Sophie Page Career management for graduate students Service des stages et du placement

1. JobSearch, How To ViewIt Differently? Sophie Page Career management for graduatestudents Service des stages et du placement To make an appointment: service.placement@polymtl.ca Fall 2012

2. Goals: • To obtain a better understanding of the job search strategies in order to integrate the labor market successfully. • Internship • Employment • To understand job search VS learningits techniques

3. How will we do this: Propose a job search method in 5 steps

4. job search method in 5 steps

5. Job search method in 5 steps

6. STEP 1 Learn About The Labor Market1.1. Research the labormarket1.2. Understand the hiringprocess of companies

7. 1.1. Research the labor market • It will help you to: • Know the types of jobs available in your area of expertise. • Whatcan I do withmydiploma? • Validate the tasks or responsabilitiesthatyouwouldlike to find in a job. • Wouldyoulike to work in a R&D center? In a consulting firm? In the gouvernement? As a scientific writer, etc. • Better understand the employers needs.

8. 1.1. Research the labor market • Comprehend the requirements of the labor market in your field. • Specific technology, computer language, etc. • Learn the language, values and culture of industries that interest you. • Explore and be open and flexible in face of events or opportunities.

9. How to get information • The web site www.icriq.comis a good starting point • Consult the Service de Placement site http://www.polymtl.ca/sp/etudiant/liens/repertoire.php#entreprise • Jobs sites • http://www.polymtl.ca/sp/ • http://www.indeed.ca/ • http://www.academiccareers.com/ • http://www.engineeringcareers.ca/ • Meet professionals • Informational interviews • Conference

10. 1.2. Understand the hiring process of companies

11. The hiring process for companies • First : Manager expresses a need for additionnal ressources: • Determines the ideal candidate’s profile • Starts a research for potential candidates

12. Employers recruitment practices

13. Characteristics of the labor market • Hidden job market

14. Why the displayed offers have very specific requirements and looking for someone with experience?

15. Job Seekers’ Strategies

16. Employers recruitment practices 2. Second: The selection process of dpt. of human resources

17. Job Posting • Who receives the resume. • At what point are the resume and the letter read. • How much time will the human ressources dpt. take to analyse the resume. • It’s very important to customize your resume to fit the job and the company. • Be aware of how you can stand out from your competition.

18. Step 2HighlightYourPotential

19. 2. Highlight your potential • Validate your skills What makes a person an excellent professional?

20. Academic achievement • Translate your knowledge into skills. A format more desirable for an employer. • Example: • My dissertation described the impact of abc on the process of xyz. • Research and wrote a dissertation of subject X • Identified research problem and designed criteria to evaluate possible explanation. • Developed timeline and supervised team of undergraduate researchers.

21. Draw the connections • Examine your profile! • Self-analysis exercise

22. Step 3Establish A Strategy For Your Contact And Networking3.1. Whatisnetworking?3.3. How and Where to network?3.4. How to make a contact?

23. What is networking? • The objective is to have a conversation and build a rapport with someone. • Be genuine and friendly. • Your shared interests might lead to something interesting. • Don’t focus on the end result. • You will have to listen, to ask questions and share information.

24. How and where to network • Personal, academic and social network • Classmates, friends, family, professor, Neighbors, etc. • Parties, Laboratory, voluntering, conference, departmental seminars, etc. • Job fairs and career days • More information to come

25. How and where to network • Social media (Twitter, facebook and LinkedIn) • Create a professionnal profil. • Follow the compagnies of interest. • Get information and do some research. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0sdTdcM2Ws http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbwvK5Al0dQ&feature=related http://learn.linkedin.com/students/step-1/

26. Establish a strategy for your contact

27. Make a contact • Contact the employers (Phone call, letter and follow-up): • Before you make any contact with the employers, it’s important to ask yourself 3 questions: • What does the organisation do? • Why am I interested and motivated by this position and this organisation? • Among all my skills, which ones are more relevant for this position?

28. How to make contact • How to make contact with a person of interest ? • Version A • I am looking for a job. • Version B • Potential between my profile and what I know of the company.

29. How to speak with the person in charge • Secretary • Which means to use (internet, phone, etc.)? • What is the purpose of this contact? • Get information • Get my profile known • Fears of job seekers …

30. CAREER FAIRS AND SALON DE L’EMPLOI

31. Use the Career Fair and the Salon de l’emploi efficiently • Get going, it’s time to wise-up! • How to prepare? • Check the profile of the organisations which are present. • Be strategic! Establish your priorities. • Identify your strongest assets for the targeted organisations and prepare your questions.

32. What to say to the employer? • Present yourself in 15 to 30 seconds. • In terms of the organisation. • Demonstrate your interest and what you know about the organisation. • Get information on the recruitment process. • Follow up after the career fair. • You were not present at the career fair…

33. Suggested questions to ask an employer:

34. Step 4Apply On Jobs

35. 4. Apply on jobs • Is this position for me? • Should I customize my resume? • What is a resume? • It’s your marketing tool! • Focus on the similarities ! Reassure the employer! • A good resume should get the employer attention in less then 20 secondes.

36. 4. Apply on jobs • Follow up.

37. Step 5 Be Succesful In Interviews

38. 5. Be succesful in interviews • Preparation is the key to your success. • Your self-knowledge (interests, motivations, skills, etc.) • What you know about the position (tasks, qualifications, requirements, etc.) • What you know about the company (expertise, products, employees, market, etc.) • Do not see the interview as a exam but as the occasion to exchange valuable informations.

39. Book of reference: R. Fry, 101 great answers to the toughest interview questions, Thomson Delmar Learning, Canada, 2007. • Web site: Jobboom, Workopolis, Monster, etc. http://www.interviewstream.com/interviewsuite/ • Personalized advice in individual appointment and more workshops to come ...

40. Conclusion • What I have presented today is an ideal to be achieved ... But the best job search strategy is undoubtedly to take action! • Despite what you hear and read, believe in your project!

41. Questions?

42. Thank you To reach us: Service des stages et du placement (B-510) To make an appointement: service.placement@polymtl.ca