Professional Day Student Guide
Resume Quick Tips
Page 1
Working the Room
Page 2
The "Elevator Pitch"
Page 3
Dress Code
Page 4
Common Challenges
Page 5
Thank you & Follow Up
Page 6
THE RESUME
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Under no circumstances should you use a computer template. Do not write “Resume” on your resume
Have your resume read and thoroughly critiqued by at least 5 people; you should read it backwards, too
There should be absolutely no spelling or grammar mistakes, which is why at least 5 people should read it
It should be simple, clear, gimmick-free, and jargon-free, which is why at least 5 people should read it
Do not include your age, birthday, family information, nationality, or a picture; do not write “Name” in front of your name
You may use 10-12 point font, all caps, and bold and italics where appropriate to set off your headings; black & white text only
Your resume should be one page – no more. Use Arial or Times New Roman font
Your name should be the largest thing on the resume, and located at the top. Contact info goes below your name
If you are a sophomore or higher, you should not have anything from high school (unless you won an Olympic medal). Believe it or
not, to employers who don’t know you, you were just a “kid” before university; now you’re a young adult
If you are a freshman with little to no experience, try not to include anything before your senior year of high school
Use two or more bullet points under each work experience you have
Each bullet point should (1) clearly and concisely describe what you did/are doing, (2) demonstrate skills used or gained through
the action(s) described, and (3) when able to, quantify the results achieved (e.g., instead of “saved organization time and
money,” indicate how much time and money you saved)
Skills and qualities employers want to see demonstrated in your resume and through conversation: analytical and problem solving skills, interpersonal/human-relation skills, communication skills, organizational skills, leadership, creativity, initiative,
team ethic, effective time management, and attention to detail (first exemplified to an employer in your resume)
Your bullet points should begin with a strong action verb. Instead of “Worked” or “Helped,” consider “Collaborated,”
“Created,” “Developed,” “Managed,” etc.
Be consistent with punctuation. Use periods at the end of each bullet point or don’t use them at all. When writing dates, use
hyphens or dashes between the dates, but use one or the other, and be consistent and neat with where the hyphens/dashes are
placed. For example, write May – Aug 2010, not May- Aug 2010. This is neater and shows attention to detail
Your resume should be organized in format and content according to the position you are applying for. Read job descriptions
carefully and tailor your resume, when possible and where appropriate, to the qualities and responsibilities in the description
There are many ways to write a resume, many formats, many different headings to choose from. This is one short example:
EDUCATION
Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar
Bachelors of Science in Business Administration
Minor in History
Doha, Qatar
May 2012
SKILLS
• Fluent in Arabic and English
• Programming Languages: C, Java and Hadoop MapReduce
• Scripting Languages: Perl, Ruby, Python, UNIX shell scripting
• Software: RubyOnRails, Adobe Illustrator and InDesign
• Operating Systems: UNIX and Windows
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Large Business Group
Doha, Qatar
May – Aug 2010
Analyst Intern – Public Relations
• Negotiated with 10 regional media outlets promoting business and reputation of the company’s largest local clients
• Participated in regular meetings with Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry developing the Chamber’s bid for
2013 World Chambers Congress
• Performed periodic media monitoring for Qatari Diar, Qatar Tourism Authority and Carnegie Mellon Qatar
ensuring proper client media coverage
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WORKING THE ROOM
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Don’t linger at one table like a predator. If you sense there is real chemistry between you and the person you’re speaking to, ask for
another time you can speak further. Ask if you can meet them at his/her office some time to learn more. Pick up the handout on
informational interviewing outside of Jeff’s office. And pay attention to cues. If an employer is looking at his watch or losing eye
contact with you and the 10 people in line behind you, it’s probably time you move on.
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Much of Professional Day is about networking, not having a job or internship immediately handed to you. 85% of people who attend a
networking event haven’t figured out what they want to achieve, thus thinking the event was a waste of time. If you aim at nothing,
you’ll hit nothing (Baber and Waymon, 2007). Ask yourself: Who do I want to meet, what do I want to find out, and what do I want to
achieve? Target companies and tailor your resume and ice breakers accordingly.
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You should have selected at least 5 companies that you want to target, based on the list of companies attending Professional Day.
Those are your top choices, the top tier of preferences. Pick another five as your second tier. They aren’t your top choices, but you
would nonetheless be interested in pursuing an internship or career with them. Researching your second tier is important. For
example, maybe all of your top 3-5 are not hiring, maybe they are looking for candidates with a better fit, or maybe you simply don’t
get a good vibe from them. Move on to your second tier. Regardless, the question company representatives want to know is why you
want to work there and how you would fit. You should have done two types of research before Professional Day, research on (1) your
top 3-5 companies, and (2) research on yourself. Number one: Have a thorough understanding of the organization and a wide
knowledge of your field and what the organization is doing in your field. Again, why do you want to work there? What is the company
doing that has made recent news? What is the history and mission of the company? Why are you “passionate” about the company and
your field? “Passion,” “really interested,” “I’m a good fit” mean nothing if you can’t articulate the specific whys of your interests and
examples of your experiences and how those experiences relate to the company/job. Ask thoughtful questions – this can really make
you stand out. Read job descriptions and see how you fit based on the skills and job duties indicated. Equipping yourself with knowledge
of the company will increase your confidence, which in turn will help you communicate more effectively, which in turn will further
increase your confidence – confidence you will carry over as you approach other companies. Number two: understand how you could fit
in that organization, including what you offer to the company. Employers see hundreds of eager candidates – what makes you
unique? They want to see genuine interest, ability to communicate your experience and skills, and a personality. Tell a story. Look alive.
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When you leave one table to go to another, review your notes on that company. Take a look again at the questions you want to
ask…and make sure you have a list of questions you want to ask written down somewhere.
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By the end of any career fair, employers are tired of repeating more or less the same thing, and they’re tired of hearing mo re or less
the same thing from students. You will be tired too. Therefore, typically, the first few employers you speak to will probably have the
most energy and a greater attention span, as will you. The flip side is that by the end of the fair, you will have, hopefully, hit a groove
and gained some confidence. In short, pick your first few companies carefully.
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When speaking to an employer at Professional Day, do not mention other employers you’ve spoken to, what they said, what jobs they
have, or – especially – how much money they are offering. Employers want to hear about themselves and about you, not about other
companies. In the case that someone asks you, be at your most professional.
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Act professional even when you think you’re out of sight of employers. Do not stay huddled with your friends in the middle of the
East/West walkway (or by the food), or start punching each other in the arm, or point or gesture towards specific tables, or get angry at
people or yell, or take your shoes off to rest your feet, or blow spitballs, or throw things, or run around. And if you smoke or chew
tobacco or gum, don’t smoke or chew anything until the fair is over, regardless of how effectively you think you’ve covered up the
smell.
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Can I bring a portfolio? Yes. Of the hundreds of students a Google recruiter met career at fairs, she remembered only one – a student
who displayed an organized, neat portfolio of three top projects, offering a brief description of each.
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THE “ELEVATOR PITCH”
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Also referred to as “elevator speech,” “60-second conversation,” “60-second commercial,” and “ice breaker.” How do you grab
someone’s attention in the amount of time it takes to ride with that person (e.g., an employer) in an elevator (e.g., at a career fair)
– generally 30-60 seconds long. What do you say, whether in person, over the phone, or through email?
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If you haven’t already said your name, introduce yourself. Also include your major, the type of work or internship you’re loo king
for, a brief overview of your related experience, and a highlight of relevant skills you possess.
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“Ice breaker” may be a better term. Uninterrupted narratives and elevator speeches can imply, and possibly result in, you speaking
at the person rather than with the person through a two-way conversation (Graham, p.41, Courting your Career).
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“But everyone is going to say the same thing, introduce themselves in the same way” you exclaim. This is why you must say
something unique about yourself, your background, or your interests, and present yourself in such a way that you will make you
stand out.
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Excellent resources to discover more about yourself and how to discuss your personal traits and qualities: StrengthsQuest and Sigi
3 assessments. For StrengthsQuest, contact Kevin D’Arco ([email protected]); for Sigi 3, contact Jeff Davis
([email protected]).
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Know your pitch or ice breaker well. Write it down, take notes on yourself. Practice in front of family, faculty, friends, or the OPD.
Know what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it. If you’re not personable and lively, what you say will probably not
matter. Employers want a personality. They want confidence, flair, a smile, and energy, not just a human toolbox of skills. Just
make sure the pitch/ice breaker doesn’t sound canned, rehearsed.
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It is likely the first question an employer will ask you after the initial ice breaker is, “So why do you want to work here?” or “Why
are you interested in
?” which is also one of the first—if not the first—questions you will be asked in every interview you
ever have. If you have done no research, don’t know anything about the company or the position, you have shot yourself in the
foot. You have probably been immediately written off by the person you’re speaking to and may as well quickly limp along to
another table or to the buffet line to collect your thoughts and find some information about the next company.
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A sample formula: (1) Know your field and do your research online about the organization (vision, mission, history, noteworthy
news headlines, organizational structure, etc.) and speak to others you can learn from about it, and (2) Match your interests,
background, and skills with what you find in your research about the organization; then think critically and creatively to figure out
how you “fit” within it.
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Is it OK to mention how the organization may improve, for example, their website? Yes, but be thoughtful and polite. Students
have gotten internships from Professional Day based, in part, on their opinions of a company’s website and how it could be
improved. Ideas make the world go round. People are attracted to them as long as they are presented constructively and
respectfully.
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WATCH ELEVATOR PITCH VIDEO
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WATCH ELEVATOR PITCH EXAMPLE
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DRESS CODE
As with your resume, obtain at least five people’s opinion of the outfit you plan to wear
WOMEN:
Traditional Business Formal Attire
• Neat, pressed, abaya and shayla or hijab with minimal embellishment, and conservative fabric
• Clean close-toe shoes, in black or other neutral color
Western Business Formal Attire
• Clean, pressed business pant suit or skirt suit (skirts should be below the knee)
• Coordinating button-down blouse, or other business top
• Close-toed business shoes
• Neat, simple professional hairstyle or shayla with minimal embellishment
MEN:
Traditional Business Attire
• Clean, well pressed, tailored thobe
• Clean well pressed guthra
• Well-polished dress shoes
Western Business Attire
• Well pressed jacket, dress pant, dress shirt. All clothes should fit well
• Jacket should be dark gray, dark blue, black, or black pin-striped. Should not be silvery or shiny or flashy. Try to stay
away from multi-colored jackets, including those with contrasting outlines
• Coordinating tie. It is best at this point to stay away from the “power” red
• Well-polished conservative dress shoes
• Dark socks
• Neat, simple hairstyle
Additional Guidelines
• No slippers or flip-flops
• No platform shoes
• No large accessories (i.e. large purses)
• No backpacks
• Minimal makeup
• Minimal jewelry
• No athletic shoes
• No t-shirts
• No baseball hats
• No sunglasses
• No denim (even under abaya)
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COMMON CHALLENGES
“It feels like sometimes I am just dropping my resume into a mailbox that will never be checked.”
• In short, if you appear to want nothing more than to deposit your resume into an eternally un-checked mailbox, no one will give
you a second look. If you softly ask “Do you have any jobs or internships?” while holding out your resume, and then move on, your
resume will most likely disappear. Ask an intelligent question, say something unique about yourself, tell a story, and try to carry
the conversation. This is your chance to sell your strengths and make recruiters remember you. This is an unnatural act for most
people, so advanced thought, research, and preparation are absolutely necessary.
“I connected well with the recruiter, and they seemed very interested in me. I feel like I really made an impression, so why have I not heard
anything?”
• First, make sure you follow up with a thank-you email after Professional Day, and say something that was unique to your
conversation so the recruiter will remember who you are. And if your email is too generic, informal, or riddled with spelling and
grammar mistakes, don’t expect a response (see THE FOLLOW UP below)
• Number two, recruiters are busy, and the recruitment period in Doha gets going in full swing later than, for example, the U.S.The
dates of Ramadan for the next few years will impact this trend even further. Be patient and persistent but not annoying – and
under no circumstances express annoyance when following up to your follow up emails.
• You will not always have success with the person you’re speaking to. It’s a fact of life that you will have better chemistry will some
people and no chemistry with others. This is why you should not put all your eggs in one basket.
“I’m only a freshman. All the opportunities are for juniors and seniors. Why bother?”
• It’s all in your approach. If you approach an employer feeling this way, the recruiter will sense it. If you demonstrate knowledge
and confidence, and that you know what you want and why you want it, you will have luck. Get business cards and stay in touch.
• Several freshmen received internships through Professional Day last year: they were confident in their abilities and determined to
show what they could do; they worked for it.
• A recruiter is not going to tell you what you want, why you want to work for their company, or what kind of internship you should
do. Do research on the companies and positions, then think about your strengths, your knowledge areas, and the experiences you
have had. From this, develop some goals and sell, sell, sell!
“Employers keep saying they are looking for Qatari nationals only.”
• Qatarization is a government mandate and a crucial part of the 2030 national vision
• Be proactive rather than passive and see this as an opportunity. Non-US citizens face the same obstacle in the US, as do other nonnationals in European countries. They simply have to work harder at selling their strengths and developing sharpened “schmoozing”
skills. Focus on the means (networking) over the end (job offer).
• Don’t simply let yourself be rejected (but don’t be overly aggressive either). Be engaged – if for no other reason than to build a
relationship
• Just because there are no opportunities present now does not mean there won’t be any two months from now. Make the
recruiters remember you. If he/she still doesn’t have any opportunities, he/she may know someone who does.
• You never who knows who, or when an opportunity will arise. Use your people skills and network.
• So how exactly do you respond:
o “I completely understand your policy of Qatarization, but are there any other opportunities for internships, job shadowing, or
mentorship programs? I’m really interested in your company and would love the opportunity to learn more.”
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“I completely understand the requirements, but would you be able to give me a timeline of when you will know about
opportunities for non-nationals?”
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“What are the qualities and skills you look for in your non-national candidates?”
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THANK YOU & FOLLOW UP
Employment emails are an important communication tool and most job search campaigns cannot be
conducted without them. When communicating with employers, students should follow the basic
business letter format described in this section. Students who compose and send exceptional
emails are noticed and strongly considered for opportunities.
Thank you for interview
Dear
:
I appreciated the opportunity to talk with you on (date). The information you shared with me about (organization
name) was excellent, and I am excited about the possibility of applying my education and experience to the position
(specify) we discussed.
(In the second paragraph, you may want to highlight a specific topic you discussed during the interview or indicate some
skill/experience that will set you apart from the other applicants.)
If I can provide you with any additional information, please let me know. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Your name
Follow-up
Dear
:
I received your letter telling me that it is too early to determine if there will be any management trainee positions
available with your company next spring.
Because of your industry leadership role and the outstanding reputation enjoyed by your training program, I am
very interested in being seriously considered for a career entry opportunity with (organization).
I will, therefore, telephone you on or about (date) to determine if you will be selecting any candidates next year for your program.
I am pleased you are retaining my resume in the interim. Please let me know if there is any additional information or
documentation you require from me.
Sincerely,
Your name
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Follow-up of Interview
Dear
:
Thank you for the opportunity to visit your office yesterday and to be interviewed by several of your managers at that time.
The day was very hectic, but extremely informative and only intensified my wish to be one of the candidates selected for your
Management Training Program this year.
I realize that your selection procedure requires that you have second interviews with all candidates who clear your campus
screening process before you make a final choice of those who will receive offers. Accordingly, I will not expect to hear from
you concerning my candidacy for three to four weeks.
As you suggested, attached is your travel expense form on which I have detailed the expenses I incurred in conjunction with my
visit. I look forward to hearing from you next month and I earnestly hope that I will be one of the applicants receiving an offer
of employment from you.
Sincerely,
Your name
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