Simmons College

Informational interviews can play an integral role in your job search! You create the opportunity to talk with people to gain a better understanding of your field of interest and at the same time create an opportunity to market yourself and "get known" to employers   (It's not surprising that hiring managers prefer to hire people who they know, or someone who they trust knows!).  What is an informational interview?  It is a half-hour meeting for which you prepare questions in advance and ask for career information, advice and referrals.  The purpose is NOT to ask for a job, but to research an industry, organization, or job role.

The benefits are many!  You gain an "insider's view" of the workplace, find out where you fit, and clarify your next steps. In addition you learn about skills needed to be effective and discover new opportunities.  All this with the added bonus of building your confidence for a job interview! 

Of course staying in touch after your meeting is key so that the employer will remeber you when an opportunity comes up. Keep your job search moving forward and enjoy meeting interesting professionals who are more than willing to help you by sharing information and advice. To get started, go to the CEC website featuring "How To" resources on networking and informational interviews. Also check out the Quint Careers tutorial on informational interviews and then consider setting up an appointment with a career coach.

For many job candidates, the first step in the interview process is a telephone interview which is typically a screening interview.  If you do well, you will be invited to an in-person meeting.  Given its importance, you need to prepare for the phone interview the same way you prepare for an interview conducted in-person: 

• Research the organization, the job and the interviewer.
• Prepare to answer typical interview questions and prepare questions to ask.
• Analyze the job description so you can speak to how your skills and experience are a good match.  For example, if the job requirements mention criteria  like "organizational skills" or "collaboration with team members", be ready to give examples of how you have demonstrated these behaviors in the past.

One advantage of a telephone interview is the ability to have the job description and your notes in front of you as a reminder of what you plan to say.  However, a major disadvantage is the inability to see the facial expression or read the body language of the interviewer as you respond to the questions.   It's important to be as prepared as possible to off-set this disadvantage.  Here are ten tips: 

 

Before the interview:

1. Obtain the names and job functions of the people who will be conducting your interview.  You will be better able to anticipate particular questions and you can address participants by name.

2.  Secure a private space where you'll have no distractions and good phone service.

3.  Dress for success.  The right clothes will put you in a professional state of mind.

During the interview:

4. Stand when you speak to better project your voice.

5. Smile as you answer. It will encourage you to demonstrate enthusiasm and interest in your tone of voice.

6.  Listen carefully to the questions, and jot down a quick note if needed.

7.  If you are unsure of the interviewer's response to your answer, inquire if they need more information.

8.  When the interviewer concludes the interview, affirm your strong interest in the position and your appreciation for the interviewer's time and the opportunity to interview.

After the interview:

9.  Send a thank you letter, just as you would after an in-person interview.

10.  Reflect on your interview and make a note of questions you found challenging or ways you could improve for the next time you have a telephone interview.

 

Remember that interviewing is a skill that you can learn.  Reviewing the resources in the Prepare to Interview section of the Career Toolkit will assist you.

You can also schedule a practice interview with a Career Coach.  Check out the Guidelines for Practice Interviews to get started.

Photo: Courtesy accentpersonnel.com/istockphoto

 

Whether you are an undergrad looking for a summer internship, your first entry-level job after graduation or a graduate student, be sure to attend the Simmons Spring Career & Internship Fair, Wednesday, March 27 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm in the LKP Paresky.  Forty employers from across several industries will be on campus with a multitude of job and internship positions! For more info and links visit the Spring Career & Internship Fair event page, which has a list of all employers who will be attending and also provides helpful career fair tune-up tips and videos.  As always, contact the CEC with any questions at 617-521-2488 or careers@simmons.edu. See you at the fair! 

Do you want "just in time" access to a wealth of career information and advice? Then click on www.simmons.edu/cec to begin exploring the Career Toolkit. You can quickly zero in on information that you need NOW and find tools helpful in preparing for your career. Check out the topics below!

Assess Who You Are
Understanding yourself is the first step in identifying a good career fit. Learn about your values, interests, personality traits, and personal and professional goals.

Explore Majors & Careers
High-quality information leads to good decisions about your major and career path. Learn about online resources and gathering information from professionals in your field of interest.

Are you interviewing for a job or conducting an informational interview to explore a career possibility?  When it comes to interviewing, there's truth in that old adage, "You never get a second chance to make a good first impression".  Just how long do you have to make that first impression?  Statistically about 10 seconds.  That's the amount of time that the average person takes to make a first appraisal.  Much of that impression is at a subconscious level, and almost all of it based on appearances since your dress and grooming are the first things people notice about you.

What is appropriate dress for an interview?  Most professional job interviews call for wearing professional dress. Take cues from the work environment for variations on the professional dress theme.  For example, a classic navy suit would be fine in a traditional office setting, while a softly tailored dress would be appropriate in the more informal environment of a social services agency.  When in doubt about what to wear - dress up.  Even if you know that the employee dress code is very casual, it's appropriate to dress professionally for an interview.  You're not an employee until you're hired.  On the other hand, informational interviews are considered less formal so business casual would be appropriate.  

Whether it's a job interview, or an informational interview, be thoughtful in deciding on your interview look.  You want to be remembered for what you say, not for what you wear.  For suggestions on both professional dress and business casual, review the Professional Attire document, which includes photographs, on the CEC's Career Toolkit.  

 

Majoring in Public Health and looking to find out what careers it can lead to?  Need information on choosing your major?  The Beatley Library now has new online library guides available on these and other topics.

In addition to many existing library guides, new guides are now available on the following career topics:

• Choosing a Major
• Careers in Public Health
• Interviewing
• Working Abroad

A full list of the library career guides is available on the CEC website.  Take a look to find out more today!

 

OK, so you may be just settling into those fall semester classes and not thinking too much about jobs right now. And, admittedly, the Army is not coming this time around.

But we do have a number of other exciting employers and their recruiters looking to meet with and hire Simmons students over the coming weeks of the fall semester. Here's a look ahead at the line-up of upcoming recruitment events, both on- and off-campus:

ON-CAMPUS

10/4 (Thu), AT&T
Info Table (11-2, Fens Lobby) and Info Session (4-5 pm, M-106)
Reps from America's first and foremost telecommunications firm will discuss their acclaimed Business Sales Leadership Development Program. A recent college graduate and current program participant will be in attendance.                                           

10/18 (Thu), PEACE CORPS
Info Table (11-2, Fens Lobby) and Info Session (4-5 pm, M-106)
Meet with representatives from the Peace Corps and learn all about America's overseas action corps. Includes anticipated cameo appearance at Info Session by special campus celebrity. . .   

10/22 (Mon), TEACH FOR AMERICA
Info Table (11-2, Fens Lobby) and Info Session (4-5 pm, M-106)
New on campus this year! Come learn about opportunities and the application process for positions with America's teaching corps, Teach for America.

OFF-CAMPUS

10/3 (Wed), NORTHEASTERN CAREER FAIR
4-6 pm - Over 200 employers registered to attend - Simmons students welcome!

10/17 (Wed), BU CAREER FAIR
10:30 am - 3:30 pm - 75-100 employers expected - Simmons students welcome!

10/24 (Wed), CCCOB COMMUNICATIONS CAREERS INFORMATION EXCHANGE  
5:30-7:30 pm - Roundtable career exploration event with reps from local firms in advertising, PR, social media, publishing, TV and radio, more. The six schools in the CCCOB (College Career Centers of Boston)  co-produce the event: BC, BU, Emerson, Emmanuel, Simmons, Suffolk. At Suffolk University, 120 Tremont (steps away from the Park Street Green Line stop).

So here's your chance to get out of the classroom and meet and greet these recruiters, looking to talk with YOU!  For more info on any of these events, visit the CEC website EVENTS page. For more info on how best to prepare for these events, you can start with the Career Toolkit on the CEC website or contact the CEC to make an appointment with a career coach at 617-521-2488 or careers@simmons.edu.

Good luck!

The ability to articulate your goals and skills, an understanding of the employment market, and a well planned job search campaign put you in charge.  Follow these steps:

1. Know Yourself

Focus on being able to articulate your strengths and goals.  How can you seek a position if  you don't know what you want from a job and what you have to offer prospective employers?  Self-assessment provides invaluable  information for your career decision-making and prepares you to market yourself successfully!

2. Research the Options

Research the industry, companies and roles you plan to pursue so your options are clear.  The more you are able to identify your target positions, the more likely you will be to end up there!  Avoid the shotgun approach of applying randomly to job postings.  Check out Beatley's Career Guide on Exploring Careers to learn more about online resources and effective approaches for gathering information from professionals in the fields in which you are interested.

3. Create a Strategic Plan

This plan will be your compass to guide you in managing your job search process.  However, targeting an ideal job is too limiting.  Broaden your scope and create strategic Plans A and B.  Have a back-up plan if your are unable to implement Plan A or B within your timeline.  If you haven't met with a CEC career coach, plan to arrange a meeting for help developing your plan.

Note: Begin this process 9-12 months before your target date to be employed since on the average it takes 6-9 months or more to land a job!

 

Are you an English major? You'll like what you read. Are you a Math major? No problem. Exercise Science? You're in good shape. Need information on a career topic such as Resumes and Cover Letters? We've got you covered.

Starting in January, 2012, Simmons' Beatley Library embarked on an ambitious program to  completely overhaul, re-format, and update their online guides. And among these are the nearly 50 lib guides, as they are called, focused solely on careers.

Over thirty of the career guides are grouped under "Careers By Discipline." All undergrads and graduate students will find something tailored to their needs.

Another dozen guides are clustered under "Career Topics," including those mentioned above  plus Career Exploration, Graduate School Planning, Job Hunting Online, and many more.

And now there is a simple index to these guides on the CEC site. Found on the Library Resources page, you can see all the guides arrayed alphabetically within the two groups and just one click away,

And that's just the beginning. Once you get into each guide you'll find a wealth of information and resources to assist you, with tabs in each discipline-specific guide for What Can I Do With This Major, Internships, Graduate School, Finding a Job, and more. All of the guides are constantly being reviewed and updated by the research librarians on the Beatley staff, experts in the different disciplines.

So whether you are a first-year or sophomore looking to explore majors and potential career paths they might lead to, a junior or senior thinking about internships, a grad student considering how to undertake that impending post-degree job search, or an alum seeking access to targeted job boards in your field, your one-stop career resource shopping starts here.