Job & Internship Searching

1. Job & Internship Searching How the Career Center can HELP Leslie Rand-Pickett, Assistant Director: University Career CenterLiaison to Electrical & Computer Engineering studentsOffice locations: 2100 Pullen Hall & 3068 EB2

2. University Career Center:Your Career Starts Here! Provide assistance with internship & job searching including: • Resume editing • Interview coaching • Sources of job listings, including the ePack database • Coordination of employer visits to campus: on-campus interviews & info sessions • Advice on handling job offers, salary negotiation, etc Average salaries: May 2008 MS ECE grads NCSU: $72,166 (both EE & CPE) National avg., $75,812 (CPE), $72,135 (EE)

3. Top 10 qualities employers seek • Communication skills (verbal & written) • Honesty / integrity • Interpersonal skills (relates well to others) • Strong work ethic • Teamwork skills • Analytical skills • Motivation / initiative • Flexibility / adaptability • Computer skills • Detail-oriented Look for ways to convey these qualities during your interactions with employers

4. Interviews & ePACK • Hundreds of interviews are conducted on campus each semester in the Career Center • Through ePACK you can connect with employers and sign up for interviews • Check ePACK weekly for new job listings and upcoming events (info sessions/calendar) • Employer contact information is available through ePACK Listings for MS ECE79 upcominginterviews Upcoming Deadlines in ePACK include: General Electric, Cisco, IBM, Mentor Graphics, Google, Northrop Grumman, Microstrategy, Samsung Austin Semiconductor, Cummins, Accenture, Caterpillar & many more!

5. First steps in ePACK • Update your profile • Be sure to select a major • Enable employer viewing of your resume • Upload your resume • Allows you to apply for positions with on-campus interviews • Allows employers to find your resume, and for Leslie to refer your resume out to employers who contact the Career Center • Is a secure place to store your resume! • Hard drives crash, and flash drives get lost! • You can download your resume as a Word document

6. Job/internship searching in ePACK Employers in ePACK are ones who are specifically interested in YOU as an NC State student or new grad.  You will be most competitive for these positions, and they are most related to your skills.  1. Search for jobs or internships using the job search function.  I recommend using the position type, degree & major as your ONLY criteria for your first try.  • Set up a saved search for yourself once you settle on the correct criteria for you.  Click "save search" on your job search results page to create the search & enable a daily digest email of new jobs/internships meeting your criteria. You can update or delete this search from your home page. 2. Click "qualified interview schedules" to see the upcoming list of on-campus interviews for which you can currently request consideration. 

7. Once you apply for positions… • Employers will either contact you directly, OR • Make decisions in ePack • If a company is interviewing on campus, they are likely making online decisions • When your status on a job changes, you’ll get an email from ePack • If you are accepted for an interview, you’ll be able to go online and choose a time that works for you • Track your status online through ePack • If you have a question about your status • Check the timeline of the interview schedule for when you might expect a decision • Review the contact info for the position • You can contact the employer directly if info is visible • Email the Career Center if you cannot see the contact info

8. Other sources of employers • Campus events & resources • Career Fairs, www.ncsu.edu/career • Information Sessions, www.ncsu.edu/epack • Co-op office, http://www.ncsu.edu/co-op_ed/ • UCC resources • http://www.ncsu.edu/career/students/jobsinternships/tools.php • Career Search • EmployOn • H-1 visa jobs • External resources • Dice.com, indeed.com, simplyhired.com

9. Check ePACK for the most up to date event information Upcoming Events for ECE

10. International Students • It is very important for you to work through the co-op office to have your internship approved. • This is critical to remaining in good status with your VISA. • ATTEND A CO-OP ORIENTATION • Sessions specially for international students • September 16 (Tuesday) 322 Daniels Hall • October 3 (Friday) 301 Clark Hall • October 14 (Tuesday) 322 Daniels Hall • October 31 (Friday) 301 Clark Hall • ALL SESSIONS @ 12 PM

11. Communicating with Employers • Know what you have to offer • Make a list of your accomplishments & interests • Refer to your resume draft to help you get started • Update your resume based on your conclusions • Ask those who know you well for insight • Focus on what makes you different than other candidates • Prepare concrete examples to back up statements you make about yourself during an interview or other interaction with an employer • Practice talking about yourself • You will become more comfortable with experience

12. Tips for success • Be aware of your body language • Smile • Maintain good eye contact (75-80%) • Provide a firm handshake • Maintain good posture • Be professional and well-mannered • Be positive • About yourself & others • About your experiences • Show how you will contribute to the organization • Be a good listener • Take the time you need to formulate answers • Ask if you are unclear about a question • Be honest if you do not know an answer • Show energy & enthusiasm • For your field • For the opportunity

13. For More Information • Visit the University Career Center • 2100 Pullen Hall • Or our website, www.ncsu.edu/career • Counselor Drop-In Hours in 2100 Pullen Hall • Monday through Friday 11-2 • Counselors also available by appointment • call 515-2396 • Leslie’s office hours in 3068 EB2, • check http://www4.ncsu.edu/~lcrandpi/index.htm • today’s PPT and other tips just for tech students also available on this site

14. Quick Tips on Resumes Resumes should… • Be brief (probably one page) • You have 30-60 seconds to engage the reader • Display your most important qualifications at the top & to the left of the page • Be directed to the type of position for which you are applying

15. A Few More Hints • Within each section, use reverse chronological order • When describing experience be sure to begin your phrases with action verbs • Focus on your accomplishments • Give ##’s and results when possible • If experience isn’t relevant, focus on the transferable skills used

16. Suggestions for each section • Skills: be sure to organize this section, give it subheadings if necessary & make good use of horizontal space • Projects: use action verbs to describe what YOU did on the project. Incorporate technical terms to show application of skill. • Experience: use space to describe your accomplishments. Use varied action verbs

17. sample skills sections • back

18. sample experience sections • back

19. Resumes for On-line Applications • Copy & paste your “pretty” resume into a separate document • Justify all items to the left • Remove bullets, bold, italics and underline • Use only keyboard characters (* - ), ALL CAPS, and white space to show separation • Copy & paste the file into the text box on web applications • This can also be used when an employer requests you send your resume via email, but not as attachment

20. It’s all about BALANCE • Think critically about your own skills, experiences and qualities. • What will the EMPLOYER see as most valuable to their organization? • Choose to include information THEY will view as important, and ARRANGE it so that it is easily read & understood.

21. CV vs. Resume • Resume for business (unless for a research based position) * CV for academia • Main difference, CV can be longer and includes more info on research, teaching, publications & presentations • With CV’s it’s still nice to try to follow some resume rules, like keeping the most important info first, and keeping details well organized & consistent

22. Sample CV’s available • http://chronicle.com/jobs/tools/cvdoctor/2006/ • Additional info on statements of teaching philosophy & other elements of an academic job search available @ • http://www4.ncsu.edu/~lcrandpi/index.htm

23. For More Information • Visit the University Career Center • 2100 Pullen Hall • Or our website, www.ncsu.edu/career • Counselor Drop-In Hours in 2100 Pullen Hall • Monday through Friday 11-2 • Counselors also available by appointment • call 515-2396 • Leslie’s office hours in 3068 EB2, • check http://www4.ncsu.edu/~lcrandpi/index.htm • today’s PPT and other tips just for tech students also available on this site