Job Search: Top 5 Ways to Maintain a Good Reputation

by Moira Srago, M.A.

As we get closer to the end of the school year, you may be wrapping up your job/internship search, or you may just be getting started. Regardless of where you are in the process, it’s important to maintain your reputation with the employers with whom you are interviewing – Silicon Valley is a small place, and you never know where you might bump into that recruiter or hiring manager again! With that said, here are the top 5 ways to ensure that whatever the outcome of your job search you come out the other side looking great!

Internships! How to avoid getting lost in the Black Hole

Contribution by Nathan Parcells, Internmatch.com

Black holes in space consist of collapsed stars where neither sound nor can light escape. In the job world, the term black hole is used when applicants send countless resumes to employers and hear nothing in response.

Few things are more frustrating than spending hours crafting an internship application, only to submit it, and hear nothing back. Fewer than 5% of employers follow-up with every applicant they receive and even fewer communicate the real reasons about why they made the choice they did. While it might seem easy to blame companies for not doing a better job of responding, the reality is that most HR managers are overworked reviewing hundreds of applications every week – so it is up to you to stand out. By learning a bit more about the online application process, you can figure out how to navigate this abyss and make sure you emerge on the other side with a rock-star internship.

Where do all the resumes go?

As you can probably guess, not all internship applications follow the same path. Some employers ask you to apply directly to their email inbox. Others ask for you to apply using a job website like Taleo or InternMatch so that they can save the applications in a database online and share them with other employees in the office. Depending on the size of the employer and how they are accepting applications you need to think up the best strategy to make sure you don’t get overlooked when it comes to decision time.

5 tips to help you land at your ideal destination!

1.) Follow-Up!

The biggest piece of advice we can recommend to avoid getting ignored is to follow-up consistently with an employer after you submit an application. This is an art not a science. Most students are way too hesitant to follow-up with employers even if just to ask what their time frame is on responding or to remind them that you have applied and are excited to get the internship. For best practices see our guide on how to follow-up with employers.

2.) Remove all typos from your resume

Another reason you may not hear back from employers is because they tossed out your resume. One of the most common reasons your resume might get thrown out is because it has typos and grammatical errors. In fact almost 50% of employers that we work with (InternMatch.com) stop reading a resume if they see just one typo! Do double check your resume and check out our resume guide and template for extra help. Also, take advantage of  the SJSU Career Center—they offer resume writing workshops and individual critique sessions.

3.) Be unique

As an employer who has hired many students I can safely say, my job is a lot easier when a particular student breaks the mold. Don’t just spam employers with a standard cover letter, take the extra hour to write something unique. If the employer is on Twitter, then send them a tweet about how excited you are to apply to their company or specific position. If they are coming to your school for a career fair, go and introduce yourself to the recruiting staff. Your hard work will pay off when it comes to decision time.

4.) Don’t use scammy websites to apply for positions!

Top job boards like your Career Center website, Indeed, or InternMatch work hard to make sure every position that is online is up to date and is a high quality position. If you are finding positions by doing a Google search or on Craigslist, you can find some great opportunities but as a rule of thumb the further you go from trusted sites the more likely you are to be applying to a position that has either already closed or doesn’t exist altogether.

5.) Don’t get discouraged.

Last but not least don’t get discouraged. A lot of employers are overwhelmed with applications, so even if you are over qualified for a position you simply might not hear back. If you keep at it and keep improving your application skills you are going to start getting interviews and eventually find a position.

Nathan Parcells is co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer at InternMatch.com. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Nathan joined long-time friend and co-founder, Andrew Maguire in starting InternMatch to build a better way for students to find interesting internships. Nathan has spoken at countless universities including Stanford and the University of Washington and been featured in publications including WSJ and Business Insider on how students can break through a tough job market and find careers they love. Feel free to email him with questions at nathan@internmatch.com.

Nonprofit Careers by Idealist

Dear readers, if you can not make the Careers in Nonprofit event today (2-4pm @ the SJSU Ballroom). Feel free to check out the tips outlined by Idealist.org. This is the presentation which they will deliver today! Best of luck on your job or internship search. The SJSU Career Center Team.

Sjsu march 2012 for pdf (1)

View more presentations from msrago

How to land a Non-Profit job!

Interview by: Moira Srago, Employment Specialist

We recently interviewed Kara Montermoso, HR and Operations Manager for Idealist.org, one of the best sites for finding and exploring careers in the nonprofit sector.  Kara shared her top tips to help you get started in the field and we’ve outlined them in this post. If you want more information or would like to meet with Kara about opportunities, be sure to attend the Career Center’s upcoming Nonprofit and Public Service forum on March 14^{th  (2-4pm Student Union Ballroom)} ! There will be 30 organizations present to help you connect with your ideal non-profit position.

1.  What should a student consider as they explore a career in the nonprofit sector?

No matter what sector you want to work in, know thyself!  The nonprofit sector is vast. While the term “nonprofit” may at first conjure up images of animal shelters and soup kitchens (and we love those!), nonprofits also encompass many types of schools, research and policy institutions, foundations, as well as a host of organizations that address specific community needs.

Summary: The term “nonprofit” encompasses many different types of organizations! Assess your interests are as you explore!

2.What is unique about the nonprofit job search?

Kara:Nonprofit organizations are almost universally very mission-driven. They are passionate about their issue and the ways in which they choose to address that issue. So while finding a candidate with the appropriate skills and knowledge for a particular position are important, a candidate’s passion, energy and engagement with an organization’s mission is often also a point of consideration.

Finding an organization whose mission, structure and culture is a good fit will definitely have an impact on your sense of satisfaction. Nonprofits, just like any other industry, are not all alike. Smaller organizations can sometimes have a “start-up” type feel and you may be asked to wear many hats and chip in throughout the organization. Sometimes that may feel limiting due to a lack of resources. Larger, more established organizations may have a lot of brand recognition that opens up opportunities in terms of program reach, envisioning career paths or finding mentors, but they may also feel bureaucratic or hierarchical.

Summary: Know your values and that of the organization you want to work for…do they match?

3. How can students get their foot in the door?

Kara: Volunteer work and internships are often a great way to get your foot in the door. Not only will you gain some exposure into how a particular nonprofit may operate and its unique work culture, but we’ve also heard from hiring managers that if you are already engaged in the nonprofit sector, that can make your resume stand out.

It is also valuable to stay in the loop in a community of nonprofit professionals. Such groups provide local and national resources for those looking to get into the nonprofit sector as well as support for each others’ work once you are with an organization. Alumni groups and the Young Nonprofits Professionals Network can be good places to connect. Check out the local Bay Area group here.

Summary:  Volunteer work, internships and professional networks are a great way to start your career!

4. What are the top things students can do to set themselves apart from other candidates?

Kara:

Write a great cover letter. This does not mean that your cover letter has to be long, overly detailed or portray you in a glowing light. Great cover letters are succinct, highlight how one’s skills/knowledge will bring value or fill a need for the organization, and illustrate why you want to work for that particular organization (i.e. demonstrate passion for the issue).

Do your homework. Show up at an interview knowing that organization’s main areas of focus and their related programs. Have some knowledge about how their mission relates to current events. Be prepared to talk about your past work experiences and provide examples of successes and challenges. Hiring managers will want to know that you are serious about the organization’s mission and they also want to know how you work on your own and with others.

Ask questions. An interview is an opportunity for an organization to find out if you are a good fit for them, and it’s also a chance for you to see if they are a good fit for you.

Depending on the position it may be appropriate to come in with an idea or two that you might want the organization to consider. You could say something like, “I was wondering if you’ve ever thought about _________ as an outreach strategy as that might _________.” This may be another way to demonstrate that you are taking the organization and their mission seriously.

Say thank you. Politeness can go long way. I wouldn’t say that a thank you note/email will make or break your chances of being hired, but it can’t hurt.

Additional resources: Idealist has two great (and free!) resources for first time job seekers and sector switchers.  These resources cover everything from self-assessment, research strategies, resume/cover letter writing to salary negotiation in the non-profit world.  Also be sure to check out their Career Guide.

About Kara Montermoso HR & Operations Manager

Action Without Borders/Idealist.org

Kara’s experience in the nonprofit sector has spanned over 15 years and various roles, including: Development, Program and Project Management, website User Experience and Support, and Administration. Eight years ago, after briefly flirting with a career in the Culinary Arts and obtaining her license in Massage Therapy, Kara landed at Idealist. After completing her Professional in Human Resource (PHR) certification, she now supports an amazing staff and builds community among nonprofit HR professionals.

Get Your Competitive Edge!

By Anita Manuel, Program Manager

Welcome back SJSU students! We have some essential tips to making your time at SJSU successful and productive. It’s no secret that these are competitive times. You have a lot on your plate and the last thing you need is to worry about how to fight the competition for a part time job, internship or career opportunity. So, be sure to connect with the Career Center so that we can help you eliminate your competition and reach your goals.
Top 3 Reasons to Connect with the Career Center:

1. Get VIP Access

Part of getting you an edge on the competition is to have exclusive access to employers.  So we actually bring the employers to you!  We host weekly events on-campus where registered SJSU students can meet directly with employers for internships, jobs, and part-time opportunities related to various majors. We also have an exclusive job/internship database—SpartaJobs, which is only available to current SJSU students and registered alumni (meaning this information is not shared with other students or groups outside of SJSU).  SpartaJobs has more than 1258 open positions, NOW!  If you want to take full advantage of VIP Access then be sure to attend one of our Job Fair Success Workshops (available live & online) to get Early Bird access to our Job & Internship Expo on March 8th (@the Event Center).
2. Tap into Insider Information

When you register with the Career Center you are able to select various ways to receive our most current information on jobs, internships and events related to your major or interest. The only way to receive these email or text notifications is to access your free account online with us. Once you are registered with the Career Center you can also set up e-notifications for results of your targeted job search criteria and results will be sent to you as often as you’d like. Remember, only registered SJSU students have access to our SpartaJobs database, job fairs and on-campus events which means that the employers we connect with want to specifically recruit SJSU students. We also share the latest tips and hot jobs through our social media networks so be sure to like our Facebook Fanpage, Twitter feed (@sjsucareercntr), and Blog.
3. Find your Career Jedi

And finally, the most important reason to connect with us…find your own personal Career Jedi.! We have a team of very talented and dedicated career counselors who specialize by major/college and can help you develop your personal career strategy. No matter where you are in the process: from choosing a major to finding a career path to writing a resume and job search tips, we are happy to schedule an appointment with you to help you reach your goals. We also offer various workshops to help you perfect certain skills: resume writing, job search, interviewing and many more…check our career calendar for dates and times.
Remember, you are not alone! There may be a lot of competition out there but we are confident that we can help you stand out from the crowd and impress employers with your knowledge and skills. So what are you waiting for? Get your edge on!

Anita has worked in the career counseling and higher education field for the past 10 years.  She has worked in the recruiting field as well as internship program management for higher education.  Anita works with students on all career related topics and specializes in development of creative programs to support career education.

Tis’ the season to network!

by Anita Manuel, M.A.Program Manager & Career Counselor

You’ve heard it a million times.   The best way to get a job or internship is through your network.  But, where to begin?  In the past two weeks I’ve attended several networking meetings, mixers and also presented workshops on networking and I have to say there a few themes that standout in making the whole “networking” experience successful.

1. Don’t make it complicated.  Networking is just a fancy word for talking to people you already know and developing new relationships.  It’s about connecting with your current friends, family members and colleagues but with the intention of letting them know what it is you are looking for and asking for their assistance in reaching that goal.

2. Pay it forward. The people who I met over the last two weeks that were most memorable or unique were the ones who actually cared about what my needs were as well as sharing their needs with me.  In other words, it’s not all about you!  Kindness and generosity go a long way.   The holidays are perfect time to reconnect with people in your current network and thank them for their support or their friendship.  In return, they will ask what you are up to–and this is your chance to share what you are seeking.  Example:

You:  “Hey Uncle John, it’s so good to see you.  How’ve you been?  I loved seeing your family photos on Facebook.  How are things with work and your family?

Uncle John:  “Oh thanks for asking…things are going great and I’m super busy trying to juggle work and being a new dad. What are you up to, how’s school?

You:  “Wow, I can imagine you have a lot on your plate.  If you ever need a break I’m happy to babysit sometime (offering something first!).  School’s actually going really well and I love my XYZ class.  Only challenge is now that I know what I really like I’m not sure how to get an internship or some experience.  How did you get started in your career? (asking for information second!)

Uncle John: “I totally understand.  What kind of internship are you looking for? You know what, our company hires HR interns OR…”you know what I have a good buddy who works in HR, I can connect you two if you want…”

Simple, but you just networked!

3. Make time to reach out.  I hear many people say, “I just don’t have time to network.”  Truth is…You do! Are you on Facebook?  Are you on LinkedIn? Do you tweet?  Social networking has made it very easy to connect and stay in touch.  Once you reconnect with some people on-line be sure to make some time to meet in person.  Social networking is great, but face-to face networking is still important to making meaningful relationships.  Plus, it’s the holidays, everyone is home or visiting and it’s the perfect time to meet up with people in your network

4. How do I meet new people? This by far is the hardest part of the networking process—making new contacts.  The key is to identify what you are looking for and figure out what you might have in common with other people.  As a student the number one thing you have in common with a large base of people is your university affiliation.  That’s right, the best group of people to reach out to is alumni.  Alumni have an understanding of what you are going through as a student, have professional connections and are willing to help you learn more about their careers and offer advice.  Go to www.linkedin.com today, make your profile (it’s easy and free) and then join some groups related to your major and field of interest.  If you search for SJSU in the group search box you will find over 100 SJSU related groups that are open to SJSU students.  These group forums post discussions on industry trends, job and internship opportunities and offer you a way to connect with “your people.”  **Remember, this is a professional network, it’s not Facebook, keep it clean and professional.

5. Say thank you and follow up!  If you do meet new people take the initiative to follow up with them and thank them for their time or shared resources.  Again, of those people that I met over the last two weeks the ones that I remember and want to continue to support in my network were those who sent me an email or follow up message.  The super stars also shared something helpful related to what I had stated I was seeking…for example, an interesting article or name of a person I should follow up with.  You can be sure that in the future I will not only remember who they are but will do my best to be helpful to them as well.

 Feeling inspired to connect? Check out these networking groups and resources:

 www.linkedin.com

www.meetup.com

www.workit.com

www.everycricle.com

Anita has worked in the career counseling and higher education field for the past 10 years.  She has worked in the recruiting field as well as internship program management for higher education.  Anita works with students on all career related topics and specializes in development of creative programs to support career education.

Top 5 tips for Job Fair Success!

Follow these tips in preparation for the Job & Internship Fair this Tuesday, Oct. 4 (12-4pm) @ the Event Center.  134 employers eager to meet with SJSU students and alumni. (Please bring your current SJSU tower card or career center membership card (for alumni) for admittance).

1. Do your homework! Research employers that will be attending the fair. Who are the top 5-10 employers that you want to speak with?  Be certain to review their websites, the positions they are recruiting for (available on SpartaJobs), and check for any recent news articles about the company.  Know what the organization does, who their customers are, what their mission is, and what (if applicable) their products are.  This will help you with tips 2 and 3!
2. Prepare targeted resumes! Using the information you gathered from your research, prepare targeted resumes for each of the organizations you are interested in speaking with.  Utilize class projects, volunteer work, internships and part time work to demonstrate how your skills match their position. Need help?  Check out our 8 minute resume tutorial for tips and sample resumes! And don’t forget to prepare some general resumes for employers you connect with that may not be on your top 5-10 list.
3. Practice your one minute commercial! Do you know what you want to say when you get in front of an employer?  The one minute commercial will help you to briefly share with an employer your interest in their organization, and how you can add value.  Your research will help you to tailor your experience to their organization.  Remember, this is a way to start a conversation, not a speech to be memorized.  Watch for nonverbal cues from the employer to indicate when to take a breath and let the employer ask you a question. Keep in mind, the question they ask will likely relate to the information you were planning on sharing!  Need help with your one minute commercial or want to see an example?  Check out our online Job Fair Success Workshop.  Log into SpartaJobs at www.careercenter.sjsu.edu for access.
4. Dress the part! Part of presenting yourself to an employer is ensuring that your appearance is polished and professional.  That means business or business casual dress, neat hair and nails, and no perfume or cologne. Leave your backpack at home and instead organize your materials (resume, cover letter, calendar and Tower Card) in a professional folder. For more tips on professional dress check out http://www.careercenter.sjsu.edu/students/launch/Business_etiquette/dress4success/dress4success.html
5. Take a deep breath! Remember, employers who are attending the fair are interested in networking and getting to know you!  While you may not receive a job offer at the fair, this is an opportunity to make an impression and put a face with your resume.  Take a deep breath, shake off your nerves and approach your top employers one at a time.  Be certain to thank each employer before moving on and ask for a way to follow up.  This way you can send a thank you email to each employer after the fair.

Once the fair is over, set up a system to keep track of follow up activities like thank you notes, positions you have applied for online, and next steps.  If you need additional help with your job or internship search, make an appointment with one of our career consultants by logging into SpartaJobs and clicking “request a counseling appointment”. We’re here to help you succeed!
Best of luck at the fair!