As Danielle Gruppo says in her book Recruiter Secrets, ‘An unkept look won’t impress the interview team.’ Looking your best is not only applicable to job attainment but also in many situations in life. Whether attending school and interacting with professors, meeting the family of a best friend or significant other for the first time, or perhaps it’s just an average day. Looking your best could make all the difference in the world. A classmate of mine recently brought this very topic to light on the day we had a test. She had been attending class all week in sweats, no makeup, etc., but on the day of the test she was dressed sharply with her hair AND makeup done…WOW! I asked her what the occasion was and she responded happily, ‘Look my best, to do my best!’. I cannot tell you how well these words have resonated with me since then. Although we may tell ourselves repeatedly not to judge a book by its cover…we still do, after all it is human nature. The first impression IS everything and how we are dressing and preparing ourselves for the event of LIFE each day is important. When we dress well and take care of ourselves in regard to personal hygiene and grooming, people want to approach us, people want to help us, and most importantly people tend to be more inclined to engage in conversation with us and remember us. We also FEEL good. Just like that saying goes, ‘look good, feel good’ – it is 100% true. By taking simple care to look our best, we are essentially...
It doesn’t matter if you are a large or small business, creating and implementing an internship program could be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some easy steps to start you on your way: 1. Create A Business Case As with any project planning, you want to clearly identify the end result and build a business case showing a positive Return On Investment (ROI). Here are a few questions to get you started: How will an internship program… Achieve project and busy season results? Support your entry-level hiring strategy? Save on recruiting and training dollars? Grow your company? Ensure key skills are not lost? 2. Conduct Research Do your research within your own company and industry, identifying best practices to gain leadership buy in. You may need to work with Human Resources to gain diversity and hiring demographics to justify your program. There are many free resources on reputable sites like the National Association of Colleges and Employers or the Society of Human Resources Management, as well as purchasable reports from other industry memberships. 3. Identify Program Structure There is no reason to make your program “unmanageable” in order to compete with Fortune 500 companies. Most large companies are government contractors that are required to conduct and track diversity outreach, subsequently increasing their diverse workforce. Their initiatives support both Affirmative Action Plan requirements as well as company overarching talent acquisition culture and diversity programs. Some Fortune 500 companies may have a department of one (1) but they have many other resources to support campus visits and school relationships. They also have deep pockets to...
Ever hear the phrase “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”? While it may not be entirely true, the core of the statement certainly stands on a logical premise; getting along with people will help you achieve success. That said, we’ve put together an informative little piece to help you understand the fundamental principles of “Networking”. Networking Trade Secrets – Infographic Or Download the PDF: Networking Trade...
Why being timely matters to interns: If reporting to an “early morning or late night” boss cramps beauty sleep, then agreement on work hours is imperative. If arriving 5 minutes early is perceived as late, then be 10 minutes early. If relishing nightlife is effecting start time, then reassess priorities. If apologizing when the discussion permits individual insights, then being late to a meeting won’t be as disruptive. If missing deadlines is the norm, then sharpen organization & communication skills. IF leveraging flextime is a benefit, THEN ensure you demonstrate organizational value by work schedule, meeting, & project punctuality. Being timely...
Why being social at work matters for interns: If showing interest in coworkers is routine, then commonalities will be found. If discovering commonalities is the standard, then trust may be nurtured. If exhibiting interest is superficial, then fickle allies will vocalize at review time. If nurturing affiliations is apparent, then support will be provided with insight. If leveraging coworkers’ insightfulness is the norm, then project success will ensue. Lesson: IF finding commonalities breeds trust and increases insightful guidance, THEN relationships may be leveraged for project & career success. Being social at work...
If you are like me, you get nervous when starting a new job – it can be downright stressful. Your hard work has paid off – great GPA, bang up job interviewing, and you beat out hundreds of competing interns to land this job – No Pressure, right?! Here are the Top 5 Ways To Prep For Your Internship First Day: Dress Appropriately – Ask the recruiter, or your new boss, ahead of time how you should dress. If you can’t get a hold of them or their answer is vague, it is always better to overdress than underdress. If you wear a suit jacket but everyone at the job is business casual (nice top, khakis or slacks), you can always remove your jacket and you’ll fit right in. Perfect Your Elevator Speech – Prepare a 30-second explanation of who you are – name, school, major, job/division where you’ll be working, what you hope to learn – and a fun fact (i.e. Pit Bull rescuer). Network – People love to talk about themselves. Listen to what they are saying and find a commonality. Once you both start talking about what you have in common, you will forever remember this common affection and have something to talk about when you run into each other later on. Don’t Try Too Hard to Impress – Be genuine in your interactions. Listen more than you speak. Nobody likes someone who constantly toots their own horn, so make sure you balance out how you share your impressive background and abilities. Don’t Be a Slave To Your Cell Phone – Put your phone on vibrate and...
