Logistics Personal statements Career development Writing process. Outline

Transcription

1 Logistics Personal statements Career development Writing process Outline

2 Logistics

3 Resume (+cover letter) submission Turn in both hard-copies and electronic copies to EEE Submitting drafts: Unless we say otherwise, you will submit each assignment in two ways: on paper at the beginning of class on the due date and electronically, using the web-based submission system at EEE. You must place your assignments in the designated folder; for example, the final draft of the Resume assignment should be placed in "AssignmentSubmission/Resume_Final". Because students may use different word processing programs, we require you to upload text in PDF formats. We may use either or both versions for grading, so it's important that you submit each assignment both ways and that your paper and electronic versions are the same. Make sure that your hardcopy is stapled. Late policy: You will be docked 10% of the assignment's grade for each day that it is late. If you turn in only one of the electronic copy and hardcopy on the due date, you will be docked 5%. (Sorry, but otherwise drafts become unmanageable)

4 Personal Statement Assignment For this assignment, you will prepare a personal statement, similar to one you may be required to write for application to graduate school (e.g., an MBA) or fellowship. Find a particular graduate school or fellowship to which you can apply. Select one of the following questions to answer with an essay of at most 800 words: What is your proudest achievement, and how has it impacted you? What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will a degree from our university (or fellowship) specifically help you achieve these goals? Describe a challenging experience, such as a personal or professional setback. Describe a person you admire. Describe a situation where your professional ethics were challenged. How will other students at our university benefit from your background, experience, leadership, and/or teamwork skills? What do you consider to be the single most important societal problem? Why? Why are you a good candidate to receive this award? Choose a book or books that have affected you deeply and explain why.

5 Personal statements -Part of required application materials for professional (med/law/ business) school, graduate school (may apply for years later) -Articulates your compatibility with a given program -Complements other materials -Required for fellowship applications

6 Similar to job interviews

7 ! What!kinds!of!tasks!and!responsibilities!motivate!you!the! most?! Similar to job interviews e! CAREER PLANNING GUIDE Want more practice questions? Check out: Knock em Dead by Martin John Yate Adams Media Corp Job Interviews for Dummies by Joyce Lain Kennedy John Wiley & Sons Inc 2008

8 Types of interview questions

9 3 Traditional resume-based Resume-Based & Traditional how$well$you$can$elaborate$on$and$provide$ support$for$the$information$provided$on$your$ resume.$$ different(type(of(question. Behavioral that$past$performance$may$predict$futur performance.$ Employers$will$ask$you$to$describe$real situations$you$have$encountered$in$the$p to$gain$an$understanding$of$how$you$wi respond$to$potential$future$situations.$ involve: Determining$your$level$of$interest$in$ the$job$or$the$company.$ Ascertaining$your$abilities$and$ developmental$areas.$ Exploring$how$you$might$handle$ hypothetical$situations$in$the$ workplace.$ For$example: Tell$me$about$a$time$when$you...$ had$to$solve$a$complex$problemb$ deal$with$a$difficult$person/team$ memberb$ complete$a$challenging$projectb$or achieve$an$important$goal.$ middle,(and(a(happy(ending. What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will a degree from our university (or fellowship) specifically help you achieve these goals? Why are you a good candidate to receive this award?

10 W Behavioral questions sume-based & Traditional w$well$you$can$elaborate$on$and$provide$ port$for$the$information$provided$on$your$ ume.$$ ferent(type(of(question. olve: Determining$your$level$of$interest$in$ the$job$or$the$company.$ Ascertaining$your$abilities$and$ developmental$areas.$ Exploring$how$you$might$handle$ hypothetical$situations$in$the$ workplace.$ Behavioral that$past$performance$may$predict$future$ performance.$ Employers$will$ask$you$to$describe$real$ situations$you$have$encountered$in$the$past$ to$gain$an$understanding$of$how$you$will$ respond$to$potential$future$situations.$ For$example: Tell$me$about$a$time$when$you...$ had$to$solve$a$complex$problemb$ deal$with$a$difficult$person/team$ memberb$ complete$a$challenging$projectb$or$ achieve$an$important$goal.$ Case used$within$the$fields$of$management$ can$be$included$in$other$fields$as$well.$ You$may$be$given$information$about$a$re business$issue$or$problem$and$asked$to$ develop$a$solution$ on$the$spot $using$yo problemgsolving$skills.$ As(part(of(this(process,(you(are(expected to information(to(develop(your(recommenda or(solution.(( You$might$also$be$asked$brainGteaser$o You(are(not(expected(to(come(up(with( the(correct(answer(to(these(questions.(( The(employer(wants(to(see(the(logical( Describe a challenging experience, such as a personal or professional assumptions setback. Describe a situation middle,(and(a(happy(ending. where your professional ethics were challenged. estimate.

11 In-class group exercise Point out 3 ways in which this personal statement is ineffective. Discuss in groups of 4 (I ll ask each group to name one of the ways).

12 Back to personal statement... Step 1: Understand the purpose of why you are writing. What is the goal?

13 Back to personal statement... Step 1: Understand the purpose of why you are writing. What is the goal? Step 2: Understand your audience. What sort of things will the admissions committee be looking for?

14 Factors when writing Audience: who will read it? Admissions committee will determine your "compatibility" with the school. Review universities website, mission-guidelines, and even make use of specific language. Purpose: why are you writing it? Admissions committee needs to see how you have prepared, what you will contribute, and how their program achieves your goals. Author: what makes you unique? Hardest aspect to get right.

15 Exercises Specific qualities What are three things you would like the admissions officer to know after they have forgotten about the rest of your statement? Describe an experience that highlighted these qualities. Unique experiences What sets you apart from other applications? (personal or family history, people or events that shaped you) Personal preparation What are your career goals? How did you learn about this field? How did you become interested? Any gaps in your record that need to be addressed?

16 ! convince!someone.!how!did!you!do!it? differently? Tell a story HOW TO BECOME A BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW STAR Use the acronym STAR as a framework for your responses to behavioral interview questions (or, also when conveying any example to support a response to a traditional question). S = Describe a relevant SITUATION. Be sure to provide enough background information to establish the importance of the issue at hand and your role. T = Provide an overview of the TASKS involved. A = Describe the specific ACTIONS you took as part of a team, or individually. R = Summarize the RESULTS you achieved, quantifying whenever possible. In some cases, you may also share results in the form of lessons learned. Self-analysis is crucial! 1

17 Common complaints (from admissions officers) The mistake people make most often is not to look at what the questions are asking. We can tell when applicants use answers to other schools' questions for our essays; we're sensitive to this. We look for some originality because nine out of ten essays leave you with a big yawn. If you're screening 5,500 applications over a four- or six-month period, you want to see something that's really interesting. They fail to explain errors or weaknesses in their background. We're trying to gauge the potential for a student's success in law school, and we determine that, principally, on the basis of what the student has done in the past. Applicants make a mistake by doing a lot of speculation about what they're going to do in the future rather than telling us about what they've done in the past. Applicants also tend to state and not evaluate. They give a recitation of their experience but no evaluation of what effect that particular experience had on them, no assessment of what certain experiences or honors meant.

18 A look back: Personal Statement Assignment For this assignment, you will prepare a personal statement, similar to one you may be required to write for application to graduate school (e.g., an MBA) or fellowship. Find a particular graduate school or fellowship to which you can apply. Select one of the following questions to answer with an essay of at most 800 words: What is your proudest achievement, and how has it impacted you? What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will a degree from our university (or fellowship) specifically help you achieve these goals? Describe a challenging experience, such as a personal or professional setback. Describe a person you admire. Describe a situation where your professional ethics were challenged. How will other students at our university benefit from your background, experience, leadership, and/or teamwork skills? What do you consider to be the single most important societal problem? Why? Why are you a good candidate to receive this award? Choose a book or books that have affected you deeply and explain why.

19 Grading Rubric * Critical Thinking and Analysis The draft clearly answers one of the stated questions (the reader should be able to easily identify which prompt was used). The draft is written with a target audience (admissions officer, or fellowship committee member) in mind, emphasizing qualities of the applicant that will make him/her a successful addition to the target school. Beyond just a statement of facts that answer the given prompt, the draft includes thoughtful evaluations and assessments of such statements. The draft addresses any possible weaknesses in an applicant's background. Finally, the draft displays some originality that separates it apart from most statements that an admissions officer will encounter. * Development and Structure The organization is apparent, coherent, and contributes to the overall goals; the insightful, specific, focused development of the main purpose/thesis is effectively organized in paragraphs; transitional devices ( 574/1/) help to develop one idea from the previous one or identify their logical relations; the reader is effortlessly guided through the chain of reasoning or progression of ideas. Parallel structure is used to emphasize common relationships between ideas ( * Language and style The prose is consise, in that does not contain unncessary words or sentences. Sentences are correct in that there no fragments ( resource/620/1/) or dangling modifiers ( 597/1/). Sentences are clear with naturally flowing subordinate clauses, strong action verbs, unambiguous pronouns, and limited use of nominalizations and double-negatives ( The propose is written with the appropriate level of formality. The prose is written in a consistent tense ( owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/601/04/) and voice (active vs passive).

20 Logistics Personal statements Career development Writing process Outline

21 Career development CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

22 A good opportunity for self-assessment Self-Assessment Interests Personality Values Career Choice Skills When your care with your intere and skills, you m productive at w SKILLS INVENTORY W QUESTIONS Before3you3co

23 Self-assessment: QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF personality/values Before3you3come3in3for3an3appointment3with3a3career3 1.3What3have3I3received3praise3or3recognition3for3in3the past? ns s LEADERSHIP Decision3making3 Motivating3others Delegating Evaluating Problem3solving Supervising/managing3 ORGANIZATIONAL Follow3through3 Planning Meeting3deadlines Setting/attaining3goals Multitasking33 Time3management 3333data? 3.3Do3I3prefer3a3regular3routine3or3an3everKchanging3 3333schedule?3 4.3Do3I3prefer3to3work3as3part3of3a3team3or3alone?3 5.3Do3I3prefer3to3lead3or3follow?3 6.3Do3I3prefer3to3communicate3in3writing3or3verbally?3 3333data?33 8.3Do3I3enjoy3creative3activities3and3artistic3endeavors?3 9.3How3important3is3work/life3balance3to3me?

24 Self-assessment: skills 1.3What3have3I3rec 33333past? INTERPERSONAL Relating3well3with3others Listening3to3others 3opinions/concerns Responding3to3concerns Resolving3disputes3or3conflicts Assisting3others Motivating3individuals3and/or3groups Working3as3a3team3player COMMUNICATION Writing Advising Presenting/public3speaking Training/instructing Persuading/motivating3 Interpreting3information LEADERSHIP Decision3making3 Motivating3others Delegating Evaluating Problem3solving Supervising/managing3 ORGANIZATIONAL Follow3through3 Planning Meeting3deadlines Setting/attaining3goals Multitasking33 Time3management 3333data? 3.3Do3I3prefer3a3re 3333schedule?3 4.3Do3I3prefer3to3w 5.3Do3I3prefer3to3le 6.3Do3I3prefer3to3c 3333data?33 8.3Do3I3enjoy3crea 9.3How3important3

25 The career development process is a journey that involves developing and refining your goals. This journey unfolds as you gain knowledge and experiences and it continues throughout your time at Princeton and beyond. (In fact, you may repeat this process at various stages of your career.) The earlier you begin to focus on your career development, the more prepared you will be to pursue a wide range of options and opportunities. The subsequent Pursue: sections of this Let s publication make will offer it advice happen for each of the steps in this process. Assess: what career do I want? Explore: what careers are out there? Additional Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities A Comprehensive Search for Opportunities Effective Self-Marketing Strategies 3. Pursue Preparing Planning Assess Interests Values Choosing Strengths Personality 1. Deciding FOCUS Reflecting Explore Acting Evaluating Professional Connections Various Options! Resources/ Advice 2. Experiential Learning

26 Four-year plan (Learn stuff, have fun, and...) Freshman: Look for extra-curricular activities (clubs, organizations) to gain experiences and network Talk to upperclassmen, counselors, and professors about majors/minors and careers Sophomore: Keep up with activities Attend panels/presentations to learn more about career choices Look for opportunities for volunteer internships Junior: Senior: Keep up with activities Fine-tune resume (with consultation from Career office if necessary) Explore contacts with alumni and other networks Attend career fair Attend presentations about industry, graduate schools, fellowships,... More of same, taking advantage of Career Center as necessary

27 A few parting words: proactive job search Develop a plan of action Some estimate that only 20% of existing jobs were explicitly advertised; rest are hidden Search websites, mission-statements, professional associations, journals (GDC), network through alumni Letters of references former professors, employers, coaches (allow plenty of time; provide references with resume + list of relevant accomplishments)

28 Another important fact: If you are looking for a job or internship, employers may search online for information about you as part of a standard background check. This includes blogs, Facebook profiles, Twitter updates, and other information available on the Internet. A few parting words: proactive job search According) to) a) survey) published) by) the) National) Association) of) Colleges) and) Employers) in) 2009,) 70) percent)of)u.s.)recruiters)and)hr)professionals)say) they) have) rejected) candidates) based) on) information) they)found)online.) To create and maintain a positive, professional online presence: Google your name (and variants) Attempt to remove dodgy information if found Use appropriate privacy settings on Facebook Be smart about photos and comments you post or are posted about you! Use Google, or another search engine, to search all versions of your name (full name and nicknames) and see what information is readily available about you on the Internet. If you find something on other websites that might damage your online reputation, take action to try to have it removed. Use the privacy settings on your Facebook account to ensure that personal information, posts, and photos you do not want shared with employers are not viewable on your public profile. professional know+who+h a Net wit som + Family + Friend + + Profes + Univer + Superv + Alumn Alumni+ are+ mon+ connec Network+wh provide+care site.) Ask