Work Hard to Build Trust With Your Clients

As a business owner, do you consider yourself a salesperson? If you don’t already, then you should. Anyone who is in business is in sales. And sales often boils down to relationships. You know the old adage that “People buy people” right? Building and maintaining relationships is a key skill for business owners.

Here are some guidelines to help form the trust bonds that underlie relationships.

-Put in the time and energy to deeply understand the real needs of your customers. You do this by actively listening and carefully paying attention. Customers want to know that their concerns are considered valid by the people they do business with. Give a customer your full attention.

-If you are a business that has other businesses for customers, show you care by learning about your customer’s business model, industry, stressors, customer base, and anything else that is relevant. You can do this by reading trade journals, attending industry events, spending time with industry members, and paying attention to relevant media. Make it your business to be up on their business.

-Never pretend to be knowledgeable about something you’re not, or pretend to care about something you don’t. Sincerity is a necessary foundation for trust. Faking it will come around to bite you, every time. It goes without saying that genuine relationships require honesty.

-Always provide excellent service. It goes without saying that customer service should be a cornerstone of your customer relations. But how many businesses consistently provide it? Yours should be one that stands out for that very reason. Resolve to create a business that is passionate and dedicated to your customers. Create an environment they won’t want to leave for any reason.

-Offer a sincere and wholehearted apology if the situation warrants one. We all make mistakes. Take full responsibility for yours.

-Continually pay attention to your good customers. Don’t take them for granted as you work on acquiring new ones. Treat them as special and important to you, because they are.

Marcia Bagnall is Director of the Chemeketa Small Business Development Center and instructor of Small Business Management Program. The Small-Business Adviser column is produced by the center and appears each Sunday. Questions can be submitted to SBDC@chemeketa.edu. Visit the SBDC at 626 High Street NE in downtown Salem or call (503) 399-5088.

Not just your diploma in hand, but your first post-grad job, too

Half the battle of the job search is simply in having clarity around what you want to do and how you want to plug-in, then finding the companies doing those things. As a multi-pronged approach to the job search, it will be most effective to spend time clarifying your post-graduation goals, even if that means your goals for the short run, while also leveraging the platforms that aggregate job postings, such as Built in Colorado, LinkedIn, Indeed, among others. If you’re looking to be employed by the first week of June, then consider these next steps and points of self-inquiry for the job search:

What do you want to do? Where do you want to have impact? (i.e.—be a champion for the underdog, conserve the environment, influence policy, build self-esteem of youth, streamline systems or operations).
How do you want to plug into that issue? (i.e.—blogging, education/training, fundraising, developing a community support group, lobbying, researching, etc).
1. 1. If it’s blogging, for example: Who are the bloggers that are successful? What are they doing to be successful? Can you find them on LinkedIn or Pioneer Connect, and request an opportunity to talk to them to get their insight?
Who are the employers and organizations addressing the very issues you care about?
1. Research LinkedIn, Guidestar and other similar resources to identify those companies.
2. Develop a Target list of at least 25 employers you’re most interested in, track them in a spreadsheet.
3. Identify 1-2 contacts within those organizations and send an email to one individual in each of your Top 5 Companies requesting an informational interview.
Update your resume, cover letter and LinkedIn profile (meet with a Career Advisor for input)
Leverage the job search resources on Pioneer Careers or via the Field/Industry resources to search for Job Postings and/or to find employers. (How to use Pioneer Careers).
Consider working with a staffing agency to connect you to employment opportunities
Attend the Upcoming Government and Nonprofit Career Fair on Wednesday, April 20th

And, in the meantime, check out Career Services upcoming events, such as the next LinkedIn workshop to help you build your network to relevant opportunities, or learn how to develop a stronger resume.

Answering the Dreaded Salary Question

It has probably happened to you, right? You are in an interview, well prepared and confident in your answers. Then suddenly the interviewer asks, “So, what are your salary expectations?” Blindsided, you don’t know what to say or how to even approach your answer. Should you have seen this coming? The answer is probably yes, but even then, what is an appropriate answer to that question?

The good news is, you likely will not be thrown out of the interview for suggesting a number outside their salary range. In fact, the question is designed really just to give the employer an idea of how close they are to what you need. To be clear, this is not the point in the process to be negotiating your salary. Negotiation should really start once you have received an offer. This is just to make sure that you and the employer are in the same ballpark.

Here is what I suggest: first determine what you NEED. By that I mean, what salary would you need to maintain your current lifestyle. Go through all of your expenses (car payments, rent/mortgage, student loans, groceries, gas, etc.) and determine what level of salary would cover your expenses, and on top of all that, factor in the occasional concert tickets, going out to dinner, ski passes or lift tickets, etc. so that you’re able to at least maintain your current lifestyle.

Once you have an idea of what that salary number looks like, now it is time to determine what you WANT. There are many ways to conduct research on salaries. You can use sites like salary.com or Glassdoor, but I recommend going straight to O*Net Online. This information on this site is developed under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment & Training Administration, to ensure greater accuracy. As an example, if I am searching for salary information for a Public Relations Assistant position I am interviewing for, I simply type the title of the position into the quick search bar (not every job title will be the same or even listed, so you have to find the most related occupations) and scroll down to the Wage Information section. Here you will be able to compare local and national wage averages for that particular job title!

Now that you have the number you NEED and the number you WANT, whether they’re close or not, your target salary should be somewhere between the two. Rather than presenting just one number to a potential employer, try giving them a range to show that you’re flexible, as suggested here by Allison Doyle of The Balance. You might even phrase it like this:

Based on my research I believe that somewhere between $47,000 a year (NEED) and 55,000 a year (WANT) seems realistic. I am very interested in this job and am certainly open to further discussion. Am I close to the range that you have?

Now that the employer has an idea of what you are aiming for, it will be much easier for the hiring team to consider what an offer would need to look like. Remember, this is not a one-size-fits-all strategy for determining salary requirements. Follow your gut. If the number you determine based on your expenses seems low for the type of work you will be doing, maybe you will want to start higher. Always try to keep in mind your value and worth- don’t sell yourself short!

This is not an easy question to answer, so don’t hesitate to seek help in preparing your response. You can make an appointment in Pioneer Careers Online with your Career Advisor to get tailored assistance.

Help! What do I put in my resume?

“Can I see your resume?” “Bring a copy of your resume!” “You need a resume!” “Update your resume!”

How many different messengers in your life have shared one of these “helpful” comments as you prepare for an internship or job search, or finish a grad school application? Don’t let the questions cause you anxiety, instead stop by one of the upcoming workshops on campus on April 18th (whether you’re a current student or an alumni) to have your resume reviewed by a local employer.

“What a great experience for your resume!” “Don’t put that on your resume.” “Your resume is too…!”

Distill the advice that comes your way from family, friends, and colleagues and hear recommendations directly from Human Resource professionals from companies that frequently recruit at DU.

Prepare:

Begin a resume or update an existing resume

Bring:

A paper copy of your resume OR a digital copy of your resume on a laptop or other device that you can look at and review with another person

Expect:

You will sit down with an employer who has volunteered their time to help you with your resume. They will give you 10-15 minutes to point out strengths in your resume, suggest updates, and answer your questions!

Get ready to mingle at the Careers with A Cause event or apply for your next position!

Category Archives: Bad Habits

By Chemeketa SBDC

A wealth of current research tells us that the most critical factor in controlling undesirable turnover and increasing retention of talented people are the skills of managers. People join companies but they leave managers. Satisfied employees are critical to the success of your business. If they’re not happy on the job, customers are not happy being with them.

So what do you do when you have an employee who is just not happy? Every business can have “the glass is half empty” person on the lookout for something to go wrong. You can recognize them — they spend the majority of the day in a negative slump and critical of everything from projects to people.

The “it will never work” attitude also can devastate your company morale. You may start to notice that other employees — once happy, motivated people — are starting to gossip and criticize. When it comes down to it, negativity is like the flu: It’s contagious. It’s also expensive. Negativity costs companies millions in terms of productivity and profitability.

So how do you deal with an employee whose negativity is starting to rub off on other people? Our first instinct may be that the person’s behavior is just about their “bad attitude” and ignore it. Not a great idea. This can actually fuel the fire by setting a culture of negativity. In fact, if we do nothing about the negativity — we are condoning the behavior and subsequently, endorsing it. You do need to take some action.

Often at the heart of a “negaholic” attitude are fear and uncertainty. Change is the biggest single cause of workplace negativity. Even if that new billing system is for the better, people will automatically ask themselves: What am I losing? For employees, change automatically equals the loss of something comfortable — and they will resist it.

Here are some simple steps for quelling the office critic, paraphrased from some great work by Chris Penttila, a freelance journalist.

1. Understand change from the employee’s perspective. Employees can put up with change as long as they can talk openly about it. Remember most negative people don’t know that they’re negative because no one ever tells them.

2. Find the fear, then focus on solutions. Teach negative employees to focus on offering solutions, not just criticism. Turning the griper into a solution provider gives them a genuine avenue to contribute.

3. Do some coaching. Work with the negative person on improving their attitude. Chances are, these people are complaining because they think they have good ideas that haven’t been heard.

Ultimately, employers can work too long and hard with some negative people when it’s better just to cut your losses, recognizing a bad fit. If there’s no improvement after three to six months, maybe it’s time to let them go (legally, documented, etc., of course).

After you let a negative person go, talk with employees about the future of their workplace. It can be the perfect opportunity to take the pulse of your company culture.

Report: Lack of Cybersecurity Skills Are Leaving Companies Vulnerable

Photo: Flickr

Information technology managers in today’s workplace are finding it difficult to protect their networks as a lack of cybersecurity expertise is leaving companies open to attack.

A report by Intel Security, “Hacking the Skills Shortage,” interviewed 775 IT decision makers involved in cybersecurity at their organization or business. The study points out that 82 percent of the participants reported a lack of cybersecurity skills at their workplace. One in three said the shortage makes them prime hacking targets, and one in four said it has led to reputational damage and the loss of proprietary data via cyberattack.

A Lack of Cybersecurity Skills in the Workplace

The report is based on research from tech market research firm Vanson Bourne. Respondents represented the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Mexico, and Israel.

Other findings:

More than three out of four (76 percent) respondents believe their government is not investing enough in cybersecurity talent.
High-value skills are in critically short supply, and the most scarce being intrusion detection, secure software development, and attack mitigation. These skills are in greater demand than soft skills in communication and collaboration.
A majority of respondents (53 percent) said that the cybersecurity skills shortage is worse than talent deficits in other IT professions.
Respondents ranked hands-on experience and professional certifications as better ways to acquire cybersecurity skills than a degree.
Countries can change this shortfall in critical cybersecurity skills by increasing government expenditure on education, promoting gaming and technology exercises, and pushing for more cybersecurity programs in higher education

3 Ways to Improve Your Career and Professional Life

Early January is time for New Year’s resolutions that typically focus on health and happiness. These promises we make to ourselves usually revolve around eating better, working out at the gym, and making an effort to be kind to others. Rarely is one of our resolutions to ask for a raise, look for a new job, or find joy in our professional life. But maybe it should be.

This week, the New York Times published a piece, “The Best Time to Retune Your Career? It’s Probably Right Now,” with advice on improving your professional life.

On Asking for a Raise

How should you approach the talk with your boss?

“You’ve got to go into these discussions with a clear sense that this is something you have earned, not a gift from your boss,” said Kenneth N. Siegel, an industrial psychologist and the president of the Impact Group, a leadership consulting firm. “Focus on what you’ve earned, not what you deserve.”

On Finding a New Job

Finding job satisfaction may require more than a higher salary: It might mean packing up and taking your work elsewhere. Quitting can be the first step toward reinvention. The Times reviewed three books that encourage unhappy employees to walk out the door and start again. The process may be a struggle, but these books point to success stories.

On Finding Happiness at Work

If you aren’t happy at work, don’t assume things will naturally get better. Instead, according to Stanford professors, Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, take the initiative to explore changes. Their process, described by Steven Kurutz in an article in September, is experiential — they urge trying new things and add that failure is part of the exploration. If the first step feels like a good fit, the authors say, take it a bit further

An Internship in South Africa Gives Business Student a Global Perspective

(Photo: UVM’s Grossman School of Business Dean Sanjay Sharma with student Will Nedds)

UVM senior Will Nedds completed a two-month summer internship with Reciprocity, a South Africa consultancy that aims to optimize the contribution of the private sector to social and economic development.

Nedds, a student at UVM’s Grossman School of Business, is majoring in business administration and economics, with a concentration in finance and entrepreneurship, and minoring in computer science. Nedds was one of 21 UVM students who participated in international summer internships facilitated through UVM Continuing and Distance Education’s global team. Nedds found the Reciprocity internship through Connect 1-2-3, one of the four internship organizations working with UVM CDE.

We talked to Nedds about his global learning experience and his enthusiasm for social enterprises.

Reciprocity is located in Cape Town, South Africa. Could you describe the work you were doing during your internship?

One of my roles at Reciprocity was taking graduate students visiting from other schools — including the University of Toronto and London Business School – to meet entrepreneurs working in townships around Cape Town. These are micro-entrepreneurs, making dollars a day, in places like Gugulethu and Khayelitsha.

The Reciprocity team and the students worked together to make recommendations to the entrepreneurs. For example, we met with a man who had a mattress company and learned about how he runs his business. The man sells mattresses out of a shipping container and runs an electronic repair shop on the side. In this case, we recommended that the man increase the size of his shipping container and buy a second one. We also advised him to stop his side business to provide better focus.

Can you describe the economic climate in Cape Town and the townships?

While I was living in Cape Town, it was typical to hear insults and dismissals lobbed at township residents, such as “They are thieves, they are lazy, and they do nothing but live in squalor and spend government checks on flat-screen TVs to install in their corrugated metal shacks and power with stolen electricity.”

One of the townships near Cape Town.

While I certainly was not in the country long enough to confirm or deny these assertions, my firsthand experience with township residents flew directly against these accusations.

The township residents I met worked incredibly hard, in spite of their meager lifestyle. Those who were employed worked as secretaries and pharmacists and custodial staff in the city. Those who owned their own businesses operated restaurants, fruit and vegetable stands, or spaza shops, which are informal convenience stores. The area was alive with people working to make a living for themselves with whatever skills they had.

Reciprocity focuses on the “Base of the Pyramid.” This term — developed by C.K. Prahalad and UVM Professor Stuart Hart — encompasses the more than four billion people — approximately 60 percent of all humanity — who earn $8/day or less. Why is the Base of the Pyramid movement so important to you?

I’m interested in income equality and how poverty affects the overarching economy. The Base of the Pyramid embraces a business approach that focuses on products, services, and enterprises that serve this population in a way that is culturally sensitive, environmentally sustainable, and economically profitable. Probably the largest of the projects that Reciprocity took on during my tenure was a research study on social enterprises in Zambia, South Africa, and Malawi.

A social enterprise is a term for a company that has a social mission, but does so through a sustainable, for-profit model. For example, let’s say there’s a solar company that sells lights to rural communities for close to cost as a way of increasing access to safe and clean artificial light. A business like this has a mission to improve the lives of others, but at the same time recognizes that good work takes resources to make it a sustainable reality. This is one of the guiding principles of UVM Enactus, where I currently serve as president.

The group is a community of student leaders committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world. What I love about our organization is that it harnesses that entrepreneurial spirit for the sake of building sustainable initiatives to help others. At the moment, one of our projects is helping the Vermont Hindu Temple find ways to share Hindu culture with the Vermont community, while at the same time building viable revenue streams to cover its costs.

What do you enjoy most about economics?

I love economics because it’s the science of choice. Every decision you make, from the moment your eyes open in the morning to the moment they close at night, is fueled by reasoning, weighing options, and identifying the choices that will benefit you the most

Five tricks to preparing your Personal Statement, from the Admissions Committee

It’s early November, September LSAT scores have arrived, and if you plan to matriculate in the fall of 2017, you are probably deep in the work of law school applications. If you’re like many students, the part of the application you dread most, and may even be avoiding, is the personal statement. This blog offers some guidance to help you through that process.

Last week, admissions representatives from Berkeley Law, Northwestern Law, USC Gould School of Law, and Texas Law were on campus speaking with AU students about the admissions process, and turned to the topic of Personal Statements. If you weren’t able to join them, here is a taste of what they shared.

First, the basics. Follow the directions. This includes responding to the exact prompt posed, the page limits, the specific information requested, and any other guidance. Don’t cheat with tiny fonts – admissions committees are wise to that trick. They will use your personal statement to judge your writing skills, for sure. They will also use it to assess your judgment, decision-making, and ability to read and follow specific instructions.

Now that you have the formatting down, consider the statement itself – what you will share, how you will share it, and what it will tell admissions committees about you. Use this moment to be genuinely introspective and tell a story – your story, in your own words. Think of your life as a path. You don’t want to write about where you are now on the path, or where you plan to go next. Instead, consider your backstory. How did you get where you are now? Avoid starting your statement with a quote – the best stories are in your own words and voice, not someone else’s.

Give the admissions committee the opportunity to get to know you beyond your LSAT score. Don’t repeat your transcript or your resume in narrative format. Instead, share how you got here from there. Write in more depth about that experience from your resume and why it matters. Explain how it has become part of your story.

Treat your personal statement as if it is an admission interview. Answer the questions you wish they would ask. Share something new that the admissions committee can’t learn elsewhere in your application. This is your chance to make your case for admission and to communicate what law schools should know about you, but otherwise won’t.

Avoid answering questions asked elsewhere – for example, if there’s a supplemental question that asks Why Our Law School? don’t use two paragraphs of your personal statement to explain that. Use the optional questions as clues to what is best covered elsewhere. Each part of the application is a chance to enhance the committee’s sense of who you are, and how you will fit into their community of scholars. Use each and every piece you can to your best advantage. And when you have done that, hit Save, and walk away.

How to Develop Strategies to Create College Campus Sustainability

Renewable electricity. Fair trade. Racism. Gender discrimination. Composting.

As more colleges and universities are increasing their commitment to sustainability, higher industry professionals are looking to develop and implement innovative practices on campus.

In June, UVM will offer the Campus Sustainability Leadership Professional Certificate, a five-day program where participants can find strategies for achieving sustainability goals on campus.

Campus Sustainability at UVM

UVM, which ranked number three in the 2018 Top 50 Green School survey by the Princeton Review, is a national leader in campus sustainability.

After expanding its recycling efforts in the early 2000s, UVM introduced composting to the campus in 2009 and banned the sale of plastic water bottles in 2013. Two years later, the University introduced a sustainability course requirement for all undergraduates.

The University has also taken steps in recent years to address social issues. UVM created an Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the University offers gender inclusive restrooms and housing. UVM gives students the opportunity to select their own identity and choose a pronoun for themselves.

Tatiana Abatemarco, PhD, teaches in the UVM Environmental Studies program and is a lead faculty member in the Campus Sustainability certificate program. She says this year’s program will go beyond the environmental focus of sustainability to also highlight social sustainability.

“Sustainability encompasses economic, environmental, and social issues,” Abatemarco says.“But the social piece has been downplayed in the sustainable community, and the University is trying to tackle that. Racism, classicism, gender discrimination are topics we’re going to build on this year.”

Creating College Campus Sustainability

Participants in the program will spend time on the UVM campus and also explore other locations during field trips to Champlain College, a small private college, as well as Shelburne Farms, a working farm and leader in sustainable education.

“Our program offers a compact experience and brings participants to a campus that has been working on these issues for decades,” Abatemarco says. “The program creates a lot of networking opportunities. Students network with each other and have exposure to people in the physical plant, as well as to educators and people from outside UVM. At the end of the week, people leave with big tool box, including many connections.”

Thomas Kovacs, a professor of meteorology at Eastern Michigan University, attended the Campus Sustainability Leadership Professional Certificate in 2018. He found the networking aspect to be one of the most rewarding parts of the program.

“Networking with other students and getting exposure to others to learn how they got started and how they received funding was very valuable,” says Kovacs, chair of the President’s Commission on Sustainability at Eastern Michigan University.

In the UVM program, participants will:

Develop a plan to address a specific sustainability issue on campus using Design Thinking principles
Explore funding options for clean energy projects on campus and socially responsible investing in higher education
Learn about specific design and planning issues for sustainable building practices
Exchange ideas with other sustainability professionals from across the country
Discuss partnership opportunities and leveraging community organizations
Develop skills as a systems thinker and learn new approaches for applying systems thinking to problems
Participate in site visits, lectures and panel discussions

Abatemarco says UVM is an ideal place to offer such a program as the University has set a positive example using sustainable practices. For example, 100 percent of undergraduates are required to take courses in sustainability, 100 percent certified renewable electricity is purchased for campus, and 13 campus buildings have attained LEED certification.

“My hope is that participants in the program will hone in on a specific goal to take back to their individual campus,” she says. “Most of all, I want them to answer the question, ‘What fits in with my line of work and what am I excited about?’”

How to Look Like a Successful Entrepreneur

When you are trying to get a new business off the ground, it is not enough to just think that you are going to succeed. You need to feel like you are going to succeed, and in order to do this, you need to put yourself into a special mindset, and have the appearance of a successful entrepreneur, even if you are struggling. The more successful you look to others, the better your chances will be of actually succeeding, because people are going to naturally gravitate to you. Here are some tips to help you look like the most successful entrepreneur in the world.

Love what You Do – If you don’t love what you are doing, chances are that your business is not going to be a successful one. You need to really want to be doing this. Many people don’t realize just how much work really goes into being an entrepreneur, and the most successful entrepreneurs are the ones who are happy to be going to work every day and not dreading it because they hate what they are doing.
Take it Seriously – When you are an entrepreneur, there is only one person who is completely responsible for your business at the end of the day, and that is you. So, you need to take your business very seriously. Sure, you can have fun and enjoy what you do, but you also need to really believe in what you are doing in order to be able to make others really believe in you as an entrepreneur.
Look Good – “While not everyone is going to be movie star gorgeous, you can still strive to always look your best, which includes taking care of your teeth so you have a great looking smile,” says Dr. Ella Dekhtyar from Broadway Family Dental. Always dress the part, and flash a winning smile at everyone you meet. When you look great and appear to be confident, this is going to attract people to you and your business. If you look dumpy and rarely smile, people are going to check out your competition instead.
Ask for Help – It is true that no man is an island, and no man stands alone. Everyone needs help at one time or another, especially when it comes to starting a new business. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. It doesn’t make you look incompetent or like a failure. It shows you as someone who really cares about their business, and wants to make it as great as they possibly can. It also shows that you are willing to take and use advice, and that you have an open mind.
Fake It – You are not going to be a success in everything, and there are going to be failures. But, no one has to know about those failures. Even if you are still in the struggling new stages of your business, don’t let it show. Fake it, and no one is going to know the difference. In fact, the more you fake it, the more your personal attitude is going to change to fit what you are trying to convey to the rest of the world.
Remember Your Customers – A business is only as good as its customer base. If you are not respecting the customer, they are not going to respect you, and they will not see you as someone who they want to do business with. Everything you do for your business, including policies, payment options, hours of operation, warranties, etc. must focus around the customer. Without customers, there is no business, period, and you aren’t going to be seen as a successful entrepreneur.

12 Tips to Crush the Career Fair

Exploring career options in your major? Seeking an internship for the summer? Researching your options for after graduation? An alum looking for a career change?

If so, the career fair might be an excellent event to attend. Whether you’re an alum, undergraduate, or graduate student, there’s something for you at our career fairs. Our career fairs are for everyone!

Our Winter Career & Internship Fair is coming up on Wednesday, February 20 from 3-6pm in the Ritchie Center Concourse. We hope to see you there!

Interested in attending the career fair but aren’t sure what to expect? We’ve got you covered!

Here are twelve tips to crush the career fair and walk away with career options, a lead on a fun internship for the summer, or clarity on life after graduation.

1. Identify your goals for attending the fair.

What’s your goal for attending the career fair? Are you exploring career options, seeking an internship or job, hoping to build your network, or a mix of all three? Mindset and strategy are two of the most important aspects of preparing for a career fair. By identifying your goals for visiting the fair, you can come up with a more effective strategy for before, during, and after the fair.

2. Who’s coming to the career fair?

Be sure to visit Pioneer Careers and click on the “Events” page to find more information about our upcoming career fair. It can be helpful to browse the list of employers to get a sense of who will be attending and which tables you might want to visit when you get to the fair.

3. Make a list of employers you plan to connect with.

Take your research one step further and get familiar with the company website and available opportunities for internships or jobs. You don’t have to visit every employer at the fair, but you want to make the most of the time you have at each table. If questions arise while you’re doing your research, be sure to bring them with you!

4. Have your personal introduction ready.

“Tell me about yourself” can be a challenging question to answer, whether you’re at a career fair or an interview. Come prepared to rock your personal introductions; this article might help you get started on crafting the perfect pitch.

5. Dress the part!

Business professional dress is typically expected at a career fair, so be sure to plan your outfit in advance. Not sure what to wear? This article gives a great rundown of professional attire and navigating authenticity in what you wear. Need something to wear? Visit our Career Closet, located in the Hub!

6. Craft (and revise) your resume.

You’ll have the opportunity to meet a handful of recruiters at the career fair, and many will instruct you to visit Pioneer Careers or their company websites to apply for open positions. While you might not be applying for something in the moment, it’s always a great idea to have an up-to-date resume that you’re proud of for after the fair. Our Career & Peer Advisors can help!

7. Know what to bring.

Be sure to bring a notepad and pen to jot down quick notes, leads, or insights. It might also be useful to have a few copies of your resume on hand; you never know if you’ll need it! If you have a name tag or business cards, it never hurts to bring them along.

8. Ask insightful questions and gather business cards.

As you visit each table, be sure to bring the list of questions that you’ve been working on in anticipation of the career fair. Be sure to ask for a business card toward the end of the conversation so you have the recruiter’s contact information for follow up.

9. Be creative.

Don’t see your program of study or industry of interest represented at the fair? Be sure to keep an open mind, as you never know who a recruiter or employer might be connected with. Find organizations that are close to your interests and visit each table. It might not be a bad idea to ask who they know at the company, and who they might be able to connect you with. Sometimes, finding that first point of contact can be the most challenging part of networking and a referral can be so useful!

10. Your peers are a resource.

While the career fair is primarily meant for students and alumni to network with employers, be sure to connect with your peers as well. Whether it’s a new face in another graduate program or an alum who is seeking a career change, you never know what you might learn from fellow attendees.

11. Enjoy the moment!

While career fairs can be intimidating and frenetic, take some time to enjoy the fair. It’s an excellent opportunity to talk with interesting people, learn about career fairs and practice for your upcoming interviews!

12. Be sure to follow up.

Did you meet some awesome alumni and employers at the career fair? Be sure to send them a quick thank-you note for meeting you, and reiterate your interest in the company. A thank-you note can go a long way towards building your connections and identifying opportunities. If you were asked to apply for an internship or job online, be sure to do so!

An Evening with Arrow Electronics!

Are you interested in building a relationship with one of Denver’s top companies and leading employer? Looking to engage in an opportunity to connect with top executives (CIO and others) and learn more about an immersive summer internship program? Then join the University Career Center for An Evening with Arrow Electronics on February 15th from 6:00 – 8:00 pm in Maglione Hall (5th floor) of the Sie Complex! Enjoy a night filled with great conversations and connecting to Arrow executives and employees to learn more about their company and summer internship availability. Did we mention there will be a free dinner?! Want to learn more about all the great benefits to engaging with the global company that is Arrow? Check it out here!

There are so many benefits to making meaningful connections with an employer in this setting, no matter where you are at in the career and internship search!

The world will be different in 5 years and so will you. Arrow is innovating and looking for students that possess the talent that can operate in a world that doesn’t quite exist yet…the world of 5 years out.

Arrow is so very excited to meet YOU! It is with great excitement that we invite you to join us, your faculty, and Arrow Electronics for a great evening around delicious food and great conversation to build your connections and make a meaningful difference with this globally engaged and innovative company. Space is limited therefore, RSVP is required. Please do so through the Pioneer Careers events page. If you have any questions about the event, please contact bella.gullia@du.edu.

Milestone 4: Launch Your Future

You are the sum of your experiences and now is your time to shine! Create your personal, professional narrative and learn to articulate your DU story in a compelling manner for any interview.

Why Is Interview Preparation Important?

After an employer has read your application, the interview is a chance to get to know you more personally and have a conversation about your professional qualifications, past experience, and possibilities in the role and organization.

By preparing for the interview ahead of time and practicing your answers, you’ll be better able to recall a detailed answer packed with details about your skills and abilities during the interview.

Events and Activities to Complete this Milestone

Attend an interview coaching session, practice your interviewing skills, or attend an Alumni Career & Professional Development Event to complete this milestone. Sample events and resources include:

Practice Interview with a Career Advisor | Schedule at www.du.edu/pioneercareers or by calling 303.871.2150.

InterviewStream | Log on and practice your video interviewing skills without even leaving your home with this online mock interview platform available to ALL students at daniels-du.interviewstream.com. Email your recorded interview to career@du.edu for feedback!

Pioneer Connect | pioneerconnect.du.edu
At this site, you will find thousands of alumni career volunteers that are eager to support your career success. Sign in to research alumni volunteers in your field of study that are happy to provide career support. Request an interview coaching meeting with an alum to learn about the most common interview questions for your field and to get tips for your industry.

The Art and Craft of Telling Your Story: Interview Skills 101 | Various Dates
Learn how storytelling can be an effective strategy for interviewing success at this interactive training.

For a full list of career events and pre-registration, log on to Pioneer Careers at www.du.edu/pioneercareers

Already Have Your Post-Graduation Plans Secured?

Congrats! DU is committed to supporting your professional success throughout your life. Launch your future by attending the DU Young Professionals and Alumni Career Development programs intended to help you have a successful transition to life after DU!

For more about Alumni Career & Professional Development visit:

Should I Go to Law School? Four Questions to Help You Decide

There are a few important questions you should ask yourself in deciding if law school is the choice for you. Some of them are philosophical, and some are practical. All of them are important, but this fir st one is essential…

Do I want to be a lawyer?

Before you decide to attend law school, ask yourself: do I actually want to practice law? That is the core of the profession – representing clients. If the idea of working with clients doesn’t excite you, then this might not be the right career for you.

Why do I want to go to law school?

Be honest. There are many reasons people attend law school. Some have always known this was their path. Some have friends and family telling them they will be a great lawyer. Maybe someone, somewhere, told them, if all else fails, you can always try law school. Whatever your motivation, you should be able to identify it. That’s the only way to decide if law is the right choice for you. Before applying to law school, seriously consider your interest in becoming a practicing attorney and how that balances with the cost, the employment prospects, and the minimum three-year intensive academic commitment required to graduate.

REASONS to attend law school include knowing what lawyers do (and wanting to do it) and having a sense of how prepared you are for law school and the practice of law.

REASONS to keep considering your options include not knowing what else to do after graduation, making your parents happy, thinking it sounds like fun, or planning to figure it out later (when you get to law school, or after graduation).

Am I in it for the paycheck?

If you answered the first or second questions with Maybe, I’m not sure, or No, but the salary…, keep reading. Even if you score the job that brings that check you dreamed of, if you don’t love (or even like) the work, you may find you aren’t long for the field, but you might still be paying the loans from that JD.

Many students are drawn to the legal profession by the promise of future income. But like any career path, your decision needs to include more than the salary prospects. A law degree doesn’t guarantee of a high salary. According to a Washington Post article from April 2015, “nine months after graduation, a little more than half of the class of 2013 had found full-time jobs as lawyers, down from 77% of 2007, according to the most recent data from the American Bar Association and the National Association for Law Placement. Those who did find jobs had starting salaries that were 8% below the 2009 peak, averaging $78,205 in 2013.” In recent years, bar passage rates have also declined creating a challenge for new graduates hoping to begin their legal practice.

Doing your research will go a long way in helping you manage your salary expectations. Look at the employment statistics and average salary for students from schools you are likely to attend (based on your GPA and LSAT – if you have taken it). Factor the specialty you wish to practice, and the region.

What do I know about the practice of law (In other words, have I talked to any lawyers)?

Answering this question requires you to research and talk to actual lawyers.

Current law students and pre-law advising can help with your law school application, but lawyers – those practicing law every day – are the ones who can help you decide if this is the path for you. They can tell you how much their legal education cost, what they actually do on a daily basis, how many hours a week they work, how much they make, and what they like (or don’t) about their careers. You should ask about personal attributes needed to be successful in a legal career and the impact of a legal career on personal lives. If law school still sounds like the right plan for you, you can ask for advice about where to go from here.

Learning about the practice of law from lawyers (as many as you can, from different practice areas) will spotlight the different career paths in the legal profession, and which might be right for you. You may notice that lawyers with very similar experiences may have very different thoughts on their careers. Ask them why. This is your chance to get a feel for what type of people like what types of legal jobs (e.g. litigation or public interest law), and what that might mean for you. Thinking proactively about your potential place in the legal profession will help you in choosing a law school, finding funding for school, and planning your job search.

You may not know any lawyers firsthand, or they may all be relatives or family friends. Talk to them, and lots of other lawyers, also. If you don’t know how to begin, making an appointment to see the pre-law advisor in the Career Center is a great start.

What’s next?

Now that we’ve talked about the philosophical questions, if law school still sounds like the thing for you, consider meeting with your Career Advisor to discuss the practical considerations of applying for and funding law school.

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By Chemeketa SBDC

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A Lack of Cybersecurity Skills in the Workplace

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On Asking for a Raise

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Why Is Interview Preparation Important?

Events and Activities to Complete this Milestone

Already Have Your Post-Graduation Plans Secured?

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Do I want to be a lawyer?

Why do I want to go to law school?

Am I in it for the paycheck?

What do I know about the practice of law (In other words, have I talked to any lawyers)?

What’s next?

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