The Daily Illini: Career Guide 2016

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Monday, February 1, 2016

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Dress for interview success

BY VICTORIA SNELL ASSISTANT SUPPLEMENTS EDITOR

T

he start of the spring semester becomes a time when students seek out potential jobs and interviews.

While good grades make an impression, it’s important to look the part, as well. Not sure what to wear? Take a look below for clothing that

could help you land the job or internship.

While there are many other ways to go with dressing for a career fair or interview,

Men

these are timeless looks that can show effort and a level of professionalism.

vnsnell2@dailyillini.com

Women Suits It’s important to have a suit that fits properly, as it shows that you mean business. Not only could it be a future job requirement, but it also displays a sense of professionalism.

For women, suits have the option of having pants or skirts for a bottom. Whether you go for pants or skirts, make sure they are hemmed at the proper height. This means that skirts should be at the knee, and at the very shortest, slightly above the knee. Like men, women’s suits should also fit properly.

Dress Shirts Along with the suit, it’s essential to wear a button-up shirt. For interviews and job fairs, stick with whites and neutral colors to avoid being distracting. Be sure to tuck the shirt in as well.

The dress shirt for women is similar to the tie for men. There are more choices when it comes to style and color. Whether it is a button up shirt, or a simple blouse, it should be modest and neutral to avoid being distracting or unprofessional.

Belt and Shoes Number-one rule when it comes to these: The shoes must match the belt. Not only is it professional, but it shows that you’ve made the effort.

When it comes to shoes, simple flats or heels work with career outfits. However, it is important to wear closed-toe shoes to maintain a level of professionalism.

Accessories

HANNAH AUTEN THE DAILY ILLINI

The Career Center has been a resource for students, from creating a resume to conducting mock interviews. The center recently came full circle by hosting the Career Closet, an event where students took home gently-used professional clothing.

Amanda Cox, senior assistant director for career counseling and campus outreach at the Career Center, said the closet was launched two years ago, and occurs once a semester.

“We wanted to have a way to provide clothing to students for either business-professional, for interviewing or for networking purposes . . . or attending one of the career fairs on campus,” Cox said.

Within reason, the tie is something to play with (in terms of colors and patterns). Ties pull an entire look together, so they are a necessity when it comes to a career outfit.

Jewelry isn’t necessary. If the urge to wear jewelry occurs, keep it small and simple. When in doubt, just don’t wear it at all to avoid being too flashy or distracting.

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An applicant’s guide to perfecting a professional online profile Brooks Berish 6 hrs Champaign, IL

BY BROOKS BERISH STAFF WRITER

The advent of social and professional networking sites in the past decade has given rise to an online transformation in the employment industry. Although this shift to the online world is not necessarily new, many rising college students are being exposed to this professional networking system for the first time, and it can be hard to navigate at first.

A safe place to start is I-Link, the University of Illinois career management system.

“On your profi le, you can upload documents, (and) you can upload your resume and cover letter,” said Kevin Burns, sophomore in Engineering and former employee at the Engineering Career Services office. “Everyone has access to all of the (job) postings.”

Burns noted that although it can be initially overwhelming with all of the job openings, there are filters that students can use to vastly narrow down their search to whatever they’re interested in. After that, it’s simply a matter of finding an internship, or some kind of a job, and applying.

With some job postings, the applications have to be completed through the company’s website, but with others, the resume is

automatically sent to them after clicking “Apply.” As for one’s personal profile on I-Link, it does not require much upkeep.

“All you really need to do is have your resume uploaded there in its most current form,” Burns said.

The rest of the information on the profile is pretty straightforward, and a student’s current GPA is automatically transferred into the I-link system. Burns has already secured an internship through I-Link for this summer, stating that in his experience, he gets more reception from employers through I-Link than by just going onto random websites.

“A lot of companies will know they’re coming from U of I and they’ll know about I-Link,” Burns said, referring to the longstanding relationship Illinois has with many companies. “For people looking for internships . . . I would look there first.”

After getting settled on I-Link, a wise next step would be to set up a LinkedIn account that reflects not only one’s personal and professional interests, but also showcases the extent of their professional network.

“Its like an electronic resume . . . like a professional Facebook,” said Teri Farr, a DGS academic advisor. “You can align yourself with different

organizations, professionally . . . That would kind of elevate you.”

Burns is a member of Theta Tau, an engineering fraternity, which has a professional committee that gives presentations about resumes and professional networking sites like LinkedIn. “Be brief, but be accurate,” Burns said. “Show off as best and honestly as possible . . . (And) make sure you have a good picture.”

It’s important for employers to be able to put a name to a face. This should not be the face of someone who is partying on the beach somewhere in the Caribbean.

This should be the face of a professional, someone who looks like a respectable, pleasant individual.

The Career Center holds workshops for students on developing a good LinkedIn account.

They show ways to stand out to an employer, besides having a topnotch profile picture.

They also show how LinkedIn can help someone discover a career path.

“If you have a career in mind, or a specific job in mind, you can go to LinkedIn and fi nd hundreds, if not thousands of people with that job . . . (And) look at where did they go to school, what was their career trajectory, their

journey that got them to that position.” said Jennifer Crum, prehealth adviser at the Career Center. “You can even look up Illinois alumni . . . and start building that network.”

Facebook, being a social networking site, might seem like it has little to do with the employment process, but some employers are just beginning to utilize it as a tool in their evaluation of job candidates.

“We know that employers check Facebook, so you should be pretty careful about anything that could be construed as negative on Facebook,” Farr said. “Looking social isn’t negative. I’m just talking about excessive behavior.”

It’s pretty self-explanatory as to what kind of material an applicant should not display on a Facebook account. If someone doesn’t want to limit their self-expression on Facebook, then maybe it would be better to just stick with a professional profi le picture and turn the privacy settings way up.

“What wouldn’t you want your mom to see, your grandmother to see,” Crum said, “an employer probably doesn’t want to see that either.”

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Students follow unique career paths

BY ISABELLA JACKSON STAFF WRITER

The University is known for its ability to produce some of the most competitive job candidates in fields such as business and engineering. But each year, many students fi nd jobs after graduating with majors in the smaller departments on campus.

For some students, following their passion was an easy and obvious choice.

Sarah Altshuler, senior in FAA and music major, always knew she wanted to go into education, but it was her high school involvement in band, choir and orchestra that solidified her plans to become a music teacher.

“I just thought, ‘I’m pretty good at this,’ and I’m really passionate about music and the arts being present at public schools,” she said.

Other students in smaller majors have found their paths in a more roundabout way. Tyler Harr, senior in FAA, knew he wanted to major in theater, but instead started freshman year studying electrical engineering because even though it was not his fi rst choice of major, he thought it would be more practical when fi nding a job.

“After two and a half years, I decided that I couldn’t live my entire adulthood relying on my second choice to make a living,” Harr wrote in an email. “I’ve always fi lled my free time with theatre.

That’s how I knew I should be doing it full time.”

Not wanting to waste his already completed coursework, Harr chose to complete minors in electrical engineering and English and switched his major to theater.

“I was a bit nervous to tell my friend group as most of them are very heavily focused on the STEM fields.

They were all very supportive,” Harr said. “My family took a bit more convincing because they do want the best for me, and they wanted to make sure I could support myself.”

Mark Weidner, senior in Media, came to the University undeclared, but chose to major in cinema studies because of his love for fi lm and the impact that it can have on individuals.

“I loved the way movies could transport us and make us feel powerful emotions and make us think of things we’ve never pondered before,” he said in an email.

Weidner said that although his parents supported his choice to major in what he loved, like Harr, he did face some judgement for his field of study.

“People thought of it more as a hobby than as a future job, and I sort of can’t blame them,” he said.

“But I always knew that I could never work in business or engineering. I like more creative and fluid atmospheres.”

The sentiment that students following their passion will not be able to fi nd employment is a relatively common one.

“There have been classmates who aren’t music majors, mostly engineering and business, who have the attitude that I have an easier major,” Altshuler said, “They say things like, ‘What are you going to do with that?’ or, ‘You’re not going to have a real job.’”

However, many students are confident that their degrees from the University will help them fi nd a job in the future. Altshuler is currently student teaching; she’ll spend the fi rst nine weeks of the semester at a junior high and then transition to an elementary school for the remainder of the school year.

She said that while student teaching, her responsibilities depend on what the full-time teacher needs. At this point, she is teaching half of the teacher’s classes and following the lesson plan given to her, but by the end of the semester, she will be creating her own lesson plans for each day’s class.

She said that classes at the University, particularly the GDC Arts Program, which required students to create lessons plans to take to the Champaign County Juvenile Detention Center once a week, have prepared her well for her future career.

“More than the music or planning lessons, my favor-

ite part is getting to know the kids. They’re all awesome,” she said. “Sometimes I think people don’t give kids enough credit for how smart and interesting they are. They pick up on things so quickly.”

Weidner plans to move to California within the next year to pursue a career in the fi lm industry, both acting in front of the camera and behind the scenes. He said during his time here, he has learned that beyond just loving fi lm, he appreciates the creative process occurring on screen and is grateful that he has the academic background to be involved in that.

Harr believes his diverse studies will make him marketable in a variety of ways, including not only acting and directing, but also in set design and technical work.

“Most people are surprised to hear how frequently these different fields can apply to each other,” Harr said.

Most importantly, these students have dedicated themselves to a career path they love.

“I’d rather do something I love for little money than something I hate for wealth.

No matter what you do, you will have to put in work to find a job,” Harr said. “When you choose your work over what you take for granted every day, you’ll know you’re following a dream.”

ijackso2@dailyillini.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK WEIDNER

Mark Weidner, senior in Media, chose to major in cinema studies because of his love for film and the impact it can have on individuals. Weidner is pictured performing in a play. He plans to move to California within the next year to pursue a career in the film industry.

After interview, follow up for job success Students should consider calling or sending a letter

BY RABIA ILYAS STAFF WRITER

Do you have a background in Math, Engineering, or Computer Science?

You Could Have a Future in Financial Engineering!

W h i le i nter v iews , applications and career fairs are the primary stepping stones during the job hunt or admissions process, following up with employers is just as crucial.

Many students are he sit a nt to fol low up because it can be intimidating and the process can seem unclear.

However, following up shows an employer that an applicant is still interested in the position or program and that they are willing to take initiative.

Students ca n take advantage of resources offered by the Career Center on campus to help guide them through the post-interview process.

“Many students come to the Career Center with questions about post follow-up after they have had interviews,” said Eden Haycraft, assistant director of campus recruiting and job preparation at the Career Center.

For interviews in p a r t ic u l a r, she recommends students reach out 24 to 48 hours after with a thank-you letter or email showing their appreciation.

“It may not affect the decision greatly, but it is respectful and recognized by t he ad m i ssions committee,” she said.

While students may be eager to leave the interview as soon as it’s fi nished, it’s also important to ask questions at the end regarding following up.

Asking about next steps or the timeline of the process is a great way to highlight interest in the position.

Following up with companies and employers at career fairs is also

important. Kayla Keehn, graduate assistant at the Career Center, advises students to ask for business cards and contact information during career fairs so they can have a way to reach out later.

“It’s also important to create a memorable interaction between an employer because if they can remember your face or conversation, it makes following up easier,” Keehn said.

Ch a z n ite Su l l iva n , mock interview program coordinator, added, “This first interaction sets the tone for a positive relationship.”

She recommends that when following up, students reference a particular aspect of the conversation they had with the individual.

It’s also important to recognize that the process of following up can vary, depending on the situation.

For example, following up after an interview is not the same as following up after a career fair.

“Following up after a career fair is more flexible because you are looking for career opportunities and not specific positions, which leaves room for outreach,” Haycraft said.

In addition, students need to respect the company or program’s r e qu i r eme nts .

T hey should not follow up if an employer or website has a timeline of important dates. For example, some medical school admissions committees let students know when they will be notified of their decision of acceptance.

While following up may seem respectful and noted, it is not recommended in all cases.

rilyas2@dailyillini.com

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Job hunt proves more challenging for students of color

BY ZILA RENFRO VIDEO EDITOR

The job hunt for college graduates is often a difficult process, but studies show that it’s even more difficult for minorities.

According to a 2015 study by the Economic Policy Institute, despite the nation’s recent drop in unemployment rates, young black and Hispanic graduates still tend to have higher rates of unemployment compared to their white counterparts.

Wallace Southerland, director of the Office of Minority Student Affairs, said that factors such as discrimination in the interview process might explain the disparities.

“A really big issue is the unconscious biases that (minorities) have to deal with when they interview,” Southerland said. “For people of

color, we don’t know whether or not we didn’t get the job because we were really not qualified or if we looked a certain way, or if we were too ethnic for a particular search committee. There are all of these unknown issues that could really cause a lot of anxieties when minorities, as well as females, go out to interview.”

Marquis Hayes, senior in LAS, said one of the challenges of being an AfricanAmerican in a white-dominated space is feeling the need to adhere to the “politics of respectability,” or changing mannerisms to be considered “respectable” by mainstream society.

“I would be more conscious of my race if I had a white interviewer,” Hayes said. “Personally, I do speak with more Ebonics because that’s just the background

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that I grew up with, but I’ve been told by family members that in order to get jobs . . . I have to speak ‘properly’ rather than the way I was raised to speak.”

Asha Woods is an AfricanAmerican in Business, a college of over 4,000 students where blacks barely make up four percent. She said many of the white students she knows in her major already had job connections through family when they came to the University.

“Because my family didn’t have as many connections, sometimes I’d have to reach out a little bit more than my counterparts just to meet the right people to get in line for the right jobs,” Woods said.

Resources on campus such as the Office of Minority Student Affairs seek to help students of color overcome difficulties on the career path.

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“This is our 50th year of providing services to the campus,” Southerland said.

According to Southerland, the Office of Minority Student Affairs administers career development opportunities such as preparations for career fairs, resume critique sessions and networking events.

It also partners with external corporations who are interested in diversifying their career force. The Office of Minority Student Affairs’ programs, such as the TRIO McNair Scholars, aid underrepresented students who wish to do research, go to graduate school or become faculty.

Throughout the year, the Career Center also aims to help students of color find careers.

“I think, first, it’s important for our students of color to understand that we value and we have a welcoming, inclusive and safe environment,” said Jennifer Neef, associate director of the Career Center. “We want all students to be able to come in and share challeng-

es they may be having and understand that this is a safe place and we are here to be a resource to help students through those obstacles.”

Neef said the Career Center often provides these resources by partnering with organizations such as the cultural houses. It holds general diversity events including forums and networking exchanges as well as events for specific populations. The annual “Conexiones” event

at La Casa Cultural Latina, for example, brings in alumni to help teach career readiness skills.

Despite preparations, discrimination can be an intimidating barrier for graduates of color.

“We have to bend over backwards to try and impress (employers), but we still don’t meet their standards,” Hayes said.

zrenfro2@dailyillini.com

Unemployment Rates of College Graduates This graph shows unemployment rates for 22% graduates age 21-24, with rates significantly higher for black and hispanic graduates than white graduates.

17%

WHITE

BLACK

HISPANIC

11%

6%

0%

1995

2000

SOURCE: ECONOMIC POLICY INSTITUTE

2005

2010

2015

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