ELCS Career Tips E-Book

Career Tips from the Experts WORK YOUR CAREER Presented by Experiential Learning & Career Success P: 406.243.2022 E: [email protected] W: UMT.EDU/ELCS

TABLE OF CONTENTS 04 JOB SEARCH & LAUNCH 05 RÉSUMÉS & COVER LETTERS 07 NETWORKING & LINKEDIN 09 INTERVIEWING 10 GRADUATION P: 406.243.2022 E: [email protected] W: UMT.EDU/ELCS

ELCS' CAREER TIPS WILL HELP YOU: Learn Professionalism Target Your Dream Job Connect & Network Take Charge of Your Career

JOB SEARCH & LAUNCH TIP 1 TIP 2 Bookmark these platforms to 70% of employers review candidates’ jumpstart your online job search: social media accounts before hiring Handshake, LinkedIn, Indeed, City/State/County Websites, and them. Present a more professional “you” Professional Associations. on social media to showcase the identity TIP 3 you want recruiters to see. Create job alerts on Indeed, TIP 4 LinkedIn, and other online job boards that are relevant to your Do you have multiple phone numbers field(s) of interest. and/or email addresses for references? TIP 5 Simplify the process for recruiters by asking your references for their Confused on where to list your preferred contact information.. references? References should be on a separate document, NOT part TIP 6 of your résumé. You can include professional, academic, and/or Nearly 1/3 of recruiters look at personal references. certifications on top of educational experience. Want to stand out from TIP 7 other college students? Consider getting a specialized skill through a certificate, For a more professional and concise LinkedIn URL, go to your LinkedIn micro-credential, or credegree! profile > click Edit Public Profile & URL > Put your first and last name TIP 8 or first initial last name or vice versa as your LinkedIn custom URL. Do you need some practical steps to get started on your job search? Read “The 2- Hour Job Search” by Steve Dalton P: 406.243.2022 E: [email protected] W: UMT.EDU/ELCS

RÉSUMÉS & COVER LETTERS TIP 1 TIP 2 Not getting any callbacks for online When deciding on format for your applications? ATS might be the cause! résumé and cover letter, Word > PDF. Talk to a coach about Jobscan. PDF can upload as a blank document in online systems. Use Word to be seen! TIP 3 TIP 4 Do not hyperlink your email address in your résumé or cover letter. Wondering if you should put more than Online application systems can scan one phone number or email address on hyperlinks as viruses. your résumé and cover letter? The answer TIP 5 is no. Only include your most relevant contact information because it makes Use Gmail instead of your UM email for job application materials. Gmail recruiters’ jobs easier. should be professional, and the recommended format is: TIP 6 [email protected]. Parentheses in phone numbers on résumés TIP 7 and cover letters are no longer best Columns in your résumé = bad news practice. Numbers should be written as 000- for online application systems. Take 000-0000 or 000.000.0000 instead. them out and save yourself the headache! TIP 8 TIP 9 Are you planning to move to a new state? In online job applications, write “relocating to Wondering if you should include your 'New City, State.'” Also include this in your address in your résumé? The answer résumé and cover letter headers to prevent is no. An address on a résumé is an old-school practice and can actually geographical discrimination. hurt you through what is called geographical discrimination. All you TIP 10 need is one phone number, city and state where you are applying, and a Bold = stands out; italics = skimmed over. professional Gmail address. Use this information to your advantage when writing your résumé, just do not overuse them. P: 406.243.2022 E: [email protected] W: UMT.EDU/ELCS

RÉSUMÉS & COVER LETTERS TIP 11 TIP 12 Not good at catching typos and Do not use online templates for your grammar errors in your application résumé. They can have textboxes that materials, emails, and documents? make critical information disappear from Use Grammarly for Word, email, and your résumé in online application systems. internet browser. TIP 14 TIP 13 English-speaking countries read left to Nearly 1/3 of recruiters use cover right. Use this to your advantage when letters to make a hiring decision. writing your résumé. Add accomplishments, Schedule an appointment with our skills, and bragging points to the left and career coaches today to review your cover letter! dates and locations to the right. TIP 15 TIP 16 Are you curious about what is Move your résumé to the next level by showing up when you submit following these simple steps: 1) Use your résumé online? Save your résumé in plain text to find out! narrow .5 margins on all sides; 2) Use the Calibri font, and 3) Change all line spacing TIP 17 to be consistent throughout. Have you heard that all résumés are supposed to be 1-page? That’s TIP 18 a myth! If you have strongly related experiences that go onto When you are applying for jobs in the 2-pages, that’s great! Not sure if it United States, do not include a photo in is related? Ask a coach! your résumé. It is not the US TIP 19 professional standard. Here is a hot take: your cover letter, résumé, and reference page header should always match! P: 406.243.2022 E: [email protected] W: UMT.EDU/ELCS

NETWORKING & LINKEDIN TIP 1 TIP 2 Update your LinkedIn profile! Your LinkedIn header is the first thing Upload a professional photo with a potential employers see! Change your neutral background, input your header from \"student\" to your current graduation date, and add to your job title or the title you are aiming for. skills section! TIP 4 TIP 3 When networking, show you care about Edit the URL for your LinkedIn the person you are reaching out to - it page to make it more professional. goes a long way. Listen to them, thank To avoid problems with ATS, do not them for their time, and send them a hyperlink your LinkedIn URL in follow-up thank you email. your résumé or cover letter! TIP 6 TIP 5 Have you heard that LinkedIn is just Do you only have time to send for business students? That’s a myth! networking emails after hours? The latest research shows around 70% Use \"scheduled send\" to send your of employers review LinkedIn profiles message exactly when you want before hiring applicants. Get your your contact to receive it. LinkedIn profile in shape! TIP 7 Want to stand out on LinkedIn? Upload PDF copies of your certifications. This helps recruiters and makes you look credible, transparent, and professional. P: 406.243.2022 E: [email protected] W: UMT.EDU/ELCS

NETWORKING & LINKEDIN TIP 8 TIP 9 Not sure if networking is worth the Have a dream company or two? Follow time? Between 70%-80% of jobs are them on LinkedIn and engage with their not posted on job boards. Networking is a critical step in your job search! posts. Like and have conversations in the comments. This can get your photo TIP 10 and name on important peoples' radars. LinkedIn Tip: follow the University of TIP 11 Montana and #hiregriz, connect with UM alumni, and check if any alumni Do you have a career currently work at your companies of conversation/informational interview interest. scheduled? Not sure what to ask? Use TIP 12 the TIARA method: Treads, Insights, Advice, Resources, and Assignments to Keep track of all the people and companies you network with via formulate questions. spreadsheets, so you do not connect to more than one person in a TIP 13 company at a time, maintaining professionalism. Sending a networking email? Give yourself a week timeline in the email to TIP 14 reach back out so you control the follow- Do you want to send a networking up! Write something like “I realize this email? Use a 5-Point email: 1) 100 may be a busy time for you, so if we are words or less. 2) No mention of jobs in subject or body. 3) unable to connect this week, I'll try Connection goes first (e.g., UM). 4) again next week.\" Put it in a calendar Generalize your interest. 5) and follow up when you said you would. Maintain control of the follow-up by including a timeline in your initial email. P: 406.243.2022 E: [email protected] W: UMT.EDU/ELCS

INTERVIEWING TIP 1 TIP 2 Research the company you are Wondering whether you should send a interviewing with and know their thank-you follow-up email after an bottom line so you can highlight your return on investment (ROI). interview? Yes. Be brief, reemphasize your interest, thank them for their time, TIP 3 and most importantly send it within 24 If you have a virtual interview, use hours of the interview. the space around your camera to place post-it notes with skills and TIP 4 key ideas to help you remember. Scheduled for a virtual interview? TIP 5 Congratulations! Download the software Do you have an important in-person in advance; check lighting, audio, and interview coming up? Do not bring a video; on interview day, set light in front handbag or backpack to the interview, instead invest in a black of you, and dress professionally from portfolio, so you can have copies of head to toe! your résumé, space for notes, keys, and silenced phone. TIP 6 TIP 7 Do not underestimate the importance of asking your own questions during an Worried about getting a difficult question in an interview? Practice interview. This shows thoughtfulness and answering questions using 1 soft interest. Plus, you are also assessing if skill (e.g., communication, this position is a good fit for you. teamwork, collaboration, etc.) that you can speak about confidently. TIP 8 This soft skill is your “water wings.\" Dress professionally for in-person and virtual interviews. During the interview, you should dress in business professional attire. P: 406.243.2022 E: [email protected] W: UMT.EDU/ELCS

GRADUATION TIP 1 TIP 2 Looking for an easy way to build your Schedule an appointment on EAB professional network? Join the UM Navigate with UM Financial Education to Alumni Association to connect with UM alumni today. discuss student loan repayments and loan forgiveness. TIP 3 TIP 4 If you are moving, collect relevant medical records, including your You might get asked for an official pet’s veterinary records! transcript in your job, graduate, and/or professional school applications – contact TIP 5 Business Services at 406.243.5594 to review Save your money to purchase and pre-order your official transcript. Microsoft Office for your personal computer once your student TIP 6 membership expires or download a free alternative, like LibreOffice or Ask for recommendation letters and WPS Office. confirm your professional references ASAP to prepare for your job, graduate, TIP 7 or professional school search. Let us know where you are and provide feedback on your UM TIP 8 experience by completing the First Destination Graduation Survey. Set up a professional voicemail message and ensure your voicemail box is empty TIP 9 so recruiters can get ahold of you! If you are moving, visit your favorite local spots before you leave. TIP 10 TIP 11 Applying to graduate school? Research relevant professional exams to prepare Check your FICO score to monitor your credit. in advance. TIP 12 Avoid hidden fees...check your lease! P: 406.243.2022 E: [email protected] W: UMT.EDU/ELCS

HOPEFULLY, THESE TIPS INSPIRE YOUR FUTURE SUCCESS! P: 406.243.2022 | E: [email protected] | W: UMT.EDU/ELCS