Career Treking » Ask the Expert

FAQ: The College Graduate Resume

career.treking — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 12:39:14 +0000

Rule number one for resume writing: it is an art, not a science. You can ask 10 people for feedback on your resume and you will get at least 10 different suggestions. The key to a resume is to clearly delineate what you can offer to the employer. With that said, here are some Frequently Asked Questions about a resume for a college graduate.

Should me resume fit onto one page? Yes. College graduates typically have limited work and real life experience. One page should suffice. Do not go lower than an 11 point font to squeeze your background to one page. If I have to get my glasses to read your resume, you’ve now made me work.

Should I have an objective? Again, yes. I realize that many career services offices do not recommend an objective but when I have a stack of resumes to review, I need to know (and quickly) what you want. Be sure that your objective is clear and concise. ”Pursuing a career in publishing to bring my writing and editing skills to a growing organization” can suffice.

Should I list my personal interests on my resume? Yes, but only if they tell me why you are unique or how you will add value. Including volunteer work at the Big Brothers Association tells me a lot about a candidate so that should be included. Reading science fiction books should not. BTW… being able to navigate Microsoft Office software (Word, etc) is a given these days. You don’t have to include it.

Should I include my GPA? Yes, if it’s a 3.5 or better.

One last thing… when listing dates of employment, do not include the months. For some reason, when I see months, I automatically start “doing the math”, thus taking my attention away from the content of the resume. If it was a summer job, you can just put “summer, 2010″.

5 Job Search Mistakes

career.treking — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:34:32 +0000

There are many job search mistakes people can and do make but here are the top 5 that I see in my coaching practice.

Not using a professional email address. Gmail works best and is preferable to a college email address. Try to get a gmail address that is close to your full name.
Not having a plan: know what you want to do, where you want to do it and how you will go about it. Research has shown that job seekers who have a written plan and update it periodically can shorten their job search by as much as 35%.
Not setting daily goals for yourself. If you are not working full time, you can (and should) make 5 contacts per day.
Not preparing the answers to the basic interview questions: Tell me about yourself; what are your strengths and weaknesses; why should we hire you instead of the other candidate(s).
Not proof reading the resume and cover letter. You would be amazed at the number of typos I see in both resumes and cover letters.

Biggest Job Interview Blunders

career.treking — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 20:21:58 +0000

There are many reasons why the “perfect” candidate may not get the job. There might be an internal candidate, the job may have been pulled at the last minute or the recruiter may be having a bad day. None of these are within the candidate’s control. But, there ARE things that are within the candidate’s control and it would be wise to make sure you don’t fall into any of these categories.

Not making a good first impression. The way you dress and present yourself to the recruiter or hiring manager is key. The old adage that you only get one chance to make a good first impression still holds and never more so than in a job interview.

Failing the 2 minute drill, or not being able to clearly and concisely summarize who you are and why you are the best person for the job in 2 minutes or less.

Lack of research. It always amazes me how few job candidates thoroughly prepare or an interview. That means knowing the company, the job and the industry. It also means preparing questions for the interviewer.

Not explaining gaps is a resume. It’s ok to have a gap or two in your resume but offer to explain the gaps honestly and openly.

Finally, NEVER talk money in a first interview. If a recruiter asks what your salary expectations are, you can simply respond: “I was hoping to make in the ballpark of $XXX but if you think I’m the right person and I think this is a good opportunity, I’m sure we can make it work.”

Large company or small start up??

career.treking — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:18:12 +0000

Whether to work for a large company or a small start up depends in large upon a person’s work values, or what they need to feel motivated in the workplace.

Large companies typically can provide more perks, from career development and training opportunities to a gym or even subsidized food in the cafeteria. They may help pay for graduate school and offer more resources than small companies. These are all positive things. But they can also have more levels of decision making and a perceived lack of ownership both in terms of the company as well as specific projects.

Small companies, on the other hand, are often more attractive to people who need to see the results of their work or people who need variety in their day. I always tell people that in a small company, if you see something that needs to be done, it’s probably your job to do it. That’s great from a career development perspective but it can also include running out to Staples because the company needs printer ink. Small company employees enjoy the visibility of their work.

Whether you opt to work at a large or a small company, keep in mind that the size of the organization does not define job security. What does define job security is working for a company- of amy size- that is adding value and satisfying a need in the market place.

3 Things College Students can do Now for a Job

career.treking — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:31:46 +0000

The holidays are here and college students everywhere are arriving home with a lot of laundry and last minute shopping to do. But here are three things EVERY college student should do over the holiday vacation.

Personal contacts research. Ask at least 3 friends and family members for career suggestions. These people know you the best and may have some great suggestions. (It was also put an end to the “what are your post graduation plans” question.)
Job Shadow. Ask 2 people whose job seems interesting to you if you can spend a half or whole day on the job with them. It’s a great way to see first hand what an actual job would be like every day.
Assess your skills. Take the time to do a complete assessment of your skills and interests. Your career services department should have some assessments you can use. You can also purchase my book, The Job Coach for Young Professionals to obtain the assessment I use with my clients.

Make the most of this vacation by starting to explore different career options. You will be glad you did.

Top 5 Skills Employers Look For

career.treking — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 14:28:49 +0000

Here is the latest and greatest… what do employers want from a college grad? Be sure you can demonstrate the following skills on your resume as well as on a interview.

Verbal communications skills: can you get your point across? it’s not enough to know the information; you have to be able to express it clearly and concisely.
Strong work ethic: part time jobs are the best indicator of a work ethic.
Teamwork skills: in this day and age of specialization, it’s virtually impossible for anyone to know everything. you have to rely on others to help. Be sure you can demonstrate how you work well with others.
Analytical skills: the world is moving quickly. Can you apply what you have learned?
Initiative: ahhh… the biggie. Have a story ready that you can use on an interview of a time when you had to sow initiative. Maybe it was when you started your own business. Maybe it was when you saw a problem that had to be solved and you solved it.

Source: the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2010

The ABCs of Setting Your Career Goal

career.treking — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 15:16:58 +0000

Ok, we’ve all heard it… widen your net in a tight job market. But what does this mean and how do you do it?

First, identify your long term career goal, or where you want to be in five years. Include the skills and experience you will need to land that job.

Next, set a range of prioritized short term goals:

Goal A is your desired job, directly related to your long term goal.
Goal B targets a related job within your desired industry.
Goal C targets and entry level position which works with or depends on the desired industry.

Example: Jake’s long term career goal is to work in product development at Under Armor. He knows he will need 3-5 years’ marketing experience as well as an MBA.

Goal A is an entry level marketing position at Under Armor: right job, right company, right industry.
Goal B is an entry level marketing position at Saucony, New Balance or Reebok: right job, right industry.
Goal C is a part time job working at a local golf club, marketing their international golf tournaments: right skills, right industry.

In Dave’s case, each of his goals– A, B, C– will enable him to get the marketing experience he needs in the industry he wants and he’s being realistic about a lackluster job market.

3 Questions to Ask on the Job Interview

career.treking — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 16:10:10 +0000

Three must-ask questions on any job interview:

Can you profile the ideal candidate for this position? This question gives you an opportunity to sell yourself once again.
How will you know this person has succeeded on the job in the first 3/6/12 months? This question will give you a better idea of what to expect on the job.
How does (your organization) stand out from the rest? This question will show interest and preparation.

5 Must-haves for Business Cards

career.treking — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:46:26 +0000

This may sound elementary but I have been asked this question so often, I thought I would reiterate it. The 5 must-haves on your business cards are:

Your professional name
Your cell phone number (no cutsey voice mail messages, please!)
Your email address: a gmail address with your full name is preferable. You want to make it easy for people to contact you!
Your Linked In account profile link: people will not carry your resume but they will carry a business card. With your profile link on the card, they can easily access your background.
Your tag line which identifies your career goals is 2-3 words. A tagline such as “sales professional” or “video game designer” reminds people of what you are looking for.

Be sure to have professional cards printed. www.Vistaprint.com offers cards and other supplies at reasonable prices.

How to Ask for Feedback in Classes & the Workplace

katie.farrell — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:00:44 +0000

Receiving constructive feedback is an important part of growing as a professional and a student. Although it may be tough to ask for feedback in some situations, it’s an important skill to master if you want to flourish in your position and move up in a company.

The following tips can help you when asking others for feedback:

Think about timing. Is your project completely done? It’s probably best to wait until you’ve finished everything to ask for feedback. Have you given the other person enough time to analyze and critique? Another important question to ask yourself is: Are you prepared to hear feedback right now?

Be clear. Let the other person know exactly what you’d like feedback on and how they can help you. Tell them your focus or concern. Prepare questions ahead of time to make the meeting have a direction and structure.

Keep your emotions in check. It can be tough to hear negative comments about something you’ve worked hard on. However, keep in mind that the other person is only trying to help. Instead of reacting right away by denying something or being defensive, set the feedback aside until the next day. That way you’ll be more objective about it and be able to decipher which parts are useful for your mission.

Ask the right people. Your family and friends tend to be less objective than a peer or supervisor would be. They also may not have enough expertise in the subject to be able to give constructive feedback. Make sure you are asking someone who can truly help you with the project you’re working on.

What other suggestions would you add?