Welcome to July's career newsletter! 

Are You Taking a Summer Break from Your Job Search?

Should I take a break from job searching during the summer?

Absolutely not! While it is very easy to get distracted by warm weather and sunny beach days, don't let that golden opportunity get away from you because another candidate was more focused. Remember, most employers are still sitting in their offices even if they are gazing out the window wishing they were at the beach!

Take advantage of the summer's "social attitude" to network, request an informational interview, or take someone out for lunch to better cement an existing relationship.

Businesses don't come to a grinding halt during summer and companies don't stop hiring just because people want to take it easy. While hiring may be slower, if you take advantage and maintain an active job search, you'll be on top of the queue once the hiring process is in full swing.

Kind regards,   

 

 

 

 

  

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Our list is growing! If you would like to advertise in future issues, please send an e-mail to robin@riklanresources.com.

 

 

Your Summer Job is Much More Important than You Think

by Michelle A. Riklan, ACRW, CPRW, CEIC

Employment rates are better this year, which means fresh graduate are expected to have better opportunities of securing a job. I wonder though, how many will take their internship seriously? How many will show up expecting three easy months of coffee-fetching and copy-making work?

A research from Challenger, Gray and Christmas, a Chicago-based recruitment firm, states that only 1 in 4 companies plan to hire full-time employees from this year's interns. Yes, the employment market is better but it's still a tough competition overall. So go ahead, you can continue treating your summer job as an extension of your college life - or you can treat it like the serious competition it is.

Convinced yet? Here are 4 other reasons to treat your summer job like a real professional job:

1.      Your First Boss will Serve as the First Employer Reference in Your Resume. Yes you can use a college professor as a reference, but it doesn't have the same credibility as an employer reference. Even if your summer job isn't related to your target career path, it still counts as work experience. And since you're a fresh graduate with barely anything to put on his resume, you're in no position to be picky!

2.      Boring Tasks are Critical Training. Remember the wash-in, wash-out routine at the Karate Kid movie? The kid playing the lead role got bored quickly because it wasn't related to karate. Well, you know how the rest of the movie goes. It's just like that with boring tasks in your summer job or internship.

Boring tasks are easy but they teach you to be patient, focused and keen to details. Remember you're an intern, who hasn't proven himself capable of challenging assignments yet. Menial tasks are assigned to you to test your attitude. You can't get more challenging assignments until you learn how to do menial tasks perfectly, without grumbling or complaining.

3.      Summer Jobs Build Soft Skills Transferable to Different Industries. Summer jobs and internships will teach you critical skills you need for any line of work, such as communication, writing, customer service, critical thinking and sales.

4.      Your First Boss and Teammates will Form Your First-ever Professional Network. Even if you're working as a fast food crew when all you want to do is work as a hedge fund manager, the people you meet could play a part in your career later on.

Did you know that many CEOs were once pizza delivery guys? Remember, you never know where your colleagues and boss might end up working after that job, so treat them well.

Whatever you do, don't treat your summer job and internship as an easy means to get allowance money. Do your best and value the experience and connections you make.

Arriving at the Interview

by Fred Coon

Don't blindly walk through the front door of where you're interviewing. Check out your surroundings when you arrive: the parking lot, receptionist, lobby area, security guard. How are things organized? Was the staff helpful? What types of art, flowers or decorations are on the premises? Is it a place that welcomes you and exudes success?

"Do you see business awards on the walls? Do you see company brochures on the table? Feel free to take a look. It will give you a nice starting point for the conversation when the recruiter shows up," says Pauwels Consulting in the article "What (not) to do while waiting for a job interview."

This practice will also give you some insight into the culture of your prospective employer which can help you determine whether or not you and the company will be a good fit.

"Take a look at the...desktops [and] mobile technology...If it all appears cutting-edge, that can indicate the firm values up-to-date technology and will provide the resources to keep it that way," explains Ben Weiss, digital marketing strategist for Infusive Solutions. "By contrast, a firm with antiquated technology may prevent you from doing your job with paramount effectiveness."

Once your interviewer enters the room, greet them with firm eye contact and a friendly handshake. Then, you can initiate a pleasant conversation about what you noticed. Offering a compliment on the décor or asking to hear more about an award on the wall is an easy and effective way of opening the conversation while calming your nerves. This also puts the burden of conversation onto your interviewer, giving you a minute to gather your thoughts, and get a feel for how they respond-professional, friendly, blunt.

Additionally, greet everyone you come across while heading into the interview. Smile and give a head nod. You could find yourself sitting in front of the person you neglected to speak to on the elevator. Your first impression could be made before you've even said a word.

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Fred Coon is founder of Stewart, Cooper & Coon. He is a Licensed Employment Agent, a Nationally Certified Job and Career Transition Coach, a Behavioral Consultant and a Certified DISC Administrator. He has advised thousands of executives on their job search campaigns. Mr. Coon also has appeared on affiliate stations of ABC, NBC, and CBS as an expert on the job and employment market. He has been featured as a career expert in the Wall Street Journal and in