The second installment of the Leadership Institute's Chapter After series took place on Wednesday, Nov. 20. This event featured how-to skills on writing resumes and enhancing proper interview conduct and procedures.
Blanca Rosales-Ahn, managing assistant director of Career Services, who hosted the event, went through why the resume process is so important and what employers are looking for.
"Your resume is your connection to networking opportunities, applying for jobs, grad school applications and so on," Rosales-Ahn said.
Rosales-Ahn says that a bit of everything should be included:
- Education
- Work History
- Internship experience
- Volunteer / Community service
- Skills
- Leaderships experience (ex: sports teams, club, student organizations)
- Academic Accomplishments (ex: Dean's List)
- Career profile
"Also, make sure you have your elevator speech prepared," said Rosales-Ahn.
The elevator speech, or elevator pitch, is a quick, 30-second introduction to what makes the applicant qualified for the position they are applying for. It is recommended to have one rehearsed for when employers ask for the applicant, "Tell me a bit about yourself."
The hosts of the Chapter After events, the Leadership Institute in the Center for Leadership and Service
Important information to remember when writing a resume includes making sure it is only about one page in length, that it is accurate and that everything is reviewed for typos or mistakes.
"Employers see that if a potential applicant can't pay attention to such tiny details like a typo, then they show they cannot be detail-oriented" Rosales-Ahn explained. "It's very important to read over your resume out loud to avoid making those little mistakes."
For interview prep, Rosales-Ahn recommends doing some research on the company one is applying for. Some employers ask applicants what they know about the company, so it is best to be prepared. Some of the tips for interviewing are below:
- Dress for success (when in doubt, dress more conservatively)
- Research the potential employer
- Review the job description
- Prepare an elevator speech
- Bring extra resume copies
- Show enthusiasm and be positive
- Have questions prepared for the employer
"When employers ask for how much you are looking to make, go to BLS.gov" Rosales-Ahn said.
Rosales-Ahn explained that the federal site has the information for what the average salaries are at most companies, so that students can be realistic with their requests.
She also noted that having a LinkedIn account is extremely beneficial for students. Through LinkedIn, networking opportunities can be made with potential employers, and one can easily search for their desired field of work, location, experience, education requirements and so on. Rosales-Ahn recommends that one actively looks for employment or internships using LinkedIn. A LinkedIn link can even be included on a resume.
Chapter After is hosted by the Center for Leadership and Service's Leadership Institute, which can be found in the Miron Student Center, Room 215. Their next Chapter After event, focusing on money management, will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 10 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Miron Student Center, Room 226. For more information on these events and others like them, the Leadership Institute can be contacted by phone at (908) 737-5170 or by email at leadershipinstitute@kean.edu.
Students may also visit the Office of Career Services, located in the Center for Academic Success, Room 201. Representatives of the office can be reached by phone at (908) 737-0320 or by email at career@kean.edu.
