Translating Your Classroom Experience to the Job Search

Image courtesy of George Redgrave, Flickr Creative Commons

What does a typical day look like for you?

It’s a question that comes up quite often in student appointments, particularly as they begin researching career opportunities and start assessing whether or not they envision themselves in a particular role. But, are students asking themselves this question?

I find that the students I work with are concerned about their work history, and fear that they lack a marketable skill set for the internship or job market because they don’t have a robust, multi-page snapshot of their professional experiences. While I understand their concerns, I find in a lot of cases, our students sell their skill sets a little bit short in the search. It takes some brainstorming for them to start reflecting on what they’re learning inside of the classroom and how it applies to the “real world.”

Students truly learn so much from the classroom experience. As they acquire relevant content knowledge and grow within their programs of study, they are quickly building a concrete skill set that is easily transferable to the job market.

One key to successfully articulating these skills involves translation. I led a workshop with Dr. Steve Iona, from the Physics & Astronomy Department, last quarter and he challenged our group to think creatively about this very topic. How can a student, who has completed a number of projects and assignments in the classroom, relate those activities back to a typical day on the job?

In my appointments with students who express concern about their work experience, I will often challenge them to tell me more about what they’re doing this quarter. I’ll often ask:

What courses are you taking this quarter, and what do the assignments look like?

What are some projects that you’ve completed that you’re particularly proud of, and why?

Are you taking a class with lab this term, and if so, what has your experience been like in the lab? Have you been working with a lab group? If so, how have you navigated the different working and learning styles of your team members? How have you taken their diverse perspectives and allowed them to influence (or not influence) your work?

Have you worked on a research project or paper? Did you present quantitative or qualitative data in written and visual formats? Did you have the chance to describe your research project to a lay audience (your peers, the community in a poster session)?

Are you solving sophisticated, multi-step problems in your courses?

As students start to tackle these questions, a lucrative and exciting skill set emerges that includes the ability to manage multiple projects, work effectively in a group setting, solve technical and complex problems, and navigate difficult conversations.

These skills are all great, but it can be difficult for students to decide where classroom examples might fit on a resume. After all, isn’t a resume designed to highlight professional experiences? What I often suggest to students is to first generate a working list of transferable skills and related classroom experiences, and then creatively relate aspects of these activities back to the resume. Listing relevant projects and coursework is a great place to start.

Some of these experiences might be better conveyed in the interview, and that is also great! The resume, cover letter, and application stage is not the final step; the ability to weave classroom skills into interview answers is another key to success in the internship and job hunt. Be sure to reflect on how to aid your students in capitalizing on the skills they use in lecture halls and labs in every step of the internship or job search.

So, what does a typical day look like for you?

6 Interview Tips for Graduates

Ready to interview for your first job? First interviews are exciting and also intimidating at the same time. If you put in the right level of preparation beforehand, then this can help you land your first job. Find a list of six interview tips below for interview success.

Remember that first impressions are very important

Many interviews are often failed within a few minutes of entering the room. This may be due to interviewers being put off by a lack of eye contact, a weak handshake, poor body language, poor posture or even a bad attitude. Keep in mind that interviewers will make judgments about your likability, trustworthiness, professionalism and competitiveness from the beginning and then spend the rest of the interview confirming these opinions.

To make the best first impression consider doing the following:

Make a firm and warm handshake and wait to be invited to sit down
Smile and make good eye contact at the start of the interview
Try to relax without perching on the edge of your chair (and definitely no slouching)
Speak in a clear voice and take your time
Take time before responding to questions and avoid fidgeting or using filler phrases (“you know” and “I mean”)

Be prepared to answer competency-based interview questions

Depending on what role you are going for, employers will be looking for you to demonstrate a specific set of skills and competencies. These will be what they think are essential to the job role. For example, you may need to demonstrate how you can work as part of a team, communicate effectively, solve problems and manager your time. Have a few specific examples prepared before about times when you have demonstrated these competencies.

Be prepared

Do some research and preparation before your interview. For example, you will be expected to show an interest in the organisation. Read up about the business by looking at their website and prepare questions to ask them about the employer and also the role you are going for. It’s ok to write these down and take them with you to the interview.

You can also arrange to do a mock interview with a friend and practice questions beforehand. This will give you a lot more confidence when answering similar questions during the real interview. Also, dropping into your university career center is a great way to prepare.

Make the right amount of eye contact

This can make the difference in your interview since most messages processed by the brain are in fact based on a person’s body language. Your facial and eye movements in an interview are being registered more than what is listed on your resume. Your eyes reflect your level of confidence, interest and professionalism while interviewing.

To display confidence, avoid looking down at your shoes or looking at the table – these actions might convey a lack of confidence or nervousness. To reinforce honesty, make eye contact and avoid any sudden change in eye contact. When talking about something particularly interesting or even something you are proud of, let your eyes light up to show interest and intent.

Make the employer feel special

You don’t want to make them feel like they are one of many you are applying to. Make your questions stand out by giving them unique and focused responses. Do this by taking into consideration what they do as a business when answering questions. Make it clear to them that you like the company and explain how you could contribute to helping to meet their goals as a business. This will add a personal edge to your interview and make you stand out.

Go above and beyond to standout from the crowd

Thinks about what you can do to make yourself memorable. For example, perhaps you can do something creative like creating a short video to introduce yourself, your experience and passions. Or perhaps you can add more to your resume by adding case studies and accomplishments from your university studies. Any successes that match up to the position you are going for will help you standout and make you more memorable.

Go for it!

At the end of your interview make it clear that you are interested in the position and ask what their next steps are. Thanks the interviewer for his/her time and follow up with an email or letter expressing your enthusiasm. Soon you will find yourself starting your career and an incredible journey.

This article was submitted by Amy Pritchett, Outreach Manager for Vision Direct, the UK’s online leading retailer for contact lenses. Amy is passionate about offering career advice to graduates and helping them shape their professional vision.

Five tracker apps for increased productivity

This blog recently ran a piece on self-knowledge that began with a famous Socrates quote: “the unexamined life is not worth living”. The post referenced some useful self-examination tools – including the well-known Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment – that can help reveal some potentially illuminating aspects of our own hard-wired psychologies, behaviors and habits when trying to make longer-term plans around career and life goals.

When it comes to much shorter-term planning, though, there’s an entirely different sort of self-knowledge toolkit available to us today: the kind that buzzes at us regularly from our pocket or wrist. In 2017, our near-universal embracing of always-on connectivity and wearable technologies has made so-called tracker apps one of the busiest download markets for mobile platforms.

Many of us use multiple tracker apps every day without really thinking twice about it, leaning on their simple tap-and-log functionality to power activities as diverse as monitoring our calorie intake, getting directions, managing personal finances and even tweaking our sleep-wake cycles.

Our ability to rely increasingly on digital app-based support for previously ‘analogue’ tasks is, of course, both a blessing and a curse. A 2016 report on Forbes.com noted, for example, that many smartphone users were starting to turn to their apps for medical advice before contacting their doctor; a scenario in which various pros and cons are immediately clear.

Quite apart from the inherent potential for faulty apps to lead us astray, it’s also important that we retain the ability to break free from their technological hand-holding every once in a while – both in terms of preserving a useful offline skillset, and moreover to give us respite from all those constant bleeping reminders. The unexamined life may not be worth living according to Socrates, but we can all afford to treat ourselves to a little less intense scrutiny from time to time.

That said, some of the more reliable, well-used and community-supported tracker apps out there do in fact offer a genuine boost towards hitting the ground running in a new venture or career. Here are five suggestions for especially handy little downloads – all well reviewed by sizeable user groups – that might prove useful in a variety of everyday organisational tasks, especially when starting a new job or working to an upcoming deadline.

Rescue Time (Apple, Android, desktop)

If you’re among those of us who are always wondering where the heck all our time disappeared to as a deadline hurtles closer, then this app might have an answer for you. Unlike many time management assistants, it doesn’t work by constantly nagging you to stop what you’re doing and focus on something else – instead, it builds you a more general workday profile based on your goal-based accomplishments logged against the percentage of your time spent on specific programs, sites and apps. This gives you the power to adjust your own habits, limiting areas that are proving a disproportionate drain on real productivity by setting your own schedule of reminders and alerts that you can turn on and off whenever you need an efficiency boost.

Addapt (Apple and Android)

Like many of the best ideas, this one’s almost infuriatingly simple: an ‘always updated’ address book that’s automatically amended whenever your important contacts switch their details. In theory, this means you’ll never again be stuck without a working phone number or email to reach bosses, colleagues or clients, even if you haven’t spoken to them in a while – other users can edit their personal details remotely, and the changes will show on your device next time you look them up. The app also automatically prioritizes phone, email or text message when you navigate to a name, based on your usual method of reaching that individual. From a privacy standpoint, it’s also reassuring to know that user address books aren’t stored on Addapt’s servers.

Who’s Off (Apple, Android, desktop)

If you’re working with a group – be it as part of an office workforce, or as an independent team pulling together a one-off project – then it often pays to know exactly which of your colleagues are available or not at any given moment. This app enables precisely that: by logging into a central hub, all members can quickly update the whole group with news of last-minute absences, or to arrange cover for planned away days, without having to consult a separate shift rota or holiday calendar and without sending a whole load of crossover emails back and forth. The app requires one paid account for the company or organisation, and then all the individuals in it can set up their own user accounts for free.

Bananatag (Desktop)

Speaking of emails, how often have you wanted to know exactly what happens to them when they reach their destination? Bananatag sheds some light on this by essentially giving you a souped-up version of a receipt report after you hit send. As well as confirming successful delivery, it also gives you a time stamped read report showing if/when it was opened, whether attachments were clicked on, and which links were followed. Crucially, it’s still respectful of privacy – it doesn’t track individual users, but instead gives a chart-based readout of group email performance which can then be exported to an Excel sheet for reference. It’s primarily aimed at sales teams, but it also has useful applications for devising more effective internal group comms, offering a handy degree of flexibility to tailor your approach to multi-recipient engagement strategies with a range of neat email templates. A free account lets you track up to five emails a day.

Flare (Apple, Android)

For the entrepreneurs and ideas people amongst you, Flare might offer a decent interactive sounding board that’s less expensive and more direct than having to pitch to a private business consultant. It works by allowing registered users to float up to one idea per day on the community forums and gather feedback from other users. If your idea earns enough positive votes, you can then follow up with some more detailed questions about specific implementation issues (or any other aspect of one day making it a reality). The app is managed by a team of expert investors and business strategists at GoDaddy, a cloud-based platform geared towards startup support, and it’s partly designed around attracting potential investors – they can also track the development of an idea they’re interested in, and offer advice or even financial backing for a specific venture once it gets past the initial community approval stages.

Preparing the Perfect Pitch: Strategies for answering “tell me about yourself”

Happy business people talking on meeting at office

“Tell me a little bit about yourself.”

It’s something we have all been asked at one time or another, and we have all responded to this question with varying levels of success. It’s a tough question to tackle, at first glance, because the question itself is as open-ended as we want it to be.

I find that this fact can make the question an overwhelming one for students to respond to. They aren’t always sure where to begin, and students have told me that they felt as if they were rambling through a response. Since this is one of the first questions we are often asked in an interview setting, it is absolutely crucial to have a strategy in place to set ourselves up for success from the start. Here are some tips to get your wheels turning about what the question is asking, and how you can quickly and effectively respond to it.

1. “Tell me about yourself” is a great way for employers to get to know your skill set, experience, and goals in mere seconds.

When I work on interviewing skills with students, we often begin by dissecting common interview questions. We analyze what we believe each question is asking, and make our best judgment about how to respond accordingly. While different professionals have their own insight on this question, I find that employers or admissions staff often ask this question to get a sense of the applicant’s skills and abilities. What accomplishments, experiences, projects, and skills is the applicant most proud of? What are their short- and long-term goals and which did they choose to prioritize for this question?

As you begin working on your own responses to this question, I suggest drafting a three-column table on a sheet of paper and listing:

Three skills that you’re proud of, and that relate to the job description;
One experience or quick example that exemplifies these skills;
One goal (short- or long-term) that this position might help you to achieve.

You can then weave these skills, and your story, into your response without taking a lot of time to respond.

2. Decide how you will start.

Once you have a list of skills, a short story or example, and a goal, you have the basic structure of your response! Next, I suggest taking some time to think about the first line of your answer. If we are thinking about this response as something that could be used for an interview or elevator pitch, you could try some opening lines that reflect your current professional status. Some starters include:

I’m a student at the University of Denver, studying Biological Sciences with minors in Chemistry and Medical Physics.
I’m a recent graduate of the University of Denver, where I studied Environmental Chemistry.
I currently serve as Career Advisor at the University of Denver, working specifically with students in the Division of Natural Science and Mathematics.

Try out a few opening lines, and reflect on which ones seem to fit in best with the skills and goals you chose for item #1. It is never a bad idea to have a few to choose from, either!

3. Be sure to practice!

While cliché, practice truly does make perfect. Take some time to practice your new response with one of our Career Advisors, record your answers using InterviewStream, or share them with a friend. As you practice, think critically about which aspects of your response seem to captivate your audience, and where you stumble. The more you work on your pitch, the more confident you’ll feel in an interview setting.

What are some strategies that you have used to answer “tell me about yourself”?

Top Benefits to Look for in Your Job Hunt

If you are looking for a job while you are in college, you don’t necessarily have to take any old crappy job just to make extra money. Today, there are many opportunities available to students, and many jobs even come with benefits. You just have to know what you want, and then find the companies that offer the benefits you want. Don’t expect too much, since you are likely going to be a part-time employee. But, there are some benefits you should be looking for when you are hunting for a part-time job. Let’s take a look at the most important benefits for working students.

Paid Time Off – Whether it is vacation time or sick time, you should look for a position that offers paid time off. This may not be possible if you are strictly a summer employee, but if you continue to work once you are back in school, you will be on the payroll long enough to qualify for vacation and sick time, as well as other paid days off.
Retirement Investments – It is never too early to start planning your retirement. In fact, the sooner you start saving, the earlier you may be able to retire. Look for companies that offer a 401K or other type of retirement savings plan. You contribute a certain amount, and your employer will match your contribution (to a certain amount).
Health Benefits – One of the most important benefits for many people is to have a health plan. This pays for a portion of medical expenses, including prescriptions, which can often be unaffordable for college students who have no access to medical insurance. But, not all employers offer the same plans. Look for companies that have good plans with lower deductibles.
Outplacement Services – Look for a company that provides outplacement services. These are services that are hired by companies when they have lay-offs, to help laid-off employees transition and find new jobs. If you have been a good employee, but the company no longer has need of your services, they will often go out of their way to help you find a new position.
Disability Insurance – This goes along with the health benefits, and it is a very important benefit to look for when applying for work. If anything happens that you are injured or sick and unable to work, this type of insurance can come in pretty handy. Some companies pay the full premiums, while others pay a portion and you pay the rest.
Medical and Family Leave – We never plan to have medical or family emergencies, but they happen, and we have no control when they do happen. Look for companies that understand this, and that offer both medical and family leave. This can include leave for serious health issues, caring for an ailing parent or child, childbirth and childcare, etc.
Tuition Reimbursement – If you are looking for ways to pay for your education that won’t leave you with thousands of dollars’ worth of debt after graduation, look for employers that offer tuition reimbursement programs. Often, this is given if you are taking courses that are specific to your job, or that can help you to move up within the company.
Expense Plan – Some companies offer an expense plan if you are going to be doing things for your job that you have to spend money on. For instance, if you are required to travel, your travel costs, meals, accommodations, etc. could be paid for. If you are working on the road, you will be able to claim mileage for your vehicle. Don’t take any job that expects you to pay for company-related expenses.

3 Ways to Develop Your Career Skills Through Travel in College

Planning a trip away during university? You might be surprised to know that a vacation can help you develop your professional skills while in college. This is because travel helps you develop yourself through the unique situations you encounter while on the road.

An adventure will help you develop skills that you will be able to take with you into the workplace. You will also stand out from the crowd in an interview when you can recount the amazing adventure you went on during your college years.

Improve your communication and social skills

The most valuable skills to have are communication and “people” skills. Employers are looking for candidates who know how to relate to other people, work with individuals from different backgrounds and and those who are strong negotiators. These skills are the foundation to any successful career and you will need to be a great communicator to get ahead.

While travelling, you will have to deal with language barriers, different cultures and social norms. Part of travelling is immersing yourself in these differences and broadening your communication skills. This can be done by interacting with people from different parts of the world, which will make you a better listener and ultimately a much stronger communicator.

Strengthen your teamwork skills

Prospective employers are also looking for individuals who can work cooperatively with others and contribute to a group. Most interviewers will touch on the topic of teamwork during an interview. You will often be asked to think about a time when you have worked with others and provide an example.

During your travels, you will need to plan trips and arrange common goals. In order to have a great trip, everyone in your group will need to communicate effectively and actively participate in planning. These experiences will give you the perfect time to share with prospective employers and help you land your dream job.

Learn to manager your time effectively

One major skill to any role is efficient time management. This doesn’t only mean getting projects done on time but also setting priorities, goals and being smart about your time. Time management also involves how you allocate time for yourself outside of the workplace.

When you are on a trip, the most important factor to having a fun vacation is effectively managing your time away. It takes excellent planning skills to maximise the time you have on vacation. This includes catching flights, seeing an entire city in a short space of time or exploring multiple countries all in one year. Just like the workplace, this involves creating to-do lists, smart goals and careful consideration.

Plan your trip today!

Who knew an adventure could become an opportunity to develop yourself professionally? Get out there and discover new places in between classes. The benefits of travel are endless – including valuable lessons for your first career.

Amy Pritchett is a travel blogger who write about walks, cottages and spas (wegoplaces.me). She encourages all college students to take an adventure away to grow and develop themselves both personally and professionally.

4 Times a Step Forward at Work is Actually a Step Back in Your Career

4 Times a Step Forward at Work is Actually a Step Back in Your Career was originally published on The Muse, a great place to research companies and careers. Click here to search for great jobs and companies near you.

It’s easy to think that there’s one direction you should be moving in your career: forward. You’re supposed to keep putting one foot in front of the other until you finally reach the top of that proverbial ladder.

But, here’s the thing: Career paths aren’t always so simple. And, just because something seems like it will get you one rung higher doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best decision for you long-term.

Not convinced? Here are four times that a step forward at work is actually taking you one step back in your career.

1. When a Promotion Takes You Away From What You Love

Of course, a promotion is a great thing. You’re being formally recognized (and compensated!) for all of your valuable contributions with a new title and a pay bump. But, that step up also likely involves some changes to your daily responsibilities—which may or may not be what you want.

Perhaps this new position means you’ll no longer need to attend those weekly marketing meetings, which are actually one of your favorite parts of each work week. Or, maybe instead of communicating directly with customers (which you love!), you’ll now be charged with overseeing the team that does that.

That’s not to say that you should turn down that offer for a promotion without batting an eye (that decision deserves some serious consideration!). But, it’s worth thinking through whether or not you could take that superior role without losing all of the job duties you’ve grown to love.

2. When a New Responsibility Eats Up Time for Your Side Project

Your boss gives you a new responsibility to take on at work. You’re honored that she would trust you to grab the reins on something new. But, you’re also aware that this is going to involve much longer hours—hours that you were previously dedicating to the side hustle that you’d eventually like to take full-time.

In a situation like this, it’s important to take a step back and consider your long-term career goals. If you do intend to make your side project your full-time career in the near future, that’s going to involve some time and dedication—which you’ll be short on if you continue to fill up your plate at your day job.

3. When a Speaking Opportunity Is About a Topic You Have No Interest In

Giving a presentation or agreeing to a public speaking opportunity is a great way to make some new connections and build your personal brand. But, there’s a caveat here: You want whatever you’re asked to speak about to be somewhat relevant to your career and expertise. You don’t want to establish yourself as a thought leader in a subject that totally deviates from your area of interest.

No, there’s nothing wrong with pushing yourself out of your comfort zone a little bit. But, you want to be careful not to foster a reputation that’s totally irrelevant to your actual skills and your goals.

Sure, being asked to speak about social media marketing at that association event might be an honor. However, it won’t do you too many favors if you’re growing your career as an engineer. In fact, agreeing to that opportunity will likely only serve to confuse people about who you are and what you bring to the table.

4. When a New Job Doesn’t Fit Your Goals

You weren’t actively job hunting. But, you were approached by another company that ended up offering you a position. By all intents and purposes, this new role is a big step up. It comes with a higher salary, a fancier title, a corner office, and an employer that’s a household name in your field.

What’s the catch? Well, you’ve been thinking about switching industries or making a major career change altogether—meaning that this new role doesn’t fit with your plans for the future.

Yes, accepting that position might mean a step forward—but, that’s irrelevant if that’s not actually the direction you want to be heading in.

More often than not, a step up in your career is a great thing that deserves to be celebrated. However, there are some circumstances when that one step forward would ultimately take you two steps back.

Regardless of your individual situation or preferences, it’s important to remember to give major career decisions—whether good or bad—the time for consideration that they deserve.

Do that, and you’re much more likely to take things in the direction that works best for you.

5 Tips to Secure Great Job References

for references. Employers ask for references because they want to know what others have to say about you. Your references praise or criticism can sway the outcome of your job offer so you want to think carefully about this aspect of the job search. Here are 5 tips:

Think about who you ask: It may be tempting to ask a friend or family member that has known you personally for years, however, it is important to ASK THOSE THAT KNOW YOUR WORK. For example: a former supervisor, a professor that was your advisor or that you took a class from, a colleague would all be people to consider.

How to Ask: Do not assume that someone will want to be your reference. The courteous and professional approach is to visit in person, send an email or call. Also, ask if they prefer to be contacted by phone or email. Provide your reference with your resume and let them know the types of positions you are targeting.

When to Ask: If you are looking for a job, you should ask as soon as possible. Do not wait until you are filling out forms and trying to meet a deadline. Have your references lined-up and ready to submit.

Keep References Informed: When a potential employer informs you that they are going to check your references, let your reference know and send them a link to the job description. This will help your reference to provide feedback that is focused on the position, not just random comments.

Follow-Up: Let your references know how your job search is going and thank them for providing a reference regardless of whether you were offered the position or not. If you get the job, provide them with your new contact information and try to stay in touch.

For additional job search advice or to meet with a career advisor please contact Career and Professional Development at 303.871.2150 or http://www.du.edu/careerservices.

Submitted by Patricia Hickman/Director Graduate Career & Professional Development

8 Mistakes that Make You Unprofessional at an Interview

Interviews can be a very nerve-wracking experience for students because of immense pressure to get that job. During the college years, they face the first experience with the corporate world and, in many cases, the experience is not that positive.

Remember these the next time you’re prepping yourself for a new job opportunity.

1. Arriving Late

This is a classic: a student who has poor time management skills arrives at an interview late. It does not really matter to the hiring manager whether you had a real emergency or you just don’t like to get up early in the morning.

How to avoid: get ready to leave your home earlier than usual and ask Google about the traffic in your area.

2. Criticizing your previous employer

When an interviewee says bad things about their past employer, the hiring manager might reasonably think that there is a good chance they’ll do the same again. As the result, your candidacy will be rejected.

How to avoid: when talking about the previous place of employment, avoid stating your personal opinion. Just provide facts and try not to trash-talk.

3. Having a smartphone go off

If you forget to turn off your smartphone, it can go off during the interview and interrupt the conversation. To turn it off, you have to reach in your pocket. How does that make you look? Right, like an unorganized person.

How to avoid: don’t forget to turn off your smartphone before going into the interview room.

4. Not asking any questions

If a person is truly interested in the job, they will ask questions when allowed. Being aloof and uninterested can be appealing to get some reputation in college, but obviously not when you’re trying to persuade a hiring manager that you’re the most qualified person for the position.

How to avoid: if you’re unsure what you can ask, do some research about the company (recent products, organizational culture, etc.) and think about possible questions.

5. Being underdressed

Looking sloppy and unprepared will not impress the hiring manager. Of course, it would be hilarious if you walked up in the interview room in the jeans and the jersey of your college basketball team, but they will profoundly hurt your chances for success.

How to avoid: dress for success. It’s better to be overdressed than underdressed.

6. Not researching the company before the interview

During an interview, the hiring manager might mention the names of the CEO and other key figures in the organization as well as other information related to the company. If you don’t conduct a research beforehand, you’ll have no idea who are they talking about.

How to avoid: educate yourself about the organization before you go there for an interview.

7. Interrupting the interviewer

If you interrupt the hiring manager during the interview, it shows that you think you’re better than they are. Plus, it rude and inappropriate.

How to avoid: wait for your turn to speak and let the interviewer dominate the conversation.

8. Oversharing

The interviewer is not really interested in how you almost slept through your alarm in the morning or that your roommate likes to stay late listening to music.

How to avoid: if you overshare information like this, the hiring manager will think you’ll have troubles getting to the office on time.

Tools for Interview Preparation for Students

myinterviewsimulator.com – the program that allows practicing being an interviewee with simulations.
Interview4.com – practice interviewing with helpful video materials and examples.
HR Interview Preparation Guide – a popular Android app that contains a lot of interview tips, questions, and answers.
Assignmenthelper.com.au – the tool for preparing excellent resumes and other materials to impress the interviewer.
Interviewstream.com – mock interviewing for students to improve their skills necessary to present themselves well to employers.

Lucy Benton is a writing coach, an editor who finds her passion in expressing own thoughts as a blogger. She is constantly looking for the ways to improve her skills and expertise. Also, Lucy has her own blog ProWritingPartner where you can check her last publications. If you’re interested in working with Lucy, you can find her on FaceBook and Twitter.

Checklist for Back-to-School Safety and Career Success

Failing to plan, as the saying goes, means planning to fail, and this adage holds truer than ever at the beginning of a new school year. When everyone returns to campus in the fall it can be too easy to neglect your goals and slip back into unhealthy, even unsafe, habits that keep you from reaching your professional goals.

Because September is a month for seasonal change – as well as National Preparedness Month – as you think about your classes, your living arrangements, and post-grad plans, think critically about the small choices you make every day to boost your success. Make a plan before classes start to not only survive but thrive this year on campus. Here’s a back-to-school preparedness checklist to get you started.

Professional Prep

Post-grad plans shouldn’t begin when you’re already at senior level. You might not have the clearest picture of where you see yourself in 10 years after entering the workforce, but regardless of your enrollment status, thinking about the next stage of life will serve you well as you rev up for the yearly back-to-school transition. Start by considering the following:

Education

It’s okay to wait on declaring a major, but don’t wait on taking classes that combine professional skills with critical thinking. A liberal arts degree, such as English or philosophy, can improve your communication skills. Employers look for candidates who can communicate effectively and work well under pressure. If you’re undecided about your future, try business. Even if you don’t dream of becoming a CEO, having a business education and training will open doors into different areas, including innovative brands and campaigns for social change.

Networking

Don’t underestimate the power of making the right connections. If you’ve got a clear career path already, take the time to talk to professors in that field. Find out what they did after college, whether they always wanted to teach or if they chose it after working in the field, and how they’ve used their skills in the real world. Attend conventions, area business meetings or even local chamber of commerce mixers. The wider your network, the easier it’ll be to land a great employer once you graduate.

Application

Turn your textbook education into a hands-on application by applying for a diverse range of research opportunities and internships. This is where you’ll benefit from your school’s on-campus career center. Talk to the counselors there to learn how to connect with local professionals and apply for extracurricular activities that fit in with your career goals. How do you show employers that you can do the job you’re applying for? Let your resume – filled with hands-on experiences – speak for itself.

Money

Now’s the time to think hard about your financial future. Don’t neglect your credit card statements or your bills. Building a good credit score now and learning how to handle your finances will set you on the right path for future employment. Your would-be employer might run a credit check because it can be an accurate gauge for how well you handle different responsibilities. You may also be subject to a background check, so clear up any college shenanigans now.

Preparing for Campus

Planning for life after graduation isn’t the only prep work you need to do as you head back to school this season. Personal safety should also top the list. Here’s how to stay safe on and off campus this year.

Watch Where You’re Going

Criminals discriminate, meaning they look for easy targets who aren’t aware of their surroundings. Get to know your campus and the nearby area well. Map out the routes from your living space to your classes, avoiding poorly-lit areas or those unfrequented by other students. In the case of personal safety, taking the road less traveled is a bad idea. Walk in groups when possible, and park your car in a well-lit space close to your classes.

Sharing is Caring – Except When It Isn’t

Add the campus safety department’s number to your phone, and read up on the resources available to you. Some schools, for instance, will give you a lift across campus if you’re uncomfortable walking home alone. Map out what to do in an emergency, whether it’s a natural disaster or an unexpected attack. Downloading personal safety apps for when you’re walking alone or at home alone could help you in a pinch and contact the proper authorities automatically. Along the same lines, don’t keep to yourself when it comes to your schedule. Let your roommates or friends know where you’ll be so they can expect you at certain times. But be careful with what you post on social media. Disable your location services, and be intentionally vague with your whereabouts.

Be Proactive About Safety

Taking a self-defense class might seem like overkill, but you’ll learn good tips from professionals, often police officers or local safety experts. Men and women alike benefit from expert advice! Keep in mind that campus safety is a team effort – if you witness a situation that could lead to violence or an assault, you can step in and defuse the situation before it escalates.

Each year back on campus will present many unforeseen challenges, and the best way you can deal with them is simply by being prepared. Professional development and personal wellness go hand in hand; take some time to consider what helps you stay focused, motivated, and safe – so you will be ready to make informed choices when the new school year begins.

Why ‘perceived value’ is key for graduate businesses

One of the very few blanket statements we can confidently make about customers of almost any company is that they’re all looking to receive value from their purchase or investment. For anyone starting up a new graduate business, failing to deliver a sense of value to customers early on means you’re very unlikely to have a sustainable model on your hands, regardless of what service or product it is you’re selling.

Despite this being a pretty unequivocal (not to mention obvious) statement, the concept of value itself can sometimes seem a tricky thing to pin down from the business side. In large part, this is because it’s a highly subjective quality in many regards, and we know that perception of value will differ from customer to customer.

Moreover, it can and does change dramatically over time, influenced by countless market forces including fashion, branding, and availability. As a throwaway example, just look at the way lobster has gradually shifted from being a 17th-century prison canteen staple to a universal signifier of expensive high-end dining, and dragged perceptions of value for our lobster buck right along with it.

When thinking about starting a graduate business, then, how do you go about baking such a nebulous concept as ‘value’ into the heart of your new model?

Well, first and foremost, you’ll need to be very clear on the core differences between price, cost, and value. Again, this may sound straightforward enough, but could you neatly express it in a couple of sentences? If not, it’s possible that you’re somewhat muddled in your thinking about each of these key factors in the overall value equation – and your business approach may suffer as a result.

In simple terms, price is a fixed number, and is perceived similarly from all angles. Cost, though closely related to price, is more about impact, and can be perceived differently by buyers and sellers. Value requires a wider context to be defined; it’s only partly dependent on the other two, and can only truly be assessed by the end user. Or, to boil it down to its most fundamental form, value is the only one of the three that isn’t expressible as a number.

Remember, too, that the relationship between price, cost, and value doesn’t remain constant as the figures change. Indeed, their movements relative to one another aren’t even unidirectional; beyond a certain point, lowering prices can negatively affect the overall perception of value, and vice versa. In recent years, Apple products have become a commonly cited example of this exact phenomenon in action – the iPhone really didn’t push existing smartphone technology forward when it launched, but it’s marketing, build quality and high price point combined to create a culture of perceived value that, a decade later, loyal customers worldwide are still in thrall to.

Perceived value is really the crux of it all, as that’s essentially what defines the amount customers are willing to pay. Because perceived value is so closely linked to credibility, generating it can seem tricky for new graduate businesses, as they don’t initially have much of a foundation to build it on. However, there are numerous ways to help to create it.

Free trials, for example, are an excellent way for new companies to show that they stand firmly behind their product, and customers will implicitly pick up on this. (It also effectively removes the initial confidence barrier that prevents many potential new customers from giving credit card details to a company they’ve never dealt with before.) Openly publishing customer reviews, testimonials and feedback is another smart way to display and impart similar feelings of confidence. You might also consider trying to partner in relevant areas with a brand that has already established a credible reputation among a similar target client base.

While all of the above can be effective ways for new businesses to generate a sense of perceived value, they’ll quickly prove useless if not followed up with practices that consolidate it. Consistent delivery of a quality product or service is, of course, the first step, but it’s also wise to consider the importance of time in the value equation. It can’t be overstated how vital it is for customers to feel that a new company makes time for them – after all, time is arguably the one commodity we take even more personally than money.

Excellent customer service is one obvious way to deliver here, but remember that the time customers don’t spend with you is just as crucial: ensuring your product is convenient can, therefore, pay dividend, but be aware of the relationship between availability and perceived value. It’s widely held that having to work harder to get something makes it feel more valuable, but – particularly in this age of convenience-driven shopping around online – reducing accessibility or availability is seen a very high-risk strategy for new businesses.

Exclusivity for returning customers can be an effective way to build a loyal community around a shared sense of perceived value, but new clients will seldom cherish a product for its scarcity or complexity alone. That’s why we all see ‘limited time offer’ or ‘while stocks last’ used far more often than ‘only [x number] available’.

Because value is ultimately about use, the relationship between how a customer uses a product or service and how they pay for it can also have an impact on the perception of value. In an article on price-setting practices, the Harvard Business Review noted that gym membership fees were typically more likely to be renewed after a year if they’d been paid monthly, rather than up front.

In this specific example, that’s because those smaller, more regular payments provided users with a regular reminder that the service was costing them. They, therefore, felt more compelled to keep using it (and of course saw better results) than people who’d taken a bigger financial hit as a one-off – the sting of the up-front payment faded over time, and the motivation to keep using the service faded with it. For a new business venture, it may be worth considering this phenomenon from both angles, and deciding which model might be most helpful in generating a sense of perceived value around the type product or service you’re offering.

Above all, be mindful that first impressions really do count, and that while some aspects of how customers perceive value aren’t necessarily under the control of the company, the vast majority are. By paying close attention to those factors that most commonly impact on the perception of value, a new graduate business or startup can earn itself an incredibly valuable early lead on an ever-widening field of competition.

How to Juggle Both Work and Family

Many working parents struggle with the equally important responsibilities of raising a family and providing for them. There is a fundamental need—and for many parents, a real want and desire—to work. However, many simultaneously feel a pull towards home and to be with children, especially young ones. Given these conflicting priorities, how can someone best succeed as parent and employee?

Fortunately, there are a number of strategies you can utilize as you work to find your own version of balance. Most importantly: abandon the guilt. Guilt that you aren’t there for your child. Guilt that you’re actually glad to be at work with other adults. Let it all go. Check out the resources on the Working Moms Against Guilt website or join a local Working Moms Meetup in your area. Knowing that your feelings are normal and valid will help diminish that guilt and allow you to enjoy both roles.

Trusting your childcare provider will help ease your mind and allow you to more efficiently get your work done during the day. Verify your daycare’s safety and educational quality through organizations like the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics’ HealthyChildren.org.

Take advantage of calendar sharing apps to stay organized and in communication with your partner and childcare provider. Ensuring that you know when and where everyone is supposed to be will allow you to avoid feeling frazzled and give you the peace of mind to focus on whatever is in front of you at the time. Sharing calendars with your partner will also allow the two of you to effectively distribute the load of responsibilities and avoid scheduling conflicts or surprises.

Lastly, be present wherever you are. As much as you can, try to focus on your current environment and those you are with at the time. Challenging as it may be, turning off your work email in the evenings will allow you to enjoy the special time with your family you’ve been craving all day. Similarly, avoiding social media or not watching your nanny-cam at work will allow you to be more productive and consequentially, get home at a reasonable hour. By giving your best to your family or supervisor each day, you’ll feel better about the work you are doing and the balance you are achieving.

The balancing act of work and family is an ever-moving target; you will find various strategies throughout your career and your children’s lives that work at times and lose their value at others. The important thing is to be easy on yourself, recognize the value of your job for your family and continually acknowledge your personal and professional goals.

Looking for more advice and support? Join the Women’s Professional Alliance for their “Juggling Work and Family” event. Gretchen Gagel, DU alum of 1993 and author of 8 Steps to Being a Great Working Mom, will be speaking on this nebulous topic and attendees will also have the chance to hear about strategies for parents returning to the work force. The event scheduled for Thursday, September 7th has been cancelled, but will be rescheduled for early 2018. Keep checking back for updated event information on our events page.

4 Ways Life Changes After College!

For the privileged and lucky ones who get to pursue a college education, college life can be a magical bubble. The dynamics, lifestyle, and nuances of college life are starkly different from that of real life. While some skills learned in college would help in landing a decent job, the transition from college to the outside world can sometimes disorient college graduates.

In order to help college students make the move without being knocked out by unexpected responsibilities and obstacles, a list has been compiled of the ways in which one can expect life to change after college.

1. You Get An Interim Period Of Free Time

After four years of constant companionship, where at the very least you are sitting in a room with dozens of your papers, you might find yourself making your way alone after graduation. This is a good time to get in touch with yourself and learn how to spend spare time productively without relying on others.

Many students don’t have time for leisure reading or hobbies when they enter college life. These positive habits can be picked up again after college life has let go of its hold on you.

2. Your Equations With The Friends Is No Longer The Same

In college, your friends were either in the same room or at least somewhere on campus. In other words, they were easily accessible. Graduating means the students either going to different institutions for higher studies or spreading out across the country (even the globe) in search of jobs in order to fulfill adult responsibilities. Your best friend might be in a different city, state or even country. You might feel at a loss without the people you’ve always been with for the past four years, but this feeling is temporary.

However, with the Internet, and applications such as Skype and Whatsapp, there really isn’t any excuse not to keep in touch with your group. While it may not be the same as before, you can still share your problems and advice with each other, as well as meet up to have fun!

3. You Make New Friends

Making friends in the real world is a whole new game. In college, you met the same people every day and knew they were probably going to be on the same campus for some years. Making friends in the workplace is a risky deal due to the politics and double meanings that form the undercurrent of any business or organization.

Similarly, making friends outside the workplace is just as hard, as the places won’t have the same people every day. Even meeting someone who seems nice can be a dangerous illusion that can end up badly. However, it’s totally possible as long as you keep putting yourself out there.

4. You Become More Down-To-Earth

You might have been a popular college individual, but the real world doesn’t look at how many student organizations and clubs wanted you as a part of their team. Even if something looks good on your resume, your work is what will get you a fixed place at any organization.

College protests against the administration or for supporting social issues can easily be done on campus or under the banner of the institution. In a workplace, you have to choose your battles. Working hard and knowing how to comply with authority is key to being successful at any entry-level job you’re probably going to get after graduating.

Final Thoughts…

Life in college is a bubble, no doubt. However, graduating and starting a new life has to come at some point. So instead of fantasizing about going back and having things be the same again (which isn’t possible), one has to move on and try to make it.

Finally, there will be a time when real life seems to be a most enjoyable and magical one, especially if you can find a career you love, along with some good company. Hopefully, the time would come when you won’t choose to go back to college if you had the chance!

About Writer: Yashmita Kavni is a Student Counselor, Blogging Expert, and a Professional Assignment Writer. She has a penchant for writing about topics related to education and student’s affairs.

Consider the internet revolution when choosing a career

Some people know what they want to do with their lives almost from the time they are able to walk and talk, while other may drift around between jobs for years before they finally find their calling and sadly some with never truly realize their passion. Regardless of which category you may fit into, at some point, everyone asks themselves: “What do I want to do?”, or, “what do I want to become?” It certainly is one of the toughest decisions you will have to make in your lifetime, and how you answer it could well define major parts of your life.

Most Career Advice professionals might advise you to focus on determine your skills and aptitudes, and will no doubt ask what your interests are. All of this is good and well, but for most of us, whether or not you will be able to find gainful employment within your chosen field is perhaps the most important criteria, as not too many have the luxury of only considering their likes and dislikes which charting a career path. This however always carries an element of uncertainty with it, as no one can be completely sure of what the future may hold in store, but you can have a good idea.

We are currently living in a period which is fast being defined by a new internet revolution, which will certainly play a pivotal role in shaping the future of society. The internet is quickly becoming instrumental in helping to make everyday life easier and more efficient, by connecting all facets of ourselves and our environments to devices and machines via the internet. This changing reality which we are slowly witnessing will undoubtedly improve how we produce, consume, interact and perhaps even think- and companies and not unaware of this.

With a constantly evolving environment, businesses all must ask themselves if they are in a position to take advantage of this, or will it end up proving a disadvantage. In order to update and upgrade their companies and its various systems, companies will have to invest in the human resource requirement in order to optimise their transition into this new industrial revolution. Because of the potential for machine automation in the near future, it is estimated that more than 5 million jobs will be shed globally by 2020 as a result of this. There will, however, be over 2 million jobs created within the tech sector within the same time frame. This is especially great news if you were planning on moving into a field related to computer science, mathematics or engineering.

Not everyone is technically minded and maths can be a real pain for so many- so what do these people do? Well, it’s not all doom and gloom for the rest, as there are certain things which machines cannot yet do and probably will not be able to in the foreseeable future. These vocations and required skills related to problem-solving, creative thinking, people management, and negotiation, among others. This really is an important time if you are considering or reconsidering your career options, to take a good look at the changing world of employment and determine where your place in it may be.

Using Social Media as an Effective Job Search Tool

You have finally graduated, and it’s time to get out there into the real world and begin your career. So, you need to start using all of the job search tools that are available at your disposal. Did you know that the social media sites you use can also be effective job search tools? Social media isn’t just all about posting selfies and chatting with friends. It can be a really effective resource. As long as you know how to use it properly, it can be a great tool to help you get the job of your dreams, or one that is going to take you in the direction you need to go. Here are some ways that you can use your social media sites as effective job search tools.

Create a Professional Presence – If you are going to use social media in your job search, it is time to become more professional. Gone are the days when you can post photos of yourself partying, drinking, and basically being unprofessional. These are all things that potential employers do not want to see. You need to change your profile photo to one that looks professional (a head and shoulders shot is best), and basically turn your social media into online resumes. If there is a lot of stuff on your pages that wouldn’t be considered professional, it is time to clean things up.
Include the Right Information – Potential employers are looking for certain things. It is a good idea to start looking at the social media profiles of other professionals and see what information they are offering. Your social media presence should be professional, and your pages should contain information that make recruiters want to learn more about you and what you can offer a company. Again, we can’t stress enough how important it is to remain professional at all times, even when you really want to post that dirty joke, your latest party photos, etc.
Watch Your Words – This goes right along with including the right information. You have to be so careful about what you say on your social media pages. It is so easy for words to be taken out of context, and then you don’t look the least bit professional. One careless comment could completely destroy all of the good you have done for your online reputation, so be careful about everything you say when you are using your social media pages.
Upgrade Your Tech – If you are using an older smartphone or laptop, it probably runs slow, and doesn’t have the features you need to be able to get the most out of social media. So, it is time to upgrade to something new. You might think you can’t afford it, but if you visit sites like Gadget Salvation, you can sell your old iPhone or laptop for top dollar, and use the money to upgrade to a newer version that has the features you really need to help you succeed in your job search.
Activate Privacy Settings – Just because you are using your social media to advance in your career, it doesn’t mean that it can’t also be used for personal purposes. But, you need to keep your personal life and business life separate, which means that it is important to take advantage of the privacy settings. There are things that employers just do not need to know about you, but if you don’t use the privacy settings, everyone can see everything on your pages. It is extremely important to manage what others see. Make sure that only certain people can see certain posts, and that employers are not able to see everything you post.

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1. When a Promotion Takes You Away From What You Love

2. When a New Responsibility Eats Up Time for Your Side Project

3. When a Speaking Opportunity Is About a Topic You Have No Interest In

4. When a New Job Doesn’t Fit Your Goals

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Professional Prep

Preparing for Campus

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