Mock Interviews: Another Valuable Tool in your Career “Toolbox”

So you’re searching for a job and you’ve already edited your resume and cover letter, applied for numerous positions online, attended quite a few career fairs, and now you’ve been selected for an interview! First of all…congrats! You’re on the last leg of the job search race and one step closer to landing the position you’ve been dreaming of. So what now? There are many “interview tips” handouts, websites, and books to guide you towards preparing for an interview, but what could be better than participating in a mock interview? A mock interview at Park University’s Career Development Center allows you to participate in an entire interview from start to finish as if it were the real thing. It all starts with the particular job you’re most interested in, and making an appointment with Layne Prenger. It is recommended to dress professional for your appointment, where you will be asked questions geared towards the position while being taped. Afterwards, you will receive a comprehensive evaluation complete with viewing the tape to see what you’re doing right and what you may need to change. I recently did a mock interview and it was very helpful in providing a “trial run” preparation and insight into what I could expect at the real thing. If you would like to schedule your own, be sure to contact Layne Prenger at 816-584-6350 or Layne.Prenger@park.edu. Good luck!

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING!

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING!  You’ve seen it on posters with accompanying tag lines of “Is yours worth catching?”  I believe this poster should be on every college student’s wall.  Getting a degree will not help you reach your goals, if the personality and attitude you display to prospective employers is one of little motivation or worse, an attitude of entitlement.

Pursuing higher education degrees and certifications is only one piece of the gainful employment puzzle.  If you focus all your energy on your grades and graduate with a high GPA, but do not approach your job search with the same positive zeal, then you are destined for failure.

I have been in the career counseling field for 15+ years and cannot tell you how many times employers have stressed the importance of a positive attitude, an optimistic outlook, a can-do philosophy, whatever you want to call it, when they are seeking new hires.  An employer can train you to do their job.  They cannot train you to react positively and professionally in busy and stressful situations.

Your attitude is first conveyed with a cover letter of introduction that uses words to convey enthusiasm and a resume that clearly outlines what you have to offer an employer from a personal qualifications and an interpersonal standpoint. Use words like optimistic or positive when marketing yourself.

At an interview, this positive attitude is further exemplified in your strong confident handshake, your warm smile, and your assertive communication style when you meet your prospective employer for the first time. 

Finally, your great attitude is further emphasized in your vocabulary and overall demeanor.  So what does your attitude say about you?  Want to know how you are perceived by others?  Let’s do a little test – ask the people closest to you (friends, parents, spouses, relatives, etc.) to give you five adjectives that describe your personality.  It is important to know how you are perceived by others, as this is a microcosm of how a prospective employer might see you. 

Then ask yourself if you are happy with this perception.  If not, what can you do to change your outlook and your attitude?  Remember – Attitude is Everything!  Does yours need an adjustment? 

“I” Before “E”, Except After “See”…Seeing Extroverts and Introverts a Little Clearer!

In Psychology, there is a test known as the MBTI which stands for the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. It classifies people into one of 16 different personality types based on preferences for introversion v. extroversion, sensing v. intuition, feeling v. thinking, and judging v. perceiving. What many people don’t know is that the test is applicable to the professional world as well. For example, in an Organizational Behavior class that I took, we were asked to take a short version of the MBTI in order to see what personality types existed in the class. The results ran the gamut, but what was interesting was the juxtaposition that emerged between the introverts and the extroverts. The I’s (or introverts) were very quiet while the E’s (or extroverts) expressed their opinions frequently and often passionately. It seemed unspoken that many of the E’s felt that the I’s weren’t participating, or had nothing to offer to the class.

By the third class, however, the professor proceeded to enlighten everyone by explaining that introversion and extroversion is a preference. Introverts get their energy from being alone and having time for introspection, and extroverts get their energy from interacting with others. This can lead to a lot of misunderstanding, because while an extrovert is thinking that an introvert is a “bump on a log”, the introvert has many thoughts running through his or her mind, but their natural preference may be to keep those thoughts private. On the flip side, an extrovert may have no problem at all sharing whatever is on their mind.

From then on in class, the professor made a conscious effort to ask the I’s what their thoughts and opinions were, and also asked that some of the more outspoken E’s give others a chance to speak. His efforts to involve the I’s and push them out of their comfort zone made for a more productive and interactive class in my opinion.

There are more extroverts than introverts in this world, and my advice to any introvert who may be feeling misunderstood in the classroom, at home, or in the workplace would be to realize that you process information and energy internally. There is nothing wrong with this, and with that realization may come the freedom to let people know what you’re thinking. Your academic studies, job search, and career will thrive on communication, and knowing where you’re coming from can only help you to get where you’re going.

If you would like more information about the MBTI and personality types, be sure to walk-in or make an appointment in the Career Development Center located in the Mabee Underground next to the library.

Job Search Mistakes

By:  Guest blogger:  Dustin Williams

Feel like your job search is going nowhere? That no matter how many resumes you submit or interviews you go on a job always seems just out of reach? Check out these common mistakes to avoid:
1.    Failing to network: More people get jobs from networking than any other job search strategy. It is an employer’s market and networking is king.
2.    Becoming a couch potato: Wallowing in self-pity only works for poets. Get out and mix it up! Join associations related to your career field, hobnob with people already working, just get involved!
3.    Not calling after submitting applications: Sitting eagerly by the phone waiting for an employer to call is pointless if you haven’t already contacted them. Be proactive and call then!
4.    Ignoring social media: Linkedin.com, Facebook, and Twitter are becoming more and more the norm for finding work. These sites aren’t the end all be all, but they carry heavy job search mojo. Use em!
5.    Applying for every job under the sun: In our society more is better, and that should work with submitting resumes right? Wrong. Being focused in a job search avoids spinning wheels and wasting time.
6.    Expecting your job search to be easy: Looking for a job is a full time job and spending time wishing for something that isn’t is a sure recipe for unhappiness.
7.    Using a less than professional email: Email addresses like: OneHotMama@getaclue.com  or StudMuffin@notachance.com while cute and funny with friend are job search suicide.  Keep it professional.
8.    Having mistakes on a resume: A sure method to get your resume filed under “T” for trash.
9.    Not researching a company before an interview: Going in blind only works for surgeons. Oh wait, it doesn’t work for them either. Know what you are getting into before you start the interview.
10.    Prep for an interview. In this economy a job seeker may only get one shot at their dream job, so make it count and be being ready.
11.    Trying the same stuff and expecting different results: Besides an alternative definition for insanity, this little piece of wisdom will guarantee to make a job search harder, more frustrating, and just plain crazy.
12.    Not sending a thank you card after an interview: A little piece of civility in an otherwise rude world makes a strong impression on an employer. In a good way.
13.    Putting faith in job search engines only: Use job search engines to find a job but then try and get on the companies website for the most current info.
14.    Staying busy: Gaps on a resume aren’t instant death, but they aren’t great either. Keeping a hand in something shows motivation and determination to employers.
15.    Be strong: Don’t throw in the towel, no matter how tempting. Still against the wall? Then it might be time to see a professional career counselor.

 

Farewell

I can’t believe it has almost been a year since I first started as an intern at the Career Development Center at Park. As my time there comes to a close, I am filled with gratitude and appreciation for everything I have learned in such a short amount of time. I will truly miss my supervisors, the staff, and all of the students I have had the privilege of working with. Thank you for an enriching experience that I will take with me for years to come. I am honored to have been part of the Park team and I will truly miss all of you!  Good luck to all of you in your endeavors and I wish you the best!

The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be the beginning. ~Ivy Baker Priest

Park University’s Students Shine in 2011

Park University’s elite students are going into the work field and taking charge in 2011. More students are being offered excellent job opportunities as well as internships, with numbers on the rise. The Career Development Center at Park University is a fabulous resource in helping students find the right jobs and internships in their fields.
Park University’s own career specialist, LaKeisha Brashier-Halde, talks about her new internship on the front page of the Kansas City Star. “LaKeisha Brashier-Halde is happy to have a summer internship at State Street, where she expects to embellish her resume with real-world accounting experience.” – Kansas City Star – Monday, May 9th 2011.
Federal Government Internships are also on the rise and are a great option for students. Also quoted in the Kansas City Star — “Traci Klasing, assistant director at the Park Career Development Center, said the federal government, through an array of internship programs, is paving the way for longer-term employment for many graduates.”
‘’Internships With the benefit of Networking,” Awesome… “Internships that lead to a job,” Priceless!

Meg Woods new Career Specialist at Park University

Hello my name is Megan Woods,
I am a new Career Specialist here at Park University. Not only am I Career Specialist at Park but, also a full time student majoring in Geography. I love being involved in anything I’m passionate about, the environment being one of the first as well as helping people. So this next school year I will be a Senator in the school government, as well as a chair on the Environmental Affairs Committee. Being a Freshman I was excited to find that Park has the Career Development Center helping students to better their internship and job opportunities, giving us useful guidance along the way. Stop by the office anytime I’m looking forward to helping you with any resume or internship questions you may have.

Components of a cover letter

I always encourage the job/internship seekers that I work with to write a cover letter EVERY TIME they submit their resume. Your cover letter indicates why you are applying for a position, what position you are applying for, highlights a few of your strongest qualifications, and suggests an action statement to further pursue the position. It should be concise, direct, positive, original and professional. There are common concerns about the correct format of a cover letter. It always needs to be in a business letter format and below is how I suggest they should look:

Your Street Address

City, State Zip Code

(2 spaces)

Date

(4 spaces)

Ms. Betty Wilson (Make sure you address it to the person in charge of screening or hiring – Never address it: To Whom It May Concern. If you cannot get the name of a person, use Dear Hiring Manager)

Director, Recruiting and Staffing

Jefferson Industries, Inc.

9463 East Broad Street

Richmond,VA23261

(2 spaces)

Dear Ms. Wilson:

The opening paragraph should state why you are writing and why you are interested in the organization. If you are writing a letter of application, you should name the position for which you are applying and tell the employer how you became aware of it. A letter of inquiry should provide evidence of your career-mindedness. It helps to refer to specific job functions, if not titles. If someone referred you to the employer such as a career counselor, a former employer, or a friend, this is the best place to mention that person’s name and to point out that he or she suggested you write. (Never use a person’s name without asking their permission in advance of submitting your cover letter.)

The middle paragraph is where you draw attention to your resume and highlight specific skills relevant to the potential employer; the best way to do this is to refer to the job description. Present your motives for seeking employment with this organization and cite achievements and qualifications related to the position desired. If you have qualifications that are not noted on your resume, this is your opportunity to discuss them.

The closing paragraph states what you will do next (such as calling to arrange an interview at the employer’s convenience) or what you would like the recipient of the letter to do next. An assertive statement explaining what you plan to do and what you hope the employer will do is harder to ignore than a vague request for consideration. (Remember, you must have the commitment to actually follow-up with the employer if you use this statement.)

Sincerely,

(Your signature here) Your Name Typed

My Time at the Career Development Center

The school year is winding down, and I can’t believe I started as a Career Specialist seven months ago! Reflecting on the knowledge, experience, and relationships that I’ve gained is incredibly humbling. As I mentioned in my very first post, I needed assistance with career planning at one point in time myself, and to turn around and be able to help others has been extremely rewarding. I would like Park students and alumni to know that whether you need help with deciding a major, resume/cover letter development, interviewing strategies, or conducting a job/internship search, the staff at the Career Development Center is there to assist you! I’m definitely an example of this, because I will be starting my internship in June, and I can say without a doubt that I was able to obtain that position because of the knowledge I absorbed at the CDC. I am so thankful for the time I’ve spent here, and wish all students, staff, and faculty a happy and safe summer!

Keeping Track of Your Job Search

So, you’ve sent out several resumes and finally someone has called you back! Only halfway through talking about your excitement, you realize you’re talking about the wrong job!

One thing that might make your search run more efficiently is keeping a spreadsheet or table in a word document of all the places you have applied to. If you are sending out 5 or more resumes a week, you may not be able to remember where you applied and when.

Organizing your efforts can help with the follow-up process. This is something to keep with you so if they do happen to call you have a reference of the job title, which company they are calling from and so on. You can keep track of information such as the company name, job title, the date it was posted, the hiring manager’s name, when you sent it and how, and when the screening date is if applicable. Knowing the screen date can be helpful because sometimes they will not look at your resume for another 30-60 days after you’ve applied. This can reassure you that they may not have called because they haven’t begun to review applicants yet. You can even include a brief job description and information about the company so that you sound intelligent when you are speaking with the person scheduling your interview.

Keeping track can also help you develop a more focused search. When looking at the places you’ve applied, do they fit in line with the job you want? Instead of aimlessly applying for every job that is posted, be sure to focus your search on the jobs you would really want. You will spend more time on each cover letter and resume you send out and it will probably increase your chances of getting a response.