Ready or Not, Here You Come!Ready or Not, Here You Come!

A Turbo Crash Course in Job HuntingA Turbo Crash Course in Job Hunting

Presented by Bob LangewischPresented by Bob Langewisch

October 23, 2009October 23, 2009

r-langewisch@kellogg.northwestern.edur-langewisch@kellogg.northwestern.edu

AgendaAgenda

Reality CheckReality Check

You’ll Need a Map to Get ThereYou’ll Need a Map to Get There

Network, Network, Network & some other things tooNetwork, Network, Network & some other things too

Obstacles & RoadblocksObstacles & Roadblocks

It’s all about It’s all about

ME, Right?ME, Right?

Wrong.Wrong.

Money, Money, Money, Money,

MoneyMoney

FINANCIAL TIMELINE

EMOTIONAL TIMELINE

PLAN C

PLAN B

PLAN A

Today One Month

Four Months

Six Months

Support SystemSupport System

StakeholdersStakeholders

Personal Board of DirectorsPersonal Board of Directors

ClassmatesClassmates

Career CoachesCareer Coaches

Bob (r-langewisch@kellogg...)Bob (r-langewisch@kellogg...)

Jill (j-clouse@kellogg...)Jill (j-clouse@kellogg...)

Questions?Questions?

You’ll need a MAP to get thereYou’ll need a MAP to get there

Self AssessmentSelf Assessment

Company ListCompany List

Brainstorm your NetworkBrainstorm your Network

Marketing MaterialsMarketing Materials

Progress Tracking MechanismsProgress Tracking Mechanisms

Self-AssessmentSelf-Assessment

Self Assessment WorkplanSelf Assessment Workplan

Goal SettingGoal Setting

CareerLeaderCareerLeader

Ask AroundAsk Around1 Year Goals 5+ Year Goals 10+ Year Goals

Knowledge Skills People

You can’t hit the bulls eye You can’t hit the bulls eye without having a Target(s)!without having a Target(s)!

YOU

Whom to ContactWhom to Contact

Classmates

UndergradContacts

Former Co-Workers

Professors

Neighbors

Volunteers

Connectors

Family

Faith Org.

Hobbies

Prof. Org.

Best Product on the Market—YOU!Best Product on the Market—YOU!

PitchPitch

ResumeResume

Cover LettersCover Letters

Other correspondenceOther correspondence

Track your ProgressTrack your Progress

  Planning Sourcing Interviewing Wrap-up Support

  New cos. Identified and researched

New contacts identified

Networking meetings (info. or other)

Reconnect w/ prev. contacts (thank, update, etc.)

KCN submission

Other applications (co. web sites, exec. recruiters, etc.)

Interviews Tying up loose ends

Career Coach Check-In, meeting with mentor, personal BOD, stakeholders, etc.)

Week 1                  

Week 2                  

Week 3                  

Week 4                  

Week 5                  

Week 6                  

Week 7                  

Week 8                  

Week 9                  

Questions?Questions?

Network, Network, Network, Network, Network Network

(and some other things too.)(and some other things too.)

Job Search ChannelsJob Search Channels

Networking

Kellogg Career Network (KCN)

Other job boards

Executive Recruiters

Career fairs

Company web sites

Typical Way Employers Prefer to Fill Vacancies

1

2

3

4

5

6

Typical Way Students Prefer to Search for jobs

1

2

3

4

5

6

Job Sourced through Additional ContactsJob Sourced through Additional Contacts

Job OfferJob Offer

NowNow

Where to NetworkWhere to Network

Less FormalLess Formal

ClassesClasses

Social eventsSocial events

Hobbies/interestsHobbies/interests

TravelTravel

Everyday activitiesEveryday activities

More FormalMore Formal

Professional club meetingsProfessional club meetings

Informational interviewsInformational interviews

Company eventsCompany events

ConferencesConferences

Networking eventsNetworking events

Informational InterviewsInformational Interviews

Identify Contact

Schedule Conversation

Prepare

Conversation

Reconnect

Record-Keeping

Thank You

Purpose:Purpose:

““Warm up” a cold contactWarm up” a cold contact

Focuses on informationFocuses on information

Can be similar to a job Can be similar to a job interview-except you ask the interview-except you ask the questionsquestions

Informational Interview TipsInformational Interview Tips Prepare your questions, but don’t sound scriptedPrepare your questions, but don’t sound scripted

Meet in person, if possible Meet in person, if possible

Ask questions on topics in which you are truly interested and that will engage Ask questions on topics in which you are truly interested and that will engage other personother person

Demonstrate knowledge and passion for your function, industry, company, Demonstrate knowledge and passion for your function, industry, company, targetstargets

Thank you notes and follow- up are Thank you notes and follow- up are essentialessential

Questions to avoid:Questions to avoid:Questions about compensationQuestions about compensationQuestions that are basic and could be answered by readingQuestions that are basic and could be answered by readingNegative questionsNegative questionsAsking for an introductionAsking for an introductionAsking that your resume be forwardedAsking that your resume be forwardedAsking for a jobAsking for a job

Focus on establishing strong personal connectionsFocus on establishing strong personal connections

Greatly appreciate any kindness; don’t expect anything Greatly appreciate any kindness; don’t expect anything

Approach relationships with a long-term perspectiveApproach relationships with a long-term perspective

Help others more than you seek help for yourselfHelp others more than you seek help for yourself

Dig Your Well Before You’re ThirstyDig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty****

Put your ego asidePut your ego aside

Set networking goals for yourselfSet networking goals for yourself

Track your contacts and conversationsTrack your contacts and conversations

Become an Expert NetworkerBecome an Expert Networker

**Book by Harvey McKay

Revise your Marketing Materials—Your Resume!Revise your Marketing Materials—Your Resume!

Format should be user friendlyFormat should be user friendly

Avoid technical jargonAvoid technical jargon

Proofread, proofread, proofreadProofread, proofread, proofread

Highlight universal/transferable skillsHighlight universal/transferable skills

Show Results & OutcomesShow Results & Outcomes

Required Skills Required Skills and and

ExperiencesExperiences

Your Your Experiences to Experiences to

HighlightHighlight

• Select relevant Select relevant experiences experiences

• Throw out non-Throw out non-relevant items relevant items

• Industry/Buzz Industry/Buzz WordsWords

• Use all sections of Use all sections of the resumethe resume

Build the BridgeBuild the Bridge

Show Results & OutcomesShow Results & Outcomes

What you did What you did (Action Verb)(Action Verb)

EffectEffect ResultResult

Led a cross Led a cross functional team functional team to launch 2 new to launch 2 new

productsproducts

increasing increasing

sales sales

by 17%by 17%

+ +

Types of ResultsTypes of Results

Increased (sales, profit, revenue…)Increased (sales, profit, revenue…) Decreased (costs, inefficiencies…)Decreased (costs, inefficiencies…) Provided solutionsProvided solutions Increased valueIncreased value Streamlined processesStreamlined processes Presented to senior managementPresented to senior management Delivered on time/earlyDelivered on time/early Delivered on budget/under budgetDelivered on budget/under budget Elected, AwardedElected, Awarded Promoted EarlyPromoted Early

Revise your Marketing Materials—Your Cover Letters!Revise your Marketing Materials—Your Cover Letters!

Be succinct; keep letters to one page or less with 40% white spaceBe succinct; keep letters to one page or less with 40% white space

Address why you are the best candidate for the job; don’t rehash Address why you are the best candidate for the job; don’t rehash

your resumeyour resume

Mention why you are interested in the company; don’t give Mention why you are interested in the company; don’t give generic reasonsgeneric reasons

Spell check and proofread your letters; don’t insert the wrong Spell check and proofread your letters; don’t insert the wrong informationinformation

Don’t copy sample cover letters word for wordDon’t copy sample cover letters word for word

Cover Letter – Basic StructureCover Letter – Basic Structure

DateDate

Recipient’s name, title and addressRecipient’s name, title and address SalutationSalutation

1: Introduce yourself and why you’re writing (to meet with you, 1: Introduce yourself and why you’re writing (to meet with you, to thank you, etc.). State the connection in first sentence. to thank you, etc.). State the connection in first sentence.

One paragraphOne paragraph 2: Something to link the reader to you. Information about your 2: Something to link the reader to you. Information about your background, qualifications, areas of interest, details, etc. background, qualifications, areas of interest, details, etc.

Remember: don’t just repeat what’s on your resume!Remember: don’t just repeat what’s on your resume!One – two paragraphs or a short bulleted listOne – two paragraphs or a short bulleted list

3: Wrap-up. Include contact info and, if appropriate, request action and 3: Wrap-up. Include contact info and, if appropriate, request action and take responsibility for follow up. One paragraphtake responsibility for follow up. One paragraph

ClosingClosing

Questions? Questions?

Interviews--Always be Prepared!!!Interviews--Always be Prepared!!!

Interviewing TipsInterviewing Tips

Know the companyKnow the company

Know your storiesKnow your stories

Make it easy on the InterviewerMake it easy on the Interviewer

Be an Active ListenerBe an Active Listener

Prepare thoughtful questions for the endPrepare thoughtful questions for the end

Know your “nervous tendencies” and neutralize them in Know your “nervous tendencies” and neutralize them in advanceadvance

Always send a thank you noteAlways send a thank you note

Follow-up & PatienceFollow-up & Patience

You Have the Offer—Decision Making Time!You Have the Offer—Decision Making Time!

Check in with Part-Time Program Career Check in with Part-Time Program Career CoachesCoaches

Check in with your “Personal Board of Check in with your “Personal Board of Directors” Directors”

Revisit your self-assessmentRevisit your self-assessment

Consult your Stakeholders Consult your Stakeholders

Tips for NegotiatingTips for Negotiating PREPARE! PREPARE!

Focus on the relationship Focus on the relationship aspect— think long aspect— think long termterm

Be up front with Be up front with companies about companies about timingtiming

Prioritize all negotiable Prioritize all negotiable items—what are your items—what are your deal breakers? deal breakers?

“It is your responsibility to make strong, even personal relationships in your business

practices. Relationships are just as important as what you know.”

-Keith FerrazziAuthor of Never Eat Alone

Wrap-UpWrap-Up

Obstacles & RoadblocksObstacles & Roadblocks

Hiring FreezeHiring Freeze

Lower Level OpportunityLower Level Opportunity

Other Obstacles?Other Obstacles?

No contacts at a company of interestNo contacts at a company of interestFind contact names on company websiteFind contact names on company websiteAsk others in the industry if they know of anyone at the companyAsk others in the industry if they know of anyone at the company

Contact will not return phone callsContact will not return phone callsBe patientBe patientBe persistent – wait and try again once or twiceBe persistent – wait and try again once or twiceTry a different form of contactTry a different form of contact

Conversation does not go wellConversation does not go wellThank the person for their timeThank the person for their timeCircle back to the person who referred you Circle back to the person who referred you

and ask for additional ideasand ask for additional ideas No contact informationNo contact information

Call the company’s main switchboardCall the company’s main switchboardFind the person’s gatekeeperFind the person’s gatekeeper““Guess” the person’s email addressGuess” the person’s email address

Overcoming Roadblocks with NetworkingOvercoming Roadblocks with Networking

Part-Time Program Intranet: Career Resources PagePart-Time Program Intranet: Career Resources Page

Northwestern Library: Business Resources PageNorthwestern Library: Business Resources Page

Part-Time Program Career CoachesPart-Time Program Career Coaches

KPTSA & Student Clubs (PT & FT)KPTSA & Student Clubs (PT & FT)

Other Professional Development Series WorkshopsOther Professional Development Series Workshops

Helpful ResourcesHelpful Resources

Reality Check – get your bearings, involve othersReality Check – get your bearings, involve others Timelines – financial and emotionalTimelines – financial and emotional Targets – companies and contactsTargets – companies and contacts Network, Network, Network – enough said Network, Network, Network – enough said Resume – action + purpose/result, only relevant pointsResume – action + purpose/result, only relevant points Cover Letter – unique, not a templateCover Letter – unique, not a template Interview – practice, practice, practice; do the work for the Interview – practice, practice, practice; do the work for the

interviewerinterviewer Negotiate – but only a littleNegotiate – but only a little Network, Network, Network – reconnect and maintain connectionsNetwork, Network, Network – reconnect and maintain connections Talk to Jill and Bob – shameless plugTalk to Jill and Bob – shameless plug

SummarySummary

Thank youThank you& Happy Fall! & Happy Fall!