Picking Between Two Offers

There are many difficult steps when looking for a job or internship: creating your résumé, reaching out to employers, making it through the interview process. But now that you’ve done all that work, there still might be one last obstacle to jump. If you are lucky enough to get more than one offer, you are going to need to make a decision. The problem arises, however, when the time tables of the different employers for accepting the position don’t match up. Cynthia Favre of the Center for Servant Leadership has several tips if you find yourself stuck in this situation.

First, if the company you really want to work with is the one that you’re waiting on, let them know you are very interested and ask them what their timeline is for making the decisions. From there, if you have gotten another offer from an organization that is further down on your list, don’t immediately accept it. Instead, Cynthia suggests writing something along the lines of, “I need to let you know I am in conversation with other employers.  In fairness to them and myself, so that I can make a good decision, I would like time to think about this offer.  When do you need a decision from me?” Chances are they will give you a few days to a week to decide. After that, contact the first choice again. Get a sense of where you are as a candidate and then let them know that you have another offer. If you’re lucky, they might be able to speed up the process and give you an interview and feedback before you need to give an answer to the other company.

In the end, it still might come down to making a decision without knowing from the first company. However, if you accept somewhere, and later find you were accepted by your first choice, Cynthia encourages you to stick with your initial decision. As soon as companies have lined up interns and employees, they begin to tell other candidates they haven’t been hired. If you decide to leave, that means the company is without a new employee and candidates.

If you have any questions, make sure to stop by the CSL for help. 

H-1B Visa

By E.W.

Finding a job is a difficult process for everybody. For international students wishing to work in the United States, however, there is the added pressure of finding an employer who will sponsor his or her international employees for H-1B visa to will enable them to stay longer in the country. Myvisajobs.com is aiming to make finding a willing employer easier for those wishing to stay.

The website allows users to make a free account and begin searching through different employers and their job postings. The site also contains information explaining what an H-1B visa is, who qualifies, and how to apply. These things can get confusing, and you want to make sure you do it right, so if you have any questions or concerns, stop by the CSL offices for assistance.

LinkedIn Hints

By E.W.

LinkedIn has become the one of the hottest trends in the last few years when it comes to finding a job. However, while the concept and importance of LinkedIn are easy enough to understand, selling yourself on the website to potential employers is another matter entirely. LinkedIn has 10 tips for students who want to make the most of their profile.

1.   Make your profile headline stand out. It should be short, sweet, and to the point.
2. Your profile picture should be professional and appropriate. When uploading a picture, just ask yourself, “Is this a picture I would want my boss to see?”
3. Include all of your education. This includes majors, minors, summer courses, study abroad, etc. And if your GPA is something worth bragging about, LinkedIn is the place to show it off.
4. Your summary should show the very best of you. Just like you use the first few sentence of your cover letter to tell a potential employer how great you are, you should likewise take advantage of the summary section to boast about your qualifications.
5. When filling out the “Skills and Expertise” section, use keywords. If you have a current draft of your résumé, this part should be easy because your résumé should already be full of strong verbs and adjectives describing your abilities. (If you think your résumé seems a little dull, make a stop by the CSL offices to pump it up. Then use those same words and ideas on your LinkedIn page.)
6. Update your status on a regular basis. Mention current projects, articles or news pertaining to your interests, and job-related events you are attending.
7. Show how well connected you are by joining different groups that are relevant to your interests. Joining the Gustavus Adolphus College Alumni Group is a great start.
8. Get recommendations from those with which you have worked, especially those who have managed you.
9. Create a unique URL for your LinkedIn profile. To do this, set your LinkedIn profile to “public” and create a URL just for you.
10. Show off your work by adding examples of it to your profile. 

MGTA

By E.W.  

As the world continues to become more connected, the need for people and organizations to understand and benefit from the increased interconnectivity grows. Yet entering a system that is so large and complicated is daunting. Fortunately, St. Paul based Midwest Global Trade Association (MGTA) has spent the last 90 years helping their members not only find a way into the complex system, but also finding the best way to utilize it.

Organizations, both large and small, as well as individuals with a range of business experience make up this non-profit organization. In fact, the entire organization is run on the participation and commitment of the members. Through numerous events including meetings speakers, and seminars, members of MGTA can connect with other business people and discuss new strategies, ideas, or issues. 

If you are interested in learning more about MGTA and their services, go to their website at http://www.mgta.org.

VERUM Staffing

VERUM Staffing, LLC is a woman-owned, Twin Cities-based staffing agency specializing in contract, contract to hire and direct placement of scientific professionals. We're a collaborative and personal boutique committed to meeting the needs of our clients, candidates, and employees equally, without exploiting one group to benefit the others. We use our networks, industry experience, and ethical commitments to create a true partnership of competence in which all parties prosper.

 Verum provides scientific staffing in the following areas:

•Applied Health Services

•Science & Laboratory

•Pharmaceutical R&D and Manufacturing

•Biopharmaceutical

•Biotechnology

•Environmental

•Nutraceutical Manufacturing

•Medical Device R&D and Manufacturing

•Food and Beverage R&D and Manufacturing

•Clinical Research

•Chemical Manufacturing

•Plastics

•Personal Care Product R&D and Manufacturing

•Consumer Product R&D and Manufacturing

•Government

•Colleges and Universities

VERUM Staffing – Truth in Recruiting

2233 Hamline Avenue North, Suite 530

St. Paul, MN 55113

Direct:  651-321-5739

Follow us at https://twitter.com/VerumStaffing

Like us at https://www.facebook.com/VerumStaffing

MNPC JAIF 2014 - Overview

Last week to register! Deadline is Friday, Jan. 31

By E. W. 

With the Minnesota Private Colleges Job and Internship Fair under a month away, the time to start preparing is now. If you are planning to go, make sure to register within the CSL by next Friday. Once you’re registered, the real work begins.

First, consider what sort of internships you’re looking for. Once you have an idea of the industry you want to enter, head to the Minnesota Private Colleges Job and Internship Fair webpage. From there, you can go to the student menu to access a list of employers that will be at the fair. There are numerous search options that allow you to look for positions based on the industry, location, as well as qualifications needed. Narrowing down what companies you want to talk to before you actually get to the fair will help you to make the most of every minute.

Once you’ve narrowed your list down, begin to research those companies. You should be able to answer some very basic questions such as: Why do you want to work there? What to do they do? How long have they doing it? What are the qualifications needed? Having an understanding of a company will go a long way in making a good first impression.

Another way to make a good first impression is to have a clear and professional résumé ready. If you need help getting started, check out other blogs or our Pinterest board about preparing a résumé, go to the résumé and cover letter page on the career development page on the Gustavus website, or stop into the CSL for help.

Lastly, make sure you have a suit that’s ready to wear. Even before you can say a single word to a potential employer, they will be looking, and more than likely judging, you based on your appearance. Don’t give them a reason to question your choice of clothes or hairstyle.  Check out our Pinterest Board on Work Attire for ideas - but remember to Suit Up! 

If you have more questions, make sure to check out the Gustavus Career Development and Minnesota Private College Job and Internship Fair webpages. If your questions aren’t answered there, head to the CSL for more help. Also, check the Gustavus YouTube videos or type Minnesota Private College Job Fair in a YouTube search for find more relevant information.

Life Science Alley

By E.W. 

If you’re headed into a biomedical career or considering it as a potential career path, you might want to familiarize yourself with LifeScience Alley. This company, based right here in Minnesota, is “the largest state-based life sciences trade association.” For nearly 30 years, LifeScience Alley has been working with those in the medical field to improve the business-medical relationship in order to develop new industries and improve existing ones. They also work in St. Paul and Washington DC to improve public policy for their members.

LifeScience Alley currently employs over 250,000 Minnesotans and has connections throughout the Midwest and Canada. With about 700 member organizations from industries such as pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical, medical technology, agricultural and industrial biotechnology, LifeScience Alley has an established reputation of working for its members and obtaining results.

If you would like to learn more about LifeScience Alley, simply take a look at their website at https://www.lifesciencealley.org/default.aspx.

Career Advice Letter

By E. W.

One of the best places to get information on a career or career advice in a certain field is from people who are actually doing that job. However, unless you know somebody in that field, or know somebody who knows somebody, obtaining first-hand information can be difficult. A simple way to approach the problem is to reach out to somebody with an email or letter asking for information or advice. Cynthia Favre, Associate Director in the Center for Servant Leadership, gives four tips to keep in mind when drafting the letter.

1.     While this isn’t a cover letter, don’t be afraid to tell a little about yourself. Let the people you’re contacting know why you are interested in that particular career path. Cynthia also notes that you should send your résumé along with the letter so that the recipient will have a quick background into what experience you have. Make sure to write that the résumé is enclosed.

2.     Look up the business or company on the internet. Don’t just stop by looking at the company’s own website. Check them out on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. Are they in any blogs or articles? Doing your research can go a long way in making a good impression. Cynthia suggests commenting on their posts or re-tweeting/reposting what they say. Then take it a step further and ask questions. The goal here is to show your interest in the company. After all, if you’re not interested in the company, why should they be interested in you?

3.     Before you do start asking a lot of questions, though, make sure they’re good ones. Don’t ask anything you would have known had you looked at their website. It will be the first sign you didn’t do your homework. And make sure your questions are specific. Instead of “How did you get started?” consider, “How did you get past the barriers of xyz to start this company?”

4.     Don’t ask them to call you. Instead, ask if you may schedule a time for a short conversation or ask for a staff person to contact to schedule a short appointment. Remember, the people you’re contacting will likely be working when you want to speak with them so it is important to show them that you understand how busy they and how valuable their time is.

Lastly, Cynthia states that while everybody is usually very busy, they generally do want to help people, especially if you are courteous and seem generally interested.  If you have any questions about these tips, or need more help drafting a letter of your own, go ahead and make an appointment at the CSL for help.

Actuary

By E.W.

For those majoring in math, you were never the student in high school algebra asking, “When will I ever use this?” You liked what you were doing and were maybe even thinking about how you might use your skills in math when you graduated from college. But while you know you like math, and understand its usefulness, you might not be sure what you want to do with it. Here’s an idea: actuary.

While I myself have little interest in numbers and equations, a quick look at www.bean actuary.org almost makes me wish I did. The well-laid out sight gives fantastic information for anything you might want to know about being an actuary. Whether you want to know what an actuary does, how much they make, where they work, or what exams are necessary, this website gives you all the information you might need.

One interesting note for those now considering a career in actuarial science: While Gustavus Adolphus College does not offer an actuarial science major like some larger universities, enrolling in numerous business, math, and computer science classes (all of which are available at Gustavus) are just as beneficial. Furthermore, because being a well-rounded individual is crucial to being a successful actuary, beanactuary.org also writes that it is important to study other subjects such as those in the humanities. The liberal arts requirements at Gustavus might in fact give you a leg up on the competition. 

Senior Messages #11

Seniors:

1. Huron Consulting info lunch TODAY, Oct. 16 at 12:30 in Linner Lounge.  Come learn about business consulting in health care. 
2. Tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 17, résumés are due on GustieJobs for News America Marketing.  So far we have only 3 applicants.  They will be on campus for interviews on Oct. 24.
• Job at News America Marketing: In addition to our real-world sales and marketing training, Account Coordinators start at a base salary of $45k with a target bonus of $5k, and are eligible for promotion after just 15 months to Account Associate.  As an Account Associate, your compensation package increases to $50k plus a potential bonus of $8k.  In approximately two years from your start date, you are eligible for promotion to Account Director.  At that time, your salary jumps to $65k plus a $27k target bonus.  And after just two more years you are eligible for promotion to Senior Account Director.  At this promotion, your salary will jump to $90k plus a $35k target bonus.  Our Sales Development Program is arranged to give you maximum learning and earning potential.  Within 3 years of employment, earning 6 figures is totally within your reach.
3. Epic (software development for health care company that grew from 4,000 to 8,000 employees in 3 years) is planning to be on campus Monday, Oct. 28 for an info session in the Center for Servant Leadership at 5:30 (pizza available).  Apply for positions with them at careers.epic.com.  It takes about 15 minutes to apply.  They have technical positions, as well as client/customer interface positions. 
4. Wednesday, Oct. 23 is the Gustavus Networking Event.  I think you can still register at: https://gustavus.edu/alumni/events/networking.php
• You can have business cards made for this event by Gustavus Print Services. BUT, you need to do this fast! They need at least 3 business days to make business cards.  Go to Gustavus Print Services for more information. 
5. Wednesday, Oct. 23 is also the deadline to submit résumés on GustieJobs for Securian.  They are on-campus Wednesday, Oct. 30 for interviews. 
6. Friday, Oct. 25 is the deadline to submit résumés for Huron Consulting on GustieJobs
7. Monday, Oct. 28 is the MN Government and Non-profit Job and Internship Fair.  You need to register in the Center for Servant Leadership to attend.  The fair is at the U of M.  See details on GustieJobs.  This event includes federal, state, and local government agencies and non-profit organizations.  
8. Thursday, Oct. 31, 3M has applications due for a Regulatory Analyst job - looks like a great opportunity! 
9. If you need/want help using GustieJobs, starting/updating your résumé and/or LinkedIn profile, see Peer Career Advisors, Monday-Wednesday nights, 5-8pm in the Center for Servant Leadership, no appointment needed! 
10. Please do not email me to make an appointment with me.  Please call 507-933-7272 or stop in the Center for Servant Leadership to make an appointment.  Please note that my schedule books out about 2 weeks.  (Sorry!  There is only one of me and many of you!)
11. DO like Career Development on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay current on happenings! 
12. DO take advantage of the employers coming to campus!

Cynthia

Senior Messages #10

Seniors:

1. Target and Cigna say of their campus interviews at Gustavus:  a.       As a group very good candidates;     b.      Candidates here are involved in lots of campus activities, when answering behavior based questions use examples from those rather than personal situations (issues will family, friends, roommates);   c.       Candidates here did a good job of using examples from more than one experience.
2. Target says: if you applied online in September and did not get an interview or if you interviewed on campus and did not get moved to the second interview – TRY AGAIN in February at MN Private Colleges Job and Internship Fair.  Getting a “no” now does not mean you will get a “no” in Feb.   Their hiring needs change.
3. Huron Consulting does business consulting in health care.  They will be on campus next Wed., Oct. 16 at 12:30 in Linner Lounge with a free lunch and info session. Come learn about this great opportunity – ONLY if you are interested in business and travel and gaining amazing skills. (Note: Last year I had 0 seniors attend this!) They are based in Chicago but the consulting is nationwide.  You do not have to apply – but you might want to when you learn about this!
4. News America Marketing has résumés are due on GustieJobs next week.  Take a look at this job!  If you make it to the second round they fly you to New York for interviews – how cool is that?  So far we have one applicant! 
5. To keep up on all Career Development news and info – follow us on Facebook and Twitter.  If you forget what I send in these messages – they are on the Career Development blog.
6. October is a busy month for campus recruiting……thanks for being great candidates!

Cynthia

Negotiating Salaries

Negotiating for a higher salary can be a stressful ordeal. You obviously want to be paid fairly for your work, but you do not want to risk upsetting your employer by throwing out numbers that might be too large. According to a study done by researchers at the Columbia Business School, giving precise numbers is more likely to result in a higher final statement.

For example, instead of asking for $70,000, consider $69,450. Even if your initial demand is less, you are still likely to come out with more than you would with a round number. When employees give out round numbers, employers usually assume that they are simply throwing out a rough estimate. Giving a precise number shows your employer that you are aware of your worth as an employee as well as the desire and ability of the company to pay more to maintain you. 

Seniors - Cynthia's Messages #6

Seniors:

Next Tuesday, September 24 is Careers Possible from 10:30 – 2:30 in the Heritage Room.  Find the list of 28 organizations attending athttp://www.gustavuscareercenterblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/careers-possible-expected-organizations.html.  

This is a great event to get started with answering “what to do after graduation?”  Business casual or professional dress expected, update résumés preferred.

Also – at 10:45 during Careers Possible, alum Anders Eckman, recruiter at Ameriprise Financial, will do a 30 minute session on using www.linkedin.comin your job search.  If you don’t have a www.linkedin.com account – you need one!  If you have one, you need to use it to find a job and manage your career!  Plan to see this session at 10:45.  Employers say if you do not have a Linkedin account – you are not a serious candidate.

Throughout the rest of Careers Possible recruiters will be doing 10 Minute Tip sessions.  As I confirm the schedule for that I will let you know the presentations.

In Discovering What You Really Want to Do and Doing It by Susan W. Miller, it says: “….avoid the “Job Charming” fantasy.  Your perfect job will not come riding into your life on a white horse so you can live happily ever after.  The process is more like going out into the wilderness and roping in a wild horse.”

If you want to continue to get these messages after September, you will need to go to GustieJobs https://gustavus.experience.com/experience/login and update or create your profile.

We are also on Facebook (GustavusCareerCenter) and Twitter (@gustavuscareer), pinterest.com/gustavuscareer and this messages and more is at thegustavuscareercenterblog.blogspot.com.

Cynthia

Target Positions

Are you interested in the Business Analyst position at Target?  If so....see below!  Cynthia

I’m passionate about getting as many Gusties into roles at Target as possible. If you have any students interested in being BAs (or even wondering how the role works), the newest pulse blog post https://pulse.target.com/2013/09/the-power-of-the-bu/

 has a lot about it.

As always, let me know if you ever have any students that are interested in being BAs!

Alaina

Alaina.Ramsburg@target.com

Seniors - Cynthia's Messages 5

Seniors:

Careers Possible is on Tuesday, Sept. 24 here on campus in the Heritage Room from 10:30 – 2:30. Find the list of employers attending at http://www.gustavuscareercenterblog.blogspot.com/. This is a great event to get started with your job search! Bring updated résumés and wear business casual or professional dress.


At 10:45 at Careers Possible there will be a presentation by an alum at Ameriprise on how to used LinkedIn.com for job searching – a great opportunity! And, other reps at Careers Possible will be doing 10 Minute Tip sessions throughout the event.


Next week Peer Career Advisers will be in Center for Servant Leadership from 5 – 8 on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. No appointment is needed. They can assist with résumés, letters, using GustieJobs, using InterviewStream and more!


To continue to get these messages after September, you will need to go to GustieJobs https://gustavus.experience.com/experience/login and update or create your profile. Career Development is on Facebook (GustavusCareerCenter) and Twitter (@gustavuscareer), pinterest.com/gustavuscareer and this messages and more is at the gustavuscareercenterblog.blogspot.com.

Cynthia

Careers Possible - Expected Organizations

Careers Possible is on Tuesday, September 24 from 10:30 - 2:30 in the Banquet Rooms on-campus.  All students are encouraged to attend.  Business casual dress and résumés are recommended.  Please email career@gustavus.edu for more information.

EMPLOYERS
Abdo, Eick, & Meyers, LLP
   + Accounting Auditing Internship January 2014
   + 2014 Experience AEM (2 day summer program in May)

Boom Lab
   + Business Anaylst Consultant (Deadline 10/2)
   + Project Coordinator Consultant (Deadline 10/2)
   + Process Engineer Consultant (Deadline 10/2)
   + IT Business Analyst Consultant
   + Apply online on GustieJobs and sign up for on-campus Interviews

Cargill
   + Accounting Intern: Spring and Summer 2014 (Deadline 9/20)
   + Accounting Associate 2014 (Deadline 9/20)
   + Apply online on GustieJobs and sign up for on-campus Interviews

Cigna
   + Technology Early Career Development Program (TECDP)
   + Application Development

Clifton Larson Allen, LLP
   + Accounting Internship (Deadline 9/26)
   + Accounting Associate (Deadline 9/26)
   + Apply online on GustieJobs and sign up for on-campus Interviews

College Pro
   + Management Internship

Edward Jones
   + Financial Advisor Summer Internships
   + Financial Advisors
   + Branch Office Administrators

Eide Bailly
   + Tax and Audit Internships

Federated Insurance
   + Marketing Development Trainee/Marketing Representative

Minneapolis Financial Group
   + Financial Services Professional

Minnesota Elevator Inc.

Mutual of Omaha
   + Financial Services Internship
   + Financial Advisor
   + Financial Consultant

Northwestern Mutual - The Mankato Bohannon Group
   + Financial Representative Intern
   + Financial Representative

Securian Financial Group
   + Rotational Management Development Program (Deadline 10/23)
   + Business Application Programmer Analyst (Deadline 10/23)
   + Actuarial Science Internship (Deadline 10/23)
   + Information Technology Internship (Deadline 10/23)
   + Management Development Internship (Deadline 10/23)
   + Actuarial Analyst (Deadline 10/23)
   + Apply online on GustieJobs and sign up for on-campus Interviews

SPS Commerce
   + Analyst - Implementation
   + Analyst - Customer Operations
   + Sales Development Representatives

Target
   + Stores Executive Intern (Deadline 9/18)
   + Stores Executive Team Leader (Deadline 9/18)
   + Apply online on GustieJobs and sign up for on-campus Interviews

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
   + Financial Representative

ValMark Securities, Inc.
   + Underwriting Development Associate

Verizon Wireless
   + Customer Specialist
   + Retail Sales


YEAR OF SERVICE
Conservation Corps MN & IA
   + Field Crew Member
   + Leader Youth Outdoors Crew Member
   + Leader DNR Specialists
   + Project Get Outdoors Corps Member
   +  Solar Heat Outreach Corps Member

Lutheran Volunteer Corps
   + Information Session after Careers Possible - 5:00-6:30 in the CSL

Minnesota Reading Corps and Math Corps
   + Elementary Literacy Tutor
   + Preschool Literacy Tutor
   + Math Enrichment Tutor
   + Employment Navigator

Peace Corps
   + International Volunteer Positions
   + Information Session after Careers Possible - 4:30-5:30 in Linner Lounge


GRADUATE SCHOOLS
Argosy University, Twin Cities

Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Twin Cities

Augsburg College - Graduate Studies

Accounting Majors!

Accounting Candidates:

Note that deadlines to submit your résumé to accounting firms on GustieJobs for campus interviews are:

Wed. Sept. 11: Lurie Besikof Lapidus

Fri. Sept. 13: Olsen, Thielen

Fri. Sept. 20: Cargill

Thur. Sept. 26: CliftonLarsonAllen

Remember that to submit your résumé, it needs to be approved on GustieJobs.  That is NOT always a given!  I often decline résumés for format, spelling etc.  So….get your résumé posted on GustieJobs as soon as possible so that it can be approved and you can submit for campus interviews.  So far, only ONE résumé has been submitted for any of the interviews!

Also….accounting firms coming to Careers Possible on Sept. 24 are: Abdo Eick & Meyers, LLP, Cargill, CliftonLarsonAllen, Eide Bailly (Mankato).

Cynthia

Best Places to Work

By E. W., 5/24/13

If you are thinking about a career as a civil servant, there is a website that you might want to check out. Devoted to providing accurate and useful information, the Partnership for Public Service created the website Best Places to Work that offers rankings of “employee satisfaction and commitment across 362 federal agencies and subcomponents.” Spending some time looking over the data will hopefully provide some insight that might otherwise not be gained until several weeks or months into the actual job.

As a job-hunter, this site offers valuable information that you might want to consider. For example, if you are considering a job in the Bureau of the Census, you would find that the overall job satisfaction rating was 63.6 out of 100. From there, you would see that the lowest scores are due to a perceived lack of effective leadership. Although not all of the categories and sub-categories provide the same information, for many of the different jobs you can find data results based on the replies of women, men, workers over and under 40, veterans, various minority groups, and more.

This site also serves as a great indicator to employers. Through the data, they can determine the health of their organization and begin to make changes should they detect that the organization is in trouble. As an employee, this means that there is a check system in place to protect and hopefully improve the quality of your work environment.

If you are interested in the information that can be found on this website, simply copy and paste http://bestplacestowork.org in to your search bar to get started.

5 Mistakes College Kids Make

By E.W., 5/21/13

In an interview in Forbes Magazine, Dan Schawbel, founder of Millennial Branding, a consulting firm with clients such as American Express and NBCUniversal, states that there are five things that college kids are (and are not) doing that are holding them back from landing a job out of college.

1. Students are not applying for enough jobs. Instead of applying to one or two companies, hoping for a response, send out your resume to a couple dozen. According to Schawbel, job-hunting is a full time job. Be prepared to send hours looking and preparing. It may be that the ones who reply back are not the ones you really wanted; nevertheless, you can always take it as an opportunity to learn and to get closer to your dream career.
2. Students do not do enough of their own networking. While many students feel that their school did not provide adequate opportunities to connect with employers and alumni, Schawbel says that it ultimately falls on students to get their name out. Starting with the CSL on campus, Gusties can easily take advantage of all the resources available to them. There are also numerous job and internships fairs that the Gustavus hosts or supports. Take every chance to get to these events.
3. Students do not use LinkedIn. Don’t wait until you’re in the middle of your job search to create a LinkedIn profile. If you don’t already have one, make one. If you do have one, be sure to keep it updated with your latest resume, cover letter, and job status. Also, use LinkedIn to expand your network.
4. Don’t think that applying through an employer’s website is enough. Just because you uploaded your resume and cover letter doesn’t mean you’re done. Make sure that you follow through on the status of your application. It is also a good idea to see if you have any connections in the company. Let them know that you are applying and see if they will put a good word in for you.
5. Giving up when you get no response. According to Schawbel, not hearing back from an employer should not be taken as a no. Instead, use it as an opportunity to reach out to find a connection in the company. Be an advocate for yourself: follow through. If you haven’t heard back, chances are others haven’t either. Stand above the competition by not giving up. 

Prescreening Interviews Tips

By E.W., 5/17/13

According to ISEEK’s blog, the prescreening interview is becoming an increasingly common tool for employers to shorten their list of potential employers. For those of you have yet to experience a prescreening interview, and for those who need a little help, here is some advice that ISEEK gives.

First, to make sure we’re on the same page, let’s go over what a prescreening interview is. Usually conducted over the phone, the interview often lasts less than half an hour. The main purpose is to determine whether or not you meet the minimum requirements for the available position. In other words, they want to know if you are worth their time to go through the formal interview process.

Because it is unlikely that the prescreening interview will take place in person, have your resume and cover letter out might help to calm any nerves. It will also help you answer questions in a quick and concise manner. ISEEK also recommends that you be prepared for the salary question. Along with confirming that you are qualified for the job, the recruiter will also want to know if the company can afford you. Make sure you know what you are worth and what the company is willing to pay you before you give a number.

As with any interview, make sure you know the name and email address of the person you talked to so you can follow-up. Also, sending a thank you note might be a good idea.