WHAT NOT TO DO: WHAT NOT TO DO: TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL CVs AND TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL CVs AND

INTERVIEWSINTERVIEWS

Cori Filson, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York – Cori Filson, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York – ChairChair

Margaret Wiedenhoeft, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, Margaret Wiedenhoeft, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MichiganMichigan

Martin Hogan, CIEE, Portland, MaineMartin Hogan, CIEE, Portland, Maine

NAFSA: Association of International Educators

Annual Conference

Kansas City, Missouri - June 2010

Mistakes, I’ve seen a Mistakes, I’ve seen a few…few…

CV development – It’s not creative CV development – It’s not creative writing, it’s your resume.writing, it’s your resume.

Interview do’s and don’ts – You have Interview do’s and don’ts – You have voicemail for a reason and other voicemail for a reason and other important reminders.important reminders.

References – We know your neighbor References – We know your neighbor loves you, what else do you have?loves you, what else do you have?

Professional development – Conferences, Professional development – Conferences, networking and mentors, oh my!networking and mentors, oh my!

CV and Cover Letter CV and Cover Letter DevelopmentDevelopment

Cori Filson, Skidmore CollegeCori Filson, Skidmore College

Saratoga Springs, New YorkSaratoga Springs, New York

Cover letter scanning Cover letter scanning “quiz”“quiz”

What mistakes can you find in What mistakes can you find in this cover letter?this cover letter?

Cover Letter MistakesCover Letter Mistakes

Unprofessional formatting and Unprofessional formatting and layoutlayout

Incorrect position titleIncorrect position title Informal style (“top-notch dynamic Informal style (“top-notch dynamic

force in education”)force in education”)

Cover Letter MistakesCover Letter Mistakes

Dear “Sir”Dear “Sir” ““love of life” is not a professional love of life” is not a professional

qualificationqualification Typos in own name and email Typos in own name and email

addressaddress Used university addressUsed university address Position requires 3-5 years of Position requires 3-5 years of

experience as international experience as international education administratoreducation administrator

Cover Letter Mistakes

Cover Letter SuccessesCover Letter Successes

Appropriate length, format and Appropriate length, format and salutationsalutation

Outline of pertinent qualifications Outline of pertinent qualifications and experienceand experience

Professional presentationProfessional presentation Concise but thoroughConcise but thorough

CV scanning “quiz”CV scanning “quiz”

What mistakes can you find in What mistakes can you find in this CV?this CV?

Joseph Smith

Department of Sociology

University of XXX

Some City, Some State

Phone: 555-555-5555

Email: jsmith@soc.stateuni.edu

 

Objective To obtain a Staff Accountant at Equal Exchange at Equal Exchange

 

Education University of XXX, Some City, Some State

PhD in Sociology, August 200X-present time. Credits completed; working on dissertation.

Concentrations: Fair Trade, Globalization, Social Inequalities, Marketing, Representations, Gender, Race, Culture.

Overall GPA: 3.82

 

Joseph Smith

Department of Sociology

University of XXX

Some City, Some State

Phone: 555-555-5555

Email: jsmith@soc.stateuni.edu

 

May 05-June 07 Accounting Assistant, SUNY Albany’s Study Abroad Program in BrazilAimed at providing college students with hands-on learning experience on issues

of race, poverty, and community organization including fair trade initiatives.

• * Assisted in preparation of the course

* Made travel arrangements

* Lectured and translated lectures

* Mentored students

CV MistakesCV Mistakes

Use of work email and phoneUse of work email and phone Objective not specific to positionObjective not specific to position GPA often irrelevantGPA often irrelevant Experience – title of position does Experience – title of position does

not match job dutiesnot match job duties Know your audienceKnow your audience

CV Common MistakesCV Common Mistakes

Poor layout/marginsPoor layout/margins Inappropriate lengthInappropriate length Font that isn’t easily readableFont that isn’t easily readable Gaps in job historyGaps in job history No highlighting of No highlighting of appropriateappropriate

international experienceinternational experience ““Other” sectionOther” section International, campus and provider International, campus and provider

positions might have different positions might have different expectationsexpectations

CV SuccessesCV Successes

Professional presentationProfessional presentation Concise but thoroughConcise but thorough ““Career Profile” vs. “Objective”Career Profile” vs. “Objective” Pertinent experience and Pertinent experience and

qualifications highlighted – qualifications highlighted – language proficiency, professional language proficiency, professional development, travel/study abroaddevelopment, travel/study abroad

Career trajectory clearCareer trajectory clear

ReferencesReferences

Choose wisely – is your reference eager or Choose wisely – is your reference eager or reluctant? reluctant?

Ask for permission – don’t assumeAsk for permission – don’t assume Professional, not personal/character Professional, not personal/character

references – a volunteer position supervisor references – a volunteer position supervisor may be an option if you have limited may be an option if you have limited professional experienceprofessional experience

Send job description and resume to your Send job description and resume to your referencereference

Remind the reference nearer the time of Remind the reference nearer the time of the callthe call

Thank your referenceThank your reference

Interview Dos and Don’tsInterview Dos and Don’ts

Margaret Wiedenhoeft, Kalamazoo College, Margaret Wiedenhoeft, Kalamazoo College,

Kalamazoo, MichiganKalamazoo, Michigan

Telephone InterviewTelephone Interview

Find a quiet place to conduct Find a quiet place to conduct interviewinterview

Have prepared answers/notes + your Have prepared answers/notes + your resume available and in front of you resume available and in front of you

Immediately after, try to remember all Immediately after, try to remember all they asked you and who participated they asked you and who participated (in the event of on-campus interview)(in the event of on-campus interview)

On-Site Interview – On-Site Interview – Before You Even ArriveBefore You Even Arrive

Interview attireInterview attire Professional etiquetteProfessional etiquette Preparation – researching Preparation – researching

institution and officeinstitution and office Prepare for answers to difficult Prepare for answers to difficult

questionsquestions Practice interviewPractice interview

Typical Interview Typical Interview ActivitiesActivities

Meet with studentsMeet with students Meet with staff/potential Meet with staff/potential

colleaguescolleagues Meet immediate supervisorMeet immediate supervisor Campus or office presentationCampus or office presentation Other important constituent Other important constituent

groupsgroups

The Day of the The Day of the InterviewInterview

Bring copies of your CV and references. Bring copies of your CV and references.

Turn off your cell phone! Turn off your cell phone!

NO FIDGETING!NO FIDGETING!

Remember – this is a two way street. Remember – this is a two way street. You should be a good fit for the office, You should be a good fit for the office, but they also need to be a good fit for but they also need to be a good fit for you.you.

Interview QuestionsInterview Questions

What NOT to talk aboutWhat NOT to talk about your own personal scheduling needsyour own personal scheduling needs

anything that is very personalanything that is very personal

your anticipated schedule of your anticipated schedule of promotionspromotions

your problems with your current your problems with your current office/bossoffice/boss

Interview Questions: Interview Questions: What to talk aboutWhat to talk about

previous accomplishments in current previous accomplishments in current positionposition

why you are leaving/looking for a why you are leaving/looking for a new positionnew position

follow up questions are importantfollow up questions are important

give specific examples of successes give specific examples of successes and challengesand challenges

Describe an experience that required an Describe an experience that required an enormous amount of flexibility on your part. enormous amount of flexibility on your part. How did you handle it?How did you handle it?

Give Specific detail: Give Specific detail: ““I worked with a faculty member in designing a short-I worked with a faculty member in designing a short-term international seminar. She insisted students should term international seminar. She insisted students should be able to take motorcycles to the top of a holy mountain be able to take motorcycles to the top of a holy mountain that was going to be the highlight of the class….” that was going to be the highlight of the class….”

““I have experience working with non-traditional students I have experience working with non-traditional students who may not always be able to meet 9-5. These are who may not always be able to meet 9-5. These are some of the ways I developed to communicate with some of the ways I developed to communicate with them…them…

Interview QuestionsInterview Questions

I received an angry phone call from a parent of a I received an angry phone call from a parent of a student in Spain. Dad was very upset by the amount student in Spain. Dad was very upset by the amount of food his student received in the home stay. He of food his student received in the home stay. He demanded reimbursement for the additional food his demanded reimbursement for the additional food his student had to purchase. I thanked him for his call, student had to purchase. I thanked him for his call, explained my next steps, and told him when I would explained my next steps, and told him when I would be contacting him next. After I contacted our local on-be contacting him next. After I contacted our local on-site director, I learned that the student had never site director, I learned that the student had never talked to the host mom about the amount of food he talked to the host mom about the amount of food he received and that on most days he didn’t come home received and that on most days he didn’t come home for lunch. I asked both the student and director to for lunch. I asked both the student and director to meet to discuss the situation…meet to discuss the situation…

Give us an example of a difficult situation or conflict that your resolved successfully. What was the problem and how did you resolve it?

We had a deadline for our new website launch. It was my We had a deadline for our new website launch. It was my responsibility to collect and edit the content and to deliver responsibility to collect and edit the content and to deliver it to the webmaster. Some of my colleagues had already it to the webmaster. Some of my colleagues had already told me they would be delivering their piece to me a day or told me they would be delivering their piece to me a day or two later than planned. I didn’t think it would be a big deal two later than planned. I didn’t think it would be a big deal because we built in some “wiggle room,” but I didn’t check because we built in some “wiggle room,” but I didn’t check with the webmaster. After I sent the content to the WM, I with the webmaster. After I sent the content to the WM, I received an angry phone call from her asking why I hadn’t received an angry phone call from her asking why I hadn’t sent it in by the original deadline. She had other projects sent it in by the original deadline. She had other projects on the table and had given our office this specific deadline on the table and had given our office this specific deadline for a reason. I immediately took responsibility, apologized, for a reason. I immediately took responsibility, apologized, and asked her how this would affect the launch date. I then and asked her how this would affect the launch date. I then went to my supervisor, explained what happened, and went to my supervisor, explained what happened, and took responsibility for the mistake. In the end, we were took responsibility for the mistake. In the end, we were only 1 day later than originally scheduled. I learned the only 1 day later than originally scheduled. I learned the importance of communication with all collaborators and importance of communication with all collaborators and that I should never make assumptions about other that I should never make assumptions about other colleagues’ workloads. colleagues’ workloads.

Give us an example of a time-sensitive Give us an example of a time-sensitive project that you just couldn’t get done on project that you just couldn’t get done on time. How did you handle it?time. How did you handle it?

Post InterviewPost Interview

Thank you notes - making Thank you notes - making reference to specific topics reference to specific topics discussed during conversationsdiscussed during conversations

Follow up as appropriate (Email Follow up as appropriate (Email search committee chair when search committee chair when appropriate time has lapsed– appropriate time has lapsed– What is the status of the search? What is the status of the search? Do not stalk!)Do not stalk!)

Professional Development:Professional Development:Knowledge, Understanding, Knowledge, Understanding,

SkillsSkills

Martin Hogan, CIEE, Portland, MaineMartin Hogan, CIEE, Portland, Maine

Development of Development of ExpertiseExpertise

Understanding your own campus/organizationUnderstanding your own campus/organization What is rewarded?What is rewarded? Matching professional interest with personal interest Matching professional interest with personal interest

(they are different!) (they are different!) Within International Education fieldWithin International Education field

Developing niche knowledge (Financial {budgets or Developing niche knowledge (Financial {budgets or financial aid}, Programmatic {service-learning or financial aid}, Programmatic {service-learning or short-term programs}, Regional {geographic area}, short-term programs}, Regional {geographic area}, etc.)etc.)

Greater Education CommunityGreater Education Community Career Services, Student Development, Parent Career Services, Student Development, Parent

Relations, Community organizingRelations, Community organizing What to Avoid What to Avoid

type casting, too narrow knowledge and interesttype casting, too narrow knowledge and interest

Building a ReputationBuilding a Reputation

Presentations – within the field, Presentations – within the field, within the greater communitywithin the greater community

Committee work – on campus and Committee work – on campus and in the fieldin the field

Online communities – LinkedIn, Online communities – LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.Facebook, etc.

What to Avoid – impatience, What to Avoid – impatience, overextending, missing deadlines, overextending, missing deadlines, etc.etc.

MentorsMentors

Why is this important?Why is this important? ““Small” Community, 3 degrees of separation, Small” Community, 3 degrees of separation,

etiquette and diplomacy, culture and normsetiquette and diplomacy, culture and norms

Professional OrganizationsProfessional Organizations Forum on Education AbroadForum on Education Abroad NAFSANAFSA Greater CommunityGreater Community

Staff Exchanges Staff Exchanges Short-term, around a project, extending your interest Short-term, around a project, extending your interest

and reach and reach Within your institution or with partner organizationsWithin your institution or with partner organizations

Skills DevelopmentSkills Development

WritingWriting Public SpeakingPublic Speaking Business TechnologyBusiness Technology Certificate programsCertificate programs Pursuing advanced degrees Pursuing advanced degrees Specialist vs. GeneralistSpecialist vs. Generalist

Skills Development - Skills Development - ResourcesResources

Chronicle of Higher Education Chronicle of Higher Education (http://chronicle.com/section/Home/5)(http://chronicle.com/section/Home/5)

Inside Higher Education Inside Higher Education (http://www.insidehighered.com/)(http://www.insidehighered.com/)

OSAC: Overseas Security Advisory OSAC: Overseas Security Advisory Council Council (http://www.osac.gov/)(http://www.osac.gov/)

SECUSS-L (SECUSS-L (http://www.usouthal.edu/acip/secussl/)http://www.usouthal.edu/acip/secussl/)

Google Alerts (Study Abroad, etc.)Google Alerts (Study Abroad, etc.) On-line International NewsOn-line International News

Skills Development - Skills Development - ResourcesResources

NAFSA NAFSA (http://www.nafsa.org/)(http://www.nafsa.org/)

IIE: Institute of International IIE: Institute of International Education Education (http://www.iie.org/)(http://www.iie.org/)

EAIE: European Association for EAIE: European Association for International Education International Education (http://www.eaie.org/)(http://www.eaie.org/)

ACE: American Council on Education ACE: American Council on Education (http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home)(http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home)

Skills Development - Skills Development - ResourcesResources

Frontiers Frontiers (http://www.frontiersjournal.com/)(http://www.frontiersjournal.com/)

Journal of Studies in International Journal of Studies in International Education Education (http://jsi.sagepub.com/)(http://jsi.sagepub.com/)

Higher Education Association News Higher Education Association News (NACADA, etc.)(NACADA, etc.)

Harvard Business Review Harvard Business Review (http://hbr.org/)(http://hbr.org/)

New Yorker Magazine New Yorker Magazine TED: Ideas Worth Spreading TED: Ideas Worth Spreading

(http://www.ted.com/)(http://www.ted.com/)

Questions/DiscussionQuestions/Discussion

Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources Balderrama, A. (2008) 8 worst things to Say in an Balderrama, A. (2008) 8 worst things to Say in an

interview available at interview available at http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/06/23/cb.intehttp://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/06/23/cb.interview.tips/index.htmlrview.tips/index.html

Delgizzo,K. & Malisheski, L., Preparing for Campus Delgizzo,K. & Malisheski, L., Preparing for Campus Interviews. Chronicle Careers. January 17, 2003 Interviews. Chronicle Careers. January 17, 2003 http://chronicle.com/jobs/news/2003/01/2003011701c.hhttp://chronicle.com/jobs/news/2003/01/2003011701c.htmtm

http://www.collegegrad.com/jobsearch/Mastering-the-http://www.collegegrad.com/jobsearch/Mastering-the-Interview/Ten-Tough-Interview-Questions-and-Ten-Interview/Ten-Tough-Interview-Questions-and-Ten-Great-Answers/Great-Answers/

Networking and Interviewing Guide (2008). Center for Networking and Interviewing Guide (2008). Center for Career Development. Kalamazoo College. Career Development. Kalamazoo College.

Career Advice, Inside Higher Ed: Career Advice, Inside Higher Ed: http://www.insidehighered.com/advicehttp://www.insidehighered.com/advice

Manage Your Career, The Chronicle of Higher Manage Your Career, The Chronicle of Higher Education: http://chronicle.com/section/Manage-Your-Education: http://chronicle.com/section/Manage-Your-Career/67/Career/67/