A very Green Vocabulary Lesson

Remember getting your resume checked by one of our sweetastic counselors? Remember them telling you that you should use your employer’s language and incorporate it into your resume and cover letters? If not, you really should stop by the Adirondack house because the counselors do have some killer advices.

But back to my main point: you have to talk the talk in order to walk the walk.
Do you know what a triple bottom line is? What is lohas? Are you totally confused?

For those of you interested in working in green business, you might want to check out Green for All’s Green Speak, a glossary containing many of the terminologies and buzzwords frequently used in the green industry today. This guide serves as an introductory resource for anyone new to the intersection of sustainability and social justice, as well as for those who lack an exhaustive understanding of commonly used jargon.

Staying up-to-date

It is essential in a job search to stay up-to-date with your industry of choice. However, an ‘industry’ is a broad beast, so what should you really know?

  • Follow new and upcoming technology
  • Know which companies are competitors
  • Understand where the industry is headed
  • Investigate how your industry is affected by external factors

Before an interview, make sure you know what the company does; an energy consulting firm can be a myriad of things, so it is crucial to know what niche they have carved out for themselves.

If you are interested in green opportunities, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) is an amazing source for information on things such as water, transportation, fishing subsidies, biofuels, and the health effects of consumer products. Even if it isn’t your industry of choice, take some time to peruse their Cosmetic Safety Database, which contains invaluable information on the health effects of specific products (from toothpaste, to deodorant, to shampoo).

Furthermore, check out the new tag “data point,” where we will keep you up-to-date on what is going on.

Interview Tip: The 10 Questions You Need to Know the Answers to

Do you know how to answer “What is your greatest weakness?” Now, jokingly you might want to respond, I work too hard, and I care to much, but what is the interviewer actually looking for?

Gina Chung, on GottaMentor,  says “You want to give a real weakness that you are already in process of addressing.”

Do you know how to answer the ubiquitous, “Tell me about yourself?” What about “Why are you interested?

Before you have an interview make sure Read more

Nailing an Interview

Everyone should check out “How to Make Yourself Standout in an Interview.” It is a great article with sections on what you should know about the job, the industry and the company. 

It recommends that before the interview, you research industry trends as well as have a list of your five most compelling qualities, which you then reference during the interview. 

Also, if you have a phone interview check out our earlier post, “Phone Interviews” and, if you have time, remember to call the CSO to arrange a practice interview.

The 10 Worst Job Hunting Mistakes

Are you currently looking for a job or internship?  If so, you might want to check out GovCentral’s “The 10 Worst Job Hunting Mistakes.” 

Below are some of their recommendations:

  • Don’t use an unprofessional e-mail address on your resume
  • Make sure you are prepared to ask questions in your interview
  • Choose your references wisely and give them a heads up that a prospective employer will call them

Looking for Job Search Advice?

Fall Family Weekend has begun. Maybe you are freaking out because just found out that your friend’s brother has the exact job that you want or you just remembered that you have an interview on Monday.

If you haven’t made it to any of the CSO’s workshops and if you can’t make it into the CSO today for drop in hours from 2:00 to 5:00, check out the CSO Resource Page. There, you can download a copy of the Networking Workshop or the Interviewing Workshop.

Phone Interviews

Since we go to school in the middle of Vermont, it is quite likely that there will be a few companies that will not be on campus for interviews.  So, knowing how to nail a phone interview is something that will come in handy.

Being in your own environment is one benefit of the phone interview; however, you can definitely be a bit too comfortable.  For example, sitting in your pajamas with a wad of Big League Chew probably isn’t the way to go.

Before the interview, call the CSO (x2061) and schedule a practice interview.  The CSO has drop in hours 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday and they would love to help you find how to best present yourself (even if the interviewer can only hear your voice). It is a great way to practice your responses to common questions and learn how to tailor your answers for the specific job.

Also, check out Bright Green Talent’s 7 Tips for Mastering the Art of the Phone Interview. It is a great post on an even better blog.  For a phone interview, they recommend that you have your resume in front of you as well as notes on your strengths and weaknesses. They also believe that getting dressed up will help put you in the right frame of mind.