5 Pieces Of Good News For Online Students

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A college degree is often a great advantage in the job market, and whether for professional reasons or knowledge for knowledge’s sake, this is an amazing time to start, or complete, an online degree program. Online education has never been more readily available and affordable, so if getting to campus is an issue there’s plenty of good news!

Good News #1: There are thousands of online degree programs from accredited schools, everything from certifications to doctorates. Many of these online degrees are from prestigious colleges and universities throughout the country and world. With a little research it should not be difficult to find the perfect one for you. Here is a great place to start – a Guide to Online Schools.

Good News #2: Many schools allow college credits to be transferred to online programs. How many credits will be accepted and how long transfers take vary school-to-school, case-by-case. There are more restrictions regarding credits over ten years old, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), and community college credits do not transfer to other states. Application fees range from $20 - $100. Individual schools and higher education websites have additional information about transferring credits, but here is a great place to start – Transferology.

Good News #3: In an era when student loan debt is a major issue, it may shock you to learn that millions of dollars in state and federal education grants go unclaimed every year because your people either do not know where to begin, are intimidated by the process, or believe without cause that the chances to receive one are slim. You will definitely not get a grant if you never apply for one. And many states offer incentives to go back and finish your degree – Florida, for example, offers the Complete Florida program with a variety of financial assistance. If you are interested in getting your hands on some free money, here are two additional great places to start – the College Grant Database and the College Affordability Guide.

Good News #4: By 2023, the global online education market is expected to grow almost 30% and reach an estimated valuation of $132 billion. (Market Watch) That translates to a hyper-competitive market all vying for your intellect and dollars. Reputable and accredited schools and programs will maintain high standards and operate with a degree of flexibility that works with every schedule and budget. Another great place to start is this online guide from U.S. World News & Report – Accredited Online Schools.

Great News #5: Internships are not just for college students and recent graduates. For experienced workers who may be switching careers, or want a degree/higher degree in his or her existing field, an internship may be a golden ticket. Many schools and universities will convert your internship experience into credits towards a degree. Do your research to find out which schools and degree programs offer credits for internships. Here is a great place to start – A Guide to Internships.

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Philip Roufail contributed to this article.

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercareerstrategies.com.

Ten Simple Tips To Maximize Your Impact At Job Fairs

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Ah, the fair – a sprawling campus of fun! Ferris wheels, music, cotton candy, and deep-fried whatever you want. Now imagine all that fun has a theme called a “paid position of employment” and instead of rides, food, and candy you get recruiters, hiring managers, and human resources professionals. That is the winning formula that is the modern job fair, so let’s take the tour.

Your typical job fair is at a convention center or hotel, lasts several hours, and between all the company representatives and job seekers is most likely very crowded. Job fairs are organized and run by professional event companies; regardless of the name or place, they all do the same thing – packing employers and potential employees in the same room until everybody gets a turn on the one and only ride – the job screening carousel comprised of a brief “meet and greet” between yourself and a company representative.

Want to maximize your time and impact at a job fair? Here are ten steps to success.

Step #1: Register online in advance, so you don’t have to waste valuable time signing up at the fair when you could be meeting hiring managers. Check the event website to complete this first step.

Step #2: Plan ahead. If the list of exhibitors is available in advance, determine your must-see companies and plan on visiting them first.

Step #3: If you are able to create a list of must-see companies in advance, have customized cover letters ready to go for each of these employers. Taking the time to do that will demonstrate advance preparation and signal a genuine interest in the company.

Step #4: You should have a stack of resumes ready in hand. High quality watermarked resume paper or bonded linen paper is recommended. And it’s better to have too many resumes with you than too few – you can’t hand something out you don’t have.

Step #5: Dress to impress. Some variation of this phrase can normally be found on job fair event pages – that is how important it is. At a job fair, you will be in a sea of people who are in their best interviewing attire, so dress to kill. Wear your most professional outfit (i.e., suit).

Step #6: Get your elevator pitch ready. This is your unbelievable Hollywood movie 30-second pitch of why a company should hire you. Considering you won’t have more than a few minutes with each employer to introduce yourself, a well-honed elevator pitch is critical. Learn more about how to craft an effective message here.

Step #7: Arrive early. Job fairs start quiet then build to a roar as the day progresses. If you are part of the first wave of job seekers, you will avoid the long lines certain to form at the event’s peak, as well as have more time with the recruiter and/or hiring manager, who are much more fresh and eager to speak to potential candidates when the doors open than right before they close.

Step #8: Prepare to hurry up and wait. Job fairs are the speed dating of interviewing, minus the speed. Expect to stand in a line and for your interview time to be short. You can mitigate this to a degree by following Step #7.

Step #9: Get in line and shine. Time to interview. Good luck! While you’re waiting for your turn, pay close attention to the rhythms of the interviews so you know what to expect. If candidates are in and out in two minutes, or ten, tweak your approach to fit the circumstances.

Step #10: Write post-event thank you notes. The employers will see so many people at a job fair that this is a simple way to separate your resume from all the others. Do not forget to collect business cards. It will make your life easier when your write the notes.

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Philip Roufail contributed to this article.

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercareerstrategies.com.

10 Easy Ways to Drive a Recruiter Crazy

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When you are searching for a job it is easy to feel like the faceless nameless recruiter is an adversary, when, in fact, he or she is just a normal person who, if given the chance, would love to give out jobs like candy on Halloween.  

However, anyone involved in a hiring process is busy with a full schedule of competing priorities and there is only so much any of us can accomplish in a single day. If you approach your job search in such a way that makes the corporate recruiter’s day easier and more successful, it is a valuable way to separate yourself from other candidates.

On the other hand, it’s not that difficult to make the recruiter’s job more difficult. Here are ten ways to drive a recruiter crazy (Hint: Don’t do these):

1.     Show up too early for your interview. It sounds reasonable, but if you show up too early you will throw off a carefully crafted interview schedule that most likely took a week of planning to finalize. The recruiter, and other staff, must now stop whatever they are doing to accommodate the fact you’ve arrived even if you are just sitting in a waiting area. Instead of seeming eager and responsible, showing up too early will complicate everyone’s day. It will make a bad first impression.

Recommended: Show up five minutes before your interview begins. If you arrive earlier than that, sit in your car until it’s time to go inside.

2.     Don’t set up or empty your voice mailbox. Have you noticed you haven’t gotten any voicemails recently? Make sure your phone has an up-to-date personalized greeting and periodically purge your voice mail of old messages so new ones can be left. If a recruiter calls and can’t leave a message, or if they aren’t certain they have reached the right person, you may miss out on a promising opportunity.

Recommended. Tend your voice mailbox like it’s a garden – keep it clean and welcoming.

3.     Change your salary expectations late in the game. Early in the process, the recruiter will (hopefully) ask for a desired salary range; the process then moves forward based upon this. Recruiters put time and effort into selecting and putting forward candidates based upon this number, so if a candidate in the final stage of an interview process ups their demands, it can derail the entire process. And you’ll appear to be an untrustworthy negotiating partner.

Recommended: Know your salary range in advance. Don’t explicitly agree in advance to a salary or salary range you are not prepared to accept.

4.     Dress poorly for the interview. Consider the recruiter’s position. When he or she advance a candidate for consideration, he or she is putting his or her reputation on the line and the candidates presented reflect upon the recruiter’s expertise and judgment. Between two qualified candidates, the job seeker who appears professional will win out over the one that looks like they just rolled out of bed.

Recommended: Dress your best and polish your shoes.

5.     Fail to disclose a potential issue that will show up in a background check. Many job offers will not be made until a candidate successfully passes a background check [“The Skinny on Pre-Employment Background Checks”]. If your job application requests the type of information that will eventually be discovered during a background check and it is left blank, it may be construed as a “lie of omission”.

Recommended: Be honest and forthright on an application. It’s important to own it. And if it’s something serious, you may wish to consult a legal professional for advice.

6.     Play sides against each other. Even the simplest hiring process normally involves more than one person, and each has a specific role to play. Once the interviews begin, there will most likely be a single point of contact whose role it is to navigate the hiring process. If you circumvent the normal channels, which puts everyone involved in a tough spot. The perception may be that you are playing games and going behind people’s backs.

Recommended: While you should be aggressive in trying to reach a hiring manager to get your application noticed, once the interview process starts it’s important to respect the chain of command.

7.     Show up to an interview without copies of your resume. There are multiple issues at play here. First, if you take the time to inquire how many people will be present during an interview and you arrive with résumés for each of them, you have already demonstrated attention to detail and that you know how to be prepared. Second, recruiters want you to succeed, but he or she is not your secretary. Recruiters should not be put in a position where they have to make extra copies on your behalf.

Recommended: Always bring more copies of your resume to the interview than you think you will need.

8.     Be a stalker. After an interview, there is protocol. Send a thank you note and wait. Candidates who make incessant phone calls to recruiters, or flood their email box, will soon find themselves without support from arguably the most important person in the process.

Recommended: You can be assertive, but be measured. Usually a single follow-up via email or phone to the recruiter after a reasonable period of time will be sufficient. Gauge the response and decide your next action.

9.     Be a jerk. Being mindful of your behavior once you’re walking the halls of a company for the first time is important. Do not spoil your confidence with arrogance. Do not be demanding of staff you have just met. During an interview, do not speak with disdain about current or former co-workers. Do not voice displeasure about anything (e.g. parking), even if your position is justified. You are a guest in someone else’s home.

Recommended: Behave as if your mother is watching. Mom taught you manners, she wants to see you use them.

10.  Forget to be professional and courteous to everyone you meet. As a major addendum to #9, at any given company the employees are a professional family and you are a stranger. That goes for everyone from the CEO to the receptionist. It is in your best interest to get every family member you encounter on your side. Even the most persuasive recruiter dedicated to delivering you a job offer may not be able to get you across the finish line if you treat even a single employee with disrespect, condescension, or dismissiveness.

Recommended: Act as if every employee you meet has veto power over your candidacy. They probably do.

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Philip Roufail contributed to this article.

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercareerstrategies.com.