“To reach a port, we must sail.

Sail, not tie at anchor.

Sail, not drift.”

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

We are going to try something a little new at CareerSparx and mix it up every once in a while with a little inspirational quote. Really, who doesn’t like quotes? Or, maybe we’re just dorky like that. Anyway, as you head into your last long weekend of summer, think about these wise words from former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He was a pretty smart guy after all.

In our opinion, what he’s trying to get at here is that you must take action to get to a new point in your life. You can’t anchor yourself somewhere safe. (Such as at your parent’s house post-graduation.) You also can’t drift if you plan on getting anywhere. And trust us, we know sometimes when you don’t know what your next step is, that can tend to happen. So, enjoy this weekend, but if you find yourself caught in some down time with a moment to think, ask yourself where it is you want to sail to in your career. Yes, that might sound cheesy, but we only say it because it’s true. Hey, if it worked for FDR, it can work for you.

We’ll be back Tuesday, Sparxsters. Have a great weekend!

Go Ahead and Quote Us Image Credit

So, here’s the situation. You just submitted your perfectly crafted cover letter and resume to one of your dream companies. (Good job!) Even better yet, there’s a specific position you applied for that you feel your skills align perfectly with. You assume you’re a shoo-in for an interview (good job for keeping up your confidence!) but then a week goes by … Then a week and a half … And you still haven’t heard anything.

“What is this employer thinking?” you’re more than likely asking yourself. “Why wouldn’t they at the very least e-mail me to acknowledge that maybe I’m not the right candidate? If I can’t even get an interview for this job that I’m perfect for, how should I expect to hear back from anyone?” Whoa, slow down there! While the snowball effect comes into full play when it comes to waiting to hear back on a job (I’m guilty of this more times than I care to admit myself … ) here’s something you need to know: A hiring manager, or human resources director or even a recruiter, have other things on their plate than that one specific job you applied for. So, guess what? It’s not about you!

Surprise, right? This should be good news. (It means you still have a chance! Yes, we’re big believers in optimism in your career search.) Don’t just take it from us; here’s some perspective from a real-life HR director: “I appreciate the thought that this is your number one priority to hear back, but it’s important to realize that there are potentially hundreds of other candidates that we have to screen through before we start responding to people. Even if you’re a super qualified candidate, I might not be able to get back to you right away,” says Megan Blacksher, senior director of human resources at WONGDOODY and the senior human resources consultant for CareerSparx.

“So, when is it OK to reach out to someone? Do I give them a month?” you’re probably asking yourself at this point.

“Two weeks is very reasonable,” Megan says. “If you haven’t heard within two weeks and you want to send an e-mail reiterating your interest, that’s OK. Just don’t do it the same week you apply. That can be annoying. i might still be reviewing the other 150 applicants in addition to the 45 other things I’m doing. Even if there is a full-time recruiter, keep in mind that person isn’t just recruiting for one position at a time. The hiring of any one position isn’t anyone’s full focus, but recruiters and HR directors do their very best to get back to candidates in a timely fashion.”

Whew, after knowing this you can rest easier now, right? You know that expression, “No news is good news?” Apply it to your job search and just hang in there. If you need to burn time to feel like you’re doing something while you’re waiting, check out our blog post, “5 Ways to Stay Productive While You Search for a Job.” And remember, we’re pulling for you!

What the Employer is Thinking While You’re Waiting for a Call Back Image Credit

Last night I attended a panel discussion about social media. (Btw, if you don’t have a job, which is probably the case since you’re reading this post, make sure you attend every networking event possible.) While the guest speakers were talking, my mind started to wander (as it usually does) to a theory of mine. To get a job, you want to think like a journalist.

What? Am I serious? Yes! As a journalism school graduate, I’ve always prided myself on my ability to communicate and build trustworthy relationships with sources. If you really think about it, those are two of the most important things you can do in your job search as well. If you apply the same tactics a journalist uses, then you will most certainly have the right mindset for your career search. And sometimes looking at a challenge from a different point of view is exactly the thing you need to hit “refresh” on your job search and gain some new traction.

Here are five ways to think like a reporter:

1) Do Your Research

The first thing a journalist does when faced with a news lead, blog post or interview is to research 1) the topics they want to find more about; 2) background information on individuals or companies they might need to talk to; and 3) stories by other media outlets on the same topic. This is no different than what your first step should be as a job seeker. You want to do your research before writing every cover letter, attending any interview or even before you actually consider working somewhere. The more you know and the better prepared you arrive, the stronger of an impression you will make.

2) Listen First

One thing many journalists are very good at is listening. Why? They have to. It’s important that a journalist really listens to their sources, since they need to know all sides of a story. And by listening we don’t mean just hearing the words coming out of someone’s mouth. In an interview, observe the non-verbal communication from those interviewing you as well. Pay attention to the details. Are they checking their BlackBerry or iPhone every few minutes, or are they looking you in the eye engaged and interested in what you have to say? Do they have good camaraderie with their colleagues? That’s pretty important. Listen first, talk later.

3) Take Notes

A journalist always carries a notebook and a pen around with them for a reason. They never know when the next big story is going to break, who they will run into or when a lightning bolt of inspiration strikes. It’s a good idea if you use this same approach for your job search. Did you run across a great article online about the company you are applying at? Write down the URL. Did the hiring manager and you share a love of shih-tzus? Include that in your notebook, too. You never know when you might need some nugget of information that you came across previously.

4) Know Your Audience

The most successful editors and writers all have one thing in common. No, it’s not that they write well. It’s that they all know how to effectively tailor a piece of work to their audience. As a creative, you want someone to relate, react and respond to something you are writing. As we said before in the post, “How to Write a Cover Letter That Stands Out from the Clutter,” it’s imperative that you know your audience when writing a cover letter. A letter going to an advertising agency would be much different from one that is going to an accounting firm. Make sure you study the tone of the company by visiting their website, reading their news releases and talking to people you may know who work at the company. A journalist would do all of these things to write the best story possible, and so should you when it comes to drafting your cover letter.

5) Take Care of Your Name

Like any industry, journalism has had its share of scandals. These are usually in the form of someone writing fiction and passing it off as truth. These people now have a tarnished name, and in journalism your name (otherwise known as your byline) is all you have. Reputation is everything. Make sure you take care of your own name. Have you searched yourself on Google lately? If not, make sure you do. And always follow this rule of thumb: If it’s something you wouldn’t say out loud to every friend on Facebook or every follower on Twitter, don’t say it!

To Get a Job, Think Like a Journalist Image Credit

Here’s some food for thought as you head into your weekend. Even though as recent college graduates you are lacking one thing when it comes to your job hunt — years of experience — what you do have is a jump on the competition when it comes to your online presence. Case in point? This New York Times Article: Social Networking Your Way to a New Job.

The article discusses how the landscape of applying for a job has changed dramatically with the launch of social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter and how these communities are changing the job search experience. This is not new news to you as savvy digital gurus yourselves. So, if anything, go into the weekend with confidence that while you may not have five to 10 years of experience as a manager at a company, what you do have is an understanding of online communities. Use this understanding to your advantage in your job search, and you will be finding opportunities others didn’t even know existed before long.

Good luck, and enjoy the last official weekend of August and your summer.

Cramming the highlights of your college education, work experience, community volunteerism, international travel, campus leadership, academic honors and professional internships … phew … onto one piece of 8” x 11” paper can be tricky. Trickier yet is knowing what to add and what to ax. Should you include your high school football wins or successes on the track team? Probably not … unless it draws attention to your unique offerings for a high school coaching or teaching position.

Failing to tailor your resume to a job opening is — next to spelling, grammar, punctuation or language use mistakes — a fatal error. Recruiters quickly scan resumes to decide your value proposition and potential fit. The key is to tailor your resume so it showcases your professional uniqueness and articulates what you can do for the employer, the areas of expertise you bring and your themed competency categories that focus on your major successes, skills and abilities. Four other frequent errors college students make on their resumes include:

1) Misrepresenting the Degree Earned

Do you know the degree you earned? Bet it wasn’t a bachelorette degree. Did you earn an AA, BA or BS in business? Was it in simply business or in business management? Did you complete an “emphasis,” “option” or “concentration” within your major? Did you complete a complementary “minor?” Don’t guess — review your college catalog, official transcript or diploma for accuracy. Nobody wants to hire an employee who misrepresents themselves or fails to fact check.

2) Including Years of Attendance

Recruiters want to know when you will graduate or when you graduated, because they want to know when they can hire you. Honestly, they care less about how long it took and more about the value you might add to their company. Including on your resume “B.S., Business Management (2006-2010)” tells the recruiter you attended college four years from 2006-2010; it does not tell them you graduated. It is much clearer to write, “B.S., Business Management (May 2010).”

3) Using Resume Wizard in Word

In our current economy with a reported eight people for every one job, using a template to create a document identical to millions of other recent graduates’ resumes is a straight route for your resume to the circular file. Create a strong, distinctive marketing document by reviewing current resume books, making an appointment with a career counselor in your college’s career services office or hiring a professional resume writer. You aren’t like everyone else — so, showcase your varied experiences uniquely.

4) Including Irrelevant Hobbies

Hobbies, interests and volunteer activities should only be included if they support the position you are applying for, buoy your qualifications and/or add to your resume. Your West Virginia cousins, the Hatfields, are no doubt thrilled you won a blue ribbon at the fair for marksmanship, but a hiring director may find it intimidating, perhaps even menacing … unless, of course, you are applying for the police force, CIA or a security company. If you traveled abroad and volunteered to help build a school for orphans and you want a teaching job, then by all means, add that experience to your resume. You want the recruiter to ask you about your experience with children, not your blue ribbon for riflery.

Cheryl Minnick, a career counselor and internship coordinator at The University of Montana, is one of only 33 Nationally Certified Resume Writers in the nation, and owner of The Paper Trail Career Consulting. She specializes in helping students identify their unique career talents and assists them in securing meaningful employment, crafting remarkable resumes and memorable cover letters. Samples of her creative cover letters and tailored resumes were published in “Step-by-Step Cover Letters“  by Evelyn Salvador and in “Designing the Perfect Resume (Resumes That Pop!)” by Pat Criscito. Her job searching tips are featured in “The Twitter Job Search Guide” by Susan Whitcomb, Chandlee Bryan and Deb Dib, and soon, her resume samples may be featured on AOL/Emurse. Cheryl can be contacted via e-mail at cminnick@mso.umt.edu.

The Fatal Resume Errors College Students are Making Image Credit

Aside from “wowing” a potential employer with your cover letter, coming across as energetic and passionate is just as important. But, what if you’ve followed all of our recommended interview tips (“Your Job Interview: 4 Things You Must Do“) and still aren’t finding luck when you meet person face-to-face?

We know that for some people an interview can feel somewhat like a test, and it’s not always where you feel you can shine the most. If you’ve experienced great traction with your cover letter and resume but are finding yourself in less than stellar interviews, it’s time you take a different approach, the “mock interview.”

Find Your Comfort Zone

Almost as important as answering questions as accurately and intelligently as possible, is your ability to feel comfortable in an interview situation. It’s not like you’re waiting for the results on a scary health test, though it can feel like it at times. And if you are comfortable (but not too comfortable) during your interview, your confidence will show.

“When it came time to meet with someone in person, something wasn’t clicking,” says Ryan Thompson who went on multiple interviews over the course of six months before he tried a mock interview.

“For me it wasn’t just about memorization of answers to potential questions, such as, ‘If she asks this, I’ll say this,’ although that definitely helped. It was more about making me feel like I had my bases covered, and that because we spent so much time practicing, nothing about the interview could catch me off guard. And that led to me feeling much more comfortable right from the start.”

The Type of Feedback You Might Get

You know how you can be in a fight with your parents and a significant other and not have the ability, for the life of you, to figure out how to make things better? What do you do? You go to a family member or friend for advice and feedback on your situation. Often times your family and friends will tell you something that may seem obvious to them but not quite as clear to you.

“My friend Steve gave me some really good tips about connecting with the interviewer,” Ryan says. “He said to pick something out in the room that could be used as a conversation piece, which I did. He also said not to babble on and on and to give short, direct answers that could lead to more questions. What surprised me most is that none of the ‘hard’ questions we practiced for actually came up in the interview. But if they would have, because of the mock interview, I would have been prepared.”

The Bottom Line

The saying “practice makes perfect” exists for a reason. You can never really over-prepare for an interview, but you can easily fail in an interview if you don’t practice enough. And remember, with each interview you do (whether real, informational or mock), you are further honing your ability to stand out in all the right ways. Good luck!

Practice with a Mock Interview to Stand Out from the Flock Image Credit

Getting an internship in college can be an incredible experience. In many ways, it feels like landing your first job. It’s an office or work environment you go to on a regular basis. You dress professionally. You make it a point to learn all you can. You interact with professionals who are in roles you may want to be in someday, and get to solve real world problems. And sometimes, you even get to make a little money in addition to your school credit.

At CareerSparx we firmly believe that you should begin your career as an intern (“7 Reasons Why You Should Start Your Career as an Intern“). That said, as the summer draws to a close and your internship days (if you have one) are waning, it’s important to keep in mind one thing: An internship, no matter how much you put into it, does not always equal an automatic job offer. Let me clarify and say we’re not saying that it’s not possible that your internship turns into a job opportunity. In fact, I’ve seen some amazing interns become even more amazing colleagues. The point of this blog post is to bring up that oh-so-touchy fact that just because you interned at a company, it doesn’t entitle you to a job offer.

One time I was interviewing a potential candidate for a job. This person was someone who already had interned where I worked. On first glance I would even think they had an automatic “in” in many ways, but this person made some very grave mistakes … Mistakes I would never want you to make during a job interview with any future employer. Allow me to share them with you so you’re not left wondering what went wrong.

1) Don’t Rely on What You Think You Know

Just because you interned at a company and feel like you know it inside and out, a lot can change after you’ve returned to school and find yourself back there again. Think of who you were last year at this time. Did you have different perspectives and preferences? Chances are, so did your company. Don’t make the mistake of coming to an interview without spending any time researching where you used to work. You want to still show that you’re the candidate who knows more about where you want to work above anyone else being interviewed. Take the time to research the company’s website — just like you would do for any other job opportunity. Maybe the company has new clients or even new leadership. Your job is to know these things. Let your past experience serve as background that you can of course rely on, but make sure you still put in extra initiative.

2) Err on the Professional Side …
Even if You Know the Interviewer

OK, so you know the person (or team of people) interviewing you. This doesn’t give you an automatic pass to be anything less than professional. The same interview rules (see “4 Things NOT to Do in an Interview“) apply in this situation the same as they would in any other interview setting. You still need to dress professionally and address those interviewing you with respect. These may seem like basics, but they are so often ignored once you feel comfortable with those you are talking to. Keep them in the back of your mind at all times.

3) Don’t Give the Impression This Job is Your Plan B

Finally, at all costs do NOT give any indication that you are applying for this position as a last resort. If you’ve been casting a wide net — as we hope you have — it’s still important to drive home why you are the best person for this position at this time. Even if the position you’re applying for isn’t for the exact role you want to be in at a company, it’s important that you show the employer you really are the right fit for the job. You already have an advantage in that the employer knows what “type” of person you are to work with, which as we’ve said before, gives you a huge leg up in your interview. Just don’t leave any room for doubt in the employer’s mind that you really want this particular position. Passion shows, so make sure you bring it!

Remember, your internship may have gotten you an interview opportunity, but that doesn’t mean you automatically have the job. Treat every interview like it’s a new opportunity to make a first impression, and don’t forget to bring your A-game. An interviewer (whether they know you or not) will know within minutes if you bring the right energy for the job, so make sure you leave them thinking, “wow.”

News Flash: An Internship Does Not Always Equal A Job Offer Image Credit

Happy Monday, Sparxsters! We’ve already told you what not to do when creating your resume (“Building Your Resume: What NOT to Do“) as well as how to keep your resume on life support when you don’t have a job (“5 Ways to Build Your Resume When You’re Unemployed“), but what we haven’t shared with you yet are actual tips on how to best write one.

Since Monday seems to be a good day to get things done, why don’t you carve out a few hours today to work on putting it together. That way you can go from thinking, “I’ll get to it tomorrow,” to “I just finished my resume!” It’s not as daunting as you think. I’m sure by now you already have some form of your resume written, and if you don’t, join the CareerSparx course right now for an easy “how to” guide. (Hint: It’s in the first lesson!) But today I’m going to give you some added guidance on how to bring your resume from average to A+!

1) Less Tasks, More Achievements

As you’re writing your resume it’s a good idea to keep it active. Nobody wants a lazy employee, and nobody wants to read a resume that explains in minutiae detail how you updated spreadsheets and organized files. What a potential employer does want to know; however, is how you took your tasks and turned them into achievements. Maybe all your job did consist of was updating spreadsheets and organizing files, but think to yourself, “What is the result of this?” Maybe you created a new spreadsheet system for storing your company’s public relations contacts, or maybe you found new software on the Internet (for free) that helped your company go paperless. Either way, make sure to highlight your accomplishments while in an internship or past job versus the not-so-exciting daily tasks.

2) Think Twice Before Creating an “Objective”

Maybe while you were in high school they taught you to create an objective on your resume. (Let’s hope they didn’t!) If so, it’s time to realize that old school of thought is just that — antiquated! It’s time you scrape that lame objective off your resume and create room for more valuable real estate, like the fact that you interned at not one, but four different companies while you were in college, or that you organized a team and raised $5,000 for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. This is what a potential employer wants to see. They could care less if you hope to someday “strategically promote developing businesses across multiple platforms.” What does that gobbledy-gook mean anyway?

3) Relate Your Experience

You know how sometimes you can be driving down the road and that perfect song comes on and you think, “This is exactly how I feel. I could have written this!” In a nutshell, you related to that song. The same type of tone should exist with your resume. You want the employer’s needs to relate to your experience. It’s easier to do than it sounds. Really, all you need to focus on is how to take your work experience and translate those skills on paper to what the job requires. For example, if the job needs someone who is organized, demonstrate you are organized by saying that you created deadline schedules for press releases, sent packets to media contacts and followed up with them — or how you helped your boss stay on budget with daily reports. These are all just examples, and of course you shouldn’t say these things if you weren’t in public relations or if you didn’t actually do them, but you get the point. Show that your experience can relate to the needs of the job you are applying for.

Finally, don’t forget to format your resume consistently, proofread (more than once) and turn the final product into a PDF (“The One Resume Step You Can’t Forget“). By following these three tips you will be ahead of the competition, and before you know it your friends will be asking you for resume help!

How to Write an A+ Resume Image Credit

This morning I came across an article on Forbes featuring so many great points, that I want to let it speak for itself. The article, “Secrets to Finding a Job Online,” shares five tips to help you navigate the seemingly bottomless sea of an online job search. If you still don’t think it’s worth your time to look for jobs online, consider this. In 2009, 13.2 percent of external hires were found through job boards and 22.3 percent from from a company’s website. (CareerXRoads.com) So dear Sparxsters, consider spending a little less time updating your career status and peruse a few job boards. Just make sure you follow these tips!

Article Highlights:

1) Don’t Spam Your Résumé

2) Polish Your Résumé Daily

3) Be Easy to Find Online

4) Clean Up Any Digital Dirt

5) Open Doors With Social Media

Have a great weekend! We’ll be back Monday with even more career advice.

How to Navigate Job Hunting Online Image Credit

As if you didn’t have enough to keep in mind just before your job interview. Here we come with four more tips. But, we’re here with your best interests in mind. An interview is one of the most important opportunities for showing that you’re not only interested and passionate about working in a company, but also that you will be the right fit for the open position on their team. If you have a great job interview, you don’t want to blow it at the end by asking a question in poor taste. And for that very reason, we gathered our four best tips for leaving the right kind of lasting impression.

1) Come With Strong Questions

It’s pretty much a safe bet that at the conclusion of your job interview the employer will ask, “Do you have any questions for us?” Make sure you have at least one or two prepared and well thought-out questions. You want to make sure you don’t ask them about anything that is readily available on their website. If you do, you will come across as not just unprepared but disinterested in their company as well. And, on a similar note, never ask about money, vacation and sick days or anything related to benefits at this point. Not only is it too soon, but it also can give the perception that you are interested in the job for the wrong reasons. You should be looking at the interviewing process as a way to show and explain why you’re the best fit for that employer, as well as determine if that company is the right fit for you.

2) Shake and Repeat

Think about some of the best customer service experiences you’ve had. Chances are most of those interactions concluded with a firm handshake, a big smile and a “thank you (insert your name here).” As a skill that’s often taught and practiced in customer service, it’s also one that you can use to show your genuine appreciation of your interviewer’s time. Also, when you repeat the interviewer’s name as you shake their hand, it’s yet another opportunity for you to commit that person’s name and face to your mind, which will come in handy when you get to the following two tips.

3) Follow Up Promptly

It’s a smart idea to follow up with each individual who interviewed you before the end of the day. Now we’re not advocating that this is something you do in a rush. (Of course you want to make sure you spell their name correctly and send a thoughtful response.) But do make sure that if you send a card, you get it mailed that day. If you send an e-mail, shoot that off before bed. Whether you send a thank you via e-mail or snail mail, make sure you mention something specific from your conversation to show that you’re someone who pays attention to — and cares — about the details. Finally, make sure to send any materials you promised to follow up on within 24 hours of your interview.

4) Debrief the Details

Shortly after your interview is over, the first thing an employer usually does is take notes or reassess any final thoughts about you as a candidate. You should also take a few minutes to take some notes for yourself. Did the potential employer mention certain specifics of characteristics they would like in an ideal candidate? Write those down. Did they elaborate in more detail the duties the position requires? Take note of those, too. Did you and the hiring manager have a mutual fondness for the Pittsburgh Steelers? Jot that down as well. The point is this: Keep notes on anything and everything that could help you in the hiring process moving forward. You never know when something could come up as a conversation point. And, if you do end up getting the job, this insight into your future employers will be valuable to go back to.

If you follow these four tips you can feel confident that you are leaving your interview with your best foot forward. Good luck!

Your Job Interview: 4 Things You Must Do Image Credit