| Published by the UD Career Services Center |
|
Table of Contents
OFFICE HOURS:
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
Extended Hours: 8:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. Wednesday
The University of Delaware is committed to assuring
equal opportunity to all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race,
color, gender, religion, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran
status, age, or disability in its educational programs, activities, admissions
or employment practices as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of
1972, Section Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes. Inquiries concerning
Title IX, Sections 503 & 504 compliance, and information regarding campus accessibility
and Title VI should be referred to the Affirmative Action Officer, 307 Hullihen
Hall, (302) 831-2835.
Entire contents Copyright 2006 by the Career
Services Center, University of Delaware and Future First Publishing,
Division of Yearbook Press of America Ltd. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part of this publication without written
permission of the publishers is prohibited.
STAFF
LISTING
UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE Bank Of America
Career Services Center
http://www.udel.edu/CSC/
Dr. Jack Townsend
Director
302-831-8479
tri@udel.edu
Mr. Steve Sciscione
Associate Director, Career Programming
302-831-8479
scone@udel.edu
Mr. David Berilla
Associate Director, Employer Relations
302-831-8569
berilla@udel.edu
Ms. Joyce Henderson
Assistant Director, Employer Outreach & Multi-Ethnic Programming
302-831-3615
joyceh@udel.edu
Ms. Cindy Holland
Assistant Director, Career Resource Center
302-831-8570
chl@udel.edu
Ms. Marianne Green
Assistant Director, Field Experience
302-831-1231
megreen@udel.edu
Ms. Lynn Jacobson
Coordinator, Campus Interview Program/Resume Referral System
302-831-8138
lindy@udel.edu
Ms. Mary Jo DeCampli
Staff Assistant-
Employer Relations and Campus Interview Program
302-831-2391
maryjo@udel.edu
Ms. Linda Lewis
Office Coordinator
302-831-8479
lclewis@udel.edu
Ms. Donna Iglesias
Senior Secretary, Credentials
302-831-2391
donna@udel.edu
Ms. Gwen RoBison
Receptionist
302-831-2392
grobison@udel.edu
Ms. Kathy Suiter
Senior Secretary, Career Resource Center
302-831-8570
hannah@udel.edu
Ms. Cathy Brown
Records Technician, Campus Interview Program/Resume Referral System
302-831-1231
cabrown@udel.edu
Return to Table of Contents.
HOW TO USE THE CAREER GUIDE
This guide has been developed by the Bank Of
America Career Services Center to assist you in your job search. It
provides information and action steps to take you through the Career
Development Model, a four step process that can help you organize your
career search. The Guide to Careers is devoted primarily to aiding you
with the fourth step - Implementing a Career Choice.
- Refer to the first few following pages to
be sure you are approaching the job search from the right direction.
- Follow the procedures in Registration at the Career Services Center to set up
your credential file. Having your credentials on file at the Career
Services Center can save you time and energy whether you are conducting a
job search or applying to graduate school.
- Use the materials in this manual as a guide
to conduct your search, write your resume, and prepare for interviews.
- Participate in Career Services' workshops -
check the Career Services Center Workshop Calendar or website www.udel.edu/CSC/happening.html for workshop
titles and schedules.
- Participate in the Campus Interview Program by setting up a credential file and
following the procedures to Registration at Career
Services. The Campus Interview Program hosts companies, government
and non-profit organizations recruiting various majors for entry-level
positions .
Available to all matriculated students at
any point in their degree program are:
Available to all matriculated students during the
final academic year of their degree program (January 2007, May 2007, and
August 2007 graduates):
- All Of The Above Listed Services
- Credential File
- Resume Referral Service
- The Campus Interview Program
- Large-scale Career Programs:
- Fall Career Week - September 18 - 29, 2006
- Voluteer Internship Expo - September 13, 2006
- Job Jamboree - September 26, 2006
- Law School Fair - September 27, 2006
- Substitute Teacher Fair - TBD
- Health & Nursing Sciences Career Day -
February 26, 2007
- Engineering &
Technology Career Fair - February 23, 2007
- Fashion & Apparel Career Day- February
27, 2007
- Agriculture & Natural Resources Career Day
- March 9, 2007
- Teach in Delaware Day - April 17,
2007
- Project Search
(for Teachers) - April 18, 2007
- Spring Career Week - April 9 - 16,
2007
- Spring Career
Fair - April 16, 2007
Return to Table of Contents.
THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT MODEL
The University of Delaware looks at career development
as a four step process. The most effective career decisions are made by proceeding
through each step. Whether you are an undergraduate, a returning student or an
alumnus of the University, make sure you engage in self-assessment, career
exploration, and alternative career experiences before implementing a career choice - pursuing a position in the world of work.
I. SELF-ASSESSMENT:
Identify your skills, interests, abilities, and values and their relationships
to career and life planning.
TAKE ACTION:
- Visit the Center for Counseling and Student Development (above the University Bookstore).
- Use computers and interest testing to learn about
yourself.
- Attend career workshops to examine your interests,
abilities and achievements.
- Get feedback from friends, professors, academic
advisors, and family about your unique interests, abilities, and plans.
II. CAREER EXPLORATION:
Examine many different careers to determine those that warrant more investigation.
TAKE ACTION:
- Visit the Career Library at the Center for Counseling
and Student Development.
- Visit the Career Resource Center (CRC) in the Career
Services Center to answer the following questions:
- What can I do with my major?
- How do I get career-related experience?
- Where are the best opportunities?
- Who are the potential employers?
Our comprehensive library of career-related materials
contains books; employers directories; occupational listings; and internship programs.
Over 100 videotapes are available for viewing. Information sheets (Major Resource Kits) are available on what careers are related to your major.
III. EXPERIENCING CAREER ALTERNATIVES:
Work, intern, and observe actual career situations in order confirm or reject
career interest. Learn new skills, build your resume, and make employer contacts!
Locate internships in these fields:
- Advertising
- Retail
- Banking
- Public Relations
- Human Resources
|
- Medical
- Business
- Non-Profit
- Law
|
TAKE ACTION:
- Consult Day On The Job website to identify UD alumni in careers that interest you. Work with Career Services Center staff member to set up a day of information interviewing and observation.
- Locate over 600 local and regional internships listed in eRecruiting.com or at http://www.udel.edu/CSC/intern.html.
Contact agencies that interest you and arrange an interview. (Students usually work from 4 to 12 hours per week.)
* Credit can be arranged by taking IFST-334, a three
credit course that may be taken as a free elective, or through a department experiential
course or independent study.
- Internships around the world can be identified by
reading the international internship books in the CRC.
- Find part-time and
summer jobs through the listings on the World Wide Web.
- Attend the Volunteer Internship Expo, an experiential
fair.
IV. IMPLEMENTING A CAREER CHOICE:
Acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct and carry out a planned
employment search.
TAKE ACTION:
- Attend workshops on:
- Resume Writing
- Job Search Strategies
- Interview Preparation
- Site Interviews
- How To Find A Summer Job
Consult the Career Services website www.udel.edu/CSC/happening.html
for dates and locations of workshops.
- Make an individual appointment with paraprofessional
or staff for a resume critique.
- Make an individual appointment with professional
staff to address career questions and concerns.
- Register with Career Services
Center to:
- Qualify for the Campus Interview Program
- Become eligible for the Resume Referral Service
- Establish a credential file
- Participate in the Campus Interview
Program.
- Interview with employers in your field of interest.
- Utilize the Job Vacancy Notebooks and on-line job
listing services on the PC's in the CRC to find full-time, part-time and summer jobs.
- Attend annual career programs such as Job Jamboree; Fall Career Week; Health & Nursing Sciences, Physical Therapy, Consumer Studies, and Agriculture & Natural Resources Career Days, Law School Fair, Multi-Ethnic Career Development Conference and other programs announced in the Career News.
Return to Table of Contents.
CAREER PROGRAMS
Career Workshops are offered to all students and
alumni to assist in developing skills to find employment. These 45-minute workshops coincide with normal class periods and are scheduled throughout the year. Look in the CSC Workshop Calendar or www.udel.edu/CSC/happening.html for dates, times and locations. All programs are free and no registration is required. Programs are held at 401 Academy Street unless otherwise noted.
RESUME AND COVER LETTER PREP This workshop teaches you how to begin writing a resume and cover letters. "Do's and Don'ts" are discussed, as well as tips to highlight your strengths and accomplishments. No prior resume writing experience is required.
INTERVIEW PREPARATION
This workshop teaches you how to prepare for, and excel in, an interview. Handling
tricky questions, proper attire, questions to ask the interviewer and keeping your cool will be discussed.
JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES
This workshop teaches you the skills to find a job in today's economy. Learn how
to find and apply for both advertised and unadvertised positions, network, and
research and contact potential employers.
HOW TO FIND A JOB IN... These workshops,
which target job hunting in a specific field, such as business, health care, or
the non-profit sector, teach you how to focus your resume, apply for advertised
positions, and find out about unadvertised position s.
FINDING A SUMMER JOB
This workshop teaches you how to find the best summer jobs for your priorities
- be it experience, money, adventure, or a combination of these.
GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THE JOB FAIR This workshop teaches you how to prepare for a job fair, what to wear, questions to
ask, and proper follow-up.
LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS Learn how to make your
application and personal statement stand out.
GRADUATE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS Learn how to
decide upon the right graduate school and program for you and how to apply for
admission and scholarships.
Jobs ORIENTATION
If you plan on participating in the Campus Interview Program, you should attend
this workshop which explains how to use eRecruiting.com. Also a short overview of career services and programs will be presented.
INTERNET JOB SEARCH
Using the Internet is becoming the way many people connect with jobs. The impact of this relatively new technology is not yet fully known to anyone, yet its power and capability cannot be denied. In terms of your search, the WWW can be used to explore careers of interest, find current field/industry information, conduct company research, locate and apply for current positions, etc. In this workshop you will:
- Increase awareness of UD's Bank Of America career Services Center's website www.udel.edu/CSC/
- Learn how to access and utilize web browsers
- Consider the ways that the Internet can facilitate the career development process
- Receive valuable Internet resources in your area of interest and get "connected" in your job search.
Return to Table of Contents.
REGISTRATION AT THE CAREER SERVICES CENTER
Eligibility:Matriculated students
who will complete their degree requirements and graduate in January 2007,
May 2007, or August 2007 are eligible to register and participate in the
services listed below during the academic year 2006 - 2007.
I. WHY REGISTER? WHAT SERVICES WILL I BE
ENTITLED TO?
- A. Access to eRecruiting.com - a
web-based career management system. This system provides students with
information and profiles of over 1800 organizations (including contacts);
participation in the Campus Interview Program (for graduating students);
access to job postings and industry guides; and other career related
advice and information. Follow the directions on the following pages for
"How do you register?" and "Participating in the Campus Interview
Program."
- B. Resume Referral Service - To be
included in the Resume Referral System you must complete your
eRecruiting.com registration and upload your resume into the appropriate
"Resume Book" within eRecruiting.com. By doing this you are providing
access to (to view and print out) your resume to potential employers.
After viewing your resume, employers will contact you directly if you
meet their qualifications. During the 2000-2001 academic year Career
Services provided over 500 employers with access to our "Resume Books."
- C. Reference/Credential File - an
optional service available to students and alumni whose job search or
graduate school application process requires the storage and maintenance
of a file of reference letters and other documentation. A Credential
Request Form, bearing your signature must be submitted before your file
can be released.
II. HOW DO YOU REGISTER?
- A. Go to www.udel.edu/CSC/findajob.html and follow the
directions posted there.
- B. Complete and submit a typed or legibly
printed Information Card.
- C. Attend a Jobs
Orientation Session.
- D. If a Credential/Reference File is
required for your job search/application process, pick up a Credential
Packet at the receptionist's desk in the Career Services Center which
includes reference forms and information about including Student Teaching
Reports, unofficial transcript (issued from the Registrar's Office in the
Student Services Building), and national test scores in the file.
- E. Upon your request, copies of your credential
file may be sent to prospective employers or graduate schools. Simply complete
a Credentials Request Form available from the receptionist.
III. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT
REGISTRATION
Under the U.S. Family Education Rights and Privacy
Act, you, as the registrant, must authorize the release of references in
the file. For this purpose we have developed the Credential Request Form,
available in our office, for your use when requesting copy of your file
for a prospective employer/graduate school.
In some instances, employers contact this office
directly requesting specific credentials of eligible registrants. If you check
the appropriate statement on the Information Card and sign your name, it is an
authorization to this office to distribute your credentials to employers
we deem to be bona fide. Employers will contact individuals directly
should they wish additional data.
If you "published" a copy of your resume in
eRecruiting.com, it is included in the Resume Referral System during the
current academic year and is available to employer representatives
contacting our campus. This service provides them with information on
students who may ma tch their needs. Recruiters may take note
of these individuals and contact them directly regarding potential jobs.
Return to Table of
Contents.
CHOOSE REFERENCES WITH CARE
Students and alumni with health-related,
education-related or other majors may choose to establish a
Credential/Reference File/Dossier to support their job search or
graduate/professional school application process.
Available at the receptionist's desk at the Career Services Center, the
Crendential Packet contains reference forms and helpful information about
this process. Choose professors, advisors, employers, or supervisors with
whom you have had extensive interaction and can represent your skills
effectively to others. When asking for a letter of reference, it is
helpful to provide a copy of your resume and a transcript to give your
reference writer a clear picture of your past performance and your
future goals. Supply reference writers with addressed, stamped envelopes
for returning references to the Career Services Center.
It is advisable to give your reference writers a
time line, a definite date when you would like the reference to be part
of your file. As that date approaches, check with thereceptionist to see
if his/her letter of reference has been received. Please note that
references may be deleted from your file only upon your written request.
Unless you specify otherwise, all reference letters
are designated as "Open." You will be able to read the letter and make a copy
of it, if you choose. "Closed" or "Confidental" reference forms are also
available, by request, should you or your reference writer prefer a
confidentail reference. "Closed" letters are not open for your inspection
at any time.
Return to Table of
Contents.
USING THE CAMPUS INTERVIEW PROGRAM
THE CAMPUS INTERVIEW PROGRAM offers the
opportunity to interact with approximately 200 organizations each year.
While the organizations who participate are quite selective and the
competition for positions quite keen, the process of interviewing can
assist you in better defining your career goals and improve your interview
skills. The procedures for participating in the Campus Interview Program
are described in the following paragraphs. Please be certain to utilize
other services offered by the Career Services Center as you conduct
your job search.
Placement services in the form of the
Campus Interview Program are available to all undergraduate and graduate
students who expect to complete the requirements for a degree or teacher
certification in January 2007, May 2007 or August 2007. Students
participating in the Campus Interview Program must first register with Career Services by following
the procedures described earlier in this booklet and have a resume
prepared to give out to prospective employers.
Each year approximately 400 recruiters
representing about 300 different organizations interview students on our
campus for career positions. Campus interviews during the fall semester
begin Monday, October 2, 2006, and end Thursday, December 7, 2006.
Spring interviews begin Wednesday, February 7, 2007, and end Wednesday,
May 17, 2007.
The University of Delaware is committed to assuring
equal opportunity to all persons and does not discriminate on the basis
of race, color, gender, religion, ancestry, national origin, sexual
orientation, veteran status, age, or disability in its educational
programs, activities, admissions or employment practices as required by
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 503 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VI of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes.
ORIENTATION
SESSIONS
Orientation sessions explaining the Campus
Interview Program are held frequently throughout the year. The
orientations are not mandatory, but are very helpful to further explain
the materials you must complete in order to participate in the Campus
Interview Program and establish your file. See www.udel.edu/CSC/orientation.html for a
complete list of dates and times.
CONDUCTING CAMPUS
INTERVIEWS
Career Services utilizes a web-based campus
interview system, eRecruiting.com, to post company profiles, job
descriptions, and allow you to "send" your resume to selected companies
holding on campus interviews at the University of Delaware. This online
system operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Once you have completed and submitted your registration form, and
attended an Orientation, we will activate your eRecruiting.com
account. When your account is active, you will need to complete your
profile, upload your resume and "publish" it in the appropriate online
"Resume Book."
On a regular basis (at least weekly, if not more frequently) you will
need to view companies that may be recruiting for your major or for all
majors. The instructions will direct you to several alternatives for
viewing active organizations.
For those companies/positions in which you have an interest you will
forward your resume on-line to the company. Company representatives will
review resumes at the end of the designated "drop" period and select
those candidates they wish to interview. You will be sent an email
informing you of the company's decision to interview you or not.
If selected for an interview, you will need to log in eRecruiting.com
to pick your interview appointment time for the designated date.
Interview slots are filled in "real-time" so the sooner you access the
schedule after receiving your email notification the better your choices
of times will be. Students selected as "alternates" will be allowed to
sign-up for interview slots (if available) during the designated period,
as will "free sign-up" candidates.
The Campus Interview Program Time Line
Company profiles and job descriptions are available for viewing by
student registrants as soon as the organization has completed the
information. However,
- Up to 15 days prior to the interview date students will be able
to "apply" to the posted job description.
- 14 - 7 days prior to the interview date organizations are able
to view and/or print all documents submitted by students, make
selections, and email candidates.
- 14 - 2 days prior to the interview date "accepted" students
can schedule their interview appointment times on a first come, first
serve basis.
- 5 - 2 days prior to the interview date "alternate" students
can sign up for available interview appointments.
- 4 days prior to the interview date "free sign-up" activated if
allowed by the organization.
- 1 day prior to the interview date the interview schedule
freezes and no changes are allowed.
- The Interview Day students should arrive at Career Services
10-15 minutes prior to their scheduled interview time to check in,
freshen up, and meet any "greeters" the organization has brought with them.
NO-SHOWS AND CANCELLATIONS
When you sign up for an interview, you have
made a commitment to see the employer who selected you for the
interview. If you have a reason for not signing up for an interview after
you have been selected, please notify the Coordinator of the Campus
Interview Program so that the interview time may be opened for an
alternate candidate.
If you are unable to appear for your scheduled
interview, please notify the Coordinator of the Campus Interview Program
at least 48 hours in advance, so that alternates may be contacted. If you
cancel within 48 hours of an interview or are a "no-show" for a scheduled
interview, you will be suspended from participation in the Campus
Interview Program until you meet with the Associate Director for Employer
Relations to discuss your reinstatement into the Program. Repeated
"no-shows" will result in permanent suspension from the Campus Interview
Program.
Return to Table of Contents.
HINTS FOR GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THE CAMPUS INTERVIEW
PROGRAM
Develop some concrete ideas of what you would
like to do (immediately and eventually). A good approach is to think in
terms of what types of functions you like and are able to perform (e.g.,
written communications, sales, research, personnel, etc.).
Research the organizations you plan to
interview with. Through company literature,
past or present employees, independent publications or journals (Business
Week, The Wall Street Journal, etc.), and/or the World Wide Web know
something about the organization, products, services, growth areas,
philosophies, and entry-level positions.
If your major and degree level are not
requested by a particular organization and you would like to obtain a
campus interview with them, write or call the organization directly and
request an exception. Names and addresses of company contacts are
available online through eRecruiting.com.
Keep a file on each company you interviewed
with. The file should contain: (a) notes on the interview including the
recruiter's name and address; (b) letters from employers; (c) copies of
your replies and thank you notes.
Acknowledge all correspondence promptly.
Reduce job offers to the one or two most
appropriate for you.
Cancel remaining interviews and inform
prospective companies about your decision once you have accepted a job
offer.
Return to Table of
Contents.
2003-2004 CAMPUS INTERVIEW PROGRAM MASTER
CALENDAR
Fall Interviews: October 2 - December
7, 2006
No Interviews:
November 7 - Fall Break
November 22-24, 2006 - Thanksgiving Break
December 8, 2003 - February 5, 2007 - Fall final exams, Holiday Break,
Winter Session
Spring Interviews: February 7 - May 17,
2007
No Interviews:
March 26 - 30, 2007 - Spring Break
Return to Table of
Contents.
WRITING RESUMES & ELECTRONIC RESUMES
WHAT IS A RESUME AND HOW IS IT USED?
A resume is a marketing tool. You use it to sell
yourself to a company. It shows off achievements, attributes, strengths
and accumulation of expertise. It never contains negative information or
weaknesses. The primary purpose of the resume is to obtain an interview.
RESUME CONTENT
DO INCLUDE:
- Name, address, telephone number, and email
address.
- Education: degree, institution, city,
state, major(s), minor(s), date of graduation.
- Experience: job titles, company name, city
and state, responsibilities and achievements, employment dates.
- Activities: professional, educational, or civil
organization involvement and leadership responsibilities assumed.
- Computer skills: List the software and/or
hardware with which you are familiar.
DO NOT INCLUDE:
- Reference list: This should be on a
separate sheet. Note on resume "References available upon request" or, if
registered with Career Services Center, "References available upon
request at...(title and address)."
- Salary expectations: This will be discussed
in a later interview or in a job offer setting.
- Non relevant personal information: age,
sex, marital status, race, religion, national origin, political
affiliation, social security number, or health status.
- Photograph.
- Lies, exaggerations, or misrepresentations.
- Any negative information.
OPTIONAL CATEGORIES:
- Job Objective
- Relevant Course Work
- Languages
- Computer Experience
- Thesis
- Travel
- Publications & Patents
- Accreditation & Licenses
- Professional Training
- Honors & Awards
- Military Experience
APPEARANCE
- Attractive and easy to read: Use capital
letters, bullets, underlining, highlighting, appropriate margins, and
spacing.
- Consistency in graphics.
- Use block form: Having plenty of white
space.
- Concise: One page for the new or recent
college graduate.
- Free of spelling, grammatical, and
typographical errors.
- Computer produced, word processed or typed
on a carbon ribbon quality typewriter.
- Print on neutral color paper: Off-white or ivory.
SAMPLE RESUME FORMATS
Resume in Paragraph Form
Jeffrey M. Kawalek
Current Address
37B Duke Street
Newark, DE 19711
(302) 236-6572
kawalek@udel.edu
|
|
Permanent Address
725 Coolidge Avenue
North Plainfield, NJ 07063
(908) 715-9674
|
Career Objective
To obtain a career opportunity in management consulting that will utilize
my experiences and educational background in management, marketing, and
international business.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration May 2006
University of Delaware, Newark, DE
Concentrations: Management and Marketing
Minor: International Business
Overall GPA: 2.9/4.0 Major GPA: 3.2/4.0
Study Abroad: Czech Republic, Hungary, & Germany Winter 2004
Related course work: Management and Organizational Behaviors, International Business Management, Management: Seminar on Organizations, Managerial Economics, Business Law, Marketing, Marketing Research, International Marketing, Accounting I & II, Finance, Operations Management, and Oral Communications.
Skills
Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Powerpoint, Microsoft Word, Access)
Lotus 1-2-3, Minitab, Hypercard, Word Perfect, and Netscape Applications.
Basic Knowledge of the Spanish Language. Skill with CPR and Red Cross
techniques.
Experience
Career Services Student Assistant, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
(Aug 2002 - Present)
Present regularly scheduled orientation sessions and resume workshops. Review and critique student resumes. Assist students with registration and research career materials in the Resource Center. Coordinate and conduct community outreach programs.
Blue Hen Ambassador, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
(Aug 2002-Present)
Promote the University of Delaware to prospective students and families through campus tours. Proficiently assist the admissions office at various recruitment programs. Participate in student panels and discussions.
Merchandising Host, Walt Disney World Company, Orlando, FL
(Summer 2002, 2003)
Nationally selected from over 200 colleges and universities to participate in the Walt Disney World College and International Program. Trained in the operations of the point of sales terminals, floor stocking, control stocking, inventory control, cash handling, sales, and guest relations. Successfully completed a ten week seminar at Disney University focusing on Theme Park Management.
Customer Service Representative, Nobody Beats the Wiz, Elizabeth, NJ
(Summer 2001)
Assisted customers with conflicts associated with the delivery and
installation of home electronics. Scheduled and dispatched daily delivery
routes. Worked on a team to develop new strategies for scheduling and
installation.
Honors and Memberships
American Marketing Association (AMA) (Sept 2000- Present)
Business Student Association (BSA) (Sept 1999-Present)
Hall Representative, Harrington Hall, University of Delaware (2001-2003)
List of references, writing samples, and transcript provided upon
request
Resume in Bullet Format
Jeffrey M. Kawalek
Current Address
37B Duke Street
Newark, DE 19711
(302) 236-6572
kawalek@udel.edu
|
|
Permanent Address
725 Coolidge Avenue
North Plainfield, NJ 07063
(908) 715-9674
|
Career Objective
To obtain a career opportunity in management consulting that will utilize my experiences and
educational background in management, marketing, and international business.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration,University of
Delaware,Newark,DE May2004
Concentrations: Management and Marketing
Minor: International Business
Overall GPA: 2.9/4.0 Major GPA: 3.2/4.0
Study Abroad: Czech Republic, Hungary, & Germany Winter 2002
Related course work: Management and Organizational Behaviors,
International Business Management, Management: Seminar on Organizations,
Managerial Economics, Business Law, Marketing, Marketing Research,
International Marketing, Accounting I & II, Finance, Operations
Management, and Oral Communications.
Skills
Knowledge of Microsoft Office-Excel, Powerpoint, Microsoft Word, Access,
Lotus 1-2-3, SAS, Minitab, Hypercard, Word Perfect, and Netscape
Applications. Basic knowledge of French. Excellent writing and research
skills.
Experience
Student Assistant, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
August 2002-Present (Academic Years)
- Present regularly scheduled resume workshops
- Review and critique student resumes
- Assist students with registration, and research career materials in the Resource Center
- Coordinate and conduct community outreach programs.
Merchandising Host Internship,The Walt Disney World
Company,Orlando,FL
Summers 2001 & 2002
- Nationally selected from over 200 colleges and universities to
participate in the Walt Disney World College and International Program.
- Trained in the operations of the point of sales terminals, floor
stocking, control stocking, inventory control, cash handling, sales, and
guest relations.
- Responsible for the calculation and disbursement of approximately ten
thousand dollars.
- Successfully completed a ten week seminar at Disney University
focusing on Theme Park Management.
Customer Service Representative, Installation Dept. Nobody Beats
the Wiz, Elizabeth, NJ
Summer 2001
- Responsible for scheduling and dispatching daily delivery routes.
- Trained and motivated new and temporary employees.
- Worked on a team to develop new strategies for scheduling and installation.
Activities
American Marketing Association Sept 2000-Present
Business Student Association (BSA) Sept 2000-Present
Supporting K.I.D.D.S Volunteer (The United Way) 2001-2003
Hall Representative, Harrington Hall, University of Delaware 1001-2002
Award winning collection of vintage baseball cards
SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS
To help you summarize your experience, consider the following questions:
- What skills have you developed as a result
of the experience?
- What were your job responsibilities? How
did they change or otherwise develop over the course of the experience?
- Did you supervise any people? Did
you help other people in any way?
- Did your experience involve working with
co-workers? Teamwork?
- Did you assume any leadership roles? Did
you gather any information? Did you analyze any information?
- Were you involved in any planning
responsibilities? Did you operate any equipment?
- Did you produce any written document and/or
written report? How well were you able to meet deadlines and handle
pressure?
- Can you quantify the results of your work?
(e.g., number of customers served, percentage increase in sales,
percentile rank in class.)
DEVELOPING A JOB OBJECTIVE
The job objective provides a focus for your resume.
It consists of one or two sentences describing the kind of work you want.
However, not all resumes will have job objectives. In order to have an
objective there are two questions you should be able to answer:
- What kind of position do you want?
- What kind of company or organization do you
want to work for?
(If you have several job objectives you may
have a resume for each specific objective.)
When writing your job objective, be
short and to the point. Avoid wordiness.
Not
To obtain a challenging position in marketing or sales, providing an
opportunity to apply skills and interest in sales, promotions, customer
service and related ideas.
Instead
To obtain a position in marketing or sales.
Not
An entry-level position in a management training program with a company
that will benefit from my highly developed organizational skills and
solid background in finance.
Instead
An entry-level position in a management training program.
Sample Job Objectives
Development and design of digital and analog equipment.
Management/marketing position in a health
care setting.
Seek employment as a design or project engineer.
Integrating care in a neonatal nursery as a
clinical specialist involving the clinical support of infants and
children.
An entry-level position within the
operations management environment.
A position as senior staff engineer or
project leader involved with new product development.
An advertising or public relations position
with a large company.
Seeking an entry-level position with a
commercial bank.
Entry-level opportunity to utilize desktop
publishing and editorial skills.
KEY WORDS
The words that you use to describe your
experience, activities, and other categories should convey skills that
you have developed and what you have to offer an employer. To do this you
need to use strong action verbs and self-descriptive words. This will
help to get the potential employers attention. One thing to beware of
when using these words is that you do not want to sound boastful or
arrogant. In addition to using action verbs, make sure that
you use concise phrases, instead of complete sentences, and quantify as
often as possible.
ACTION VERBS
- accelerated
- adapted
- administer
- analyze
- approve
- audited
- coodinate
- conceived
- conduct
- completed
- control
- created
- delegate
|
- develop
- direct
- eliminated
- established
- evaluate
- expand
- expedite
- facilitated
- founded
- generate
- identified
- increased
- influence
|
- implemented
- interpret
- improve
- launched
- lead
- maintain
- motivated
- organize
- originate
- participate
- perform
- plan
- pinpointed
|
- program
- proposed
- proved
- provide
- recommend
- recruited
- reduced
- remodeled
- reorganized
- revise
- review
- schedule
- simplify
|
- set up
- solve
- strategy
- structure
- streamline
- supervise
- support
- teach
- translated
- traveled
- utilize
|
SELF-DESCRIPTIVE WORDS
- active
- ambitious
- creative
- dependable
|
- diplomatic
- efficient
- enterprising
- forceful
|
- loyal
- objective
- personable
- productive
|
- resourceful
- self-reliant
- tactful
- will travel
|
COMPUTER FRIENDLY RESUMES
Computerization has affected so many areas of
our lives that is no surprise that it has affected job seekers looking
for work. Just as computers are being put to work in hiring departments,
savvy job seekers can put computers to work in their own job search.
Here are some tips for creating a scannable resume.
Putting "Keywords to Work for You"
Keywords are the nouns or short phrases that describe your experience and
education that might be used to find your resume in a keyword search of a
resume database. They are the essential knowledge, abilities, and skills
required to do your job. They are concrete descriptions like: C++,
UNIX, fiber optic cable, network, project management, etc. Even
well-known company names (AT&T, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, MCI) and
universities (Harvard, Yale, SMU, SUNY, USC, Stanford, Tulane,
Thunderbird) are sometimes used as keywords, especially when it is
necessary to narrow down an initial search that calls up hundreds of
resumes from a resume database. Develop your own list of keywords and
place them strategically in your resume.
Tips for a Computer Friendly Resume
- Font-Standard fonts work best. Avoid ornate fonts and fonts where
the characters touch. Font size is important. Sizes between 10 and 14
points work best.
- Italics and underlining cause problems for the scanner. Use boldface
for emphasis.
- Vertical and horizontal lines should be used sparingly. When used,
leave a least a quarter of an inch of space around the line. Avoid
graphics, shading and shadowing.
- Do not compress or expand the space between letters or lines. Also,
do not double space within sections.
- Resumes should be original. It should be printed with a laser
printer on white or light colored 8 1/2-x 11-inch paper. Print on one
side only.
- Resumes that have been folded, stapled or other wise mutilated will
not scan well.
- It is imperative that you describe your skills and accomplishments
using the language of your profession.
Return to Table of Contents.
WRITING COVER LETTERS
DO:
- Send a cover letter with every resume you send.
- Address letter to a specific person and title.
- Type each letter individually.
- Limit to one page.
- Sign your name.
DON'T:
- Address to just a title or department.
- Be pushy or assuming.
- Mass produce.
Sample Cover Letter in Paragraph Format
37B Duke Street
Newark, Delaware 19711
April 2, 2004
IBM Corporation
590 Madison Ave. 12th floor
New York, NY 10022
Attention: Mrs. Kathy Zistl
Dear Ms. Zistl:
I was given your name from Mitsuko Clemmons, graduate assistant at the Career Services Center at the University of Delaware. I am interested in obtaining a full time position with IBM Corporation in the field of Management Consulting and/or Marketing. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to interview on campus as a result of my recently having returned to the US after spending winter session studying International Marketing and International Law in The Czech Republic.
Currently a senior at the University of Delaware, I plan to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a double concentration in Management and Marketing and a minor in International Business in May 2000. Through my educational background and past work experiences, I have developed strong oral communication, analytical, and research skills. I have proven the ability to communicate effectively both interpersonally and within groups. In addition, I have the flexibility and willingness to relocate to any location where a challenging job may await me.
My enclosed resume will provide more details about my skills and accomplishments. I am very eager to discuss potential employment with IBM and would welcome an interview at your earliest convenience. I may be reached at my current address, by phone at: (302) 266-6879, or by way of e-mail at: kawalek@udel.edu. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey M. Kawalek
Enclosure: Resume
Sample Cover Letter in Bullet Format
37B Duke Street
Newark, Delaware 19711
September 23, 2006
Mr. Lee Poe
The Walt Disney Cruise Line
210 Celebration Place, Suite 400
Celebration, Florida 34747-4600
Dear Mr. Poe:
I am currently interested in obtaining an entry-level marketing/management position with the Walt Disney Cruise Line. Currently I am in the first semester of my senior year at the University of Delaware and plan to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a double concentration in Marketing and Management and a minor in International Business in May 2000. My interest in the Walt Disney Cruise Line is based on a desire to continue my employment with the Walt Disney Company.
As a participant in the Walt Disney World College Program, I served as a Merchandising Host during the summers of 1996 and 1998. Specifically, this job has given me an in-depth knowledge of The Walt Disney World Company, its operations, and its corporate culture. Other qualifications, which I possess, include the following:
- A team-builder who communicates effectively interpersonally and within groups.
- A highly motivated individual with strong analytical and research skills.
- Visionary, creative, and able to see opportunities for process improvement.
- Completed various courses in marketing, management, sales, and international business.
- Proficient with Walt Disney World Company Policies and Guidelines.
My enclosed resume will provide further details about my skills and accomplishments. I am confident that my academic background, qualifications, as well as my past experiences with your company will prove to be mutually beneficial for a marketing/management position with The Walt Disney Cruise Line. I may be reached at my current address, by phone at: (302) 266-6879, or by way of e-mail at: kawalek@udel.edu. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey M. Kawalek
Enclosures: Resume, References
Constructing your E-Cover Letter
Keep your cover letter short. Brevity is critical. One or two
paragraphs- under 150 words- should be sufficient. An e-cover letter is more
of a "cover note."
What should be included in the E-Cover "Note"? There should be a
statement about who you are; what job you're applying or hoping for; how you
heard about this job; and an indication of your knowledge of the organization.
Take advantage of keywords. Use keywords pertinent to the job you
are seeking, and focus on key industry buzzwords and critical skill sets.
Don't waste your subject line. Don't ever leave the subject line of
your email blank. Use the subject line to entice the reader into your cover
letter.
Justify your left-hand margins. Avoid indenting and other
formatting devices because formatting is often altered in electronic
transmission.
Always use standard cover letter protocol. Just because it's an
email doesn't mean you should abandon standard business letter writing. Make
sure to include a salutation (Dear Ms. Roth) and a standard closing (such
as Sincerely or Yours truly) Leave blank lines between paragraphs. Avoid
using emoticons, abbreviations, wild colors, etc..
Never hit "send" without thoroughly spell checking and proofreading
your email cover note. Don't just rely on your email software's
spellchecker. Take the time to really proofread it. A simple typo could
undermine a brilliant cover letter. Avoid mistakes!
Be sure to test your message before sending it to the company.
Even if you're sure your letter is perfect, send it to a friend or another
one of your e-mail accounts first and check for the content and style one more
time.
Three Sample e-Cover Letters
Sample 1:
Subject: Strong technical writer with portfolio
From: David Munroe Smith
Davems@hotmail.com
988 Big Trail
Newark, Delaware 19713
Dear Ms. Allen:
Professor Ames told me that you are looking for a technical writer for
Impact, Inc. and suggested that I e-mail you my resume. I have used some
of Impact's publications in my classes and am very excited about the
prospect of being part of a top communications company. I am well
qualified for the position with a grade point average of 3.5 and
successful experience in two technical writing internships where I honed
my desktop publishing, editing, and proofreading skills.
After reviewing the resume that follows, I hope you will want to arrange
an interview with me to discuss the position further.
Sincerely,
Judith Evans
-----
Sample 2:
Subject: Business experience and liberal arts background
From: Sam DeSalvo
Ssde@udel.edu
444 Madison Road
Newark, DE 19711
Dear Mr. Marquart:
I was unable to participate in the Campus Interview program in the Fall
when you visited the University of Delaware campus. At this time, I am
ready to pursue an entry level job as a marketing representative with
Dannon Foods. My uncle, Leon DeSalvo, a sales manager with Dannon Foods,
has had a successful career with your company and suggested that I apply.
My resume follows this letter. I hope you will find me a good match for
the marketing representative position.
Yours truly,
Sam DeSalvo
-----
Sample 3:
Subject: Multilingual student seeks social services internship
From: Sylvia Juegos
Sylvia@udel.edu
1 Main Street
Newark, DE 19711
Dear Ms. Kramer:
I am interested in applying for the position of social services intern you
listed in eRecruiting at the University of Delaware. I have some
volunteer experience with adolescents, but would like to gain further, in
depth experience, by pursuing an internship with the Hispanic Community
Center. My eventual goal is to become a clinical social worker
specializing in treating adolescents.
Please review my resume. I would be happy to provide additional
information or come to the Center for an interview. I'll call you next
week to follow up.
Best regards,
Sylvia Juegos
Return to Table of Contents.
INTERVIEW PREPARATION
40 QUESTIONS RECRUITERS ASK
The purpose of an interview is for the interviewer
to find out about you, the prospective employee. The employer wants to know about
you in order to make a decision about hiring and you want the employer to know
about you so that the decision will be favorable. Through reviewing various interviewing
literature, we have compiled the following list of 40 interview questions frequently
asked of college students and graduates. Read the questions and formulate your
answers. Good answers are ones that are specific and exemplify your strengths.
Remember that an interview often determines whether or not you get hired Preparation
is the key.
Questions About Yourself
- Tell me about yourself.
- Why did you choose your major? What courses were
your favorite? Least favorite? Why?
- What are your long and short range goals? How are
your preparing to achieve them?
- What motivates you?
- How do you work under pressure? (example)
- Who is your hero? Why?
- What are three of your strengths and weaknesses?
- What failures have you experienced? What have you
learned from your mistakes?
- Are you a team player or an individualist? Give
an example.
- What do you think makes a good manager?
- Why did you leave your past jobs?
- How did you become interested in this field/industry?
- Why did you select the University of Delaware?
- If you could do it all over again, how would you
plan your academic studies differently?
- Assuming that you could do anything you wanted,
what would you really like to do in life?
- How do you determine or evaluate success?
- What is your favorite book?
- What do you do in your free time?
- Do you have plans for continued study? An advanced
degree?
- What was the best and worst thing about college?
- Tell me about a recent problem and how to solve
it.
- What, if any, extracurricular activities have you
participated in? What did you learn from them?
- What haven't I asked you that I should have asked
you?
- Tell me about any leadership responsibilities you've
had.
Interest in Organization
- What criteria are you using to evaluate the organizations
for which you hope to work.
- What do you know about our organization?
- Do you have a geographic preference? Why?
- What do you see as the biggest challenge currently
facing organizations such as ours?
- What are the most important rewards you expect from
your career?
- Why did you decide to seek a position with us?
- What two or three things are important to you in
your job?
- What other fields/organizations are you interviewing
with?
- Describe the ideal job for you following graduation.
Why Should I Hire You?
- How have your education and other experiences prepared
you for this position?
- Do you think your grades are a good indication of
your academic achievement? Why isn't your GPA higher?
- Why do you feel we should hire someone with your
background?
- What two accomplishments have given you the most
satisfaction?
- Why should I hire you?
- What makes you better than the other people I'm
seeing today?
- Describe a contribution you made to the University
of Delaware or in your last job.
THE NEW JOB INTERVIEW
Consists of questions which ask you to describe how you exhibited a particular "behavior" in a recent situation.
- Advantages:
- the point of the question is clear
- researching the job and company can help
- your recent behavior is the focus
- Disadvantages:
- missing or inappropriate behaviors are more apparent
- work history and accomplishments may be easier for you to describe than behaviors
- traditional interviews are more spontaneous; in behavior interviews you have less influence in the agenda
Behavioral Questions
Refer to examples - try to use examples from more and one source or event.
- Give me an example of how you exercised leadership in a recent situation.
- Tell me about a time when you were held accountable for a problem that you hadn't caused.
- Think about the changes you have seen and tell me how you handle change.
- Tell me about a decision you made recently and how you reached it.
- Tell me about a time when you were critized. What was the issue involved, who made the criticism, and how did you handle it?
- Tell me how you use your communication skills, written and oral.
- Think about a recent project you were assigned. How did you go about managing your time and organizing the project?
- Please tell me about a recent team you worked on.
- Tell me about how you persuade people to accept your point-of-view.
- Tell me about a time when you were under a great deal of pressure. What was the source of the pressure and what did you do?
APPROPRIATE QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES TO ASK IN THE JOB INTERVIEW
Ask questions that will give you additional information
on the organization, the position you are interviewing for, or the services or
products that the organization supplies.
Do Ask:
- What would a typical first assignment be?
- Which of your locations have the type of job I'm
looking for?
- What type of orientation would I have?
- What type of training programs do you have?
- What can I expect in terms of job progression in
your organization?
- How often would my performance be reviewed?
- Are there any new office or sites being planned?
- Are there any plans for new goods or services?
- What percentage of supervisory positions are filled
from within the organization?
- How much travel is normally expected?
Don't Ask:
- About salary or benefits.
- About job pressures, overtime or morale.
- Questions that are answered in the company literature.
In preparing for your interview you should:
- Read the organization's recruiting literature or website.
- Talk with people employed by the organization or
familiar with it, before the interview, if at all possible.
- Prepare some questions before going to the interview,
but be spontaneous enough to ask other questions as they occur to you in the interview.
- Think what would be helpful for you to know about
the position or the employer if you were offered a position there.
Return to Table of Contents.
INAPPROPRIATE QUESTIONS
According to the criteria established by the U.S.
Equal Employment Opportunity Act, there are guidelines that employers need to
follow in conducting job interviews:
- Questions should not be asked to which answers will
have a disparate effect in screening out any minorities and/or members of one
sex (disqualify a significantly larger percentage of members of a particular group
than others).
- Questions must be job-related; that is, necessary
to judge an applicant's competence for the job in question.
In order to comply with these criteria employers
should not ask questions concerning:
- Marital and Family Status
- Ancestry, National Origin, Race or Color
- Religious or Political Affiliation
- Sex
- Age (except to establish that they meet minimum age requirements by law)
HOW TO HANDLE INAPPROPRIATE QUESTIONS
Most individuals, if they are interviewing with
large organizations, will not encounter these inappropriate questions. These personnel
offices and their interviewers are well versed in the laws. However, in the event
that you are asked a question which seems inappropriate to you, there are several
ways to handle the situation.
- 1st- You need not answer such questions. Sometimes
it is better to be silent, at least long enough to think of a reasonable reply,
or simply ignore the question and state why you are a good candidate for the job.
- 2nd- You can give an honest, assertive, but not
antagonistic reply. Example: Interviewer: "Does your spouse mind if you
travel?" Applicant: "We are completely supportive of each other's career ambitions."
- 3rd- You can give an antagonistic reply such as
"None of your business." This, however, will usually end their consideration of
you for the position.
- 4th- Your best protection against inappropriate
questions is to be prepared to deal with them in advance. Think of how you want
to reply or not reply to these questions and practice the responses with a friend,
counselor, or a Career Services staff member.
- 5th- Consider very carefully whether or not you want
to work for such an organization. This interview may be a preview of discrimination
you may encounter on the job.
- 6th- If you feel your legal rights have been violated,
discuss the situation with a Career Services staff member. We can refer you to
the appropriate government agency.
Return to Table of Contents.
DRESSING FOR AN INTERVIEW
While business casual is still in, dressing up in a suit for a job interview has really never gone out of style. Appropriate attire supports your image as a person and you should understand the dress code of the nature of the industry in which you are trying to become employed. Research shows that within 4-9 minutes of an interview the recruiter decides whether or not to seriously consider you for the position based on your appearance, which is an important factor in the decision-making process.
Dress recommendations below are for traditional business settings (banking, law, consulting, insurance, etc.) .
Women:
Well-fitted two-piece matched suit, blouse, pantsuit, or skirt with hosiery and basic dark flats or low pumps. Choose a dark or neutral shade like black, navy, brown or gray for your suit. Wear plain style, non-patterned hosiery; minimal or natural-looking makeup; and clean nails or clear nail polish that is not chipped. Nail length should not be excessively long. Minimize jewelry - avoid dangling earrings and wear no more than one ring per hand and a dress watch. Jewelry, scarves and other accessories will add a polished touch to any outfit. Do not carry a purse with a briefcase. As a precaution, take an extra pair of hose in case of a run. Perfume never should be strong.
Men:
Well- fitted suit in navy or gray (pinstripe or solid) or navy blazer and gray dress slacks; white or light blue dress shirt; tie (silk or silk-like) that contrasts with the color of your suit and contains understated patterns; dark socks (mid-calf) and dress shoes (lace-up, or leather slip-ons in either black or brown); leather belt that matches your shoes. A full-length coat, as nice as you can afford, can be worn over your suit. No strong cologne, avoid flashy cuff links, rings and neck chains. No earrings. Your belt should match your shoes. If you have a beard or mustache, it should be clean and neatly trimmed.
Dress recommendations for other settings (education, nonprofit, etc.).
Women:
A two-piece matched suit or conservatively tailored dress with or without a jacket or jacket, skirt and blouse; hose and basic dark flats or low pumps. Choose a dark or neutral shade like black, navy, brown or gray for your suit. No extreme high slits. Minimal jewelry, scarves and other accessories will add a polished touch to any outfit. Nail length should not be excessively long. Wear plain style, non-patterned hosiery; minimal or natural-looking makeup; and clean nails or clear nail polish that is not chipped.
Men:
Dress slacks (navy, dark gray and black) plus sport coat (wool or wool/polyester blend) or navy blazer; dress shirt, tie (silk or silk-like); white or light blue shirts are safest for most settings, but other solid, high quality cotton shirts can also be worn; dark socks (mid-calf) and dress shoes, tassle loafers, wing tip or laced shoes preferred. No strong cologne. Avoid flashy cuff links, rings and neck chains. No earrings. Your belt should match your shoes. If you have a beard or mustache, it should be clean and neatly trimmed.
Don't's of Interview Dressing
- No visible body piercing beyond conservative ear piercing
- No stale breath...well-brushed teeth and breath
- No gum, candy, or other objects in your mouth
- Minimal jewelry
- No body odor - use deodorant
- No skirts above the knee-length
- No revealing or seductive clothing or turtlenecks
- No pastel-colored suits or flowered fabrics
- No short sleeve shirts or ties that tell a story for men
- No unpolished shoes
Return to Table of Contents.
FOLLOW UP & THANK YOU LETTERS
It is important that after an interview you write
a thank you letter to the interviewer to acknowledge the meeting and to remind
him/her of you after you have gone. This letter also shows your organization and
professionalism. There are several guidelines that you should follow in writing
a follow up letter.
- Type or handwrite the letter. Email is not as personal, therefore it should not be used in conjunction with a personal letter. If you cannot write a letter, an email is better than not following up at all. This letter should be brief and include the following:
- Thank the interviewer for his/her time.
- State the position for which you are applying.
- Mention something from your interview to remind the interviewer who you are.
- Describe in one or two sentences why you are the best applicant.
Mention the names of the people you met at the interview.
Send a letter to appropriate individuals you interviewed
with (always send to the main interviewer).
Keep the letter short, less than one page.
Mail the letter within 24 hours of the interview.
Send a thank you letter for every interview you
go on.
Sample Thank You Letter
1212 Delaware Avenue
Wilmington, DE 19755
April 26, 2006
Ms. Rebecca Robson
Director of Recruiting
Apple Advertising
187 Bainbridge Road
Newport, RI 18645
Dear Ms. Robson:
I want to thank you for interviewing me yesterday for the assistant account manager position. I enjoyed meeting you and learning more about Apple and your philosophy toward advertising and business relations.
My enthusiasm for the position and my interest in working for Apple have
been strengthened due to the interview. Apple's emphasis on the client and open
communication policy mesh well with my own philosophy of business relationships.
I think my education and experience fit well with the job requirements and if offered the
position, I am certain I would make a valuable addition to your team.
I want to reiterate my strong interest in working with Apple. Your company
and this position offer the exact opportunity I seek. Please feel free to call me at
(302) 555-1369 if I can provide you with any further information.
Again, thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Laura Goldman
Most Frequent Constructive Comments Made by Recruiters Regarding Students They Interviewed
- "Not well focused on what he/she wants to do/define
goals."
- "Did not research company."
- "Could be more enthusiastic/show more enthusiasm."
- "Nervous."
- "Not well prepared."
- "Didn't seem interested/didn't convey interest."
- "Was late."
- "Maintain eye contact."
- "Ask more questions."
- "Fast talker; slow down."
- "Relax/smile more."
- "Dresses too casual/inappropriate attire."
- "Poor communication skills."
- "Needs to "sell-self"."
Return to Table of Contents.
TIPS FOR VIDEO INTERVIEWS
The University of Delaware Career Services Center
has the capability of arranging and facilitating video interviews for students
with organizations that also have access to video conferencing equipment. Video
interviewing is very similar to meeting with a recruiter in person. You and the
recruiter will be able to see and hear each other. To maximize the effectiveness
of the video session, please take note of the following tips:
- Video images work best in high contrast settings.
Wear clothes that will contrast with the color of the walls in the interview room.
Avoid wearing the color red or "busy" patterns.
- You may find it more comfortable to reduce the local
video window (the picture of yourself) to avoid the distraction of watching yourself
on camera. It may also help you to concentrate on the recruiter if the remote
video window is larger.
- Speak clearly.
- Allow the other user to complete his or her thoughts
before speaking. Try not to interrupt.
- Remain relaxed and responsive to questions
- Look directly into the camera as much as possible.
- Arrive on time.
- Initiate the interview as closely as possible to
the scheduled time.
As with any interview, preparation, responsiveness,
and relaxation are keys to success.
Return to Table of Contents.
JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES
INTRODUCTION
Your main goal in seeking satisfying employment
is to get as many job interviews related to your career objective as possible.
The strategy you use to reach this goal requires a great deal of planning,
persistence, and hard work. Your search begins with some general self-assessment and preparation. If you can respond positively to the following questions, your search will take on a clear focus.
- Do you know what type of position you are seeking?
- Have you identified your assets in terms of skills
and interests?
- Do you know how these skills and interests might
be applied to work?
- Have you considered work and life-style preferences?
- Have you identified geographic preferences?
- Have you developed a resume?
- Do you know how to prepare for a job interview?
The Job Market
The job market consists of available job openings
that may or may not be advertised. While advertised job leads are the most evident,
about 85% of the jobs available at any given time are not advertised. Tapping
into these potential opportunities requires direct contact with as many employers
as possible. Following are some tips to help you achieve this objective.
I. NETWORKING & INFORMATION INTERVIEWING NETWORKING
Your actual search for a job can begin in an obvious,
yet not so obvious place. ... with the people you know. The concept of networking
simply ties into a human trait - the desire to help others. Never underestimate
the knowledge and influence of people you know.
A network is a series of interlocking connections.
Begin building a network by first contacting members
of your family, other relatives, neighbors, personal friends, general acquaintances,
professors, work associates, and service activity colleagues.
Let everyone know that you're looking for a job
and what type of job you are looking for.
Determine if they can provide you with information
about a certain type of job, provide you with information about a particular organization,
or refer you to others who know about a career field or specific organizations.
Maintain these contacts by checking back with them
periodically.
Follow through on any suggestions offered.
INFORMATION INTERVIEWING
While the goal of interviewing is to obtain a job
offer, the goal of information interviewing is to gather information. Like networking,
information interviewing is based on the premise that people are a tremendous
source of information. Its purpose is to gain information about a career field
upon which to base some career decisions and to put you in touch with possible
job leads.
Begin with people you know (your network contacts).
Choose from this group those who are in career fields to which you aspire or people
in related career areas.
What about people you don't already know? identify
them through newspapers, telephone books, professional associations, directories,
alumni programs such as Career Services' "Day on the Job," and professional counselors.
If you have located an office name, but don't have
the name of an individual, call and speak with the secretary or receptionist.
Explain politely and succinctly why you are calling (for information, not employment)
and ask if you can be directed to the appropriate person.
Schedule an appointment for a specific amount of
time (30 minutes maximum).
An alternative is to send a letter ahead of time
stating what you want, indicating you will be telephoning, and asking that the
secretary or receptionist be alerted to your call.
Be prepared! Take an active role to get the most
from the interview.
Review in your mind what you want to learn from
an individual.
Have questions prepared ahead of time.
Following are some sample questions you might wish
to choose from:
- What credentials (education, degrees, licenses,
etc.) are required for effectiveness in this occupation?
- How much variety would you say there is in the type
of work you do?
- Is there much opportunity for travel?
- What types of employers hire people in your line
of work?
- What kinds of work values (security, income, prestige,
etc.) attract people to your occupation?
- What do you find most rewarding/least rewarding
about this career field?
- What is the typical entry-level salary range for
positions in this field? What is the potential?
- What is a typical career path?
- What is the future job outlook in this field (increased
or decreased opportunity, etc.)?
FOLLOW-UP
- Always ask for a referral to someone else. Ask the
person with whom you are speaking to refer you to others who would be good sources
of information.
- Evaluate what you have been told critically. Are
trends developing from one person to another? (In the end - you'll have to make
your own judgments about the validity of the information.)
- Make sure you have the correct name and title of
the person with whom you've spoken. Write a thank you note and mail it within
24 hours of your interview.
II. IDENTIFYING SOURCES OF EMPLOYMENT
Following are some sources to utilize to discover
job opportunities in both the advertised and "hidden" job market.
ADVERTISED JOB LEADS
"Help Wanted Ads" can appear in a variety of publications:
- CAMPUS INTERVIEW PROGRAM, eRecruiting.com
- Lists companies holding interviews on campus for
full-time jobs upon graduation.
- Contains profiles and contacts for over 2000 organizations.
- Workshops and programs sponsored by Career Services.
- JOB VACANCY NOTICES
- All job leads received by the Career Services Center
are filed in binders in the Career Resource Center.
- NEWSPAPERS
- Can be obtained or subscribed to for the cities
in which you are interested (particularly Sunday editions.)
- www.bonafideclassified.com currently contains the classified sections of over 1,700 newspapers in the U.S. and Canada.
- ON-LINE JOB LISTING SERVICES
- SOME POPULAR INTERNET SITES:
- PROFESSIONAL JOURNALS/PUBLICATIONS
- Morris Library likely has the journal(s) relating
to your field.
- APPLYING TO ADVERTISED JOB LEADS
- Read the entire "Help-Wanted" section (A to Z),
because ads are sometimes misclassified.
- Read every ad that seems at all relevant to your
qualifications very carefully.
- Distinguish between absolute requirements and wishful
thinkin (words like "should have," "preferred," "helpful, but not required" indicate
wishful thinking). If you fit the requirements, such as having three years of
part-time experience rather than one year of full-time experience, apply for the
position.
- Apply within 24 hours. The longer you wait, the
more reasons you will find not to apply.
- Send a cover letter and a resume. Mention where
you saw the ad in your cover letter.
- If it's a blind ad (where the employer's name is
not listed) apply anyway. There are a variety of reasons why an employer might
choose not to list their name.
- In the case of an ad placed by an employment agency,
call first and try to schedule an appointment to meet with the person screening
for that type of ad.
POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS
Identify potential employers through the following
resources:
- CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LISTINGS Contact the Chamber
of Commerce for the cities/geographic areas you are interested in for their listings.
- COLLEGE PLACEMENT ANNUAL Copies available at Career
Services Center.
- FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
- PEOPLE Including family, other relatives, neighbors,
personal friends, general acquaintances, professors, work associates, and service
activity colleagues.
- SPECIALIZED DIRECTORIES Available in the Career
Resource Center and the Morris Library Reference Room.
- TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES Yellow Pages of telephone directories from across the nation are available on microfiche in the Morris Library Reference Room.
- WORLD WIDE WEB Begin with Career Services' Internet Resources website, www.udel.edu/CSC/netresources.html
USING THE INTERNET IN YOUR JOB SEARCH
RESOURCES AT UD
Career Services Center homepage (www.udel.edu/CSC/) provides information about:
- Workshops and the Campus Interview Program
- Summer, part-time, and on-campus job listings, as well as internship listings.
- Graduate school information
- Internet resources and links
EMAIL
- Subscriptions to electronic discussion lists.
- Electronic journals and newsletters, sent directly to your email address.
- Communication with individuals. Use it to contact people who perform work that interests you, to gain more information about a position before you apply for it.
- Sending your resume to potential employers.
WORLD WIDE WEB
- Job listings at other universities, both jobs with the institutions and their postings of external jobs.
- Complete listings of U.S. government jobs.
- The Riley Guide to Employment Resources on the Internet, a continuously updated guide.
- Job listings in the Chronicle of Higher Education
- Home pages of UD and many other career centers, and many employers of potential interest.
- CareerBuilder.com searches more than 75 career sites on the web.
- Search agents.
RESEARCHING ORGANIZATIONS
Before applying for a job with a particular organization,
you should conduct some research to learn more about that organization. There
are two main reasons why research is essential:
- First, given the keen competition for most positions,
it is the well qualified candidate with the most knowledge of the organization's
needs, and what he/she can offer them, who gets the job.
- Secondly, you need to know about the job and organizational
environment to decide if the job will allow you to feel productive, enjoy your
work, and satisfy other high priority work values.
What Should I Know?
- Size of organization, relative to others in same
industry/field
- Potential growth for the industry
- Product line or services rendered
- Potential new markets, products or services
- Organizational structure
- Location of home office and other sites
- Number of plants, stores, offices, or sales outlets
- Formal or on-the-job training
- Typical career paths in your field
- Who the competition is
- Short-term profit picture
- Recent items in the news
- Structure of assets
How Can I Find Out?
Find out information related to the preceding points
through two major sources - written information and people (both inside and outside
the organization.).
WRITTEN INFORMATION:
Employer Publications
- World Wide Web sites.
- Career Services Resource Center literature contains
literature on several hundred organizations.
- Personnel departments have materials such as the
posted job description, organization newsletter, and organization annual report.
- The actual department in which the job is located
might have an annual department report, job description, department/division newsletter,
and special reports.
- Public Information/Relations Offices can provide
general promotional literature about the organization and annual reports.
Various Library Resources
- Publications such as Readers' Guide to Periodical
Literature, Business Periodical Index, and Business Index (microfiche).
Related Professional Journals and Business-oriented
Newspaper/Magazines
- Professional publications covering trends in your
career area like Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Forbes, Business Week, etc.
Business Directories
- Reference books such as Dun & Bradstreet, Standard
& Poor's Register, and Moody's Manuals.
Reports filed with appropriate regulatory, financial,
or licensing agencies.
PEOPLE
Inside the Organization
- In the department in which the job is located speak
with the job incumbent (if possible); others with similar jobs; people who provide
support services to the job; people who supervise the job, other than the person
doing the hiring; and other technical/professional staff.
- The Personnel Office can serve as a referral source
to those in the organization who have more of a direct relationship to the particular
job; and as information sources for general hiring processes, personnel policies,
etc.
- Other departments may have people who know the supervisor
who will be doing the hiring, people who have liaison activities with the job
and other technical/professional support with useful knowledge.
Outside the Organization
- Sister organizations which share the same management
structure and/or collaborate in the provision of a service or product can provide
information.
- Competitive organizations will usually know a great
deal about what's going on in the organization, especially if they are profit-making
organizations.
- Contributors to the organization can be helpful,
i.e. free-lance professionals who serve as consultants, writers, etc.; people
who sell or distribute to the organization; and people who serve on the Board
of Directors.
- Related professional or trade associations, unions,
etc. can be good sources of information.
- Auditors/Accreditors/Licensors, etc. who have responsibilities
for monitoring this organization or for ensuring that the organization or department
meets established standards can be of assistance.
- Consumers of the service or product can help you
identify problem areas, new service or product ideas, etc. that you might want
to talk about in your job interview.
III. CONTACTING POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS
Your next step is to try to convert job leads into
job interviews. The action that you take with potential employers boils down to
four methods of contact: writing, telephoning, email, and visiting.
LETTERS
- Writing letters to potential employers is the #1
method used by job seekers.
- The main criticism to this approach is the low rate
of return.
- You can ensure the best response by writing your
letter in a way that will capture the attention of people serving a variety of
functions in your career field.
- Compose and type your letters individually.
- Address correspondence to names of individuals with
job titles that are appropriate.
- If applying to an organization from a distance,
focus on geographic interest and specific career goal.
- Regarding the content of your letters, there are
several options:
- State that you will call at a future date about
the possibility of an interview (you take the initiative.)
- State that you plan to be in the area at a particular
time. You will call about the possibility of arranging an interview during that
time period (you take the initiative.)
TELEPHONE
- Reread the information you have on an employer as
a result of your research.
- Make some notes about the key points you wish to
make.
- Know the name and title of the person you wish to
reach.
- When the secretary answers, ask directly for the
person you want.
- If the secretary asks, "May I help you?" take him/her
up on it. State that you wish to reach Mr./Ms. _______. Ask when he or she will
be free.
- Insist politely if there is another block to your
reason for calling.
- Try to pinpoint when the person you wish to speak
to will return. Then YOU return the call.
- Once you have gotten through to the right person,
identify yourself and indicate that you are following up to a letter (if that
is the case.)
- Have some questions prepared that relate to the
organization - something you found out in your search (i.e., new product, expansion
of facilities, etc.)
- Try not to drag out the conversation. Once you have
established interest, get to the point.
- State that you are calling to find out if they have
any immediate openings in your field or if they anticipate any openings in the
near future.
- Try to arrange a meeting and suggest a time to discuss
possible job opportunities.
- If there are no openings, inquire if they have any
suggestions of other organizations you might contact.
EMAIL
- While email is an option for initially contacting employers, it may be difficult to find out the email address of the person you wish to reach. Many Human Resources departments use email aliases, for example humanresources@xyzcompany.com.
- Email is not necessarily secure, therefore think carefully about what you say in your message.
- Email is not as personal as a letter, phone call or personal visit, so try not to use it exclusively.
- For more technical jobs, the employer may appreciate your initiative in using email, just keep the above points in mind.
INTERNET JOB HUNTING TIPS ("NETIQUETTE")
While e-mail has opened new lines of communication
between job seeker and employers, it is imperative that job seekers follow suggested
rules of "netiquette" when using this option. In the real world of work, manners
are expected. If an applicant is too casual or familiar in their approach, electronically
or otherwise, an employer is turned-off immediately. Communicate professionally
at all times.
General rules of etiquette for electronic job seeking:
- Never address the employer by their first name.
Use the proper salutation.
- Always use your full name when signing correspondence.
Using only your first name presumes intimacy.
- Watch return addresses (e-mail name). Cute and clever
e-mail names are considered unprofessional by most employers. Play it safe and
use your own name.
- Avoid slang expressions
- Do not use "smileys"or "emoticons" (facial expressions
made by using punctuation marks). They are inappropriately casual.
- Write in complete sentences. Friends and acquaintances
communicating electronically tend to use a type of verbal shorthand; do not do
this when contacting employers.
- Never presume on the employer's time. Always ask
if what you propose (e.g. an interview or brief meeting) is convenient. Don't
make demands. Make polite requests, if anything.
- Don't inundate the employer with a string of messages.
Once you have sent the original correspondence (and perhaps resume electronically),
follow up at well-placed intervals (about once a week). Employers are receiving
hundreds of electronic contacts. Give them time.
- Don't assume the employer will remember you. In
subsequent messages, refer to your prior correspondence and always use both your
first and last names.
- Check your e-mail several times a day, every day.
You may risk losing an opportunity or alienating a potential employer if messages
sit for several days.
- Never keep employers waiting. Answer e-mail messages
promptly.
- Be polite and observe proper manners.
- Be friendly but not too familiar. Adopt an professional,
yet cordial writing style.
- As with normal cover letters, you need to strike
the right balance. Be assertive but not aggressive. Enthusiastic but not pushy.
Professional but not stiff. Knowledgeable but not a know-it-all. Persistent but
not annoying. Above all, be respectful.
Source: Using the Internet in Your Job Search
SPECIAL HINTS
- Be firm, clear, and assertive. These are the qualities
that are needed and sought after by employers.
- Be prepared to communicate the value and benefits
you can bring to the employer. You have a clear reason for setting up the appointment
because you have something to offer. You are not one of the many job seekers who
are unprepared for an interview.
- If you are referred by someone else to the employer,
be sure to give the referral's name.
- Role play the call with a friend. Keep your presentation
short (about 1 minute.)
PERSONAL VISIT
- While the potential for "being in the right place
at the right time" can be great, cold calling can be a tough, discouraging proposition.
Being told "no" to your face is a major confidence destroying experience.
- To be successful, you need to be prepared for anything,
i.e. filling out an application, getting screened initially, setting up a return
appointment, etc.
- When conducting a personal visit, ask to see someone
in a particular department. Try to have the name ahead of time.
- If you can't see the person right away, offer to
wait.
- If waiting is not possible, try to make an appointment.
- Another option is to leave your resume and callback
for an appointment.
- In the case of an ad placed by an employment agency,
call first and try to schedule an appointment to meet with the person screening
for that type of ad.
FOLLOW-UP
- No matter what method of contact you use, maintain
careful records. Develop a system to keep track of contacts with employers - including
such information as date, person, result, current status, and next action.
- It is important to follow-up by a letter or phone
call on any contacts you have made, especially those in which you are most interested.
- If you have been asked to supply any information
or check back at a particular time, be sure to follow through.
CONCLUSION
The bottom line of a job search strategy is job
interviews. These grow out of solid job leads - obtained from reading job advertisements
as well as your contact network and information interviewing which generate referrals
into a hidden job market. The action you take boils down to three activities -
writing, telephoning, and visiting - to convert these leads into job interviews.
SUGGESTED READING
The Job Hunter's Catalog by Peggy Schmidt
Career X Roads by Gerry Crispin and Mark Mehler
Hook Up, Get Hired! by Joyce L. Kennedy
Using the Internet in Your Job Search by
Fred Jandt and Mary Nemnich
Guerilla Tactics in the New Job Market by Tom Jackson
The Electronic Job Search Revolution by Joyce
Lain Kennedy and Thomas J. Morrow
The On-Line Job Search Companion by James Gonyea
The Complete Job Search Handbook by Howard Figler
Power Networking by Donna & Sandy Vilas
SUGGESTED PROGRAMS TO ATTEND AT THE CAREER SERVICES CENTER
- Job Search Strategies
- Secrets of the Hidden Job Market
- Interview Preparation
- The Second Interview: What to Expect
Return to Table of Contents.
