Check out some of the questions parents and students ask. If you can’t find the answer, contact More Than A Resumé.
- How does my son starting working with More Than A Resumé?
We start by having a 15-20 minute phone or Skype conversation. I need to understand his goals and your son needs to understand what coaching is, determine if he’s ready to commit to a proactive job search and if I’m the right person to coach and champion him through the process.
- After months of job searching, my daughter has lost her confidence. What can I do to help?
Your child is an adult. Age-and education-wise, you’ve done your parenting job. But the transition from college student to new professional is a big one. It’s tough to sit back, yet tricky to be involved. You do have a unique, one-time opportunity to help your child enter adulthood with confidence and direction: Show them how to find real-world resources when they need help.
- Does More Than A Resumé write resumes?
Resumes are part of the nuts and bolts of a job search. But a resumé is not the start of a job search. It’s one of the outcomes from identifying talents, skills, behaviors and accomplishments. There’s an art and a science to writing a resumé using keywords that applicant tracking software (ATS) will scan for, and using action words for resumé readers.
- You mention telling your story. What does that mean?
Stories matter. You don’t read books or go to movies unless there is a story. The same thing is true about a job search. Successful candidates tell their story. As a first-time job-seeker, you are competing with equally qualified candidates. College grads must learn how to communicate their story in an organized, simple, soundbite-friendly and compelling fashion. You want your story to connect and to pull the employer into your orbit.
- When my son works with More Than A Resumé, how involved will I be?
The transition from college student to adult can be emotional, for both of you. Your son is adult. He is ready to do this on his own. Coaching is built on trust. I do not share with you the discussions with your son. Your son determines what if anything he shares with you and how involved he wants you to be in his job search.
- Will my daughter get a job?
Yes. What job and how quickly depends on her commitment to the work we will do together.
- I’m just starting college, what should I do to graduate with a job?
It’s never too early to think about your career, however, your immediate attention is on making a transition from high school to independent college student. Don’t feel pressured to make a hasty decision about a career or a major. It doesn’t matter if it seems as though everyone else knows what they’re doing with their lives believe me, they don’t. College is the time for you to really discover who you are, what you enjoy doing, what you’re good at, and what you want to be. It’s not a race; take your time and enjoy exploring your options.
- Does More Than A Resumé use standardized tests?
When we start our work together, I ask clients to take a MBTI® Inventory to identify his/her unique character. It enhances their understanding of their natural strengths, motivations and growth areas. As important as this is, nothing replaces directed conversation. I ask questions, deeply listen, and guide the assessment.
- How important is it to have an internship? Will More Than A Resumé help my daughter find an internship?
Internships are an essential part of the college experience, providing students with an opportunity to test-drive a career field, make contacts, build marketable skills and figure out their likes and dislikes within specific industries. Graduates without work experience will stand little chance of securing a job after graduation research suggests. Internships are competitive and demand the same commitment as getting a job. We do the same work to find an internship that we do to find a job. Most often, I work with students starting in their junior year of college helping them land their internship and when possible turning the internship into a job offer.
- What does More Than A Resumé charge?
I do not follow the more conventional coaching fee model (charge by the hour). Instead, I work on a flat fee model. I prefer not to be time bound (although I track time) and this works to your advantage because job searches are unpredictable and I work at a pace that fits your child’s schedule and level of commitment.
- My son doesn’t know what he wants to do. What does he need to do?
When a student is undecided about what want to do, I recommend initiating conversations with professionals in areas of interest to him/her. I help clients develop their information interview questions that will get professionals to share their experience, ideas, information and advice that can be helpful. The added benefit is they are learning how to network and create their professional relationships.
- I’m concerned that my daughter doesn’t have a passion to follow.
Most of our life we’ve been given advice that says something like, find your passion. We’re told to follow our passion to find success. I don’t subscribe to this adage. I coach clients to be passionate in their work. You don’t follow your passion. You always bring it with you, but you never follow it.
- My daughter is out of college. She has a job but she’s unhappy and wants to make a career change. Will changing a job after a little over a year hurt her?
Making a career change—both the decision to take such a big step, as well as the process for finding a new career— is a very important choice. The fear many parents have based on their experience is that their child be will viewed as a job-hopper. Leaving a first job is hardly job-hopping, however, it’s important to understand why she’s leaving the job or the career and why. I advise clients to run towards a career or job not from. The latter can hurt her.
- I’ve looked for jobs on Indeed.com and submitted applications to a lot of companies. I haven’t had one interview yet. Is there something I am doing wrong?
You’re not doing anything wrong you’re just not doing what is demanded from job-seekers in today’s economy. Looking at job boards like Indeed.com or SimplyHired for open positions is just the first step when applying for a job. The hard work is finding people in those companies who you can connect with to learn more about the company and the job. When you impress people with your story, they are more likely to help get your resumé into the hands of someone responsible for finding new young talent. Your school’s alumni relations group and LinkedIn are good places to start making those connections.
- What is ATS?
ATS is the acronym for applicant tracking software. Employers have turned to ATS to manage the deluge of online applications. In a job search, it is essential to understand how our resumes get “read” by these systems. ATS is a mathematical algorism that searches, based on the employers input for keywords/key phrases, where these words are placed on a resumé and with what frequency. The ATS scans for words and other information and populates an Excel spreadsheet. You can’t beat ATS but there are important dos and don’ts to know that will increase the chances of your resumé making it through and getting read. ATS is one of reason why make connections and finding an inside champion is so important.
- Career fairs are a waste of time. I don’t want to waste my time.
Your school’s career fair is a great place to meet face-to-face with recruiters who are looking for interns and to fill entry-level jobs. But just showing up won’t do. You need a plan to maximize the opportunity.