Table of Contents

Introduction

Welcome to the Real World

How to Use This Book

Meet Your Coaches and Resume Writers

Part I – Preparation and Messaging

Chapter 1: Things to Know About Your Job Search as a Recent College Graduate

Job Search Methods

Your Job Search Arsenal: Considerations, Tools, and Tactics

Clean Up All Social Media Before Starting a Job Search

What Employers Look for and Discover on Social Media

How Important is Your GPA When Searching for a Job?

How Important to Your Career is Your First Job After College?

What Employers are Looking for When Hiring New College Graduates

Who Hires New College Graduates?

Common Job Search Mistakes of Recent College Graduates

A Gap Year and Your Job Search

Dealing with a Criminal Record

The Psychology of Persuasion and Your Job Search

Getting Off to a Successful Start

Chapter 2: Essential Job Search Topics and Tools

Job Skills, Professional Qualities, and Character Traits

Understanding the Employer’s Mindset

Knowing What an Employer Wants in an Open Position

Matching Experience and “Word Clouds”

Accomplishments

Success Stories

Personal Branding

Elevator Speech

Business Cards

Chapter 3: Impactful Resumes

What a Resume is Not

So, What is a Resume?

Time is of the Essence

Your Resume is Your Marketing Brochure

Use of Keywords

Resume Formats

Parts of a Resume

Use of Recommendations on a Resume

Highlighting a Unique Qualification or Achievement on Your Resume

Information NOT to be Included on a Resume

Testing the Impact of Your Resume

Attaching Your Resume to Your Online Profile

Infographic Resume

Creating Your Own Resume

Resume Checklist

Chapter 4: LinkedIn

Use of Keywords

Your LinkedIn Profile-Sections

Introducing LinkedIn Optimization

How does it work . . . How Does an HR Recruiter Use LinkedIn to Find Candidates?

The Goal of Optimization

Keyword Location

Keyword Stuffing

Completeness

Connections

Compelling

Job Alerts

The Open Candidates Feature on LinkedIn

Measuring the Effectiveness of Your LinkedIn Profile

What Do You Do with Your LinkedIn Profile After You Get a Job?

Keep Your Profile Current

Sample of an Optimized College Graduate LinkedIn Profile

Chapter 5: Cover Letters and Other Written Communications

Types of Cover Letters

The Cover Letter Success Formula

Adding a P.S. (Post Script)

Thank-You Letters

Thank You Letter When You Are Not Selected for the Job

Email Follow-Up Letters

Something to Think About

Another Idea

Some Final Words about Written Communications

Shifting Gears

Part II – Generating Job Leads

Chapter 6: On-Campus Career Fairs

Get Mentally Prepared

Use of Resumes and Business Cards

Elevator Speech

Do Your Research

Dress Appropriately

Get a Portfolio and Take Notes

Hit the “B” List First to Warm Up

What Career Fair Company Representatives Look For

Chapter 7: Professional Networking

Defining What Networking Is

Why Networking is so Effective in a Job Search

Embrace a Networking Mentality

Types of Networks

Who to Network with as a Recent College Graduate

Fear of Networking

Networking and the Use of LinkedIn

Spreading the Word – Networking for a Job as a Recent College Graduate

Alumni Associations

Professional Associations

Association/Industry Conferences

Associations – Local Chapters

Icebreaker Questions for Conferences and Events

Goals of the Networking Conversation

Face-to-Face Networking as an Introvert

Chapter 8: Social Media: Twitter and Facebook

Twitter

Facebook

Chapter 9: Proactively Marketing Your Collegiate Credentials

Introduction to the Direct Approach

The Work

Determine Your Target Employers

Identify the Talent Acquisition Professional and the Hiring Executive

Research Email Addresses

Using the Telephone

The Positive Impact of Using the Phone

Excuses for Not Using the Phone in a Job Search

Phone Zone

Phone Phear: The Pre-Game Jitters

Who to Contact

The Marketing Call Script

Responses to Objections

Ask One Question After the Objection

Dealing with Rejection

Handling the Gatekeeper

Leaving a Voicemail Message

Email Marketing Your Collegiate Credentials

Sending Your Marketing Email

Email Marketing Through LinkedIn

Follow-Up Calls

Drip Email Marketing

The Research Interview

Using Videos or YouTube as a Part of Your Messaging

When All Else Fails

How to Honestly Measure Your Progress

Part III – Interviewing and Making a Positive Impression

Chapter 10: Interviewing

How Much Are Interviews Worth?

How an Employer Views an Interview

Strategy for a Successful Interview

Strategy for Opening the Interview

First Impressions

Interviews: Progression

Interview Preparation

Interview Formats

Practice (Mock) Interviews

Answering Traditional Interview Questions: The UPAC Method ™

Telephone Interview

The Unannounced Telephone Interview

Webcam or Skype Interview

Screening Interview Conducted by a Talent Acquisition Professional

Meal Interview

Behavioral Interview

Preparing for and Answering Behavioral Interview Questions

Your Interview Wardrobe

Closing the Interview

General Interviewing Tips

Debrief Yourself

Write a Thank-You Letter

Second and Home Office Interview Strategies

Common Interviewing Mistakes

Not Getting the Job: Handling the Disappointment

Chapter 11: References

Who to Ask to be a Reference

The Unsolicited Third-Party Affirmation

Part IV – Job Offers and Other Important Information

Chapter 12: Negotiating a Job Offer

Receiving the Offer

Your Negotiating Leverage

Research Salaries

Get Benefits Information

Having Another Offer

Negotiating Other Things

Negotiations: Establish a Tone of Cooperation and Justify Your Requests

Silence is Golden

Close Negotiations and Reach an Agreement

Sample Negotiation Script

Accepting the Offer: Be Timely

Get Final Offer in Writing

Declining an Offer of Employment

Chapter 13: Starting Your New Job

How to Make a Great First Impression When Starting Your New Job

What You Want to Achieve in Your First Job

Chapter 14: Required Job Search Skills for Long-Term Career Employment

The Seven Job Search Skills You Must Know

Your Career . . . Your Responsibility

Chapter 15: My Personal Letter to You about Career Management

Chapter 16: More Job Search Insights and Stories of Inspiration

Part V – Resume Samples and Other Written Communications

Chapter 17: Resume Samples and Other Written Communications

Provided by Your Coaches