Market Yourself

1
Market Yourself

• How Good is Your C.V.?

Materials are from http//ccc.byu.edu/majortocare
er/Book.pdfsearch22majortocareer22except
where otherwise noted
2
The Myth of Academics
Myth A University Degree is Enough to Get a
JobTruth No longer will a bachelors degree
alone prepare you to enter the job market.
Solution WHAT ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE DO YOU
NEED to Market Yourself?

• You also need additional experience and skills.
  These could include
• computer skills,
• work experience or internships,
• a foreign language,
• extra-curricular and leadership experience,
• knowledge of prospective employers, and
• the ability to confidently market yourself to
  these employers.

3
SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED BY EMPLOYERS
What COMPETENCIES are Employers Looking For?

• In addition to being academically prepared in
  their discipline, students must demonstrate the
  following competencies
• Communication skills
• Computer / technical aptitude
• Leadership ability
• Teamwork
• Interpersonal abilities
• Personal traits
• E-commerce skills / knowledge

4
Personal Traits are Important

• What Personal Traits are Important?
• Demonstrated initiative and motivation
• Flexibility / adaptability -- handle changes and
  ambiguity
• Honesty integrity
• Ability to plan and organize multiple tasks
• Ability to provide customer service --
  anticipate needs, solve problems

5
All Together, Skills are Required

• What Skills are Best for Us?
• Critical thinking / problem solving
• Intelligence and common sense
• Willingness to learn quickly and continuously
• Work related experience
• Application of learning

6
Marketing
7
Entrepreneur
8
Financial Management
9
Financial Services
10
Reality Checks

• Find Information about MAJORS AND CAREERS!
• How long will it take me to graduate?
• What kind of a GPA do I need to be accepted into
  the major?
• What kind of classes will I be taking?
• What type of jobs can I get with the major?
• What is the job outlook for this career?
• You might need a REALITY CHECK
• Can I really start with a 50,000.00 salary?
• I need to go to how many years of Graduate
  School?
• Who can I talk to who really does this job?
• Is there someone who will let me job shadow him
  / her?
• Will my major provide me with internship
  opportunities?
• Is there volunteer work I could do to see if I
  like the job?

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Steps to Recruiting

• Junior Continue to do well in major courses and
  investigate internships, related work experience,
  and any graduate school preparation (if you are
  looking ahead to graduate study.)
• Internship Co-op Career Placement Center
  Study Abroad International Internships
• Senior Begin preparing to enter the job market.
  Learn how to market yourself to prospective
  employers or graduate programs. Construct a
  resume, network, and interview for information.
  Look for potential employers and interview for
  jobs.

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Interview for Information

• The following questions might give you ideas
  about what to ask in an information interview
• 1. Help me understand a little more about what
  you actually do.
• 2. How did you happen to get involved in this
  kind of work?
• or Why did you decide to go into this particular
  profession?
• 3. What training, experience, or other
  qualifications are required in what you do?
• 4. What kind of education and college majors are
  most useful in preparation for this kind of work?
• 5. What would a typical day be like for you?
• 6. What do you especially enjoy about your work?
• 7. What about your work is less enjoyable?
• 8. What is necessary for a person to be
  successful in this profession?
• 9. Why did you choose to work for the employer or
  organization you are currently working for?
• 10. How does this profession fit with family
  life?
• 11. What seems to be on the cutting edge in
  this profession?
• 12. What are the professional networks or
  organizations that are related to this
  profession?
• 13. What other professions are related?
• 14. What advice do you have for a person who is
  interested in doing this kind of work?
• 15. Would you be willing to give me the names of
  other professionals I might talk with?
• Remember to send a thank-you note to each
  professional you interview.

13
Job Shadow

• How do I Job Shadow?
• Usually you will need to contact the professional
  and ask permission. The professional can be
  someone you already know, or someone whos name
  was given to you for shadowing purposes from the
  alumni office or your major department.

14
Internships

• What is an Internship?
• An internship is an opportunity to get hands on
  experience by working in your chosen profession.
  Often times, class credit will be given for
  internships. Internships may be paid or unpaid
  and usually run from 3 months to 1 year.
• What are the advantages of an Internship?
• An internship is a great way for you to acquire
  work experience to compliment your degree. A
  student is much more marketable after graduation
  if they have work experience, such as an
  internship.
• How do I get an internship?
• The departments throughout the university usually
  post internships or work one-on-one with you to
  assist in finding one.

15
Volunteer Work

• Volunteer work is another great way to get work
  experience and exposure to different careers or
  fields of study.
• Identify where you may wish to gain work
  experience or in what areas you would like
  experience.
• Contact those organizations to find out if it
  would be possible to volunteer.
• You could use the yellow pages in the phone
  directory. You may also conduct information
  interviews to find out about particular careers
  and ask about possibilities for volunteer work.

16
Cooperative Education

• Co-op stands for cooperative education and
  provides you with class credit for working on
  the job and gaining practical work experience.
• What are the advantages?
• Co-op and internship experience is invaluable
  when looking for a job. Besides getting practical
  work experience, you can also gain exposure to a
  given profession. You can then decide if the work
  is something you would find rewarding and really
  enjoy.

17
How to Create a Resume

• Sources of Information
• http//www.jhu.edu/careers/handouts/resume.pdf
• http//www.rileyguide.com/resprep.html
• http//www.et.byu.edu/sot/advisement/docs/bluebook
  .pdf
• Source http//mmbio.byu.edu/home/files/Getting_S
  tarted_Packet_web_version.pdfsearch22jhu.edu22

18
Cover Letter

• Date
•  
• NameTitleCOMPANY (all caps adds nice
  contrast)AddressCity, ST ZIP
• Salutation
• Explain why you are writing the letter. Capture
  the employer's attention by focusing on the
  company rather than yourself. Explain why you are
  interested in the company. Mention a personal
  interest you have in the company, a common
  acquaintance, or contacts you have who are
  employees of the company. Another approach is to
  research the company and mention something you
  read about the company or industry that is
  exciting to you.
• In this paragraph explain why the company would
  be interested in you -- what you have to
  offer/what you can bring to the company. The
  information should expand on your resume and
  bring it to life. Bullet your strengths and
  accomplishments, quantifying as much as possible.
  Point out any experience or background you have
  that relates to the particular industry of the
  company.
• Be aggressive in you closing, mentioning a plan
  for further action (call, contact, letter,
  visit), and then follow-through.
• Sincerely,
• Your Name
• Your nameAddressCity, ST ZIPPhone number
• Enclosurehttp//marriottschool.byu.edu/internshi
  p/resources/lettersoutline.cfm

19

• February 1, 2000
•  
• David Hatch, Vice PresidentOrganization
  Management DevelopmentCOMPANY700 Beverly Hills
  RoadHollywood, CA 90210-0001
• Dear Mr. Hatch
• Although I am an MBA not an MOB, my
  qualifications closely match the requirements you
  listed for a Human Resources intern for the
  coming summer. I would appreciate your
  consideration and seek a slot on your interview
  schedule when you visit Brigham Young University
  this February 16.
• Your literature profiled an experienced human
  resource generalist with excellent
  organizational, developmental, and interpersonal
  skills. The following educational and
  professional experiences have uniquely prepared
  me with the skills you are looking for
• Two years as an interpersonal skills trainer
• Organizational change consulting with Pendleton
  Enterprises
• Management of direct contact representatives
• Retail jewelry sales and customer service
• In brief, my experience in interpersonal skills
  training has refined my leadership training and
  development skills. Additionally, my work in
  management with Pendleton Enterprises has
  sharpened my organizational and interpersonal
  skills.
• The combination of my experience and my business
  skills make me a uniquely qualified candidate. I
  hope you will give me the opportunity to discuss
  my background and interest with you personally by
  adding me to your interview schedule.
• Sincerely,
•  
• Clinton ChadwickSource http//marriottschool.byu
  .edu/internship/resources/letterex.cfm