CAREER FAIRS/CONFERENCES Asian MBA Pre-Conference Session August 24, 2010

1. CAREER FAIRS/CONFERENCESAsian MBA Pre-Conference SessionAugust 24, 2010

2. Agenda • Before the Fair • During the Fair • After the Fair • Prepare for Future Fairs • Resources • Questions

3. Before the Conference

4. AMBA Events Schedule Kick-off Session & Opening Reception - Thursday, August 26th 6:00pm - 9:00pm Location: Asia Society / 725 Park Avenue Leadership Conference & Gala Dinner - Friday, August 27th 8:30am - 9:30pm Location: Jacob Javits Convention Center / 655 West 34th Street Career Expo - Saturday, August 28th 9:00am - 5:00pm Location: Jacob Javits Convention Center / 655 West 34th Street

5. AMBA Events Schedule Kick-off Session & Opening Reception - Thursday, August 26th 6:00pm - 9:00pm Location: Asia Society / 725 Park Avenue Leadership Conference & Gala Dinner - Friday, August 27th 8:30am - 9:30pm Location: Jacob Javits Convention Center / 655 West 34th Street Career Expo - Saturday, August 28th 9:00am - 5:00pm Location: Jacob Javits Convention Center / 655 West 34th Street

6. Concurrent Sessions and Work Stations Internet Café & Work Stations, 9am – 5pm Career Coaching sponsored by Monster, 9am – 5pm Career Coaching Workshops Resume Critiquing Career Resources Marketplace Industry Networking Sessions, 9am – 5pm Finance/Insurance – Sponsored by Zurich  Healthcare/Consumer Products Technology

7. Career Conferences & Fairs • Employer targets • Who is hosting? Is there a language/consumer markets focus for this event? • Registration • (3) steps: register/pay, upload resume, apply for specific positions • Preparation • Research firms, create company target list, top competitors list Who will value your experience & skills? • Check the Smith Connector (alumni portal) for possible informational interview contacts • Check Linkedin.com for alumni and your connections • Know the industry(ies); what is happening in the news? What are the trends? • ROI • Know conference ROI (no, it is not “frequent flier” miles) • Attend Pre-conference workshops (Sept)

8. Preconference Preparation/Checklist • Sample interview questions • Applications for positions • Proper career attire • Flash drive • Your “Product & Pitch”! • Realistic attitude & expectations • Hand sanitizer • Breath mints • Memory stick (for digital print- outs of resume if needed) • Proof of conference registration & all travel info • School ID and another form of Identification (i.e., driver’s license or passport • Cover letters to the specific company for which you would like to interview or apply • Resumes printed (approx. 25 – 40) • Business cards • Smith Nametag • Company info (10K & 10Q reports) • Research & Targeted firm(s) information

9. Product YOU are the product you are selling Be sure about your strengths Be prepared to talk about why you are interested in the organization What is your value proposition? What is your leadership style? Pitch! Be distinctive from other candidates This is your “movie trailer” about your experience and skills Be clear and compelling Product & Pitch: Necessary Tools

10. Research Employers • Job Boards • HireSmith • Industry or function specific • RSS feeds • Blog sites • Social Networking • LinkedIn • Facebook • Professional Associations

11. During the Conference

12. During the Conference • Create a Strategy • Start with a smaller company to get “warmed” up • Follow your target list (include their top competitors) • Seek out your top firms in the morning in case they have interview slots still open (giving you time to prepare!) • Right before/after the lunch break is tough for employers • Walk the exhibit hall (do a “lap”) before jumping into a line • Listen to the question of the person in front of you (freebie!)

13. During the Conference • Create a Strategy (cont.) • Watch the body language of the recruiter • Look for reps who are standing alone • Talk to reps from other departments/divisions • Attend panels featuring your target firms • Help each other and share info! • Take breaks for lunch, standing/walking and to re-group!

14. During the Conference: Interaction with Recruiters • Be upbeat and friendly (so they can envision working with you • Make connections about your skills & experiences • Discuss your upcoming elective courses • Tell contacts you will contact them after the conference • Take notes on their business cards (after your conversation)

15. During the Conference: Additional Information • “Go to the website…” • Employers have to track their efforts • “We have not posted those positions yet..” • Ask what the timeline and application process will be, will info be posted online • “I am not from that division…” • Try to get the contact info for a specific division, leadership program, etc.

16. Employers want to know: Your industry experience How you chose your MBA program What you are excited/passionate about That you learn from your mistakes Team/leadership attributes Employers don’t want to know: About an unsatisfactory position/internship Your priority is to remain in the US About negativity regarding your classes, your past career Your goals outside of their organization or industry During the Conference: What Employers Want to Know

17. During the Conference: Intelligent Questions • Know the difference between “how” and “why” questions? • Asking “how can I obtain more information?” implies that you are doing the work… • Ask about global positions if the firm does not sponsor for H1B visas • Avoid: • Asking questions that are clear on the website • Asking immediately about salary and visas • Asking what jobs do they have (research before)

18. During the Conference: Interviews • Typically on-site interviews are done by invitation, some employers will take candidates on the same day (be prepared and research before the conference) • Interviews may be behavioral, involve some case and may have a level of stress built in • Prepare your PAR stories before the conference • Practice before the conference – understand what kinds of questions are tough for you!

19. During the Conference: More on Interviews… • An open discussion of accomplishments and skills shows confidence • Show clear self self-knowledge and career goals • Self disclosure of strengths, weaknesses, personality, leadership style, problem-solving abilities, etc. may be appropriate • Researching the organization and demonstrating that knowledge during the interview is expected • It is acceptable to ask an employer at the close of the interview where they are in the interview process and when the candidate can expect to hear back from them. • Inquiring about the status of an application after the interview is acceptable and demonstrates interest in the position.

20. During the Conference: Tips for “Schmoozing” • Your GOAL: get the business card • Ask about their interests & experience at the firm • Ask open ended questions • Look for representative standing alone – then engage! • Share informational about yourself and/or ask for professional advice • Don’t just target men or the most “senior” looking representative • When in groups look at and address all members of the employer team

21. Insight from Employers • Being too “rehearsed” – you will seem insincere • Rambling – you will lose the focus of your response/pitch • Not answering the questions asked • Employers are listening for: • Tone & content • Your learning potential • What you are passionate about • Cliches vs. accomplishments • How much preparation you have done “I have no weaknesses… I suppose if I had a weakness – it’s that I care too much…”

22. During the Conference All events are possibilities for networking: • Panels • Workshops • Sponsored breakfasts, breaks, lunches • Employer happy hours/receptions • If invitation only … avoid being a “crasher” • Mind your intake of alcohol, err on the side of being conservative

23. After the Conference

24. After the Conference • Send thank you email/notes within 24 hours to all of your new contacts and to anyone … • who referred you to employers • interviewed you for employment • offered you a position • rejected you for employment • provided you with general information • written recommendations for you • Personalize each correspondence • If interviewed with several people at one company, take a few seconds between interviews to jot down some notes about each conversation. Use these notes when writing individualized thank you letters to each interviewer. • When sending correspondence to several people at an organization, don't send “identical” letters.

25. Declined?Sample Text I want to thank you once again for your time and consideration during the interviewing process. Although I was not selected _________, my interest in your company remains strong. The conversations I had with you and other representatives at XYZ Corporation convinced me it’s the kind of environment in which I would thrive. Based on my goals and skills in the ____area, I hope that you will consider me as a candidate for ______ when new opportunities occur within your organization.

26. After the Conference Correspondence Content Thank the interviewer for his/her time Reiterate your interest in the job and your enthusiasm for the company  Make yourself memorable, again… Address a topic of particular interest (to the interviewer or to you) that arose during the conversation, especially where that topic reflects favorably on your job-related skills (i.e. you discussed a volunteer consulting project in Taiwan or a mountain climbing trip to in the Himalyas) OR Address an interviewer's specific concern in greater detail (i.e. the interviewer may have appeared concerned that you did not have the necessary quantitative skills) OR  Re-emphasize a skill or strength important to that interviewer (i.e. the interviewer showed a particular interest in your sports and team-related activities

27. After the Conference Assess what you did well, and areas your can further develop (networking, interviewing, etc.) Conduct any follow-up activities requested by employers (new resume, call a colleague) Wait two-weeks before additional contact

28. Tracking & Evaluation • Tracking • Maintain an Excel log of your applications and correspondence (calls, emails, interview apps, interviews, networking meetings, follow-up correspondence) • Manage your applications (job number, title, firm, deadlines) • Evaluate your “performance” • Was networking easier/harder • How did you feel at the end of the interview or phone call? • What can you improve?

29. Prepare for the Future Fairs

30. Services / Resources / Events Career Seminar – begins 8/30 Pre-Fair Session: 8/31 & 9/10 Individual Advising Career Workshops Resume Edits/Review Cover Letter Edit/Review Mock Interviews Indiv. Career Strategic Plan On-Campus Presentations & Interviews Online postings (HireSmith) CareerQuest (10/8/10) Case Interview Prep Networking Events Industry-focused field trips and workshops Help from OCS • Specifically for International Students: • Visa Workshop • McCandish Holton: Overview of CPT, OPT and more! • Job Search Strategy for International Students • Creation of strategies • Exploration of resources • Unrealized opportunities

31. Career Workshops: Cover Letters Elevator Pitch PAR Stories Behavioral Interviews CASE-Style Interviews Making the Most of a Career Fair/Conference Networking Specifically for International Students: Visa Workshop McCandish Holton: Overview of CPT, OPT and more! Job Search Strategy for International Students Creation of strategies Exploration of resources Unrealized opportunities Upcoming Workshops

32. Resources • ForeignMBA.com • UniWorld • Jobpilot.com • Overseasjobs.com • Workabroad.monster.com • Workpermit.com/us/employee.htm • http://www.marketingterms.com/dictionary (an internet marketing dictionary) • http://financial-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/ (financial glossary) • http://www.logisticsservicelocator.com/resources/glossary03.pdf (supply chain glossary) • http://www.acethecase.com/site/1438552/page/875389 (consulting glossary) • http://www.hrdirectory.org/hr-glossary.php (HR terms)

33. Questions