional experiences to fill your resume gap.  If the termination was several years ago, consider leaving it off your resume unless it is directly related to the position’s qualifications.  Remember, this is your sales document.  If the gap was for traveling, going back to school, earning professional licensure or certification, caring for a child or aging parent, retirement, etc., use your cover letter to explain the gap in a brief, succinct manner.
3. Chronological resumes are preferred:  Most advice indicates chronological resumes are preferred by employers over functional resumes.  This is because chronological resumes are easier to understand and interpret qualifications.  Hiring managers are required by law to ensure you meet the advertised qualifications for the position.  If they have to guess how many years of experience you have, your resume might get looked over and sent to the “does not meet qualifications” pile right away.  Also, some hiring managers may be concerned that you used a functional resume specifically to hide periods of unemployment or inexperience.  A combination of the two styles may also work for you.  Just be sure to research all the pros and cons and make the decision that is right for you.
4. Stay active and connected:  Even if you are currently employed, your personal brand and professional activity will keep you connected to job possibilities throughout your career.  Staying connected keeps you in tune with industry trends, possible position openings, and key decision-makers.  If you are unemployed or predict this to be the case in the near future, you can shift your energy toward networking now by joining a professional organization, getting in touch with past colleagues, and increasing your involvement in projects, organizations, and networks.  Stay abreast of current literature in your industry and keep magazine and other media subscriptions active. 

A gap can be a metaphor for a necessary pause in order for progress or change to occur.  As with many things in life, your attitude and perspective on the gap will impact the manner in which you convey it to others.  Minding your own gap in a positive light will increase your job search success!

Thanks for reading!

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Tailor Made

Resumes are a must when applying for full time professional work or internships. Chances are you are going to be applying for multiple positions, so it follows that you should have multiple versions of your resume. Unfortunately many people have one generic resume that is used regardless of what position is being applied for.

It’s time to break out of this resume rut! Of course all job seekers should develop a generic resume that encompasses your education, past and current experience, and any special skills or qualifications that you may possess. Use this generic version of your resume as a template to be tailored for the position you are applying for. The elements of your resume that may remain static are your contact information and your degree/education information. The other aspects of your resume should be tweaked based upon the specific position that you are applying for.

The objective is the first piece of information a recruiter notices on your resume after they scan your contact information. Since the objective can set the tone of your resume, you should make sure that it persuades and entices the recruiter to take the time to read the rest of your resume instead of just tossing it to the side. One of the most common mistakes a candidate can make is including a generic objective statement, or worse, neglecting to change an objective that was tailored toward a different position. Recruiters can spot this oversight from a mile away and most likely will not even read the rest of your resume. Make sure that you adjust your objective each time; so that it reflects the company and/or position that you are applying for.

Generic Objective:

“To obtain a position utilizing skills gained through education and experience”

Tailor Made Objective:

“To obtain an Event Planner position utilizing highly developed organization, communication, project management, marketing and negotiation skills gained through education and related career experience”

Now that you have an awesome objective, you can focus on the experience section of your resume. Your generic resume already includes all of your past and current experience, be it class projects, club participation, volunteer work, internships, or jobs. The trick is to determine which experience you should include on each tailor made resume. Always begin with your most recent and applicable experience and then proceed in reverse chronological order. If you have had relatively minimal experience then it would be appropriate to include all of your past positions. However, if you have extensive experience it is not imperative to include every job you have ever had. For example, if you have had two jobs and an internship since graduating college, it is probably not necessary to include your high school job on your resume unless it directly relates to the job you are seeking.

Once you have determined which experience you are going to include on your tailored resume, it is now time to decide how to describe your duties. In order to make this decision you should research the company and carefully study the job description. It is vital to ensure that the duties portrayed on your resume reflect the job functions that are outlined in the position description. This proves to the employer that you possess the skills necessary to succeed and excel in the position for which you are applying. Even if all or some of your past experience does not directly relate to the position you are currently seeking, you should still strive to illustrate a correlation between the two. For example, if you are applying for your first accounting internship but have only had experience working as a Cashier at Burger King, you should include your Burger King experience, but manipulate your job duties to reflect some of what your accounting position will entail:

Generic Experience:

Cashier, November 2007 – December 2009
Burger King, Tampa, FL
• Took orders from customers and gave them their food
• Received customer payments and put them into the computer
• Cashed out my drawer at the end of the night
• Assisted with cleaning the restaurant

Tailor Made Experience:

Cashier, November 2007 – December 2009
Burger King, Tampa, FL
• Handled cash and credit transactions on a daily basis
• Reconciled sales at the end each shift
• Developed relationships with customers to ensure superior service and quality
• Assisted with sanitation duties to guarantee that the restaurant met all standards

Finally, follow the same guidelines when you are determining which special skills to include on your tailor made resume. As with experience, include skills that demonstrate to the recruiter proficiencies that will help you to perform the job at hand.

Having a tailored resume will greatly enhance your chances of landing an interview. In this economy, which has an abundance of job seekers it is so important to stand out and be memorable. Remember, your resume is your first and sometimes only chance to prove to the recruiter that you are qualified and capable of performing the job. The most effective way to demonstrate this competency is to make sure that your resume is tailored in such a way that all of your past experience is applicable to the position you are applying for.

If you would like a resume critique, we encourage you to call the Career Center (813) 974-2171 and make an appointment with a Career Counselor.

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