Online Applications – What NOT to do!

Fact is still stranger than fiction.  Last week a Laurier student discovered through a prospective employer that her electronic application had arrived not with a resume and cover letter, as intended, but with TWO cover letters – one addressed to the target company and one addressed to a competitor!  Yikes! That mistake would have been bad enough but the story gets worse… The student had sent the misnamed “generic resume” file to approximately 50 other employers as well.  Ouch! 

When we, as career consultants, advise you to check and double-check everything before sending – we do mean everything – including each and every attachment.   (Oh, and while we’re on the subject , here’s another HINT – think twice before you name the resume file that you are sending to a prospective employer “generic”.   You can make a  far better impact by using your name and/or the name of the target position to identify your resume attachment.)

The old idiom is still true – you never get a second chance to make a first impression.   Even a follow-up apology,  painstakingly hand written in caligraphy and delivered with a bouquet of long-stemmed roses, will not erase from memory the  fact that an application intended for a  rival organization was part of your original application package…

Of course, if you mess up this badly, it’s certainly worth a try!

Networking : Not Just a “Summer To-Do”

After having spent the summer working in the head office of a local conservation authority, I find myself wondering “what is my next step?”. My summer employer was directly related to my major, geography, and I know that networking is a critical step in cultivating career clarity.  After making my connections with many people working in the conservation field including planning, water resource, conservation, and policy planning, I am wondering what the best strategy is in terms of keeping in touch with these contacts.

 My first strategy will include some emails and attempts to arrange some lunch dates.  Even though I have not completed my undergraduate degree, I see the importance of making employment connections early, as it helps to make me aware of the different career paths available.  As well, many people that I have close connections with frequently recommend others I should get in touch with, which might potentially open new doors.  Near the end of my summer, I was offered the opportunity to attend A.D. Latornell Conservation Symposium, which was another great opportunity to meet new people and develop more connections.  Through talking to many people, I have been able to have a close up look at many different careers, which allows me to have a better understanding of which career paths really interest me, and other career paths I am happy to rule out. As much as school is my first priority, I think it is important for me to keep proactive at planning my professional career concurrently with my studies.  I am still unsure about the next step after I finish my undergraduate degree, but I do feel that maintaining these connections will be a much more influential force in helping me secure employment after graduation then simply focusing 100% on my studies. 

By: Megan Wibberley – Peer Advisor, Student Career Leader Program

Wilfrid Laurier University, Career Development Centre

What are you doing with your time?

Throughout my university career I have been interested in preparing for the future. As the years have flown by it has made me realize that while it is extremely important to plan for your future, it is also very important to enjoy yourself while at university. In my first year I was purely focused on enjoying the experience. Outside of varsity soccer I was uninvolved with any other aspects of the university. No part time work, campus clubs or volunteer work. I was here to enjoy myself, whether that was playing sports or having my fair share of late nights. For some reason I thought enjoying myself was having as much free time as possible.

In my second and third year at university I decided to pursue a different path. I was still very much enjoying myself but I decided to diversify into different areas of the university experience. I started working part time at the athletic complex as well as volunteering with the Letterman sports organization run through male athletics. This not only looked great on my resume but it gave me the opportunity to acquire valuable skills that I could use in a possible future career. Committing your time in areas that at first may seem like they take away from other aspects in your life can prove to be a very rewarding and beneficial decision.

In my final year here at Laurier I am keeping busy as per usual with athletics, volunteering and holding a part time job. In addition to my studies I feel these experiences will set me apart to employers. Being involved during your time at university is a key aspect of planning for your future. It not only allows you to grow as an individual and provide you with valuable and rewarding experiences but it also gives your resume that competitive edge to get that oh so important interview.

Ben Clifford, Peer Advisor, WLU Career Development Centre

Mini poll re: social media at Career Fair

This year I attended the largest Career Fair in Canada at RIM Park in Waterloo.  Almost three thousand students came to network with 190 potential employers about starting their career after University and College.  Despite the current economic climate both the employers and attendees seemed quite optimistic about the future labour market.   It seemed like most of the booths were busy, especially, Research In Motion which I couldn’t even get close to.  Besides attending the Career Fair for my own personal career aspirations, I also attended on behalf of Laurier’s Career Centre trying to find out what role social media plays in the hiring practices of the employers attending the Career Fair.  I had the chance to talk to about half of the employers present about the use of such websites such as Linked In and Twitter in their hiring practices.  About two-thirds of those respondents said that they use or intend to use social media in their hiring practices in the near future. 

So what does this mean to me?  This is an excellent opportunity for me to increase my online presence using social networking sites such as Twitter and Linked In. By increasing my online resources I am tapping into hidden employment opportunities.  Some of these employers post jobs exclusively on specific sites such as Linked In. With that being said, be aware that they may also see those Facebook photos from your party last weekend.  Ensure that you are putting a positive online presence forward for employers to see and save the personal pictures for your friends.        

Trevor Belkwell, Peer Advisor

Student Career Leader Program

WLU Career Development Centre

Preparing for the World after School can be Overwhelming

After attending the Career Fair this year, I came out the fair with this scary feeling that there is just too little time and way too much to do! Then I told myself to breath and focus on organizing and planning out exactly what I need to do to get my resume ready for graduation, or even my next summer job.

I had an interesting conversation with one of the recruiters at the Career Fair.  We were talking about what they looked for in graduates… what distinguishes one from the other. The recruiter was telling me that more and more students are aware that employers are not only looking for good grades, but for relevant volunteer and work experience – the “well rounded student”. The recruiter told me it does not stop at your resume – but it’s the first step. It really comes down to your networking and interview skills, the lasting personal impression you make is what helps you secure the job.

I was completely freaking out at this point, one more thing for me to worry about. Therefore, I began talking to a few recruiters about the interview process, trying to figure out what employers like to see in a potential candidate and what can be a deal breaker. The consensus among the recruiters was come prepared knowing about the company and job position you are interviewing for. As well, try not to give those typical generic situational examples. They look for this as an opportunity to connect and get to know you as an individual and see if you are a fit for the company. All the recruiters agreed that they really liked when students asked questions them questions at the end of the interview since it shows them that you are taking a genuine interest in the company.

This calmed me down, I hope these tips help you feel a little more prepared and comfortable. I encourage everyone to brush up on their interview skills by attending the interview workshop held at the career center as it really helped me.

Radha Sayal, Peer Advisor: Student Career Leader Program