6 Ways New Grads Can Stand Out in an Interview

June 25, 2012

By Sonia Acosta, CareerBuilder Writer
From CareerRookie.com

As a recent college graduate, you’re probably not a stranger to competition.  College acceptance, scholarships, internships and leadership positions within student organizations can all be significantly challenging to attain with dozens, hundreds or even thousands of students vying for the same spots.  The job market, however, is a different kind of race, and probably one of the most competitive environments a recent graduate has ever faced.

While you might not have years of experience, tightly specialized skills or industry expertise right out of college, you still have a great deal to offer.  There are many effective ways to impress an employer, stand out from the crowd and make the cut.

Here are six ways to set yourself apart, make an impression and secure the offer letter despite a highly competitive job market.

5 Things I Look for in a Great Job Interview

January 23, 2012

By Matthew SwyersFounder – The Trademark Company
From Inc.com

In my career I have reviewed thousands of resumes and conducted hundreds of employment interviews for both The Trademark Company and other businesses for which I have worked. In doing so, I got to see the good, the bad, and the downright ugly in terms of resumes, interviewing skills, and the like. For other CEOs looking to hire, here’s what I think makes a great candidate stand out from the good ones.

10 commandments of dressing for work

September 26, 2011

By Beth Braccio Hering
From CNN Living / CareerBuilder.com

In a 2010 national poll conducted by the Center for Professional Excellence at York College of Pennsylvania, “appearance” ranked second only to “communication skills” when respondents named qualities most often associated with professionalism. Universal dress rules can’t be set in stone, because what is considered appropriate varies by workplace, field and what is happening on a given day. But if such a tablet were to be created, there’s a good chance it would include the following.

Interested in learning more about workplace etiquette and how to dress for success. Come by the Workplace Etiquette workshop this Thursday, September 29th at 5:30 in the Career Center. For more information, contact the Career Center at 953-5692 / careercenter@cofc.edu.

Cougar Career Workshop Series – Fall 2011

September 5, 2011

Due to the popularity we saw in the Spring semester, the Career Center will be bringing back it’s Thursday night Cougar Career Workshop Series. In an effort to try and reach out to students and alumni that may not be able to access the Career Center during the day, the Career Center will be hosting workshops that focus on a different topic each week, including new topics not offered during the Spring.

Below is a list of the Fall 2011 workshops along with a flyer with more information on each. All workshops will be held in the Career Center (Lightsey Building, Room 216) from 5:30 – 6:30pm. For those workshops requiring registration, you can sign up for them by viewing the Events Calendar in CISTERNonline, and if you should have any questions about them, please contact Eric Anderson, Career Center Advisor, at 953-5693 / andersone@cofc.edu or Katie Smith, Internship Coordinator at 953-5694 / smithkl@cofc.edu.

Flyer: Fall 2011 Cougar Career Workshop Series

Fall Schedule

September 8th – Resume and Cover Letter 101

September 15th – Experience Matters – Internships

September 22nd – Is Graduate School Right for Me?: Preparing for Admission*

September 29th – Workplace Etiquette and Professional Image*

October 6th – What Employers are Saying about your Resume *

October 13th – How to Land a Great Job*

October 20th – Preparing for the Career Fair

October 27th – Recruiters Tell All – Panel*

November 3rd – Linked In: What Is it & How To Utilize it for Career Networking

November 10th – Tips for Sealing the Deal in a Big Interview

November 17th – Taking a Year off between School and Work: Pros & Cons

December 1st – Working for a Nonprofit: Dispelling the Myths*
In conjunction with the College of Charleston Center for Civic Engagement

*Workshop space is limited and requires pre-registration.

8 Dos and Don’ts for Acing Your Interview

August 30, 2011

Have a big interview coming up for that internship you really want, or a part-time job you really need this semester? If so, check out this resourceful article by Dawn Dugan, contributing writer for Salary.com on some helpful tips to consider (and avoid) for the interview.

As always, if you need help with preparing for an interview, writing a resume, cover letter, etc. please make sure to give the Career Center a call or stop by any weekday afternoon from 1-4pm during Student Drop-In Hours.

16 Job Search Errors Often Made

August 15, 2011

By Rachel Farrell, CareerBuilder.com
From CNNLiving.com

Over the years, hiring managers have born witness to every hiring, interviewing, resume, cover letter and negotiation mistake there is. You know what these blunders are. Yet you (and hundreds of other job seekers) continue to make common job search mistakes.

From those who see your mistakes over and over, here are 16 common job search mistakes to avoid — and some of them may surprise you.

8 important tips for Skype interview

July 11, 2011

From BetterJobsAdvice.com

With video interviews becoming more common during hiring, not being prepared can easily keep you out of the running. While meeting via video is time saver, getting past the technological barriers of not speaking face-to-face can be difficult. Be sure you’re prepared and use Skype to your advantage, experts say.

Looking for more ways to impress? Here’s how to handle a video or Skype interview.

3 Things Make Job Seeker Stand Out

June 13, 2011

by Beth Braccio Hering
from CNN.com / CareerBuilder.com

In a tight market, every job seeker needs to find a way to stand out from the crowd. What separates the great from the good and makes a particular candidate too irresistible to pass up? Often, it is one of these three things.

The Lost Art of the Thank You Note: Give Honest, Sincere Appreciation

May 23, 2011

  From The Coach’s Corner – Dale Carnegie Training

*A helpful article to think about for sending thank you follow up notes to employers after an interview.  To read the article in full, please click here.

Overview:                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Writing a sincere thank you note is one of the professional skills that can make a lasting favorable impression. People like being appreciated. One of Dale Carnegie’s fundamental human relation principles is “Give honest, sincere appreciation.” When writing a thank you note, use a plain, small card. However, the card is not as important as the effort, so if paper is all that is available, write the note anyway! Use this 6-step formula as a sure-fire method of expressing appreciation in a written note.

How to Negotiate a Job Offer

May 9, 2011

From JobsJournal.com

Landing a great job can be a challenge in a competitive market, but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for what you’re offered. Learning how to negotiate a better job offer is the key to getting paid what you are really worth.

To read the full article and gain valuable tips for the negotiation process, please click here.

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