Day 3: Interview Workshop

Today we will meet Carie Strahorn from Boly Welch-a top recruiting firm here in Portland.  Carie interviews people all the time and some ideas to share with you about what recruiters want to see in the interview.

There are many good reasons to connect with a recruiting firm during your job search.  What has your experience been with recruiting firms?

Suggestion: click on the comments above to join in the discussion.

Resources:

10 Interview Questions Decoded

Feel free to check out Day 1 or Day 2 if you missed them!

Day 2: Interviewing Workshop

Day 2 : Interview Formats

Key Concept: Interviews are happening in a variety of formats these days.   The most common, of course, is the one-on-one interview.  Two other common formats are the Panel Interview, in which candidates are interviewed by a group from the organization, and the Phone Interview, which many times is used an an initial screening tool.  Less common, but also used are Group Interviews, in which different candidates are interviewed together as a group, and finally Skype Interviews, which, in these times of cut budgets, can be a sensible way to save both time and money for long distance candidates.

Questions for Discussion: What have been your experiences with any of these  interview formats?  What are some common preparation strategies for all of them?  What unique preparation might be needed for each type?  Share some of your ideas or ask a question of the group.

Helpful Resources:

Panel Interview Tips

Group Interviews Tips

A great Time Magazine article on Skype Interviewing

A short video on the Phone Interview

If you missed Day 1 Discussion click here.

Day 1: Interview Workshop

Congratulations for taking part in this workshop and preparing for your next interview! This workshop will consist of exercises, discussion and some practice modules. Your facilitators will be Lynn Brown and Kirsten Gauthier Newbury.

Each day we will post a key concept and a question discussion.  To see and participate in the discussion thread, click on each day’s Post Title.  Jump in and post your ideas and share your experiences.

*We will have a guest on Wednesday-stay tuned!

Day 1
Key concept: If you are invited to interview, it means that you have successfully met the qualifications for the position on paper so the interview is about your fit with the organization.

Question for discussion: How do you demonstrate your fit (culturally and personally) with the organization in the context of the interview?

Please consider reviewing some information on Developing Rapport here.

Are you a Tigger or an Eeyore?

Optimism is important.    It really is.  In your everyday actions, whether at work or home, do you see the glass half-full or half-empty?  Times like these can challenge even the most optimistic among us.   It’s easy to get discouraged, especially if you’ve been looking for a job.

thanks to Austin at Picasa for making this photo available

However, it is exactly times like these that we must seek ways to maintain our sense of balance, energy and optimism in the face of work/life challenges.  Whether you’re just hoping to keep the job you have or are seeking a new one, most employers seek out candidates who show optimism about where they are going, how they see challenges, and how they motivate others.

I recently read an interview with Mindy Grossman, the CEO of the Home Shopping Network (HSN) in the NY Times, in which she talks about some of the key qualities she looks for in hiring.  I’ll summarize a few that I think are most important:

1) Be more like a Tigger, less like an Eeyore. We all know these characters from Winnie the Pooh.  Tigger’s exuberance is infectious (yet sometimes a bit overwhelming too).  Eeyore’s depressive nature and negativity inspires some pity and amusement, but ultimately, is a real downer.  People who are optimistic and “energy givers”, rather than negative energy vampires, attract others like that and can inspire people to achieve.  They are positive about where they are going, and they see challenges as opportunities not unsolvable problems.

2) Be in sync with your Values. What do you believe is most important?  What qualities do you dislike in people or organizations? What are you passionate about?  It’s so incredibly important to be in alignment with your values in selecting an organization to be a part of and in choosing the people you wish to be around every day.  If you haven’t gotten clear about these things, and are sacrificing your core values, you will not find contentment.  Perhaps a short-term paycheck, but not growth and fulfillment for long-term happiness in your work.

3) Take a few Risks.  You may not be the type to bungee jump or sky dive, but how comfortable are you with change and trying new things?   Generally those inspired by change are intellectually curious, manage the challenges that come their way with greater ease and eagerness and find confidence in seeking out new ways to solve problems.  Everyone must assess the level of risk with which they are comfortable.  We do it with our retirement plans, right?  It’s important, then, to find ways to challenge ourselves to greater success by taking a risk now and then.  That which does not kill us makes us stronger, so they say.  Become stronger.

-Kirsten Gauthier-Newbury

When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade!

By now, most of us are well aware (and affected) by current economic difficulties.  Examples would be local and small businesses closing, major corporate layoffs, high unemployment rates, constant sensationalized news, etc.  However, there is a movie that aims to bring hope.

Erik Proulx is “an ACD/Copywriter who has discovered the power of unemployment” and created the documentary Lemonade (2009).  This documentary revolves around advertising professionals who have lost their jobs.

“Lemonade is about what happens when people who were once paid to be creative in advertising are forced to be creative with their own lives.”  (Facebook, Lemonade (the movie), 2009).

I hope you find this trailer as uplifting as I did.  I am definitely looking forward for the release date!

-Olivia Yeung, Alumni Mentor Program Coordinator

Lemonade (2009) premiers in theatres late 2009.  To learn more about Erik Proulx go to:

http://www.pleasefeedtheanimals.com/about-me/

Giving Thanks to Mentors

As Thanksgiving and the holidays approach us, I am reflecting on what I am thankful for.  The obvious that come to mind are family, friends, health, and having a job that I truly enjoy.  Yet, the more reflecting I do, the more I realize that I am forgetting about another important group of people: mentors.

Remembering these mentors triggered a sense of urgency to remind them that I am still grateful for all that they have given me.  Whether it was personal advice, a letter of recommendation, or a shoulder to lean on, I made an effort to reconnect with them.

Photo: Alexander Wredge from Flickr.com

Oprah Winfrey once said, “A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.”  If this hope was ever provided for you, then it might be worthwhile to give your thanks.

Because the extra support, guidance, professional networking, references, friendship, and hope that mentors offer are definitely things to be thankful for, especially in navigating through these difficult economic times.

-Olivia Yeung, Alumni Mentor Program Coordinator

Career Workshop: Effective Networking Strategies

Join Career Services on Tuesday, December 1 for a workshop designed to build your networking skills.  Jan Foster, solutions provider for Performance Resources will explore why it is important in the Portland metropolitan area to leverage your way to your next job.  She’ll share 10 effective strategies to help job seekers develop opportunities.

Location:  Old Library, BP John Bldg, Marylhurst University

Time:  4:30-6pm

Suggested $10 donation, to support the Career Workshop program

Free for Students and Alumni

 

Mentoring: How One Size Does Not Fit All

I usually avoid online quizzes of any sort, but I found this interesting website today and completed their quiz on mentoring.  As I checked the answers, I soon realized that I had failed miserably.

Even though the answers to the quiz were only “suggested”, they certainly suggested a different perspective of what I had envisioned mentoring to be about.  For instance, question #8 of the quiz asked, “What’s one way to fail as a mentor?”  Although there are many ways for a mentor (as well as for a mentee) to fail, I said one way is to be unresponsive when a mentee tries to contact you.

The suggested answer was “Call me if you need me.”  I see the logic in this answer because the statement is vague and does not give specifics of when a mentor can be contacted.  However, what if the dynamics between the mentor and mentee allow for this type of casual interaction?  What if the mentee and mentor do not meet frequently enough to set up their next meeting right away?  What if both parties are so busy that it is best to leave things open-ended and to only contact each other when necessary?  The answers to these questions play a role in how one method of mentorship may work for some and not for others.

Photo: Tom Tom Official Photostream from Flickr.com

This quiz certainly expanded my perspective of what mentorship is and can be.  For example, I learned that confidentiality needs to be addressed upfront.  This was a Homer Simpson “Doh!” moment for me because I always assumed that confidentiality was a given, but now I know to reinforce it.

Overall, the message of this blog is to keep in mind traditional mentoring techniques whether as a mentor or mentee, but to also keep an open mind and to tailor these techniques to what you think is most appropriate for both parties.  Since the “one size fits all” category rarely works, it is highly unlikely that this will work for a mentoring relationship.  Yet, I will take my own advice and keep an open-mind about this, but I plan on staying away from the quizzes (for now anyways).

-Olivia Yeung, Alumni Mentor Program Coordinator

*If you would like to view the quiz mentioned in this blog here is the link:

http://www.mentoringgroup.com/html/articles/idea_15.htm

Career Resources for our Veterans

Thanks to rdoke on Flickr for making this photo available.

There are many veterans transitioning into civilian careers — obtaining job training and looking for new opportunities to use their skills.  We are proud to have veterans choose Marylhurst for their continuing education and career preparation.  In honor of Veteran’s Day, it seems fitting to offer some valuable resources for those veterans seeking employment.

There are many organizations that support veterans in their transition.  Quintessential Careers offers a comprehensive list of resources geared toward military personnel making the transition to civilian jobs.  One great one is Vetjobs.com, sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

Looking for work with the US Federal Government?  USAJobs is the official job site, and as they say, your “one-stop source for federal jobs and employment information.”

Veteranemployment.com has partnered with monster.com to provide veterans, active duty, guard and reserve a place to search for thousands of jobs from employeers who value military experience.

The mission  of Militaryhire.com is also “to ‘Serve Those Who Served’ by connecting veterans of America’s armed forces with employers who value their experience and skills.”  This site was developed by a partnership between military veterans and corporate hiring authorities.

I hope our veterans are making use of the many resources available to them.  Our office is always available to help as students seek to leverage their Marylhurst education and past experience into new opportunities.

Using Social Media in the Job Search

Dan Schawbel has written a number of great blog articles on Mashable related to using social media in the job search.  One in particular,  The 7 Secrets to Getting your Next Job Using Social Media , highlights the need for more non-traditional approaches to finding meaningful work, given the economic climate and the web 2.0  age in which we live.  If you are looking for some new ways to make connections and help you stand out, check out this post.  How might you present a more dynamic image to prospective employers and draw the right opportunities your way?