Interview

Kevin: Hi, this is Kevin Donlin from the Guerrilla Job Search. I’m on the phone with Brett Kopf, a very smart senior at Michigan State. I assume you’re a senior, Brett?

Brett: I am a senior, yes.

K: Excellent. So Brett, welcome. Thanks for joining me today.

B: Thanks for having me, I appreciate it.

K: You’re welcome. Brett has an interesting story about using Twitter as a job search tool. Let me read back the email you sent to me Brett, kind of jog your memory. Then I’ll have a few questions for how this works because it was really fascinating. People are always looking for Twitter success stories and here’s one. You said: “A month ago a friend and you were talking about her inability to find an internship; she is extremely well qualified but couldn’t find anything. So I posted this on my Twitter feed and I quote ‘Anyone hiring for a PR Internship? I know a well-qualified candidate who is on the hunt. DM, please.’” [DM for direct message I believe.] And then your email continued, “I kid you not, in 2 minutes I had a reply from one of my followers. A few interviews later she has a great job.” So this is a great story, Brett. Kudos to the success. Could you describe what was it exactly, right now we are in late April 2009, it was March that you did this?

B: Yes, it was sometime around mid-March. To tell you the truth, Kevin, this really benefits me because [in] the job that she has, she is now going to be my co-worker, because I had already established a relationship with this follower. I was going to tell you and your readers the importance of networking online and job searching is to have relationships. This person from the company—and it’s called FYIndout—him and I had already been speaking on Twitter and via email. We already had a relationship, he knew me. He knew that I was a credentialed contact and that I was legitimate. When I posted that, within 2 minutes he saw that and said, “I know this guy, let’s see what he has to say.” Now I’m working alongside with her. We both decided to take a similar position. So we’re working hand-in-hand.

K: So this is a summer internship that you both have?

B: Yes, it’s actually more than a summer internship, it’s a 6-month internship. My position is as the community manager. I’m basically a social media fanatic and this community manager role, you’ll probably hear a lot of buzz words around it. Basically, their sole role is to build a community and handle all the social media content going around in the business. Anything with Facebook, Twitter, and information going online, that will go through me. Christine’s role is as the PR intern, PR and marketing.

K: So the person who replied is your manager at FYIndout.com?

B: Yes. She replied. I tweeted that and said “direct message please.” When I said I kid you not, it literally took two minutes. She was like, “Hey we’re looking for an internship in PR as well, could you please forward her information on to me.” So I did that and, like I said, a few interviews later we’re working together.

K: That’s fantastic. You have, at last count, about 567 followers. At this time about a month ago, how many do you think you had on Twitter?

B: The low 200s. When I first got started, you evolve this buzz from your friends and family. Twitter this, Twitter that. What is it and why is everyone talking about it? So, Twitter is micro-blogging and allows you to connect with people who have similar interests. And when I explain it to people, there are two ways to use it. You can number one say, “Hi, I’m going out for a walk or drinking a glass of water.”  “I don’t feel like taking this exam today.” To be honest with you, Kevin, I don’t really care about that if it’s not for business.

K: Agreed.

B: Number two, and this is why it’s so effective: you can use it to function and cycle in the areas that you’re interested in. So for you as an example, you’re interested in career search and recruiting and you could follow literally the thousands, millions of people who are on Twitter and have the same interests and goals as you. This allows you to get real-time updates and information on new job search techniques on people that are hiring, just like my situation with Christine…on great information.

K: So you’ve been building a network…you’ve been following and been followed by people in PR and social media, is that correct?

B: That is exactly right. That’s what I love. I love social media and technology and I’m into this whole recruiting thing. Primarily, a majority of my followers and the people that I follow are in CEO positions, consultant positions, managerial positions. And the cool thing is I’m just a senior at Michigan State. I’m just a student, right? Maybe not right. I have some validity here and what’s cool for me is I can now get into the minds of the people at these elite levels and see what they’re thinking. What are they talking about? What a great learning experience for me as a young student wanting to break into the quote unquote business world.

K: You actually are in the business world. You’re in the mind of the person who is micro-blogging because you’re seeing what they say when they say it. It’s real time. As we’ve just discussed here, it helped your friend get an internship because you got directly into the mind of the hiring authority. Now this is interesting. I hadn’t thought of this tip. I counsel folks on the key to the job is to get into the minds of the hiring manager before they advertise the position to the outside world. And at that point you have no competition and this is what you did. You got into the mind of the hiring manager with your tweet and “bam”: Christine was interviewed and hired. Now, off the top of your head, do you know if she had any competition for that? Did they interview other people or was it just her?

B: There was competition. We both had competition. She was just another candidate. The whole idea…I heard you speak before, and what you consistently tell us about networking is that it is about building relationships. It’s not how well can I get a job. It’s about building relationships and how can I help you. I already had that relationship built with her boss right now. So he trusted me. The same thing across all platforms, whether it be social media, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn…human connection is about building relationships and how you can help the other person.

K: Yes. While Christine may have had competition, quote unquote from other people interviewing, she had an edge because she came recommended by you and you weren’t just anybody. You had built up some value with your relationships, especially with the hiring manager.

B: Yes, with the hiring manager. Christine, as well. We worked together on a lot of school projects and when I said I had a very well qualified candidate, I meant it. She is extremely well qualified. I feel lucky to be working with her.

K: That’s terrific. You know hiring managers don’t want to make a mistake, so that’s why the value of your recommendation is so very important. Because the manager trusted you and figured, “If Brett recommends her, I’m going to talk to her.” It all came together. I think Twitter was the efficient cause, the formal cause. As Aristotle would say…the Twitter is what made it happen. But really you’ve done a lot of work in the background to build the value and it worked. Terrific points, Brett. Do you have any final ideas? Briefly, what makes you follow somebody? You’ve doubled your follow ship, your tweeter ship. You know you went from the 200’s to 567 in about a month. That’s pretty much a geometric progression there. It’s exploding. What do you think attracts people to want to become a follower of someone on Twitter?

B: I think two things. Being genuine and being real. What exactly does that mean? The people that I follow…when you see the people who have followers of 20, 30, 50 thousand people, they’re either a person like Oprah—and she probably has millions; good for her—or there’s someone that has a quite bit of knowledge. But what I find is that they always have something that is real. Meaning they say, “I love dogs; I have a wife and 2 kids that I adore.” “I love to go mountain biking.” Something that’s real. So you always have something that is genuine and they also talk about what they’re into. My example: I’m into social media, technology, blogging, Twittering, etc. And something after that about “I’m passionate about mountain biking or I love being in the outdoors.” I’m not just saying that to say it, it’s not fake. It’s true—I love being in the outdoors.

K: That’s exactly right. It’s important stuff to give personal insights into yourself and not just be a face. Some people do come across that way on Twitter, I’ve noticed. The profile should be genuine, should be real and it’s all good advice. And obviously it worked for you, Brett, and for your friend, Christine. I want to thank you very much for your time, Brett Kopf, with a Twitter success story.

B: No problem. Thanks for having me, Kevin.

K: You’re welcome. Thank you.

Take action: Sign up for your own Twitter account today, and get moving. Want some more info? Check out these articles/resources:

• Twittering Tips for Beginner’s A New York Times opinion piece that gives a pretty clear explanation of how to get started on Twitter.
• TwitterJobSearch A job search engine that scrounges through all of the site’s Tweets to find relevant job postings, based on what you search for.
• TwiTips A blog dedicated to Twitter tips.
• Six tips for using Twitter as a recruitment tool To get in the minds of recruiters.
• 10 Twitter Tips for the Workplace For the more advanced Twitter user looking to utilize the tool on the job.
• Digital Networking A quick description (from Career Services) of how to use different social media sites to help you in your job search.

Nahid Husain, elementary education major from the class of 2009, was an intern at the Refugee Development Center (RDC) in Lansing from January 2009–April 2009. What does the RDC do exactly? As they state on their website, “With the help of volunteers and community partners we provide refugees with the skills they need to succeed.” This includes programs such as after-school tutoring, English as a Second Language (ESL) and citizenship classes, a driving simulator, and more.

Here is what Husain has to say about her experience.

CSN: What prompted you to do an internship?

NH: It was part of the required courses for my international development specialization.

CSN: How did you find your internship and how long did it take to obtain the internship?

NH: I had heard of the RDC through other friends who had volunteered there, and it fit perfectly with my specialization and my interest. I talked to the director of the RDC several months beforehand and, therefore, beyond the time for my paperwork, it did not take long to set it up.

CSN: What were your responsibilities at the Refugee Development Center? What was your typical day like?

NH: On Monday evenings, I went to the RDC to participate in field work. This basically means that I worked as a volunteer that evening and helped kids with homework, planned special activities for kids (e.g., movies, game nights, dance nights) and monitored children’s computer use. On Fridays we had staff meetings and more administrative paper work to do.

CSN: How many hours a week did you work? How did you manage your school and work schedules and the workloads for both?

I worked about 9 hours at the RDC each week. I planned my schedule in such a way that I knew that Mondays were my busiest days and I had enough time in the rest of the week planned out to finish school work. Fridays, I only worked until the afternoon time, so I was able to spend part of the evening working on school work as well. It all really came down to time management and staying ahead in classes as much as possible.

CSN: What were the strong points or highlights of your internship experience?

NH: I was able to meet people and hear their refugee stories from around the world. I was able to work with students struggling in English, and I loved it because ESL is something I hope to do in the future. I was also able to see the administrative side of the organization and help out with the nitty gritty paperwork and program planning.

CSN: What was the most significant thing you learned from your experience?

I learned that a person’s passion for their work is really what helps them do an excellent job and without that passion, it’s hard to really put in a good effort.

CSN: In what ways were you able to incorporate knowledge gained from your classes into the workplace?

I was able to use my background in education to help the students as well as integrate my knowledge of international development to assess some first hand stories of various countries around the world.

CSN: Your internship was for credit, but it was unpaid. Tell me about working as an UNPAID intern. Was it worth it? Was it different from working in a paid position? Did you have to do anything to make extra money on the side?

I did not go into the RDC internship expecting money. I was working as an Office of Cultural and Academic Transitions (OCAT) Aide in Abbot Hall on campus, which paid my room and board, so I wasn’t really looking for much extra money (although we could all use some extra sometimes). I think the experience was well worth the effort not only in learning about a non-profit organization but also hearing the stories of some of the refugees and getting a chance to work with them and help them improve their lives through education.

CSN: How might you utilize contacts made during your internship in the future?

NH: I hope to teach internationally one day, and I think this experience with the RDC and the people who we serve will help me in terms of finding places to go and people to work with.

CSN: You just recently graduated. Is your internship experience helping you in your job search now?

NH: I graduated with a degree in education and through MSU’s education program, students have a fifth year internship/student teaching. I will be completing my internship in Chicago Public Schools beginning in August. However, I am sure that as I get my certification to teach next year and begin looking for jobs outside of the country, I will be able to use my experience with working with refugees and education as a way to show my interest and passion for international education.

CSN: Do you have any advice for students who may be looking for an internship, or who already have an internship but want to make it a success?

NH: Go above and beyond what is expected of you. Not only do you make a good impression, but you really get more out of it that way. Of course, you only get what you put in. So, put in a lot.

Interview

Kevin: Hi, this is Kevin Donlin from the Guerrilla Job Search. I’m talking to Jon Wiita on the phone today. Jon has a very interesting story about how he made some strong contacts with an employer who has set him up for success for next year when he graduates. So, Jon, thanks for joining me today.

Jon: Hi, how are you?

K: Good. Thank you very much. In a nutshell you had been to one of my seminars in January and you took the idea and ran with it. It was “start work before the interview.” In a nutshell, can you tell listeners what you did with this certain company and then what is now on your plate as a result of it?

J: This company had been a top choice of mine for when I graduate in May 2010. I had been trying to get contacts within this company for a while, to take my networking to a different level. I took the advice from the seminar you gave even before I had received the offer for the interview. I had sought out something that this company had been doing but was not in relation to my interview. But I saw a connection in what the interview was for—and what my job field was in. What I did was write an abstract for a white paper that I would like to write for a conference in the fall. And this was completely surrounded by a project that this company was actually working on and getting very good press about. I took that right to the job interview and looked them right in the face and I said, “I’m studying one of your projects right now and I cannot wait to share [it] with thousands of students in an international conference.”

K: Let’s back up a bit. How did you line up this interview that you brought your abstract to? How did you get that interview actually?

J: The Career Services at MSU are actually very good for the students. I had two senior announcements that they were hiring back to interview for internships. I had already had summer plans, but I wanted to take advantage of the ability to meet this company. I signed up through our Career Services website, MySpartanCareer, and thought I would get a chance to talk to a recruiter.

K: Ok, got it. So they were coming on campus and they were going to interview anyway, so you signed up to interview. It was very smart; you started researching this company before you went to the interview?

J: Yes, what I actually did was I put the company into my Google Reader.

K: Explain that for someone who is technically illiterate what’s a Google Reader exactly. Is that an RSS feed type thing?

J: Basically it’s scrounging all over the internet, finding whatever this name or this company is coming up in publications and blogs and all different areas. It’s putting it into my Reader/Inbox and finding articles that I can see all highlights of the day or the week or whatever is going on with them.

K: Got it. I think there may be something similar called Google Alerts. We may be talking about the same thing. You used Google to go out every day to scour the internet for mentions of this company. You put the company name in when researching that?

J: It was with environmental sustainability because that was the topic for the abstract I was looking for.

K: Excellent. How many days and weeks did you research before you came up with your abstract?

J: I had actually only researched about two weeks. And then about a week before the interview this company had come up in being a part of that research and so I correlated the two together and found a perfect match and was able to kind of guide my research and idea for the project into my interview.

K: Excellent. Did you also interview employees of the company before your interview? Did you contact them and say, “I’m writing an abstract?”

J: Right. What is kind of cool about it is while I was looking through the articles on the internet I saw the authors at the bottom of some of the white papers that had been written by this company. I contacted them directly and just sent them a quick email that basically said, “I’m writing a white paper on this exact project.” They sent me back an email, and I’ve been communicating with them outside of the job scope. It allows me to network within the company. I was able to utilize them and they were able to help me and they got me through to the hire person for the interview. A partner, not just a normal recruiter.

K: You’re asking employees of your target employer to help you research them so you can be better qualified to work for them?

J: Basically, yes. They saw exactly how interested I was in something that wasn’t just…on what the interviewer was expecting me to see, was something completely outside of that.

K: Fantastic. You obviously…in your email you sent to me [you said] that you were 1 of 30 students who interviewed and you ranked at number 2?

J: That is a piece of information that I think is true. Something that is a total reflection of my interview.

K: I think it’s pretty obvious that you did some smart research ahead of time. Now this is fun. Most people of all ages, 22 to 62, their research of a target employer consists of going to the website and if it’s not on page one or two, they don’t find it, they don’t use it. But what you did was you did some background research on the company [and] found out that employees were popping up in research being written. And then you were able to approach them with some very intelligent questions: “Hey, I just read your paper. I’m doing an abstract on the subject. Can I talk to you?” Is that basically what you did?

J: That’s exactly what I did.

K: So how smart is that? I mean the information is out there. You just took a different route to get to it. It completely separated you from ordinary job seekers or intern seekers, as it were.

J: Right. It gave me an ability to show that I was actually interested in other things than just what the resume was and what you’re typically supposed to know for the interview.

K: Fantastic. This is so smart. Again you’re just a junior. In this job market it’s never too early to start making inroads at your target employer. This is very smart stuff. Let’s sum up at the end here: Jon, what’s going to be happening in the fall or later this summer?

J: This summer I will be in communication with the company; talking about future job opportunities. At the same time, I’m still looking to do this research for this paper, so I’m in contact with my resources. It will be perfect subject matter [for discussion]. I also am the president of an organization. I’m working with them to come in and speak and recruit both people to meet for my major within the company. It’s a win-win for both [the] companies and for our members. I’m really looking forward to what comes through for the future.

K: Jon, this has been very enlightening. I hope people take a lot of ideas from it. I certainly would. I wish I were 21 again. Know and do what you’ve done. Jon thanks very much for joining me today. This has been helpful to a lot of people.

J: Thank you very much for having me.

Take action: Make a list of the top 10 organizations you would like to work for. Do some research to narrow down your options a bit, then set up Google Alerts for each of the organizations you have left. This will help you stay up to date with what’s going on at each of them. It couldn’t be more convenient—you get a daily email for each alert you set up with links to articles that mention your organization of interest, and you can skim them for useful news.

1) Your Questions Answered (Internships)

2) Salary Requirements

3) Competing with Experienced Applicants

Triple major Jody Ellsworth has had a full-time job for four years, working as much as 60 hours a week to pay her way through school.

All that came to end with graduation today because she doesn’t have a job. “It’s gonna go from waking up at 5:30 to go to work to run to class to run to meetings and then back to work to waking up whenever I feel like it,” said Ellsworth. “Being a couch potato laying around on my parents’ sofa. I’m not looking forward to that.”

Worst of all, six months from now when her student loans come due, she’ll be $30,000 in debt. “What I will do now … is anything. Absolutely anything. Any crap job that I can get I’m gonna take. Babysitting, working on cars. Whatever it takes.”

No matter how frustrating this job market is, you NEVER want to come off as desperate. It’s why job hunting is often compared to dating — desperation is unattractive to both potential employers and potential suitors. “He’ll date anything that breathes” is equivalent to “She’ll take any job that comes with a paycheck.” Neither are compliments.

What may be even worse is Ellsworth’s superior attitude. She says she’ll take “any crap job” and even mentions a couple of examples. Just think how the owner of her local auto shop would react to her calling “working on cars” a “crap job.” The owner puts tons of time and energy into that shop and likely wouldn’t hire someone who considered the work beneath her.

It doesn’t help that Ellsworth plans on getting a job by being a “couch potato.”

It’s a reality that many graduates are going to have to settle for jobs that aren’t their ideal. The best way to think of the job is as an experience booster, an opportunity to network, a chance to find out what you like and don’t like on the job (even if your job has mostly qualities you don’t like, if you think through WHY you don’t like them it will help you in your next job search) — overall, it will be time well-spent if you make use of your situation so that it helps you accomplish your long-term goals. Most companies hire recent graduates because they want a fresh face and new ideas. Give them what they want and you may end up with a glowing recommendation that helps you land your dream job.

6 Key Steps to Interview Prep

It isn’t easy to face down a job interview, particularly in this environment. Prepare for it.

At an interview last month for an associate position at a major consulting firm, one candidate reports whipping through a marathon afternoon session and being asked about a business case with “very little time to organize a response.” A different candidate reports having interviewed in January for an associate position at the same consulting firm and being questioned largely on experience. Both candidates said they got, and accepted, offers from the company — and the latter offered a bit of advice to others interviewing for the position: “If you are friendly, warm, and knowledgeable, then things ought to go well.”

These firsthand accounts of interviewing experiences from Glassdoor.com may offer job seekers some of the more useful insights into the abyss of the interview process. The website launched last year with give-and-get salary info and employer reviews (offer up your own salary or your review and you’ll get entry to the others), but these days job seekers are hunting for work in a much more competitive environment and may be less interested in the insider details that would help them negotiate a higher bonus than in the kind of details that will help them get an offer. The appeal of Glassdoor’s interviewing offerings has much to do with the seeming total opacity of the process. In this economy, nerves are running particularly high. That’s why preparation is key.

Here are key steps to preparing for a job interview:

1. Know the company: Ferreting out basic details on the company you’re applying to seems like one of the most obvious efforts candidates would undertake, but it’s not a given that they will. Ellen Gordon Reeves, author of the recently released Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview?, recalls working at a book publishing company and interviewing candidates who thought they were there for a magazine job. It’s not just young people who underprepare, Reeves says. Job seekers should be doing rather ambitious research — reading annual reports, learning company business plans, and setting up Google Alerts so they’re up to date on company news. Some career coaches teach job candidates to learn the issues or problems a company is facing and to prepare some thoughts on tackling those issues.

2. Research the people: It’s important to know what the company does, but it may be even more important to know who you’ll be talking to once you get there. Reeves suggests asking who you’ll be interviewing with — name and title. Then get familiar with his or her staff biography and LinkedIn profile. “You need to know as much as possible about the people you’re interviewing with,” Reeves says. It’s not a fail-safe, however. Company plans could change, and you might end up interviewing with someone entirely different.

3. Find an insider: Find someone who knows this company and can provide valuable insights into the work you’ll be doing, Reeves suggests. He may be able to provide some details on the people you’ll be interviewing with and their style. He may also be able to tell you about the person who’s leaving the job you’re interviewing for and about his or her skills and the issues he or she dealt with.

4. Know what’s coming: Check out the Glassdoor data, even if your company isn’t among those listed. If you’re lucky enough to be applying for a software engineering job at Microsoft, you’ll have four interview reviews to check out. But if you’re applying for a software engineering job at a small company in Indiana, just reading through the 215 sample software engineer interview questions can still be useful preparation. Job seekers tend to fear the interview experience because it’s filled with unknowns.

“The only thing that can ease the anxiety is information,” says Robert Hohman, founder and chief executive of Glassdoor. Arming yourself with potential questions and reading what others suggest as good answers can prepare you for the often hypothetical level of conversation in job interviews. It’s easy to get stymied and stunned by a seemingly impossible question — i.e., How many blades of grass are there in Michigan? — but the interviewer is generally looking to see how a candidate thinks and processes, not to test her level of knowledge on Midwest horticulture.

5. Study your résumé: Your résumé should be well tailored to the job that you’re applying to, so much that it should serve as a kind of outline and study manual for your interview preparation, Reeves says. Use the requirements for the job as spelled out in the job posting to tailor your résumé. Then, you’ll be automatically speaking to your relevant work experience and qualifications. In preparing for the interview, you should recruit friends and family to “test you on your résumé the way you’d test yourself before an exam,” Reeves says.

6. Change your point of view: Once you’re armed with information about the company and your likely interviewer and you’ve trained yourself to talk about your work history in a way that is suited to the specific job and the issues likely to arise — step back and take a breather. Reeves suggests repeating a simple mantra: “I’m qualified, I want to do it, and I’m the best person to do this job,” for example. Consider the interview from the employer’s point of view: They’ve checked out your résumé and responded positively to it. They want this to work out. A hire is the successful intersection of two searches, Reeves says — your search for work, and the company’s search for the right worker.

There are a lot of people coming out of college and grad school faced with an economic brick wall. The jobs they thought would be plentiful have all dried up in this recession.

Many have probably gotten a ton of advice from parents, college career advisers and of course, career blogs. But there’s one piece of advice few are offering.

Leave the country, now!

I’m not suggesting this because there are tons more jobs available overseas. The market seems to be tough everywhere, although a few newly minted MBAs told me they’ve had a bit more luck finding work in Asia recently.

The reason I’m suggesting it has nothing to do with job opportunities.

I was talking to my best friend just yesterday about a young girl we both knew who decided to leave college and study the culinary arts in France. Immediately I thought that young woman was her changing life, for the better. So many people I know who have traveled and lived abroad tend to be more open minded and aware.

And international experiences will only help your career, your brain and your creativity in the long run.

Yes, creativity. New research by international business school INSEAD found that: “living outside one’s home country and adapting to a new culture may enhance creative thinking.”

William Maddux, the study’s lead author and assistant professor of organizational behavior at INSEAD, conducted five studies to look at the impact of living abroad and whether such a course in one’s life was actually linked to creativity.

Maddux and Adam Galinsky, PhD, from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, conducted five studies to test the idea that living abroad and creativity are linked. The findings appear in the May issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, published by the American Psychological Association.

In one study, master of business administration students at the Kellogg School were asked to solve the Duncker candle problem, a classic test of creative insight. In this problem, individuals are presented with three objects on a table placed next to a cardboard wall: a candle, a pack of matches and a box of tacks. The task is to attach the candle to the wall so that the candle burns properly and does not drip wax on the table or the floor. The correct solution involves using the box of tacks as a candleholder – one should empty the box of tacks and then tack it to the wall placing the candle inside.

The solution is considered a measure of creative insight because it involves the ability to see objects as performing different functions from what is typical (i.e., the box is not just for the tacks but can also be used as a stand). The results showed that the longer students had spent living abroad, the more likely they were to come up with the creative solution.

In another study, the researchers used a mock negotiation test involving the sale of a gas station. In this negotiation, a deal based solely on sale price was impossible because the minimum price the seller was willing to accept was higher than the buyer’s maximum. However, because the two parties’ underlying interests were compatible, a deal could be reached only through a creative agreement that satisfied both parties’ interests.

Here again, negotiators with experience living abroad were more likely to reach a deal that demanded creative insight. In both studies, time spent travelling abroad did not matter; only living abroad was related to creativity.

In the comments, Tahmincioglu adds the following:

I asked Maddux to expand a bit on their research for those who are interested:

Basically Adam Galinsky and I show that there are broad and general benefits of living in foreign countries in terms of the impact on creativity. So yes, graduates should absolutely take advantage of any opportunities to live outside the US! However, our data show two important things that people should keep in mind. First, foreign travel does not seem to provide a creative benefit, so people should try to actually live abroad for extended periods of time rather than have more cursory, temporary experiences. Second, we find that the more people adapt to the foreign country, the more creative they become. So it’s critical that expatriates engage with and learn about their host culture as much as possible. This experience seems to expose people to new ideas and facilitate their ability to solve problems from multiple perspectives. Essentially, some sort of mental transformation needs to occur during stints abroad to enhance the creative process, and this is most likely to occur if people live in and adapt to foreign cultures.

Want more? Read “Go Overseas, Young Jobless MBA!” by Christine Tran on BusinessWeek.com.

Jackie Rieger, Human Resources and Society major from the class of 2009, was an HR intern at FinCor Holdings, Inc., a national consulting corporation based in Lansing, from August 2008–May 2009. We asked her a few questions about her experience.

CSN: What prompted you to do an internship?

JR: An internship is the best way to get hands-on experience for whatever it is that you want to do. I wanted “real-world” experience in a Human Resources department so that I could show potential employers that I possess the knowledge and skills needed to work in a Human Resources position. Also, getting credit for the internship was easy to do and it gave me a fun “class” to take.

CSN: How did you find your internship and how long did it take to obtain the internship?

JR: I found my internship through MySpartanCareer. It took a while at first to find the posting. I had been on at least two interviews for other internships and had been denied for them before I even found this internship. This is so cliché but “persistence pays off.” After I contacted the company, it took about 1–2 weeks for them to pre-interview, final-interview, and offer me the position. I have to admit that it was a rather quick process, but perhaps I presented myself very well.

CSN: What were your responsibilities at FinCor Holdings, Inc.? What was your typical day like?

JR: I was in charge of completing a variety of projects that the Human Resources department did not have time to do themselves; examples include an audit for their HIPAA Policies and Procedures, updating the job descriptions for all employees, a lunch training session on managing stress, researching new Medicare laws that were going into affect and how they were going to affect the company, creating a classification system for sensitive documents and information, and creating a performance evaluation form for managers to use.

My typical day started at 8 a.m. and went till noon or 1 p.m. I was trusted to show up on time and begin my work as soon as I got there; I did not check in with anyone. I just worked on whatever project I had at the time. I also had meetings with my boss about every week to keep her updated on my projects and to receive more projects.

CSN: How many hours a week did you work? How did you manage your school and work schedules?

JR: Spring semester 2009, I worked 9 hours a week (5 hours Monday and 4 hours on Wednesday). In fall 2008 I worked 12 hours a week (4 hours on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). I purposely scheduled my classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays; that way I would not have to worry about making it back in time for a class.

CSN: What were the strong points or highlights of your internship experience?

JR: Being given directions for a project and then being solely responsible for completing the project was a highlight because it really challenged me. Also, I am glad that I was able to receive feedback from my boss because it allowed me to recognize a weakness that I had in my face-to-face communication skills. Learning my weaknesses so that I could improve and change them was a strong point of the internship.

CSN: What was the most significant thing you learned from your experience?

JR: Internships are like the exam reviews that professors give you before big exams. You are given this opportunity and it is up to you to study, learn, and make the most of the experience in order to prepare you for your future job (”the big exam”).

CSN: In what ways were you able to incorporate knowledge gained from your classes into the workplace?

JR: I definitely think my computer, writing, and psychology classes helped me a lot in my internship. Computer classes helped me by providing the basic knowledge of computer programs (Microsoft Word, Excel, etc.) that is considered to be a standard requirement in most jobs today. My writing classes helped me to be able to communicate clearly when writing reports about a project I did or even when writing e-mails. My psychology classes helped me to understand that there are different types of people and that everyone thinks and functions differently, allowing me to be more understanding of difficult personalities and ways each person works. My management classes also helped me to understand the hierarchy of the business and what everyone’s basic responsibilities were. Also, my student organizations helped me to be professional when communicating with co-workers and with how I dressed.

CSN: How might you utilize contacts made during your internship in the future?

JR: I will definitely utilize my boss for letters of recommendation and also advice on where to go next in my field. When I decide to make a change in my career and I’m having a hard time deciding where to go in Human Resources, I will most likely contact my boss and just pick her brain about the issue. 
I will also keep in contact with co-workers that I worked on projects with so that they can attest to my initiative, work habits, clarity, and professionalism; I most likely will ask them for recommendation letters for future jobs.

CSN: You’ve mentioned your boss a few times, and it seems like she will be a great professional contact for you in the future. How were able to develop such a good relationship with her?

JR: I think the biggest thing was being very professional and clear in my communications right from the start. The day that I applied on MySpartanCareer I made sure that I sent her everything she requested (résumé, school transcripts, cover letter). When I went in for the interview she complimented me and said that I was the only applicant to send in my school transcripts. Not only is that first impression very important but continuing to be professional, courteous, and living up to what you wrote in your cover letter and résumé is also very important.

CSN: Your internship was for credit, but it was unpaid. Tell me about working as an UNPAID intern. Was it worth it? Was it different from working in a paid position?

Working as an unpaid intern was definitely worth it! Some people are only concerned about getting “paid” for their work but I honestly feel that I got paid in experience. I was not required to work crazy hours and I was allowed to set up the schedule that worked for me and that is what I considered my “benefits.”  Plus, I know that future employers will look highly upon the fact that I was willing to do whatever it took just to get experience in my field, even if it meant being unpaid. Compared to a paid position I think that more is expected from you as a paid employee. However, if you are unpaid you should put 110% into your work, and who knows, you might get a job offer from that company because of your extra effort.

CSN: After graduating in Spring 2009, you got a job as Director of Operations at Wag ‘N’ Tails Dog Activity Center in Shelby Twp., MI. Did your internship experience help you in your job search?

JR: My internship experience definitely helped me in my job search and will help me in my current position. My internship gave me a behind-the-scenes look at what happens in a human resources department and what the best practices for making those processes work are. Also, I learned how to interact and communicate effectively with people of all types of personalities. Going into my current job I can already see a higher level of professionalism in myself which I gained from being involved in student organizations and my internship.

CSN: Do you have any advice for students who may be looking for an internship, or who already have an internship but want to make it a success?

JR: Start your internships as early as possible. If a company will let you do an internship as a freshman or a sophomore, do it! You never know, you might end up not liking the field your degree is in and as a junior or a senior it is probably too late to change. 
When looking for internships initially, do not give up, be persistent! Start looking for internships at least two semesters in advance if you can. Give yourself ample time to find the best internship instead of just taking the first one because the deadline for submitting your internship paperwork is in one week. If you pick an internship just because it is a position and you do not consider how far away it is, what other interns have said about working there, if it will be paid or unpaid, and so forth, you [may] not be happy…for a whole semester or two.

There is no doubt this is a very challenging time to be entering the workforce. But it is absolutely not impossible to find a job, despite the recession. Here are some tips to stand out from other graduates — hint: it takes some extra effort:

1. Take full advantage of Career Services. Services that can cost hundreds of dollars in the “real world” are available at no cost from your school, even after you graduate. This includes career counseling, resume editing, interview prep, exclusive networking events, access to alumni databases and much more. If you’re not working with your college’s career services office, you are missing an enormous opportunity.

2. Research every organization you’d like to work for. The biggest complaint I hear from recruiters is that job candidates, especially young professionals, don’t know enough about the companies to which they’re applying.  It’s crucial to be extremely knowledgeable about any company you want to work for. This helps you stand out by showing that you’re genuinely interested in the organization and that you’re ready to hit the ground running on day one. To make sure you never miss a thing, set up Google news alerts for any companies on your target list.  You’ll then receive an email whenever that company appears in a news article, blog post, press release or anywhere else. This will keep you in-the-know about new products or services, company announcements, industry issues and, of course, job opportunities.

3. Join LinkedIn and use it every day. Many recruiters, headhunters, small business owners and corporate hiring managers are now recruiting through LinkedIn, so make sure you are taking advantage of every aspect of this social networking site. First, set up a complete profile including keywords an employer might use to find someone like you. Join professional networking groups on LinkedIn to build your connections and become part of conversations about industry news. Scour other people’s profiles to look for companies you may want to apply to, job titles or professions you didn’t know about, professional organizations where you might network and people with similar interests who might be willing to offer you some job search advice. There aren’t that many students on LinkedIn, so you’ll certainly stand out if you actively participate in this growing community.

4. Call or email 5 contacts every day. Often the job goes to the person who is in the right place at the right time. Stay on recruiters’ and networking contacts’ radar screens by regularly reminding them of your availability and your potential. Some ideas: Check in every week or two with an additional idea for what you can contribute to the company, drop a note when you see the company or person mentioned in a news article, attend live events where you are likely to run into your contacts and check in whenever you have a new accomplishment to share. Just be careful to remain polite and relevant.

5. Get an industry insider to review your resume. What do employers look for when judging student resumes? It really depends on the particular employer. So, the best way to ensure that your resume will stand out is to get feedback from someone who might be assessing it — a professional working in the field, or ideally the company, where you want to work. Don’t guess what different companies or industries value in a resume — find out for sure (this is where your networking connections will come in handy). In addition to getting expert advice, make sure your resume is 100% typo free, contains lots of keywords relevant to your industry and includes any leadership experience you’ve had.

I hope this advice is helpful. Good luck!

Lindsey