Spring Connection is not too far away and many of you may have phone interviews before a face-to-face interview. You need to be prepared so do not take it lightly.

Make sure you have your resume in front of you because you will talk about things related to what you have stated there. Have a notebook and a pen handy to jot down any questions, concerns, and details of the job.

I just recently had a phone interview and it is not the casual phone conversation that many people may think. It was like a full blown interview except I didn’t have to be dressed business professional. I was asked all the questions that you would expect to hear in a traditional interview. Here are some.

1. Tell me about yourself.

2. Why do you want to work for our company?

3. What kind of things are you learning in your courses?

4. State a time when you faced adversity. What did you do?

5. What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment in your life?

6. Tell me about a time when working on a group project you had to step up and take the leadership role. How did you accomplish your goals?

7. How do you manage when faced with multiple assignments? What do you do to keep your priorities in line?

8. What are your strengths/weaknesses? ( In life & In your course work).

These are some thing that you would want to ask your self. Many of these phone interviews are to screen potential candidates for traditional interviews.  Here are some tips taken directly from the CSPD website for interviews.

Step One - Prepare

• Know yourself, know the employer, know the position
• Obtain a detailed job description if possible

Based on your research of the organization and understanding of the position, you should be able to discuss the following:

• Business direction & goals
• Business philosophy and style of management
• The position
• The organization

Step Two - Practice

Interviewers often form opinions quickly. From the moment you meet the interviewer, you make an impression with your verbal and non-verbal communication. Analyze and improve your communication skills:

• Check the tone of your voice
• Use good language, grammar and diction
• Practice well thought-out answers
• Rehearse your responses
• Schedule a mock interview with CSPD
• Restate long or complex questions for clarity before you answer
• Take time to think before you answer. Short pauses are acceptable

Step Three - Perform

During your interview your primary objective is to stress what you can do to meet the needs and goals of the employer.

• Focus on skills that relate to the position
• Demonstrate your enthusiasm and self-confidence
• Relax and smile
• Think before you answer a question

Step Four - Follow-up

Thank the interviewer for his or her time

Make sure you understand the employer’s timing and process for filling the job

Remember to take phone interviews as serious as real interviews. You want to sound professional and confident. Visit http://sbm.temple.edu/cspd/interview.html for more interview tips from the CSPD!

Hey Everyone. As a lot of you probably know (or should know!) each year Fortune magazine goes through a rigorous process of selecting the 100 best companies to work for. It is based on various criteria and if your interested you can look at further break downs by things like company size and industry.

This is a great place to start your job search. I know, many of you snicker at how you would be able to get your resume looked at or, heaven forbid, get some face time at any of these firms, but there is a lot of value in lists like this.

1) It will familiarize you with firms that in some way are making a big impact in the business world. So take some time and take a closer look at some of the firms you don’t recognize. Do 3 minutes of research and learn their industry and strengths, and then move on to the next. It doesn’t have to be any in depth digging.

2) If you are having trouble finding a place to start in your career search, lists like this can be a good place. Go through the list and pick out those companies or particular interest to you, or if you are feeling ambitious about the job hunt APPLY TO THEM ALL. Check out the websites, see what they’re all about, and put yourself out there. Many of these firms aren’t the places that will come looking for you, but you could be what they are looking for. Spend some time crafting quality and specific cover letters and send your resume over to them. Many of these firms are getting thousands of the teir 1 Ivy League applicants, but that isn’t always what they want in this day and age. Diversify yourself and stand out from the bunch. Why are you a better choice.

3) This list in particular will help you to build standards around what you look for in a company. You should be interviewing companies as hard as they are grilling you. Find out why these companies made the cut, and build your short list of what you want to look for in companies, whether it be training programs, pay, benefits, work/life balance, environmental sustainability efforts, etc… Everyone has something different they are looking for, but if you don’t have anything then you have a good chance of ending up in a company you won’t like.

 http://www.greatplacetowork.com/best/100best-2009/100best-2009-list.php

FORTUNE’s 100 Best Companies to Work For^® 2009

Great Place to Work^® Institute produces FORTUNE’s 100 Best Companies to Work For^® list. The list is co-authored by Robert Levering and Milton Moskowitz.

The List Publisher’s Site: FORTUNE Magazine

Rank / Company
1 NetApp
2 Edward Jones
3 The Boston Consulting Group
4 Google, Inc.
5 Wegmans Food Markets
6 Cisco Systems, Inc
7 Genentech, Inc.
8 The Methodist Hospital System
9 The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
10 Nugget Market, Inc.
11 Adobe Systems Incorporated
12 Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI)
13 Devon Energy Corporation
14 Robert W. Baird & Co.
15 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
16 QUALCOMM Inc
17 Principal Financial Group
18 Shared Technologies Inc.
19 OhioHealth
20 SAS
21 Arnold & Porter LLP
22 Whole Foods Market
23 Zappos.com, Inc.
24 Starbucks Coffee Company
25 Johnson Financial Group
26 Aflac Incorporated
27 QuikTrip
28 PCL Construction Enterprises, Inc.
29 Quicken Loans
30 Bingham McCutchen
31 CARMAX
32 The Container Store
33 JM Family Enterprises, Inc.
34 Umpqua Bank
35 Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
36 Alston & Bird LLP
37 TDIndustries
38 Microsoft Corporation
39 Paychex, Inc.
40 EOG Resources, Inc.
41 Camden Property Trust
42 Plante & Moran, PLLC
43 Rackspace
44 NuStar Energy L.P.
45 King’s Daughters Medical Center
46 American Fidelity Assurance Company
47 DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.
48 Mattel, Inc.
49 Intuit Inc.
50 Burns & McDonnell
51 Ernst & Young LLP
52 Booz Allen Hamilton
53 Stew Leonard’s
54 Erickson Retirement Communities
55 salesforce.com
56 KPMG LLP
57 Novo Nordisk Inc.
58 PricewaterhouseCoopers
59 SCRIPPS HEALTH
60 Scottrade, Inc.
61 Deloitte & Touche USA LLP
62 Griffin Hospital
63 Mayo Clinic
64 Milliken & Company
65 Texas Instruments
66 The MITRE Corporation
67 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
68 Southern Ohio Medical Center
69 National Instruments
70 Stanley, Inc.
71 The Men’s Wearhouse, Inc.
72 Nordstrom
73 Chesapeake Energy Corporation
74 Alcon Laboratories, Inc.
75 Atlantic Health System
76 Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network
77 Northwest Community Hospital
78 Marriott International, Inc.
79 Baptist Health South Florida
80 Bright Horizons Family Solutions
81 S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
82 Perkins Coie LLP
83 eBay Inc.
84 Juniper Networks
85 Arkansas Childrens’ Hospital
86 CH2M HILL
87 Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
88 Publix Super Markets, Inc.
89 Herman Miller, Inc.
90 FedEx Corporation
91 Gilbane Inc.
92 Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
93 Valero
94 Build-A-Bear Workshop
95 Kimpton Hotel and Restaurants
96 T-Mobile USA, Inc.
97 Accenture
98 Vanderbilt University
99 General Mills
100 SRA International

So in light of Obama’s recent accomplishment, I thought it was only fitting to write a blog about him and what we can all learn from his wisdom and eloquence.  Barack Obama is wonderful at storytelling.  How many times throughout his campaign did you hear him talk about this situation or that situation and after his description were you able to place yourself into the story?  He has a great talent at creating a very strong image and allowing people to make a strong personal connection to that image.  This type of storytelling can be extremely effective in an interview as well.  It is important to show a hiring manager what you have done in the past and this is not the part of the interview where you want to be brief and trite.  It is important that you allow the interviewer to gain a feeling of what it would be like to work with you. 

One of the many other things Obama did exceptionally well was his strength in the use of a tricolon.  “A tricolon is a sentence with three clearly defined parts of equal length, usually independent clauses and of increasing power. ” Popular examples of a tricolon are “Veni, vidi, Vici” or “I came, I saw, I conquered.”  Now I can see how these types of examples would be hard to incorporate into an interview but there are very practical ways of utilizing this strong communication tool.  Take for example a small exerpt from one of Barack Obama’s speeches…

It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give [1] five dollars [2] and ten dollars [3] and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength [1] from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation’s apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; [2] from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; [3] from the millions of Americans who [1] volunteered, [2] and organized, [3] and proved that more than two centuries later, a government [1] of the people, [2] by the people [3] and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.”

So think about this the next time you are in an interview.  If you are asked ”Why do you want this job,” try to answer in 3 parts! 

You might say, “I want this job because I feel I understand the needs of your organization, because I love company X’s commitment to the professional development of their employees, and I feel that this is the right next step for me in my career.” 

It is always helpful to listen to other great speakers and employ what was learned in your own personal life.  Obama is a great example of someone who uses small techniques to make a big impact.

http://grammar.about.com/b/2008/11/06/barack-obamas-secret-for-stirring-a-crowd.htm

So our parents taught us a lot of things, maybe through their incessant nagging and rules, but this thanksgiving, thank them for providing you with such a great foundation to be a successful networker!

“COME YOUR HAIR!”
I know we all got this at some time or another. Our parents didnt like the outfit we were wearing or how we were presenting ourselves and did the “you better march right back up there missy and change that outfit!” type of thing! Well little did you know at that time your parents were helping you to make sure you were always making the best first impression possible. Networking is all about impression management and making sure that an employer remembers you when you walk away, not because of anything other than your optimistic personality, great questions and strong handshake! Remember you have to act the part to BE the part!

“ALWAYS SAY PLEASE AND THANK YOU”
Being considerate and generous always bodes well for your professionalism. Employers will be looking at your encounters with others as a way to find the most qualified potential employees. It is important that you can be a client facing employee, working with those around you of all different skill levels and personalities. A warm thank you whether verbal or in a thank you card is a way to solidify the relationships you have just made and strengthen those you already have.

“LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT”
While growing up we all had a few bad days where we felt that nothing was going our way. We learned to rise up to the challenges and adversities in our paths and grow from them as people. This is the same for the career search that many of you are embarking on now. You will get out of it what you put in. If you are proactive and meet with employers in as many situations as you can, gain valuable experiences on an internship, and build your leadership skills in a student professional organization you are setting yourself up for many successes. These successes still wont come easy, but with work, life really is what you make of it.

“NEVER GIVE UP”
To go along with the tip above, networking and making the lasting connections that will eventually land you in the office of a hiring manager wont come overnight. It is important that you understand that patience in this situation will take you a long ways. Take the time to make each encounter with a potential employer valuable. In this situation it is definitely quality over quantity and handing out your resume to 100 employers at a career fair is far less valuable than making a lasting impression on 3 or 4 employers. Followup is key. After you meet an employer, make sure to request a business card, and send them a followup thank you letter and tell them that you appreciate their time and feedback.

“KEEP YOUR ELBOWS OFF THE TABLE”
During your networking and job search you will be involved in multiple events where your etiquette skills will be important. Remember what your parents told you about how to pass the salt, how to use your utensils and other things that are important during a meal. Many employers use some sort of dining experience to gauge their candidates professionalism in that environment.

We have had a few students who have questions on how to tie a tie. Hopefully this video makes it super simple for you!!

Be Loud, Be Proud… My english teacher would always say that when a student wouldn’t speak up. I realized that she wasn’t saying that solely because she couldn’t hear us, it was because she wants us to speak with confidence also.

In some of your classes you will witness a student raise their hand for a question or to answer one a teacher asks. And you notice that many just aren’t audible.  I can’t count how many times the professor had to say ” Huh?! Can you repeat yourself?” I just want to shout out what my english teacher used to say- Be Loud, Be Proud. If you think you have the answer to the professor’s question you should speak like you are 100% confident,  even if you aren’t. This is essential to all areas of your life, especially when you are interviewing for a job.

Confidence is an emotion. Your voice is instrumental in sounding confident and knowledgeable. People may believe you are uncertain and may not accept what you say if you don’t sound confident. Think about buying a car from someone who mumbles through the description of the car.  Next time you start to speak timidly remember, Be Loud, Be Proud!

I had a mock interview with the regional sales manager for Verizon Business. I came in ready to explain anything that I had written on my resume. I had explanations for all my activities and involvements. I had my IT skills memorized with specific examples of their usage. I was ready to give examples about what we were doing in related class projects. I spent a considerable amount of time creating my resume; I wanted it to look good. I felt very confident about this interview when I handed him my resume. But let me tell you what really happened… He looked at it for 3 seconds! All the hard work I put into it was judged in 3 seconds. It gave me the feeling that my resume really wasn’t as important. Like I said I was ready for him to ask me questions about things I had listed but the focus was simple. The focus was on ME. The first thing he asked me to do was to describe myself using 3 adjectives. That’s easy enough but for the most part we don’t spend time evaluating ourselves. I came up with 3 adjectives but if I was prepared I could have come up with the best, honest adjectives. The next things he asked were; What are some of your goals in life, where do you see yourself in 10-15 years, what would your ideal career be, what do you value most in life?

These are the questions that are not answered by your resume. There are no right or wrong answers. Employers just want to see if you think about your goals and future. Anybody could easily nail these questions, so just take time to see what you want from life and be ready to speak on them. You always have the upper hand when you know what you want. Spend a few minutes to focus on yourself.

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!

***COMPANY SPOTLIGHT***

Click the enterprise logo above to listen to hear about what Management Trainees will learn at Enterprise. Enterprise will be on campus recruiting on Friday, October 10th and they are strong supporters of the Fox School. They are heavily involved in SPO meetings, supporting the CSPD in their endeavors (Including donating the money for the Career Makeover Suit) and many other things on campus. Please make sure to keep an eye out for all of their full time positions and internship opportunities on FoxNet.

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How To Give A Great Handshake (Video)

This video points out some really great tips on how to execute a great handshake. It is important to realize that handshakes are a sign of trust and help build strong relationships. They are very important in the management of the first impression you give to a prospective employer. Read through the different types of handshakes below and make sure you are mastering the three-second ritual of shaking hands. A good handshake will express a feeling of relaxed self-confidence. (more…)