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Career Guide College Students Career Guide for College Students JMT Internship

Career Guide College Students Career Guide for College Students JMT Internship Program JMT Internship Program Table of Contents Mastering a Career Fair__________________________ 1 Cover Letter Guidelines__________________________ 6 Resume Writing________________________________ 10 Sample Interview Questions_______________________ 16 Assessing a Job Offer____________________________ 19 Engineering Careers ____________________________ 21 Mastering a Career Fair JMT 1 Why Attend a Career Fair? • Networking: Meet new people—recruiters, other job-seekers, career professionals—to add to your network of contacts • Internships/Jobs: For college students, this goal is the most common for attending a career fair – to establish contacts to obtain an internship for an upcoming semester or summer, or a full-time position upon graduation. • Gain Experience: Even if you are not actively seeking an opportunity, there is nothing like gaining valuable experience in mastering the art of working job fairs – especially if you are typically shy. More experience will increase your confidence! Preparing for Career Fair – Checklist • Identify and research prospective employers  Identify key employers that match your industry/culture/location and other defined preferences  Learn key facts about each of them so that you can showcase your knowledge to the recruiters  Research companies using the organization’s website, news organizations, and internet searches. Become familiar with their:  Organizational Structure  Key Products/Services  Organizational Culture and Values  Types of Intern/Job Opportunities Available  Be prepared to articulate your knowledge about the company in addition to why you’re interested in them • Prepare your resume • Rehearse elevator speech • Practice typical interview question responses • Develop list of questions to ask recruiters • Decide on proper career fair attire • Get organized the night before Mastering a Career Fair 2 JMT Mapping Out a Career Fair Strategy • One of the reasons for obtaining the list of organizations that will be attending the career/job fair is so that you can prepare a strategy • Map your route of organizations you plan to visit, in priority order…But-  Consider a visit to perhaps a less appealing employer first….practice & polish your skills before it really counts! • Time permitting – consider returning to the booth to thank recruiters again as you make your way out of the fair Know Why You’re at the Career Fair • Have an answer to the question a recruiter may ask you, “Why are you here? or What are you looking for?” • Practice the above question(s) – more than once! • Sharpen & clarify your response  There is no one RIGHT answer. But there is an answer that is RIGHT for you.  Put a positive & goal-directed spin on that answer Example: I’m a first–year engineering student taking advantage of the career fair to learn about the diverse and broad opportunities available. Preparing Your Resume • Make sure your resume is polished and error-free • Have several copies on-hand and readily available (ideally, placed in a portfolio or sturdy folder) • Bring a resume – even if you’re a first-year student gathering information & exploring possibilities Mastering a Career Fair 3 JMT Rehearse Your Elevator Speech & Responses to Common Questions • You’ll have a very limited amount of time to make an impression on each recruiter so the key is to develop and rehearse your elevator speech. • As the name implies, an elevator speech is a relatively short – typically 30 seconds to a minute (though sometimes as long as a few minutes) – commercial that job-seekers use in a variety of situations (career fairs, networking events, job interviews, info interviews) that succinctly tells the person you are giving it to both about yourself and your objective(s). • It’s a wise idea to prepare and practice responses to typical interview–type questions. You don’t want to memorize your responses, but you also don’t want to seem as though you have never heard the question before. • Your elevator speech is a great response to use when the interview asks one of the most common questions of all: “Tell me about yourself.” • Practice enough to be articulate and natural. Take breaths, and observe the interviewer – be sure to give them opportunities to comment and share as well. Ask Questions! • Just as with any interview situation, you should always prepare a few questions to ask the recruiters you meet at career fairs. You won’t always be able to ask them, but asking questions demonstrates your interest, so it is always a good decision to have a few thoughtful questions to ask. (And you never want to be in a position where you are asked if you have any questions and you decline.) • Avoid asking really obvious questions or questions you could easily answer from visiting the organization’s website. Sample Questions • Can you describe a typical day for someone in an entry-level or internship position? • Why did you choose this career? • What do you think is the greatest opportunity facing your company? • What are the greatest challenges facing your company? • What are the traits and skills of people who are the most successful within the organization? • What are the steps involved in your company’s hiring process? What are the timelines? Mastering a Career Fair 4 JMT Dressing Yourself for the Fair • Students should dress appropriately for all interviews, including career fairs. • What is “Dressing for Success?”  Find out in advance about the expected attire  It always means being very well groomed (pay attention to hair, fingernails, teeth, breath, make sure your clothes are stain and wrinkle-free, and that your shoes are clean & polished)  Error on the side of being conservative in your wardrobe (casual business attire is not happy hour attire)  Keep jewelry to a minimum and wear little or no cologne/perfume  Have a tissue on hand to dry sweaty palms and/or foreheads The Night Before the Career Fair • Gather everything you will need for the career fair:  Resumes  Portfolio (or a folder to hold everything)  Pens  Notepad  List of pre-typed questions and/or company background info for quick reminders  Breath mints, NOT GUM! • Don’t forget to plan your attire – and then make sure you get a good night’s sleep Success at the Career Fair • Make a great first impression:  Smile (even if you’re nervous)  Use a firm handshake (practice!)  Pay careful attention to eye contact and body language  Maintain a positive & enthusiastic demeanor  Use a natural but forceful tone of voice (especially if you are soft spoken)  Turn off your cell phone! Mastering a Career Fair 5 JMT • Approach recruiters with confidence & initiative (don’t wait for them to wave you over or make the first move) Wait patiently if a recruiter is occupied, or return in a few minutes • Obtain contact information and inquire about the next steps in the hiring process • Be sure to collect business cards or other contact information • Jot down notes after you walk away from the recruiter (they’ll be very helpful for writing follow-up thank you or cover letters) • Try to arrive as early as possible (recruiters are more refreshed and enthusiastic) • Keep your hands free for shaking • Navigate the Career Fair solo (this is not the forum for a social group) • Exhibit impeccable manners!  Don’t overstay your welcome – especially if there are students waiting at the booth  Always Always Always – Thank the recruiters for their time! After the Career Fair • Send a thank-you letter - typed, email or handwritten (if exceptionally neat). Thank them again for their generous time, enclose another resume and remind them of your strengths, skill-set, and interests. • Keep in mind – recruiters may be contacting you on your cell phone. Ensure you’re prepared for the call before you pick-up. Also, be mindful of content and tone of your voicemail message! Reminders – What Impresses Recruiters • Confidence (through verbal communication, body language and facial expressions) • Positive energy • Genuine interest and curiosity • Well-groomed appearance • Evidence of preparation in advance of the fair • Manners Cover Letter Guidelines 6 JMT 1. The ideal cover letter is about half a page long, and never exceeds one page. A concise letter demonstrates that you are focused and have strong communication skills. Aim for two to four brief paragraphs. Keep It Short 2. The recruiter who reads your letter may be hiring for several posts. While candidates who e-mail their resumes often include the job titles in the subject line of their e-mails, if the recruiter prints a letter out before reading it, such information is lost. Clearly state the job title in the first paragraph of the letter, preferably in the first sentence. State The Position 3. Candidates should always answer the question, “Why do I want to do this work?” Ask yourself how the position fits into your overall career plans and what you find exciting uploads/Ingenierie_Lourd/ final-career-guide.pdf