3 things to consider to make the most of your down-time
By Peter Koerella UVM Career Center
Fall Recess is just around the corner, and a few days of rest are nearly here! Whether you’re planning on relaxing at home or somewhere else, it’s a perfect time to get a head-start on exploring career opportunities! Here’s a few ways to make the most of your time away:
• Reach out to an Alum on UVM Connect: Search through the Directory and make a new connection. You can also look under the “Members” tab in your Interest Groups. Make sure to look for alums with a “Willing to Help” banner above their profile picture. You can also use the Mentoring – Offering Help filters to find alums who are open to discussing career paths, offering job and internship opportunities or networking in the industry. A simple message can go a long way!
• Prep for a Job Shadow during Winter Break: Want to explore an industry or a possible career path? Consider a job shadow! These hands-on experiences are low-risk, highly rewarding chances to get outside the classroom and into a field, to meet folks in the industry, and to see if a career might be right for you! Think about what company or industry you might want to explore and reach out to contacts on UVM Connect to set up a job shadow! Check out the Career Center’s Job Shadow Resources for help finding a job shadow, messaging examples, questions to ask during a job shadow, and how to follow-up.
• Start thinking about summer internship opportunities: Internships engage your strengths, interests, and values, while building your professional network. Interns build reciprocal relationships with community partners and deepen and apply your academic learning. Browse internship opportunities on Handshake, Jobs on UVM Connect (type “Internship” in the search bar), and explore micro-internships with Parker Dewey.
Finding time to recharge your mind, body and spirit doesn’t come often during the school year. But a little preparation and investigation into what’s out there can make a big difference.
Write a thank you note! Read why and when you should send below…
A prompt and sincere note of thanks helps you stand out among the hundreds of other people the employer met at the fair. It illustrates your sincere interest and motivation about their company, demonstrates your writing skills, and it can make you more memorable than any other candidate. Send a thank you note within 24 hours of the fair.
Here are 5 tips to making your thank you note successful:
1. Make it professional.
This isn’t a text message or a Facebook post with your friends, so don’t use slang or abbreviations. Address the email formally with “Dear Ms. Hoppenjans” instead of “Hi Jill!” Sign it with “Sincerely” instead of “TTYL.” Remember that this could be your future employer.
2. Make it grammatically perfect.
Re-read your note several times to make sure it is as perfect as a resume or cover letter. You want the employer to remember you and what you’ve said, not that you misspelled the company’s name!
3. Make it personal.
You don’t have to send a note to every person you met. Send notes to employers you are really interested in and/or want to stay connected to. Don’t send a mass email to many employers at once. Write an individualized email and try to incorporate the conversation you had with the employer, particularly if there is something about the conversation that might be memorable for the employer.
4. Make it meaningful.
At a minimum, you are thanking them for attending the fair and for speaking with you. If the employer gave you some next steps (i.e.: apply online, look at their website, talk with another colleague), give them an update on your progress. If you don’t have more to say, don’t add fluff or filler.
5. Make it easy for the employer.
Attach a copy of your resume so that the employer can be quickly reminded of who you are.
You did it! You wowed your interviewers with your cover letter, work history, and interview. They want you to join their team. It’s exciting to be paid for your work, but is the pay worth it? Too many people don’t get paid what they’re worth for one simple reason – they don’t ask!
Salary negotiations are not just common, they’re expected. One survey from Career Builder found 53% of employers are willing to negotiate salary for entry level workers. However, only 42% of workers aged 18-34 negotiate for better pay when offered a job. Additionally, pay inequities persist. According to PayScale’s The State of the Gender Pay Gap 2020 women earn $0.81 for every dollar a man earns. Women of Color, meanwhile, earn $0.75 for every dollar a White man earns.
So now you know you shouldnegotiate your salary. Let’s look at how to do it.
Do Your Research
Assess The Market
The Vermont Department of Labor provides information on salaries across various occupations and locations. You can also use crowd-sourced services like Glassdoor, Payscale, and the Occupational Outlook Handbook to get an idea of the salary range for similar jobs in your location. Research salaries for similar positions in the organization (some institutions even publish salary data).
Determine Your Cost of Living
According to Bankrate.com, Cost of Living continues to increase across the country, so it’s important to create a monthly budget to determine what salary you will need. The amount of money needed to live comfortably can vary widely from city to city. NerdWallet offers a free salary comparison calculator. You might also consider using UVMConnect to reach out to an alum who lives in that city for a firsthand account of the costs.
Understand Your Compensation
The total value of your compensation package is greater than the dollar amount of your salary. Do some research to understand other benefits, such as health insurance, paid time off, 401k matching, gym membership, etc. Check out this guide to common benefits. These benefits might also be up for negotiation.
Set a Range
Your range will be based on the market, cost of living, total compensation, and your worth. Reflect on your skills and acumen that will meet the needs of the organization and your years of experience. Weigh these against the minimum requirements for the position; the more relevant skills and experience you have the stronger your case is. As this is a negotiation, approach the conversation with a pay range you’re willing to accept instead of a hard number.
Be ready when the call comes, know your range and be ready to negotiate.
Salary Negotiation for Women
As vexing as it is, wage inequity still exists. Our society still has a long way to go in recognizing equal pay for equal work. The truth about salary negotiation for black women offers 5 useful pro tips from hermoney.com.
Negotiate the Offer
Once an offer is made (and if you are indeed interested in the job), be sure to demonstrate enthusiasm. After thanking the employer, ask if there is room for negotiation.
If the answer is yes, you will likely be asked what salary you have in mind. Remember the range you determined. Start the conversation at your high end knowing that they might not meet you there. Use your research to mention the skills and experience that you would bring to the organization as a rationale for the salary you request. You may also want to think about “value added” qualities – do you have experiences and skills that could enhance the role and overall impact to the employer? Be prepared for some back and forth.
If the compensation is firm, make sure you understand the whole benefits package. You might ask about merit-based increases, room for growth in the company, professional development opportunities, schedule flexibility, or the possibility for remote work – these are additional ways that you can negotiate compensation.
If you’re happy with the offer, feel free to accept on the spot! If you’re unsure, thank the employer and ask for some time to consider the offer. They will likely ask for your decision within 3-5 business days. You may find it helpful to talk through the offer with a trusted source (eg. parents, mentor). Remember: it’s ok to say no to an offer that just doesn’t meet your needs.
Getting agreements in writing during a salary negotiation is essential for clarity, legal protection, and accountability. It prevents misunderstandings, serves as a legal record, and establishes clear terms for both parties, fostering transparency and trust.
Like interviewing, negotiating is something we don’t normally do – practicing is always a good idea. And remember, negotiating is always in your best interest. Future raises will probably be based on a percentage of your current pay, so if you start off at a lower number, your salary will grow more slowly. A successful negotiation is a win-win.
Preparation and practice are key strategies to increase your confidence for any interview.
Research the organization. Check out their website, social media pages, and do a quick Google search. Learning about them will help you tailor your answers to their mission and help you predict what they might want to ask about. Employee reviews on sites like Indeed or Glassdoor can also lend key insights. If you know who is interviewing you, you could also look them up on LinkedIn to learn a bit about where they are coming from.
Ask about what to expect. Ask who you’ll be meeting with (could be one person, may be several) and if there is anything you should prepare. There are several kinds of interviews – check out these articles from LinkedIn to learn about Four Common Types of Interview Questions.
Prepare your questions. The job description can be a useful tool for anticipating the kinds of questions or themes you may be asked about, or to help you develop question for the hiring committee. Every interview goes both ways, you are interviewing them as much as they’re interviewing you. Think about what you’d want to know about the position, the organization, the culture, measures of success, potential challenges, etc. Thoughtful questions will not only aide you in making an informed decision but can also effectively demonstrate your understanding of the position. Here are a few sample questions.
Plan your outfit: You’ll want to dress to impress, but that does not mean the same thing in all fields, nor is it required that you conform to outdated gender roles. Do some research about what is appropriate, and then focus on a polished and thoughtful ensemble that makes your feel confident and comfortable. If in doubt seek advice from a trusted source, like your career center 😉
Know where you are going.
In Person: Consider visiting the building ahead of your interview so that you know where to park and how long it takes to get there. You may also want to ask for a phone number you can call the day off the interview, in case you encounter issues.
Virtual: Make sure your technology is up-to-date and you know how to use the platform required. Do a practice call with a friend to familiarize yourself with the layout. Seek out a quiet space with minimal distractions (don’t forget to tell others in your house about your interview). And declutter your background. There is nothing more distracting than an unmade bed. Tidy up, adjust what can be seen in frame and consider a blurred background. Pro Tip: lighting should come from in front of you, not behind.
If your interviewer is a few minutes late, just wait: They may be wrapping things up with someone else. After 5 minutes, chat, email or call them.
Check out our video guide to job interviews. This video details strategies before, during and after a job interview. Common questions and how to answer them are also covered.
Remember that you’re interviewing because they saw promise in you.
While it’s normal to feel nervous, we hope these steps can help you feel calm, confident, and curious during your interview. Remember that thesefuture coworkers want to get to know you as a human so don’t be afraid to ask someone to repeat a question, elaborate on the question, or, after you answer, ask “Did I answer your question completely?”
Go in with 3 key things you want to be sure to convey
Consider your strengths (and areas for growth – you’ll probably be asked about that) and look for opportunities to highlight these skills. The NACE Competencies can help you focus on strengths sought by employers in all industries.
Tell concise stories
Prepare a couple good stories using the STAR method to answer questions in a concise, thoughtful and memorable way. Don’t assume that everyone has read your resume – in fact you may want to bring copies – so do make sure you are explaining your relevant experience as you answer questions. The goal is tell the story of who you are and how you’ve developed skills/experiences that prepare you for the position.
The video below lays out guidelines for a successful interview. The sessions ends with student questions at 1:00:27.
Send Thank You notes
Always. For real.To everyone who interviewed you. A short thank you note (often via email) is a demonstration of your interest, appreciation, and professionalism. Don’t wait, send it out 24-36 hours after your interview. It’s a great opportunity to mention anything that you forgot to mention in the interview or highlight a topic from the interview discussion you considered noteworthy. Check out some example thank you emails.
Take Care
Whew, you made it! Take a few more deep breaths (hopefully you’ve been breathing throughout!) and, if your interviewer asked for references as a next step, be sure let them know to expect a call.
Now you get to practice self-care and patience. Decisions can take longer than you think. That said, if the time frame the employer gave you for a decision has passed, it is perfectly fine to reach out to them with short, courteous email to continue the conversation. Example: “I’m writing to follow up on the timeline for (job title). I wanted to inquire about updates on the process and restate my interest in the position. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need any additional information.”
In our previous blog post, we discussed getting started from scratch with the job search – what to think about, resources available to Catamounts, and how to search for the job that suits you best.In this week’s installment, we’ll discuss tips on:
Resumes & Cover Letters
Crafting Your Online Profile
Resumes
Your resume and cover letter should be tailored to each position you apply to. The job description is your cheat code. Use it as a checklist to make sure you are addressing as many requirements as possible. Consult our Guide to Resumes and More webpage and for tips and examples.
The video below will cover everything from resume basics to writing bullet points that will make your experience stand out. Learn how to tailor your skills to match a job description. Start writing your resume in the workshop and get immediate feedback.
Cover Letters
Your cover letter is your chance to showcase your personality, goals and passions that might not be obvious from your resume. In addition, you can elaborate on how your experiences have made you the person you are. Your resume answers who, what, when, and where. The cover letter fills in the why. See our Guide to Cover Letters (Requires Handshake Access) for more tips and examples.
Crafting Your Online Profile Having a LinkedIn profile is highly recommended – think of it like an extension of your resume. (And include your personalized LinkedIn URL on your resume) You do not have to be very active, but establishing an online presence allows you to present the professional “you” to potential employers.
Make sure your photo is appropriate for your field.
Write a headline that includes keywords an employer might search.
This video will walk through best practices of setting up your LinkedIn profile to stand out to employers. Whether you already have a profile that needs to be updated or are starting from scratch, you can follow along with this step-by-step workshop to build a strong profile.
Remember: Your @uvm.edu email won’t last forever so be sure to:
Add your personal email to Handshake to maintain access to all the opportunities there (Learn how).
Create or update your UVMConnect account with a personal email to engage with a robust network of alums.
Your career journey requires a lot of independent work and initiative but know that you’re not alone. Collaborate with Career Center staff, employers, alums and fellow graduates in this week-long series of workshops.
