Networking Wednesday: The Elevator Talk

When participating in a networking event, attending a career fair, or talking to a professional in line at Starbucks, it is always a good idea to have some sort of idea what to say about yourself. Here in Career Services, we like to call this little “shpeal” your “Elevator Speech.” It should be about 30 seconds and highlight your skills, ambitions, and any other information you feel is pertinent to the position or environment. You don’t necessarily want to memorize it because you want to avoid seeming robotic when reciting it.

1.   Introduce yourself: Name, major, year in school, etc.

2.  What makes you unique?  Work/internship experience and how it relates to employer

3.  What is your goal? Career goals, positions you are looking for

4.  What do you know about the company? Performing research shows you are interested and mean business!

5.  Make a strong connection: Provide resume, business card.

First impressions can never be undone! Be sure that you always make a good first impression and that you are comfortable speaking to a variety of people! Trust me, elevator speeches are key to impressing a recruiter.

Bored? Find out what you can do this summer to prepare for your career or part-time job.

Summers are a time for hanging out with your friends and having fun but you can also use the summer to get a head start on preparing for your career. Here are some tips for easy things you can do this summer.

1. Read the previous posts in this blog.
You're already here so why not go back and read some more? You might find the answers to questions you have or just get some helpful tips on things like job searching and social networking sites.
2. Revamp your resume.
Your resume is one of the most important things in your job search. It is your first impression and you want it to be a lasting one. When I say lasting I mean because it was really good, not because they couldn't stop laughing at it. So take some time to make it right. You'll be glad you did.
3. Try out Career Services' Interview Stream.
You may or may not have done Perfect Interview in the past. Either way, Interview Stream is a great way to work on your interview skills. Just go on Hire-A-Vol and click on the Interview Stream logo. From there you can customize your interview and be recorded answering questions. Go back and review your recordings and look for things you could work on. Still need some help? Call us and create an appointment for a mock interview.
4. Volunteer.
Any kind of volunteer work looks good on your resume but if you're feeling ambitious, try and find something in the field you want to work in. The worst case scenario is that you find out you don't want to work in that field and the best is that you show future employers you are serious about your work and have a passion for it. Either way it's a win-win situation and you'll feel good knowing you helped out.
5. Read.
If you're not sure what kind of job you want or think you know but want to find out more about it then reading is a great way to do so. Find some books on fields that you might be interested in or come by Career Services and read some of ours.

These are just a few things you can do to be proactive this summer. There are many more so be creative! If you try something else out let us know by leaving a comment. We'd love to hear from you!

-Kaity M

Interviewing: Don't sweat the tough stuff!

I was giving a mock interview today to a student and afterward he said that he never expected such challenging questions and wouldn't have been prepared to give a good answer to some of them in an actual interview. It wasn't my intention to drill him or anything, but we do try to tailor our mock interview questions to get students thinking outside of the box and to see all types of questions a potential employer might ask.  

Interviewing for a possible job is a process, and not just a simple one time meeting. The interview process begins before you even greet the employer with a handshake and doesn't end when they have finished asking questions. By viewing each of your interviews in this way, you can be prepared and confident even for the unexpected, tough and dreaded questions!

Before the Interview:
-Research the company, organization and interviewers.
-Prepare relevant questions to ask the interviewers.
-Make sure your interview attire is properly pressed and appropriate.
-Have extra copies of your resume.

Addressing some tough questions during the interview:
"What is your greatest weakness?"
      Of course you don't want to reply with "I don't have any" or the over-used "I'm a perfectionist" but, at the same time, you are trying to market yourself in the best possible way. You do want to state a real professional-level weakness (time management, short deadlines, creativity, etc.) but remain confident in your ability to overcome it. Remember to tell the interviewer what steps you are currently taking to improve the weakness.

Behavioral Questions 
     These questions are aimed at getting you to provide specific examples of how you have developed the required skills for the job. For instance, they may ask "Describe a project where you used computer programming skills," "Describe a situation where you worked as part of a team," or "Tell me about a conflict situation you have encountered in the workplace."
     By applying the STAR method, you can give the interviewer all of the information they need. Describe a specific Situation or Task and give enough detail for the interviewer to understand but not be overloaded. Describe the Action you specifically took and not just the efforts of the team. And don't forget to state the Result by identifying what was accomplished and learned.
    
"Why should we hire you?"
     This question is commonly used to wrap up an interview and gives you a chance for a "final sales pitch" of your skills and experience. Try to highlight some unique skills or traits that would set you apart from other candidates and show your determination to succeed in the position. Don't be afraid to state that you are the 'best person for the job' but be sure you back it up with specific evidence!

After the interview:
-Be sure to ask your prepared questions.
-Ask the interviewer for a business card or contact information.
-Be sure you know how follow-up will be conducted (Should you call them? Will they call you?)
-Don't forget to send a thank you note to the interviewers within 48 hours!

If you are still feeling unsure or nervous about a big interview coming up, schedule a Mock Interview in our office or practice with a friend! These are only a few of the tough questions you may encounter- just remember to prepare before every interview!

-Courtney H