Career Development Guidebook

THE EMPLOYMENT SEARCH

• Meet with a career counselor.
• Brainstorm with a friend for new ideas.
• Look for a job hunters’ support group.
• Attend professional meetings, seminars, or workshops.
• Learn ways to manage stress (for example, exercising or using relaxation techniques).
• Remember, it is OK to take a day off from job hunting.

• Don’t blame the interviewer - Realize that interviewers are people too. They may not behave the way you would expect and most likely will have a different personality than you.
• Don’t dwell on past failures - Feeling inadequate can affect how you deliver information and your confidence level during the job search process.
• De-personalize the interview - Employers may receive hundreds of resumes for one position. In the end, only one person will get the job, so it is unreasonable to take it personally.
• Take the spotlight off yourself - Emphasize how your experiences and skills can contribute to the company. Employers are not as interested in you as they are in your skills and abilities.
• Visualize yourself in the new role - Have an internal perception of the positive characteristics you possess and how that fits in with the prospective job interview. This will help allay your fears of the interview.
• Don’t get mad at the system - Sometimes the interviewing process will be frustrating. The job interview has formal as well as unspoken rules. Consider adapting yourself to the interview instead of expecting that the interview will adapt to you.
• Keep your sense of humor.

• Keep on trying - It is important not to be discouraged. Use several strategies to find the position you are interested in, whether it is related to your major field of study or not. The state of the current employment market is something that no individual has control over.
• Re-evaluate your job search techniques and strategies - Know how to market yourself effectively. Practice your interviewing techniques and have several people make recommendations to your resume. Followup with employers you have interviewed with to receive feedback on your interviewing style.
• Gain relevant experiences - Any kind of experience is better than none. Relevant work experience, volunteering, and/or internships can strengthen your appeal to employers.
• Re-define your career goals and expectations - Do not be insulted if you are offered a lower salary or position level than you expected. Remember, you are no only competing with other recent college graduates, but also with seasoned professionals in the field.
• Network, network, network - One of the most effective strategies for job seeking is to uncover contacts through the people you know. During a job search, keep in touch with former employers, professors, classmates, friends, family, and colleagues. Make new contacts by joining a professional association and by conducting informational interviews. It is necessary to expand your network.

A Guide to Job Search Strategies and Resources

NETWORKING

• Maximizing Your Job Search Seminar

• LinkedIn.com: The NYU Wasserman Center Student & Alumni Career Connections Group
• Professional Associations
• Friends, Family, Professors, Peers, Mentors, Supervisors

INTERNET

• NYU CareerNet (Career Development on-line database of full-time, part-time, & internship positions, both on/off-campus); requires in-person registration for username/password
  
• See Career Development Web site for links to more than 70 on-line job sites

CLASSIFIEDS

• Various newspapers, trade journals, newsletters
  

ON-CAMPUS RECRUITMENT

• See the Recruitment Programs section of our guidebook

EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES

• Directories of executive recruiters (at the Career Resource Center); listings in newspaper classifieds or on the Internet

PROSPECTING

• Employer Contact Lists, by field (see Career Development receptionist)
  
• Various directories, both general & specific by field

FAX REFERRAL

• Visit Career Development to drop off a copy of your 1-page resume for faxing to open positions.

CAREER FAIRS

• Visit Career Development Web site for listing of career fairs, and to see who's coming and for what positions.

 

THE INTERVIEW

Although every phase of the job search is significant, the most important part of the process is probably the interview. The interview will ultimately determine whether or not you will be offered employment. Some job seekers make the mistake of putting more energy into preparing their resume than into preparing for their interviews. There are countless occasions where applicants with extremely impressive resumes are rejected in favor of applicants with run of the mill resumes, simply because of the interview performance.

PREPARING FOR THE INTERVIEW

Research the Organization: Once an interview has been scheduled, find out everything you can about the organization and the position for which you are interviewing. This will enable you to ask and respond to questions in an intelligent and informed manner. The research will also allow you to assess how you "fit" with your potential employer.

First, utilize the abundance of information on the Internet. Many organizations have Web sites with information on their philosophy, mission, financials, job openings, and related career development tracks. All Center sites have Internet access on terminals that allow for web browsing. In fact, the Center Web page has an extensive list of employers and direct links to these employers’‹8 web sites if they exist. You can also conduct a Net-search utilizing one of the many search engines (e.g., Google, Yahoo, Alta Vista, etc.) to search for relevant articles, reports and current information about your employer.

Another benefit of utilizing the Internet is that you will be able to bring this information into your interview and signal to the employer that you are "cutting-edge" and aware of new technologies. This will also convey that you will bring that same resourcefulness to the job.

Next, visit the Center Career Resource Center to see if we have any literature on the organization, or contact the organization directly and ask them to send you any information they have. If it is a publicly owned company, check to see if an annual report is available. Even large non-profit employers issue annual reports or year-end summaries. When you are reading the report, do not just memorize numbers; instead, try to extract relevant information such as projected growth, current projects, and management philosophy.

Also, check a research library, such as Bobst or The Mid- Manhattan Library, and search through The New York Times Index, The Wall Street Journal Index, and relevant trade magazines or journals to see if the company or institution has recently been in the news. Are they planning a merger, involved in restructuring or downsizing, or expanding their workforce? Are they introducing a new product or service? Are they involved in any new developments or projects? Use Bloomberg for in-depth research on organizations and minute-to-minute market updates. You will want to incorporate information that you acquire into your responses and questions during the interview.

The Inside View: Check to see if any friends, family, classmates, professors, or NYU alumni have inside knowledge of the organization, and evaluate all of the information carefully. For example, a former employee that left under negative or questionable circumstances may be bitter and may not give you an accurate picture of the employer. On the other hand, they may raise legitimate concerns that you need to investigate further. Try to find someone who is working in a position similar to the one you are interviewing for in order to gain the greatest insight on the job's day-to-day responsibilities.

Practice, Practice, Practice: It is imperative that you think about what you want to say before meeting face to face with an interviewer. The more you rehearse and plan your strategy, the better chance you have of selling your skills and qualifications to the employer. Although you don't want to sound mechanical or wooden, practicing the answers to commonly asked questions will provide you with some structure to the interview, will help make you feel less nervous, and will give you the confidence to answer anything that is thrown at you.

The following strategies will help you do your best in the interview:

Practice Interviewing

1. Attend the Acing the Interview seminar at The Center.
2. Try using InterviewStream: a custom web-based training tool that let's you practice your interview skills using your computer's web-camera.
3. Arrange a videotaped mock interview with a Career Counselor at The Center. (This is most effective after you have had some interviewing experience.)
4. Practice interviewing by role playing with family, friends, supervisors, and classmates.
5. Consider attending the Dining for Success workshop (see Special Programs).

INTERVIEW BASICS

First Impressions: It has been estimated that interviewers form opinions about prospective employees within the first 30 seconds of the interview - so first impressions do matter! If the initial impression that you make is negative, your chances of success are slim, even if the rest of the interview goes well. Since interviewers tend to be very conscious of appearance, dress, and attitude, it is wise to adhere to the following guidelines:

DO:

• Have a firm handshake and make eye contact.
• Dress appropriately, considering the industry:
  Women - this can include a traditional suit (skirt and jacket), pantsuit, or dress and stockings. Wear neutral colors and avoid busy prints. Choose shoes with a moderate heel.
  Men - this can include a neutral color business suit with a tie (both should be conservative).
• Keep jewelry to a minimum (avoid large jewelry that might distract from what you are saying).
• Make sure your hair is not in your face and does not hide your eyes.
• Arrive neatly dressed and clean.
• Use make-up in moderation.

DON’T:

• Smoke, chew gum, or drink.
• Use profanity.
• Be overly casual in dress or manner.
• Discuss details of your personal life.
• Ever bad mouth a former employer.
• Have your cell phone/beeper on.
• Wear perfume or cologne.
• Address interviewers by their first name unless you are invited to do so.
• Sit down unless you are invited to do so, or until the employer/interviewer has done so first.

Making Casual Business Attire Work for You:Think of casual business clothes as a relaxed version of your professional attire. For men, casual business wear means casual pants (khakis) with a woven shirt and no tie. Sweaters and sports jackets work fine. For women, it means mixed separates, sweater sets, slacks, tights or socks, and no jacket necessary. Among the banned items in business casual wear are: shorts, blue jeans, T-shirts, athletic shoes, mini skirts, outdoor boots and flannel shirts.

When deciding what to wear for a company presentation, corporate mingle or dinner, be sure to check with the Career Development recruitment staff and/or the employers to learn what the event dress code is before you select your wardrobe.

Plan Ahead: Make sure you know the exact location of the interview and the correct pronunciation of the interviewer's name.

Plan on arriving about 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time. This will give you an opportunity to settle yourself, use the restroom and complete any necessary application forms. Print additional copies of your resume on bond paper and also bring a list of two or three references on a separate sheet of paper. This list should include each person's name, title, organization, and telephone number. Sometimes this information is asked for on the job application or at the conclusion of the interview.

Waiting for the Interview: Take a deep breath and try to relax. Use the extra time to collect your thoughts. While waiting, try to observe the office environment. How do co-workers interact? How are employees dressed? Is this a place in which you could see yourself working? Remember that the support staff may be observing your actions, so be conscious of your behavior.

The Interview: When the interviewer greets you, stand up, make eye contact, extend your hand, smile, and introduce yourself. All of this takes only a few seconds, but it will set the tone for the meeting.

During the first few moments, the interviewer will try to get to know you a little better as a person. Do not be surprised if the first few questions are unrelated to the job (for example, they may be about current events or the weather). This is the time to relax, converse, and establish rapport, so make sure you do not appear too tense. This is not the time for oneword answers. The interviewer may also use this time to decide what to ask next.

Expect to be asked certain standard questions. Although they may seem fairly general, a good rule to follow is to consider them in relation to the job for which you are applying. For example, a frequently asked interview question is, "Tell me about yourself." In this case, the interviewer is not asking for your life story. Instead, he or she is trying to find out about the major events that shaped your decision to pursue this career area. Try giving a response that reveals something about your personality and accomplishments and how they relate to the position in question. Provide information that is relevant to the position and ask questions that will get the interviewer to reveal more about the job and its responsibilities.

Job-Related Questions: This is the point in the interview where very specific or even technical questions may be asked. Make sure you are familiar with the latest developments, technology, and theory in your field. You may be asked about your reaction to a specific event or article. If you have done your homework, try and demonstrate this by the way you respond to the question. If you are unfamiliar with the material being discussed, answer honestly by stating that you do not know.

If you are unfamiliar with the material being discussed, answer honestly by stating that you do not know.

You will probably be asked about your work habits, strengths, weaknesses, past experiences, and goals. Always provide specific examples when answering questions to validate your skills and qualifications. Although you should answer honestly, make sure you do not volunteer information that could seriously jeopardize your candidacy. Always use positive words and exude an enthusiastic attitude.

The following questions are typical for many interviews. Although you may not be asked all of them, practicing responses will help you prepare for the interview.

Sample Questions

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. How would your best friend describe you?
3. What are your short and long-term goals? How are you preparing to achieve them?
4. What are your greatest strengths?
5. What are your weaknesses?
6. Why did you choose NYU?
7. What was the best and worst thing about college?
8. How did you get interested in this field?
9. Give me an example of your leadership ability.
10. Are you a team player or an individualist?

Inappropriate Questions: Although rare, it is possible that during an interview you will be asked questions that can be classified as inappropriate. Some of these questions are illegal and blatantly discriminatory. Most interviewers are professionals and will not ask these types of questions; sometimes, however, the interviewer may not have an "interviewing background" and may not know that he/she has asked an inappropriate question. Nonetheless, you should be prepared to deal with them and you may want to inquire about the question's relevance to the job.

Behavioral and Situational Interviews: Two new trends in interviewing are the behavioral and situational interviews. The behavioral interview format is based on the premise that past performance predicts future actions and potential. In this scenario, the interviewer will ask you to describe a particular situation in your past and how you learned from it. For example, you might be asked to "describe a mistake you made and how you learned from it." In response to this question, provide an example that is not too extreme or harmful to your candidacy. Another example may be to "describe a time when you were challenged and how you handled it." By providing specific examples from your past, you reveal how you react to stressful situations and challenges.

In situational interviews you are asked how you would respond to scenarios of common work situations that arise on the job. You must describe how you would handle the situation. In order to answer these types of questions, think about the appropriate course of action in the scenario and provide an answer which demonstrates the skills you will utilize on the job (consider communication skills, teamwork, problem solving and leadership abilities).

Board/Panel, Group, and Stress Interviews: There are several different formats for interviews. A board/ panel interview is when a candidate is interviewed by several people simultaneously. This is most often used when the employer wants to save time. This can be especially nerve-wracking and intimidating. When there are several interviewers, it is best to initially respond by focusing on the individual who asked the question, then, establish eye contact with everyone in the room while you are speaking. This is very common with educational and non-profit employers who establish a search committee consisting of several individuals who meet with the candidate at the same time.

The group interview is when several candidates are interviewed simultaneously. This saves the employer time and allows for the interviewer(s) to see how the candidates interact with each other. This is common for the education sector and entrance to graduate school, although it may also occur in the corporate world.

Occasionally, some corporate employers may put a candidate through a stress interview. These interviews are used to determine if a candidate is able to deal with a high-pressure job. An example of a stress interview involves bombarding the candidate with tough questions and allowing very little time for a response. In addition, the interviewer may make negative comments toward the candidate to see how he/she handles stress.

Asking the Employer Questions: The interview should be viewed as a conversation or a dialogue with participants exchanging information and ideas. You should interject comments or questions whenever it seems relevant or appropriate. Usually, near the close of the interview, the interviewer will ask if you have any questions. This is an opportunity to get more information, clarify certain issues, and show your interest in the position. Try to develop five or six questions that show that you have done your homework on the organization, and that focus on the job, its responsibilities, and its opportunities.

Sample Questions to Ask Employers:

1. What are the daily responsibilities?
2. How is the training program designed?
3. How is performance measured?
4. What career paths are available?
5. How is the economic climate affecting your organization?
6. How would you differentiate your organization from your competitors?

Salary and Benefits: Salary and benefits should only be discussed at the end of the interview process. You may want to ask about benefits once you have made it to the final round of interviews. If salary has not been discussed, and the interviewer asks you to name what salary you are looking for, you can cite an acceptable salary range (be sure to research this prior to your interviews).

Closing the Interview: Ask the interviewer if there is any additional information you can provide about your skills or qualifications. Make sure you communicate your interest in the position. Find out what the next step will be and when you may expect to hear from the organization. Ask for a business card so you can send a thank you letter within 24 hours. If no card is available, make sure you learn the correct spelling of the interviewer's first and last name. Thank the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you. Follow-up by phone if you have not heard from the interviewer within two weeks.

Benefits of Mock Interviews: One of the best ways to stand out among other candidates is by demonstrating excellent interviewing skills. Your can strengthen your ability to effectively interview by taking advantage of the videotaped mock interviews that the NYU Wasserman Center for Career Development offers. Some of the many benefits of mock interviews include: the opportunity to receive direct feedback on how you are perceived by potential employers and tips on how to create a positive, professional impression; awareness of how to enhance the effectiveness of your body language; the chance to familiarize yourself with the interviewing process and to learn how to best articulate your skills, abilities, experience, and achievements; an overall increased level of confidence in your interviewing skills. Since adequate preparation is one of the most important components of a successful job search process, practicing your interviewing skills in a mock interview is a valuable investment of your time. Participating in a mock interview serves to maximize your preparedness and enables you to acquire the ability to interview much more effectively. To schedule a mock interview with a Career Counselor, call our office.


EVALUATING JOB OFFERS AND NEGOTIATING SALARY

FINALLY! You have an offer! After all the networking, resumes, rejection letters, and interviews, an employer has offered you a job. Now, what do you do? Should you wait to see if XYZ company also makes you an offer, since their position was more attractive to you? Or do you take the sure thing? Accepting a job offer is a major career decision and therefore deserves careful thought and consideration.

When Evaluating A Job Offer, You Can Follow These Steps: First of all, if you have not yet drawn up lists of your values and goals, this is the time to do it. You need to compare these values and goals with what the job and organization can provide. If you value working on a team and interacting with clients, then a position that requires you to work alone in an office all day is not a good fit. If you value autonomy on a job, consider how much supervision you will have. If one of your professional goals is to manage a program in three years, will this position provide you with enough training and experience to branch out on your own? You will not be able to decide whether or not to accept a position unless you know what you want.

Next, list all the things you know about the position and the organization - include responsibilities, opportunities for learning and advancement, nature of supervision, work hours, salary, benefits, health of the organization (e.g., are they expanding services, or cutting back?), location, and anything else you may have learned during the interviewing process.

You can also write down your overall impression of the organization. Did you feel comfortable and respected during the interview process? Did the interviewers conduct themselves in a professional manner? How did you feel about the other employees and the overall team? What was your gut reaction to the organization? Did you feel it was a good fit? Your intuition can be a valuable guide in making this decision. If you had negative feelings during or after the interview, try to determine what caused them. Trust your instincts!

Check off all of your work values and goals satisfied by the job. Then, add up the check marks. If the job gives you the chance to reach your goals and satisfy your most important work values, then it may be the job for you. Remember, no job is perfect.

MORE THAN ONE OFFER

With the economy in recovery, graduating students are still finding many job opportunities. In fact, many students are benefiting from multiple job offers. This can present new opportunities, but also a new set of challenges. When you are faced with choosing from several job offers it is important to remain calm and make the decision based on what is right for you.

Once you receive the offers, you will feel elated, but as the deadlines for deciding approach, you might feel a little overwhelmed. Now is the time to follow the steps outlined below. It is easy to be influenced by money and the name of the employer, but it is more important to determine which job comes closest to the kind of position you are seeking.

During this process, some employers might give you a short time frame in which to make your decision (a few days to two weeks). If you have several offers that are all appealing, this might not be enough time to carefully consider your options. Most employers will give you an extension if you call and request it. It is okay to tell them that you have several offers and need more time to make your decision. If you received your offer through the On-Campus Recruitment program, please visit the Web site for offer policies.

In a few cases an employer might try and pressure you to accept by not granting you an extension. Please contact The Center immediately if this happens and our staff will help you negotiate the extension, or, if necessary, call the employer for you. Please be aware that once you accept a position you should be prepared to fulfill that obligation. It is highly unprofessional to renege on an offer, and could hurt your employment opportunities later on in your career. This is especially true if you plan on remaining in the same field, since professionals move around within an industry, and you might find that the person you reneged on might one day be your manager. If you received your offer through the on-campus recruitment program, there will be severe academic consequences for reneging on an offer.

SALARY NEGOTIATION

How does the salary offered to you stack up? Salary evaluation requires some more homework. Use the Web to research salary ranges for specific industries. You should know the minimum amount necessary for you to meet your expenses. List your rent, loan payments, food, laundry, transportation, entertainment, utilities, and any other costs you will be responsible for on a monthly basis. Multiply that figure by 12, and you will have a rough idea of your minimum net salary level requirement. Make sure you include something for miscellaneous expenses.

What do you do if you want the job, but the salary is seemingly non-negotiable? Negotiating salary with an employer is perfectly legitimate. You have a right to request a specific amount, and the employer has the right to refuse. Be diplomatic, and do not push the employer too far, because you might talk yourself out of an offer. Here are some tips on negotiating salary:

Tips on Negotiating Salary

1. Know your absolute minimum, and resolve beforehand to accept nothing less. If you agree to a salary that will not enable you to pay your bills, you could find yourself in financial difficulty and be dissatisfied right from the start.
2. Research typical salaries in the field or industry by talking to professionals, browsing web sites, looking through the classifieds, and by reading job search books in the library. You will then be able to judge whether or not the employer is in your desired ballpark.

CONSIDERATIONS

Future Growth vs. Immediate Gratification: The long-term benefits of a job may be more important than the immediate payoff. A job that looks great in the short run might be a dead end in a year. As you evaluate your options, consider the following factors: opportunity for training, responsibility, salary, education and growth potential.

Staying Flexible: Chances are you have a good picture of what your ideal job looks like. Unfortunately, in the real world, it is not always possible to find that perfect job right out of college. Many successful professionals start their careers in jobs that they never would have predicted. They learned that being open to different possibilities led them into unchartered, but interesting and rewarding,
territory. It is important to "positon" yourself to gain experience and acquire new skills to eventually land that ideal job.

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