Social Sector Job Search Tactics

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Social SectorJob Search Tactics
Career Management Center

• September 26, 2008
• Matt Nash, CASE
• Mary Beck White-Sutton, CMC

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Objectives of Presentation

• In this presentation, we will
• Discuss key tactics for conducting a social
  sector job or internship search, including
• Developing a personal marketing plan
• Networking
• Conducting informational interviews
• Share tips for effective resumes and cover
  letters
• Identify helpful resources for social sector
  career planning
• Provide an opportunity for socializing with
  like-minded classmates
• We are here to share practical tips, identify
  helpful resources, and answer your questions!

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Overview

• Opening (5 min)
• Proactive Approach (20 min)
• Personal Marketing Plan
• Career Networking
• Informational Interviews
• Resumes Cover Letters (15 min)
• Questions (15 min)

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The Job Search Process

• Timeline
• Fall/Early Winter Focus on Research
• Winter/Spring Targeted Outreach
• Jan-May Summer Internship Listings
• Ongoing Full-time Job Listings
• Dont panic! Many social sector organizations
  dont hire for summer or full-time jobs until
  spring.

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Take a Proactive Approach!

• Join a Net Impact Job Search Team
• Focus on fields functions that interest YOU
• Develop a personal marketing plan
• Reach out
• Conduct informational interviews with alumni and
  other professionals in field
• Network, network, network!
• Find the right fit
• You personal interests relevant skills
• Organization willing to commit resources
  understands value of MBA
• Take advantage of CASE/Fuqua/Duke resources

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Join a Job Search Team!

• Peer support groups for career planning
• Facilitated by Net Impact Club Career Fellows
  with support from CMC CASE staff
• Meet weekly for 60-90 minutes with assignments in
  between
• Team members are held accountable for their
  progress by reporting their achievements,
  obstacles, etc.
• Teams generally are NOT sector- or
  industry-specific all welcome!
• Benefits of participating in job search teams
• Guided process for conducting off campus job
  search
• Targeted input and feedback on employer research,
  networking, informational interviewing, resumes,
  covers, interviewing
• Increased awareness of potential internship
  career opportunities
• Dedicated time for career planningcalm amidst
  the storm

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Selling Brand You

• Personal Marketing Plan
• Summary Profile/Objective
• Industry Sectors/Companies
• Preferred Locations
• Education
• Expertise
• Experience
• Benefits of Marketing Approach
• Focuses search
• Blueprint for an action plan
• Enhances networking conversations

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Identify Your Summary Qualifications and Objective

• How do you want to introduce yourself?
• Summary Qualifications
• What are you looking for?
• Defining Your Job Target
• How does your Summary/Objective match your
  accomplishments?

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Career Networking

• Extend your network
• Classmates, alums, friends, family, CMC, CASE,
  MNC, guest speakers, Net Impact, professors,
  lecture series at other Duke schools, etc.
• Make use of resources at Fuqua and in the field

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Resources for Networking

• Fuqua Alumni Directory
• http//www.fuqua-alumnilink.duke.edu/
• Duke Connect Undergraduate Graduates
• http//career.studentaffairs.duke.edu/
• Click on Duke alumni
• Go to Resources and Click on Duke Connect
• below Duke Connect, click on Alumnilogin
  dukepassword alumni
• Pre-Fuqua Employment Report
• Go to CMC Channel and then to Identify Contacts

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Resources for Networking(continued)

• LinkedIn leading professional online network
  tool
• https//www.linkedin.com/e/gis/20/44B71415BF04/
• Leverage the power of the Duke MBA Program group
  network
• Accelerate your career research and networking
• Know more than a name--view rich professional
  profiles
• Let other group members know what you have to
  offer to them
• Limit your network searches to other Duke MBA
  Program Members
• Professional Associations
• American Society of Association Executives
  http//www.asaenet.org/
• Society for Nonprofit Organizations
  http//www.snpo.org/
• Independent Sector http//www.independentsector.or
  g/
• Association of Fundraising Professionals
  http//www.afpnet.org/
• Alliance for Nonprofit Management
  http//www.allianceonline.org/
• BoardSource http//www.boardsource.org/register.as
  p
• Association for Research on Nonprofit
  Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA)
  http//www.arnova.org/

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Networking LettersOUCH!

• Hi,
• I am a first year student here at Fuqua, and got
  your contact information from a classmate. I
  heard that you have many contacts locally. I
  havent had much luck with on-campus internship
  search, so I need your help to expand my search.
  Some of my basic info I had my undergrad degree
  in XXXXX and worked for XXXXXXXXX for X Years,
  mostly in XXX. There are two areas that I am
  interested in, 1) XXXX, XXXX or XXXXXX companies
  2) xxxx firms.
• I enclosed my resume for your reference.
• Thank you for your help and look forward to
  hearing from you.
• MBA candidate, Class of 200X

• I HEARD YOU HAVE INFORMATION I NEED, GIVE IT TO
  ME!

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Networking LettersCONTACTS!

• Hi,
• I attended your "The Off-Campus Search
  Lessons Learned" workshop last Tuesday and found
  it to be extremely helpful and insightful. 
  Really would like to thank you for sharing your
  experience and valuable advice with us.
• .I would really appreciate it if you can share
  any contacts you have in the industry or in the
  Triangle area even if there are none, I would
  greatly benefit from your insights as to what
  your next steps would be if you were me.  I
  noticed from AlumniLink that you live in
  Raleigh.  If you don't mind, I really would love
  to meet up sometimes and talk to you in
  person!Thanks for your time and I hope to hear
  from you soon!xxxxx

• NICE BEGINNING BUT IMMEDIATELY REQUESTS
  INFORMATION.

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Networking LettersBETTER!

• Dear Mr. Santo
• Mary Jones, at the Fuqua Career Management
  Center, suggested I contact you.  I graduated
  from Fuqua in May and am still looking for a job
  in the marketing field.  Mary told me about your
  job search and felt that I could benefit from
  lessons you learned during your experience. 
  Would you be willing to share some advice and
  knowledge for someone now involved in the hunt?
• I would enjoy speaking with you during the next
  few weeks, by phone or in person, at your
  convenience.  Please let me know if you have the
  time or if you would prefer to communicate via
  e-mail.  Thanks for your time!Sincerely,xxxxx

• Helps to know a little more about the senders
  objectives.

SEE SAMPLE E-MAIL
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Networking LettersTHANK YOU!

• Dear XXXX,I appreciated you taking time from
  your busy schedule to talk with me. Your advice
  was most helpful and I will incorporate your
  suggestions into my job-search plan.  I will keep
  you updated with my progress during the
  internship process.Again, thank you so much for
  your assistance.Sincerely,xxxxxxx
• Candidate for MBA Class of 200X

NOTE A social sector thank-you note can be
meatier! Reflect on your conversation, describe
the role you can play, give point of view on a
strategic issue faced by the organization, etc.
A THANK YOU LETTER, PURE AND SIMPLE!
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Networking LettersFOLLOW UP!

• Dear Mr. Santo
• I wanted to thank you again for your help in
  kick-starting my job search last December. Since
  we last communicated, I spoke with XXXX (Fuqua
  XXXX) at XXXX and am awaiting a possible
  mentorship in March. I also spoke with
  XXXXXX(Fuqua XXXX) about his experiences at the
  Johnson Company.
• My conversations with alumni prepared me for the
  on-campus interview season, and I just received
  an offer from a national company with a corporate
  office in XXXXX! I am waiting to see how a couple
  of other opportunities play out, but I would not
  be in the position I am in today
  without attending your presentation at
  Fuqua. Thank you again for your continuing
  involvement in the Fuqua community.  
• Sincerely, XXXX XXXXX Candidate for MBA 200X

GOOD EXAMPLE OF CATCH UP E-MAIL.
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Informational InterviewStrategies for Success
Rapportwhat do you know about the
contact? Questionswhat are your learning
objectives? Stories of Accomplishmentconnect
to industry/target Timebegin and end on what
was agreed Request Contacts2 contacts from your
list of companies Follow-up24/48 hours e-mail
or written note contacts
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Informational InterviewKey Questions
What do you see as developments in this field,
company, industry? Areas of greatest
opportunity? Expansion? Markets/Products? Greates
t needs---currently IT Security Regulatory
International
What are the key talents of people who are
successful in this field? Typical mistakes that
prevent people from entering this
field? Personal advice about entering this
field? What do you do to keep up-to date and
build your network?
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What You Can Do For Your Contacts

• M Methods
• Can you make life easier for your contacts?How
  to connect with the CMC for a job posting.
• O Opportunities
• Can you alert people to a new opportunity?A job
  opening at Allied Sciences.
• R Resources
• Can you offer someone or something?An article
  or book that connects to their interests.
• E Enthusiasm
• Are you excited about something?I have some
  extra tickets to the DUKE-NC Game.

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Cover Letters that Open Doors

• Know your audience!
• Not limited to 1-page, standard Fuqua format
• Reference how you found out about organization
  (personal contact, annual report, article, etc.)
• Demonstrate passion for and understanding of
  mission and activities
• Avoid business jargon (test with non-MBA friend)
• Address specifically how your skills/experience
  relevant to the particular job for which you are
  applying
• If in response to a job posting, your response
  should summarize how you meet the profile
  requested (echo language from posting)

See Samples
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Effective Resumes

• Tailor resume to the target organization!
• On resume, streamline description of for-profit
  work experience that is not directly relevant
• Highlight volunteer/social sector experience
• Tutoring, volunteer consulting, fundraising,
  organizing community service events, coursework,
  etc.
• If you have extensive experience in the
  organizations field, you may want to include
  more detailed curriculum vitae
• See advice on cover letters

See Samples
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A Few Words of Advice

• Social Sector Involvement
• Net Impact Club
• Volunteer
• Coursework classes as well as projects focused
  on social sector/social issues
• Mentored studies, independent studies, or
  practicum courses during the year
• Independent studies
• Sensitivity to Cultural Differences
• Approach the sector with humility and respect

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Career Resources

• Fuqua Resources
• CMC
• CASE
• Students / Net Impact Club
• General Social Sector Resources
• Financial Resources
• CASE Summer Internship Program
• Class of 1990 Internship Award
• Loan Forgiveness Fund
• Networking Resources

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Questions?
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How to AnswerTell Me About Yourself

• Who are you professionally?
• Include educational/career focus to date years
  of experience
• Are you making a career change?
• Key positions significant accomplishments that
  this interviewer would like to knowmention key
  positions first and then
• introduce 3-4 targeted accomplishments with,
  In those positions, I
• Then ask, "Which of these experiences would you
  like me to talk about first"?
• Source Employment Review, March 2003, George
  Goodson, Senior career Consultant, R.L. Stevens
  Associates

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Tracking Contacts

• ACT Software
• Design Own Spreadsheet
• Contact Name/Source
• Title/Division
• Company Address
• Phone E-mail
• Date of Last Contact
• Summary Information
• Contacts Provided
• Follow-up/Action