Transcript Document

RSC
Randall S. Caldwell Executive Search & Consulting
CAREER MAPPING
Presented by:
Presented for:
Randall S. Caldwell
P. O. Box 308
Munroe Falls, Ohio 44262
Phone: 330-678-8980
E-mail: [email protected]
Kent State University/
Alumni Association
Kent, Ohio
April 11, 2007
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PROGRAM ELEMENTS
Objective
To provide the fundamental life skills of career mapping.
Program Elements
1. Designing and Developing Your Career Map
2. Resume
3. Research
4. Cover Letter
5. Interview
6. Job offer
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1. DESIGNING AND DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER MAP
WHAT IS CAREER MAPPING?
Career mapping is a planning process in which one develops a
plan that is the map for their career destination:
a. Immediate goals
b. Mid-range goals
c. Long-term goals
Career maps are not carved in stone. They allow you to take a
different route to possibly the same destination. And
remember . . .
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People don’t plan to fail . . . they fail to plan.
2. RESUME
Over 95% of all employment hires are introduced by a resume.
Types of Resumes
1. Chronological
This is the most popular format. It places information in
reverse chronological order. Employers prefer this format as it
(hopefully) demonstrates a candidate’s steady and upward
career growth. Thus, the focus is on time, job continuity,
growth, and achievements.
2. Functional
A functional resume focuses on skills, credentials, and
accomplishments over the course of all jobs held. This is
probably not the format to use as a recent college graduate.
3. Combination
A combination resume uses career profiles, which is a
functional style listing of relevant skills and accomplishments,
and then proceeds to describe employment, education,
histories in reverse chronological order.
Fundamental Rules
 Education is always displayed at the top of the resume.
 Resumes are written in the third person – no ‘I,’ ‘my,’ or ‘we.’
 It is paramount to use proper grammar and correct spelling.
You can change your resume . . .
but you can never change a first impression.
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2. RESUME (Cont’d.)
Resume Form
Name (first/middle/last):
__________________________________________________________________
Address (street/city/state/zip):
__________________________________________________________________
Telephone (home/cell/work/e-mail): __________________________________________________________________
Personal:
Marital Status: ____/Children/Ages: _________
DOB: __________ Ht/Wt: ________________
Relocation/Travel: ____________________________________________________________________
Education:
School Attended:
__________________________________________________________________
Location (city/state): __________________________________________________________________
Degree:
_____________________
Date Graduated:
_________________________
School Attended:
__________________________________________________________________
Location (city/state): __________________________________________________________________
Degree:
Employment: Present Company:
_____________________
Date Graduated:
_________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Location (city/state): __________________________________________________________________
Dates: _________________________________
Title: __________________________________
Duties: _____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Past Company: ______________________________________________________________________
Location (city/state): __________________________________________________________________
Dates: _________________________________
Title: __________________________________
Duties: _____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Notes:
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
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2. RESUME (Cont’d.)
PATRICIA JONES
ADDRESS
MOBILE: XXXXX ~ E-MAIL: xxxxx.xxxx
OBJECTIVE
To obtain a summer internship that expands my marketing knowledge
EDUCATION
KENT STATE UNIVERSITY
 Bachelors of Science in Business Administration, Marketing, March 2005
 Honors Student (GPA: 3.5 out of 4.0 scale)
 Spanish and Textiles & Clothing Minors
 The KSU Study Abroad Program, Andean Study Programs of Quito, Summer 2002
EXPERIENCE
THE FROG, BEAR AND WILD BOAR BAR, KENT, OH
March 03- Present
Server
 Multi-task during shifts to provide quality customer service
 Intensely sell products to customers maximizing up to $1000 worth of total merchandise
EXPRESS DIVISION, THE LIMITED, COLUMBUS, OH
August 02- March 03
Fashion Expert
 Developed and maintained intense customer relationships built on advising clients
 Built volume averaging $800 in sales per hour
 Established loyal customer base
 Led in district sales November 2002 through February 2003
THE KENT STATE UNIVERSITY, KENT, OH
September 01- June 02
Resident Advisor
 Responsible for over 80 residents at Kent State University
 Organized and implemented educational programs for over 100 students
 Advised students and served as a mentor
 Served as a campus resource to help students adapt to their new surroundings
AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
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Vice President of [Sorority], 2003
Pan-Hellenic Delegate, 2002
Member of Alpha Lambda Delta, Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity, and National
Society of Collegiate Scholars
Miss Junior Ohio State Finalist, 1996
Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Access
Fluent in Spanish
VOLUNTEER


Work the CASA convention and several other functions each year – Court Appointed Special
Advocate
Hannah Neil House for abused children
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3. RESEARCH
Research is the projection of where you are going and the
documentation of where you have been.
It is impossible to find meaningful employment if you do not
know where or for whom you want to work.
Construct a list of potential employers.
Potential sources and leads to build your research list:
 Friends
 Religious organizations
 Family
 Co-workers
 Neighbors
 State, local, and Federal job sites
 Professors
 Newspaper
 Counselors
 Job boards
 School placement office
 Career counselors
 Alumni Association
 Employment agencies
 Job fairs
 Jobs.com
 Job support groups
 Monster.com
Kent State University’s Career Center and Alumni Association
Department can identify who will be interviewing on campus and
potential contacts of past graduated students and where they
have gone to work.
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3. RESEARCH (Cont’d.)
The following is a list of directories which can be found in the
research section of most public libraries. These directories are
published in hard copy and some are in electronic media.
 The Directory of Directories
 Standard & Poor’s (Standard Industrial Code [SIC])
 Technology Fast 500
 Fortune 500
 Forbes 2000
 Chamber of Commerce
 Inc. 500
 Harris Guides (Standard Industrial Code [SIC])
 Dunn & Bradstreet’s Million Dollar Directory
 The Red Book (list of recruiters and agencies)
 Trade journals
These directories provide considerable and valuable
information such as company contacts, size of company, their
product or service, and identify specific individuals within that
company to whom to send your cover letter and resume.
The first and most basic rule when seeking
employment is that everyone you meet is a
potential employer, contact, or lead to employment.
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3. RESEARCH (Cont’d.)
Career Mapping Control Sheet
Company Name:
Address/Phone:
Contact/Title:
E-mail Address:
Which Cover Ltr. Sent?:
Date Resume/
Cover Letter Sent:
Follow-up:
Result:
Source:
Referral:
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
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4. COVER LETTER
Your cover letter is one of the most important job search
documents. An effective letter can get you the phone call for an
interview, but a poorly written letter usually spells continued
unemployment. The difference can be a matter of how you handle
a few key points. The following are tips to help you develop an
effective cover letter.
1. Individualize your letter. Give the reader insight into you as an
individual. Draft your letter to show how your individual qualities
can contribute to the organization. This is your letter, so avoid
simply copying the forms and styles of other letters that you have
seen.
2. Address your letter to a specific person, preferably the person
who is doing the hiring for the position that you seek. Look for
the person’s name in company publications found at the
University Placement Office, library, or the aforementioned
research material list. If a name is unavailable, address your
cover letter to ‘Personnel Manager.’
3. Catch the reader’s attention. Your introduction should get the
reader’s attention, stimulate interest, and be appropriate to the job
that you seek. For example, you may want to begin your letter
with a reference to an advertisement that prompted your
application. Such references make your reason for contacting the
company clear and precise. Or you may want to open your letter
by referring to the company’s product, which you want to
promote. Such references show knowledge of the company.
4. First Paragraph Tips – Make your goal clear. When answering
an advertisement, name the position stated in the ad and identify
the source, e.g., ‘. . . your advertisement for a project engineer, 10
which appeared in The Cleveland Plain Dealer on April 1, 2007.’
4. COVER LETTER (Cont’d.)
5. Highlighting Your Qualifications – The middle paragraph
should refer to your qualifications that best suit you to the
position and the organization. Your on-the-job experience is your
strongest qualification. Discuss the details and show how you
can apply your experience to the needs of the organization. Be
specific. Use numbers, names of equipment that you have used,
or features of the projects that may apply to the job you seek.
6. Conclusion of the Letter – Conclude your letter with a clear,
courteous request to set up an interview or suggest a procedure
in doing so.
7. Cover Letter Tips
 Make your letter strong enough to convince the reader that
your unique background qualifies you for the position. (Be
concise; a long explanation will put the reader to sleep.)
 Refer to your resume. Be sure to refer to your enclosed
resume at the most appropriate point in your letter.
 Be sure your cover letter is in a professional format –
organized, grammatically correct with no misspellings.
 Seek advice. It is always a good idea to prepare at least one or
two draft letters to show to a critical reader for comments and
suggestions before sending it to a potential employer.
When constructing a cover letter, be sure to take the time
to do it right rather than taking the time to do it over.
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4. COVER LETTER (Cont’d.)
Sample Cover Letter
Susan Smith, V.P., Human Resources
Acme Widgets
1234 Madison Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44284
Dear Ms. Smith:
Prof. Bob Randall of the Kent State University Alumni Association
Department suggested that I write to you to inquire about
employment opportunities within your sales and marketing
departments.
As you can see from my enclosed resume, I am a senior at Kent
State University majoring in Business Administration and will
graduate on June 7. I have had two summer internships with
Kirby Vacuum Co. selling floor care products directly to
consumers.
I believe my training and experience would qualify me for an entry
level sales position with your company. With that in mind, I would
welcome an opportunity to visit with you to discuss my
qualifications in greater detail. I can be reached at _________ and
look forward to hearing from you in the near future.
Sincerely,
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5. INTERVIEW
Purpose of an Interview
The purpose of the interview is to place yourself in a position to
get the offer or to be invited back for a second interview.
Preparation for an Interview
 Research the company with which you are about to interview.
 Research the job and required qualifications.
 Prepare and anticipate questions.
 Dress appropriately – Dark colors project an air of authority.
Navy blue is the most widely accepted color; charcoal gray is
another good color. Black is not recommended. Men should
wear a single-breasted suit with a contrasting red or yellow
necktie. Ladies should not wear v-neck tops or heels over 2”.
Practice good personal hygiene.
 Be punctual.
 Determine how many interviews will it take to get the job.
 Regardless of gender, greet the interviewer with a firm
handshake.
 Practice and rehearse good communication skills.
After the interview, always hand write or e-mail a thank you note
to each person in the interview process. This is an excellent 13
opportunity to reassure the company of your continued interest.
5. INTERVIEW (Cont’d.)
The following are questions that are typically asked in an
interview. Be sure to practice and rehearse these basic questions.
What are your short-term goals; how do you plan to achieve
them?
Your answer to this question should be focused toward your
career goals and what you hope to accomplish in the next 5 years.
How do you plan to achieve that? The way goals are achieved . . .
through hard work, self-motivation, and perseverance.
What personal goals have you set for yourself and what do you
hope to achieve over the next 5-10 years?
Most graduates fail to see or hear the word ‘personal’ and
invariably respond to this question by starting a career goal.
Another mistake many candidates make is to indicate a desire to
eventually start and run their own business. If indeed that is your
goal, keep it to yourself during the interview process. An
employer wants a stable and responsible employee – someone
who will be loyal to the company, not someone who is dreaming
about being self-employed. A good answer might relate to buying
a home, getting married, or something like training for and
winning the Boston Marathon or Iron Man competition.
What made you decide on this particular career?
How you answer this question depends upon the job title and
responsibilities of the position. Your answer should show the
employer how your potential strengths tie in to the job
description. A good answer might be, ‘My research tells me that
people succeed in this career if they have strong communications,
good problem solving, and can work well under pressure. I feel
that these are my greatest strengths; therefore, I would do well in
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this type of position.’
5. INTERVIEW (Cont’d.)
What are the most important rewards that you expect from
your career?
Many people respond to this question by saying they expect to
earn a lot of money. Be warned . . . If you say money or material
rewards, you have a strike against you unless you state your
case properly. When interviewing for a sales position, being
motivated by money is a good quality to have, but you can’t just
answer by saying you expect money. You can say something
like, ‘I hope to earn a lot of money in my sales career and in the
process, derive satisfaction from achieving my goals and being
recognized by my employer for the contributions I have made to
the company.’
What is more important to you – how much you earn or what
type of job you have?
Many people feel that how much they earn is more important
than what they do. What you are being paid does make a
difference, but that’s not all that matters. You can earn big
bucks but hate your job. And believe me, that will make you
miserable. What matters most is what you do.
What do you feel is your greatest strength; your greatest
weakness?
Certain questions pop up in almost every interview. This is one
of the most common. To give a proper response, select 3 or 4 of
the strengths from your personal inventory that match the
position description, and tell the employer what they are and
how they fit. As for weaknesses, you should always be prepared
with 2 examples even though most employers are satisfied with
1. Always focus a weakness and turn it into a potential strength.
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5. INTERVIEW (Cont’d.)
What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?
The answer to this question could be the possibility for
advancement, the personal gratification you would have as a
result of meeting goals, the respect of your peers, or the
recognition from an employer for a job well done.
How has college prepared you for a business career?
Don’t talk about your finance class, your last economics term
paper, or your marketing research project. Talk about leadership
or management skills you have learned through participating in
clubs, organizations, or athletics. Get into the time management
abilities and work ethics that you have developed as a result of
juggling a job, extracurricular activities, and a full course load.
Get the idea?
How do you determine or evaluate your own success?
Everyone answers this question differently. Perhaps you measure
your success by how quickly you learn new skills in comparison
to others, or maybe you measure it by setting personal and
professional goals and then working hard to achieve them. Just
don’t say that you measure success by how much money you
make.
What kind of contribution can you make to this company?
Once again, the employer wants to know how you think your
assets and abilities will tie in to the job description and company’s
management style.
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6. JOB OFFER
Getting a job offer can generate a lot of conflicting emotions –
fear, excitement, uncertainty, happiness, relief, confidence,
apprehension, and more. But, don’t allow your emotions to
overrule your common sense. This is the time to be objective,
not subjective. There are many facets of the job offer to be
considered. Write down all of the pros and cons before your
final decision. The highest job offer monetarily is not always the
best job.
When considering a job offer, always remember to factor in
bonuses, fringe benefits (e.g., health insurance, dental,
disability, 401K, tuition reimbursement, employee stock
incentive program, etc.).
Remember . . . All offers of employment are usually contingent
upon successfully passing a physical examination and drug
screen. When accepting an offer, be prepared to commit to a
start date.
Remember . . . the highest paying job
offer is not always your best offer.
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LET’S REVIEW
1.
Design your career map to determine your destination.
2.
Develop the resume to list your credentials.
3.
Research to identify potential employers.
4.
Compose cover letters as a form of introducing and selling
yourself.
5.
Practice your interview techniques so you can project
excellent interview skills to place yourself in a position to get
an offer.
6.
Evaluate the offer in terms of job and monetary satisfaction
to arrive at your first career destination.
In closing, I wish each and every one of you the
most personal and career success as success
is when opportunity meets preparedness.
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