May 14, 2013

How do you respond to “Tell me about yourself” in a job interview?

Nathania at the University of Massachusetts – Boston asked:

In a job interview, how should I respond when an employer says “Tell me about yourself”? What kind of answer they are looking for?

Hi Nathania -

The “Tell me about yourself” opening question is the home run pitch of the job interview. No other question gives you the opportunity to knock one out of the park the way “Tell me about yourself” does. So, why do so many people strike out rather than hit home runs? Lack of preparation, nervous energy and a compelling urge to over share. Let’s start with the last one first.

Overcome your urge to over share

“Tell me about yourself” does not mean tell me everything there is to know about you!

Employers are most interested in the current version of you, so start there. If you are getting ready to graduate, don’t begin your answer with a detailed account of everything you have done since Freshman year and finish 15 minutes later with an out of breath summary of what you just had for breakfast.

Okay, I’m exaggerating a little bit here, but when confronted with “Tell me about yourself,” too many people go on far too long about stuff that really doesn’t matter to the interviewer.

This question is intended to help you get comfortable speaking with the interviewer. It also gives the interviewer the opportunity to see how well you can summarize a large and complex subject (you!) into three or four main ideas. It is your elevator pitch!

Give a brief, concise and focused summary of your relevant education, experience, skills and characteristics, and give it in 90 seconds or less.

Use your response to get your tongue untied using a message you are prepared to deliver.

Harness your nervous energy

Why do people over share? Typically because the are nervous and/or unprepared. When you are nervous and unprepared, those short awkward silences during an interview feel like an eternity, so you try to fill the silence with syllables!

We have all been there! While words are spilling out of your mouth, you are having a silent debate with yourself about how to stop talking. You’re not sure what you are saying or how long you’ve been talking. You just wish you could stop, but you just keep going. The only thing worse than the words spilling out of your mouth would be the sound of silence when you finally stop, so you just keep going until you run out of words.

Whatever it takes! Harness your nervous energy and do your homework. Both are things you can control.

Be Prepared for the Interview

Going into a job interview, you know the recruiter is going to ask you about your qualifications. Be prepared to answer those questions.

The recruiter is probably also going to ask you why you want the job, why you think you are a good fit for the job, why you want to work in their industry and why you’re interested in working for their company.

You know those questions you hope they won’t ask? About your GPA, a time you failed, your weaknesses . . . ? Guess what – they are probably going to ask those questions, too. Be prepared to answer them honestly, authentically and with confidence.

There is no such thing as the “perfect candidate” - don’t try to be one. Try to be the best prepared, best qualified and most professional candidate. That is all you can ask of yourself. Be prepared.

Four Words that Can Transform your Interview

Related to this position . . .

These four words can change your life, if you attach them to every interview question you get:

Tell me something about yourself (related to this position).

What are you greatest strengths/weaknesses related to this position?

Give me an example (related to this position) of your ability to work well on a team

What accomplish are you most proud of (related to this position)?

Get the idea? Every response to every question should – in some way – position you as a candidate for the job. As you prepare responses to possible interview questions, ask yourself: “Why is it important for the interview to know this information about me?” If you can’t answer that question, you can’t expect an interview to answer it.

How do you respond to “Tell me about yourself”

With your elevator pitch! A 60-90 second summary of your qualifications (education, experience, skills and characteristics) relevant to the position for which you are applying. Start with the present, focus on the future, share sparingly from the past. Make sure that what you are sharing is relevant to the job for which you are interviewing.

When you have done this. Shut up, smile, and wait for the next question. Your interviewer will thank you!

Good Luck,

May 9, 2013

What is best type of resume for someone with a University Studies degree?

Ashleigh at the University of Tennessee asked:

What is best type of resume for someone with a University Studies degree?

Hi Ashley

I answered a similar question back in December:

What can I do with a degree in University Studies?

That response does not focus specifically on resumes, but the general content is on point. Following is some resume-specific advice.

Regardless of your degree, your resume needs to be a marketing document

There is not one specific type of resume that is best for someone with a University Studies degree.

Unlike a degree in accounting or engineering, your degree does not prepare you to do any one specific thing. Because of this, your resume has to help employers learn who you are and understand what you offer and what you want. It needs to convey why they should consider hiring you!

In order to know what to include in your resume, you must be able to answer the following questions:

Who do you want to read your resume?
What types of employers are you targeting?

What types of jobs are you seeking?
One Size Fits All Resumes don’t fit anyone really well.

What do you want employers to learn about you when they read your resume?
About your education, your experience and your skills.

Essentially, what is the core message of your resume?
If you don’t know the core message of your resume, how can you expect an employer to figure it out?

Now, the formatting of your resume must be clean, consistent and easy to navigate for the reader, but unless the message is clear and the document is easy to navigate, you will not have an effective resume.

For more specific advice:

Read my Resume Writing Guide and check out the resume examples on the Resume Gallery. Also, check out my previous blogs on resume writing:

Where does my job flipping burgers fit on my resume?

I have no relevant experience; how can I make my resume attractive to potential recruiters?

What should I highlight on my resume – my unrelated work experience or my related classroom experience?

Does my resume need an Objective statement?

Hope this helps!

Good luck,

May 9, 2013

What can I do with a Master’s in Educational Technology?

Marcia from DeVry University asked:

What can I do with a Master’s in Educational Technology if I am not working in a school district? How can I get an internship or experience in Instructional Design?

Hi Marcia

Want a quick overview of the field of Educational Technology?

Check out the following two videos. You will see potential pathways both within and outside of school districts.

How do you find a job or internship in instructional design?

Look where the opportunities are likely to be posted. In this case, that means educational-focused online job boards and trade publications and through related professional associations. I have listed a lot of options below for you to review to get some ideas.

HigherEdJobs.com – Information Technology & Design

The Chronicle of Higher Education – Instructional Technology/Design Jobs

Indeed.com: Educational Technology

Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) Job Listings

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Career Center

American Association for Computing in Education (AACE) Career Center

American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) Job Bank

International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI) Career Center

Society for Applied Learning Technology (SALT) Current Jobs

Where do you start?

If you are looking for an internship while you are in school, the geographic scope of your search is probably going to be limited to your local area. Translation: You probably need to intern near where you are in school, right!

In this case, look to the colleges and universities. and (if there are any in your area) educational publishers, online training and software companies and game developers. All of these types of organizations probably have people working in some form of educations technology, instructional design or user interface design – the need for instructional designers goes beyond the your local school district. Talk to folks in these worlds to get first hand information on their fields (this is called an informational interview) and inquire about internship opportunities.

Chances are, most of these internships will not be posted on the big national job boards. Some of them might not be posted at all. Some won’t even exist until you ask about them.

Where do you begin?

With research to learn as much about the field as you can
With that first phone call, email or visit to someone in your area working in educational technology
With a plan of action for pursuing job opportunities

I hope this information helps you get started.

Good luck,

May 7, 2013

What can I do with a degree in Accounting and Information Systems?

Tracy from the University of Maryland University College asked:

What can I do with a Master of Science in Accounting and Information Systems?

Hi Tracy

Considering you are pursuing a Master’s degree in Accounting, is it safe to assume you intent to pursue a career in accounting?

That is the assumption I will make in responding.

Given your degree, you have a lot of options to consider. Accounting and Information Systems are very compatible skills/experience sets.

Consider the Big Accounting/Consulting Firms

Ernst & Young, Deloitte, PriceWaterhouseCoopers KPMG and a whole lot more. They may not all recruit on your campus, but they do all recruit college graduates. And, they focus on students in accounting and, often, information systems. I recently interviewed Dan Black with Ernst & Young about Getting Your Foot in the Door with Ernst & Young. Read this article and you will learn a lot about E&Y and the world of multinational accounting and consulting firms. It’s a a great world but it is certainly not for everyone. Study it carefully to see if it might be a good fit for you.

Find employers through your campus career center

The Career Center at UMUC has some valuable resources, including online lists of Industry Specific Websites, an on-campus interviewing program, and virtual career fairs. Accounting firms – big and small – frequently use college career centers as the hub for their campus recruiting activities. Other big companies that recruit information systems and accounting graduates also recruit on college campuses – companies like Northrop Grumman and General Mills.

There may some potential job opportunities right under your nose; in your campus career center.

Connect with accounting professionals through professional associations

Professional networking is a key to success in the job search. The best way to connect with accounting professionals is to meet them where they gather – at professional association meetings and activities. Most professional associations also have online job boards or career resources as part of their websites. Check out the following:

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
American Society of Women Accountants
Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering International
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
National Association of Black Accountants (NABA)
National Society of Accountants
The Institute of Internal Auditors
The Institute of Management Accountants
Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Use the niche job boards that focus on your areas of expertise

You are in Maryland. Did you know that there is an online job board for accounting jobs in the Washington DC area? DCAccountingJobs.com

Have you heard of AccountingCrossing.com – claiming the largest collection of accounting jobs on earth.

Explore all your options, where ever they might be.

Think Small

Small business, that is! Just about every business, governmental agency, church, school and non-profit needs accounting support. Small businesses don’t recruit the same way big ones do. They look to the local talent pool first. They depend on word-of-mouth referrals from their friends, clients and colleagues to find candidates. Just because a company doesn’t recruit on a regular basis doesn’t mean they don’t have periodic needs. If you want to work in your local community. Look locally, and often that means looking “small.”

Let your priorities be your guide

What are you looking for in a job? Money, power, schedule flexibility, proximity to home, opportunity for growth, good benefits, prestige, etc. Sometimes your goals are compatible; sometimes they conflict with each other. You need to negotiate these conflicts with yourself!

What you are looking for in a job will help you decide where to look and what kinds of jobs and industries to pursue. Accountants are needed just about everywhere. Your challenge will be narrowing down your options enough to make your job search manageable.

I hope these tips help get you started,

May 6, 2013

Is it okay to apply for multiple jobs with the same company?

Marie from Barry University asked:

Is okay to apply for multiple jobs within the same corporation?

I am a registered nurse looking for a job within an hospital. Frequently, single corporations own many hospitals. I want to apply for as many jobs as I can, but I don’t want to look desperate.

Hi Marie -

In a word – YES!

It is okay to apply for multiple jobs within the same corporation. Just don’t take a shotgun approach to applying.

#1. Prior to applying for any job, make sure you are a viable candidate

That might sound pretty obvious, but I have reviewed a lot of applications from candidates who clearly did not read the position description prior to applying.

Once, when hiring to fill a position on my staff, I asked candidates applying to use their cover letter to tell me how their qualifications matched those called for in the job description. I actually received a cover letter that said:

My qualifications are what qualify me for this this position.

Guess who didn’t get an interview? When an employer reviews your application they should not have a difficult time matching your qualifications with the qualifications they are seeking in candidates.

If your primary qualification is that you need a job; you are probably not going to get an interview. If your primary qualifications align well with the qualifications sought for multiple jobs within a company, apply for those jobs.

#2. Apply for all jobs for which you are a viable candidate

And, don’t be lazy about it. Each opportunity is unique, so treat it as such. In most instances, the same person is not reviewing all applications – particularly in large organizations. A Human Resources Clerk (or a computer program) may do some initial sorting and vetting of applications to weed out the non-qualifiers, but hiring managers will make the final decisions about who they interview and hire.

#3. No one expects you to apply for jobs one at a time

Competition is a good thing. Let employers compete for your services. Let departments within the same company compete for your services. Let different hospitals owned by the same parent company compete for your services.

Your goal is to give yourself as many viable options as you can. Their goal is to find the very best candidates they can. These goals are compatible!

When in doubt, refer back to #1

Applying for multiple jobs for which you are qualified is not viewed as a bad thing by employers. Indiscriminately applying for jobs is.

You are a Registered Nurse. Registered Nurses are in great demand in most markets across the US. Chances are, the hospital that gets you will be lucky.

My advice to you: Talk to as many people working in these different environments as you can. Get some first hand information on the different hospital cultures.

When the job offers start coming in, you want to be able to make the most informed decision possible and that kind of first-person advice will be invaluable.

Good Luck!

May 2, 2013

How can I demonstrate to employers that I am trustworthy and professional?

Juan from Cal State University – Fresno asked:

I graduated in May 2012 with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration: Management and International Business. I successfully completed an internship with a local company and was offered a part time position after that. A few weeks later, I was terminated because I accidentally saw a document that was of confidential nature. I had no clue it was of confidential nature and asked one of the employees if I was supposed to have access to such document. That was the only reason why they decided to let me go. I never had any problems or any warnings at all. I am worried about what they might tell potential employers when they call for a reference. Although, I am always honest about the situation and tell them what happened, I am afraid I have not been able to get a job because of their reference.

Please let me know what should I do in order to demonstrate to potential employers that I am a very honest and professional candidate.

Hi Juan -

If only one voice speaks, only that voice will be heard!

Sure, that advice is a little general, but it rings true here. The only way you will be defined solely by the comments and opinions of one individual or company is if you allow it to happen.

Now – I do not know any of the details of your circumstances, so I cannot (and won’t) comment on the specifics of your situation. I can, however, give you some general advice:

It’s not how you act, it’s how you react

Everyone makes mistakes! Sometimes how you react when something goes wrong says a lot more about your character and integrity than how you act when things are going well.

How you react to adversity defines your character in many ways. Be prepared to tell the story – honestly – about how you reacted to this adversity in your life. If you can tell a story about how you handled this adversity with maturity, perseverance and a positive attitude, you will show employers that you are mature, that you persevere, and that you can maintain a positive attitude during tough times. These are all characteristics that employers value.

Here’s the catch – employers will only learn that about you if you tell them!

Get your story and storytellers straight

From what you told me in your question, prospective employers who don’t get to hear the “whole story” about who you are and what you have to offer may find you untrustworthy and unprofessional.

You have to be ready to tell them the rest of your story, and you have to have your other references in place and ready to back up your story with their comments and observations regarding your capabilities and integrity.

If the rest of your story is good (strong in the classroom, good experience, demonstrated professionalism and trustworthiness, etc,) and your other references back your story with their comments, most employers will see your one-time mistake as a one-time mistake and not a defining moment.

Be honest and authentic

Know this – employers can tell when you are blowing smoke, so be honest and authentic in your communication and conversations with them. Employers like authenticity and cannot stand BS! Be honest in describing who you are and what you offer.

Acknowledge mistakes, but focus on what you learned from them

Be honest in sharing your mistakes, but don’t spend too much time on the details. Move immediately on to what you learned from the mistakes and how that experience makes you an even stronger candidate.

Dwell on the details of your mistakes and potential employers will do the same. Focus on how you have grown, matured and improved through the process, and most potential employers will do the same.

Remember, this will not always work!

We live in an imperfect world. Perceptions often trump reality. Even the very best of intentions and most sincere efforts will sometimes result in frustration. Do not let that define you or how you interact with the world. Some people will listen to your whole story and see you as a viable candidate, some will listen only to the voice of criticism. There is little you can do about that.

All you can do is be prepared to tell employers why they should consider you, why you want the opportunity they are offering, why you want to work in their industries, and why you want to work for their companies.

That’s it! Expect no more of yourself. Demand no less!

Good luck!

May 2, 2013

What can I do with a degree in Electronics Engineering Technology and Renewable Energy?

Marvin from DeVry University asked:

I am pursuing a Bachelor’s in Electronics Engineering Technology with a concentration in Renewable Energy. What kinds of internship/jobs should I consider?

Hi Marvin -

I would recommend focusing your efforts on internships and jobs in electronics engineering and renewable energy. You just need to look in the right places.

Are you familiar with the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE)?

Check out the ACORE Careers Page online. It lists more than 30 online job search resources that focus on careers in renewable energy.

The U.S. Department of Energy has also produced a Careers in Renewable Energy information sheet. This 8-page downloadable PDF document contains a lot of good advice, information and resources.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook contains an entire section on Green Jobs along with specific information on a a variety of Green Career Paths.

Also, pay attention to the industry-specific job boards:

RenewableEnergyJobs.com

Renewable Energy World Careers Page

Green Energy Jobs

SustainableBusiness.com Jobs

GreenJobs.com

TheGreenJobBank.com

Marvin – you are pursuing a degree that prepares you for a very specific field. Your challenge is not knowing what to look for, but rather where to look.

Hopefully these resources will start you down the right path.

Good Luck,

April 30, 2013

How can a stay-at-home mom with a degree enter the workforce?

Kara from the University of Wisconsin – Stout asked:

My goal for the past decade was to be at home with the kids – so I went to school – a lot. In the meantime, they have grown-up and I have a weak work history. This has been problematic in the job search…Any advice would be welcomed.

Hi Kara -

First, I commend you for committing ten years of your life to being home with your kids and going to school. Raising a family is hard work (don’t let anyone try to tell you otherwise), and the fact that you were a CMO (Chief Mom Officer, not Chief Marketing Officer) and were going to school tells me a lot about you that employers value. Your “CMO” job required:

Time Management Skills

As a mom you have had to pay attention to your own schedule, your spouse’s schedule and the schedules of each of your kids. Your job was to be there on time to pick up, drop off, transfer, deliver, exchange, etc. You were probably the first one up in the morning and the last one to bed at night. Your family schedule worked because you made it work. Employers value candidates that have strong time management skills. You just have to make employers understand yours.

Negotiation and Conflict Mediation Skills

If you are married you understand negotiation and conflict mediation . If you have kids, you have to practice negotiation and conflict mediation on a daily basis. If you volunteer in your community or in your kids’s schools, you know that the need for negotiation and conflict mediation transcends your own home. And, if all of these things apply to you at the same time – you can probably teach a graduate-level class on the topic!

If you can negotiate effectively with your spouse, your kids, your neighbors and the teachers and parents at your kids’s schools, you can probably negotiate and mediate conflict among co-workers in an office, with vendors and with customers.

Again, it comes down to you translating your skills for employers.

Financial Management Skills

If you are a stay-at-home mom, that means you are probably managing a family budget fueled by a single income source – your spouse’s income. If you have to manage a family budget, pay bills, manage contractors around your home, and balance a checkbook – you have financial management skills. If you ever served as the treasurer of the PTA or any other community organization, you have been trusted to manage other people’s money. Through all of this, you have developed financial management skills. Every organization – from churches and non-profits to schools, hospitals and businesses – has bills to pay and finances to manage. If you have financial management skills, you are valuable to employers.

Event Planning and Logistics Coordination Skills

Soccer leagues, band practice, birthday parties, homework, volunteer services hours, religious education classes, private lessons, family vacations, anniversary parties, community events. Have you ever been involved in planning, coordinating and managing any of these kinds of events. If so, you have experience in event planning and logistics coordination, which is a skill set many employers value.

I can go on, but you get the idea. You have a lot of options. I recommend you look at the skills you most enjoy using and see how those might translate into job. Just remember,

You have to translate your experience into terms employers can appreciate and understand

You have to make “you” make sense to “them”! If you define and describe yourself as a stay-at-home mom, employers will see you as a stay-at-home mom – not as a prospective employee. If you define and describe yourself using examples of the skills and experience you offer (emphasis on the skills and the experience, NOT on how or where you got them), employer will see you for what you offer.

You have to be realistic

Kara, I don’t know you so I don’t know the specifics of your situation.

I do know that, regardless of the specifics, you have to be realistic and honest with yourself about where and how you can restart your career and how much you can expect to make.

Employers will pay only what the market requires them to pay.

Re-entering the workplace may mean starting at the bottom – that often means entry-level work and entry-level pay.

Employers really don’t care what you want to earn or how much you think you deserve to be paid; they will pay the prevailing market wage. Be prepared for this. Don’t be surprised by it.

Many job seekers become frustrated and angry because their expectations going in are not realistic. Don’t let that be you.

So, my last bit of advice:

Do you homework and your legwork – finding a job takes more than “want to”

Looking for a job is a lot like training for a marathon or – dare I say it – trying to lose weight. You are not going succeed in reaching your goal on “want to” alone.

You have to set up a plan, follow that plan, measure your progress toward achieving your goal, and reward yourself for progress along the way so you will stay motivated. You have to hold yourself accountable when you don’t do what you committed to do.

Measure and mark the little steps along the way and you will see big progress. Saying “I want to re-enter the workforce” is the easy part. Moving down that path is the hard part.

Check out some of my earlier blogs on this topic. I think you will find them helpful

How can I get employers to focus on my qualifications and not my age?

I don’t know what I want to do or what I’m qualified to do. What do you suggest?

Are there any jobs where you can work from home?

With 20+ years until retirement, what should I do next?

And finally – here is an article I found that you might find helpful: Resume Tips for the Stay-at-Home Mom

Hope this helps!

April 30, 2013

What can I do with a Masters in HR – Rehabilitation Counseling?

Brandi from East Central University asked:

I will graduate with my Master’s Degree in Human Resources Rehabilitation Counseling in less than a month. I would like to know what job opportunities will be available to me and where I should focus on sending out my resume’.

Hi Brandi -

Since you are getting a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, I assume you wish to work in the field of Rehabilitation Counseling. So, with that in mind:

The first thing you need to do is develop your knowledge of the job market in the field

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook provides a very good overview of the job market and employment outlook for Rehabilitation Counselors.

You will see that Rehabilitation Counselors work in vocational rehabilitation, family services, state and local governmental agencies, mental health and substance abuse hospitals/facilities, residential care, community services, emergency services, insurance, education support services, medical facilities, and nursing facilities.

The American Medical Association (AMA) has also produced a career overview for Rehabilitation Counselors. It is a very informative 2-page read.

Next, become familiar with the professional communities in Rehabilitation Counseling

Acquaint yourself with the activities and services of the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association, the National Rehabilitation Counseling Association and the National Council on Rehabilitation Education.

Then, confirm your credentials

Rehabilitation Counseling is a field with strict licensure, certification and registration requirements. In order to be a qualified candidate for hire, you many need to have credentials in place (or in process) beyond your degree itself. Check out the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification for details.

By the way, the CRC also has a Career Center. Seek the assistance of your college career center, too.

Brandi, do your research so you will know where to look, connect with the relevant professional communities in your area so you will know who to talk to to get more information and network professionally, and make sure your credentials are in order so that you will have a compelling story to tell.

As a job seeker – your “job” is to understand the employment market in your field and how you fit into it, so that you can be authentic and convincing when you tell an employer “I want that job, and I know I have the qualifications!”

Congratulations on your pending graduation, and good luck on your job search!

April 25, 2013

What can I do with a degree in Family and Consumer Science?

Laura from Utah State University asked:

I graduated with a BS in Family and Consumer Sciences. I am currently working as a nanny but am wondering what job/career options I have other than teaching in secondary schools.

Hi Laura -

Your options are wide open! That is the blessing and that is the curse – both at the same time!

Don’t define yourself by your college degree!

Certainly, you are not going to be an engineer, a doctor, a lawyer or an accountant (without additional education, at least!), but there are many jobs and many fields that do not require a specific degree. The good news is that your degree in Family & Consumer Sciences leaves you a lot of options. The bad news is that it doesn’t offer you much specific career direction if you don’t want to teach. So, you have to provide that direction yourself. I recommend you seek the assistance of the career advisors at your college.

The team at Utah State Career Services will offer some good advice and direct you to their relevant services.

Also, check out a couple of my other recent blog posts answering similar questions;

I don’t know what I want to do or what I’m qualified to do. What do you suggest?

It’s good to be selective – it’s bad to be picky

Explore your options!

Use the internet to explore the world of possibilities you might consider. Be curious. Be crazy curious! You’ll be amazed by what you might find.

Check out the Careers in Family and Consumer Science page on the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) website. Did you even know the AAFCS existed?

Have you seen Career Pathways in Family and Consumer Science from the Utah Mountainland Region? Sure, this information is targeting high school students, but it is addressing the same industry and topic that you are researching. Good information is good information, no matter how old you are.

Get first hand advice!

When you find a job that interests you and want to learn more, ask someone doing that job for some first hand advice. Its called an Informational Interview. Download and review my Informational Interviewing Guide. It will give you some pointers on where to begin.

I hope this gives you a jump start!