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April Advice: You May want to Follow

Its Finally April! Were reviewing the best advice we can offer students for the upcoming month! You better take notes here because this is PRICELESS info on how to land your next internship or job! READY? Here we go…

From the Bar to the Boardroom: How to transform your weekend outfit into your Interview outfit in MINUTES!

We know that with the incoming warm weather, you may want to go out, show some leg, and hit main street for all the local drink establishments, so lets go over some tips in case you find yourself having to recycle outfits for a boring job or internship interview.

  • Don’t bother spraying your shirts with Febreeze… employers are intrigued by the smell of booze on clothes. It shows initiative that you were even able to wake up for the interview after such an eventful night.
  • Ladies: Take a tissue & wipe off the bottom of your eyeliner. Leave on the rest and it will look freshly done!
  • Gents : The whole full suit stereotype is SO outdated… show those interviewers you have some real style with some fresh converses and jeans.

Here are some appropriate looks for interviews to let people know you’ve had a busy night!

 

The Art of making the perfect resume:

  • Make sure to choose a very elusive font, as employers like a sense of mystery to draw them in. Recommendations: Franklin Gothic Heavy (Make it BOLD!)
  • Another option is to have a friend write your resume. There’s a reason why they are your friends…they know you the best!
  • Include clever hashtags. Employers love it when you make them laugh. Ex: #ImTotatllyQualifiedForThisJob #HireMeorDIE #ImBrokeAndItsNoJoke #ImAKillerIntern
  • No need to proofread!
  • Use profanity if need be.

Spruce up your Online Profile:

Noooo we’re not talking LinkedIn here… Lets see those Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages please!

  • Upload your best beer pong match to YouTube ASAP and title it with your full name (Middle Initial Included). Employers want to see your competitive edge and you want to make it easy for them to see that. Bonus: If you are a regular champion…hashtag it on your resume! #BeerPongChamp
  • If you don’t have a Red Solo Cup in your profile picture, you’re doing it wrong. Fill it up, instagram it to your facebook page & show us your best Saturday 2am face. An employer’s dream.
  • Employers want entry-level employees who take charge of the company on Day 1, so show off your authoritative skills by throwing in some disrespectful statements on your public Facebook & Twitter profile.

Nail your Interview!

Bring a pal to that next interview, especially if you’re hungover (which you should be)!

  • Always interview in pairs just like Brennan and Dale from Step Brothers.
  • Don’t bring copies of your resume… it looks like you’re trying too hard.
  • Arrive 5-10 minutes fashionably late to the interview. If you are punctual, then employers will always expect you to be on time.
  • Have your friend do all the talking for you—employers love to get real opinions of you from your friends’ perspective prior to hiring.

Above all be sure to remember one thing! 

It’s April Fools!! 

 Yes yes, you’ve been pranked!

If none of the above statements seemed out of place, please,please, pleeease stop by the Career Planning Center for Drop in hours ASAP

(Every weekday from 1-4pm in Hogan 203) …

We have some serious work to do! #YourLost
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Spring is in the air, so get ready for another awesome HC CAREER FAIR!
Spring is in the air, which means it is time to get ready for another jam packed  HC CAREER FAIR!

This year the Career Planning Center has put together an amazing fair full of FORTY-SEVEN organizations ready to meet and greet with Holy Cross students …Yes that means YOU! SAVE THE DATE because WEDNESDAY APRIL 2nd is right around the corner, so why not take some time to find out if  you are ready?

Career fairs are a phenomenal opportunity to:
− Network with multiple organizations in a single visit.
− Demonstrate your communication & interpersonal skills.

Lets go over some helpful tips for coming prepared to a campus career fair!

1. Do your homework!

               Before the fair, you can review the online directory of employers and their job opportunities by clicking HERE. Spend a little time getting some background on an organization so you can ask very focused and specific questions. This will impress representatives because it shows you have a genuine interest in their organization.

2. Bring Your Resume!

              Recruiters meet with a lot of people and try as they might they cant remember them all. Once again, it’s time to dust off your resume and make sure it is in tip top condition. Make sure it is current and that it sends a clear, concise picture of who you are and what you have to offer. Bring your resume to leave with each employer to ensure that they remember you! If you need help, stop by the Career Planning Center for a same-day Drop-In Session which occurs M-F from 1:00-4:00pm.

3. Practice Marketing Yourself!

              Practice, practice, practice. Get together with a friend and practice answering basic interview questions. You should be prepared if someone asks you something like “Tell me about yourself,” or “What kind of position are you looking for?” This is why tip #1 is important because you can develop a list of questions you want to ask each organization. One of the best ways to look prepared and professional is showing up with thoughtful, intelligent questions!

4. Dress the part!

First impressions are important.When you go to the career fair on Wednesday April 2nd, you will not see people walking around in jeans and t-shirts and you don’t want to be the one person who does. A career fair is your chance to make a good first impression with a potential new employer so make sure you look well groomed, and carry your materials in a professional folder or portfolio.

5. Be confident & never leave empty handed!

             A career fair is no place to be shy and timid. The best way to make a lasting impression is by being assertive. Approach the companies that interest you, make eye contact and introduce yourself with a firm handshake. Take the initiative and tell them about yourself and why you are interested in their company. Tie in what you know about their company from your research to the type of job you are seeking. Whatever you do, don’t leave a company booth without getting a business card and company brochure. This might be the only opportunity you have to meet with the recruiter face to face and you will want his or her contact information later.

With these quick tips you’ll be sure to land a connection with a company of interest! One last thing to keep in mind is the Follow up! After the fair is over, remember to thank whoever you spoke with for taking the time to speak with you, reiterate your strengths, and let them know that you’re interested and would like to follow up in the near future.

 

OK now go out there, follow these tips and score big! 
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The Dangers of Social Media: Ways to Use and not Abuse your favorite websites!
You’ve probably heard of “social media” right? Its a buzz word that has been going around for years now after popular sites like Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and more have surfaced as avenues for people to express who they are and how they feel to others around the world. The odds are so great that I’m willing to wager that both you and I have used a social media site today or will use one within minutes of reading this!

And if we use them…GUESS WHAT?! SO DO EMPLOYERS!

“A survey commissioned by the online employment website CareerBuilder has found that 37 percent of hiring managers use social networking sites to research job applicants, with over 65 percent of that group using Facebook as their primary resource.” -huffingtonpost.com

The same survey also showed that, “only 15 percent of companies had policies in place that explicitly prohibited human resources department from using the sites as a hiring resource.”

Bottom Line:  Whether you like it or not, companies are using social networks to screen job applicants. The hirers usually use these sites in order to get a more personal view of a candidate, rather than the resume-like view they will see on LinkedIn. This means that it is important to carefully manage your image on these types of sites. Lets take a second to make sure you’re using these sites appropriately and not HURTING your chances of nailing that dream job or internship!

2 Things you want to remain aware of while using the internet in a social way…

  1. EVERYTHING IS PUBLIC!
     Remember that what you put online can be saved, traced and used against you. You should stay clear of posting the party photos from St. Patty’s weekend online if you care about a potential employer seeing them. At the very least you should be aware of your privacy settings and what you’re allowing people to access from your accounts.

  2.  Facebook & Twitter can ruin you!

    Though there are many sites online nowadays,..these are the most popular and by contrast the most dangerous! No one is trying to strip these popular social media sites of their valor, but proceed with caution. Regularly check your privacy settings and THINK before you post. On the CareerBuilder survey it was reported that 76% of employers use both of these sites to consider a candidate. Take home message: BE SMART!

Takeaway: 

Hirers are looking at the social networking profiles of candidates. This means that YOU, the  job seeker, need to have your online act in order before you begin looking for a job.

P.S: Take a look at this really easy and cool breakdown of the CareerBuilder survey results

Still interested? Check out this cool blog featured on Forbes’ website on ways to use social media to land a job. –> CLICK HERE
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Spring Break Sophomore Career Advising Sessions

Are you in the area during Spring Break? Would you like to have an opportunity to begin discussing what you might do after graduation?

Please call 508-793-3880 or stop by Hogan 203 to set up YOUR career advising appointment with Dr. Winters.