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!

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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.

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!

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The 50 million factor

It's official.  We, Latinos, have passed the 50 million mark.  Last week, the U.S. Census officially announced that there are 50.5 million Latinos in the United States.  You might be wondering what does the 50 million mark have to do with you and your career? My short answer:  A lot!  The explosive growth of the Latino population in the United States will create an unprecedented demand for products and services that will translate into job and career opportunities.  And you could be part of this trend!

As an example, here are three areas where, in my opinion, jobs will increase due to the 50 million mark:

• Human Resources - The increase in jobs and careers to serve the Latino market will inevitably result in the need to recruit and retain talent that can help organizations reach this group effectively.  A human resources professional who has the savvy to build relationships with Latino students and professional organizations will have upper hand when selecting qualified applicants. 
• Consumer products - Companies have been trying to tap into the Latino consumer market for decades.  The difference this time is that the impact is greater because of the numbers reached.  For instance, the Census tells us that one in four babies born in the U.S. is of Latino descent.  This fact creates opportunites for infant and children products from clothing to toys to educational items.  Other consumer products that are ripe for the Latino market:  food and beverages, clothing, music and mobile devices.
• Marketing and Communications - Speaking of consumer products reminds me of the time when General Motors (GM) tried to sell their Chevrolet Nova to a Spanish speaking audience and failed. It took GM a while to realize that "Nova" was interpreted as "doesn't go" by their targeted audience.  This blunder could have been avoided if the company would have relied on language and culture sensitive employees to manage their marketing campaign.

As you evaluate your job and career options in these areas, think of them not only as a prospective job candidate but also as a consumer who has first hand information and experience.  Language skills is only one of the pieces.  Understanding and articulating the cultural values of Latinos as they relate to how they perceive different products and services is the key to a successful career serving the Latino population.  Who better than you to do this work?!

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Career strategies during spring break

I know, I know.  There are many things you are thinking of doing during spring break.  Resting.  Sleeping.  Working.  Spending time thinking about your career is probably not on the list.  With that in mind, let’s explore a few ways to fine tune your career goals while keeping a festive, fun mood during spring break.  Shall we?

• Do a status check.  What has been working so far?  Are you happy with your grades? Are you all set with your internship? Job prospects?  What is not working?  What is overwhelming you?  What is the one thing you would like to accomplish by the end of the semester that is not happening right now?
• Include “career/job time” in your schedule. Review your current school schedule and purposely set time aside to focus on any job/career related activities.  Play around with different days and times.  For example, if you have no classes scheduled on a particular day, you could make that day a job/career day.  Or you could schedule one to two hour chunks of time on different days.
• Decide what to do during job/career time.  Make a list of all the pending career-related items you want to accomplish by the end of the semester.  Prioritize them and assign them an estimated time of completion.  These will be the tasks to do during your career/job scheduled time.

Spring break is a great time to brainstorm on ways to make changes while having a much needed down time from studying.  Have a happy and fun break….wherever you are!

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The 411 on informational interviews

One thing is clear:  Knowing how to conduct Informational interviews is a must if you are looking to find an internship, a job or just get clearer on your career path. 

Three steps that will make informational interviewing a smart, effective and productive process:

• Do thorough research about the company or career of interest.  I repeat.  Do thorough research and I mean thorough.  Go beyond the website.  Find alums in your school that work in the company or work in the jobs you would like to have.  One particularly effective technique is to set up Google search for the topic, company or job description you want.  This way you will be able to skim through information that has already been compiled for you.
• Decide on a specific question to lead with during your interview.  Once you become knowledgeable about the company you are interested, you can pick a few areas where you can go deeper.  These could be a specific area or products within the company where you see your skills be valuable.  Those you are interviewing will be more eager to share their opinion with you if they realize you are really serious about the subject of the interview.
• Find decision makers and advocates. Focus on places where decision makers and advocates gather.  Industry and professional associations are the most common places to find them.  Conferences are also good places to network.  Volunteering to any of these venues gets you closer to meeting speakers, authors, and experts.

Take advantage of the opportunity that Informational interviewing offers:  to learn about a job or industry of interest while making contact with those actively involved in the field.  The best of both worlds!

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Latina empowerment and development (LEAD) conference at Harvard College

The fourth annual LEAD Conference unfolded without a hitch.  Neither the cold nor the icy conditions stopped participants from attending this past Saturday morning.  They came from as far as California and New York to get inspiration from successful Latinas, to learn outside the classroom, and to network with others who want to make a difference. 

LEAD 2011 committee.  Photo credit:  Vanessa Monterosa

The conference was organized by Latinas Unidas at Harvard College, a student group founded in 1991.    True to the acronym that defines their name, the committee worked with a graduate student advisor—a first for the group—to be strategic about the organization and implementation of the conference.  “My experience with these wonderful young ladies has been nothing but rewarding:  They are bright, intelligent, dependable, and proactive,” said Vanessa Monterosa, the graduate student advisor who is currently pursuing a degree in Technology in Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Throughout the day, attendees enjoyed panel discussions and workshops ranging from resume, cover letter and interviewing tips to conversations about improving the number of Latinos attending and graduating from college.  Marcela Garcia, the editor from El Planeta newspaper, keynoted the event.

Two themes captured the essence of the 2011 LEAD Conference:

Perseverance.  In one form or another, panelists and workshop facilitators stressed the importance of being focused and staying the course.  “When you see an opportunity, grab it and stick with it,” advised Yvonne Garcia, Director of Segment Marketing at Liberty Mutual and National Vice President of ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting).

Pay it forward.  During the session Inspiring Tomorrow’s Leaders, Dr. Paz Olivérez, Founder and Director of Futuros, a California-based organization that promotes and improves college access for low income and immigrant students, reminded the audience of the responsibility of giving back.  “Having a college education is a privilege that not everyone has,” she added.  “And with privilege comes the responsibility to support the efforts of those who want to attend college but face obstacles.”

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Summer internships

If you weren’t sure about applying for an internship in the fall—when companies traditionally recruit their summer interns—you are in luck.  Just-in-time internships are the latest trend these days. Think of applying for an internship as a rolling process.  There is no definite deadline.  It all depends on finding the opportunity that fits you.

Along those lines, here are three main big picture ideas to help you make the most out of your internship experience…should you decide to pursue it.

Start with the end in mind.  What do you want from this internship?  Money?  A reputable name in your resume? The opportunity to work in an entrepreneurial environment? You must decide first what your key priority is.  It’s kind of working backwards.  Think of next September and ask yourself, what would make me the happiest when I think back about my summer internship? Once you have an answer (e.g. money, big-name company) then zero in on those companies that could make your goal a reality.

Make sure you will learn one new skill (at least).  When looking for an internship, one minimum requirement I usually advise clients is to find an opportunity that will challenge them in some way.  If you can do spreadsheets in your sleep, and this job is about Excel 90% of the time, you are going for the easy job.  But if the internship allows the learning of other similar programs or building on the skills you already have, then you will not only have something to show on your resume but your brain will also get a workout.  Now, if your main priority is to earn as much money as possible (remember, point 1?), then not learning a new skill may be the trade off you have to pay.  Your decision.

Seek opportunities to expand your network (responsibly).  An internship experience is a natural way to meet new people who may become future peers or bosses.  And more importantly, references.  Be open and available to social events with you summer colleagues.  The goal here is to build a professional image or dependability and likeability.  Stay away from careless and reckless behavior which can be easily captured on camera.

Remember the saying, "tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are?" The same applies to internships.  Tell me what kind of internship you are after, and I will tell you where you will end up.

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