Job Search Expert Kevin Donlin Gives Career Advice

Kevin Donlin, MSU alum, is a job search expert—read his bio for proof—with cutting edge advice that is perfect for entering the job market in these tough economic times.

In a meeting with the Career Services Network, Donlin said that his biggest career advice is the following: “Stop looking for jobs; start looking for employers instead.” Once you have determined what you want to do, Donlin says, make “a job shopping list of 10 to 20 employers.” Soon, you will start noticing the mention of your choice organizations, helping you learn more about them and potentially opening up networking opportunities that you may have missed before you made the list.

On a similar note, Donlin says that applying only for advertised jobs is like only targeting the tip of an iceberg that is sinking deeper into the water all the time, especially with the tightened job market. The part of the iceberg that’s underneath the water represents the hidden job market, those jobs that are accessed mostly through networking and are based on internal recommendations. As Donlin says, “Any job worth having isn’t advertised or hasn’t been created yet.”

That said, recognize that if you do choose to apply for an advertised job, you are going to have a ton of competition. Donlin compares applying for a job on Monster to buying a lottery ticket. Set yourself apart however you can, as long as it is professional, preferably by finding a contact within the company who can make sure your résumé gets to the right person.

Another way you can make yourself stand out is by using recommendation quotes in your résumé and cover letter. It is a great way to beef up your application materials if you have limited relevant experience. One easy way to get quotes is by requesting them from former or current co-workers on LinkedIn. By the way, if you haven’t heard of LinkedIn, it’s a social networking tool for professionals—a career-focused Facebook. Donlin says, “From an employer perspective, if you aren’t on LinkedIn, you don’t exist.” Think of all of the hours you log on Facebook. If you devoted just some of that time to creating and completing a profile on LinkedIn, you would be increasing your career network and, therefore, your job prospects—time well spent. Once you get on LinkedIn, it is important to complete your profile to show potential employers that you can complete a task from start to finish. If you are able to get some good recommendations on LinkedIn, it may be a good idea to put the URL of your profile on the bottom of your résumé where you would normally write, “References available upon request.”

Donlin’s simplest tip is to add a P.S. to your cover letters because it is the second most read part of a letter, after the salutation. In your P.S., give an action path: for example, write, “Call me at [your phone number here] if you have any further questions.” Along the same lines, use different media (email, phone, letters) to connect with potential employers, and give them a new reason to hire you each time.

If you are lucky enough to land an interview, treat it as if it were your first day on the job. Interviewing for a sales job? Bring sales leads to the interview. Donlin spoke of a woman who was interviewing for a social media internship at a non-profit. She brought a presentation about best social media practices used by non-profits to the interview, and they offered her the position on the spot!

An additional piece of advice for MSU students: find people in your field(s) of interest who are MSU alumni—there are so many alumni in the workforce and just that affinity will make them listen to you. Display thought, clarity, and that you’ve done your research because even fellow Spartans won’t think for you.

Ultimately, Donlin says, “There’s no shame in being in a job you don’t like, as long as you know where you want to go.” If you don’t know where you want to end up, don’t worry either. Donlin recommends asking yourself questions such as “What section do I always go to in the book store?” and “What would I do all day if I didn’t have to work?” to get at what you are really passionate about. Remember: you may not work in a job that is directly related to your major. There is no shame in this; in fact, it’s expected!

Take action: Get more of Donlin’s career advice by checking out the book he co-authored, Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0, or read the column he writes for the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Why should you take a career course? Students who have taken them in the past tell you why the experience is worthwhile:

Former AL250 Student

“Taking AL250 with Courtney Chapin my Junior year at MSU was one of the most rewarding and helpful courses in my college career. Each week, I learned how to look at my strengths and weaknesses, explore my passions, and let my imagination lead me towards potential career opportunities I hadn’t ever considered. In many ways I believe that courses like this should be required for all majors, because it is that helpful. The Arts and Letters Career Strategies course was especially helpful for us students who didn’t have a clear career link from college to the working world. It was thrilling to know the possibilities went beyond what people typically associate with English degrees. Courtney has always been accessible to her students after the course, even after graduation. Her knowledge and support has been helpful in a time when the job hunt is tougher than ever.” — Stefanie Spiro, Class of ‘07

Former SSC490 Students

“Prior to this class I did not have a resume, did not own a suit, and lacked the knowledge of how to present myself in an interview. Bottom line, I was a decent college student who had little hope of obtaining a ‘real’ job because I lacked these basic skills. Over the last several months, with the knowledge gained from this course, I now have a resume I am confident in, I know how to write a cover letter, I understand how to properly correspond with a potential employer, and I know how to study for and present myself in an interview.”

“This class taught me how to highlight my strengths and how to find a job that fits my ability. I feel as if I am much more prepared to begin the search for my first ‘real’ job.”

“There were only a handful of classes that taught me hands on skills, gave me opportunities to use them and trained me how to become proficient in them; SSC 490 was one of those classes. Knowing what career you want and going to school for it is one thing, but being able to evaluate the skills and knowledge you’ve gained and applying it to attain your career is another thing.”

AL250 and SSC490 aren’t the only career course options. Choose the course that’s right for you.

AL 250 section 001

Instructor: Courtney D. Chapin, chapinco@msu.edu

FALL 2009: Wednesdays, 3:00-4:50 p.m., CB20 Snyder Hall

SPRING 2010: Wednesday, 3:00-4:50 p.m., C107 McDonel Hall

SSC490 section 301

Instructor: Kristi Coleman, colem239@msu.edu

FALL 2009: Wednesdays, 3:00-4:20 p.m., 204 Natural Science

SPRING 2010: Wednesdays, 3:00-4:20 p.m., 118 Berkey Hall

ANR101A section 001

Instructor: Dr. Phil Garnder, gardnerp@msu.edu

SPRING 2010: Tuesdays, 6:00-8:00 p.m., 152 Natural Resources Building

CAS380 section 301

FALL 2009: Wednesdays, 3:00-4:50 p.m., 306 Natural Resources Building, class meets 9/9-10/15

NSC491 section 001

FALL 2009: Wednesdays, 5:00-6:20 p.m., 1420 BioMedical and Physical Sciences

Some colleges and departments also offer other career-focused courses, and courses may be added before next year. Consult with your academic advisor or academic departments to find out more.

Take action: Find specific course descriptions, then go to WebEnroll to sign up for classes.

“Meet Johnny Bunko. He’s probably a lot like you. He did what everybody—parents, teachers, counselors—told him to do. But now, stuck at a dead-end job, he’s begun to suspect that what he thought he knew is just plain wrong. One bizarre night, Johnny meets Diana, the unlikeliest career advisor he’s ever seen. Part Cameron Diaz, part Barbara Eden [I Dream of Jeannie], she reveals to Johnny the six essential lessons for thriving in the world of work.” (quote and image from Dan Pink’s website)

If you don’t have the time or patience to read a 400+ page career tome (e.g., What Color Is Your Parachute?), check out best-selling author Dan Pink’s most recent publication, The Adventures of Johnny Bunko. Written in manga, a Japanese form of the graphic novel, you can whip through it in 45 minutes.

I read Johnny Bunko while sitting on a windowsill in the downtown Indianapolis Borders. I had gone to Indy with my dad, his friend, and my boyfriend to watch the Spartans in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament regional finals. While they went to a sports bar to watch basketball (I love the game and have played since I was five, but I can only take so much of it in one weekend), I decided to read the book that everyone in the Career Network had been talking about. When I met up with the guys at the sports bar afterward, the first words out of my dad’s mouth were, “Wait. You just read an entire book?!”

Not only is Johnny Bunko a quick read; it’s also an entertaining book full of quality advice (hence its buzz around the Network). As students, this book can help give us perspective. Too often we focus only on the paths immediately in front of us—choosing to go to MSU, then picking a major, finding internships to fulfill graduation requirements, prepping for grad school entrance exams, etc.—without thinking about our end goal: to prepare ourselves for a career that makes us excited to get out of bed in the morning. In college, life can often seem like one big syllabus, checking off one assigned task to get to another. Challenging yourself to step out of that mindset and think about things on a larger scale is necessary from time to time. Dan Pink’s The Adventures of Johnny Bunko forces its readers to do so.

This book has the potential to reach a wide audience, but it is best suited for college students like you and me. Pick it up. Read it. By writing it in manga, Pink made sure that you couldn’t use lack of time as an excuse. What other excuse do you have?

I asked Pink a few questions about Johnny Bunko, more career advice, and his own fascinating career history. Read on for his responses.

1) In 2007, after winning the Japan Society Media Fellowship, you went to Tokyo to study manga. What made you interested in learning about the manga industry?

It was a few things. I saw manga becoming very popular in the United States, I began reading it, and found that it was a wonderfully entertaining and extremely powerful medium. So I wanted to learn more. When I was in Japan, I had the opportunity to interview manga artists, editors, critics, publishers, and fans—which was absolutely fascinating. That led to my wanting to give it a try myself with The Adventures of Johnny Bunko.

2) Why a career book in manga?

A few reasons. First, there’s so much career information online that most career books aren’t that useful. I imagine that most MSU students begin investigating careers by roaming the Internet rather than by looking at a physical bookshelf. That means a book has to do something Google cannot—which is to provide big picture, strategic advice. Second, in talking to college students around the country I realized that they were often operating under the same false assumptions about work that I had 25 years ago. So I wanted to write a book about the things I wish I had known when I was a college student. Finally, manga is fast. So is your generation. My collaborator, Rob Ten Pas, and I crafted this book so that anyone could read it in 45 minutes or less.

3) You worked as former Vice President Al Gore’s chief speechwriter from 1995 to 1997. What was that experience like? What got you into speechwriting and how was it different from your other work experiences?

I got into speechwriting by accident. I was working in some campaigns. I began doing it. I did it OK. And then I got asked to do it more. As a kid, I never thought, “One day, I want to grow up to be a speechwriter.” Working for Al Gore in particular was great. He’s smart, funny, and focused on the public good. Every speechwriter should be lucky enough to have a boss like him.

4) Your first book was Free Agent Nation: The Future of Working for Yourself. What advice would you give to college students who dream to be “free agents”?

Right now think less about the “how” and more about the “what.” Working for yourself is a “how” question. But before you can even get to it, you have to figure out what you’re going to do. College is a great time for exploration. Use it to begin trying to learn: 1) what you are good at; 2) what you love to do; and 3) how you can use that to accomplish something in the world. Those are tough questions. So asking them early has a big pay-off.

5) You graduated from Yale Law School, but you never practiced law. What was your first job out of law school? Would you say the law school experience was worthwhile? How so?

My first job out of law school was working as a policy person on some political campaigns. It was great, though the campaigns always lost. As for law school, it was definitely worth it—but that’s because law school is where I met my wife! I didn’t hate law school actually—but in retrospect, I probably could have found more useful, more meaningful, and less expensive ways to spend those years.

6) Is there any reason for your use of six right-brained skills in A Whole New Mind and six career secrets in The Adventures of Johnny Bunko? Is it the magic number, does it work well for structuring a book, or is it pure coincidence?

The number six is part of my elaborate plan to mold them minds of young people across the world! Actually, it’s a coincidence. Six happened to seem like the right number for A Whole New Mind. And six happened to seem like the right number for Johnny Bunko. But there is something beautiful about three and its multiples, isn’t there?

—Sarah Aldrich, Professional Writing, Class of 2010

This article is part of a new series. The tough economic times are a concern for everyone, but the job market can be especially intimidating for inexperienced college students. That’s why the Career Services Network asked students what their top concerns were and then directed the questions to career experts both within and outside of the network. Each article will have a student question with three expert answers. Read on for the second installment.

Student Question:

“Should my salary requirements reflect the current economy?”

Lauren Chomiuk, Professional Writing, Class of 2009 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Expert Answers:

1) Salary Research

“In an early October 2008 survey, employers made it clear that they did not intend to lower starting salaries for new college graduates; however, 80% said they had no plans to raise salaries. Since the survey was taken, the economy has continued to weaken and employers could have responded by making salary adjustments, but probably not. Starting salaries are determined by three things:

1. Supply and demand. Right now there are many more graduates than available jobs; thus, employers do not have to increase salaries. In some areas, such as computer science and nursing, there are fewer candidates available than open positions. In this case you might see salaries rise slightly.

2. Skills and competencies. What employers pay for are skills and competencies: the more valuable a particular skill is to the employer, the more they will pay for it. Companies that find themselves in a competitive global environment will want to identify the best talent they can to ensure that the company is positioned accordingly when the economy turns around. In this case employers will pay top dollar. Because employers are targeting the same talent, some individuals will graduate with high salaries. Overall, I expect the top end of the market to contract with more employers configuring salaries closer to the historical mean.

3. Location. Cost of living can affect salaries, particularly in the northeast, metro DC, and California- Chicago is also expensive. These factors may not come into play as significantly this year because housing costs are down across the country. Two factors would drive salaries down: If we enter a period of deflation where prices for goods and services drop, then employers will ask for salary adjustments so as not to go out of business. A total collapse of the labor market would send salaries cascading downward. The unemployment rate is still below 10% for college educated; until it reaches 20% we should be okay.”

Phil Gardner, Director of Collegiate Employment Research Institute (CERI), gardnerp@msu.edu

2) Stay Informed

“Yes, a student looking for a full-time or internship opportunity needs to be cognizant of what is going on in the economy. That means different things for different disciplines, because some skill sets are in higher demand than others. Students should be very clear with their potential employers about what is important to them: salary, work environment, dress code, work-life balance, etc. There are still lots of employers where there is flexibility in these areas, but there are others who might be less flexible right now. Sometimes employers may not be able to accommodate new employee requests based on current or anticipated business needs and conditions. So yes, students should be cognizant of what is going on in the economy before making any type of requests of their potential employers; however, they should still make decisions based on what is important to them in their internship or full-time role.”

Jason Luring, Abbott Labs, Senior Manager, University Relations and Talent Acquisition

3) Look for Other Benefits; Be Grateful for a Job Offer

“Salary is what salary is…a means to buy things. It is also something that ebbs and flows and is based on economy, location, industry, position, and timing. Salary is negotiable and can change significantly over time.

Today’s economy will have an effect on salary, with many employers holding offers down to their lowest levels (little if any increase from last year), and controlling the number of offers and signing bonuses.

To ensure their best offer, students should know the field, industry, location, and position averages (with minimums and maximums). They also should be aware of the standards for benefits, vacation, tuition reimbursement, etc. Although salaries will be very inflexible this year, the opportunity to negotiate an additional benefit or opportunity may be fair game. If the company truly wants to hire you but has no room to raise salary, non-compensation benefits may be available, such as a more flexible work schedule, immediate vacation time, and time/assistance to pursue an advanced degree.

Finally, in a tough economy, the job seeker must showcase a certain amount of respect and gratitude for a job offer. With so many companies going bankrupt, laying off workers, and/or rescinding offers, today’s college graduate must enter the workforce a bit humbled for the opportunity to work right out of college and with the drive to work hard to show that the employer was correct in offering the position. This will lead to faster advancement and salary increases as the company and economy rebound.”

Garth Motschenbacher, Director of Employer Relations in the College of Engineering, motschen@egr.msu.edu

Today’s Job Search Archives

This is an article written for Scott J. Manley’s blog. Manley is an entrepreneur in the technology industry.

We recently posted a position for a Marketing intern at various universities and on Craig’s List. While we’ve hired before, this crop of candidates seems to be on downward trend which is unfortunate in today’s economy as they will be going out into the real world against some very good and experienced candidates that have recently been downsized.

While it’s not in the company’s best legal interest to reach out to each one individually and tell them why we’re not going to interview them, I thought it would be constructive to write this post. This goes out to all of those job candidates out there that are wondering why nobody’s getting back to you. Hopefully, you will learn from this and realize what other people are doing when going after the same job you are and use it to step up your game for the next gig.

Here are some tips that will put you in the top 10% of the other star candidates that are applying for the job.

1. Actually use our company name in the email and cover letter. Sad to say, the first blatantly obvious thing that’s making candidates stand out is the fact that they took two seconds to put in our actual company name. Nobody believes you when you tell them how excited you are to work at “your company”.

2. Think of what you write in the initial email as your cover letter. The shot above is actually an email we received…for a Marketing position! If you’re that great (sarcasm) at selling yourself, I can only imagine how much effort you’ll put in to selling our company.

3. Keep the formatting simple. We’re interested in you and what you can bring to the table, not how pretty you make it look. The font on one applicant’s entire cover letter was in her school color of yellow. You ever try to read yellow on white?! It hurts. You end up deleting it and rubbing your eyes for five minutes. Black, normal font. Standard spacing. Focus on the content.

4. Keep it to one page. When applying for an internship or entry level job, chances are you haven’t had enough experience to fill two pages. When we receive a two or three page resume from a 20-something, it’s either because they must be legally blind and are using a ridiculously large font or sharing things that are not pertinent to presenting their value. I have seen one or two exceptions to this rule from students that have done an internship every year and/or summer through college but if you’re reading this, you’re not one of them.

5. Take two minutes to review what you’re about to send. We’ve had a few cut-and-paste replies where the candidate has told us how she qualifies for everything we listed. Too bad none of the requirements were from our job posting. If you’ve gone through the process of answering a job posting, take the extra two minutes out of your day to review what you’re about to send and make sure it’s for the job your applying for.

6. Actually go to our company site and learn about us. It strikes me as funny that in an age where information is so easily accessible, people will spend more time tweeting about their breakfast then researching the company for which they hope to depend on for their livelihood. Go to our site and see what we do. Read our press releases, news, and blog. Get crazy and look us up on LinkedIn, Facebook, and other social media sites. Even if it takes you an hour, it’s worth it. Why would you not want to research a company you hope to have a future with? What if you find out that you don’t like our business? Wouldn’t you be glad you know so you don’t waste any more time?

7. Use the information you learn online to write a customized cover letter. Back in my parent’s day, you used to try and have an objective on a resume that you could get printed fifty times when you had it copied. Today, there’s no excuse for not tailoring the objective in your resume to our position and addressing your cover letter directly to us. Speak to how you can meet the qualifications we’re looking for. Tell us where you think you could add value and why you’re interested in us. Not “your company”, us. Go above and beyond and compliment us on a recent article or tell us why you like our product or service (Only if you really do and it’s authentic.)

I promise you that using these seven tips will make you stand out against 90% of the crowd almost immediately. Good luck!

The original article can be found here