EE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) - National HE STEM Programme

IntroductionDuring 2011-2012 the School of Life Sciences piloted a series of extra-curricular events across theacademic year designed to support student development of ‘Employability Skills’. The following ‘JobReady Resources Pack’ develops practical application in the workplace of the theory containedwithin the academic curriculum and has been created in partnership with regional STEM Employersto ensure that their need for graduate skills, appropriate to the workforce, are satisfied .Thanks go to all those involved in the project’s development but special attention should be paid tothe following individuals:Julie Edgar Associate Dean – Region, Engagement and PartnershipsAnne Willis Senior Lecturer in ChemistrySophie Carr Programme Director for Chemical and Forensic SciencesJustin Perry Senior Lecturer in Chemistry / Enterprise FellowFahmeeda Rashid Placement OfficerLucy Probyn Business Development ManagerEE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 3Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

Programme of EventsINDUCTION WEEKPlacements30-45 min presentation to 2 nd yrsPlacement Officer and an ex-placement student to discuss optionsand experiences:NotesDepartment /Subject SpecificWhat is a placement?BenefitsPotential HostsRecruitment CycleAssessment DetailsSupport ArrangementsPoints to ConsiderCurrent OpportunitiesSTEMAmbassadorsTalkSEMESTER ONEAre you JobReady?Careers inTeaching Week5 min employer video, speaking of how beneficial placements areto those applying for jobs30 min presentation to 2 nd yrsSTEM Ambassador Co-ordinator with input from previous STEMambassadors:What is a STEM Ambassador?Evidence for CVExamples of STEM Ambassador activitiesHow to become a Ambassador1 st Week of teaching5 min set of Turning Point questions designed to prompt studentsthinking on how Job Ready they actually are and forthcomingevents that will help themTo be delivered in core lecture designed to ‘hit’ each student – to2 nd yrs2 nd Week of teachingDepartments to signpost students to the weeklong events run bythe Careers Service including:Different routes into teaching (GTP, PGCE, TEFL, teaching inFE/Community)Advice from primary and secondary PGCE admissions tutorsCompleting admissions forms and personal statementsTeach FirstNotesDepartment /Subject SpecificMaximise use offacilities andavoid repetitionof delivery bygroupingEE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 4Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

ExternalEmployers andAlumniNetworkingEventEnterpriseSessionsEmployerpresentationsSite Visits toEmployersBefore Academic Development WeekEarly evening speed networking event – practically compulsory to2 nd & final yrs: Sector Skills Presentationo Sector Skills Council Summary e.g. NEPICo Sector Overviewo Careers available in the sector with a regional focus Alumni that have progressed onto PhD, teaching, industry,other, to discuss their experiences either in person or througha pre-recorded presentation2 * 2 hour sessions spread out across semester What is enterprise? – aims and operations Planning a new enterprise – business planAt appropriate points throughout semester 1 and 2 Introduction to the company – Who are they? What do theydo? Where are they located? What is it like to work for them? What is your personal rolewithin the organisation and how did you get there? E.g. whatexams have you done, what experiences did you have to get inorder to progress Potential Job Opportunities and Career Pathways within theorganisation Interview and Selection Processes for the company e.g. do youadopt application forms or request CV’s, psychometric tests,panel interviews What skills, abilities and attributes should our studentsdevelop and demonstrate in order to turn their applicationsinto ‘Winners’ rather than simply ‘Qualifiers’?At appropriate points in semester 1 and 22 – 4 hour visitsRepeat visits may be required due to company capacityDepartment /Subject SpecificReview whether£££ available forhot snacks anddrink from Headof Department toincentivise eventDepartment /Subject SpecificTransportationcosts need to beconsideredVideo CV Students to book 30 minutes video CV recording session after ADW Costs associatedwith equipmenthire and videoeditingAcademic Development Week – mid week semester 1NotesMSc and PhDTalkProfessionalBodyPresentation30 min presentation to 2 nd & final yearsDiscussing different options and how students can prepare andapplyRSC 1 hr presentation - compulsory for final yrs, optional to 2 nd yrsinfo and resourcesjob searching and chemistry careersfree 1 yr membership (paid for by Dept)Department /Subject SpecificEE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 5Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

Careers EventsPsychometric testing – 2hrs 2nd yrs requires arrangement with Careers Service and booking of anIT room students complete ‘live’ tests and receive immediate feedbackwhich is discussed by the careers tutor in session Aptitude / Ability tests Personality ProfilingPractical CV writing – 1.5 hrs 2nd yrs requires arrangement with Careers Skills Audit / Evidence Covering letters Application FormsMaximise use offacilities andavoid repetitionof delivery bygroupingOnline CVsSTEM practicaleventMobilise EventFairsWhere to look for jobs – 1 hr Identifying Careers Team SupportJobsitesRecruitment Agencies30 min presentation Advertise the availability of online CV portal Examples of how to use it Examples of student CVs Examples of student videos (not compulsory)Demonstration of STEM style events STEM Ambassador Co-ordinator and former STEMambassadors to demonstrate practical activities to prospectiveSTEM ambassadors 2nd yrsDay Long Event delivered by external consultant Identifying skills Qualifiers / Winners Handouts provided Interactive session How to evidence behavioural skills Elevator pitch Practical tips on preparing yourself for job applications andinterviewsFull day broken down into 2 partsPlacements Fair – AMGraduate Fair – PMSingle sessionfollowing on fromCV writing sessionaboveDepartment /Subject SpecificCould run acrossa series ofdepartmentsWould require£££ from eachHead ofDepartmentAppropriatecompanies attendon one day onlyto maximise theiroutputsNotesSEMESTER TWOMock Interviews 30 minutes interview and 15 min feedback Where possibleutilising externalcompanyEE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 6Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

epresentatives ,video and use forreflectionEnterpriseSessionsEmployerpresentationsSite Visits toEmployersAchievementand RecognitionEvent2 * 2 hour sessions spread out across semesterGetting customers – customers and marketsFinance – costs, profits and outcomesCulminating in student presentations of business plansAt appropriate points throughout semester 1 and 2 Introduction to the company – Who are they? What do theydo? Where are they located? What is it like to work for them? What is your personal rolewithin the organisation and how did you get there? E.g. whatexams have you done, what experiences did you have to get inorder to progress Potential Job Opportunities and Career Pathways within theorganisation Interview and Selection Processes for the company e.g. do youadopt application forms or request CV’s, psychometric tests,panel interviews What skills, abilities and attributes should our studentsdevelop and demonstrate in order to turn their applicationsinto ‘Winners’ rather than simply ‘Qualifiers’?At appropriate points in semester 1 and 22 – 4 hour visitsRepeat visits may be required due to company capacityMarking student success of those gaining placements andemployment including 1st year students by way of introducing theprogramme to them for the following yearDepartment /Subject SpecificTransportationcosts need to beconsideredReview whether£££ available forhot snacks anddrink from Headof Department toincentivise eventEE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 7Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

Printed / Electronic ResourcesInformation LeafletEE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 8Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

Registration FormDocument FolderSticker£2 VoucherEE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 9Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

Alumni Profiles LeafletEE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 10Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

Promotional PosterSail BannerEE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 11Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

Place Name CardE-Learning PortalGeneral Contact Information Announcements /CommunicationsEvents CalendarEmployer / Industry LinksHandoutso Employer Presentationso CV Writing: Hints and Tipso Interview Tipso Final Cut: Words to Strike from Your CVo Tough Interview Questionso The 10 Worst Mistakes of First-Time Job Hunterso The Ten Worst Things to Put in Your Cover Lettero Pre-interview selection tests / Psychometric Testingo Application Formso Skills Auditso Work Experienceo Alumni Profileso Job Search Information (Sector Specific)EE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 12Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

Electronic ResourcesJobsOnlinehttp://northumbria.prospects.ac.uk/index.htmlNational Union of Student and the CharteredBusiness Institute “Working towards yourfuture: Making the most of your time in highereducation “http://www.nus.org.uk/Global/CBI_NUS_Employability%20report_May%202011.pdfChartered Business Institute “Future Fit”http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/Publications/Documents/FutureFit.PDFNewcastle Science City Careers Booklet -http://www.newcastlesciencecity.com/sites/newcastlesciencecity.com/files/Science%20City%20careers%20booklet.pdfSociety of Biology Careers Booklet “Next steps:Options after a Bioscience Degree” -http://www.societyofbiology.org/documents/view/794http://www.stemnet.org.uk/content/stem-ambassadorswww.employabilitysummit.co.ukhttp://www.nepic.co.ukEE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 13Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

Royal Society of ChemistryUndergraduate Skills Record -http://www.rsc.org/Education/HEstudents/usr/index.aspCOGENT “HE STEM Employability SkillsReview”http://www.hestem.ac.uk/sites/default/files/employability_skills_review.pdfUK Graduate Careers Survey 201, High FliersResearch Ltd www.highfliers.co.ukThe Graduate Market in 2012www.highfliers.co.ukMason G., Williams G. and Cranmer S. (2006) Employability skillsinitiatives in higher education: what effects do they have on graduatelabour outcomes? London: National Institute of Economic and SocialResearchEE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 14Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

Wider Employability Skills Set5 = High Level of Importance, 1 = Low Level of ImportanceSkill Description ScorePlanning &OrganisationProblem SolvingHandlingInformationWorkingExperienceSelf -managementWorking withOthersPlanning and organising for the long and short term 5Applying acquired knowledge and understanding to the solution ofproblemsRetrieving, analysing, evaluating and interpreting information 4.8Student placement and volunteering positions 4.6Readiness to accept responsibility, flexibility and time management 4.6Working in a team and to lead that team when necessary 4.6Numeracy Manipulation of numbers and application in practical contexts 4.4Communication Communicating in writing and orally to a range of audiences 4Scientific &PracticalCarrying out practical activities safely and effectively 4Degree Subject Good or excellent degree relevant to the role 3.8InformationCommunication &TechnologyBusiness andCustomerAwarenessUsing electronic media to interpret and present work 3.8Understanding key drivers for business success and importance ofcustomer loyaltyStudy Skills Managing and developing strategies and methods of study 3.4ImprovingLearning &PerformanceIdentifying opportunities for further development 3.453.6EE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 15Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

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AppendixFinal Cut: Words to Strike from Your CVTough Interview QuestionsThe 10 Worst Mistakes of First-Time Job HuntersThe Ten Worst Things to Put in Your Cover LetterEE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 17Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

Final Cut: Words to Strike from Your CVBy Elizabeth Lowman —October 18, 2011If you’ve applied for a job recently, you’ve probably looked over that 8½ x 11” summary of yourcareer more times than you can count—and tweaked it just as often—in pursuit of the perfect CV.But before you add another bullet point, consider this: It’s not always about what you add in—thebest changes you can make may lie in what you take out.The average CV is chock-full of sorely outdated, essentially meaningless phrases that take upvaluable space on the page. Eliminate them, and you’ll come off as a better, more substantialcandidate—and your CV won’t smack of that same generic, mind-numbing quality found oneveryone else’s.Every word—yes, every word—on that page should be working hard to highlight your talents andskills. If it’s not, it shouldn’t be on there. So grab a red pen, and banish these words from your CV forgood.Career ObjectiveMy first few CVs had a statement like this emblazoned top and center: “Career objective: To obtain aposition as a [insert job title here] that leverages my skills and experience as well as provides achallenging environment that promotes growth.”Yawn. This is not only boring, it’s ineffective (and sounds a little juvenile, to boot). The top of your CVis prime real estate, and it needs to grab a hiring manager’s attention with a list of your topaccomplishments, not a summary of what you hope to get out of your next position.ExperiencedYou can be “experienced” in something after you’ve done it once—or every day for the past 10years. So drop this nebulous term and be specific. If, for example, you’re a Client Report Specialist,using a phrase such as “Experienced in developing client reports” is both vague and redundant. Butsharing that you “Created five customized weekly reports to analyze repeat client sales activity”—now that gives the reader a better idea of where exactly this so-called experience lies, with someactual results attached.Also eliminate: seasoned, well-versedTeam PlayerIf you’ve ever created an online dating profile, you know that you don’t just say that you’re nice andfunny—you craft a fun, witty profile that shows it. Same goes for your CV: It’s much more effectiveto list activities or accomplishments that portray your good qualities in action than to simply claim tohave them.Instead of “team player,” say “Led project team of 10 to develop a new system for distributingreports that reduced the time for managers to receive reports by 25%.” Using a specific example,you show what you can actually accomplish. But simply labeling yourself with a quality? Not somuch.Also eliminate: people person, customer-focusedEE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 18Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

DynamicWhile CVs are meant to highlight your best attributes, some personality traits are better left to thehiring manager to decide upon for herself. There is a difference between appropriately andaccurately describing your work skills and just tooting your own horn. Plus, even the mostintroverted wallflower will claim to be “dynamic” on a piece of paper because, well, why not?Whenit comes to CVs, keep the content quantifiable, show tangible results and successes, and wait untilthe interview to show off your “dynamism,” “enthusiasm,” or “energy.”Also eliminate: energetic, enthusiasticReferences Available Upon RequestAll this phrase really does is take up valuable space. If a company wants to hire you, they will ask youfor references—and they will assume that you have them. There’s no need to address the obvious(and doing so might even make you look a little presumptuous!). Use the space to give more detailsabout your talents and accomplishments instead.In a crummy job market with a record number of people applying for the same positions, it takesmore than a list of desirable-sounding qualities to warrant an interview. Specific examples pack apunch, whereas anything too dependent on a list of buzzwords will sound just like everyone else’scookie-cutter CV. So, give your CV a good once-over, and make sure every word on that page isworking hard for you.EE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 19Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

Tough Interview QuestionsThis sheet has been created from information taken from 'Great Answers to Tough InterviewQuestions' by Martin John Yate published by Kogan Page.How to impress at the start...1. Why do you want to work here?To answer this question you must have researched the company. Reply with the company'sattributes as you see them. Cap your answer with reference to your belief that the company canprovide you with a stable and happy work environment - and that such an atmosphere wouldencourage your best work.2. How do you feel about your progress to date?This question is not geared solely to rate your progress; it also rates your self-esteem. Bepositive, yet do not give the impression you have already done your best work.Make theinterviewer believe you see each day as an opportunity to learn and contribute, and that yousee the environment at this company as conducive to your best efforts.3. What would you like to be doing five years from now?The safest answer contains a desire to be regarded as a true professional and team player. Asfar as promotion, that depends on finding a manager with whom you can grow. Of course, youwill ask what opportunities exist within the company before being any more specific.4. What are your biggest accomplishments?Keep your answers job-related. If you exaggerate contributions to major projects, you will beaccused of 'coffee-machine syndrome'; the affliction of a junior clerk who claimed success foran Apollo space mission based on his relationships with certain scientists at the coffee machine.You might begin your reply with: 'Although I feel my biggest achievements are still ahead of me,I am proud of my involvement with... I made a contribution as part of that team and learned alot in the process.'5. Why did you leave your last job?You should have an acceptable reason for leaving every job you have held but if you don't, pickone of the six acceptable reasons from this employment industry CLAMPS formula:Challenge: you weren't able to grow professionallyLocation: the journey to work was unreasonably longAdvancement: there was nowhere for you to goMoney: you were underpaid for your skills and contributionPride or prestige: you wanted to be with a better companySecurity: the company was not stableEE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 20Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

The real you...1. Tell me about yourself?This is not an invitation to ramble on. If the context isn't clear, you need to know more aboutthe question before giving an answer.Whichever direction your answer ultimately takes be surethat it has some relevance to your professional endeavours. You should also refer to one ormore of your key personal qualities, such as honesty, integrity, being a team player, ordetermination. For example, if you choose 'team player', you can tell a story about yourselfoutside work - perhaps as a member of a sports team - that also speaks volumes about you atwork.2. How well do you feel other people rated your job performance?This is one very sound reason to ask for written evaluations of your work before leaving acompany. You should also ask for a letter of recommendation whenever you leave a job. Don'tthrust these under your interviewer's nose, but when you are asked the question, you canproduce them with a flourish. If you don't have written evaluations, try to quote verbalappraisals, such as 'My boss said only a month ago that I was the most valuable engineer in thework group, because...'3. What is your greatest strength?Isolate high points from your background and build in a couple of your key personal qualities,such as pride in your work, reliability and the ability to stick with a difficult task, yet changecourse rapidly when required.4. What is your greatest weakness?This is a direct invitation to put your head in a noose. Decline the invitation. If there is a minorpart of the job at hand where you lack knowledge - but knowledge you will obviously pick upquickly - use that. For instance: 'I haven't worked with this type of spreadsheet before but,given my experience with six other types, I should be able to pick it up in a few days.' Anotheroption is to design the answer so your weakness is ultimately a positive characteristic. Forexample: 'I always give each project my best shot, so if I sometimes feel others aren't pullingtheir weight, I find it a little frustrating. I try to overcome it with a positive attitude that I hopewill catch on.' Also consider the technique of putting a problem in the past and showing howyou overcame it.5. What are you looking for in your next job?You want a company where your talents and experience will allow you to contribute to theirbusiness. Avoid saying what you want the company to give you; you must say what you want interms of what you can give to your employer. The key word is 'contribution'.Under the spotlight...1. What kind of salary are you worth?This question is asking you to name a desired figure but the twist is that it also asks you tojustify that figure. It requires that you demonstrate careful analysis of your worth, industrynorms, and job requirements. You are recommended to try for a higher figure rather than alower one. If their immediate response is to say that's too much, accept it as no more than anegotiating gambit, and come back with your own calm rebuttal: 'What did you have in mind?'EE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 21Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

2. Do you have any questions...Almost always, this is a sign the interview is drawing to a close, and that you have one morechance to make an impression. Remember the adage: people respect what you inspect, notwhat you expect. Create questions from any of the following: Find out why the job is open, who had it last and what happened to him or her? When will you get the opportunity to meet the person to whom you would report? What type of training is required and how long is it? What would your first assignment be? What are the realistic chances for growth in the job? What are the skills and attributes most needed to get ahead in the company? Who will be the company's main competitor over the next few years? If there is a written job description, can you see it?EE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 22Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

The 10 Worst Mistakes of First-Time Job HuntersBy Kelly Eggers (kelly.eggers@dowjones.com)If you're in your final year [of University], be warned: the rumors about landing a job in thiseconomy are true. You should be taking steps today, not next semester, to prepare yourself.An April 2011 survey conducted by Braun Research on behalf of Adecco Staffing U.S. found that 71%of 500 recent four-year college graduates would have done something differently to prepare for thejob market. While companies will hire 9.5% more graduates from the class of 2012 than they didfrom the 2011 graduating class, according to another poll, employers are still looking for the pick ofthe litter."When you're not familiar with the job market or job seeking, you really don't know how mucheffort it will take," said Kathy Kane, senior vice president of talent management for Adecco NA,To find out what students can do to better prepare for the current job market, we spoke with careercoaches, recruiters and recent graduates."I would have started looking for jobs earlier."Putting off your job hunt isn't a wise move. Among the Adecco survey's respondents, 26% said theywould have started looking for potential positions earlier."It's easy to fall into 'my weekend starts on Thursday' mode, rather than 'I've got to put my jobsearch into full gear today' mode," said Kane, "but procrastinators will have fewer choices."Most students don't start thinking about their careers until they have to, said Lindsey Pollak, acareer expert who focuses on Generation Y in the workplace. "There's so much you can do that's nota lot of work and not overly time consuming.""I would have actually networked."For students and older professionals alike, networking can feel like the most dreaded part of a jobhunt. Twenty-nine percent of respondents to the Adecco survey said they would have spent moretime building a solid professional network."Networking can be scary," said Pollak, "but about 70% of jobs are found through networking."Students who spend their time trolling job boards should instead spend that time making solidconnections with people who are respected and involved in the workforce, industry experts andalumni, and spend only 30% of their time looking at job listings.For the most part, Pollak said, people love to help students. As long as you are gracious and thankfuland not trying to hard-sell yourself right off the bat, potential connections are likely to be receptive."I would have taken on a job or an internship in addition to my courseload."Bottom line: There's no substitute for experience.Having some professional experience under your belt before entering the workforce has become anecessity for many employers.EE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 23Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

"I don't know a company that doesn't want people with internship experience," said Pollak. "Myadvice is to get yourself through the recession any way you can, and come out with whateverexperience you can."Look for internships that provide college credit or are paid. Otherwise, gain work experience in asetting such as waiting tables -- and talk with people at each and every table. "There are CEOs whostarted networking while they were waiting tables," Pollak said.If you can't find a full- or part-time position on- or off-campus, try going to the Internet for virtualwork. "There are jobs you can get without even leaving your dorm room," Pollak said, includingmaintaining someone's social media outlets, working as a copyeditor or building a website for asmall business. Many of these types of jobs have flexible hours, an added benefit for busy students."I would have gotten more involved in career-relevant extracurricular activities."On-campus groups, clubs, events and activities are a great place to get experience that translates tothe working world. Skills are skills. You can show you have gained relevant experience by planningconcerts on campus or working as a freshman orientation assistant, for example."Everybody wants to hire people who understand how to manage projects, work alongside difficultpeople, and have built their communication skills," said Kane. If you were on the dance team, andchoreographed a group performance, for example, you've developed creative, leadership andtraining abilities, all of which translate to the workplace.Experts say it's a matter of framing the extracurricular experience you've had in a professional way.Try thinking of your biggest accomplishments as a member or leader of an extracurricular group, andusing them to brainstorm resume bullet points."I would have applied to more jobs."Many recent graduates regret not putting out more feelers. According to the Adecco survey, 26% ofrecent graduates would have applied to more jobs prior to finishing school.Putting your hat in the ring is the only way to be considered for most opportunities. The trick is tokeep track of the applications you send out. "Sending in your application for hundreds of jobs onMonster.com will work against you," said Dan Schawbel, a personal branding expert and author ofMe 2.0. Not only is it difficult to remember what you applied for and when, but you're also likely tosend out generic resumes.Write your resume so it highlights your experience with each position's requirements. Not sure whatyour relatable skill-set is? Try creating a Venn diagram that illustrates all of the skills and experienceyou've developed. The overlap can indicate your primary strengths, and the remainder can help yousee where you have specific skills related to your prospective industry."I would have focused more on becoming 'professional.'"Save the sweatpants and fratty T-shirts for the weekend. Replace them with clothes that are fitted,pressed and at the very least casual-Friday appropriate even when you're going to class. You maythink dressing well every day doesn't matter, but the professors you ask for recommendations willremember your style.EE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 24Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

Another way to show your professionalism is to pick up the tab for networking coffees, and sendthank-you notes for even a little bit of help. "If someone gives you advice, all you have to do is saythank you after the fact," Pollak said.And, of course, monitor your online appearance. Clean up and privacy-protect your Facebookaccounts, start Tweeting interesting news (instead of which class you're skipping), be careful whereyou "check-in" on your smartphone, and set up a solid LinkedIn profile, Pollak said. Add a signatureline to your e-mail account and set up a professional voicemail message."I would have done more to figure out what my career goals were."Your first job out of college is unlikely to be your dream position, if you even know what that is.Indecision can hold you back, so set up some informational interviews to try to narrow your focus."It's a rare gift at any age to know what your passion is," said Bruce Tulgan, CEO of RainmakerThinking, a New Haven, Conn.-based management consultancy that focuses on integratinggenerations in the workplace. "In 99 out of 100 cases, people start to learn about a career path, gainexperience in something, and over time they become passionate about it."Don't be afraid to try something that you're initially lukewarm about, said Pollak. "I don't believe indead-end jobs when you're early in your career," she said, "because everything is experience.""I would have gone to the career centre."This is what they call a "no-brainer." You might not think you need your university's services, butthere's no reason to find out the hard way you did something wrong that could have been avoided."[University] students have an advantage other job seekers don't -- an on-campus career centrestaffed with people who have one purpose: to help students find jobs," said Kane of Adecco. "Mostcareer centres aren't taken advantage of to their full extent."Once you get to know the counsellors and they know what you're looking for, they can tell youabout new opportunities, Kane said. It's also a good place to practice your elevator pitch, draftintroductory e-mails or cover letters, perfect your resume, or any other measures you don't want torun by friends or family members."I would have kept better track of my achievements."Experts say that even on-campus accolades belong on your resume."Start creating tangible results with your name on them so you have evidence of your ability to addvalue," said Tulgan. "Save the tangible results, date them, and be prepared to present them."Tracking how many donations you collected from calling alumni or that you created a new filingsystem for the admissions office are achievements that translate to everyday work activities. Don'tforget to highlight your academic awards, such as making the dean's list or honour society."Any accomplishment matters," said Schawbel. "Track them in a public setting, like your LinkedInprofile." If it's not out there for people to find, those achievements won't be doing anything to helpEE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 25Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

you, he said."I would have focused more on developing relevant skills."Having an awareness of industry-specific skills as well as broad, transferable ones is a way to reallystand out."Companies aren't investing as much in training, so companies are more likely to look for someonewho can hit the ground running," said Kane. That isn't just familiarity with industry terminology, it'salso having professional "street smarts.""Show your understanding of chain-of-command issues, working with older, more experiencedcolleagues and working with people in parallel roles in other departments, or with vendors andcustomers," said Tulgan.You should also have excellent customer service knowledge – not only to use as a professional, butalso to use as a job seeker. That includes making yourself available, being fully prepared forinterviews, and knowing how to problem-solve, Tulgan said. "Above all, develop self-managementskills and the ability to work effectively with a manager,".EE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 26Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

The Ten Worst Things to Put in Your Cover LetterBy Sindhu Sundar (editor@fins.com)It's never too early to make a bad impression. A cover letter or introductory email is often the firstthing a potential employer sees when reviewing a job applicant. It's the first opportunity to impressrecruiters and hiring managers and, therefore, the first opportunity to disappoint them. Everythingfrom copy mistakes to inappropriate jokes in a cover letter could derail an application. Here are thetop ten worst things to put on a cover letter:1. Next to NothingWhile writing something that's too long is a common cover letter mistake, what can be even moredamaging is a cover letter that's too short.Bruce Hurwitz, President of Hurwitz Strategic Staffing, Ltd., a New York-based staffing firm recalls acover letter he received a few months ago for an entry-level IT sales position. It read simply, "Here'smy resume. Call me. [Phone number].""I cracked up," Hurwitz says. "This person had only just graduated with a Bachelor's degree. It wasridiculous."A good cover letter should be somewhere between 200 to 250 words, Hurwitz says, and shouldanswer the question of why a recruiter should look at the resume. "The key is to highlight onesuccess," Hurwitz says. "For example, 'I successfully increased sales 500% over two years, resulting inincreased, sustained revenue of $25 million.' Once I read that, I look at the resume."2. Criticism of a Prospective EmployerThumbtack.com, a San Francisco-based site that connects customers with small business services,asked potential employees to submit in their cover letters feedback about their website. Onecandidate, a contender for an entry-level position in April, didn't pull any punches."The engineering of your site looks lazy and ineffective," the applicant wrote, proceeding to describethe colour scheme of the site as "disconcerting to my eyes."Needless to say, he was not considered for the position, though not before the hiring manager got insome laughs around the water cooler at his expense."We forwarded the cover letter to our managers sort of as a joke," says Sander Daniels, co-founderof the site. "It was the most caustic feedback we received. But we responded kindly to him -- wedidn't suggest any improvements to him in approaching other employers.We don't see it as our roleto counsel failed candidates."Daniels observed that while many strong candidates turn in well-written cover letters, some have letthe demand for engineers get to their heads, as Silicon Valley romances them with six-figure salariesand other job perks."Maybe they think they can get away with it -- but in our company, culture is a very importantEE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 27Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

factor." Daniels says. "Even if Facebook's best engineer came to us, we wouldn't hire him if he was ajerk."3. Personal StoriesWhile employers are sometimes interested in personal stories, especially if they give some ideaabout work ethic, it's best to save these stories for the interview, says Lindsay Olson of NewYorkbased Paradigm Staffing, who specializes in recruiting communications and marketingprofessionals."I think my favourite of all time was the salesperson who poetically told me about how he decided torun a marathon, climbed to reach glaciers to have a taste of pure water, ran at heights of 5,000meters in Peru, and biked down the world's most dangerous road and survived (over 300,000 havenot)," says Olson, of a candidate who was applying for a business development position at arecruiting firm in June last year. "All this in his opening paragraph."If you are asked in an interview about your hobbies and adventures, be prepared with a stronganswer, says Olson. "What a [job candidate] likes to do outside of work might show how they are intheir job," she says. "As a hiring manager, what you don't like to hear is, 'I just like to sit around athome and read books all day.'"4. Awkward LanguageRachel Levy, director of marketing at Just Military Loans, a Wilmington, Del.-based personal loanservice for military personnel, got a letter last week from a candidate who seemed to be expressinglukewarm interest in an IT analyst position."My name is xxx. I am pretty interested in the IT analyst position at Just Military Loans," the letterbegan.Levy says she sees many applications, especially for IT jobs, to have grammatical and other languageflaws. "What I've noticed is that there are a lot of people applying to these jobs, for whom English isa second language," Levy says. "So the connotations of certain words and phrases may not be clearto them. Which is fine, but they should get someone to help word their intentions correctly."In this case, Levy thinks the applicant meant "very" instead of "pretty," but she'll never knowbecause that applicant didn't get an interview.5. Someone Else's WordsFrank Risalvato, a recruiting officer for Inter-Regional Executive Search Inc., is deluged with coverletters from different candidates that all obviously use the same template from the same careercoaches."Some of these [cover letters] we see are very obviously not written by the individual," saysRisalvato. "We get 15 to 20 of these a month, and it sounds disingenuous and insincere, seeing thesecover letters from Seattle one week, Chicago another, and it's all the same style."Some career experts also warn against the tired stand-by opening lines in a cover letter. "Opening aletter with a passive and clichéd statement such as 'Enclosed please find my resume highlighting myexperience and skills that would help your company to grow and succeed,'" is a no-no, says AnnBaehr, certified professional resume writer and president of New York-based Best Resumes. "It'sEE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 28Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

est to use something catchy and more specific such as, "If your company could benefit from theexpertise of a hard-charging sales producer with a flawless record of success for closing tier-oneFortune 500 prospects in the healthcare technology market and capturing millions of dollars inrevenue, please take a moment to review the attached resume."If you're uncomfortable with that approach, make your cover letter unique to you with insightsabout the company you're applying to, advises Darrell Gurney, Los Angeles-based founder of careercoaching site Careerguy.com and author of Backdoor Job Search: Never Apply For A JobAgain!."Put in a note saying something like, 'I've been following your company's progress in the last yearand in February and I noticed your company was mentioned in the Journal of such and such,'"Gurney says. "That's the amazing thing about the Internet. You can spend 15 minutes online andlook like you've been following them for a year."Gurney reminds applicants to do their full research on the company if they do get called in for aninterview after.6. Irrelevant ExperienceAs noteworthy as an impressive Girl Scout cookies sales record may be, it's not worth trumpetingthat experience when trying to break into a field like software sales. Rich DeMatteo, co-founder ofPhiladelphia-based Social Media Marketing firm Bad Rhino, remembers a candidate who did justthat when he was working as a corporate recruiter at a software company."I was recruiting for a software sales position and one candidate was sure she was qualified becauseof her success selling Girl Scout cookies when she was a young girl," DeMatteo says. "I think she wasyoung and didn't realize how important it is to state the right experience. Younger applicants tend toreach for skills, and try to find them anywhere in their life."Some candidates take it even further, acknowledging they have no relevant skills, but pushing to behired anyway."I read one for an IT analyst position that says, 'Although my qualifications do not exactly match yourneeds, the close proximity to my home is a big bonus for me,'" Levy of Just Military Loans recalls."You have a lot of under qualified people just out of college just throwing resumes at the wall, andhoping something sticks."DeMatteo suggests trying to focus on specific sales figures or experience in relevant projects. "A lotof sales, for instance, is numbers-based. Stick to that."7. ArroganceIt's one thing to promote yourself favourably in a cover letter, but watch that it doesn't degenerateinto overt bragging.This is especially true when it comes to ambiguous skills, says Jennifer Fremont-Smith, CEO ofSmarterer, a Boston-based tech start-up aimed at helping IT applicants improve their resumes."People claim to have things like, 'superior Internet skills.' What does that even mean?" saysFremont-Smith. "I saw an application from aWeb developer about a month ago where he describedEE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 29Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

himself as a 'rockstar in design tools,' and an 'expert in developer tools.' That kind of inflatedlanguage doesn't really tell your employer much about your skills."Fremont-Smith recommends carefully personalizing your cover letter to the employer and listing themost relevant of skills for the job you want, and why you want it. "The cover letter is the place to tellyour story about why it is that you're the right person for the company," she says. "It's about reallycrafting a narrative that answers the question of why the employer should talk to you."8. Wrong Company Name/Wrong Cover LetterTalk about mistakes that are easy to avoid."The biggest mistake I see on a regular basis is that candidates either misspell the name of thecompany or get the name wrong," says Gary Hewing of Houston-based Bert MartinezCommunications LLC. "If it's a small misspelling like 'Burt' instead of 'Bert', I'd be willing to overlookthat. But the big, unforgivable mistake is when someone copies and pastes a cover letter without thename or address to the correct company. That, to me, is someone who's lazy and not payingattention."Hewing says sometimes it's hard to tell if a cover letter was meant for a particular job, even if thecandidate got the company name and position right, if they talk about disconnected experiencewithout explaining themselves."We're a sales organization, but at least twice a month, we'll get a cover letter with someone talkingabout their banking background instead of sales," says Hewing. "It's a complete disconnect to thejob description and it doesn't even explain if the candidate is seeking a career change. It tells me thatthey're just not paying attention."9. Cultural PreferencesJob hunting is often compared to dating: It's about finding the right match; and success hinges onstaying cool under pressure and masking anxieties to appear confident instead of desperate. But afew candidates take the dating analogy too far, subjecting hiring managers to long lists of personallikes and dislikes in cover letters."This one guy wrote the first part of his cover letter talking about his interests like it was an ad for anonline dating site," Olson of Paradigm Staffing says, about an applicant trying for a PR job. "He likesall types of music, but 'never got into country.'"While potentially charming to a possible mate, those titbits are not helpful in a cover letter.10. JokesBreaking the ice with humour isn't necessarily a bad idea, but jokes in cover letters are usually aturn-off for busy employers, say recruiters. It might be better to save them for the interview, if theyare to be used at all. Olson recalled a candidate for a communications executive position whorubbed an employer the wrong way with an off-colour joke."She decided in her interview, for some reason, to compare kids to Nazis," says Olson. "She thoughtshe was being funny, but the interviewer happened to be Jewish and didn't think she was veryEE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 30Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012

funny."Recruiters agree that it's best to stick with tried-and-true unfunny, but effective conventional pitchesabout your education and work experience."The thing with trying to be chummy and funny is that you lose credibility," says Gurney ofCareerguy.com. "It looks desperate. And the worst thing you can do in job-seeking is lookingdesperate or needy."EE015 (Graduate Skills in Chemistry) Page| 31Job Ready Resource PackMay 2012