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/

mailto:[email protected]

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



What comes to mind?



Purpose of a resume

Marketing toolCommunicate the highlightsFocus on relevant/important informationThe “trailer”, NOT the whole storyTo generate interest and get you an interview



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.......



Resume Sections

Req

uire

dHeadingProfessional Summary Education

Experience Opt

iona

lObjectiveHonor and Awards

Additional Involvement

Leadership/ActivitiesClassroom Skills

Other Work ExperienceVolunteer

Experience



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)



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



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



Interviewing: Selling Your Brand



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.



Behavioral Interviewing

PAST BEHAVIOR OR EVENTS

FUTURE BEHAVIOR



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?



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:



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?



How is it done….well?

Interviewing…..

presentation of you.



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



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



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



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



Hone your presentation.

Evaluate your presentation (from your point-of-view)

Learn from your experience



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



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



Networking......



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



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



Networking at a glance

Build a list of organizations that

interest you.

Develop a list of contacts within

those organizations.

Make your connections.



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



Dig for contacts

AlumniFamily and friendsProfessional organizationsFaculty/staffClassmates and colleaguesCoaches



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



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


http://www.linkedin.com/


Questions


resumes, interviews, & networking: using your brand in the job search

Documents

trait of skill

sales of sporting equipment

com1personal brand

pasttensespecific skill

creative sales strategies

comresume basicsuse

choosethe information

outbe consistent