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Career Services ManualA STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO FINDING EMPLOYMENT
Career Services & Employer RelationsROSE-HULMAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
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CAREER SERVICES MANUAL
2011-2012
Rose-Hulman Institute
of Technology
Terre Haute, Indiana
Career Services & Employer Relations
Career Services Center Hulman Union
812-877-8212
Cover photo by Colin Shipley, Rose-Hulman Alumnus, Class of 2010
Table of ContentsCareer Services & Employer Relations Who We Are, What We Do �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2Get FIT for Your Job Search �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3Job Search Time Line for Seniors & Summer Job Seekers � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3Fundamentals � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4-15 The Resume �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4-8 12 Common Resume Mistakes �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5 Resume Action Words �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5 Sample Resumes �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5-7 The Scannable Resume �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8 The Cover Letter � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8-9 Sample Letters � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 9-12 The Thank-You Letter � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 10 The Acceptance Letter � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 10 The Refusal Letter � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11 The Letter of Application �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11 Letters of Inquiry �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 12 Email Correspondence � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 12 Don’t Forget the Small Companies��� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 13 Turning Your Internship Into a Full-Time Position �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14 International Students and the Job Search �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 15Interviews � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 16-18 The Site Visit/Interview: One Step Closer � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 17Techniques � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 18-21 Targeted Mail & Telephone Campaign � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 18-19 Networking � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 19-20 On-Campus Interviews & Career Fairs �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20 Answering Recruitment Ads � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �20-21 Using Employment Professionals � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 21 eRecruiting Basics � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 21I’ve Got a Job Offer—What Now?? � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 22-23 Benefits � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 22 Salary Comparison � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 22 Evaluating Your Offer � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �22 Salary Negotiation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 23Tapping the Hidden Job Market � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 23Questions—Asked by the Interviewer & To Ask in the Interview �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 24Pre-Employment Testing �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 25Qualities Desired in New College Graduates �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 26Dealing With Rejection in the Job Search �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 26Social Networking Websites �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 27Dealing With Stress in the Job Search �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 28Is Graduate School Right for You? �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 29
2 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
4 Interview Practice — stop by to practice for interviews or just to get advice
4 Freshman Orientation — Career Services introduction to resume writing and employer expectations
HOW DO I USE THESE SERVICES?The Career Services Office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Come in any time. No appointment is needed. Also watch for Peer Advisor hours in the evenings, too!
ERECRUITING OVERVIEWeRecruiting is the online system that Career Services uses to coordinate all of their on-campus recruitment, including posting job opportunities and scheduling on-campus interviews.
You can use the system to search for and apply to job opportunities. Contact information for any company that is in the system can be provided to you if you contact Career Services. To learn more about the basics of eRecruiting turn to page 21.
Visit the Student tab of the Career Services website to login today!
Career Services & Employer Relations
WHAT DO WE DO?The Career Services Office provides a number of services and has a variety of resources available to help you get FIT for your job search. When you visit the Career Services Office in Hulman Union, you will find the following services and resources:
4 Individual Career Counseling and job search guidance for permanent employ-ment as well as summer internships and co-op opportunities
4 Individual assistance with cover letter and resume preparation
4 Peer Advisors — upperclassmen with strong work experiences trained to assist and counsel their peers
4 Career Resource Library — occupational information, books and videos on job search techniques and other related topics
4FREE fax service!
4FREE phone service for calls to prospective employers and networking contacts!
4 eRecruiting — our online job posting and campus interview system
4 Customized alumni listings for networking and formal Alumni Mentoring Program (AMP)
4 Co-op and Internship Programs
4 Information on full-time, summer and co-op jobs
4 Resume referrals (by company request) — we forward senior resumes to companies who have jobs that match qualifications and interests
4 On-campus interviewing opportunities
4RHIT Fall, Winter and Spring Career Fairs
4 Annual Graduate School Fair
4 Workshops — a series of live and online sessions designed to help you prepare yourself for the job hunt, create your resume, succeed at the career fairs and best utilize networking opportunities
WHO ARE WE?
Kevin Hewerdine Director
Charity Mouck Associate Director
Visit our website for more helpful
information relating to your job or
graduate school hunt!
www.rose-hulman.edu/careerservices
Also look for us on:
Twitter • Facebook • LinkedIn
Kathy Kassissieh Assistant Director
Alison Fell Assistant Director
www.rose-hulman.edu/careerservices 3
Get FIT for Your Job SearchFinding a job is not easy. It takes a lot of time and a tremendous amount of effort — and it can be a stressful process. The key to minimizing your stress and time commitment and maximizing the results of your job search is organization!
Success is in your future if you:
4 Start early
4 Have a plan
4 Prepare top-notch resumes and cover letters
4 lnterview like a pro
4 Use a wide variety of techniques
Need help?? Use this Manual — follow ALL of the steps and techniques outlined. Use your Career Services Office resources. Attend workshops. Visit our website.
Why can’t you forget all this hard work and just sign up for some campus interviews or search the want ads? They’re not very productive, that’s why. 4 Last year about 90% of Rose-Hulman students found jobs through on-
campus recruiting and networking (that’s better than most — nationwide only 24% find jobs this way)
4 Less than 10% of all jobs in the U.S. are found by answering newspaper want ads
Don’t despair!! With the information provided in this Manual you can get FIT for your job search. If you follow, step-by-step, the instructions in this Manual, you will be prepared to conduct a comprehensive job search. And that means: 4 You have the Fundamentals down. You know what kind of job
you want and what you have to offer in the job market. You can write effec-tive resumes and cover letters.
4 You know how to perform in Interviews. You can sell yourself in person and have practiced interviewing skills.
4 You are using sound Techniques to find and apply for positions. You are uncovering the job market through such strategies as targeted mail and telephone campaigns, networking, reviewing want ads regularly, using the Internet and, when appropriate, participating in on-campus interviewing and recruitment services.
Remember, too, the average length of time it takes to find a job is 4-6 months. So, the time to start is NOW, not when you are a month from your desired start date.
See the Job Search Time Line below.
Update profile, GPA, status & documentation in eRecruiting
Develop Job Search Plan
Draft resume; have it critiqued by Career Services staff Print resume
Attend workshops
Make a list of useful contacts Make a list of companies/contacts for targeted phone/mail campaign
Attend Graduate SchoolFair
Meet with Career Services staff member
Attend workshops
Schedule practice interview session
Interview through Career Services Office
Prepare and send letters/ make phone calls to companies/contacts on “target” list
Follow up with employers
Use quarter break to contact prospective employers
Take GRE
Apply to Graduate School
Attend RHIT FallCareer Fair
Request an alumni data-base search
Write or call alumni and other contacts; ask forreferrals
Begin contacting referrals
Prepare for and schedule second interviews if invited by employers
Use Christmas break to follow up with previous contacts and continue contacting prospective employers
Attend RHIT Winter Career Fair
Discuss progress with Career Services staff member
Use other job search techniques (Internet, professional journals, classified ads, employment professionals, etc.)
Continue campusinterviewing
Continue making contacts, follow-up, networking
Prepare for and schedulesecond interviews if invited by employers
Arrange meetings withprospective employers
Call helpful contacts
Continue follow-up withprevious contacts
Use spring break to meetwith networking contacts
Take EIT exam
Attend RHIT Spring Career Fair
Discuss progress with Career Services staff member
Continue to contact prospective employers
Continue to network with contacts
Discuss job offers with Career Services staff
Accept offer
Report acceptance to Career Services Office
Job Search Time Line for Seniors & Summer Job Seekers Aug/Sept Oct/Nov Dec/Jan Feb/March Mid March April/May
4 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
FundamentalsGETTING STARTEDThink of the job search process as a marketing project with YOU as the product and your resume as your personal advertisement or marketing brochure. Your customer is the employer. And what do employers want to buy on the job market? SKILLS. For example, employers are looking for people who are creative and decisive, can adapt to frequent change, are good leaders and team players, demonstrate good work ethic, are good planners and organizers, can cope successfully with difficult situations and have the technical background and interests that make the applicant a good fit for their organization. So, analyze your skills and develop a marketing theme that will show a potential employer how your skills will fill that EMPLOYER’S NEEDS. Once you’ve developed that theme for your resume, you can utilize that theme in other aspects of your job search—to introduce yourself to networking contacts, in your cover letters and in interviews to convince the employer that you are the best product on the market!
THE RESUMEYour resume, like a magazine ad, will be competing with 100s of others for an employer’s attention. Therefore, your resume must be polished, easy to read and let the “buyer” know what’s in it for them. Keep in mind these guidelines/rules when developing your resume: 4 Keep it short and simple 4 Limit resume to one page 4 Use simple, everyday language 4 Be specific—give examples, stress accomplishments and achievements 4 NEVER use complete sentences. Use short phrases (12 words or less) beginning with action verbs, such as “Created publicity campaign for blood drive” 4 DO NOT write in paragraphs 4 Use bullets ( • ) to separate one item from another and to guide the
reader’s eye to specific points 4 Use white space, italics and boldface type to guide the reader’s eye to
important information instead of using multiple fonts 4 Single space within sections 4 Use white or ivory paper and one inch margins all around (margins may be slightly smaller to keep resume to one page) 4 Be absolutely sure that the resume is error-free (no typos, no misspelled words) and easy to read. 4 If it looks sloppy, redo it
And here’s the information you should include on your resume:
Heading—Tell employers how to reach you. The first thing on your resume should be your full name, centered at the top of the page, in bold type and in a slightly larger font than the rest of the resume. Follow your name with your complete mailing address and zip code, telephone number with area code and your email address.
Job Objective—In one short phrase tell the employer what kind of work you are looking for (e.g., “An entry level position in mechanical design,” “A position in software development”). DO NOT use phrases that tell the employer what you want them to do for you (e.g., “A position that will help me develop my skills in”).
Education—Include degree discipline, expected date of graduation, grade point average (IF it is 2.9/4.0 or higher) in bold letters, followed by college or university, and location (city and state only). See example below:
Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering, May 2011 GPA 3.2/4.0 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, IN
If you attended more than one college, list them in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Include high school ONLY if you are a freshman or a sopho-more. Under each school list courses that would interest the employer and support your job objective. It is not necessary to list every course you’ve taken!
Skills—List technical skills and other skills that will support your job objective and fit the employer’s needs. For example you might include design or analytical skills, foreign languages, laboratory skills, teamwork or leadership skills. Always include your computer skills. Cite accomplishments and achievements that demon-strate these skills, here and in other sections of your resume.
Experience—Include work and co-curricular experiences as well as significant projects in reverse chronological order. On the first line, put name and location (city and state only) of company or organization followed by dates of employment or participa-tion. List job title on the second line, then use the “3- bullet” approach to describe your experience. The first bullet should include general duties and a brief description of the company. The second bullet should be more specific about your daily responsibilities. Use the third bullet to describe an accomplishment that you are proud of. See resumes on pages 5-7 or our website for examples. Use short phrases beginning with action verbs to describe your experiences (a list of suggested verbs is included with the sample resume on page 5). Use present tense verbs for current jobs, past tense verbs for previous jobs. Don’t use personal pronouns. Leave out phrases such as “Responsible for...” and “Duties included...” and the headings “position,” “job title,” and “duties.” It is not necessary to describe less significant work experiences such as waiter, file clerk, etc., unless you can describe your significant accomplishments or the title does not adequately describe the position or these were your only jobs. Don’t overlook class projects or significant accom-plishments and leadership roles in volunteer or campus organizations.
Honors & Activities (optional)—Include all honors, academic and other. If they are not self-explanatory, describe briefly, e.g., “Order of Epsilon (academic honor society).” List activities not shown in the “experience” section. Include the name of the organization and your role (“member,” “finance committee chairman,” “secretary,” etc.). For significant activities, briefly describe your accomplishments. Consider adding dates to provide context.
References—Prepare a second page for your references. Provide three or four references; at least one, preferably two, from previous employers, the remainder from faculty, your advisor or department head or others who are familiar with your work habits. Do not use personal references. Include name, title, address and phone number for each reference. Use the same header on the reference page as you used on your resume.
Analyze your skills and develop a
marketing theme that will show a
potential employer how your skills
will fill that employer’s needs.
www.rose-hulman.edu/careerservices 5
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L, Ja
va
• Flu
ent in
Ger
man
•
Solde
ring,
fami
liar w
ith op
erati
on of
lath
es an
d milli
ng m
achin
es
• Co
mmun
icatio
n skil
ls de
mons
trated
thro
ugh l
eade
rship
activ
ities
Expe
rienc
e:
Gran
ger L
awn
Care
Ser
vice
, Gra
nger
, UT
Summ
ers x
x-xx
Ow
ner/
Oper
ator
•
Sold
lawn c
are s
ervic
es do
or-to
-doo
r
• Hi
red a
nd su
perv
ised t
hree
emplo
yees
in m
owing
and c
aring
for 1
5 ne
ighbo
rs’ la
wns
•
Nette
d $1,
500
after
costs
in th
ree m
onth
s with
100
% re
turn
custo
mers
the
follo
wing
summ
er
Hi
ghla
nd H
igh
Scho
ol, S
alt La
ke Ci
ty, U
T 9/
xx-4
/xx
Pr
om Co
mmitt
ee Ch
air
• Or
ganiz
ed an
d moti
vated
comm
ittee
of 8
clas
smate
s to r
aise $
2,00
0 fo
r the
Senio
r Pro
m
• Pla
nned
and e
xecu
ted su
ccessf
ul ev
ening
with
over
400
in at
tenda
nce
Hono
rs:
Edse
l For
d Sch
olarsh
ip fo
r Inn
ovati
on in
Des
ign -
awar
ded b
y For
d Moto
r Co.
for
best
scien
ce fa
ir pr
oject
Ea
rl Gr
eef M
emor
ial Sc
holar
ship
At
tende
d Ame
rican
Yout
h Lea
dersh
ip Co
nfer
ence
We
sting
hous
e Scie
nce T
alent
Sear
ch fi
nalis
t
Activ
ities
: Hi
ghlan
d High
Scho
ol, St
uden
t bod
y pre
siden
t, ra
ised $
5,00
0 fo
r new
scor
eboa
rd
Chi O
mega
, fina
nce c
ommi
ttee
Dr
ama C
lub, m
embe
r
Habit
at fo
r Hum
anity
, mem
ber
Ro
se-H
ulman
Wom
en’s
Volle
yball
Team
acce
lerat
edac
comp
lishe
dac
hieve
dac
tivat
edad
apted
addr
esse
dad
justed
admi
nister
edad
verti
sed
advis
edad
voca
tedalt
ered
analy
zed
appli
edap
point
edap
prais
edar
bitra
tedar
rang
edas
semb
ledas
sesse
das
signe
dat
taine
dau
dited
awar
ded
balan
ced
broa
dene
dbu
dgete
dbu
iltca
lculat
edca
talog
ued
clarif
iedco
llabo
rated
comb
ined
comp
iled
comp
leted
comp
osed
conc
eived
conc
luded
cond
ense
dco
nduc
tedco
nsoli
dated
cons
ulted
cont
racte
d
cont
ribut
edco
ntro
lled
conv
erted
conv
inced
coor
dinat
edco
rrecte
dcre
ated
culti
vated
dece
ntra
lized
decre
ased
defin
edde
liver
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mons
trated
desig
nated
desig
ned
deter
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dde
velop
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vised
direc
teddis
cove
red
distri
buted
docu
ment
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ubled
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deli
mina
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phas
ized
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enab
leden
cour
aged
enfo
rced
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red
entit
ledes
tabli
shed
estim
ated
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ated
exam
ined
exec
uted
expa
nded
expe
dited
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ded
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cted
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itated
finan
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sed
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ified
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ated
imple
ment
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reas
edinf
luenc
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tiated
inspe
cted
insta
lled
instit
uted
instru
cted
integ
rated
inter
prete
dint
ervie
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duce
dinv
ented
inves
tigat
edjoi
ned
judge
dlau
nche
dled ma
intain
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nage
dma
rkete
dma
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dme
asur
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nimize
dmo
bilize
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ted
modif
iedmo
nitor
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tain
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nized
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rform
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nned
prep
ared
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ented
prev
ented
proc
esse
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oduc
edpr
ogra
mmed
proje
cted
prom
oted
prop
osed
prov
edpr
ovide
dpu
blish
edre
alize
dre
comm
ende
dre
cruite
dre
ctifie
dre
duce
dre
gulat
edre
infor
ced
rene
gotia
tedre
orga
nized
repo
rted
repr
esen
tedre
sear
ched
resh
aped
reso
lved
resto
red
restr
uctu
red
revie
wed
revis
edre
vitali
zed
save
dsch
edule
dse
cure
dse
lected
serv
edse
tse
ttled
shap
edsh
arpe
ned
simpli
fied
solve
dsp
earh
eade
dsp
ecifi
edsp
onso
red
spur
red
stand
ardiz
edsta
rted
stimu
lated
strea
mline
dstr
engt
hene
dstr
uctu
red
summ
arize
dsu
perv
ised
supp
orted
surv
eyed
susta
ined
syste
matiz
edta
ught
termi
nated
tested
trans
lated
trimm
edtro
ubles
hot
unde
rscor
edun
ified
upda
tedup
grad
edut
ilized
SAMPLE FRESHMAN RESUME—
Acco
mpl
ishm
ents
are
inclu
ded
in b
oth
the
“ exp
erien
ce “
and
the “
activ
ities
” sec
tions
of t
he re
sume
. Not
e the
use
of t
he “a
ccomp
lishm
ent s
tatem
ent”
and “
thre
e-bu
llet”
appr
oach
es in
descr
ibing
expe
rienc
e.
12
CO
MM
ON
RESU
ME M
IST
AK
ES
&To
o lon
g &
Vagu
e &
Har
d to r
ead
&Po
or gr
amma
r
&W
ordy
&
Misl
eadin
g &
Poor
desig
n &
Miss
pellin
gs
&To
o sho
rt&
Exag
gera
ted
&Po
orly
focu
sed
&N
o “pu
nch”
RESU
ME A
CT
ION
WO
RD
S
VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE MAJOR-SPECIFIC RESUMES!
6 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Sam
ple
Resu
me#
#1Ste
ve’s
resu
me li
sts co
urse
wor
k an
d co
mput
er sk
ills in
the
“Oth
er Q
ualif
icatio
ns”
secti
on. T
wo a
ddre
sses
are
prov
ided
to en
sure
that
an e
mploy
er w
ill be
able
to re
ach
him d
uring
scho
ol or
at h
ome,
durin
g br
eaks
. “H
onor
s” an
d “Ac
tivitie
s” ar
e com
bined
into
one s
ectio
n. A
“sum
mary
” is u
sed t
o pre
sent
an ov
erall
pictu
re of
his
skills
and a
bilitie
s.
STE
VE S
OPHO
MOR
E ste
ve.e.
soph
omor
e@ro
se-h
ulman
.edu
Curre
nt A
ddre
ss:
Hom
e Ad
dres
s:12
34 W
allac
e Ave
nue
222
Magn
olia S
treet
Terre
Hau
te, IN
478
02
Liver
pool,
NY 2
0202
(812
) 234
-000
0
(3
15) 5
55-5
555
Objec
tive:
Co
-op o
r int
ern p
ositio
n in t
he fi
eld of
Chem
ical E
ngine
ering
Sum
mar
y:
Curre
nt so
phom
ore a
t top
engin
eerin
g coll
ege n
ation
ally,
Rose
-Hulm
an In
stitu
te of
Tech
nolog
y in
Terre
Hau
te, In
diana
, with
a ch
emica
l eng
ineer
ing m
ajor.
As an
ener
getic
inter
n, wo
uld ap
ply st
rong
tea
mwor
k, co
mmun
icatio
n, an
d wor
k eth
ic to
prob
lem so
lving
, as d
one i
n the
past
with
prev
ious
inter
n exp
erien
ce, a
nd w
ith va
rious
extra
curri
cular
club
s and
jobs
. Spe
cific
inter
ests
and s
treng
ths
includ
e mas
s tra
nsfe
r, ch
emica
l pro
cess
safe
ty, an
d pro
cess
optim
izatio
n. Co
ntinu
ally d
evelo
ping
skills
thro
ugh C
onsu
lting E
ngine
ering
Prog
ram
and o
n-go
ing ac
adem
ic stu
dies.
Educ
atio
n:
Bach
elor o
f Scie
nce
Chem
ical E
ngine
ering
, May
20x
x
Rose
-Hulm
an In
stitu
te of
Tech
nolog
y, Te
rre H
aute,
IN
3.3/
4.0
curre
nt G
.P.A
.
Othe
r •
Classe
s in M
ass a
nd En
ergy
Bala
nces
and P
hysic
al Ch
emist
ryQu
alifi
catio
ns:
• Co
nsult
ing En
ginee
ring P
rogr
am
• Sk
illed w
ith W
indow
s (20
00, X
P), M
icros
oft W
ord,
Exce
l and
Powe
rPoin
t
Wor
k
Culto
r Foo
d Scie
nce,
Terre
Hau
te, IN
5/
xx-8
/xx
Expe
rienc
e:
Engi
neer
ing In
tern
•
Perfo
rmed
wate
r bala
nce f
or en
tire p
lant w
hich s
olved
the p
roble
m of
inco
nsist
ent
meter
read
ings
•
Prop
osed
idea
s to c
ut w
astes
by ov
er $
350,
000
per y
ear (
ideas
curre
ntly
being
imple
ment
ed)
Ko
ch M
ateria
ls, In
c., Te
rre H
aute,
IN
3/xx
-6/x
x
Lab
Tech
nicia
n
• Pe
rform
ed qu
ality
tests
on liq
uid as
phalt
samp
les
• Mi
xed a
spha
lt and
bind
er to
yeld
optim
um st
reng
th
• Te
sted a
nd re
cycle
d asp
halt f
or st
abilit
y and
usab
ility
Mc
Dona
ld’s,
Liver
pool,
NY
11
/xx-
5/xx
Cr
ew C
hief
•
Traine
d all n
ew em
ploye
es
• Pr
opos
ed an
d exe
cuted
nume
rous
succe
ssful
ideas
to im
prov
e res
taura
nt op
erati
ons
•
Reco
gnize
d as “
Emplo
yee o
f the
Mon
th” f
our t
imes
for s
ucce
ss in
strea
mlini
ng
resta
uran
t ope
ratio
ns
Hono
rs &
Pi
Mu Ep
silon
(Math
emati
cs ho
nora
ry),
memb
erAc
tiviti
es:
Amer
ican I
nstit
ute o
f Che
mica
l Eng
ineer
s, me
mber
Sp
ecial
Olym
pics,
volun
teer
In
tramu
ral s
ports
: soc
cer,
bask
etball
, sof
tball
Jenn
ifer
Juni
or55
00 W
abas
h A
venu
e, B
ox 0
001
Terr
e H
aute
, IN
478
03(8
12) 8
77-8
511
jenn
ifer.a
.juni
or@
rose
-hul
man
.edu
Obj
ectiv
e:
A su
mm
er p
ositi
on in
har
dwar
e de
sign
or c
ompu
ter p
rogr
amm
ing
Educ
atio
n:
Bach
elor
of S
cien
ce C
ompu
ter
Engi
neer
ing,
May
20x
x
GPA
3.0
/4.0
R
ose-
Hul
man
Inst
itute
of T
echn
olog
y, T
erre
Hau
te, I
N
C
ompu
ter
•ProgrammingexperienceinVisualC
++,H
TML,Java,M
PS,
Skill
s:
Assem
blyandVHDL
•
MATL
AB,M
aple,C
adkey,W
orkingM
odel,Labview
,
WonderW
are,LogicW
orks,V
erilog,
•
Excel,Lotus1
23andothersp
readsheets,w
ordprocessors,
Pow
erPo
int
•
Unixenvironm
entandW
indows2
000/XPoperatingsystem
s
Expe
rien
ce:
A. M
OR
ON
I, IN
C., Carrollton,TX
U
ltras
ound
Dat
a An
alys
is T
echn
icia
n
S
umm
er x
x
•DesigneddefectC-scanningstandardforC
uTargets
•
CollecteddataforqualitycontrolgaugestudyofC-Scanning
proc
ess
•
Responsibleforhandling$8,000Targetswhileperforminggauge
stud
y
R
OSE
-HU
LMA
N IN
STIT
UTE
OF
TEC
HN
OLO
GY
, Ter
re H
aute
, IN
C
lass
Pro
ject
for C
ompu
ter A
rchi
tect
ure
Win
ter x
x-xx
•
Designedandimplem
enteda16-bitRISCprocessorusingLogic
WorksandVerilog
•
Increasedthespeedoftheprocessor’sA
LU
R
OSE
-HU
LMA
N IN
STIT
UTE
OF
TEC
HN
OLO
GY
, Ter
re H
aute
, IN
Ph
one
Ope
rato
r
9/
xx -
Pres
ent
Hon
ors:
TauBetaPi(E
ngineeringhonorary)
Dean’sL
ist5/6quarters
PresidentialScholarship
Act
iviti
es:
SocietyofW
omenEngineers,V
icePresident
InstituteofE
lectricalandElectronicsEngineers,Treasurer
IntramuralBasketball
Ph
oto
edito
r for
Ros
e Th
orn
(sch
ool n
ewsp
aper
)
Sam
ple
Resu
me #
2Je
nnife
r has
used
boldf
ace,
italic
s and
ALL
CAPS
selec
tively
to hi
ghlig
ht in
form
ation
and m
ake t
his re
sume
ea
sier t
o rea
d. Je
nnife
r has
little
degr
ee-re
lated
expe
rienc
e, so
she h
as us
ed a
class
proje
ct as
expe
rienc
e.
Since
the “
phon
e ope
rator
” job
title
is se
lf-ex
plana
tory,
no de
tail is
requ
ired.
SOPHOMORE/JUNIOR RESUMES
SOPHOMORE/JUNIOR RESUMES
www.rose-hulman.edu/careerservices 7
Sam
ple
Resu
me #
1
This
resu
me us
es th
e “3 b
ullet”
appr
oach
on th
e Aut
oMed
and G
ener
al Mi
lls ex
perie
nces
. Pa
ul us
ed hi
s sen
ior pr
oject
as ex
perie
nce,
too. PA
UL
A. E
MO
RY
paul
.a.e
mor
y@ro
se-h
ulm
an.e
du
Cur
rent
Add
ress
:
A
fter
May
30,
20x
x2901FranklinStreet
2125So.1800East
TerreHaute,IN47803
SaltLakeCity,U
T84107
(812
) 877
-151
1
(801
) 277
-594
4
Obj
ectiv
e:
Designengineeringpositionthatwillutilizemyhardwareandsoftw
are
skillsandexperience
Educ
atio
n:
Bach
elor
of S
cien
ce, E
lect
rica
l Eng
inee
ring
, m
inor
in C
ompu
ter
Scie
nce,M
ay20xx
R
ose-
Hul
man
Inst
itute
of T
echn
olog
y, T
erre
Hau
te, I
N
GPA
3.4
/4.0
Re
late
d co
urse
s:SystemsP
rogram
minginC,A
rtificialIntelligence,
TheoryofC
omputation
Com
pute
r Programmingskillsinthefollowinglanguages:ADA,C
,C++
,Fortran,
Skill
s:
SQL,Pascal,Windows2
000/XP,VAXAssem
bly,HTM
L
Exp
erie
nce:
D
igita
l Aud
io D
isc
Cor
p.,
Terr
e H
aute
, IN
9/
19xx
-3/2
0xx
D
esig
n Pr
ojec
t Tea
m L
eade
r
•Supervisedseniordesignteam
inthesuccessfulcom
pletionofa
precisionmeasurementprojectforaCDmanufacturer
•
Com
piled,draftedandpresentedadetailedtechnicalreportonfindings
and
reco
mm
enda
tions
Aut
oMed
Inc.
,
Indi
anap
olis
, IN
5/
xx-8
/xx
En
gine
erin
g In
tern
•
Developedso
ftwareforemerging-growthmedicalinstrumentationfirm
•
UsedSE
Isoftwaredevelopm
entm
odeltooutlinesystem
specifica-tions,createcode,andensurequality
•
Produced6,000lineprogram
3weeksaheadofdeadlineandmet
custom
errequirementsonstartup
G
ener
al M
ills,
Inc.,
Toledo,O
H
6/xx-8/xx
En
gine
erin
g In
tern
•Successfullyredesignedacerealpackagingline
•
Providedlinesk
etches,equipmentrecom
mendations
•
Designedequipm
entinterface,configuredautom
atedscales,and
reco
mm
ende
d lin
e-flo
w a
ltera
tions
that
dec
reas
ed c
ycle
tim
e by
10%
Hon
ors &
Dean’sL
ist11quarters
Act
iviti
es:
PiM
uEpsilon(M
athematicsh
onorary),m
ember
AmericanSocietyofM
echanicalE
ngineers,m
ember
Leo
N. B
ize
http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~bizeln
Scho
ol A
ddre
ss:
Perm
anen
t Add
ress
:5500W
abashAvenue,Box19887
2160GreentreeRoad
Terr
e H
aute
, IN
478
03
Pi
ttsbu
rgh,
PA
152
12(812)877-1511
(412)256-5688
Obj
ectiv
e:
Full-
time
posi
tion
in th
e fie
ld o
f com
pute
r sci
ence
with
em
phas
is o
n bo
th h
ardw
are
and
softw
are
Educ
atio
n:
Bach
elor
of S
cien
ce, C
ompu
ter
Scie
nce,
May
20x
x G
PA 3
.33/
4.00
R
ose-
Hul
man
Inst
itute
of T
echn
olog
y, T
erre
Hau
te, I
N
Skill
s:
Com
pute
rs
•C,Visual/T
urboC++
,Maple,M
atlab,Glut,OpenG
L,Ada,B
ASIC,LISP,CadKey,
AutoC
AD,Pro/Engineer,andLogicW
orks
•Wroteprogram
snow
inuseatInlandSteelB
arCom
panyform
etallurgical
ca
lcul
atio
ns
R
obot
ics
•Customcircuitboardfabrication,com
puterinterfacing,8052singleboardcom
puters
•Roboticgantrycranes,remoteexplorationvehicles,allhome-built
•Voiceandscreenmenudrivencontrol,robotcontrolprogram
APIs
•2-Dultrasonicareamappingandroboticvehiclelocationthroughwirelessdatalinks
•3-Dcom
putersimulation/virtualrealitywithaNintendoPowerGlove
Expe
rien
ce:
CY
BO R
obot
s, In
dian
apol
is, IN
Softw
are
Dev
elop
men
t Int
ern
Summer,20xx
•Researched,designed,andim
plem
entedanewrobotm
ovedatabasewhich
was
“ge
neric
, exp
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8 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
THE SCANNABLE RESUMEMore companies are now requesting “scannable” resumes. Instead of being read by a human, the resume is scanned with an OCR (optical character recognition) scanner and stored as a text image.
When a position becomes available, a keyword search is done to identify candi-dates with the skills defined in the job description. Keywords are nouns or noun-based phrases that describe your skills and accomplishments. Keywords for a computer programmer might include C++, Pascal, Ada, DOS, Windows, HTML, online applications, information systems management. Resumes with the most matches are the ones likely to win the interview sweepstakes.
If you want your resume to be selected, it is essential that you understand the requirements of the job for which you wish to be considered and that the keywords (or buzzwords or skill words) that apply to that position appear frequently on your resume. They can appear in your objective, course descriptions, skills listings, and in descriptions of your projects and work experiences. You might also include a “keyword summary” section on your resume. It should follow your objective and include keywords (and their synonyms) that apply to the type of work that you are seeking.
The format for your scannable resume may be slightly different than the resume you have prepared for the human reader. Many of the elements that you used to draw the human reader’s attention will have to be eliminated from the scannable resume. OCR scanners aren’t very bright. They can’t read the bullets, italics and underlined words you used to emphasize your accomplishments. And bold, shading and fancy fonts are likely to create confusion. Use the following tips when format-ting your resume:
4 Use capital letters to emphasize important points.
4 If you must use horizontal or vertical lines on your resume, be sure that there is at least 1⁄4” space between the line and text.
4 Use lots of white space.
4 Use standard, easy-to-read fonts like Times New Roman, Courier, Arial or Universal.
4 Use 10 to 14 point font size. Don’t use compressed fonts or compressed spacing.
4 Avoid punctuation as much as possible.
4 Don’t worry if your resume is two or even three pages long. The computer doesn’t care as long as the text is easily scanned.
4 Use plain white or light colored paper— mottled or granite papers will confuse the scanner.
Most scanner programs will use “artificial intelligence” to extract important information and store it in a database. To avoid confusion, the first text on your resume should be your name, followed by your address, phone number and email address, with each element appearing on a separate line.
When you mail your resume, you should avoid stapling and mail it flat in a large envelope.
If you are faxing a resume that will be scanned, be sure to set the fax machine on “fine” mode instead of “standard” mode. It will take longer to fax your resume, but you will increase the likelihood that the faxed resume will be scannable when it reaches its destination. Play it safe, though, and send a hard copy of your resume as well.
THE COVER LETTERYour cover letter may well be the first contact that you make with a potential employer. If it is well written it will lead the employer to the second part of your application, your resume. If the cover letter is not well written, your resume may end up in a discard heap without ever being read. Think of your cover letter as an advertisement emphasizing your most attractive features. Since your cover letter is likely to be one of several received for a particular position (some large companies receive 1,000,000 or more resumes each year!), it is essential that it be well written and to the point. Don’t include the details of your entire work and school history. The best way to set yourself apart is to highlight one or two of your accomplishments or abilities that show you are a better-than-average candidate.
If using the postal service, your cover letter should be no more than four short paragraphs on one page. Use 81⁄2 x 11 inch white or ivory paper, 1-inch margins and block style paragraphs. You don’t need expensive stationery. Standard, inex-pensive office paper (20 lb. bond) is acceptable. Again, avoid mottled or granite papers, as they do not copy or fax clearly. Send your cover letter in a business mailing envelope. Unless your handwriting is EXTREMELY neat and legible, either type your envelope or print it from your computer (no dot matrix printers, please). Address your envelope using the full name and title of the contact person to whom you addressed your cover letter.
If using email, type the letter in the body of the message beginning with the saluta-tion. Then, attach your resume to the email.
Follow these basic guidelines when developing the content of your cover letter:
Return address—Your return address should be printed in the upper right- hand corner approximately 4 inches from the right edge.
Date—The date should be on the line below the last line of your address and should be written out, e.g., September 29, 2010.
Addressee—ALWAYS use the full name and the proper title of the addressee in your cover letter. Two lines below the date list the full name of the addressee. The next line should contain the addressee’s full formal business title. Write out the full name of the company on the third line. This should be followed by the address of the company, which generally takes two lines.
Salutation—The salutation should be typed two lines below the address. Begin with Dear Mr. or Dear Ms. followed by the last name of the addressee and a colon,
www.rose-hulman.edu/careerservices 9
e.g., “Dear Mr. Jones:”. NEVER use the first name of the addressee in your saluta-tion. In cases where you must use a general salutation, “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Good Morning” are stronger than “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir or Madam.” DO NOT use the old standards “Gentlemen” or “Dear Sirs.”
1st Paragraph—State clearly and concisely what position you wish to be considered for and state your academic status. If responding to an ad, say where and when the ad appeared.
Example: I am a senior in mechanical engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and I am interested in the manu-facturing engineering position that was advertised in the Serendipity Times on April 25.
2nd Paragraph—Describe what you could contribute to this company and show how your qualifications would benefit this firm. If you’re responding to a classified ad, discuss specifically how your background relates to the position requirements. Remember to keep it short and be careful not to simply restate what’s in your resume.
Example: Having majored in mechanical engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, where I also did extensive design on the solar powered vehicle project, I am confident that I can make an immediate contribution as an automotive engineer.
Example: In addition to my degree in computer science, I have experience in development of C and C++ programs for embedded systems using both Motorola and Intel processors.
3rd Paragraph—Describe your interest in this company. Subtly emphasize your knowledge about them (results of your research) and your familiarity with the industry. Be sure to present yourself as eager to work for this company.
Example: I am confident that with my initiative and strong technical back-ground, I can contribute to your company’s success in making the transition to infrared technology.
Final Paragraph—Request an interview. Include your phone number and the hours you can be reached, or mention that you will follow up with a phone call within the next several days to arrange an interview at a mutually convenient time.
Example: I would like to interview with you at your earliest convenience. I can be reached at (123) 456-7890 between 3:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Closing—The closing should be two lines below the final paragraph and aligned with the date. Don’t get fancy—a simple “Sincerely” will suffice. Four lines below, type your full name as it appears on your resume. Sign your name in black ink above your typed name.
Enclosure Line— If you are enclosing a resume or other materials, add an enclosure line two spaces below your name, flush left.
Example: Enc. resume
When do you send a cover letter? Anytime you are sending a resume to a company. You may have situations where you are sending a letter without a resume, but a resume should always be accompanied by a cover letter. See sample cover letters on this pageor on our website.
Cover Letter Layout
Address City,State,ZIP
Date
NameofContactTitleofContactCompanyNameCompanyAddress
DearMs./Mr. _____________ :
Immediatelyexplainwhyyouarewritingthisletter.Stateyour academic status.
Describewhatyoucandoforthiscompany,howhiringyouwouldbeofbenefittothefirm.Don’telaborateonwhatyouhopetogainfromthis experience—the hiring manager is interested in what you can do for thecompany,notwhatyouwouldlikethemtodoforyou.
Describeyourinterestinthiscompany.Emphasizeyourknowledgeofthe company and the industry using the information you have gained fromyourresearch.Besubtlebutbesuretoletthecompanyknowhoweageryouaretoworkforthem.
Refer the reader to your enclosed resume. Indicate your desire for an interview.Closetheletterwithastatementthatencouragesfurtheraction.
Sincerely,
Your Signature Your NameEnc.Resume
Sample Cover Letter
Address City,State,ZIP
Date
NameofContactTitleofContactCompanyNameCompanyAddress
DearMs./Mr. _____________ :
I am a junior electrical engineering student at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.IwillbecompletingmycurrentcourseworkattheendofMayandamwritingtoinquireaboutsummeremploymentopportunitiesatMiffcoElectronics.
I have completed several courses in computer applications and programming whichhaveprovidedmewiththequalificationsnecessarytoproduce electroniccontrolsforautomotiveapplications.IamfamiliarwithC,C++andMotorolaHC11controllersaswellastheirapplicationinembedded systems. I am extremely interested in the automotive industry, andwouldliketolearnmoreaboutMiffcoElectronic’soperation.
InadditiontotheknowledgeandskillsthatIhavedevelopedfrommycoursework,Iwouldalsobringothervaluableskillstothetablesuchascreativity,theabilitytoworkaloneorasaproductivememberofateam,andthedesiretomakeapositivecontributiontoyourcompany.
I have attached my resume for your review. I would appreciate the opportunitytomeetwithyoutodiscussmyqualificationforemployment atMiffco.Ifyouneedadditionalinformationorhavequestions,[email protected],andIwillalsofollowupbyphonelaterthisweek.
Sincerely,
Your Signature Your Name
Enc.Resume
10 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
THE THANK-YOU LETTER
A well-written and professional thank-you letter is one of the most important steps in a comprehensive job search. Send a thank-you letter as a follow-up to any communication (interview, phone conversation, written reply, etc.) with an employer or networking contact. This is the time to express your appreciation, re-emphasize your strong qualifications, reiterate your interest in the position and the company, or provide additional information that will convince an employer that you are the best candidate for the job.
Never use form letters—make sure the letter contains some reference to your experience with the individual who will receive the letter. If you interview with more than one person, send appropriate, original thank-you letters to each interviewer. See sample thank-you letter to the right.
THE ACCEPTANCE LETTER
At the end of your job search, when you have accepted a position, send an accep-tance letter. This letter confirms your acceptance of the position as well as specific details about salary, starting date, and other arrangements. An acceptance letter generally follows a telephone or personal conversation in which the details of the offer and terms of employment are discussed. See sample acceptance letter to the right.
THE REFUSAL LETTER
You’ve ended your job search. You’ve analyzed all your options, you’ve made a choice and accepted a position. You’ve called and accepted the offer, written your acceptance letter and gotten a confirmation from your chosen company. You’re done—right? WRONG!
Now it’s time to write refusal letters to all the other companies who have made an offer of employment. Let the companies whose offers you are refusing know as early as possible. Remember, finding the right candidate takes time. If you don’t accept their offer, they will need to continue the search process with the alternates. Give them time to continue their candidate search early, while other qualified candidates are still available.
Your refusal letter should:
4 Courteously thank the employer for their time, the interview, the offer and any special accommodations or considerations
4 Let them know that you have accepted another offer and are no longer available
4 Include hopes of working with them in the future
See the sample refusal letter on the next page.
Some companies may send out surveys to candidates that refuse their offers. This is an attempt to assess the effectiveness of their recruiting practices and the competitiveness of their offers. If you don’t think it’s any of their business, don’t fill out the survey or, if there are things you think they need to know, but feel uncomfortable telling them, fill it out but don’t identify yourself.
LETTER OF APPLICATION
Use a letter of application when applying for a specific employment opportunity. Be sure you mention the specific position and where you saw it advertised. Briefly summarize your qualifications as they relate to the position. Telegraph your eager-ness to work for this firm. Promote yourself in a way that the reader will want to turn the page and read your resume! See sample on next page.
Thank-You Letter
StreetAddress City,StateZIP Date
Mr.GeorgeThompsonHumanResourceManagerWOWChemicalU.S.A.P.O.Box1776Hurrah,MI48707DearMr.Thompson:IenjoyedmeetingwithyouonMarch12todiscussopportunitiesforchemicalengineersatWOWChemical.IwasveryimpressedbytheprojectteamworkdemonstratedbyyourengineeringstaffaswellasWOW’scommitmenttoenvironmentalandsafetyissues.Ialso appreciated the opportunity to learn more about new research and technology in which WOW is involved.Iwouldliketoreiteratemystronginterestintheproductionengineering positionandinworkingwithyouandtheothersintheSaranFilmsTechnologyCenter.AsImentionedinmyinterview,myinternshipexperience provided me an excellent foundation in polymers research and design and environmental affairs.Thankyouagainforyourtime.Ilookforwardtohearingfromyouinthe near future.
Sincerely,
Jane Doe JaneDoe
Acceptance Letter
StreetAddress City,StateZIP Date
Ms.OpalSlateDirectorofEngineeringOperationsBedrockInternationalCorp.P. O. Box YYYFlintstone,CA01010
DearMs.Slate:
IampleasedtoacceptyourofferforthepositionofAvionicsSystemsEngineeringInternatBedrockInternationalatastartingsalaryof$XX,XXX.
IamlookingforwardtostartingworkonJune1.Iunderstandthatthisis contingent upon my passing a routine physical exam. I am proceeding with the necessary arrangements.
Pleaseletmeknowifyouneedadditionalinformation.Isincerelyappreciate the personal time and attention you have given me throughout the process.
Sincerely,
John Smith JohnSmith
www.rose-hulman.edu/careerservices 11
Letter of Application StreetAddress City,State,ZIP Date
Ms.ElaineCollins EmploymentManager American Aircraft, Inc. 32AirlineDrive Airport,MO00747
DearMs.Collins:
IamwritingtoapplyfortheStructuralDynamicsEngineeringpositionrecently advertisedintheRose-HulmanCareerServicesOffice.IwillbecompletingmyBachelorofSciencedegreeinmechanicalengineeringatRose-HulmaninMay20xx.
Duringmyco-opassignmentatPatriotElectric’sAircraftDivision, Iwasinvolved in the design of a new airfoil for an Air Force jet. As an outcome of the research I completed for my senior project, I presented a technical paper and co-authored a publication on flight path dynamics. I am also experienced at writing specifications and reviewing contractor proposals.
I found these experiences to be extremely valuable and interesting and am committed to continuing my career in the aircraft industry. I am especially inter-estedinworkingforacompanylikeAmericanAircraft,whoseinnovativedesignshave had such a dramatic impact on the industry.
Myresumeisenclosedforyourreview.Iwillcontactyouintwoweekstofollowup.Inthemeantime,Icanbereachedat987-555-6543ifyouneedadditionalinformation.Ilookforwardtodiscussingmyqualificationswithyouinpersonandamavailableforaninterviewatyourconvenience.Thankyouforyourconsideration.
Sincerely,
Your Signature Your Name
Enc.Resume
Refusal Letter StreetAddress City,StateZIP Date
Mr.B.D.LuckHumanResourceManagerChanceElectronics1000 Winner Ave.LasVegas,NV77777
DearMr.Luck:
IwouldliketothankyouforofferingmethepositionofDigitalSignalProcessingEngineeratChanceElectronics.Iespeciallyappreciatethetimeyoutooktoanswerallofmyquestionsandtheeffortyouandyourstaff made to accommodate my schedule in the interview process.
Iwas impressedbyyouandyourstaffand thework thatChanceElectronicsisdoingintheelectroniccommunicationsfield.However,Ihave accepted another position that more closely fits my present needs.
ThankyouagainforyourtimeandtheopportunitytolearnmoreaboutthetechnologyandbusinessoutlookatChanceElectronics.Iwishyousuccess in your future endeavors and am sorry that I cannot join your team at this time.
Sincerely,
John Doe JohnDoe
12 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
StreetAddress City,State,ZIP Date
Mr.ArtBroadyHumanResourcesManagerMiffcoElectronicsCorporationOneCorporateCenterBunky,Louisiana12345
DearMr.Broady:
I am a senior electrical engineering student at Rose-Hulman. I will be graduating inMayandaminquiringaboutsummeremploymentopportunitiesatMiffcoElectronics.
I have completed several courses in computer applications and programming, whichhaveprovidedmewiththequalificationsnecessarytoproduceelectroniccontrolsforautomotiveapplications.IamfamiliarwithC,C++andMotorolaHC11controllersaswellastheirapplicationinembeddedsystems.Iamextremely interestedintheautomotiveindustryandwouldliketolearnmoreaboutMiffcoElectronics’operation.
I have enclosed my resume for your review. I would appreciate the opportunity to meetwithyoutodiscussmyqualificationforemploymentatMiffco.IunderstandthatyouwillbeattendingRose-Hulman’sannualcareerfairinOctober.Ilook forward to discussing employment opportunities with you at that time. If you need additionalinformation,Icanbereachedat812-123-4567.
Sincerely, Your Signature Your Name
Enc.Resume
StreetAddress City,State,ZIP Date Mr.WerlinG.DervishVicePresident,EngineeringPivotalSystems535MiddleburyParkwayCentralValley,CA94000
DearMr.Dervish,
IamasophomoremechanicalEngineeringmajoratRose-HulmanInstituteofTechnologyinTerreHaute,Indiana.IplantobelivingathomeinNorthernCaliforniathis summer and I believe I could be of assistance to you. It seems that most busy engineershavealistof“backburner”projects,whichtheyjustdonothavetimetocomplete.Iwouldbehappytotakecareofsomeofthoseprojectsforyouthissummer!
ThecurriculumatRose-Hulmanisrigorous.Itteachesproblem-solving,teamworkskills,andthevalueofhardwork.IamskilledinAutoCADv13andabletolearnnewsoftwarepackagesquickly.Icanhelpyouwithyourdesignanddevelopmentor production problems but will accept any other assignment that needs attention. AndIcanarriveequippedwithmyownlaptopcomputerifitisneededto successfullycompletemyworkatPivotalSystems.
IlookforwardtoexploringpotentialsummeremploymentwithPivotalSystems.IwillbeintownduringtheweekofMarch1andwouldbeavailableforaninterview. I will contact you before my arrival to arrange a time when we can meet.
Thankyouforyourconsideration.
Sincerely, Your Signature Your NameEnc.Resume
Letter of Inquiry #1
Use a letter of inquiry when you have an interest in a particular company or organiza-tion and would like to inquire into available employment opportunities. Be sure to state that you are a student at Rose-Hulman, your status and the type of employment you are seeking (permanent, summer, co-op, etc.) in the first paragraph.
Letter of Inquiry #2
This letter is designed to convince the smaller companies around your home town that hiring a summer intern (you) is a good idea even if they don’t have a full-blown Summer Internship Program. Notice the applicant takes responsibility for follow-up in this letter. Be sure to call at least two weeks in advance to set up an appointment.
Email CorrespondenceMaking contact with companies and sending cover letters and resumes via email is becoming more common place. As a job hunter, it is your responsibility to make sure that your email correspondence is as polished as everything else!
Often, email is used in an informal fashion — such as when we write home to mom and dad, or we send a quick note to a friend about our plans for the weekend. When using email to correspond with companies however, you need to make sure that your tone is not too relaxed and that you are not leaving anything open to interpretation. Using a conversational style in email that is too informal will not only make you appear unprofessional, but may also make you seem immature as well.
When sending cover letters via email, make sure the letter is well written and follows the same style as the examples in this manual and on our website. You should type the cover letter right into the body of your message, omitting the date and address blocks. Simply start with your salutation and begin writing. If you are sending your resume, you will add that as the attachment to your email.
When sending thank-you letters via email, craft it in much the same way, but be sure to be specific so that the person receiving the email knows who you are. Thank-you letters should be brief and succinct.
Here are some tips to help you prepare well-written email correspondence:
• Pay attention to your subject line. You want the subject to get their attention, but it should be appropriate.
• Do not use slang or inappropriate wording in your email.
• Be careful not to use “leet speak” or emoticons either. This is business corre-spondence, not a chat session.
• Use a standard font for your email such as Times New Roman or Arial. The font should be between 10 and 12 point in size.
• Avoid backgrounds or embedding graphics into the email.
• Be brief and succinct with your letter. It should be no longer than a letter that would be printed out and mailed via the post office.
• Always proofread and spell check your email before you send it. Often your cover letter is a company’s first impression of you.
If you are ever uncertain about whether you have written an appropriate email or not, feel free to contact Career Services and let a staff member review your corre-spondence first.
www.rose-hulman.edu/careerservices 13
Don’t Forget the Small CompaniesMost students concentrate their job search on Fortune 500 corporations or other large, well-known companies with defined and approachable personnel depart-ments. And in an economic climate that has proved challenging for small business, it would be easy to follow the path of “most students.”
But don’t count out the small companies just yet. Small businesses have been at the forefront of innovation, economic growth and job creation, and there’s no reason to doubt they’ll continue to find themselves in this position in the future.
Generally, any business with 200 or fewer employees is considered a small company. Whether the business has 20 employees or 20,000, the research you do in preparation for an interview opportunity will be the best gauge of the company’s outlook. As we’ve seen, large companies can be just as shaky as small ones, so the questions really come down to; “Is a small company right for you?” and “Are you right for a small company?” There are several things to consider when deciding between working in a large versus a small company.
IS A SMALL COMPANY RIGHT FOR YOU?Small companies tend to offer an informal atmo sphere, an all-for-one camara-derie and require more versatility and dedication on the part of the company and workers. Small companies are usually growing so they are constantly redefining themselves and the positions within them. Look at the following list of small company traits and consider which are advantages and which are disadvantages for you.
• You are given more responsibility and are not limited by job titles or descriptions.
• Your ideas and suggestions will be heard and given more attention.
• Career advancement and salary increases may be rapid in a growing company.
• You have less job security due to the high rate of failure for a small business.
• You have the opportunity to be involved in the creation or growth of something great.
• You may be involved in the entire organization rather than in a narrow department.
• You may be eligible for stock options and profit sharing.
• The environment is less bureaucratic; there are fewer rules and regulations and thus fewer guidelines to help you determine what to do and whether you’re succeeding or failing.
• Successes and faults are more visible.
• Starting salaries and benefits may be more variable.
• A dominant leader can control the entire organization. This can lead either to more “political games” or a healthy, happy atmosphere.
• You must be able to work with everyone in the organization.
ARE YOU RIGHT FOR A SMALL COMPANY?Because most small companies do not have extensive training programs, they look for certain traits in potential employees. You will do well in a small company if you are:
• Self-motivated
• A generalist with many complementary skills
• A good communicator, both oral and written
• Enthusiastic • A risk-taker • A quick learner
• Responsible enough to get things done on your own
There are fewer limitations, and it’s up to you to make the best or worst of that freedom. A small business often has a strong company culture. Learn that compa-ny’s culture; it will help you on your way up the corporate ladder.
FINDING A JOB IN A SMALL COMPANY
One of the biggest hurdles to finding a job in a small business is contacting a hiring manager. Good timing is critical. The sporadic growth of many small companies can mean sporadic job openings, so you need to network. A small business tends to fill its labor needs informally through personal contacts and recommendations from employees. Job hunters must find their way into the organization and approach someone with hiring authority. This means you must take the initiative. Once you have someone’s attention, you must convince him or her that you can do something for the company. How do you find information on small companies? Try these techniques:
• Contact the chamber of commerce in the area you would like to work. Get the names of growing companies in the industry of your choice. Peruse the membership directory.
• Participate in the local chapter of professional trade associations related to your career. Send prospective employers a cover letter and resume, then follow up with a phone call.
• Read trade publications, business journals, and area newspapers for leads. Again, follow up.
• Speak with small business lenders such as bankers, venture capitalists, and small business investment companies listed in directories at local libraries.
Keep the following differences between large and small companies in mind as you conduct your job search:
Large Company Small Company
Centralized Human Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No HR
Formal recruiting program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No full-time recruiters
Standardized hiring procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No standard hiring procedures
Keep resumes on file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Usually won’t keep resumes
Interview held with Interview often held withrecruiters and managers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the founder or direct boss
Career section on Web site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Little/no career section on Web site
Hiring done months in advance of starting date . . . . . . Hired to begin immediately
Formal training programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . On-the-job training
Predetermined job categories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jobs emerge to fit needs
Always do your homework on the company, and persuade them to hire you through your initiative and original thinking. If you haven’t graduated yet, offer to work for them as an intern. This will give you experience, and if you do well, there’s a good chance that a job will be waiting for you on graduation day.
Adapted with permission from the Career Resource Manual of the University of California, Davis.
14 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Turning Your Internship Into a Full-Time Position
One of the best benefits of an internship or cooperative education experience is that it can serve as your passport to future employment opportunities. Getting your foot in the door by landing the internship or co-op is only half of the chal-lenge in turning your career dreams into a reality. The more vital half is to build a reputation during this career experience that will culminate in receiving a full-time job offer.
A growing number of employers are using internships as a way to gain a first in-depth look at prospective employees. In this respect, both you and your employer have a common goal—namely, to determine if there is a good fit between you.
Here are ten tips to becoming a savvy intern and making powerful career moves:
1. EXHIBIT A CAN-DO ATTITUDE Pass the attitude test and you will be well on your way to success. Attitude
speaks loud and clear and makes a lasting impression, so make sure that yours is one of your greatest assets. Take on any task assigned—no matter how small—with enthusiasm. Take the initiative to acquire new skills. Accept criticism graciously and maintain a sense of humor.
2. LEARN THE UNWRITTEN RULES Get to know your co-workers early in your internship. They will help you
figure out quickly the culture in which you will be working. Being the “new kid” is like being a freshman all over again. You will need to adapt, observe, learn and process a large volume of information. Watch closely how things get done. Ask questions and pay attention to how people interact with each other.
3. TAKE YOUR ASSIGNMENTS SERIOUSLY Build a reputation for being dependable. Be diligent and accurate in your
work. You may encounter a great deal of ambiguity in the work environ-ment, so seek direction when in doubt and do whatever it takes to get the job done. As an intern, you will generally start out by performing small tasks, asking a lot of questions and learning the systems. Your internship supervisor knows that there will be an initial learning curve and will make allowances for mistakes. Learn from your errors and move on to your next task. From there, your responsibilities and the expectations of others are likely to grow.
4. MEET DEADLINES Always assume the responsibility to ask when an assignment is due. This
will help you to understand your supervisor’s priorities and to manage your time accordingly. Alert your boss in advance if you will be unable to meet expectations. This will show respect and professional maturity.
5. SET REALISTIC GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS
Invest actively in the most critical element of your internship—that is, the learning agenda which you set up with your supervisor at the beginning of the assignment. Your learning agenda should target specific skills and
competencies that you wish to acquire and demonstrate. After all, the learning agenda is what distinguishes a short-term job from an internship. It is up to you to establish a correlation between your learning goals and the daily work you are asked to perform. Maintain a journal of your activi-ties and accomplishments in order to monitor your progress. Seek regular reviews from your supervisor to assess your performance and reinforce the fact that you mean business.
6. COMMUNICATE RESPECTFULLY Assume that everyone else knows more than you do. However, don’t be
afraid to present useful ideas that may save time or money or solve prob-lems. Make sure, however, that your style does not come across as cocky. Employers value assertiveness but not aggressiveness. Find out the proper way to address individuals, includ ing customers. Maintain a pleasant and respectful demeanor with every person, regardless of his or her rank.
7. BE FLEXIBLE Accept a wide variety of tasks, even those that may not relate directly to
your assignments or those that may seem like grunt work. Your willing-ness to go the extra mile, especially during “crunch time,” will help you carve the way to assuming greater responsibilities.
8. BE A TEAM PLAYER Learn how your assignment fits into the grand scheme of things and keep
a keen eye on getting the job done. In today’s work environment, success is often defined along the lines of your ability to get along with and interact with others. You’re a winner only if your team wins.
9. GET A MENTOR Identify at least one individual to serve as your mentor or professional
guardian. It should be someone who is willing to take a personal interest in your career development and success. Once you know your way around, begin to network wisely and get “plugged in” by associating with seasoned employees who may share their knowledge, perspectives and insights. Get noticed, because many more people will have a role in determining your future than you might at first realize.
10. HAVE FUN! Last but not least, enjoy learning, sharpening your skills and developing
professionally and personally. Participate in work-related social functions and become an active member in your work community.
Make your internship or co-op experience work for you. It can be the first link in the chain of your career.
Written by Lina Melkonian, Director of Development at San José State University, College of Engineering.
www.rose-hulman.edu/careerservices 15
International Students and the Job Search
Looking for a job is seldom easy for any student. For you, the international student, the job search process can be especially confusing. You may lack an understanding of U.S. employment regulations, or perhaps you are unaware of the impact your career choice has on your job search. You may also be unsure about your role as the job-seeker and the resources used by American employers to find candidates.
The following is an overview of the issues most relevant to international students in developing a job search strategy. Additional information about the employment process and related topics can be found through your career center and on the Internet.
BUREAU OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES (USCIS) REGULATIONS
As an international student, you should only obtain employment-related infor-mation from an experienced immigration attorney or your campus USCIS representative. Advice from any other resource may be inaccurate. Once you have decided to remain in the United States to work, contact the international student services office or the office of human resources on your campus and make an appointment with your USCIS representative. In addition to helping you fill out necessary forms, the USCIS representative will inform you of the costs associated with working in the United States.
IMPORTANCE OF SKILLS AND CAREER FIELD
Find out if your degree and skills-set are currently in demand in the U.S. job market. An advanced degree, highly marketable skills or extensive experience will all make your job search easier. Find out what region of the United States holds the majority of the jobs in your field; you may need to relocate in order to find the job you want. Learn all you can about your targeted career field by talking to professors, reading industry publications and attending professional meetings and regional conferences.
ROLE OF EMPLOYERS
It is the employer’s responsibility to find the right people for his or her company—not to help you find a job. The interview is successful when both of you see a match between the employer’s needs and your interest and ability to do the job.
The employer (through hiring managers, human resources staff or employment agencies) will most likely use several resources to find workers, including:
• College recruiting
• Campus or community job fairs
• Posting jobs on the company website or on national job posting sites on the Internet
• Posting jobs in major newspapers or trade publications
• Posting jobs with professional associations
• Resume searches on national online services
• Employee referrals
• Regional and national conferences
• Employment agencies (“headhunters”)
Are you accessible to employers through at least some of the above strategies? If not, develop a plan to make sure your credentials are widely circulated. Notify as many people as possible in your field about your job search.
STRONG COMMUNICATION SKILLS
You can help the employer make an informed hiring decision if you:
• Provide a well-prepared resume that includes desirable skills and relevant employment experiences.
• Clearly convey your interests and ability to do the job in an interview.
• Understand English when spoken to you and can effectively express your thoughts in English.
It’s important to be able to positively promote yourself and talk with confidence about your education, relevant skills and related experiences. Self-promotion is rarely easy for anyone. But, it can be especially difficult for individuals from cultures where talking about yourself is considered inappropriate. When inter-viewing in the United States, however, you are expected to be able to explain your credentials and why you are suitable for the position.
Be sensitive to the interviewer’s verbal and nonverbal cues. Some inter-national students may not realize when their accent is causing them to be misunderstood. Interviewers are sometimes too embarrassed or impatient to ask for clarification, so be on the lookout for nonverbal clues, such as follow-up questions that don’t match your responses or sudden disinterest on the part of the interviewer. Also, make sure you express proper nonverbal communication; always look directly at the employer in order to portray confi-dence and honesty.
If your English language skills need some work, get involved with campus and community activities. These events will allow you to practice speaking English. The more you use the language, the more proficient you will become. These activities are also a great way to make networking contacts.
CAREER CENTER
The career center can be a valuable resource in your job search. Be aware, however, that some employers using the career center won’t interview students who are not U.S. citizens. Though this may limit your ability to participate in some campus interviews, there are numerous ways to benefit from the campus career center:
• Attend sessions on job search strategies and related topics.
• Work with the career services staff to develop your job search strategy.
• Attend campus career fairs and company information sessions to inquire about employment opportunities and to practice your networking skills.
It’s a good idea to get advice from other international students who have success-fully found employment in this country and to start your job search early. Create and follow a detailed plan of action that will lead you to a great job you can write home about.
Written by Rosita Smith.
16 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Interviews
Here we go! This is it — the big event! A little nervous? It might help to think of your first interview as an audition. And if you want to be successful, you will need to prepare for the part, just as an actor prepares for a role. You must look the part, know your lines and, like an actor, if you want to win the role, rehearse, rehearse, rehearse.
LOOK THE PARTYou must dress for your interview role. This generally means looking and acting businesslike. Many companies will indicate the preferred attire for an interview, but if they do not, you should assume that the dress is Business. Here are some definitions:
• Business: this might also be called “church clothes”. It is the most formal and conservative of dress. For men, a conservative suit, dress shirt and tie are appro-priate. A nice pair of dark pants and a sport coat and tie might also work well. Women should consider a fashionable pant or dress suit, or a conservative dress and neutral stockings.
• Business-Casual: this is a more relaxed look, but is still somewhat “dressy” in nature. Men might wear a nice pair of slacks and a dress shirt with or without a tie (no jacket needed), while women may opt for nice slacks or a skirt and a conservative blouse.
• Casual: even though the name implies casual attire, you should still err on the side of being conservative. Either gender may opt for a nice pair of khakis or pants and a nice shirt. Men do not need to wear a tie. Jeans and tennis shoes should not be worn.
Hair should be neatly combed. Don’t use cologne or perfume and go easy on the jewelry! Women, don’t overdo your makeup and, if you wear nail polish, use a neutral shade. Don’t smoke, chew gum or eat during your interview. Remember, you want to look BUSINESSLIKE and CONSERVATIVE.
PREPARING FOR YOUR ROLEAn actor would never audition for a part without knowing something about the production. Know the title and job duties of the position for which you’re interviewing. Familiarize yourself with the company’s missions, values, current projects, and innovations. Now is the time to hit the books again, to update the information you have about the company and to refresh your memory on what you learned from past research. There are many information resources available:
4 Make a direct request to the company to send a copy of its annual report
4 Visit Career Services library to see if there is any promotional information provided by company representatives that have visited the campus
4 Search the Internet for the company’s home page or for stock market information
4 Ask a Career Services staff member for help
KNOW YOUR LINESThe purpose of the interview is for the interviewer to obtain knowledge about your skills, qualifications and “fitness” as an employee and for you to obtain information about the company, the specific job and the company’s “fitness” as an employer.
The interviewer, in addition to assessing your technical skills, will want to assess personal skills and behaviors such as: 4 Communication 4 Planning & organizing abilities 4 Impact 4 Initiative/motivation 4 Listening 4 Leadership/teamwork 4 Interpersonal skills 4 Adaptability/flexibility
You can be several steps ahead by preparing and practicing your responses to the following inquiries: 4 Tell me about yourself. 4 Why did you choose this career field? This school? 4 What academic subjects do you enjoy most? Least? Why? 4 Tell me about your previous work experience. 4 Tell me about a time when you had to demonstrate a certain ability
(e.g., negotiation, teamwork, creativity, etc.) 4 Why do you want to work for this particular organization? 4 What are your major strengths? Weaknesses? 4 Which accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? 4 Where do you see yourself in five years? What are your long-term
goals?
See page 24 or our website for additional questions and comments on possible responses to those that seem to create the most difficulty.
Questions of a personal nature that are not relevant to the employment situation are inappropriate for the interviewer to ask. Talk to a Career Services staff member if you have concerns about how to handle specific situations.
At some point during the interview, your interviewer will ask if you have any questions. Saying “no” signals the interviewer that you have little, if any, interest in either the company or the position. When you go to an interview, be prepared with a list of questions that reflect your interest in the company and the position. Write them down. When the time comes, pull out your list and ask those questions that have not already been answered in the course of the interview. Here are some questions you might consider: 4 In reading about your company, I noticed you have new manufacturing
methods. How do these methods affect this position? 4 How would you describe a typical day on this job? 4 Can you tell me about the people/positions I would be reporting to? 4 Can you tell me about the “culture” or working environment at your
organization? 4 What do you feel is unique about this organization? 4 What characteristics should the ideal candidate have for this position? 4 When can I expect to hear from you about my candidacy?
For other possibilities see page 24.
www.rose-hulman.edu/careerservices 17
Your job during the interview is to sell yourself to the employer and convince them that you are truly interested in this position and eager to work for them. Wait until an offer is made to ask the “What’s in it for me” questions about salary, benefits, etc.
BE A “STAR”It is never a good idea to think you can “wing it” when it comes to answering questions about your experiences and yourself. It’s a good idea to sit down and think of some “war stories” that will effectively demonstrate your strong personal skills and characteristics. This is where you’ll become a S.T.A.R. The best answers will tell an interviewer about your skills and abilities by describing times when you’ve demonstrated those skills and abilities in the past. The answer should include three parts: a description of the Situation or Task (the reason you took a particular course of action), the Action (be sure it’s something specific that you actually did) and the Result. Results, of course, should always reflect success. Here’s an example of a “S.T.A.R.” response to an employer’s question about a student’s less-than-impressive GPA:
Situation/Task—“I entered my sophomore year with a low GPA. I had always done well in school, but I didn’t handle the transition to college well. I knew that if I wanted to succeed, I had to develop better study habits and manage my time better.”
Action—“I created a calendar and marked the due dates for all of my assign-ments and tests. Then I set aside certain hours each day for studying, allowing more for peak times like mid-terms and finals. I made up my mind not to change the plan until after the first quarter grades so I could give it a chance to work.”
Result—“My grades improved immediately; I used this system for the whole year and earned a 3.1 while still having time for other activities. My GPA has been strong ever since.”
Answering your interviewer’s questions with a S.T.A.R. will help you avoid long rambling answers that tell nothing about your skills, abilities and strengths as they relate to the position. Your interviewer will be positively impressed and will have the kind of information that is needed to more objectively assess your fitness for the position.
Think you need help? Want to practice your S.T.A.R.’s? Schedule a practice inter-view at the Career Services office. Details on how to sign up are on our website.
PHONE/SKYPE/VIDEO INTERVIEWS
Occasionally during your interview process, a company may ask to conduct a distance interview with you. You should prepare for these interviews in the same way that you would prepare for an in-person interview. If you need a private place to conduct a phone interview, contact Career Services to reserve one of our interview rooms. Career Services can also help you set up interviews using Skype or video conferencing in our offices.
Situation or Task
Action Result
OThe Site Visit/Interview: One Step Closer
While on-campus screening interviews are important, on-site visits are where jobs are won or lost. After an on-campus interview, strong candidates are usually invited to visit the employer’s facility. Work with the employer to schedule the on-site visit at a mutually convenient time. Sometimes employers will try to arrange site visits for several candidates to take place at the same time, so there may not be much flexibility…but you’ll never know if the employer is flexible unless you ask.
1. An invitation to an on-site interview, often referred to as the “plant trip,” is NOT a guarantee of a job offer. It is a chance to examine whether or not you will be a good match for the job and for the organization.
2. If invited to a plant trip, respond promptly if you are sincerely interested in this employer. Decline politely if you are not. Never go on a plant trip for the sake of the trip. Document the name and phone number of the person coordinating your trip. Verify who will be handling trip expenses. Most medium- and large-size companies (as well as many smaller ones) will pay your expenses, but others will not. This is very important, because expenses are handled in various ways: 1) the employer may handle all expenses and travel arrange ments; 2) you handle your expenses and arrange ments (the employer may assist with this), and the employer will reimburse you later; 3) the employer may offer an on-site interview, but will not pay for your interview.
3. Know yourself and the type of job you are seeking with this employer. Don’t say, “I am willing to consider anything you have.”
4. Thoroughly research the potential employer. Read annual reports, news-paper articles, trade journals, etc. Many companies have Web sites, where you can read mission statements, find out about long-term goals, read recent press releases, and view corporate photos. Don’t limit your research only to company-controlled information. The Internet can be a valuable investigative tool. You may uncover key information that may influ-ence—positively or negatively—your decision to pursue employment with a given organization.
5. Bring extra copies of your resume; copies of any paperwork you may have forwarded to the employer; names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of your references; an updated college transcript; a copy of your best paper as a writing sample; a notebook; a black and/or blue pen for filling out forms and applications; and names and addresses of past employers.
6. Bring extra money and a change of clothes. Also, have the names and phone numbers of those who may be meeting you in case your plans change unexpectedly. Anything can happen and you need to be ready for emergencies.
7. Your role at the interview is to respond to questions, to ask your own ques-tions and to observe. Be ready to meet people who are not part of your formal agenda. Be courteous to everyone regardless of his or her position; you never know who might be watching you and your actions once you arrive in town.
18 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
8. Don’t forget your table manners. Plant trips may include several meals or attendance at a reception the night before your “big day.” When ordering food at a restaurant, follow the lead of the employer host. For example, don’t order the three-pound lobster if everyone else is having a more moderately priced entree. If you have the “dining jitters,” some authorities suggest ordering food that is easy to handle, such as a boneless fish fillet or chicken breast.
9. Many employers have a set salary range for entry-level positions and others are more negotiable. Though salary should not be brought up until an offer is extended, it is wise to know your worth in advance. In as much as you are a potential employee, you also represent a valuable skills-set product. You should know what kind of product you have created, its value and what the company is willing to buy. Contact your campus career center to obtain more information on salaries.
10. Soon after the site visit, record your impressions of your performance. Review the business cards of those you met or write the information in your notebook before leaving the facility. You should have the names, titles, addresses and phone numbers of everyone who was involved in your interview so you can determine which individuals you may want to contact with additional questions or follow-up information. A thank-you letter should be written to the person(s) who will be making the hiring decision. Stay in touch with the employer if you want to pursue a career with them.
A site visit is a two-way street. You are there to evaluate the employer and to deter-mine if your expectations are met for job content, company culture and values, organizational structure, and lifestyles (both at work and leisure). Take note of how the employees interact, and also assess the physical work environment.
Just as any good salesperson would never leave a customer without attempting to close the sale, you should never leave an interview without some sort of closure. If you decide that the job is right for you, don’t be afraid to tell the employer that you feel that there is a good fit and you are eager to join their team. The employer is interested in hiring people who want to be associated with them and they will never know of your interest if you don’t voice your opinion. Keep in mind that although the employer has the final power to offer a job, your demeanor during the entire interviewing process—both on and off campus—also gives you a great deal of power.
Written by Roseanne R. Bensley, Placement and Career Services, New Mexico State University.
Take note of how the employees
interact, and also assess the
physical work environment.
TechniquesThere are many job search techniques. These techniques include: 4 Targeted mail, email, and telephone campaigns 4 Networking 4 On-campus interviews and career fairs 4 Answering recruitment ads 4 Using employment professionals
Many students think that they can depend on Internet ads and the want ads in their hometown newspapers to find a job for them. BIG MISTAKE! These traditional methods of job searching are some of the least successful techniques. Studies have shown that direct contact (a combination of targeted mail and telephone campaigns and networking) is far more effective and accounts for between 68% and 75% of jobs found in the U.S. Answering ads accounts for approximately 10%, using employment professionals accounts for 9-14%, and all other techniques, account for only 7-8%.
If you want to maximize your chances of finding a position, you will use all of these techniques in your job search campaign.
TARGETED MAIL, EMAIL & TELEPHONE CAMPAIGN
This method of job searching and networking is a very effective technique for new college graduates. With this technique you will identify employers who are of interest to you and make direct contact with them by phone or by mail. This is a time-consuming method, but it WORKS!
How do I go about it? 4 Start with a large number of employers in your field of interest. 4 Do research to narrow that list down to a manageable number of employers
(approximately 40-50) that you would most like to work for. 4 Send a resume and letter of inquiry to each employer. See sample cover
letters and resumes in the “Fundamentals” section or on our website. 4 Follow up on the phone two weeks later to learn more about job
opportunities in that organization and to communicate your interest in working there. In your follow-up phone call you should be prepared to provide a “60- second pitch” that includes:
1. the kind of work you want to do 2. your strongest skills and accomplishments 3. the kind of position you are seeking.
Your resume is probably the easiest place to find this information. Here are some examples:
“Hello. My name is Elaine O’Connor. I am a senior in chemical engi-neering and have had 15 months of co-op and internship experience in the polymers research and design and the process engineering fields.“I have read several articles about the new materials and processing techniques that you are developing at the Saran Films Center and have been impressed by your innovation. I recently sent you my resume and was wondering if you anticipate any openings that might be suitable for someone with my background?”
Or, you might try something like this:
“My name is Dennis Carson. I sent you my resume last week and I’d like to introduce myself. I’m completing my degree in mechanical engi-neering next June. For the last two years, I’ve worked part time during school and full time during the summers as a production supervisor for Wishful Automotive. I am looking for a position as a manufacturing engineer.
www.rose-hulman.edu/careerservices 19
“I read the article about your firm’s expansion in last Sunday’s business section and think that we might make a great match. Do you have a few minutes?”
4 Keep track. Create a job search notebook and make an entry for every mailing so, when you follow up, the information is at your fingertips.
4 Don’t send too many letters at one time. It will be very difficult to keep track and do an effective job of following up. Try five letters and five phone calls per week.
How do I find the companies for my target list?
The Career Services office can help you compile a list of potential employers if you are uncertain how to go about identifying contacts. Your goal is to create a list of companies that you are interested in and identify a contact point for each company. You will need the contact person’s email address or phone number and a mailing address if you can find one. Be careful not to overlook smaller, lesser known companies. Instant access to company information and contacts gives you a powerful advantage in the competition for the best jobs. The following are possible ways to build your list of contacts:
• eRecruiting — if a company has an entry in our eRecruiting system, a Career Services staff member can provide you with a contact
• Faculty — talk to your professors and advisors. Many of them have excellent contacts in industry
• Alumni — Career Services can help you find alumni at specific companies, in certain geographic regions or particular industries that you can contact for networking purposes
• Personal Contacts — you or your family members may already have some contacts available that you can use to get your list started
• Internet — spend some time online researching companies. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and call a company to ask where to send your resume to be considered for positions you are interested in.
It is important to narrow your list to a manageable group (40 or 50). If you don’t get positive results from that effort, have your resume and cover letters critiqued by a Career Services staff member and try another group, then another. Don’t give up. This is one of the most effective job search techniques. But remember that it will take time. At five letters and phone calls per week, you must start NOW if you want to be employed by graduation.
NETWORKING WITH PERSONAL CONTACTS AND RHIT ALUMNI
Networking is one of the most effective techniques of job searching. It is also the most misunderstood and least comfortable. If you feel hesitant about networking, you’re not alone. It may help to remember that networking is not a manipulative tool, nor is it begging friends, family, acquaintances and strangers for a job! Networking is letting people you know — personally and profession-ally — that you are looking for a job. It simply means asking them to keep you in mind if they know of or hear of any openings that might fit your background. It is also the best way to access the “hidden job market” — those jobs that are available now or will be in the near future, but are never posted or advertised.
How do I get started?The first step in networking is to make a list of contacts. Include family, friends, high school teachers, Rose professors, professional contacts from summer jobs, co-op experiences, or Career Fairs, and RHIT alumni. Your goal is not to get a job
from these contacts but to gather information, advice, and referrals from people they know who might provide additional help or who may have a job. Make a list of 20 networking targets.
The next step is to call or write to request an informational interview. Make it clear that you are not asking for a job but are seeking help on a personal level.
What do I say?You might write a letter — see the sample below:
Many networking contacts are made by phone. When you call your networking contact, introduce yourself with a 60-second pitch. At some point ask if the contact knows of anyone who might have a need for someone with your skills and qualifi-cations. Keep going — ask if the contact knows anyone who knows anyone who might have a need for someone with your qualifications. If the conversation is going well, ask the contact if he/she has a few minutes to meet with you or if you could schedule a time for an informational interview by phone. The conversation might go something like this:
“John Bridges? My name is Eleanor DeRosa and I’m a senior at Rose-Hulman. I got your name from Rose-Hulman Career Services. I’m interested in a career in chemical engineering, and I’m working on identifying professionals in my field who can help me develop an inside perspective on the job market. I’m not looking for a job from you but thought you would be a good source of advice, and I would really appre-ciate your assistance. Could I come in to meet with you, or phone you for 10-15 minutes, sometime during the next two weeks?”
When you call to request an informational interview, you should be prepared to conduct the interview immediately. Have a script in your hand when you dial
INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW REQUEST LETTER
StreetAddress City,StateZIP Date
Ms.JaneAdamsDirector,PowerSystemsCentralEnergyCorporation100ConcentricAvenueMedianCity,IA54321
DearMs.Adams:
I am a senior at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. KevinHewerdine, DirectorofCareerServices,suggestedthatIcontactyou.Iaminterestedin a career in the power industry and would appreciate your advice on the jobmarketinthisfield.
Iwouldverymuchliketheopportunitytomeetwithyou.Iwillcallyounextweektoseeifwemightarrangeanappointmentthatisconvenientforyou.Thankyouforyourassistance.
Sincerely,
John Smith JohnSmith
20 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
the phone! Always use a relaxed, conversational tone but ask specific questions. Here are some you can use:
4 How did you get into this field? Where did you work before?
4 What advice would you give someone just getting out of school who wants to be successful in your field?
4 I have a copy of my resume. Could you look at it and let me know what you think?
4 What can I expect a typical career path to be like in this field?
4 From the research I’ve done so far, I’ve developed a list of companies in our field that I am interested in. Can you tell me anything about them?
4 Can you recommend anyone else for me to talk to?
4 What are the names of a few companies in your area?
4 What companies in your city are the growing companies I should contact?
How do I follow up?
Always follow up immediately with a thank-you letter or email. If you haven’t already sent a resume, send one with your thank-you letter requesting that they keep you in mind if they hear of anything.
Send another letter a month or so later. Let your contact know that you followed up on their advice and inform them of any new developments in your job search.
Keep a separate notebook or file for all your networking contacts. Include every-one’s name, address, phone, title and organization as well as dates and details of all conversations and correspondence.
When you have found employment, notify everyone on your networking list, thanking them again. Remember, you may soon be in a position to help them.
How do I identify Rose-Hulman alumni for networking?
Alumni database searches are available through the Career Services Office. In order to request a search, visit the Career Services Office to complete an Alumni Networking Search Request form.
The results will be returned to you in an Excel Spreadsheet via email.
ON-CAMPUS INTERVIEWS & CAREER FAIRSThe number one mistake made by graduating seniors is thinking that on-campus recruiting will get them the job they want, so they don’t really have to put much effort into the other techniques. Don’t wait around for that one perfect company to announce that it is visiting campus. Even if it does, the competition for these jobs is tough. There just aren’t enough companies visiting college campuses to provide opportunities for all of the interested students. Many companies are cutting back on their on-campus interviewing and those that aren’t are visiting several campuses to identify candidates for their positions. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use on-campus recruiting. Some of you will find excellent jobs using this technique. But you should start early, and be sure that you use the other tech-niques, just in case you’re not one of the lucky few.
ANSWERING RECRUITMENT ADSAnswering published ads (newspaper want ads, Internet postings) is not the best technique for finding a job. The reason is there’s a lot of competition for these jobs. Once a company publishes an ad, it is generally deluged with applicants. Include this technique in your job search plan, anyway. Remember, 10% of the jobs filled are filled through published recruitment ads — and you just might be one of those who is successful!
Where can I find ads ? 4 eRecruiting — Companies that have an interest in hiring Rose-Hulman
graduates may request that their jobs be posted into our online system.
4 Internet—The Internet is exploding with job search information. You can place your resume on file, search employment opportunities and forward your resume through various jobsites online. In addition, you can find materials on miscellaneous job-related information such as writing resumes and cover letters, interview tips, skills assessment, etc. A list of Internet sites can be found on our website.
INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW THANK-YOU LETTER
StreetAddress City,StateZIP Date
Mr.JohnAdamsMarketingManagerRedBaronUtilities1234SnoopyAvenueLucy,MN09876
DearMr.Adams:
Ithankyouforthetimeyouspentwithmelastweek.Yourwillingnessto share information with me is most appreciated.
Your perspective on the public utilities field was very helpful. I now haveabetterideaofhowtoapproachthismarket.IplantofollowupthisweekonyoursuggestiontocontactPeanutsPowerCorporation. Itsoundslikeaninterestingcompany.
Again,thankyouforyourassistance.
Sincerely,
John Smith JohnSmith
www.rose-hulman.edu/careerservices 21
How should I respond?
The process for responding to a want ad is much the same as that used for contacting a company in a targeted mail campaign, with the exception that the company and position have been identified for you.
Here, again, you will need to research the company. Find out if this is a company that you want to work for. Do enough research to be able to write an effective cover letter and to come across as eager and interested in your conversations. If not given in the ad, find the name and title of the person whom you should send your resume to. Use the Career Search database in the Career Services library, or check with Career Services staff to see if that employer and a contact are in the database of employers that recruit at Rose.
Send your resume. Write a targeted cover letter that lists the qualifications in the ad and explains how your experiences, skills and accomplishments fit the position. See page 9 for an example.
Make a follow-up phone call to make sure your resume was received and to answer any questions the employer may have. Use your 60-second pitch and make sure you let them know how interested you are in the position.
Keep track. Make notes in your job search notebook for every letter and follow-up contact.
USING EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONALS There are a variety of “third party” agencies providing employment services. Employment agencies are commissioned by employers to find qualified candi-dates to fill their openings. You should remember that their main focus is to satisfy the employer’s needs, not to help you find that “perfect” job. They are paid a sizeable fee when they fill a position.
Employment marketing services operate very differently from traditional employ-ment agencies. One of the big differences is that employers pay employment agencies, YOU pay employment marketing services—sometimes thousands of dollars—to help you find a job. They will develop a resume, write letters of inquiry, and make phone calls for you—basically the things you can learn about in this manual and do for yourself FREE. And their success rate is nothing to write home about—about 5%. Unless you just don’t know what else to do with your money, don’t use these firms!
Don’t call 900 numbers either. They’re a relatively new phenomenon in the employment world. They boast about lots of sensational job openings, claiming that all you have to do is call and you’ll be on your way to a terrific career. The reality is that they usually list only a few job leads, many of them for positions that are already filled, and they are expensive — sometimes as much as $10 or $20 per call.
Temporary agencies or contract firms can be a viable alternative. Like an employ-ment agency, they are paid by the employer to provide qualified professionals. You are hired by and remain on the agency’s payroll. The agency, in turn, contracts your services to the employer for a specified period of time. Many firms now specialize in the placement of technical professionals. Working on temporary assignments while you continue your job search can provide valuable experience to be added to your resume. You can develop invaluable contacts in the companies you are contracted to. Sometimes permanent positions develop during the assign-ment and the contract employee who has been doing that work is converted to a permanent employee.
If you decide you want to use employment or temporary agencies, check with Career Services for employer-supplied listings of companies used to fill both temporary and permanent positions. You can also find listings on the Career Search database and can target your search by industry, location, etc.
eRecruiting BasicsBy now you’ve seen enough references to eRecruiting to know that this is the online system that Career Services uses to coordinate all of their on-campus recruitment activities with companies. It is vital to the success of your job search that you make sure you know how to use the system and that your information is always up to date.
Each student already has an account created for them in the system. Your eRecruiting username and password is based on your school username and student ID number. eRecruiting username = RHITusername@rhit and eRecruiting pass-word = IDnumber.
It is important that you continually review your profile and documents in the system to make sure you are always ready to be seen! Each quarter you should update your GPA, your student status and upload a current resume. If you change your major at any time, you should update that as well. You also have the ability to upload cover letters and writing samples if a company should require those as part of their application process. Be sure that your documents have specific names and that you always designate your most current resume as your Primary Resume. Your Primary Resume is the one that Career Services will send out if a company requests resumes of available candidates.
When you search for jobs in the system, be sure to check the box that says to search only jobs from your career center. This will return results for positions posted
specifically for RHIT students. You will be able to apply for a job based on the criteria in your profile. If your major, GPA or year in school (your student status) do not match the criteria for the job, you will be unable to apply. Therefore it is vital for you to always keep this information up to date.
If you see a job that you wish to apply to, but a part of your profile does not allow you to apply, be in contact with Career Services. We can apply any student to any job, regardless of their criteria. In these cases, however, you will need to write a cover letter explaining why you are applying to a job that you do not meet the criteria for.
You will also get emails from the eRecruiting system notifying you of application deadlines that you meet the criteria for. This is a service that the Career Services office provides. Be sure to watch your email for these announcements and other system announcements such as acceptance to sign up on company interview schedules.
Once you have accepted a full-time position and notified the Career Services office, your account will be inactivated so that you do not get announcement emails and your resume is not sent to companies looking for candidates.
If you have questions about the eRecruiting system or would like tips on how to effectively use the system to identify job opportunities, visit the Career Services office for some one-on-one help. No appointment is necessary.
22 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
I’ve Got a Job Offer-What Now?You started early. You worked hard. You followed all the steps and used all the techniques in this manual. It worked! You have an offer! It looks fairly attractive. The company wants an answer next week. Today you were contacted by another company. They’ve described a position that sounds PERFECT and they want you to come in for an interview next week! Or, you’ve interviewed with two other companies that look prom-ising, but they won’t be making a decision for two more weeks. WHAT NOW?
First, call the company from whom you have the offer and explain the situation. “I am very excited about your offer and pleased that you are interested in hiring me. I know you understand what an important decision this is, and I want to be certain that I am making the right one. I would like a little more time to consider your offer. When do you need a final decision?”
Then call the companies that you are waiting to hear from and let them know of your pending offer decision. This may help speed up the process of securing these additional offers.
Weigh your options carefully when accepting a job offer. Consider factors such as job responsibilities, training, salary, benefits, working conditions and work colleagues. And remember that your decision MUST be a final one.
BENEFITS?Yes, benefits. The package that the company offers can be worth as much as 20–30% of your salary. While medical insurance, life insurance and pension and savings plans, day care and elder care may not seem important now, they ARE an important, and valuable, part of your job offer. A variety of benefits and “perks” that may be offered are listed below:
EVALUATING YOUR OFFER
Now that you have the job offer in hand you will have to decide whether or not the offer is acceptable in its present form. In other words, if this were the best that this company could offer, would you be willing to accept? If you have more than one acceptable offer, you will need to develop an evaluation technique that will help you select the offer that best meets your needs. A decision-making technique called “unit comparison decision making” can be very useful in this situation. To utilize this technique, you will need to:
4 Make a list of all of the things that will affect your decision. Include salary, location, benefits, type of work, work colleagues, work environment, type of industry and anything else you can think of that will be important in your choice.
4 Separate that list into “musts”— non-negotiable items — and “wants”— items that would be nice to have, or your “wish list.”
4 Prioritize your “wants.”
Compare each offer to your list of musts and wants. Those that do not meet your “musts” are unacceptable and should be refused or set aside for negotiation.
Those that have all the “musts” should be evaluated and prioritized, from the one that does the best job of fulfilling your wish list to the one that is the poorest. If you have several that tie, then you will have to rely on “gut feel” to make that decision.
Or you might use a “forced choice matrix” technique to compare each important element in an offer with that same element in every other offer. In each compar-ison the more favorable offer is scored “1” and the least favorable is scored “0”. A matrix is set up for each element and offers compared. Adding the matrix totals “forces” a ranking of the offers. In the matrices on the next page, four offers have been compared on the elements of salary, location and type of work. When the matrix totals for salary, location and type of work are added, the offers are ranked in order: 1st Offer #1 Grand total = 6 2nd Offer #2 Grand total = 5 3rd Offer #4 Grand total = 4 Last Offer #3 Grand total = 3
4 Medical insurance4 Dental insurance4 Optical/eye care insurance4 Life insurance4 Accidental death insurance4 Long term disability insurance4 Salary extension for short term
illnesses4 Vacation and Holidays4 Sick days4 Personal days4 Pension plans4 Savings plan
4 401(k) plans 4 Flexible spending plans4 Bonus/profit sharing4 Overtime/Comp time4 Flex time4 Employee assistance programs 4 Day care/Elder care programs4 Professional development4 Tuition reimbursement4 Van pools 4 Outplacement programs in the
event of a reduction in force
Be sure you find out when your benefits take effect and that you consider both their immediate and future values.
SALARY COMPARISONI have an offer for $45,000 in Jefferson City, Missouri and another for $58,000 in Chicago. Which is the better offer?
It is important to consider cost of living differentials when analyzing your offer. Cost of living comparisons for cities can often be found on online. If you need information on an unlisted city, check out “The Salary Calculator™” on the Web: http://www.bankrate.com/brm/movecalc.aspSimply select the city, state and salary for your first offer, and the city and state for your second offer. The calculator will do the rest. By the way, if your only consider-ation is money, the answer is Jefferson City.
salary location type of work Offer 1 vs. 2 1 vs. 3 1 vs. 4 2 vs. 3 2 vs. 4 3 vs. 4 Total
1111
3
20
11
2
3
0
0
11
4
0
000
1010
1
21
10
2
3
0
0
00
4
1
113
1101
2
20
01
1
3
1
1
02
4
0
011
www.rose-hulman.edu/careerservices 23
SALARY NEGOTIATIONWhile there are many points about an offer that can be negotiated (position, responsibilities, vacation, benefits, start date, etc.), salary is usually the primary issue. Salary negotiation can be very risky. Any counter offer that you make can invalidate the original offer... it is possible that the offer could be rescinded.
It is good to remember that companies may have a very tight schedule for entry-level offers. If you have extraordinary educational or work experience, you may be able to stretch the upper limit slightly. If not, they may be able to offer an alternative in the way of bonuses, guaranteed overtime, etc.
When discussing salary, talk in terms of what you’re hoping for, rather than what you expect. Talk about those extraordinary educational or work experiences that you have to offer the company. NEVER talk about your personal needs, bills, budgets, etc. Having lots of school loans to pay off or a personal budget crisis does nothing to enhance your value to the company.
In the end, you may only be able to negotiate a promise of future salary increases or bonuses. If so, be sure that you get it in writing.
If you have any questions at all about negotiating your offer, see a Career Services professional.
WARNING…WARNING
DO NOT accept an offer and then continue your job search. Accepting a job offer and then continuing your job search until you get a better offer is unethical and wrong! Reneging or “backing out” is not only considered bad form, it can come back to haunt you. The employer with whom you broke faith today, may have the job of your dreams two years from now or may be in a new company that you want to work for in the future. Your action can have a negative impact on Rose, your fellow students and future graduates. After all, what company would want to recruit at an institution where they can’t count on the honesty and trustworthiness of the students?
Your off-campus job search should neither begin nor end with the help wanted ads. Studies have shown that only 15 percent of available jobs are ever advertised. It takes much more than merely perusing the classifieds. By employing a number of methods, you constantly increase your chances of landing a job. Some techniques you might use:
Networking. Probably the most effective way to meet potential employers and learn about possible jobs is to tap into your personal network of contacts. You might think it’s too early to have professional contacts, but think about everyone you know—family members and their friends/co-workers, professors, past employers, neighbors and even your dentist. Don’t be afraid to inform them of your career interests and let them know that you are looking for work. They will likely be happy to help you and refer you to any professionals they think can be of assistance.
Informational interviewing. This approach allows you to learn more about your field by setting up interviews with professionals. The purpose of these inter-views is to meet professionals, gather career information and investigate career options, get advice on job search techniques and get referrals to other profes-sionals. When setting up these interviews, either by phone or letter, make it clear to the employer that you have no job expectations and are seeking information only.
Interviewing also familiarizes you to employers, and you may be remembered when a company has a vacant position.
Temporary work. As more companies employ the services of temporary or contract workers, new graduates are discovering that such work is a good opportu-nity to gain experience in their fields. Temporary workers can explore various jobs and get an inside look at different companies without the commitment of a perma-nent job. Also, if a company decides to make a position permanent, these “temps” already have made good impressions and often are given first consideration.
Electronic job search. One source of jobs may be as close as a personal computer. Various online resume services let you input your resume into a data-base, which then can be accessed by companies searching for applicants who meet their criteria. Companies also post job listings on Web sites to which students can directly respond by sending their resumes and cover letters.
Persistence is the key to cracking the hidden job market. Attend meetings of professional associations and become an active member. After you begin the above processes, and your network base expands, your search will be made easier. Employers will appreciate your resourcefulness—and view you as a viable candidate.
Tapping the Hidden Job Market
24 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
QuestionsQUESTIONS OFTEN ASKED BY INTERVIEWERS 1. Tell me about yourself. This question, simple as it sounds, causes more inter-
view grief than just about any other. This question is NOT an invitation to talk about your hometown, your family or your love for cats and dogs. Use this as an opportunity to present your qualifications, skills, strengths as they relate to the position, thus leading to the conclusion that you are, indeed, the right person for the job.
2. Why did you choose Rose-Hulman? 3. Which courses and professors have you enjoyed the most? Why? 4. What are your short-term and long-term career goals? 5. Tell me about a time when you faced a difficult problem that you initially
failed to solve. How did you approach the problem the second time? What did you do differently? Sometimes interviewers will ask questions about negative experiences. Be sure to emphasize lessons learned from the experience and how those lessons enabled you to handle similar situations successfully.
6. What percentage of your college expenses have you financed yourself? 7. Give me an example of a crisis situation and how you dealt with it. 8. Give me an example of a time you used your leadership skills. What was the
outcome? 9. What has been your greatest challenge thus far? How have you attempted to
meet that challenge? 10. Give me an example of a time when you failed. What did you learn from the
experience? 11. What are your strengths? This is strictly a job-related question. Describe your
strengths relative to the job you are seeking. 12. Your weaknesses? This is one of those trick questions you hear so much about.
Your weaknesses should be a strength in disguise. An example: “I tend to be a real perfectionist. I really want every little thing to be just right. And I usually want to add a few extras, even though they’re not required. I don’t let that stop me from getting my class projects done on time though, but it does take a few more late nights to do it.”
13. Why are you interested in my organization? Why this position? This is where your research pays off. Give an answer that shows you were interested enough to find current information about the company.
14. What do you know about my organization? Ditto to question 13. 15. Give me an example of a situation in which you had to manage time effectively
(or set priorities). 16. How do you handle rejection? Criticism? 17. Tell me about a situation when you had to be a good team player. Explain your
role on the team. 18. Which organizations have you participated in? What have you learned from
your involvement? 19. What have you learned from some of the jobs you’ve had? Under which type of
supervisor do you work best? 20. What are your plans for graduate study? Be careful how you answer this ques-
tion. Employers are looking for people who will stay in the job. Hearing that you plan to work for a year or two and then leave to go to graduate school can be a turn off. You might say something like “Well, John, my plans are to continue my studies part-time while I work. What are your company’s policies regarding continued education?”
21. What are your geographic preferences or limitations? Are you willing to travel? 22. What two or three things are most important to you to have in your job?
23. What are your long-term goals? Where do you see yourself five years from now? The answer is five years further along the career path that leads from this position. As a serious candidate for the position, you should know what that career path is. Have you done your research on the company and the position? You might want to put the question back to the interviewer. “Let me ask you, Joan, starting in this position, if I do really well, where could I expect to be with XYZ company in five years?”
24. How would your friends describe you? This is a variation on the “strengths and weaknesses” questions.
25. What salary do you expect to receive? Avoid answering this question with a specific figure. Be vague. Say you are looking for a competitive salary. If you must use numbers, say something like “Oh, somewhere in the mid 30s.”
26. Why have you chosen this particular career field? 27. With which other organizations are you interviewing? 28. What questions do you have for me to answer? See question 13 and the
list below. Ask questions that show your interest in the company and the position.
29. Tell me about a difficult goal you have set for yourself. 30. Tell me about a tough group you had to get cooperation from. What was the
issue and how did you go about it? 31. What was the most difficult decision you’ve made in the last six months?
Explain how you went about making this decision. 32. What unpopular decision have you made recently? How did others respond? 33. Describe a time when you exceeded expectations (on a job, in a class). What did
you do to make this possible? 34. Why should I hire you for this position? Another variation on the “strengths“
question. Describe your strengths, abilities and qualifications as they relate to the position.
QUESTIONS TO ASK THE INTERVIEWER 1. What kind of assignments might I expect the first six months on the job? 2. Would you describe a typical work day and the things I’d be doing? 3. Who are the people I’d be working with and what do they do? 4. What are the company’s policies on continued education? 5. If I am hired for this job, and perform well for a number of years, what
opportunities might this lead to? 6. How would I get feedback on my job performance, if hired? 7. What skills are considered most useful for success in the position I am
applying for? 8. I have noticed in the trade press that your firm has a terrific reputation in
marketing. What major insights about the marketing process might I gain from this position?
9. I would really like to work for your firm. I think it’s a great company and I am confident that I can do this job well. What’s the next step in the process?
10. Is there anything else you need to know about me that we haven’t had a chance to discuss?
QUESTIONS NOT TO ASKNever, never, never ask any questions about salary, vacations, holidays with pay, sick days or benefits until you have the offer.
www.rose-hulman.edu/careerservices 25
Pre-Employment TestingYou are about to graduate and, finally, you don’t have to worry about taking tests any more. Right? Well…not necessarily. An increasing number of employers are using pre-employment testing to help them find the most qualified candidates for the job. In a tight job market, it isn’t surprising that employers are turning to pre-employment testing to make sure that they get the most out of their most important investment—their employees. “Companies use pre-employment testing because it is expensive to hire the wrong person,” says Kurt Helm, Ph.D., President and founder of Helm and Associates, Inc., a company that designs and sells pre-employment tests. “Along with the resume, cover letter, and interview, pre-employment testing is another tool employers can use to make sure they hire the right person for the job.”
TYPES OF PRE-EMPLOYMENT TESTS
As the name implies, pre-employment tests are given to job candidates before a job offer is made. For the purposes of this article, pre-employment tests refer to tests designed to measure an applicant’s knowledge, skill, or suitability for a particular job. Whether they are computer-based or written, there are two broad categories of pre-employment tests: personality tests and aptitude tests.
Aptitude Tests
For many employers, your college degree proves that you have the knowledge and training to perform a particular job. But sometimes, employers need more direct proof. Aptitude tests measure how well job applicants can perform a specific task related to the job they are applying for. For example, a student applying for a job as a computer programmer may be asked to create a specific program using C++ in a UNIX system, or a student applying for a job in publishing might be asked to read and correct a sample manuscript. Sometimes, the applicant will be asked to complete the task at the place of employment under rigid time constraints. Other times, the applicant will be able to take the test home with them and return it days or even weeks later.
Personality Tests
Having the knowledge and skills required to do a job does not guarantee that you will be a good employee. You must be able to work well with fellow employees and with your supervisors and managers. “Most terminations that occur in organiza-tions occur because of personality conflicts,” says Dr. Helm. “Employers say things like ‘she didn’t fit in with our corporate culture,’ or ‘he didn’t work well with his managers.’” With this in mind, employers often give potential employees person-ality tests to see how well they will fit within the corporate culture. These tests attempt to measure a variety of person ality factors ranging from how you manage your time and your daily activities to how well you follow orders or collaborate with others.
PREPARING FOR PRE-EMPLOYMENT TESTS
First, find out if any type of pre-employment test will be used. This informa-tion can be found in job postings or on the HR section of company Web sites. You can also ask the employer directly about pre-employment testing when an interview is scheduled. “The employer almost always tells job applicants if there is going to be any type of pre-employment testing during the initial stages of
the application process,” says John Kniering, the Director of Career Services at the University of Hartford. “But it never hurts to bring the question up yourself if you are unsure.” In some instances, employers will even provide candidates with sample questions from pre-employment tests. Nobody likes a pop quiz, and knowing that a test is coming and what it will be testing will enable you to be more relaxed. Be sure to take a close look at the qualifications and skills listed on the job description. Almost without exception, those are the skills for which you are going to be tested.
More often than not, however, there is little you can do to prepare for a pre-employment test. Pre-employment tests designed to access your job aptitude will quiz you about information accrued over years of study and experience. You can’t cram for these types of tests. Personality tests, on the other hand, are given to ascertain how you will interact with co-workers and fit in with the corporate climate. Dr. Helm suggests that students respond to personality tests as honestly as they can. “Most personality tests contain ‘lie scales,’ which help measure how much effort applicants put into trying to look good in the eyes of the employer,” he says. “These scales are used to adjust the applicants’ test results and give more accurate reports.”
However, there are some common sense things you can do to ensure you will perform your best. Read the test directions carefully, and be sure to ask for clari-fication if you have any questions about how to take the test. On timed tests, save the difficult questions for the end so you have time to answer the easier questions. And just as you did for your tests in college, make sure you get a good night’s sleep before testing.
Written by Chris Enstrom, a freelance writer from Nashville, Ind.
LEGAL ISSUES
Employers must be able to show that pre-employment tests used to make hiring decisions tests skills and attributes relevant to the job being filled. “There must be a link between what the test measures and what the job requires,” says Dr. Helm. For aptitude tests, this link is often obvious, but for tests measuring attitude or personality, the connection may be harder to make. “Companies that use employment tests are responsible for making sure that the job description demonstrates the need for behavior or attitudes that the employment test measures,” Dr. Helm adds.
Employers must also take measures to ensure that pre-employment tests do not unfairly screen out people with disabilities. Tests must measure a job candidate’s knowledge, attributes, and skills, not his or her disabilities. Tell potential employers about any personal disability that you feel puts you at a disadvantage when taking a pre-employment test so that they can make accom modations to ensure the test is applied fairly.
26 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Qualities Desired in New College Graduates
By Businesses, Industries and Government Agencies
Energy, Drive, Enthusiasm and InitiativeHard-working, disciplined and dependableEager, professional and positive attitudeStrong self-motivation and high self-esteemConfident and assertive, yet diplomatic and flexibleSincere and preserves integrityAmbitious and takes risksUses common sense
Adapts Textbook Learning to the Working WorldQuick learnerAsks questionsAnalytical; independent thinkerWilling to continue education and growthCommitted to excellenceOpen-minded, willing to try new things
Knowledge of ComputersEstablished word processing, spreadsheet, database
and presentation software skillsExcellent computer literacy
Communications SkillsGood writing skillsExcellent oral communication skillsListens well; compassionate and empatheticExcellent problem-solving and analytical skillsCreative and innovative
Leadership SkillsOrganizational skills and attention to detailAccepts and handles responsibilitiesAction-oriented and results-driven
Loyal to employersCustomer-focusedTeam-spirited; understands group dynamicsAlways willing to help othersMature, poised and personableDiversity aware; treats others with respect and dignity
Oriented to GrowthAcceptance of an entry-level position; doesn’t view
required tasks as “menial”Academic excellence in field of studyViews the organization’s total picture, not just one area
of specializationWilling to accomplish more than required
Source: Recruiting Trends by L. Patrick Scheetz, Ph.D., Collegiate Employment Research Institute. ©Michigan State University.
Dealing With Rejection in the Job SearchAfter meticulously preparing your cover letters and resumes, you send them to carefully selected compa nies that you are sure would like to hire you. You even get a few job interviews. But all of your return correspondence is the same: “Thanks, but no thanks.” Your self-confidence melts and you begin to question your value to an employer.
Sometimes, we begin to dread the BIG NO so much that we stop pursuing additional interviews, thereby shutting off our pipeline to the future. We confirm that we couldn’t get a job because we stop looking. Remember, fear of rejection doesn’t have to paralyze your job search efforts. Let that fear fuel your determination; make it your ally and you’ll learn a lot.
EIGHT GUIDELINES TO WARD OFF REJECTION 1. Depersonalize the interview. Employers may get as many as 500 resumes for one job opening. How can
you, I and the other 498 of us be no good?
2. Don’t make it all or nothing. Don’t set yourself up for a letdown: “If I don’t get this job, I’m a failure.”
Tell yourself, “It could be mine. It’s a good possibility. It’s certainly not an impossibility.”
3. Don’t blame the interviewer. Realize interviewers aren’t in a hurry to think and behave our way. Blame
your turndown on a stone-hearted interviewer who didn’t flatter you with beautiful compliments, and you will learn nothing.
4. Don’t live in the past. When you dredge up past failures, your nervous system kicks in and you
experience all the feelings that go with failure. Unwittingly, you over-estimate the dangers facing you and underestimate yourself.
5. Don’t get mad at the system. Does anything less pleasurable exist than hunting for a job? Still, you must
adjust to the world rather than make the world adjust to you. The easiest thing is to conform, to do what 400,000 other people are doing. When you sit down to play bridge or poker or drive a car, do you complain about the rules?
6. Take the spotlight off yourself. Sell your skills, not yourself. Concentrate on what you’re there for: to find
out the interviewer’s problems and to show how you can work together to solve them.
7. See yourself in the new role. Form a mental picture of the positive self you’d like to become in job inter-
views, rather than focusing on what scares you. All therapists agree on this: Before a person can effect changes, he must really “see” himself in the new role. Just for fun, play with the idea.
8. Keep up your sense of humor. Nobody yet has contracted an incurable disease from a job interview.
Written by Roseanne R. Bensley, Career Services, New Mexico State University.
www.rose-hulman.edu/careerservices 27
Social Networking WebsitesIDENTITY—PUBLIC OR PRIVATE? Identity and affiliations are the second area where social networking and privacy issues may affect your job search and employment prospects. Historically, job-seekers have fought for increased protection from being asked questions about their identity, including religious affiliation and sexual orientation, because this information could be used by biased employers to discriminate. Via social networking sites, employers can now find information that they are not allowed to ask you.
Employers can no longer legally ask these questions in most states, however, some students make matters like religion, political involvement, and sexual orientation public on their Web pages.
You would never include religious and political affiliations as well as sexual orientation or transgender identity (GLBT) on your resume, so do you want this information to be available via social networking sites? There are two strategies to consider. One approach is that if you wish to only work for an employer with whom you can be openly religious, political, or GLBT then making that informa-tion available on your Web page will screen out discriminating employers and make it more likely that you will land with an employer open to your identity and expression.
A second approach though, is to maintain your privacy and keep more options open. Investigate potential employers thoroughly and pay special attention at site visits to evaluate whether the company would be welcoming. This strategy is based on two perspectives shared by many career professionals. First, as a job-seeker, you want to present only your relevant skills and experience throughout the job search; all other information is irrelevant. Second, if you provide information about your identity and affiliations, you may be discrimi-nated against by one person in the process even though the company overall is a good match.
Written by Harriet L. Schwartz.
Career professionals—and parents—are warning young job seekers that using social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, may be hazardous to your career. After all, do you want your potential employer to see photos of you at last weekend’s party? Certainly, those photos could diminish your prospects of landing a job. However, more job seekers are using social networking to enhance their preparation for interviews, garner an advantage over less-wired peers, and even gain an edge with recruiters.
One example of a constructive use of social networking websites is gathering back-ground information about the recruiters with whom you will interview. By finding out about topics that will interest the recruiter, you may gain an upper hand in the interview process. In addition, stronger connections with a potential employer can be made by talking about the clubs he or she belongs to and even friends you have in common—information that can be discovered on Facebook.
Research on professional sites like LinkedIn can also be used to prepare for site visits. By using the alumni connections available through LinkedIn, you can gain added insight into potential employers. If you are interviewing with a company, search for alumni who are working there. You can have conversations with alumni via LinkedIn that you wouldn’t have in an interview, such as, “do you like it at the company” or “can you negotiate salary?”
NETWORKING RULESWhen you seek and maintain professional connections via social networking sites, follow the same etiquette you would if you were networking by phone and in person. Remember that every contact is creating an impression. Online, you might tend to be less formal because you are communicating in a space that you typically share with friends. Just as you would not let your guard down if you were having dinner with a potential employer, you must maintain a positive and professional approach when conversing with networking contacts online. Ask good questions, pay attention to the answers, and be polite—this includes sending at least a brief thank-you note anytime someone gives you advice or assistance.
IF IT’S OK FOR MOM, IT’S OK FOR FACEBOOKThe more controversial aspect of the interplay between social networking and job searching is the privacy debate. Some observers, including career counselors, deans, and parents, worry that students put themselves at a disadvantage in the job search by making personal information available on Facebook and Twitter pages. More and more companies are using such websites as a screening tool.
Concern about privacy focuses on two areas: social life and identity/affiliations. Parents and career counselors argue that job-seekers would never show photos of themselves at a party in the middle of an interview, so why would they allow employers to see party photos on a Facebook page? Students often respond that most employers do not even use social networking sites and that employers already know that college students drink.
While it may be true that senior managers are less likely to be on Facebook, young recruiters may be active, and in many cases, employers ask younger employees to conduct online searches of candidates. Why risk losing a career opportunity because of a photo with two drinks in your hand?
It’s easy to deduce that if an employer is comparing two candidates who are closely matched in terms of GPA and experience, and one has questionable photos and text on his or her online profile and the second does not, that the second student will get the job offer.
STRATEGIES FOR SAFE AND STRATEGIC SOCIAL NETWORKING
1. Be aware of what other people can see on your page. Many recruiters are now using these sites and other recruiters ask their colleagues to do searches on candidates.
2. Determine access intentionally. Some career counselors advocate deactivating your Facebook or Twitter accounts while job searching.
3. Set a standard. If anything appears on your page that you wouldn’t want an interviewer to see, remove the offending content.
4. Use social networking to your advantage. Use these sites to find alumni in the companies that interest you and contact them before you interview in your career center or before a site visit. In addition, use social networking sites and Internet searches to learn more about the recruiters who will interview you before the interview.
28 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Dealing With Stress in the Job Search
Searching for a job after college can be an extremely stressful endeavor. All of the elements of the job search—researching employers, perfecting and targeting your resume, writing cover letters, preparing for interviews—take time. And as a soon-to-be college graduate finishing up your last year of school, time is not something you have a lot of. Every student and every job search is different. However, no matter your major, degree, or employment aspirations, there are steps that you can take to make the necessary task of finding a job less stressful.
PUT YOUR JOB SEARCH IN PERSPECTIVECollege seniors about to enter the job market can be broadly placed into two camps: 1) Those who know exactly what they want to do after college, 2) and those who have no clue. Both types of students often bring added pressure to the job search process that is, for the most part, self-inflicted.
Students from the first camp set their sights high during the job search. They know what their dream job is, and anything less will be a disappointment. However, very rarely will a student fresh out of college be able to step into a position that fits their definition of an ideal job.
Occasionally, students are able to move into their idea of a perfect job right out of college, but students must be careful not to feel frustrated if that’s not the case. Often, they will have to work up the career ladder a few rungs until they arrive at the job they truly want. Just accepting this fact will take away some of the pressure.
For students who are vague on what career to pursue after college, the idea of looking for a job can be even more stressful. Not knowing what type of job or career to pursue is a common anxiety among recent college graduates. Keep in mind that the process of looking for a job will probably alleviate this concern.
MAKE SURE YOU ARE READYMany students approaching college graduation simply are not ready to enter the job market. Instead, these students may decide to travel, do volunteer work, or simply take time off to decompress before pursuing a full-time career. Other students may decide to seek a graduate degree or even a second bachelor’s degree before entering the job market. There is nothing wrong with delaying your job search as long as you do it for the right reasons.
But escaping the job search by entering into the process of applying to graduate schools when this is not really what you want to do is one of the biggest mistakes students can make. Once you’ve made a decision to pursue employment, don’t hesitate to do so. However, students who legitimately decide to delay their job search should keep in mind that they might lose advantages, such as college job fairs, college career services, on-campus interviews, and other services that colleges and universities provide. If you’re ready to start your career, this is the time to do it.
GET MOVING AND KEEP MOVINGMost college students are well acquainted with procrastination. Pulling an “all nighter” to cram for a test or write a term paper has almost become a college rite of passage. When it comes time to look for work students tend to procrastinate for various reasons: fear of failure (“what if nobody hires me?”), perfectionism (“I need to find the perfect job.”), lack of information (“where do I start?”),
distractions (“I need time to go out with my friends.”), and the sheer size of the task before them (“I’ll never find the time to get this all done.”)
Looking for a job is a big task, and while you may have been able to learn a semes-ter’s worth of chemistry the night before a final, you’re not going to be able to cram the job search into the week before graduation. The single best thing you can do to relieve job-search stress is to simply get started. Procrastination is the worst thing you can do in terms of creating stress during the job search.
Additionally, students need to think of looking for a job as a process; something they need to work on every week if not every day. Don’t apply for one job at a time and await the result. This is a recipe for disaster. Keep actively pursuing a job until you actually accept an offer.
HAVE REACHABLE GOALSSince finding and securing a job is such a large process, students need to break it up into attainable goals. Make sure you write the goals down and know when they’ve been accomplished. Having goals can reduce job search stress in two ways: First, it breaks a large process down into smaller, manageable chunks; and second, reaching goals provides the job seeker with a sense of accomplishment. As you move forward in the job search, you’ll find the stress replaced by a feeling of accomplishment.
DEAL WITH INTERVIEW ANXIETYFor many students, going on a job interview is the most stressful part of the entire job search process. The best way to alleviate some of this stress is simply to prepare. Make sure you know everything you can about the employer and the position, and make sure that you know exactly what skills, experience, and ideas you can bring to that employer. Prepare answers to all the common questions that employers ask (such lists can be found online or in your career office), as well as other questions that are related specifically to your field of study and the position for which you are applying.
Also, make sure that you prepare a list of questions to ask the employer during the interview. Intelligent questions show that you have done your homework and that you have seriously thought about the position you are interviewing for. Lastly, make sure you go through a “mock interview.” By practicing your interview answers in front of a friend or a career counselor, you will be able to hone your interview skills and get rid of the pre-interview jitters.
LAST WORDS OF ADVICEThink positively. Also, remember that a little stress can be a good thing if it doesn’t paralyze you. It can keep you motivated, and keep you reaching toward your goals. But when you feel your stress level getting out of hand, take a break. Walking the dog, working out at the gym, going for a swim—any type of physical activity—is a great way to relieve stress. And if your stress level continues to rise, just take a break from the search. A few days not thinking or worrying about it can do wonders for your stress level. You can then re-enter the job search process refreshed and ready to land the job you want.
Written by Chris Enstrom, a freelance writer from Nashville, Ind., from interviews with career center directors Dr. Jeff Garis (Florida State University) and Deidre Sepp (Marist College).
www.rose-hulman.edu/careerservices 29
Is Graduate School Right for You?At some point in your college career, you must decide what you would like to do after graduation—and that includes whether or not to attend graduate school. If you’re trying to determine whether graduate school is right for you, here are some pointers to help you make an enlightened decision.
1. Should I consider going to graduate school?
Going to graduate school might be a good idea if you…
• want to be a professor, lawyer, doctor, investment banker or work in any profession that requires a post-secondary education.
• wish to develop additional expertise in a particular subject or field to maximize your future earning potential and opportunities for career advancement.
• are deeply interested in a particular subject and wish to study it in-depth—AND have the time and financial resources to devote to further education.
Going to graduate school might not be a good idea if you…
• are trying to delay your entry into the “real world” with real responsibilities and real bills.
• are clueless about your career goals.
• aren’t prepared to devote the time and hard work needed to succeed.
• want to stay in school longer to avoid a poor job market.
2. Is it better to work first or attend graduate school immediately after I complete my undergraduate degree?
Work first if…
• you would like to get some real-world work experience before investing thou-sands of dollars in a graduate degree.
• the graduate school of your choice prefers work experience (most MBA and some Ph.D. programs require this).
• you cannot afford to go to graduate school now, and you haven’t applied for any scholarships, grants, fellowships and assistantships, which could pay for a great deal of your education.
Go to graduate school now if…
• you are absolutely sure you want to be a college professor, doctor, lawyer, etc., and need a graduate degree to pursue your dream job.
• you have been awarded grants, fellowships, scholarships or assistantships that will help pay for your education.
• you’re concerned that once you start earning real money, you won’t be able to return to the lifestyle of a “poor” student.
• your study habits and mental abilities are at their peak, and you worry whether you’ll have the discipline (or motivation) to write papers and study for exams in a few years.
3. I am broke. How will I pay for tuition, books, fees and living expenses?
• Family: You’ve likely borrowed from them in the past; maybe you’re lucky enough for it to still be a viable option.
• Student Loans: Even if you’ve taken out loans in the past, another $50,000 - $75,000 may be a sound “investment” in your future.
• Fellowships/Scholarships: A free education is always the best option. The catch is you need a high GPA, good GRE/GMAT/LSAT/MCAT scores and the commitment to search out every possible source of funding.
• Teaching/Research Assistantships: Many assistantships include tuition waivers plus a monthly stipend. It’s a great way to get paid for earning an education.
• Employer Sponsorship: Did you know that some companies actually pay for you to continue your education? The catch is they usually expect you to continue working for them after you complete your degree so they can recoup their investment.
4. What are the pros and cons of going to graduate school full-time vs. part-time?
Benefits of attending graduate school full-time:
• you’ll be able to complete your degree sooner.
• you can totally commit your intellectual, physical and emotional energy to your education.
• ideal if you want to make a dramatic career change.
Benefits of attending graduate school part-time:
• work income helps pay for your education.
• you can take a very manageable course load.
• you can juggle family responsibilities while completing your degree.
• allows you to work in the function/industry/career of your choice while continuing your education.
• employer will often pay for part (or all) of your graduate degree.
5. Assuming I want to go to graduate school in the near future, what should I do now?
a. Identify your true strengths, interests and values to help you discover what is right for YOU—not your friends or parents.
b. Keep your grades up and sign up (and prepare) to take the required stan-dardized tests.
c. Talk to faculty, friends and family who have gone to graduate school to get their perspective about the differences between being an undergraduate and a graduate student.
d. Talk to faculty, friends and family who are in your targeted profession to get a realistic sense of the career path and the challenges associated with the work they do.
e. Investigate creative ways to finance your education—by planning ahead you may reduce your debt.
f. Research graduate schools to help you find a good match.
g. Investigate the admissions process and the current student body profile of your targeted schools to evaluate your probability for admission.
h. Have faith and APPLY! Remember, you can’t get in unless you apply.
Written by Roslyn J. Bradford.
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