Ø Individual career counseling sessions
Ø Graduate School Resources - Reference books & homepage links
Ø Library resource materials, videos, and handouts on the job search process
Ø Resume Critique and Mock Interview sessions
Ø Networking Information and Strategies
Ø Resources on our website under Job Search
· Riv Full-time professional job listings - posted weekly in conjunction with the New Hampshire College and University Council (NHCUC) on JOBLINE.
· Riv Part-time professional job listings – posted weekly
· Employment Positions and Job Search Resources on the Net- Links to: websites for job seekers (best general career & job sites), job listing sites by career/major field, researching employers and industries online, resume and cover letter writing, interviewing skills, local resources (newspaper classifieds and job banks), relocation assistance, and networking information on the Internet.
· Annual NHCUC Job Fair & other Job Fairs – See our online News/Events link
I. EVALUATE YOUR CAREER GOALS
Ø What is your "dream job"? Where do you want to be 5 years from now?
· Visit our “Major Options” web page to explore “English Major Career Planning Options”
@ http://www.rivier.edu/departments/cardev/major/index.html for information that includes career paths, desired skills, sample job titles of Rivier English alumni, sample employers, professional organizations, as well as career and job related web sites.
Ø What skills and activities do you like to perform at work?
Ø What special populations interest you?
Ø What type of employers or industries attract you?
Ø What salary levels do you hope to attain?
A. List and assess your strengths and weaknesses - Include the following:
Ø Specific knowledge and skills related to ENGLISH fields of interest (i.e. job-related skills in editing and publishing, teaching, communications, etc).
Ø Transferable skills gained from work, volunteer, and community service positions
(i.e. organizational skills, writing skills, public speaking skills, teamwork skills, etc.)
Ø Traits, which reflect your personality, character, and ability to get along with others.
(i.e. dependable, motivator, detail-oriented, responsible, etc.)
Ø Leadership qualities (i.e. organizational skills, taking initiative, decision-making)
B. Be prepared to give specific examples of your greatest strengths
C. Minimize your weaknesses by presenting them in a positive way
D. Pursue that extra credential, certificate, or field expertise
E. Create a Portfolio - A sample of your very best talents:
Ø Resume
Ø Mission Statement - Can include your skills, strengths, guiding principles, and future professional goals.
Ø Professional letters of reference
Ø Educational transcripts, coursework samples (special projects or research)
Ø Any relevant certifications or credentials
Ø Awards, honors, publications, and presentations (include brochure)
Ø Certificates of attendance and participation in relevant workshops and seminars
Ø Outstanding supervisory evaluations of your internship experience
Ø Photos of special activities you conducted through your internship, jobs, etc.
Ø Newspaper articles/photos of you as a leader, organizer, team player, or role model
Ø Letters of invitation to share your expertise to train or consult others
Ø Projects you initiated and implemented (i.e. creative layout and design for college yearbook, programs or materials developed during internship, etc.)
To obtain an interview, you must get through the initial screening process. Consult the CDC’s online Resume Writing & Cover Letter guides @ http://www.rivier.edu/departments/cardev/Getajob.htm
A. Prepare an Outstanding Resume - Most important primary tool of your job search
B. Include an Impressive Cover Letter - Tailor it to the specific job vacancy
C. Obtain 4-6 Excellent References - Attesting to your job related skills, character, & work ethic.
Ø Professional Reference Letters - Internship supervisors, administrators at field related work/internship/volunteer sites, English program chair & faculty members.
Ø Personal Reference Letters - Previous employers, community leaders, etc
View the CDC’s online Job Search Techniques guide @ www.rivier.edu/departments/cardev/Getajob.htm
A. Networking - Talk to anyone and everyone regarding job contacts and vacancies
Ø More people obtain jobs by networking than using conventional job search methods
Ø Ask employees and administrators where you’ve interned, volunteered, or worked, about job openings in their organizations. Ask for key contact referrals at other organizations of interest as well.
Ø Conduct informational interviews with professionals in fields of interest as a way to learn more about their job, educational background, career path to current position, industry pros and cons, and to obtain referrals that broaden your networking base. See the CDC’s online Informational Interview guide @ http://www.rivier.edu/departments/cardev/talk.html
Ø Ask friends, relatives, professors, and community members if they can refer you to contacts with hiring power or have information about vacancies in your desired field.
Ø Join national and local professional associations to develop a professional support network and obtain current employment information through journals and newsletters.
· American Society of Journalists & Authors- www.asja.org
· Public Relations Society of America- www.prsa.org
· American Literature Association - www.americanliterature.org
· National Council of Teachers of English- www.ncte.org/
· American Association of Advertising Agencies- www.aaaa.org/
· Society for Technical Communications- www.stc.org/
· American Society of Magazine Editors- asme.magazine.org
Ø Research Employers, Companies, and Industries Online
@ http://www.rivier.edu/departments/cardev/companies.htm
Ø Job Postings Online – Visit the CDC’s Job Search web page
@ http://www.rivier.edu/departments/cardev/Getajob.htm
View the CDC’s online Interviewing Skills guide @ www.rivier.edu/departments/cardev/Getajob.htm
A. Research Employers of interest - Impress the Interviewer
Ø Business Directories - Public Libraries, Regina Library, * CDC career library
· Standard and Poor's Register of Corporations
· Dunn and Bradstreet's Million Dollar Directory
· Job Opportunities in Business*
· Job Opportunities in Health Care*
· National Trade and Professional Associations of the US*
Ø Internet Resources
· Researching Companies Online Tutorial http://home.sprintmail.com/~debflanagan/index.html
· Individual Company homepages - use search engines like www.yahoo.com and www.altavista.digital.com to search by company name or keyword
· Employer Directories online - http://www.rivier.edu/departments/cardev/companies.htm
· Internet Job Search Strategies - http://www.collegegrad.com/jobs/internet.html
Ø Direct Company Contact
· Company Annual Report
· Letter to the Shareholders
· Human Resources Department - Employment Opportunities info
· Company Marketing Information
B. Use Network Contacts to Gather Insider Company Information
C. Dress for Interview Success
D. Prepare Clear, Concise, and Relevant Responses to Interview Questions:
· Credential Questions
1. What was your GPA? Why is your GPA not higher?
2. What were the certification requirements for ___________?
· Experience Questions
1. What qualifications make you a good candidate for this position?
2. Tell me about yourself
· Opinion Questions
1. What are your greatest strengths? Weaknesses?
2. Why did you choose to attend Rivier College?
· Behavioral Questions
1. Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor? How did you resolve it?
2. In your current job, give me an example of how you contribute as a team player
E. Ask Good Questions
1. Could you tell me more about this position and the type of candidate you're seeking?
2. I consider myself a team player, as it can be a more productive way to work, do staff members here plan or work on projects together?
3. What are the opportunities for growth and advancement for this position?
4. How is your company responding to the competition in the ________ area?
5. What do you consider to be the most important factors in being successful in this position?