All posts tagged job search

Job Seeking Outside Your Major

By Amy Treutel

You applied to college, were accepted, received scholarships and student loans to help fund your education, got to your last semester, and stopped to think, Applying-Job-Outside-Field-Featured“Hmm, is this really what I want to do anymore?”  Throughout your time as a student, and even once you enter the professional workforce, your experiences and ideas of your ideal job may change.  Luckily, even if you start as an Aerospace Engineer but ultimately decide your passion is in Human Resources, you can work towards making that transition seamless.

There are several actions that can you can take to help increase your chances of obtaining a position outside of your major.

Transferable Skills

All of your work experiences, whether it is as a lifeguard for the summer or flight operations intern for a large airline during a semester, contribute to different skills that are valuable in the workplace.  The lifeguard position might build your customer service and problem solving skills whereas the intern position would build your database research and data mining skills.  Both jobs are equally important when trying to search for a non-related position.  It’s all about how you market yourself and those newly acquired skills.

Volunteer Work

If you are not able to immediately get a position in the area you want to work, consider volunteering for a company, an affiliate, or a supporting organization.  This will not only allow you to directly gain sought after skills in the new area you are interested in pursuing, but it also affords you the opportunity to meet and network with many people in the specific industry.  Get to know the people and what skills they have and learn how they got started in the industry.  You will probably be surprised at the routes many of them took to get where they are!

Gaining New Skills

Sometimes you’ll realize that you might be missing a highly sought after skill in the new industry you’re pursuing.  Oftentimes, there are many ways to go about learning new skills.  You could enroll in a local community college and take related classes, earn a certificate, search for online training programs, or just utilize Google and take the initiative to train yourself.  There is a wealth of information available in various mediums that could all help you in gaining new skills.

Tailoring Your Resume

Now that you’ve learned new skills and been diligent about making yourself marketable, you have to customize each resume you submit for a job and really highlight the skills you have that are most relevant to the position.  It is helpful to have a summary, project experience section, and even a skills section.  Between your resume and cover letter, you want to demonstrate to the employer that you are the ideal candidate for the position.  Browse the Career Services website to view sample resumes and cover letters.

It would also be very helpful to perform a SCOT (Strengths, Challenges, Opportunities, Threats) analysis on yourself to really break down your specific skill areas and how they relate to a position outside of your major.  This will help narrow your focus and clarify what areas you should concentrate on to be the most marketable candidate for the position.

Don’t underestimate your abilities and the skills you possess.  Your degree, whether related to the position you want to apply for or not, gives you an amazing foundation for being a productive employee and quickly learning new skills.  Make smart decisions on marketing yourself to potential employers, and you will see your hard work pay off with a rewarding career.

Amy Treutel has a Bachelor of Science in Air Traffic Management and a Master of Science degree in Aeronautics with a specialization in Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  She was a member of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Career Services team for over five years. Amy recently accepted a position with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association in Washington D.C. and will start in June 2013. 

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by eraucso on May 20, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by eraucso on May 20, 2013

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I Graduated. What Happens Now?

by Kristy Amburgey

College GraduatesStudents often use graduation as a time to reflect on what they have accomplished up to this point in time.  Hopefully, you studied hard, learned how to approach a challenge, developed some great connections and picked up a few professional skills along the way.

Now that you have your diploma in hand and have a renewed sense of self, the thought, “What happens now?” may cross your mind.  Luckily there are multiple career, educational and growth opportunities that you can pursue post-graduation.  Here are several of those options.

Head to Work: a number of students already have employment plans by the time they graduate, and they are ready to go straight into the workforce

  • Tip: ensure you are ready to transition into the world of work by brushing up on professionalism, company expectations and general business etiquette

Search for a Job: students often find themselves still needing to secure employment by the time they graduate

  • Tip: if you are one of these folks, you need to get ready for this full-time endeavor…the job search; networking, connecting to opportunities and applying for jobs are all part of this post-graduation pursuit along with the many other actions you should take to secure your future

Transition Your Career: there are some students who already have a career in place, and they now want to apply their previous experiences and newly minted education to a new field of work

  • Tip: get ready to take on this new career search much the same way you would approach any job search but focus on how you can translate your previous experiences to relate to your new potential job 

Take the Next Step: several students will have well-established careers but are ready to move into more senior roles

  • Tip: leverage your degree to earn a promotion or take on new responsibilities; market your new skills and degree accomplishment to help establish yourself as an expert in your field

Go to Grad School: a number of students have plans to go to graduate school to further enhance their education or to broaden their skill sets

  • Tip: planning for grad school can involve the selection of a degree program that will make you more marketable in your field, the selection of a school that offers your degree and the planning for the application process; get ready for all of these tasks early in your final year of undergraduate education

Take a Gap Year: some students will choose to take a year off between their undergraduate and graduate education or before they head to work for a variety of reasons

  • Tip: prepare financially to have this year off to do a variety of things like earning more certifications/ratings, research, service, volunteering, traveling abroad, etc.

Take on Civic Service: a student with a gap year or one who is ready to take on the non-profit world may want to consider civic service

  • Tip: you can volunteer or work for a civic organization, which can include non-profits, government groups, teaching, and other well-known entities like the Peace Corps; just like with a job search in the corporate world, get ready to network and pursue opportunities, but it is even more important to communicate your socially-conscious passions and convictions

Many of the choices you make will be impacted by your financial needs and personal expectations.  Select the path that you most want to pursue but will still support your future goals.  If you find yourself unsure of the next step, take advantage of the resources provided to you by Career Services and via the Going Places blog for information and guidance on many of these topics.  Instead of thinking, “Ummm, now what,” you can think, “Yes!  I am ready to jump into my post-graduation plans.”

Kristy Amburgey is the Associate Director of Career Services – Daytona Beach campus and currently manages marketing and employer relations for the department.  She has been with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for approximately 10 years and with Career Services for nine years.

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by eraucso on May 2, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by eraucso on May 2, 2013

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Your Guide to a Job Search

by Kristy Amburgey

Jobs

Your job search begins as soon as you select a degree program to pursue, a new career path or an expanded role within your current realm of expertise.  Your job search should encompass a variety of activities, including research and preparation, self-evaluation, networking, etc. until you actually have a job in hand.  Even then, you should continue to grow your professional knowledge and connections to further your career until you reach your ultimate goal.

Identify Career Paths and Options

Any job search begins with an understanding of what you hope to do professionally in your life.   As you make decisions about your future, consider various career paths and options that match your personal and professional goals and personality.  Opportunities can range from positions directly related to your courses of study or not related to your degree but that use the skills you learned in college.   You can have one career path in mind, or you might be open to several different options.

Research Jobs and Companies of Interest

After you have determined the job type you want to pursue, you now want to find out the various job titles that encompass your career path, and you need to identify the companies that offer these roles.  In addition, you want to learn about the companies’ expectations, what the job requires of candidates (at a minimum) and what the job would entail, matching it to your preferences.  Be sure to get a realistic picture of who the company typically hires for your desired role and how both your background and your personality fit that job.  Make informed career decisions based on accurate research you have conducted.

Create a Targeted Company List

Any job search should be focused (avoid the “I will take anything” approach).  One way you can focus your search and help yourself down the road is to develop a targeted company list.  The list can be as long or as short as you want, but it should be focused on the companies that offer the job or an iteration of the job you want.  Your company list should evolve as you continue through school, find new companies and gain new interests; routinely monitor your list.  Don’t be afraid to go outside of your targeted companies to find opportunities, but you should do your due diligence on the company before applying to jobs.

 Prepare Job Search Documentation

Using your resume, cover letter and other documentation, your goal is to prove you can not only do the job but positively impact the company’s bottom line.  Focus your resume and cover letter on one job type at a time, customizing the resume using the job description as you apply for positions.  Ensure that each part of your resume is focused on showcasing your accomplishments by listing outcomes and results of your experiences (from work to academic to project).  Quantify your accomplishments as often as possible using dollar amounts, numbers and percentages.  Avoid using terminology (i.e. fluff) that gives employers no real useful information upon which to make a decision about you as a candidate.  As always, proper grammar, accurate information, consistency, clean formatting and ease of reading are all important factors in your job search documents.

Consider Additional Skills, Trainings and/or Certifications

Going back to the career path research you completed, you should have an understanding of what a company expects from their candidates.  If you are not sure, check out a variety of job descriptions or ask your professors or people in your network.  If you are missing a requirement, take the time to complete it before graduating, if possible.  If you must wait to obtain additional skills or trainings, have a timeline for when you hope to accomplish them.

Gain Relevant Experience and Skills

Relevant experience can come in a variety of forms, including co-op/internship positions, projects, research, job/summer jobs/part-time positions, on-campus clubs or organizations, volunteer work, conferences and professional organizations, to name a few.  Through any experience, you should work to further develop your leadership, communication, initiative, analysis and other skills that apply to any job type (also called transferable skills).

Maintain a List of Achievements and Accomplishments

In order to accurately communicate your accomplishments, you need to keep track of them.  Maintain a list of things you achieved in any academic, work, group or other experience.

Network

In reality, networking is an action that you began early in your life.  Now it is time to build your network into a more formal support system for your job search and professional growth.  You can build relationships in any number of ways, but you want to place yourself in situations where you can make a positive impression on a future employer or future advocate.  Brainstorm about ways you can connect with others; do not fall into the trap of assuming you know no one.  Your network may fall outside of the job type you are pursuing, but keep an open mind about building relationships with people from all professional backgrounds.

Apply for Positions

Approximately six months to one year before graduation, begin to apply for positions, especially for entry-level candidates.  Some career types are more likely to hire as needed, so you may need to wait closer until you are degree complete to pursue a job.   As you apply for positions, you must gain insight into how the company selects candidates to interview, always following directions.  Many companies use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), where the system scans your resume for key words before being viewed by a hiring manager.  In these cases, you must reverse engineer or integrate key words from the job description and your knowledge of the company into your resume and cover letter.  Another important reminder is to keep track of the positions for which you applied.

Interview

Interviewing skills need to be developed and practiced.  Prepare for an interview situation by researching the company, understanding the position, having stories to relay during the interview and giving evidence of how you can help solve the company’s problems.  Practice your interview skills by reviewing and answering sample questions, either with a partner or by planning out your answers.  Ensure you have questions to ask the employer and always put your most professional self forward, from your dress to how you present yourself.

Follow-up

After an interview, networking event or other activity where a person helps you, follow up.  A thank you note or email is appropriate, and a phone call or other act of kindness can be nice as well.  Avoid contacting a person too often as they will soon lose their desire to help you, or you may even lose out on the job after an interview if you are too persistent.

Understand the Salary Process

Once you are offered a job, you will also be extended a salary and benefits package.  Typically, you want to avoid talking about salary until you have been offered the job; only if a company requests the information should you provide an expected salary, preferably as a range.  Once you have been extended the job with salary, you can decide to accept, negotiate or decline the offer.  Understand that factors such as your negotiation strategies, your worth, the cost of living, the company’s salary standards and more impact your offer.  Ensure you understand what you bring to the negotiation table if you decide to ask for more money or benefits and always thoroughly research the typical salary ranges for your industry, for the company and for your job type.

And Network More

Networking should be an ongoing activity in any professional career.  Never stop meeting new people and growing current relationships.  Most employers prefer to hire someone who has been recommended to them, so make sure you continue to place yourself in a position to be the recommended candidate.

A job search is a personal journey, but there are some common steps that you should take to put yourself in the best situation for job search success.

Kristy Amburgey is the Associate Director of Career Services – Daytona Beach campus and currently manages marketing and employer relations for the department.  She has been with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for approximately 10 years and with Career Services for nine years.

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by eraucso on April 25, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by eraucso on April 25, 2013

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Evaluating Job Offers

by Kristy Amburgey

youre hiredWith salary being the important aspect of a job offer for the majority of people, the other parts of the employment package often get lost amid the dollar signs.  Instead of just seeing dollars, it important to evaluate the other factors of a job offer, in addition to salary, that can have a major impact on your decision to accept, negotiate or reject a job offer.  You need to consider all parts of your job offer, including what the company is offering and how the job and commitment will impact you personally.

The company’s job offer and benefits package needs to be thoroughly examined before making any job offer acceptance or rejection decision.  Consider these aspects of what the company may offer you to compensate you for your work.

Salary

The bottom line dollar amount is important to evaluate.  Know if the salary amount offered meets your needs and coincides with your career progression plans.  Understand if you will be paid hourly or if you will receive a specific salary regardless of the hours you put in per week.  The dollar amount should be a top priority when making your decision, but don’t forget the many other elements.

Other Financial Compensation

Companies also reward their employees in other ways, including bonuses, awards, commission or comp time.  For anyone working on commission or receiving bonuses, know how your employer will withhold taxes on this financial compensation.

Health Insurance

Health insurance is another key part of your job offer.  Some employers cover a large percentage of your health insurance while some companies will have you pay a chunk of money. You also need to ask yourself if you like the health insurance plan(s) offered.   There is a difference between a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) and a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) among others; know the difference and how it will impact you.  Dental and vision can be offered but not at all companies, so you may need to spend extra money to get both of these plans.

Retirement Plans

Retirement plans are important as companies often contribute to programs such as a 401k, 403b and other savings plans.  Some companies still offer pensions, and others might be involved in IRAs.  Stock options or profit sharing are other benefits that companies can offer as part of your retirement compensation.

Other Benefits

Benefits can range from flexible spending accounts to child care discounts and from educational benefits to life insurance.  Tele-working can also be a perk to your job package.  As you evaluate your offer, consider how each benefit will impact you financially and whether or not it is truly a benefit to you.

Vacation Time and Sick Leave

Everyone needs the option to have time to conduct their personal business, take advantage of a much needed break or stay at home with an illness.  If you accrue vacation leave, make sure you understand how much time you earn a pay period.  If you get a set amount of time, know if that time increases the longer you are employed by the organization.  Another element of this benefit is holiday time off; know what days you automatically have off of work.

Perks

Perks are those extra benefits that can make life more convenient for you.  Travel benefits, on-site dry cleaning pick up, a cafeteria with free food, a company fitness center, freebies/discounts  and more can be options for your perks package, but you need to decide how important these are to you and if you consider them benefits.

In addition to looking at the job offer and benefits package, you must also evaluate how the new job will impact you in other ways like your personal and professional happiness.

Company Culture

Each company has a distinct culture that can greatly impact your personal satisfaction and growth.  Some companies have reputations of being fun and playful.  These types of companies often tout their extra perks that make life a bit more convenient, and they like to encourage having fun at work.  Some companies are much more serious and conservative in nature.  You need to decide what you want in a company culture to better ensure your satisfaction with the environment and your ability to grow within the company.

Work-Life Balance

Finding your ideal work-life balance in a job can be difficult.  You don’t want to come across as not willing to put in the work, but you don’t want to neglect your personal commitments either.  As you decide on a new job, ensure that you understand the expectations the company will have on your time, specifically your “outside” time.  Are you expected to work weekends or evenings, and will this conflict with other obligations you have?

Relocation

Relocation is also an important topic.  Will the company help you cover any costs if you must move, and how much will the move cost you personally?  Also consider how a move will impact you and your family as you settle into a new community.

Community

If you move to a new area, you need to look at the community in which you will be living and working.  Does the community have the amenities that you both need and want?  Also remember that the state, county and/or city in which you live may impose additional taxes on you outside of federal taxes.

Commute

Your commute to work affects your work-life balance and has a financial impact on you.  How much gas will you need for the week, or how much is your train ticket?  Do you have to pay for parking, or does the company cover that?  Is there an optional shuttle service, or are you sitting in your car for a long period of time?

As you delve deep in your job and benefits offer, you need to look at the various aspects of your offer package, not just the base salary.  While that dollar amount is the easiest way to interpret a “good” offer, you need to also look at how an offer will impact you personally, understanding how the job and job offer fits into your current and future goals.

Do you want to know what other graduates are seeking when looking for employment?  Check out the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) article titled, New College Grads Seek Annual Salary Increases Over Healthcare Benefits.

Kristy Amburgey is the Associate Director of Career Services – Daytona Beach campus and currently manages marketing and employer relations for the department.  She has been with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for approximately 10 years and with Career Services for nine years.

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by eraucso on April 18, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by eraucso on April 18, 2013

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How To Get Your Résumé Noticed In The Online Application Process

By Mark Lyden

Before you apply to any job opening, before you set up any account or profile on any website, before you do anything, wouldn’t it be nice to have the inside story on what the manager is looking for in a candidate?  Especially the required skills or knowledge they want you to have so you can highlight that on your résumé?

Now, I can’t tell you what key words and phrases they are going to use.  But let me enlighten you on how this often gets done.  You have a person sitting at a computer.  Their job is to essentially screen all the résumés that are associated with a particular job.  You know what is scary?  You would think that these people understand the difference between, for example, an industrial engineer and mechanical engineer or the difference between finance and supply chain management.  Well, many of them do, but a significant amount may not, and some don’t have a clue! Ironically, the same thing I just told you to do, they do.  They just look at the job description and simply look for the key words and phrases the manager put down, type them into a field on the computer, and press “enter.”  Then whoever doesn’t have those key words or phrases in their résumé, exactly how they typed them in is simply counted out.  But be careful.  You need to incorporate those key words and phrases verbatim.  Remember, you don’t know how sophisticated their screening system is.

Whether you think that is totally unfair or not, it is a reality in many companies.  So use this to your advantage.  Outmaneuver the computer-screening process so that you have the best chance of being looked at.  I am not saying to lie or cheat.  I am just saying to completely cater your résumé to each and every job you apply to.  Use the 7 Critical Steps and you will have a far better chance of getting to the next step in the process:

  1. DON’T FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS when a company website tells you how to apply! Before doing anything else, go to the company website and print out all the jobs that you qualify for and not just the ones that you are most interested in.
  2.  Take a highlighter and highlight all the key words and phrases in the job description used to describe the skills, knowledge, and years of experience they want or prefer.
  3. Take the key words and phrases you highlighted, verbatim, and incorporate them throughout your résumé.
  4. Create a heading at the very end of your résumé labeled “INTEREST AREAS” and take all the key words and phrases you previously highlighted and list them, verbatim, under this heading.
  5. NOW follow the directions of the site, which may include setting up an account online.  Make sure to take those same key words and phrases and incorporate them into your profile or the “interest areas” section, if they have that option.
  6. Apply for the job.
  7. As you apply for more openings, continually update the key words and phrases in your résumé in your profile or interest area section.

This is called “reverse engineering” your résumé.  From the job description, see what they want first.  See what are key words and phrases are that they want to see.  Then adjust your résumé and apply.  Just remember:  to do it right, it will take you about forty to forty-five minutes to take your “base” résumé and transform it into a résumé specific for each job.  Approach it this way:  each job that you apply for is the ONLY job your résumé is geared to.  It may sound like a lot of time and effort, but to stand out and to get contacted, your résumé can’t just be a good match; it must be a GREAT match.  This is the way to ensure that is the case for each and every job you apply for.

When I teach seminars on this topic, some ask, “Won’t they look at my résumé and count me out when they see that I just listed all the key words and phrases in the ‘interest areas’ section of my résumé?”  The answer is they might, especially if you haven’t first incorporated those same key words and phrases throughout your résumé.  That is why doing both is critical.  For example, just incorporating the key words and phrases into your résumé is great and might get you through to the next step, but might not raise your percentage compatibility to a high enough level and you miss the cut off.  Remember, with the online processes being the way they are at most companies, there are very few ways for candidates to stand out.  There could be ten candidates that by luck score a higher percentage compatibility, and although you meet all the qualifications, others are “more qualified” according to the computer, and you are counted out.  That is why having the “interest areas” section helps.  Again, it helps boost your compatibility percentage.  Moreover, if you just cut and paste all the key words in the “interest areas” section without also incorporating them into your résumé, they will probably see this and count you out.

When I say to incorporate the key words and phrases into your résumé, what I mean is to have them distributed throughout your résumé.  Change or add bullet items in appropriate places.  Change your objective to have some in there.  The more time you spend doing it this way, the more calls you are going to get.  Try the 7 Critical Steps.

Lastly, if you are applying to jobs online and you are quickly getting counted out, that is the BEST indicator that you are not doing a good enough job at catering your résumé to each specific job.  If you find yourself in that situation, you must go back to the 7 Critical Steps and follow that advice step by step.  Remember, when you are applying to a particular job, your résumé should be entirely focused on just that one job.

ABOUT MARK LYDEN

Mark Lyden is an expert at getting people jobs…in THIS difficult job market. He has already helped thousands with his advice because it is different and it is PROVEN to work! The advice he gives is not the traditional advice that can be found on the Internet or being given by most career professionals. Now and for the last 15-years, Mr. Lyden has been a Professional Lead Recruiter for a Fortune 50 company. Mark is the author of: College Students: Do This! Get Hired!; Veterans: Do This! Get Hired!; and, Professionals: Do This! Get Hired! Visit DoThisGetHired.com for additional information. A substantial portion of the proceeds from book sales are donated back to charity to help veterans and to help the stray and abandoned animals at Logan’s Run Rescue.

Now and for a limited time, ERAU students/alumni can get a discount on any of the books by visiting: DoThisGetHired.com/ERAU.html

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by eraucso on March 14, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by eraucso on March 14, 2013

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Be the Solution, Get the Job

by Kristy Amburgey

prof womanI love a good quote, and I read one the other day that I thought so wonderfully summed up a challenge that job seekers face today. Many people searching for employment think like a job seeker, hoping that someone will find them, identify their talents, see how their previous experience might relate and even place them in the right position. Instead, I want to emphasize this point from an article, 10 Ways To Use Speed Networking In Your Job Search, by Melissa C. Martin who writes for Careerealism.

“Communicate more like a consultant or solution-finder than a job seeker”

I think that this one suggestion is such an important mindset for any job seeker to accept. You need to find the employers, identify their needs, relate your previous experience to those needs and even place yourself in the right position to be hired. Just like a consultant would do for a new client, you need to spend time understanding a company’s pains in order to help them find solutions. Use your time to network, connect, build relationships and interact with those who may have need for your services. Always proactively advocate for yourself through solution-driven conversations.

Instead of waiting for a company to come calling, be the solution-finder, as Ms. Martin would say, that you know you are.

Kristy Amburgey is the Associate Director of Career Services – Daytona Beach campus and currently manages marketing and employer relations for the department.  She has been with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for approximately 10 years and with Career Services for nine years.

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by eraucso on March 11, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by eraucso on March 11, 2013

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Virtual Hiring Event Tips and Tricks

VirtualHiring-final-trans400pxThe 2013 Virtual Hiring Event will be held through the EagleHire Network Monday, February 11—Thursday, February 21, 2013. Candidates can begin preparing to apply for the full-time opportunities posted by previewing positions in the system the weekend prior (February 9-10).

To increase your chances of landing an interview as a result of the Virtual Hiring Event,  follow these tips:

  • Prepare in advance! During the job preview days, you have the chance to view positions without the pressure to apply  at that very moment. Take this time to read through the job postings and mark those you are interested in as “favorites” – this will allow you to go back to the position easily when it is time to apply.
  • Get your resume and cover letter in order. Make sure you have these documents uploaded to the EagleHire Network by January 27 in order to ensure ample time for your resume to be reviewed and approved in the system.
  • Don’t be generic! Once you’ve identified those jobs you wish to apply to, read through the position description and tailor the resume you plan to use for your application specifically for the position.  By personalizing your resume and cover letter, you are telling the employer that you are truly interested in the opportunity…as a result, you are also able to communicate to them that you are the candidate they’ve been seeking for the position.
  • Do not apply for positions where you don’t meet the minimum qualifications. It is frustrating for the employer, and in the vast majority of cases, it’s a waste of your valuable time.
  • Follow all application instructions to the tee! Give them nothing less than exactly what they ask for (resume, cover letter, references, writing samples, etc.) and apply in the manner they prefer (email, website, fax, or snail mail) – failure to do so is an indication to an employer that you do not pay attention to details,  nor do you follow directions.
  • Print out jobs to which you apply. This will help you in referencing the position later, in the event that an employer contacts you for an interview. If contact information is included, you can use that information to follow up  with the recruiter a few weeks later.
  • Don’t wait until the last minute! Make sure you take care of getting your resume online on time and begin applying for jobs as early in the week as possible. This helps to ensure that you can apply for positions at a leisurely pace, minimizing the risk of making mistakes.

For more information about the Virtual Hiring Event, including how to participate, a list of registered companies, event details, and FAQs for job seekers, visit our website: http://careers.erau.edu/events/virtual-hiring-event.html.

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by eraucso on February 6, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by eraucso on February 6, 2013

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Preparing Your Resume and Cover Letter for the Virtual Hiring Event

by Kristy Amburgey

VirtualHiring-final-trans400pxThe Career Services Office is hosting the Virtual Hiring Event (VHE) for ERAU candidates seeking full-time employment. The VHE will be Monday, February 11 – Thursday, February 21 in the EagleHire Network with preview days on Saturday, February 9 and Sunday, February 10. Job seekers will have the ability to view and apply to full-time job postings from companies who are seeking candidates.

In order to best prepare for the Virtual Hiring Event, you need to have an up-to-date resume and cover letter ready to use.  Some companies will have you submit your resume via EagleHire Network, so you need to have a “ready” resume in the system.  Other companies will direct you to their websites for application.  Either way, you need to ensure that your resume and job search documentation is suitable for the application process.

To prepare both your resume and cover letter, here are several key tips to understand and use.

  • Customize your documents for each and every position you pursue; using the job description and your company research, integrate key information into your resume and cover letter to prove that you have what it takes to do the job for that specific company
  • Focus the documents on what you can offer the employers and not necessarily on you
  • Relate your experiences and accomplishments to the employer’s needs; ensure that an employer can answer this question using the information you provide – “can this person positively impact my department and my company?”
  • Showcase your achievements; provide outcomes and results of your experiences instead of just listing general skills that most anyone could have
  • Avoid submitting generic documents that are addressed and customized to no one or nothing in particular; take the time to submit a resume and cover letter that was meant specifically for that job and that company
  • Ensure that a reader can understand what you want by reviewing your documents; an employer does not want to guess what job you want or why you are applying even after reading both documents
  • Prioritize and organize your documents; ensure that the important and relevant information is towards the top of the resume and is read from left to right; organize your cover letter so that you have three to four paragraphs
  • Know that an employer spends no more than 30 seconds reviewing each document if at all; most readers only glance at a resume to obtain a first impression; keep both documents easy to read and make it easy for them to find relevant information quickly
  • Rely on several people to review your resume for grammar, clarify and formatting; use spellcheck as well but follow it up with a review by someone who knows resumes
  • Review all information to ensure it is 100% accurate and verifiable

For resumes, here are some additional points.

  • Follow all general resume rules such as having some white space on the page, being consistent with all formatting, using font size no smaller than 10, spelling out abbreviations, avoiding using the personal pronoun “I”, etc.
  • Remove resume errors to prevent your resume from being dumped into the trash; remember that every recruiter will have their own set of standards and pet peeves, so do your best to understand the company you are pursuing and revise your resume to their standards
  • Understand Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS); many employers use this type of application system to preview and then select resumes for further review; once your resume is submitted, the ATS program will evaluate your resume based on programmed algorithms that match your document to predetermined words/order of words, including qualifications, skills, key words from the description and more; understanding the mechanics of ATS will help you know why customizing your resume is so imperative; also avoid using tables, graphs, images, etc. in your resume as most of these inserts won’t translate into an ATS program
  • Treat the resume as a marketing document that appeals to your target audience and not as a historical summary of everything you have ever done

For cover letters, here are some additional points.

  • Use a traditional one-page, business letter format
  • Address your cover letter to a specific person; do an internet search (LinkedIn, for example) to find the correct name if it is not listed in the EagleHire Network
  • Keep the cover letter concise but detailed; for example, when relating your background to the employer’s needs, give three to four accomplishments composed using a few sentences for each

As you select jobs to apply to via the Virtual Hiring Event, take the time to customize your resume and cover letter, if needed, for each position.  Leave the employers wanting to talk to you further; create documents that show employers how you are going to help them and why you are the best candidate for the position.

Kristy Amburgey is the Associate Director of Career Services – Daytona Beach campus and currently manages marketing and employer relations for the department.  She has been with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for approximately 10 years and with Career Services for nine years.

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by eraucso on January 24, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Job Search Advice, Virtual Hiring Event
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Posted by eraucso on January 24, 2013

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Getting the Most Out of Career Services Resources

by Adriana Hall

I recently read a quote from Tony Robbins: “Success is not about your resources.  It’s about how resourceful you are with what you have.”  The Career Services team is constantly reviewing, monitoring, evaluating and shaping our resources to reflect the breadth and needs of our constituents and industries. We want you to take full advantage of the resources available to explore opportunities, discover your career goals and attributes, navigate the job search process and showcase your skills. Our office wants you to get the most out of your education by using what is available to you. Here are some tips on how to be more proactive with the resources available:

Start Early: Don’t wait until graduation to utilize the resources and services available to you. Starting early is an advantage as it allows you to fully use your time in school to develop your career plan, learn about companies and opportunities and prepare for your job search, integrating the various resources available into this process. For example, some internship programs target sophomore and junior students, so you need to be aware of the timing of the programs available by accessing the EagleHire Network to find out this information. In addition, start building your network as early as possible through resources such as career events, the Career Services LinkedIn group,  conferences, professional organizations and more.  Spread out the career development and job search process timeline by starting early using the resources you have at your full disposal.

Do your Homework:  Preparation is important, so do your homework using the resources available to take charge of your career and job search. Check out samples to enhance your resume and cover letter, research opportunities on the EagleHire Network and outside of the system, practice interviewing via Perfect Interview, participate in presentations and company information sessions and research, research, research. Not only do you want to know what resources are available to you, but you want to understand how you can take advantage of the resources to accomplish your job search homework.

Be an Active Participant: Job seekers often look at various career resources, such as job boards, every day, but many of these people are passively waiting for employers to contact them or for a hiring manager to “notice” them.  As you use the resources available to you, understand that you must put yourself out there in the job search world to achieve results. After you apply for a position, don’t just wait for a response from the company; find a contact within the company to help you find better ways to connect with the hiring personnel or follow up with the hiring manager directly to make your case for employment.  Instead of expecting your network to come to you, find ways to meaningfully help your network (sharing resources or knowledge.  Be an active participant in your own search.

Bonus Tip – Be Professional: Although not necessarily a resource, professionalism is imperative to job search success.  Without professionalism, all the smart use of resources won’t put you any closer to career growth. With this in mind, you should practice professionalism in your interactions with any campus department, with your fellow students and alumni and with all employers. This expectation includes appearance, communication, punctuality and preparedness.

Career Services provides many resources for you, and you will find many more just an internet search away. Find ways to make these resources work for you and your situation. Be resourceful and explore all your career options to put yourself in the best place possible for professional success.

Adriana Hall has a Bachelor of Arts in Languages (Spanish-English) from Colombia-South America and a Master of Science in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  She has been with ERAU for 9 years. Adriana worked for the Department of State in Colombia at the United States Embassy before moving to the U.S.

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by eraucso on January 16, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by eraucso on January 16, 2013

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Conference Spotlight: National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Annual Convention

by Kristy Amburgey

DSC_3557Attending conferences and events is an excellent way to professionally network, learn new information as related to your career and identify employment opportunities.  The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) 39th Annual Convention, to be held March 27 – 31, 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a great example of an event where you can both personally and professionally grow.  In fact, the annual NSBE conference, and the many events they host throughout the year, has resulted in great success stories for Embry-Riddle students and alumni.  Two such success stories come from Marie-Jeanne Steady Ndiaye (or MJ) and Vincent Bell.  We asked both of these alumni to share their experiences with the NSBE Convention.

Why did you decide to attend NSBE in 2012?

MJ: It was a very simple and pragmatic decision to come to. As an undergraduate student, I tried to attend as many professional conferences /conventions as I could; it is the best way to meet industry leaders and others who share your enthusiasm about your field.  The other reason why I attended the convention is that I quite frankly liked not being the “odd one out”. There typically aren’t many minority attendants; there’s this belief that we are not interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), so it’s nice to be reminded it is just a “myth”.

Vincent: I decided to attend the NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers) Convention in 2012 after talking to Mr. Mark Lyden about working for The Boeing Company at the end of February or early March 2012.  He told me that Boeing and various companies go to the convention to hire knowledgeable minorities.  So my main reason for going was to obtain a job after graduating from ERAU.  However, I also saw an opportunity to present what I was working on at that time at the conference when I saw there were so many cancellations in the conference presentation schedule.

What was the conference like for you?

MJ: It was a bit overwhelming at first because there were thousands of attendees rushing and buzzing around. There was a multitude of sessions, workshops, and discussions panels. I just didn’t know how I was going to make the most of the convention and what events to attend. All I knew was that I wanted to take it ALL in!

Vincent: The conference was great, and I had an unbelievable experience.  The first day that I got there I met up with couple of other ERAU students.  And Mr. Lyden, who I had been in contact with prior to the convention, wanted to meet with all the ERAU students that attended the conference, and he invited us to an exclusive Boeing talk, to where we were able to talk to Boeing managers and Boeing engineers that came for the conference.  The second day I ended up presenting on what I was conducting research on with Dr. Bereket Berhane.

Everyone that has been to an ERAU career fair would enjoy the NSBE Convention.  The convention is one huge career fair with so many engineering companies/firms and graduate schools trying to get qualified students to come to their program and study. Plus this gives the companies opportunity to see what you know by means of presentation.  For example, after my first interview, which was with Boeing, I invited my two interviewers to my presentation, and one actually came.  So it was great experience for your potential employer to see what you know and how well you can present information to others that may or may not be as knowledgeable on the subject at hand.

Overall, it was great, and the feedback I received was amazing.

Where there any outcomes from NSBE Conference?

MJ: Definitely! I really enjoyed the Educational Sessions, including:

  • Professional Development sessions -  provided me with soft skills to my academic and professional career ahead
  • Mentoring sessions – provided a framework that I used for my grad school selection/application process. That session also helped me outline for myself how I wanted to maximize my grad school experience
  • Outreach sessions – we had an opportunity to interact with local high schoolers, conducting experiments and answering questions about different STEM fields. This sparked my interest for Science Outreach and more specifically promoting Space Ethos. So much so, that when I started working at the Kennedy Space Center, I joined the Speakers Bureau, which is a group of volunteers who represent the center at civic, professional, educational, and other public events. Bureau members are exceptionally qualified to discuss general and specific aspects of the activities and technologies associated with the space flight program

Vincent: Of course the big aerospace companies were there (Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and others).  So I earned 5 interviews in those three days: Boeing, Raytheon, Goldman Sachs, Northrop Grumman, and Texas Instruments.

The interview with Northrop Grumman was for thermal analysis engineering, and I never heard anything back from them.  The Texas Instruments interview was for mechanical engineering.  Texas Instruments never contacted me back again.  The interview with Goldman Sachs was for financial analyst, where, if I received an offer, I would be inspecting engineering project funding.  I had a follow up phone interview but ultimately did not receive an offer.  The interview with Raytheon was for Navigation, Guidance, Control (GNC) engineering and with the Raytheon Missile Systems.  Raytheon Missile Systems actually flew me to Tucson, AZ for a hiring event with about 100 other applicants for various job openings.  I ultimately received a job offer with them.  My interview with Boeing was for a fuel system engineer.  The day after this interview, I was told that I would receive an offer within the month for a job with Boeing.   I took the job with Boeing over Raytheon.

Why should students/alumni attend this conference?

MJ: Three words: networking, development, and exposure! I think that is pretty self-explanatory. If you are a black engineer, you NEED to attend the national convention.

Because the National Convention focuses mainly on the big 4 (Electrical, Mechanical, Software, and Civil Engineering), I would strongly urge ERAU students with interest in space to join the NSBE Space Special Interest Group (commonly referred to as Space SIG). It is one of NSBE’s star programs and is opened to college students as well as alumni.

They are actually hosting a conference in January, Space Technology Session 2013 (next one won’t be until 2015!) that is unlike other conferences in that it is actually a hands-on engineering session.  Participants are divided into groups with each group being assigned to work on a pre-defined set of deliverables for one of NSBE’s space-related technical projects.   It offers students an opportunity to work in an apprentice-like setting with industry engineers, managers, and scientists. This is how I developed and honed my technical proficiency!

Vincent: Students and alumni should attend this conference because companies come to this convention to hire participants.   Knowing that you have a huge chance of getting hired is a main reason why the ERAU family should attend.  Even if you are a freshman, you can standout for the upcoming years and help your chances either with a job or internship, when you are ready.  When you are looking for a job and applying via the internet, companies do not know you nor see your passion.  They only see what you put on your resume at the time.  And that is if you did your resume right and tailored your resume to that job announcement to which you just applied.  But at this conference you are talking to people who are eager to talk to you to see what you know, and you can pick apart their brains at any time.  They want you to ask a lot of questions as much as possible.  Companies are really looking for the best applicant possible that they can hire.  So I think for ERAU students and alumni, we are those types of people that they can hire and train very easily.

Vincent also has some additional advice for students who will be graduating soon.

The advice I would give students who are graduating soon is to go out there and apply and apply to all jobs for which you are qualified.  Before I went the NSBE Convention, I applied to about 350 jobs in 2 and half months.  From these that I applied to, I only heard back from 10 or 15 of the companies.  None of them offered me a job at all.  After the NSBE Convention, I had two offers after talking to 5 companies.

Another piece of advice I will give is when you get a chance to have an interview (either over the phone or in person), ask as many questions that pertain to the job or the betterment of you ultimately receiving an offer.  For example, in every interview that I have had over the past 2 years, I have asked the employers what about my resume stood out to them.  If something stood out to them, it possibly may stand out to others as well.  Another question I have asked is what is something that I can change (either on the resume or the interview itself) that will help with next interview you may have.  This question will show employers you are eager to learn something new about yourself and work on weaknesses that may be apparent to them.  Also, you should ask questions on relevant projects that company has worked on and/or on which they are currently working.  This will show your interest in the company with which you are hoping to get a job.

At the end of your interview, make sure you have business cards of all those people that interviewed you.  Wait about a week or two and then email them.  In your email, you just want to tell them thank you for the opportunity to talk to them.  You are not asking where you stand in the interview process.  This step will allow you to pop back up in their head because they received an email from you, and it is another way to stand out above the rest of the people that they may have interviewed.

I hope these tips help all ERAU students and alumni get jobs upon graduating.

Based on our alumni feedback, you can see that the NSBE Convention is a great opportunity for candidates seeking opportunities, both right now and in the future.  Besides professional development and networking opportunities, you will have access to many premier companies who are hiring like Battelle, Boeing, CIA, General Dynamics, Johnson Controls, Lockheed Martin, Toyota, United Technologies Corporation and many more.

Kristy Amburgey is the Associate Director of Career Services – Daytona Beach campus and currently manages marketing and employer relations for the department.  She has been with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for approximately 10 years and with Career Services for nine years.

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by eraucso on January 14, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by eraucso on January 14, 2013

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