Ever wonder what those exceedingly busy recruiters do with their leaning tower of resumes? While a few applications do get interviews, some get ditched. Here’s a brief synopsis of why, but do check out the article.

1. You don’t meet the requirements.

This seems like an obvious one, but many prospective hires don’t pay enough attention to the job description when deciding what to include in their resume or distract from their legitimate qualifications with unnecessary details. Don’t do that.

2. You’re not a culture fit.

It’s OK – even advantageous – to let your personality show in your application. Many employers are not looking for a generic anybody to do their tedious grunt work. Try to show the ways in which you are their “type.”

3. You don’t pay attention to detail.

Again, this should go without saying. Employers can become frustrated with smaller details than you realize: font consistency, margins, to whom you’ve addressed your cover letter. Make sure you double-check and proof-read. It’ll get you past the trash can.

…It’s a SUPER Networker!!

Ever wonder what it takes to be a “super networker”? Well, you’re in luck – here are seven key habits of the best networkers around. Think about adopting some of these practices when considering your next steps on the career path.

1. Ask insightful questions

If you do your research and ask the right kinds of questions, you could make a great impression at your next one-on-one lunch meeting

2. Add value

Adding substance to connections early on can be a useful way to solidify the contact – connect contacts with each other as well as to yourself

3. Learn their “story”

Asking a contact about their path to where they are now can not only connect you to them in a valuable way and show your own insight, it can also provide you with valuable information about your own potential career and give you a look at what working with this person might be like.

4. Share a memorable fact

Use personal details – they stick. When asked an open-ended question, seize the moment and give them an answer that truly speaks to who you are and your unique drive. They won’t forget it.

5. Keep a list

After a good bought of networking, be sure to write the contact information, opportunities, and events you learned of.

6. Make small promises – and keep them.

Whether sending an email or following up with a phone call, even small promises can reflect positively (or negatively) on your character. Be sure to follow through!

7. Reward your “power” contacts

Make sure to maintain your most important contacts with small meetings, connecting them to other contacts of yours, or just sending a message their way – on a weekly basis. These people will be very important for your network foundation, so maintain that connection!

For a closer look, see the article.

The big question: how do I get a job after college? We’re all wondering…

Here’s an answer. Check out this article for details on these six key steps to readying yourself for the job market after graduation. Though things like LinkedIn, blogging, or utilizing Middlebury’s Career Services in EIA (that’s us!) have seemed the work of over-achievers in the past, today they are absolutely necessary. If you haven’t started networking, putting together a LinkedIn profile and doing internships, you need to start… three years ago. Schwabel even suggests that we should have started in high school! Don’t panic, just read up on your career advice!

Do read all the article has to say, but for now here’s the skinny:

1. Create a LinkedIn profile

2. Establish a presence on WordPress or other blog

3. Get an internship as early as possible

4. Get creative about finding a mentor

5. Use your school’s career services office

6. Join a professional development or industry-specific group

“It’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know.”

We’ve all heard this before, but how do we turn this slightly obscure piece of hearsay into tangible career-related results? Network.

LinkedIn suggests you start with your “real world network,” or those people “you know and trust” as a foundation for your network online (more info). Think about this when you head home for Thanksgiving – try to seek out the contacts you already have and begin to build, or strengthen your connections. Whether chatting with a family member over turkey and stuffing, or having coffee with a mentor or family friend you had in high school, these contacts may become a key part in your career search now and in the future. It’s important as we consider life after college to start thinking of these people in our lives as professionals – if we do, the feeling may become mutual!

Feeling lost? See this video for how to go about networking in person first, and then online: http://learn.linkedin.com/students/step-4/

Check out this article from Forbes highlighting some 5 faux pas that millennials (yup, that’s us) tend to make in job interviews. Yikes. Are you embarrassed on behalf of our generation? I’m a little embarrassed. Don’t let this be you, I guess.

So now that we’ve covered the don’ts — here are some dos. Check out this article, also from Forbes, for tips — specifically for millennials — on giving a better interview.

At EIA we’ve noticed some common problems and recurring errors in your job applications in MOJO. We wanted to call your attention to these now, as early in the semester as possible, in order to prevent you from making these same mistakes in the future. You’re no doubt busy with your senior year, so it’s really important that the time that you invest in pursuing your post-graduation plans is most effectively spent.

Please make an extra effort to pay special attention to the following:

1. Unofficial transcripts: They should really be one page only. We’ve seen several submitted that are well over 5 pages. That is not going to work for the employers. In MOJO, and also at the following link, are simple instructions for using your Degree Program Report to create an unofficial transcript. http://www.middlebury.edu/studentlife/eia/resources/transcript

2. Blank documents: Proof your materials before submitting on MOJO! Sadly we’ve seen a situation where a resume submitted was entirely blank and unreadable. To avoid this issue, after you upload any document, please preview it and ensure it is what you want.

3. Old documents: Similarly, we’ve seen another scenario where a student used the wrong, old resume to apply for a job. Suggestion here is to remove documents you’ve used in the past for applications, and only leave current resumes and cover letters saved in MOJO.

4. Withdrawing applications: Did you know if it’s before the deadline, and you want to change something in your application, you can do that? All instructions are here: http://www.middlebury.edu/studentlife/eia/resources/mojo

5. Thank you notes and business cards: To our surprise, employers have given us feedback that students are not sending thank you notes after interviews. Always ask for the business card of the person interviewing you so you have the name and contact information for the thank you note you will send. If you are interviewing by phone, ask for the person’s name and contact information and write it down. If you need assistance learning what to say in your thank you note, read http://www.middlebury.edu/studentlife/eia/resources/thankyounotes

6. Generic cover letters. Employers reading through stacks of applications can tell if you have just dropped their name into your standard cover letter template. Take the time to do the research necessary to tailor your cover for each employer. You can get started here and be sure to stop by Drop-Ins to assure your application materials are looking good!

Thank you for paying attention to these important issues. We’re here to help and happy to talk with you more about any issue related to your post grad plans. Please come see us any day during Drop in Hours from 2-5.

-Tim

There are a few givens when it comes to job interviews that we can probably all agree on. Maybe don’t get four hours of sleep the night before an interview. Maybe don’t drink five shots of espresso that morning to cover up the fact that you got four hours of sleep. Maybe don’t bring your best friend to hold your hand in the lobby because you’re shaking/crying hysterically from sleep deprivation/over-caffeination. (Ideally, of course, we would all get at least eight hours of sleep, drink one standard-size cup of coffee and be sitting in the waiting area for the interview fifteen minutes early, hands clasped neatly over a tasteful Ann Taylor slacks/blazer combo. Ideally.)

But did you know that even the food you eat before your interview might give you a leg up? I know what you’re thinking. Ugh, more advice on how to be perfect. Show me the science! Is this blog post sponsored by Weybridge House? But seriously, it’s actually pretty logical. When we eat well we tend to feel well and when we feel well we tend to do well — especially in times of stress. Check out this article from LinkedIn for suggestions on what you might want to eat before an interview. (Hint: Maybe don’t pass on the quinoa fennel saute in Proctor?)

The hardest part about drafting or revising my resume or cover letter always seems to come down to the small details. Do I have an academic advisor or an academic adviser? Am I interested in the nonprofit field or the non-profit field? Did I intern with the US Department of Education or the U.S. Department of Education? (Actually, neither, but I would like to! Call me?) I inevitably end up Googling my query and settling for faceless internet advice from someone on Yahoo! Answers named Bart who claims to have done “research” on the subject.

Boy, I sure do wish I had known that there was an Editorial Style Guide available on the Middlebury website that breaks down all that stuff I’ve Googled! (Wait — googled?) Have a question about capitalization, abbreviation, foreign expressions or split infinitives? Wondering if it’s sacrilegious to hyphenate “Middlebury?” (It’s not — provided it “improves the spacing of the printed document.”) Good to know, right?

Twenty-three of you showed up for our LinkedIn workshop this afternoon. Yay!

In case you didn’t make it to the workshop, check out these top three tips from Tim and Tracy on how to build a great student LinkedIn profile:

1. Craft an informative profile headline

Your profile headline gives people a short, memorable way to understand who you are in a professional context. Think of the headline as the slogan for your professional brand, such as “Student, National University” or “Recent honors grad seeking marketing position.” Check out the profiles of students and recent alums you admire for ideas and inspiration.

2. Pick an appropriate photo

LinkedIn is not Facebook. If you choose to post a photograph — and we recommend that you do — select a professional, high-quality headshot of you alone. That means no party photos, cartoon avatars, or cute pics of your puppy.

3. Show off your education

Include information about all institutions you’ve attended. Include your major and minor if you have one, as well as highlights of your activities. It’s also appropriate to include study abroad programs and summer institutes. Don’t be shy — your LinkedIn profile is an appropriate place to show off your strong GPA and any honors or awards you’ve won.

Download the rest of the tips here (How to Build a Great Student LinkedIn Profile) and learn more about LinkedIn here.

Still want to learn more? Mark your calendars for the next LinkedIn workshop on Nov. 5^th.