A Peak Behind the Scenes During the Interview Selection Process

A recent article shared with The Office of Career Services, highlighted some of the reasons employers decided not to push applicants further along the interview process.  Items that led to applicants resumes ending up in the trash included pictures on resumes, misspellings and grammar issues, inappropriate email addresses and being too casual during the interview process.   Many of the items that made the top 30 are those that an applicant can control.  To be best prepared for your interview, check out the many resources Career Services offers both on their website as well as in person to put yourself in a position to be successful.   Click on the link for more information http://www.ut.edu/career/jobsearchtoolbox/ .   In addition, a few of the issues that made the top 30 list can be found below.   Best of luck and happy interviewing.

Thought Catalog by Derek Marshall

16. the_no_name_man

One of my friends had to conduct telephone rounds for a position. It was technical and the person’s answering style was like he reads it from a text book. That person couldn’t get answers to any of situation based questions too. So finally my friend asked him to explain subnetting after opening Wikipedia. His answer was the first 2 lines from Wikipedia. Then my friend asked him to explain a little bit in detail. Then comes the next 2 lines from Wikipedia.

19. r7ndom

Inconsequential: The filename of the resume.
When you upload your resume to most systems, they do not rename the document – if it was called “Mama Peppers first draft.docx” that is exactly what the hiring manager will see first – because they must click on it to open it. Another common one is “resume.doc”,which means when I download 30 resumes all at once, guess what I’ve got? A directory full of “resume 1.doc” “resume 2.doc” etc. – every one of those applicants lose a bit in my book when I am forced to rename their resume so I can easily find them later.
Also, always upload in .doc/.docx or PDF. Preferably PDF since it is the only one (almost) guaranteed to come out properly on the other side – doc/docx can lose formatting, especially if you used odd fonts or other such things.

26. TinCupChallace

Said his drivers license was suspended …I watched him drive away after the interview.

27. TheDaggle

Pro tip: be courteous and professional with EVERYONE in or around the building.

My girlfriend used to be an “office specialist” who greeted and seated every applicant before their interview. Part of her duties were to evaluate applicants’ appearance and behavior and report to the manager/interviewer.

The interviews were almost a formality. Your fate was pretty much decided by the notes she jotted on your paperwork while you waited to be called in.

UT Students- Do Your Communication Skills Match The “Real World”

In a recent article on CNBC, the idea is challenged that today’s college students are not prepared for the level of communication skills necessary to effectively work in an internship or full-time job setting.  Are cell phones, texting and character limits altering how prepared you are for today’s work environment?   Many would say YES and I would argue they are correct!!   If you haven’t done so already, conduct your own study on the lack of face to face contact going on in your environment.   Witness countless students pulling out cell phones the minute they walk out of class or while in line waiting for mail.   How many virtual conversations do you conduct a day?  Check out the full story below and please share your thoughts, we want to hear what you think?

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101176249

Excerpt:

Experts differ on why job candidates can't communicate effectively. Bram Lowsky, an executive vice president of the workforce management arm of Manpower, blames technology. "With Gen X and Gen Y, because everything is shorthand and text, the ability to communicate effectively is challenged," he said. "You see it in the business world, whether with existing employees or job candidates looking for work."  Others say colleges aren't doing a good job. In a survey of 318 employers published earlier this year by the Association of American Colleges and Universities and conducted by Hart Research Associates, 80 percent said colleges should focus more on written and oral communication. 

ONE MORE TEST- Are you Ready?

As the economy shifts to a more stable and growing job market for graduating students, companies are once again preparing for a competitive job market to identify and hire the next top talent for their organizations.  With an increased importance on analyzing data, problems solving and critical thinking, new assessments are being developed to help companies better assess future employees readiness for the “real world”.    Some of these measurements focus on the student’s institution and how prepared the university prepared graduating students, while others assess an individual’s capabilities in this area.   One assessment, the Collegiate Learning Assessment, measures the incoming academic ability of the institution the student attended.

Whether you agree with this or not, more and more companies are using this type of assessment similarly to how schools evaluate SAT scores for incoming freshman.   To best prepare for that next step, we encourage you to review the latest information available to make sure you are best suited for the economy you are about to enter.   The skills mentioned above along with communication and interpersonal skills are among the most sought after by employers regardless of the industry or job.   Get prepared now!

Are you ready for your first job?

Students often share mixed feelings about leaving The University of Tampa following graduation.  Many are excited to get out on their own and take on the world while others are not quite sure what to expect.   A recent article on CBSnews.com refers to an apparent gap revealing itself with recent grads.   Within the article it discusses how many feel that the company will provide a “hands on approach” to training in your first year when in fact, fewer than half report ever getting this.  In order to be sure you are best prepared for both the interview and your first year on the job, check out these resources.       

The Office of Career Services is open all summer so don’t hesitate to reach out if you need guidance or support at 813.253.6236 or hireut@ut.edu.   

UT Job Fair- April 4th….Take a Chance

With 60 companies attending this year’s Spring Professional Job Fair on Thursday April 4^th, there will be plenty of opportunities available for you to identify job leads and network with area/regional recruiters.  We often see missed opportunities at these events as students often try to match their major perfectly to either the job or company.   We would like to offer you some advice we hear consistently from companies.  Take a step back and identify your skill set you have developed over your time at The University of Tampa and apply this to the jobs you speak to employers about.  It is often the case, that the employer is not seeking a match by major but instead what skills, personality and passion you bring to the organization.  We have witnessed over the years Accounting students getting hired by Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, Psychology majors working at GEICO, Writing students working at Raymond James...the list goes on.   Take a chance and visit with as many companies as possible this year, you just may find yourself presented with a dream opportunity.

For a list of companies attending this year and event details please click here.   Best of luck and see you there!!  

Graduate School Resources at Your Fingertips

Are you considering applying to Graduate School?   Did you know that HIRE-UT can help you with more than just jobs and internships?   HIRE-UT can assist you with both your search for the right graduate school and preparation to get in.   Among the great resources available to you include:  Attending Full-Time vs. Part-Time programs, 7 Graduate School Search Tips, Your Guide to Getting Into Grad School and Should I go to Graduate School Now?

Get started with these 7 Great Steps compliments of HIRE-UT/Experience:

1. Know your objectives
2. Consult an online graduate school search guide
3. Narrow your options
4. Contact existing students
5. Visit the campus
6. Re-evaluate your choices
7. Selecting your program

Email Tips for Your Job or Internship

In today’s increasingly technological world, effective communication both electronically and verbally, is essential to being a successful employee.   The National Association of Colleges and Employers recently shared a 16 tip guide for successfully managing your email communication while on the job.  Following these tips will establish yourself as a s competent communicator and go a long way to establishing yourself in the company culture.   Check them out and let us know what you think!!

16 Tips for Using E-mail at Your New Job

1. Do not use your employer’s e-mail address for anything other than work-related correspondence.
2. Read e-mail carefully so that you can respond appropriately.
3. Don’t send confidential material by e-mail.
4. Use a subject line that reflects what your message is about.
5. Don’t use abbreviations or text-message jargon (BTW, LOL, or smiley faces, and so forth) in your e-mail.
6. Use a brief greeting as you might in a letter (Dear John, Good morning Mrs. Smith). Include a closing (Sincerely, Yours, Thanks).
7. Use spell check and reread your message before sending.
8. Respond to e-mail promptly.
9. Use typefaces and colors that are appropriate to your workplace. Ask if your office has a style that you should follow.
10. If you find you are e-mailing back and forth several times, pick up the phone to settle the issue.
11. If you forward a message, remove the FW from the subject line.
12. Change the subject line if the topic of the e-mail changes.
13. Do not share other people’s e-mail addresses.
14. Be careful using “reply all.” Consider whether it is necessary that everyone sees your reply.
15. Do not forward other people’s messages without permission.
16. Watch the tone of your e-mail. Remember, the person receiving the e-mail can’t see your body language. 

Is the Economy Turning for Upcoming UT Graduates?

The economy was a major focal point for the presidential race and has continued to be for the country as a whole.   Recent numbers indicate that a slow but steady economic upturn are just around the corner.   This past Sunday, the St. Petersburg Times and TBO.com shared several success stories of local Tampa Bay area businesses as well as possible business relocating to this region.   Staying current with the local economy is a critical strategy in your search for a full-time job or internship.   Local resources such as the newspapers, business journals and even on campus programming, can lead you right to the companies who are hiring despite everything you have heard in the media.   Check out these great stories below.  

Three financial firms may inject 1,000 higher-wage jobs in Tampa Bay area

Tampa-based Webjet.com takes off

What Students are Looking for in an Employer- Do you agree?

Recently, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) shared responses from the 2012 Student Survey of what new graduates seek in their employers.   The results have been summarized into 4 key areas below.

•  Students want to hear directly from the company and its reps via on campus programs.   Common ways this is accomplished at UT are through Open Houses, Job Fairs, Workshops and Student Organization Meetings.
• Reinforcing this branding messages through multiple resources is often the key.  These trusted contacts could be fellow students, Career Services reps, family members and faculty.
• Have a great intern program as an introduction to the company.   Key focus should be given to conducting PAID internships and internships that have project level work.  Must be meaningful experience.
• Benefits packages are becoming increasingly important as students enter the world of work.

 Do you agree with these key focus areas?   Are there other things you look for in a company when seeking a job or internship?   Comments are open, share your thoughts!

Positive News on the Job Front

It seems that the job market for recent grads has been one of fewer opportunities and the cause for major stress over the past few years.   While TheUniversity of Tampa continues to see a high percentage of its graduates attaining full time employment or acceptance to graduate schools, more positive signs on a national level should help to ease the pressure.   According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) , the job market for college graduates continues its upward trend as employers responding to NACE’s Job Outlook 2013 survey at this early juncture expect to increase hiring by 12.2 percent.  It’s important to note that the data presented here are preliminary and will likely change by the time the survey is completed in September. Still, while not complete, the preliminary data offer early insight into the climate of the job market for the Class of 2013.  

So far, the projected overall hiring increase exceeds the plans of employers last year when they estimated a hiring bump of 9.5 percent. Furthermore, this year, only 8 percent of respondents are reporting they will decrease college hiring, the smallest percentage since 2007. 

One area that has remained the same among the Class of 2013 and the previous two classes are the degrees that are most in demand, which include: Finance, Accounting, Computer science, Electrical engineering, and Mechanical engineering.  

The Office of Career Services has a full slate of events this year to help connect you with opportunities and companies to network with.   The calendar of current events is available in HIRE-UT.