What’s the Big Deal About GPAs?

by Laura Merrill, Manager of Cooperative Education

When you start job hunting, you may find that getting by in class, being involved in extracurricular activities, and earning your degree isn’t enough for most employers. Just getting by” is always a bad idea. That’s especially true in the business school, where what you learn in class often applies directly to real work situations. Interviewers will know quickly when you don’t know what you should. Also, you must maintain a 2.5 GPA to remain in good standing. And if you’re on scholarship, you can lose funding or see it substantially reduced, according to Heather Boutell, U of L’s assistant director of scholarships.

Increasingly, companies are requiring minimum GPAs
Some, such as Colgate-Palmolive, interviewed only applicants with GPAs of 3.0 or higher at a recent U of L recruiting event. Other companies put the threshold at 3.5.

What You Wear Can Get You Somewhere… or Nowhere

by Tom Keith, former Director of Business Development

You roll out of bed late, take a shower, and quickly get yourself together. No time to eat breakfast, so you head out the door. Before leaving, you check the mirror.

• Hair combed? Check.
• Shirt and tie? Check.
• Khaki pants? Check.
• Clean shoes? Check.

“I look good,” you tell yourself, dressed to impress for your 10:00 interview.

But you aren’t. Not even close.

Not Just Money; Co-op Means Opportunities

by Laura Merrill, Manager of Cooperative Education

For Bill Ready (’01) and Danese Seaman (’99), participating in a co-op program meant more than just money—it meant significant opportunities upon graduation.

Their experience is typical, and one of the main benefits of having a co-op assignment.

Bill, a CIS major who graduated with a 3.9 GPA, speaks highly of his co-op experience. “Co-op is among the most valuable experiences of my undergraduate career. The Ulmer Career Management Center’s co-op program had a very significant impact on me, both personally and professionally,” he said.

Table Manners Matter in Some Job Interviews

by Laura Merrill, Manager of Cooperative Education

etiquette (ĕt’ ĭ-kĕt’, -kĭt) n. [Fr., etiquette, label < OFr. estiquet, label. – see TICKET.] The forms and practices prescribed by social convention or by authority. n. The rules governing socially acceptable behavior.

Etiquette is simply the practice of socially acceptable behavior. The definition of etiquette seems straightforward enough. But what does it look like in practice? Who cares? YOU SHOULD. Dining etiquette can be crucial to a successful job search. Companies often look beyond a winning resume and a successful interview when evaluating job candidates. They judge social behavior, which may include a dinner meeting—that’s especially true if the job you’re pursuing requires interaction with customers or company executives. Prepare to dine with prospective employers by following these 10 basic guidelines:

“Why Should We Hire You?”

by Eileen Davis, Director of Career Development

Most job candidates fail to realize the single most important thing employers need to know about them. No matter how many questions are asked on interviews, they all boil down to this: “What can you do for our company?” Preparing to answer this question before it’s asked will put you ahead of the competition. In fact, the theme of what you can do for a company should be woven into all marketing communications you use during your job search—resumes, cover letters, and interviews.

How do you determine what you can do for a company? One way is to make sure you know what you’re marketing about yourself—your strengths, those things that have earned you compliments, promotions, or challenging assignments. But sometimes it’s easier to assess your value by first uncovering problems in the company or industry that need to be corrected.

Building a Brand

by Eileen Davis, Director of Career Development

What impression do you want to portray? When it comes to your resume, you have a few seconds to create an image. Be intentional about the image you want to convey.

• What do you have to sell? Are you well-rounded? You’ll need several categories for things like activities, honors, work experience, and volunteer experience. Do you have a high GPA? Showcase academic achievements with GPA, awards and scholarships, and honor societies. Lots of work experience? Demonstrate accomplishments on the job.

• Position key “brand” information in the visual center of the page: the 2-inch wide band that starts 2 inches from the top. Education, qualifications, or achievements–pick your best qualities and place them here.

• Use precise, concise language. Each word should earn a place on your resume.

• Give other people 10 seconds to read your resume–then ask what they noticed about you. Revise the resume until your brand comes through clearly.

Effective Resumes

by Eileen Davis, Director of Career Development

Consider the following scenario: A hiring manager leans back in her chair, picks up your resume, and takes two minutes to carefully consider your qualifications in relation to all available jobs in the company.

Now that we’ve indulged your vision of the ideal world, let’s look at a more realistic picture: If your resume is selected for review, a human resources representative or hiring manager will scan your resume for fewer than 10 seconds. You’ll be considered for a particular job–not for all open positions. And if your resume doesn’t convey what you want to do and why you’re qualified to do it, you won’t be called in for a personal interview– which is the sole purpose of a resume.

Here are some tips to ensure that your resume is effective in getting you a personal interview by phone or in person.