Earning the Interview

Develop top quality résumé & cover letter

Utilize available resources (Cardinal Career Network) to
apply for positions

Use a professional voicemail message and email
address

What’s on your FACEBOOK?

Reply promptly to messages from potential employers

Networking!

Are you on LinkedIn or have an E-portfolio?
www.svsu.edu/careers
Be aware of any “ring
back” tones that callers
may hear before you
answer.
Many jobs are lost because
“cool” ring back tones are
not set properly.
Don’t “Rick Roll” away a
chance your dream job!
www.svsu.edu/careers
The Value of Internships

Overall first-job offer to new college
graduates with NO internship experience:


$37,621
Overall first-job offer to new college
graduates with an internship experience:

$41,580

Difference of $3,959
Source: 2013 NACE Salary Survey
www.svsu.edu/careers
Source: 2013 NACE Salary Survey
www.svsu.edu/careers
Cardinal Career
Network
(page 3)
www.svsu.edu/careers
Career Services
Cardinal Career Network Activity Summary (MAY 7, 2013 – MAY 4, 2014)
As of
9/22/14
we had
1,329
5,100
8,074 (+36%) employers
Total Employers
4,818 (+38%)
New Employers*
Total Contacts
New Contacts*
2,137
Total External Jobs Posted*
7,098 (+65%)
Unique Student/Alumni Logins*
7,958 (+13%)
Total External Job Views*
247,296
www.svsu.edu/careers
Career Services
2013-2014 Jobs by Position Type
Frequency
3,089
Percent
43.5%
1,111
15.7%
193
2.7%
4,851
68.3%
Internship / Externship
457
6.4%
On-Campus Student Employment
280
3.9%
1,287
18.1%
323
4.6%
41
0.6%
Career/Degreed 0-5 yrs experience
Career/Degreed 5+ yrs experience
Co-op
Full Time
Part Time
Seasonal / Temporary
Volunteer
*Jobs posted between 5/7/13-5/4/14
#Unique jobs posted = 7,098
www.svsu.edu/careers
Cardinal Career Network Tips
Login at http://www.svsu.edu/careers
 Cardinal Job Postings



Recruited / posted exclusively for SVSU
NACElink Extended Job Search

National Association of Colleges & Employers
Create Job Search Agents
 Personalize resumes/cover letters for
positions that accept them in CCN

www.svsu.edu/careers
Who is your competition?
www.svsu.edu/careers
Winning Résumés
Pages 9-13
www.svsu.edu/careers
What is the purpose of a resume?
www.svsu.edu/careers
Value Proposition
 What
will you bring to the
organization?
 Do you have the skills necessary
to do the work?
 Do you have the experience that
the organization desires?
www.svsu.edu/careers
Importance of Effective Bullet Statements
(Page 10)
 “A picture is worth 1,000 words”
 Paint a picture in the employer’s mind
 Statements should be clear, concise and
detailed
 “Presented to a group of students” vs.
“Presented to a group of 35 college
freshmen”
www.svsu.edu/careers
If this is what you have on your resume,
you have work to do!
Fry Cook
McDonald’s Restaurant

Helped customers

Stocked shelves

Used cash register

Cleaned store

Dealt with complaints



These are known as:
“Level ONE” and
should never be used
on your resume
Not very impressive
Tasks implied by the title
Add no value to resume
www.svsu.edu/careers
This is a little better, but still not great Crew Member
McDonald’s Restaurant
 Assisted customers in a warm and friendly manner
 Stocked shelves during down times to ensure a
professional environment
 Processed financial transactions through the cash
register in a fast and efficient manner
 Cleaned store to maintain an appealing atmosphere
to enhance customer satisfaction
These are known as:
“Level TWO” and should be used occasionally
on your resume
Don’t rely on these to earn you an interview
www.svsu.edu/careers
“Say More with Less”
 Describe accomplishments and achievements
 Increase something good or decrease something
bad?
 Employers want individuals who will make a
difference
Crew Member
McDonald’s Restaurant
 Earned Crew Member of the Month in June 2012
for consistently providing outstanding service
These are called “Level THREE” and
should be used as often as possible!
www.svsu.edu/careers
Writing Level Three Bullet Statements
 How are the things you have done been measured?
 What were the outcomes of projects?
 Think cause & effect
Any Position
Any Location, City, MI
 Created _______ that led to ________ over a
_____ period of time
 Oversaw the development of _________ that
resulted in ___________
 Managed a team of ____ co-workers that _______
 Processed over $___ worth of transactions over a
___ hour shift with a 100% accuracy rate
www.svsu.edu/careers
Other Activities
Volunteer, Big Brothers / Big Sisters of Midland
May 2006 – Present
* Received ultimate brother award by successfully logging over 1,000 hours
of volunteer service, assisting four youths who all went on to attend college
Member, Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity
Sept. 2008 – Present
* Served as treasurer for an on-campus organization of over 50 members
and $10,000 in resources
Recipient, SVSU Award for Excellence Scholarship Aug. 2007 – May 2008
Marketing Project, Saginaw Valley State Tennis
Jan. 2006 – May 2006
Marketing 331 Course, Saginaw Valley State University
* Created a brochure using Adobe InDesign to advertise a series of summer
tennis fundraising tournaments generating a total ROI of more than $2,000
* Organized a bowling-event fundraiser that generated over $600 in revenue
www.svsu.edu/careers
Last words on documents…
Review, review, review!
 Career Services

964-4954
 Appointments & Workshops with staff
 SVSU Writing Center

Faculty members
 Guidelines and Tutorials available:


http://www.svsu.edu/careers
www.svsu.edu/careers
Common Dress Code Mistakes
(Page 20) WOMEN
MEN






suits that don’t fit properly
and are wrinkled
mismatched socks
mismatched belt and shoes
facial hair that is not
trimmed or shaven properly
inappropriate ties
strong scented cologne







skirts that are too short
strong scented perfume
too much make-up
no hosiery with skirts
lack of hygiene
improper jewelry
large, mismatched purse
Don’t be THAT person!
www.svsu.edu/careers
“Business Casual” vs. “Professional”
www.svsu.edu/careers
Males – It’s all about the suit
www.svsu.edu/careers
Preparation before the Interview

Research the organization

Internet – how do they present themselves?

Contact HR for company packet

Assess culture through current employees

Prepare copies of résumé

Select or purchase proper attire

Develop sample questions and answers

Videotape practice interview
www.svsu.edu/careers
Boston Marathon bombing
victim Halloween costume
makes Michigan woman
target on social media
A photograph posted to Alicia Lynch's
Twitter account, @SomeSkankinMI, shows
the Michigan woman wearing an SVSU race
shirt with fake scars on her legs. The
photograph has gained national attention and
led to death threats following the costume
tweet.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelzarrell/wh
at-happens-when-you-dress-as-a-bostonmarathon-victim
Manage your online presence – PAGE 21
General Rules of Etiquette
Page 22

Firm handshake

Eye contact

Posture and grace

Do not sit until offered a seat

Greet everyone you meet with a smile, introduction &
handshake

Treat everyone as though they are a decision maker
www.svsu.edu/careers
Interview Process


Step 1: Introductory State
 First impressions are made
 Building a rapport
Step 2: Review your qualifications
 30 Second Pitch
 Focus on your strengths & skills
 Use your research and establish that you are a good
fit in their culture
 Give concise and thorough responses
www.svsu.edu/careers
Interview Process


Step 3: Matching
 Will you fit in the corporate culture
 Are you coach-able
 Do you have the passion and drive to be successful in
the position
 Interviewer may explain job in detail
Step 4: Conclusion
 Ask questions and discuss selection timeline
 Collect business cards for writing thank you notes
www.svsu.edu/careers
Types of Interview Questions
Page 23
1. Traditional
2. Behavioral
3. Situational
4. Experiential
www.svsu.edu/careers
Traditional Questions




Common interview questions
“Tell us a little bit about yourself.”
“Where do you see yourself in five years?”
“If you were a type of salad dressing, what
one would you be?”
 Describe yourself with 30 second pitch
 Clear, concise and thorough
 Describe thought process when necessary
www.svsu.edu/careers
Behavioral Interviewing





Question about something that happened
Past actions are predictors of future behavior
“Describe a time when you had to work in a team
environment.”
“Tell me about a time you had to deal with a co-worker
who didn’t complete their ‘fair share’ of the workload
Be specific: “A time” is one event
www.svsu.edu/careers
Situational Interviewing
 Hypothetical circumstances
 Predictor about how you would handle an event if it
actually happened
 “What would you do if you had a dispute with a coworker?”
 “How would you handle a client who is upset with the
organization?”
 Tell a story of anecdote if one is available
www.svsu.edu/careers
Experiential Interviewing
 Experience with a certain task
 “Have you ever completed tax audits?”
 “What type of experience do you have managing
clients?”
 “Have you ever completed a marketing plan?”
 Be thorough and specific
 Elaborate upon the depth of your experience
www.svsu.edu/careers

Situation


Share more details about the problem, challenge, or task that you
needed to address
Action


Briefly provide a broad description of the background where your
example is taking place
Task


S.T.A.R Approach
(Page 22)
Describe several possible courses of action and explain why the one
you chose was best. Give details that illustrate what you were like in
action
Result

Analyze the outcome of your action and the resolution of the situation.
Indicate whether or not you would follow the same course in the future
www.svsu.edu/careers
Steps for Managing an Interview
Interact with the entire panel
1.
Make direct eye contact with the individual asking the
question
2.
Begin by directly responding to the interviewer
3.
Make eye contact with remaining panel members as
you answer
4.
Finish response with initial interviewer
www.svsu.edu/careers
Resources available from Career Services


Resume and cover letter building and critiques
Online Tutorials








Resume, Cover Letter, Interviewing, Job Search Strategies
Mock interviews and interview coaching
Network development
Career fairs on campus exclusively for SVSU students to
network with potential employers
Internship/Co-op advising
Job search strategies
Developing personal brand
On-campus student employment
www.svsu.edu/careers
Employer Partners with us Today

Morley Companies, Inc.


Hantz Group


www.morleynet.com
www.hantzgroup.com
Saginaw Bay Underwriters

www.sbuins.com
www.svsu.edu/careers
THANK YOU
careers@svsu.edu
989.964.4954
www.svsu.edu/careers
39