Career Services
FALL 2015
STUDENT
NEWSLETTER
Professional Edge
Certificate Program
Orientations
—Bethlehem Campus—
September 3
11 AM to 12 noon &
5 PM to 6 PM
College Center 333
—Monroe Campus—
September 17
11 AM to 12 noon in
Kapp 205 & 4 PM to 5 PM
Keystone 233
Attend a session for
more information on
this flexible program to
help you be competitive
in your job search.
Networking Basics You Need to Know
The most useful tool you have
for your job search is the willingness to network and to build
connections with others.
through friends of friends. Anyone might be a valuable contact,
even if they don’t work directly
in your career field.
Networking is the single most
effective way to find a job. Although it can seem intimidating
to many people, everyone is
capable of networking. Networking is information gathering. You are not asking for a job.
Connect with people in
social organizations and
volunteer groups. Members
of recreational sports teams or
people that volunteer in the
same organization have information and contacts to share.
You’ll have some things in common already because you’re
there for similar reasons.
So how do you begin?
Reach out to your existing
network. You have a network
of friends and family members
to help you expand your connections. Be careful not to
eliminate anyone from your
network when you are looking
for new connections. A majority of job referrals are made
Join a professional group
for your career field. Attend
meetings, read the group’s
newsletter, volunteer at the
registration table during their
conference. You’ll meet everyone as they arrive.
Connect through social media
like Twitter or LinkedIn to expand your network and keep in
touch with established connections. You can follow companies
of interest on Twitter and send a
Tweet directly to them. Many
companies have LinkedIn pages
and you can research key people
within a company. Joining a
professional group within
LinkedIn can also give you
(continued on page 4)
Inside this issue:
Tips for Video Conferencing Inte r views
Business Email Etiquette 2
Whether Skype, or Zoom, or
Google+ Hangout, video interviews need to be taken seriously. More employers are using
video chat software as a screening tool or to save company
time and money.
Tips for Connecting on
LinkedIn
2
Remember the Thank
You Note
3
Calendar of Events
4
A video interview takes much
more preparation than an in
person interview. In addition
to preparing for the interview,
you’ll need to practice with the
technology. Being prepared can
make a positive impression on
the employer, but neglecting
the most simple details will
make you seem unprepared.
When the employer schedules
the interview, be sure you
know what method they will
use. Your first step is to download the software and create a
user account.
Conduct a test to determine
and troubleshoot any problems
(continued on page 3)
CAREER SERVICES
Tips for Connecting on L inkedIn
Want to connect with others
and build your network on
LinkedIn? Try these tips.
For starters, avoid using the
generic message provided.
Which would you rather respond to—”I’d like to add you
to my professional network on
LinkedIn” or a request that is
personalized and has meaning?
To connect with someone in a
professional manner, say something about your reason for
wanting to connect.
Be open and honest about your
reasons for wanting to include
them in your network. If you
want to work for their company, tell them. (But don’t ask for
a job!) Open communication
will produce more insight about
their company.
If you’ve met them in person,
remind them where and when.
Show them what you have in
common to strengthen your
request. Are you interested in
the same career field? Do you
have mutual connections in
common? Have you noticed an
article by them or about them
and you want to learn more?
Keep your invitation short and
personalized. Show respect for
others and the respect will be
returned.
After connecting with others,
share articles of interest, experiences and information. If an
opportunity presents itself, offer
to help. We all benefit from the
experience of others.
Business Email Etiquette
“How well you use
email when
contacting
employers can show
them how
professional you
are—or aren’t.”
Do you know how to be professional in an email? Good email
etiquette is an essential tool
whether you are searching for a
job or already working. How
well you use email when contacting employers can show
them how professional you
are—or aren’t.
If you normally message people
in a format where grammar and
spelling are not important,
you’ll need to quickly adapt to a
more professional style of email
communication. You have the
perfect opportunity to practice
on your professors and make a
good impression on them, too.
Here are some tips for writing a
good business email.
Include a clear subject line like
Meeting date change. It often determines when the recipient will
read it.
PAGE 2
Limit the use of Reply All.
Don’t use it unless everyone
needs to know your response.
Use a professional greeting in
your email, not hey. Hi or hello
is fine, or use the person’s
name.
If you work for a company, use
your company email address.
(Unless you are applying for a
job at another company. If so,
use an email address that doesn’t
belong to your current employer.) When searching for a job
and emailing with employers,
use an email address that conveys your name to the employer. It should be easily identified
by the recipient. Avoid cute and
personal email addresses. No
babydoll@gmail.com or
cowboy27@yahoo.com.
Be careful of humor. Without
facial expressions or tone of
voice, humor can sometimes get
lost in an email. Something that
you perceive as funny when
spoken can be perceived as in-
sulting when written in an
email.
Don’t discuss confidential information in an email. It can be
sent on to others who would not
otherwise have access to that
information.
No abbreviations or emoticons.
LOL (laugh out loud) and IDK (I
don’t know) are not professional. Save those for texting with
friends.
Proofread before you send.
Does it look professional, is it
clear in its meaning, and is it
free from spelling errors, typos,
and emoticons? And did you list
the correct recipients in your
address line? Yes? Then click
and send with confidence.
Email Career Services at
careers@northampton.edu if
you want a resume review or
have a quick career question.
FALL 2015
Video Inter views
(continued from page 1)
in advance. Technical problems
may still occur, but how you
handle them will be of interest
to the employer. And preparing
may help you calmly resolve
technical issues. Important: if
you have trouble hearing the
employer, don’t assume they
can’t hear you ranting about the
glitch in the audio.
Next, consider how you’ll position your camera. Your face
should be nicely framed, with
the lower edge of the frame
falling in the upper part of your
chest. The top of the frame
should be a hand’s width above
your head.
Check the lighting. Your face
should be visible, but not too
bright or dark. Adjust the room
lighting or reposition lamps as
necessary.
What will the employer see
behind you? Create a professional looking space that won’t
detract from the conversation.
A bed and night stand, an open
door, or a basket of laundry on
the sofa in the background are
not professional.
Turn off your cell phone ringer
during the interview and eliminate the chance for other household noises—crying children,
barking dogs, and clothes dryer
alarm can be distracting.
Test the microphone. Is there
an echo or static? Resolve that
before your interview date.
Now, what to wear? Dress as
you would for an in person
interview. Don’t be tempted to
dress up only above the waist.
If you need to stand up, you
don’t want jeans or shorts to
ruin your professional appearance.
Avoid large plaids and prints
which may be overwhelming on
the screen. Too much white
may glare on the employers
screen and not represent you
well. Add a pastel color instead
of white, or wear a dark jacket
to cut down on glare. A bright
red can sometimes cause color
bleed and may not be your best
choice. Jewelry should be understated, as for any job interview. Test your clothing and
jewelry—as well as your background—by conducting a test
video chat with a friend.
Be aware of your body language. Sit up straight and make
eye contact. You may want to
look at the monitor, but to
make eye contact you’ll need to
look at the camera.
Remember the transmission
delay. There may be a half
second delay, so allow brief
pauses after an interviewer’s
comments so you don’t interrupt. Avoid too much body
motion, especially your hands.
It may cause jumping or blurring in the video and is distracting to an interviewer.
Practice with the technology
before your interview.
“Technical
problems may still
occur, but how you
handle them will
be of interest to the
employer.“
Prepare for success by doing
employer research, practicing
your responses to questions,
and preparing the technology.
Remember the Thank You Note
Sending a thank you note after
an interview can improve your
chances of success. A hand
written note, an email, or a
typed note and envelope are all
acceptable. Email is the best
option if the employer needs to
make a hiring decision quickly.
If you interviewed with a panel
of people, send a customized
email to each individual. Send-
ing the same email to everyone
shows a lack of effort on your
part.
Include information in the
thank you note that will reinforce your skills and experience
that relate to the position.
Cover information you wanted
to discuss at the interview and
forgot to mention.
Keep the message brief—one
or two short paragraphs. Proof
read carefully. It’s an additional
example of your business communication skills.
Add further value by including
an article that relates to your
discussion.
Have the note on the way within 24 hours. The sooner the
better. It can only improve
your chances.
Have a thank you note on the
way within 24 hours.
PAGE 3
Calendar of Events
Career Services Kick Offs
Bethlehem-Sept 2, 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Laub Lounge.
Monroe-Sept 16, 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM Pocono Hall
Fall Job Fairs
Bethlehem-Oct 21, 10 AM to 2 PM Laub Lounge/CC220
Monroe-Oct 27, 10 AM to 2 PM. Pocono Hall
Study Skills Marathons
Bethlehem-Sept 9, 10 AM to 12 noon, Student Life Zone.
Monroe-Sept 9, 11 AM to 1 PM, Pocono Hall
Professional Edge Certificate Info Session/Orientations
Bethlehem-Sept 3, 11 AM to 12 noon, and at 5 PM to 6 PM,
College Center 333
Monroe-Sept 17, 11 AM to 12 noon, Kapp 205 and 4 PM
to 5 PM in Keystone 233
Resume Labs
Bethlehem-Sept 22, 11 AM to 12 noon and 5 PM to 6 PM.
College Center 333
Monroe-Sept 24, 11 AM to 12 noon, Kapp 205; 4 PM to 5 PM
Keystone 233
LinkedIn Labs
Bethlehem-Oct 20, 11 AM to 12 noon and 5 PM to 6 PM. College Center 333
Monroe-Oct 22, 11 AM to 12 noon, Kapp 205 and 4 PM to
5 PM, Keystone 233
Mock Interview Mania
Bethlehem-Nov 19, 11 AM to 1 PM and Dec 1, 3:30 PM to 5 PM
Student Life Zone
Monroe-Nov 10, 11 AM to 1 PM, Pocono 108
Cover Letter Labs
Bethlehem, Dec 8, 11 AM to 12 noon and 5 PM to 6 PM
College Center, 333
Monroe-Dec 10, 11 AM to 12 noon, Kapp 205 and
4 PM to 5 PM, Keystone 233
Pizza with a Professional, Bethlehem Nov 12, 11 AM to
12:15 PM. Alumni Hall A-D.
These are some of the events we have planned. All
upcoming events will be announced on social media,
our website, and on flyers on campus.
Follow us for updates and additional workshops.
—Professional Edge Certificate—
What will make you stand out from the competition in your
job search? Our Professional Edge Certificate Program can
help give you that edge. It’s flexible, so start when you can.
More info at careers@northampton.edu or 610-861-5344.
Orientation/info session schedule on page 1.
Networking Basics
(continued from page 1)
membership in the same group
as those key personnel.
Build relationships by asking others questions about
their careers and offering
to help others connect to
what they need. Networking
is not only about how others
can help you. Show an interest
in what other people have to
say instead of focusing only on
your needs.
Ask questions to engage someone you are meeting for the
first time. How did you get started in your career? Would you
choose the same career path if you
had to do it all over again? What
do you like most about your job?
What challenges do you face?
Listen to their responses and
have a conversation based on
something that interests the
both of you.
Remember to keep in touch
with your contacts, either in
person or online with short
messages and articles that may
be of interest to them.
Prepare and practice your
introduction. It should be a
clear, concise, and specific
statement that describes you,
your strengths, what you are
seeking, and what you have to
offer in under 30 seconds. Practice it until you are comfortable
talking about yourself and it
sounds natural.
The networking event.
Arrive early when there are less
people in the room. It may be
easier to begin a conversation.
Try standing near the door to
mingle with others as they arrive.
Final tips. Avoid being selective when building your network. Everyone has something
to add. Thank you notes go a
long way in building relationships—whether for recommendations, interviews, or an
article you received.
Avoid being selective when building your network. Everyone has
something to add.