Do you know what other people are saying about you?

-Written by Ethan Vernon, senior Chinese and international affairs major

Social media is just like a party on the internet where you can say and share whatever event or ideas come to mind. However, your social media site may be giving others the wrong impression. Did you know that your social media pages are what most people will find when they search on your name? Do you how others perceive you? Others perceive you by both analyzing your everyday, in-office behavior, as well as perusing your social media page to get a picture of the “real” you. 

You can change how others see you by cleaning up your Facebook/Twitter and deciding how you want to be perceived. In today’s world, social media can be a huge source of public opinion on a person. If you post drunken pictures of yourself from wild parties, you may get a bad reputation as unfocused or a little too unhinged. Additionally, any posts about your relationship trouble or mental state can also be interpreted by others as indicators of how you can be expected to perform on the job. You can also take personal control of your image by defining your personal image goals. If you know how you want to be perceived by others, you can consciously avoid behaviors which give the wrong idea, and consciously make the most of opportunities to put forth the best image possible. This may take some practice, but eventually what you want to be seen as will match how others see you. Thus, controlling your image involves addressing the sources of opinion. Just two of these sources are your social media page and your everyday behavior and decisions.

The social media page and your own goals can influence how others see you. It’s important to note that this can work both ways: someone at work who seems very professional and has a very clean Facebook account may in fact be a host of other things once you get to know them personally. This implies that you can make a clean break between your social life and your professional life. Thus, when looking at social media and your own goals, see them as tools to help shape how others see you, rather than factors outside of your control. A good image will go a long way in helping you advance in your career.

9 steps to Impressing your Interviewer

- Lauren Lind, junior advertising and communication major

You’ve landed the interview! Now what? With these tips, you can have a better chance of landing the job and making a great first impression with your interviewer.

1) Perfect your handshake. No limp handshakes allowed. Make sure your handshake    is firm, your hands aren’t sweaty, and you give one or two pumps from the elbow to hand. This is important because it shows you are confident and will begin your interview on a positive note.

2)  Maintain a professional demeanor. You do not want to come across as too casual or the interviewer might not take you seriously. This is your time to shine and really sell yourself to the best of your ability to the recruiter.

3)  Practice, practice, practice. Interviewing with a company is always good practice, even if you don’t get the job in the end. It’ll prepare you for future interviews. The more practice you get, the better.

4)  Bring a great attitude. Show that you are interested and enthusiastic about the opportunity at hand. A genuine smile goes a long way.

5)  Be inquisitive. Ask questions such as “What characteristics do you consider to be ideal for a candidate in tise position? What are some of the significant challenges that this position would help to alleviate? What‘s the most important thing I can do to help within the first 90 days of my employment? Do you have any concerns that I need to clear up in order to be the top candidate?”

6)  Set yourself apart from the competition. Being engaged and interested in the position will take you further. Tell descriptive, but true, stories about past experiences to answer questions and use the STAR method. The interviewer will be concerned with what you can bring to their company and this will put you ahead of other candidates.  

7) Know when to keep quiet. Some things are better left unsaid. Do not bring up salary, vacation time or benefits on your first interview. When you get to that step with the interviewer, they will bring up those topics. Nobody likes a complainer, so be sure not to relay any negative feelings about your past employers to the interviewer. Employers want candidates who will be committed to their company on a long-term basis, so do not bring up other career aspirations.

8) Stand out. You are competing for a position that many other qualified candidates are as well so be sure to make yourself memorable. You can do this by saying something about your background and self that is appropriate, yet different. For example, maybe the candidate who takes part in flash mobs frequently, doesn’t have a usable background for the job they are looking for, but at least she stands out from other candidates.

9)  Express that you want the job. This sounds simple, yet many people never tell the employer that they really want to be hired for the position. This will assure the interviewer that you are determined and interested. Be sure to emphasize this in your thank you letter that you send right away when you leave their office.

Contributors: Marco Buscaglia and Tribune Media Services, Inc. 

Don’t Lie on your Resume

-Written by Dylan Mark, Internship Program Intern at CU Career Services

It’s that time of year. You’re filling out cover letters and sharpening your resume for summer and post-college jobs. It may be tempting to exaggerate the truth or throw in a couple of lies to make your resume stand out, but be wary of the consequences.  Here are three things you may be tempted to lie about, but shouldn’t, and a few alternatives to enhance your resume.

1)     Position Title
Changing the title of previous positions can make it look like you are more qualified for a job.  However, if your potential employer checks your references and finds a discrepancy in what you’ve listed, your job application is likely to be removed from consideration. Instead of changing the job title, make sure the job duties/responsibilities you share are as clear and encompassing as possible. For example, if your title was “Administrative Assistant” but you also helped significantly on a project for a company, make sure to include it as a sub-bullet of your job title, rather than changing the title to “Administrative Assistant/Project Coordinator.

2)     References
References are the easiest way to get caught in a lie on your job resume.  There aren’t any good workarounds for references and lying about them is a red flag to companies.  This means that you need to work ahead of time at acquiring references.  They can come from a variety of places depending on the position you’re applying for: academic advisors, professors, employers, colleagues, and extracurricular program directors are good sources for references.

3)     Certificates, Awards, and/or Trainings
In today’s technological age, lying about your achievements on your resume is a risky move.  Background checks and calling references can easily indicate a lie about a certificate, award, or training you’ve reported.  If you don’t have a catalogue of achievements, think of the alternative experiences you’ve participated in such as extracurricular clubs/organizations, study abroad, boards, committees, conferences, and leadership positions.

Remember, lying on your resume is too risky a move when applying for jobs.  Be honest in your application and find other ways to make your resume stand out!  

You wore WHAT to an interview?!

-Written by Lauren Lind, junior Communications and Advertising double major at CU-Boulder

Sheila came home crying yesterday because she didn’t receive a second interview with her dream company. She is very intelligent and qualified for the job, however, after taking one glace at her outfit, I knew exactly why she didn’t get a second interview. That tight red dress showed off all her lady lumps and her five-inch black shiny heels might have distracted her interviewer. The moral of this story, don’t be a Sheila!

Ladies and gents, when it comes to dressing for an interview, low cut tops, tight dresses, leggings, stilettos, blazers with tennis shoes, and holey jeans will NOT land you your dream job.  In order to dress for success there are some simple rules to follow. Let me help you clothes the deal.

Ladies, keeping it classic and simple in a suit and skirt outfit will give you a true professional look. Two-piece suits for women should be fitted but not tight. Grey, dark grey, navy, or black are great color choices. Be sure to hem your pants so that they do not drag on the floor. A good rule to go by when it comes to skirts is to match the color to your blazer and make sure that when you sit down, your thighs are completely covered.

Should you wear low-cut tops to an interview? Absolutely not. Showing cleavage is just not appropriate in a business setting, so your best option is to wear a tailored blouse or a good quality knit sweater.  Ask a friend if your shirt is see-through; you don’t want to give the wrong impression.  Don’t make the mistake of wearing leggings to an interview. While they are comfortable, they are way too casual. Shoes are a major part of our wardrobe, but remember to keep it classy and stick with medium height leather pump that matches your suit. Not being able to walk in your stiletto heels will NOT land you the job, so wear flats if need be. Don’t wear jewelry or a bag that is too flashy.  Every detail counts so wear neutral nail polish, minimal perfume and natural looking makeup.

Guys, the ties with Batman printed all over them or any character tie is a definite no when it comes to getting the job.  Also, “formal” shorts that you could go golfing in and trendy shirts are simply too casual. Lastly, the “Dumb and Dumber” powder blue suit should be left to Harry and Lloyd. 

As far as menswear goes, you can never go wrong with a two-piece suit and a matching pair of shoes. Choose a two-piece matching suit and stick with conservative colors, such as navy or dark grey. Wool and wool blends work well too, just make sure to have the suit tailored to you.  Wear long-sleeve shirts in white, light blue, or a conservative pattern-notice the conservative theme.  It is best to go with ties that are made of high quality silk with a pop of color. Check out what other men in your industry are wearing. Match your belt to your shoes and stick with a classic wristwatch. Don’t bare your ankles.  Be sure to wear dark colored socks that are mid-calf length. Invest in a good pair of dark, leather, dress shoes. They can have laces or be slip on business shoes. PLEASE save the tennis shoes for the gym.  Looking like Chewbacca is also a no, so either go with the clean-shaven look or groom your facial hair appropriately and be sure to have clean, trimmed nails.

Use these tips to help the interviewer see you as the professional applicant you are and land your dream job!

Contributors: The Career Insider and Ramussen College. 

How to Survive a Career Fair

By Kelsey McWilliams, junior journalism major at CU-Boulder

 

Career Fairs are a great way to network and pursue job opportunities, but they can also be a bit intimidating if you aren’t prepared. Our Just In Time Hiring and Internship Fair is coming up TOMORROW, April 17, so we found a great infographic to help you feel prepared and confident going into the career fair.

1.     Dress for success: When it comes to meeting with employers, it’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed. Expect everyone at the career fair to be dressed the part, so make sure that you’re up to par and looking professional. Stick to neutral colors and conservative attire – suit and tie for men, dress pants or skirt (make sure it’s an appropriate length) for women.

2.     Do your homework: Look through the list of companies attending the career fair and pick out the ones that you are especially interested in. Research these companies so that you will be well informed on their business when speaking to recruiters at the fair.

3.     Have your resume: Stop by career services for a resume critique before the fair. Make sure to print off more than enough copies for the employers you’d like to talk to and bring them with you to the fair.

4.     Prepare your elevator speech: Come up with a 30-second summary about yourself that gives recruiters an idea of why you would be a great addition to their company. The speech should be a very concise highlight of your education, experience and the skills that you could bring to the organization.

5.     Make networking contact: Get business cards from every employer that you speak to at the fair. Make sure to send a follow up email within 24 hours, thanking them for taking the time to speak with you and letting them know of your interest in the position you spoke about.

6.     Make the most of your time: Make a schedule for which employers you’d like to talk to, so that you can maximize the amount of time you’re at the career fair. Try to visit the fair when you have a few hours free rather than rushing over between classes.

7.     No smoking: Don’t smoke or chew tobacco before the career fair – that’s not the kind of impression you want to give to employers. If you’re a frequent smoker bring a toothbrush and gum with you, just in case.

8.     Fight hunger: You want to make a good impression with each employer, so make sure that you’re well fed and ready to do so. Have a healthy, substantial meal before going to the fair, so that you’ll be feeling great and ready to impress recruiters.

Stop by Career Services in the Center for Community, N352 for more advice that will help you impress employers at the career fair and beyond.

7 Tips to Streamline Your Resume

-Written by WetFeet Editors

Let’s face it: You’ll never fit everything you’d like to say onto a one- or two-page resume. That means you need to choose powerful, effective words that deliver your message quickly and concisely. Your goal is to condense everything you need to say into a few carefully chosen words and bullet-pointed sentences that are easy to scan. Here’s how to use language to help accomplish this goal.
1. Keep It Brief
Less is more when it comes to writing your resume statements. Big blocks of text composed of meandering sentences make it hard to pick out essential information. Remember, if you can’t scan your resume in 30 seconds, neither can a recruiter or hiring manager. So write sentences that are short and simple, and that develop a single carefully targeted point.
2. Be Specific
Never use general terms to describe your experience or achievements. After all, you’re trying to stand out from all the other candidates, not blend in with them. Use concrete and specific language, and use numbers and hard facts wherever possible. Instead of “managed many important client accounts,” try “managed 30 accounts averaging more than $200,000 each.”

3. Use The Active Voice
To craft a powerful resume, write it using active voice. Active voice makes you the actor of your statements instead of a passive bystander. Moreover, using active voice prevents excessive wordiness and helps to keep your statements brief, clear, and simple.
This statement casts the applicant in a passive light, making it seem as if the promotion just happened:

• Selected as interim supervisor for 10–12 employees. (i.e., Somebody else did the selecting.)

Rewriting in active voice gives the candidate much more credit for the activity:

• Managed 10–12 employees as summer interim supervisor. (i.e., The candidate did the managing.)

4. Write In The First Person
Your resume is a direct message from you to a potential employer. Therefore, you need to write your achievement statements from the first person point-of-view. To save space and prevent wordiness, however, it’s okay to remove the “I” from your statements.
This statement of qualifications is still clear, even without the “I”:

• Marketing professional with seven years’ experience; specialize in research and strategy development for privately funded organizations; earned community service award through accomplishments in non- profit fundraising.

5. Remove Unnecessary Words
To further tighten your resume text, remove articles (a, an, the), helping verbs (have, had, may, might), forms of “to be” (am, is, are, was, were), and pronouns (its, their) from your resume statements. These extra words will be assumed by the reader.
6. Keep Track Of Tense
Make sure to describe your past duties and achievements in the past tense, and your present duties and achievements in the present tense. For example, if you’re listing activities at your current job, describe them in the present tense. However, when describing accomplishments that you have completed in your current job, you may use past tense. Inconsistent use of tense is confusing and just plain sloppy. Some job seekers hold two jobs simultaneously or hold an occasional long-term side job along with a full-time job. If you still hold the job, list that in the present tense as well.
7. Check You’re Spelling
One typo wouldn’t disqualify a candidate, but several typos probably would. On the other hand, any typo is a good enough reason to nix a candidate and, depending on the reader’s mood and level of patience, a typo might be just the excuse needed to whittle down that pile. Use your spellchecker, but also be sure to proofread carefully—spellcheckers won’t catch homonyms (there vs their) or misused contractions (your vs you’re). And the spell checker can’t catch mistakes in the names of companies. Have a friend or two proofread your resume before you send it out. Read the article on WetFeet's website.

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For more information on how to write a great resume, see the Killer Cover Letters and Resumes Insider Guide.

Should You Use Facebook as a Job-Seeking Tool?

-Written by Dave Allen for WetFeet

Since its founding, Facebook has been an outlet for social interaction, and its users have devoted countless hours to uploading pictures, posting statuses, and writing on each other’s walls. But alongside all those likes and comments, a growing amount of professional activity is taking place, with employers of all kinds creating pages and events and posting open positions.

With a more career-centric Facebook has come greater scrutiny of users’ photos, statuses, and the cache of personal information posted over the years. Today’s job seekers face a dilemma: embrace the site’s professional side and censor themselves for the sake of their careers, or keep their Facebook use strictly private and social.

To debate the risks and rewards of using Facebook as a job-seeking tool, WetFeet editor in chief Denis Wilson and Dan Schawbel, author of Me 2.0 and founder of Millennial Branding, sat down for a chat. As you’ll see, they’ve taken sides, too.

Q: Should job seekers use Facebook as a job-search tool?
DS: Yes. Job seekers are getting better results on Facebook. Someone you meet on a plane or at a networking event and add on LinkedIn is a weak connection. You’re primarily using Facebook to connect with friends and family, but there are professional contacts on there, too. If one of your friends works at PwC and you message them, the probability that they’ll take your resume to a hiring manager is much greater. Existing contacts are more willing to go out of their way for you than a random LinkedIn contact.

Q: On the other hand, why would a job seeker want to keep their Facebook use strictly private?
DW: The reason is mainly pragmatic: It’s unrealistic to think that most people would maintain the level of professionalism needed to face the public and recruiters. Facebook is such a valuable tool for me personally that I wouldn’t want to give it up or go back and erase things. It would be like changing your history or crossing things out of your diary. Plus, the tools on LinkedIn are really geared toward professional networking. These aren’t found on Facebook yet.

Q: But aren’t people who don’t list their job or their employer on their Facebook profile closing themselves off?
DW: You should still include some of your information, since your Facebook page is one of the first things that comes up when you’re Googled. But I think being 100 percent open is not good. If you’re making personal comments, are you representing your company? I think that leads to sticky situations; I don’t want my political or religious comments to be interpreted as my employer’s point of view.
DS: Right now, employers are conducting background searches on Facebook primarily. They want to catch you off guard and limit their piles of applications, and Facebook is the best way to do that. As long as your online image is professional, you can use Facebook to show more of your personality: your hobbies, your achievements, and what you can do for others.

Q: What do hobbies and other personal things have to do with your professional life?
DS: Let’s say I’m an accountant and I go to a networking event where no one’s interested in what I do. But if someone’s interested that we both like the New England Patriots, that’s a mutual connection. You have to be well-rounded so you can connect with people not just through your profession.
DW: I agree, but I’d add that recruiting is like dating. On a first date, you reveal a few slivers of your personality that you know will spur some interest. The problem with Facebook is that it doesn’t allow you to show just those bits. It shows everything. For example, what if I had my Spotify connected to my Facebook and I happened to be listening to misogynistic hardcore rap? I might just be curious about that kind of music, but without context, it would send the wrong message.

Q: Should a job seeker friend a recruiter on Facebook?
DW: I think a friend request would be seen as invasive. I think the better route is to see if they’re connected to one of your friends or try to get an introduction through someone else.
DS: I wouldn’t recommend it either. It’s much easier to connect with hiring managers and recruiters somewhere else, like commenting on their blog or following and retweeting them on Twitter. If you show interest that way, and then try to add them on Facebook or LinkedIn, they’re more likely to connect with you.

Q: Should you broadcast your job-seeking status with something like “I’m looking for a job in this field—anyone know of any openings”?
DW: It would be a little less savvy for an experienced professional, but for someone who needs to get their name out there and make new connections, why not get everyone in your network working for you?
DS: If no one knows you’re job searching, how can they help you? But if you have a job and you’re looking for other jobs, don’t publicize it on Facebook. That’s a horrible idea.

How do you balance a job with college?

By Matthew Tarpey, CareerBuilder writer for CareerRookie

Working your way through school is a noble goal, but it can be incredibly difficult. Many people have started down the path, only to run into road blocks and be forced to put their education on hold.

The key to successfully balancing everything is looking to the future and planning ahead. Here are some helpful tips for pursuing your education while working.

Budget your time

Working a job and taking classes are two of the most time-consuming activities in which people participate. It is essential that you learn to budget your time and schedule your days in advance. There is no universal schedule that will work for everyone - it varies from person to person. You might try to schedule all of your classes in the mornings so you can work afternoons or evenings. Some people opt for a class schedule that gives them Fridays off, allowing them to work more hours during the weekend. Figure out a schedule that will allow you enough time and energy to fully concentrate on one thing at a time.

It's also important that you know which classes you'll need to complete in order to graduate with the degree you want. Each class costs money, and if you take too many classes that aren't required, it could not only put a dent in your finances, but also push your graduation date back.

Budget your income

How much money do you need? How much can you survive on? Financial needs vary dramatically depending on a school's tuition, whether you're going to school full time, the city's cost of living and other personal responsibilities you may have. Take the time to sit down and look at where your money goes and how many hours you'll need to work to meet your personal needs.

Go at your own pace

If you need to work to cover tuition costs while attending school, it is perfectly acceptable for you to not graduate on time. Many people don't achieve a four-year degree in four years. Employers are likely to be understanding of your situation, and they'll also be impressed by the hard work and determination it takes to achieve a degree while simultaneously holding a job.

Know what you want out of your job

Do you want to gain valuable career experience or just make enough money to pay the bills? Jobs that provide useful experience are often more demanding, harder to find and less flexible in scheduling than more menial positions. However, apart from helping bolster a résumé, these positions can often be more fulfilling. Again, each individual's situation is different, so it is important to determine what works best for you.

Ideas for Making the Most of Your Next Networking Event

By Jennifer Dunn for Brazen Careerist

Have you ever had one of those terrible networking event experiences? You know the ones—where you sit in the corner the whole time because nobody is interested in talking. Or perhaps you strolled in and suddenly realized everyone was more prepared than you. You didn’t even bring business cards!

Networking events can be great experiences if you approach them correctly; otherwise, they can be the stuff of nightmares. If you implement the following tips, you can help ensure that everything goes smoothly. In fact, you could expand your business in ways you never imagined. It’s all about being prepared.

Before you go

No matter how many members of your team are going, it always helps to get everyone on the same page. While you may not all be doing the same thing or talking to the same people, you want to make sure you have a common goal and ultimate prize in mind.

That’s why it helps to know beforehand who will be at the event and what you want to get out of it. It’s not that you’ll know every single member of the crowd, of course; it simply means you want to tailor your message and conversations to your fellow attendees.

For example, if you want to expand your offering to restaurant owners, you wouldn’t go in looking to talk to all the real estate agents you can corner. Not that you want to exclude anyone, but keep your eyes on the prize. You have limited time, so be sure to speak with the people who can help you achieve your goals.

While you’re there

You’ve done your research so you know what you want out of the event. Now it’s time to put your preparation to work!

Arrive early at the event. You’ll have more quality time to meet and mingle, and people won’t be broken up into intimidating cliques yet.

Once you arrive, you may think you should just jump into the first group you see. However, it’s a better idea to canvas the place so you know who is there. For one, you’ll notice the various personalities in attendance: the quiet loner, the loud braggart, the “Hi, here’s my card—see ya!”, the social butterfly and so on. Knowing who is there can help you figure out which folks to approach first.

Another plus to canvassing is that you may run into a familiar face. While there’s really no point in hanging out with a bunch of people you already know, they may be able to introduce you to some new contacts. They may even know what your goals are and have ideas to set you on the right path.

Don’t skip out on talking to the quiet loner types, either. We’ve all been that person at some point, and you remember how frustrating it can be. They may have a wealth of information, yet no one is talking to them.

After the event

Now it’s time for the follow-up. This can be a little tricky. Everyone you talked to knows you were there for business purposes, but they also don’t want to feel like a number in a crowd.

So you have to figure out how to make everyone you follow up with feel like they’re the only person you’ve contacted after the fact. We’ve all been part of that post-event “cattle call,” and it never goes well. Did you ever contact any of those people back? If you did, did anything come of it?

During the conversation at the event, you likely talked about some other interests. It could’ve been about something you both mutually love, like a sport, or pet theories you have about business philosophy. Whatever it is, make it part of your follow-up conversation.

This way, a friendly conversation about the World Cup and business ethics also serves the purpose of moving your business forward. Plus, you may have made a long-term business contact instead of one you talk to once or twice and then ditch.