CareerSparx Final Report2

8/8/2019 CareerSparx Final Report2

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THE CAREER START GUIDEForget Everything You Know About Starting a Career


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THE CAREER START GUIDE

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When the economic crisis hit and hiring slowed to a trickle, recent graduates took much of the blow.

Freshly educated and motivated to enter the professional world, these eager young minds found

themselves in front of a seemingly insurmountable brick wall. Unemployment reached 10.2 percent

the highest its been since 1930 and the job market was showing few signs of recovery.

So what did many graduates do? They gave up.

In May 2009, fewer graduates had begun the job search than at any time before. In May 2008, about

67 percent had begun the process. However, at the end of the last school year, only 59 percent of

2009 graduates had begun their job search.1

Now fast-forward a few months. What percentage of 2009 graduates actually has a job?

Only 20 percent of last years graduates have secured a job since earning their college degree.1

Isnt Generation Y supposed to be

the best and the brightest of all

generations yet? Dont companies

desire the intelligent young

employees with a fresh outlook and a burning

desire to succeed?

What is keeping these educated individuals from finding a job?

ONLY 20% OF LAST YEARS GRADUATESHAVE SECURED A JOB SINCE EARNINGTHEIR COLLEGE DEGREE.


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It has little to do with raw natural ability, as the current generation of young job seekers is equally if

not more capable than generations of the past. Yes, the recent economic crisis and resulting job

scarcity is making the process of starting ones career more difficult, but there has to be some otherreason why the unemployment rate for recent college graduates rose above the national average to

10.6 percent at the end of last year.2 The most likely answer is that these students never learned how

to find jobs and start their careers.

Yes, in all those years of extensive education a crucial skill was overlooked. That skill important to

the success of any and every individual is job-hunting. And at a time when the average student

graduates with $23,200 in educational loans to pay back, that skill becomes especially important.3

Many members of Generation Y are misinformed or just simply uninformed when it comes to

starting a career.

But that is ok. We can help. We have been in your shoes. Read on to learn more about how to start

your career.


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before we begin:

my story


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My name is Mario Schulzke, and I am the founder of CareerSparx. I amoriginally from Germany and came to the U.S. as an exchange student when

I was 16 years old. What I was envisioning to be a year of sunshine at abeach turned into living on a ranch in rural Montana. But I loved it andended up going to school at the University of Montana. Upon graduation, Iimmediately took a full-time job with an advertising agency. The pay wasgood, but the experience wasn't. I wasn't learning enough, and there wereno great people for me to learn from.

So, much to my mother's dismay, I quit and moved to Seattle, where I spentthe next six months sleeping on a friend-of-a-friend's floor. Why? To be ableto intern at a company that I really admired. I worked directly for thepresident of the company, and my pay was limited to a free bus pass andwhatever leftover lunches were available after client meetings.

I went from a comfortable job to an unpaid internship. I had nothing nocar, no cell phone, no girlfriend. Yet, it was the smartest decision I've ever

made. Because that unpaid internship was the perfect spark to what hasbeen a pretty successful career so far.


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At 29, I am now a senior director at that very company. I sit on the board of advisors at the

University of Montana, started instructing college students at the age of 23, published a bookthat was featured on 20/20 and am the founder of IdeaMensch.com. Along the wayI alsoreceived my green card, bought my first home and picked up a pretty lazy cat named Otto.

I had the idea for CareerSparx because I saw so many recent graduates struggle to get started.To find their first job. To figure out a way to make ends meet. So, Ive decided to help. And joiningme is a number of great people at companies like Apple, Nike and Google, to name just a few.

Anyway, get started by reading this report. And stay tuned in via our e-mail updates, becausethere's a lot more great information coming down the pike. If you have any questions, don'thesitate to e-mail me directly at [email protected].

Yours truly,
http://[email protected]/http://[email protected]/


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Table of contents

The most qualified dont always get the job...........................................................................................08

Treat getting the job like a job itself......................................................................................................16

If you want a job, you need experience....................................................................................................24

Interested employers will do their homework on you.............................................................................38

Sometimes companies that are not hiring are most likely to hire you...................................................45

Getting an interview is the hardest part..................................................................................................48


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Truth #1:

The most qualified [on paper]dont always get the job.


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Yes, that Ivy League diploma only goes so far. This often comes as a big shock for many recent grads,

but those that are the most qualified on paper do not always get the job. Were not saying that all

colleges are equal, but we are saying that your alma mater is not the most important detail for getting

the job.

Coming from a merit-based system (school and grades) that rewards those who receive the best

marks on paper, this can seem hard to believe. Those who score better on tests receive the highest

grades and are accepted into the most prestigious schools. You would think that these same students

automatically receive the best jobs as well, but thats actually not true. There are many other factors

besides your grades that contribute to whether you land the job over the next candidate.

Your ability to form and maintain relationships with others is the most important skill involved in

finding a job. This skill in the professional sense is commonly called networking.

Networking can be defined as the deliberate

process of exchanging information, resources,

support and access in such a way as to create

mutually beneficial relationships for personal

and professional success.4

According to The Wall Street Journal, over half of all employees obtained their jobs through networking.13

OVER HALF OF ALL EMPLOYEESOBTAINED THEIR JOBS THROUGH

NETWORKING


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Many people are a little uneasy upon hearing the term networking. They think of

schmoozing, pretending to be nice just to get something, and of awkward events with

corporate employees doing anything and everything to work their way up the corporate ladder.Were here to tell you that true networking is not and should never be that way.


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Networking is About Forming Relationships.

The ultimate goal may be to start a career, but no conversation should ever begin with that intention inmind. Networking is about forming relationships almost friendships so that people can help each

other out and everyone can benefit from the situation.

You already have a network whether you realize it or not. In fact, with expertise in Facebook, Twitter,

MySpace, etc., many argue that yours is the most connected generation in history.

Although you may be a novice in the professional world, you are still in a position to bring value to any

relationship. You already have a network that includes your professors, family, friends and friendsfamily; it may remain largely untapped at this point. Once you begin mapping out who you know and

what they do, you will be able to connect people that wouldnt have met otherwise and bring benefit to

others lives.

A simple example: Your mother is an accountant and your friends father needs a new accountant

for his law firm. Add to that the fact that you just happen to be interested in becoming a lawyer. By

making the connection between your mother and friends father, you are bringing benefits to both.Additionally, your friends father finds out that youre interested in law and because you did him a

favor, he may invite you to intern at his firm. Stuff like this happens all the time, and it could be

happening to YOU if you maintain the right mindset.


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What is the Right Networking Mindset?

Maintaining the right mindset involves:

Having Confidence in Yourself

This is the most important factor in being an effective networker. You must have confidence in yourself to

speak and hold conversation with others. You also must have a true belief in your abilities and talents if

you are going to convince anyone else that you possess those talents. To achieve confidence in your

conversational abilities, you have to practice.

Continually Meeting New PeopleYou want to get in the habit of always meeting and talking with new people. While this does not mean

that you have to become best friends with the barista at Starbucks, speaking with him might be good

practice for the future. Anyone you meet can have valuable information.

Working on Your Conversational Skills

Going along with the meeting new people point is the value of building your conversational

skills. Spend more time talking to others and learning about them. The more people you talk to and especially the more strangers the easier it will be to converse with anyone.


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Testing Your Memory

You should always be working to remember something about every person. While the name is certainly

important, you also should concentrate on what the person does (professionally or personally). Bytraining yourself to remember one or two key facts about every person you meet, you are providing the

background knowledge for successful networking, and you will be able to connect people based on

their needs and livelihoods.


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Everybody is Shy (or at Least They Think so)You may be looking at the list of things involved in maintaining the right mindset with a sense of

trepidation. Holding actual conversations with total strangers could seem rather daunting to

someone who is shy. Well, if you think youre shy, then youre not alone:

Interestingly, 75 percent of great conversationalists call themselves shy!5

A study by Stanford Universitys Shyness Clinic found that as many as 50 percent of us say were

shy.4 Similarly, Susan RoAne, networking expert dubbed the mingling maven, surveyed 100 great

conversationalists. Guess what? A whopping 75 percent of them still thought of themselves as shy.5

There are many reasons attributed to our unfounded belief that we are all shy, but as Dr. Lynne

Henderson, Director of Stanford Universitys Shyness Clinic states, Shyness is not a disease. Its a

habit pattern that can be

relearned.4

SHYNESS IS NOT A DISEASE.

ITS A HABIT PATTERN THATCAN BE RELEARNED.


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Practice, Practice, Practice

The best way to overcome shyness and gain confidence in yourself as a conversationalist is topractice. Better to learn now when talking with waiters, gas station attendants and neighbors

than at a professional networking event or business association, right?

Keep the four points mentioned previously in mind at all times as you work your way through this guide. It

may not come easy at first, but you will definitely notice that it becomes easier as time passes. It will be

rewarding to see that youve created a relationship with a total stranger who will very likely remember

you as well (as the person who was nice enough to ask about his/her day). There could be other,unforeseen benefits too; who knows, you may even be able to tell the Starbucks guy, The usual,

please, and hell remember your order.

Remaining aware of these things and actively practicing throughout the day will help you form the

habit of meeting new people and retaining information about them the basis for excellent

networking. It takes 21 days to form a habit; start now and chances are, it will become more natural

for you in no time.


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Truth #2:

Treat getting the joblike a job itself.


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Do You Know How Long the Average Job Search Takes?

Yes, getting a job is hard work but beginning your career at the right place is so important to the restof your life. Where you live, your salary and your work environment everything will determine the

course you will take. You must begin in the right place if you are to flourish in your career. In order to

stay strong during a full-time, six-month job search you must begin on the right foot with realistic

expectations of what is to come. Luckily there are certain themes that remain consistent

throughout the process, no matter where you plan to apply.

6 MONTHS


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5 Themes for Achieving Job Search Success

The professional world revolves around these rules. So should you.

1. Action

This is the first and probably the most important theme. If your job search ever becomes stagnant and

you are failing to get the results that youd like, take action. Make sure that you are always doing

something to work toward finding a job. This theme applies:

Mentally

Always be thinking about the next step that you need to take. Read the news, becomeknowledgeable and sharpen your mind. Take in information and you will have more to talk about

with others you will find conversations becoming easier and less one-sided.

Physically

You should be meeting people and interacting in person whenever you can. Always go for face time

and do not spend too much time on the Internet. Remember that networking is the best way to find

a job. Get out there and meet people face-to-face. You will find that when it comes time to interview,you will be much more comfortable.


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2. Organization

In your job search, as well as every other aspect of your life, its important to stay organized. We will

recommend several tools to help you accomplish this, but the ball is in your court when it comes to

actually using them. If you can remain organized you will always know who to contact and when, theright time to send follow-up emails and thank you notes, as well as all of the little details to achieve

networking success. Organization comes natural to some but for others can be quite difficult. One way

that seems to help many people is to make lists. Practice keeping track of what you need to do and

when. This applies to:

Your Actions

Plan accordingly so that you can allocate enough time to your job search. Begin using a calendarand create a daily schedule to ensure you accomplish what you need to each day.

Your Contacts

Organize your contacts so that you can easily find anyone you need. Include any notes that may be

helpful for networking and know who can help you with what.

Your Research/Notes

All of the research you are doing on companies and people, and the notes you take along the way

about what worked for you and what did not, should be organized. Whether you keep a running

Excel or Word document or go old-fashioned with a box of alphabetized notecards. Then you can

always find what you need and be prepared for any situation.


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3. Individualization

Always give individualized attention. Be specific whenever possible. When it comes to contacting a

person or company, focus on what you would say to that person or that company specifically. Alwaysavoid being generic. Show that you really care by putting in the extra time to do background research

and over prepare. Individualization applies to both the passive and active parts of your job search and

should be seen in:

Your job search materials

Your resume and cover letter should be tailored to each specific job and company. Similarly, your

personal profiles online should give specific, concrete examples of your skills and accomplishments.Your contact with others

Your e-mails and any other form of contact with professionals should also be individualized.

Try to make a personal connection with the people you meet for use in future correspondence.


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4. Persistence

This is another theme that we have stressed throughout and are going to continue to stress until

you find a job and then were going to stress it again. When it comes to finding a job, you shouldnever give up and you will find a job. You cant win if you never try. Persist, but do not be

annoying. Follow up. If you send an application and fail to receive a response, contact again; many

companies are just waiting to see who wants it bad enough to keep on asking. Be persistent in:

Your job search in general

Do not give up and you will find a job.

Your contact with othersAlways follow up after contacting a person or company and follow the correspondence to the final

step the thank you note.


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5. Professionalism

You are an adult now. From your e-mail address to the way you speak to people to your business attire,

you should exude professionalism. This will go a long way many young people these days havebecome casual in so many aspects of their lives that they forget the importance of this theme. It is

important to be professional in all aspects of your life, including:

Your personal attire

This includes what you wear to interviews and to work, and when meeting with other professionals.

Even at a casual networking event, you should be sure to look polished. Casual attire does not mean

sloppy.Your job search materials

Your resume and cover letter should be professional looking.

Your correspondence with others

Your contact with others should always be professional. Remember, you are addressing adults, not

your best friends.

Your online presence

This includes your social networking profiles, e-mail address, blog and everything else someone could

find about you online.


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These five themes should always be in the back of your mind as they apply to everything you do in this

job search process. Anytime you are wondering how you should act or approach a situation, think of

these themes and model your behavior accordingly. The professional world lives by these rules, and so

should you.

In case you already forgot, here they are again:

1. Action

2. Organization

3. Individualization4. Persistence

5. Professionalism


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Truth #3:

If you want a job,you need experience.


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Here are some facts that will help illustrate how competitive the current job market really is and how

necessary actual industry experience is to starting your career:

Overall, hiring of graduates with any degree will decline by 2 percent compared to 2009.6

Employers plan to hire 7 percent fewer college graduates from the class of 2010 than they did from

this years graduating class.7

On the bright side

In 2009, 23 percent of students who interned had a job in hand at graduation. For those without

internship experience, just 14 percent left college with a signed-sealed-and-delivered job.8

Of the 2009 graduates that now have jobs, 73 percent completed an internship during their

undergraduate term.8

More than 75 percent of employers said they prefer candidates with relevant internship

experience.8

MORE THAN 75% OF RESPONDING

EMPLOYERS SAID THEY PREFERCANDIDATES WITH RELEVANTINTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE.


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Hit the Ground Running

Employers are looking for candidates who can hit the ground running. The best way to do that is to getsome relevant experience in the form of an internship. With internship experience in your industry, you

will be steps ahead of many other applicants and at the very least in the same position as other

high-achieving individuals.

Another thing to consider is the increasing prevalence of the intern-to-employee situation. As

companies are trimming the fat and cutting back on unnecessary jobs and budget lines, they

cannot afford to make hiring mistakes. Training an employee for two months only to find out thathe is a complete dud in the real work environment is not acceptable. Companies can, however,

afford the cheap or nonexistent intern salary and are turning to motivated young interns to fill

the gap. If you receive an internship opportunity and excel in your position, there is a pretty good

chance you could be offered a full-time position.

Internships are key for those who are lacking actual experience and for those who may be struggling

to fill a one-page resume. Heres why:


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Gain Real World Experience

Internships are extremely important for gaining real world experience. Most employers like to see

some type of experience in the field you are trying to enter, in a similar field or in the business world

period. Internships provide you with this necessary experience.

Continue Your Education

Internships allow you to continue your education in a non-classroom environment. You will learn

many things that you were never taught in the classroom about the work environment. At the

same time, you will find real-life examples of many of the principles you learned in class.

Although, the knowledge you gain as an intern will not necessarily be specific to that job or

company, it will apply to the professional world in general. Gaining this knowledge will help youwhen it comes to networking and the interview process.

Set Yourself Apart

Many people in your same situation do not and will not have internship experience. You can set yourself

apart from your peers by essentially performing many of the tasks you would be given in a full-time

entry-level job, except youre doing it as an intern. You should come out of the experience with

accomplishments for your resume and new skills to tout.

But internships are not only important for those with limited professional experience. In fact, many people

argue that starting as a company intern is better than starting as a full-time employee.


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7 Reasons Why Starting as an Intern is Better than Startingas a Full-Time Employee:1. You Have the Opportunity to Work Directly Under a High-Level Employee

Oftentimes entry-level employees are placed in positions at the bottom of the career ladder. Interns,

on the other hand, are generally placed under higher-level employees that can act as mentors and

serve as great sources for advice. Working under a top-level employee gives you access to someone

with more experience and industry knowledge. Additionally, if you show yourself to be an intelligent

and hard-working individual, you may end up collaborating on important projects that you wouldnt

have access to in an entry-level position.

2. Your Position Allows You to Learn Rather than Just Simply Do Work

The nature of an internship defines the experience as one in which it is more important for interns to

learn about the company and the industry than to complete repetitive tasks. As an entry-level employee

you are more confined because you are expected to focus on and complete the tasks specific to your job.

As an intern, however, you are expected to ask questions and set up informational interviews with

other employees in order to better understand the big picture. While this does not mean that you

wont be given work to complete as an intern, it does mean that you have greater flexibility when it

comes to managing your time.


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3. You Get the Chance to Work on Many Different Types of Projects

Since the nature of an internship is focused on general learning, your work may be more diversified.

Instead of focusing on a single project or task, you may be given work in several areas of the company

that will require the use of different skills. Through this process you will get a better idea of where your

interests and talents lie.

4. There is No Long-Term Commitment

Another advantage of an internship is the lack of a long-term commitment the average internship

lasts 12 weeks. If you sign on as an entry-level employee, companies expect that you are in it for the

long haul. Some companies will have a three-month probation period after hiring, but expect you to

perform as if you are on board for the long term. They may wish to provide you with training or spend asignificant amount of money on preparing you for your future at their company. Quitting early can be

considered bad form and could prevent you from receiving letters of recommendation.

Successful completion of an internship, on the other hand, can at least provide you with

recommendation letters (if you were a good intern) and the short time frame allows you to complete

multiple internships if you still need help deciding what you want to do or need more experience in a

specific area. Additionally, internships allow you to get a better idea of the type of work environmentthat best suits you. Do you like the corporate feel? Do you prefer wearing a suit or casual dress to

work? You will be able to answer these questions to ascertain where you will be most productive and

more importantly, happy.


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5. Companies Always Will Need Interns

This means that it will be easier to find an internship than a full-time job because you will have a larger

pool of opportunities. It also means that you have a greater chance of working with a big name in your

industry the biggest and best often take on the most interns.

6. Experience is Not Required

This is another reason why its easier to find an internship than a job. Most companies require entry-

level employees to have some type of experience something you may not have.

Internships usually do not require experience because they are made to give you that experience. It

will benefit you in the long run if you can gain the oh-so-valuable experience before entering the

professional job search because it increases your chance of getting noticed.

7. More Work Experience = More Money

Your starting salary may be higher if you have actual experience and the ability to prove you will succeed at

your job. If you can demonstrate concrete results, companies will be more likely to hire you because all of

the guesswork is taken out of the situation. Why not spend a few months in an internship to set yourself up

for starting your career in the best position possible?

Not convinced yet? Here are several success stories of people who started their careers as either

interns, temps or in other rather unconventional ways. But they are not just that, they also are great

friends of mine. So, I am going to get a bit more personal in the coming pages.


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Chris Wright (age 29)After graduating college, Chris spent a couple of years teaching English

in South Korea. Upon his return, he called me and we discussed him to

coming to work with me in Southern California. Well, on his drive down

from Montana, he stopped in Northern California where he had the

opportunity to make some quick money as a temp.

At Google.

Long story short, he never made it down to Southern California. Chris

Wright is now the product marketing manager for Google Chrome and

one of the few people in his position who doesnt have an MBA from

some sort of Ivy League institution.

What You Can Learn

Temping can be a great way to get your foot in the door at a great company. Just make sure

youre temping for a company that you can really see yourself working for.


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Adam Steffen (age 28)

Much like Chris, Adam also started his career as a temp. But unlike Chris, Adamknew all along that he wanted to work at Nike and coming in as a temp was the

best way to go about it. Adam now is a category planner for Nike Basketball in

North America. His responsibilities have included overseeing $500 million of the

top line revenue in the geography. Whats interesting about Adam is that he

came in with literally zero experience. He turned a few small connections and

lots of hard work into what many would consider a dream job.

What You Can Learn

If there is a company that you absolutely want to work for, do whatever it takes to

get in.


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Evan Ferrari (age 32)Evan, more than anyone I know, always had the dream of working in an

advertising agency. He wanted to be in this industry and started his career in

the mail room of a San Francisco agency. When everybody else went home,

Evan began working on volunteer projects for the agencys planning team.

Over time people started recognizing that he was a very smart guy, and he

eventually became a junior planner at the agency.

Today Evan is the director of strategic planning at Saatchi & Saatchi in LosAngeles where he is in charge of developing marketing strategies for the

agencys largest client, Toyota. Its one of the best and most high-profile

advertising jobs in the country.

What You Can Learn

If youre in your dream company or industry but dont have your dream job

quite yet, start offering people your help internally. Help everyoneeverywhere, but most importantly, help the people whose job you want.


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Maghan McDowell (age 26)Maghan has pursued her dream of working in the magazine industry

without abandon. By the time she graduated from college she had

five, yes five, internships under her belt, including gigs at Coed, Quick

& Simple and Marie Claire magazines. In addition, Maghan freelanced

for more than six publications while studying for her degree. She

currently serves as the executive editor of INsite magazine, as

managing editor of the Gainesville Business Report and as executiveeditor of Welcome magazine. Shes a study in creating opportunities

for yourself because she believes they very rarely drop in your lap.

What You Can Learn

Work for free. Accept the assignments that no one else wants to do,

and when youre working hard, work harder. Its all experience (even

if you dont get paid) that pays of in the long term.


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Jesse Lakes (age 27)

Jesse Lakes is the iTunes global affiliate manager at Apple. His storyis unique in that he actually never wanted to work for someone else.

Jesse spent years traveling the world as a raft guide and making

money via various affiliate marketing ventures. At some point, he

decided to take what he learned and write an e-book about it called

Mastering the iTunes Affiliate Program.

When he emailed the friendly folks at Apple to get their permission topublish the book, they first threatened to sue him. Then they read the

book ... and offered him a job.

What You Can Learn.

Experience means everything. It doesnt have to be an internship, but instead it

can be an awesome project that youve worked on.
http://masteringitunes.com/http://masteringitunes.com/


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Ben Wiener (age 37)

Ben Wiener is currently the CEO of WONGDOODY, a marketing company,which employs more than 150 people and is ranked among Inc.coms

fastest growing companies in America. He began his career as an intern

at WONGDOODY shortly after the agencys founding and has been there

ever since. He began taking on new accounts and responsibilities

quickly as he showed an aptitude for the business and kept working his

way up, eventually opening the Los Angeles office and becoming partner

and CEO.

What You Can Learn

It is possible to work your way to the very top of exactly the same

company that you began your career even when you started as an

unpaid intern.


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Notice a Trend?

After reading about these successful businesspeople that have worked their way from humble

beginnings to the top, you should begin to notice a trend among their work habits. Every single onemade the most of his or her situation and worked hard to be much more than average.

Your internship can be the springboard for your professional career as well. Put everything youve got

into it and the payout will come in the future. Always be learning and continue to challenge yourself;

you can only get better by pushing yourself to new heights again and again. Make the most of what

youve been given; every opportunity can become a learning opportunity. Finally, be confident in your

abilities; if you believe you can do it, you will do it.


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Truth #4:

Interested employers will dotheir homework on you.


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Hiring Managers Do Not Want to Waste Their Time

An increase in candidates has hiring managers finding out all they can before wasting valuable timeon an interview.

On average, a company interviews only one person per 245 resumes it receives.9

More than 71% of HR managers browse social networks looking for candidates.10

Finally, 35% of employers reported they have found content on social networking sites that

caused them not to hire a candidate.11

Job boards flooded with unqualified applicants and overall recruitment dissatisfaction are resulting in a

more proactive search for job candidates. Companies are cutting budgets for posting job ads online

because they are simply receiving too many applications from both under-qualified and over-qualified

individuals. This inundation is leading recruiters to

go on the offensive and search websites such as

LinkedIn, Facebook and others for more information

than is provided in the standard application.

71% OF HR MANAGERS

BROWSE SOCIAL NETWORKSLOOKING FOR CANDIDATES.


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Have You Ever Googled Yourself?

Pretty much everyone has typed their own name in a search engine at least once during theirlifetime. What came up when you tried? Have you tried lately? If not, you might want to (some

people are unpleasantly surprised by what they find).


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WWPED (What Would a Potential Employer Do?)Put yourself in the shoes of a potential employer. Youve got the candidates resume and cover letter and

youre slightly intrigued. Youre at least intrigued enough to use the 10 seconds it takes to put your

fingers to the keyboard and type candidates name into a search engine. Easy, right? Almost too easy

Nonetheless, information will appear. But will the information that Google provides for you have a

positive or negative effect on your candidacy for a job?

Regardless of whether you find negative or positive information, or none at all, this exercise is

helpful because you are doing something that a potential employer will be doing when you applyfor a job.Employers utilize any means possible to find background information on you so thatthey know more about you before an interview or sometimes know that you shouldnt get an

interview.It also is important to realize that having no information is not necessarily good; when youare being compared to other candidates that do have a significant Web presence, you could be

overshadowed.


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Companies are Using the Internet to Find and ResearchPotential EmployeesIt is important to realize that companies are using the Internet to find and research potential

employees.What are you doing to establish your presence? You always should be aware of whatinformation appears when someone searches your name on Google and you should do everything in your

power to make sure that whatever comes up isnt going to hurt you.The more information you provide andthe more places you put this information, the greater the chance is that a potential employer will find you.Besides Google, companies are using multiple social networking websites to perform this background

research as well.Facebook has become a common

source of information for people

responsible for hiring new employees:

Vault.com, a leading career information website, recently reported that 44 percent of employers log onto

social networks like Facebook to examine the profiles of job candidates, and 39 percent have looked up theprofile of a current employee.12

But dont delete just yet! There is at least one reason to have your information on the Internet.

44% OF EMPLOYERS LOG ONTO SOCIALNETWORKS LIKE FACEBOOK TO EXAMINETHE PROFILES OF JOB CANDIDATES.


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Online NetworkingYour parents and maybe even your grandparents are beginning to use Facebook to connect with

old friends, network and find jobs.Dont believe me? Of all active Facebook users, more than two-thirdsare out of college.And the fastest growing demographic is adults 35 years old and older!12You may want to consider the practical implications of social networking sites in this case, their

ability to help you connect with potential employers in order to get the job of your dreams.

According to a report from Classified Intelligence LLC, 61 percent of employers view social

networks as a promising channel to discover candidates.12

A Clearswift.com study confirms that 71 percent of HR managers understand these new tools and

browse social networks looking for candidates.12

These numbers are only on the rise as social networking becomes more popular and the tech-savvy

generations grow older. And there are thousands of social networking websites out there for every need

and niche.

The point of this discussion is that you need a significant presence on the Internet.Not only is the Internet used by companies to proactively find employees and research potential

candidates it can also be a valuable asset for networking.


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The idea is simple:If youre not visible, youre not found.According to William Arruda, a brand strategist and personal branding guru, as the hiring process

evolves from posting job openings to seeking out ideal candidates, virtual visibility will become morecritical to securing the perfect position.This will force all professionals proactively to build theirbrands online and bolster them in the real world.12


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Truth #5:

Sometimes companies that arenot hiring are most likely tohire you.


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Youve discovered your passion in life and the perfect position that will allow you to spend your days

doing something you actually want to do and get paid for it!

Youve also spent your time doing research and have found your dream company. But when you go on thecompany website to check out the employment opportunities, a big fat no longer accepting applications is

the only thing you can see. Pushing aside disappointment, you wait until the next day to call the company to

inquire about openings. Maybe they dont update their website, you tell yourself. But tomorrow comes and

your eager inquiry is met by a polite, Sorry, but were not hiring right now.

I guess that means you just cant find a job at your dream company right now ... or can you?

Defeat is the next step for the uninformed. But

some people know that there always is a hidden

job market. Get this:

Of all available jobs, 80 percent are never advertised.13

More than 50 percent of all employees obtain their jobs through networking.13

So, what is one way you can you tap into the hidden job market? The informational interview.

OF ALL AVAILABLE JOBS,80% ARE NEVER ADVERTISED.


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The Informational Interview is a Beautiful Thing

It is basically just a chance for you to ask questions of a professional in your field. It is much more

relaxed, serves as an opportunity for you to learn from them and your prospective career and futureare not hanging in the balance. It is your chance to learn about your desired job from someone who

has firsthand experience and probably a lot of it.

What may be of even more interest to you is that one out of every 12 informational interviews results

in a job offer, according to Katharine Hansen, author of, A Foot in the Door: Networking Your Way

Into the Hidden Job Market.14

With Whom Should I Conduct an Informational Interview?Well, a great place to begin is with the people youve been referred to by your close contacts. You also

can interview alumni or anyone else that youve come across in your industry of interest. Generally, it

is best to have some type of connection to this person though, whether its a person or common school

or association.

If a friend-in-common hasnt referred you to a specific person, try to find someone that holds a

position you would be interested in having. Sometimes its more informative to interview someonewho simply holds the kind of job youd like to have, says Hansen in her book. Thats especially

true for college students who can benefit from interviewing recent grads with entry-level jobs.


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Truth #6:

Getting an interviewis the hardest part.


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Companies receive countless applications for available positions, applications that come in the form of a

few pieces of paper with only the general information that a resume and cover letter can provide. There

is no explaining low grades, a lack of experience or a gap in your employment history. At the same time,

there is no way to truly convey your integral part in winning a client, preparing a presentation for theboard members or the true value of the leadership you provided to your peers in the club you joined in

college.

Igniting the Spark

The sad fact is that your resume and cover letter alone cannot really show who you are, what you

want and why you will succeed. All you can do is try to ignite a spark, create that exciting moment

that occurs when an employer sees a glimmer of hope amidst an endless stack of applications.

If you can create that spark, youve already accomplished the hardest part. That spark marks an

interest in you as a potential candidate, the beginning of a journey that may lead to your new career,

and hopefully, an interview.

If youve done any independent research you may have noticed that there are countless websites

that can provide you with upwards of 600 potential interview questions. While it cannot hurt to be

over-prepared, what in the world are you going to do with 600 sample interview questions?! That isa ridiculous, overwhelming and unnecessary amount of sample answers to prepare, especially

when there is a good chance that youll be asked a question that isnt even on the list.


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What We Can Learn From the 600+

The good news, though, is that we can learn from these questions. They all are basically getting at the

same type of information. If you are aware of this and can prepare certain information in your headbeforehand, you will be able to adapt your answers to any form of the questions. Plus, instead of

looking like you rehearsed your answers, the interview will flow naturally in the form of a conversation,

making the interview easier on you and the person on the other side of the desk.


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The Four Big Interview Questions

Weve boiled it down to four important answers that you need toprovide in order to have a successful interview. While you will

definitely be asked additional questions that will affect whether you

receive a job offer or not, these are what we believe are crucial for

your success.

Even if you are never asked these questions specifically, the answers

to these questions are what the employer is looking for. Anything you

can do during the interview to make these answers clear will help

you get the job.


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B. Why Our Company Specifically?

The second part of the question requires thorough background research on your part. Make sure that

youve read through the company website and its press release pages and have taken the time toGoogle the company as well. This will provide you with ample information to use in answering part two

of the question.

If youve read into the companys background or mission statement, you will find the values in which

the company prides itself, such as customer satisfaction, attention to detail, honesty, etc. Relating

your answer to a companys mission statement shows that your values are in line with the companys

values a very positive thing. However, dont lie just because you think it will please the person

youre speaking with. You shouldnt have to anyway; after all, you applied there for a reason. Tell them

why!


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2. What Kind of Skills and Accomplishments Do You Have?Every employer wants to know what you possess that will enable you to complete the job satisfactorily.

Youve already spent plenty of time evaluating and preparing your accomplishments for your resume;

now you must communicate that same information in your interview!

Know the content of your resume. You should have concrete, specific examples of the skills you

possess and the things youve accomplished. Again the focus is on accomplishments as opposed

to responsibilities.

This question is all about what you can do for the company. Why should they hire you? How can youbenefit them? Instead of focusing on what they will do for you (i.e. provide a great learning experience)

focus on tangible benefits for the company (i.e. increased sales, efficiency, etc.) What kind of skills

would the ideal candidate possess?

Translate each skill into a benefit. For example, if you are very organized and finish your tasks ahead

of schedule, say that you have (or will) increased company efficiency.


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3. What kind of person are you?As opposed to the last question that focuses on your skills, this one is about your personality. Are you a

driven and curious individual? Do you think more logically or creatively? Do you work best as part of a

team? Knowing your personality as it pertains to the workplace will allow you to communicate how you

will fit in with the company culture and the lifestyle required of your new position.

This question often comes in the form of strengths and weaknesses. Employers will ask you what

your greatest strength and biggest weakness are. You need to be prepared for this!

Think of three solid strengths that you can elaborate on, prove by example and tie in with the type of

job that youre applying for. Go beyond smart, driven and responsible because that is what everyoneis going to say. For example, instead of simply saying driven, you could say motivated by failure to

continue improving, which is a more elaborate version of basically the same thing.

When it comes to providing a weakness, dont go overboard with the make your weakness sound like a

strength thing by saying something like, Oh, I work too hard or, All I do is focus on my job. Answers

like those are laughable and you will lose credibility for providing them. Instead, provide a true weakness

(thats not TOO much of a weakness) and explain how youve been improving. For example, Sometimes Ihave trouble keeping track of appointments but ever since I began using a calendar and my Blackberry,

Ive become more organized.


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Overall, be honest in your assessment. Employers will generally get an idea of whether youre telling

the truth throughout the course of conversation. If you describe yourself as very outgoing and people-

oriented but are actually shy, the difference will be obvious and your credibility will be lost. Work withwhat youve got, and emphasize the strengths you do have!


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4. What Distinguishes You From Other Candidates?The final important question involves how you can differentiate yourself from the other

candidates. As with many entry-level positions, more than one person will be capable ofcompleting the job responsibilities. What makes you the best one for the job?

Each person has their own unique selling proposition that sets them apart from others. This does not

have to be a single characteristic but can be a combination of several, the aggregate of which creates the

perfect candidate. Take the time to define what it is about you and what you are going to do to be the best.

Try to communicate your passion for the material, your commitment to the job and your eagerness to

learn more.

Need a little extra help? Sometimes it is easier to answer this question with help from a third party.

Ask a close friend or a parent, what makes me unique that would set me apart in the job selection

process? Oftentimes you will hear answers that make sense but that never came to your mind before.


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Getting It Right

Solidify Your AnswersIf you can solidify the answers to all of these questions, then you will be ready to handle almost

anything. Keep in mind though that you are not looking for a script. These questions will come in

many different forms, but the underlying answers that the employer is looking for will be the same.

Practice with Someone whos Been There

If you are unsure about what you are going to say, spend some time with someone older whos gone

through the process before and get their take on your answers. They may have little pointers here and

there that will steer you in the right direction.

Trust Yourself

Finally, go with your heart. Spend some time and put some real thought into the answers that you are

going to provide. Be honest with yourself the truth will be expressed not only in your words, but in

your body language and emotion as well. The better you know yourself, the better you will be able to

convey that to someone else!


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Good Luck.These tips should get you thinking about all of the different aspects involved in starting your career;

some are obvious and some may be completely new to you. But in a time of job scarcity even for

college graduates, they are all important.

This report represents part of the foundational knowledge and the proper mindset necessary for starting

your career. Its a difficult process especially in these turbulent times but were here to help.

We will be providing you with additional free content beyond this report, with tips and strategies thatyou can use to develop a better understanding of the current job market and for successfully

beginning your career.

Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for more information to come. Weve got a lot of exclusive how-to

content coming down the pike, so please stay subscribed.

Chief SparxsterCareerSparx.com
http://careersparx.com/http://careersparx.com/http://careersparx.com/http://careersparx.com/


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Footnotes1

NACE Job Outlook 2009. Rep. Bethlehem, PA: National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2009. Print.2 College Graduates Facing Mounting Debt, Rising Unemployment - Real Time EconomicsWSJ. WSJ BlogsWSJ. 1 Dec. 2009. Web. 02Feb. 2010.www.blogs.wsj.com/economics/2009/12/01/college-graduates-facing-mounting-debt-rising-unemployment/tab/article/

3 Average College Debt Load Surges To $23,200. SayEducate | Making Life Decisions Simplified. 3 Dec. 2009. Web. 02 Feb. 2010.www.sayeducate.com/2009/12/03/average-college-debt-load-surges-to-23200/

4 Baber, Anne, and Lynne Waymon. Make Your Contacts Count Networking Know-how for Business And Career Success. New York:AMACOM/American Management Association, 2007. Print.

5 RoAne, Susan. Making Small Talk - Big Deal About Small Talk. Susan Roane. Web. 29 Jan. 2010. www.susanroane.com/articles/bigdealaboutsmalltalk.html

6 Survey says job market for 2010 graduates still gloomyNov. 17, 2009. CNNMoney.com. 18 Nov. 2009. Web. 29 Jan. 2010.

www.money.cnn.com/2009/11/17/new s/economy/college_graduates_jobs/index.htm

7 Hiring Down 7 Percent for College Class of 2010 (9-16-09). NACE. 16 Sept. 2009. Web. 29 Jan. 2010.

www.naceweb.org/Press/Releases/Hiring_Down_7_Percent_for_College_Class_of_2010_(9-16-09).aspx

8 NACE 2009 Student Survey Rep. Bethlehem, PA: National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2009. Print.

9 Burt, Erin. Ten Job Hunting Myths. Kiplinger. 7 Apr. 2005. Web. 2 Feb. 2010.

www.kipbiz.org/columns/starting/archive/2005/st0407.htm
http://www.kipbiz.org/columns/starting/archive/2005/st0407.htmhttp://www.kipbiz.org/columns/starting/archive/2005/st0407.htmhttp://www.naceweb.org/Press/Releases/Hiring_Down_7_Percent_for_College_Class_of_2010_(9-16-09).aspxhttp://www.naceweb.org/Press/Releases/Hiring_Down_7_Percent_for_College_Class_of_2010_(9-16-09).aspxhttp://www.money.cnn.com/2009/11/17/news/economy/college_graduates_jobs/index.htmhttp://www.money.cnn.com/2009/11/17/news/economy/college_graduates_jobs/index.htmhttp://www.susanroane.com/articles/bigdealaboutsmalltalk.htmlhttp://www.blogs.wsj.com/economics/2009/12/01/college-graduates-facing-mounting-debt-rising-unemployment/tab/article/http://www.kipbiz.org/columns/starting/archive/2005/st0407.htmhttp://www.kipbiz.org/columns/starting/archive/2005/st0407.htmhttp://www.naceweb.org/Press/Releases/Hiring_Down_7_Percent_for_College_Class_of_2010_(9-16-09).aspxhttp://www.naceweb.org/Press/Releases/Hiring_Down_7_Percent_for_College_Class_of_2010_(9-16-09).aspxhttp://www.money.cnn.com/2009/11/17/news/economy/college_graduates_jobs/index.htmhttp://www.money.cnn.com/2009/11/17/news/economy/college_graduates_jobs/index.htmhttp://www.susanroane.com/articles/bigdealaboutsmalltalk.htmlhttp://www.susanroane.com/articles/bigdealaboutsmalltalk.htmlhttp://www.susanroane.com/articles/bigdealaboutsmalltalk.htmlhttp://www.susanroane.com/articles/bigdealaboutsmalltalk.htmlhttp://www.sayeducate.com/2009/12/03/average-college-debt-load-surges-to-23200/http://www.sayeducate.com/2009/12/03/average-college-debt-load-surges-to-23200/http://www.blogs.wsj.com/economics/2009/12/01/college-graduates-facing-mounting-debt-rising-unemployment/tab/article/http://www.blogs.wsj.com/economics/2009/12/01/college-graduates-facing-mounting-debt-rising-unemployment/tab/article/


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10 Clearswift. Internet and Web 2.0 Creates Unfamiliar Battleground for HR Professionals. Press Release.

www.clearswift.com/news/item.aspx?ID=1351

11 More Employers Screening Candidates via Social Networking Sites. CareerBuilder.com JobsThe Largest Job Search, Employment &

Careers Site. Web. 02 Feb. 2010.

www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-1337-Getting-Hired-More-Employers-Screening-Candidates-via-Social-Networking-Sites/

12 Schawbel, Dan. Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success. New York, NY: Kaplan Publishing, 2009. Print.

13 Bradford, Stacy L. Experts Offer Their Tips For Fruitful Networking. Wall Street Journal, February 28, 2005.

14

Hansen, Katharine. Foot in the door networking your way into the hidden job market. Berkeley, Calif: Ten Speed, 2000. Print.
http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-1337-Getting-Hired-More-Employers-Screening-Candidates-via-Social-Networking-Sites/http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-1337-Getting-Hired-More-Employers-Screening-Candidates-via-Social-Networking-Sites/http://www.clearswift.com/news/item.aspx?ID=1351http://www.clearswift.com/news/item.aspx?ID=1351

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