Are you Professionally Ready?

There is now a professional readiness certificate that most Indiana college students can obtain while in school.  It's called the INdorsed Career Ready Graduate Certificate.  Currently there are 32 Indiana colleges that offer this certificate.  Click HERE to see if your college offers the certificate.

This statewide standard is used by Indiana colleges and universities to certify students’ preparation for professional work in several competency areas: professional identity, experience and skills. The certification provides consistency for core competencies while allowing flexibility for individual programs. Additionally, it offers students and employers an excellent benchmark for career readiness as they engage in the recruiting process.  Upon completion of the certificate, students are given the opportunity to submit their information for an online database.  Employers can recruit these career ready graduates HERE.

For IPFW students, please go to our website at http://www.ipfw.edu/offices/career/students/indorsed.html for more information about how to get started and who to contact with questions.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

There are 3 basic areas of competencies, with 2 sections in each area and suggested activities to complete each area and section.

Professional Identity area

Self Assessment: This section is required because often companies will ask you during an interview why you've chosen this given profession. Through the development of self assessment you will be able to answer this question in a way that demonstrates you thoroughly thought about your career choice.
Self Marketing: This section includes preparation of your resume and interviewing skills, plus one additional activity that will help to showcase you as a candidate and/or create a "brand" online image.

Professional Experience area

Professional Experiences: You should know by now that all companies are looking for college graduates
to have both a diploma and 1-3 internships throughout their college years. There are other ways to gain experience, like attending a professional conference, so get out there and develop yourself in the field/industry of your choice (which your determined in the Self-Assessment section).
Professional Practices: This additional section in the experiences area is focused on developing networking skills and experiences. Networking is the #1 way people find job opportunities because most jobs are found through the Hidden Job Market. Start connecting with alumni, through LinkedIn, or through your own personal connections.

Professional Skills area

Professional Skill Development: It's not enough to just show up to the internship and do what you're told. What new skills did you develop at the internship? If there are certain skills you want to use in the future, then request those responsibilities from your supervisor and find ways to develop them. Leadership, creativity, initiative, and communication skills are all top skills that companies seek.
Unique Selling Point: Have you ever heard the question in an interview, "why should we hire you?" or "what makes you stand out among the other candidates?" This section will help you identify your uniqueness that you can bring to a company and enable you to answer these questions with ease.  A unique selling point is a vast as snowflakes, as no one will be the same from student to student. Start by considering what you do really well, where you excel in the classroom, at work, on the sports field, etc. Once you determine your top strength then perform two activities that support it for the certificate. Some people start by evaluating their experiences and find a common theme to identify the unique selling point, too.

Thinking Like an Interviewer

The Seven Point Plan
adapted from The Perfect Interview by Max Eggert

Preparing for an upcoming job interview?  During your preparation, take some time to think from the perspective of the interviewer.  If you'll be meeting with someone from Human Resources, it's likely they've had some training on how to conduct interviews.  The following seven points illustrate the areas interviewers are likely to examine during interviews with potential job candidates.

1. Attainment:  Do you meet the academic and professional experience qualifications? Does your experience make you the right person to be successful in the position?

2. Disposition: What is your personality like?  How will your personality affect the fulfillment of the open position? 

3. Special Aptitudes: Do you have any special aptitudes/competencies/talents that would benefit the company or position?

4. Interests: How do you spend your spare time/money?  What might this say about your potential to be motivated and successful in the position?

5. General Intelligence: How intelligent are you?  How will your intelligence be used in the position?

6. Physical Aspects: Do you have the appropriate health, build, and physical stamina to successfully fulfill the open position?

7. Circumstances: What effects have your personal circumstances had on your career development and success?  How will current and future circumstances affect your performance if selected for the position? 

By thinking through these concepts before the interview, you'll be better prepared to answer questions that may seem completely irrelevant but really examine one of the seven different areas.  Once you understand what the interviewer is looking for, you'll be able to provide an answer that summarizes your experiences and demonstrates that you're the right person for the job.

Want more information about interviewing? Interested in doing a mock interview? Contact IPFW Career Services at (260) 481-0689 or come to Kettler Hall Room 109 to schedule an appointment with a career counselor.  Drop-in availability: Monday-Friday 10am-2pm.   

LIFE AFTER SCHOOL EXPLAINED

I completed my undergraduate program a little more than a year and half ago. And boy was there a lot I didn’t know. Luckily, I landed a full time professional job right before graduation. But a full time job wasn’t the only major change I would encounter during my first year in the “real world.” A few months after graduation I got married, bought my first car, and purchased my first home. The transition from being a full time college student living in a dorm room to employee, wife, and homeowner happened fast and without much time for adjustment.

Now, after a lot of trial and error, I was introduced to a book called “Life After School. Explained.” This book covers many important topics for recent college graduates; including information on benefits, investments, apartment hunting, dinner etiquette, taxes, and even buying paint. When I started my first job I didn’t understand many of the terms and acronyms that my Human Resources Director was telling me. What did all these terms mean and what would be the best decision for my future? We didn’t learn about matched 401K’s, HSA (Health Savings Account) PPO (Preferred Provider Organization), PCP (Primary Care Physician), mutual funds, and IRA’s in my undergraduate program. *Note: However I did gain a clear understanding of Machiavelli and Facebook during my undergrad.

I wish that I would have known about this book earlier. You can easily read through the entire book in an afternoon or simply keep it on hand to look up topics as needed. I would recommend this book to anyone preparing to graduate or starting their first job. Stop by the Career Services office located in Kettler 109 to pick up your free copy!

Check out Cap & Compass's website at http://www.capandcompass.com/