November 13, 2015

1. Workplace writing is the opposite of prose...and text messaging
Writing an email to follow up on a job interview is very different from those papers your daughter wrote on Global Warming, Market Analysis, and William Faulkner. On the flip side, professional writing is not the same as texting and requires not only complete words (i.e., no āCU laterā), but fully formed sentences with proper punctuation and grammar. That said, workplace correspondence centers around succinct messages, addressing requests to the appropriate person from a political standpoint, and displaying a sense of urgency when communicating with customers. In other words, the way your child has communicated up to this point has not prepared her at all for written communication at work.
2. How to talk about his strengths in an interview
Iāve interviewed countless graduates who cannot articulate what theyāre good at or why they want to work for us. Itās not because they donāt have strengths, itās because they havenāt been taught how to talk about them in a way that translates into value for a potential employer. Help your child identify 3-5 strengths and then be able to explain why those strengths would be appealing to an employer.
3. The āhot jobsā arenāt so hot in the beginning
New graduates often have unreasonable expectations about entry level roles. Regardless of the degree, your child probably has a vision of what his first job will look like and that vision is unlikely to match reality. As you know, getting where he wants to be in his career is a process that requires hard work, extra hours, and delivering a LOT of consistent results. Since your child will probably be resistant to hearing from you on this point, find a great role model who can help your child understand what to expect and develop a point of view that performing well in an entry level role will accelerate his longer term progress toward the more glamorous opportunities he seeks.
4. Basic interview and office etiquette
Manners are seriously underrated. We see countless grads who donāt even seem to know that they should stand up when the interviewer walks into the room. The importance of a firm handshake, a thank you note, and acknowledging when you receive emails are other examples of basic etiquette falling by the wayside. Employers are looking for poised, enthusiastic candidates who know how to interact with people on a professional level. Itās expected that candidates will know to ask a few smart questions of every person who interviews them, inquire about next steps in the process, and thank us for our time at the end of the interview.
Helping your adult "child" navigate an entry level job search can be tricky, but addressing roadblocks like these will avoid frustration and embarrassment when jobs aren't forthcoming. November is Parents' Month at ePropelr, stay tuned for additional blogs and resources to help your graduate transition into a successful career!
Happy Job Hunting!
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