Archive - May 2012

Career mentors can make a huge difference in your career path. A career mentor can help you set goals, coach you through setbacks, guide you in your next step and set up one-on-one meetings to mark your progress. However, finding someone you trust, respect and feel comfortable enough with can take some time. Here are some important steps in selecting a strong career mentor:

1. Find the right career mentor for you – Your manager should not be your mentor! It creates an awkward relationship and really won’t help you that much. Find others in your company that you respect and can relate to. Have they set similar goals? Do you feel comfortable sharing your goals with them? Find someone who shares your personal values, work ethic and sense of humor. Who knows, they may not even work at your company. Look around your larger group of friends and acquaintances
2. Explain what you need from them – Once you ask your career mentor for their support and they accept, make sure they know what is expected of them. How often do you want to meet with them? Explain what type of guidance you need and let them know what your strengths and weaknesses are. Set up a detailed plan of your career objectives and explain how they can give you assistance and guidance to help you reach those goals
3. Make the most of your plan – Now that you’ve explained what you need from your mentor, make sure you uphold your end of the deal as well. Don’t flake out on meetings – come prepared with questions and a plan, and stay organized. Be open-minded with the advice you get from your mentor. You asked for their help and they are giving up their time to do it, make sure you respect their time and effort and truly use it to your advantage!

A great career mentor is patient, knowledgeable and positive. They can work to know you and your professional goals, and challenge you to push yourself. When you find the right career mentor for you and work together, you can take your career to the next level!

Phone interviews. Some of us, mostly those who feel more comfortable not making a personal connection, love them, and those of us who feel as if we make a stronger impact in person hate them. Whichever type you are, they can still be challenging.

A phone interview is often used to screen job candidates for basic qualifications and as a time-saving way to interview a candidate who lives far away from the company. Telephone interviews are difficult because it is often challenging to make a personal connection with the interviewer. They can’t see if you are dressed professionally and they can’t see your smile – it all relies on your manners, clarity of speech, voice tone and the strength of your answers.

As humans, we rely on facial expressions and body language to gauge how we’re doing in an interview. Over the phone, you are basing your interview solely on voice inflections. Here are just a few ways you can work a phone interview in your favor:

• Pick a quiet room for your interview, making sure that no one could pop in and disturb you!
• Make sure your phone will have a clear connection. If you’re using a cell phone, check the strength of your connection in the area.
• Type or write out talking points to have in front of you and take advantage of the fact that they can’t see you. You can even have your notes spread out all over a table!
• Remember not to talk too fast and speak clearly. Also, smile – it changes the way your voice comes across!
• Don’t try to speak over your interviewer and be careful not to interrupt. If you do, apologize!
• Don’t let the call end without figuring out the next step. Will they contact you for another interview if they’re interested? Find out!
• Never hang up before the interviewer has. Make sure the interview is truly wrapped up, you’ve figured out the next steps and you’ve heard them hang up.
• Just like a face-to-face interview, you should send a thank-you note.

Don’t worry about your next phone interview! With these simple tips, you can be prepared to have a successful phone interview that will get you to the next step – a face-to-face interview!

Get the most out of your next career fair!

Feel like you get lost in the crowd at career fairs?  It happens!  With crowds of anxious job searchers moving from one booth to the next, it can be difficult to get a word in with the company’s representative or really make an impact.  Here are a few tips on how to get the most out of your next career fair and stand out from the crowd – literally!

• Keep your day clear – Don’t over schedule your day.  If you’re going to a career fair, make that your priority.  You don’t want to feel rushed or have to leave early.
• Dress to impress – Just because it isn’t a traditional interview doesn’t mean you should dress any differently.  Treat it like you would an interview and dress professionally!
• Bring your supplies – Make sure you have pens and paper for note taking, plenty of printed resumes, and a professional looking briefcase or folder to put everything in.
• Go in prepared – Review the career fair’s website or advertisement so you know what employers will be there and plan which ones you’d most like to visit with.  Also, prepare an introduction of yourself that highlights important accomplishments and objectives that you’d like the employer to know about. 
• Think of others – Sure, you’re there to get the job, but be considerate of the many other job searchers in the same position as you.  Make your contact with the potential employer, ask your questions, make plans to connect with them again and then move on.  Show respect and allow others to visit with the employers as well.
• Make a note – Take down really detailed notes.  Write down what you like and don’t like about certain companies.  The more detailed your notes are the better.  You’d hate to mix up names or info about the companies you spoke with!
• Chitchat with others – You don’t have to be antisocial at career fairs – talk to the other job searchers.  You may be surprised at the job searching tips you can gain.

Career fairs don’t have to feel like an America Idol audition.  While they can be intimidating, you don’t have to leave there feeling like you didn’t make any progress.  You just need to go into it prepared, professional and ready get the most out of the experience!