Professional Development

The NC State Career Development Center holds weekly in-person career sessions on Centennial Campus. Sessions focused on resumes, LinkedIn, interviewing, job search strategies, and other career-related topics.

Sign-up is available in ePACK – go to “Events”, then “Workshops” and search for “Centennial”

Appointments will be held in Fitts-Woolard Hall, Room 4320.

Engineering students can also find opportunities for jobs and internships at the following link: Engineering Jobs & Internships

PackPros is a FREE professional development and career readiness series led by Career Development Center Staff, Career Ambassadors, and leading employers from around the region. From LinkedIn to cover letters, we share our most useful job-seeking tips. Learn More.

MSE degree is interdisciplinary and, upon graduation, will qualify you for a variety of jobs with an average starting salary of $70k/year.

Example job titles:  Materials Engineer, Product Engineer, Metallurgist Engineer, Quality Control Engineer, Failure Analysis Engineer, Renewable Energy Materials Engineer, Biomaterial Engineer, Polymer Materials Engineer, Project Manager

Selected Companies: Cree, Nucor Steel, Corning, Honda, DuPont, ExxonMobil, Intel, Eastman Chemical, Cisco, General Electric, DOW

Example job description:

• Identify and produce a diverse range of materials for applications of interest

• Develop and improve methods for the analysis of complex materials

• Assist in the selection of materials for product application, the calculation of design parameters, the performance of material properties testing

• Apply scientific methods to resolve technical challenges related to materials and their use in products & processes

More than a quarter of all MSE B. S. degree recipients are enrolled in a graduate degree program at places such as MIT, UC Berkeley, Penn State, Georgia Tech, Purdue, and NC State.

The MSE Department hosts a workshop on how to apply to graduate school each fall semester. 

Learn more about graduate school options here.

Why do you need email etiquette? (1)

A company needs to implement etiquette rules for the following three reasons:

• Professionalism: by using proper email language your company will convey a professional image.

• Efficiency: emails that get to the point are much more effective than poorly worded emails.

• Protection from liability: employee awareness of email risks will protect your company from costly lawsuits.

What are the etiquette rules?

There are many etiquette guides and many different etiquette rules. Some rules will differ according to the nature of your business and the corporate culture. Below we list what we consider as the 32 most important email etiquette rules that apply to nearly all companies.  

Note:  Items 1-32 are all from source 1.

1. Be concise and to the point.

Do not make an email longer than it needs to be. Remember that reading an email is harder than reading printed communications and a long email can be very discouraging to read. 

2. Answer all questions, and pre-empt further questions. 

An email reply must answer all questions, and pre-empt further questions – If you do not answer all the questions in the original email, you will receive further emails regarding the unanswered questions, which will not only waste your time and your customer’s time but also cause considerable frustration. Moreover, if you are able to pre-empt relevant questions, your customer will be grateful and impressed with your efficient and thoughtful customer service. Imagine for instance that a customer sends you an email asking which credit cards you accept. Instead of just listing the credit card types, you can guess that their next question will be about how they can order, so you also include some order information and a URL to your order page. Customers will definitely appreciate this.

3. Use proper spelling, grammar & punctuation. 

This is not only important because improper spelling, grammar and punctuation give a bad impression of your company, it is also important for conveying the message properly. Emails with no full stops or commas are difficult to read and can sometimes even change the meaning of the text. And, if your program has a spell checking option, why not use it?  [Note:  avoid using common IM acronyms unless you are writing to a close friend – many in the older generation will be clueless as to what you are trying to say].

4. Make it personal. 

Not only should the email be personally addressed, it should also include personal i.e. customized content. For this reason auto replies are usually not very effective. However, templates can be used effectively in this way, see next tip.

5. Use templates for frequently used responses.

Some questions you get over and over again, such as directions to your office or how to subscribe to your newsletter. Save these texts as response templates and paste these into your message when you need them. You can save your templates in a Word document, or use pre-formatted emails. Even better is a tool such as ReplyMate for Outlook (allows you to use 10 templates for free).

6. Answer swiftly.

Customers send an email because they wish to receive a quick response. If they did not want a quick response they would send a letter or a fax. Therefore, each email should be replied to within at least 24 hours, and preferably within the same working day. If the email is complicated, just send an email back saying that you have received it and that you will get back to them. This will put the customer's mind at rest and usually customers will then be very patient!

7. Do not attach unnecessary files. 

By sending large attachments you can annoy customers and even bring down their email system. Wherever possible try to compress attachments and only send attachments when they are productive. Moreover, you need to have a good virus scanner in place since your customers will not be very happy if you send them documents full of viruses!

8. Use proper structure & layout. 

Since reading from a screen is more difficult than reading from paper, the structure and layout is very important for e-mail messages. Use short paragraphs and blank lines between each paragraph. When making points, number them or mark each point as separate to keep the overview. 

9. Do not overuse the high priority option.

We all know the story of the boy who cried wolf. If you overuse the high priority option, it will lose its function when you really need it. Moreover, even if a mail has high priority, your message will come across as slightly aggressive if you flag it as 'high priority'.

10. Do not write in CAPITALS.

IF YOU WRITE IN CAPITALS IT SEEMS AS IF YOU ARE SHOUTING. This can be highly annoying and might trigger an unwanted response in the form of a flame mail. Therefore, try not to send any email text in capitals.  [Likewise, do not eliminate all capital letters unless you’re e.e. cummings].  

11. Don't leave out the message thread.

When you reply to an email, you must include the original mail in your reply, in other words click 'Reply', instead of 'New Mail'. Some people say that you must remove the previous message since this has already been sent and is therefore unnecessary. However, I could not agree less. If you receive many emails you obviously cannot remember each individual email. This means that a 'threadless email' will not provide enough information and you will have to spend a frustratingly long time to find out the context of the email in order to deal with it. Leaving the thread might take a fraction longer in download time, but it will save the recipient much more time and frustration in looking for the related emails in their inbox!

12. Add disclaimers to your emails.

It is important to add disclaimers to your internal and external mails, since this can help protect your company from liability. Consider the following scenario: an employee accidentally forwards a virus to a customer by email. The customer decides to sue your company for damages. If you add a disclaimer at the bottom of every external mail, saying that the recipient must check each email for viruses and that it cannot be held liable for any transmitted viruses, this will surely be of help to you in court. Another example: an employee sues the company for allowing a racist email to circulate the office. If your company has an email policy in place and adds an email disclaimer to every mail that states that employees are expressly required not to make defamatory statements, you have a good case of proving that the company did everything it could to prevent offensive emails. 

13. Read the email before you send it.

A lot of people don't bother to read an email before they send it out, as can be seen from the many spelling and grammar mistakes contained in emails. Apart from this, reading your email through the eyes of the recipient will help you send a more effective message and avoid misunderstandings and inappropriate comments.

14. Do not overuse Reply to All.

Only use Reply to All if you really need your message to be seen by each person who received the original message. 

15. Mailings > use the Bcc: field or do a mail merge.

When sending an email mailing, some people place all the email addresses in the To: field. There are two drawbacks to this practice: (1) the recipient knows that you have sent the same message to a large number of recipients, and (2) you are publicizing someone else's email address without their permission. One way to get round this is to place all addresses in the Bcc: field. However, the recipient will only see the address from the To: field in their email, so if this was empty, the To: field will be blank and this might look like spamming. You could include the mailing list email address in the To: field, or even better, if you have Microsoft Outlook and Word you can do a mail merge and create one message for each recipient. A mail merge also allows you to use fields in the message so that you can for instance address each recipient personally. For more information on how to do a Word mail merge, consult the Help in Word. 

16. Take care with abbreviations and emoticons.

In business emails, try not to use abbreviations such as BTW (by the way) and LOL (laugh out loud). The recipient might not be aware of the meanings of the abbreviations and in business emails these are generally not appropriate. The same goes for emoticons, such as the smiley :-). If you are not sure whether your recipient knows what it means, it is better not to use it.

17. Be careful with formatting.

Remember that when you use formatting in your emails, the sender might not be able to view formatting, or might see different fonts than you had intended. When using colors, use a color that is easy to read on the background. 

18. Take care with rich text and HTML messages.

Be aware that when you send an email in rich text or HTML format, the sender might only be able to receive plain text emails. If this is the case, the recipient will receive your message as a .txt attachment. Most email clients however, including Microsoft Outlook, are able to receive HTML and rich text messages.

19. Do not forward chain letters.

Do not forward chain letters. We can safely say that all of them are hoaxes. Just delete the letters as soon as you receive them.

20. Do not request delivery and read receipts.

This will almost always annoy your recipient before he or she has even read your message. Besides, it usually does not work anyway since the recipient could have blocked that function, or his/her software might not support it, so what is the use of using it? If you want to know whether an email was received it is better to ask the recipient to let you know if it was received.

21. Do not ask to recall a message.

Biggest chances are that your message has already been delivered and read. A recall request would look very silly in that case wouldn't it? It is better just to send an email to say that you have made a mistake. This will look much more honest than trying to recall a message.

22. Do not copy a message or attachment without permission.

Do not copy a message or attachment belonging to another user without permission of the originator. If you do not ask permission first, you might be infringing on copyright laws.

23. Do not use email to discuss confidential information.

Sending an email is like sending a postcard. If you don't want your email to be displayed on a bulletin board, don't send it. Moreover, never make any libelous, sexist or racially discriminating comments in emails, even if they are meant to be a joke.

24. Use a meaningful subject line, and include an address and closing.

Try to use a subject that is meaningful to the recipient as well as yourself. For instance, when you send an email to a company requesting information about a product, it is better to mention the actual name of the product, e.g. 'Product A information' than to just say 'product information' or the company's name in the subject.

An email should have an opening, typically “Dear Dr. Bullard” – don’t just dive into the body of the message.  “Hey Dr. Bullard” is not professional.  Similarly, you should close the email with “Sincerely”, “Thank you”, “Regards”, another appropriate closing, followed by your name.

25. Use active instead of passive voice.

Try to use the active voice of a verb wherever possible. For instance, 'We will process your order today', sounds better than 'Your order will be processed today'. The first sounds more personal, whereas the latter, especially when used frequently, sounds unnecessarily formal.

26. Avoid using URGENT and IMPORTANT.

Even more so than the high-priority option, you must at all times try to avoid these types of words in an email or subject line. Only use this if it is a really, really urgent or important message.

27. Avoid long sentences.

Try to keep your sentences to a maximum of 15-20 words. Email is meant to be a quick medium and requires a different kind of writing than letters. Also take care not to send emails that are too long. If a person receives an email that looks like a dissertation, chances are that they will not even attempt to read it!

28. Don't send or forward emails containing libelous, defamatory, offensive, racist, or obscene remarks.

By sending or even just forwarding one libelous, or offensive remark in an email, you and your company can face court cases resulting in multi-million dollar penalties.

29. Don't forward virus hoaxes and chain letters.

If you receive an email message warning you of a new unstoppable virus that will immediately delete everything from your computer, this is most probably a hoax. By forwarding hoaxes you use valuable bandwidth and sometimes virus hoaxes contain viruses themselves, by attaching a so-called file that will stop the dangerous virus. The same goes for chain letters that promise incredible riches or ask your help for a charitable cause. Even if the content seems to be bona fide, the senders are usually not. Since it is impossible to find out whether a chain letter is real or not, the best place for it is the recycle bin.

30. Keep your language gender neutral.

In this day and age, avoid using sexist language such as: 'The user should add a signature by configuring his email program'. Apart from using he/she, you can also use the neutral gender: ''The user should add a signature by configuring the email program'.

31. Don't reply to spam.

By replying to spam or by unsubscribing, you are confirming that your email address is 'live'. Confirming this will only generate even more spam. Therefore, just hit the delete button or use email software to remove spam automatically.

32. Use cc: field sparingly.

Try not to use the cc: field unless the recipient in the cc: field knows why they are receiving a copy of the message. Using the cc: field can be confusing since the recipients might not know who is supposed to act on the message. Also, when responding to a cc: message, should you include the other recipient in the cc: field as well? This will depend on the situation. In general, do not include the person in the cc: field unless you have a particular reason for wanting this person to see your response. Again, make sure that this person will know why they are receiving a copy.

33. Remember that email is not always the best form of communication. (2)

There are many subjects that are too sensitive to discuss over email mainly because misinterpretation could have serious consequences. Some topics that should generally be resolved outside of email are:

• Disciplinary action

• Conflicts about grades or personal information

• Concerns about fellow classmates/workmates

• Complaints 

When it appears that a dialogue has turned into a conflict, it is best to suggest an end to the swapping of email and for you to talk or meet in person. If you receive a flaming email try to respond in a short and simple response. If that does not appease the flamer, then make contact with him or her outside the virtual realm.

34. For your personal accounts, use a user ID that comes across as professional.

A potential employer who is trying to contact you regarding a position will not be impressed if they are sending their email to thicnspicy@hotmail.com or amishburrito@aol.com. Choose a username that would not be offensive or childish to a potential employer.

And finally, two very important items to remember:

35. Never send an email when you are angry.

Don't send an angry or sarcastic message without first giving yourself a few hours or overnight to make sure you really want to send it.  Remember that an email can be forwarded to your boss or others or used as evidence in court!

36. Remember that email is a public document. (3)

Stop right where you are and set aside a couple of brain cells for the following statement: there is no such thing as a private email. The reason? Keep reading.

With some email systems, the email administrator has the ability to read any and all email messages. If this is the case where you are located, you better hope that there is an honest and respectable person in that position.

Some companies monitor employee email (as well as internet usage). The reasons for this obtrusive behavior range from company management wanting to make sure users are not wasting time on frivolous messages to making sure that company secrets are not being leaked to unauthorized sources.

Email software is like all software in that occasionally things go wrong. If this happens, you may end up receiving email meant for another person or your email may get sent to the wrong person. Either way, what you thought was private is not private anymore.

So where does this leave us. First: there is no such thing as a private email. Got it? Second, don't send anything by email that you would not want posted on the company bulletin board. If it's safe enough for the bulletin board, it's safe enough for email. Finally, if you are debating whether or not to send something personal by email, either deliver it by hand or send it by snail mail.

VOICEMAIL ETIQUETTE (4)

Statistics show that only 70% of phone calls are ever completed on the first try, therefore voicemail is an important communication tool. Here are eight tips to ensure that your voicemail messages are effective and do not create professional problems for you. 

• Yes, it’s basic, but…don’t forget to give your name and phone number.

• Keep messages short and to the point. 

• Never leave a harsh or negative message on voicemail. This can lead to major problems. Unlike a conversation, the receiver can redirect it to other people. 

• Don't record anything that can be misinterpreted or is confidential. 

• If you find yourself reading a prepared memo or announcement over the phone stop. It is better to just send the memo out. 

• Always be prepared to leave a message. Statistics show that 70% of the time the individual you wish to speak with will not be available. 

• Avoid flippant messages, even in jest. 

• Don't leave messages from noisy restaurants, parties are bars, background noise can be heard clearly.  

Characteristics of a resume that gets results: 

• Professional in appearance

• Clear, concise, and well-organized

• One page preferred, two pages only if extensive work experience

• White or off-white paper 

• 10-12 pt. font size 

• Tailored for the organization or position 

• Career-related projects, skills, and interests

• Relevant paid and unpaid experiences 

• Demonstrated accomplishments 

• Involvement on campus or in the community

RESUME TIPS

• CONTACT INFORMATION:  Don’t forget to list a reliable email address and phone number, and include you’re your school address and permanent home address.  Some employers may need to contact you after you leave campus for a summer position.  Note:  if you don’t use your unity email address, make sure that your personal email address sounds professional (see electronic etiquette article, above) and have a professional message on your voicemail.

• What's the FASTEST way to improve a resume?  Remove everything that starts with "responsibilities included ..." and replace it with on-the-job ACCOMPLISHMENTS. 

• What is the COMMONEST MISTAKE made by resume writers?  Leaving out their Job Objective! (Equivalent to: Somebody knocks on your door. You open it and say, "Hello, what do you want?" They say, "Duh ...") 

• What's the FIRST STEP in writing a resume?  Decide on a job target (or "job objective") that can be stated in about 5 or 6 words. Anything beyond that is "fluff" and indicates lack of clarity and direction. 

• HOW FAR BACK should you go in your Work History?  Far enough; and not TOO far. College students should list high school work experience, but the high school items will probably drop off after college graduation. 

• Don't include "Hobbies'' on a resume…UNLESS the activity is somehow relevant to your job objective. OR it clearly reveals a characteristic that supports your job objective. (A hobby of SkyDiving (adventure, courage) might seem relevant to some job objectives (Security Guard?) but not to others.) 

• Employers HATE parchment paper and pretentious brochure-folded resume "presentations."  They think they're phony, and toss them out. 

• Don't fold a laser-printed resume right along a line of text.   The "ink" could flake off along the fold. 

• What if you don't have any EXPERIENCE in the kind of work you want to do?  GET SOME! Find a place that will let you do some VOLUNTEER work right away. You only need a brief, concentrated period of volunteer training (for example, 1 day/week for a month) to have at least SOME experience to put on your resume.   Also, look at some of the volunteer work you've done in the past and see if any of THAT helps document some skills you'll need for your new job. 

• What if you have GAPS in your work experience?  You could start by LOOKING at it differently. If you were doing ANYTHING valuable (though unpaid) during those so-called "gaps," you could just insert THAT into the work-history section of your resume to fill the hole--for example: "1993-95 Full-time parent" or "1992-94 Maternity leave and family management" or "Travel and study," or "Full-time student," or, "Parenting plus community service." 

• What if you have a fragmented, scrambled-up work history, with lots of short-term jobs?  To minimize the job-hopper image, combine several similar jobs into one "chunk," for example:

1993-1995 Secretary/receptionist - Jones Bakery; Micro Corp.; Carter Jewelers.

OR

1993-95 Waiter/Busboy - McDougal's Restaurant; Burger-King; Traders Coffee Shop.

ALSO you can just DROP some of the less-important or briefest jobs. But DON'T drop a job, even when it lasted a short time, if that was where you acquired important skills or experience. 

• Students can make their resume look neater by listing seasonal jobs very simply.  Use something such as "Spring 2006" or "Summer 2006" rather than 6/06 to 9/06. (The word "Spring" can be in very tiny letters, say 8-point in size.) 

• What if your job title doesn't reflect your actual level of responsibility?  When you list it on the resume, either REPLACE it with a more appropriate job title (say "Office Manager" instead of "Administrative Assistant" if that's more realistic) OR use "their" job title AND your fairer one together "Administrative Assistant (Office Manager)". 

• Got your degree from a different country?  You can say: "Degree equivalent to U.S. Bachelor's Degree in Economics; Tehran, Iran." 

• What if you don't have your degree yet?  You can say "BS Degree in Materials Science and Engineering, expected date May, 2020." 

• What if you have several different job objectives you're working on at the same time?  Or you haven't narrowed it down yet to just one job target? Write a different resume for EACH different job target. A targeted resume is much, much stronger than a generic resume. 

• Want to impress an employer?  Fill your resume with "PAR" statements. PAR stands for Problem-Action-Results, in other words, first you state the problem that existed in your workplace, then you describe what YOU did about it, and finally you point out the beneficial results.

  • Here's an example:

    • "Transformed a disorganized, inefficient warehouse into a smooth-running operation by totally redesigning the layout; this saved the company $250,000 in recovered stock."

  • Another Example: 

    • "Improved an engineering company's obsolete filing system by developing a simple but sophisticated functional-coding system. This saved time and money by recovering valuable, previously lost, project records." 

• What if you never had any "real" paid mainstream jobs - just self-employment or odd jobs?  Give yourself credit, and create an accurate, fair job-title for yourself. For example, "A&S Hauling & Cleaning (self-employed)" or "Household Repairman--Self-employed," or "Child-Care--Self-employed." Be sure to add "Customer references available on request" and then be prepared to provide some very good references of people you worked for. 

http://jobstar.org/tools/resume/yana24.php 

Who Needs a Cover Letter?

Everyone who sends out a resume does! Even if the cover letter never "came up" in conversation or wasn't mentioned in an advertisement, it's expected that you will write one.   It is regarded as a sign of laziness (sorry about that) to send out a cover letter that is not tailored to the specific company. In the days before word processors, you could maybe get away with it. Not anymore. 

Yes, it adds to the wear and tear of looking for a job! But the good news is: the cover letter gives you another chance to emphasize what you have to contribute to the company or organization. Don't give the person screening the resumes a second to entertain the thought: "But how can this person help US?" Your cover letter will answer that question in your own words. Your resume will also answer that question but in a somewhat more rigid format.

What makes a Good Cover Letter?

1. No spelling or typing errors. Not even one.

2. Address it to the person who can hire you. Resumes sent to the personnel department have a tougher time of it. If you can find out (through networking and researching) exactly who is making the hiring decision, address the letter to that person. Be sure the name is spelled correctly and the title is correct. A touch of formality is good too: address the person as "Mr.," "Ms.," "Mrs.," "Miss," "Dr.," or "Professor." (Yes, life is complicated.)

3. Write it in your own words so that it sounds like you--not like something out of a book. Employers are looking for knowledge, enthusiasm, focus.

4. Being "natural" makes many people nervous. And then even more nervous because they are trying to avoid spelling errors and grammatical mistakes. If you need a little help with grammar (do they still teach grammar?)--check out the classic work on simple writing, Strunk & White's Elements of Style, published in 1918 and now online. A good place to begin is "Chapter 5: Words and Expressions Commonly Misused."

5. Show that you know something about the company and the industry. This is where your research comes in. Don't go overboard--just make it clear that you didn't pick this company out of the phone book. You know who they are, what they do and you have chosen them!

6. Use terms and phrases that are meaningful to the employer. (This is where your industry research and networking come in.) If you are applying for an advertised position, use the requirements in the ad and put them in BOLD type. For example: the ad says-- 

"2 years' experience processing magnetic media (cartridge, tape, disc); interface with benefit plan design, contracts and claims; and business background with strong analytical & technical skills--dBase, Excel, R&R, SQL." 

Make sure your cover letter contains each of these requirements and shows how you measure up.

http://jobstar.org/tools/resume/cletters.php 

What to Expect in a Typical On-Campus Interview

• Interviews are usually 30 minutes in length – arrive 10 minutes early so the interview can begin promptly.

• The interviewer will usually spend a few minutes at the beginning introducing himself/herself and giving some information about the company and job openings – it is fine for you to take notes.

• The interviewer will ask questions based on the student's resume – he/she will want to hear specific examples of behaviors from past experiences, not hypothetical or vague answers.

• Time will be left at the end for your questions – be sure to have specific questions about the job openings or location, etc. 

• If you want to highlight or point out something you've accomplished that didn't come out in the interview, mention it to the interviewer at the end if there is time.

• Ask for the interviewer's business card if he/she hasn't already given you one.

Do's and Don'ts

• Answer questions honestly, thoroughly, and sincerely – if you don't know the answer, indicate that.

• Do not try to tell the interviewer what you think he/she wants to hear.

• Don't be afraid to discuss your successes and most positive traits.

• Be careful about saying negative things about past experiences (e.g. insult a company that you interned with).

• Don't display a negative or arrogant attitude.

• Be polite, tactful, and sincere – eye contact is also important.

• Be neatly and appropriately dressed in professional business attire (conservative, not trendy).

• Do not be late unless there is an emergency!

How to Prepare Ahead of Time

• Confirm the date, time, and location for your interview.

• Review the company's website and any literature you've obtained – know the latest "news" about the company.

• Talk to any student on campus that has interned/co-oped with the company (Career Services or the co-op office can tell you).

• Generate quality questions to ask about the company based on what you've read and heard – don't just ask questions for the sake of asking them – make them count.

• Review your resume again to make sure everything is accurate and that you're prepared to answer any questions pertaining to it.

• If for any reason you must cancel or withdraw from an interview, contact the company and/or Career Services promptly – don't be a "no-show".

• If the company needs an employment application or other forms filled out before the interview, do this as soon as you receive them and submit them by the deadline.

• Find out whether you need to bring your transcripts to the interview (Career Services should be able to tell you).

• Even though the interviewer already has your resume, bring an extra copy to the interview just in case he/she needs another one.

Follow-up

• Email or write a "thank-you" note to the interviewer – email is perfectly acceptable.

• Provide the interviewer with updated contact information if it's changed since you last communicated with him/her.

• If you are receiving other offers/have deadlines and need to hear back from the company, contact the interviewer to get an updated status and explain your timeframe. 

• If you think of any questions that you forgot to ask during the interview, don't hesitate to email them to the interviewer!

Final Notes

Many companies have a team that will be responsible for 'researching' information on candidates via Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc.   Depending on the subject matter, it is safe to say that the impact could play a role in whether or not someone is viewed as being the type of employee we would want on our team.  Pictures of groups, outings, friends, etc. - all well and good.  Those that would probably not be so helpful - well, we know what those look like.  

In a previous semester we had a group of candidates that were on a plant tour, and a couple of the candidates let their guard down and were trying to be either funny or the center of attention, not realizing that the tour guide provided input to the interview team.  This behavior was viewed as immature and not someone that we would want to hire.  Students should realize that their interactions with Company employees, be it the assistant that makes and confirms their travel plans, to the Staffing Reps, to the dinner hosts, all the way up to the Hiring Manager, are constantly trying to make a hiring decision given a short amount of time with the candidate.  Their interactions with all of these people add up to an impression.  Even the company’s drivers who take you to and from the airport provide feedback. 

 www.eastman.com 

Interview Prep Worksheet

Preparation 

Two to three days before the interview

• I have collected information about the business.

• I know the first and last name of the person(s) who will be interviewing me.

• I know why I want to work for this company. 

• I have prepared some answers to common interview questions. I know how I am going to answer these questions and/or I have created a cheat sheet.

• I have prepared a list of questions that I would like to ask the interviewer.

• I have an up-to-date resume with complete references ready to take to the interview. 

• I know exactly where the interview will take place and how long it will take me to get there.

• I have decided what to wear to the interview.

• I have scheduled a full night’s sleep before the interview.

The Day of the Interview 

• I have a copy of my resume and names of my references.

• I have paper and pen for notes.

• I have my cheat sheet and/or my list of questions.

• I have paid special attention to personal hygiene and my choice of clothing.
   

The Interview 

Travel Time and Arrival

• I am leaving early in case of traffic jams or unforeseen problems. I do not arrive more than 10 minutes early.

• I am relaxed, friendly and business-like with everyone I meet.

• I introduce myself to the receptionist, and confirm my appointment.
    

Setting the Scene

• I greet the interviewer by name and shake their hand.

• I maintain positive body language. e.g. I don't cross my arms and I maintain eye contact
  
  

Exchanging Information

• I stay on topic and ask for clarification where necessary and when appropriate.

• I use specific examples rather than general statements when giving information about my education, training, transferable skills, and work experience.
    

Conclusion

• I ask any suitable questions that have not already been answered.

• I summarize, with enthusiasm, my interest in the position and the business.

• I state my appreciation for the interview.

• I confirm, if already noted, their response date. If this date is not definite, I make arrangements to contact them.

• I shake hands if appropriate and say goodbye.
   

Follow-up

• I keep my cell phone with me the day they said they would call.

• If I have arranged to call them back on a certain date, I make sure that I have reviewed my telephone protocol.

• I write and send the interviewer(s) a thank-you letter.

• If offered a position I give them a written answer (whether it be to accept or to decline) within the week, or by their stated deadline. 

http://niefs.net/intvw_b.htm 

Sample of Traditional Interview Questions 

• Tell me about yourself.

• What are your strengths and weaknesses? 

• What kind of work environment do you like best? 

• Why did you apply for this job? 

• What jobs have you enjoyed the most? The least? Why? 

• What have you done that shows initiative and willingness to work? 

• What are your short-range and long-range goals? 

• Why did you choose your area of study? 

• Do you prefer working with others or by yourself? 

• What do you know about our company? 

• What qualifications do you have that make you think that you will be successful? 

• What have you learned from participation in extracurricular activities? 

• What academic subjects do you like the best? Least? 

Sample of Behavior Description Interview Questions

• Give me an example of a time when you did more than was required in your job. What was the result? 

• Describe the most stressful situation you have encountered. How did you handle it? What was the outcome? 

• How do you set priorities? 

• Describe a situation where you wished that you had behaved differently. What was the outcome? 

• We've all had to work with someone who was difficult. Tell me about the most difficult situation that you have experienced and how you handled it. What was the result?

• How do you define doing a good job? 

• Tell me about a time when you did not meet your own standards of performance. What did you do to change that? 

• Tell me about the most enjoyable job you've had. What was there about it that made you feel this way? 

• Describe a position where you felt that you learned a lot. What advantage was that to you? How have you used those skills?

• Describe the ideal job for you. What tasks would be required? 

• Tell me about a situation that occurred as a result of a lack of communication. 

• Have you ever had to rely on information given verbally in order to carry out your task? Give some examples. Did this ever cause a problem? 

• Describe a situation where you had to change your work plan very quickly in order to accommodate a more urgent situation. How did you feel about that? 

• Do you find yourself taking charge of situations? How? 

 http://coopcommunity.sfu.ca/index.php?module=ContentExpress&file=index&func=display&ceid=260&meid=277 

Why You Should Attend

• Provides an opportunity to meet and interact with a large number of companies at one time

• Provides an opportunity to market your knowledge, skills, and abilities to a targeted group of employers

• You will be able to meet and talk to people who already work for the companies you are interested in

• Contacts as career fairs can serve as a starting point for you to develop relationships with companies

What Companies are Looking For

• Solid GPA

• Relevant work experience (co-op/internship)

• Strong communication skills

• Demonstrated leadership abilities

• Involvement in extracurricular activities

• Track record of achievement

What to Expect

• Spend significant time at the event

• Pace yourself

• Distribute a large number of résumés

• Manage what you carry

Preparation Checklist

• Visit Career Services website & office

• Know your target companies

• Buy the proper attire

• Rehearse your introduction

• Create a polished résumé(s)

• Develop a plan for follow-up

Do Your Homework

• Know which companies are attending

• Know which companies are hiring your major

• Know which companies are not hiring your major

• Prepare for a career fair as if you were going to an interview

What to Wear

• Two-piece matched business suit

• Navy, black, or dark gray

• Pants or skirt acceptable for females

• Conservative blouse for females/conservative tie for males

• Comfortable shoes

Introduction

• Be proactive if the recruiter doesn't start the conversation

• Tell the recruiter your name, class, major, and type of position you're seeking

• Practice – but don't sound like you're reading a script

Follow-up

• Follow-up within 48 hours with recruiters from companies you are interested in

• Email or handwrite a thank-you note

• Customize your note to each recruiter, drawing on some memorable aspect of your conversation

• Ask a follow-up question