Work in the United StatesWork in the United States

By

Sejal Mehta

AgendaAgenda

Getting to know each other

Creating an Effective Resume

Mastering the Interview

Discussion / Q&A

Getting to Know Each OtherGetting to Know Each Other

Ice BreakerIce Breaker

Lets Get to Know Each OtherNameProgram / MajorExpected GraduationYour Home CountryOther

Why are you here todayContinued…..

Ice BreakerIce Breaker

Why are you here todayResume InterviewJob search in generalOther

Put them away in a “parking lot”

Creating an Effective ResumeCreating an Effective Resume

Creating an Effective ResumeCreating an Effective Resume

What do Employers really want in a Resume?

Creating an Effective ResumeCreating an Effective Resume

Employers are looking for resumes that present the candidate’s qualifications, experience and achievements in a manner that is sharp, focused, upscale and aggressive. They want to see aggressiveness, boldness, but also honesty.

- Taken from Jobweb.com

Creating an Effective ResumeCreating an Effective Resume

What is a Resume in the U.S.?

Contents of a Resume

Resume Check

Resume Design

What is a Resume?What is a Resume?

Resume is a summary of:– Education– Skills– Accomplishments– Work Experience– Other Relevant Information

Means to market yourself with words

Preparing an Effective ResumePreparing an Effective Resume

Contact Information– Name, Address, Phone Number, Email– Top of the resume

Objective / Summary Information– Tailor your objective to each employer– Be reasonably specific

Preparing an Effective ResumePreparing an Effective Resume

Education– Most recent education listed first– University Name

Degree (B.S., M.S., MBA, etc) Major / Minor Expected Graduation GPA

Experience– Most recent experience listed first– Company Name– Title, Dates and Location– Accomplishments / Achievements / Results

Preparing an Effective ResumePreparing an Effective Resume

Other Relevant Information– Relevant courses taken– Volunteer work related to the job– Leadership Roles– Professional Organizations

References – Do not include names in your resume– “References furnished upon Request”

Resume CheckResume Check

Run it through Spell Check

Do a Grammar Review

Have it proof read by at least two people

Resume DesignResume Design Use Times New Roman or Arial font

Use font size 10-14 points

Avoid Italics and underlined words (can use bold)

Printing– Use white or off-white paper– Use 8-1/2 x 11 inch resume paper– Print on one side of the paper only

Keep it to one page (max. two pages)(Two pages is OK if you have lots of work experience)

U.S. Resume ExpectationsU.S. Resume Expectations

Clear and Concise

Accomplishment focused

One or two pages maximum

No personal information

Always be honest

Counterpart - ResumesCounterpart - Resumes

U.S.

Concise

Focus on Accomplishments

Chronological or Functional

No personal information

1-2 pages

Bullet points

Other Cultures

Detailed

Focus on work done

Chronological

Includes personal information

No specific limits

Can be paragraphs

Activity 1 Activity 1 Resume Worksheet Resume Worksheet

Complete the resume worksheet

Read the “Action Verbs”

Read the “Tips” on resume writing

Create your resume

QuestionsQuestions

Interviewing in the U.S.Interviewing in the U.S.

Interviewing in the U.S. Interviewing in the U.S.

American Interview Definition

Parts of an Interview

Preparation for an Interview

Types of Interviews

Interview Interview

An Interview is a two way process - An interviewer wants to find an outstanding candidate for the job as much as you want to find a fulfilling job

There is no one right way to interview

Every interview is unique

American InterviewAmerican Interview

More than skills and background information

Special challenge of cultural literacy

PreparationSelf awarenessResearchRehearse

Having interviewed in your home country does not mean you are prepared to interview here

Parts of an Interview Parts of an Interview

Greetings

InterviewingAnswering questionsAsking questions

Closing

GreetingsGreetings

Many interviewers say (and research supports) thatthey have largely made up their minds about acandidate within the first five minutes of meetinghim or her.

First ImpressionFirst Impression

What are these first impression indicators?

Firm handshake

Sustained eye contact

A warm smile

Good posture

Relaxed and confident introduction

First Impressions (cont’d)First Impressions (cont’d)

In addition to “First Impressions”

Dress Professionally

Arrive Early

Bring extra copies of your resume

Activity 2 Activity 2 Greet the InterviewerGreet the Interviewer Form a team of two people.

One person takes the role of the interviewer and the other the role of interviewee

Greet each other with the following:– Firm Handshake– Confident introduction

– Smile, good posture, and eye contact

Reverse the roles and greet again

The Interview The Interview

Two Parts

– Part One: Interviewer asks questions

– Part Two: Interviewee asks questions

The Interview – Part OneThe Interview – Part One

Brief period in which you have to make a positive impression

Present your skills and strengthsAwkward if you are not used to self presentation It is not bragging, it is selling

Practice pronunciation of American words and phrases

Self AwarenessSelf Awareness

Be aware of your skills and weaknesses

Be prepared to discuss your career goals

Be knowledgeable about opportunities as well as threats in your field

Self MarketingSelf Marketing

Answer confidently and truthfully without sounding arrogant

Sell yourself positively while talking about your skills

Interviewers expect self promotion

Being modest implies you do not have the right skills and experience

Direct CommunicationDirect Communication

Be prepared for questions directly addressing your skills and weaknesses

Answer to the point and do not give round-about responses

Interviewers appreciate direct and clear answers

Activity 3 Activity 3 Mastering tough Questions Mastering tough Questions

Read “25 Questions” Most Frequently Asked

Prepare responses to each questions – notes only, do not prepare canned answers

Think of / prepare examples to support each answer

Restate the point of your answer in a single sentence

Practice orally

Interview – Part TwoInterview – Part Two

Asking questions is not ignorance

Well worded questions show your knowledge about the position and company

Have specific questions for the interviewerPositionCareer pathsProfessional development

Activity 4Activity 4Make the most of the Interview Make the most of the Interview

Form a team of three people

Discuss the type of questions you would like to ask the interviewer

Each team share any of the two questions you discussed

Read “Questions to ask Interviewers”

ClosingClosing

Re-emphasize interest and highlight your skills if possible

Ask about the follow up to this interview

Shake hands and thank the interviewer

American Interview ExpectationsAmerican Interview Expectations

Confidence / Self-promotion

Flexibility / Change

Goal Orientation

Self-sufficiency

Direct speech

Efficiency / Time Control

Counterpart - valuesCounterpart - values

American

Confidence / Self-promotion

Flexibility/change

Direct speech

Eye contact

Other Cultures

Modesty

Tradition / Stability

Politeness

Eye contact relative to status

Questions – Not AskedQuestions – Not Asked

Age

Marital Status

Other Personal Information (height, weight etc.)

Are you a U.S. citizen?

PreparationPreparation

Self-awareness - Researching - Rehearsing

Self awarenessSelf awareness

SWOT Analysis

S – StrengthW – WeaknessO – OpportunityT – Threats

Research – Company ProfileResearch – Company Profile

Financials

Market positioning

Competition

Location

Product(s)

RehearsingRehearsing

Career Center

Mock Interviews– With AnaKarina, please call 408-554-5485

– With Alumni, in Spring 2006

Faculty, Colleagues and friends

Alumni

Types of InterviewsTypes of Interviews

Questions and expectations will vary depending onthe type of the Interview

Phone Interview

Behavioral Interview

Case Interview

Phone InterviewPhone Interview

Phone Interviews are similar as face-to-face interviews, but lack the element of “in person” communication

Behavior Based InterviewBehavior Based Interview Past behavior is best predictor of

future behavior

Requires concrete, specific examples to reveal skills

STAR framework to structure responses

S – Situation T – Task A – Action R – Result

Case InterviewCase Interview

Focus on getting to solutionsquickly. These questions testhow:

Logically your mind works

Quickly you think

Perform under pressure

TipsTips

Talk and speak up in class

Make presentations

Making friends with Americans

Take communication courses

Attend workshops at the GBP Career Management

Watch TV, read Newspapers etc.

ConclusionConclusion

Interviewer is not aware of your culture and values

You should learn the American cultural norms and expectations

Re-visiting the “Parking Lot”Re-visiting the “Parking Lot”

QuestionsQuestions

Work in the United StatesWork in the United States

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."

- Confucius -

ResourcesResources

http://www.ubalt.edu/careercenter/careerlink/00_fall/feature_intl_resume.html

http://careers.udayton.edu/articles/articles.asp?internationaltips.txt

http://www.umich.edu/~icenter/intlstudents/employ/interview.html

http://www.umich.edu/~icenter/intlstudents/employ/cultbarriers.html

http://www.career.vt.edu/International/Strategies.htm

http://www.jobweb.com/resources/library/International/US_Employment_81_05.htm

Contact InformationContact Information

Sejal MehtaEmail: tosejal@gmail.com