AUDIO CAREER TIP



Listen to the latest audio career tip:
"Five Essential Questions to Ace Your Next Interview" from Roger Presswood, Associate Director, Alumni Career Services, Georgia State University Alumni Association - Click here

The Georgia State Alumni Association, in partnership with Debbie Rodkin, '00 and RE: Focus on Careers, presents throughout the year our Speed Networking & Business Card Exchange events. These events have been very well received, featuring a special guest speaker and our Speed Networking segments. The Alumni Association's Dave Cohen had a chance to talk with Debbie about some of the important aspects and challenges of "networking."
Dave Cohen's interview with Debbie Rodkin





Resume Not Getting Results?

In the job search process, it’s not uncommon for job seekers to think to themselves, “Okay, I’m looking for a job. I need to get my resume updated.” Certainly, this is something that a job seeker must do. However, if you haven’t clearly defined your career goals, it’s easy to invest a lot of time and energy into resume revision, without really making much progress in your job search.

If you have a fairly obvious career path (for example, you’re an accountant and you’re not looking to make a radical career change), then a resume revision is going to be a relatively simple task.

If you’ve held a number of very different positions throughout your career, it can be more of a challenge to create cohesiveness within your resume. The more different your jobs are from each other, the harder this becomes. A job seeker can further complicate the matter by targeting jobs that don’t have any obvious connection to the positions he or she has held in the past.

It is critical that your resume is written such that an employer can glance at it and immediately assess what kind of position you’re qualified for. When employers see resumes with a string of unrelated job titles or functions, it’s difficult for them to understand the candidate’s true competencies. They’re much more likely to move on to the next resume than to try to figure it out.

If your career path is ambiguous, a traditional chronological resume may not be your best choice. Your skills and accomplishments may be best highlighted using a functional or combination format. A career advisor can help you determine what might work best for your unique situation.

By Kimberly Guelcher, Alumni Career Services

Job Hunting 101

You’ve made the decision to finally move on from your current employment situation. Whether you’ve been laid off, quit, or currently employed, here are a few basics steps that will improve your chances of landing the job of your dreams.

1. Create a resume with impact: Make sure you have taken care of the basics. Ensure your resume is easy to read and provides concise information that highlights your skills and abilities. Potential employers will not read an overly detailed resume. Limit your resume to 2 pages and make absolutely sure you don’t have any misspellings. It will be difficult to convince a potential employer that you show attention to detail, when you have misspelled words on your resume. Unless you are interviewing for the president of a corporation, keep your resume brief and to the point. The goal here is to get an interview, not get the job. Your resume is your number one marketing tool, so put the effort into it that it deserves.

2. Where to look: The short answer here is everywhere! Of course, you should scour the newspaper classifieds and online job boards, but your best bet is to network. Contact as many as possible and update them about your current employment situation. Let them know what type of position you are looking for and be appreciative of any help they provide. This is where most (and usually the best) jobs are found. If you really want to be aggressive about things, you should make a list of all the companies you are interested in working for. This list does not necessarily have to be limited to companies in your industry or to your specific skills. You will be amazed at the number of companies that hire candidates primarily based on attitude. Don’t just call human resources, but call the hiring managers of departments and ask to meet with them. Being proactive is your number one advantage over other candidates!

3. The interview: Here’s your opportunity to shine. Preparedness and confidence are the rules of the game. Know that the “tell me about yourself” question is coming and have a positive, concise answer. This isn’t the time to tell the hiring manager about your last fishing trip or your child’s ballet recital last night. This is your opportunity to tell your future boss about your skills and accomplishments. A word of caution, don’t be boastful or arrogant. Remember, the interview is your opportunity to impress a potential employer, but it can also be your downfall.

4. Follow up: You will be amazed at how few candidates don’t follow up with hand written thank you letters. Some recruiters will tell you that email is sufficient, but in my experience hiring managers really like the personal touch of a hand written note. Besides, it’s a great opportunity to stand out from other candidates. If you haven’t heard anything back within a week, it is appropriate to give a follow up phone call.

5. The wait: If you are like most people, you hate to wait to hear back about an interview. Truthfully, the situation is no longer in your hands. If you don’t get the job, don’t beat yourself up. If you have done everything listed above, you should have several options in front of you. Your hard work will create the right opportunity!

Matt Lowney is a Nashville, Tenn., based recruiter, career consultant, resume writer, and host of a new radio program called Career Talk! He can be reached at: mlowney1977@yahoo.com.