Getting a job in the U'S'

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Getting a job in the U.S.
Career Development Resource Clinic Spring 2008

• Workshops for International Students

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Overview

• Getting a Job in the U.S.
• What are my strengths?
• What are some challenges?
• How do I market myself?
• How do I write a resume, curriculum vita, and
  cover letter?

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Sample timeline for F-1 students

• First year
• Become familiar with campus resources (CDRC, IPS,
  CS)
• Begin to learn how to write professional
  documents (CV, resume, portfolio) (e.g, samples
  from Career Services)
• Learn about U.S. work culture (student worker
  RA/TA)
• Begin to explore potential barriers and personal
  strengths
• Second Year
• Update professional documents
• Learn about potential career paths (e.g., visit
  CDRC talk to professors advanced students in
  your major)
• Attend workshops and seminars

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• Third year
• Familiarize yourself with what is necessary for
  OPT/CPT application (make an appointment with
  Carla/Phil)
• Learn more about interviewing and how to polish
  your resume (Career Services)
• Begin networking and examine the U.S. job market
• Attend job fairs (Career Services website)
• Fourth Year
• File OPT paperwork at least 3 months before
  graduation
• Start the job search process and information
  interviewing
• Finish writing resume and other professional
  documents
• Arrange to do mock interviews at Career Services

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Career Planning Decision-Making

• Three Circles of Career Decision-Making

Family/Significant Others
Career/Academic Information
Self-Knowledge
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Career Planning Decision-Making

• My Career Plan
• SECTION A SELF
• SECTION B SELF AND ENVIRONMENT
• SECTION C CAREER INFORMATION

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•  

SECTION D EVALUATION How do my strengths,
abilities, values, and interests (section A)
match or not match with my career
objective?   e.g., My values do not match with
the work values of XX job My abilities in
Excel match well with XX jobs requirement How do
my family expectations and financial/social
status expectations (section B) match or not
match with my career objective? e.g., XX job pays
well and provides health insurance for
employees How do barriers/obstacles (section B)
intervene with the pursuit of my career
objective? e.g., My visa status may not allow me
to work permanently in XX company What additional
kinds of information do I need from printed
resources, workshops/seminars, job fairs, and
information interviewing (section C)? e.g.,
information on employment trends in my field,
cost of living in NY
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Identifying career barriers strengths

• Career Barriers
• Barriers are negative conditions or obstacles
  that may interfere with your career plans and
  goals.
• Career Strengths
• Strengths are personal characteristics, skills,
  and experiences that strengthen your ability to
  achieve your career goals.

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Career barriers

• How can you overcome negative conditions that may
  interfere with career plans and goals?
• Environmental Barriers
• Time constraints
• Limited job options
• Discrimination
• Financial
• Personal Barriers
• Lack of belief in abilities
• Family/partner considerations
• Lack of familiarity

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4 steps for identifying strengths

• Think about your strengths by asking yourself and
  others.
• Be specific and write them down.
• Practice talking about them to someone else
  (friend, professor, career counselor, mock
  interview).
• Get feedback.

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Career strengths

• What are some personal characteristics, skills,
  and experiences that strengthen your ability to
  achieve your career goals?
• Personal qualities
• Intercultural experience
• Bilingual/Multilingual
• Education/work experience
• Involvement on campus and in community
• Learn how to identify and talk about what you
  have to offer. Relate your strengths to the job
  requirements.

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How do I market myself?

• Face to Face Interview (Role-Play Demonstration)
• What are your strengths?
• Answer with certainty and confidence
• Give an example that had a positive outcome
  (e.g., problem-solving skills, interpersonal
  skills)
• What are your weaknesses/challenges/areas of
  growth?
• Learn how to put that question into a strength
• Something that you can improve on (NOT a stable
  trait)
• Give an example of what you have learned about
  the weakness
• How you have improved and will be improving

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How do I market myself?

• Face to Face Interview (Role-Play Demonstration)
• Why should we hire you over someone else?
• Competitiveness
• Highlight something that the company is looking
  for in the position
• What is something unique that you contribute?
• E.g., flexibility, creativity, bilingual,
  bicultural, fast learner in new environment,
  integrate ideas
• Unique work/volunteer experiences

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How do I market myself?

• Be confident!!
• Practice with someone (friend, faculty,
  classmate)
• Brainstorm possible questions prepare answers
• Maintain a high level of energy (enthusiasm)
• Keep strengths in mind work them into answers
  (even when not explicitly asked about them)
• Be genuine as possible (show some personality)
• Think creatively about past experiences/ skills
  that can be applied broadly
• Express interest in a job through knowledge of
  the company/agency/institution
• Demonstrate balance flexibility (i.e., ability
  to work alone and with others having areas of
  expertise and willingness to learn)

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What is a Resume?

• A summary of your experiences and skills relevant
  to the field of work you are entering.
• Includes relevant information about yourself
• for specific employers.
• Always growing and changing.
• Highlights your accomplishments to show a
  potential employer that you are qualified for the
  work you want.

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What is a Curriculum Vitae?

• A curriculum vitae documents your complete
  academic life - length is relative to purpose.
• A curriculum vitae is a longer (up to two or more
  pages), more detailed synopsis of your background
  and skills.
• In the United States a CV is used for
• academic, education, scientific and research
  positions, and when applying for fellowships or
  grants.
• It focuses on educational credentials, academic
  achievements, and other relevant information.

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Writing your Resume and Curriculum Vitae

• Content of Resume
• Identification
• Career Objective
• Education
• Honors
• Work Experience
• Certification/License
• Skills
• Memberships
• Achievements/
• Accomplishments
• Professional Development
• Foreign Languages
• Activities
• References

• Content of CV
• Similar to a resume, a CV includes
• Contact Information
• Education/Academic background
• Honors Awards
• Professional Liscenses/Certifications
• Technical and specialized skills
• Professional Affiliations Membership
• Professional Development
• Foreign Language Abilities
• A CV also includes
• Academic/Teaching experience
• Related/Other experience
• Research/Scholarly Activities (Bibliography)
• Grants
• Fellowships
• Institutional Service

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Writing your Resume and Curriculum Vitae

• Step 1 Create the sections of your resume and CV
  
• Name and address
• Career Objectives
• Education
• Honors/Awards
• Work Experience
• Skills
• Memberships
• Certification/Licenses
• Professional Development
• Volunteer Experience
• References

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Writing your Resume Curriculum Vitae

• Step 2 Make a list of your various activities
  over the years.
• List paid work, volunteer positions,
  extracurricular activities (especially those in
  which you had a leadership role), and
  internships.
• Note that subheadings for these will be
  different in both resume and CV.
• For a resume go as far back as four or five
  years.
• For a CV, include relevant information over the
  life time.

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Writing your Resume Curriculum Vitae

• Step 3 Write a paragraph about each important
  item in your list.
• "Important items" would include most paid work,
  internships, extended volunteer activities, and
  activities in which you had a leadership role.
• Don't worry about the wording of your paragraphs
  at this point - for now, they don't need to fit
  the standard "resume/CV language."
• Describe accomplishments as well as duties.

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Writing your Resume Curriculum Vitae

• Step 4 Pick the items that you will highlight or
  emphasize on your resume or CV.
• 1) What are your greatest strengths, and how can
  you demonstrate those strengths through your
  experience?
• 2) What are the requirements and needs of this
  particular industry, this particular employer and
  this particular job?
• Demonstrate those qualities through the
  activities described on your resume or CV.

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Writing your Resume Curriculum Vitae

• Step 5 Format your resume or CV.
• Realize that most employers will only spend
  20-30 seconds looking at your resume and 3-5
  minutes at you CV. Direct the employer's eye to
  the most important information
• Don't make your resume/CV look crowded.
• Use the whole page
• Use cnsistent format (i.e., font, font size)
• Emphasize job titles by boldfacing them
• Place the most important information closer to
  the top of your resume.
• Descriptive category headings (e.g., "Leadership
  Experience" instead of just "Experience for
  resume and "Academic Background" instead of
  "Education for a CV).
• Leave blank space between the separate sections
  and items.

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Guidelines for Resume and CV writing

• Be positive and honest
• Be consistent with format use space to allow
  skimming
• Use short, concise phrases not sentences
• Include unique skills such as foreign languages,
  technical computer skills, etc.
• Check for neatness accuracy
• Carefully check grammar, verb tense, spelling and
  aesthetic appeal
• Print final draft on laser printer
• Use standard 8 ½ x 11 white, bone, or light
  gray paper
• Do not use personal pronouns (e.g., I)
• Use action verbs to relate specific experience
  (e.g., developed/develop

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Cover letter

• Should include
• Your name and address
• The date
• The name, company and address to whom you are
  sending your resume
• A salutation (e.g., Dear. Dr. XXX)
• An opening paragraph explaining why you are
  writing
• A middle paragraphs highlighting why you are an
  outstanding applicant
• A closing paragraph requesting an interview
• A closing, such as "Sincerely" or "Yours Truly,"
  with your signature.

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Additional handout/information

• U.S. companies that hire international students
• - 21 pages
• - email for an electronic copy
• (lancy_at_siu.edu)

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Evaluation

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• Thank you!