Alright everyone, it’s another edition of your information–filled employment newsletter.
By a show of hands, how many of you have actually gone to the LDS employment resource Center? Oh come on, you didn’t really raise your hand did you? That’s okay if you did, that means you have gone. So now tap your own back!
Again people I can’t emphasize enough how big of a resource the center really is. It’s free and it only takes a few minutes and then they can totally… I am not going to give it away; you better go to find out for yourself.
Anyways, let's get on with the real stuff.
Part-time jobs in Provo? Go to: http://www.snagajob.com/
Now, this week we have a workshop. This workshop has been taught over a period of two days. But for this week they have designed specifically for people who have no time. It will be taught in a total of only three hours. If you could use the extra hand, here’s your option. The info is below:
FEATURED SERVICE –
Career
Workshop
A three-hour, interactive, job-search training to help you get a great job or internship
Date: Wednesday, October 14th
Time: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Location: 3224 WSC
Contact: ersprovo@gmail.com
What’s in it for you?
gain a greater testimony of God’s concern for your career ● discover at least 10 positive characteristics you never knew you had ● learn (through lots and lots of practice) to communicate personal strengths to employers, graduate schools, internship providers, etc.● network like a champion ● discover your career identity ● learn to powerfully introduce yourself in 30 seconds ● learn to tame the elusive cover letter ● get ideas of resources for finding jobs ● get suggestions for composing effective resumes, cover letters, thank-you letters ● develop a vision of employment goals and a plan to achieve those goals ● learn strategies to be successful on the job ● solve the mystery of finding a job ● gain greater interviewing confidence (through lots of practice) ● learn how employers think ● understand what networking is and how to do it ● practice powerful methods for answering most interview questions ● find out you’re more awesome than you ever thought you were ● find out you’re more qualified than you ever thought possible ● find out about the most effective way to job search ● find out how your callings are actually teaching you job skills for work ● discover your power, and so much more...
Workshop created by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
FEATURED FULL-TIME JOBS – here is another search engine that will help you find full-time jobs based on location: www.indeed.com
Are they helpful? Indeed! (You guys knew that was coming… I just had to do it!)
FEATURED PART-TIME JOBS – http://www.snagajob.com/
I provided a job that was referred to me by Nick Elmore in our ward. Since that last announcement Nick has provided me with some information. I’m going to paste it: “Hey this is Nick Elmore from the Provo Marriott. The job hotline number people can call to see what we are hiring for is 801-370-3503. They can then come in and ask for an application if they want.” Thanks 1 million Nick.
Are you going to UVU? http://www.uvu.edu/employment/
FEATURED INTERVIEW QUESTION – Okay, you have worked very hard to finish your resume. You have met with consultants, maybe a professor, whoever, and finally you submit your resume for the job. Before you know it, they select you among the applicants for an interview. What was excitement quickly turns into anxiety and self-doubt: Can I do this? Am I ready? Will I know the answers?
Don't sweat it friend, every week I am going to put on interview questions in this section with the three available answers to choose from. I will then explain which answer suits the employer best. As you see these answers try to tailor them in your own words. What would you say? Why would you say such a thing? To let you know there are two main types of interview questions: 1. A general question and 2. A behavioral question. I'm going to include one question of each. Here we go:
GENERAL QUESTION
“ What are your strengths?” Select the strongest answer.
(A) My strength is my strong people skills. I love working with people and helping them solve problems. My customers are very important to me, and I let them know it. I have had a lot of positive feedback on my skills from my customers.
(B) My strengths are a combination of my technical skills and my ability to work with a variety of customers. I consider myself a data-mining expert, but what makes me stand out from the competition is my ability to work directly with customers and get to the root of the problem. I can break down complex issues into simple, understandable concepts in language so that customers can understand what I am saying. I have received customer service awards in the technical area for the last two years.
(C) A strong background in customer service. Whether the customer is internal or external, I pride myself on my ability to work with people on problems and solutions. I have been chosen for the “customer service of the month” award every quarter for the last two years.
What answer do you think is the best? What would you choose? Why?
Below you will find which answer is the most preferred by employers (this is based on research):
The strongest answer is B. This is the strongest answer because it gives a broader picture of what you bring to the position: not only what is required – technical skills – but also the added value of being able to work directly with customers as well as a strong ability to communicate technical information in simple terms.
The mediocre answer is C. This is not as strong an answer as B. It is good in that it lets the interviewer know that you have a strong ability to work with internal and external customers and work with problems and solutions. This answer would be stronger if you blended in some of the skills that come from your experience or knowledge, such as your industry or product knowledge.
The weakest answer is A. This is a very general answer that could be used for any position. “I love working with people” and “I am a people person” are overused phrases. Helping people solve problems is to general a concept to make a good impression on the interviewer
Behavioral question
" Tell me about a time when your communication skills made a difference." Select the strongest answer:
(A) My skills are strong in written and oral communications. I write a great deal of the curriculum for teaching programs. I have worked with great teams and focus on the invaluable role of art as a source of cultural enrichment in our everyday lives. I have written interactive exercises and developed creative test models that are used as standards in the schools where I have worked. Communication with the teams I have worked with has made a huge difference in the success of my projects. I couldn’t have done it without their cooperation and communication.
(B) I have over five years of experience in developing and delivering programs for schools. I develop, organize, and conduct educational tour programs to Europe, focusing on relaying the role of art and history as cultural enrichment in our everyday lives. I cowrote and help produce a series of art videos that are used in educational institutions throughout the United States. I am known for my passionate delivery and presentation of materials that have been viewed as uninteresting when presented by others. It’s the way you present the information that makes the difference.
(C) One project I worked on involved developing the curriculum for a program dealing with cultural similarities in everyday life. The challenge was to communicate with my team members and get them as excited about their roles in the project as I was about mine. I talked to them individually, drawing out the particular interest as they had. I used this information to assign responsibilities where there was interest, enabling me to bring about extremely positive results through a team effort. The feedback from the team was that every person felt he or she had made a contribution in his or her own special way. It was worth the extra effort taken to listen and obtain their input.
The strongest answer is C. This is the strongest answer because the focus on the way you used communication skills to work with individuals, listening and implementing the ideas heard. Because good communication skills involve listening and writing as well as speaking, you have demonstrated a broad use of your skills. This is an answer that also shows strong leadership skills as well as the ability to appreciate the differences people bring to a situation.
The mediocre answer is B. This answer has all the makings of a good story; it just needs to be rearranged to focus on the communication issues and addressed the question. If you compare this example with the stronger answer C., you can see how this same information is given, but with more emphasis placed on communication with the team that brought about successful results.
The weakest answer is C. This answer speaks about your experiences as they are written on your resume, not as a relevant example of your experience. A specific example of any one of the skills you mentioned would be stronger than reiterating your resume content. The last part of this answer could be developed as an example of your presentation to a group and the feedback you obtain about your passionate delivery.
THE JACKPOT TIP – If you could do one thing that perhaps would put you ahead of the competition, what would it be? This week’s tip: Smell good!!
I am not kidding. I can guarantee that your body odor will exclude you from the candidates’ list faster than you can ask for it to be done. Now, you don’t have to overpower the room with the cologne you bought at Ross, simply because you got a good deal. But remember to wear deodorant and if you struggle with bad breath bring the mint. Or a few. Some people will get nervous during interviews, and unleash a terrible breath. I’m not saying that’s you, but it never hurts to have good smell about oneself.
TIPPING POINT – Are you still undecided on what to study?
Here is a website that will outline what jobs you can get based on a major. Thank you Wolverines!
http://www.uvu.edu/csse/facultystaff/jobinternshipopportunities/jobsbymajor.html
Okay everybody. It’s night-night time. Don’t forget to brush your teeth and say your prayers!!
Best regards,
Daniel Souza
801-735-8281
daniels@byu.edu
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