Employer Recruiting Practices Survey Results Funding Provided by: MWACE Steele Grant Award Survey Conducted by: Saint Louis University Career Services

To survey local and midwest employers about their recruiting preferences, in order to provide a summary report on best interview and job seeking practices to students who are internship or job-seeking, and to respondents of this survey upon request. Presenters: Kathy Day & Carol Lunning August 4, 2004 Purpose

Preferred Method to Receive Resumes & Cover Letters  ed with cover letter as body & resume as attachment  ed with both documents as attachments  Online application  Mailed in 9x12 envelope  No preference Number of Employers who selected this answer (Select only one)

Most Important Things to Look for in a Resume 1)Work or internship experience (222) 2)Specific major or degree (140) 3)Summary of qualifications (120) 4)Accomplishments (107) 5)Clear Objective (58) 6)Extra-curricular involvement (54) 7)GPA (53) (Select up to three)

Complaints Regarding Resumes Errors (spelling, grammar, etc.) Lack of or unrelated experience Unprofessional looking (Select up to three) Missing or unclear dates Lack of or unclear objective More than one page Poor style or format

#1 Complaint Regarding Cover Letters No clear connection between job requirements and candidate’s qualifications (92) No clear connection between job requirements and candidate’s 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 Invite a Candidate for an Interview? Relevant work or internship experience 236 Education that matches the job 154 Referral from someone within the company 94 Cover letter directed to specific job 83 Academic Accomplishments 60 Follow-up contact from candidate (Select up to three)

What makes a candidate stand out most in an interview?  Personality that seems to fit position and team  Answers that include thoughtful examples  Sincere, passionate interest in the position  Poised and professional attitude  Providing evidence / an example of intelligence or ability to learn (Select up to three) Number of Employers who selected this answer

What makes a candidate stand out most in an interview? cont…  Knowledge of company / organization  Thoughtful questions to the interviewer  Professional dress  Direct and appropriate eye contact

Is Telephone Screening Part of your Interviewing Process? Always106Sometimes145Never24

How Important do you Consider a Thank You Note in your Decision to Hire? Very Important 34Important88Unimportant28Neutral122 Very Unimportant 3

In What Format do you Prefer a Post-Interview Thank You Note? Hand-written84 Follow-up phone call 1 ed38 Typed15 No Preference 133 Prefer not to receive one 4 (Select only one)

Preferred Method of Recruiting Entry-level Candidates  Career Fairs  Internships / Co-ops  On-campus recruiting (interviews)  Internal / company websites  Referrals (Select up to three) Number of Employers who selected this answer  External websites (Monster, HotJobs, etc…)

Minimum Number of Interviews you Typically Conduct, Before Making an Offer to a Candidate One Two Three Four24

Do You Ever Conduct Long-Distance Interviews Via Videoconferencing? Yes28No165 Not currently, but may in the future 82

What is Your Favorite Interview Question? Major Categories: Behavioral Behavioral Analytical Analytical Strengths / Accomplishments Strengths / Accomplishments Knowledge of Organization / Position Knowledge of Organization / Position Challenges / Areas for Development Challenges / Areas for Development Who are you? Who are you?

 Give me an example of a time when you failed. What did you learn from it, and how did you apply that knowledge in a future situation?  Give me a situation where in order to solve a problem you had to find a unique solution.  Describe a difficult co-worker. Include why you consider them difficult and tell me how you work with that person. Behavioral-Based Questions…

Analytical Questions…  Why are manhole covers round?  What part of a car would you like to be and why?  What are the key elements to being successful in a career?  If you were the employer and could only make one job offer, which one of your classmates would you hire and why?

Strengths / Accomplishments…  How do you feel your experience has prepared you for a leadership role with our company?  What has been your greatest accomplishment in life?  What strengths do you bring to this position?  What teambuilding and people development skills do you feel you possess?  What qualities will you bring to our company that will help us improve?

Knowledge of Organization / Position…  Have you visited our website?  What do you know about our company / organization?  How does your work, educational, and volunteer / internship experience relate to this position?  Why are you interested in this particular position within our company?

Challenges / Areas for Development…  Tell me about a stressful situation and how you handled it.  Tell me about a time when you made a mistake on the job, how you handled it, and what you learned from it.  Tell me about a job / task that you did not find challenging or stimulating. How did you keep yourself motivated?  Give me an example of an area in which you would like to improve.

Who Are You?…  How would you describe yourself in 5 words or phrases?  Nobody is perfect, but if there is something you could change about yourself, what would it be and why?  If I were to contact a prior supervisor, how would he / she describe you as an employee?  Why should I hire you instead of one of the other applicants for this position?  What are your long-term career goals?

Advice to candidates applying for a position with your company BE… Confident and enthusiastic Confident and enthusiastic On time On time Prepared and professional Prepared and professional Yourself Yourself Honest Honest Assertive Assertive

DO… Research about the company / organization Research about the company / organization Show respect to the interviewer Show respect to the interviewer Focus on your field of interest Focus on your field of interest Give examples of leadership roles Give examples of leadership roles Follow up Follow up Relax Relax Ask questions Ask questions Dress professionally Dress professionally

HAVE… Passion for the position Passion for the position Previous experience Previous experience Extra copies of your resume and cover letter Extra copies of your resume and cover letter A list of references A list of references Evidence of work or class assignments that relate to the position Evidence of work or class assignments that relate to the position

KNOW… Your target position Your target position Details about the position Details about the position What qualifications are required What qualifications are required Your strengths Your strengths How to think outside the box How to think outside the box What you are getting into before you commit What you are getting into before you commit Where you want to work and why you are a good “fit” Where you want to work and why you are a good “fit”

SHOW… Accurate dates of employment Accurate dates of employment A real interest in the position A 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 contact How you can be an asset to the company How you can be an asset to the company

Additional Advice… Practice interviewing Practice interviewing Provide thorough but concise answers to questions Provide thorough but concise answers to questions Provide all information necessary to be considered as a candidate Provide all information necessary to be considered as a candidate

Conducting Surveys Lessons Learned: Start Early! Start Early! Prepare a timeline & budget Prepare a timeline & budget Get IRB Certified Get IRB Certified (check with your institution for requirements Determine purpose of survey and use it as a guide in developing questions Determine purpose of survey and use it as a guide in developing questions

Lessons Learned Cont… Plan distribution of survey and collection of data Plan distribution of survey and collection of data (letters, s, etc.) Update incorrect mail and addresses Update incorrect mail and addresses Analyze and compile data Analyze and compile data Publish and distribute findings Publish and distribute findings (booklets, website, etc.)

Acknowledgements Kim Reitter & James Buck Assistance in developing survey questions Ellen Steichen, Intern Developing powerpoint presentation Career Services Student Staff Additional survey assistance

Contact Information Carol Lunning, Assistant Director, Career Services Kathy Day Director, MBA & Graduate Business Programs SLU Career Services Office Phone: (314) Phone: (314) Website: Careers.slu.edu Website: Careers.slu.edu

Thank you for your participation. Please remember to complete the session evaluation.