Class Participation Feedback #2

 From beginning of Finance part 2 up to last class

 It is a comment not a fixed mark

 Outstanding 100%
 Excellent 90s
 Very good 80s
 Good 70s
 Fair 60s
 Some 50s
 Introduction

 Finding a job – is a job!

 Usually requires lots of effort

 Most people don’t have a good job land in their lap

Education
 Bachelors Degree – good starting salaries

 Masters Degree – only increases average salary slightly

 PhDs actually have slightly lower average salaries

 Science + Business degrees = highest salaries

 Highest paid grads often in management type roles

 Apply Everywhere
 Go to career fairs

 Use web services/company websites

 Let everybody know you are looking for a job

 Networking – many jobs are not posted

 Research companies where you would be interested working

 Try and determine a contact
 Set up a meeting
 This approach is hard for most people

 Don’t be fussy about where you apply

 Every interview gives you more experience at selling yourself
 You never know what other opportunities may be available at the company
even if you weren’t excited about specific job
 Networking
 Get a LinkedIn Account
 What are employers looking for?
 Academic Skills
 Communication
 Listening and understanding
 Sharing ideas
 Read and comprehend appropriate work related data
 Effective written and oral
 Thinking
 Logical,critical thinking
 Problem solving
 Specialized learning, technology
 Learning
 Ongoing learning
 What are employers looking for?
 Personal Traits
 Positive attitudes and behaviours
 Self esteem and confidence
 Honesty, integrity
 Initiative, energy, persistence
 Responsibility
 Ability to set goals and prioritize
 Manage time and money
 Accountability for actions
 Adaptability
 Positive attitude towards change
 Respect for other opinions
 Creativity – suggest new ideas
What are employers looking for?
 Team work skills
 Understand and contribute to the organization’s goals
 Work within the culture of the group

 Make decisions in group and support the outcome

 Ability to “give and take”

 Leadership ability
What are employers looking for?

You!
 Cover Letters

 Letter should be formal in both wording and format

 One page only!
 If answering a posting:
 Emphasize your qualifications that match the posting
requirements
 Spell check, proof read
Cover Letter
 Three paragraphs:

1. Here’s who I am and why I’m applying

2. I have all the skills and knowledge you’re looking for
3. I look forward to meeting with you
 The Resume
 Purposes:

 Communicates your education, experience and skill sets

 This document gets you an interview

 It is your marketing tool – you are the product

 Resume
 Must be carefully developed
 Free from errors
 Several drafts may be required
 Length –
 1-2 pages as a graduating student
 2 pages if you have more extensive experience

 May get longer for very senior level positions

The Resume
 Your name, address, phone, and email at the top, centred

 Name should stand out

 Do not include pictures

 A passport type picture in upper corner was a trend for a
while

 Do not list self-described skills or objectives

 “I am an extremely talented individual with tremendous
communications and problem solving skills.”

 Do not list your university courses

 Education
 As a recent graduate this usually comes first

 List degrees and diplomas from most recent backwards

 Use the expression “candidate for M.Sc. Global Health, 2023” if you don’t
actually have the degree yet

 Include “honours” or “with distinction” where appropriate

 You may include academic awards here

 Other qualifications, certifications , skills

 Fluent French, programing languages, specific software knowledge

 You may list your Secondary School Graduation Diploma

 This sometimes creates a connection with possible employers
 Achievements, Experience
 Normally list most recent employer first and work
backwards

 Focus on achievements and skills

 These are what your prospective employer is looking for
 Team skills, leadership, supervision, problem solving, report
writing, decision making

 Do not focus on detailed tasks of a specific job

 Do not lie about experience – but don’t under-

emphasize your achievements either
Power verbs
 Designed
 Developed
 Researched
 Co-ordinated
 Implemented

 Worked within a team to successfully implement

process improvements saving the company
$100,000 annually
 Experience
 May use 4th year or Masters level thesis/project
courses

 Worked in a team to develop a …..

 Successfully completed research ….

 Presented findings for peer review …

 Prepared full report ….

Other interests
 List clubs, interests, activities

 Remember - employer is looking for how these will

may make you a better employee
 Show leadership, people skills, work ethic, communication
abilities etc, personal improvement

 May create a connection with the reader

References
 Do not include unless requested
 Use “References available upon request.”

 References
 Former supervisors
 Contacts in responsible positions
 Avoid the use of friends
 Must be familiar enough with your skills and traits to answer quite specific
questions

 Always ask references first!!!

 Don’t let them be surprised by a call

 Clearly describe the job and company to which you are applying to
your reference

 Make sure your reference will be a good reference!

 Resume

 Should be reviewed for appropriate focus every time

you apply for a job

 This gets more important as you gain experience

C.V.
 Used in academics
 Tends to be more detailed than a resume
 Tends to be longer than a resume
 The Interview
 The employer may have looked through hundreds of
applications

 First interviews are normally only a small proportion

of candidates

 Employer likes what’s on your resume

 This is your opportunity to sell yourself for either a 2nd

interview or a job
The Interview
 Be as accommodating as possible when setting up a
time

 Learn everything you can about the job and the

company before the interview

 Prepare a list of questions ahead of time

 Arrive at least 15 minutes early

 Do NOT be late
 The Interview
 If unsure - it is better to over dress than under dress

 You want to look professional

 Clothes should clean, well-pressed, and not worn-out

 Avoid
 Loud multicolour clothing
 Messy, wrinkled, tattered, dirty
 Sexy, too much skin, too tight
 Too many piercings
First Impressions
 You only have 15 to 60 seconds to make a first
impression

 Guidelines for meeting someone new

 Make eye contact
 Stand up
 Smile
 Extend your hand to shake theirs
 Say hello

 The handshake – avoid the crusher and the dead fish

Interview Types
 One on one with either human resources person or
technical person

 Several company representatives and you

 Group interviews

 Case interviews
The Interview
 Listen carefully to the interviewer(s)

 Be yourself! Do not try to say what you think the interviewer

wants to hear

 Relax – many questions are there to give insight into your

character

 Be positive, direct and to the point

 Try to refocus questions back to your strengths and

accomplishments
Some Questions . . .
 Tell me about yourself
 What are your strengths and weaknesses?
 How do you feel you can help this organization?
 Why do you want to work here?
 Here is a situation - How would you handle it?
 Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
 How do you spend your spare time?
 The Top 10 Interview Questions
1. What are your weaknesses?
 Be honest, however stay away from personal qualities and concentrate on
professional traits that you need to work on and what you doing currently to
improve it.
 i.e. written communication, organization etc.

2. Why should we hire you?

 Summarize your experience and focus on what you could bring to the
table with the work team you will be entering.
 i.e. “ I have a proven track record of cost reduction and communication
through hard work and a dedication to detail. I am confident I will be an
excellent part of this work team.”
 The Top 10 Interview Questions
3. Why do you want to work here?
 The interviewer wants to know that you have an interest in the
position as a career choice to enhance your experiences, not just
because there is a job opening.

4. What are your goals?

 Talk about short term career goals and how obtaining this position
could help you to achieve those.
 The Top 10 Interview Questions
5. Why are you leaving your current job?
 Focus on what you are looking for in the new position.
 i.e. “I am looking for a position with room to move up as well as a
team focused environment.”

6. When were you most satisfied in your job?

 Focus on what motivates you and relate it to a specific project
that you have worked on.
The Top 10 Interview Questions

7. What can you do for us that other candidates can’t?

 Use your work experience to draw out professional traits that are
marketable to the company.

8. What would your last boss say about you?

 Give at least 3 positive traits that your boss would say you
possess and have an example of each.
The Top 10 Interview Questions
9. What salary are you seeking?
 Research the job role that you are applying for and the average
compensation for that position – you may wish to deflect this
question

10. What type of animal would you be?

 Always prepare this before going into the interview as they are
trying to see how quickly you can think. Use an animal that has
the characteristics that you value in the working world.
 Questions you should ask

 What responsibilities are involved with this position?

 What are the major problems that need to be tackled at

this company?

 Where does the position fit within the organization?

 What is the organization’s direction?

 What is the time line for filling the position?

 Do NOT ask what the starting salary would be

 After the Interview
 It is fine to call and ask about the progress of decision
making if deadlines have passed.
 Shows your enthusiasm for the position

 Send a thank you - even if your are rejected!

 You never know what other opportunities may come up at
that company in the future
If you get an offer!
 It is fair to ask for time before accepting

 In an entry level position, salary is not normally

negotiable
 When you get experience, you can negotiate salary,
vacation, exit clauses

 If I get a better offer from another company a

week later?
 How should this be handled?
The New Job
 You will be required to sign various documents
 All your work belongs to the company
 Confidentiality
 Benefit beneficiaries
 Direction of pension

 New job can be stressful!

 Don’t know the people, the company.
 Larger companies not always the best at keeping new
employees busy.
 Loss of student life flexibility
 Work all year for 2 weeks vacation
 New responsibilities – people will depend on you.