November 19, 2014 ENGR B47 Introduction to Engineering & Design Week #13 Professional Development (Searches, Resumes, Interviews)

News & Notes

Around the World in 40 Minutes! 12:15-12:55 p.m. November 20, 2014 Performing Arts Center (PAC) Free food will be provided outside the theater after the presentation IEW is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education (Visit for more information.) for more information.) Celebrating IEW provides students, faculty and staff opportunities to: –Celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide –Prepare Americans for a global environment Develop a broader understanding of the world cultures and languages while creating an enduring friendship among cultures. News & Notes

What’s Left “Prof. Development” materials due Mon. Dec. 4 th –Hard copies (paper) only –Don’t forget about Thanksgiving –Better to finish/turn in early! –Weighted as heavily as Engineering Disciplines grade Last week is Engineering Ethics No “final exam” (Motor Project Presentations at that time) Review / Reminder

Prof. Dev. Deliverables 1.Job/internship posting (print-out or comparable) 2.Resume for that posting (1 page min.) 3.Cover letter (1 page min.) 4.Critique from classmate (sign/date rough draft) 5.Proof of other prof. develop. (check with me) –LinkedIn profile –List of references –Date/time of workshop/seminar –Business cards? –Professional website? –Scheduled informational interview? Review / Reminder

Resume Basics Consider your audience What do they do? Who did they ask for? Consider your competition Be a great candidate, not a great Engineer (yet) Consider the alternative Unrelated jobs aren’t impressive... but it’s better than a blank page

Resume Basics It’s specific to the job posting It better look right at first glance –Contact info –Layout Reverse chronological (most recent first) “Don’t bury the lead” “Put your best foot forward”

Un-written “Rules” One page is all you get Be specific –Which languages? Programs? Equipment? –Quantify when you can “20 hours per week” “supervised 12 students” “responsible for accounting of ~$5k in inventory” Language and style –Action verbs (Solved, operated, constructed, designed, wrote) –Avoid first person –Phrases are ok, this isn’t an English paper

Don’t Even Bother Empty phrases –“Excellent Communication Skills” –“References Available Upon Request” Some boldness in design ok, but... –Minimal or no color –No pictures –No personal information Don’t lie. Ever. –Immediate disqualification and a bad reputation –Embellishments will be temporarily helpful at best Typos, bad spelling, poor grammar

Possibly Helpful? Dump the silly –Purchase and hosting service ($20-50 per year) –Looks more professional –Free from the spam and chain mail from friends –Forward it to your GMail if need be PDF File not MS Word Document –No squiggles, toolbars, etc. –Fewer questions of compatibility

Some Perspective “Half of what I’m about to tell you is wrong but nobody knows which half yet” - Dan Gilbert, Professor of Psychology at Harvard This is a moving target The rules are always changing Every rule has an exception It only takes one

Other Options Hundreds of sample resumes online –Many colleges have Engineering samples –Many sites have internship-seeker samples Many sites list Do’s and Don’ts BC Writing Center (link)link BC Job Placement Center (link)link

Today’s Agenda Resume basics Job Postings –Approval –Saving / “Printing” Start on resumes If you’re ahead of the curve? –Learn about cover letters –Learn about interview etiquette