2018-2019

BROADJOB SEARCH

GUIDEThis handbook is designed to help Broad

College of Business undergraduate students

begin developing documents and strategies for

an internship or full-time job search.

1

NEED TO KNOW

Welcome to the Lear Center!Currently located on the first floor of Owen Hall:

Connect with us!Visit our online resources for career information, tips, and resources.

@RecruitMSU

@RecruitMSU

lear.broad.msu.edu

(517) 432-0830

@RecruitMSU

lear@broad.msu.edu

CONTACT US!735 E Shaw Lane Owen Hall, Rm W-114 East Lansing, MI 48825 M-F: 8am-5pm

This guide was printed in August 2018. For up-to-date information, check your Handshake account and the Lear Career Management Resources Community in D2L.

2

STUDENT SUCCESS

HOW TO: 1. Log in to Handshake. Use your MSU Net ID and password and log in on the MSU Handshake page at: msu.joinhandshake.com

2. Fill out your profile. Some of your information will already be in your Handshake profile. Check to be sure all information is correct and fill out the remaining profile fields. The more complete your profile is, the better Handshake can target opportunities for you.

3. Upload a resume. You will want to have a public resume available in Handshake for employers to see. There is a privacy option if you wish to not have your resume public, this however will not make you searchable by recruiters.

4. Follow the tags located in this Guide.Events will be up to date in Handshake and will include accurate dates, times, and locations. Use the tag and keywords in this Guide to easily search for your event.

WHAT IS: Handshake is MSU’s online career management platform that connects MSU students with employers and alumni. Apply directly to job/internship opportunities, sign-up for on-campus interviews and find company and Lear Center events and resources.

4

GETTING HELP

2

ONLINE ADVISING RESOURCEOnce you have used VMock for your resume, utilize this electonic platform to submit resumes or other job search documents for critiques or for other questions related to job search strategies (including Handshake).

Email learsupport@broad.msu.edu and allow 48-72 hours for a response. Please note that higher level questions may need an appointment.

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH AN ADVISOR OR STOP IN TO SEE A PEER COACHAvailable during the daytime and evenings on weekdays in the Business College Complex hallway, McDonel Hall lobby, the Business Library entrance, and the Owen Hall career center office.

1

3

USE VMOCKVMOCK is a:• Resume platform that will give you instant and

personalized resume feeback, benchmarked against your business peers using analytics with smart bullet samples.

VMOCK will help you:• Create a strong first impression through your resume

based on the recommended template.VMOCK will:• Save you significant time in developing your competitive

resume.

You should have received an email invitation with instructions

on how to access the link: www.vmock.com/MSUBroad.

5

Amanda K. Getajob 430 Park Ln. • Milford, IL 60501 • (810) 555-5555 • getajob@msu.edu

EDUCATION

Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI May 2018 Eli Broad College of Business

Bachelor of Arts, Supply Chain Management Minor in International Business Major GPA: 3.75/4.00; Cumulative GPA: 3.35/4.00

Dean’s List: 3 Semesters

International Business Study Abroad, Western Europe May 2016 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

General Motors, Detroit, MI June – Aug. 2016 May – Aug. 2016 Supply Chain Intern

● Developed a commodity strategy that increased efficiency of the purchasing plan from suppliers by 10% by proactively solving potential problems

● Executed a regional $100,000 materials budget for North America to track materials that must be purchase within specific time periods to fulfill material requirements

● Strategically managed relationships with three key suppliers to ensure a collaborative relationship and maximize the interactions

EY, Detroit, MI May – Aug. 2015 Core Tax Intern

● Collaborated with a team of other interns and professional staff to complete compliance work on one of the Detroit office’s largest clients 4 weeks ahead of the budgeted schedule

● Provided tax compliance services on an international, federal, state, and local to multiple clients ranging from trusts to multinational corporations

● Developed Excel workbooks to expedite the preparation process resulting in time saving in excess of 150 hours

RELATED EXPERIENCE

Michigan State Culinary Services, East Lansing, MI Jan. 2015 – Present Student Cook

● Provided courteous and prompt customer service to guests in a dining hall for a population of approximately 7,500

● Attained full responsibility for completion of daily projects of front-kitchen team and supervision of 4 other co-workers in the front kitchen

● Mentored a novice prep chef in basics of food preparation until she attained sufficient competence to be independent contributor to team

● Ensured all service and preparation areas were kept clean and met sanitation standards

Lindow’s Lawns, Rochester, MI June 2014 – Dec. 2015 Exterior Designer

● Increased revenue by over 9% by implementing “Sunday Special” lawn care promotion ● Designed and implemented training program to onboard 4 new staff members ● Managed and held responsibility for balancing daily cash flow of $300

ACTIVITIES, HONORS & SKILLS

MSU Supply Chain Management Association, Vice President Aug. 2016 – Present Phi Chi Theta, Professional Business Fraternity, Member Aug. 2014 – Present Deloitte Financial Accounting Case Competition, Participant Aug. 2015 – June 2016 Sparty Foundation Scholarship, Scholarship Recipient Aug. 2014 Chinese and English Language, Fluent

Permanent address and MSU email. Add professional LinkedIn profile URL after all sections have been completed.

View: Education section, pg. 7

Anticipated graduation date should be right aligned with margins set at a min. of 0.5” max. of 1” for entire document.

Study abroad experience can include a brief description

If abbreviating dates, use the first 3 letters.

Bullet points should be one full sentence and should not exceed a line and a half. Each bullet point should highlight a new skill.

View: Experience section, pg. 8-10 You may organize your experiences to reflect professional, leadership, and/or related experiences.

Section may be renamed to include activities, honors, and/or skills. Skills should be limited to those that are unique and considered intermediate/advanced levels.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

If you are an International student and would like your English name included format using paranthesis: Amanda (English name) Getajob

View: Action Verbs, pg. 11-12

12

34

5

6

7

8

9

10

While having an objective is optional, accounting

students should include an objective which indicates location (city) and focus

area (tax/audit).

ACCOUNTING STUDENTS:

SAMPLE RESUME

6

The purpose of a resume is to obtain an interview (not a job).

“ “

BUSINESS PREFERENCEMichigan State University, East Lansing, MIBachelor of Arts, Business PreferenceIntended Major: FinanceCumulative GPA: 3.50/4.00

East Lansing High School, East Lansing, MIHigh School DiplomaCumulative GPA: 3.70/4.00

Add: Cumulative GPA once established

Remove: All high school education by the end of freshman year

Michigan State University, East Lansing, MIEli Broad College of BusinessBachelor of Arts, Business Admitted Intended Major: Finance Cumulative GPA: 3.50/4.00

Michigan State University, East Lansing, MIEli Broad College of BusinessBachelor of Arts, Supply Chain ManagementMajor GPA: 3.75/4.00 Cumulative GPA: 3.50/4.00

Add: Major GPA if higher than cumulative GPA

Update: Major to accepted major

Michigan State University, East Lansing, MIEli Broad College of Business Bachelor of Arts, FinanceMinor in International BusinessMajor GPA: 3.75/4.00Cumulative GPA: 3.5/4.00Deans List: 2 Semesters

Oakland University, Rochester, MICompleted 28 General Education Credits GPA: 3.50/4.00

Minor: Include in line below major

Deans List: Include below GPA

Graduate Students: Include GMAT, GRE, honors (ex. summa cum laude), and a GPA of 3.5 or above

Study Abroad: Indicate study abroad (see resume example)

Transfer Student Example:

EDUCATION SECTIONThe education section of your resume should be updated each time your status within the Broad College changes. As a college student, your education section is a highlight on your resume and will be the first section.

BUSINESS ADMITTED

ACCEPTED

What else can be added to your Education Section?

Update: Major to Business Admitted

7

EXPERIENCE SECTIONThe experience section of your resume consists of 3-5 experiences that are applicable to the position for which you are applying. You want to convey to employers that you have developed relevant skills.

EXPERIENCE BY MAJOR

AccountingEY, Detroit, MICore Tax Intern

• Collaborated with a team of six interns and professional staff to complete compliance work finishing four weeks ahead of the budgeted schedule

• Provided international, federal, state, and local tax compliance services to multiple clients, including trusts and multinational corporations

• Developed an Excel workbook to expedite the preparation process resulting in time saving in excess of 150 hours

FinanceMerrill Lynch, New York, NYInvestment Banking Intern

• Reviewed current trends in the financial industry and created PowerPoint presentations for prospective/current clients

• Member of a deals team on an acquisition of a public company worth $1.8 billion

ManagementForest Akers, East Lansing, MIGeneral Manager

• Managed a team of 6 employees to create an efficient workplace in the clubhouse

• Determined areas of improvement for cost control decreasing company’s cost by 5%

• Interviewed, hired, and trained new staff

8

BULLET POINT DEVELOPMENTEXPERIENCE BY MAJOR CONTINUED

Human Resource ManagementMeijer, Grand Rapids, MIHuman Resource Intern• Assisted in creating and delivering all new hire orientation

materials• Collected, sorted and evaluated job applications for candidates

and called deserving candidates to schedule an interview• Maintained and updated employee files and company

documentation

Marketing Marketing Associates, Detroit, MIMarketing Intern

• Created and maintained marketing reports detailing commercial market trends

• Created leads for product introduction launch yielding a very positive outcome

• Participated in developing an integrated multi-channel marketing program targeting college students in the areas they most use via traditional and non-traditional strategies

Supply ChainGeneral Motors, Warren, MIGlobal Purchasing Supply Chain Intern

• Created automated and standardized change management form increasing efficiency by 90%

• Reviewed freight on board destination invoices and retrieved $100,000 held in suspense accounts due to incorrect shipping terms

• Analyzed and assessed procurement agent purchase packages to verify compliance with government and company procedures

9

W What did you do?Think of what tasks you did or projects you worked on – provide context!

How did you do the work?Think skills, strategies, methods, tools, techniques and/or attitudes.HWhat was the outcome of the work?Think of the results, impact, contribution, intention and/or scope.O

Bullet points should concisely convey to employers the various accomplishments and tasks you have performed in your previous and current roles. Utilizing the WHO Method* when constructing bullet points prepares evidence-based bullet points.

BULLET POINT DEVELOPMENT

Tips:1. Have a variety of action verbs, do not repeat!

2. Employ major or industry specific language to display your business acumen.

3. Quantify at any opportunity (percentages, dollar figures and hard numbers)

as this will differentiate you from other applicants.

Important Note:The WHO Method serves as a model for the ideal bullet point. At times it proves to be impossible to include all 3 aspects of this method which is ok. A rule of thumb to abide by is to ensure you have more than just a WHAT statement as the aim of this method is to provide evidence to the reader.

10*Source: The WHO Resume Development Method created by Jane Evarian.

EXPERIENCE SECTION:Action VerbsUse action verbs to get ideas for how you might describe your own skills and experience in your resume, cover letter, portfolio, interview, and other interactions. Refer to the sample resume for examples on how to use an action verb on a resume.

CREATIVITY

COMMUNICATION FLEXIBILITY

INITIATIVE

ANALYSISAnalyzedAscertainedAssessedComparedComputedConceptualizedConcludedConfirmedCritiqued

DecipheredDeliberatedDeterminedDevisedDiagnosedEstimatedEvaluatedExaminedForeccastedFormulated

IntegratedInvestigatedJustifiedMeasuredNegotiatedPrescribedPrioritizedProjectedQuestionedRated

RecommendedResearchedScrutinizedStudiedSubstantiatedSynthesizedValidatedVerified

BrainstormedConstructedDesignedEngineeredEnvisionedFabricatedIllustrationProducedShapedVisualized

AddressedApprisedArbitratedAttestedAuthoredClarifiedCommunicatedComposedConvincedCorresponded

DraftedEditedExplainedInformedInterpretedLecturedMarketedPersuadedPresentedPromoted

PublicizedQueriedReportedSpokeSummarizedTranslatedWrote

AccommodatedAdaptedAdjustedAlteredBalancedConvertedGrewImprovisedTailored

AcceleratedAccomplishedAchievedAcquiredAdvancedBolsteredBoostedBuilt

CoordinatedCreatedDedicatedDemonstratedEnrichedEstablishedExpandedExpedited

ImplementedImprovedIncreasedInitiatedInnovatedInspiredIntroducedLaunched

MinimizedMobilizedModernizedModifiedMultipliedOverhauledPioneeredRevamped

RevisedSpearheadedStimulatedSuggestedUpdatedUpgraded

11

LEADERSHIP

ORGANIZATIONTEAMWORK

PROBLEM SOLVING

AND MORE

AssistedCollaboratedContributedCooperatedMediatedParticipatedPartnered

ArrangedAssembledBudgetedCalculatedCataloguedCentralizedChartedClassified

CollectedCompiledConsolidatedCorrelatedIndezedLinkedOrchestratedOrganized

OrientedPlannedProcessedPurchasedRecordedRegulatedScheduledSystematizedTabulated

AidedAlleviatedAmelioratedAugmentedCounseledCustomizedDebuggedEasedElevatedEnlargedExtended

ExtractedFinalizedFufilledGeneratedIdentifiedIntercededInventedLigjtemedPolishedProcuredReconciled

RectifiedReducedRefinedReformedRehabilitatedReinforcedRejuvenatedRelievedRemediedRemodeledRepaired

RestoredRetrievedRevitalizedRevovedSettledSolicitedSolvedStreaminedStrengthenedSupplementedTransformed

ActedActivatedAddedAdmittedApportionedAppraisedApproximated

AttainedAuditedCertifiedCommissionedCommittedExcelledExecuted

ExercisedFamiliarizedFiguredGuaranteedIndicatedInstitutedInvolved

IssuedLicensedMaintainedOperatedPerformedPreparedProgrammed

RealizedRelatedREservedReviewedSatisfiedScreenedSecured

ServedSetSmoothedSoughtSpecifiedSubmittedSurveyed

SustainedTracedTransactedTransmittedValued

AdministeredAdvisedAllocatedAllowedAppointedApprovedAssignedAuthorizedChairedCoached

Delegated DesignatedDirected EducatedElicitedEmployedEmpoweredEnabledEncouragedEndorsed

Enhanced FacilitatedFosteredFoundedGuidedHired InfluencedInstructedInterviewedJudged

LedModeratedMonitoredMotivatedOfficiatedRecruitedSanctionedSupervisedTrained

12

RESUME REVIEW CHECKLIST

_____ Name at top; font size a little larger, but not too large_____ Consistency with proper vs. preferred name (i.e., Nicholas “Nick” Smith)_____ Middle name or initial optional

Contact Information:_____ One email address_____ One phone number_____ Address, optional_____ LinkedIn URL, recommended if complete

Education Section:_____ Reverse chronological order (MSU degree on top, only include high school until after first year at MSU)_____ Institution Name (MSU)_____ Institution location (City, state: East Lansing, MI)_____ Graduation month and year only; Not--dates attended, date started, “expected” or “anticipated”_____ Academic honors, awards, scholarships_____ Relevant course projects

Ideal Education Section Format Example:Michigan State University, East Lansing, MIBroad College of BusinessBachelor of Arts, Finance May 2021Minor in International BusinessMajor GPA: X.XX/4.0; Cumulative GPA: X.XX/4.0Dean’s List: # semesters

Study Abroad: (course topic and city, country location)

Experience Section:_____Reverse chronological order_____Bullet points, using only the "l” symbol_____Each sentence begins with action verb (past tense for prior jobs)_____Shows relevant, transferrable skills_____Shows skills, knowledge and quantifiable results where able

13

RESUME REVIEW CHECKLIST

Other information to include if relevant:_____ Language skills (native, fluent, conversant/basic—written, spoken or both)_____ Military experience_____ Technical skills_____ Publications_____ Community services_____ Certifications_____ Interests/hobbies, if differentiated

Formatting:_____ 1-page only_____ Black ink only_____ Recommended font styles: Garamond, Palatino, Times New Roman, Arial, Cambria_____ Easily readable font sizes (not smaller than 10.5, not larger than 14)_____ Consistency with bolding, underlining, spacing, dashes_____ Final version save as pdf with “Lastname_Firstname_Resume_Date”

Resume does NOT have:_____ Objective statement_____ Photo_____ Signature_____ Company or organizational logos/graphics_____ Salary history_____ Information on: race, gender, marital status, religion, social security #, health status, children, marital status, age or date of birth, nationality or country of origin_____ Reason for leaving jobs_____ No personal pronouns (I, my, we)_____ ”References Available Upon Request”

14

Amanda K. Getajob 430 Park Ln. • Milford, IL 60501 • (810) 555-5555 • getajob@msu.edu

August 21, 2017 Taylor Jones, Senior Vice President of Supply Chain Management Whirlpool Corporation 2000 N. M-63 Benton Harbor, MI 49022 Dear Mr. Jones, I am writing you to express my interest in pursuing the Global Supply Chain Leadership Development Program opportunity within Whirlpool Corporation. I was initially attracted to your job posting on Handshake because of the duties within this role and opportunity for growth.I think that my experience thus far has provided me with a unique and transferrable skill set necessary to be successful in the role. Through my internships with Ernst & Young and General Motors, I have developed strong analytical and leadership skills. At EY, I saved over 150 hours of work by developing workbooks to expedite the preparation process. I also executed a $100,000 budget for North America to fulfill material requirements at GM. During these tasks, I led cross-functional teams of interns and professional staff while also developing commodity strategies. These accomplishments helped me to advance my skills that I believe will help me succeed at Whirlpool. Duringtheschoolyear,Iamveryinvolvedoncampus.ServingattheVicePresidentofMSUSupplyChainManagementAssociationandworkingasaStudentCookhavetaughtmemanyskills.Servingover7,500students,mentoringnewchefs,andmanagingateamofchefshastaughtmehowtoprioritizemyresponsibilities.Overseeingover300studentsandnetworkingwithFortune500companiesrecruitingMSUSupplyChainManagementstudentshasimprovedmycommunicationskillsimmensely.I want to thank you for taking the time to read about my previous experiences, and how the skills I’ve gained have prepared me for an employment opportunity with Whirlpool Corporation. I am very excited about the possibility of working for this great company. I look forward to hearing from you in the future. Sincerely,

Amanda Getajob Amanda K. Getajob

Signature (hand signed)

1

6

7

8

Match resume and cover letter headers

Date cover letter was written

Company’s address and include contact’s name if available

First Paragraph: State the reason why you are writing, position you are applying for, and how you learned about employer or position opening

Body Paragraph(s): Be specific about why you are interested in the position and show your enthusiasm; briefly summarize some of your strongest qualifications for the position; link transferable skills to specific requirements in the position; show what you have to offer the employer

Closing Paragraph: Restate your interest in the position/company, thank the reader, and declare interest in hearing back from the company/recruiter

If contact’s name is not available, use ‘Position Name’ Hiring Committee, or ‘To whom it may concern’

2

3

4

5

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

*This is an example only. Personalize your cover letter to fit your story.

SAMPLE COVER LETTER

15

The purpose of a cover letter is to convince the reader to look at the resume.

“ “

Signature (hand signed)

COVER LETTER CHECKLIST

16

Opening Paragraph:_____ Student Status_____ Job Title & Company Name_____ How posting identified_____ Succinct statement on why company & position interests_____ Attention-grabbing statement_____ Referral or recent interaction of person, if applicable

Middle Paragraph:_____ Story or Example_____ 5-6 sentences_____ Focus on results/accomplishments

Closing Paragraph:_____ Reference Resume_____ The “ask”: what you want (interview)_____ Call to action: further follow up

Miscellaneous:_____ 1 page only_____ 3-4 paragraphs_____ Left justified_____ Centered text on page_____ Employer name and/or address, if known_____ Overall genuine, enthusiasm_____ Free of gimmicky statements that don’t differentiate

CAREER FAIRSIt only takes about 30 seconds to make a positive (or negative) impression with a recruiter, so introducing yourself quickly with qualifications and interests is important. Practicing a short three-second to one-minute introduction that sounds natural and includes the following is important:

____ Full, clear name

____ MSU Program/Degree and major

____ Graduation, month/year

____ What Seeking: internship, summer, after graduation, full-time, etc.

____ Why interested in opportunity and company

____ Story related to above interests and skills

AT THE FAIR...

• Get organized. Pick up a map showing where organization booths are. You might also want to take a quick walk through the space to get a feel for the layout of the fair. Then what?...

• They’re watching you! Keep in mind that the moment you enter the fair, recruiters are watching you. They take note of how you dress, how you behave, and how you interact with your friends and with other recruiters.

• Dress in business interview attire. Wear a suit or a nice pair of pants or skirt with a match-ing jacket, button down shirt, and a tie. Neutral colors such as grey, brown, or black are ideal.

• Approach an organization. It can be intimidating to approach and introduce yourself to a recruiter. Students often say introductions at career fairs are “weird,” “unnatural,” or “forced.” It helps if you remember the recruiter is here to meet you, so don’t be shy! Offer a firm handshake, and then share your mini introduction presentation. Remember, be direct. If you’re interested in a certain position, let them know.

• Tip: Depending on time and crowds, you might want to consider approaching an employer towards the bottom of your list to start off. This gives you an opportunity to actually use your prepared introduction with a real recruiter and work out any nervousness before you visit the employers you’re most interested in, where you want to be relaxed and confident.

• Talk to the recruiter. Don’t talk over their shoulder or at the free stuff that they’re giving away! Make eye contact and don’t be afraid to let your enthusiasm show. Being truly pas-sionate about the employer and the opportunities they have to offer can make all the differ-ence.

• Gather information and be respectful of the recruiter’s time. Many people at career fairs use them as an opportunity to gather information. This is fine and a great reason to go if you’re not looking for a full-time job or internship. Remember, career fairs are about building your contacts, and recruiters like to see students at fairs asking questions. It shows that the student is thinking about the future.

• If you’re at the fair to try to land a job, recruiters need to know you’ve done your research and are ready to go. While speaking with recruiters, be courteous to them and your fellow students by keeping your conversations short and purposeful.

• Finally, make sure that you get the names of the recruiters you talk to and, if possible, get their business cards.

17

Source: “Career Handbook” from MSU’s Career Services Network: http://careernetwork.msu.edu

THANK YOU LETTERSSending a thank you letter is critical, as it can potentially help you stand out. Always send one regardless of how well you think you performed in the interview/s. Purpose: 1.) Gratitude for time spent 2.) Reiterating your qualifications & interests 3.) Requesting consideration of offer or second-round interview

Personalized: Reflective of conversations during interview. Different for each person you in-terviewed—there is a chance they will share to check for differences.

Method: • Brief, succinct • Emailed, never mailed and never handwritten • Within 24-48 hours, always

Who? Priority: Everyone you interviewed with, assuming you can obtain individual email addresses. Could include front desk or other administrative assistants who were helpful. Secondary: The Hiring Manager or Human Resources person, who you can ask to forward to everyone.

Subject: Thank You

Dear (use first name, if used during interview; otherwise err on the more formal side and use Mr./Ms.),

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me earlier today to discuss my qualifi-cations for the purchasing internship at Home Depot. I enjoyed hearing about your background as a construction manager and how that led to your career so far with Home Depot. I also was interested to hear about the visibility interns have into dif-ferent units of the organization.

Our meeting only reinforced my interest in the position, and I am confident that my retail experience and my personal interest in home improvement will allow me to make a strong contribution in an internship this summer.

Thank you again for your time and consideration and I look forward to the prospect of being part of the Home Depot team this summer.

Sincerely, Rebecca (use your email signature)

Sample Thank You Email:

18

Behavioral Based Interview Preparation

STARL METHOD

Situation

Task

Action

Result

Lesson

Where did this situation take place? Give brief background information that puts the story in context.

What was required of you? Be rather short in length but detailed enough to have a good understanding of what was required of you.

How did you resolve the task or problem? Reflect on your experiences - what did you do?

What was the end result? Be descriptive. Quantify as much as possible.

What lesson did you learn from this experience? Positive in nature. A valuable takeway that shows growth.

19

12

3

45

20

Each STARL answer is 2-4 minutes long:

Make sure you’re telling a story that covers all the STARL bases, remember to introduce topics and points according to STARL.

Results and Lesson Section are most important:

Interviewers are most interested in what transferable skills you can bring to them in the future.

Follow-up questions will likely come:

If you make a good or interesting point when answering one of the questions, the interviewer could ask you to provide more detail. Be prepared to give more in-depth responses.

It’s okay to ask “Does that answer your question?”:

Be an active listener and remember to always respond to the original question.

It’s okay to pause and gather your thoughts, so you can sound authentic:

Take your time when responding; you’ll feel some pressure, but maintain your composure. Try not to sound too rehearsed even if you have an answer prepared. Take a moment to think about the question you were asked.

STORY BANK EXERCISE• Experiences, learnings and growth opportunities generated from work,

school and/or life • Try to include the context of the situation (Where were you? What was

your role?), the action you took and what the ultimate result was in short bullet point format for your reference

• Stories can be used during networking and interviewing

Experience First Example Second Example

Multi-tasking/ Handling Pressure

Leadership

Initiative

Teamwork

21

22

Experience First Example Second Example

Strengths/ Achievements

Weakness/ Failure

Learning/ Intellect

Ethics/ Character

Strategy/ Decision Making/ Innovation

Common Interview Questions: Differentiating QuestionsSTARL format is not required for these questions. Be strategic with the way you answer these questions by leveraging your unique experiences and goals. Reflect on how you made decisions and why you chose this career path.

Example Questions:

• Tell me about yourself.

This question translates to ‘walk me through your resume’. Start

with your education, why you chose your major, school, and

highlight your most impactful experiences from each position.

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Address your weakness strategically by communicating an action

plan on how you are developing yourself.

• What is your greatest achievement?

• What motivates you?

• Why are you the right person for the job?

• Why do you want to work for our company?

23

Common Interview Questions: Behavioral-Based Questions

Answer these questions in STARL format. These questions are asked to predict your future behavior based on past experiences. Listed are example questions for each competency. These questions typically begin with “Tell me about a time when...” or “Give me an example of...”.

24

Leadership: Ability to guide, influence, coach, mentor, and lead other individuals, teams, or entire organizations. Display your drive to step up on your own, take action, and follow through with a plan.

Example Questions:• Tell me about a time when you showed initiative and stepped up into a

leadership position.• Tell me about a time you delegated responsibilities to others.• Tell me about a time you took the lead on a difficult project.

Collaboration: Ability to work with diverse groups of people, utilize their skills and capabilities, and overcome your differences to reach a greater goal. Display your interpersonal skills and how you are a team player.

Example Questions:• Tell me about a time when you worked under close supervision or extremely

loose supervision. How did you handle that?• Tell me about a time you had a conflict with a co-worker and how you dealt

with that.• Tell me about a project or idea that was done successfully as a part of a team

effort.

Time Management: Process of planning and prioritizing your time and energy spent on different activities in order to increase effectiveness, productivity, and efficiency.

Example Questions:• Give me an example of a time you managed numerous responsibilities. How

did you handle that? • Tell me about a time you were unable to meet a deadline. • Tell me about a time you set a goal for yourself. How did you go about

ensuring that you would meet your objective?

Professional Development: Ability to take feedback, evaluate areas of opportunity, and bounceback from a negative situation. These questions focus on how you respond and what you learn from negative situations.

Example Questions:• Tell me about a time you realized you made a mistake.• Tell me about a time you wish you’d handled a situation differently with a

colleague. • Talk about a time when you had to work closely with someone whose

personality was very different from yours.

BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEWING EXERCISE“Tell me about a time when you… (pick one):____ Led a project____ Used analytical skills____ Had to multi-task____ Found a solution to a problem

Situation — provide context (no more than 3 sentences):

Task—what were you given responsibility for or assigned to do (no more than 2 sentences):

25

BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEWING EXERCISE

26

Action—HOW did you achieve or accomplish the behavior or skill identified from the list above (most elaboration here, using potentially 5-6 sentences):

Results—How did the situation result; what was the outcome of your skills and action (4-5 sentences here):

Lesson/Learning - What did you learn from this experience (1-2 sentences):

RENEGINGA renege occurs when a student accepts (verbally or via signature) a job offer for a full time or internship position, then receives a second offer for a full time or internship position, and withdraws the acceptance of the initial full time or internship position, regardless of how much time has elapsed since acceptance.

Reneging can severely tarnish your professional reputation, not only in the short term, but also for the duration of your career. Reneging also creates an obstacle in the Broad School efforts to maintain positive relationships between corporate recruiters, alumni and the Broad School. Typically, organizations/alumni affected by a renege will contact the Broad Graduate Career Management/Lear Center Team immediately. You can avoid a

For policy details and implications, please visit lear.broad.msu.edu/policies.

POLICIESNO SHOW/LATE CANCELLATION Late cancellations or missed interviews are a hindrance to your success and leave a negative impact on the relationships Michigan State University has with employers.

• A late cancellation is an interview cancelled four days or less pror to the scheduled interview date

• A no-show is defined as not showing up for a scheduled interview

27

HONORCODE

28

ELI BROAD COLLEGE OF BUSINESS UNDERGRADUATE HONOR CODEThe Honor Code applies to ALL students enrolled in the College or in any course sponsored by the College. Abiding by the honor code is part of the Broad culture and provides a strong ethical foundation for transitioning into your career. Full text of the Honor Code can be found at: uas.broad.msu.edu/academics/honor-code

This includes communicating honestly and ethically on resumes, LinkedIn, interviewing, etc.

“ “

“THANK YOU” PARTNERS

PREMIER PARTNER:

SPONSORS:Coyote

Dow ChemicalC.H. Robinson

TJXEnterprise Holdings

AXAMarathon Petroleum Corporation

Altria

AFFILIATE PARTNERS: