1. Resumes and Career Fairs
Bob Foley ’69
Assistant Director
Resume/careerfair/HonorsProgramSpring2017

2. CAREER CENTER WEBSITE http://careercenter.tamu.edu/Current-Students

3. Purpose of the Resume A marketing tool: Think executive summary!
Convince an employer to schedule you for an interview.
You have ten seconds!!! Well, minimum time anyway.
Think executive summary!
Can you communicate in a precise and concise fashion?

4. Laying the Foundation What are your “match” points?
Access yourself:
What are your objectives?
What do you seek? When are you available?
What have you accomplished?
Work/Research experience, Skills, Leadership
Match employers’ needs
Identify “transferable skills”
What do I include?
How important is it to the opportunity I seek?

5. Laying the Foundation Career Readiness – Key Competencies
Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
Oral/Written Communications
Teamwork/Collaboration
Information Technology Application
Leadership
Professionalism/Work Ethic
Career Management

6. Laying the Foundation Think EQ as well as IQ
What makes a good employee?? 1. Integrity - Communication skills - Ability to work with people - Responsibility - Judgment - Motivation to succeed - Work ethic - Intelligence/Creativity - Enthusiasm 10. Technical competence

7. PRIORITIZE!!! The Mostest, The Fastest Building the Resume
Tell the employer…..
The Mostest,
The Fastest
PRIORITIZE!!!

8. Building the Resume Format – Chronological
Provide leading credentials, qualifications, experiences
Prioritize resume and items under each heading
You know what you did. Does your resume tell the reader the same?
What did you do? How did you do it? What were the results?
Make it easy for the recruiter!

9. Building the Resume Personal Data Section Objective Education
Work/Research Experience
Leadership/Activities
Skills – Technical, Spoken Language

10. Building the Resume Tailor the resume
Present most marketable information first
Use brief, descriptive phrases
No unnecessary words
Use action verbs
Provide metrics
Reader friendly – pleasing to the eye
Be positive – accurate – truthful
You have the right to remain silent

11. Polish the Resume ATTENTION TO DETAIL!!! Avoid common mistakes:
Broad, general statements
Spelling and grammatical errors
Overall or cumulative TAMU GPR not included
Format, fonts, length, paper quality
Be careful with “Aggie speak”
Consistent punctuation
Avoid italics, script, and underlining
No vertical/horizontal lines, shading, or graphics
Keep the resume updated

12. Selective Employer Comments
Evaluation keys:
The degree of relevancy between candidate’s overall profile (major/minor, GPR, work experience, class projects, extracurricular roles) and the job position.
Candidate’s long term and short term career goals.
Candidate’s personality, capability, potential, and willingness to accomplish career goal.
Stick to 1 page. After 8 years in industry, I can still highlight all necessary and pertinent information on a single page resume.
Clearly state GPR. Several students played games with the GPR by giving us only their in-major GPR because the overall was significantly lower. Another presented only the last 2 years because the first two years were very bad. Some gave no GPR. It does not reflect well on students to manipulate their resumes in this fashion before we even interview them.

13. FINAL THOUGHT
You have a story to tell. Does your resume tell that story? Keep in mind that your resume is an advertisement not a biography.

14. Review and Critique Career Center Advisors Appointment 979-845-5139
Walk in Service Monday thru Friday
8:30-11:00AM & 1:30-4:00PM
Engineering Resume Remotes
Thursday, January 19, 1-4PM ETB Lobby Friday, January 20, 9AM-12N, CHEM Lobby
Resumania Monday, January 23, 9AM-5PM, MSC
Academic Advisor Mentor
Employer Aggie Network

15. Your Goals of the Career Fair
Increase exposure to potential employers
Build relationships
Gain insight into a company & its employees
Differentiate yourself from competition
Secure the interview
Resume/careerfair/HonorsProgramSpring2017

16. Decisions! Decisions! Prioritize Outlook for industry
Decide whom to visit beforehand
Prioritize
Use first visits to develop approach
Do not overlook smaller firms
Do your homework on the companies
Outlook for industry
Primary products and services
Current events/projects

17. Check Available Research
Utilize available resources
SEC Website
HireAggies.com job postings
Internet & web sites
Co-ops/Interns/Grads
working for company
Professors
Current events/projects
Resume/careerfair/HonorsProgramSpring2017

23. You have already paid for it!!!!!!
Career Center Resource
HireAggies.com
You have already paid for it!!!!!!
Resume/careerfair/HonorsProgramSpring2017

24. How Employers “Grade” TAMU Students - 2016

25. Career Direction
What are your interests? Your priorities? Your motivations?
What are the 3 to 5 things you see yourself doing with your degree?
What in a job description excites you, that you see yourself doing?
Why are you the best person to fill a job, not just qualified to do the job?

26. Realistic Expectations Needing Improvement
Employers’ Feedback
72% Oral communications
71% Written communications
64% Entitlement attitude
63% Constructive criticism
42% >40 Hour work week
41% Pay for performance
41% Not automatic promotions
26% Professional dress

27. Why Should They Hire You??
What does the company do?
How can you support their efforts?
Determine “match points” that fit the company’s needs
Write down “match points” & questions
Remember, the companies are shopping for good buys – the Best candidates not just qualified candidates.
Resume/careerfair/HonorsProgramSpring2017

28. Decisions! Decisions! Decide which companies to visit beforehand
Prioritize companies
1st two visits, lower tier
Do homework on companies
Outlook for industry
Primary products of company
Hiring majors
Current events/projects
Resume/careerfair/HonorsProgramSpring2017

29. Dressing the Part Business casual, - suit is not necessary
- dress up a bit
Men-nice slacks, pressed shirt
Women-casual outfit or
simple dress
Check out how the Employers
are dressed – they are role
“role models” for their company.
Hair – Beards – Grooming – Piercings - Tatoos
Resume/careerfair/HonorsProgramSpring2017

30. “Why did you stop by our booth?”
The Booth Visit
Expect visit of 2-10 minutes
See and Be Seen
Elevator Speech
Express interest in company
Meet a company rep
Leave resume
Differentiate yourself
Know questions you wish to ask
Use notes with company information & questions.
Share “match points”
Be prepared for company rep to ask
“Why did you stop by our booth?”
Resume/careerfair/HonorsProgramSpring2017

31. Standing Out In a Crowd If booth is crowded, come back later
Company can talk to
4-5 at a time
Attend at non-peak hours
Early morning
During classes
Resume/careerfair/HonorsProgramSpring2017

32. Remember Me? Get Business Card Make notes during breaks
At end of conversation
Make notes during breaks
Specific details & information
Follow up with a thank you
Within 24 – 48 hours
Once a month after that
Resume/careerfair/HonorsProgramSpring2017

33. Want Additional Insight? More Detail? Employer Insight?
Preparing for the Engineering Career Fair
Wednesday, Jan 18, 6:30-8pm, 1037 ETB
Thursday, Jan 19, 6:30-8pm, 106 Richardson

34. ARE LASTING IMPRESSIONS
ONE LAST THOUGHT...
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
ARE LASTING IMPRESSIONS
Resume/careerfair/HonorsProgramSpring2017