Podcast Episode 6- Making positive first impressions at a new job

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When evaluating our feelings about people, we all take shortcuts.  First impressions are usually made within the first 10 seconds of meeting someone and can often turn into long term perceptions and reputations.  During your first few months on a new job you will be making many first impressions with everyone yuo meet.  I have put together a good list that will help to ensure that you are making the right first impressions!

Have a positive attitude

Nothing makes people like and trust you more than a positive attitude.  Let your enthusiasm for your new job and being part of a new team shine through in all interactions.

Dress professionally

You should dress professionally in the beginning of your new job even during dress down or casual days.  You never know when you will get that first chance to meet the CEO or high level executives.  You sould always speak louder than your clothes and accessories.

Learn coworkers names quickly

Remember the names of those to whom you are introduced.  In your first few days you wll be introduced to dozens of new co-workers.  When you get back to your desk, jot down the names and if you forget a name, dont be afriad to ask someone for their name again.  Always remember the names of your managers!

Ask questions

Its better to ask questions before you dedicate time to doing something incorrectly.  Dont try to change the world before you know the way to the restroom.  Your first task on a new job is to gain an understanding of the way things are done in your new company.  Take the time to understand your company’s benefits plan.  Dont wait until you needt o use one of the benefits before you understand them. 

Go to all orientations that are provided

Take time to research everything you can and become an expert no your company and your position.  You will only be able to do this by taking advantage of all orientation opportunities that a company provides.

Take initiative

Your first days on the job will be filled with sall tasks so when you need more work or are ready to take on larger responsibilities, ask.  Smaller ideas are easy to fulfill and will help build your coworkers trust of your ideas and work ethic.  Tka eon one of those projects that everyone has been trying to get done for months but just havent had the time, like reorganizing the database.

Work full days

Be the first person to say hello to everyone in the office and say it with a smile.  Be a morning person and awlays be on time or early.  During your first few months your attendance record will help to build your reputation for reliability, trust and confidence.

Avoid office politics

You will be guilty if you attach yourself to the office gossip or slacker.  Make sure, during your first few weeks, to be cordial to everyone you meet.  Take some time to realize who the hard workers are, those with good reputations and relationships in the organization and they are those that you should ask for advice, mentorship, etc.  Keep your ear to the grapevine but dont contribute to it.  It might help to give you ideas on what is praised and what is punished within an organization, but take it for what it is worth: gossip!

Take 20% and listen 80%.  Avoid those who talk 100%.  It is your job to find out the nuances of your compnay, the unwritten rules and norms of the office and you have to listen to others to do this.

Track accomplishments

It is up to you to track your accomplishments and let your boss know about waht you are doing on a regular basis.  Dont expect accolades if you are not promoting yourself, your work, and letting people know what you are doing.

Remember, your first job can create a lot of anxieties but it is important that you understand what your employer is expecting of you.  Ask enough questions to have a solid understanding of your responsibilities.

I am Kelley Franklin and I also go by Kel. I was born and raised in Harrisburg Pennsylvania. I transferred from Harrisburg Area Community College in May 2008 with an associate’s degree in Computer Information Systems. This is my first semester at Temple and I hope to finish in spring 2010 with a BBA in Management Information Systems.

I love technology! I have been the family tech support since I was 13. Computers consume my life and I enjoy every minute of it. I use a lot of free software and I love web applications such as Gmail and Google calendar. Both of these tools are essential for daily organization. I want to have a career in the information technology industry. Currently my goal is to be an IT consultant and trainer.

  Keeping in touch with people and making new friends is a necessity to me. I am currently in 3 SPOs: Association of Management Information Systems, Students for Responsible Business, and Phi Beta Lambda. I am also involved in the Fox Mentor program here. By being involved, I have made many friends and contacts for the future. 
  My favorite things to do in my spare time change frequently. Currently I have been swimming a few times a week, but I enjoy almost all sports. Much of my day is spent reading blogs to feed my growing thirst for knowledge. The greatest things to me are the finer things in life. Things like hanging out with friends or taking the subway to south philly for a cheese steak are amazing.
 

During my two years at Temple, I hope to better myself. I just got CSPD’d and now I am ready to start looking for internships. It is going to be an exciting ride on my way to graduation. Networking, internships, involvement, goals, and the many aspects of being a student in the second half of college, are all things I plan to write about. I am also open to whatever you want to hear about. Comments are more than welcome!

Phone interviews are often misread as being an easy alternative or substitute for a face-to-face interview. The argument can go both ways, but regardless they should not be underestimated for the significance they can have in your job search. Here are a few things you can do to step your game up on phone interviews:

• A mistake I made the first few times was trying to conduct the interview from my cell phone. Often times this is the only phone line college students have, and it seems like a natural decision. Do yourself a favor and find a land line to use for the interview. The service is far clearer and therefore one less distraction or thing to worry about in the moment. Try asking CSPD or a mentor or professor you have a close relationship with if you could borrow their office for 30-60 minutes. Tell them what it is for, they should be understanding.
• You obviously don’t need to worry about dress during a phone interview as much as you would with a face to face. However, often times I would still dress up in at least business casual or a tie to help get into the mental state. I’m not saying you need to suit up (although it might not hurt), but you would be surprised how much more focused and confident you will feel when dressed for the part.
• Bring the right tools. Just like a normal interview, you need to have all the right materials. Be sure to have a copy of your resume, a notepad and 2 pens for note taking and a list of typed questions for the interviewer. You might want to print out some high-level facts about the company in case they ask what you know about the company.
• An easy mistake to make is to not record the interviewer’s name. It is often the first thing said and is in one ear and out the other. Before you even dial the phone number, write on the top of your notes “NAME:________” and be ready to write it down. If you don’t get it at the beginning it is often hard to capture later on. At the end, you will want to ask for their email address as well so that you can follow up with a thank you for their time.
• Always have questions. For any type of interview this is crucial, but awkward silence over the phone seems to last about 10 times as long, so don’t get caught empty handed.
• Be confident. Sit up straight and project your voice. It is harder to express yourself and personality over the phone rather than in person, but it is not impossible. Avoid going too over the top but don’t sound like a monotone rock either. Sound excited about having the opportunity - the enthusiasm and sense of professionalism will let them know you want the job.
• Take notes so you can reference them throughout the interview if necessary, but also to reference for later interviews or in follow up thank you letters.

Throughout my four years at Temple I’ve accumulated a few hundred business cards, and most anyone that knows me has seen, borrowed, or utilized my binder stash collection. Collecting business cards must be done with tact. When you meet someone, you can’t just walk up and request their business card. You need to give them a reason to want you to have their business card.  Begin my building some type of relationship. Introduce yourself and let them know if you are interested in something they are offering - a job, a product, a contact, a mentor, a friend. Ask about them - their position, location, experience, history, alma mater - anything to get them talking and build conversation around. Be sure that when you finally ask for the business card, let them know why you are asking for it, whether it be to follow up about an interview or to involve them in a speaker presentation for the organization you’re an officer of. After you leave the interaction, write down on the back of the card the date, time, and place that you met this person for later reference. Later that day, if the contact is someone valuable, email them and let them know you enjoyed the conversation you had. You may want to reference some part of the conversation to both remind them who you are and let them know you were engaged.  If your relationship is stretched over a period of time, reach out to this person every once in awhile to maintain the relationship you developed. Let them know skill sets you’ve built since the last time you talked or significant activity in your professional development.  And what about giving out your business cards? This is a grey, situation-by-situation topic. My recommendation is try to collect more than you give out. I think it is great to have business cards with your contact information on it, but there aren’t too many reasons a recruiter needs one. All the information they need about you is on your resume. Business cards are great for giving to colleagues and peers and to help build your brand, but it is not recommended to pass them to recruiters unless they specifically ask to see one or have one. Get some, and take them to conferences or speed networking sessions, but at job fairs don’t be too free with them. You are better off passing your resume around.

Whether it be a networking session, an information session, a dinner or cocktail hour, something formal or un-formal - it doesn’t matter, you need to be there. From the internships I’ve had and job I’m in, I’ve talked to recruiters and know the importance of this interaction touch point. If you don’t yet have an interview scheduled, this is the perfect time to meet the recruiters and people that will be interviewing you. Get on their good side. Let them hear your career interests and experience. Get them a copy of your resume. Let them know that you want their job. I know these events don’t always fall on the most opportune times, but you need to understand that they are committing their time as well. You need to sacrifice and prioritize your schedule to make these events, because there is no doubt they are keeping track of who they see. If for some reason you absolutely can’t make an event, reach out to the appropriate resource and explain why you could not and that you are still very interested in speaking with them and learning about their opportunities. This is a huge step in getting your name and resume into their heads and hands.

I fully understand what life is like on the often minimal budget of a college student. Furthermore, I know that for most of us, spending a significant amount of money on dress shoes does not seem too appealing. Trust me on this one, you are doing yourself a disservice but not suiting up with the proper footwear. As a sophomore, I saved for about a month to buy a pair of dress shoes for about $300. They are black Johnston & Murphy shoes that I got with the Temple discount at Jos Banks in center city. Even my parents almost fainted when they found out, but these shoes are still supporting my professional endeavors nearly 3 years later. When kept polished, they are the perfect blend of professional and sharp. They are not overwhelming. Most importantly though, they make me look like I could be doing a job 3 levels higher than the one I’m applying for. They instill confidence that helps shine through in interviews and business interactions. Whether the interviewer notices your nice kicks or not, it is something you know you will not need to worry about and can only help you. And yes - I have talked to plenty of recruiters that will not hire you if your shoes are scuffed. Shine your shoes before every single interaction.

Etiquette Dinner 2008

November 12, 2008 

Diamond Club, Mitten Hall- Lower Level
5:00pm-7:00pm
$10 for students / $15 for Alumni

Tickets on sale until November 10th at the Career Center, Mitten Hall 2nd Floor
**Please remit payment in the form of a cehck or money order**

Sponsored by:

Enterprise Rent-a-car
Temple University Career Center
School of Tourism and Hospitality Management
Fox School of Business
College of Liberal Arts

If you have not been through an etiquette training, I would highly suggest one.  Many companies will utilize a formal dinner or networking event during their recruitment.  These events help the employers gain insight into the professionalism of their candidates.  The etiquette dinner will go over everything including which fork to use, how to eat soup, how to pass the salt and pepper, and MUCH MORE!

Just a reminder—

Extreme Makeover: Career Edition applications are due next Wednesday, October 25th!!! This opportunity is open for both Juniors and Seniors!! It is sure to be a great experience for the winners as you get a new suit, haircut, makeup, etc. all for FREE.

To Enter just answer the following question in 300 words:

HOW DO YOU DEFINE IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT AND HOW WILL THIS MAKEOVER IMPACT YOUR FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT CAREER SEARCH?

Please make sure to include your name, TUID, Grad Date, Phone number and email address on your application.

Applications can be handed in to the CSPD office (Speakman 390) or emailed to Jbandini@temple.edu.

Just some funny stories from HotJobs.com about some unpredictable interviewing situations.

Click here to read the article!

Have you had any terrifying interview moments?? Please share in the comments!

Okay, so for any of you that haven’t seen this episode of South Park, I apologize for the reference, and hopefully I’ve brought at least a hint of humor to those of you that have seen it. But I digress…let’s talk jobs.I have written thus far mostly about my experiences entering the real world, and at this moment it’s about 7:00am from a satellite office in Washington DC, where I will be working on a project for the next few months. Pretty exciting stuff, but I’ll have plenty of time to tell you what business travel is all about.

In this entry, I wanted to talk about what, in the business world, are called “Best Practices”. These are the steps that lead you to accomplish whatever it is your undertaking in the highest performing fashion and hopefully end in you achieving your goal. As good of a month as October is for drinking too much Oktoberfest, it is the time you need to start thinking about finding your job or internship for next summer.

Whoa…seriously? 7-8 months in advance? Talk about an over-achiever. I know it sounds ridiculous, and I say this without any formal documentation to back it up, but I would bet from experience about 85% of the best companies have already started looking. By Christmas most of those companies will have their entire lineup of internships or new-hires in stone. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of companies that will still be hiring in the spring, but you will be very much limiting yourself by not beginning to look now.

So what steps should you be taking right now to find that right job? Sure there are lots of career fairs that help a great number of Fox students get jobs, but don’t be afraid to be active in your pursuit. There are thousands of companies hiring across the country for every type of job you could imagine. From my time at Temple, from talking to friends at other schools, and from emails I get daily about professional development, the problem I see most is that people get so stressed out. The key is to own this part of your life. You have worked hard (or not worked hard…) to get to where you are, and now is the time to present yourself and get a job that wont leave you comatose for the next XX number of years.

Take some time, and think about what you want to do. Spend an hour a day for a week brainstorming what your dream companies are. This is truly as simple as creating a list in Microsoft Word. Think about interests, locations, values, company size, industry, and past experiences to help you come up with ideas. When I did this at the beginning of my senior year, I came up with 127 companies that I could see myself working for. I didn’t do much research, but rather just off-the-cuff notions. I had a lot of companies in the music industry, outdoors industry, entertainment industry, fashion industry, consulting world, technology….I had every aspect of my interests covered. I kept this list open and still added to it and crossed things out up until I signed my offer letter.

Once you have your dream list prepared, spend some time going through them once again. You might reevaluate some, cross some off, add a few more, and all of that is okay. At this point the serious work starts. Make sure your resume is up to date and flawless, and then draft a general cover letter. There are examples on the CSPD website you can use as a basis. The key to a cover letter is making it relevant to the employer. So start going down your list of companies and visit their website, read about them in the news, and see what job opportunities there are for you. In a lot of cases you will be able to apply right on the website. I was always weary of this process, so sometimes you need to get creative. I would print my cover letter and resume and sometimes just mail it to a senior marketing figure or the head of HR if I could find the contact information. You never know what could come out of going the extra step. With each company, pick out what they are looking for in job candidates or what specific positions are requiring. Incorporate your relevant skill sets or experiences in your cover letter to tell them you’d be a good fit.

This takes serious dedication but it pays off. I remember spending every waking moment doing this, it was a full time job on top of my school work and internship, but it paid off. Whenever you have free time (or just make the free time…this is your career after all) try to pump 5-10 of these out. Just when you think nothing is coming through, you’ll begin hearing back. If you continue doing this in addition to attending Temple and Philly job fairs you are taking the right steps. Next thing I knew I was scheduling trips to NYC, Boston, and San Francisco. Never give up, if you’ve worked hard things will pay off for you. It is just a matter of getting yourself out there, jobs hardly ever come to you.

If you have any questions about this or anything else, feel free to email me at Andrew.J.Hagerman@gmail.com and I’d be glad to help.