Say Bye-Bye to Mommy and Daddy

Hi everyone,

I'm not one to squander any opportunities that come my way.  As my December 2010 graduation approaches, you can be sure that I won't be refusing to shake hands and network.  But however fearful I am of failure and rejection, I know I can't lean on my parents.  They've helped me get this far- now it's my job to...get a job!  That means I'm going to be networking till my wrist is sore from shaking so many hands, my fingers bruised from typing up cover letters, and my throat raw from interviewing until I get that job.

However, if my parents were to ask me one day if I wanted to meet so-and-so because their company needs interns, I'm definitely going to jump at that chance.  Even if their company is a part of an industry I'm not majoring in, I'm not gonna be closing any doors until I've explored all my options.  That doesn't mean that I'm going to wait for my parents to hook me up with a job through their connections, but I'd be open to it.

The point I'm trying to make here is this: you've got the skills and the tools after years of post-secondary education to get a job.  Just because the economy isn't doing so hot doesn't mean you have a free pass to let your parents take care of getting a job for you.

Best of luck,
Seghel

How to Succeed in a Phone Interview

While it's hard to imagine that a phone interview is just like any other interview, it essentially is.  There isn't much of a difference, except that interviewers and interviewees can't view each other.  Here are a couple things to remember to help ensure that you'll ace that phone interview, along with any other interview for that matter.

• Personality: A couple of attributes that make any interviewee a joy to interview is being personable.  That means smiling- and yes, people can hear you smile over the phone.  It's not about slapping a smile on your face just so that your voice sounds different over the phone.  Just try to relax, be yourself, be calm, and be honest (but not self-deprecating) and don't make too many jokes.
• Promptness: It is just as important to be on-time and ready to go during a phone interview as it is for an in-person interview.  That being said, if you have a phone interview in the morning, wake up plenty of time before the phone interview, because just like people can see sleep-crust in your eyes, they can hear morning-grog in your voice when you just wake up (which is just as unpleasant to encounter).
• Clarity: In any interview, it's imperative to be clear, but brief, when answering any questions, while making sure to give some interesting detail.  However, when interviewing over the phone, the importance of being clear doubles because 1) it's usually easier for people to understand what you're saying when they can also see your facial expressions and 2) it's more difficult for the interviewer to gain clarity from asking you follow-up questions because they can't see you pause or stop talking (aka, they don't want to interrupt!).  The best thing for you to do is, at the end of answering a question, to ask, "Did that answer your question?"  Also, it's okay to pause, but don't be quiet for an eternity.  You can say something like, "Hmm, let me think about that for a second" if you need to gather your thoughts before answering a question.  It's totally okay to take a minute to answer a question thoughtfully and clearly.  If you're nervous, that's okay, it's normal.  If you start stuttering or rambling, just try to laugh it off while literally apologizing and acknowledging that you're nervous.  Stop, take a breath, and think before you say anything! 

I hope that helped!  Best of luck with your interviews!
-Seghel

The Throwaway Game

Hi Everyone!

I hope your summers have gotten off to a good start.  I've noticed that a lot of students have been coming in to the Career Services Center trying hard to get summer jobs.  I think you've all been doing a good job of trying to get employment, especially if you're seeking out our services.  However, I think there are some startling facts the rest of you need to know if you haven't been giving your all in applying for jobs.  In this economy, employers are obviously hiring a lot less, but that doesn't mean that tons of people aren't applying for jobs.  To sort through all those applicants, employers will resort to some unsettling tactics:

• Deadlines: When it comes to deadlines, earlier is ALWAYS better, especially if you're applying by email.  Employers will often check out just the first few resumes that they receive because they're bombarded with so many resumes.  So don't wait longer than it takes to get your resume polished to send it in- try your best to send it in the same day the job was posted!
• Cover letters:  A seasoned professional can tell whether or not you spent 5 minutes copying-and-pasting what you wrote for a past cover letter, as opposed to taking the time to address the specific position at the specific company you're applying for.  Make sure that in your cover letter, you write down at least one reason why you want to work for that company you're applying to (e.g. do you like it's mission statement and/or values?) and how you feel you can contribute to that company.  Be specific and concise.  And ALWAYS include a cover letter with your resume, even if no one asks for one.
• Resume length: If you think it's not that big a deal if your resume is slightly longer than one page, think again.  Employers spend about 15-20 seconds glancing through your resume, which is why resumes need to be organized so specifically: employers want to find specific information super fast, such as whether or not you're a student (e.g. that's why an "Education" section is first for all current students).  Remember to consider that when an employer is sorting through hundreds of applicants, a one-page resume versus a resume that's more than one page will be most likely to avoid being thrown into a shredder.

I hope this helps!  Best of luck!
Seghel

How to Be Top Dog- Even as an Intern

The other day, I started my summer internship at an awesome, not-for-profit organization in the city.  I stuffed envelopes for five hours.  I'm not joking.  It was five, straight hours.

There were a couple of moments when I sat there wondering what exactly I'd gotten myself into.  But then I realized- hey, wait a second, I'm working at a grass-roots, non-profit organization that actually cares for people and provides incredible resources for people in need.  If stuffing envelopes for five hours straight is what it takes to make it happen, then I'm happy to do it.

Yesterday also made me start thinking about companies as a whole and how teamwork is integral to actually getting anything done.  If you've ever worked in an office or a restaurant or anything like that, you get what I'm saying: upon a customer's entry through the door, they need to be greeted, directed to point A, further assisted, directed to point B, and thanked on their way out.  That's at least four steps, and this is a simplified version of what actually happens in an office, restaurant, or other business.  That means that whether or not anyone is acknowledging your existence or telling you what an excellent job you're doing, know for yourself that you're contributing something valuable- even when you're fetching coffee or scrubbing out the office fridge.

What I urge you to remember is that, as an intern, you need to be a sponge.  Not only are you responsible for learning the tasks that are taught to you as quickly as possible, but you also need to pay attention to everything around you.  Observe how the place works: is it a fast-paced environment?  Are people usually pretty stressed out?  Make yourself indispensable!  Offer an extra hand, even when both of yours are buried underneath 1400 letters that need to be signed and stamped.  Try not to feed into the frenzy either- just because others may appear busy and stressed out doesn't mean that you automatically have to mimic that sentiment.

Good luck with everything!
Seghel