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.

It's the Monday after graduation, the strains of Pomp and Circumstance have faded and the inspirational speeches, and happiness of commencement day have left you with a warm afterglow .  Life after college has offically begun.  For some new grads, graduate school, law school or medical school is in your immediate future.  For others, post undergraduate education lies farther afield, with finding a job your more urgent goal.  

No matter what your circumstances, as new grads you will be the recipient of much well-meaning advice.  While it's important to "find and pursue your passion" as we say in career services, it also can be helpful to ponder some real world suggestions about life.  Professor Jeff DeGraff, University of Michigan shares a few in The Graduation Speech I Didn't Give.

As for career advice or help with a job search, don't forget that as a Simmons alum you continue to have access to career coaching and resources at the CEC. Be sure to check out all the alumnae/i services and resources provided through the Career Education Center.

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Well, seniors - classes and exams are finished, it's Senior Week, the family's coming to town at the end of the week, and it's all over this Friday, so. . .C-O-N-G-R-A-T-U-L-A-T-I-O-N-S! Woo hoo! You made it.

So now what? Following on from Roxanne's previous post linking to a great compendium of advice for graduating seniors is this article. It comes from the US News & World Report's Money section "On Careers" column and carries an eyes-wide-open message:

"The good news is that this year's graduates are predicted to fare better than those graduating in previous years have. According to a recent Job Outlook survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, employers plan to hire 13 percent more new college graduates than they did last year from the Class of '12. The bad news is we are still in a competitive job market. It is going to require more work and effort to land that first job out of college. Spraying and praying your résumé all over isn't enough."

What to do? Not to worry, says Career Sherpa Hannah Morgan, whose no-nonsense advice includes eight key tips. Here's a sample:

"Get real. You are not likely to land your dream job right out of college. In fact, your first several jobs are stepping stones. Learn from each experience what you like to do and what you don't. Don't hold out for the "perfect" job. The longer you are out of work, the tougher it may be. Build skills and experience any chance you can get." 

Love it. Read the entire piece here. And if you are still feeling pre-graduation jitters - or even post-graduation, for that matter - come in and visit us at the CEC, ground floor SOM/Academic building. That's what we're here for. We'll leave the light on for you.

PS If you haven't yet filled out the Class of 2013 Commencement Survey, join over 200 of your classmates and  take five minutes to complete it now - thanks.

Photo: Courtesy UndercoverRecruiter.com 

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.

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Well, it's that time of year and that time of your college career: you are a senior and you are about to graduate - yikes! Where did those four years go? And now you need a job. 

First piece of advice: don't panic! Check out this article for college seniors from career website QuintCareers founder Dr. Randall Hansen, who says: "Your job-search plan -- which you should develop and implement as soon as possible -- includes all the sources of job leads you intend to use, including informational interviews, your network of contacts, career services office, college professors, job fairs, job boards, and cold-calling. It also includes all the activities you need to accomplish before starting your job-search, such as polishing your resume and prepping for job interviews." 

In the article Hansen also recommends that college seniors visit their career services office - brilliant advice!  You've got terrific resources at your dipsosal right here at Simmons, starting with the CEC website but also including in-person coaching and the deep career resources found  on the Beatley Library website. The Careers section of the Library Guides houses dozens of guides within it either tailored to your major or on key career topics, such as Job Hunting Online, each with multiple links and articles to get you headed in the right direction.

Still don't know where to start? Need a friendly voice to talk to? Then contact the CEC and set up an appointment with a career coach. We're here for you - and now's the time! 

Photo: Courtesy Boston.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! 

Juniors and Seniors:

• Do you have questions about what to include on your resume and what to leave out?
• Are you puzzled about "accomplishment statements" and need help in writing them?
• Had you planned to get some feedback on your resume but couldn't find the time? 

You're in luck - the Resume Tune Up is here at the CEC!

Drop by Room M 106 on Thursday, March 21 from 10am to 4pm to get the help you need.  Meet with a career professional to make sure your resume is the best it can be before applying for a job or internship.

Still haven't written your resume, but want to get started? Learn how to stand out in a sea of resumes - Review the resume writing resources and sample resumes on Write a Resume, then create your draft and come to the Resume Tune Up!

 With commencement less than 3 months away, many seniors have already started their job search, but others may be wondering how to begin. The first step in any job search is to be clear about what you want to do and be able to answer this question: "What are you looking for?"  A specific answer to that question becomes your job target.

If your answer is fairly general and hovers somewhere between "I don't know" and "something related to my major", begin by doing self-assessment and then follow up with some career exploration activities as outlined on the CEC Career Toolkit.

If your answer is more specific such as, "I'm looking for a communications position in the healthcare industry ", you'll want to uncover the various types of communications positions in the healthcare industry that are a good match to your interests and strengths.  Once you've done some online research, conduct informational interviews with contacts in the field to help you further clarify your answer.  Learn more about informational interviewing, and take the tutorial, by checking out Optimize Your Networking on the Career Toolkit.

A successful job search begins with clarity - a job target that includes a specific function, a specific industry and a specific geopgraphic location.  Once you can fill in the blanks and say, "I'm looking for a _____________(name of  position) in the _________ (name of) industry in _______________ (geographic location).", then you've taken the first step.

Get started on the NEXT STEPS in the job search, and download the CEC's Job Search Check List!

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.

Career coaches consistently tout the benefits of internships to our students; however, the best advocates for this experience are the students who have had an internship themselves. 

English, History, Modern Languages, Philosophy, and Women & Gender Studies majors enrolled in the internship course for their major, also took Humanities 370, a career course taught by the CEC.  Here's what a few of those students had to say about their internship experience this fall:

"It helped me become more confident in my overall abilities.  Working for a non-profit organization, you're asked to work on a myriad of projects.  It can be overwhelming, but I learned how to manage my work and finish it with time to spare.  I surpassed my own expectations and it gave me confidence to pursue anything I desire in the future." Veronica Kildare, English 2013.