Job Search Skills

Congratulations!

• Hiring statistics for recent college graduates

Good News!

• 57% of employers plan to hire college graduates this year

USA Today, 4/30/14

• Unemployment rate 5.9 percent

Bureau of Labor Statistics, 9/14

.

Bad News

• Still very competitive market

• Many graduates under-employed

So, you’re going to interview for jobs…

Employers’ Three Questions

Do you want the job?(motivation)

Can you do the job?(ability)

Can you get along with other people?

(Interpersonal skills)

Do you want the job?

• Research the company• Arrive on time• Have a good handshake• Speak well of past employers

Do you want the job?

• Don’t chew gum• Don’t bring drinks or food• Use confident body language• Dress well

Do You Want the Job? Interest Questions

• Why do you want to work for us?• Why are you interested in this position?• What do you know about our company?• Why do you want to work in the

_______industry?• What interests you about our products (or

services?)

Can you do the job?

• Clear, persuasive, honest answers– Prepare success stories– Restate, answer, give

example, summarize, STOP– Stress ability to learn

• Confident non-verbal communication

Can You Do the Job? Experience Questions

• Why should we hire you?• Describe the most rewarding experience of your

career so far.• How has your education prepared you for this

job?• What were your major accomplishments?• What was a typical work day like?• What job functions did you enjoy the most? The

least?

Can You Do the Job? Questions

• About the future– Where do you expect to be five years from now?– What do you predict for the future of this

industry?

• Challenging – What is your greatest weakness?– What do you want the most from your job?– What are you reading right now?

Can you get along with others?

• Be prepared for situational and behavioral questions

• Demonstrate that you are friendly and confident

• Stress past experience that involved team work

• Speak well of your former employers and co-workers

Can you Get Along: Questions

Situational– If you were aware that a co-worker was falsifying data,

what would you do?– If you noticed that communication between you and

your manager was poor, what would you do to solve the problem?

Behavioral– Tell me about a time you solved a difficult problem.– Tell me how you handle interpersonal conflict at

work.

Use the STAR Method

• Situation

• Task

• Action

• Result

Remember these three questions

Do you want the job?

Can you do the job?

Can you get along with other people?

Go from this…

• Hiring statistics for recent college graduates

To This!

For Wednesday…

1. Prepare two questions that you want to be asked (prepare your response to these questions.)

2. Prepare two questions that you will ask your partner.

Letters of application (E-mail)

• Descriptive Subject Line

• Address by proper name

• Refer to source of information

• Refer to job title and how your qualifications

match

• Highlight your strengths

• Motivate to action

• Complimentary close

• Signature Block

Examples of Poorly Written E-mails of Application

Hi Tess, Steve forwarded to me your job opening. I have done the kind of tasks that you are looking for in most of the jobs I have had. Presently, I am working part time at XXXXXXX and would love some extra hours. I have attached my resume for your review. XXXXXXXXXXX

To whom it may concern:

I would like to start working in retail. Up till now I have mainly worked in hospitality such as McDonald’s and Pizza Hut. I don’t particulary like that work and am looking to move to a new industry.

You will see from my resume that I have a degree in Business Management.

I haven’t been to one of your stores yet, but I am sure I would enjoy working for your company. I’m really motivated to find a new job and would greatly appreciate an interview.

For next Monday…

• Find a job for which you might apply on Career Link or some other source

• Prepare a resume specifically for that job

• Cover letter (in e-mail format)

• Dress appropriately– Clean, tailored,

pressed suit– Clean, polished shoes – Minimal jewelry– Minimal makeup for

women• Prepare for Interest

Questions

Do You Want the Job? Attire

• Dress appropriately– Clean, tailored,

pressed suit– Clean, polished shoes – Minimal jewelry– Minimal makeup for

women• Prepare for Interest

Questions

Do You Want the Job? Attire

Do you want the job?

• Arrive prepared • Match body

language to interviewer

• Dress Professionally