1. Translating Your Experiences to Help You Get That Job or Internship Andrea Mersmann, Career Coach mersmanna@xavier.edu

2. www.xavier.edu/career Session Overview What employers are looking for in their candidates How to demonstrate these skills in your resume, other application materials and the interview process Career Development Office Resources

3. www.xavier.edu/career Why do you do what you do?

4. www.xavier.edu/career Every aspect of being a part of a student organization is instrumental in developing skills and experiences that are invaluable to an employer

5. www.xavier.edu/career What skills are you gaining from being active in an org/club?

6. www.xavier.edu/career What skills do employers seek?

7. www.xavier.edu/career What skills do employers seek? What skills are you gaining from being active in an org/club?

8. Leadership Teamwork Communication skills Problem solving/decision making Strong work ethic Analytical skills Technical skills Initiative Computer skills NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) Job Outlook, 2014 Skills that employers look for in their candidates….

9. www.xavier.edu/career Experiences: Bullet point them! Start each bullet point with an action verb Examples: Collaborate ● Compiled ● Prepared ● Organized ● Presented ● Improved ● Coordinated ● Delegated ● Supervised ● Trained ● Maintained Think about WHAT you did/do, WHY, HOW, and RESULTS/OUTCOMES

10. www.xavier.edu/career Inform members of deadlines and pertinent information concerning academic matters and upcoming campus activities Encourage members to become active in campus and community activities Correspond with 35 club members, providing information regarding upcoming campus activities Promote, support and actively participate in faculty interaction Collaborate with faculty and students in organizing the X event with panelists recruiter from the community, resulting in over 100 attendees and a foundation for next year’s event Plan & execute activities that will assist members in interacting with one another, developing new skills or knowledge, and/or familiarize members with university programs, activities, and services Plan and execute activities such as…., assisting members in developing leadership skills Increased membership by 10% by marketing the organization through hosting information tables and using social media outlets including Facebook and Twitter Keywords to consider: Market, Collaborate, Organize

11. www.xavier.edu/career Xavier University Leadership Committee, Cincinnati, OH, 2010 – 2011 Organized the largest and most popular school event “Hip-Hop Culture Explosion” Prepared a presentation and facilitated exercises about leadership skills that are applicable in academic, professional and social settings Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA): Cincinnati, OH August 2010 – present Chapter Vice President; May 2012 – present; Chapter Secretary; December 2011 – May 2012 Organize and lead chapter meetings to motivate and build unity of more than 20 members Write monthly news releases for professional affiliate, Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and serve as contributing editor for national PRSSA student newspaper, FORUM Xavier International Business Association President February 2013-May 2014 Increased recruitment by 15% by utilizing social media and networking. Organized club functions including cultural dinners, informational sessions, and public speakers. Coordinated with Xavier University officials in order to ensure the club was operating within guidelines and contributing to the Xavier University community.

12. www.xavier.edu/career Again: Every aspect of being a part of a student organization is instrumental in developing skills and experiences that are invaluable to an employer Let’s practice!

13. www.xavier.edu/career

14. This Internship will work with the Digital Marketing team to support the execution of the Business Unit’s Social Media Strategy. The associate will assist with all aspects of strategy implementation for an emerging social presence. The associate will be focused on developing pages for specific field locations as well as working with agents to build their social presence. The responsibilities will also include recommendation around Social Media training activities, and how to provide guidance to Senior Management.

15. Resume Development Resources www.xavier.edu/career

16. Cover Letters Your cover letter is not a regurgitation of your resume Tell a story Demonstrate passion and excitement Show action, importance, and results Show your research and knowledge Describe how you are the right fit for them and they are the right organization for you “For example….” www.xavier.edu/career

17. Please consider my enclosed résumé for the ABCD Leadership Development Program. Currently, I am a senior majoring in history with a business minor at Xavier University. The qualities I have to offer ABCD in this program include: Outstanding interpersonal skills and work ethic: While working as an intern at XYZ Company, I was selected for the marketing strategy team that partnered to increase revenue by 41% and customer base by 20%. Prior to attending Xavier, I volunteered for a local non-profit organization where I worked with clients from different cultures. Based on my contributions and commitment to the organization, I earned recognition as “Volunteer of the Month.” Demonstrated leadership and teamwork: I co-founded a student organization aimed at increasing community service involvement campus-wide. Over the past three years, we generated a 32% increase in student participation and have made valuable contributions within the community. I also served as a Resident Assistant in one of the University’s largest residence halls while achieving a 3.59/4.0 GPA in my classes. Excellent analytical and quantitative abilities: In a team-based business simulation, I continuously analyzed the market and our competition for a financial services firm throughout the semester. The professor acknowledged our final project as being “an outstanding example for future classes.” Last summer as an intern, I participated in a cross-functional team to assess a proposed business venture expanding customer product offerings. ABCD’s mission to help people lead healthier, more secure lives aligns with my own personal values and interests, as demonstrated through my community service efforts. I hope to add continued value and contribute to ABCD’s current global expansion.

19. Cover Letter Pitfalls A weak opening Poor grammar, spelling, and sentence construction Discussing why you need the job Telling instead of showing The generic cover letter Failure to explain resume red flags Not following directions Rehashing your resume Too self-focused www.xavier.edu/career http://robbieandbobby.com/reject-pile/

20. Interview Have stories and examples in your back pocket Practice popular interview questions Be specific and relevant www.xavier.edu/career

21. STAR Situation Task Action Result Please share an example of a time when you have gone above and beyond. What are your greatest strengths? What is your greatest weakness? Why are you the best candidate for this position? www.xavier.edu/career

22. Networking What is “networking”? Why is it important? How can you network within your student organization? o Speakers o Associations o Fellow students o Alumni www.xavier.edu/career

23. Tips for Networking Your pitch/elevator speech Show interest! Follow up Informational Interviews LinkedIn “Five Minute Favor” (Adam Rifkin)Five Minute Favor www.xavier.edu/career

24. facebook.com/xaviercareer @XavierCDO

25. Conaton Learning Commons Room 530 Monday – Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm Walk-In Hours Tuesday & Wednesday 1:30pm – 3:30pm Thursday &Friday 11:00am – 1:00pm www.xavier.edu/careerwww.xavier.edu/career cdo@xavier.edu(513) 745-3141cdo@xavier.edu