Page 304 - Keys to College Success

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FIND WORK THAT COMBINES EARNINGS
AND FULFILLMENT

Complete the following on paper or in digital format.

Investigate which jobs in your areas of interest can earn you what you need. Answer the following questions:
1. What are your most signif cant interests and skills?
2. What are three possible careers you feel would suit your interests and skills?
I
3. dentify three people you could talk to who work in, or know about, any of these careers. For each, write down the
name, career, and contact information.
4. Contact an individual from the list to set up an informational interview. Note: Refer to “Informational Interviews
and the Hidden Job Market” in this chapter for assistance.
5. Develop a list of questions to ask the individual about his or her job, making sure to focus on the question of how
to balance passion and earnings. Save the list on a computer and print it.
6. Attend the informational interview, taking notes on your printed list. Send a follow-up thank you note. If you can,
repeat the informational interview process with the other two people.

your résumé, make sure to include relevant keywords. For example, if you are seeking a
computer-related job, list computer programs you use and other specific technical
proficiencies. To figure out what keywords you need, look at job descriptions and
job postings and search online for examples of keywords related to your career interest. 16

Interview
Be clean, neat, and appropriately dressed. Avoid tight or baggy clothing, extreme hair-
styles, and flashy jewelry. Choose a nice pair of shoes—people notice (avoid spiky heels
if you are a woman). You want interviewers to focus on you and your achievements,
not your appearance.
Bring an extra copy of your résumé and any other materials that you want to show
the interviewer, even if you sent a copy ahead of time. Avoid chewing gum and fidget-
ing. Don’t text or check your Instagram—as a matter of fact, put all electronic devices
away completely so you are not tempted to use them. Offer a confident handshake.
Make eye contact. Show your integrity by speaking honestly about yourself. After the
interview, no matter what the outcome, follow up right away with a formal but pleas-
ant thank you note.
Being on time to your interview makes a positive impression—and being late will
almost certainly be held against you. If you do not consider being late a sign of disre-
spect, remember that your interviewer may not agree.

Informational Interviews and the Hidden Job Market
When you find someone who is doing the job you want to do, teaching in your field of
interest, or responsible for hiring in that field, try to set up an informational interview
with this person—an opportunity for you to ask questions about what they do, how
they got into the job, what they like or don’t like, and who they know. Since you are
asking the questions and there is less at stake than in a traditional interview, you are
likely to feel less nervous. Despite the lower risk, there is still potential for reward in
the form of information and networking contacts.

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