Students Gather for a Talk about Enhancing Resumes and Polishing Interview Skills

As I presented to a crowd of SDSU students Wednesday night, I was reminded that only a four short years ago, I was the one looking up at the PowerPoint screen. I’m a 2005 grad from the SDSU Journalism Department and I had many of the same questions they asked me. I was curious about interview questions, how to make my resume stand out and what to expect after graduation.

Four years later, I still love my job at SDN Communications and I was honored when SDSU asked my boss, Vernon Brown, and I to present to a group of students about how to get a job. I expected a few questions, a few sleepers, some texters, and a couple students there just for the extra credit. What I didn't expect was a room so full, there was standing-room only. These ambitious students, these soon-to-be-young-professionals, were genuinely interested in any insights we could offer them about moving their resumes to the top of the pile. Much like the rest of their Millenial/Gen Y generation, they're concerned and determined to find a career in a tight job market. 

After the presentation they asked questions for 20 minutes straight--intelligent questions with new concerns that weren't at the top of my list four years ago:

• With older generations hesitant to leave the job market in this economy, how do I find an opening in the narrowing job possibilities?
• What if my boss wants to be my friend on Facebook? 
• What if I've only worked for my family business? Who do I list as my references?
• How important is an entrepreneurial spirit in today’s job market?
• How do I handle a job interview over the phone or over lunch?

My answers?

• Think of the advantages you have over the older generations and list them on your resume. You are a natural multi-tasker. You're eager to learn. You are technology-savvy and don't have the learning curve that an older generation would have when adopting to new products/services. You are entering the work force with fresh eyes and a fresh spirit. Your employer knows that you are more motivated to "prove" yourself and you'll give nothing less than 100%.
• Politely accept his/her request to be your friend. Set your privacy settings according to how much you want him/her to see.
• List the experiences you gained from working for your family business (the ones that are relevant to the job you're going after). Your time with this business shows loyalty and a broad range of business management skills you learned. Even though your reference options may be limited, I would suggest listing only one family member as a reference (if necessary). Better alternatives would be your advisor, a professor, your Econ Club president if you were a very involved member, etc. 
• Most companies are looking for a candidate with an entrepreneurial spirit. But you'll have to prove it on your resume or in the interview. As a result of the tight job market, I think we'll see an upward trend of successful entrepreneurs coming from our generation. 
• Three tips when you're interviewing over the phone: 1. Write down the names of the people interviewing you. While eye contact and a handshake are protocol for a face-to-face interview, using their names over the phone will have to take the place of those courtesies. 2. Smile when you interview. You can hear a smile over the phone. 3. You have the advantage of using notes. Write down questions you'd like to ask, hints for remembering your three strengths and weaknesses, and some of the things you don't want to forget to touch on. 
  
  Three tips when you're interviewing over lunch: 1. Order something you don't have to eat with your hands. A pasta dish, salad and soup are much better choices than a messy burger during an interview. And don't talk with your mouth full. 2. Let the interviewer order first (unless they insist you order first) and notice what price range their lunch choice is in. Try to choose something around that same price. 3. (The best tip for last) Remember, the interview starts before you even begin the dialogue. A future employer will notice the way you treat a server, the way you order, the way you shake hands, the way you crossed the street, the car you're driving, and even your choice of clothing. Be yourself. And be prepared to start the interview before you actually start the interview.

Do you have more questions about resumes, cover letters, interview skills or your portfolio?

Email me at copperinkdesign@hotmail.com and I'd be happy to take a look.

The Perfect Interview Test

As you prepare to interview for a new position, you may be starting your interview before you realize it.

The author of this article argues that the way someone crosses the street can predict what kind of any employee they will be (CEO, Accountant, Creative, etc.). He says that's the time when the interview really starts--when he can watch the body language and the manner in which the person crosses the street.

Here are five types of crosswalkers he defines (and click here to see how each would perform in the workplace):

• Matador—Fearlessly crosses the street with no thought for oncoming traffic or red lights.

• Wader—Bold, but not fearless, this person is eager to cross the street, but uses common sense when doing so.

• TextWalker—TextWalkers tend to meander, drift and even pause halfway through the crosswalk because they are more concerned with typing and talking than walking with purpose.

• Light Jumper—The light turns yellow, and the Light Jumper thinks the new red light is merely a suggestion. He jumps the curb at the last milliseconds of the yellow light and then glares at motorists who are trying to pass when their light turns green.

•  CurbHuggers— No matter how empty the street, CurbHuggers would never dream of leaving the sidewalk even a second before the “WALK” light allowed.

I’m sure you know at least one person who fits into each category perfectly. Have you thought about how you usually cross the street? And whether it’s crossing the street, or the manner in which you approach the front desk when you arrive at a new business, your interview begins before you even know it. 

What’s your most interesting interview experience?

What Gen Y Entrepreneurs Have Learned...and Can Teach Others

This article in the Open Forum Small Business Publication gives credit to our Gen Y peers who have started a business—but more of the credit goes to HOW they started it. They describe us as collaborative and unafraid to approach other business owners for partnerships, advice or ideas.

The article shares some insights that even more established business owners could appreciate from their younger counterparts:

• Partner for Success

• Use Technology to Update an Old Industry

• Be Socially Conscious

• Build a Great Culture

• Make Sure Meritocracies are an Important Part

Our generation is used to jumping the learning curve and succeeding faster. After all, we grew up with role models like Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Tony Hsieh leading the way. What are some success stories you know of from fellow Gen Yers?

If you could start your own business, what would it be?

Advice for Young Professionals (#11 in a Series)

"All business is personal, so make your friends before you need them."

~Robert L. Johnson

"I define leadership presence as earned authority. You may have a title, but you need to earn the respect and trust of your coworkers."

~John Baldoni

Young Adults Prefer Email and Texting—and are more likely to Tweet than users 30-49

Twitter’s user base is still growing quickly. But the user demographic has shifted. Young adults now outnumber the users age 30-49, who had previously been considered the core group for Twitter. According to this data from September 2009, it looks like African-American females, age 18-29 with an income of less than $30,000 and at least some college education are at the top of the user charts. In another study, Sysomos reported that in May, 66% of Twitter users who disclosed their age were under 25. 

These Twitter numbers surprised me. I projected a trend of younger users utilizing Facebook and MySpace to update their profiles, while the Gen X crowd would dominate their daily updates on Twitter. It looks like our generation can’t get enough of online networking sites. 

Because we are part of Generation Y and the Millennial Generation--the most connected, multi-tasking generation today--this study shouldn’t have surprised me. More than one-quarter of college students said that email was the activity they were least likely to give up for a week—far ahead of the mere 9% who said they couldn’t live without social networks. Although respondents spent 33 hours per month on social networking sites and only 31 hours on email, email and text messaging came out on top. 

How do you project these online trends shifting for young adults?

By Renee Halgerson

Great Customer Service

In my recent post, "What's Your Customer Service Like?," I explain some do's and don'ts of customer service. As a young professional, you've got to build yours on trust. The people you work with--and the people work for--need to know that you'll over-deliver at every opportunity.

Think of the best customer service experience you've ever had. Did you make a point to tell them their service was great? Next time you see great customer service (and trust-building) in action, tell their manager, and most importantly, tell them.

Click here to read an article about a company who's doing it right.

And here's a video clip of memorable customer service:

Which "Value Brands" are Clicking with Young Adults During the Great Recession?

This study shows that we 20-somethings (22-29 year olds) are particularly focused on “value brands” like:
Old Navy
Anthropologie
Bath & Body Works
Arby’s
Subway
Cold Stone Creamery

Why are these brands at the top of our list? The article calls us “early careerists” and says we are a practical-minded bunch…so we’re giving these brands the most favorable online mentions because they give us the most satisfaction for our money.

Click here to read the full article. 

Here are a couple of the brands I value most as a “20-something early careerist":
Apple
Ann Taylor LOFT
Camille’s Sidewalk Café
Red Box Movie Rentals
Clinique
Target

What brands would you add to this list?

Advice for Young Professionals (#10 in a Series)

"I've never met anyone who didn't think Toastmasters was super valuable to their career. We gain self-esteem, self-confidence, assertiveness. This makes us better salespeople, better managers, better leaders. I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for my dad pushing me over the threshold, pushing me to join Toastmasters. I had no idea whatsoever that some day I'd speak to Fortune 500 companies every week. Had I not been a good speaker, there isn't one chance in a hundred that I would have ever written a book. So it started with Toastmasters."

~Harvey Mackay, Best-selling author, speaker, and chairman of MackayMitchell Envelope Co, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.