Online Orientation for Seniors

1
A Passage to Your Next Opportunity

• Online Orientation for Seniors
• click your mouse to
• keep the presentation moving

BEST Barnard Experience for Seniors in Transition
2
Is the BEST Program for you?

• Considering a full-time job after college?
• Thinking of graduate school?
• Planning to participate in a service program
• or become a volunteer?
• Graduating this year?
• Then yes! The BEST Program
• is for EVERY SENIOR!

BEST Barnard Experience for Seniors in Transition
3
Getting Started

• Decide on area(s) of interest. Utilize available
  resources such as Strong Interest Inventory, OCD
  Library, Websites, Information Sessions, and
  Barnard College Alumnae.
• Prepare a resume (one page). Online fact sheets,
  resume binders with examples, resume workshops,
  drop-in counseling, individual appointments are
  here for your use. DO NOT USE ANY KIND OF RESUME
  TEMPLATE -- ALWAYS SPELLCHECK!
• Prepare a cover letter. Online fact sheets,
  cover letter workshops, drop in counseling, and
  individual appointments are also here for your
  use. Cover letters should generally be 1 page
  with 3-4 paragraphs. It should answer the
  question How are you qualified for the job, not
  how the job is good for you. Write it with a
  specific job/type of job in mind. Address it to
  a person when the information is available.
  SPELLCHECK!
• You must have your resume and cover letter
  approved by a staff member at OCD before you can
  apply to most jobs using eRecruiting. Ask the
  OCD staff member to put you on the APPROVED
  RESUME LIST.
• Practice interviewing. Interview Fact Sheets are
  available in OCD. Prepare answers to typical
  questions asked in an interview. Prepare
  questions to ask interviewer about company,
  position, industry, trends, etc. Familiarize
  yourself with field, read newspapers, trade
  magazines, reports, etc. Practice by doing a
  mock interview with a counselor in OCD.

BEST Barnard Experience for Seniors in Transition
4
Understanding Experience eRecruiting
YOUR PROFILE When you log in, be sure to update
your profile. Select Interests this is how
we target emails to students about particular
opportunities. CALENDAR Check the eRecruiting
calendar for upcoming application deadlines,
information sessions, interviews, workshops, and
other career/education events. Your Home Page
will list all events youve signed up for at the
bottom of the page. APPLICATIONS You can check
the status of any jobs youve applied for through
the system by clicking on Applications. This way
youll know if youve been accepted for an
on-campus interview, and youll also be able to
sign up for an interview slot.
DOCUMENTS Locate all of your resumes and cover
letters, and upload new ones by clicking on
Documents. You can also store transcripts,
writing samples, and references here.
MENTORS Click on Mentors to search for Alumnae
contacts. Thousands of alums have offered their
contact information so that you can learn about
their jobs, grad school, and other experiences.
Alumnae are to be contacted for information only
do not ask if they are hiring.
BEST Barnard Experience for Seniors in Transition
5
Whats a Resume Drop?
BEST Barnard Experience for Seniors in Transition
6
Next Steps

• Havent heard back yet? Follow-up! Wait at least
  one week and then call or email the organization.
  Ask if they received your credentials. Remind
  them that youre still interested and youd like
  to interview at their convenience. If the
  posting says no phone calls, then NO PHONE CALLS!
• Shine your shoes time for the interview. Be
  sure to practice before-hand. OCD Counselors are
  available for mock interviews call 212-854-2033
  for an appointment.
• Give thanks! After your interview, write a
  thank-you note. Your thank-you note should be
  typed like a professional business letter. Fact
  Sheets are available in OCD that demonstrate
  proper thank-you note format. An email thank-you
  is acceptable within 24 hours of the interview.
• For me? Yes, you got the job! Don't be afraid
  to turn down an offer if you are not at least 99
  sure that it is right for you. Ask for time to
  make a decision. If you are interested in the
  job, convey enthusiasm for the job and
  appreciation for the offer so that you won't
  close off any doors if you decide later that you
  would like the position. Other considerations are
  salary and benefits. Make sure you know exactly
  what the job entails before accepting.
• We want to know! Let OCD know youve accepted a
  job offer. We like to keep track of whos
  hiring, and we may want to contact you after
  graduation to participate in alumnae panels and
  workshops.

BEST Barnard Experience for Seniors in Transition
7
Helpful Hints

• Pay attention to what the company/organization is
  asking for. The most common materials are
  resume, cover letter, and transcript. Other
  material may include writing sample, references,
  and SAT scores. If the format of a writing
  sample is not defined, try to send 3-5 pages of
  an expository essay youve written for a relevant
  course.
• If faxing, always use a cover sheet referencing
  the position for which you are applying.
• If mailing, resume and cover letter should be on
  the same kind of nice paper (white, cream, light
  gray). They should not be stapled together.
  Supporting materials need not be on resume paper.
• SPELLCHECK and then proofread it again!

BEST Barnard Experience for Seniors in Transition
8
BEST Ethics

• Dont interview for practice. Interviewers have
  selected your resume and are taking the time to
  meet with you.
• If you sign up for an interview, you must show
  up. If there is an emergency, please contact OCD
  at 212-854-2033.
• All information in your cover letter and resume
  should be accurate including GPA. GPA is
  optional on your resume, but there are certain
  industries that will request to see a GPA on your
  resume.
• Once you accept an offer through the BEST
  Program, it is unethical for you to participate
  in any further interviews. Therefore, be certain
  you are accepting a position that you really
  want.
• If you are considering a job offer and are not
  sure what to do, please contact OCD. Counselors
  are here to help you work through the decision
  process.
• Reneging on an offer is also unethical you will
  not be permitted to participate in further
  interviews if you renege on a job offer.
• Do yourself and Barnard proud! Were proud to
  have you in the program, and we hope youll
  represent yourself with honesty and integrity.

BEST Barnard Experience for Seniors in Transition
9
A Passage to Your Next Opportunity
To participate in the BEST program, you must
complete the following steps. 1. Log in to
eRecruiting (go to www.barnard.edu/ocd and click
on STUDENT) 2. Complete your student profile. Be
sure to complete all required fields. 3. Upload
a resume and a draft of a cover letter. This is
only for registration in the program and does not
guarantee you RESUME APPROVAL. You must come to
OCD for Resume Approval. 4. Click on
Jobs/Internships along the top, click on More
Search Options and then select BEST
Opportunity under Job/Internship Type. This is
how you can always locate a list of BEST Opps.
Be sure that Show me jobs is set to Posted by
My Career Center. 5. Read the job description
for BEST Orientation Company, Orientation
Position, complete the requirements, and apply
for the job. When your application is received,
you will receive an email saying youve been
accepted for the opportunity this means youll
be activated for participation in the BEST
program. If you have any questions, dont
hesitate to call OCD at 854-2033.
BEST Barnard Experience for Seniors in Transition