v

Career Readiness:

Practical tips to help you find a job/internshipRoland Block, Associate Director, Career Center

Career Center staff

supporting Engineering

Brad Collet

CHEN

CVEN

CECN

CEEN

CPSC

ELEN

ISEN

OCEN

Roland Block Associate Director

Bob Foley

AERO

BAEN

BMEN

ETID

MEEN

NUEN

PETE

MSEN

Federal

Government

Abdullah Abdul Kader

All Engineering

Masters and

PhD Students For information and appointments call:

979.845.5139

ZACH 100A – Engineering

Koldus 209 – Main

HireAggies.com

For all Interviews go to Koldus 209 location

What we offer?• Resume review

• Job search 101

• Career exploration & development

• Networking & LinkedIn

• Career Fair Prep

• Interview Prep

• Mock interviews

• Offer and Negotiation Discussions

…...and so much more!!

Questions

• Who has used HireAggies to look for

jobs/internships?

• Who has attended career fairs?

• Who has a LinkedIn profile?

Top Priorities

• HireAggies (4,000+ companies,

60,000+ jobs posted)

• Career Fairs. E.g. the Engineering

Career Fair 400+ Companies

• DO BOTH! They are coming to

hire you!

• Network, Network, Network.

Think of every meeting as a

networking opportunity!

Priorities

Step 1) Download “Career Guide”

1. Resumes Templates and tips

2. 30 Second Elevator Pitch

3. STAR Method for interviews

Step 2) Register on “HireAggies”

Step 3) Attend Career Fairs

Step 4) Networking / LinkedIn

Goto www.HireAggies.com then

click on “Current Student”

Great Resources on this page!!

HireAggies!

Register here4,000+ Companies

60,000+ Jobs/Intern/Coop

Career Guide

Great stuff over

here too!!!

Scroll down for

lots more

“HireAggies.com” to “Current Student”

Great resources on this page!!

HireAggies!

Register here4,000+ Companies

60,000+ Jobs/Intern/Coop

Career Guide

Great stuff over

here too!!!

Scroll down for

lots more

“Who Hires My Major”

“Who Hires My

Major”

What is most important?

Hiring / Recruiting Process

• Who is familiar with the typical company

recruiting process?

Hiring Process

• Hiring Manager – Subject Expert (e.g. Director Engineering)

– Asks HR Manager / Recruiter for top ~10 candidates

• HR Manager – Non-Subject Expert, People-Person

– Posts position, filters 100’s to 1,000’s of resumes

– Primary Filter is Match Between the Job Description and your Resume

Networking

Job

Description Resume10

11

What Employers Value…

after match to job description

Top 5 consistently (thousands Recruiters surveyed)

1) Relevant “work” experience

1) Team Work / Interpersonal Skills oral & written

1) Creativity & Problem Solving

4) Leadership in Professional Societies

4) GPA

Resume = Perfect Fit

• SECRET TIP:

– It’s not all about you!

– It’s about how you MATCH the JOB

DESCRIPTION and COMPANY

Resume show you’re the Perfect Fit

– Find their Need (i.e. shape) – Eliminate Noise

• Job Description

• Asking Questions

What Employer

wants

Typical Resume

Resumes & Cover Letters

• Cover Letters & Cover Emails (shorter is better)

– Paragraph #1

• How found job, Major/grade, research, fit

– Paragraph #2 and sometimes #3

• Your unique benefits to company

– Paragraph #3

• Thank you, excited, follow-up

• Perfect Grammar & Spelling!

Resume - Overview

• 1 Page Only!

• Font 10.5 min – 12pt

– 11pt is my preference

• 0.5” Margins Minimum

• Print .doc but email .pdf

• Think Executive Summary

• Remember a non-technical

HR manager is likely the

first filter / reviewer

Resume - Structure

• Most important items go

higher. Why?

– Sections (can be creative)

• E.g. “RELEVANT EXPERIENCE”

– Bullets

• The more space something

takes up the more

important (relevant)

Resume – Bullet Structure

• Bullets need..

– Start with Action Verb

– Results, Achievement,

Impact, Scale, not just

what you did!

– #, $, %... Help quantify

how big accomplishment

“So What?

…“

Resume – Bullet Structure

• Big Picture

– Whenever we work on a

project or research, it is a

small piece of the whole

– The BIG PICTURE can

reflect positively on your

responsibilities

– E.g. Who knows about

Labyrinth seals?

Labyrinth Seals

Resume – Examples

• Waiter provides outstanding

customer service in English &

Spanish. Opens and Closes with

$2,000 in register

• Scholarship or Award

– 1 out of 10? Or 1 out of 10,000?

– What were the selection

characteristics / criteria?

• Do you participate in events

or shadow?– What did you learn or implement?

– Accomplishments?

– Don’t look like a Pizza Eater!

Resume – Bullet Structure

• Look at your own resume

• Put a star next to each item that shows you’re a perfect match for job & company

• If starred, think about moving up or adding more detail

• If not starred, consider deleting, reducing, or adding importance

“So What?”

Next step…the Career Fair

Practical Advice

• This is an ideal Networking opportunity

– Success is building a professional relationship

– Companies Hire PEOPLE not Resumes!

– Valuable practice for Communications Skills

• Ask Intelligent questions!!

– If you can ask any company the same question, it

does NOT show you did research

– TIP: Annual Report

Make a great first impression!!

• What makes a great first impression?

– Dress Professional and Sharp

– Make Eye Contact

– Shake hands Confidently

– Smile

– Show Enthusiasm!!

Relax: Breath-in 4, Hold 2, Out 3

1st and last name (Nickname ok),

LOUD & SLOW, space between

Name – Grade – MajorStand up and take turns!

“Tell me about yourself”

• It’s about Conveying what makes you

unique and special and a great fit for

the organization

• Handouts!

What makes you a great fit?

w/r to the Job and Organization

3-5 EducationMajor/Minor, Certifications, Specialty, Aspirations, Electives…

3-5 ProfessionalJobs, Internships, Co-op, Experience, Ninja Skills…

3-5 ExperientialOrganizations, Contests, Travel, Research, Hobbies, Projects…

3-5 Unique personal (what makes you special?) Personality, Free Time, Upbringing, Sports, Interests, Culture…

• You can use this technique to create a 30 second elevator pitch!

• Exchange handouts

• Put a star next to the 5-8 most interesting / relevant items (1-2 Personal max)

• Discuss why interesting / relevant

• Hand-back and number in order of a story

• Goal: Tell a story about yourself that illustrates who you are, your unique skills, and why you are a great fit for the Job & Company

“Tell me about yourself?”

Roland’s Example

• Professional: – Associate Director Texas A&M Career Center

– 25 years in Medical Device

– From Engineer to Director Global Marketing

• Education– BS MEEN TAMU ‘92

– MBA AUM (Partially completed)

– Dale Carnegie, Lean, 6 Sigma, Management Training Courses

• Experential– Travelled abroad to Ruhr University at Bochum

– Mentor/Volunteer for 3DS, Aggies Invent, Raymond Ideas Challenge, iCorp

– Former President of ASME student chapter

• Unique personal– Born and raised in Atlanta, GA

– Married 21 years and have 2 teenage boys

– Love golf and played soccer in high school

– Moved to College Station from Seattle, Washington

Circle ~3/4 from Education, Experiential, and Professional

Roland’s Example

– Born and raised in Atlanta, GA, but TAMU MEEN grad

– 25 years in Medical Device

– From Engineer to Director Global Marketing

– Prior to coming back to TX my family and I lived in

Seattle for 1 ½ years (survived a winter)

– Assoc. Dir. TAMU Career Center, responsible for the

employment of 20,000+ engineering students

– In my free time, I enjoy mentoring students in

entrepreneurial events such as Aggies Invent and 3DS

Rearrange to Tell your story casually, NOT memorized

Yours will Match the Job / Company Culture

Your Turn (Homework)

Goal: to be smooth and relaxed

like you are talking to a friend

STAR Method for Interviews

• Best way to answer Behavioral

Interviews I’ve seen in my career

• 10 – 20 stories can answer virtually

any behavioral questions

• Prep stories for bullets on your resume

• STAR interview method is in the “Career

Guide” or you can google it

STAR - Example

“What is the greatest challenge you’ve faced

while at Texas A&M?”

• Situation: status or problem encountered

• Task or Tactics: your plan to solve

• Action: what you did

• Result: quantify accomplishments

STAR - Example

“What are you most proud of or greatest

accomplishment for your time at Texas A&M

University?”

• Situation: status or problem encountered

• Task or Tactics: your plan to solve

• Action: what you did

• Result: quantify accomplishments

Research Questions & Prepare

• “Career Guide”

• Google

• Google

https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-answer-

the-31-most-common-interview-questions

Research Interview Questions

• E.g. Monster’s Top 10 Most Common:

Company Knowledge

• The job often goes to the most PREPARED

– What do they sell, make, or service provided?

– Who are their customers?

– How are their financials?

– What divisions do they have and which ones are

you interested in?

– What products excite you (know their names)?

– TIP: “Annual Report” often best source of info

“Do you have any questions?”

• ALWAYS - YES

• Have 3-4 questions ready for them at least 2 of

them should be a company specific question

that shows off your research. Position specific

questions also a plus.

• Google interview questions

Questions for Interviewer

• Research

• Always have a portfolio. Write Down questions

to ask each person on each page. Take notes!

Close Like a Sales Pro• Thank you for ….

• I believe my skills / experience are a great match for …

• Do you have any additional questions or is there anything we may not have covered…?

• What is the next step in the process?

• If I don’t hear back by _____, who should I contact?

• Ask for a business card or write down their name

• Write down notes immediately following conversation!

• “Thank you” email <48hrs (Roland’s rule SAME DAY!) Show interest, remind why a great fit, and one specific area you discussed together. Perfect grammar and spelling!

Practice, Practice, Practice

Mock Interview• Set an appointment with a Career Advisor

• Mock Interviews self recorded online at

HireAggies (lower right corner scroll down)

• Have your parents or friends ask you questions

• Goal: to be smooth and relaxed like you are

talking to a friend

Interview / Career Fair Checklist

Game plan (make your own Checklist)

Resume Error Free & enough copies in Folder

Researched company and have questions ready

Make a Great first impression

Elevator Pitch about fit smooth & casual

Have your stories and STAR method rehearsed

“Close” like a pro!

Career Center Events

International Students email Abdullah for a recorded Career Readiness webinar abdul25792@tamu.edu

Event/Workshop Date Time Location

Engr Resume Review Tuesday, January 15, 2019 1 - 4 pm ZACH 100 B

Career Fair Prep Tuesday, January 15, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

Career Fair Prep Wednesday, January 16, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

Career Fair Prep Thursday, January 17, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

Resume & Mock Interview Day Tuesday, January 22, 2019 10 - 3pm Koldus 209

Getting a job/internship: Resume thru Interview Tuesday, January 29, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

Interviewing Success Tips Wednesday, January 30, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

Networking and LinkedIn Thursday, January 31, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

Networking and LinkedIn Wednesday, February 6, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

Hire me! Not my GPA. Wednesday, February 13, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

I got an offer!...Now what? Wednesday, February 20, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

Hire me! Not my GPA. Tuesday, February 26, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

Networking and LinkedIn Wednesday, March 6, 2019 4:30 PM Koldus 209

I got an offer!...Now what? Wednesday, March 20, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

Networking and LinkedIn Tuesday, March 26, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

I got an offer!...Now what? Thursday, March 28, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

Getting a job/internship: Resume thru Interview Wednesday, April 3, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

Networking and LinkedIn Wednesday, April 10, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

Networking and LinkedIn Thursday, April 18, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

Career Center Events

International Students email Abdullah for a recorded Career Readiness webinar abdul25792@tamu.edu

Event/Workshop Date Time Location

Resume & Mock Interview Day Tuesday, January 22, 2019 10 - 3pm Koldus 209

Networking and LinkedIn Thursday, January 31, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

Networking and LinkedIn Wednesday, February 6, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

I got an offer!...Now what? Wednesday, February 20, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

Networking and LinkedIn Wednesday, March 6, 2019 4:30 PM Koldus 209

I got an offer!...Now what? Wednesday, March 20, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

Networking and LinkedIn Tuesday, March 26, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

I got an offer!...Now what? Thursday, March 28, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

Networking and LinkedIn Wednesday, April 10, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

Networking and LinkedIn Thursday, April 18, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B

Thank you! & Q&A

Engineering Career Services

979.845.5139

HireAggies.com

ZACH 100AQuick Survey:

tx.ag/RolandFBFor all Interviews go to Koldus 209 location