I HAVE MY DEGREE, NOW WHAT? Tips for Finding Employment

Resume – Purpose – Resume writing tips Job Search – Where to look – How to look Interview – Preparation – Interview tips – Post interview Outline

Purpose of a resume – Put simply, the purpose of a resume is to get an interview Resumes are one to two-page summaries of your qualifications and their sole purpose is to impress prospective employers – Your resume must be better than anything your competitors have to offer if you are going to get an interview Resume - Purpose

Sell yourself – Employers want to know that you can contribute to profitability, solve problems, and achieve goals – Quantify your accomplishments Don’t be afraid to “toot” your own horn – Do not include anything negative from your employment history Never lie – Make sure to quantify all your relevant accomplishments but don’t lie about what you have done Proofread – Neatness Counts – spend the time to ensure your resume is typed and structured correctly – Misspellings and grammatical errors are a “sure-fire” way to get your resume discarded Writing an Effective Resume

Writing an Effective Resume (cont) Online resume resources:

The Job Search Use all resources at your disposal - Network, network, network… Use groups and organizations you are already a part of to build and extend your network. These are often the best ways to find out about potential openings even before they are made available to the general public - Civic organizations Lions Club Kiwanis Club Rotary Club Jaycees - Professional organizations - Social organizations - Linkedin.com

– Use online job search websites such as and These sites allow you to view and apply for a large number of jobs in a very short period of time – Do not rely entirely on job search websites such as Monster and/or Careerbuilder Not all jobs are posted on these websites. In fact, many jobs are never posted at all Do your research on Companies you would like to work for and do not be afraid to contact them directly. – Sometimes, if you are a strong enough candidate, positions are created for you The Job Search (cont)

Preparation – If at all possible, drive to your interview location a day prior to the interview You do not want to be late to the interview because you cannot find the location – Research the company that you are going to interview with. Also, research the company’s industry – Practice an interview Have someone ask you common interview questions and then critique your answers Do not try to memorize answers. Your answers should come naturally The Interview

Interview – Dress the part, dress for success Suit and tie for men; business suite for women – Arrive early (if you run late, call the company) Plan your commute to the interview so that you will arrive at least 10 minutes early – Bring extra resumes Many interviews require you to meet with more than one person and not everyone will have a copy of your resume – Have a firm handshake Don’t have a limp or clammy handshake The Interview (cont)

– Make and keep eye contact – Avoid using poor language (Avoid words such as “uh” and “um”) – Sell yourself Your resume got you the interview but it will not get you the job. Let the employer know why you should be hired – Ask job/company specific questions of the interviewer You don’t have to wait until the end of the interview to ask questions The Interview (cont)

Close the interview by letting the interviewer know you want the job Immediately following the interview write down any notes so you don’t forget crucial details Write thank you letters within 24 hours for each person who interviewed you Post Interview

Questions?