Meet the Recruiters

Tip: Job Fair time! McCombs Job Fair has over 500 companies and recruiting for a wide variety of majors. Before you even talk to these companies, make sure you know a little bit about what they do and what kind of people they’re looking for. Don’t waste your time talking to American Airlines when American Airlines isn’t looking for your major (ten minutes wasted for me right there).

Tip: Do not start off with “Hi I’m Michelle here is what I do please hire me kay thanks” because they are so sick of hearing that. Recruiters are more likely to take people that they have interesting conversations with. Chances are they will just ask for your resume, no need to read it out the minute you see them. Instead, ask what positions they’re looking to fill.

Tip: Dress to impress (see here). I can’t name the amount of times I have heard a recruiter complain about the CS Career Fair and how nobody knows how to dress professionally. Do not be that person they make fun of.

Tip: Always ask for a business card! Once you finish talking, ask them for a business card. Business cards are great because that way you automatically have a contact you can mention in the future, plus you can email them later. You will use these greatly, as discussed below.

Tip: Smile! When I ask recruiters what they look for in potential interns, their most common answer is personality and energy. Who said this, you may ask? Target. Macys. American Airlines. Southwest Airlines. Toyota. Goldman Sacs. Microsoft. Texas Instruments. National Instruments. Every one of those recruiters explicitly told me they will always pick personality over resume. Look like you’re happy to be there, and they’ll be happy to talk with you.

Tip: Give your own business card back. Thanks to Oliver for this one. Your resume will be dropped into a pile with 300 others, but your business card will go right into their pocket. Sometimes they’ll reject it because they don’t want to carry one, but most the time they’re just impressed you have one. If you want a cool design, message me now! I am currently designing cards for friends and I would be happy to make one for you too.

Don’t Let Them Get Away

Tip: Email a thank you! Pull out that business card you picked up and always send a thank you. Need an example of what to say? Check this example out.

Tip: Email those recruiters asking what recruiting events they will be at next. Some will say they aren’t coming back, but some will tell you about an upcoming info session you can hit them up at! Not only is it great to learn more about the company, but you can say hello to them. The more often they see your face, the more likely it is they’ll remember you.

The Dreaded “Resume”

Tip: Before we even discuss the resume more, check out this template created by McCombs. I know it looks utterly boring, but it has everything in one perfect place. If your career is more on the creative side, maybe look here for some creative yet professional templates.

Tip: Do. Not. Lie. I mean don’t even fudge your GPA or say you worked for five months when it was really two. Because if that recruiter asks for a transcript or calls your employer, you are screwed. Don’t even put yourself in that position. Also, if said employer contacts your school

Tip: Tailor your resume. I have a resume for HR jobs, Marketing jobs, and Technical jobs because each job requires an entirely different skill set.

Tip: Cover Letters are KEY! Check out this template on what a cover letter should look like. Make sure to personalize it and tell them why you think you should work for them. McCombs Tip: Be sure of yourself. Instead of “I believe I can do this” say “I CAN do this.”

Tip: One page long. Companies spend 8 seconds looking at your resume, do not make it over a page.

Info Sessions Galore

Tip: Go to them! Info sessions typically have sign-in pages so the recruiters know who cared enough to show up to the info session. It’s key.

Tip: Ask *relevant* questions. Employers love when you ask questions so the room isn’t filled with an awkward silence. Don’t ask stupid questions though, nobody likes stupid questions.

Tip: Stay and talk to the recruiters. At the end, introduce yourself and ask a couple questions! They’re likely to at least remember your face. Try and grab their business card too so you know you have a contact in the company. Why? Because in interviews it’s really nice when you can name drop and say “Oh yeah I spoke to Michelle at the info session and she said the same thing!”

Tip: Never ever leave early. It looks so bad when you walk out of the room while the recruiter is speaking. They will remember you for it, so only do so if it’s an emergency.

Dress To Impress

Tip: Again check out this guide to what to wear! McCombs gets it right.

Tip: Always always always dress up for interviews. I cannot stress this enough. I don’t care what you think or if the company is a “Casual company,” you put your suit on. Do not be the most underdressed person there.

Tip: Females, this is not a club. Do not show up in your tight skirt that you wear to sixth-street. Buy yourself a nice business skirt from H&M and throw the other one under your bed.

Tip: Men, MATCH. It is not that difficult! Shoes and belt should be the same color and your suit should never be light blue or really any color that isn’t black. Please and thank you.

  Interview 101

Tip:  Shake hands when you walk in. You would think this is so simple, but it’s amazing how many people forget this step. Stand up and shake their hands. Look in their eyes as you do so.

Tip: Smile! A positive attitude is key in interviews. I asked my current employer why they picked me out of everyone, and she said it was because they were still smiling and in a good mood when I left the room. My positivity was contagious to them, and they wanted someone like that.

Tip: Stick to STAR. When answering questions follow this process: Situation you were in, Task you were given, Actions you took to solve that task, Result when it was all complete. As my BA 324 professor liked to put it, you should wrap the present with a bow at the end. Tell them a positive outcome that makes them smile.

Tip: Ask questions! When they say they want you to ask questions, ASK QUESTIONS. Come up with some questions about the internship/job, the company, their products, the tasks you would be doing, and even maybe what they’re looking for. Check this out for some good question ideas (Page 7).

Tip: Match the Interviewer. If they are speaking in quiet tones and being soft-spoken, keep your voice low. If they are smiling and happy, then you should mimic that. Studies show that those you can mimic tones and movements of others are more likeable, so try and mimic them.

Tip: Do not say what they want to hear. You will be boring and you will not stand out. Simple as that.

Tip: When they say “Tell me about yourself” you should avoid repeating your resume out loud. Jose’s Tip is that you add a personal touch at the end such as why you chose your major or maybe a fun fact about you. He and I both mentioned how we are dual citizens of other countries as our fun fact.

Tip: Story time! Answers should be stories. The manager of Sales at Pepsico says that he wants to hire people who are excellent story teller. If you are asked a question, use that STAR method and turn your answer into this exciting life story.

Tip: The last question should always be “What is the next step in the process?” Career services in McCombs will smack you if you forget this question!

Tip: Shake hands and ask for their business card when you leave. That way you know their email so you can send a short thank-you within 24 hours after your interview.

CEO-To-Be

YOU DID IT, YOU GOT THE JOB! Except it doesn’t really get easier. So here are some quick tips for your first week of work. This is all from my experience, so of course these are more depending on where you work. Take it or leave it!

Tip: Mimic what everyone else wears. On the first day it’s okay to dress a little nicer (try never to be under-dressed) but keep an eye on what everyone else is wearing. Mimic that for the rest of the week so you don’t stand out.

Tip: Ask questions. Ask tons of questions. This is the best time because they know you’re still learning and you of course don’t know what’s going on. Write down answers too so you can refer back to them when you really need it.

Tip: Keep a small notebook for notes, tips, and observances. This is where you write any assignments you have forgotten or anything you notice about the position. Also a solid place to put passwords because I made 200 new accounts on Day One and hell if I remember those passwords.

Tip: Befriend the coworkers! You will spend so much time with these people so you should probably get to know them a little bit better. Chat with them when you have time, maybe grab a coffee with them if you can.

Tip: Get Involved! They’re going to invite you to so many company events and happy hours and lunch outings, TAKE THEM. I know it’s scary and you don’t know these people well, but this is going to pay off in the long run. You’re now in the corporate world and the corporate world is all about connections.