WHAT NOT TO DO: TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL CVs AND INTERVIEWS

1. WHAT NOT TO DO: TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL CVs AND INTERVIEWS • Cori Filson, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York – Chair • Margaret Wiedenhoeft, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, Michigan • Martin Hogan, CIEE, Portland, Maine NAFSA: Association of International Educators Annual Conference Kansas City, Missouri - June 2010

2. Mistakes, I’ve seen a few… • CV development – It’s not creative writing, it’s your resume. • Interview do’s and don’ts – You have voicemail for a reason and other important reminders. • References – We know your neighbor loves you, what else do you have? • Professional development – Conferences, networking and mentors, oh my!

3. CV and Cover Letter Development Cori Filson, Skidmore College Saratoga Springs, New York

4. Cover letter scanning “quiz” What mistakes can you find in this cover letter?

6. Cover Letter Mistakes • Unprofessional formatting and layout • Incorrect position title • Informal style (“top-notch dynamic force in education”)

8. Cover Letter Mistakes • Dear “Sir” • “love of life” is not a professional qualification • Typos in own name and email address • Used university address • Position requires 3-5 years of experience as international education administrator

9. Cover Letter Mistakes

10. Cover Letter Successes • Appropriate length, format and salutation • Outline of pertinent qualifications and experience • Professional presentation • Concise but thorough

11. CV scanning “quiz” What mistakes can you find in this CV?

12. Joseph Smith Department of Sociology University of XXX Some City, Some State Phone: 555-555-5555 Email: jsmith@soc.stateuni.edu Objective To obtain a Staff Accountant at Equal Exchange at Equal Exchange Education University of XXX, Some City, Some State PhD in Sociology, August 200X-present time. Credits completed; working on dissertation. Concentrations: Fair Trade, Globalization, Social Inequalities, Marketing, Representations, Gender, Race, Culture. Overall GPA: 3.82 Joseph Smith Department of Sociology University of XXX Some City, Some State Phone: 555-555-5555 Email: jsmith@soc.stateuni.edu May 05-June 07 Accounting Assistant, SUNY Albany’s Study Abroad Program in Brazil Aimed at providing college students with hands-on learning experience on issues of race, poverty, and community organization including fair trade initiatives. • * Assisted in preparation of the course • * Made travel arrangements • * Lectured and translated lectures • * Mentored students

13. CV Mistakes • Use of work email and phone • Objective not specific to position • GPA often irrelevant • Experience – title of position does not match job duties • Know your audience

14. CV Common Mistakes • Poor layout/margins • Inappropriate length • Font that isn’t easily readable • Gaps in job history • No highlighting of appropriate international experience • “Other” section • International, campus and provider positions might have different expectations

17. CV Successes • Professional presentation • Concise but thorough • “Career Profile” vs. “Objective” • Pertinent experience and qualifications highlighted – language proficiency, professional development, travel/study abroad • Career trajectory clear

18. References • Choose wisely – is your reference eager or reluctant? • Ask for permission – don’t assume • Professional, not personal/character references – a volunteer position supervisor may be an option if you have limited professional experience • Send job description and resume to your reference • Remind the reference nearer the time of the call • Thank your reference

19. Interview Dos and Don’ts Margaret Wiedenhoeft, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, Michigan

20. Telephone Interview • Find a quiet place to conduct interview • Have prepared answers/notes + your resume available and in front of you • Immediately after, try to remember all they asked you and who participated (in the event of on-campus interview)

21. On-Site Interview – Before You Even Arrive • Interview attire • Professional etiquette • Preparation – researching institution and office • Prepare for answers to difficult questions • Practice interview

22. Typical Interview Activities • Meet with students • Meet with staff/potential colleagues • Meet immediate supervisor • Campus or office presentation • Other important constituent groups

23. The Day of the Interview • Bring copies of your CV and references. • Turn off your cell phone! • NO FIDGETING! • Remember – this is a two way street. You should be a good fit for the office, but they also need to be a good fit for you.

24. Interview Questions • What NOT to talk about • your own personal scheduling needs • anything that is very personal • your anticipated schedule of promotions • your problems with your current office/boss

25. Interview Questions: What to talk about • previous accomplishments in current position • why you are leaving/looking for a new position • follow up questions are important • give specific examples of successes and challenges

26. Interview Questions Describe an experience that required an enormous amount of flexibility on your part. How did you handle it? Give Specific detail: “I worked with a faculty member in designing a short-term international seminar. She insisted students should be able to take motorcycles to the top of a holy mountain that was going to be the highlight of the class….” “I have experience working with non-traditional students who may not always be able to meet 9-5. These are some of the ways I developed to communicate with them…

27. Give us an example of a difficult situation or conflict that your resolved successfully. What was the problem and how did you resolve it? I received an angry phone call from a parent of a student in Spain. Dad was very upset by the amount of food his student received in the home stay. He demanded reimbursement for the additional food his student had to purchase. I thanked him for his call, explained my next steps, and told him when I would be contacting him next. After I contacted our local on-site director, I learned that the student had never talked to the host mom about the amount of food he received and that on most days he didn’t come home for lunch. I asked both the student and director to meet to discuss the situation…

28. Give us an example of a time-sensitive project that you just couldn’t get done on time. How did you handle it? We had a deadline for our new website launch. It was my responsibility to collect and edit the content and to deliver it to the webmaster. Some of my colleagues had already told me they would be delivering their piece to me a day or two later than planned. I didn’t think it would be a big deal because we built in some “wiggle room,” but I didn’t check with the webmaster. After I sent the content to the WM, I received an angry phone call from her asking why I hadn’t sent it in by the original deadline. She had other projects on the table and had given our office this specific deadline for a reason. I immediately took responsibility, apologized, and asked her how this would affect the launch date. I then went to my supervisor, explained what happened, and took responsibility for the mistake. In the end, we were only 1 day later than originally scheduled. I learned the importance of communication with all collaborators and that I should never make assumptions about other colleagues’ workloads.

29. Post Interview • Thank you notes - making reference to specific topics discussed during conversations • Follow up as appropriate (Email search committee chair when appropriate time has lapsed– What is the status of the search? Do not stalk!)

30. Professional Development: Knowledge, Understanding, Skills Martin Hogan, CIEE, Portland, Maine

31. Development of Expertise • Understanding your own campus/organization • What is rewarded? • Matching professional interest with personal interest (they are different!) • Within International Education field • Developing niche knowledge (Financial {budgets or financial aid}, Programmatic {service-learning or short-term programs}, Regional {geographic area}, etc.) • Greater Education Community • Career Services, Student Development, Parent Relations, Community organizing • What to Avoid • type casting, too narrow knowledge and interest

32. Building a Reputation • Presentations – within the field, within the greater community • Committee work – on campus and in the field • Online communities – LinkedIn, Facebook, etc. • What to Avoid – impatience, overextending, missing deadlines, etc.

33. Mentors • Why is this important? • “Small” Community, 3 degrees of separation, etiquette and diplomacy, culture and norms • Professional Organizations • Forum on Education Abroad • NAFSA • Greater Community • Staff Exchanges • Short-term, around a project, extending your interest and reach • Within your institution or with partner organizations

34. Skills Development • Writing • Public Speaking • Business Technology • Certificate programs • Pursuing advanced degrees • Specialist vs. Generalist

35. Skills Development - Resources • Chronicle of Higher Education (http://chronicle.com/section/Home/5) • Inside Higher Education (http://www.insidehighered.com/) • OSAC: Overseas Security Advisory Council (http://www.osac.gov/) • SECUSS-L (http://www.usouthal.edu/acip/secussl/) • Google Alerts (Study Abroad, etc.) • On-line International News

36. Skills Development - Resources • NAFSA (http://www.nafsa.org/) • IIE: Institute of International Education (http://www.iie.org/) • EAIE: European Association for International Education (http://www.eaie.org/) • ACE: American Council on Education (http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home)

37. Skills Development - Resources • Frontiers (http://www.frontiersjournal.com/) • Journal of Studies in International Education (http://jsi.sagepub.com/) • Higher Education Association News (NACADA, etc.) • Harvard Business Review (http://hbr.org/) • New Yorker Magazine • TED: Ideas Worth Spreading (http://www.ted.com/)

38. Questions/Discussion

39. Additional Resources • Balderrama, A. (2008) 8 worst things to Say in an interview available at http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/06/23/cb.interview.tips/index.html • Delgizzo,K. & Malisheski, L., Preparing for Campus Interviews. Chronicle Careers. January 17, 2003 http://chronicle.com/jobs/news/2003/01/2003011701c.htm • http://www.collegegrad.com/jobsearch/Mastering-the-Interview/Ten-Tough-Interview-Questions-and-Ten-Great-Answers/ • Networking and Interviewing Guide (2008). Center for Career Development. Kalamazoo College. • Career Advice, Inside Higher Ed: http://www.insidehighered.com/advice • Manage Your Career, The Chronicle of Higher Education: http://chronicle.com/section/Manage-Your-Career/67/