1. YOUR CAREER PREP CHECKLIST
Presented by :
Sue Pittenger
Director, Center for Career Development and Professional Success
New York Chiropractic College

2. What you’ll need to track down your opportunity…….
Career Prep Checklist (see CCDPS student portal page)
Career Goal(s)/Self-Knowledge
Geographic area/setting
Effective multiple job search techniques
Resume/Cover Letter tailored to opportunity
45-60 second scripted introduction (elevator speech) – more than one
Interviewing/negotiating skills
Strong LinkedIn portfolio

3. Career Goals
What do you want from your career? Be sure this first opportunity takes you in that direction.
Think long term, then plan your shorter term strategy to achieve.
Written goals, career mission statement will help you stay on track.

4. What kind of working environment is ideal for you?
Large or small? Urban, suburban, or rural?
Are you planning to specialize?
What kind of rewards are most important to you: Money? Security? Mentorship? The ability to practice as you wish?

5. Self-Knowledge
What skills do you have to offer in addition to your chiropractic skills?
Personal qualities are often given higher priority than job content skills
Be able to answer the question “Why should I hire you?”

6. Tools……. Work Search Strategies
Use multiple strategies - each has it’s own set of pros & cons.
Use all options at your disposal - but put the most time into the one or two that will yield the greatest results.

7. Effectiveness of Work Search Strategies

8. Tools……..
Do not wait until 10th trimester to pursue your opportunity search! 8th trimester is the time to begin. The idea is to get your name out ahead of any upcoming openings for greatest advantage.

9. Strategy: Pursue posted openings - Career databases/Classified Ads
How to use it:
Scan listed opportunities daily & identify those of greatest interest. Submit resume with cover letter tailored to specific opportunity qualifications.

10. Classified Ads
Respond directly with resume/cover letter tailored to the ad
Follow-up call whenever possible – use elevator speech
Handling ‘no’….. Use it to try and build a relationship for future possibilities

11. Classified Ads
Pros:
Involves minimal investment of time in identifying opportunities.
Resume and cover letter are sent for actual opportunity
Free to low-cost access
Worldwide geographic reach.

12. Classified Ads
Cons:
Resume and cover letter will compete with large number of others.
Ads follow market, least effective in times of economic downturn. Use as a “meter on market” in a certain geographical area.

13. Tools You’ll Need & Helpful Hints:
CDC Online Database – provides “one stop shopping” by listing from a wide variety of sources.
Cover Letter & resume, tailored to each specific opportunity.
Try to get your materials in as early as possible. As much as possible, follow up yourself within a week or less for best results.

14. Tools You’ll Need & Helpful Hints:
Start here, then go on to…..

15. NETWORKING/INFORMATIONAL VISITS
How to use it:
Develop a list of possible contacts; research practices of interest to you
Visit as many practices as possible. Ask to meet with doctor in charge of practice.

16. STRATEGY:NETWORKING/ INFORMATIONAL VISITS
PROS:
MOST EFFECTIVE JOB SEARCH TECHNIQUE – 60% of jobs in all professions found this way
May learn of unadvertised openings – entrée to “hidden job market”
Resume is on file with the practice
Builds relationships and often results in a closer match of your interests to opportunity.

17. NETWORKING/INFORMATIONAL VISITS
CONS
Requires a great deal of time to make a relatively small number of contacts – so start early. It’s never too early.
A contact in itself is not enough to secure an opportunity – but it can give you leads & make you visible.

18. Tools You’ll Need & Helpful Hints:
Professional attire
Contact address list
Resume & networking approach letter
Research the practice prior to your visit. Follow through on all leads.
Keep broadening your network of contacts – always ask for referrals

19. NETWORKING/INFORMATIONAL VISITS
Where to get contacts:
Finding them…
NYCC’s Alumni Connection
Professors, faculty members, clinicians
Relatives, friends, friends of friends,
Administrators, old roommates and professional acquaintances you already know, plus anyone you meet next week, ………
LinkedIn

20. NETWORKING/INFORMATIONAL VISITS
Ask to shadow, or for short, professional meetings – coffee, lunch, short office meeting
Ask for information, DO NOT ask for a job
Approach by letter, , phone call – use elevator speech
Five key questions…..

21. NETWORKING/INFORMATIONAL VISITS
What brought you here to practice
What has it been like
What kinds of opportunities do you see coming along here
If you were me looking to get started here, knowing what you do now, what would you do
Do you know anyone else I can talk to?

22. Tools You’ll Need & Helpful Hints:
Research each opportunity as much as possible before applying – Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, personal contacts, etc.
This not only helps you determine if it’s a good fit, it will help you tailor your resume.

23. Tools You’ll Need & Helpful Hints:
Used in conjunction with networking – should yield you optimal results in your opportunity search!

24. General Tips
Thank you – for ALL professional contacts during your search
Handwritten?
Same day
Touch on something that particularly struck you
Find ways to keep in touch

25. General Tips
Keep good records – who referred you to whom, can you use their name?
Build a LinkedIn profile –
Practice your interviewing skills – see the CDC’s Student Portal page for resources

26. Tailored resume/cover letter
Resume (or curriculum vitae) and cover letter, tailored for each opportunity you use it for.
“Database version” – everything you could ever need. Copy/paste from that into shorter, targeted versions for each application.

27. Tailored resume/cover letter
ALWAYS use a cover letter!!
Either attach or insert in body
Should be even more tailored than resume
Highlight key experiences and skills you bring to the positon – tell why you fit!

28. Tailored resume/cover letter
Research
Tailor
Spell-check and proof-read!!!
Follow- up!!!

29. Tailored resume/cover letter – Where There’s Help
CCDPS Portal Page – student and alumni
Resume/Cover Letter templates – downloadable
PowerPoints – Resume Writing for Success, Clinic Resumes
Resume/Cover Letter Review service

30. Elevator Speech – What It Is
The elevator speech is a powerful communications tool that allows you to deliver a personal intro-duction with impact. It is simply a script that can be delivered either in person or over the telephone.

31. Elevator Speech – When to Use It
Use your introduction to follow up on resumes sent for positions, or to
introduce yourself to potential networking
shadowing contacts.

32. Elevator Speech – To Follow Up on a Resume…….
“Hi, I’m John Doe, I’m an 8th trimester student at New York Trimester College. Last week I sent a resume in response to you ad for an associate’s position on NYCC’s online Career Opportunities Database”.

33. Elevator Speech – To Follow Up on a Resume…….
“I’m calling to follow up, make sure you got it, and answer any questions you may have. I’m very interested in this position because…..” and am hoping we can arrange a time to meet to discuss further”.

34. Elevator Speech – For Other Occasions
See the “Elevator
Speech” link under
Networking/
Shadowing
Resources on the
CCDPS student and
alumni portals

35. Interviewing Skills

36. Professional LinkedIn Page
Your professional “home” – always have an updated LinkedIn page that represents who you are as a professional

37. Professional LinkedIn Page

38. Where’s There’s Help!
CDC Student Portal page – templates for resumes, cover/networking letters, networking resources, thank you notes, interviewing & salary information
Resume/cover letter review service
Online career opportunities database
Alumni Connection