The Follow Up

The job and interview search can be very intimidating, especially if you are a beginner. There are many different methods and advice regarding to how to follow on an interview and it can be a little confusing. Here are some tips in order to follow up on your interview in a successful manner!

There are two ways of following up that are very important – the email follow up and the physical follow up. Bottom line: an email follow up is EXPECTED.

An email follow up is a very simple way to follow up but is crucial for most employers to consider you as a candidate. Make sure that when you are interviewing, you receive a business card from the potential employer as a means of being able to reach out to him or her. After your interview you should follow up in the next 24-48 hours.

First comes the subject line. This can seem tricky, but you really just want to get to the point. It is often appropriate to make the subject line “Interview Follow Up” or “Follow Up for XXXX Position”. This gives the potential employer an idea of what the email is about.

Next, when writing the follow up email you should introduce yourself if you have not already contacted this person via email, then thank the potential employer for taking the time to interview you for the specific position that you applied to.

After that, you may want to mention something that you discussed during your interview such as a skill or quality that you possess and how it directly relates to the position that you are applying for and how you would make a perfect fit for the position.

Make sure to show your enthusiasm through your wording! Let the potential employer know that he or she is more than welcome to contact you with any questions regarding your resume and that you a looking forward to hearing from him or her soon. If there was any small talk that took place or you had something that you both related to (such as you both are NY Giants fans) you can always add in a “Go Giants” near the end of your email.

Close with a professional phrase such as “Best Regards” or “Best” and sign your name.

***BEFORE YOU SEND THE EMAIL DO A SPELL AND GRAMMAR CHECK***

One of the biggest mistakes that you can make is sending a follow up email with a spelling error or grammatical mistake. It looks poorly on your part and will show that you are not detail oriented or that you do not have good communication skills.

After you have sent an email follow up, you have the option to send a physical follow up such as a thank you card. Although it is a small token, it really goes a long way and brings your professionalism to a whole new level.

It is less common to send a thank you card as a follow up, but it shows that you are very dedicated to the position. If there is a position that you are applying to that you are very interested in, it would be very beneficial for you to send the potential employer a thank you card.

Victoria Williams
Marketing Intern
Office of Career Services, The University of Tampa

What Risks are YOU Taking for Your Career?

One of my favorite quotes comes from Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated “do one thing every day that scares you.” We receive a lot of messages, whether they be internal or external, that tell us there’s something to be afraid of. We might make a mistake. We might say the wrong thing. We might be too young, too old… we don’t have enough experience. Whatever the situation may be, we could always find a reason why it would be safer to stay within our comfort zone. However, without courage there is less potential for reward.

Sure, job fairs are scary. Networking events can be awkward and uncomfortable. Being scrutinized by a group of people during an interview?! Forget about it! Yet all of these situations will be necessary for career advancement at some point in our career trajectory. Now is as good of time as any to start getting in the habit of taking these types of risks.

With graduation approaching, there are a lot of ways in which students can put themselves out there in order to get noticed in their desired industry.

The Elevator Speech Competition starts on Friday, March 20^th. This is a great opportunity to practice your elevator speech if this is something that still seems scary to you. The competition also provides the opportunity for finalists to practice their pitch in front of employers: this is a really great way to make connections and create a lasting first impression. There is also potential to win some cash, if the argument to participate wasn’t convincing enough already.

Within our upcoming “Life After UT” series, there are plenty of additional opportunities to learn about how to stand out when you’re ready to challenge yourself to get in front of employers. On Tuesday, April 7^th we have a “Personal Branding and Innovative Job Search” workshop and the week after that we have an “Interviewing Success!” workshop on April 14^th. Consider attending both of these informative presentations if you haven’t already signed up.

Finally, we have an alumni panel and networking event on April 21^st. This is yet another great opportunity to practice your elevator speech and networking skills and increase your comfort level in marketing yourself as a professional.

You can register for any of these events through your HIRE-UT profile: https://spartanweb.ut.edu/ICS/Campus_Life/Career_Services/Hire_UT.jnz

Graduation is quickly approaching: what are you most afraid? What risks can you take in order to propel your life as a professional?

 

Melena Postolowski, MA, NCC

Assistant Director of Internship Programs

Office of Career Services, The University of Tampa

Your Quick Guide to Achieving Your Career After UT

Welcome and welcome back to another semester at The Unviersity of Tampa! As you return to campus you may be asking yourself, how do I get through the next 3 + months with rigorous academic coursework and still make progress toward my career?

The answer is simple. Have a plan. “Invest in the future because that is where you are going to spend the rest of your life.” ― Habeeb Akande

1.     Start where you are. You are a student. Utilize the services offered to students.  Did you know that you have an office dedicated to Life after UT in the office of career services? Employers are on-campus many times during the Spring semester. Have you pre-registered on Hire-UT? What other offices on-campus have professionals that can assist you? Do your research!

 

2.     Pace Yourself. Much like any workout or training plan you must pace yourself when making strides toward your career. What will you do this semester that will open doors for your career? Will you begin to network through information interviews, job shadowing or volunteering? Maybe this semester you begin searching for an internship. Whatever you do make a plan. Time goes by fast!

 

3.     Enjoy the ride. Enjoy talking with professionals. Ask professors, employers, career coaches and other professionals questions. What do they suggest you do to make the most of your time while you are in college? Shoot for the stars and make a plan that fits into your semester. One sample goal would be to make contact with a professional twice/month at an event on-campus or off-campus. Be open to life’s possibilities now and you will thank yourself later.

 

All the best for your career!

Best Regards,

Jessie

Jessie Bush, M.A.

Assistant Director, Career Coaching & Professional Development

 

 

 

 

Interview tips from etiquette expert Virginia Edwards

If you’ve attended our Etiquette Dinners in the last few years, Virginia Edwards’ name will be familiar to you since she has been our speaker.  I always enjoy reading her monthly newsletter, and, when I read her February newsletter, I immediately wrote to her and told her that she had just unknowingly written my next blog post.  With her permission, I’ve copied the first half of her article about interviewing below and will use the second half about follow-up after the interview at a later date.  From Virginia…..

“Your resume grabbed the attention of the HR manager.  You aced the telephone interview by having the company information at your fingertips and by remembering to keep background noise to a minimum.  You are at the next step.  The in-person interview.

HR managers tell me time and again how a candidate who has made it to the in-person interview can lose all credibility in an instant.  How does this happen?  Candidates need to remember they are being observed from the moment they arrive on company property until the moment they depart.  This includes driving your car onto the parking lot.  If it looks like you live in your car, clean it up or borrow or rent one for the day.

Do not underestimate the value of a receptionist!  Some receptionists are the first to interview a candidate.  This is not the time to be overly familiar with someone you just met or worse yet rude.  I have been hired on numerous occasions to play the role of receptionist in order to obtain a third party observation of how potential candidates interact with all levels of staff.

Most HR managers are driven to distraction when a candidate arrives with nothing in their hands.  Now I don’t mean you are to come bearing gifts.  You should arrive with a portfolio holding several copies of your resume, a list of your references, and pen and paper to take notes.  Your portfolio should be sturdy enough to lean on for note-taking since it is rude to lean on someone’s desk.  Even technology companies tell me they prefer the candidate to use pen and paper opposed to a smartphone or tablet for note-taking.  If you are unsure, ask in advance of your interview.  If told no technology, leave your phone in the car.  Even in your pocket or briefcase on vibrate; it is a distraction to you and those around you.  You are at the interview for human interaction, not to read your emails and texts, or to take calls.

Prepare a list of questions you would like answered about the company.  One HR manager told me how a sought-after candidate lost his credibility when the interviewer asked if he had any questions regarding the company or the position.  The candidate replied, “No.  I know everything.”  Even if you believe you know all there is to know about the company and the position, prepare some well thought out questions.”

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.

Career Services Resource Spotlight: Practice Your Interviewing Skills

Are your interview skills well developed?  Do you have experience interviewing? Are you confident during interviews?  If you answered “no” to any of these questions, the Office of Career Services encourages you to practice your interviewing skills using our online mock interviewing resource – Optimal Job Search’s Interview Module!

Interview Prep helps prepare you for even the toughest of interviews with real life, multi-media interview scenarios that were developed by seasoned employment professionals. This resource allows you to video tape a mock interview while receiving advice from an interview coach for those hard to answer questions. Once you have recorded the final version of your mock interview, make an appointment with the Office of Career Services to have your mock interview critiqued. Appointments can be requested online. 

To begin, all you need is access to a computer with a Webcam and microphone. If you do not have access to a webcam, contact the Office of Career Services to reserve one of our computers (advance reservation is required). Additionally, the Office of Career Services has a limited number of webcams available for check-out for a 24-hour period.

The online Optimal Job Search resource is available for UT students and alumni and can be found under the Job Search Toolbox.  A video tutorial on how to effectively use the Optimal Interview Module is available here.

Follow these steps to get started:

Select the Create New Interview option (or choose from an existing interview type), name it, and then select Start Interview. Once you have started a new interview with a name of your choosing, select an interview type from the list of options. If you select custom interview, you will build your own interview by selecting the types of interview questions you will be asked.

Under format, select the video option. You are now ready to begin the mock interview. You will notice that there is an Interviewer, as well as, a Coach. It is important that you listen to the built-in coaching advice to learn how to best answer the interview questions.

Once you have the finalized interview recorded, you can request an appointment with Career Services. Once you receive confirmation of your appointment with Career Services, send the link to your interview by using the share feature.

I hope you find this online resource helpful!

Break It Down!

This is the third and final blog post in a series of three titled “Nailing the Interview.” Check out the previous two: Suit Up! and Prep up!.

You've suited up, prepped, and now it’s time to close the deal! Follow these tips for the actual interview and hopefully you won’t experience a rejection quite like this:

Don’t be late, obviously. I know this is easier said then done but take traffic into consideration and allow some additional time to find the office or reception area of where you need to be. 15 minutes early is perfect.

Spit out or swallow the gum you've been chewing to freshen your breath. Try switching to tics tacs that you can finish in one bite.

You’re not going to the club, so go easy on the cologne or perfume.

Bring a list of a few references in case your interviewer requests contact information.

Be gracious to everyone; the receptionist may have an important say in who gets hired.

Remember to bring a pen and notepad to take down notes during the interview and write out answers to questions you prepared after reading this.

Don’t break their hand or turn it into a competition, but provide a firm handshake.

Repeat his or her name subtly after being introduced. It shows that you are paying attention and interested in what he or she has to offer.

Don’t lie or distort prior work experience. Focus on your core strengths and achievements during your time with that specific job.

We all care about the price tag regardless of what Jessie J sings, but do not bring up compensation and benefits too soon. This is more appropriate on a second or third interview.

Try to come across as confident and determined. Feel free to talk about yourself but always direct comments towards the job description to avoid coming off as pompous.

Eye contact is a must. If more than one employer is interviewing you, make sure you reach out to each individual in the interview.

Ask for a business card to stay in touch and remember to send a follow-up appreciation email or letter.

Keep searching for job opportunities; two is definitely better than one. Worse case scenario, you have to turn a job down.

After dressing for success, making the necessary preparations, and remembering those few tips, you’re bound to nail that interview. Good luck!

Prep Up!

This is the second blog post in a series of three titled “Nailing the Interview.” Check out the first one here. 

Today I had an interview, and it went really well. I received the job offer, and I KNOW it was because of what I did to prepare. I realized it is not the ideal field I would like to work in, but as Hunter Hayes knows, it’s nice to feel wanted.

In an ideal world, we show up to an interview and after 30 minutes of talking about our skills and talents, stating our strengths and weaknesses, and maybe even comparing ourselves to an animal, we receive the job offer. Not the case. Without prepping for an interview, good luck trying to stand out (in a GOOD way) to your potential employer.

What does ‘prepping’ really consist of? It goes beyond practicing interview questions and having your suit pressed before as I pointed out in a previous blog. Next time you’re getting ready for an interview, think back to grade school and remember what your teacher would tell you over again and over again:

Do your homework:

Research on the company is a MUST. Focus on their mission statement, the advantage they have over their competitors, how they intend on growing in the future, and relevant information regarding the particular job or field you are applying to. If the opportunity arises during the interview, slip in some key facts or figures in an answer to show your genuine interest in the company. See where your skill set can fit in and express what you can bring to the company.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions:

As you’re doing your homework, jot down any questions you may have about the company. Try and learn as much as possible about your field by asking questions relevant to your potential job description. It shows that you took the time to do the research and have taken it one step further in an effort to obtain a better understanding of the company and position. Write these questions down and have them ready in a nice portfolio that you’ll bring into the interview.

Practice makes perfect:

Swing by the Office of Career Services in Riverside 116 and have your resume critiqued, your cover letter improved, and practice a mock interview.  Walk-in hours are Monday- Thursday 2-4pm.

Robert Fulhum made a good point in his poem All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten, but there is just as much to be learned from grade school.