How To Be a PROACTIVE Job Searcher

Presented by:

Darren Kaltved and Laurie Derechin

Agenda• Overview of resumes, cover letters and other

resources

• Proactive response to job postings and career fairs

• Proactive job searching

• Networking your way into companies

• Additional tips

• Questions

Overview – Resumes/Cover Letters

• Before beginning any job search…

• Resume length

• No laundry

• Keywords

• Resources available to YOU!

• Before meeting with Laurie:– Get resume/cover letter review from Career Center

ResourcesQuick Stop Counseling

Monday-Friday11:30am – 1:00pm

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday2:00pm – 4:00pm

Thursday9:00am – 11:00am

CCSE Appointments45 minutes with career counselor

CCSE Resource LibrarySample Resumes & Guides

50 Lind Hall(612) 624-4090

www.ccse.umn.edu

Proactive ResponsesJob Postings• Timing is everything• Look everywhere• Tailoring your approach• Follow directions• Follow-up…and timeline

Job/Career Fairs• Prepare, prepare, prepare• Look the part• Show up early• Approach it similar to exercising• Follow-up

How to Read Job PostingsActuarial Assistant – ALLIANZ LIFE

• Job Description: – Learn the skills you need to launch your actuarial career with this

exceptional opportunity. As an entry-level member of our team, you’ll provide mathematical and technical support in the development of insurance products. This will include pricing assumption development, developing rate and factor files and assisting in the preparation of financial and experience reports for use in financial modeling and risk management. In addition, you'll prepare exhibits and schedules used in financial statements and complete various required surveys

• Qualifications: – To succeed in this position, you'll need a track record of academic

success, including a degree in actuarial science or math, completion of at least one SOA exam and proficiency in MS Office, spreadsheet and database applications. In addition, you should have excellent written/verbal communication skills and the ability to handle multiple deadlines.

Proactive Job Search – Mindset

• Willingness to take control of the search process

• Tolerance for ambiguity (the path may not be clear at first)

• Self-Confidence (know what you offer, articulate it, believe it)

• Openness to taking risks (consider all possibilities)

• Resilience (don’t give up, identify a support system)

• Patience (4-8 months on average for a search)

• Have fun – enjoy process

Proactive Job Search - Strategies

• Experience counts (NACE 2010 Job Outlook):– 95% of employers factor in experience when hiring– 75% of employers prefer related experience– If entry level, think broadly about how your prior experience relates

• GoldPASS– http://goldpass.umn.edu (Search by position type & job category)

• Contact companies/hiring managers directly (Networking letter)– Library Services (Wilson Lib.) – company/industry databases

• Follow the Money ($) and the People who Manage it– Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (http://twincities.bizjournals.com)– Twin Cities Business

• Professional Associations/Societies– www.weddles.com– American Academy of Actuaries, Society of Actuaries , Casualty Actuarial Society – Professional Risk Managers International Association – PRMIA– International Association of Financial Engineers - IAFE

Search Strategies Cont…• On-campus Interviews

– Check GoldPASS

• MCFAM Postings

• Employer Information Sessions– Check GoldPASS under Career Events– Watch MCFAM Email Alerts

• Internet – www.ccse.umn.edu– Click on “Students” & “Job Search Resources”

• Job/Career Fairs

• Networking (80% of Jobs Obtained)– On-line Presence (i.e. LinkedIn)

What is Networking• Using social, personal and professional contacts to help you to

learn more about a field of interest

• Telling your contacts your story, so they realize you are:– looking to grow professionally; in job market & can give you leads/info.

unpublished jobs

• A reciprocal relationship – i.e. volunteering, mentoring, etc.

• Reframe the concept of Networking from “using people” to:– Asking for advice and/or information over a cup of coffee– Becoming a “known quantity” – building your professional/personal “brand

equity”– Being curious about people and what they do– Giving someone a chance to be helpful – and to be helped in return

someday

Advantages of Networking

• Competitive Market:– Supply exceeds demand– Referrals (recommendations by people they trust) – 40% of jobs obtained– Good people know other good people. Therefore, it’s easier and safer to

recruit an employee who, by word-of-mouth, has been recommended as a good fit.

• Strong Networking = Shorter Job Search

• 5-10% of Jobs are Advertised– Jobs can be created through networking

• It is all about who you know or…who you need to get to know

Networking for Introverts• Drop the word “networking”. Instead, refer to this process as “

research/gathering information”, “having coffee with someone”, or “building a few in-depth relationships with someone”.

• Finding passion and connecting to those with your same passion will help eliminate introversion.

• Introverts can use the written word (especially email) and referrals to get the ball rolling.

• Talk to people you already know well to get job leads (i.e. family members, close friends, people close to them, career counselors and professors).

• Join at least one professional association and attend related events – this strategy is uncommon, but the most beneficial.

• Conduct information interviews with professionals whose jobs interest them.

• Online social networking is also recommended for Introverts, as well as message boards, discussion groups/listservs, etc.

Networking Contacts

Online Social NetworkingLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com • LinkedIn has over 35 million members in over 200 countries and territories

around the world. • A new member joins LinkedIn approximately every second, and about half of

our members are outside the U.S. • Executives from all Fortune 500 companies are LinkedIn members.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com • High School friends can sometimes repay a favor• Use Facebook for networking; be careful to manage your personal profile

online!

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com • Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay

connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?)

Informational Interviewing

• Prepare questions about field/organization- See handout

• Have an agenda prepared

• Request advice on job search/field you are pursuing (don’t ask for a job)

• Develop Target Company List - Where You Want to Work– “Here are firms I am targeting for risk analyst/trading/entry level

actuary”:• Am I missing any firms?• Is there anyone in any of these firms with whom you think I should

talk?• Can I use your name as a referral?

• Obtain at least 2 referrals, search strategies

• Follow-up with thank you

• Periodically stay in touch (questions, progress)

Maintain Your Connections

• Have an organized system of record keeping

• Follow-up when agreed upon

• Check back at intervals

• Stay in touch afterwards– Build natural/on-going network

• It’s as easy as ABC– A: Already know– B: Bridge Contact– C: “Can” Hire

CB

A

Searching Tips • When you search job databases use general search terms

• Start early…it is never too early to start

• Rehearse…Reach Out…Get Referrals…Get Involved

• Approach the job search process as though it were a full-time job…and I don’t mean 40 hrs/wk

Ever wonder what an interview at IKEA is like?

Top 10 Qualities Employers SeekCommunication skillsHonesty/IntegrityInterpersonal skillsStrong work ethicAnalytical skillsMotivation/InitiativeFlexibility/AdaptabilityTechnical/ComputerDetail-orientedTeamwork

Provided by the NACE Survey

How can the CCSE help me?

• Appointment with a career counselor– Resumes/Cover Letters, Researching Employer, Internships, Job

Searching, Networking, Graduate and Professional School Prep, and much more!

• Quick Stop Counseling: Monday-Friday 11:30-1:00– M, T, W: 2-4pm (Peer Counselors)– Th: 9-11am (Peer Counselors)

• CCSE website: www.ccse.umn.edu– Click on “Students” or “International Students”

• CCSE Resource Library– Guides, Handouts, Books, etc.– Located: 50 Lind Hall (East Bank)

How Can MCFAM help me?

• Show you how to:– Get most of your education– Understand how it fits work world

• Bridge/Coordination with CSE Career Center– Power of pooling resources/expertise!

• Specialized Outreach – Fin Math/Actuarial Internships/Placements

• Customized, Ongoing Career Coaching

We’ll Help Navigate the Road!

Contact Us

Career Center for Science & Engineering50 Lind Hall

612-624-4090www.ccse.umn.edu

ccse@umn.edu

MCFAM - Customized Career Development/Advancement/Coaching

lderechi@umn.edu