#letsgetyouhired

References are an integral part of the hiring process and are absolutely crucial to making the most out of your interview process.  When thinking about job applications and interviews it can be easy to overlook references and focus only on things like your resume.  While a common mistake, that’s one that you’re going to be savvy enough not to make.

So what is a reference?

A reference can range from a letter, an email or even a call from someone that has a past experience with you that can offer insight on what kind of employee you will be.  

Who should I ask for a reference?

References are great coming from people like past employers or professors.  This article by the New York Times sheds some more light on how a good reference can get you hired.  However stay away from asking friends and family for references as they are not going to be seen in the same professional light.  It’s important to note, when asking for a reference to make sure that person has a good reputation in their field.  Also, make sure you have a good relationship with the person you are asking a reference from.  In the world of business, a neutral reference can be just as bad as a terrible one.  A good reference from a trust source however can really go far in making you stand out during an application process.

How should I ask for a reference?

Asking for a reference can seem like an awkward thing but it’s just a natural part of the job search process.  When asking for a reference, make sure the person you’re asking has a good connection with you and is someone you feel comfortable asking one from.  In Your Courses, Your Future we talked about keeping good relationships with important people, like your most influential professors.  

It might be helpful to make a list of people you can ask for references from and decide from there. Let whoever you decide to ask know ahead of time that you need a reference, and don’t ask last minute. We recommend giving a reference AT LEAST a two week notice. Also, take a look at how the Huffington Post says how not to ask for a reference! Cause it can be a tricky thing; professors or past employers can be busy or not feel comfortable writing you a reference. Framing your request for one so that it allows them to politely decline, is key.

So, what’s next?

Once someone writes you a reference, be sure to say thank you and keep them updated on your process (at least monthly).  Staying connected is important for making gains in your career and who knows, maybe in the future you’ll need a reference from them again!

Thanks for reading MySlate community and keep your profile updated with any progress! Please let us know how your reference requests went and if you have any additional tips for people just starting this process.

Written By: Salvatore Marashi

One of the hardest parts of the journey towards your career can be as simple as knowing what you want that career to be.  

According to a study done by the Department of Labor, around 80% of jobs posted are filled without the company's’ advertising them.  So what does that mean exactly?  It means that it falls on you to do the research and find the type of jobs that you’re interested in.  It may seem daunting then, with so much pressure for you to find the right job, to find the one that speaks to you. But with some focus it’ll be as easy as signing up for MySlate. So, we want to give you a bit of guidance narrowing your search down and some tips on how to go about it.

Narrow It Down

So first thing is to start to develop a sense of where you want to go in regards to your career.  Are you interested in Fashion? Or maybe Finance? Perhaps programming?  It’s absolutely crucial that you decide what kind of work you want to do so that you can get started finding the companies in that field.  According to Michigan State University, the average college educated American will have about ten different jobs between the ages of 18 to 34.

While you want to focus your career path early on, don’t worry, many people change their career path throughout their college career. Taking a quiz like this one from The Princeton Review takes your interests and personalities into consideration and gives you suggested careers and job interests. We recommend writing down five fields of interest you have. This way you get to see exactly what kind of work appeals to you. Take note, are there any similarities in your five interests, maybe that’s a sign that a certain field is right for you. MySlate will automatically start matching you with companies as soon as the job interest portion of your profile is completed. Take a look at those matches and see if those are the type of companies you can see yourself fitting in at. 

Define What You’re Looking For

As obvious as this may sound, it can be an enlightening experience to actually sit down and figure out what you want.  It’s important to keep in mind the many aspects of what a job entails.  For instance look beyond the obvious factors of money and location, instead focus on the company culture and the opportunities for growth with that organization.  Don’t be shy to really break down what you’re capable of as well.  Is the job you’re applying to far away?  Does it require a large amount of work hours? Focus on what you’re willing to put into the job and if it’ll be the right one for you.

Define What They’re Looking For

When searching for a job it’s important to understand the expectations and requirements that the company has.  Often the job postings will shed light on these requirements or sometimes preferences.  They can range from certain degrees in education to work experience.  An added benefit to knowing these things is that it can give you an edge in the interview process by giving you time to prepare and showing them that you understand the company for which you are applying to work.

Getting Started

You’ve done your research, defined what you want and what potential companies might want. Now it’s time to get you hired! With your MySlate Career Profile filled out you can get to work matching with employers and creating connections that can get you hired.  Maybe you’re not looking for a full time job or unsure about the career you’re getting into or the culture of a company, a great way figure out the answers for yourself is to intern.  Interning is an easy way to acclimate yourself with a company or field of work and give you a defined period of time to discover those answers for yourself.  

As your interest and experience in the workforce change, it's important to keep your MySlate Career Profile and resume updated. Focus on that path that’s right for you and make the most of your MySlate experience!

Feel free to let us know what works for you and any tips you have on finding the right career path.

In the next post we talk about your Internships and Job Experiences. 

Written By: Salvatore Marashi

Every position you apply to will require a different set of skills. Most positions though will ask your skill level of operating systems (Windows, Apple OS, etc), and Microsoft Office. Knowing how to at least use at least the basics of Word, Excel, and Powerpoint is very important for most jobs.

If you don’t own Microsoft Office, you can use them for free, on any computer, through OneDrive. All you have to have is a valid school address.

If you prefer not to use OneDrive, another free option to use is Google Docs, Sheets and Slides. While you can learn the basics of word processing, spreadsheets and presentations through these Google programs be aware there are differences between Microsoft Office and the Google Drive programs.

What Skills Will You Need?

If you are not sure what computer skills you need for a certain position, you can check out one of our favorite resources which lists the most common skills for almost any career out there.

Of course each individual position you apply for may have more of an emphasis on one skill set than another. For example, if you are a Graphic Designer applying for a motion graphics position and a web position. The Motion Graphics position will require you to know more about Adobe AfterEffects while the web position will require you to know more about Adobe Dreamweaver. What is great about MySlate’s Career Profile is you do not have to customize your profile to reflect skills for only one job, but instead you can list all of your skills and be matched to a variety of jobs.

Learning New Skills

If you have looked into a few jobs you think you may be interested in after graduation, and you do not have the computer skills necessary there are many resources available online for you to teach yourself.

- Lynda.com is an online service where you can learn a variety of subjects. From “Sharing Photos with Instagram” to “Up and Running with FL Studio 12”, they have almost everything you can think of. While Lynda does require a subscription to use, many universities allow their students to use the system for free, so be sure to check with your university.

- Khanacademy.org literally states “You Can Learn Anything” on their homepage. They have great courses for HTML, CSS, JavaScript and More!

- One of Udacity’s main goals is to provide “accessible, affordable, engaging, and highly effective higher education to the world.” They offer a variety of programs and ‘nano-degrees” where you can learn a variety of skills.

-General Assembly works to give full time programs, classes, and workshops, on a variety of skills, “from web development and user experience design, to business fundamentals, to data science, to product management and digital marketing.”

If you are someone who prefers to learn something in person with a teacher, tutor, or professor, look into trainings on your campus. Many campuses provide students with trainings to get you started with a new software.

Ranking Yourself

You should not simply list all of the computer skills you have, instead, you need to indicate the level you are at. On MySlate’s Career Profile we using the following ranking system, you can use this same system on your resume as well.

- Elementary: You have just been introduced to the program and don’t know very much about it.

- Sufficient: You feel comfortable using the program and if asked right now you could be able to use the program with some help.

- Proficient: You have used the program on a few projects, and know most of the ins and outs of the program but sometimes have to turn to Google to look something up.

- Professional: You have used the program extensively and know all of the ins and outs of the program, you no longer have to Google how to do things in the program.

On your MySlate Career Profile, you can add remarks. This section should be used to talk about your experience with the program. When did you learn the program? What are some projects you have done using the program? etc.

Be sure to always be updating this section with new skills you have learned, or if you have progressed in the ranking you are in a particular software. By keeping this up to date, you may get new matches.

“But why? Why do I need to show more than my education, experience and extracurriculars? Isn’t that all the recruiters need to know if I’m capable and qualified?”

Good question, person sitting on the other side of the screen! While we handle which companies you are connecting with based on your education and experience, it’s up to you express your interests, hobbies and things you like to do to blow off steam.

The “Hobbies” and “Others” sections are two areas on your career profile where you talk about what keeps you going and entertained outside of your workplace. Not only does this give you a chance to be a memorable candidate, it also gives the recruiter more of an idea about what type of person you are and how you would fit with their company culture.

Hobbies translate into the type of person you are. For example, if you enjoy chess, puzzles and other mind-using games, it may indicate that you are a strategic thinker and like to view problems objectively. If you enjoy the arts, music and dance, then it will suggest that you’re a creative thinker and will be useful in producing solutions with a creative aspect to it. We found this cool post that suggests who you are based on what you do in your free time, check it out.

One of the great things about your MySlate Career Profile is that it is designed so you can tell your full story, this means you don’t have to exclude items from your profile or customize it for specific jobs. So, you can include all of your hobbies in your career profile to tell your story. Before you go to an interview think about specific experiences you can use as examples in your interviews.

Many times interviewers will ask questions such as “Tell me about a time where you had to solve a problem.” or “...that you experienced conflict and how you solved that conflict.” 

For example, if you are a Little League Baseball Coach, your experience will translate into leadership and organization skills, which will be useful at your potential workplace.

Adding your interests and hobbies may be the spark a conversation about mutual interests between you and your interviewer, which may lead a positive and lasting impression. Keep in mind, you don’t want to include something that will split you and your potential employer into two different sides. So, stay away from adding political and religious views etc. that might cause a divide apart rather than bond.

When it comes to the “Other” section on your MySlate profile or resume, this is where you want to express yourself in a way that adds to the awesome impression you just left on the recruiter. Adding values you believe in, and experiences that make you the person you are, gives your resume a voice that represents you and your character.

So remember to fully express yourself when it comes to “Hobbies” and “Others”. If you don’t have one, pick one up! Learn the guitar, play a sport or read some amazing books. 

There is so much to do with such little time in this world, why not make your hobbies count?. Think of it this way, if you and your recruiter were both skydivers, how cool of a employment story would that be?

An important part of the college experience is participating in extracurricular activities. From greek life to service organizations there is a wide range of how you can get involved in on your campus to enhance yourself, your education and your future.

Social Organizations

Most social organizations are made of students with similar interests. For example; anime clubs, video game clubs, or a greek organizations are all social organizations. Social organizations give you the opportunity to get to know your peers who have similar interests to you. These social organizations have an abundance of leadership positions that employers are looking for. 

Professional Organizations

A great way to jumpstart your career is by getting involved in professional organizations. Many professional organizations have chapters at most college campuses. (If your campus does not have a chapter, be sure to check and see if your city has a chapter.) Professional organizations are a great way to network with, and ask questions to professionals in the field you are interested in. Many professionals will be more than happy to give you a tour of where they work or become your mentor. The relationships built in these organizations can catapult you into the career you want after you graduate. Mashable created a list of “5 Reasons College Students Should Be in Professional Organizations”.

Volunteer Organizations

Participating in a volunteer organization is a great way to work with others to better the community around your campus. Circle K and Habitat for Humanity are just two organizations whose sole purpose is to give back by volunteering. Being dedicated to a volunteer organization shows something positive about you as a person, it demonstrates commitment and that you make a difference in the lives of others. The Idealist Careers, adds on another 5 Ways Volunteering Can Help You Find a Job and Advance your Career. Also, no excuses! Organizations such as, uVolunteer, International Volunteer HQ, and Love Volunteers are great ways to volunteer while traveling abroad.

Educational Organizations

Beyond the classroom many universities offer educational organizations, where students can learn new skills to enhance themselves and their resume. From public speaking to chess club to marketing organizations... you name it! Being apart of a group who can work together and teach each other new skills will allow you to make yourself unique. You will stand out among all of the other candidates who do not have those skill sets and stories.

Sports

Most colleges offer two levels of sports, intercollegiate and intramural. On MySlate you can be matched for playing a specific sport, or playing at a certain level. We suggest to students who have played a sport on the intercollegiate level to add it to the sports section of their Career Profile. Playing a sport at the intercollegiate level indicates to recruiters a great deal of dedication, teamwork and leadership. Be sure to include any awards or championships your team won, as well as if you held a leadership position on the team. Participating in intramural sports is a great way to meet people of all levels who enjoy playing the same sport, MySlate suggests adding this level of sports play to the hobbies section of your MySlate Career Profile.

All in all, be sure to constantly be updating your MySlate Career Profile with the details of the organization you are participating in, recruiters on MySlate can see all of your updates in real time. If you go above and beyond within your organization, show it off! Recruiters want to know who you are as a person and as a leader. Working with a budget within your organization shows a great deal of responsibility and trust to recruiters. Quantifying your experiences through leadership roles, awards, conferences attended and more is a great way to let recruiters know what you did throughout your time in an organization on campus.