A few weeks ago I came across a really unique company on LinkedIn. It’s called GrouperEye.com and it awards cash prizes to students that solve real business cases for real companies. I was so intrigued by this concept that I contacted the founder of the company and asked if I could interview him. His story is amazing and the company is really providing incredible opportunities for students.
Read the full article about GrouperEye.com.
Are you a business major hoping to score a gig with one of the major consulting firms? If so you need to be prepared for a different kind of interview. It’s called the case interview and it’s likely you haven’t been prepped for it by your college career center.
In a typical case interview scenario, the interviewer will verbally present a business problem. You will be given the rundown on a hypothetical (or real) company, their business dilemma, and asked to offer your initial recommendations for solving the problem.
The interviewer will be assessing you in several areas including, but not limited to:
To help prepare you for a case interview, one of the top consulting firms, AT Kearney, offers these insightful techniques. Click here to read their helpful hints for acing your case interview.
Update for the Start-Up Nation Leading Moms in Business Contest
Beth and I really appreciate everyone who has been voting for us every day! Wow! We currently have one of the highest “popularity meters” of the group and hope we can keep the momentum up through March 31st! If you haven’t voted yet, please vote here. It’s literally two clicks and you don’t have to give anyone any contact information.
Right now we are working hard to get the new web site up so stay tuned to learn about our exciting new workshops and personal coaching packages.
Have you ever dreamed of working for a professional sports team? Growing up in Detroit when the Lions were actually decent, I thought that would be great. I thought you had to know somebody though. Wish I had known then that all it takes is a great attitude and a little bit of advance planning…like applying on time.
Applications for internships are being accepted now so hurry up and visit these sites to learn how to apply for the professional sports internship of your dreams. These are great opportunities for college students over the age of 18, and recent graduates.
Did you know NASCAR prefers PC people over MAC users? Hmmm. Interesting.
American Hockey League Internships
National Football League Internships
Major League Baseball Internships
Major League Soccer Internships
National Basketball Association Internships
Professional Golf Association Opportunities
US Professional Tennis Opportunities
This is a list of the national staff and their contact information. Make sure you send a well-written inquiry letter to the right person. Do not call on the phone unless they have already requested your resume, or had some other type of contact with you.
Association of Volleyball Professionals
If you are interested in this highly sought after internship program, you need to send an email to: jobs@avp.com
Check out “Cursing at Work: career killer or career builder?” by MSNBC.com contributor Eve Tahmincioglu. Grad to Great is mentioned on the second page where I share my experience of working for a very difficult boss early in my career.
Has anyone else worked for, or with, someone that screamed and cursed at work? First five people to send in their stories will get a free copy of a chapter from Grad to Great titled, “Working With Difficult People: How to Survive and Thrive”.
1. Focus 90% of your job search on networking
Do you know how to network effectively? To be successful at networking you must reach out to your network in a way that makes people want to recommend or hire you. One way to do this is to be positive. Even if you are losing heart in your job search. Instead of complaining how frustrating your job search has been, talk about what types of positions are appealing to you and what kinds of challenges you are eager to take on.
2. Don’t limit your search to only “available” positions
Spend time researching companies and make connections with people who work there. Get the name of the person who has the authority to hire you and write him or her a detailed letter explaining why you want to work for that company. Describe what your unique contributions would be. Be proactive and send along your list of references and resume.
3. Send an email to all of your close business contacts and friends about your job search
Be sure to include a short description of the types of positions you are interested in pursuing. Keep this short, positive, and professional. When executed properly, this is a very effective method to learn about companies in your city that are hiring.
4. Attend events hosted by professional organizations and alumni associations
If you do not currently belong to any… join some. It is important to your long term career success to stay relevant in your field and/or industry.
5. Learn how to differentiate between jobs posted by placement firms and jobs listed by actual companies
This is especially important for entry level workers who waste a lot of time on wild goose chases by simply sending a resume to every job posting they find. Be on the lookout for:
6. Be easy to find
Update your online alumni profile. If you use social networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter make sure your information is up to date and consistent. Avoid MySpace. It doesn’t have a reputation for being the most professional of online social networking sites.
7. Be Friendly and Meet New People
You never know who is looking to fill a position that you would be perfect for. Better yet, your pleasant demeanor may motivate someone to create a position especially for you. It’s surprising how many people get offers for interviews at the coffee shop or at the gym.
8. Appreciate Informational Interviews
Too many job seekers blow informational interviews off as a waste of time, but they can be an invaluable resource. The person you talk to just might think of the perfect position for you in a week or two, or recommend you to a friend.
9. Keep Your Online Image Clean
If you wouldn’t want your mother to see it, keep it off the Internet. Employers are researching job applicants online in increasing numbers according to a survey administered by the National Association of Colleges and Employers in 2007. Ten percent of employers who responded to the survey said they would review social networking site profiles before making a hiring decision. Out of that ten percent, over half said the information they find online will impact whether or not that candidate is offered a position. The remaining employers surveyed said they are unsure how their online findings should influence their hiring decisions. (Update: in 2009 almost 50% of employers say they will do an online search for their job candidates)
If you have a blog, podcast, web site—or you regularly participate on someone else’s—what you put out there may be reviewed by a potential employer. Maintain a professional image both on and off the Internet and you won’t have anything to worry about.
10. Always Have an Updated Resume
Keeping a well written, updated resume handy is critical during your job search. This allows you take advantage of opportunities as soon as you learn about them. For someone who wants to help you find a job there is nothing more frustrating than waiting until you finish your resume. The job will probably be filled by the time your resume is ready. Even when you aren’t looking for a job it is important to keep your resume updated. Revisit your resume at the end of each month to add new achievements and information.
1. Don’t self-select out of the interview process
When looking for a job it is important not to self-select out. If you have sent a resume in to a company you are interested in, don’t assume you have been rejected for the position just because you do not receive an immediate response. Follow up and make sure the resume was received. Keep yourself in the running for the position by being proactive and following up with the company you want to work for.
Don’t decide not to apply for a position simply because you are lacking a few of the requirements listed in the job posting. If you can develop a rapport with the interviewer, your enthusiasm and people skills just may win you the job. You may also discover during the interview process that you may not have all the skills they were initially looking for, but after meeting you they are willing to modify the job slightly to make it work.
2. Don’t neglect to mention transferable skills to an employer
A skill you possess that can be applied across multiple disciplines is called a “transferable skill”. Recent graduates often neglect to point out their transferable skills to employers because they don’t know what they are. Identifying your own unique set of transferable skills is important to do before meeting with any hiring managers because it is a major asset in the interview process. For example, if the person interviewing you asks about whether or not you possess enough work experience in a particular area, emphasizing your transferable skills—like resourcefulness—could really come to the rescue. This is something we teach recent graduates how to do in our workshops.
3. Do not ask about vacation time on a first interview
When you ask about benefits, pay, or time off on a first interview, you give the interviewer the impression that you have a “what’s in it for me” mentality. If you act more concerned about what the company has to offer you, as opposed to what skills you can contribute to the company, you may not get called back for many second interviews. In order to make the best first impression you can, it’s much better to focus on your enthusiasm for the position and on what you bring to the table. Make them so excited about wanting to hire you that by the time salary and vacation time negotiations come up, you’ll be in a position to negotiate.
4. Don’t forget to send a thank you note
Immediately following your interview, send a thank you letter via e-mail to the people you spoke with. It’s not a bad idea to send a handwritten note as well, but many hiring managers prefer email these days.
5. Don’t lose heart
It is critical to your success to exude confidence during the job search process. Jobseekers most not lose confidence in their skills and abilities during this period. Remind yourself why you are the perfect candidate for the job before you go to the interview. Repeat your qualifications to yourself over and over again before you sit down with the hiring manager. If you can’t believe in yourself, no one else will be able to either.
Many college students are worried about finding a job after they graduate. And many are wondering if they should just accept any offer that comes along. The answer is no, you should not accept any offer. Here’s an example of when it’s ok to enter a starting salary negotiation.
Q: I received a job offer, but the starting salary is much lower than I was hoping for. Much Lower! I really want to work for this company, but I simply can’t live off of what they’re offering. How can I negotiate a better starting salary?
A: Chances are your initial offer will be delivered verbally, or in the form of a letter. Here are some tips for what to do if you receive a less than satisfactory offer verbally (i.e. the employer calls you, or offers you the job on the spot):
Thank them for the offer. Tell them that you are excited about a potential future with the company, but that you need a little time to think about it. Ask politely if it would be alright if you called them tomorrow.
At this point they may ask you what you need to consider. You can tell them that the offer is lower than you had anticipated and that based on your skills and experience you were really hoping for a salary range of X to Y.
Be sure to state that your salary expectations were based on what you have to offer the company, not simply because you wanted to make more money.
They may ask you what range you had in mind. Do not say “I don’t know”. Give them a range. Usually a spread of $3000 is an indication that you know what you’re worth. A range of $10,000 makes it look like you’re just hoping they’ll offer you more money. They won’t.
The person interviewing you either has a range they can approve, or they have one number they were authorized to offer. They may offer you more money, or say they’ll have to get back to you.
If they say that you’ll be up for a review in a year, but they could move that up to six months… and that you should just take the current offer because your salary will increase in six months, ask them to put it in writing. This is a common tactic used in salary negotiations, and new college grads rarely actually see any increase in salary. The economy could change even more drastically in six months, the company could go through a restructuring, or something else could happen. Never take a promise for what could happen down the road in place of a higher starting salary.
Make sure you know before you even start negotiating what you are willing to accept, and under what circumstances you would rather walk away. In other words, what is your best alternative to a negotiated agreement (BATNA)?
If you receive the offer via email or letter, simply call the person you are instructed to contact with your answer, and explain that you are excited about the offer, but are slightly disappointed by the starting salary. Use the reasoning given in the tips above as you proceed through negotiations, and good luck!
