INTERNSHIPS-What are they?

May 14th, 2010 | garlinger

What is an Internship?
An internship is an opportunity to acquire real-world work experience in your potential career field and to develop the necessary job skills for that career. In addition, internships offer real opportunities for career networking with professionals in your field, which can increase your chances of landing a good full-time position.

Why are Internships important?
• Gain valuable work experience before graduating
• Develop skills
• Evaluate personal likes and dislikes, which will enable to you to make sound career decision
• Develop professional contacts
• Gain confidence in your abilities
• Build a stronger resume, which will help in obtaining full-time employment.

Paid or Un-paid Internships?
Some internships include monetary compensation in the forms of salary or stipends while other internships provide no remuneration. However, many un-paid opportunities have far reaching effects that may lead to more promising compensations in the future.

Credit or Non-Credit Internship?
Some internship opportunities are credit bearing while others are for the experience only. To determine whether you can earn academic credit for an internship opportunity, check with the internship coordinator in your academic department.

Cover Letter Advice

April 26th, 2010 | garlinger

Oftentimes, the first impression an employer has of a prospective employee is in writing, in the form of a cover letter or letter of application and resume. Opinions are formed and conclusions are drawn from the appearance and content of any correspondence you send.

It is important to make the best possible impression so that an interview will follow. When sending a resume, never send it without a cover letter. Usually, when the reader gets your cover letter and resume he/she will immediately flip the cover letter over and glance at the resume first. This is so that a few facts about you are easily obtained. (i.e. name, objective, education, extend of experience and skills). If the resume interests the reader, he/she will then flip back to the cover letter and read it in detail. In fact, the letter may get more attention than the resume because, although the resume is about you, it is assumed that you had help putting it together. But the cover letter is generally written by the individual and the reader can assess your writing style, communication style and how well you put your thoughts and ideas together.

JOB FAIR

April 5th, 2010 | garlinger

On Wednesday, April 7th we will co-sponsor the Heart of America Employer Fair on the campus of UMKC in Swinney Gymnasium from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Admission is free. Bring resumes and dress professionally. Don’t miss this opportunity to talk with recruiters looking for candidates for career positions and internships in the greater Kansas City area. I’ll be there to lend advice and encouragement.

Education Expo-Teaching Jobs

March 16th, 2010 | garlinger

Looking for a teching position? Join us for the Education Expo at Missouri Western State University in The Fulkerson Center, Wednesday, March 17th from 1:00 pm to 3:30 p.m. Wear Green and bring resumes. Meet with area school distrct representatives from 60 school districts in the Greater Kansas City area. No registration, no fee.
Put your credentials in order and be ready to interview. Even with the current economic down turn there is still a need for quality educators. Don’t miss the chance to meet with school districts.

What is a career fair?

March 1st, 2010 | garlinger

A career fair is an opportunity for company representatives to
meet informally with candidates to tell them about their
organization and the job opportunities that may be available
currently or in the near future. Each company has a booth
with a display and usually handouts about the company, its
products and services. This is an excellent way to find out
about companies, especially ones that are unfamiliar to you.

Who should attend a career fair?
Career Fairs can be helpful to all students-freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors as well as alumni. Explore your options!
Freshmen: Not sure about a major or why you should go to college? Visit the employers at a career fair to find out what majors are in demand and what jobs are available in those majors. Also, many employers have part-time or summer jobs for college students and this is a good way to get your foot in the door with a company.
Sophomores: Choosing a degree program, a double-major or a minor? Talking to employer representatives can give you insight into planning your academic program. Part-time, summer or entry-level internships may also be available.
Juniors: Don’t miss out on the opportunity to talk with professionals in your field of interest. Internships are an important part of your college experience and this is an excellent way to impress employers. You may even find a mentor!
Seniors: This is your chance to test the market. Find out about jobs and how to apply. What will make you a competitive applicant and how you can tailor your resume and cover letter to suit the company. Perhaps, you can even arrange an interview.

How should I prepare for a career fair?
• Research, research, research! Check the list of companies that will be attending the fair and research the ones that interest you.
• Go to their web site and visit the library to read any employer literature.
• Prepare a list of questions to ask the representatives.
• Know yourself. Try to identify specific examples where you have demonstrated your skills.
• Be able to market yourself as a strong candidate.
• Be able to tell them why you want to work for their company
• Fine tune your resume and bring several copies to distribute.

What should I do during the career fair?

Make a good first impression!
• Be sure to make eye contact immediately when introducing yourself
• Give a firm handshake to get you off to a good start.
• Take notice of the representative’s name and remember it.
• Smile.  Be polite and enthusiastic.
• Dress professionally. Wear a suit if possible.

Watch your body language.
• It can often speak louder than the spoken word
• Watch out for nervous habits; do not fidget or play with your hair.
• Do not rock from side to side.
• Focus on the representative; do not look around when speaking or being spoken to.
• Always carry mints; do not chew gum. Do not smoke before the event.

Communication is critical!
• Listen carefully to what the representative has to say. Avoid words such as: ‘ya know, like, um.
• Show confidence in yourself and your abilities.
• Be articulate and market yourself.
• Offer a resume, if you have a professional one; otherwise, offer to send it.
• Ask for a business card so you can follow up with the representative

Explore all your options
• Speak with employers and graduate schools that you had not considered before.
• Take the initiative and engage in meaningful conversations with representatives.
• Gather as much information as you can about companies and career fields.

What should I do after the Career Fair?
• Mailing a thank you letter is not only appropriate, it can also bring attention to your name and reinforce your relationship with the representative.
• You may send a targeted or updated resume with your thank you letter.
• You may call to make sure that your application has been received and is complete.
• When calling, be prepared and know what you are going to say. (See Telephone Skills)

What should I say to an employer representative?
• First and foremost, be yourself.
• Introduce yourself and establish rapport with the representatives.
• Listen carefully to their answers.
• Be courteous and thank them before leaving.

Do not read directly from these lists of questions.
If you are well prepared, you can truly be yourself.

Questions to ask employer representatives
1. How many people are employed with your company?
2. What goals does your company have for 20XX?
3. What types of entry-level positions exist within your company?
4. How many employees are in my area of interest _________?
5. Does your company hire on a continual basis or just at certain times of the year?
6. How long does the hiring process take?
7. What does your company consider to be the most important qualities in an employee?
8. Are graduate degrees important? If yes, in what areas?
9. What courses do you suggest in order to be a successful candidate?
10. Is there a GPA requirement in your recruiting process?
11. What personality traits are important for success in your company?
12. As an entry-level employee, what can I expect to be doing in 2-5 years from now?
13. What made you choose this company?
14. How long have you been with the company?
15. What goals has your company accomplished for which you are especially proud?
16. How many years does an entry-level employee typically stay with the company?
17. What percent of applicants are eventually hired?
18. What is the retention rate for the company?
19. How much travel is associated with the position?
20. Do you expect your employees to relocate?

Questions to ask graduate school representatives
1. How many students are in the department?
2. How many professors are in the department?
3. What is the student-faculty ratio?
4. How accessible are professors to students?
5. What courses should I take in order to be better prepared for graduate school?
6. What is the GPA cut-off for the department?
7. What graduate admission’s test is required for this department?
8. What is unique about your graduate program?
9. What types of employment opportunities do graduates find?
10. What type of financial aid is available?
11. What is the retention rate of your graduate school?
12. What types of assistantships are available?
13. Can I pursue a graduate degree part-time, or is full-time attendance expected?
14. What personal attributes would make me a successful student?
15. What is the application process like?

BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEWING

September 24th, 2009 | garlinger

Behavioral interviewing is a structured interviewing strategy built on the premise that past behavior is the best predictor of future performance in similar circumstances. The interviewer proves for behavioral evidence of what the candidate said, did, felt and thought, and what were the results.

Behavioral interviewing allows the interviewer to gather evidence for critical capabilities in a way that is most likely to ensure that a person both possesses these capabilities and is likely to demonstrate them in future situations. It is these critical capabilities, called success factors that identify the very best performers in a given job. Success factors include:

–Technical of job specific knowledge and skills
–General abilities (communication skills, customer service, etc.)
–Behavioral traits or competencies (initiative, results orientation, risk taking, etc.)

Typically behavioral based questions are used to ask a person to describe an actual past situation. For example:
To assess communication skills, the interviewer might ask a question like….
“Tell me about a specific situation where you had to get something across to someone he or she found difficult to understand.”

To assess results orientation, the interviewer might ask a question like….
“Give me an example of a time when you had to go beyond the call of duty to get a job done.”

There are really only two questions in an interview

September 15th, 2009 | garlinger

No matter how the question is worded, there are really only two questions:

Why should I hire you?
What can you do for my company?

So when you are answering a question like, “Tell me about yourself,” you should begin by talking about the qualifications– your education, experience and skills for the job.
Even a quesitons like, “What was the last book you read,” can tell the interviewer if you are a well rounded person and if you are keeping current on trends in your field. The interviewer is trying to determine if you will be an asset to the company. Every answer should re-informce why you should be hired and what you can do for the company. Try answering a few quesitons with this concept in mind.

Interested in Law School

September 1st, 2009 | garlinger

Southern Illinois University will be visiting the campus of Missouri Western State University – Wilson Hall Room 203M on Thusday, September 10th at Noon. They will discuss getting into law school, the application and selection process, give advice and answer questions. FREE LUNCH as well. Join us!

During the Interview

August 11th, 2009 | garlinger

Arrive early and take time to double-check your appearance. Try to relax. Breathe deeply or use mental imagery to help control your nervousness.

Greet the interviewer by name, make eye contact and shake his/her hand. Below are ten questions that are often asked and are termed the “ten deadly” questions.

1. How do you spend your spare time?
2. What jobs have you held?
3. Where do you want to be in five years?
4. What kind of boss do you prefer?
5. What have you learned from some of the jobs you have held?
6. What is your major weakness?
7. Tell me about yourself.
8. What jobs have you enjoyed the most? The least? Why?
9. What type of a salary did you have in mind?
10. Silence—the interviewer intentionally pauses to see if you can handle the pressure.

Pre-Interview Tips

August 4th, 2009 | garlinger

Neatness and cleanliness are critical for job interviews. Usually business suits and ties for men and suits or tailored dresses for women are appropriate for job interviews. Professional attire is usually conservative. Even in a business casual environment, dress for the interview.
Review your work experience and skills. Pick out your most relevant job or school experiences. Also, recall any positive work habits developed at work or in school. Going over these things helps build confidence and gets you mentally prepared for the interview.

Prepare a folder with copies of your resume, references,
samples of your work (or a portfolio), transcripts,
certifications or licenses, if applicable. Be sure to have
a data sheet of all pertinent information in case you are
asked to fill out an application when you arrive. This may
include exact dates of employment, company addresses,
phone numbers, supervisors’ names, salary history,
detailed education and training.