Employer Recruiting Practices Employer Recruiting Practices Survey ResultsSurvey Results

Funding Provided by:Funding Provided by:

MWACE Steele Grant AwardMWACE Steele Grant Award

Survey Conducted by:Survey Conducted by:

Saint Louis UniversitySaint Louis University

Career ServicesCareer Services

To survey local and midwest employers about their recruiting To survey local and midwest employers about their recruiting preferences, in order to provide a summary report on best preferences, in order to provide a summary report on best interview and job seeking practices to students who are interview and job seeking practices to students who are

internship or job-seeking, and to respondents of this survey internship or job-seeking, and to respondents of this survey upon request.upon request.

Presenters: Presenters:

Kathy Day & Carol LunningKathy Day & Carol Lunning

August 4, 2004August 4, 2004

PurposePurpose

Preferred Method to Receive Preferred Method to Receive Resumes & Cover LettersResumes & Cover Letters

18

28

46

80

72

0 20 40 60 80 100

E-mailed with cover letter as E-mailed with cover letter as body & resume as attachmentbody & resume as attachment

E-mailed with both E-mailed with both documents as attachmentsdocuments as attachments

Online applicationOnline application

Mailed in 9x12 envelopeMailed in 9x12 envelope

No preferenceNo preference

Number of Employers who selected this answerNumber of Employers who selected this answer

(Select only one)(Select only one)

Most Important Things to LookMost Important Things to Lookfor in a Resumefor in a Resume

1)1) Work or internship experience Work or internship experience (222)(222)

2)2) Specific major or degree Specific major or degree (140)(140)

3)3) Summary of qualifications Summary of qualifications (120)(120)

4)4) Accomplishments Accomplishments (107)(107)

5)5) Clear Objective Clear Objective (58)(58)

6)6) Extra-curricular involvementExtra-curricular involvement (54) (54)

7)7) GPA GPA (53)(53)

(Select up to three)(Select up to three)

Complaints Regarding ResumesComplaints Regarding Resumes

194

13798

66

62

50

43Errors Errors

(spelling, grammar, etc.)(spelling, grammar, etc.)

Lack of or unrelated Lack of or unrelated experienceexperience

Unprofessional Unprofessional lookinglooking

(Select up to three)(Select up to three)

Missing or unclear Missing or unclear datesdates

Lack of or unclear Lack of or unclear objectiveobjective

More than one pageMore than one page

Poor style or Poor style or formatformat

#1 Complaint Regarding #1 Complaint Regarding Cover LettersCover Letters

• No clear connection between job No clear connection between job requirements and candidate’s requirements and candidate’s qualifications (92)qualifications (92)

• Poorly written (60)Poorly written (60)

• Errors (spelling, grammar, etc.) (48)Errors (spelling, grammar, etc.) (48)

• Lack of cover letter (29)Lack of cover letter (29)

• Cover letter more than one page (17)Cover letter more than one page (17)

What Influences Your Decision to What Influences Your Decision to

Invite a Candidate for an Interview?Invite a Candidate for an Interview?

Relevant work or Relevant work or internship experienceinternship experience

236236

Education that Education that matches the jobmatches the job

154154

Referral from someone Referral from someone within the companywithin the company

9494

Cover letter directed Cover letter directed to specific jobto specific job

8383

Academic Academic AccomplishmentsAccomplishments

6060

Follow-up contact Follow-up contact from candidatefrom candidate

5151

(Select up to three)(Select up to three)

What makes a candidate stand What makes a candidate stand out most in an interview?out most in an interview?

79

102

114

149

158

0 50 100 150

Personality that seems Personality that seems to fit position and teamto fit position and team

Answers that include Answers that include thoughtful examplesthoughtful examples

Sincere, passionate Sincere, passionate interest in the positioninterest in the position

Poised and professional Poised and professional attitudeattitude

Providing evidence / an Providing evidence / an example of intelligence or example of intelligence or ability to learnability to learn

(Select up to three)(Select up to three)

Number of Employers who selected this answerNumber of Employers who selected this answer

What makes a candidate stand out What makes a candidate stand out most in an interview?most in an interview?

cont…cont…

47

61

69

69

0 20 40 60 80

Knowledge of company / Knowledge of company / organizationorganization

Thoughtful questions Thoughtful questions to the interviewerto the interviewer

Professional dressProfessional dress

Direct and appropriate Direct and appropriate eye contacteye contact

Is Telephone Screening Part Is Telephone Screening Part of your Interviewing Process?of your Interviewing Process?

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

AlwaysAlways

106106

SometimesSometimes

145145

NeverNever

2424

How Important do you Consider a How Important do you Consider a Thank You Note in your Decision Thank You Note in your Decision

to Hire?to Hire?

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Very ImportantVery Important

3434

ImportantImportant

8888

UnimportantUnimportant

2828

NeutralNeutral

122122

Very UnimportantVery Unimportant

33

In What Format do you Prefer a In What Format do you Prefer a Post-Interview Thank You Note?Post-Interview Thank You Note?

Hand-writtenHand-written

8484

Follow-up Follow-up phone callphone call

11

E-mailedE-mailed

3838

TypedTyped

1515

No PreferenceNo Preference

133133

Prefer not to Prefer not to receive onereceive one

44

(Select only one)(Select only one)

Preferred Method of Recruiting Preferred Method of Recruiting Entry-level CandidatesEntry-level Candidates

80

83

89

113

130

135

0 50 100 150

Career FairsCareer Fairs

Internships / Co-opsInternships / Co-ops

On-campus recruiting On-campus recruiting (interviews)(interviews)

Internal / company Internal / company websiteswebsites

ReferralsReferrals

(Select up to three)(Select up to three)

Number of Employers who selected this answerNumber of Employers who selected this answer

External websites External websites (Monster, HotJobs, etc…)(Monster, HotJobs, etc…)

Minimum Number of Interviews Minimum Number of Interviews you Typically Conduct, Before you Typically Conduct, Before

Making an Offer to a CandidateMaking an Offer to a Candidate

OneOne

2020TwoTwo

113113

ThreeThree

9191FourFour

2424

Do You Ever Conduct Long-Distance Do You Ever Conduct Long-Distance Interviews Via Videoconferencing?Interviews Via Videoconferencing?

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

YesYes

2828

NoNo

165165

Not currently, but may Not currently, but may in the futurein the future

8282

What is Your Favorite What is Your Favorite Interview Question?Interview Question?

Major Categories:Major Categories:

• BehavioralBehavioral

• AnalyticalAnalytical

• Strengths / AccomplishmentsStrengths / Accomplishments

• Knowledge of Organization / PositionKnowledge of Organization / Position

• Challenges / Areas for DevelopmentChallenges / Areas for Development

• Who are you?Who are you?

Give me an example of a time when you failed. What did Give me an example of a time when you failed. What did you learn from it, and how did you apply that knowledge in you learn from it, and how did you apply that knowledge in a future situation?a future situation?

Give me a situation where in order to solve a problem you Give me a situation where in order to solve a problem you had to find a unique solution.had to find a unique solution.

Describe a difficult co-worker. Include why you consider Describe a difficult co-worker. Include why you consider them difficult and tell me how you work with that person.them difficult and tell me how you work with that person.

Behavioral-Based Questions…Behavioral-Based Questions…

Analytical Questions…Analytical Questions…

Why are manhole covers round?Why are manhole covers round?

What part of a car would you like to be and why?What part of a car would you like to be and why?

What are the key elements to being successful in a career?What are the key elements to being successful in a career?

If you were the employer and could only make one job offer, If you were the employer and could only make one job offer, which one of your classmates would you hire and why?which one of your classmates would you hire and why?

Strengths / Accomplishments…Strengths / Accomplishments…

How do you feel your experience has prepared you How do you feel your experience has prepared you for a leadership role with our company?for a leadership role with our company?

What has been your greatest accomplishment in life?What has been your greatest accomplishment in life?

What strengths do you bring to this position?What strengths do you bring to this position?

What teambuilding and people development skills do What teambuilding and people development skills do you feel you possess?you feel you possess?

What qualities will you bring to our company that will What qualities will you bring to our company that will help us improve?help us improve?

Knowledge of Organization / Position…Knowledge of Organization / Position…

Have you visited our website?Have you visited our website?

What do you know about our company / organization?What do you know about our company / organization?

How does your work, educational, and volunteer / How does your work, educational, and volunteer / internship experience relate to this position?internship experience relate to this position?

Why are you interested in this particular position within Why are you interested in this particular position within our company?our company?

Challenges / Areas for Development…Challenges / Areas for Development…

Tell me about a stressful situation and how you handled it.Tell me about a stressful situation and how you handled it.

Tell me about a time when you made a mistake on the job, Tell me about a time when you made a mistake on the job, how you handled it, and what you learned from it.how you handled it, and what you learned from it.

Tell me about a job / task that you did not find challenging Tell me about a job / task that you did not find challenging or stimulating. How did you keep yourself motivated?or stimulating. How did you keep yourself motivated?

Give me an example of an area in which you would like to Give me an example of an area in which you would like to improve.improve.

Who Are You?…Who Are You?…

How would you describe yourself in 5 words or phrases?How would you describe yourself in 5 words or phrases?

Nobody is perfect, but if there is something you could Nobody is perfect, but if there is something you could change about yourself, what would it be and why?change about yourself, what would it be and why?

If I were to contact a prior supervisor, how would he / she If I were to contact a prior supervisor, how would he / she describe you as an employee?describe you as an employee?

Why should I hire you instead of one of the other Why should I hire you instead of one of the other applicants for this position?applicants for this position?

What are your long-term career goals?What are your long-term career goals?

Advice to candidates applying for Advice to candidates applying for a position with your companya position with your company

BE…BE…

• Confident and enthusiasticConfident and enthusiastic

• On timeOn time

• Prepared and professionalPrepared and professional

• YourselfYourself

• HonestHonest

• AssertiveAssertive

DO…DO…

• Research about the company / organizationResearch about the company / organization

• Show respect to the interviewerShow respect to the interviewer

• Focus on your field of interestFocus on your field of interest

• Give examples of leadership rolesGive examples of leadership roles

• Follow upFollow up

• RelaxRelax

• Ask questionsAsk questions

• Dress professionallyDress professionally

HAVE…HAVE…

• Passion for the positionPassion for the position

• Previous experiencePrevious experience

• Extra copies of your resume and cover letterExtra copies of your resume and cover letter

• A list of references A list of references

• Evidence of work or class assignments that relate Evidence of work or class assignments that relate to the positionto the position

KNOW…KNOW…

• Your target positionYour target position

• Details about the positionDetails about the position

• What qualifications are requiredWhat qualifications are required

• Your strengthsYour strengths

• How to think outside the boxHow to think outside the box

• What you are getting into before you What you are getting into before you commitcommit

• Where you want to work and why you are a Where you want to work and why you are a good “fit”good “fit”

SHOW…SHOW…

• Accurate dates of employmentAccurate dates of employment

• A real interest in the positionA real interest in the position

• A clear and concise objective A clear and concise objective

• A positive attitude and A positive attitude and

maintain eye contactmaintain eye contact

• How you can be an asset to the How you can be an asset to the companycompany

Additional Advice…Additional Advice…

• Practice interviewingPractice interviewing

• Provide thorough but concise Provide thorough but concise answers to questionsanswers to questions

• Provide all information Provide all information necessary to be necessary to be considered as considered as a candidatea candidate

Conducting SurveysConducting SurveysLessons Learned:Lessons Learned:

• Start Early!Start Early!

• Prepare a timeline & budgetPrepare a timeline & budget

• Get IRB Certified Get IRB Certified

(check with your institution for requirements(check with your institution for requirements

• Determine purpose of survey and use it as a guide Determine purpose of survey and use it as a guide in developing questionsin developing questions

Lessons Learned Cont…Lessons Learned Cont…

• Plan distribution of survey and collection of data Plan distribution of survey and collection of data

(letters, e-mails, etc.)(letters, e-mails, etc.)

• Update incorrect mail and e-mail addressesUpdate incorrect mail and e-mail addresses

• Analyze and compile dataAnalyze and compile data

• Publish and distribute findings Publish and distribute findings

(booklets, website, etc.)(booklets, website, etc.)

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Kim Reitter & James BuckKim Reitter & James Buck

Assistance in developing survey questionsAssistance in developing survey questions

Ellen Steichen, Ellen Steichen, InternIntern

Developing powerpoint presentationDeveloping powerpoint presentation

Career Services Student StaffCareer Services Student Staff

Additional survey assistanceAdditional survey assistance

Contact InformationContact Information

Carol Lunning, Carol Lunning,

Assistant Director, Career ServicesAssistant Director, Career Services

Lunningcd@slu.eduLunningcd@slu.edu

Kathy DayKathy Day

Director, MBA & Graduate Business ProgramsDirector, MBA & Graduate Business Programs

Dayka@slu.eduDayka@slu.edu

SLU Career Services OfficeSLU Career Services Office

Phone: (314) 977-2828Phone: (314) 977-2828

Website: Website: Careers.slu.eduCareers.slu.edu

Thank you for your participation.Thank you for your participation.

Please remember to complete the Please remember to complete the

session evaluation.session evaluation.