Robert Wegmann, in his book titled Work in the New Economy, concludes that as many as 70 to 75 percent of all job openings are not advertised. Only 25 percent of all people get their jobs through the want ads and other traditional methods such as private and government employment agencies. The other 75 percent are hidden from you if you use traditional job search methods. Informal job-seeking methods make up 63.4% of this 75 percent. These informal methods include direct contact with employer and networking.

The most important job search rule is: Don’t wait until the job is open! Most jobs are filled by someone the employer meets before a job is formally “open”. So the trick is to meet people who can hire you before a job is available. Instead of saying “Do you have any job openings?,” say “I realize you may not have any openings now, but I would still like to talk to you about the possibility of future openings.”

Networking tips for Students...

It’s never too early to begin to network. In today’s competitive job market, you have to start developing contacts early, both to help you explore career options and to get leads to employment opportunities. Most studies show that the majority of jobs are obtained through some type of networking. Today’s employers want more assurance that you’ll be a good fit. The best way to get this assurance is to hire individuals they know or who are recommended to them by people they trust.

Here are a few tips:

• Let everyone know that you are looking for a job. You never know who may know someone looking for someone with your skills.
• Meet each person (new acquaintance or former acquaintance) as if he/she could be your next boss.
• Take advantage of the time employers spend on our campus whether it’s for a job fair, on-campus interviewing, class presentation, advisory committee meetings or a casual visit.
• Introduce yourself to the potential employers when the opportunity presents itself.
• Tell the employers your career goals. (If they don’t have a current need for someone with your skills, perhaps they know of a company who does.)
• Three networking questions to ask:
  • “Do you know of any openings for a person with my skills?” If the answer is no, then ask:
  • “Do you know of someone else who might know of such an opening?” If they do, get the name and ask for another one. If they don’t, than ask:
  • “Do you know of anyone who might know of someone else who might?” Another way to ask this is, “Do you know someone who knows lots of people?” If all else fails, this will usually get you a name.
  • Follow-up by contacting these referrals and ask them the same questions.
• Beware of your language and behaviors at all times. You never know when a potential employer may walk up behind you, stroll through the classroom door, or sit within earshot of your conversations in the cafeteria.
• Get involved. Look for ways to develop your skills and satisfy your values by joining organizations that do something you care about, on-campus or off-campus organizations. Attend Professional Conferences. It’s a good idea to attend conferences to learn more about a particular career field and to make valuable contacts.
• Connect with people. Think about what you can do to begin cultivating professional relationships.
• Use the Internet and Email. The Internet is a great source of information on managing your job search. There are several resources listed on the MTI website. With e-mail, you can contact anyone, anywhere who has an on-line address.
• Have a resume on hand whether you think you need it or not.
• Get in the habit of writing thank-you notes.
• Start a portfolio. Portfolios are folders that contain information documenting your accomplishments and provide evidence of your skills. Usually include letters of recommendation and is a supplement to your resume.

Where to Network:

• One-to-one meetings
• Conferences and conventions
• Job Fairs
• On-campus visits by business and industry
• Social/recreational/community settings
• Networking can take place just about anywhere

Do’s and Don'ts of Communication

• Do shake hands with everyone you meet. Use a firm, but not bone-crushing grip.
• Do remember the name of the person you’ve just met by focusing carefully on the name when you’re introduced. Try to use the name in the first few minutes of conversation to reinforce it in your mind.
• Do present yourself in the best possible light, but never embellish so much that you’re telling lies or half-truths.
• Do avoid controversial topics like politics and religion.
• Don’t say anything negative about a current or former boss, instructor, classmate, or just about anyone or anything else. People like, and respond better to, a positive person.
• Do speak with strong action verbs, saying, for example, "I communicate well with customers" instead of "I am good with customers".
• Do be concise. Don’t ramble.
• Do speak clearly. Don’t mumble.
• Do convey energy and enthusiasm.
• Don’t speak too fast or too slowly.
• Don’t get rattled. Try to remain composed and relaxed.
• Do convey a confident demeanor but don’t be aggressive.
• Do pay attention to your overall image and self-presentation. Are you well groomed? Are you dressed appropriately to meet a potential employer.
• Do minimize distracting body language
• Do smile and be courteous
• Do be down-to-earth and sincere.
• Do listen to the other person and don’t interrupt.
• Do get to know the other person.
• Don’t rush the process of establishing rapport.
• Do be attuned to the chemistry (or lack thereof) between you and the other person, and be prepared to back off if the other person just doesn’t seem to want to connect with you.
• Do make notes about each networking encounter. Keep notes on the back of the person’s business card or in a central location such as a notebook.
• Don’t be a pest. Don’t bother someone who seems busy or distracted.

Ways to Find Potential Employers (in no particular order):

Referrals	Trade Journals
Internet (MTI Website)	Chamber of Commerce Directories
Job Fairs	Yellow Pages
Employer Campus Visits	Instructors
Newspaper Want-Ads	Career Services Office
Trade Directories	Private and government employment agencies

Resources are available in the Career Services Office at Mitchell Tech. Stop in today to check out these valuable tools in assisting you with your job search.

Working Successfully in to the 21st Century... and Beyond!

Customer Service "Facts" What Upsets Employers Most

Knowing Yourself Begin the job search process by learning about yourself. It’s not unlikely that you will spend the next 30-50 years working. Those 30-50 years would be much more enjoyable if you spent them working at a job that enriches your life. The right job that enhances your life is personally fulfilling because it fits your personality. It suits the way you like to do things and reflects who you are. To achieve career satisfaction, you need to figure out what your preferences are and then find a job that accommodates them.

Students at Mitchell Tech are invited to take a personality assessment to help facilitate this process. Contact the Student Services Office to learn more about this valuable tool and how it can be used to determine the “right type of work” for you. The feedback is also a great source of information when writing your resume and/or conducting a job interview.

The information that is gained by taking a personality assessment also will be invaluable in developing healthy, working relationships with colleagues, supervisors, customers and even family members. You will gain insight into why others behave the way they do, and why you are the person you are – on the job, as a parent, in relationships, and in all aspects of daily life.

For those of you who choose not to take a personality assessment to learn about your personality type and how it fits into your job search, consider these helpful tips in choosing the types of positions you may be happiest in:

Think about your values.
Consider which job rewards are most important to you. For example:

• job security
• status and respect
• salary
• personal achievement
• helping others

Consider your ideal work environment.
What job characteristics do you most like or dislike? For example:

• being creative
• working under pressure
• making decisions
• having varied tasks
• working with the public
• working indoors or out

Examine your personality.

Everyone has personal traits that affect career choices. Be honest about identifying yours.

The MTI Student Services staff is a great resource in helping you to identify your personality type. By discovering your personality type, you will begin to identify your strengths and areas for improvement. It can also help you to discover what best motivates and energizes you, and this in turn empowers you to seek these elements in the work you choose to do. (For individual assistance in learning about your personality type and how it fits into your job search, contact the Students Service Office at Mitchell Tech.) >

Recognize your skills and experiences.
Consider skills you may have gained and used in:

• school
• past jobs
• volunteer work
• hobbies
• social situations

Write out your own personal evaluation.
List your values, preferred work environment, skills, interests, strengths and weaknesses. Be specific.

Set priorities.
What would be most important to you about a job? Personal achievement? Using a particular skill? A high rate of pay?

What organizational style is best for you?

• Would you prefer a young company just getting on its feet or a more established organization?
• Do you like a fast-paced, rapidly changing atmosphere or a slower, more predictable environment?
• Would you like a formal, highly structured atmosphere or one that is less formal?

Job Applications Personnel offices, especially in larger companies, most often use job applications. Smaller companies often don’t use them at all. Although, applications are used to screen people for potential interviews, they should not be considered the primary tool in obtaining an interview.

Applications can prove to be a very useful tool for the job seeker. The questions asked on an application may start the job seeker thinking about potential interview questions, specifically problem areas. For example, by completing the employment section of an application, the job seeker may notice an employment gap and be prepared to address this issue during an interview.

Here are a few tips about completing a job application...

• Be as neat and complete as possible.
• Read and follow all directions carefully.
• Don’t leave anything blank. Write N/A for “Not Applicable” or a dash to indicate the item does not apply to you. This tells the employers that you did not overlook the item or avoided answering it.
• Look for ways to add positive information about you. Emphasize your skills and accomplishments. The education, vocational training and work experience sections are good places to mention strengths. If you are short on paid work experience, mention your volunteer work under the experience section.
• Use a black pen. It provides a professional look and it copies better. Print neatly. Avoid cross-outs as much as possible. Type the application, if possible.
• Take a completed sample job application along with you to refer to as you complete the employer’s actual application. The sample application will provide you the necessary information about previous employers such as addresses, phone numbers and employment dates. You will be prepared with the necessary information needed to complete the actual application quickly and thoroughly. It also will minimize errors.
• Be honest.
• Be creative. Use each answer to your advantage.
• If the application asks if you have any friends or relatives working for the company, choose your friends carefully. If your friend is a hard worker, mention his/her name. But, if the friend is not a top-notch worker, don’t mention the name. The employer may assume that you have the same work habits as your friend.
• If you have been fired from your last job, don’t panic. In the space where it asks why you left that job, write, “Willing to Discuss”. During the interview you can explain, in as positive manner as possible, what happened.
• If you know for certain that your current boss or former boss will not give you a fair recommendation, provide the name of someone else in the chain-of-command who would give you an impartial recommendation. Be sure to get permission to offer his/her name as a reference.
• When the application asks what wage or salary you expect, write “Open”. For each of your former employers, you will be asked to give the wages you earned. Put a dash if you know for certain that you were underpaid. Tell the truth if you were given a fair wage. Don’t exaggerate.

Cover letters are probably the most difficult job search item to develop. The purpose of a cover letter is to get your attached resume read and to generate an interview. Job seekers often have a lot of questions as to what should go in a cover letter. Here are a few tips:

• It’s a business letter to a prospective employer expressing interest in employment with a company. It is accompanied by a resume and serves as an introduction to it.
• Employers will spend approximately 45-90 seconds browsing both the letter and resume. The cover letter should be an enticement encouraging the reader to look at your resume.
• A cover letter should be used whenever you send a resume to an employer. It can be used in response to an advertised job, a referral, or when doing a blind search (“cold turkey”) letter.
• Three to four paragraphs, each 4 to 5 sentences, should be sufficient when writing a cover letter. Keep to one page.
• You should print on high-quality paper that matches your resume.
• Avoid a lot of “I” statements.
• Try to be positive in what you say. Avoid negative words and tones in your letters. Such words as “can’t”, “didn’t”, “shouldn’t” and “won’t” can be eliminated by restating your sentence in a more positive manner.
• No errors! Check and recheck for spelling and typing mistakes. Have at least 6-8 other individuals proofread your cover letter and resume.
• Be sure to make appropriate changes to your letter each time you apply for a position. The same letter will not work for each job you apply for.
• A suggestion for conformity is to use the same heading on your cover letter as you use on your resume. For example your resume heading may look like the following. Copy and paste to your cover letter.

---

Basic Elements of a Cover Letter

Return address [Your address.]

Date [The date the letter is mailed.]

Inside address [The employers name, title, company and business address]

Greeting/salutation [Always address your letters to a specific individual – Dear Ms. Johnson. If you don’t know the name, call and professionally ask someone at the company for the name and correct spelling, research the appropriate person’s name on the company website or ask someone who may know (ex: instructor/current employee). Be sure to know the person’s gender. Address males as Mr. and females as Ms. If you are unable to determine the gender of an individual, omit the courtesy title. Ex: Dear Pat Harris:]

Opening paragraph [Reveal your purpose and interest. Identify the position and your source of information.]

2nd paragraph [Include your experience, education/training, and other credentials that meet the job requirements. Make reference to your resume.]

3rd paragraph [Include your accomplishments and explain how you fit the position and what you will bring to it. Highlight your key strengths and abilities.]

Closing paragraph [Restate your interest in the position and ask for some kind of action, such as requesting an interview or indicating that you will call during a specific time period to discuss interview possibilities.]

Complimentary closing [Sincerely, Cordially, or another appropriate salutation]

Signature line [Be sure the pen you use is of high quality. Type your name under your signature.]

Enclosure line [If you are including only your resume, “Enclosure” will be sufficient. If more documents are included, “Enclosures” should be used.

Most Often Used Cover Letter Formats
Block Format – all components of letter are flush with left margin.

Indented Format – the employer’s address, greeting/salutation, and enclosure line are flush with the left margin; date, complimentary closing and signature line are flush with right margin; all paragraphs are indented five spaces.

Sample Cover Letters

There are several resources, including samples, available in the MTI Career Services Office on cover letter writing. Students are encouraged to utilize these resources. Individual assistance is also available upon request.

A resume is a tool to help you sell yourself. The goal of writing a resume is to get an interview. There is not just one “right” format when creating a resume – there are hundreds of ways to create a resume. However, there are basic elements that should be included in all resumes.

• Your name, complete mailing address and phone numbers - If possible, also include a work or cell phone number and/or an e-mail address. Be sure your answering machine message and e-mail address are appropriate. Your answering machine’s message and e-mail address should be professional. Also, make anyone aware, who may be answering your phone, to conduct themselves in a professional matter. You never know when an employer may try to contact you and having someone answer your apartment phone with an inappropriate greeting will not get you off to a good start.
• Summary - A summary is used to outline or highlight your qualifications, skills and experience. The summary is often titled: Summary of Qualifications, Highlights of Qualifications, Professional Profile, Career Summary, among others. This section that demonstrates to employers how your qualifications match their job requirements can appear in a short paragraph or a quick “bullet” format. It focuses on describing your related work experience, areas of expertise or specializations, and your strongest skills, abilities and proficiencies.
• Education - As a graduate of Mitchell Technical Institute, there is no need to include your high school information. By providing your high school information, you are giving away your age to the potential employer. It also will free up space for more relevant information. However, if you feel providing your alma mater will give you an advantage over other candidates, by all means feel free to use it.
  • Include your level of education (Associates of Applied Science or Diploma), city and state the school is located in (Mitchell, SD), title of your program (Electrical Construction and Maintenance), date of graduation (May, 2002), if you have not yet graduation you may indicate this by stating (pending, May 2002). Also, include under Education, any academic honors such as making the Director’s List or your GPA is over 3.0.
  • Relevant Course Work or Related Course Work may be another area you want to include on your resume. This highlights for the employer the skills you were taught. This may be especially important for a recent graduate with little work experience or for a program that’s title may not be a good descriptor of what occupations a graduate has been trained to perform.

Employer-related training, additional courses or workshops, certifications, or licenses - Include any industry related training such as workshops, certifications or licenses.

Work Experience – Include your job title (Cable Splicer), name of company (Splicing XYZ, Inc.) and city and state company is located (Mitchell, SD), dates of employment (April 2000 – September 2000) and state skills and achievements, not just responsibilities or duties. Use action verbs and short sentences when describing your skills and achievements. (For example: Managed personnel office; Provided patient care, counseling and support; Conducted training; Increased net profit in excess of 350% within 2-year period). List the most recent work experience first and continue back. Be sure to include any internships or on-the-job training.

Specific Skills – Stress those skills related to your career goal such as computer languages, software, hardware, equipment, etc.

Optional Elements

• References - If you have space on your resume you may include a Reference Section that simply states, “References available by request”, References available upon request”, References available”. Because employers usually know that applicants can provide references, this statement is probably unnecessary. If you would like to include references or if references have been requested along with resume, it is best to include your references on a separate sheet that matches your resume. Copy and paste your resume heading onto a separate sheet with the title “References” and include 3 - 5 professional references. Include the reference’s name, job title, company/organization name, address, and phone number. It is best to use MTI instructors and former or current employers for your references. Personal references are not encouraged unless specifically requested, so leave off your best friend or your neighbor of 20 years. Be sure to get permission from the person before using him/her as a reference.
• Hobbies and interests - Unless you have had unusual accomplishments in hobbies and interests, don’t include them. Do use this item if your hobby or interest is tied into the position or if you have had great accomplishments.
• Personal data – Why offer information that would give someone the opportunity to discriminate or that has no that has nothing to do with your ability to do the job.
• Career Objective - A career objective indicates the kind of job you are seeking. It should be specific enough to imply that you know what type of job you are seeking, but not so specific that an employer wouldn’t consider you for other related positions. Many individuals prefer to use a summary instead of a career objective.

Resumes Styles

• Chronological resume – covers your work history from your earliest, pertinent job to your most recent one. It gives employers a quick fix on you, especially if you’ve stayed in one or two industries.
• Functional resume – details your work history by skills and functions. This style is good if you have a wide range of skills and work experiences. It also helps you hid gaps in your employment.
• Combination resume – blends elements of both styles.

Samples of Resumes
There are several resources, including samples, available in the MTI Career Services Office on resume writing. Students are encouraged to utilize these resources. Individual assistance is also available upon request.

Additional Tips on Resume Writing

• Pay special attention to spelling, punctuation, grammar and style.
• Proofread your resume carefully and have several other people review it.
• Use a dictionary, thesaurus and even a resource such as the SD Occupational Outlook Handbook (available online or in MTI Instructional Services or Career Services) when writing a resume. These are great resources to help with word selection.
Tailor your information to the job you are seeking.
• Try to keep your resume to one page, never more than two pages. Usually a recent graduate will not have difficulty limiting their resume to one page. A veteran employee, however, may have enough relevant accomplishments and experiences to warrant two pages. Create visual interest by using short paragraphs, bullets and white space. Bullets are eye-catching.
• Use an 11 or 12-point font for text to ensure readability. Use a slightly larger font for headings so they stand out.
• Use action verbs and short sentences.
• Tenses should all agree. The summary or objective should be in the present tense, present experiences in the present tense, and past experiences in the past tense.
• Quantify whenever possible. It makes a difference if you managed a staff of 2 or 20.
• Edit your resume many times to improve word choice and eliminate redundancy.
• Avoid using jargon, acronyms, and abbreviations.
• Make your resume easy to read. Avoid overcrowding. Underline, capitalize and use bold print for emphasis. Use a simple, easy to read font.
• Use good-quality white or off-white bond paper.
• Use a laser printer.
• Use a 9” X 12” envelope so your resume will arrive unwrinkled. Include a return address on the front of the envelope.
• When mailing a resume, include a cover letter. If you are distributing resumes at a job fair, you do not need to include a cover letter.
• Don’t send copies, only originals. If you fax or e-mail a copy, follow-up with an original using the postal service.
• Helpful resources, which include hundreds of sample resumes, are available in the MTI Career Services Office.
• For more information on or assistance with preparing a resume, visit the MTI Career Services Office.

Skills List These are some words commonly used to describe your skills on your resume. Adapt the words for either past or present tense.

Accomplish Achieve Act Acquire Adapt Adjust Administer Advertise Aid Analyze Apply Appraise Approach Approve Arrange Assemble Assess Assign Assist Attain Audit Author Balance Budget Build Calculate Catalogue Chair Clarify Closed (a deal) Coach Collaborate Collect Communicate Compare Compose Compile Complete Conceive Conciliate Conduct Consolidate Construct Consult Contact

Contract Control Cooperate Coordinate Correct Correspond Counsel Create Cultivate Debug Decide Decrease Define Delegate Deliver Demonstrate Design Designate Detail Detect Determine Develop Devise Diagnose Direct Discover Dispatch Display Distribute Document Draft Edit Eliminate Employ Encourage Engineer Enhance Enlarge Enlist Establish Estimate Evaluate Examine Exchange Execute

Exhibit Expand Expedite Explain Facilitate Familiarize Forecast Formulate Found Generate Govern Guide Handle Head Hire Identify Implement Improve Increase Index Influence Inform Initiate Innovate Inspect Install Institute Instruct Integrate Interpret Interview Introduce Invent Inventory Investigate Lead Lecture Lobby Log Maintain Manage Manipulate Manufacture Market Mediate

Merge Moderate Modify Monitor Motivate Negotiate Obtain Operate Order Organize Originate Oversee Perceive Perform Persuade Place Plan Post Prepare Present Preside Process Produce Program Promote Propose Provide Publicize Publish Purchase Qualify Raise Recommend Reconcile Recognize Record Recruit Rectify Redesign Reduce Regulate Relate Rescue Renew Repair

Replace Report Represent Reorganize Research Resolve Restore Review Revise Save Scan Schedule Screen Select Sell Serve Settle Simplify Solve Speak Sponsor Staff Standardize Stimulate Streamline Suggest Summarize Supervise Supply Support Survey Synthesize Systematize Teach Test Terminate Train Transcribe Translate Transmit Update Upgrade Write Win

When describing your skills:

• Use action words in short, clear phrases.
• Use as few words as possible.
• Avoid phrases such as "my duties included" or "I was responsible for".
• Start with an action verb. Follow it with a direct object. Use a modifier whenever possible. (Examples: Reorganized procedures, Created program)
• List accomplishments rather than just listing duties.

Electronic Resumes
An electronic resume contains the same pertinent information as your paper copy, but it’s written and formatted in a way that is easy for a computer to understand. You may need one if a company requests your resume in this format or if you are using the Internet to post your resume.

There are three ways to get your resume into a computer:

• a text file via the Internet or on a floppy disk.
• a scannable resume which formatted so that it can be scanned by an employer using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
• a home-page resume that you can create using HTML and multimedia formats.

The main advantage to having an electronic or scannable resume is to get keywords about you and your skills where employers are looking (whether it’s on the Internet or in their own database of resumes.) Keywords are what the computer looks for when trying to match you to what an employer is looking for.

Tips for Creating Electronic Resumes

• Focus on nouns, not verbs or adjectives– the computer searches resumes for “keywords”. (Ex: use words like “organizer “ or “leader”, not “well organized” or “has leadership skills.) An electronic resume contains the same type of information it is just worded differently.
• Use jargon and acronyms specific to your industry.
• Put a KEYWORD SUMMARY right after the contact information. Include 15 or more of your most important keywords, separated by a period.
• Use popular, non-decorative type faces. Use easily scannable type faces like: Helvetica, Futura, Times, Palatino or Courier.
• Use 10 to 14 point font size.
• Use all capital letters for commonly recognized section heading and leave white spaces to clearly show that one topic has ended and another has begun.
• Use light colored paper (preferably white). Don’t use colored paper.
• Avoid using italic text, script or underline.
• Avoid graphics and shading.
• Avoid horizontal and vertical lines – they confuse the computer.
• Place your name at the top of all of your pages on its own line. Your name should be the first readable time on each page.
• Never use bullets. Use the “*” or “-“ instead.
• Avoid staples and folding.
• If you are interested in more than one type of job, you may want to post more than one resume focusing your keywords for each positions required skills and qualifications.
• If you are sending your electronic resume via E-mail, cut and paste it into the body of the message. It saves the reader from downloading and opening it.

Some things to keep in mind before you post your resume...

• Do you want your resume public?
• How confidential is the database you are going into?
• How long before your resume is purged?

Cover letters and resumes are, of course, extremely important to the job search process, as they are the tools that get you a face-to-face interview with a potential employer.

But, it’s the actual interview that ultimately earns you a job offer! Remember that you are the one responsible for getting a job – don’t rely on others.

To assist you in conducting the best interview possible, the interview has been outlined in six stages and provided tips for each stage.

Preparation

• Research the company prior to the interview - The more you know about the company and the job you are applying for, the better you will appear in the interview. An interviewer will be impressed by you interest and motivation, and you will be able to explain what you can do for the company. Find out about the company, its products, history, philosophy, recent news, and its customers.
• Do practice interviewing with someone to ease your nervousness and pinpoint nervous habits. Practice your answers aloud. (A list of most often asked questions is provided below.)
• Know where your are going – Get and follow directions, know how long it will take you to get there, where you will park, etc. Make a practice run.
• Don’t take anyone with you to the interview.
• Dress conservatively – First impressions are lasting.
• Get plenty of rest – Turn in early the night before an interview to assure that you will be well rested and alert. Be sure to set your alarm correctly. You may want to set a second alarm. In case the electricity goes out, be sure one of the alarm clocks is battery operated.
• Dress professionally - This is not a time to make a fashion statement. Wear professional looking clothes that are clean and pressed. Be sure your shoes are comfortable, clean and polished. Your hair and fingernails should be well-groomed, glasses clean and teeth brushed. Wear minimal jewelry. Body piercing for either gender is not recommended. Ear piercing is only suggested for women (no more than 2 earrings per ear.) If you wear perfume or cologne, use sparingly.
• Take extra copies of your resume and reference sheet.
• Take a pen and notepad to jot down any information you may need to remember (but don’t take notes during the interview.)

Arrival/Opening

• Don’t smoke or chew gum.
• Don’t sit until invited to do so. Do sit straight.
• Smile and offer a friendly greeting along with a firm handshake.
• Be punctual. Arrive at least 15 minutes early. However, don’t arrive to early. It makes the interviewer feel rushed.
• Be pleasant and courteous to everyone you meet and speak with. Everyone is checking you out and draws a first impression that you can be certain will be shared with the individuals who make the decision of hiring or not hiring you.
• Use your interviewer’s name – from time to time, use the interviewer’s name in your conversation. Never use the interviewer’s first name unless you have been specifically requested to do so.
• Be aware of your mannerisms and nervous habits. Don’t tap your pen, drum your fingers, tap or swing your feet or rock in the chair.
• Be enthusiastic and eager.
• Accept a cup of coffee or soft drink if offered. It shows you are sociable. Do not accept alcoholic beverages.

Answering Questions

• Speak clearly and slowly. Don’t be afraid to pause for a moment to collect your thoughts.
• Be honest and positive. Don’t try to cover up mistakes. Instead, focus on how you learned from them.
• Don’t reveal a lot of personal information.
• Use good grammar – if you are unsure of your grammar, practice before the interview.
• Use good dictions – say “yes” instead of “yeah”.
• Don’t fill pauses in conversation with “ahs” and “uhms”.
• Don’t punctuate sentences with verbal habits such as “you know”, “like”, and “okay”.
• Use active verbs when you explain your skills and experiences. Say “I organized”, “I supervised”, “I repaired” to emphasize your strength. (Refer to the Resume section of this website for a list of action verbs to use when describing your skills and experiences.)
• Don’t use words such as “ I think”, “I guess”, or “ I feel” to describe your skills and experiences. These indecisive words make you appear less than assertive.
• Avoid negative terms such as “pretty good” or “fairly well”. When you talk about your skills and experiences, use positive, strong words.
• Offer examples of accomplishments. Support your claim to skills with illustrations, descriptions, examples, and statistics.
• Speak clearly and slowly. Don’t be afraid to pause for a moment to collect your thoughts.
• Be honest and positive. Don’t try to cover up mistakes. Instead, focus on how you learned from them.

Asking Questions

• Phrase your questions confidently - sound sure of yourself by asking “What would be my duties?”, rather than, “What are the duties of this job?”
• Don’t ask questions about salary, benefits, vacation, etc.
• Don’t give an exact salary figure, if asked. Ask the interviewer what someone in this position, or similar position, currently makes or offer a salary range.
• A list of potential questions to ask is provided below.

Closing

• Re-express interest in the position and the company. Reaffirm your strengths and skills.
• Ask how and when you will be notified.
• Offer a firm handshake (remember to smile) to each interviewer and thank them for the opportunity to meet with them.
• Be sure to have the interviewers names/phone numbers. (Ask for business cards)

Follow-up

• Write a follow-up thank you letter. Send within 24 hours of the interview. If you are waiting for a decision, restate your interest in the position. Use this opportunity to reaffirm your qualifications or if you overlooked pertinent information in the interview, disclose it in this letter. If you have decided that the position is no longer of interest, let the interviewer know.
• Follow-up on time, with requests made by the interviewer. If you are requested to follow-up with items such as a transcript or recommendation, make sure you do so in the time frame indicated to you.
• Samples of thank you letters are available in the MTI Career Services Office.

Most Often Asked Interview Questions... (In no particular order)
We all know that the greatest anxiety about a job interview is “What will they ask me?”, or “What if I can’t answer a question or my answer is not well thought out?” Thinking about the questions that may be asked and how you might answer these questions will better prepare you for the interview. Remember: the best candidates don’t necessarily get the job: the best interviewee does.

By reviewing questions that are often asked in an interview, you will begin thinking about your skills, experiences, and qualifications and how you might answer questions to portray yourself as the best candidate.

Through an interview, the employer is trying to achieve:

• Who has the skills to do the best job?
• Who will be the best representative to others outside their company?
• Who will be able to get along well with the other employees within the company?
• Who is likely to be the most productive?

In order to accomplish this, interviewers want to know:

• 
  
Why should I hire you?
• What kind of person are you?
• What kind of employee will you be? They will attempt to determine your – willingness to take responsibility as well as directions, productive potential, loyalty, creativity and enthusiasm.
• Do you have a sincere interest in their type of work and/or industry?
• Will you be able to work/get along with your co-workers and supervisors?
• Will you treat their customers respectfully and politely?
• How long will you stay before you start looking for another job?

Interviewers will most likely not ask you these specific questions, however, they will ask questions they feel will reveal the answers. Interviewers will be looking for characteristics such as: competence, motivation, team player, good decision making skills, fast learner, problem solver, interpersonal communication skills, interest in the job, and personality -- will you fit in?

By anticipating interview questions and practicing answers (without memorizing), you will be more prepared and relaxed during the interview. Listed below is a sample of the kinds of questions you may be asked during an interview.

• Tell me about yourself.
• How did you find out about this job?
• What skills would you most like to use in a job?
• Why should I hire you?
• What are your greatest strengths?
• What are your greatest weaknesses?
• What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
• How do you plan to achieve your goals?
• What motivates you to put forth your best effort?
• What qualifications do you have that make you think that you will be successful?
• Why did you choose the career for which you are preparing?
• How would you describe yourself?
• How do you think a friend or instructor who knows you will, describe you?
• Who has influenced you most in your lifetime?
• Howell did you do academically in school?
• In what types of volunteer community activities have you participated?
• How do you spend your spare time?
• Have you ever supervised people?
• Have you ever handled money for an employer?
• Do you mind if I contact your employer (or last employer)?
• Of your past jobs, which did you enjoy most? Why?
• Why do you want to work for our company?
• Do you have any physical limitations that would interfere with you performing the duties of the position you are applying for?
• Are you willing to travel?
• How do you feel about relocating if you are offered this position?
• If this job required that you complete further training or education, are you willing to do so?
• Are you willing to work overtime?
• What have you done that shows initiative and willingness to work?
• What has been the most frustrating thing about any of your former jobs?
• What do you like least about your present or most recent job?
• What do you like best about your present or most recent job?
• What are your three greatest personal accomplishments?
• What are your three greatest career accomplishments?
• What interests you most about this position?
• What interests you least about this position?
• What do you like most about your present or most recent boss?
• What do you like least about your present or most recent boss?
• What are two things you’d like to improve about yourself?
• How do you respond to constructive criticism?
• What makes this job more attractive to you than your current (last) position?
• Which types of decisions are most difficult for you to make?
• What was the last book you read?
• How do your qualifications relate specifically to this job?
• What equipment do you know how to operate?
• Do you belong to any professional organizations?
• What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
• How do you plan to achieve your career goals?
• How do you determine or evaluate success?
• What qualities should successful manager or supervisor possess?
• How has your education prepared you for a career?
• If you were hiring a person for this position, what qualities would you look for?
• Do you think that your grades are a good indication of your academic achievement?
• What have you learned from participation in extracurricular activities?
• Did you work while attending college?
• What two or three things are most important to you in your job?
• What criteria are you using to evaluate the company for which you hope to work?
• What major problem have you encountered and how did you deal with it?
• Give an example of a mistake you have made and what you learned from the experience.
• A job scenario may be presented and you may be asked how you would handle it? (Interviewer is analyzing your thought process and evaluating how you prioritize, solve handle pressure and assessing your organizational skills)
• Do you prefer work independently or with others?
• Why didn’t you do better than a ____ GPA?
• What is your knowledge level of computer usage?
• Did you attend any professional conferences or seminars while in school? If yes, which one and what did you gain from your attendance?
• What did you normally do on your summer breaks?
• Do you think your grades reflect how well you will do on the job?
• How do you deal with stressful situations?
• If hired, how long do you expect to stay with our company?
• What are your career goals?
• What do you know about our company?
• How soon could you begin work?

Illegal questions...

Whether an interviewer knows it or not, an illegal question may be posed to you. Most generally, any questions related to your martial status, race, gender, religion, age, criminal record, disabilities, social or political organizations memberships or where you live, are illegal!

If you are asked an illegal question, the following are your options:

• Answer the question – knowing you may be discriminated against due to your answer.
• Refuse to answer the question – knowing the interview will probably be over.
• Refer the question back to the interviewer – “How does this relate to my ability to do the job?”
• Attempt to defuse the situation by making a joke and changing the subject.

Questions to Ask Employers... (In no particular order)

An interview is a two-way communication. You must ask questions to learn what you need to make an educated decision about whether you are comfortable with the company and the position. It also portrays a sincere interest in your career and your future. If you don’t ask questions, an interviewer will feel that you have little interest in your career and the position.

Before your interview, prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the position and the company. Avoid questions regarding salary and benefits. Jot them down in your notebook and refer to them at this stage of your interview.

• Is this a newly created position, or would I be replacing someone?
• Who would I be trained or introduced to the job?
• How long should it take me to get my feet on the ground and become productive?
• How many people work in your department? In the company?
• Who are the people I’d be working with? Is it possible to meet them?
• Can someone in this job be promoted? If so, to what position?
• How will I be evaluated in my job?
• Has the company had a layoff in the last three years? If so, how long was the layoff and was everyone called back?
• Is this company owned by another company?
• What significant changes has the company experienced in the past year?
• Could I be given a brief tour?
• How many people held this job in the past five years?
• What qualifications are you looking for in the person you need?
• Who will be my immediate supervisor? (You should request an opportunity to meet this person if the interview is occurring at the company site.)
• What will my duties be? (If not already discussed.)
• How much travel is required?
• Do you have a training program for this position? If so, what training is provided?
• I am interested in this position. When will I hear from you regarding your decision?

Questions to Ask Current Employees... If the opportunity is provided to visit with current employees, be prepared to ask them questions.

• How long have you worked for this company?
• Why do you continue to work for this company?
• What do you like most about working for this company?
• What do you like least about working for this company?
• What is the culture (the general atmosphere) of this company?

Unfortunately, not all interviews will result in a job offer. For those interviews that fall short, express your appreciation for their consideration and to keep you mind if other opportunities arise. Always, remain positive and professional, as you don’t want to permanently close any doors. Remain optimistic and don’t take the “rejection” personally. Feel free to ask the interviewer where you fell short and work to make suggested or implied improvements. Use the experience as a learning tool.

Job Fairs are wonderful places for students and employers to make initial contact, if you invest the time to prepare properly. Job fairs are an easy, convenient way to learn about skills needed to gain entry-level positions in a variety of career fields. It’s also a chance to learn what qualities employers want in new hires. A job fair also provides a more casual, less intimidating environment to ask questions than an actual job interview. It’s also a great opportunity to polish your interpersonal communication skills with employers. Keep your expectations realistic. Remember that job offers are not typically made at a job fair. Some employers may not even have immediate openings but rather are gathering a pool of resumes from qualified candidates to have readily available when the need arises. The major advantage of attending a job fair is to build contacts and gain exposure to employers.

Students attend Job Fairs to:

• establish job contacts
• explore career possibilities
• gather information on an employer
• practice their interviewing skills

Employers attend Job Fairs to:

• increase awareness of their business or organization
• provide career information
• make contacts
• fill job openings

To make a job fair not only a pleasant experience, but also a successful one, follow this important advice:

A resume is essential...

• Prepare an excellent resume that is error free!
• Take several resumes and keep in an easily accessible folder or portfolio.
• Be sure to take more than you think you will need as you may discover other companies you want to explore.
• For more information on resume writing, refer to the resume link on this website or contact Amanda Neppl in Career Services for assistance and to check out other great resources.

Brush up on your interview skills...

• Although you may not be “officially” interviewed at a job fair, you will be asked similar questions and evaluated on your professionalism.
• Some companies will schedule interviews following the job fair so free up your time after the Job Fair concludes incase you are asked to interview.
• Be prepared to explain your educational background, the skills you have acquired, while in school and through other experiences, that relate to the positions the employers have available within their respective companies.
• Review a list of frequently asked interview questions and mentally prepare responses.
• Prepare a list of questions you may want to ask. Avoid the topic of salary and benefits unless the employer begins the conversation.
• For more information on interviewing skills, refer to the Interviewing link on this website or contact Amanda Neppl in Career Services for assistance and to check out other great resources.

Dress professionally...
This is not a time to make a fashion statement. There will be a variety of industry represented at a job fair with some having higher expectations about dress than other. It is better to exceed a potential employer’s expectations regarding your appearance, than not to meet them. You will also be neck-to-neck with your competition; so don’t give yourself any reason to wonder if you look as professional as the next person.

• Wear professional looking clothes that are clean and pressed.
• Be sure your shoes are comfortable, clean and polished.
• Your hair should be well-groomed, glasses clean and teeth brushed.
• Wear minimal jewelry. Body piercing for either gender is not recommended. Ear piercing is only suggested for women (no more than 2 earrings per ear.)
• Wear minimal or no perfume or cologne.

Act professionally...

• Visit with employers alone! You are certainly encouraged to travel to job fairs together to help defray travel expenses. However, once you are at the job fair, go it alone! Do not visit employer’s booths with your friends as you would a craft fair or home show. This is your time to sell yourself! Instead, agree to meet at a central location, at a specific time, to give each other encouragement and share experiences.
• Don’t be shy! Be assertive and show initiative.
• Extend your hand to each individual you meet as you introduce yourself. Practice your handshake! Your shake should not feel like a limp rag or be bone crushing.
• Maintain good eye contact.
• Be open and honest.
• Demonstrate confidence and answer questions quickly but thoroughly.
• Avoid distracting mannerisms.
• Show real enthusiasm and interest.
• Speak clearly and concisely.
• If someone is visiting with an employer you are ready to approach, leave and return.
• Remember, employers are observing at all times so remain professional as your mill through the job fair area.
• If you discover you have chosen the wrong company, thank them and move on.
• Avoid questions about salary and benefits. Feel free to discuss if an employer starts the discussion.

Be prepared...

• Create a one-minute “commercial” about yourself. It should explain who you are, what you’ve accomplished, the skills you possess and the type of positions you are looking for. Once you know what to say, you’ll feel more comfortable approaching recruiters.
• The better prepared you are – the more confident and self-assured you will be!
• Practice, Practice, Practice!!!

Follow up...

• By attending the job fair, you have started to build a network of potential employers and have created an impression with these employers. Don’t stop there. Be sure to follow-up promptly after the job fair.
• Ask for a business card from each recruiter you visit with. Following your visit, write a brief note on the back of each card to assist you in recalling your conversation. Using the information on the business card along with your notes, write a follow-up thank-you note to each recruiter you spoke with. It is most impressive if the thank-you note is sent within 24 hours of the job fair. If that isn’t possible, do it as promptly as possible.
• Organize your notes and materials and mark your calendar for any future follow-up contacts.

Other Tips...

• Prior to the job fair, research the registered companies to learn about their size, product or client profiles, training programs, organizational structure, typical career paths for employees, etc.
• Upon arriving at the job fair, walk around the exhibit room to get a feel for the setup and make your plan of action.
• Do not visit the companies you are most interested in, first. Take some time to approach other companies of less interest to “practice” on them so you have polished your approach and are less anxious. At the same time, however, do not wait until the end, when you are exhausted, to visit with your companies of choice. Visit 3 or 4 companies you are less concerned with impressing and then visit those you are most interested in impressing.
• Take time in between employers to jot down notes about your conversation with the employer and points you want to include in your follow-up letters.
• Pick up business card and company literature from those employers you meet. Ask about the best way to proceed in continuing your contact with them.
• Don’t just visit with employers that have positions available that are of interest to you. Contact all the companies you would like to work for. Your contact at the job fair may pay off in the future.
• Wear comfortable shoes. You will be doing a lot of walking and standing and when your feet hurt, it may show on your face.
• Be prepared to deal with distractions during the job fair. There will be lots of people and activity surrounding you. Stay focused. The more prepared you are, the easier staying focused will be.
• You may need to wait in line to approach an employer. Remember to be patient and maintain a professional attitude and demeanor. Even if the recruiter is visiting with someone else, he or she may still be noticing you.
• If your schedule allows, you may find it advantageous to arrive approximately 30 minutes after the job fair begins. This way you will avoid the rush that usually occurs at the beginning of an event such as a job fair.

Attend a workshop offered by the MTI Career Services Office entitled, “Making a Job Fair Work for You”. The workshop includes discussion on what a job fair looks like, how it is organized, tips from employers and past job candidates, what to expect, job fair protocol, how to prepare yourself and materials and the importance of follow-up. This workshop is sure to relieve pre-fair anxiety and prepare you for a successful experience at any job fair. Check with the Career Services Office or the website link to find out when the next workshop will be offered or stop in and visit one-on-one with Amanda today.

Hourly wage vs. Salaried positions
The federal law requires employers to pay employees overtime for any hours worked over 40 hours per week. However, hourly waged employees do not get paid when there isn't any work. Salaried employees are paid an annual salary. They are not paid by the hour; therefore, they do not receive overtime when more than 40 hours are worked per week.

How take-home pay is computed
Take-home pay is another name for net pay. Your take-home pay is your pay after taxes and other contributions are deducted from your gross pay. The following taxes and benefits may be deducted from your gross pay.

Federal Withholding Taxes
The W-4 form is used to figure federal withholding taxes. It asks how many dependents or allowances you have. Dependents are people you support financially such as your spouse, children and elderly parents. Don't forget yourself. You count as one. The more dependents you claim, the less money that is deducted from your check for federal taxes.

Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA)
FICA is Social Security Retirement Tax. That money pays a pension to people who reach retirement age. If a person dies with children younger than 21, social security also pays benefits for the children. Social security also pays benefits if a person is disabled for more than 12 months. FICA also includes Medicare tax which helps pay for the medical care of senior citizens.

Flexible Spending Accounts (Cafeteria Plans)
Flexible Spending Accounts also called Cafeteria Plans is a fringe benefit plan that allows you to take pre-tax dollars from your paycheck to pay for qualified medical and dependent care expenses. Your contributions are deducted uniformly from each paycheck on a pre-tax basis. After you incur the expense (for medical or dependent care), you are reimbursed from your account. This system reduces the actual cost of the service by the amount of your tax savings. The drawback to this type of account is that if you don't use the money put aside during the calendar year, you loose it. So, be sure to select the amount carefully.

401 K Plans
This is a pension (retirement) benefit that allows an employee to put aside a portion of income each year. The employer may provide matching funds.

Health Insurance
Health insurance assists the employee with paying medical expenses. Some companies pay 100% of the employee's premium and other split the cost of the premium with the employee. Coinsurance is a percentage of the charges that the health plan pays, typically 60-90%. Co-pay is the percentage of the charges for which employees are responsible when receiving covered services. Usually a deductible is applied to your health insurance plan. This amount of out-of-pocket that an employee pays before the health care plan will begin paying. Out-of-Pocket Maximum (OPM) is the maximum amount an employee must pay for eligible expenses each year before the health plan begins paying 100% of subsequent eligible expenses in that year.

Life Insurance
Some companies provide a life insurance policy for employees in which you designate a person (beneficiary) to receive a payment from the insurance company should you die.

Paid Time Off An employer may offer paid time off for the following situations:

• Funeral Leave - A leave given when a member of the immediate family dies.
• Holidays - The employer may designate paid holidays such as New Year's Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day.
• Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Leave - Time off for a child's birth or adoption. The law requires that maternity leave is treated as sick leave.
• Military Leave - Members of the National Guard or Reserve attend active duty training at least two weeks each year. Some employers voluntarily pay for the time an employee is on military leave or pay the difference in salary.
• Paid Sick Leave - Employers usually establish a limited number of paid days you may use for sick days each year. If you exceed the limit, you do not receive pay for days you do not work due to illness. Some employers allow an employee to accumulate sick time from year to year.
• Vacation Leave - Paid time off. The length of vacation time usually increases the longer a person works at a company.
• Personal Leave - Some companies allow a small amount of paid days of to be used for personal business that can only be accomplished during the regular work day.

Other Possible Benefits

• Profit Sharing - Companies share the profits with their employees.
• Tuition Reimbursement - Companies may pay tuition for employees working toward a degree or taking other work-related courses.

Questions to Ask a Prospective Employer Here are questions about salary and benefits to ask at an interview if you are a serious candidate for a job.

1. What is my starting salary?
2. How are salary increases determined?
3. What health insurance plan will I get?
4. Who pays for my health insurance? What is my premium?
5. Does your company offer dental insurance? Vision Insurance? Life Insurance? How is it paid for?
6. Is there any reimbursement for tuition?
7. How will I be reimbursed for work-related travel expenses?
8. When will I be eligible for profit-sharing?
9. Does the company pay relocation expenses?
10. What hours will I work?
11. How many vacation days and holidays will I get a year?
12. Is there overtime pay or compensatory time off?
13. What is the total value of my compensation package?
14. What is the schedule of paydays?

Definition of Important Insurance Terms

Coinsurance. A percentage of the charges that the health plan pays. Typically 70, 80 or 90 percent.

Co-pay. A percentage of the charges for which you are responsible when receiving covered services.

Covered Service. A provider's service or supply for which the plan will pay. Not all services prescribed or performed by a provider are necessarily a covered service.

Deductible. The amount you must pay out of your pocket each benefit period before your health care plan will begin paying. Some services do not require payment of a deductible before coverage begins.

Out-of-Pocket Maximum (OPM). The maximum amount you must pay for eligible expenses each year before the health plan begins paying 100 percent of subsequent eligible expenses in that year. For all health plans, the OPM for single coverage is $750, for family coverage it is $1,500 (except the Ohio Med non-network OPM is $1,500 for single, and $2,500 for family).

• Know in advance the probable salary range for similar jobs in similar organizations.
• Know what salary you want prior to the interview. Use the research you've collected on similar positions to help determine a reasonable salary amount you would accept.
• Avoid stating a salary figure before the employer has stated an amount. If they ask you for a figure, tell them that you need to know more about the position before you discuss compensation. Or, at that time, ask them what the salary range is for the position. If you already know the range, confirm it with them.
• If you find yourself boxed in and need to make a response prior to their stating an amount, always state your salary requirements in a range - - begin with the employer's probable range and end above what you expect to settle for. Now there is room to negotiate.
• Be willing to negotiate; focus on your top figure, but be willing to accept a midpoint.
• Try to avoid talking about money until after they decide that they want you.
• Never say no to a job offer before it is made or within 24 hours afterward. At a minimal, take a day or two to weigh the pros and cons.