…and if you don’t believe us believe then believe someone else!
We recently had the opportunity to learn some great career advice from the founders of SixFigureStart (wouldn’t that be nice…) and Vault.com. The following is what we feel are the best tips for you from the student perspective of Nicole Mott ’10.
So without further ado…some tips
- 80% of getting the job is in your control so be clear in the value you bring to the employer
- 20% is out of your control and may be determined by budget cuts, internal candidates, recruiter biases, etc…so you have 2 things you need to prove: your ability and your motivation
- Make sure to start interviewing, well right away. And by right away we mean the minute your interview starts: recruiters often noticed that interviewees “warm up” 15 minutes into an interview, but by then they are usually trying to explain past answers to questions (dig out of holes)
- Use your time well – interviewers form strong opinions within the first few minutes
- In a final interview, keep up your energy!
- There are four things an interviewer is looking for: How you differentiate yourself; do you have the right experience and right skills, most savvy; Will you grow in the position and be challenged; Do you fit in (corporate culture)
- While in the interviewing stage, remain in contact with EVERYONE you are interacting with in the firm (not just the recruiter)
- Ask for a timeline, the process, number of applicants
- When checking in, engage potential employers in conversations, show how you are keeping up with the industry –the Bucknell Professional Network field trips and panels are a great way to keep up (and ahead) of the what is happening in various industries
- Do this easy self-exploration activity: list your top 10 strengths/traits and targeted examples of these strengths –this will help you be prepared to answer interview questions
- Want to know the top traits? According to managers at Merrill Lynch, here they are: Analytical skills, Communication Skills, Teamwork, Integrity, Work Ethic and Creative Problem Solving
- Reference Checks – think about who can be a positive reference and will be able to give a perspective employer information on how you have worked with your reference, coach your references, keep in touch as you submit their names
- Maximize your Off-campus job search –
- NETWORK: check out B-Link, talk with family members or professors that might know of contacts in the industry you are interested
- RESEARCH: use the many services the CDC subscribes to for our benefit (CareerSearch, Vault, OneWire, Going Global…and more!)
- MENTOR -find one! Through B-Link , BisonConnect or stop in the CDC for help
- Follow up with & maintain networking contacts – Keep your network going and develop a systematic way of following up with contacts…the InternQueen offered some great tips when she was here in February. Check them out on her website
- Paid temp work vs. volunteer work: What is more targeted to your future career plans? You don’t need to mention on your resume that an experience was volunteer, simply list it as Experience
- Negotiate—everything can be negotiated, entry-level salary may not be negotiated (some companies may have a set standard, big program). PRACTICE before negotiation. Offer examples of benefits– if they can’t give you cash, will offer the non-cash benefits or tell you how they may be able to help down the road, if they offered you the job, they want to keep you.
- Cover letters are like oreos…the magic is in the middle!
- First paragraph– intro, what are you applying to
- Magic Middle – why are your skills unique, be specific, how did you add value to employers so they know how you will add value
- Last paragraph – reiterate interest and how you will follow up
- And lastly Thank you notes…YES, they are necessary!!!!
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