Summer Assignment: Informational Interviewing

Here it is again, that word: networking. It’s thrown around so much it has begun to lose its meaning. But in truth, networking is an invaluable tool for the job search. Only 16 percent of six-figure plus jobs, according to career search firm MGA, are found through job postings. That’s compared to the 70 percent of those same jobs which are found through networking. More than 60 percent of the six-figure jobs are not advertised.

Here’s a little homework assignment for you - yes, homework during the summer. Conduct at least one informational interview this summer. These interviews not only help you to establish a professional network, but also allow you valuable insight into different industries. You may realize that career field just isn’t for you; better to discover sooner rather than later.

So, what exactly does an informational interview entail? It is not a job-seeking method; rather it is an effective means of collecting information on a career field from a professional. It helps students to choose a career and a starting point in developing a professional social network. Informational interviews can even help sharpen your interviewing skills.

Getting started:
First, make a list of careers that interest you. Narrow it down to your top three choices. Then, begin to explore your network for people in these careers. Your network is anyone and everyone. Ask your parents, friends, friends’ parents, teachers and whoever else you come into contact with. Get their contact information, but do some research before you contact them. Make sure their experience matches what you are hoping to pursue. Once you find a suitable match, make contact. Introduce yourself. Explain who you are, what you’re doing and what you hope to accomplish. Try to schedule a meeting time. Remember: They have a full-time job so their schedule comes first. If a meeting time cannot be found, ask if you could send them an e-mail with some questions to answer at his or her convenience.

Before you interview:
Conduct research. Know about the person you’re interviewing with and their business. Figure out the types of questions you want to ask. Consider some of the following:

• What is a typical day for you?- What are the duties/functions/responsibilities of your job?- What kinds of problems do you deal with?- What other jobs can you get with the same background?
• How does a person progress in your field? What is a typical career path in this field or organization?
• What is the best way to enter this occupation?- What are the skills that are most important for a position in this field?
• Is there flexibility related to dress, work hours, vacation schedule, place of residence, etc.?
• What work-related values are strongest in this type of work (security, high income, variety, independence)?
• How is the economy affecting this industry?
• What can you tell me about the employment outlook in your occupational field? How much demand is there for people in this occupation? How rapidly is the field growing? Can you estimate future job openings?
• What obligations does your employer place have on you outside of the ordinary work week? What social obligations go along with a job in your occupation?
• What are the major frustrations of this job?
• If you could do things all over again, would you choose the same path for yourself? Why? What would you change?
• How well did your college experience prepare you for this job?
• What abilities or personal qualities do you believe contribute most to success in this field/job?
• What are the typical entry-level job titles and functions? What entry level jobs are best for learning as much as possible?
• What kinds of experience, paid or unpaid, would you encourage for anybody pursuing a career in this field?
• [If you feel comfortable and it seems appropriate:] Would you mind taking a look at my resume?

After the meeting:
Summarize the information you gathered. This should help you to mentally outline the pros and cons of choosing this career. If you find there to be more negative than positive, explore other careers and conduct more information interviews.

Always, always, always send a thank you letter. Remember, besides learning about the industry, you’re using this interview to establish a network. Even if you decide against entering this particular field, you have still established one relationship in the professional realm that may be able to connect you with other professionals.

Resources:
CDS Networking/Informational Interview TipSheet
CareerShift (a resource to help you identify people in different companies and organizations)

By Kelly Cargill

Top Entry-Level Employers for 2009

You could aimlessly click from company website to company website or worse, flounder around on huge job posting sites trying to find someone who hires college graduates.

OR

You could research companies who are actually hiring college students and start networking with people (maybe even Auburn alumni) who work for those companies!

"How?" you ask.

Well, CollegeGrad.com puts out a survey each year and compiles a list! Here is the list for 2009. Verizon Wireless tops the list with plans of hiring more than 13,000 new grads. (The smallest featured employers will hire as few as 10.)

Now that you have the list, research these companies and find answers to the following questions to see if you would want to work there:

What type of positions do they have available?
Where are their opportunities located?
What kind of professional development do they provide?
What kind of benefits do they offer their employees?
How is their mission or value statement in line with your own values?

As you identify the companies where you would like to work, start trying to identify people who already work there so you can network with them. Career Development Services (CDS) has a powerful resource, CareerShift, that can help you not only find job postings but also identify leaders within the company. You can even narrow a search to identify Auburn University graduates.

If you need help identifying job opportunities and learning how to network effectively, utilize CDS career counselors! They are available on a walk-in basis, M-F, noon - 4 p.m. and by appointment (just call 844.4744 to schedule) M-F, 7:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.

The job search is a challenge...perhaps more so in today's economy, but the good news is that there ARE companies who are excited to hire college graduates! And using tools and resources available to you can make the search a lot easier.

Job Shadowing Helps Students Choose a Major/Career

The most important thing you need to remember when choosing a major/career, and getting a good education is…don’t panic!! College is so much fun, and there is no reason to stress and panic about not figuring out your major, especially when there are many tools you can utilize to help you find what major fits you best. You don’t have to declare your major until the end of your sophomore year, and the majority of people change their major several times before and after that. Choosing a major is not a decision that should be made in an hour, a day or even a week. Think about your hopes, interests and strengths and research jobs that relate to those things

There are a few challenges you will face when choosing a major. One is that there are so many majors to choose from. One way to start narrowing your choices is by taking assessments. (Check out TypeFocus on the CDS website. The results will tell you what careers compliment your personality, and it’s free!) The “What Can I do with a Major In” resource tells you different sectors you could go into with certain majors and the strategies you need to get there. You can also take actual courses to find out what subjects you like…and don’t

Job shadowing is also a great way to explore areas of interest and network with professionals in your area of interest. Starla Armstrong, a career counselor with Career Development Services, can connect you with a sponsor, the person you shadow, whose occupation most closely matches your career interests. Starla finds sponsors for students, freshmen through seniors, mostly in the Auburn/Opelika area and a few in Atlanta and Montgomery, depending on the area you want to pursue. Starla said, “The great thing about job shadowing is that you may think you want to do a specific career, but when you shadow someone in that field you may realize that is not what you want to do at all.” The sponsor can give you inside information and tell you the advantages and disadvantages of the job that your professor cannot give you. They can also suggest classes for you to take that will be beneficial but may not be in your curriculum.

For students pursuing a health care/medical field shadowing experience, Starla suggests they go through the College of Sciences and Mathematics due to confidentiality issues unique to that field. She can, however, set up informational interviews between students and health care professionals.

If you want to participate in the job shadowing program, contact Starla at least a month before you want to shadow so she can have time to find a sponsor for you. It is very important to be on time when you meet your sponsor because you do not want to ruin future opportunities for Auburn students.

Job shadowing is also a wonderful opportunity that students should take advantage of because it is a great way to network, and networking is the best way to find a future internship or job! If you don’t opt to use CDS’s program, ask your parents if they have any friends that are in your field of interest and pursue Shadowing them.

Kelly Mayes
Junior, Communication Major

Facebook, Blogs, E-mail, You, and the Workplace

This post is a National Association of Colleges and Employers article. It can be found (along with other great articles) at JobWeb and is adapted from an article by George C. Hlavac, Esq., and Edward J. Easterly, Esq.in the March 2009 NACE Journal

The rules for use of technology change once you enter the job market—or take your first job. It’s important to know and understand them.

Screening Social Networking Sites
Where does an employer go to find out how you drink or what you like to do for fun? How about viewing pictures you might not want your parents to see, let alone the person who signs your paycheck? Look no further than social networking sites, like Facebook and MySpace.

Social networks such as MySpace and Facebook have become the predominant avenue for individuals to display personality traits, interests, and even potential abilities, so some employers have begun looking to these sites as part of the job screening process. These web sites provide access to information that employers may not otherwise be privy to, and this information is free of charge. Because web sites such as MySpace and Facebook are free, access to the sites is rarely denied.

What is potentially more important to know is, the information obtained on these sites need not be disclosed to you—the prospective employee.

An employer may, either on its own or through its employees, search the Internet for your web persona prior to an interview and it isn’t required to disclose the search or the information obtained or that it was considered in the selection process. As a result, you may never know if the picture from last week’s party, the fact that you enjoy computer hacking, or a comment left by a friend ruined your chances of obtaining a dream job.

Your social networking site page also may list your age, gender, hobbies, race, religion, and place of birth. As a result, a potential employer obtain information regarding your heritage, religious background, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or political ideals. Comments on an individual’s site, such as “congratulations on the pregnancy,” which appear innocent when posted, could be used by an employer to screen out an applicant for a discriminatory reason.

You can also benefit from using online social networks—in a proper fashion: Set up your page to make a positive impression on potential employers. A Facebook page, for example, can be an extension of your resume and provide insight into your personality, work ethic, and interests. An employer can use this information to develop a connection with you prior to the interview process or gain valuable information left out during the interview. If you shares a common hobby or interest with the recruiter, it may provide you with an “in” that you might not have otherwise had.

You also may use these sites to network with potential employers or gain information on an employer prior to an interview. Generally, these sites list an individual’s current employer. Prior to applying for an interview, you can search these sites to find other individuals who are employed by the potential employer. The applicant could use these individuals as a resource for information that might be otherwise unavailable.

Additionally, once you obtain employment, be careful not to use the Internet in an inappropriate or unprofessional manner. Employees who post provocative pictures or comments on their web page may be subject to termination. (Look no further than the former mayor of Arlington, Oregon, who was removed from her position in February 2008 for posting racy pictures on her MySpace page.)

Blogs, Blogs, Blogs…
Blogging becomes an issue when you blog about the workplace or place material on your blog that your employer deems inappropriate. There have been cases where employees have been terminated for posting inappropriate comments and/or photographs on blogs. Such actions are viewed by many employers as harmful to the interests of the company, thereby necessitating the termination of the blogging employee.

How can an employee be terminated for merely publishing his or her ideas on the Internet outside of the work environment? You must remember that by and large they don’t have the right to say whatever they want in a private employment relationship. This is largely due to the fact that private sector employees have no First Amendment rights to freedom of speech in the workplace. Equally important is the fact that most employees are employed on an at-will basis. This means that unless there is an express agreement otherwise, an employer can terminate you at any time for any reason (provided that it is not discriminatory or in violation of public policy).

In this regard, as a general matter, blogging is not protected under a public policy exception to the at-will employment doctrine. As such, when an you blog that “I hate my place of employment” or post pictures of Apple computers being delivered to Microsoft facilities, an employer can deem these actions contrary to its interests and terminate you without fear of liability. (Note: Both of these aforementioned incidents actually happened and led to the termination of the employees.)

Your employer may have a blogging policy that clearly establish the parameters within which blogging will be permitted. For example, you may not be aware of what constitutes copyright infringement or confidential information that should not be included on a blog. You may not know you’re your employer monitors employees’ blogs, and pursuant to the terms of their policy, may want to consider requiring you to disclose any personal blogs as a condition of employment.

Misuse of E-mail and Internet Privileges
Employee abuse and misuse of e-mail and Internet privileges at work can result in significant monetary liability to employers.

While you may mistakenly believe that what you do on your work computer is private, generally you have no privacy rights with respect to your work e-mail account or any use of an employer-provided computer. Your employer may have a “responsible use” policy with respect to employee e-mail and Internet activities. Most of these policies establish that all e-mail and Internet use is to be work-related and will be monitored by the employer.

For example, in a recent case, an employee used his employer’s e-mail system to send confidential information to one of the employer’s direct competitors prior to taking a job with the competitor. These e-mails were ultimately used as evidence of the employee’s illegal activities. In other cases, employers have used web usage histories and/or inappropriate e-mails to justify employee terminations.

Check-out JobWeb for more great job searching resources.

Your Major and Emerging Careers...What's That About?

If you're lucky, you have at least identified your strengths and interests as they relate to your major. So, you're happy with that decision, but secretly, you're freaking out because you have NO idea what you are going to do with the major. Though you are happy that you could be at peace with the classes you just registered for this month, you realize that the clock is ticking and at some point, you will leave these academic walls and need to find a job.

Thanks to an article published in Spotlight Online (a NACE publication), I have a list of emerging careers (According to the article, "an emerging occupation is one that has been recognized in small numbers, but continues to grow.") for you to consider. If you find that your personality doesn't lend itself to you being so "cutting edge," check out the more traditional list of careers related to your major here.

LIBERAL ARTS
Accent reduction specialists—A growing speech pathology specialty, sometimes people go into this through English as a Second Language training. Applications for accent reduction specialists include helping someone who is unable to make a presentation because of an accent, or training customer service representatives to speak perfect English without a strong accent.

Linguistics—There are many emerging occupations within linguistics. For instance, some companies are looking for employees to name their products and services. Because of globalization, brand naming is important to ensure a name is acceptable in many languages. Globalization requires that products and services be delivered in local languages. It also has applications associated with national security, interpreting, and international business.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Cultural analysts/linguists—One offshoot of this career is accompanying military forces and analyzing media content in a country to report implications of what’s reported and its influences on the local population.

Human terrain analysts—These professionals conduct primary ethnographic and social science research with local leaders in a country and translate conversations and documents to interpret local or regional culture.

Leadership analysts—Professionals in this field are used by the CIA, among others, to produce assessments of foreign leaders and officials and help key U.S. national officials to deal with their foreign counterparts.

EDUCATION
Child life specialists—Professionals who are trained to help children and families cope with traumatic situations, such as hospitalization or violence.

Patent analysts—These professionals help local companies determine how new concepts or products are unique and marketable. (These jobs are also available in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.)

SCIENCES
Creative perfumers—Creative perfumers evaluate the odors of chemicals for everything from expensive perfumes to deodorants, according to a client’s goal for its scent. Creative perfumers are trained to create fragrances during a rigorous training process that requires them to study hundreds of natural and synthetic materials.

Security engineers (federal job)—Security engineers create analytical and physical security systems that foresee and prevent future security problems.

Transportation geography researchers—These professionals apply geographic information systems to work on existing and new transportation networks. They also interact with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to conduct vulnerability assessments.

Genomics—This group of professions is centered on using DNA in research. For example, clinical genomics analysts can use DNA for personalized medicine, to increase the likelihood that treatment will be effective for an individual.

HEALTH
Nurse anesthetists—These nurses collaborate with surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, and other healthcare professionals to administer anesthesia.

Health informatics specialists—Health informatics specialists work with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to use electronic medical records and computerized programs to guide their diagnoses and treatment plans.

Another article from Yahoo! Hotjobs, listed what they called "best kept secret careers," that you may also want to consider:

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
Data Miners use statistics to evaluate and predict future customer behavior. Career Training: A bachelor's degree in information science, computer science, or management information systems (MIS) may be an asset in this field. Training in statistics is a plus for data miners.

ENVIRONMENTALISM AND GREEN CAREERS
Environmental Engineer: Solve coal pollution problems and develop better hybrid cars. Career Training: A bachelor's degree in engineering is often a basic requirement for entry-level positions. A degree program might involve special training in environmental engineering, as well as courses in mathematics, science, and computers.

GLOBALIZATION
Increasingly, businesses deal with clients, companies, and contacts all across the globe. This creates new needs for trained professionals with specialization in the global market, whether in business, marketing, or social relations.

Accent-Reduction Specialist: According to U.S. News and World Report, accent-reduction specialist is the number one best-kept-secret career. Many businesses today deal with contacts around the country and the world. Corporations increasingly need accent-reduction specialists to train employees (from phone representatives in India to corporate managers in Alabama) in unaffected speech. Career Training: Speech therapists or ESL teachers are most likely to hold this job. A master's degree and licensure in speech-language pathology or ESL training are common requirements.

HEALTH CARE
Surgical Technologist: Also known as "scrubs" or "operating room technicians," surgical technologists assist in the OR before, during, and after an operation. They play a key role in the functioning of an operating room by preparing equipment, the OR area, and patients for procedures. Career Training: The common path to becoming a surgical technologist is to complete a nine- to 24-month training program resulting in a certificate, diploma, or associate's degree.

TECHNICIANS
Auto Mechanic: Job growth for mechanics is above average, due not only to economic factors, but also because of a growing population (meaning more drivers and more cars on the road) and current mechanics expected to retire. Career Training: Vocational school or community college after high school is often necessary for auto mechanics. Earning a certificate or associate's degree may make job competition easier.

Resources: NACE Spotlight Online 2009, April 1, 2009.

http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-best_kept_secret_careers-811

What ELSE Can I do with my Major?!

So...you have almost completed a degree, and you won the lucky ticket of graduating during one of the toughest economic times of the past 50 years. (Sorry.) But there ARE a lot of options out there if you are willing to diversify your goals. (Check out other blog postings on this topic.) For example I just found an article in Spotlight Online (a NACE publication), that lists emerging careers. (According to the article, "an emerging occupation is one that has been recognized in small numbers, but continues to grow.") If these "cutting edge" careers aren't your cup of tea, check out the more traditional list of careers related to your major here.

LIBERAL ARTS
Accent reduction specialists—A growing speech pathology specialty, sometimes people go into this through English as a Second Language training. Applications for accent reduction specialists include helping someone who is unable to make a presentation because of an accent, or training customer service representatives to speak perfect English without a strong accent.

Linguistics—There are many emerging occupations within linguistics. For instance, some companies are looking for employees to name their products and services. Because of globalization, brand naming is important to ensure a name is acceptable in many languages. Globalization requires that products and services be delivered in local languages. It also has applications associated with national security, interpreting, and international business.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Cultural analysts/linguists—One offshoot of this career is accompanying military forces and analyzing media content in a country to report implications of what’s reported and its influences on the local population.

Human terrain analysts—These professionals conduct primary ethnographic and social science research with local leaders in a country and translate conversations and documents to interpret local or regional culture.

Leadership analysts—Professionals in this field are used by the CIA, among others, to produce assessments of foreign leaders and officials and help key U.S. national officials to deal with their foreign counterparts.

EDUCATION
Child life specialists—Professionals who are trained to help children and families cope with traumatic situations, such as hospitalization or violence.

Patent analysts—These professionals help local companies determine how new concepts or products are unique and marketable. (These jobs are also available in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.)

SCIENCES
Creative perfumers—Creative perfumers evaluate the odors of chemicals for everything from expensive perfumes to deodorants, according to a client’s goal for its scent. Creative perfumers are trained to create fragrances during a rigorous training process that requires them to study hundreds of natural and synthetic materials.

Security engineers (federal job)—Security engineers create analytical and physical security systems that foresee and prevent future security problems.

Transportation geography researchers—These professionals apply geographic information systems to work on existing and new transportation networks. They also interact with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to conduct vulnerability assessments.

Genomics—This group of professions is centered on using DNA in research. For example, clinical genomics analysts can use DNA for personalized medicine, to increase the likelihood that treatment will be effective for an individual.

HEALTH
Nurse anesthetists—These nurses collaborate with surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, and other healthcare professionals to administer anesthesia.

Health informatics specialists—Health informatics specialists work with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to use electronic medical records and computerized programs to guide their diagnoses and treatment plans.

Another article from Yahoo! Hotjobs, listed what they called "best kept secret careers," that you may also want to consider:

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
Data Miners use statistics to evaluate and predict future customer behavior. Career Training: A bachelor's degree in information science, computer science, or management information systems (MIS) may be an asset in this field. Training in statistics is a plus for data miners.

ENVIRONMENTALISM AND GREEN CAREERS
Environmental Engineer: Solve coal pollution problems and develop better hybrid cars. Career Training: A bachelor's degree in engineering is often a basic requirement for entry-level positions. A degree program might involve special training in environmental engineering, as well as courses in mathematics, science, and computers.

GLOBALIZATION
Increasingly, businesses deal with clients, companies, and contacts all across the globe. This creates new needs for trained professionals with specialization in the global market, whether in business, marketing, or social relations.

Accent-Reduction Specialist: According to U.S. News and World Report, accent-reduction specialist is the number one best-kept-secret career. Many businesses today deal with contacts around the country and the world. Corporations increasingly need accent-reduction specialists to train employees (from phone representatives in India to corporate managers in Alabama) in unaffected speech. Career Training: Speech therapists or ESL teachers are most likely to hold this job. A master's degree and licensure in speech-language pathology or ESL training are common requirements.

HEALTH CARE
Surgical Technologist: Also known as "scrubs" or "operating room technicians," surgical technologists assist in the OR before, during, and after an operation. They play a key role in the functioning of an operating room by preparing equipment, the OR area, and patients for procedures. Career Training: The common path to becoming a surgical technologist is to complete a nine- to 24-month training program resulting in a certificate, diploma, or associate's degree.

TECHNICIANS
Auto Mechanic: Job growth for mechanics is above average, due not only to economic factors, but also because of a growing population (meaning more drivers and more cars on the road) and current mechanics expected to retire. Career Training: Vocational school or community college after high school is often necessary for auto mechanics. Earning a certificate or associate's degree may make job competition easier.

Resources: NACE Spotlight Online 2009, April 1, 2009.
http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-best_kept_secret_careers-811