Seven Mistakes
Many college graduates are saying hello to their first “real”
jobs. Learning to succeed in the world of work when you often have little
professional experience is daunting. “First day/first job jitters
are totally normal,” says business communications and etiquette
expert Barbara Pachter. “It helps to remember that no one expects
you to come in and know everything at once. Focus to learn all you can
and make a good impression.” While you have a lot to learn, there
are many simple things you can do to fit in while you learn your job
and your company’s or organization’s culture. According
to Pachter, here are seven of them:
1. BE ON TIME. You look uninterested and inconsiderate of others when
you show up late. Arrive on time for work or to attend a meeting—and
being early is even better. One mentor told his new hire, “A lot
of decisions are made in the five minutes before the start of the meeting.
You’ll want to be there.”
2. DRESS APPROPRIATELY. It’s not enough to look professional for
the interview. You need to look like a professional, whether in business
or business casual clothing, every day. Your clothes need to fit and
be clean and pressed. Look at what successful people in your company
wearing. Model yourself after them.
3. GREET PEOPLE. You usually don’t know many people when you first
start a job, yet that is not a reason not to greet them. A young engineer
was horrified to learn that the man he barely acknowledged in the elevator
was the company’s chief executive officer. As you walk the hallways,
stand in the lunch line, or ride the elevator, make an effort to say
„”hi” or “good morning” to your co-workers.
You’ll seem more confident and create a more pleasant work environment
when you do. And if someone says hello to you, you have to say hello
back. It’s not optional!
4. DO MORE THAN EXPECTED OF YOU. Naturally it’s important to do
your job and do it well, but you also want to get noticed. Doing more
than expected of you is one way to have others see you as a competent
person. One young woman asks her supervisor, “Is there anything
I can do to help you?” She has moved quickly up the corporate
ladder. Go out of your way to help others when you can and volunteer
for additional assignments. You will look like a team player and get
to meet more people.
5. DON’T ADVERTISE YOUR INEXPERIENCE. New employees can keep saying
“I’ve never done this before.” or “This is all
new for me.” Don’t remind people how new or inexperienced
you are. You want people to view you as a capable person and to remind
them of your inexperience creates a different image. One woman put the
letter KYMS (Keep your mouth shut!) at the back of her desk to remind
her to keep quiet about her lack of experience. Also, do not negate
compliments. If someone tells you that you did a good job, say “thank
you.”
6. LISTEN TO OTHERS. You can’t learn what others know when you’re
talking. Listen more than you speak. Eventually though, if you don’t
speak up, you become invisible. Just make sure that when you do speak,
you don’t sound like a know-it-all. Your questions need to be
relevant and your comments worthwhile.
7. TAKE BUSINESS SOCIAL SITUATIONS SERIOUSLY. Activities held outside
the office, such as dinners in restaurants, holiday parties, or meetings
at conferences, are still business and your behavior matters. Attend,
mingle, and don’t get drunk. You will meet more people and learn
more about your company when you do.
Internet Still Key
Jobseekers steadily increase their use of the Internet as a key part
of their job search, The Conference Board reports. In the most recent
survey of workers who searched for a job between January and September
2007, 73% reported using the Internet compared to 66% of jobseekers
in the same time period in 2005.
“The Internet has become the most popular method of job searching,”
says Gad Levanon, economist at The Conference Board. “Newspapers
are still popular as a major job-search method, but jobseekers reported
using them less, dropping from 7% to 65% between 2005 and 2007.”
Most jobseekers continue to use more than one method to search for a
job. Online and print ads were not mutually exclusive and are still
the most frequently used methods of exploring job openings. However,
over half (51%) of jobseekers reported networking through friends and
colleagues as part of their job search. About one quarter (24%) responded
that they used other methods, such as employment agencies.
The research shows that the Internet is being used for a variety of
job-search functions, from gathering employer/job information (59% of
jobseekers), submitting résumés and applications (57%),
to posting résumés on a Website (40%), and signing up
for E-mail notifications (30%). For more information, visit <www.conference-board.org.>
Post-Graduation Jobs
Between studying for exams, tailgating at football games, and juggling
extracurricular activities, it can feel almost impossible for college
students to squeeze time into their schedules for a visit to their college’s
career center. A survey, however, indicates career centers offer some
of the most rewarding opportunities for students destined for the job
market.
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers’
(NACE) “2007 Graduating Student Survey,” successful student
applicants (those who had already secured a full-time job) relied far
more heavily on job-search services offered through the career center—on-campus
interviews, speaking with company representatives, and viewing employer
presentations—than did unsuccessful applicants. Successful applicants
were also more likely to have applied for jobs at a career fair.
Shawn Graham, author of Courting Your Career (JIST Publishing), says
one of the most effective ways to land a good job after graduation,
is for college students to make time to visit their campus career center
and its events—particularly career fairs. “Career fairs
are like clubbing for jobseekers," states Graham. “They offer
a great way to make contact with a large number of employers in a short
period of time. They also allow you to practice your job-search and
conversational skills."
Too often, however, jobseekers squander their career fair experience,
leaving them with few legitimate job leads, and only a handful of free
pens and brochures to show for their attendance. According to Graham,
this scenario typically applies to passive and unprepared jobseekers
who lack the knowledge they need to make the most of the hour or two
they have to speak with recruiters. In his book, he offers the following
tips to help jobseekers maximize their career fair experience:
1. Determine target organizations. Identify and research recruiters
they’ll want to speak with at the fair, which will help you determine
how many résumés to bring and brainstorm questions to
ask the company representative.
2. Don’t monopolize a recruiter’s time. You will have about
two to three minutes to spend talking with recruiters. Develop a brief
introduction that highlights your interest in the organization as well
as your skills and experiences.
3. Avoid taking a lot of free “stuff.” Grabbing a handful
of freebies teeters on appearing unprofessional and greedy. Do not be
seen carting a bag of goodies from table to table as though you are
trick-or-treaters.
4. Collect business cards. If a recruiter doesn’t give you his
or her business card, check with the career center to see whether the
recruiter’s contact information is already on file.
5. Follow up with contacts after the fair. Whether it’s a telephone
call, E-mail, or cover letter to the recruiter after the career fair,
it’s important to reference the meeting at the fair. Notes taken
during the career fair remind you of key points to address in your follow-up
as well.
Interview Blunders
According to a survey of recruiters by Korn/Ferry International, the
most common mistakes candidates make during a job interview include
talking too much, lacking knowledge about the company, having an over-inflated
ego, and appearing overconfident. Within seconds, these mistakes turn
an employer off to the idea of hiring a candidate. Yet, many jobseekers
repeatedly make these mistakes, unknowingly costing themselves job offers.
A new assessment, “Interview Style Inventory,” suggests
the key to overcome these interview blunders is for jobseekers to understand
how their personality influences their interview style.
John Liptak, author of the assessment, notes, “Job candidates
who understand their personality type and are aware of their interview
strengths and weaknesses can better explore ways to improve their interview
performance.”
Background Checks
In the 21st Century job market, nothing should be taken for granted,
which includes assuming a background check is a formality and there
are no skeletons in your past. The fact is a growing number of employers
use comprehensive background checks more than ever to delve into candidates’
lives. A problem, whether legitimate or not, can derail even the best
prospect’s job opportunities.
“Everyone looks for an edge in their job search,” explains
Valerie Earle of Allison & Taylor, Inc., a professional reference
checking and employment verification firms. “We tell our clients
that knowledge is power and they should learn what employers can learn
about them by simply authorizing a background check on themselves. This
gives you the chance to fix any issues before waiting by the telephone
for a call back that never comes. Most people are fine, but identity
theft is such a problem today that it is prudent for all candidates
to look at their backgrounds carefully. We help candidates understand
how employers view the information. For more information, <visit
www.AllisonTaylor.com.>
Allison adds that people should put as much emphasis to nurture their
references and have a strong idea of what they may say to a prospective
employer as they do to prepare a résumé and get ready
for an interview. The reality is your references can make or break a
job opportunity.
Would You Trust Your Boss To..
Would you trust your boss to baby-sit your children for the night? Over
20% of Americans surveyed for The Marlin Company’s 13th Annual
“Attitudes in the American Workplace" said “no.”
•Does your boss use E-mails to avoid difficult face-to-face conversations?
The answer: yes, 17%; no: 76%; not sure: 7%.
•If in a position to do so, would you hire your boss? The answer:
yes, 77%; no, 20%; not sure, 3%; decline to answer, 1%.
INROADS: Top 10
Secrets For Interns
INROADS offers opportunities for students of color that lead to long,
rewarding careers. INROADS Interns get the experience they need and
when they graduate, they even get the job. While securing an internship
is a major accomplishment, there is a list of characteristics that must
accompany this on-the-job training experience. They are skills that
every employer looks for in a college graduate. Here are its “Top
10 Secrets” to land a full-time permanent job.
1. An excellent résumé is a must. It’s the first
meeting between you and a prospective employer. The résumé
is you on paper; therefore, it must be perfect, which means, of course,
free of grammatical and spelling errors, but equally important, your
résumé has to tell potential employers why they should
hire you. INROADS interns work one-on-one with INROADS staff members
to perfect their résumés and they attend résumé-writing
workshops as part of their year-round training.
2. Excellent communication skills. Regardless of your major, or industry,
you will interact with co-workers, management, executives, and vendors.
It is critical that you know how to write effectively, speak articulately,
and how to give presentations. INROADS interns do this everyday in their
jobs. INROADS interns work closely with a team of mid-level and senior
managers. Additionally, they work on company projects that include executives
and managers from cross-functional areas.
3. Become a team member. Teamwork has become an essential element for
the success and survival of a business, and for employees. More and
more, corporations form teams to solve real work issues and improve
real work processes. Therefore, it is imperative that all new hires
be able to learn the corporate culture quickly and be able to add to
the productivity of their assigned team(s). INROADS interns participate
in community service projects that require them to give respect, provide
support, and to stay focused on the team goal, recognizing there is
no ‘I’ in team.
4. Forming a strategic outlook. Employers look for professionals who
think strategically. They want employees who know how to set personal
and departmental goals that are in accord with the corporation’s
overall goals. INROADS staff members work closely with the Interns and
corporate clients to set aggressive goals for their internship that
are aligned with the company’s strategic goals.
5. Training is essential to performance. It is not enough to just show
up for work. You must show up armed with the knowledge and skillset
to make positive, lasting impressions. Each summer, all INROADS interns
attend leadership development institute sessions that provide exciting,
interactive, and challenging leadership simulations to prepare them
to handle even the most challenging situations with professionalism
and grace.
6. Problem-solving and critical thinking. Successful corporations hire
employees who, when in a position to make decisions that can cost or
make the company millions of dollars, will exercise critical thinking
and problem-solving skills. INROADS interns spend time in training sessions,
where they learn how to apply the critical-thinking process and solve
problems in real business simulations.
7. Community service is as important as the work. Most companies have
made giving back to the communities in which they live and work a priority.
It is important for them to make the world a better place and they want
employees who feel the same way. Community service is part of the INROADS
mission, and each intern looks forward to participate in both group
and individual community service projects and roles.
8. Confidence is key. Confidence cannot be confused with arrogance.
When one is confident, he or she has a quiet self-assurance and poise
that is perceived by co-workers and makes others feel at ease. INROADS
interns receive a solid foundation of education, industry specific training,
and practical hands-on experience. This cornerstone gives them confidence
in their abilities and themselves, and it shows.
9. Corporate etiquette is crucial. People skills play a huge role to
help you reach your professional goals, determine if you will be hired
or not, retained or not, passed over or promoted. Beginning with your
first contact with a potential employer, you are being judged on how
you handle yourself and others. These are called soft skills, but they
are just as important as knowing the fundamentals of your industry.
INROADS interns receive both one-on-one and group training, so they
know how to effectively carry themselves the moment they meet their
potential employer. In addition, their experience in real-life corporate
situations provide unprecedented training.
10. Networking makes you more attractive. Networking is more than collecting
and passing out business cards. When done effectively, you build relationships
for personal, professional, and corporate success and growth. INROADS
interns consistently and routinely have the opportunity to network with
corporate executives, industry leaders, and other INROADS alumni.
“INROADS has been a tremendous advocate to help me reach my corporate
goals. INROADS is a wonderful program with thorough trainings, interactive
mentors, and much guidance. My experience with INROADS has been pleasant
every step of the way. Going through the INROADS process, I’ve
been able to learn so much more about the corporate world and relationships
in the corporate environment. My INROADS experience has made me a better
person in and out of the office,” says Brenden Younger, who is
a junior at the University of Massachusetts Boston and an INROADS intern
at Liberty Mutual.
INROADS engineering students work on model systems, test products, design
layouts and analyze data, and having this experience and corporate exposure
gives them an edge on their future careers. Armand Quenum is a mechanical
engineering major at North Carolina State University and an INROADS
intern at United Technologies Corporation (UTC). “I believe my
INROADS experience has put me ahead of many of my peers because of the
exposure I’ve had to the corporate world,” states Quenum.
Students who are looking for that competitive edge can visit www.INROADS.org
and apply.
Gateway To Leadership
Gateway to Leadership, the internship program that places outstanding
African-American students in summer intern positions at some of the
nation’s premier financial services firms, graduated its inaugural
student class in a two-day series of events in New York City. The 19
interns gathered with the program’s organizers, The National Association
for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and The Money Management
Institute (MMI), in addition to executives from sponsoring companies,
including Brinker Capital, Goldman Sachs, Charles Schwab & Co.,
Inc., and Lockwood Advisors, Inc. The closing evening events included
a student panel discussion on lessons learned from the internship experiences,
a presentation to the winners of a student case study competition, and
keynote speeches by NAACP interim president Dennis Courtland Hayes,
MMI president Christopher Davis, and Brinker Capital founder Charles
Widger.
“The Gateway to Leadership program has opened doors for me that
I didn’t even know existed,” says Tiffani Davis, a senior
majoring in accounting and finance at Florida A&M University, who
interned for the summer at Morgan Stanley. “Not only have I gained
a better understanding of the inner workings of the financial services
industry, but I’ve also made lifelong connections through my program
sponsors. I hope to become an active member of the Gateway alumni association,
helping students like me have the same opportunities to learn from and
network with leaders in financial services.”
“African Americans continue to be underrepresented in America’s
financial institutions,” remarks Hayes. “It is our hope
that these young men and women will not only be better prepared to compete
in the financial services industry, but will also take their experiences
and their enthusiasm back to their schools, communities, and their peers.”
Gateway to Leadership launched its first intern class June 4, preparing
students—many from Historically Black Colleges and Universities
(HBCUs)—for leadership roles in the financial services industry.
Conceived by Brinker Capital founder Chuck Widger, who is a member of
MMI’s board of governors, the program places students in the financial
services field. “The program was successful beyond even my anticipation,”
notes Widger. “The interns came from many different backgrounds
and schools, but they all shared an unbridled enthusiasm for their summer
jobs and learning opportunities at their host firms. We’re already
planning next year’s curriculum, which promises to offer even
more host firms, participating schools and opportunities.”
“One of the aims of the program is for Gateway to become a prestigious
and powerful alumni organization, with an ever-growing number of schools
and financial services institutions signing on to the program,”
adds Davis. “Our inaugural intern class is a group of intelligent,
dynamic, and resourceful students who will serve as invaluable mentors
for classes to come. We’re honored they chose to spend their summer
with us.”
The program worked with a select group of HBCUs, including young men
and women from Bennett College, Florida A&M University, Hampton
University, Howard University, Grambling State University, and Southern
University. Host firms include: A.G. Edwards; Bank of America; Brinker
Capital; Charles Schwab & Co.; Inc., Goldman Sachs; IXIS Asset Management
Global Associates; Legg Mason; Lockwood Advisors, Inc., an affiliate
of Pershing LLC; and The Bank of New York, New York Life Investment
Management LLC, Morgan Stanley, and Prudential Financial. For more information,
visit www.gatewaytoleadership.org. <http://www.gatewaytoleadership.org/>
<SIDEBAR>An Etiquette Lesson In A Ball o’ Butter
By Alaina G. Levine
It was the luncheon portion of the academic conference when I witnessed
the anomaly. A well-dressed man had claimed the chair to my right at
the table. There are plenty of professional-looking businesspeople,
but very few of them show up to a scholarly conference dressed to the
nines in a three-piece pin-stripped suit, matching tie tack and cuff
links, and shoes as shiny as mirrors. My reaction upon observing this
unusual creature outside his native habitat? I am surprised, I am intrigued,
I am curious. I want to learn about him and his business.
I would like to say that this story has a happy ending and that we united
to form a wildly victorious entrepreneurial venture that changed the
world for the better. But alas, this was not to be in this timeline.
As Dr. Suit sat down for lunch, he reached across the table to grab
a roll from the breadbasket. He buried his entire hairy hand in the
vessel until he found the specimen he craved. It was a perfectly round
roll. He then proceeded to spread mountains of butter on its entire
spherical surface, until the roll ceased to be no longer. It had been
transformed…to a Ball o’ Butter.
I often think of this moment—not because I hunger for memories
of the grotesque—but because I wonder: is this how Dr. Suit behaves
on a job interview? Or at dinner with his boss or clients? I would hope
not, but something tells me he had no idea that he was demonstrating
improper and disrespectful manners, in the process making a lasting
negative impression on me.
Professionals in any field often neglect a basic understanding of proper
etiquette in interacting with other human beings. We are inclined to
argue that our skills, talents, and reputation alone will secure us
advancement opportunities. In college and graduate school, impeccable
manners are not taught, emphasized, or reinforced, which leaves many
students with the notion that any impression they impart from behavior
is inconsequential to what super star scholars they are, and it matters
not how they hold their fork or eat their bread at a business dinner.
But the truth is that whatever career you choose is a profession in
which you must behave professionally at all times. Being professional
means demonstrating you are serious about your craft at all times, and
having good manners and proper business etiquette for all occasions
promotes and amplifies your level of professionalism. When you practice
flawless etiquette, your talents are bolstered allowing attention to
be paid to you. Furthermore, in acting as a professional with professional
behavioral traits, you demonstrate a high level of respect for both
you and your colleagues. Here are pointers for professional etiquette
at meals and in interactions so that you don’t become a Dr. Suit:
•Smile, and other actions to take during the first interaction.
When you meet someone for the first time, there are five things you
should do: introduce yourself, shake the person’s hand, look he
or she in the eyes, smile, and say his or her name back to them (so
they know you are listening and you know that you pronounced their moniker
correctly).
•Keep your handshake quick, firm and dry. Shaking hands leaves
more of an impression than you realize. Your handshake should be firm,
dry, and quick. The shake should employ two pumps up and down, and then
get the heck out of there. Don’t linger and don’t keep holding
their hand like you’re mates. Utilize the whole hand—don’t
engage a shake with three fingers. Keep yourself dry by not clasping
anything in advance (like a drink or a briefcase), and always use your
right hand.
•Place that napkin on your lap. When you arrive at a luncheon,
whether the table is for two people or ten, sit down and immediately
put the napkin on your lap. The napkin will stay on your lap the entire
time you are sitting there, even after the meal is complete.
•Harness the spiny silverware. If you are at an event in which
the table is set with multiple utensils, here is a simple trick to remember
which to use and when. Start from the outside in, and for each course,
use the utensil that is farthest from your plate.
•Utilize the b-d rule for triumph over the bread plate. When you
sit down at a round table, you are immediately faced with lots of glasses,
coffee cups, and bread plates. Which is yours? You can’t go wrong
with the b-d rule. In your lap, take both your hands and form the “ok”
sign with your thumb and pointer finger touching to shape an “o”.
Keep your other fingers extended straight and together. With both hands
in this position, you will see the shape of a “b” on the
left hand and a “d” on the right. The “b” stands
for bread, which means your bread plate will always be on your left.
The “d” means drink which translates to your drinking glasses
and cup placed on your right.
•Don’t reach or grab, just pass. If you want something on
the table, such as the saltshaker or breadbasket, and it is not within
arm’s length (while you are still sitting), ask your colleague
to pass it to you.
Consume your bread in no less than an eon. The courteous way to dine
on bread is to tear off a bite-size piece, butter only that morsel,
and pop it in your mouth.
Other rules include not eating until everyone is served, and refraining
from wiping your nose, picking your teeth, or applying Chapstick while
seated at the table.
The reality is that scholarly and business strength can get you in the
door, but proper etiquette and manners will seal the deal, and ultimately,
elevate your overall credentials.
