Actual Recruiter Feedback: What impression am I making via nonverbal interaction?

By Marie Haraburda

You can’t “not communicate” even if you try. Besides what you say and how you say it, others gain information and form opinions about you by how you look and what you do, by the way you smell whether it’s of fine cologne or spicy foods, whether or not you are punctual or tardy, and with every communication via resume, letter, and email. So, how do you impress a recruiter?

Here are some tips directly taken from survey feedback the UCSO has received from recruiters recently:

Demonstrate professional business writing skills.

• Thoroughly proofread and spellcheck any communication you send to recruiters.
• Don’t ever send a thank you or any communication via phone.
• Texting a recruiter is not the same as texting your friends; never spell “you” as “u.”

Follow through on commitments you make.

• For information sessions that require advance sign-up: Consider this like signing up for an “interview,” and if you sign up, please attend. If you sign-up and don’t attend, recruiters get a negative impression of you.

Make a positive first impression.

• Print your resume on “nice” paper – you will stand out from your peers!

Need help with writing a professional resume, cover letter, or thank you letter? Visit the UCSO Website and make a coach appointment today!

Got an Interview? Here are Some Tips for Researching the Company

By Marie Haraburda

You’ve worked hard this semester to develop your job search strategy early in the game – you revised your resume, had a UCSO Career Coach review it – you practiced your small talk and networking skills, and attended career fairs and industry days – and now you have an interview!

Congratulations! But don’t drop the ball now! So, what’s next?

Make sure you take the time to research the Industry and Company thoroughly before the interview, so that you come across as “interested” and “motivated.” In recent years, recruiters have provided feedback to the UCSO that some students were not very well informed about company or industry events.

Basic information, such as past year company revenues, core values, products, services, and locations, is easy to find on company Websites when you Google it. But for more in-depth information, you’ll want to use additional UCSO resources, such as:

• HIRE ED: This service is free, and gives you a ten-minute consultation with an “information expert” who will provide you with the company and industry research knowledge to help you “ACE” your interview! Make an appointment now via email at hireed@indiana.edu
• Vault: This resource is available on the UCSO Website at ucso.indiana.edu and gives you the “inside scoop” from others who have worked at the company.
• Kelley InCircle: Also available at ucso.indiana.edu, provides a way to build a relationship and network with a Kelley Alum who might be working for the company where you desire to work. There are approximately 108 “Student Career Advisors” available via this network, and they welcome your questions about their careers, companies, and community!

So, get going; do your research, “WOW" them at the interview with your vast knowledge and thought-provoking questions, and get that internship or full-time offer you’ve been dreaming of!

Networking Events Revealed

By: Chandler Smith

Office Hours? Meet and Greet? Info Session? Industry Days? Career Fair?

Every good Kelley upperclassman, and the ambitious underclassman, has a planner full of these elusive networking events. Recruiting season is in full swing and from the number of on-campus networking events, it seems like some recruiters live in Bloomington. We know it’s important to attend all these events but when thinking about them two questions come to mind: What is it and what do I wear?

Let’s break it down.

Office Hours
What is it? Office Hours for a company are a lot like office hours with your professors. Come and enjoy open networking in a more quiet and relaxed environment than at a Presentation or Career fair. It’s best if you come with information about the company and their positions so you can discuss job specifics, ask questions, and have a good conversation rather than listen to a mini presentation.

What do I wear? Office Hours are casual so you can wear nice casual clothes. Don’t come in the outfit you slept in the night before but jeans and a nicer top are perfect.

Meet and Greet
What is it? Meet and Greets are casual like Office Hours but are a little more informational. As the name suggests, they provide an opportunity for you to get to know a little about the company and the kind of people who work there. You can come prepared with questions specific to a title or to generally inquire about the company.

What do I wear? The rules for Office Hours apply here.

Info Session
What is it? Info Sessions are presentations about the company and their offered positions followed by open networking. They generally last around an hour and you should expect to stay for the whole event. Some are more formal than others and they may include food. Be sure to bring something to take notes with so you can use what you learned in conversation with recruiters and interviews.

What do I wear? Conservative Business Casual, think suit without the jacket.

Note: For more conservative companies you should wear a suit. When in doubt, wear it and you can always take off the jacket.

Industry Days
What is it? Industry Days are a great way to learn about multiple companies in one event. Each company will give a short presentation followed by open networking at the end. Like Info Sessions, be prepared to stay for the entire event.

What do I wear? Conservative Business Casual- Business Professional

Note: Many people stay for the presentations and leave right after. Take the time to talk to the recruiters without the long lines of Career Fairs and Presentations.

Career Fair
What is it? I like to think of Career Fairs like Disney World (minus the rides). Each company has an information booth with a few recruiters. You wait in line to talk with recruiters from the companies you’re interested in like you would wait to get your picture with Mickey Mouse. Career Fairs are the prime opportunity for you to talk to representatives from more than one company in a single event. However, since there are so many students at Career Fairs it is vital you research companies in advance to have an educated and memorable conversation.

What do I wear? Business Professional, suit up my friends!

Now that you know what to expect, get out there and network like a champion!

Let Go of the Elevator Speech at Career Fairs; Make Introductions a Two-Way Street!

By Marie Haraburda

Many of you have learned to develop an “elevator speech” in preparation for networking events such as career fairs. The word “speech” though gives the impression that you are expected to memorize five minutes of information about yourself to recite non-stop in one breath to each recruiter you meet. This is not true! So, it’s time we dispel this misconception right now!

Before you speak with recruiters, you need to decide what information you will use to create your personal brand to market yourself to recruiters. What skills and experience will be of value and interest to recruiters? Why are you a great fit for their company? What accomplishments make you stand out from your peers? This information gathering process has been called an Elevator Speech, but it's important to go beyond this step, and learn how to introduce yourself to recruiters in a conversational but professional style.

Practicing your professional small talk skills with a career coach helps you to get comfortable talking about yourself in a professional context -- and thinking about your personal “brand” – the information that distinguishes you from others, and that you want the recruiter to take away from your conversation. Let’s face it, career fairs and networking opportunities can be stressful, and stress makes concentration difficult, so practicing with a career coach before these events makes sense.

A UCSO career coach helps you get from Elevator Speech-maker to Professional Conversationalist so that you are ready to meet with recruiters and exchange information in a smooth and comfortable “sharing” kind of way. Just like conversations with peers or professors, remember to take a breath and pause to give the other person a chance to interject and speak.

Recruiters are people, too, so go ahead and ask questions about their careers, the company, or the industry as a whole; have a business conversation. It’s imperative that you research the company, the industry, and available positions beforehand so that you don’t come across as unprepared or uninterested. Doing your homework on your personal brand, your target companies, the industries, and positions all demonstrate to recruiters how motivated you are to work with their company, and leaves them with a positive, professional impression of you!

What Recruiters Want Candidates to Know

It is common knowledge that you have a very short amount of time to make a positive impression when you or your resume gets in front of a potential employer…typically five minutes or less. Improve your chances by knowing what recruiters really want…

Top 5 Candidate Actions Recommended by Recruiters

Only apply for positions where you meet most of the qualifications (53% of recruiters selected this as one of their top five)

Tailor your resume to the job (53% of recruiters selected in their top five)

Be more specific in examples of your previous experience in interviews (52% of recruiters selected in their top five)

Read the job description before applying (47% of recruiters selected in their top five)

Proofread application materials (44% of recruiters selected in their top five)

Read more from this About.com Job Searching article, by Alison Doyle.

Tips for a Successful Career Fair Experience-A Student's Point of View

Student 2 Student

By: Paige Babala
Paige is a Senior majoring in Marketing & International Business. This is her second year working in the UCSO, and found her internship at Eli Lilly through on-campus recruiting. She just returned from studying and an internship with a headhunter in Barcelona, and is excited to be back in Bloomington and start the job search!

CAREER FAIRS- Two words that I have witnessed strike fear into any Kelley student. Whether it’s your first career fair or you’re a seasoned pro, career fairs have a tendency to make students nervous. However, with the following tips you’ll be on your way to a nerve-free, successful career fair experience!

1. Get your suit dry-cleaned- Dress for success! If you have a clean, pressed suit, you will be even more confident when approaching recruiters Print more resumes than you think you’ll need- Especially with the career fairs located off-campus; you don’t want to be stranded at the convention center without a resume.
2. Do your research- Before showing up at the Bloomington Convention Center; check out the UCSO website’s list of companies that will be at the career fair. This way, you can develop a strategy of exactly what companies you want to speak to, in addition to being able to ask educated questions about the company and the position.
3. Practice your elevator speech- When a recruiter says, “Tell me about yourself,” you want to have an impressive, yet brief and conversational, response.
4. Be aware- While you are in line waiting to speak with a recruiter, pick up on the cues they are giving other students. Does this recruiter seem tired? Are they excited to be there? Depending on non-verbal hints, you can start to gauge where your conversation may go, and how long it should last.

5. Remember, recruiters are people too! - While being professional is key, remember that recruiters have lives outside of their job as well. This might help calm your nerves!
6. Have fun!!- Career fairs are actually really fun if you are properly prepared. Think about it as a professional speed-dating session where you get to check out tons of companies that you could have a future with.

Hopefully after reading these tips, you are feeling better about tackling that upcoming career fair. As a Kelley student, you have the basic skills to get your dream job, but no one can have a successful career fair without proper preparation.

How Do I Prepare for a Career Fair? Here’s a Check-List for You!

Resume:
It’s time to dust off the resume and update it with your summer internship or activities. You’ll want to do this first, and have it reviewed by a UCSO Career Coach if possible. You might also want to review the Resume Guide on the UCSO Website. And make sure you hit “spell check!” Then upload it on the UCSO Website and update your registration information to read “Yes, release my resume and data to employers.”

Review Companies Coming to Campus:
This is an importance aspect of preparation, since last year the UCSO received feedback that some recruiters mentioned a lack of company information students demonstrated. So, once you’ve selected the companies you’ll be targeting, research the companies and industries to “wow” the recruiters with your interest and knowledge!

Practice Your Skills:
Have you practiced your elevator speech or business small talk lately? Recruiters meet many students and some visit multiple campuses. What can you say about yourself to make a position impression and help the recruiter to remember you? Make an appointment with a UCSO Career Coach to practice if you have any doubts at all!

Business Attire:
Unless otherwise stated, a career fair requires professional business attire. Pull your suit out of the closet and inspect it for cleanliness and tears. Have it cleaned or repaired to ensure you look your best, and inspect your shoes, too. Also, how do your hair and nails look? Professional appearances make a big impact on recruiters!

Network at the Career Fairs:
If you’re seeking an internship or full-time job for next summer, then you’ll want to attend career fairs to build relationships with the many recruiters who visit campus. Bring your student ID to register at the door and several copies of your resume to hand to recruiters. And now it’s time to visit the career fair with confidence!

Great Advice from Newell Rubbermaid Interns across North America

by Emily, Digital Marketing Intern, Newell Rubbermaid

After 12 weeks, my Newell Rubbermaid internship is coming to an end, and I can honestly say that this experience has been one-of-a-kind and will most certainly serve as the basis to my entire career.

This week, summer interns have been presenting final presentations to fellow interns, mentors, managers, and co-workers. The topics varied from memorable experiences, to specific projects, to key takeaways. But the overall theme was the same – and that is that Newell Rubbermaid’s summer internship program is the best of the best.

Every intern learned. Every intern networked. And every intern is leaving this experience ready to take on professors, peers, or professionals and show off what he or she has learned this summer.

Personally, I cannot wait to apply what I have learned and apply it in the classroom or in real life situations. I know how important it is for brands to exist online as well as the benefits of having a distinct brand personality. Because of the e-commerce research I did, I now notice a website’s overall online shopping experience, from the minute I enter a site to the final click when I purchase my product. Whenever I search the web or am logged in to a social media platform, I am thinking about what our brands could do and how they could engage with consumers.

Just 12 weeks. That’s all it took. And now the Newell Rubbermaid interns are ready to tackle anything that comes their way.

Here is some advice from our interns across North America:

• Get to know your intern class! I’ve built great friendships and learned so much from my peers. –Cara, Human Resources Intern
• Take initiative. It’s your internship experience...make the most of it! Whether it’s in the office, on a store walk, or exploring a new city – take advantage of all opportunities to experience new things with great people –Stephanie, Product Marketing Intern
• Ask questions! Never be afraid to ask your manager, mentor or team members questions. Being an intern means that you’re at the company to LEARN! -Sydney, Channel Marketing Intern
• Seek mentors. Try and meet as many people as you can and take advantage of their knowledge, networks and advice. –Alex, Brand Management Intern
• Be prepared and flexible. Sometimes it takes a lot of failures to make a success, but that’s part of learning and the process. You can learn and grow just as much (and sometimes more) through the things that go wrong. –Randall, R&D Intern
• Network! Set up shadow days with professionals in different functions and positions. It’s great to understand the big picture and learn how your projects as an intern really do make a difference. –Kate, Brand Management Intern
• Leave your mark! Do your job well and go above what’s expected of you on every project. –Bridget, SAP Intern
• Have fun! I’ve had a great experience getting to know my peers and co-workers. We’ve done some great things over the summer like White Water Rafting and going a Charlotte Knights game! -Elizabeth, Brand Management Intern
• Be open to feedback. It will only help you become a better professional in the long-run. –Sydney, Internal Audit Intern
• Experience the Culture. Your internship is the best way to learn more about a company and see if it’s the right fit for you. –Ali, Brand Management Intern

First Impressions, Lasting Impact at Career Fairs

Career fairs are a great opportunity to make connections with recruiters of your target companies. Your first impression needs to have a lasting, positive impact. Recruiters will take note when you have clearly taken the time to dress appropriately and more so if you have not! Plan in advance what you will wear and make sure it has been cleaned and pressed (do not wait until the day before). Your confidence is naturally boosted when you know you look sharp! Follow some of these tips from the National Career Fairs.

• If you need to choose one new suit- focus on conservative colors like navy, black, grey or brown.
• Polish your shoes! Wear socks and your belt should be black or match the color of your shoes.
• Pay attention to details- make sure your clothes are free from lint or pet hair.
• Avoid strong scents- some people are allergic.
• Keep make-up natural, not overdone.
• Bring mints, but do not have them in your mouth when you approach a recruiter.