Top Ways to Prepare for Your First Job or Internship

I’m often asked by students at Northwestern University, how they can prepare for their internship that starts in a few months or weeks. Personally, I love that students are thinking about how they can position themselves to be a valuable asset to their future employer and also get the most out of the internship as possible. I decided today to dedicate my blog post to students and soon to be graduates from NU looking to get ahead and prepare for their first job or internship.

Here are some of my tips:

Tip #1: Network ahead of your start date

• Ask your supervisor who you can speak with (past interns, other current interns, alumni who work there) in order to show that you are passionate about contributing to the company and learning as much as possible.
• If your supervisor doesn’t have a list of alumni who are in your company- expand to find alumni through Northwestern CareerNet in your city or industry. Northwestern CareerNet is a part of the alumni directory in which NU alumni have designated themselves as a career resource to students and other alumni.
• Register now for networking events already scheduled in NYC, Chicago, San Francisco, DC and more through the Northwestern Alumni Association.

Tip #2: Get to know your future neighborhood

• Locate the local post office, grocery store, best places to eat and drink, places of worship, museums, movie theaters, parks, etc. in order to take advantage of your living environment and feel safe/comfortable.

Tip #3: Plan weekend trips to nearby points of interest

• Think about not only developing professionally and socially during your internship or job, but also culturally.

Tip #4: Reflect on what you hope to accomplish

• Think about your goals ahead of time to be able to communicate effectively your desired outcomes to your supervisor when you arrive.
• Interns should make a learning agenda with their supervisor as a way to structure the process.
• Full-time job starters should hit the ground running when they start a job. But remember to still ask questions and discuss big picture goals and objectives with your supervisor so not too appear over ambitious to a point where you come off like a “know it all”. Most employers will want you to get to know the culture of the company before you start making suggestions for change.

Coming this Summer…

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career, internship, Northwestern, northwestern ucs, summer, ucs, university career services

As our friends and colleagues experience the mixed emotions of another school year coming to an end, we at Northwestern try to stay focused and determined to stick it out for another month.

Ah yes, the quarter system. Northwestern like a few of our neighbors (U of Chicago and DePaul) are not on a traditional semester academic calendar. Instead we are currently in the midterm of our Spring Quarter. With the beautiful weather, the desire to wear shorts and sandals daily and the messages we see from friends about their summers starting- we can’t help but be anxious to be done with the 2011-2012 academic year as well.

Just like the anticipation you may feel for a movie premiere while watching the movie trailer, many Northwestern students, faculty and staff are looking forward to this upcoming summer. And we at University Career Services are very excited for the students who have found some great internships to experience this summer. So just like the blockbuster summer movies we are all waiting to come to the theaters (insert Batman), we’re also waiting to hear all the stories of career development from our Summer Interns. See below for the Northwestern Summer Interns Preview. (Special thanks to the NU students that let me videotape them at their internships- Blair, John, Chris, Matt and Sarah)

Ways to Make a Good First Impression

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career, first impression, internship, job, networking, northwestern university, northwestern university career ser, thank you

When do we start learning about being on our best behavior, saying please and thank you and looking our best? For me I can remember as early as Kindergarten when my mom instructed me to be sure to say “thank you” when the cafeteria staff gave me my lunch at school or when she told me I was to write thank you notes after receiving any gift. These messages made such an impression I can almost picture the very moment I first attempted to make a good first impression.

So you might say that being aware of how I present myself was a bit of an obsession since age 5. And you wouldn’t be too far off. In Middle School I remember worrying about what I was going to wear to school for the upcoming week.  And in College my favorite memories are always times when I was able to help my peers and in turn they would express their appreciation and respect.

Making a good first impression (as well as a good lasting impression) has always been important to me and I hope it has for you as well. Below are some great ways to represent yourself well during an interview, networking event or on your first day of work:

#1 Be Considerate

Definitely use words like Please and Thank You. But also be on time and do not inconvenience others by keeping them waiting. Hold the door/elevator for others and knowledge the administrative staff when you arrive and also when you leave an interview.

#2 Be Genuine

Ask the person you’re meeting “how they are doing”or “how their day is going” and really want to know the answer to this question. Spend time recognizing what is going on around you and see if there is a way to show you care and want to help.

#3 Be Naturally Enthusiastic

Sure a great handshake, eye contact and a smile go a long way to showing you are present, smart, mature and interested, but you need to do all of these things in a natural way. The best way to go about this is to be yourself, take a deep breath and try not to stress. Nervousness does funny things to us verbally and non-verbally. So instead of worrying about the situation think of it as you are getting to know someone and you’re going to have a nice conversation.

#4 Be Present

We all have 10 million thoughts, worries, ideas and to-dos floating around our heads at all times (or at least I do). To be sure to make a good first impression you really need to focus on the task at hand. If that task is interviewing with a company- only think about that company and what you can contribute to the company- try to avoid thinking about the paper you have due in two hours or a trip you have planned for over the weekend.

#5 Be Open to Feedback

Lastly, ask your friends, professors, staff and alumni to give you feedback on how you come across. Don’t be afraid to ask this question because the answers can be so valuable to your growth. As always, you can depend on my office to help you through Mock Interviews – which is a great way to receive constructive feedback on the impression you make during an interview.

Social Media & Employment

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career, facebookt, internship, job, linkedin, Northwestern, northwestern university, northwestern university career services, Social Media, Twitter

If you are looking for a job, internship or just want to learn more about a company you need to connect to companies on Social Media platforms. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube… you name it, companies want to see you interacting with them in these arenas. Gone are the days of only interacting over phone, email or the company website.

Today I attended a one day workshop in which a human resources director for a big four accounting firm spoke over an hour about how his company connects with potential hires and college students on Social Media. He described how the goals of using Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are to help students looking for an internship or job learn more about their firm culture, as well as, inform others on what differentiates them from their competitors.

With the hyper-ability to connect to companies of interest, comes some positives and negatives, myths and truths.

Positive: It is easier than ever to learn which company might be right for you and to prepare for an interview/ conduct company research.

Negative: The interviewers and company representatives are going to expect more out of you as far as what you know about the company because that information is so readily available. They may also expect you to connect with them and interact with them on the platforms. If you don’t, you may appear to not be as interested as other candidates.

Myth: Companies check your Facebook Profile before they interview you and will rescind offers if they see you are posting poor taste comments or pictures. This is myth because as I learned today, legally a company isn’t allowed to screen candidates over social media. So if they see something they don’t like- they cannot let it effect their offer to hire you. Though, if they do learn of some poor behavior, they may enroll you in coaching or courses to correct your weaknesses.

Truth: Companies use Social Media to attract and inform potential candidates. Those on Social Media will even write back to you if you comment on their wall, mention them in a tweet or post a comment on their LinkedIn Group.

One additional take away from today’s workshop and from this week’s workshops on LinkedIn by LinkedIn Employee, John Hill, that I wanted to share:

LinkedIn is a great place to do research on companies and connections. But I’m sensing a theme that many recruiters do not want to be contacted by students directly on LinkedIn. Instead use the connections you have seen on LinkedIn and contact who you know that knows the person you want to network with outside of social media. Consider calling a 1st degree connection to say “I see that you know ________. I’m seeking a job at the company _________ works at and I was wondering if you would be able to introduce me to ________.” Likely, if your 1st degree connection knows your 2nd degree connection well and you both have a mutually strong relationship, they will be willing to make the introduction.

Tips for Working with Your Career Office

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career, internship, job, Northwestern, northwestern career services, northwestern university, northwesternucs

Did you know Northwestern University students who use University Career Services resources are more than twice as likely to be employed at the time of graduation ? (UCS Graduation Survey, 2007 to 2011) I’m of course bias when it comes to my feelings and reactions to that statistic. I work in career services so I understand the value of our office for our students, employers and alumni. Here are some tips so you can see the value as well:

Tip #1: It’s always best to schedule a One-on-One Appointment with a UCS Staff Member

Everyone’s career development or employment questions/situation are unique. It is best to talk to a trained and educated staff member who can give you specific and individualized advice. What might work for your friend, might not work for you or vis versa.

At Northwestern: Call 847-491-3700 to schedule an appointment. Not sure who you might want to meet with? Visit our Meet the Staff webpage to learn more about the Career Counselors, Internship Specialists and Employment Specialists that can serve you.

Tip #2: If you are pressed for time, make time for at least a walk-in appointment

Walk-ins are a way you can have your resume reviewed, your cover letter reviewed or just ask questions about your career development, internship search, job search or graduate school search. Typically, walk-ins last 15 minutes. So if your question is going to take longer than that to answer you might instead schedule an appointment to get the time and attention you deserve.

At Northwestern: UCS offers walk-in appointments every Tuesday-Friday during the school year from 11:00am-3:00pm. Tuesdays and Wednesdays our walk-ins are located at our main office on Lincoln Street (North Campus) and Thursdays and Fridays walk-ins are located at the Career Lab in the Core Reserves 2N section of the Main University Library (South Campus). We also offer specialized walk-ins for specific populations including graduate students, athletes and more. Please check our website for more information.

Tip #3: Register for CareerCat to stay up to date on employer visits to campus, UCS events/workshops and job or internship postings

CareerCat is one of the main resources for employers to post internships and jobs for Northwestern students and alumni to view/apply. It is also my office’s main way to connect students with employers who will be on campus doing interviewing or attending career fairs. Once you register you receive a weekly email plus occasional emails to targeted audiences about deadlines, events and other important career related material. It would be a mistake not to register for this resource. UCS receives new company registrations, job postings and internship postings daily.

At Northwestern: Students can log into CareerCat from the UCS website using their netid and password. Alumni will need to register first with UCS Alumni Career Services in order to gain access to CareerCat. Employers can register or login for free from the Employer Login Page.

Tip #4: Stay in touch with Career Services throughout the process

After meeting with a UCS staff member, stay in touch about your progress. Our staff wants to know if a strategy or suggestion isn’t working or if you are having trouble and need more help. Many times it takes multiple visits or correspondences to meet your goals and expectations for working with UCS. Avoid feeling that once you leave your walk-in, workshop or one-on-one appointment that your time working with UCS is over. We’re here and available every step of the way.

At Northwestern: Before leaving an appointment or workshop where you have interacted with a UCS staff member ask them for a way to follow-up with them. They will likely supply a phone number or email address. You can also call 847-491-3700 to schedule a follow-up appointment at anytime.

Tip #5: When in doubt… Ask

Northwestern University in general is an excellent academic environment that is always looking for ways to better serve our mission. We at UCS are not much different. We would like to know if students, alumni or employers have suggestions for ways we can improve. And if you are not certain if we offer something or why resources do/don’t exist I suggest asking. You might be surprised to learn that something you thought didn’t exist or happen- very much does. For example, many times students are surprised to learn that every year 100′s of employers conduct their interviewing for full-time or internships right on campus in our newly remodeled interview center.

At Northwestern: When you come to UCS for an appointment please fill out a green evaluation sheet at the end of your appointment. This is a great direct way to give feedback. We also ask for your feedback after UCS sponsored workshops and large events. Please complete those surveys. However, if you would like to make a suggestion please know you can always email anyone on staff or our general email address.

How to be Linked In

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career, internship, job, linkedin, networking, northwesten ucs, Northwestern, northwestern university, northwestern university career services

Over the next few weeks there are several programs happening at Northwestern University to help students learn more about or improve their presence on the popular online network- LinkedIn.

If you’ve read any of my blog posts, visited with a career services professional or just read through tweets and articles- you know the importance of LinkedIn for networking, your job and internship search process and even career exploration. Just like any great online resource (especially in the Social Media arena) LinkedIn is always evolving and looking for new ways to stay relevant and forward thinking. But with all the changes users can be a little disgruntled that they have to relearn the system or be flexible and adaptable to the changes.

To help you become more familiar with LinkedIn, the Northwestern Alumni Association announced they have invited John Hill of LinkedIn to speak to staff and students on April 25 in Norris University Center’s McCormick Auditorium from 3:30pm-5:00pm. John Hill has worked in the past with alumni and students at Michigan State, so he has a great combination of understanding the needs of populations within Higher Education, as well as how to utilize LinkedIn.

My office, Northwestern UCS has also borrowed an idea from our colleagues at Columbia University and now offer LinkedIn Labs on select Mondays at our Career Lab location in the Northwestern Main Library’s Core Reserves Second Floor North from 2:00-4:00pm. LinkedIn labs offer NU students the opportunity to meet with a UCS staff member to have your LinkedIn profile reviewed. Just like your resume, it’s a good idea to make sure you are representing yourself to the best of your ability online. There are new features and sections that can be added to your LinkedIn profile. And UCS wants to make sure you are taking advantage of everything LinkedIn has to offer. Our next LinkedIn Lab is this upcoming Monday, April 16th.

If you don’t have time to attend the John Hill presentation or stop by the LinkedIn Labs, then please take a look at the presentation I offered to our School of Continuing Studies back in February. You can download the Social Media 101: LinkedIn PPT or listen to the webinar recording at http://www.northwestern.edu/careers/students/resources/ucs-webinar-recordings.html. I hope all of the before mentioned will help you learn how to be Linked In!

No Fear Networking

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career, college, fear, internship, introverted, job, networking, Northwestern, northwestern ucs, northwestern university, northwestern university career services

One of the most effective strategies for getting employed is to network. Networking is practically #1 on every career counselor’s list and you may even hear the same message from your friends and family.

But what if you are afraid of networking or absolutely fear the thought of talking to a room full of strangers? Well, here are some of my personal tips that I hope will help you become a Fearless Networker:

Tip #1: Become an extrovert (for at least 60 minutes)

Even if you are the most introverted of introverts, our personalities are at their core are all about preferences. One of the major differences between introverts and extroverts is the preference they make when sourcing their energy supplier. Extroverts get energized by talking to and meeting with people and large groups. Introverts, on the other hand could be drained by meeting with people, especially large groups and prefer to gain energy by spending some quality time reading a book or another solitary activity.

In order to become an extrovert, for networking, you need to think of the experience of talking with people as a way gain energy. I recommend connecting the idea of energy to the idea of gaining knowledge. Who doesn’t want to learn something new and gain more awareness from interacting with others? So when you go to network, get energized to discover something new from one or more of the people you are meeting. The goal is the development of professional relationships that can help your future career mobility and success.

Tip #2: Prepare Topics and Questions

Like any other activity in life, the better you are prepared the better you will succeed. Lessen the stress of the networking experience by:

• Researching who will be in attendance and their work background via LinkedIn to gain conversation starters (i.e. their Education, Work Experience, Skills, Volunteer Experience)
• Gain information about their current employer or most recent employer including any recent news stories associated with their employer.
• Develop a list of safe topics to discuss during small talk (i.e. sports, social media, interests, recent trips or travel plans, current news). Avoid topics about race, religion, politics and sex for fear you might offend someone.

Tip #3: Know Your Limits

If networking makes you uncomfortable it is important to know your limits and to adjust your techniques. I will always preach, to who ever will listen, that the most effective relationships are formed in person. But if you don’t have time or have extreme social anxieties, I understand your reluctance to attend career fairs, conferences, panels and networking events.

• Consider using social media like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to create an online network that with time you will feel comfortable reaching out to those connections in person.
• The next best way to network, aside from in person, is on the phone or video chat. I often recommend, once you have met someone online and connected, the next step should be setting up a phone conversation. The more someone knows about you and feels connected to you, the more a person from your network may be willing to help you.
• If networking events are too much to handle and you prefer one-on-one conversations, request an informational interview from your network or ask someone if you can meet for coffee to learn more about their career path. No pressure… you’re not asking them for a job (right?).

I hope these tips can help you have no fear when it comes to networking. Please leave comments if you have other suggestions that might help our readers. I know there are many more tips. Happy Networking!

Multiple Offer Decision Making

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career, decision making, internships, job, Northwestern, northwestern ucs, northwestern university, northwestern university career services

With all the news and articles written about the competitiveness of internships you may be surprised to learn that many students actually get more than one internship offer. And when students are met with this challenge of deciding which internship to take it can often be an difficult situation.

We at UCS have created a list of questions to ask yourself in order to make an informed decision about which internship could be best for your career development:

1. What are the financial benefits vs. costs of doing these internships? Is one paid vs. non-paid? Does one pay more? What is the cost of living in each of these locations?

2. What does your gut say? When you interviewed did you get a feeling that you would fit in and have a more positive experience at one internship over the other?

3. What will be the projects you work on at these internships? Will one have more meaningful and marketable outcomes over the other? Can the organization provide examples of what other interns have produced in the past?

4. Will you feel/be supported over the summer by your employer? Will there be formal training and supervision for you? Will there be a formal or informal mentoring program? Are there opportunities to get involved in networking or industry events/ conferences?

5. Which internship will allow you to explore a career that you haven’t gotten a chance to examine, but are interested in?

6. Does the internship incorporate any of your career interests and make good use of your skills? Will you develop new skills that are important and required for your field of interest?

Keep in mind, it is important and critical to maintain ethical behavior when making this often difficult decision. Students should only make a decision when they are ready and able to commit to that one employer. It is highly unprofessional to rescind an offer once you have accepted. And unfortunately, you may have to decide within a short timeframe of 2 weeks. If you need more help UCS is here for you. Please leave a comment here or call us at 847-491-3700.

DIY Spring Break

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career, internship, job, Northwestern, northwesternucs, spring break

During the month of March universities all over the whole country are taking a spring break. Students go on trips to relax and take a break from studying but students also participate in programs sponsored by their institutions that are community service-based and/or career development driven. Northwestern University is no different.

Next week at Northwestern is finals week. But after those tests and papers are turned in, hundreds of students are participating in programs like NEXT- Northwestern’s Externship Program and Alternative Student Breaks.

Did you miss the deadlines for these and other programs? If you are nodding your head yes then I’ve got some advice on how to Do It Yourself (DIY) during Spring Break.

DIY NEXT

NEXT is a program which Northwestern Alumni volunteer to host students for a day at their place of employment. Students can learn the ropes and job shadow to gain experience and knowledge of their chosen field. To DIY this program research alumni that are in your preferred geographic area and career field of interest using the Northwestern Alumni Directory Career Network- Northwestern CareerNet. Once you have found an alum who is of interest, contact them to introduce yourself. Ask them questions about their career path and at the end of your conversation inquire if they would be open to you job shadowing them for a day.

DIY ASB

Alternative Student Breaks offers students the chance to use their school breaks in a meaningful way through community service. To DIY this program visit websites like Idealist, VolunteerMatch or geographic specific service sites like Chicago Cares or New York Cares. There are various volunteer programs that you can participate in on your own or with a small group. Community service is potentially a way to meet people that could be important to your network and could lead to employment, but also a great way to make a difference.

Connect with UCS

Lastly, if your plans are already set for Spring Break and you don’t have time to volunteer or job shadow at least make time to connect with University Career Services. Do you have 45 minutes? Then you have time to have your resume reviewed, cover letter reviewed and to talk about your internship or job search. Use all of your resources and connect with people who care about you and your future.

The Art of Communicating with Employers

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career, communicating with employers, email, etiquette, internship, job, Northwestern, northwestern ucs, northwestern university career services

Many Northwestern students are at a pivotal point in their summer internship search. Whether it be that they are waiting for an invitation to interview, or waiting for an offer, the communication between the student and the recruiter/contact is key for a positive outcome.

Here are some tips to master the art of communicating with employers:

1. Timing is Everything

I recently received feedback from a recruiter that works in finance. This feedback brought to light the importance of when you email a thank you note or a follow-up question to your recruiter/contact. With work email being an essential way for most to communicate and often 24/7, avoid emailing a thank you note at a late hour (read 10pm-5am). This recruiter told me he will check his work email at all times of the night if his phone indicates he has a new message. He worries that it is something very serious or an emergency if an email comes after a certain hour. So, imagine his frustration when the email that came into his work email at 1am was actually a thank you email from a student.

2. Have a Detailed/Relevant Subject Line

I often suggest when emailing someone that you don’t already know to use the line “Northwestern Student Seeking Your Advice”, or “Northwestern Student Follow-Up”. Be detailed in your subject line but also not too detailed that the subject line goes past 6 words.

Also, if you are emailing and the topic of the email no longer relates to the subject line that you are using, take the lead to change the subject to help the reader be reminded of what you are communicating about. For example, if you email someone to set-up an informational interview and your subject line is “Northwestern Student Seeking Your Advice”, the contact replies using the same subject line that they can meet with you. The email you write back should possibly change to “Setting up our informational interview time”.

3. Avoid sending Attachments with No Body Text 

If you are applying to an internship or job and the instructions to apply include “email your resume (and cover letter) to this email address”. Use the body of the email to introduce who you are, tell them why you are applying and detail what is attached. This will show the recruiter/contact that you took the time to be professional and that you really are interested in the position. I’ve been witness to students only including the following statement “Hello, attached is my resume for your review. Thank you.” Avoid this because it’s likely your application was just deleted or moved to the “no” column.

For more great tips on email etiquette read the following article By Ritika Trikha, CareerBliss Writer on February 21, 2012- http://www.careerbliss.com/advice/email-etiquette-avoid-these-transgressions/