The Art of Communicating with Employers

Many Northwestern students are at a pivotal point in their summer internship search. Whether it be that they are waiting for an invitation to interview, or waiting for an offer, the communication between the student and the recruiter/contact is key for a positive outcome.

Here are some tips to master the art of communicating with employers:

1. Timing is Everything

I recently received feedback from a recruiter that works in finance. This feedback brought to light the importance of when you email a thank you note or a follow-up question to your recruiter/contact. With work email being an essential way for most to communicate and often 24/7, avoid emailing a thank you note at a late hour (read 10pm-5am). This recruiter told me he will check his work email at all times of the night if his phone indicates he has a new message. He worries that it is something very serious or an emergency if an email comes after a certain hour. So, imagine his frustration when the email that came into his work email at 1am was actually a thank you email from a student.

2. Have a Detailed/Relevant Subject Line

I often suggest when emailing someone that you don’t already know to use the line “Northwestern Student Seeking Your Advice”, or “Northwestern Student Follow-Up”. Be detailed in your subject line but also not too detailed that the subject line goes past 6 words.

Also, if you are emailing and the topic of the email no longer relates to the subject line that you are using, take the lead to change the subject to help the reader be reminded of what you are communicating about. For example, if you email someone to set-up an informational interview and your subject line is “Northwestern Student Seeking Your Advice”, the contact replies using the same subject line that they can meet with you. The email you write back should possibly change to “Setting up our informational interview time”.

3. Avoid sending Attachments with No Body Text 

If you are applying to an internship or job and the instructions to apply include “email your resume (and cover letter) to this email address”. Use the body of the email to introduce who you are, tell them why you are applying and detail what is attached. This will show the recruiter/contact that you took the time to be professional and that you really are interested in the position. I’ve been witness to students only including the following statement “Hello, attached is my resume for your review. Thank you.” Avoid this because it’s likely your application was just deleted or moved to the “no” column.

For more great tips on email etiquette read the following article By Ritika Trikha, CareerBliss Writer on February 21, 2012- http://www.careerbliss.com/advice/email-etiquette-avoid-these-transgressions/

Tips for Finding Work in the US (For International Students)

Last Night in Norris, sat over 60 international students and several Northwestern staff members glued to our seats listening to the advice given by Dan Beaudry, Powerties.net. Dan was on campus as part of his national tour to bring hope and encouragement to the thousands of international students studying in the US and seeking employment in the US.

The lessons he taught last night are important not only to international students but to domestic students as well. Below is a summary of some of the key points to his talk as well as my own commentary. And as always for more assistance please contact University Career Services.

Let Your Career Goals Lead You- If you aren’t sure what type of internship or job you are seeking than you will have a hard time being successful in your search. Take time to clarify your career goals through assessing your interests, values and skills. A good place to start this process is to meet with a career counselor.

Concentrate on Selling Your Value- Dan talked a lot about not leading with your resume and to be able to articulate what you have to offer to someone with influence on your job or internship search. Of course there are going to be situations where you need to submit a resume. But avoid the “Spray and Pray” method. Your resume, especially if you’re an international student, could quickly be eliminated from contention if a company has a policy to not hire international students. Instead, find ways to meet people in person so they can know you and not just a piece of paper.

Be a part of the Hidden Job Market- The hidden job market exists because many hiring managers look to people they trust to give recommendations on who to hire before even posting a position on a website. Therefore, to be successful in your job or internship search you have to become one of those people that may be recommended through a person of influence.

Networking… Yes, We Say it Often… Is Key- Related to the Hidden Job Market information above, you need to develop a strong network so people will think of you when they have openings. These same people might even make exceptions for you to apply when policy might dictate that you do not qualify. Find people within your dream organizations to network with by conducting informational interviews. A few resources to find connections are LinkedIn.com or our Alumni Career Network (Northwestern CareerNet).

Other Great Advice:

• Perfect your English Language abilities because frankly if you do not have that ability you will not be hired in the US.
• When conducting informational interviews ask questions about challenges they are experiencing. This will give you reasons and topics to follow-up on with your connection. You may even be able to offer help or assistance when they mention a problem you can solve.
• Again during an informational interview…NEVER ask someone you just met if they are hiring. Learn more about a person and gather information that is relevant to your career exploration/ job search. You don’t want to offend the person helping you and doing you a favor. Plus by you asking to meet with them for an informational interview, they already know you are seeking employment in the near future.
• Be Credible, Be Likable and Be Helpful!

After the Career Fair

This past week at Northwestern University was a busy one… it was Greek Recruitment, First full week of Classes and Career Week. During Career Week my office hosted not one but two Career Fairs. And next week, our colleagues at the McCormick Office of Career Development will host their annual Tech Expo. Meaning in less then two weeks students at Northwestern may have attend 3 career fairs!

It’s now time to debrief on your experience…

1. Get out a piece of paper and jot down which companies you met with, what you learned from your interactions with the representatives or alumni from that organization and any kind of advice they gave to you.

2. Organize the contact information you gathered from attending the fair. Make sure not to lose those business cards or that piece of paper with the recruiters email, address and phone number… you’ll need that information for step 3.

3. Follow-up with those you met at the career fairs within 48 hours. This is crucial for you to make the most of the fair. What you experienced at the fair was your first step to building a professional relationship with someone of great importance in your future internship or job search. Take the time to continue building that relationship by sending a Thank You Note/Email.

3b. Use social media to stay in contact too. Do you have a LinkedIn Account? Send a professional message along with an invitation to connect with those you met at the fairs.

4. Follow the directions given to you by the companies who may have suggested submitting your resume and cover letter on CareerCat or on their company website. Many deadlines will be coming up very soon, so it’s important to act on this step immediately!

5. Meet with UCS staff to help you debrief and plan out your next steps. Call 847-491-3700 to schedule an appointment to meet with a career counselor (if you’re undecided on a career path) an internship specialist (for tips about how to find an internship, research or summer job) and an employment specialist (for tips about finding a job after graduation).

 

The Blind Date Guide to Conquering Career Fairs

Let’s be honest. Career fairs could be just as scary as going on a blind date. You are confidently invited by a friend to meet a total stranger because this person thinks the two of you will be the ideal match. You find yourself looking for the perfect outfit, rehearsing your introduction, selecting the right restaurant, and making sure you arrive on time; all in hopes that your friend got it right this time.

Attending a career fair, whether it’s your first or tenth, may trigger the same feelings as going on a blind date: anxiety, optimism, confusion, or insecurity. Consequently, you may find yourself avoiding future blind dates, or in our case career fairs, and eventually missing an opportunity to meet The One, again in our case an internship or job offer. However, with the right attitude and preparation, you can overcome your career fair fear (no pun intended!) and maybe even look forward to attending them!

Pre-date Jitters. Before a blind date, how many times do you change your outfit, question the restaurant or movie you will attend, or inquire as much information from the matchmaker about your date? Well the same applies for career fairs! Before attending one, find out which companies will be there and prioritize the ones you want to visit. It is recommended that you identify 5-7 employers most aligned with your career goals.  Spend some time researching these companies and find out all you can about them. What is their mission, values, or recent news about them? The more you know the better, and employers will be impressed with the knowledge and interest you have in them. In return, you will gain confidence and also alleviate any pre-career fair jitters. You don’t want to take your date to a seafood restaurant if they are allergic to fish, right? Do your homework!

First Impression Matters. Accepting an invitation to go on a blind date will probably raise your curiosity to how the person will look. If they arrive with sweatpants, unruly hair, and 30 minutes late, you know they didn’t put the effort to impress you. Your first impression on a blind date is usually correct.  And an employer’s first impression of you may be correct too! Use good judgment in what you wear and project professionalism. Traditionally, most attendees wear business professional attire; a.k.a. conservative, clean suits for both men and women. Sorry trendsetters, this is not the time to sport your new sandals or leather jackets. As the adage goes, dress for the job you want! Also, bring a nice folder to carry your resume and business cards, and a notepad and pen for taking notes. Speaking of resumes, remember to update your resume and bring many, many clean, crisp copies to handout!

Approach & Conversation. So now you are arriving at the venue and are about to meet your date. Anxiety ensues, then you start questioning the appropriate introductory greeting (is it a hug or handshake?), then you think about possible topics of conversation, and before you know it your date is standing right in front of you! Luckily, you already did some of your research and are confident to talk about their interests and hobbies. Now at career fairs, approach employers with a firm handshake and introduce yourself. Enter the “elevator speech”: a concise and memorable introductory statement that sums up who you are and why you’re worth hiring; highlight your skills, strengths, and relevant experience. Practice your pitch until you are comfortable using this as your opening. You might feel awkward talking to a mirror, but when you’re speaking to a recruiter, a little practice will build your “small talk” confidence! For more details about the elevator speech, click here: http://www.northwestern.edu/careers/students/employment-skills/elevator-speech.html

During your conversation with the company representative, recall the information obtained from your company research to ask inquisitive questions. Ask about the industry, what job opportunities exist, and always try to relate your skills and experience to the company or jobs that may be open. At the end of your conversation, hand your resume and always request for the employer’s business card so that you can follow-up.

Happily Ever After? Finally, the blind date is coming to an end and you surprisingly find yourself having a good time. Now, do you talk about the second date or wait for them to initiate the idea? In terms of career fairs, when they are over, your work isn’t! It is important to keep yourself fresh in the mind of the employers by sending a follow-up or thank you e-mail within two days. Always refer to the date and location of the job fair. Try and highlight any part of the conversation that stood out to make it easy for them to remember you. In addition, include a copy of your resume. If there were employers you did not have the opportunity to connect with, send them a message articulating your interest and regret that you did not meet them at the event.

So next time you see a flyer for a Career Fair or get invited to go on a blind date, don’t be afraid…half the battle is just putting yourself out there. For more information on career fairs, check out: http://www.northwestern.edu/careers/students/employment-skills/how-to-work-a-career-fair.html Don’t miss out on the next amazing career fair opportunity! UCS is currently hosting 2 events:  

MLK Public Interest and Internship and Job Fair: Meet employers in the education, government, and non-profit sectors offering internships and full-time employment. For specific companies/positions, visit CareerCat. Date: 1/10, 12:00-4:00pm, Norris, Louis Room.

Winter Expo 2012: Meet employers offering internships and/or full-time employment in the public and private sectors. For specific companies/positions, visit CareerCat. Date: 1/12, 12:00-4:00pm, Norris, Louis Room.

Taking a Year Off

Over the holidays people often have some time to reflect on their lives and their careers. This might be a time when you can actually stop and think about the path you’re on and determine if you should maybe consider taking a turn up ahead. Some find it very rewarding and life changing to Take a Year Off.

Now, I’m not suggesting you quit your job, quit school, sell all your belongings and move to some remote island where you live off the land with no real purpose… but I am suggesting taking on an experience of a lifetime before pursuing that MBA degree or that PhD… or that job search that doesn’t seem to make sense right now.

Taking a Year Off really means you find ways to gain experiences that you may have never had, to grow and to discover possibly your true calling. Tracie Thomas from Northwestern University Career Services offers advice on this topic on the UCS Website at http://www.northwestern.edu/careers/students/career-advice-and-counseling/taking-a-year-off.html

Along with reading Tracie’s advice and visiting some of her recommended sites I would also recommend visiting Twitter. Right before writing this blog post, I visited http://www.planetgapyear.com/ (one of the sites Tracie and UCS recommends). On the top of the page it mentioned that https://twitter.com/enroutegapyear was tweeted everyday up until Christmas (December 25th) a new example of a gap year experience. I learned of great programs like Project Abroad, City Year and a site called http://www.helpx.net/ that helps connect organic farms with people looking to volunteer.

So enjoy the holidays… and enjoy exploring all the great possibilities for Taking a Year Off!

The Career Services Ultimate Gift Guide

Over the past two weeks my email inbox has been flooded by the promise of Free Shipping and 50% sales from every retailer that I’ve even blinked at over the past year. I’ve received magazines in the mail that have created a stack about 2 feet high on my coffee table.

It’s that time of year- the time to buy lots of “stuff”… or maybe the idealist in me would say… the time to GIVE! And therefore the University Career Services office decided to get into the spirit and create our own…

Career Services Ultimate Gift Guide:

Be a Career Mentor: If you’re looking for a priceless gift that is meaningful for you and those you help- become a Career Mentor. No matter where you are in your career (less than 4 months of full-time work experience – 30 years or more) you can offer current students advice just by sharing your career story. If you are a Northwestern Alum one of the best ways to be a Career Mentor is to register for the Northwestern CareerNet. Learn more at http://alumni.northwestern.edu/careers

Review a Friend’s Resume: If you’ve perfected your resume and have gained knowledge about content as well as design of this important document, why not share that gift by helping a friend or colleague. Of course, I’ll put a plug in for referring a friend to University Career Services for the final review. But know that you too have vital information to share. Need resume samples please find them within our Career Guide that you can download at http://www.northwestern.edu/careers/students/resources/index.html

Perform a Mock Interview: If you have a friend who is getting ready for an interview. Offer to help them, by doing a mock interview. Ask the following key questions to find out if they are ready for a basic first round interview:

• Tell me about yourself
• Why are you interested in this company/position?
• What do you know about our company?
• What do you have to offer that separates you from the other applicants? or Why should we hire you?

Just allowing your friend to verbalize the answers to these questions will help them realize if they need to do more research and prepare more. For other mock interview assistance call UCS at 847-491-3700.

Offer to Help with Networking: Lastly, one of the greatest gifts you can give is entry into your network. If you know someone who might be a great connection for a friend or colleague- share that information. Ask your network to welcome a new member. If you’ve interned somewhere before, contact your past supervisor and ask if they are looking for interns this summer. If they say yes, ask if you can recommend some of your friends for this summer’s openings.

Of course there are so many other gifts you can give… resume paper, portfolios, interviewing attire, but I think you’ll agree the non-materialistic gifts are the best when it comes to giving a gift of Career Development!

Your Back to School Career Supplies List From Mrs. Gill

With classes about to begin for Northwestern University students, the weather clearly changing to Autumn temps, and the buzz of activity around Evanston you know  it’s time to get ready for Fall!

When you were growing up maybe your teacher sent a nice letter in the mail to you and your family about the School Supplies you needed to be ready for school. Can you picture going into a store with a crumpled up piece of paper (aka your list), grabbing a cart and fighting your way down the aisle that has 3 ring binders, lined paper, highlighters, pencils and pens? I sure can!

I’m here to offer an equivalent to this for Northwestern Students but more towards my world- your list of Back to School Career Supplies:

• At least 1 version of a well-written and Reviewed Resume by University Career Services (attend our walk-in hours to get the quickest service with this)
• 1 Updated CareerCat Profile (be sure to updated your GPA, contact information, major or graduation year if there have been changes)
• 1 Professional Looking Folder or Padfolio to be used for Interviewing
  
• 1 Package of Resume Paper (Yes, you need to print out your resume for career fairs and networking meetings)
  
• At least 1 Interview Appropriate Suit and Dress Shoes
• 1 List of Companies you’d like to work for within full-time or internship roles (refer to our Resources page for help researching companies)
• Well thought-out Cover Letters specifically targeted towards the positions/companies you’re applying to that you’ve found on CareerCat or other job/internship databases (UCS can help you review or develop cover letters)
• 50-100 Business Cards for Networking Events (You can make your own using Avery Products from an Office Supply Store or you can order some through Vista Print)

Hopefully, this list can help influence you to be ready for Fall, but know that the staff at UCS are here for you to help with preparing for the upcoming Career Fairs, On Campus Interviewing, Career Exploration, Job Search, Internship Search and more! Just call 847-491-3700 to schedule an appointment or join us for Walk-ins starting next week!

I Think I Hate My Internship

Picture this… you’re in college and want to find a summer internship. You’re not sure what you want to do for the internship, you just know you don’t want to go home for the summer and you want a more professional job. So you apply to a few things that sort of seem interesting and their paid. You get accepted to an internship, you sublet your friends apartment for the summer and you are all set. But within 3 weeks of the internship you realize “I think I hate my internship.”

The above illustration definitely happens. I know it does from personal experience (some 13 years ago). I knew I was interested in Marketing and Advertising. The internship I had was with a large newspaper doing outside advertising sales. Looking back, I’m certain I didn’t know what that meant, but advertising was in the title… so it must be at least sort of related to what I wanted to do. During my weeks working at the newspaper I learned quite a bit about sales, cold calling, customer service, relationship building, communication… so it wasn’t a total loss.

But let’s get back to the “Hating” part. Hate is such a strong word (isn’t it). If you are not liking (there that is better… not liking vs. hate) your internship what can you take away from this experience. I learned that if I am going to be involved in sales I better feel passionate about what I am selling. And I learned cold calling has to be one of the worst things on Earth (but I digress).

What can you learn from you own not liking internship experience:

• Like me, you possibly now have a work environment or career option that you can check off the list. But be careful here… notice I didn’t say that I will never do sales. That would be pretty hard to avoid… sales is everywhere. But realize maybe that what you are selling would have to be different, or the environment in which you were working would have to change for you to be satisfied.
• Next time you are looking for an internship or job, take time with your search and get advice about what might better suit your interests, values and skills. The best way to do this is meet with a career counselor at your career services office.
• Speak up to your internship supervisor. If you are not liking the way your internship is going maybe it isn’t too late to turn it around. Ask your supervisor or team lead if you could meet to discuss some goals you have for the internship. Ask if you could observe a different department or use the last few weeks to engage in a new project more suited to your interests.

Even the worst experiences, failures or challenges can be helpful in defining who we are and what we can do with our lives.

Your Internship Midterm Exam

Yikes! Did I just write that dreaded word… “Midterm”! (insert creepy organ music). Yes, for many of you summer interns out there this week likely marks a midway point for your internship experience. Take advantage of this mark in time. And ask yourself the following questions (don’t worry this won’t be graded):

1. Have you met with your supervisor lately? To receive feedback about your performance/how you’re doing or just to check in and see what other projects you could could assist with- midway through gives you a reason to stop by and say “Hi, can we meet sometime this week or next?”

2. What goals have you accomplished that you set out to achieve during your summer internship? or What goals have you not accomplished? Hopefully before you started your internship you and your supervisor met to make a list of achievable goals for the summer. But if you didn’t, it’s not to0 late to evaluate what you’ve been working on and how that matches up with your career or professional development. (i.e. say you want to learn to be a better presenter… ask your supervisor if there would be any opportunities for you to present on research or a project to your team or to clients)

3. Are you bored? Have you run out of things to do? If you have completed all of your assignments and your supervisor is too busy to give you other things to do, don’t let that stop you from learning more about the company you are working for. Consider asking your supervisor or a colleague if you can conduct informational interviews with others in the organization. I did this at an internship I did back in graduate school. I called others in leadership roles around the organization and asked if they had time for me to stop by for about one hour to talk about how they have gotten to where they are. I was sure to tell them that I was an intern at the organization and what my career goals where.

4. Are you saving examples of your work? If you are creating published works, designs, doing research, etc. inquire if it is allowed for you to make a photocopy or to save a copy of your work to a thumb drive. This will go a long way for you to develop a portfolio of sample work which can be used to show your professors or future employers what you are capable of producing.

Enjoy the rest of your internship and be sure to stay in touch with your career services office if you need more advice on how to make the most of your summer internship.

Being International Doesn’t Have to be a Roadblock

Throughout my years helping international students as a career advisor I have always been impressed with the efforts I see from this population of students with regards to their work ethic to start early with their career development and to stay on top of their internship or job search. That’s why when I hear that smart, talented and interesting international students experience “Roadblocks” in their attempts to work in the US, I am disappointed.

This week I was fortunate to meet a recent Northwestern University alum who has been successful in gaining work internships and full-time work in the US. If you even spent 5 minutes with this individual you would want to hire him too. I know I might be a little bias but honestly, this alum was eloquent, intelligent, interpersonal, welcoming and professional.

And he also had great advice and encouragement for other international students seeking to stay in the US after graduation. Below are his tips with my commentary:

• “Think globally, Act locally”- In other words, embrace that you have a global viewpoint on life, work and culture, but understand the local traditions, values and communication techniques to be a part of your local community.
• “Educate potential employers on your skills and abilities (i.e. Adaptability, Relate-ability and Empathy)”- You have already been through a significant process just coming to the US for school. Therefore, you have proven that you can adapt and learn a new language, culture and be successful. Avoid the underselling of your abilities.
• “Start Early”- This advice warms my heart because it is something that I have been working to express to students for over 10 years. From the start of new student orientation be thinking about how everything you are learning relates to your plan for the future. Meet with a career counselor in your freshmen year to learn what options are available to you.
• “Participating in Internships are Key”- International students who participate in internships in their home country or in the US during their college career will likely have a better chance of being offered a full-time job. With internships you gain skills, expertise, technical abilities and a company will gain knowledge of who you are and see that they would be foolish to let you go to another company.

If you are an international student do not let this stop you from seeing a future in the US. Yes, laws and regulations of work authorization can possibly be “Roadblocks”, but know that my office (http://www.northwestern.edu/careers/undergraduate/diversity/international.html) and the International Office (http://www.northwestern.edu/international) are here to help.