UVM Career Center Blog

April 24, 2014

Using the STAR Method in an Interview

Over the last few years, we’ve written various posts about the interview process and how to best prepare for such a daunting step within the job search. However, the one thing we haven’t discussed is the importance of learning and practicing the STAR method, so you’re probably asking yourself; what do we mean by the STAR method? Well, it’s a tool you can use when you’re asked either a situational or behavioral question during an interview. STAR is an acronym for:

Situation, Task, Action, Result/Resolution

So, if an interviewer asks you:
“Tell me about a time when you led a team and it went well?”

For example, “Last year, I coordinated and led a team of volunteers on an Alternative Spring Break in New Jersey where I was responsible for 6 students for a week.”

For example, “I drove all of us to New Jersey to help a small community center with the restoration of their town center near the waterfront where Hurricane Sandy occurred.”

For example, “As part of my role, I collaborated with the Community Center Director each day to determine the top priorities, whether it was clean up or restoration of the building, then I’d delegate a job for each of our student volunteers.”

For example, “By giving each volunteer a job, we created a more efficient work environment and ended up finishing the restoration sooner than we had expected.”

So, what are the benefits of using the STAR method?

You’re guaranteed to answer questions with clear examples.
It should keep you within the suggested 2 minute time frame for your answers.
And it will showcase the skills you’ll bring to the position you’re applying for.

Practice using it, and then try it in your next big interview. It’s guaranteed to help you succeed.

~Danielle

April 21, 2014

Make Yourself Shine Online!

By career

Computers shaking hands

So you found your dream job. You spent hours editing your resume and cover letter to perfection, and you scored an interview. You don your finest dress outfit, arrive early, and ace the interview with your professionalism, knowledge, and inquisitive questions. You know you are the perfect candidate for the position, and the employer knows it too.

The hiring manager is ready to give you the position, but first she searches your Facebook profile. On it is an array of statuses and pictures about your affinity for funneling beers, flippin’ the bird, and complaining about work. One quick glance from the hiring manager and your application, along with your hopes for future employment, are tossed in the trash.

DON’T BE THAT CANDIDATE!

Technology is a useful tool to help you network, apply for jobs, and make yourself stand out from the crowd in a positive light, but it is important to be cautious about how your online presence appears. Here are some helpful tips:

Google yourself. This will give you a sense of what employers will see and what you need to change about your online presence.
Delete your Facebook and Twitter! Or at least set your privacy settings as strict as possible. The last thing you want is an employer snooping on pictures of your late-night shenanigans.
Create a LinkedIn profile. By creating a professional presence online you can highlight your skills, network with future employers, and see what other UVM alumni are doing with their degree. To get started:
- Come to a LinkedIn workshop at the Hub in the Davis Center. These occur every Thursday at 4:15 pm.
- Create a comprehensive resume so you can easily transfer your skills and experiences to the online world.
- Start connecting! Classmates, work colleagues, and friends are the perfect people to start your network with.

You now have all the tools to create a positive online presence and find that dream job. Good luck!

~Caleb, Career Peer Mentor

April 9, 2014

Don't Forget to Say Thanks!

By career

Hand writing thank you with a pen So you passed the interview stage. Now what??

Send a thank you message within a few days of the interview.

In addition to being courteous, a thank you demonstrates enthusiasm, reiterates interest in a position, and provides another shot at selling yourself for the job. Plus it demonstrates strong communication skills!

It’s always beneficial to add more than just “thank you.” But what should be included?

Start with the pleasantries. Thank the employer for taking time to meet with you. Tell them you enjoyed your conversation. Discuss interest or excitement about this position and the company.
Get specific. Talk about a key moment or expand on an answer. Discuss personal skills and experiences and how they would be assets for the company. If there was an important detail left out of the interview, highlight it—briefly. If part of the interview didn’t go as well as planned, address that here (but don’t make excuses). Make a connection to information the employer gave during the interview. Say something like, “When you told me about x, I thought about y.”
Sign off. Let the employer know how you’ll follow up, and thank them again.

Whether to email or mail the thank you depends on the preference of the employer or on the type of interview (phone vs. in person). The time frame for notification could also dictate how it should be sent. (You don’t want the employer to receive your the note—by mail—the day after they’ve made their decision, right?)

Here are a few more tips:

If the interview was with more than one person, send each one a customized note.
Keep the thank you concise. It doesn’t need to be as long as a cover letter.
As always, remember to proofread… Don’t send a note that reads “thanks you.”

After the thank you has been sent, wait. If you haven’t heard from the employer by the time they specified, follow up by phone or email and express your continued interest.

You’ll find a lot of different advice on how to say thank you. The most important thing is that you do it – one way or another.

~Abbey, Career Peer Mentor

March 5, 2014

Savvy Seniors: Want to Join the Team?

By career

How to Interview like a Pro: Tips from a Local Recruiter

For most people, an interview creates a lot of stress and anxiety—it is an intimidating way to make a great first impression. For most employers though, the goal of inviting an applicant in for an interview is to get to know them. It’s a meeting based around discovery. We want to know who you are and if you could successfully fit in with the culture of our organization, the position, and the department. We also want you to ask questions that can help you make a decision about whether our company is the right place for you.

Quick tips for standing out & having a successful interview:

Dress for the job you’re applying for. It’s okay to ask what the dress code is when you’re scheduling the interview.
Make eye contact, smile, and shake the interviewer’s hand.
Bring a few copies of your resume with you to the interview.
If you have a samples of something that relates to the position you’re applying for, have it on hand (i.e. for a graphic design position, bring some of your design work).
Don’t over-think things. Trying to perfect every sentence comes off as robotic.
Be natural and be yourself; it is okay to smile and laugh! We can sense when an applicant is putting on a façade.
Work experience and qualifications are important, but they’re not everything. We’re trying to find someone who “fits” in with the department and the company as a whole. Try to find something in common with the interviewer and make an emotional connection.
As the interview wraps up, ask what the next steps are. In most instances, recruiters are happy to let you know where they are in the hiring process and when you should expect to hear back.

~Myra Fundis, UVM ‘11
Human Resources Wellness Specialist with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont

Want to learn more? Join us and special guest National Life for:
Savvy Seniors: Interview Like a Pro: Tuesday, March 18, 12-1pm at the Hub

February 12, 2014

World of Work: Nydia E. Guity ’09, Fordham Tremont Community Mental Health Center

By career

Nydia E. Guity ‘09
Mental Health Clinician
Fordham-Tremont Community Mental Health Center at Saint Barnabas Hospital
New York City
Major: Social Work
Graduate Program: Fordham University – Master of Social Work

How would you describe what you do on a typical day?

I service clients for individual, family, and group therapy sessions. Topics range from how to manage depressive / anxiety symptoms to how to build and maintain healthy daily routines.

Tell us about your path to this position.

I am a mental health clinician in an outpatient clinic. At this time my goal is to obtain the License in Clinical Social Work (LCSW) and start a private practice. During my time at UVM, I did not expect that I would pursue a career in social work. My plan at the time was to go back to school for a Masters in Nursing.

How did your time at UVM, both in and out of the classroom, prepare you for your position?

My time at UVM helped me become aware that social work is more than just helping people. I learned how to work with resistance and focus on strengths in order to progress in treatment.

What advice do you have for students searching for jobs or internships in your field?

My advice would be to be open minded to different settings and open to learning from every experience in the field.

What was your childhood dream job?

My dream job as a child was to be a hair stylist. I always loved helping people and encouraging them to look their best. When you look good you often feel good!

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