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Randall S. Caldwell Executive Search & Consulting

CAREER MAPPING

Presented by:

Randall S. CaldwellP. O. Box 308Munroe Falls, Ohio 44262Phone: 330-678-8980E-mail: rconsult@neo.rr.com

Presented for:

Kent State University/ Alumni Association Kent, Ohio

April 11, 2007

RSC

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PROGRAM ELEMENTS

Objective

To provide the fundamental life skills of career mapping.

Program Elements

1. Designing and Developing Your Career Map

2. Resume

3. Research

4. Cover Letter

5. Interview

6. Job offer

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1. DESIGNING AND DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER MAP

WHAT IS CAREER MAPPING?

Career mapping is a planning process in which one develops a plan that is the map for their career destination:

a. Immediate goals

b. Mid-range goals

c. Long-term goals

Career maps are not carved in stone. They allow you to take a different route to possibly the same destination. And remember . . .

People don’t plan to fail . . . they fail to plan.

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2. RESUME

Over 95% of all employment hires are introduced by a resume.

Types of Resumes

1. ChronologicalThis is the most popular format. It places information in reverse chronological order. Employers prefer this format as it (hopefully) demonstrates a candidate’s steady and upward career growth. Thus, the focus is on time, job continuity, growth, and achievements.

2. FunctionalA functional resume focuses on skills, credentials, and accomplishments over the course of all jobs held. This is probably not the format to use as a recent college graduate.

3. CombinationA combination resume uses career profiles, which is a functional style listing of relevant skills and accomplishments, and then proceeds to describe employment, education, histories in reverse chronological order.

Fundamental Rules

Education is always displayed at the top of the resume. Resumes are written in the third person – no ‘I,’ ‘my,’ or ‘we.’ It is paramount to use proper grammar and correct spelling.

You can change your resume . . . but you can never change a first impression.

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2. RESUME (Cont’d.)

Resume Form Name (first/middle/last): __________________________________________________________________

Address (street/city/state/zip): __________________________________________________________________

Telephone (home/cell/work/e-mail): __________________________________________________________________ Personal: Marital Status: ____/Children/Ages: _________ DOB: __________ Ht/Wt: ________________

Relocation/Travel: ____________________________________________________________________ Education: School Attended: __________________________________________________________________

Location (city/state): __________________________________________________________________

Degree: _____________________ Date Graduated: _________________________ School Attended: __________________________________________________________________

Location (city/state): __________________________________________________________________

Degree: _____________________ Date Graduated: _________________________ Employment: Present Company: __________________________________________________________________

Location (city/state): __________________________________________________________________

Dates: _________________________________ Title: __________________________________

Duties: _____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________ Past Company: ______________________________________________________________________

Location (city/state): __________________________________________________________________

Dates: _________________________________ Title: __________________________________

Duties: _____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________ Notes: ____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

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PATRICIA JONES ADDRESS

MOBILE: XXXXX ~ E-MAIL: xxxxx.xxxx

OBJECTIVE To obtain a summer internship that expands my marketing knowledge EDUCATION KENT STATE UNIVERSITY Bachelors of Science in Business Administration, Marketing, March 2005 Honors Student (GPA: 3.5 out of 4.0 scale) Spanish and Textiles & Clothing Minors The KSU Study Abroad Program, Andean Study Programs of Quito, Summer 2002 EXPERIENCE THE FROG, BEAR AND WILD BOAR BAR, KENT, OH March 03- Present Server Multi-task during shifts to provide quality customer service Intensely sell products to customers maximizing up to $1000 worth of total merchandise EXPRESS DIVISION, THE LIMITED, COLUMBUS, OH August 02- March 03 Fashion Expert Developed and maintained intense customer relationships built on advising clients Built volume averaging $800 in sales per hour Established loyal customer base Led in district sales November 2002 through February 2003 THE KENT STATE UNIVERSITY, KENT, OH September 01- June 02 Resident Advisor Responsible for over 80 residents at Kent State University Organized and implemented educational programs for over 100 students Advised students and served as a mentor Served as a campus resource to help students adapt to their new surroundings AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS Vice President of [Sorority], 2003 Pan-Hellenic Delegate, 2002 Member of Alpha Lambda Delta, Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity, and National

Society of Collegiate Scholars Miss Junior Ohio State Finalist, 1996 Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Access Fluent in Spanish VOLUNTEER Work the CASA convention and several other functions each year – Court Appointed Special

Advocate Hannah Neil House for abused children

2. RESUME (Cont’d.)

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3. RESEARCH

Research is the projection of where you are going and the documentation of where you have been.

It is impossible to find meaningful employment if you do not know where or for whom you want to work.

Construct a list of potential employers.

Potential sources and leads to build your research list:

Religious organizations

Co-workers

State, local, and Federal job sites

Newspaper

Job boards

Career counselors

Employment agencies

Jobs.com

Monster.com

Friends

Family

Neighbors

Professors

Counselors

School placement office

Alumni Association

Job fairs

Job support groups

Kent State University’s Career Center and Alumni Association Department can identify who will be interviewing on campus and potential contacts of past graduated students and where they have gone to work.

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3. RESEARCH (Cont’d.)

The following is a list of directories which can be found in the research section of most public libraries. These directories are published in hard copy and some are in electronic media.

The Directory of Directories

Standard & Poor’s (Standard Industrial Code [SIC])

Technology Fast 500

Fortune 500

Forbes 2000

Chamber of Commerce

Inc. 500

Harris Guides (Standard Industrial Code [SIC])

Dunn & Bradstreet’s Million Dollar Directory

The Red Book (list of recruiters and agencies)

Trade journals

These directories provide considerable and valuable information such as company contacts, size of company, their product or service, and identify specific individuals within that company to whom to send your cover letter and resume.

The first and most basic rule when seeking employment is that everyone you meet is a

potential employer, contact, or lead to employment.

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Company Name:Address/Phone:Contact/Title:E-mail Address:Which Cover Ltr. Sent?:Date Resume/ Cover Letter Sent:Follow-up:Result:Source:Referral:

Career Mapping Control Sheet

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

3. RESEARCH (Cont’d.)

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4. COVER LETTER

Your cover letter is one of the most important job search documents. An effective letter can get you the phone call for an interview, but a poorly written letter usually spells continued unemployment. The difference can be a matter of how you handle a few key points. The following are tips to help you develop an effective cover letter.

1. Individualize your letter. Give the reader insight into you as an individual. Draft your letter to show how your individual qualities can contribute to the organization. This is your letter, so avoid simply copying the forms and styles of other letters that you have seen.

2. Address your letter to a specific person, preferably the person who is doing the hiring for the position that you seek. Look for the person’s name in company publications found at the University Placement Office, library, or the aforementioned research material list. If a name is unavailable, address your cover letter to ‘Personnel Manager.’

3. Catch the reader’s attention. Your introduction should get the reader’s attention, stimulate interest, and be appropriate to the job that you seek. For example, you may want to begin your letter with a reference to an advertisement that prompted your application. Such references make your reason for contacting the company clear and precise. Or you may want to open your letter by referring to the company’s product, which you want to promote. Such references show knowledge of the company.

4. First Paragraph Tips – Make your goal clear. When answering an advertisement, name the position stated in the ad and identify the source, e.g., ‘. . . your advertisement for a project engineer, which appeared in The Cleveland Plain Dealer on April 1, 2007.’

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5. Highlighting Your Qualifications – The middle paragraph should refer to your qualifications that best suit you to the position and the organization. Your on-the-job experience is your strongest qualification. Discuss the details and show how you can apply your experience to the needs of the organization. Be specific. Use numbers, names of equipment that you have used, or features of the projects that may apply to the job you seek.

6. Conclusion of the Letter – Conclude your letter with a clear, courteous request to set up an interview or suggest a procedure in doing so.

7. Cover Letter Tips

Make your letter strong enough to convince the reader that your unique background qualifies you for the position. (Be concise; a long explanation will put the reader to sleep.)

Refer to your resume. Be sure to refer to your enclosed resume at the most appropriate point in your letter.

Be sure your cover letter is in a professional format – organized, grammatically correct with no misspellings.

Seek advice. It is always a good idea to prepare at least one or two draft letters to show to a critical reader for comments and suggestions before sending it to a potential employer.

When constructing a cover letter, be sure to take the time to do it right rather than taking the time to do it over.

4. COVER LETTER (Cont’d.)

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4. COVER LETTER (Cont’d.)

Sample Cover Letter

Susan Smith, V.P., Human ResourcesAcme Widgets1234 Madison AvenueCleveland, OH 44284

Dear Ms. Smith:

Prof. Bob Randall of the Kent State University Alumni Association Department suggested that I write to you to inquire about employment opportunities within your sales and marketing departments.

As you can see from my enclosed resume, I am a senior at Kent State University majoring in Business Administration and will graduate on June 7. I have had two summer internships with Kirby Vacuum Co. selling floor care products directly to consumers.

I believe my training and experience would qualify me for an entry level sales position with your company. With that in mind, I would welcome an opportunity to visit with you to discuss my qualifications in greater detail. I can be reached at _________ and look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Sincerely,

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5. INTERVIEW

Purpose of an Interview

The purpose of the interview is to place yourself in a position to get the offer or to be invited back for a second interview.

Preparation for an Interview

Research the company with which you are about to interview.

Research the job and required qualifications.

Prepare and anticipate questions.

Dress appropriately – Dark colors project an air of authority. Navy blue is the most widely accepted color; charcoal gray is another good color. Black is not recommended. Men should wear a single-breasted suit with a contrasting red or yellow necktie. Ladies should not wear v-neck tops or heels over 2”. Practice good personal hygiene.

Be punctual.

Determine how many interviews will it take to get the job.

Regardless of gender, greet the interviewer with a firm handshake.

Practice and rehearse good communication skills.

After the interview, always hand write or e-mail a thank you note to each person in the interview process. This is an excellent

opportunity to reassure the company of your continued interest.

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5. INTERVIEW (Cont’d.)

The following are questions that are typically asked in an interview. Be sure to practice and rehearse these basic questions.

What are your short-term goals; how do you plan to achieve them? Your answer to this question should be focused toward your career goals and what you hope to accomplish in the next 5 years. How do you plan to achieve that? The way goals are achieved . . . through hard work, self-motivation, and perseverance.

What personal goals have you set for yourself and what do you hope to achieve over the next 5-10 years? Most graduates fail to see or hear the word ‘personal’ and invariably respond to this question by starting a career goal. Another mistake many candidates make is to indicate a desire to eventually start and run their own business. If indeed that is your goal, keep it to yourself during the interview process. An employer wants a stable and responsible employee – someone who will be loyal to the company, not someone who is dreaming about being self-employed. A good answer might relate to buying a home, getting married, or something like training for and winning the Boston Marathon or Iron Man competition.

What made you decide on this particular career?How you answer this question depends upon the job title and responsibilities of the position. Your answer should show the employer how your potential strengths tie in to the job description. A good answer might be, ‘My research tells me that people succeed in this career if they have strong communications, good problem solving, and can work well under pressure. I feel that these are my greatest strengths; therefore, I would do well in this type of position.’

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5. INTERVIEW (Cont’d.)

What are the most important rewards that you expect from your career? Many people respond to this question by saying they expect to earn a lot of money. Be warned . . . If you say money or material rewards, you have a strike against you unless you state your case properly. When interviewing for a sales position, being motivated by money is a good quality to have, but you can’t just answer by saying you expect money. You can say something like, ‘I hope to earn a lot of money in my sales career and in the process, derive satisfaction from achieving my goals and being recognized by my employer for the contributions I have made to the company.’

What is more important to you – how much you earn or what type of job you have? Many people feel that how much they earn is more important than what they do. What you are being paid does make a difference, but that’s not all that matters. You can earn big bucks but hate your job. And believe me, that will make you miserable. What matters most is what you do.

What do you feel is your greatest strength; your greatest weakness?Certain questions pop up in almost every interview. This is one of the most common. To give a proper response, select 3 or 4 of the strengths from your personal inventory that match the position description, and tell the employer what they are and how they fit. As for weaknesses, you should always be prepared with 2 examples even though most employers are satisfied with 1. Always focus a weakness and turn it into a potential strength.

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What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort? The answer to this question could be the possibility for advancement, the personal gratification you would have as a result of meeting goals, the respect of your peers, or the recognition from an employer for a job well done.

How has college prepared you for a business career? Don’t talk about your finance class, your last economics term paper, or your marketing research project. Talk about leadership or management skills you have learned through participating in clubs, organizations, or athletics. Get into the time management abilities and work ethics that you have developed as a result of juggling a job, extracurricular activities, and a full course load. Get the idea?

How do you determine or evaluate your own success? Everyone answers this question differently. Perhaps you measure your success by how quickly you learn new skills in comparison to others, or maybe you measure it by setting personal and professional goals and then working hard to achieve them. Just don’t say that you measure success by how much money you make.

What kind of contribution can you make to this company? Once again, the employer wants to know how you think your assets and abilities will tie in to the job description and company’s management style.

5. INTERVIEW (Cont’d.)

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6. JOB OFFER

Getting a job offer can generate a lot of conflicting emotions – fear, excitement, uncertainty, happiness, relief, confidence, apprehension, and more. But, don’t allow your emotions to overrule your common sense. This is the time to be objective, not subjective. There are many facets of the job offer to be considered. Write down all of the pros and cons before your final decision. The highest job offer monetarily is not always the best job.

When considering a job offer, always remember to factor in bonuses, fringe benefits (e.g., health insurance, dental, disability, 401K, tuition reimbursement, employee stock incentive program, etc.).

Remember . . . All offers of employment are usually contingent upon successfully passing a physical examination and drug screen. When accepting an offer, be prepared to commit to a start date.

Remember . . . the highest paying job offer is not always your best offer.

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LET’S REVIEW

1. Design your career map to determine your destination.

2. Develop the resume to list your credentials.

3. Research to identify potential employers.

4. Compose cover letters as a form of introducing and selling yourself.

5. Practice your interview techniques so you can project excellent interview skills to place yourself in a position to get an offer.

6. Evaluate the offer in terms of job and monetary satisfaction to arrive at your first career destination.

In closing, I wish each and every one of you the most personal and career success as success

is when opportunity meets preparedness.