Resumes, Interviews, & Networking: Using Your Brand in the Job Search
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Transcript of Resumes, Interviews, & Networking: Using Your Brand in the Job Search
KEITH MUNSONCAREER SPECIALIST
FALL 2010
Resumes, Interviews, & Networking: Using Your Brand
in the Job Search
Strommen Career & Internship Center • [email protected] • (612) 330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
Strommen Career & Internship Center • [email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
Personal brand in the resumeArticulating your brand in the interviewAsking others to market your brandQuestions and Answers
Agenda
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What comes to mind?
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Purpose of a resume
Marketing toolCommunicate the highlightsFocus on relevant/important informationThe “trailer”, NOT the whole storyTo generate interest and get you an interview
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Resume Basics
Use formatting to make important information stand out
Be consistent in formatting, grammar, etcMake absolutely sure there are no mistakesFormatting is the easy part.......
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Resume Sections
Req
uire
dHeadingProfessional Summary Education
Experience Opt
iona
lObjectiveHonor and Awards
Additional Involvement
Leadership/ActivitiesClassroom Skills
Other Work ExperienceVolunteer
Experience
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Articulating a “brand” in your resume
The section headings you chooseThe information you highlightThe experiences you includeHow you write your skill phrases in your
experience section(s)
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Write Effective Skill Phrases
Skill phrases are action statements that describe your experiences.
Components of a skill phrase Bullet point Action verbs in the past-tense Specific skill that was learned or honed Results of your work, or how or why you did the
work.
Avoid personal pronouns when writing skill phrases
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Skill Phrase Example
Fair Sold sporting equipment to customers
Better Developed sales strategies for selling sporting
equipment to customers
Best Developed effective and creative sales strategies that
resulted in the top sales of sporting equipment for four consistent months
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Interviewing: Selling Your Brand
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What to Expect in Interviews
Questions about your background Tell me about yourself Walk me through your resume
Questions about your education and goals Why Augsburg? Why your major? What do you hope to do?
Behavioral based questions Situations that demonstrate a trait of skill.
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Behavioral Interviewing
PAST BEHAVIOR OR EVENTS
FUTURE BEHAVIOR
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Examples: Describe the last time you had to lead a team to
solve a complex problem. Tell me of a time when you needed to influence a
group or individual. Describe a project you managed from start to finish.
Skilled Interviewers will follow-up with several probing questions as you answer.
Interviewers want stories…..
What does it look like?
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Just enough details to give the listener a picture of what you were doing or how you work
Concise enough to demonstrate your point includes important details excludes unimportant details
Not too short; not too long There’s a character that the listener needs to “see” in
action Leave enough for the interviewer to ask follow up
questions…don’t start with the whole story
Characteristics of a good story:
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How is it done?
S.T.A.R. technique is ONE tool:
S ituation-What was happening?
Task (goal)-What were you trying to accomplish?
A ction-What did you specifically do?
R esult-What was the outcome? How did your work affect the organization or situation?
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How is it done….well?
Interviewing…..
presentation of you.
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Select stories that express your “brand”
What do you want the employer to remember about you?
Focus on your strengthsDon’t be afraid to address your “gaps”Make your story relevant to that company,
industry, function, roleNote about Liberal ArtsTwo approaches
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Marketing the liberal arts:
Employers want: Communication Skills
(written & verbal) Honesty/Integrity Teamwork Skills Strong Work Ethic Analytical Skills Adaptability Interpersonal Skills Motivation/Initiative Computer Skills Detail-orientation Organizational Skills Leadership Skills Self-Confidence
Liberal Arts teaches: SEE PREVIOUS
LIST
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Prepare
Focus on your brand in choosing stories Use the stories that demonstrate your strengths Create 7 good stories that highlight what you bring to the
tableCertain themes are almost guaranteed:
Leadership, teamwork, influence Resolving conflict, interpersonal communication Weakness, failure AND what you learned from it Managing a project Creativity; innovative Interest in field, passion
The unexpected
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Start with writing if it helpsMove to bullet points of most important
pointsRehearse-over, over, overAd lib story to different speakersAdjust story to answer several questions, but
make sure you answer the question!Practice out loud, not just in your head!
Practice, then practice again
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Hone your presentation.
Evaluate your presentation (from your point-of-view)
Learn from your experience
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Presenting YOU
Arrive early Introduce yourself Be professional Watch your eye
contact and body language
May bring and use your portfolio
Leave your cell phone at home!
Answer questions Ask questions Do not bring up salary
or benefits Get business cards Close the interview
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Interview Attire
Men Well fitting suit Pressed shirt (white,
off-white, gray) Conservative colors
(gray, black, navy) Professional hairstyle Little cologne, jewelry Traditional tie BLACK dress socks Portfolio, NO BACK
PACK
Women Well fitting suit Conservative colors
(gray, black, navy) Professional hairstyle Little perfume, jewelry,
or make up Knee length, If wearing
skirt Avoid high heel shoes Sheer hosiery Portfolio, NO
BACKPACK
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Networking......
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Do I really have to network?
Continuously learn about a field, company, or career field
Many jobs are not postedEmployers hire people they know or hear
about through trusted sourcesNOT networking will cause you to miss out on
a large portion of the best jobs
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Networking Defined:
yesBuilding relationshipsConnecting with people
in your field of interestMost effective way to
find opportunitiesHelpful tool for learning
more about your fieldNecessary at some pointLasts a lifetime
no“Using” people“Smoozing”Not necessary; only
necessary when looking for a job/internship
Being replaced by the internet
Purpose is to ask for a job
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Networking at a glance
Build a list of organizations that
interest you.
Develop a list of contacts within
those organizations.
Make your connections.
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Build Your List
Tell everyone you know about your goals/plans
Industry listsBig Book of Lists (SC&IC)Resources in SC&IC libraryReference librarian in libraryJournals/papers related to field
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Dig for contacts
AlumniFamily and friendsProfessional organizationsFaculty/staffClassmates and colleaguesCoaches
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Make your connections
Elevator Speech and your Brand 30 second “pitch” about you, your experience, and
goalsFocus on them
Ask good questions and listen Begin thinking about how you can help them RIGHT
AWAYInformational Interviews
Develop a list of questions you want to ask Do your homework on the industry-know something
about it!STAY CONNECTED!
Follow up and continued relationships
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Social Networking
Linkedin www.linkedin.com complete a descriptive profile search for connections for informational interview get company information and connections
Facebook become a fan of company profiles check the profile for news and information
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Questions