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Achieving Your
Career Dreams 2019 EDITION
Reid Grawe
Director of IS Placement
WELCOME!
Welcome to the world of Information Systems! We congratulate you for making it this far, and we
are excited to see the professional you will become over the next few years. The next few years will
require hard work, but it will be worth it. Reid and the Business Career Center staff are here to help
you prepare yourself for your professional opportunities. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for help!
PURPOSE
This guidebook was written by students who have been in your shoes and want to show you the
ropes. We have felt the anticipation and anxiety of starting a new program, and we want to help
you hit the ground running.
Many of you have been prepared for the academic rigor of the IS Core through your previous
schooling and the prerequisite courses but you may be unaware of another aspect that comes with
the IS Core—Recruiting!
This reference guidebook aims to help you understand how to take control of your career and
enter the recruiting process—what it is, how it works, and the resources and tools that are available
to you to help you fulfill your dreams. This is not meant to be an exhaustive manual. Instead, we
anticipate that you will read this manual before you attend orientation and you will look back on
this guide as you have questions about the recruiting process. If there is anything that you are
confused about after reading this guide, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at
Table of Contents Meet Reid Grawe ................................................................................................................................ 1
Reid’s Role (What he is and what he isn’t) ........................................................................................................... 2
Information Systems Overview ......................................................................................................... 3
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Differentiating “IS” from related fields .................................................................................................................. 4
IS career paths - What can I do with this degree? ............................................................................................ 5
Development – MISM track................................................................................................................................ 5
Business Analytics/Inteligence – MISM track .............................................................................................. 5
Security – MISM track ........................................................................................................................................... 5
Management ............................................................................................................................................................ 6
Consulting ................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Information Technology ...................................................................................................................................... 6
Other ........................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Master’s Programs (MBA vs. MISM) ................................................................................................. 7
What is the MISM? ........................................................................................................................................................ 7
What about an MBA? ................................................................................................................................................... 7
Recruiting Process .............................................................................................................................. 8
Fall Recruiting ................................................................................................................................................................. 9
Winter Recruiting ........................................................................................................................................................... 9
Information Sessions ................................................................................................................................................. 10
Summer Watch List .................................................................................................................................................... 11
International Students .............................................................................................................................................. 11
The Big 4 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 12
Career Fairs ................................................................................................................................................................... 13
General Career Fair ............................................................................................................................................. 13
STEM Career Fair ................................................................................................................................................. 14
Meet the Firms ..................................................................................................................................................... 14
AIS Sponsorship Night ...................................................................................................................................... 15
Utah Startup Marketplace ................................................................................................................................ 15
Preparing Yourself to Find an Internship ....................................................................................... 16
Resume ........................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Reid’s Tips on Resumes .................................................................................................................................... 17
Good, Better, & Best Resumes ....................................................................................................................... 20
Strengthen Your Bullets .................................................................................................................................... 21
IS Resume Example ............................................................................................................................................ 22
Cover Letters ................................................................................................................................................................ 23
LinkedIn .......................................................................................................................................................................... 24
Your Picture ........................................................................................................................................................... 24
Your Personal Brand........................................................................................................................................... 25
Get Connected on Linkedin ............................................................................................................................. 25
F.I.R.E. on LinkedIn .............................................................................................................................................. 26
Common Searches .............................................................................................................................................. 26
Action items .......................................................................................................................................................... 26
Handshake ..................................................................................................................................................................... 27
Complete Your Profile ....................................................................................................................................... 27
Stay in the Loop! ................................................................................................................................................. 27
Upload your Resume & Transcript ............................................................................................................... 28
Search for Opportunities .................................................................................................................................. 28
Search for Events ................................................................................................................................................. 29
Talk with a Career Counselor .......................................................................................................................... 29
Interviewing ...................................................................................................................................... 30
Before the Interview .................................................................................................................................................. 31
Me in 30 Seconds ................................................................................................................................................ 31
Research ................................................................................................................................................................. 32
Mock Interviews ................................................................................................................................................... 32
Interview Attire ..................................................................................................................................................... 32
During the Interview .................................................................................................................................................. 33
Interview Questions ............................................................................................................................................ 33
Questions for the Interviewer ......................................................................................................................... 34
After the Interview ...................................................................................................................................................... 35
Receiving Offers ................................................................................................................................ 36
An Example Process ................................................................................................................................................... 36
Negotiating an Offer ................................................................................................................................................. 37
Accepting and Declining Offers ............................................................................................................................ 37
iscareers.byu.edu .............................................................................................................................. 38
IS Resources .................................................................................................................................................................. 38
Helpful Links .......................................................................................................................................................... 38
2 Hour Job Search ............................................................................................................................................... 40
IS Core Summer Boot Camp ........................................................................................................................... 40
AIS (BYU Student Chapter of a National Organization)........................................................................ 41
IS Career Explorer Tableau Dashboard ............................................................................................................... 42
Spotlights ....................................................................................................................................................................... 43
Additional resources ........................................................................................................................ 43
Friday Forecast (Job and Internship Newsletter) ............................................................................................ 43
Marriott School Employment Reporting ............................................................................................................ 44
2018 EDITION UPDATES (LAST UPDATED 6/20/2017)
• Handshake
• CareerLaunch website updates
• New insights into interviewing
M e e t R e i d G r a w e
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MEET REID GRAWE
Reid Grawe is your Information Systems Career Counselor. He will
mentor you through the recruiting process. His full-time job is to
help you, as he often says, “achieve your dreams.” However, he
cannot help you achieve your dreams if you haven’t shared them
with him!
Read further to learn a little more about Reid, but we encourage
you to meet with him in person!
Reid Grawe (pronounced GRAW-veee) is currently the Director of
Information Systems Placement in the BYU Marriott School of
Management. Since he joined the Business Career Center in 2006, he has enjoyed creating
relationships with employers, faculty members, and students. He continues to focus on preparing
students to achieve their dreams.
Reid is a retired Lieutenant Colonel, having served over 25 years as an active duty US Army Officer.
He graduated from Brigham Young University in Financial Planning and Counseling and from
Syracuse University with an MBA in Operations and Management. Reid served his mission in Rio De
Janeiro, Brazil.
Reid is a former BYU Single’s Ward Bishop and is a former Stake Employment Specialist in Lehi. He
also serves as a Mt. Timpanogos Temple Ordinance Worker. He and his bride, Julie, were married in
the Salt Lake Temple 38 years ago, and they are the parents of six daughters. They have eleven
granddaughters and three grandsons.
Reid’s info:
To discuss your career options, resumes, and cover letters, schedule an appointment to with Reid.
You can also get advice about searching techniques, interviewing, and networking. Feel free to
meet with him and ask whatever questions you may have. Schedule an appointment by going to
Handshake and selecting the “Career Center” tab on the top ribbon, then clicking the
“Appointments” section from the drop down. You may also visit the Business Career Center
receptionists in 447 TNRB, or contact Reid’s assistants at [email protected].
Reid Grawe
436 TNRB
801-422-5800
M e e t R e i d G r a w e
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REID’S ROLE (WHAT HE IS AND WHAT HE ISN’T)
Sometimes we hear rumors about Reid’s role in your employment search. Some students think that
Reid is similar to a stock broker—that just by walking through his door they will land an internship
or job on the spot. It doesn’t work that way.
Reid is a terrific resource to use as you search for jobs and internships. He has great insights about
opportunities for IS students. He is often able to put you in contact with alumni and recruiters from
various companies. Reid will advocate for you with employers if you ask him to, but he isn’t a
miracle worker; you have to do the initial leg work. In order to be the best candidate possible, you
should follow the steps outlined in this reference guide.
All of Reid’s insights depend on what your dreams and desires are. He will discuss your dreams with
you, but he will not outline them for you. Ultimately, you have the substance, and you are the one
who delivers. It is your job to make things happen.
I n f o r m a t i o n S y s t e m s O v e r v i e w
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INFORMATION SYSTEMS OVERVIEW
INTRODUCTION
In 2013, the Information Systems department rebranded their abbreviation to represent the
program. Please use IS instead of Isys*. This was a strategic change to adapt to the industry
standard of IS. When referring to the program, please be sure to say IS instead of Isys.
*(This name change happened before the ISIS crisis. We did not change to decrease confusion between us and the terrorist
organization.)
The IS description below can be found on the BYU IS department website:
Information systems involves the
synthesis of business and
technology. Professionals define,
develop, and maintain the
information system infrastructure
that supports the operations of all
businesses, governments, and other
institutions. These professionals use
a wide variety of skills in carrying
out this function.
The BS Information Systems degree
develops the ability to function
effectively as a professional,
applying state-of-the-art
technology in solving business
problems. Students are trained in business and information systems and taught to understand
complex business environments.
Built on a solid foundation of business courses, the curriculum advances students’ understanding of
technologies in the design and development of information systems. They gain technical expertise
in systems analysis; systems design and implementation; database development and management;
programming; telecommunications networking; 2-tier, 3-tier, and n-tier application development;
and web application development.
I n f o r m a t i o n S y s t e m s O v e r v i e w
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DIFFERENTIATING “IS” FROM RELATED FIELDS
Information Systems involves the synthesis of Business and Technology. We have the technical
experience to know how to communicate with the Computer Science and IT majors while still
having the business acumen to work with management.
At BYU there are four majors that provide similar technical training:
• Computer Engineering: Designing and constructing computers
• Computer Science: Creating and utilizing system programming languages
• Information Technology: Handling systems infrastructure & hardware
• Information Systems: Leveraging systems to solve business problems
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_system#/media/File:IS-Relationships-Chart.jpg)
I n f o r m a t i o n S y s t e m s O v e r v i e w
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IS CAREER PATHS - WHAT CAN I DO WITH THIS DEGREE?
The Information Systems (IS) program teaches you how to leverage technology to solve business
problems. Technology is used in every industry and position today. The following categories are the
general areas our IS students chose for their dream career path but with IS, opportunities are
limitless!
DEVELOPMENT – MISM TRACK
Software developers assist in software development activities on current projects. Including
development tasks in various programming languages, unit testing, debugging, and correcting
defects in code, meetings with project team members and customers, reporting on current
activities, working with databases, and issue tracking systems, and working in both individual and
paired programming assignments.
Web/App developers create and refine web site and mobile application user interfaces using web
technologies such as CSS, HTML, jQuery and other programming languages. They are responsible
for designing, coding, and modifying websites and apps, according to client specifications. They
strive to create visually appealing sites and apps that feature user-friendly design and clear
navigation.
Quality assurance Employees test software projects using a variety of software programming
languages, develop and maintain test documentation, create and perform test cases, and collect
basic quality metrics.
User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) designers are primarily concerned with how the
product feels. The broad responsibility of a UX designer is to ensure that the product logically flows
from one-step to the next.
BUSINESS ANALYTICS/INTELIGENCE – MISM TRACK
Business Analytics goes beyond simple data collection. Through skillful analysis, this in-demand
discipline provides professionals with an overall view of an organization’s standing, answering vital
questions about financial gains and losses, areas for improvement and product performance.
Data architects are concerned with designing, creating, deploying and managing an organization's
data architecture. They define how the data will be stored, consumed, integrated and managed by
different data entities and IT systems, as well as any applications using or processing the data in
some way
SECURITY – MISM TRACK
Security professionals monitor intrusion detection systems, analyze log data for suspicious
activity, investigate and research emerging security threats, and evaluate system vulnerabilities.
Protecting information security systems today takes advanced training; candidates for sought-after
positions must possess up-to date knowledge and sharp skills.
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Risk Assurance employees analyze a company’s systems to assure that they are following national
regulations and security guidelines. They work with Audit professionals to create trust and
confidence in financial reporting and internal control within an organization, and assess risks and
controls related to business imperative
MANAGEMENT
Project Managers oversee the planning, implementation, and tracking of a specific short-term
project that has a beginning, an end and specified deliverables. PMs interacts with customers,
engineers, team leads, and other team members throughout the completion the project.
Program/product managers oversee several related projects with the intention of improving an
organization’s performance or product at all stages of the product lifecycle.
CONSULTING
Consultants work with organizations and clients to solve business problems. Day to day activities
can consist of auditing business processes, evaluating potential solutions, and working with a Client
to build a software solution that solves the problem.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Information Technology is the handling of system infrastructure & hardware for an organization.
Since this so closely related to Information Systems, students often find themselves drawn to these
roles.
OTHER
Many students take the skills they develop in the IS program to other areas of work they are
passionate about. Student have found opportunities to use technology to find innovative solutions
for companies not in the technology industry, such as family businesses or their own start-ups.
CONSULTING
TECHProgramming
MANAGEMENTBusiness
APPS DATA
SECURITY SYSTEMS
IS DEMOGRAPHIC
Entry Level Salary$$ $$
M a s t e r ’ s P r o g r a m s ( M B A v s . M I S M )
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MASTER’S PROGRAMS (MBA VS. MISM)
WHAT IS THE MISM?
While enrolled in the junior core, students have the option to apply for the Master of Information
Management program (MISM). This program admits approximately 60 students per year. The MISM
is a two-year degree, but the first year replaces the undergraduate senior year. This allows students
to earn a graduate degree by completing only one extra year of course work.
Students in the MISM program take the Marriott School’s graduate core of classes along with other
graduate students—including the MBA and Master of Accountancy students. MISM students take
additional graduate-level technology electives. Visit http://marriottschool.byu.edu/mism/ for more
information about the MISM degree.
WHAT ABOUT AN MBA?
Often students are conflicted about whether they should do the MISM or work for a few years and
return to get an MBA. The fact is, often employers don’t significantly differentiate between the two
degrees. MISM students at BYU are enrolled in many of the same classes as MBA students.
Truthfully, an MISM degree could almost be considered a technology-focused MBA.
CEO
C – LEVEL “Never as many Chiefs as
there are Indians.”
As you climb the ladder, you could be shaved off or fall
off.
BarrierBachelor Degree
Most MBA students don’t have a bachelor’s degree in
a business field. Often they are returning to get an MBA to learn business principles. “Choose new track or Refine.”
MANAGEMENT
Having a Master Degree means you understand the
world of business and how it all fits together.
IS MKTG
Employers often don’t care what Master Degree you
have, but you may not be able to join management
without one. (can have more than one)
Entry level positions make up the majority of the workforce.Lower levels are segregated into business functions often referred to
as the “lines of business”. Above the management level, you are responsible for a broader scope.
MBAGeneral
Business
Integrates across all lines of business.
BarrierMaster Degree
THE CORPORATE BARRIER: MASTER DEGREE
MISMTechnology
Focused
Both degrees have a similar core curriculum at BYU.
Business Areas
ENTRY LEVEL
EntrepreneurshipFinanceGlobal Supply ChainMarketingOB/HR
Business IntelligenceSecurity & ForensicsSoftware DevProject Management
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RECRUITING PROCESS
Recruiting season can be extremely overwhelming. Recruiters will be on campus the second week
of fall semester. We recommend that before school starts, you take some time to research and
gather ideas about a potential career path. That way you can make the most of your time when
recruiters come.
Fall 2017
STEM
244
Winter 2018
STEM
126
Fall 2017
General
113
Winter 2018
General
87 Schedule an
appointment
with Reid on
Handshake
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FALL RECRUITING
The recruiting cycle infographic above shows the breakdown of the recruiting seasons. Fall
recruiting comes and goes extremely quickly. During the beginning of the fall semester, especially
between mid-September and mid-October, most companies will be on campus. There are
information sessions for just about every
company, some that are specifically in
conjunction with AIS, and others that are put on
independently by the company. Stay informed
through the Friday Forecast, CareerLaunch and
AIS newsletter.
If you’re interested in pursuing an internship at
one of the Big 4 accounting firms, you’ll want to
apply in the fall*. There are many other
companies that recruit for internships in the fall, but unlike the Big 4, many of these companies
have internship opportunities during the winter semester as well (Some companies like Adobe
don’t start their internship recruiting until late February).
If you don’t find an internship during the fall, don’t panic! But don’t stop looking either! We
recommend that you determine a few specific companies, locations, or job functions that interest
you. This will help you narrow your search. If you need help developing your list, we encourage you
to come talk to Reid.
*See note in “The Big 4” section pg. 13 regarding students pursuing the MISM
WINTER RECRUITING
Internship recruiting returns with a vengeance during the winter semester. The Big 4 Meet the
Firms event is in winter semester. You have to be more focused during winter recruiting because
fewer employers come during this round than in the fall.
Some companies come to recruit for both semesters,
but often you’ll see a fresh batch of employers in the
winter. If you have a plan, you’re probably okay, but if
you aren’t sure and can’t decide on where you would
like to work, there is the possibility you could end
up without an internship or job offer come
summer.
During the busiest times of recruiting, we recommend
that you keep an eye out for the Friday Forecast or
check CareerLaunch. This will have job opportunities
and events outlined for you.
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INFORMATION SESSIONS
Most information sessions occur around the time of the General and STEM Career Fairs. Employers
will hold these informational meetings to help you learn more about the company and to allow you
to network with some of their representatives. There is a significant number of information sessions
that are sponsored in conjunction with AIS (the Association for Information Systems – see more
information on this in the “Other Resources” section).
Unless specifically requested, you
usually don’t have to dress up for
information sessions.
Information sessions are often posted
to Handshake under the “Events” tab
and on CareerLaunch. We recommend
that you visit Handshake often to stay
up to date on these events. Also, IS-
specific information sessions are
announced through AIS newsletters
and the weekly Friday Forecast email
(more information on this in the
“Friday Forecast” section).
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SUMMER WATCH LIST
If March rolls around and you find yourself without an internship or full-time job, don’t panic!
We’re still able to help you, but please recognize that the majority of the employers you want to
work for may have finished recruiting for the season. The field can be extremely competitive.
As the winter semester comes to a close, Reid’s assistants will begin compiling a list of students
who haven’t yet received internships and full-time positions. Often employers will approach us at
the last minute expressing a need to fill positions. We email these opportunities out to students
who have expressed interest in joining the Summer Watch List.
By the end of March, we send out a survey that asks what your
preferences are for job positions and work locations. You must take
this survey in order to opt-in to the watch list! If you’re on the
Watch List, you’ll receive information about any job opportunities that
we hear about from employers and any other information we think is
helpful to you in your search. Again, we’re here to help you!
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
If you’re an international student requiring H1B sponsorship, your selection of companies may be
limited. Don’t miss the International Student Orientation with Reid that’s normally held within the
first two weeks of the fall semester.
Most of you understand the CPT and OPT rules associated with your visa status. Make sure you stay
connected with the International Student Services Office: https://internationalservices.byu.edu/
Traditionally, only about 15 employers will sponsor H1B visas for full-time employment. Check with
Reid during your search, and he will update you.
2016 STEM Entry Level H1B Sponsors
Accounting Firms: Ancestry Goldman Sachs
Deloitte, EY, PwC Anglepoint Google
Adobe DaVita Melaleuca
Apple Fast Enterprises Microsoft
Amazon Fidelity Investments Walmart
*Please be careful about assuming H1B sponsorship. A company that’s an H1B STEM sponsor isn’t
necessarily a sponsor of Information Systems (IS) at the entry level. Several companies may sponsor
PhDs, but not entry-level bachelor’s or master’s degrees.
We look for the best IS opportunities for international students. Please read this entire reference
guide—it applies to you.
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THE BIG 4
The Big 4 Accounting Firms—Deloitte, EY, KPMG,
and PwC—are significant destinations for IS
students. IS graduates typically are not expected to
work the rigorous hours that are demanded of
accountants, but this does not mean that
employers value IS employees any less. IS
employees provide key support for companies and
are highly valued by these firms. If you choose this
path, you will work mainly with clients to conduct
IT audits, or work in advisory (consulting) roles.
This type of work is not for everyone, but a good
number of graduates happily choose this career
path every year. If you love Dr. Romney’s Business
Processes and Controls class, then you may want
what accounting offers.
Be aware that because BYU’s Accounting program is always ranked as one of the top three in the
nation, accounting firms start the recruiting process very early—during the first few weeks of school
during the fall semester. Their focus is on full-time in the fall. At the winter “Meet the Firms” event
for the Accounting and IS students, you’ll have the opportunity to meet Big 4 employees from
locations all over the US. Their goal is to get you thinking about a future job or internship at their
firms.
If you plan to pursue the Master of Information System Management degree (MISM), be aware that
the Big 4 firms DON’T allow consecutive internships. This means that you should pursue an
internship with them after your first year of the MISM—not the summer after the junior core.
However, feel free to express your interest in them early and pursue their summer leadership
programs (these programs are built for those seeking the MISM).
The first thing the Big 4 firms will ask you about is your preferred work location. Each of the Big 4
have offices in almost every major city, and they want you to work somewhere you’re excited to be.
During the initial screening process, they may ask questions regarding why you want to live in that
particular city, if you have been there before, etc. They want to know if you like your preferred
location enough to stay there for a few years rather than asking for a transfer after a few months of
working there.
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CAREER FAIRS
In addition to “Meet the Firms”, two main career fairs are held each Fall and Winter semester: the
General Career Fair, and the STEM Fair. Several smaller career fairs are also held, a few of which are
highlighted below. For each of the primary career fairs, our team will publish a list of companies
attending, ranked by the interest these companies express in IS majors.
Prioritize your career fair efforts and use the Career Fair Plus App to navigate the fairs. You can
download this app from the App Store or Google Play store for free. We recommend you review
this list and select four to five companies that you want to network with.
Before the Fair
There are several events during the week of each career fair. If you’re particularly interested in a
company, don’t miss any events it holds, especially resume review nights. The more interactions
you have with the representatives of the companies you’re interested in, the higher your chances
are of landing an interview with them.
At the Fair
Make sure to dress in business professional attire. You can view dress guidelines available in the
Marriott School Magazine here: Dress Guidelines (pages 8-17). For men, suit & tie combos are
recommended. Remember, this is your first impression with a recruiter.
Bring multiple copies of your resume. Bring a folder to hold your resumes and company flyers. Due
to the high density of students at the fairs, generally backpacks aren’t allowed inside. You can drop
your bag at the provided bag-check area before walking into the fair.
When you talk to potential employers, you should ask them for their business cards. Take a
moment to jot down any notes about your conversation with them on the back of the card. This
will help you remember the company after the fair. In addition to making connections with
employers at these career fairs, you’ll get a ton of company memorabilia or “swag.” ☺
The General Career Fair and STEM Fair have different focuses. Specific details relating to both of
these fairs can be found below.
GENERAL CAREER FAIR
This career fair is for all majors across campus, so it will have a wider variety of
companies. Some companies attend both the STEM and the General Fair. Feel free
to talk to these companies at both fairs if you really want to work for them.
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STEM CAREER FAIR
The STEM fair has a more narrow focus and attracts more IS
employers than the General Career Fair. We strongly
recommend that you attend this fair.
The Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Career
Fair is specifically for students in STEM majors. Companies that
attend this fair will have posters set up near their booths that list which majors they’re recruiting
for. Use the Career Fair Plus app to focus on IS companies. Refer to these cards as well as the list of
companies searching for IS students that we publish the week before the STEM Fair to know which
companies to network with.
MEET THE FIRMS
There are two “Meet the Firms” events: private accounting & finance firms come in the fall, and the
Big 4 and other accounting firms come in the winter. This mini career fair is for Accounting,
Finance, and IS students. Here, companies seek accounting talent. In addition to the Big 4, Grant
Thornton and other major employers, such as Disney, attend this event (consecutive internships
may be offered by companies other than the Big 4). This event has a staggered entrance schedule,
with seniors going in first, followed by juniors. Before attending Meet the Firms, you should answer
the following questions:
1. Do you want to work in the accounting industry?
Although IS majors who work at accounting firms often don’t perform accounting functions,
you should understand what accounting is before applying to any of the firms that attend
this event.
2. Do you plan on applying to the MISM?
Some employers don’t allow you to have consecutive/back-to-back internships (see “The
Big 4” Section above).
3. Where do you want to live when you graduate?
Many of these employers have offices around the country. They want to know where you
plan to settle down so they can assign you to a location where you’re happy staying.
Be clear and positive as you talk with employers at this event. Tell them what you want to do, even
if you have to say, “Right now, my best guess is X.”
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AIS SPONSORSHIP NIGHT
This mini career fair is limited to AIS sponsors only. These 16 companies tend to focus their
recruiting on AIS members. This event often happens the night before the STEM fair in Fall
Semester.
UTAH STARTUP MARKETPLACE
An additional fair is for startup companies based in Utah. If you’re interested in working for these
companies, get more details here: Utah Startup Marketplace.
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PREPARING YOURSELF TO FIND AN INTERNSHIP
At this point, you may have very minimal knowledge about what aspects of IS you enjoy. That’s
okay! You don’t need to know right away. You just need to prepare to make yourself attractive to
potential employers.
RESUME
Your resume isn’t always the first impression you’ll
make with an employer, but it may be your last. Your
resume should be focused on the impact you have
had on previous organizations you have worked for. If
your only job has been working as a dish washer at a
local restaurant, focus on what impact your role had
on the company: “Maintained order and streamlined
dish-washing processes to reduce turnover time by
10%.” Even if these impact-producing numbers on
your resume are estimates, ensure that they’re
accurate and realistic.
When designing your resume, we recommend that you follow the Marriott School of Management
resume template. This template can be found on the right-hand side of the University Career
Services website. Sample resumes are also available.
You should have already submitted a resume with your application to the IS program. Reid will be
reviewing these resumes and providing feedback to you about improvements you can make. Below
is a list of common improvements that can be made to resumes (“Reid’s Tips on Resumes”).
When Reid reviews your resume, he may write a number that corresponds to an improvement/tip
you can find on this list. We recommend that you print out the following pages and use them as a
checklist guide for updating your resume.
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REID’S TIPS ON RESUMES
GENERAL GUIDELINES
□ 1. Length – one page max, three
sections: Education, Experience,
and Skills & Achievements.
□ 2. Consistent format – Use a
streamlined, easy-to-follow format.
We recommend using the Marriott
School IS template found below.
The easiest way to implement it is
to create a table in Word. If you
need help formatting, please come
see any member of the IS Careers
team.
□ 3. Correct Grammar & Spelling – Turn on spell checker. One misspelled word is all it takes
to have your resume set aside! Check for verb-tense consistency, especially with ‘led’ and
‘lead.
HEADER
□ 4. Objectives & Summaries – Remove “Objectives” and “Summary” sections from this
resume. “Objectives” section’s material should be in your cover letter. “Summary”
information should be posted on your LinkedIn profile. For more on this, see the
“LinkedIn” section (pg. 23). Also, Remove the phrase “References available upon request”
– This is no longer used on resumes. Employers understand that if asked, you can provide
a separate page of references. Thus, prepare a separate page to take with you to an
interview and provide it only if you’re asked for it.
□ 5. Contact Information – Place only one line with contact information under your name.
Remove contact labels – a phone number is recognized as a phone number and an email
address is recognized as an email address without you putting labels on them. You only
need to provide one phone number—the one you want potential employers to call.
SECTION 1: EDUCATION
□ 6. Marriott School – Marriott is spelled with two r’s and two t’s. Don’t mess this up!
□ 7. Degree Title – “Bachelor of Science Information Systems” or “BS Information Systems”.
Don’t mention Master of Information Systems Management unless you’re already in the
program. Even if you plan to go into the MISM, you aren’t there yet (When you’re
accepted into the MISM, remove BSIS and only list the Master of Information Systems
Management degree).
□ 8. Remove High School - Your diploma got you into college, you don’t need it on this
resume (You’re allowed an optional bullet under Skills and Achievements for High School
accomplishments).
□ 9. Transfer Student – If you came from another college and did not receive an Associate
Degree there, then list the following (e.g.): “Transfer Student – General Studies and Music”
under the name of the transfer college or university.
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□ 10. Graduation Date – Only list the future month and year when you’ll receive your BSIS
degree (until you’re accepted as an MISM student if you’re pursuing that degree).
□ 11. GPAs – Yes, put it on this resume. All of the IS employers will review your resume to see if
you have the qualifying GPA (most employers have a minimum qualifying GPA of 3.00).
Use three digits when reflecting GPAs (3.40 or 3.56). You’re in a technical major, so your
GPA tends to be lower than some of the non-technical business degrees. Once you have
completed your first semester in the core, you have the option of listing your major GPA
as follows: “Major GPA x.xx.”
□ 12. Specialized Courses – This title is preferred over “Relevant Coursework.” If you choose to
list Specialized Courses, only list the course titles, not the course numbers. Employers
want to know the name/subject area of the course you took (e.g. “Specialized Courses:
Java, Accounting, and VBA”). Specialized courses may include courses both outside the IS
curriculum and IS elective courses that are appropriate for the job you’re applying for.
□ 13. Associations/Clubs – write: “Member – Association for Information Systems and (any
other relevant clubs)
SECTION 2: EXPERIENCE
□ 14. Only ONE statement per bullet – Don’t put a period(.) in the middle of your bullet and
start a new sentence/thought. Bullets can contain commas, semi-colons, dashes, and
conjunctions (‘and,’ etc.), but no periods. Most bullet statements should be no more than
two lines.
□ 15. Present Tense Action Verbs – These verbs should be found only in jobs that you’re
presently doing. Keep in mind that it’s possible to have completed something in your
present job. Thus, only in your present job can you have both present tense and past
tense action verbs. Here is a list of good action verbs.
□ 16. “Purpose to be accomplished” bullets – If you haven’t completed the project or goal
you were hired to do and/or that project has not been launched yet, write your bullet
using: ‘anticipated to…’, ‘expected to…’, or ‘projected to…’ statements, placing the
project or goal after the word ‘to’. (e.g. “Key member of 12-person team developing a
revenue solution that’s anticipated to increase profits by more than 50%.)
□ 17. Locations – Yes, include locations of where you work/worked. This means city and state
or country. Put the location information next to the name of the employer/business. Don’t
include full street addresses or zip codes.
□ 18. Replace the words ‘learned’ or ‘gained’ with ‘applied’ or ‘used’ – You’re expected to
learn or gain skills in a job or on a mission and then apply or use them, so showcase your
application of the skills you have learned or gained.
□ 19. Don’t use ‘I’ or other personal pronouns (me, my, they, their, our, etc.) – This is a
bullet-statement resume. All bullets start with action verbs, and the subject ‘I’ isn’t placed
in front of these action verbs. You shouldn’t be writing paragraphs that narrate what you
have done. Story telling has its place during the interview.
□ 20. Remove weaker action verbs – Readers of your resume need to know specifics of your
work. Using the verbs ‘helped’ or ‘assisted’ don’t communicate what you personally did to
make an impact. Whenever you want to use ‘help’ or ‘assist’ think about what you really
did, and use a stronger action verb to describe it.
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□ 21. Missions – Yes, put your mission on this resume. Use the title ‘Volunteer Representative’
instead of ‘Missionary.’ Prepare three bullets: The first two bullets focus on leadership,
training, teaching, motivating, organizing, and setting and achieving goals. The last bullet
is for humanitarian service (e.g. “Performed community service on a weekly basis
including hospital visits, soup kitchen help, painting schools, etc.”) Here are some more
tips on the mission section of your resume.
□ 22. Non-IS? - What should you focus on in your non-IS related “Experience” bullets? Let your
experience focus on and show soft skills such as leadership, teamwork, outward
achievement, and customer service (see “Infusing Soft Skills” section, pg. 21).
□ 23. Good Better Best/So What? Tips – Rewrite your bullets to impress employers with what
you have accomplished. How you performed is more important than a list of
responsibilities you were hired to perform. See the “Good, Better, & Best Resumes”
section below for help with making your bullets stronger.
SECTION 3: SKILLS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
□ 24. Skills – We’re in a technical major and need to reflect our technical skills In two bullet
points. List proficient (highly capable) and experienced (exposed to/familiar) technical skills. No soft skills here. (e.g. “Proficient in Java, Python” and “Experienced with C++, HTML”). When listing your skills, keep this in mind- Proficient means that you’re highly
capable. This doesn’t mean perfection, but it does mean you won’t be relying on Google
for advice very often. Experienced, on the other hand, means that you have used it in the
past and are capable of using it again, although possibly needing help.
□ 25. Volunteer Work – Includes clubs/organizations
□ 26. One High School Bullet – Optional
□ 27. Foreign Language Skills – When describing your foreign language skills, you can be a
“Native,” “Fluent,” or “Conversational” speaker. (e.g. Native Korean Speaker, Fluent
Japanese Speaker, and Conversational Spanish Speaker). Unless you’re a translator, listing
English on this resume isn’t necessary. Normally, missionaries are considered “Fluent” up
to two years after completing their missions. Remove the words “Read,” “Write,” and
“Speak” when referring to foreign languages; only use “Native,” “Fluent,” or
“Conversational.”
□ 28. Interests – Employers enjoy having the opportunity to get to know your personality, so
tell them a few brief, unique things you enjoy doing in your free time. “Enjoy mountain
biking, snowboarding, video editing, and gardening.” This is a great opportunity to have a
personal connection with the interviewer and be a memorable candidate afterward.
□ 29. Eagle Scout – Last line in this section.
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GOOD, BETTER, & BEST RESUMES
Good Resumes present job-description bullets that focus on expressing the list of tasks you were
hired to do.
Better Resumes present results bullets that focus on expressing measured changes that came
because of your work. These bullets show the difference you made in your role. Normally, these
bullets will show #’s, %’s, and $’s. These bullets are better than job-description bullets because an
employer can make a value statement/judgment about your performance based on the numbers
you provide. You can make estimates to express these changes.
Best Resumes reflect results and impact on customers/others. They show how others feel
about/were affected by your performance. These bullets focus on impact by expressing ‘benefits
delivered/received’ and/or their effect on people. (You may not always be able to add impact to a
better bullet due to lack of space, but when you can, recruiters will sense your value, appreciate the
difference you made in that job, and know how you’re the type of employee who is fully invested in
your work.)
Examples:
o Good – Compiled data into a functional format for billing department
o Better – Overhauled the billing department’s data reports allowing compilation of over 6,000
daily transactions and achieving recognition for fewest errors
o Best – Created billing department’s key reports program that accurately compiled over 6,000
daily transactions, reduced errors by 12%, and saved clients over $600K in quarterly costs
Infusing “soft skills” (leadership, teamwork, outward achievement, and customer service) into
bullets:
o Led a team of 12 to…
o Key member of a team tasked with …
o Applied problem-solving techniques to…
o Presented reports used by key management that …
o Recognized for achievement in…
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STRENGTHEN YOUR BULLETS
Use the word ‘that’ to resolve the question of “so what?” Why should I care? What has changed
since you took over the job? What difference did you make?
Read every bullet you have written and ask “so what?” because everyone who reads your bullets is
asking that question. Think about what you want potential employers to know/perceive about you.
Will this bullet tell them what you did and how it matters?
Process:
1. Place the word ‘that’ at the end of your bullet and then write the phrase which answers the
“so what?” question. Normally, the first word after the word ‘that’ is the ‘change verb’ that
describes what changed because of the task you completed (e.g. “increased,” “improved,”
“ensured,” “saved,” “created,” etc.).
2. After writing the phrase following ‘that,’ remove the word ‘that’ and rewrite the bullet.
Doing this will strengthen the bullet, but the bullet will need to be refined.
3. Yes, you can have bullets with the word ‘that’ in them, but not every bullet can. As you
rewrite these bullets, try to restrict yourself to having only one ‘that’, only one ‘which’, and
a few verbs with ‘ing’ endings.
Tips:
- Bullet points should be no more than two lines.
- Reid’s analogy – Don’t just dig holes in sandboxes, build sand castles.
- Impressive resumes showcase results and impact on customers. What has changed since
you took over the position? What benefits do others receive from your results?
- Make a difference.
Examples:
-Orchestrated a weekly specialized notification program to 400 IS students with information
relating to job and internship opportunities, that increased awareness for the IS program
-Developed a dynamic management report with Excel Pivot Tables used in detailed quarterly
government compliance reporting, which improved accuracy and efficiency by 60%
-Created a comprehensive SAP dashboard Business Objects support team to prevent and diagnose
outages, decreasing incident response time by 10%
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IS RESUME EXAMPLE
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COVER LETTERS
About 10-15% of job applications use cover letters, so we will just cover the basics. The cover
letter is meant to give you personality and set you apart from other applicants. You can reference
your resume in your cover letter, but you want to expand deeper about who you are and how you
could impact the company if hired.
Reid recommends that you generally have four paragraphs with four sentences each, if possible:
1) Introduction:
• Exhibit enthusiasm or drive for the position you are applying for, touch on your
“Me in 30 seconds” (pg. 32) “I’m excited to apply for_________.”
• Mention a connection with someone in the company and their department: Jeff
Sanders in the IT department strongly recommended that I apply for this position.
• Specifically state why you like the company: Your company has a reputation for
having an amazing work environment and inspired leadership.
• List two skills you want to expound: I am well suited for the position because I have a
high level of integrity and excellent project management skills. Both of which skills will
make me a valuable member of your team.
2) Skill Paragraph 1: integrate the skill with an experience where you demonstrated that skill:
“I always do my best to uphold my values not only in the work place, but in my personal life
as well. I exhibited integrity when I worked as a bank teller at Zions Bancorporation several
years ago. At the time, my manager pushed us hard to sell products to customers. Most of
these products were either loans, lines of credit, or credit cards. I did my best to sell them,
but also kept in mind how a product would affect the customer in the long run. As a result,
when I felt it was ethically wrong to sell a product that could potentially hurt a customer in
the long run, I didn’t set them up. I didn’t make as high of bonuses as I could have, but I did
leave every day with a clear conscious, which is worth more to me than any bonus they
could have offered.”
3) Skill Paragraph 2: integrate the 2nd skill with an experience where you demonstrated that skill.
4) Aggressive Close: Thank them for the opportunity to be part of their company, provide your
contact information, tell them you will contact them in 7 days or so to follow-up if you don’t
hear from them, and end with a direct statement:
“Thank you for the opportunity to be a member of your software development team. I will
contact you within 7 days to see if you have all you need to make your decision. Should you
desire to speak with me sooner, please contact me at 801-283-9281. I can also be reached
by email at [email protected]. I look forward to joining your team and I am certain
that it will be a positive experience for the both of us.
Sincerely,
Chris Abbot
Chris Abbot”
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LinkedIn can be a powerful resource for employers who are looking to
learn more about candidates. On LinkedIn you can provide more details
about yourself, your skills, and your accomplishments than you can on
a one-page resume. If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, make one! If
you already have one, make sure it’s updated! The free version of a
LinkedIn account is appropriate for your needs as a student.
Reid is an extremely useful resource when it comes to developing your
LinkedIn profile. He is often a guest lecturer in classrooms across
campus and presents on how to effectively use LinkedIn. If you would like him to review your
profile, send him an email with a link to your profile and include anything you want him to
specifically look for.
YOUR PICTURE
Your profile picture should be of only you, not of you
and your spouse. You’re the only one interviewing for
the position. Your picture should reflect the job you
want to have. If you want a job as a river guide, your
picture should show you in a kayak. If you want a job
at a major accounting firm, your picture should be of
you in professional attire. One of the most important
parts of your picture is that your eyes are clearly
visible. You can tell a lot about people by their eyes,
so employers want to see them.
Note: Feel free to connect with Reid on LinkedIn. Be aware, however, that he will not accept your
invitation to connect if you don’t have a picture associated with your profile!
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YOUR PERSONAL BRAND
When considering what to put on your LinkedIn profile, make sure that whatever you put up is
consistent with your personal brand. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What message do I want to send to employers?
- What do I want companies to know about my interests and motivations?
Always be transparent and honest on your LinkedIn profile. Your summary should be similar to your
Me in 30 Seconds (pg. 31). Eighty percent of employers are looking at social media to determine
how you would “fit” with their organization’s culture. Your interests will help them determine this.
View the slide deck Reid uses in in his presentations about branding your LinkedIn:
Link here
GET CONNECTED ON LINKEDIN
Your first objective on LinkedIn should be to find
and connect with people you know. You don’t
have to try to get 500+ contacts right away.
You shouldn’t connect with every person you
think you might know on Facebook. Your
connections represent your professional network.
Treat them as business connections, not “friends.”
For tips on composing LinkedIn connection invitations, read this (see: https://usat.ly/21e3UoD).
In addition to personal connections, take the time to follow a few companies you’re interested in
working for. Oftentimes when employers are considering candidates for internship or job positions,
recruiters will review the candidates’ LinkedIn profiles. You’ll score some major points if you follow
the company on LinkedIn.
You should also join LinkedIn groups. Many of these groups represent people living your dream. If
you aren’t connected with a person, you can’t send him or her a message; however, if you’re in the
same group as that person, you can send a message.
Some groups that can connect you with people who are “living your dream” are found in the list
below:
BYU Information Systems
Marriott School of Business
BYU Management Society
BYU Alumni
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F.I.R.E. ON LINKEDIN
LinkedIn is a useful medium for connecting with alumni – especially the alumni who are “living your
dream.” Alumni are generally happy to mentor and help students learn more about the company
they work for or to help students along their career paths. Use the process below to find alumni to
talk with about a position you might be interested in:
• Find 10 alumni on LinkedIn who work in the companies that you want to work for
• Informational interviewing (Live Research)
o Identify those alumni/contacts who could provide you with the best information
• Reach out and get introduced to an Alumnus/Mentor or Hiring Manager
o If you find someone who isn’t a first-level connection:
▪ Ask for an introduction through another person in your network who is
connected to that person or see if you’re in a group with that person
▪ Always include a key message of why you’re contacting that person
▪ Your introduction and message should be a professional message to have a
conversation offline (i.e. Meet for lunch or a phone conversation)
• Engage with that person offline (for less than 30 minutes)
COMMON SEARCHES
The main LinkedIn search bar provides a basic search, while the Advanced Search feature refines or
narrows your search.
Often employers will post jobs to http://www.students.linkedin.com/. These are internships and
entry-level job positions.
ACTION ITEMS
• Google your name; see what’s out there about you. Make sure that information is true.
• Create an “All Star” profile:
o Post a professional picture
o Create an awesome summary (Google this; there are a lot of resources out there)
o Connect with alumni and IS classmates
o Customize your public LinkedIn URL (see: https://goo.gl/VK0BCe)
o Join groups made up of people who are living your dream
o Follow companies that you have an interest in working for
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HANDSHAKE
Your primary tool for recruiting will be the
BYU Handshake. Handshake is an online
resource that connects BYU students to
employers and allows users to search job
listings, apply for jobs, communicate with recruiters, sign up for on-campus interviews, and
schedule appointments to meet with Reid (the Director of Placement for the IS program).
As a BYU student, you automatically have an account on Handshake. When you log in for the first
time, you’ll be prompted to complete your profile. You should do this TODAY!
COMPLETE YOUR PROFILE
Make sure your profile is current and correct. The key elements of your profile will automatically be
filled in from the university, but the majority of your profile comes from you. Employers only see
certain parts of your profile when you apply for a position. The additional profile information that
employers don’t see allows Handshake to be more tailored to you.
STAY IN THE LOOP!
Email notifications – by default, you’ll receive emails from Handshake about new jobs and events. If
you don’t want to receive these emails, you can adjust these settings by logging in to Handshake
and selecting the tab with your name and photo, then clicking on “Settings & Privacy” and
selecting Notification Preferences.
Often the best way to receive information is to ‘favorite’ employers. News and information about
your ‘favorite’ companies will appear in your Handshake Newsfeed. We will also supply you with
information about events each week in the Friday Forecast.
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UPLOAD YOUR RESUME & TRANSCRIPT
To apply for jobs, you need to have at least one default resume on Handshake. To add your
resume, save it as a PDF, find the “Documents” tab under your name, click “Add New Document,”
and follow the onscreen instructions.
Need to submit your unofficial transcript along with your resume? Not sure how to do it? Check
out the instructions below:
1) Log in to MyBYU and find “Campus Links,” the “School” tab, and then AIM to find your
transcript
2) Click on “Student Academic Record” and then click on “Progress Report” (ABC Report)
3) Click on the “Full Progress Report” link (below your “Current Programs”), and save your
report as a PDF
4) Log in to Handshake, and click on the “Documents” tab under your name
5) Select Transcript as the type of document to upload
SEARCH FOR OPPORTUNITIES
Use the Jobs tab on your homepage to search for job opportunities. You can search by keyword,
industry, location, major, etc. Don’t forget to save your custom searches to save time while
searching in the future.
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SEARCH FOR EVENTS
Information Sessions and Career Fairs are great ways to learn more about an organization and start
networking. Information Sessions are found under the “Events” tab of Handshake. If you ‘favorite’ a
company, events for that company will appear in your newsfeed.
TALK WITH A CAREER COUNSELOR
Your Career Counselor (Reid Grawe) is here to help you! Schedule an appointment to discuss your
career options, resumes, cover letters, interviewing, networking, or search techniques by going to
Handshake and clicking on “Career Center” then selecting “Appointments” from the drop down or
by visiting the Business Career Center (447 TNRB).
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INTERVIEWING
As you apply for positions on Handshake and elsewhere, you’ll receive invitations to be interviewed.
The most important piece of advice we have when it comes to interviews is to BE YOURSELF!
Employers recognize that you’re just entering the program and that you don’t know a ton yet, but
if they like you as a person and perceive you as the “best fit” for the position, you’ll receive an offer.
The top things that an employer looks for in a cadidate are as follows:
Below is information on a few things that you should do before, during, and after the interview:
Likeability(Interview)
Motivation/Fit(Interview/LinkedIn)
Competence(Resume /LinkedIn)
15%
25%
60%
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BEFORE THE INTERVIEW
ME IN 30 SECONDS
The Me in 30 Seconds or Elevator Pitch* is a short statement about you and your passions. This
statement can be used when introducing yourself to an employer at a career fair or when an
interviewer asks you to “Tell me about yourself.”
In its simplest form, your Elevator Pitch should follow this format:
1. Full Name (First or Preferred First and Last Name)
• If your name is hard to pronounce, make sure you
say it clearly.
2. Where you’re from
• If you’re an international student, also say how long you have been in the US for.
3. Deliver your passion in this format: “I do _______ because I love _______.”
• “I am studying IS because_________.”
• “In my last internship, I created __ that solved __ and saved the company $100,000.”
4. Connect the company with your passion. They need to know why you want them.
• “Your company has a reputation for _______.”
• “I believe this position fits me because _______.”
5. Express your interest (In a controlled way, of course)
Normally, an elevator pitch ends with you asking this question:
• “Who do you know that I should talk to about this?”
As you meet an interviewer, you should replace the question with one of the following:
• “I’m excited for this interview; I really want to join your team!”
• “I would love to work for your company!”
• “I want to serve you and your clients and hope I have the opportunity to do so!”
* The term Elevator Pitch comes from the scenario of meeting
someone in the elevator (perhaps the CEO of the company!) and he or
she asks you, “What do you do?” You have a short amount of time to
make an impression (the amount of time it takes to ride the elevator
from the floor you’re on to the floor that you or the CEO is getting off
at!), and to tell the CEO enough about you that he or she remembers
you the next time you meet. Make yourself memorable in the best way!
This section should sound
extremely familiar to
returned missionaries. Think
door approaches or street
contacts.
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RESEARCH
Visit the company’s website and take a look at its “About Us” section. Get a feel for the company
culture and product or service. Be familiar with the company’s mission statement if it has one.
Find the job description on the company’s website or on Handshake. Compare your resume and
experience to all aspects of the job description. Think through your responses to questions
interviewers may ask you about your experience (e.g. If the job description says you have to know
JavaScript and you have never used it before, what will you say if/when this is brought up in the
interview?).
Look up the company on LinkedIn. See if any of your connections work at this company. Find
someone at that company who is living your dream. Take the time to reach out to him or her to ask
for that person’s perspective on the culture and mission of the organization. Ask any questions you
feel are necessary in order for you to get to know the company and/or resolve concerns you may
have.
Here are 5 questions you could ask your inside contact:
1. Can you tell me what it’s like to work for Company XYZ?
2. How can I impress someone in the interview? Are there any do’s or do not’s that I should be
aware of?
3. What’s your toughest interview question?
4. Is this position everything it’s advertised to be?
5. Does the company really care about you and your success?
If you can’t find an inside contact on LinkedIn, call the recruiter and say, “I want to be the best
candidate for this position. I have a few questions for someone who is doing this job. Could you
connect me?”
MOCK INTERVIEWS
Even if you’re comfortable with interviewing, we encourage you to meet with Reid to stage a mock
interview. Schedule an appointment with him through Handshake. Before your appointment, make
sure to email Reid a copy of your current resume and the position’s job description. You can
also use HireVue, an online interviewing tool that allows you to video yourself responding to
interview questions and review your responses. To access this resource contact
[email protected] and ask for a HireVue account.
INTERVIEW ATTIRE
Unless otherwise specified, dress up, not down. This means that for interviews you should come in
business professional attire (and arrive 5-10 minutes early). You need to show that you have the
ability to be mature and fit in with the company’s professional work environment. Check out some
dress guidelines from the Marriott School Magazine: http://marriottschool.uberflip.com/i/144061-
winter-2011/10 (pages 8-17). Although some start-up companies have a casual dress code at work,
you should still dress professionally for the first interview.
I n t e r v i e w i n g
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DURING THE INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
In order to ace an interview, you must master these six questions published by the company Under
Cover Recruiter: Under Cover Recruiter's Most Commonly Asked Interview Questions.
Additionally, the Business Career Center maintains a list of commonly asked interview questions to
be aware of. You can access this list from the UCS website (https://bit.ly/2KfGSZV).
We also recommend that you look up common interview questions for your specific company on
glassdoor.com, other recruiting sites, and even Google.
When answering behavior-based questions (“Tell me about a time when you…”), remember
S.T.A.R.
Situation – Describe the situation
Task – Explain the Task
Actions – What action did you take?
Results – What were the results of your actions?
Say WHAT matters, stay FOCUSED, and END.
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QUESTIONS FOR THE INTERVIEWER
At the end of an interview, the interviewer may ask if you have any questions for him or her –
prepare at least two questions asking for advice. You should also prepare at least two to three
questions about the company or position. Do your homework! Make sure you ask smart questions.
Advice Questions:
What’s the best way to impress the team I’ll be working with?
How would you advise me to prepare for this internship?
Smart Questions:
Can you tell me a little more about how my role fits into the organization as a whole?
What do you need a person in this job to do right now to meaningfully contribute to the company?
Not-so Smart Questions:
What can you tell me about the company’s medical insurance?
When could I expect a promotion?
At the very end of the interview, don’t be afraid to ask, “Based on our conversation today, would
you feel comfortable in recommending me for the position?” This will allow the interviewer to
explain his or her thoughts about the interview and for you to receive feedback.
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AFTER THE INTERVIEW
Be sure to say thank you. If appropriate, you may ask the interviewer for a business card. At a
minimum, you should send the interviewer a thank you email within 24 hours. A thank you card
may be used as well. You want the interviewer to remember you and for the right reasons. Some
guidelines about thank you notes can be found on the UCS website:
https://bit.ly/2KfGSZV
We also recommend that you give Reid some feedback regarding your interview experience. If Reid
is aware that you interviewed with that company, he can advocate for you.
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RECEIVING OFFERS
Generally, within two weeks of the final interview, you’ll hear from the recruiter. Yes, you’ll likely
receive an internship offer. Normally you’ll have two weeks to respond to the company regarding
your decision. If for some reason you don’t, you can appropriately ask for a few days or a week to
make a decision. Always be sure to pray about your decision.
It should be noted that receiving offers earlier and earlier is becoming increasingly common, as
much as a year in advance. Great care should be taken with any offer, but especially with very early
offers. See more below about the process in general and what to do to accept an offer. See more
about early offers in particular under Accepting and Declining Offers.
AN EXAMPLE PROCESS
Every company conducts its interviews differently, but an example of the interview process is shown
below. This process is very similar to dating and marriage:
Résumé Asking for a 1st Date
(Make a good first impression)
Interview 1st Date
(Don’t mess it up, or you won’t get a second chance)
2nd Interview
(Time to meet with dad)
Accept Offer Committed/Engaged
(You’re off the market-- no more flirting!)
Begin Work Marriage (You did it!!)
Reneging* Just don’t do it
(*Reneging is going back on your previous acceptance of an offer. Can be an honor code violation, and it burns bridges with companies)
The Courting Process
Define the Relationship
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NEGOTIATING AN OFFER
As a general rule, you won’t need to negotiate an internship or entry-level job offer. MISMs may
have more opportunity to negotiate. Oftentimes an offer has benefits (e.g. office amenities,
bonuses, health insurance, etc.) that
you should take into consideration
beyond just salary. For entry-level
positions, we at the Business Career
Center maintain an overall average
salary number. If you feel that your offer is significantly lower than this average, talk to Reid and he
can give you insights into how to best handle the negotiation. Sometimes the best question to ask
is this: “Is any part of this offer negotiable?”
ACCEPTING AND DECLINING OFFERS
Receiving offers as much as a year in advance is becoming increasingly common for students,
especially while on their first internship. Be aware that you are free to decline any offer if it doesn’t
align with their objectives or just doesn’t feel right. However, if it is right, move forward and make it
a successful decision, even if it comes far earlier than anticipated.
Be gracious when declining offers. Contact recruiters directly to let them know that you respectfully
decline the offer. Don’t delay the bad news. Let them know as soon as possible after you have
made your decision. If appropriate, give specific reasons for
declining. Don’t be afraid to tell them that you based your
decision on what you felt was best for your family or that you
felt you received a better offer elsewhere. The ‘cost of living’ in
the area isn’t an adequate reason for declining an offer.
If you accept an offer, celebrate! However, you aren’t done! You
need to report your internship or job offer on the Marriott
School Database immediately after accepting an offer (see more
information in the “Other Resources” section below). This step is
extremely important!
Also, once you accept an offer, we encourage you to help your peers find internships and/or jobs.
Spread the wealth!
Don’t accept an offer and then go back on your decision. Ever! This is known as “reneging” on
an offer. Doing so has a negative impact on you, the IS program, and BYU as a whole. Aside from
some extreme circumstances, reneging on an offer can be considered an Honor Code violation.
This is a serious matter that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
If you feel the need to renege on an offer, talk to Reid immediately. He can help you determine the
best course of action.
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ISCAREERS.BYU.EDU
The IS Career Team is developing a website specifically for BYU IS students. This website is a one-
stop place to get the most relevant information about all things IS. Check it out at
iscareers.byu.edu. Under the resources tab you will find the following four sections: IS Resources,
the Career Explorer Tableau Dashboard, and Spotlights.
IS RESOURCES
This section is still under construction and will probably change in the future. As of now, you will
find a montage of different resources that you can browse, including this booklet, resources related
to resumes, recruiting, interviewing, connecting, offers, all helpful links, placement stats, the 2 Hour
Job Search guide, Reid’s latest Tips and article finds, the IS Core Summer Boot Camp.
HELPFUL LINKS
CareerLaunch.byu.edu is an official website of the Marriott Business School that focuses on
personal, professional development. Each degree and official Marriott School clubs have individual
pages where they post relevant, customized content for their students.
We recommend viewing
CareerLaunch for tips and
tricks before the recruiting
season starts, like many of
the resources contained in
this book. You’ll find
resume, interview, and
LinkedIn tips, as well as
interesting articles about
the career opportunities in
the Information Systems
professional world.
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Each student should log into CareerLaunch and customize their contact preferences to make sure
the site provides relevant content. Each student will get their personalized “alerts” each week,
showing them relevant articles, job postings, and upcoming events.
Each degree and club have a tag. By selecting the ones you are interested in, you will filter all blog,
job, and event posts. You can also say which type of jobs and events you are most interested in, as
well as how frequently CareerLaunch will email you.
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2 HOUR JOB SEARCH
This guide will walk you through an outline of “The 2 Hour Job Search” process by Steve Dalton,
Senior Career Consultant at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, to help you select,
prioritize, and contact prospective employers so you can land your critical first interview. While
reading the actual book is the best way to follow this process, this
guide will give you an overview of the process. The process is
designed to be focused and efficient and will only take a total of 2
hours but can be broken into pieces.
"The '2 hours Job search' has totally changed my perspective
about how to land a job. I learned the true power of networking.
By applying the principles , I have had dozens of information
interviews that helped me 1) learn the culture of the companies, 2)
understand the challenges entailed in the job I'm looking for, 3)
and more importantly, I gained valuable advice from professionals
that are now advocating for me because of the trust built during
the interview ." --Jairo Franco, BSIS Senior
IS CORE SUMMER BOOT CAMP
Before the Core you probably wondered what
you can do to hit the ground running in the
Fall, especially when it comes to
internships. How will you decide what kind of
internship you want? What should you say to
recruiters? What companies hire BYU students? We have prepared a virtual 5-week Boot Camp
program that will get you started on the path to becoming an IS professional. Each week will
include spotlights on career paths and companies, as well as simple tasks that are designed to only
require 30 minutes of your time (but you are definitely welcome to spend more time than that).
• Week 1: Exploring IS career paths
• Week 2: Resumes
• Week 3: Connecting
• Week 4: Interviewing
• Week 5: Recap and revisiting your plan
If you choose to follow through with each task of the Boot Camp, you will be better prepared for
recruiting season during the fall of the IS Core.
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AIS (BYU STUDENT CHAPTER OF A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION)
The Association for Information Systems (AIS) is a Marriott School
student organization that connects students with employers and
with each other. AIS is currently sponsored by 16 employers that
pay to have exclusive access to IS students. AIS facilitates numerous
information sessions in the weeks surrounding the career fairs.
Most of these events are catered with food from local restaurants.
You must be a member of AIS to attend these information sessions.
Visit the AIS club website to join the club (see the links below).
In addition to recruiting activities, AIS holds Value-Added Forums.
These are technical training nights for students to learn more about new technologies. Often these
skills aren’t fully addressed in the classroom. These skills can be important in your becoming a well-
rounded technology professional.
AIS also holds events that are geared toward fun activities. A particular employer often sponsors
each of these events, so you’ll have opportunities to network with company representatives. Recent
events have included laser tag, ice skating, the nickel arcade, and a trampoline park.
We strongly encourage you to join AIS. The friendships and professional development
opportunities found at AIS events are extremely valuable to your IS career. AIS membership costs
$35 for a lifetime. You pay once and don’t have to worry about it again. If you attend AIS
functions, you’ll get your money back in the food alone.
Website: http://ais.byu.edu/
Join: https://marriottschool.byu.edu/clubs/index/clublist?club=2#club-anchor-2
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IS CAREER EXPLORER TABLEAU DASHBOARD
This dashboard is published on our website to help you explore the career paths and opportunities
available in the world of Information Systems. Use it to create your career dream so that we can
help you achieve it! The dashboard pulls the Marriott School placement data of IS students.
• Tab 1 - Main Career Explorer
o Filter the data by company name, placement
type, state, job category, placement year (year
the student started working in that position),
program, and international sponsors
(companies that have previously hired international students).
o Use the lasso tool on the map to select specific cities/areas that interest you.
o Look at the Breakdown table to see the instance of each opportunity a student has
taken broken down by company, placement type, city, job category, job title,
placement year, and program.
o Select different categories on the pie chart to filter the whole dashboard by that job
category. Hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard to select multiple sections of the
pie chart.
• Tab 2 - Offering trends
o This tab shows historic trends of when companies have made internship or full-time
offers to BYU students.
o If you are interested in a specific company, you can filter the trend line by that
company to see when they usually pitch their offers. This is important because some
companies are on campus the second week of fall semester while others do not start
recruiting until January. Knowing this information will prepare you for when your
dream company is most likely to offer your dream opportunity.
• Tab 3 - Alumni & Skills
o The data for this tab comes from a survey we send out to all IS students who have
been out on internships or will be starting their full-time jobs. This is still in its
beginning stages of development, so the database is relatively small.
o Use the Skills table to learn which hard skills are being used by companies. This table
includes a hyperlink to the LinkedIn Job Search filtered by the skill you selected. This
search is just another resource to explore companies you may be interested in
pursuing.
o The Alumni table on this tab is a list of past or current student who have agreed to
connect with students interested in the company they interned/worked for. Their
email is listed so you can contact them directly. If you do not see a contact for a
company you are interested in, come in and visit with Reid to access his connections.
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SPOTLIGHTS
You can find spotlight articles of IS students and alumni who have worked as interns or full-time.
These articles are a great place to find relevant information about your dream career. Often times,
the interviewee will include their personal contact information—feel free to reach out to them; they
are more than willing to help you.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
FRIDAY FORECAST (JOB AND INTERNSHIP NEWSLETTER)
We as the Business Career Center team send out a newsletter every Friday to inform students of
upcoming events and job/internship postings. This is a great way to stay on top of information
sessions, career fairs, internship opportunities, job opportunities, interviews, announcements, and
tips on how to achieve your dream job.
We attempt to limit our email distributions to ONE email per week. We do this intentionally to
reduce the number of places you have to look for information. We encourage you to glance
through these newsletters even if you have already achieved your dream to stay in the loop on
things and be enabled to help others who are seeking jobs and internships.
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MARRIOTT SCHOOL EMPLOYMENT REPORTING
Congratulations on receiving an offer! Once you have accepted an internship or job, you have only
one step left! You need to share the good news! Please report your internship or job to the
Marriott School on the MS database right after receiving your offer.
Reporting this information is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! Employment data is used by agencies, such
as BusinessWeek, to rank business schools and IS programs across the country. Not reporting your
internship/job information has a negative impact on the reputation of the Marriott School and the
IS department, which can trickle down to create a negative impact on your personal IS reputation.
Don’t be surprised to hear from us if you don’t report. We will follow up with you via email, phone
calls, texts, or whatever it takes to encourage you to report. Do us both a favor and report your
internship or job in a timely manner. ☺
If you work in a part-time or full-time job over the summer only, report this job as an internship.
Note: Salary information is protected and safe guarded. We will never reveal your individual
salary to other students or employers. The reason the database asks for your salary is your salary is
added to others’ salaries to become part of the overall averages published by the Marriott School.
Report your offer information here: https://marriottschool.byu.edu/msmadmin/placement
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