v
Career Readiness:
Practical tips to help you find a job/internshipRoland Block, Associate Director, Career Center
Career Center staff
supporting Engineering
Brad Collet
CHEN
CVEN
CECN
CEEN
CPSC
ELEN
ISEN
OCEN
Roland Block Associate Director
Bob Foley
AERO
BAEN
BMEN
ETID
MEEN
NUEN
PETE
MSEN
Federal
Government
Abdullah Abdul Kader
All Engineering
Masters and
PhD Students For information and appointments call:
979.845.5139
ZACH 100A – Engineering
Koldus 209 – Main
HireAggies.com
For all Interviews go to Koldus 209 location
What we offer?• Resume review
• Job search 101
• Career exploration & development
• Networking & LinkedIn
• Career Fair Prep
• Interview Prep
• Mock interviews
• Offer and Negotiation Discussions
…...and so much more!!
Questions
• Who has used HireAggies to look for
jobs/internships?
• Who has attended career fairs?
• Who has a LinkedIn profile?
Top Priorities
• HireAggies (4,000+ companies,
60,000+ jobs posted)
• Career Fairs. E.g. the Engineering
Career Fair 400+ Companies
• DO BOTH! They are coming to
hire you!
• Network, Network, Network.
Think of every meeting as a
networking opportunity!
Priorities
Step 1) Download “Career Guide”
1. Resumes Templates and tips
2. 30 Second Elevator Pitch
3. STAR Method for interviews
Step 2) Register on “HireAggies”
Step 3) Attend Career Fairs
Step 4) Networking / LinkedIn
Goto www.HireAggies.com then
click on “Current Student”
Great Resources on this page!!
HireAggies!
Register here4,000+ Companies
60,000+ Jobs/Intern/Coop
Career Guide
Great stuff over
here too!!!
Scroll down for
lots more
“HireAggies.com” to “Current Student”
Great resources on this page!!
HireAggies!
Register here4,000+ Companies
60,000+ Jobs/Intern/Coop
Career Guide
Great stuff over
here too!!!
Scroll down for
lots more
“Who Hires My Major”
“Who Hires My
Major”
What is most important?
Hiring / Recruiting Process
• Who is familiar with the typical company
recruiting process?
Hiring Process
• Hiring Manager – Subject Expert (e.g. Director Engineering)
– Asks HR Manager / Recruiter for top ~10 candidates
• HR Manager – Non-Subject Expert, People-Person
– Posts position, filters 100’s to 1,000’s of resumes
– Primary Filter is Match Between the Job Description and your Resume
Networking
Job
Description Resume10
11
What Employers Value…
after match to job description
Top 5 consistently (thousands Recruiters surveyed)
1) Relevant “work” experience
1) Team Work / Interpersonal Skills oral & written
1) Creativity & Problem Solving
4) Leadership in Professional Societies
4) GPA
Resume = Perfect Fit
• SECRET TIP:
– It’s not all about you!
– It’s about how you MATCH the JOB
DESCRIPTION and COMPANY
Resume show you’re the Perfect Fit
– Find their Need (i.e. shape) – Eliminate Noise
• Job Description
• Asking Questions
What Employer
wants
Typical Resume
Resumes & Cover Letters
• Cover Letters & Cover Emails (shorter is better)
– Paragraph #1
• How found job, Major/grade, research, fit
– Paragraph #2 and sometimes #3
• Your unique benefits to company
– Paragraph #3
• Thank you, excited, follow-up
• Perfect Grammar & Spelling!
Resume - Overview
• 1 Page Only!
• Font 10.5 min – 12pt
– 11pt is my preference
• 0.5” Margins Minimum
• Print .doc but email .pdf
• Think Executive Summary
• Remember a non-technical
HR manager is likely the
first filter / reviewer
Resume - Structure
• Most important items go
higher. Why?
– Sections (can be creative)
• E.g. “RELEVANT EXPERIENCE”
– Bullets
• The more space something
takes up the more
important (relevant)
Resume – Bullet Structure
• Bullets need..
– Start with Action Verb
– Results, Achievement,
Impact, Scale, not just
what you did!
– #, $, %... Help quantify
how big accomplishment
“So What?
…“
Resume – Bullet Structure
• Big Picture
– Whenever we work on a
project or research, it is a
small piece of the whole
– The BIG PICTURE can
reflect positively on your
responsibilities
– E.g. Who knows about
Labyrinth seals?
Labyrinth Seals
Resume – Examples
• Waiter provides outstanding
customer service in English &
Spanish. Opens and Closes with
$2,000 in register
• Scholarship or Award
– 1 out of 10? Or 1 out of 10,000?
– What were the selection
characteristics / criteria?
• Do you participate in events
or shadow?– What did you learn or implement?
– Accomplishments?
– Don’t look like a Pizza Eater!
Resume – Bullet Structure
• Look at your own resume
• Put a star next to each item that shows you’re a perfect match for job & company
• If starred, think about moving up or adding more detail
• If not starred, consider deleting, reducing, or adding importance
“So What?”
Next step…the Career Fair
Practical Advice
• This is an ideal Networking opportunity
– Success is building a professional relationship
– Companies Hire PEOPLE not Resumes!
– Valuable practice for Communications Skills
• Ask Intelligent questions!!
– If you can ask any company the same question, it
does NOT show you did research
– TIP: Annual Report
Make a great first impression!!
• What makes a great first impression?
– Dress Professional and Sharp
– Make Eye Contact
– Shake hands Confidently
– Smile
– Show Enthusiasm!!
Relax: Breath-in 4, Hold 2, Out 3
1st and last name (Nickname ok),
LOUD & SLOW, space between
Name – Grade – MajorStand up and take turns!
“Tell me about yourself”
• It’s about Conveying what makes you
unique and special and a great fit for
the organization
• Handouts!
What makes you a great fit?
w/r to the Job and Organization
3-5 EducationMajor/Minor, Certifications, Specialty, Aspirations, Electives…
3-5 ProfessionalJobs, Internships, Co-op, Experience, Ninja Skills…
3-5 ExperientialOrganizations, Contests, Travel, Research, Hobbies, Projects…
3-5 Unique personal (what makes you special?) Personality, Free Time, Upbringing, Sports, Interests, Culture…
• You can use this technique to create a 30 second elevator pitch!
• Exchange handouts
• Put a star next to the 5-8 most interesting / relevant items (1-2 Personal max)
• Discuss why interesting / relevant
• Hand-back and number in order of a story
• Goal: Tell a story about yourself that illustrates who you are, your unique skills, and why you are a great fit for the Job & Company
“Tell me about yourself?”
Roland’s Example
• Professional: – Associate Director Texas A&M Career Center
– 25 years in Medical Device
– From Engineer to Director Global Marketing
• Education– BS MEEN TAMU ‘92
– MBA AUM (Partially completed)
– Dale Carnegie, Lean, 6 Sigma, Management Training Courses
• Experential– Travelled abroad to Ruhr University at Bochum
– Mentor/Volunteer for 3DS, Aggies Invent, Raymond Ideas Challenge, iCorp
– Former President of ASME student chapter
• Unique personal– Born and raised in Atlanta, GA
– Married 21 years and have 2 teenage boys
– Love golf and played soccer in high school
– Moved to College Station from Seattle, Washington
Circle ~3/4 from Education, Experiential, and Professional
Roland’s Example
– Born and raised in Atlanta, GA, but TAMU MEEN grad
– 25 years in Medical Device
– From Engineer to Director Global Marketing
– Prior to coming back to TX my family and I lived in
Seattle for 1 ½ years (survived a winter)
– Assoc. Dir. TAMU Career Center, responsible for the
employment of 20,000+ engineering students
– In my free time, I enjoy mentoring students in
entrepreneurial events such as Aggies Invent and 3DS
Rearrange to Tell your story casually, NOT memorized
Yours will Match the Job / Company Culture
Your Turn (Homework)
Goal: to be smooth and relaxed
like you are talking to a friend
STAR Method for Interviews
• Best way to answer Behavioral
Interviews I’ve seen in my career
• 10 – 20 stories can answer virtually
any behavioral questions
• Prep stories for bullets on your resume
• STAR interview method is in the “Career
Guide” or you can google it
STAR - Example
“What is the greatest challenge you’ve faced
while at Texas A&M?”
• Situation: status or problem encountered
• Task or Tactics: your plan to solve
• Action: what you did
• Result: quantify accomplishments
STAR - Example
“What are you most proud of or greatest
accomplishment for your time at Texas A&M
University?”
• Situation: status or problem encountered
• Task or Tactics: your plan to solve
• Action: what you did
• Result: quantify accomplishments
Research Questions & Prepare
• “Career Guide”
https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-answer-
the-31-most-common-interview-questions
Research Interview Questions
• E.g. Monster’s Top 10 Most Common:
Company Knowledge
• The job often goes to the most PREPARED
– What do they sell, make, or service provided?
– Who are their customers?
– How are their financials?
– What divisions do they have and which ones are
you interested in?
– What products excite you (know their names)?
– TIP: “Annual Report” often best source of info
“Do you have any questions?”
• ALWAYS - YES
• Have 3-4 questions ready for them at least 2 of
them should be a company specific question
that shows off your research. Position specific
questions also a plus.
• Google interview questions
Questions for Interviewer
• Research
• Always have a portfolio. Write Down questions
to ask each person on each page. Take notes!
Close Like a Sales Pro• Thank you for ….
• I believe my skills / experience are a great match for …
• Do you have any additional questions or is there anything we may not have covered…?
• What is the next step in the process?
• If I don’t hear back by _____, who should I contact?
• Ask for a business card or write down their name
• Write down notes immediately following conversation!
• “Thank you” email <48hrs (Roland’s rule SAME DAY!) Show interest, remind why a great fit, and one specific area you discussed together. Perfect grammar and spelling!
Practice, Practice, Practice
Mock Interview• Set an appointment with a Career Advisor
• Mock Interviews self recorded online at
HireAggies (lower right corner scroll down)
• Have your parents or friends ask you questions
• Goal: to be smooth and relaxed like you are
talking to a friend
Interview / Career Fair Checklist
Game plan (make your own Checklist)
Resume Error Free & enough copies in Folder
Researched company and have questions ready
Make a Great first impression
Elevator Pitch about fit smooth & casual
Have your stories and STAR method rehearsed
“Close” like a pro!
Career Center Events
International Students email Abdullah for a recorded Career Readiness webinar [email protected]
Event/Workshop Date Time Location
Engr Resume Review Tuesday, January 15, 2019 1 - 4 pm ZACH 100 B
Career Fair Prep Tuesday, January 15, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
Career Fair Prep Wednesday, January 16, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
Career Fair Prep Thursday, January 17, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
Resume & Mock Interview Day Tuesday, January 22, 2019 10 - 3pm Koldus 209
Getting a job/internship: Resume thru Interview Tuesday, January 29, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
Interviewing Success Tips Wednesday, January 30, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
Networking and LinkedIn Thursday, January 31, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
Networking and LinkedIn Wednesday, February 6, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
Hire me! Not my GPA. Wednesday, February 13, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
I got an offer!...Now what? Wednesday, February 20, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
Hire me! Not my GPA. Tuesday, February 26, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
Networking and LinkedIn Wednesday, March 6, 2019 4:30 PM Koldus 209
I got an offer!...Now what? Wednesday, March 20, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
Networking and LinkedIn Tuesday, March 26, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
I got an offer!...Now what? Thursday, March 28, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
Getting a job/internship: Resume thru Interview Wednesday, April 3, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
Networking and LinkedIn Wednesday, April 10, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
Networking and LinkedIn Thursday, April 18, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
Career Center Events
International Students email Abdullah for a recorded Career Readiness webinar [email protected]
Event/Workshop Date Time Location
Resume & Mock Interview Day Tuesday, January 22, 2019 10 - 3pm Koldus 209
Networking and LinkedIn Thursday, January 31, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
Networking and LinkedIn Wednesday, February 6, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
I got an offer!...Now what? Wednesday, February 20, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
Networking and LinkedIn Wednesday, March 6, 2019 4:30 PM Koldus 209
I got an offer!...Now what? Wednesday, March 20, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
Networking and LinkedIn Tuesday, March 26, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
I got an offer!...Now what? Thursday, March 28, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
Networking and LinkedIn Wednesday, April 10, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
Networking and LinkedIn Thursday, April 18, 2019 4:30 PM ZACH 100 B
Thank you! & Q&A
Engineering Career Services
979.845.5139
HireAggies.com
ZACH 100AQuick Survey:
tx.ag/RolandFBFor all Interviews go to Koldus 209 location