CAREER Exploration Development handbook 306 Burton D. Morgan Center Granville, Ohio 43023 740.587.6656 7405876357 fax denison.educareer careerdenison.edu Essential Tools for Your Career

Contents CLICK ON A SECTION TITLE TO GO TO THAT PAGE Part I Career development Plan First Year Self Assessment .................................... 5 Second Year Career Exploration.........................6 Third Year Gaining Experience ............................ 7 Fourth Year Making Decisions ............................. 8 Five Myths About Liberal Arts Education........9 Qualities Skills Employers Want ......................11 Liberal Arts Skills ...........................................

Welcome from Career Exploration Development D i r E c t o r s s tat E m E n t Career Exploration Development CED is here to support you throughout different stages of your career planning at Denison. Our goal is to help you understand how your skills, abilities, and interests will shape your life after Denison. From your first day on campus, you are encouraged to participate in externships, internships, research, leadership, activities, and service learning. We provide you the support to hel

Part one Career Development PlanLife after Denison begins here 4 ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR YOUR CAREER PaRT I CAREER DEVELOPMENT PLAN

First YEar SelfAssessment Identify campus resources and get to know the Denison Community establish relationships with faculty members, academic advisors, peers, deans, staff, and administrators Visit Career Exploration Development to learn about our services Pick up a Guide to Writing Resumes and Cover Letters write a resume Assess your interests, abilities, personality, and values utilize FOCUS Identify possible majors, career fields, and professional associations Take a variety of cla

sEconD YEar Career Exploration narrow your choices of major Continue first year activities Conduct research and solicit information from professionals and upperclass students to finalize a decision on your major Meet individually with a career advisor to develop short and longterm goals learn what recent graduates are doing Think about the skills needed, growth rate, expected salary range, and possible locations for your desired career Make contact and develop relationships with faculty an

thirD YEar Gaining Experience Continue second year activities Upload an updated resume to DULink Use Alumni Relations and CED resources to thoroughly research the employers or graduate programs you are considering Select elective courses that will broaden your academic foundation and expand your employmentgraduate school opportunities Attend professional meetings and conferences explore informational interviewing and networking opportunities Seek an internship that will enable you to gain

Fourth YEar Making Decisions Continue third year activities Think about references and plan ahead. Dont ask for a reference at the last minute most people appreciate a two to threeweek notice Attend job search and graduate school workshops Attend Big Red GraduateProfessional School Fair, Big Red Career Fair, and CareerFest Evaluate your lifestyle, interests, and values to determine your postgraduate plans Meet individually with a career advisor to help identify skills you have to offer e

t h E va l u E o F a l i b E r a l a r t s E D u c a t i o n Five Myths About Liberal Arts Education myth 1 as a liberal arts student, you are likely to hear one or more of the following myths A major equals a career, and more majors equals better careers. Fac t The urge to gather credentials, whether they be professional degrees or college majors, is endemic on college campuses. Most employers, if you press them, will tell you they dont care how many undergraduate majors you have. Moreover

myth 3 Fac t A liberal arts education is a solitary affair. Theres one secret advantage to virtually all residential liberal arts institutions, and thats people. If you start to truly engage these onsite resources, along with the alumni, you will reap untold rewards. We encourage you to work each semester to build strong connections. myth 4 Liberal arts majors cannot compete with business majors because business majors have an edge based on their academic coursework and background. Fac t I

Qualities and Skills Employers Want Attending a liberal arts institution such as Denison University allows for the development of valuable, transferable skills sought after by employers. It is important that you are able to identify and articulate these skills with concrete examples, whether on your resume, in an interview, or when networking. Each year, the National Association of Colleges and Employers NACE surveys its employer members about their hiring plans and other employmentrelated issue

Liberal Arts Skills So, does a liberal arts education prepare you for a career by developing any of the above skills The answer is a resounding YES Below are a number of skills cultivated through your education at Denison University. Just a few are Information management Synthesize facts, concepts, and principles Evaluate information against standards Design and plan Identify alternative courses of action Predict future trends and patterns Communicate Speak effectively to individuals an

Part two Marketing ToolsSell Your Skills Experience PaRT 2 MARKETING TOOLS ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR YOUR CAREER 13

markEting tools The Resume A resume is an important marketing tool that provides a summary of your education, skills, experience, achievements, and leadership. A well written resume should highlight experiences that are relevant to the job, internship, or program for which you are applying. The primary purpose of a resume is to get an interview. You must develop a document that will move the employer to contact you getting started There is NO one right way to construct a resume. No matter how

objective optional If you decide to use an objective, it should answer the question, What do I want to do Is the purpose of your resume for acceptance into a graduate program, a parttime job, an internship, a scholarship, or a professional position after graduation Although you may want to make your objective broad, do not make it so broad that it fails to answer any questions. EXamPlEs Internship position to explore career options in the health field Acceptance into a doctorate of physical the

Include the following information in your education section Institution Major City, State Concentration Dates attended Minoremphasis area Relevant coursework if at a previous institution Expected graduation date Specialized traininginstruction Degree or certification obtained GPA typically if 3.0 or higher EXamPlEs Denison University Bachelor of Arts in SociologyAnthropology, GPA 3.454.00 Semester Abroad in London Bachelor of Arts, Psychology Denison University, Granville, Ohio Gran

Experience This part of your resume may include several sections. Experience does not always have to be paid work experience. Many valuable skills and experiences are gained through community service, student organizations, athletics, etc. Some sample headings for your resume could include Student Teaching Research Experience Coaching Experience Employment additional Experience Some additional tips For each entry within your experience sections, include Job title, name of companyorganization, da

EXamPlEs Relevant Experience Personal Trainer September 2011Present Mitchel Athletic Center, Granville, Ohio Conduct initial evaluation and assessment to identify abilities, needs, and physicalconditionforclientsofvaryingfitnesslevels Developexerciseandstrengthtrainingprogramstomeetspecificrequirements andreachpersonalfitnessgoals Provide information and resources regarding nutrition, weight control, and lifestyle issues Personal TrainerSales Representative Summers 20082011 World Gym, Pullma

honorsactivitiesleadershipspecial skills Highlight what is most pertinent to your career goal. You may want to use specific headings, such as Professional organizations, Computer Skills, or Leadership Positions. Include any honors, scholarships, recognition, or awards that you have received. If you arewere actively involved in any clubs, teams, andor committees while in college, those may also be included. The key to this section is to keep it brief. If you feel you need more detail, use the gui

action words to Describe Your skills accelerate accentuate accomplish achieve act acquire activate adapt address adhere to administer adopt advance advise advocate allocate analyze anticipate apply appoint appraise apprehend approve arrange assess assimilate assist assume attain audit augment authorize avert avoid broaden budget build calculate carry out catalog cause centralize change chart check circulate clarify classify coach collaborate collect combine command commission communicate compile

merit minimize mobilize model moderate modernize modify monitor motivate negotiate nurture observe obtain operate order organize orient originate outline overcome overhaul oversee participate perform persist persuade pinpoint pioneer plan point out pool practice predict prepare present preside prevail prevent print process procure produce program progress project promote propose prove provide publish purchase pursue qualify question reestablish raise realize receive recognize recommend reconcil

communication skills address arbitrate arrange author collaborate convince correspond develop direct draft edit enlist formulate influence interpret lecture mediate moderate negotiate persuade promote publicize reconcile recruit spoke translate research skills organize review summarize survey systematize technical skills instruct persuade stimulate train Detailoriented skills motivate refer rehabilitate represent creative skills assemble build calculate compute configure design devise engin

EXamPlE PaRT 2 MARKETING TOOLS ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR YOUR CAREER 23

EXamPlE 24 ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR YOUR CAREER PaRT 2 MARKETING TOOLS

EXamPlE PaRT 2 MARKETING TOOLS ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR YOUR CAREER 25

EXamPlE 26 ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR YOUR CAREER PaRT 2 MARKETING TOOLS

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EXamPlE 28 ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR YOUR CAREER PaRT 2 MARKETING TOOLS

EXamPlE PaRT 2 MARKETING TOOLS ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR YOUR CAREER 29

markEting tools The Cover Letter The key to a successful job or graduate school search is to effectively communicate with the person who has the ability to hire or admit. Therefore, your cover letter is extremely important. Effective cover letters convey a sense of purpose, project enthusiasm for the position or program, and demonstrate your knowledge of the employer or graduate programs goals and needs. Many times, individuals will spend hours writing a perfect resume and very little time writ

suggested cover letter content Contact Information should look like your resume contact information Your Address City, State Zip Your phone number Date of Writing Name of person to whom you are writing Title Organization or company name Street Address City, State Zip Dear Mr.Ms. Black Address your letter to a specific person, whenever possible. Opening Paragraph Tell why you are writing. Name the position, field, or general area about which you are inquiring. Tell how you learned of the opening

EXamPlE 32 ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR YOUR CAREER PaRT 2 MARKETING TOOLS

markEting tools The Reference Page Carefully choose your references. Do not ask just anyone who knows you or your work habits to be a reference. Find someone with whom you have made a connection someone who can write an accurate and positive recommendation for you. Try to select references who know you from different perspectives. A good mix might include a professor, who can attest to your knowledge base and study habits a supervisor, who knows your work habits, level of responsibility, and y

EXamPlE 34 ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR YOUR CAREER PaRT 2 MARKETING TOOLS

markEting tools Interviewing the interview interviews allow you to State your qualifications Display your strong communication skills interview Preparation and what to Expect Indicate your knowledge of the organization Match your skills to the employers needs End your job search with an excellent offer interviews result from Excellent letters addressed to persons capable of hiring you, highlighting your skills and achievements, and directing the readers to your resume Perfect resumes which cr

Before starting the interview process, identify two or three of your top selling points and determine how you will convey these points during the interview. Develop strong interviewing skills Interviews demand communication skills. Practice Schedule a mock interview in Career Exploration Development Include experience and education in your answers. Prepare questions you will ask the interviewer. attend to details Learn correct name and manner of address i.e., Dr., Mr., Ms., etc. of interviewer.

Questions You can ask at the interview What is the career path for this position Does the organization support ongoing training and education for employees to stay current in their fields How will my leadership responsibilities and performance be measured And by whom How often Can you describe the companys or divisions or departments management style TAkEN IN PART FROM QUINTESSENTIAL CAREERS QUESTIONS YOU CAN ASk AT THE JOB INTERVIEW. SEE FULL LIST OF QUESTIONS AT QUINTCAREERS.COMASkINGINTERVIEW

Design the answer so that your weakness is actually a positive. Be careful when using this type of response, as it may sound insincere. 6. where do you want to be in 5 years Employers want to see that you are thinking about the future. A good way to answer is to identify yourself with the profession you want to get into. Consider incorporating the company that you are interviewing with into your future. 7. what do you know about our company You cannot answer this without researching the company.

How have your college experiences prepared you for a career What qualifications do you have that make you think you will be successful How do you determine or evaluate success What do you think it takes to be successful in an organization like ours In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our organization What qualities should a successful manager possess What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction Why What led you to choose your major field of study Do

industryspecific Questions Even for entrylevel positions, some interviewers will want to get a sense of how much you know about the industry. For example, they might ask you a question like, Can you explain the difference between an investment bank and a commercial bank Questions like this will be much easier to answer if you have done your research and kept uptodate on industryrelated trends. sample Finance interview Questions Finance is a career field that commonly asks industryspecific ques

lems. The two most common are the Guess the Number and Brain Teaser. Example You and I are sitting in an empty room with no telephone, reference books, or computers. Can you tell me how many disposable diapers were sold in the United States last year For more information on case interviews, visit these sites Caseinterviews.com www.mckinsey.comCareersApplyInterviewtips mycareer.deloitte.comusenstudentsgettingthejobcaseinterviewpreptool www.joinbain.comapplytobaininterviewpreparationdefault.asp

other types of interviews tElEPhonE intErviEws Employers use telephone interviews as a method of identifying and recruiting candidates for employment. Telephone interviews are often used as a way to minimize the expenses involved in interviewing outoftown candidates. While actively job or internship searching, it is important to be prepared for a telephone interview at a moments notice. You never know when a recruiter or a networking contact might call and ask if you have a few minutes to talk.

paper ready if you need to take notes. If the entire hiring committee is on the other end of the conference call, you may want to write down each persons name so you can refer to it later. aDDitional hElPFul tiPs Dont smoke, chew gum, or eat. keep a glass of water handy in case you need to wet your mouth. Smile. Smiling will project a positive image to the listener and will change the tone of your voice. Speak slowly and enunciate clearly. Your voice is all you have to form an impression at th

Make sure your computer is fully charged. Turn your phone completely off to avoid any interruptions. Even if your phone is on silent, you may be distracted by incoming text messages during the interview. Be sure to look at the camera, not at the screen. If you look at the screen, it will seem like you are avoiding eye contact. Prepare your surroundings make sure the background consists of a simple, blank wall. Clean off your desk if necessary. Avoid bright patterns such as a floral design or str

legal and illegal Questions lEgal whats legal and what You Dont have to answer Where have you worked before What duties have you performed on past jobs Why are you interested in this organization Tell me about yourself. What education have you completed If a certain level is required for the job. How did you learn about this job Who are people prepared to write or to give a reference for you What is your Social Security number What is your address and phone number What special qualifications d

markEting tools The Thank You Letter The thank you letter is key to effective interview followup Typically sent within 24 hours of the interview, this letter is used to express your appreciation as well as strengthen your candidacy for the position. If it is not feasible to send a thank you to everyone you met during the interview process, then send a thank you to your interview host or to the highest ranking manager you met with, and include a request to extend your thanks to the entire group.

s u g g E s t E D t h a n k Yo u l E t t E r F o r m at Your Street Address City, State Zip Date Name of person you are writing to Title Organization or company name Street address City, State Zip Dear Mr.Ms. Smith First Paragraph Express appreciation for being granted the interview and for the courtesies extended to you by the interviewer. Indicate the job for which you were interviewed, where the interview was conducted, and the date. Perhaps you will want to recall some pleasant incident t

EXamPlE 48 ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR YOUR CAREER PaRT 2 MARKETING TOOLS

markEting tools Negotiating the Job Offer handling the salary issue The topic of salary will probably come up in your selection interviews. Do not bring up the issue of salary and benefits unless the interviewer has already talked to you about the subject or if you are in the negotiating phase. It is a good idea to have a salary range in mind based on your research prior to the interview. Current salaries for a variety of occupations can be found at Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Departmen

why You Didnt get the Job We hope to assure you that many factors can prevent you from getting a job. Some of them you have control over, while others you dont. By controlling those you can, and thinking reasonably about those you cant, your chances of taking a healthy perspective toward the whole jobsearch issue are better. Rejections are part of the process however, by keeping your selfesteem and not rejecting yourself, your opportunity for success in the next interview is that much greater. R

Part three Networking and Informational Interviews PaRT 2 MARKETING TOOLS ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR YOUR CAREER 51

n E t w o r k i n g a n D i n F o r m at i o n a l i n t E r v i E w s Networking Perhaps the largest challenge facing you today is finding that one position that can be labeled as the best fit for you at this stage in your life. Job openings do exist the challenge is finding the one that is right for you and many available jobs are not clearly advertised. The key to tapping into the hidden job market is to network. As a college student, you are at an advantage when it comes to networking. Man

rEsourcEs to EXPlorE Occupational Outlook Handbook www.bls.govooh ONET www.onetonline.org Polishing Your Elevator speech One of the first aspects of networking to master is the creation of your very own elevator speech a versatile speech that can be utilized when connecting with an alumnus via phone or meeting a complete stranger at a networking event. Create a 20second statement about yourself that gives your audience an understanding as to who you are, what you intend to become, and what

s u g g E s t E D l E t t E r o F i n t r o D u c t i o n F o r i n F o r m at i o n a l i n t E r v i E w 54 ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR YOUR CAREER PaRT 3 NETWORKING

n E t w o r k i n g a n D i n F o r m at i o n a l i n t E r v i E w s The Informational Interview getting started before arranging an informational interview Elevator Message A short, scripted declaration to describe yourself to a stranger in the short space of an elevator ride. Speak succinctly about your talents, skills, and goals. Avoid personal information and focus only on relevant information related to your education, interests, skills, values, and career goals. This makes a strong im

This is fine. What can I do for you As I wrote in my letter, Im calling to see if I can arrange a time to speak with you about your career path, your current work, and any advice you might have for me about finding a job or internship. Is this something that you would be willing to do Yes, I would enjoy speaking with you. Thank you Is there a time that works well for you I have a halfhour open next Friday at 1000 a.m. Will that work for you Yes, that is perfect. Is this the best number to call y

What are some specific skills I should be trying to obtain to succeed in this field Is special certification, licensing, or an advanced degree required for your job Personal background and Experience What was your undergraduate major field of study Have you always been interested in this area of study What educational program is recommended as preparation Are any cocurricular activities recommended Did you have any practical experience or training other than college prior to your current job Wha

the informational interview You should approach an informational interview dressed as you would for a regular job interview. That is, dress appropriately. Find out as much as you can about the company beforehand, just as you would for a regular interview. Know what youre going to ask. If you wish, carry notes with you and feel comfortable about taking notes during an informational interview. goals for an informational interview Establish rapport with the interviewer. Let himher know who you are.

Part Four Job Search Resources PaRT 2 MARKETING TOOLS ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR YOUR CAREER 59

components of an Effective Job search have a Plan Decide what you want to do and create a strategy to achieve your goal build a network It really is all about WHO you know Get to know as many relevant alumni and professionals as possible. Networking effectively will make it much easier for you to obtain the job you want. Develop Your marketing material Your resume and cover letter is the most common way to communicate the value you will bring to an organization. How will your resume compar

careershift CareerShift offers comprehensive online resources designed to support the number one request of job seekers an easytouse website to conduct and organize your job search. Get inside contact information immediately, including email addresses, for millions of companies, even alumni, then save and manage your lists. Search, store, and record job listings at all publicly posted websites and newspapers. Upload as many targeted resumes and cover letters needed. Students must register thr

suggested Job search timeline whEn w h at sophomore Junior Year Narrow your potential career path options Obtain leadership roles in targeted student groups and FallSpringSummer volunteer organizations Pursue oncampus jobs related to your career interest Complete an Externship during Winter Break Complete an Internship during Summer Break Arrange a mockinterview to learn what employers expect of you during interviews NETWORk, NETWORk, NETWORk senior Year September October Reflect o

notes PaRT 4 JOB RESOURCES ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR YOUR CAREER 63

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