ODE TO A

CAREER

Life During College

• College Opportunities

• Networking

• Internships

College Opportunities

• SM (Student Missionary)/Task Force

• Adventist Colleges (UC - SMs in Chad, Zambia, New Zealand, Palau, Thailand, Honduras, Southeast Asia, and Guinea this year)

• ACA (Adventist Colleges Abroad)• England• France• Germany• Spain• Italy• Brazil• Argentina• Austria

• College Events (International Food Fair, Networking events, Project Impact, seminars, clubs, etc.)Leadership Opportunities: participate and/or head up a campus club, participate in campus initiatives and projects

Networking

Resist the urge to arrive late.Arriving earlier to events gives you time to network with those coordinating the event.

Ask easy questions.Ask simple questions like “may I join you” or “what brings you here” and listen to the answers to begin conversations.

Ditch the sales pitch. Networking is about making friendships, not selling something. Focus on meeting new friends.

Don’t hijack the conversation.Make sure it is a conversation between two people not solely yourself.

Remember to follow up.If you met someone new and started a friendship, make a follow-up call/e-mail to reconnect and maintain the friendship.

The goal of networking should be to help other people.Focus on helping others and a friendship will naturally grow.

You don’t need to know the most people, just the right people.Know who you need to know.

Sometimes the best opportunities involve real work.Think “Project Impact” or similar events that may be offered through the community or at college.

Smile.It’s simple and requires no words; smiling is inviting and helps keep you positive.

Don’t take “no” personally.Sometimes, people just do not have the time to talk with you.

Internships

• Apply for internships to gain work experience and meet new contacts

• Look for internships in areas related to your career field

• Ask questions and learn on the job as an intern

Why Intern?

• Opportunity to “test drive” a career

• Chance to network

• Build relationships with mentors

• Possible college credit/certification

• Introduction to field’s etiquette and culture

• Accumulate new skills

• Gain “real world” perspective on the occupation

“Internships

may be the

easiest way

to get a

job…”

Forbes12/6/2012

Life After College

• Picking a career• Grad school• Résumé pointers

What Employers Want

• Develop attributes in high school and college that are attractive to potential employers:• Committed• Team Player• Decision maker and problem solver• Planner, organizer, and prioritizer• Communicator (verbally and non-verbally)• Analyzer and processor of information• Skill writer and editor of reports• Salesperson who can influence others

Résumés

Main Components of the Résumé Process

•Recommendation Letters These can be from current employers and/or teachers, or ask if you can list them on your résumé to be contacted by a potential employer.

•RésuméArticulate activities, qualifications, and any other work that is relevant to the position for which you are applying. Samples are available online.

•Cover letterThis is your own letter to accompany your résumé tailored to the position and potential employer. Include why you’re applying for the job, and why your education/experience make you a good candidate.

Networking is the best way to find out about job openings.

Résumé TipsNEW: Ditch the objective statement (include picture).Instead of the run-of-the-mill, use the space for a 3-5 sentence elevator pitch to explain what you’re best at, most interested in, and how you can provide value to a prospective employer AKA the new professional summary.

NEW: Describe your contributions.Under each job description, describe how you contributed to or supported your team/boss in your previous jobs.

NEW: Play up your strengths.Highlight areas in which you shine the most (GPA, honor roll, scholarships, dean’s list, cum laude, etc.).

NEW: Highlight leadership skills.Be sure to include any leadership skills you possess along with specific instances in which you put those to use.

Use keywords.Buzz words and key phrases are imperative; use some of the phrases and keywords that appear in the job posting, but do not just copy and paste. (New software is trained to scan for certain buzzwords while sorting resumes.)

Résumé Tips

Keep the presentation clean.Average recruiters look at resumes for 6 seconds or less; make sure your font is clean and easy to read, and colors are not distracting. Be consistent in representations of years, schools, date ranges, and locations.

Network and use your connections.Network with people in the company and ask them to hand in your résumé to the HR department, or send your résumé directly to the hiring manager and request an informational interview.

Keep it simple.Avoid graphics/logos that can clog the page or distract application tracking systems.

Take an entrepreneurial approach.It’s better to contact a key decision maker through mail and then follow up with a phone call; sometimes it’s faster to bypass HR.

Proof your résumé!Have at least one other person review and proofread your résumé; typos of any sort can be a major turn off.

Research the company’s hiring process.By preparing for the specifics of the process, you can avoid the trash bin.

Social Media will be looked at!Make sure your social media speaks well of you, including your likes, posts, and pictures. Your social media can either highly recommend you or can damage your chances of employment.

The job hunt process…

• Write a great resume and cover letters.

• Contact the company within the week to verify they received your resume.

• Wait patiently for more information from them.

Interviews Have Arrived

• Prepare for your interview by having a friend ask you sample questions.

• Prepare some questions to ask your potential employer.

• Discuss pay and benefits before accepting a job offer.

• Following an interview, you may contact the company within a week or two to reiterate that you are interested in the position; hounding an employer indicates poor social skills.

Welcome to the World of Work

• Complete the hiring process with your human resources personnel.

• Fill out all required federal and employment paperwork.

• Sign up for medical/insurance benefits.

• Understand what will be deducted (taxes, insurance premiums, social security, etc.) from your paycheck and how often you will be paid; knowing this will make it easier to budget.

Retirement… yes, it is coming!• Retirement may be a long ways off still, but it

is important to start planning and preparing early!

• Set money aside into a retirement fund to start saving up for the day when you will no longer have to work.

• Research the various options available to you for retirement: 401 (k), 403 (b), IRA, and Roth IRA. Find out what, if anything, your employer will contribute to your retirement.

• Contribute as much money into your retirement plan as you can from each paycheck.

Forever Learning

• You will never stop growing and learning.

• Stay positive and focused on good.

• Share your encouragement and knowledge with those traveling your same path.