Believe or not job fairs are still around. They are the most effective vehicle for employers to maximize their recruitment dollars. Aside from the usual advice about preparing for a job fair (i.e. bring lots of resumes, visit every booth, have a firm hand shake) here are three commonly suggested tips with a twist.
Attitude. By attitude I am mainly talking about the way you carry yourself. Yes, you are looking for work. Yes, you are really hoping that this time you will get an interview that will lead to an offer. But do you have to look, sound and appear desperate? No! In addition to exuding confidence through your clothes, hair, and accessories, attitude is also about your posture and most importantly your disposition. In other words, how are you enduring the constant selling of yourself? Are you able to keep your head up high and continue to smile even if you keep hearing, thanks for no, thanks?
Bring extras. Here extras refer to materials that might differentiate you from the rest. Do bring your resume as this is a requirement to get your foot in the door. But how about having some other type of collateral to showcase your talent and skills? For example, in addition to getting business cards, you could have marketing brochures made. If your area is writing or research, you could bring a list of documents and studies that you have produced. I have even seen links of short videos added in resumes as a way to stand out from the crowd.
Communicate clearly. That is, communicate your value clearly. This is another way of saying have your elevator pitch ready. And by ready I don't mean to sound like a broken record. Your pitch must come across as natural although you and I know that you have repeated it a dozen times in front of the mirror. And do not stop at the elevator pitch. Be prepared to answer questions as a result of your pitch.
If you liked this post, you might like:
Elevator pitch tips
Go ahead: Take that public speaking course
Showing posts with label interviewing tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label interviewing tips. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Elevator pitch tips
You probably have heard it many times,"when looking for a job, you must have an elevator pitch." An elevator pitch or elevator speech-- for those who might need a refresher--is a summary of who you are and what you are looking for. And although it comes in many flavors, an elevator pitch, for the purpose of this post, is aimed at showcasing you and your talents and experience as a potential employee.
The internet offers thousands of suggestions on how to develop and deliver an elevator pitch, so I won't repeat what it has already been said. What I would do, though, is pinpoint a few obvious-- but often missed--tips about creating an effective elevator pitch.
Be Short. Experts tell us that an elevator pitch should be about 60 seconds long. Have you ever tried to speak non stop for a whole minute? You can say a lot in a minute. So, if the idea of doing a 60-second summary sounds intimidating, think in terms of sentences. For example, let's start with six sentences. The first two could introduce you (e.g. name, industry focus, major). The next two could address your professional experience and interest (e.g. internships, previous work, accomplishments). The last two could link your experience to the employer's current needs and suggest next steps (e.g. interview).
Be Clear. Sometimes in trying to impress someone in the shortest amount of time, we use fancy words that could become tongue twisters or make us sound fake. Use common language. Your goal is to help the listener understand who you are and what you can do for them. Quantifying results is a always a winner (i.e. increased revenues by 30%, decreased expenses by 40%).
Be Sincere. This is a tricky suggestion because the success of delivering a flawless elevator pitch relies on having spent time rehearsing. Be aware. I suggest to spend time rehearsing, but do not come across rehearsed. You must sound sincere. Rehearse to the point that you feel comfortable saying it to anyone in front of you. But do not, please, do not rehearse it with the intent of memorizing every word. If you forget one word and go blank, you are dead in the water.
If you liked this post, you might also like:
First impressions tips and strategies
Managing your professional reputation
The internet offers thousands of suggestions on how to develop and deliver an elevator pitch, so I won't repeat what it has already been said. What I would do, though, is pinpoint a few obvious-- but often missed--tips about creating an effective elevator pitch.
Be Short. Experts tell us that an elevator pitch should be about 60 seconds long. Have you ever tried to speak non stop for a whole minute? You can say a lot in a minute. So, if the idea of doing a 60-second summary sounds intimidating, think in terms of sentences. For example, let's start with six sentences. The first two could introduce you (e.g. name, industry focus, major). The next two could address your professional experience and interest (e.g. internships, previous work, accomplishments). The last two could link your experience to the employer's current needs and suggest next steps (e.g. interview).
Be Clear. Sometimes in trying to impress someone in the shortest amount of time, we use fancy words that could become tongue twisters or make us sound fake. Use common language. Your goal is to help the listener understand who you are and what you can do for them. Quantifying results is a always a winner (i.e. increased revenues by 30%, decreased expenses by 40%).
Be Sincere. This is a tricky suggestion because the success of delivering a flawless elevator pitch relies on having spent time rehearsing. Be aware. I suggest to spend time rehearsing, but do not come across rehearsed. You must sound sincere. Rehearse to the point that you feel comfortable saying it to anyone in front of you. But do not, please, do not rehearse it with the intent of memorizing every word. If you forget one word and go blank, you are dead in the water.
If you liked this post, you might also like:
First impressions tips and strategies
Managing your professional reputation
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Congratulations new graduate: Karen Herrera-González!
Karen's determination carried her through her college years despite having the added responsibility of being a mom. She completed a five-year program and graduated with a dual degree!
Graduation date: June 3, 2011
School: University of Massachusetts Boston Degree: Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Arts
Where the the Latino role models?
School: University of Massachusetts Boston Degree: Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Arts
Major: Social Psychology; Applied Psychology.
Career aspirations: I would like to find a job where I can help the youth develop who they are academically, socially, and personally. Many students that I've worked with in the past have no idea why they want to do after high school or or why they should go to college. I would like to be an adviser or a mentor to high schools students or college students. In the future, I would like to establish my own program that focuses on teen mothers and helping them succeed in college.
Current job: I am the financial manager for the Institute for Learning and Teaching (ILT) at University of Massachusetts Boston. My main responsibility is to communicate with all the programs that work with middle and high school Latino student under the ILT regarding their grants and administration of the programs.
Tips to get an internship or job: Network! Network! Network! In order to land your dream job/internship, you have to get out of your comfort zone and sell yourself. No one is going to notice you unless you put yourself out there. Let your voice, talent, and abilities be heard!
Anything else you would like to share: Never give up! Many times life will throw obstacles in our path to test our abilities...what we're capable of. Giving up is very easy but it is not rewarding in the end. Instead, fight those obstacles because in the end it will feel great when you can finally say "Lo hice! I did it!"
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
A slow job market: glass half full or half empty?
Recent reports have confirmed what has been obvious to every internship and job seeker for a while: The job market has, once again, slowed down. Potential employers are being incredibly cautious about hiring which creates a feeling of despair and frustration among those looking for work.
Although you might not like the sobering news, it is important to take a proactive approach and to stay focused on job hunting. Here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Do a thorough reality check. Take a hard look at the key resources you have on hand: money, contacts and opportunities. Job hunting is an enterprise in itself. It requires resources and a nimble strategy in order to work. Do you have any source of immediate income? If so, how are you spending it? How long can you go on? Do you have a budget? If not, put one together. It will help you keep track of where your money is going. Also, take the time to review your list of friends, acquaintances and other sources of job referrals. Select 12 people from that group whom you think could become your eyes and ears and help you find job leads.
2. Seek temporary employment of any form. This is an option that many try to avoid waiting for the "real" job to come to the rescue. By considering temporary work as an option, you accomplish two things: 1) you force yourself to stay motivated and engaged in the process; and 2) you create opportunities to explore roles that you might not have considered otherwise. Another perk is that you will have a steady flow of cash and possibly gain new skills.
3. Manage negativity in a constructive way. It would be very easy to mope and complain about the bad economy. If you choose to do so, my question to you is: how is that helping you find a job? If you need to vent your frustration, do so in private and for a limited time. You can have scheduled whining sessions, if you like. Letting the anxiety out is important and will help you regain focus. Once you are done venting, get back on the job hunting saddle and keep moving forward.
Even in the most challenging times, one can rise above it all and manage uncertainty in a positive way. By staying focused and engaged in your job search, you will remain psychologically strong and radiate confidence. A confident, optimist candidate will certainly stand out from all others. That could be you!
Friday, April 29, 2011
Letters of recommendation 101
You are in the middle of finals but there is one other project that needs to be handled at this time: Securing letters of recommendation. Asking someone to vouch for you could feel more stressful than writing a 20 page paper, but it is as important as getting an A. Here's a way to jump start your efforts to get the most effective letters of recommendation.
What are the three words you want your potential employer to remember you by? Do you want them to be convinced of your leadership skills, community involvement or academic achievements? Or your internship experience? Your work ethic? Once you decide what those words are, ask yourself this question: Who is the person who can best convince potential employers I truly have these qualifications?
The answer to these questions will determine who is the best person to write a recommendation for you. Professors or former internship supervisors are prime candidates. Also consider anyone who supervised you during a volunteer project or even a high school contact. If you stayed in touch with them throughout college, and they have witnessed your development as a young professional, they can be a very credible reference.
Be picky about whom you ask. Don't settle for the person that you are friendly with unless you are convinced this person is the best advocate you could have. Letters of recommendation are the last step towards a job offer. Make sure you give potential employers no doubt you are the right person for the job!
If you liked this post, you might like:
Reaching out to professors
How to get a letter of recommendation
What are the three words you want your potential employer to remember you by? Do you want them to be convinced of your leadership skills, community involvement or academic achievements? Or your internship experience? Your work ethic? Once you decide what those words are, ask yourself this question: Who is the person who can best convince potential employers I truly have these qualifications?
The answer to these questions will determine who is the best person to write a recommendation for you. Professors or former internship supervisors are prime candidates. Also consider anyone who supervised you during a volunteer project or even a high school contact. If you stayed in touch with them throughout college, and they have witnessed your development as a young professional, they can be a very credible reference.
Be picky about whom you ask. Don't settle for the person that you are friendly with unless you are convinced this person is the best advocate you could have. Letters of recommendation are the last step towards a job offer. Make sure you give potential employers no doubt you are the right person for the job!
If you liked this post, you might like:
Reaching out to professors
How to get a letter of recommendation
Friday, April 15, 2011
Phone Interviewing Tips
This post was inspired by several comments triggered by a thread in the Latinos in College Facebook page. The big take away: phone interviewing requires a different set of skills than in person interviewing. So, let's cut to the chase, shall we?
Getting ready for a phone interview follows the same process as an in-person interview: Your goal is to come across as being the best candidate for the job and to be invited for a second interview. The main difference between a phone and an in-person interview is how the applicant and the interviewer engage in the process. In a phone interview, your voice is the way the interviewer will get to know you and decide if you should move to the next level.
Most of us are very conscious of how we sound. We think we sound too childish or husky or our accent is too strong. One way to get ready for a phone interview is by practicing on the phone. You could leave a voice message for yourself or someone else and replay to hear how it sounds. If you are not happy with what you hear, do not despair. Spend time listening to the news on TV or radio and imitate the pace and pronunciation of the reporters. Focus on channels related to your area of interest (business, health, education), so you can practice the words used in your industry. Another way is to warm up your vocals chords by humming. Yes, humming is the secret weapon of professional speakers. It is easy to do and it's free! If you practice these two techniques often, you will gain confidence in how you sound and present yourself on the phone.
Another factor to keep in mind when interviewing on the phone is the length of your responses. Pause yourself when answering questions. Do not ramble on. Give the interviewer a chance to ask a follow up question. If you talk non stop, you will sound nervous and will appear that you are trying to make up for what you do not know. Answer questions in two to three sentences. If you have more to say, you could ask,"would you like me to elaborate?" and wait for the interviewer's answer.
And lastly...remember to smile while you are on the phone (as several Facebook friends mentioned). Believe or not it will make a difference!
If you liked this blog, you might like:
Where will the jobs be?
Summer internships
Getting ready for a phone interview follows the same process as an in-person interview: Your goal is to come across as being the best candidate for the job and to be invited for a second interview. The main difference between a phone and an in-person interview is how the applicant and the interviewer engage in the process. In a phone interview, your voice is the way the interviewer will get to know you and decide if you should move to the next level.
 |
Source: Google.com |
Most of us are very conscious of how we sound. We think we sound too childish or husky or our accent is too strong. One way to get ready for a phone interview is by practicing on the phone. You could leave a voice message for yourself or someone else and replay to hear how it sounds. If you are not happy with what you hear, do not despair. Spend time listening to the news on TV or radio and imitate the pace and pronunciation of the reporters. Focus on channels related to your area of interest (business, health, education), so you can practice the words used in your industry. Another way is to warm up your vocals chords by humming. Yes, humming is the secret weapon of professional speakers. It is easy to do and it's free! If you practice these two techniques often, you will gain confidence in how you sound and present yourself on the phone.
Another factor to keep in mind when interviewing on the phone is the length of your responses. Pause yourself when answering questions. Do not ramble on. Give the interviewer a chance to ask a follow up question. If you talk non stop, you will sound nervous and will appear that you are trying to make up for what you do not know. Answer questions in two to three sentences. If you have more to say, you could ask,"would you like me to elaborate?" and wait for the interviewer's answer.
And lastly...remember to smile while you are on the phone (as several Facebook friends mentioned). Believe or not it will make a difference!
If you liked this blog, you might like:
Where will the jobs be?
Summer internships
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)