Employer Recruiting Practices Employer Recruiting Practices Survey ResultsSurvey Results
To survey employers about their recruiting preferences, in To survey employers about their recruiting preferences, in order to provide a summary report on best interview and job order to provide a summary report on best interview and job
seeking practices to students who are internship or job-seeking practices to students who are internship or job-seeking, and to respondents of this survey upon request.seeking, and to respondents of this survey upon request.
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 pagePoor 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.)