Knights alumni offer job search tips |
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Saturday, 20 February 2010 00:00 |
TOLEDO—A young alumni career fair was hosted at Toledo St. Francis de Sales High School during the holiday break while graduates were home.
Toledo St. Francis de Sales High School alumni, from left, Brian Piezer, manager of human resources at NSS Enterprises, Inc.; Dave Stark, director of human resources at Shrader Tire and Oil; Jim Stengle, senior vice president of Brooks Insurance; and Eric Thoreson, professional recruiter and co-founder of Netsoft, encouraged young St. Francis de Sales alumni at recent career seminar. (Photo courtesy of St. Francis de Sales High School)
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More than 80 alumni from the classes of 2001 through 2009 and members of the class of 2010 attended.
Jim Stengle, senior vice president of Brooks Insurance and a member of the class of 1972, spoke about effective networking techniques. He emphasized that networks include friends, relatives, parents’ friends, friends’ parents, coaches, faculty and past and current employers. He recommended building a database of these individuals according to a personal system of categorization.
Mr. Stengle explained that interacting with others is critical regardless of your occupation or career choice. “It is both what you know and who you know,” he said.
Programs were offered on various topics including “How to Develop Your Elevator Speech,” presented by Brian Piezer, manager of human resources at NSS Enterprises, Inc. and a member of the class of 1985. His talk focused on the 30 to 90 seconds one might have when encountering a prospective employer or contact and what should be included in this brief exchange. Mr. Piezer explained that this should be a “brief verbal version of your well thought-out résumé.
“The primary goal is to persuade others that you have valuable skills, traits and experiences, as well as a clear statement of your next objective,” he continued. “Do not hesitate to share briefly about an accomplishment that is relevant to the opportunity.”
Another session, “What You Didn’t Learn in College: How to Stand Out” was presented by Eric Thoreson, a professional recruiter who co-founded Netsoft in 1992 and member of the class of 1976.
He explained that this is “the toughest job market in a generation, maybe 50 years.” With 58 percent of workers admitting that they use the Internet for non-work related activities while at the office, including shopping on-line and social media usage, Mr. Thoreson cautioned listeners that this is in effect stealing from employers and not a good practice to begin.
He also advised that it is equally important, if not more so, to know about who is running a prospective company as it is to understand the market.
Mr. Thoreson explained that “misspelling on a job application or résumé can kill a would-be employee’s chance of landing a job, as employers bet that a sloppy résumé means the applicant will do a sloppy job.”
A fourth session, “How and Where to Look for a Job” was presented by Dave Stark, a 1989 graduate and director of human resources at Shrader Tire and Oil.
He focused his talk on what employers are looking for in a job candidate. He stressed the importance of being a person of high energy.
“Being active, assertive, and energetic are sure ways to get noticed by a potential employer,” he said. “Attitude might be the most important asset you can have.”
When interviewing, Mr. Start added it is important to demonstrate that you have a passion for something.
“Let people know that you care deeply about or have a great interest in a sport, hobby, pet, charity, or volunteer work in which you may be involved,” he said. “Don’t leave the interview without asking for the job if you do want it, and be sure to act like you want it. Demonstrate a positive attitude by avoiding negatives, complaining or gossiping about a past employer or colleague.”
Mr. Stark stressed the importance of internships as a great way to gain job experience, network, and build your résumé.
“Make choices and decisions that will make you desirable to future employers,” he added. “Criminal background checks and credit checks are routinely asked for by potential employers. Driving records and records of drug use in the workplace also become important when being considered for a job.”
He reminded the audience that they “are always on stage and to act the part of the job you seek,” Mr. Start said. “You never know who is watching and employers oftentimes obtain access to view your Facebook accounts.”
In closing the seminar, Lisa Wilczynski, president of ETA, Inc., whose husband and son are both graduates of St. Francis, reviewed the do’s and don’ts of interviewing based on her expertise in permanent placement of professional engineers.
“Preparing the candidate is very critical for an interview to go well, whether it is for a phone screen or face to face interview,” she said. “Experience alone will not land you an offer.”
All presenters emphasized the importance of the timely thank you, be it by e-mail or a traditional hand written note.
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Last Updated on Saturday, 20 February 2010 00:00 |
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