Students On the Blog: An Interesting Twist to the Standard Resume Template

Oftentimes, students will come to us with interesting things they have found others do in a job search, discovered an interesting networking style or something else that sets their career development apart from the status quo.

Ameya Deshmukh, a current MBA student who will be interning at Morgan Stanley in summer 2015, recently shared an article regarding an innovative approach Nina Mufleh took to promote herself to a specific company (Airbnb) and for a specific position to land herself an internship. Ameya thought this was an important read for all students and professionals because of the individual’s successful efforts. Before sharing the details, here are his thoughts:

“I’ve heard a lot of interesting stories of how people have landed opportunities to interview and eventually work at their dream company, but this by far has to be the most creative. A lot of us get demoralized and lose hope after receiving no response when applying online to a firm or not hearing back from a recruiter. A Middle Eastern girl living in San Francisco, Nina Mufleh was in a similar situation when she applied to Airbnb but she didn’t lose hope. She did something totally unique to grab the company’s attention. She analyzed Airbnb’s current business, explained the importance of the Middle Eastern market, and created a unique online resume that resembled the interface of Airbnb website. She showcased her knowledge about the travel industry and how she’s the perfect fit for the company. Her online resume had all the ingredients of a traditional resume and cover letter, even though there was no mention about her past work experience and professional achievements. In the end, this amount of dedication and hard work caught the recruiter’s attention and helped her join the Airbnb team.”

To read more about Nina Mufleh’s story click here.

http://www.businessinsider.com/nina-mufleh-airbnb-resume-2015-4

Thank you Ameya for sharing this article with us.

Have you found something other people in job search, networking, or career development that set them apart from the status quo? Share it with us at zicklin.gcmc@baruch.cuny.edu!

Take Note: The Importance of Taking Notes During an Interview

By Annie Himmelsbach

I have to admit that I am continually flabbergasted by students who don’t take notes when meeting with me, especially during a mock interview!

If you aren’t taking notes, I am assuming one of three things:

• You have a photographic memory
• You believe that what I am saying is not useful or has no value
•  You are lazy or not in the habit of taking notes

If the reason is number one, congratulations! That is most enviable.

If the reason is number two, let me know that what I am saying is not useful, and we will refocus our efforts so that what we are talking about actually is noteworthy (literally!).

Unfortunately, unless you explicitly explain your situation with number one or two, I am assuming the reason is number three.

(I do realize that in some cultures, taking notes may appear rude as you are taking your eyes off or turning your attention away from the person who is speaking. In the US, taking notes is almost always acceptable and appreciated.)

This is not only a career counselor’s pet peeve.  I have had students tell me that they were not extended full time offers after their summer internships as a result of not taking notes during meetings. For example, a student who was interning at an accounting firm over the summer was running from one meeting to the next and did not have time to swing back to his desk to pick up a notepad before the second meeting. Unfortunately, a partner was in attendance at this second meeting, and explicitly commented on the intern’s lack of note taking.

Ouch.

In an interview setting, it is good to take notes so that you appear engaged. Also, at the end of the interview, you will be able to refer to those notes in order to help you craft a more tailored thank you note.  If you are unsure if the interviewer will mind if you take notes, just ask! I have yet to hear of an interviewer who would be put off.

How you take notes during the interview should be different than how you take notes in class. In an interview setting, simply jot down some key words and make eye contact with the interviewer more often than your paper.

A great place to start practicing “note-taking hygiene” is at the GCMC.  We are open this summer, so make an appointment for a mock interview! 

3 simple ways to build your confidence

by Tanuja Ramchal

Confidence comes from an appreciation of your own abilities, skills, and talents. You express confidence in how you speak, by what you say, and through your body language. If you’re not confident, it shows, and this can get in the way of your success. Luckily, it’s a quality you can develop. Below are three steps to raise your confidence.

1-Create awareness

Start noticing how you show up and how you feel in different situations. When do you feel most confident? How about least confident? What causes you to feel that way? 

With introspection, you can start to see the thinking behind your actions and question it. A lack of confidence is often based on the fear of how you’re perceived by others. Rather than automatically shrinking to accommodate the fear, a better response is to step back and assess the situation objectively.

• What’s the worst thing that could happen if your fears came true?
• What’s the chance of that actually happening?
• How can you minimize the risk of that outcome?
• What are three actions you could take to recover if the worst does happen?
• What’s the best possible thing that could happen if you took action despite your fears?

Through this process, you can change your behavior and avoid getting stuck in habitual, fear-based patterns, which limit your options.

2-Do something you enjoy

If you’re like most people, fun is not a priority. It’s usually viewed as a distraction, taking away from the ‘important’ things. However, when you’re enjoying an activity, your energy level goes up, you’re engaged, and you feel better about yourself. This adds to your confidence by getting you out of your head and into a creative space where ideas and new ways of thinking emerge.

I have requested students spend 15 minutes each day doing something they love. One student recalled how happy she used to feel when she painted, but she hadn’t done that in years. Her assignment was to make time for painting, which she said made her feel like she could take on the world. Who doesn’t want that?

What's your fun activity? It doesn’t have to be something which takes up a lot of time, but it needs to be consistent to produce the desired result.

3-Surround yourself with the right people

There’s a quote from Jim Rohn which says, ‘You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.’ In other words, environment affects how you show up in your life. If you surround yourself with people who are always looking for the negative in every situation, it’s likely that you’ll do the same.

The good news is that you get to decide who you hang out with. Treat your life like a well-oiled business by firing those people who drag you down and hiring and promoting those who average you up. Spend time with people who inspire you to greatness. Doing so will expose you to new ways of seeing yourself and the world.

If you want to develop your awareness, have fun, and connect authentically with others, the weekly GCMC Soft Skills Workshops will help you overcome your fears and be more confident in your professional life. It's scheduled for Monday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m., starting June 1. You can register in CareerLink. Space is limited.

Are we connected on LinkedIn yet?

4 Common Resume Mistakes Which Are Costing You Jobs - And How to Fix Them

by Tanuja Ramchal

Your resume is the first evidence of your work potential employers see, and they evaluate you accordingly. If poorly presented, your resume will disqualify you as a candidate for the jobs you want. Below are 4 common mistakes I often see in resumes and the fixes which will help you build a stronger brand.

Mistake #1: Overlooking details

Attention to details matter. Why? It shows that you are diligent and care about meeting or exceeding standards. Can you spot the issue below?

Two common details which get overlooked in resumes I review are:

• Bad grammar - grammar and spelling indicate your ability to communicate. Activities which took place in the past must be in past tense. A spell-checker would not catch this type of error. Have several people, including a career advisor, proofread your resume.
• Mismatched formatting and uneven spacing - you must pay attention to formatting, ensuring the same case is used for headings and that font type is consistent throughout the resume. It is also important that dashes and bullets match and spacing is even. For example, 09/15 - 11/15 is not the same as 09/15— 11/15.

Mistake #2: Using weak verbs to describe your experience

You goal is to stand out among many candidates applying for the same job. Using verbs such as ‘assisted’, ‘helped’, and ‘supported’ are vague and do not accurately convey the value you have to offer. Instead, use strong power verbs such as ‘initiated’, ‘transformed’, ‘executed’, ‘redesigned’ and ‘analyzed’ to show off your skill-set to potential employers.

Mistake #3: Not demonstrating what sets you apart

For some resumes, the experience section reads like a to-do list:

• Prepare tax returns for individuals
• Answer questions from customers
• Produce quarterly financial reports

A strong resume shows not only what you did, but how you did it, why you did it, in what quantity, and the results you achieved. Here’s an example:

• Prepared 50+ tax returns using Excel and TaxPro and reviewed completed returns with clients for accuracy and to ensure best outcome

Mistake #4: Not being intentional

Landing the right job requires being intentional. This means being clear about where you want to go and knowing what is necessary to get there. Haphazardly including items on your resume is not a winning strategy.

A better way is to identify the skills and experience required for your target job and ordering your bullets from most important to the least important based on that. From the perspective of a hiring manager, it could be a deal breaker if the first bullet is not compelling.

In addition to prioritizing your bullets and emphasizing relevant experience, consider removing unnecessary descriptions which do not align with the requirements of your target job. For example, a chemistry research project from two years ago might be a good way to demonstrate your teamwork skills but the actual topic of the research might not be relevant to the IT project management job you’re applying for.

Remember your resume represents your brand. It is usually the first impression someone has of you and your work before they even meet you. And while it does take work to write a stellar resume, the payoff is huge. Invest the time and effort up front because your career should never be left to chance. 

Are we connected yet on LinkedIn?