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The Career Center hosts a number of events and presentations each semester, and also participates in events sponsored by other departments in Student Aff airs. Be sure to check the Comet Calendar for seminars presented throughout the semester, including Freshman Seminars (located in the new Residence Hall at University Village) and Senior Seminars - Roadmap to the Real World and Success in the Real World.

Career PathwaysCareer PathwaysThe University of Texas at Dallas

A HOP, SKIP AND A JUMP RIGHT INTO THE TRASH CAN?

Spring 2010Volume 9, Issue 2 A Publication of the Career Center at The University of Texas at Dallas

SPRING PROGRAMMING

Everywhere you look, headlines state that job searching is tough and extremely competitive. Employers have been hit hard by economic factors, college grads are competing against experienced workers, and the application process has become more and more automated. How do you make sure that your application and supporting documents give you a competitive edge? A lot depends on how you score!

According to JT O’Donnell and Dale Dauten, co-authors of JT and Dale Talk Jobs (jtanddale.com), many employers use technology to publish and follow their job postings and to screen resumes. The tools allow recruiters to search documents in detail. Point values are assigned to fi elds or to key words, so it is important to fi ll in all the fi elds in those online documents. Any fi elds left blank, or key words missing from resumes, receive no points. Down goes your score and your application could be ignored or trashed. Applicants are often tempted to skip the salary question. That’s not a good idea. Don’t make the mistake of fi lling in only the “Required” fi elds. If you leave an item blank, you are literally missing the opportunity to score. The key to a higher score is NEVER SKIP a question!

Here are a few tips for ensuring that your application and resume score the maximum number of points:• Fill in all electronic application fi elds with relevant information. • Browse the job posting for key words and phrases. • Keep your resume to one page, when possible, using key words and phrases. • Create a cover letter that targets the position, including key words and phrases from the job posting and highlighting why you are a perfect fi t, and submit when you can. • Structure your documents so they are eye-friendly as well as technology-friendly, since your goal is to get your information before a real person.• Take advantage of the UT Dallas Career Center’s services, and get your documents critiqued before you submit them.

Avoid the trash can, fi ll in all the blanks, use the key words, and earn that high score!

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Have you ever been asked a question during an interview that simply stumped you? Did you have to answer the famous “tell me about yourself” question? Many interview questions are considered “behavioral”; the questions ask you about a past situation. Behavioral questions might begin with, “Tell me about a time…” or “Describe a situation…”. No matter how the question is worded, the best way to answer a behavioral question is through the STAR method.

S and T stand for Situation or TaskBegin by describing the situation or task you faced. This sets the context, explaining why you needed to act or what you were assigned to do. Keep your explanation brief; the situation is the least important step in the STAR method. The situation or task should answer “why?”

The A stands for ActionWhat was the action you took? Explain your individual role and contribution. The action step of the STAR method is very important because it should answer “what and how?”

The R stands for ResultWhat were the results or changes caused by your actions? It is important to highlight your success and accomplishments at this point in the STAR method. The result is the most important step because it presents the outcome of the situation/task and action.

Many behavioral questions will ask for a negative outcome. If the outcome is negative, remember to turn it into a positive. For example, when you are asked about a time when you failed, be honest; discuss the Situation or Task, Action, and Result. However, be sure to add how you later succeeded, improved, or otherwise learned from the failure. Remember, always pair a negative comment with a positive one!

And now to put all the steps together, here is a sample STAR story:

Situation and Task: Part of my job was to update the inventory database for my company. When we lost the lease on our largest storage facility, we had to reconsider what and how much inventory we were going to keep on hand.

Action: When I realized that our storage capacity would be cut in half, I contacted our largest distributors and found out how much it would cost if we purchased the same amount from them but had it delivered in smaller quantities and biweekly instead of monthly.

Result: The extra money we spent for bimonthly deliveries was far less than we had been spending for leasing storage space. Even when an unexpected order came in and we had to have the parts sent by overnight express, our costs were still far less than when we kept a month’s inventory on hand. Our accountant fi gured that my plan saved the company almost $400,000 a year.

Use the STAR method to keep your answers to behavioral interview questions concise. Each answer should only take roughly 30 to 45 seconds. Practice using the STAR method to be successful during your interview!

INTERVIEWING - THE EASY WAY

CONNECT WITH THE CAREER CENTER Follow the Career Center on Twitter @UTDCareerCenter.

As a reminder, you can also join the UTD Career Center group on Facebook! This is yet another resource students and alumni can use to stay aware of upcoming expos and employer information sessions.

COVER LETTER RUMORS & MYTHS DISPELLED

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After fi nally determining what job you want, getting your resume edited, and fi nding open positions – is it really worth your time and energy to create a cover letter? Do you really need a cover letter for every job application? Do employers even care? Read on to fi nd out…

ON-CAMPUS INTERVIEWING The UT Dallas Career Center hosts employers for individual on-campus interviews throughout the year. Interviews are conducted in the Career Center, in the School of Management’s Career Management Center, and in some circumstances, the IPP offi ces in ECSS. Interviews are available only to current UT Dallas students and alumni who have established a UTD CareerWorks account.

Participating employers conduct on-campus interviews for permanent and internship positions. Internship interviews are available only to currently enrolled students who are registered with the UT Dallas Career Center Internship Program and have met all of the eligibility requirements.

To view on-campus interview opportunities, log into UTD CareerWorks and go to the “Jobs With Interview Schedules” section. Request an interview ONLY if you are seriously interested in the employer indicated on the schedule.

More information, including a complete guide for students, is available at www.utdallas.edu/career.

THE MYTHS“I don’t need a cover letter if I have a resume.”

“The cover letter doesn’t add anything to the application process.”

“I can just use the same cover letter for every job I apply to.”

“The cover letter just repeats the resume.”

The cover letter is an important job-search tool. The best cover letters match your resume in style, highlight your achievements, and demonstrate how you can fulfi ll the company’s needs and requirements. And you are not alone in creating good cover letters! The UT Dallas Career Center has a seminar on creating cover letters, and Resume Editors are more than happy to show you how to create a fantastic, powerful cover letter. So stop by for a critique!

THE FACTSA cover letter is the introduction to your resume - it should always accompany the resume whenever and wherever possible!

Actually, a good cover letter is a great way to grab the employer’s attention and help you stand out from the crowd!

Hang on! Not every job has the same requirements. If you are applying to multiple jobs that are all very similar, this may be alright; but if you are applying to diff erent industries, you will need a targeted cover letter for each application.

It doesn’t have to! The best cover letters describe how you fulfi ll the employer’s requirements, or showcase important details not fully discussed in the resume. You can expand on things from the resume, but don’t repeat yourself.

UNDERGRADUATES: DO YOU HAVE SPRING BREAK PLANS?

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Attention Undergraduate Students! Do you have plans for Spring Break?

If not, there is still time to apply for:

Explore the WOW! (World of Work) The UT Dallas Externship/Job Shadowing Program.

Experience a “day in the life” of a professional in a fi eld or industry related to your major and/or career goals. Shadowing opportunities will be held 1-5 days during Spring Break (March 15 – 19, 2010) at various businesses and non-profi ts in and around the DFW Metroplex.

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2010!

For more information, applications and a list of externship sites, visit www.utdallas.edu/career/students/externships/.

KNOW THE INTERNSHIP FACTS!* • 1000+ = number of internships posted in UTD CareerWorks in a school year• $7 - $20 = average pay scale per hour for interns, depending on experience and classifi cation in school (great unpaid internships are available, too)• 77% = percentage of employers who recruit entry-level talent from their internship program• 68% = percentage of interns extended a full-time job off er by their internship company • 6.5 = average number of months before an internship opening that employers will start to recruit

Ready to begin your internship search now?

Be sure to set up a UTD CareerWorks account, attend an Internship Information Session or CPT Information Session (required for students on F1 visas), and then schedule an appointment to meet with your Internship Coordinator by calling the Career Center at 972-883-2943. Meeting with your Internship Coordinator can be the launching point for your internship search, so start today!

More information is available on our website at: http://www.utdallas.edu/career/students/internships/.

* Some facts taken from the 07-08 survey conducted by the National Associate of Colleges and Employers

ECS students must

utilize the IPP office in

ECSS 2.502 for their

internship search.

WHAT EMPLOYERS ARE LOOKING FOR*Communication skills

Knowledge of the organizationProfessional knowledge & qualifi cations

Quality of resumeProfessional impact

* From a survey of employers recruiting UT Dallas students

A new day! A new year! Maybe it’s time for a new you! Negative employment news has been at the center of media attention for more than a year. But, congratulations, you made it to 2010 and this year should prove to be an interesting year. Recently there have been positive economic indicators which may cause even the most jaded to develop a little optimism. You may not realize it, but maintaining a positive attitude, even in the worst of times, can impact your chances for obtaining employment. No matter how much you think you are covering up a negative outlook, it will show through in an interview. In addition to a positive attitude, job search preparation is critical. Employers consistently rank a candidate’s preparedness and knowledge of their organization as one of their top fi ve reasons for making their hiring decision (communication skills are almost always the number one reason). Research a prospective employer. Learn valuable employer information which can be utilized to your advantage during an interview. Not sure how or where to start? Plan to connect with a licensed career counselor. They can assist you in fi nding the best resources and help move your job search in a positive direction. And, if you are struggling with the interview process, conduct a mock interview with any of the trained Career Center staff . If you have not established a UTD CareerWorks account, plan to do so immediately; you may be missing out on employment opportunities, on-campus interview schedules, job preparation seminars and career events. With planning, a little eff ort, and a positive attitude, your job search process can result in a successful outcome. Allow the Career Center staff to assist!

WRP

A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR

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The Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities (WRP) will hold interviews at UT Dallas on February 9, 2010. The purpose of the program is to refer students with disabilities for employment at federal worksites throughout the United States. The federal agencies that participate have an interest in placing qualifi ed persons with disabilities in summer and/or permanent positions.

Eligibility requirements for students to qualify for an interview are:• have a substantial disability AND• are enrolled in an accredited institution of higher education on a full-time basis (unless the severity of the disability prevents the student from taking a full-time course load) to seek a degree OR have graduated with a degree from UT Dallas within the past year• are a U.S. citizen

If you qualify, please contact Kathy Meyer at 972-883-2943 or go directly to the WRP website: https://wrp.gov/registerstudent.

Thank you to the following contributors of articles to this publication:

Maricella Barrera • Michael Doty • Laura Gonzalez

Kathy Meyer • Janie Shipman

Editor: Heather Johnson Huntley

Public Agency ExpoPublic Agency Expo

Wednesday, March 311:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Galaxy Rooms, Student Union

Municipalities, non-profi t organizations, and government

offi ces with internship, full- and part-time opportunities

will participate.

Teacher Career ExpoTeacher Career Expo

Wednesday, March 101:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Galaxy Rooms, Student Union

Profesional dress is recommended.

Spring Career ExpoSpring Career Expo

Wednesday, March 2411:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Main Gym, Activity Center

Employers from a variety of industry sectors, with internship, full- and part-time opportunities!

All Majors! All Career Fields! All UT Dallas students and alumni

are encouraged to attend!

Professional business attire and Comet Card or Alumni ID

REQUIRED

Health Professions Health Professions ExpoExpo

Wednesday, March 314:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Galaxy Rooms, Student Union

Medical, dental, pharmacy, veterinary, and other health-related schools will attend.

ECD/COMDECD/COMDVirtual ExpoVirtual Expo

April 19 - 25online via

UTD CareerWorks

Participating employers will post opportunities for

students and alumni in the Early Childhood Disorders

and Communication Disorders programs.

SPRING EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

The University of Texas at DallasThe University of Texas at DallasCareer CenterCareer CenterMcDermott LibraryMcDermott LibraryMC 1.312MC 1.312

Fall & SpringFall & Spring

Monday - Thursday 9:00 am - 6:30 pmMonday - Thursday 9:00 am - 6:30 pmFriday 9:00 am - 5:00 pmFriday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Phone: 972-883-2943Phone: 972-883-2943Fax: 972-883-2431Fax: 972-883-2431Email: careercenter@utdallas.eduEmail: careercenter@utdallas.eduwww.utdallas.edu/careerwww.utdallas.edu/career

Summer & IntersessionSummer & Intersession

Monday - Thursday 9:00 am - 6:00 pmMonday - Thursday 9:00 am - 6:00 pmFriday 9:00 am - 5:00 pmFriday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

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Explore the registered participants

for all of the Expos through your

UTD CareerWorks account.