Networking Info Guide

8/2/2019 Networking Info Guide

1/17

1

Networking and Informational

Interviews

Contents:

Uncover the Hidden Job Market Create a Networking Strategy Plan Your Networking Meeting Explore Other Networking Opportunities What Is An Informational Interview? Prepare for Your Informational Interviews Sample Phone Script For Setting Up An Informational Interview Follow-up After the Informational Interviews Ask Good Questions During An Informational Interview

Prepared by the

Weston Career Center

Olin Business School

Washington University in St. Louis


2/17

2

Uncover the Hidden Job Market

Networking is the best way to tap into the hidden job market - an immense underground

marketplace in which jobs open up and are filled through word-of-mouth and personal

referrals. More than 70% of the people who succeed in landing a job do so through

networking. Whether youre entering the workforce for the first time or switching jobsmid-career, cultivating a network of contacts will yield benefits throughout your career

and your career changes. In fact, the average person will change jobs seven to ten timesin a lifetime, a number that has increased in recent decades.

Expand Your OptionsSkillful networking reveals positions that have not yet been posted or that will never be

advertised. Networking can get your foot in the door before a position is available. When

the job opens up, if youve established a relationship with the hiring manager, he or she

will remember you before pondering the heap of faceless rsums that comes fromHuman Resources.

Cultivate Contacts

Networking involves gathering a list of contacts that might be able to help you with yourjob-hunting process. Networking begins with the people you already know and expands

into an interrelated web of contacts by means of introduction to others.

Through networking, you can:

Get your message out and publicize your availability.

Gather marketplace information and industry trends.

Accumulate information on target organizations.

Get advice and ideas.

Locate sponsors, mentors, and job leads.

Generate referrals that further build your network.

Develop life-long contacts that may help you later.

An important distinction exists between two different types of networking: The first isthe type of networking that focuses on finding a specific hidden job. The second of

informational interviewing, is an approach that emphasizes learning more about a

career. In the former, you are publicizing your availability and seeking potential job

leads. In the latter, you are not looking for a specific job, you are gathering informationand advice to screen for potential careers and jobs before you decide to pursue them. We

will review both of these vital tools in your job search strategy.


3/17

3

Create a Networking Strategy

Networking is one of the most misunderstood dimensions of the job search process.Networking seems to come naturally to some people, but many job seekers are unsure

about the process. This handout provides tips for getting you started with effectivenetworking.

Build Your Contact List

First, make a list of people you know, but not just people in the specific career field in

which you are interested. Include them regardless of what they do or where they work.

Dont exclude people just because you cannot see how they might be able to further yourcareer objectives. Be open to all possibilities at this stage. Include:

Former high school and college classmates

Professors

People from your family telephone directory - friends, relatives, doctors, dentists,

insurance agents, accountants, your childrens soccer coaches

Names in the rosters of organizations you belong to - alumni associations, fraternal

groups, social clubs, athletic clubs, religious organizations, and neighborhood

associations

Start with people you know because common interests form the basis of connecting with

people. Whether you share hobbies, ethnic or religious background, school attachments,

or neighborhood concerns, these common interests motivate people to be willing to talkwith you. Also, people who have feelings for you, or for members of your family, want to

see you succeed. Once you start contacting the people on your list, many will introduce

you or refer you to other people. Your contact list will grow.

PrioritizeRank the people on your list according to how comfortable you feel contacting them. At

the top, put the person you feel most comfortable speaking with, then the person you feelnext most comfortable speaking with, etc. Continue prioritizing until you reach the point

where you would feel a bit awkward contacting that person. Draw a line. Then continue

to add names below the line until you have added everyone you can think of. If you

remember more names later, insert them in the appropriate place on your list. Supposeyou have 30 names on your list and the line appears after number 12. The first 12 are

people you know you can call and ask for a meeting with little discomfort. Youll

approach the other 18 differently.


4/17

4

Overcome Your Fears

Try not to be intimidated by the process. Most people enjoy and are even flattered by anopportunity to help. To a great extent, you will be networking with people you know or

people with whom you have something in common. If you ask a friend or acquaintance to

help you or give you some information, most will gladly comply if they can. Others have

helped them in the past in their own job search process. When you contact people forinformation, they usually appreciate help theyve received from others and recognize that

it is their turn to help someone else. This principle holds true even when the economy is

sluggish, and the job market is depressed.

Develop Your Positioning Statement

Youll want to introduce yourself to everyone you meet. Dont memorize yourintroduction or positioning statement. You dont want to sound like a robot. Instead, keepyour introduction conversational in tone and draw from your education, experience,

skills, achievements, and career goals. Above all, you should tell an interesting story

about who you are. Include any of the following items that present you in a positive light:

Undergraduate Education

School, degree earned, extracurricular activities, scholarships, awards

Previous Work Experience

Number of years of experience in an industry or professional field

Brief summary of two or three significant accomplishments, or contributions that relateto your future career goals and objectives

Special projects, unique training, or international work assignments

Interests

If you have completed CareerLeaderTM

, use your results to talk about your interests,

(i.e., Managing People and Relationships, Quantitative Analysis, Counseling and

Mentoring).

Use examples of how these interests have been used in your academic, professional, orextracurricular activities, and how they relate to your future career goals and objectives.

Skills

If you have completed CareerLeaderTM

, use your results to talk about your key skills

(i.e., Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, and Managing People).

Use examples of how these skills have been used in your academic, professional or

extracurricular activities, and how they relate to your future career goals and objectives.

Talk about your unique skills. This could include language, technical skills, special or

unique training, travel, or interesting hobbies.


5/17

5

Future Career Goals and Objectives

Talk about your future career goals and objectives. This could include industry interests,career fields of interest, skills you bring to a new position/company, or contributions you

hope to make.

Positioning Statement ExampleMy name is John Smith, and Im a first-year MBA student at the Olin Business School. I

earned my bachelors degree in business administration at Emory University. As captain

of my soccer team, I developed skills in leading and motivating my team to earn a spot inthe regional championships my senior year. I have worked for the past four years in

change management with a large consulting firm where I worked with a variety of

international clients. I led teams of up to ten people on projects ranging from six weeks tosix months. We consistently completed our projects within budget and with superior

client satisfaction ratings. I am very interested in international business development and

with the opportunities your company may have. Could you tell me a little more about

business development and how it fits with your companys future objectives?

Make Your First ContactsBuild confidence by first calling the people at the top of your list - the ones with whomyou feel comfortable. As you progress down the list, you will reach the line that separates

those you feel comfortable contacting from those you dont know as well. At this point,

try a different approach. Initiate contact by writing a short letter or email to introduce (orreintroduce) yourself. Explain your purpose for wanting to meet briefly and close by

saying you will call to set up an appointment. When you call to follow up, your call will

be expected, and the other person will be more likely to remember who you are. Write a

script for your call beforehand, if it makes you feel more comfortable.

Avoid talking business in your initial phone call. If possible, save it for the meeting.

Begin with an exchange of pleasantries; follow with a brief statement of why you want to

meet.

Plan Your Networking Meeting

Decide When to Meet

If youre still employed, consider breakfast, lunch, after work, or on weekends. Withfriends and relatives, evenings and weekends may work best. With business contacts,

take advantage of normal workday breaks. If youre not employed and not a full-time

student, you should be available to meet at any time when your contact is available.Many people in management positions can find time during their workday to meet with

you.

Decide Where to MeetWhenever possible, meet your contacts at their places of business. The advantages are:

Youll get a feeling for the work environment.


6/17

6

Your contacts will likely feel more relaxed on their own turf. Your contacts will not have to travel to meet with you, and you are more likely to

get more of their time.

You may be introduced to your contacts colleagues who work down the hall. Your contacts are more likely to have their contact databases at hand in their

offices, increasing the likelihood that some of those important contacts will begiven to you.

Inviting your contacts to meet over lunch can get expensive. When you are job hunting,

your contacts often will offer to pick up the tab. When you are the one who does the

inviting, however, business etiquette dictates that you pay. An alternative is to invite yourcontacts to meet over a cup of coffee. If they invite you to lunch, you can say that youdlike to have a chance to see their office or plant, and youd be glad to take a rain check

for lunch. Once you are employed, consider taking them to lunch as a way of thanking

them and maintaining the contact.

Have an AgendaNetworking is not just idle chitchat. If you dont know exactly what youre meetingabout, you risk alienating your contact. You asked for the meeting, so you must have an

agenda of comments and questions to direct the conversation. Help the other person help

you by gently steering the meeting in the direction of your objectives.

Know Your Networking ObjectivesYour objectives in networking generally will be to publicize your availability, to get

advice and information about trends in your industry of interest, and to get potential jobleads.

Build RapportFirst make an effort to get to know new contacts and give them an opportunity to get toknow you. People help other people whom they like and trust, people who belong to a

group they belong to, or people with whom they feel some connection. Take advantage of

whatever you have in common with each other.

The time needed to build rapport varies according to the people and the circumstances. If

you meet someone randomly at a conference cocktail hour, the rapport-building phaseusually happens quickly before any points of substance are discussed or cards are

exchanged. If youre developing a long-term relationship, take more time to establish

your connection with them.

In the U.S., we tend to skip over the rapport-building phase rather quickly, compared to

people from other cultures. If you are meeting with someone from an Asian or Latin

American country, for example, they may be accustomed to taking more time to establish

a relationship before getting down to business or providing assistance.

Most people will sense, consciously or unconsciously, the attitude with which you

approach them. If you approach networking as a way of building and maintaining


7/17

7

relationships for their own sake, people will feel good about you and will be eager to help

you any way they can.

Find Out About Them

People enjoy talking about themselves and their work. Ask questions that elicit

information about how they got into their line of work, how their business is doing now,how they like their work, and how they see you potentially fitting into their industry or a

workplace similar to their own.

Tell Accomplishment StoriesPresent the information you share with others in short, interesting stories about your

accomplishments, both in and out of the workplace. Practice telling your stories. Use theS-A-R model: Describe the situation, the action you took, and the result. Avoid

dominating the conversation; try for a comfortable balance between speaking about

yourself and letting the other person speak.

Prepare Questions in AdvanceYour questions should accomplish two purposes: obtaining information that will be

helpful to you, and demonstrating that you are well-informed about their industry orcompany.

Gather NamesGather names of other people you can talk to that will broaden the scope of your

research. Many of your contacts will introduce you or refer you to other people. Add

these names to your master contact list. Follow up on these new contacts, as appropriate.

Respect Their TimeBe on time. Dont stay longer than the amount of time you requested and agreed on for

the meeting. This respect for the other persons time is a fundamental principle of

business etiquette.

Dont Put Your Contact on the Spot

Networking etiquette requires that you not put people on the spot by asking them directly

for a job. Tell everyone that youre engaged in the job-search process, but ask no one

directly for a job. You are letting them know that you are available, gathering

information, and seeking suggestions for other contacts that might help with your job-search process. If you ask your contact directly for a job, you risk making the other

person feel awkward or guilty. After that, the person may avoid contact with you.

Be a ProDress professionally. Relax and be yourself. Afterwards, send a thank you note within 24

hours.


8/17

8

Explore Other Networking Opportunities

To build your network, youll also want to attend or participate in meetings, clubs,

associations, conventions, trade shows, social gatherings, and other professional events.

MeetingsFocus on meetings and events in your chosen field, which are often attended by preciselythe people with whom you most want to connect. Speak to people at these meetings.

After brief conversations, exchange business cards. People you meet may suggest names

of other people for you to contact.

ClubsOlins many career-related student clubs afford excellent networking opportunities

because you can associate with students with similar interests and build your personal

network of contacts. Company representatives, recruiters, and industry experts sometimesattend club activities. You have an opportunity to get to know them, and they have an

opportunity to get to know you. A complete list of career-related student clubs isavailable through the Weston Career Center.

What is an Informational Interview?

Weve been describing the kind of networking that occurs afteryou know what careerfield you are interested in, and afteryou know what kind of position you are interested in.

In your networking meetings, you are seeking information and job leads. Your aim is

clear - to find a specific job.

A completely different kind of meeting occurs before you know what career field or jobyou are interested in. This kind of meeting is called an informational interview, a term

coined by Richard Bolles, author ofWhat Color Is Your Parachute?

Bolles distinguishes informational interviewing from networking. Informational

interviewing is a process you engage in for the purpose of testing or screening a careerbefore you switch to that career, or to screen jobs before you take them. Bolles makes the

point that many people screen jobs afterthey take them, when they really should be using

this technique to screen them beforehand.

Informational interviews provide information that helps you decide if a particular career

is right for you, and, if it is, how you can prepare yourself to work in that field. If youvealready made a tentative career choice, informational interviews can help you to learnhow to get a job in that field and find out about the responsibilities, rewards, problems,

and issues inherent in a specific career, possibly before making a long-term commitment

of time or money to prepare for it.

Informational interviewing is talking to people who do the kind of work that interests

you. You are not talking primarily to people who have the power to hire you. When


9/17

9

youre conducting informational interviews, be clear about your motives. Scheduling an

interview for information when you really want a job interview can sabotage the

contacts trust in you. If your contact senses that your agenda is different than what you

initially stated, he or she may feel deceived.

Prepare For Your Informational Interviews

The preparation process parallels the networking steps we outlined earlier. In this case,

however, you are identifying people who are active and knowledgeable in the career field

you are researching. To do that, ask all the people you know if they are acquainted withanyone in your field of interest who might be willing to talk to you. Then, ask if you can

use their name as a reference when you contact that person.

Do Background WorkFirst, research the field, the person you will be interviewing, and the organization for

which the person works. Next, prepare a list of questions you want to ask when you meetwith these people. An informational interview is one of the few interviews in which youare in control of the questions asked. Your informational interview is a conversation.

Dont simply read your list of questions as if it were a script. Use your list as an aid to

tactfully help you keep the meeting focused on gaining the information you need. To get

you started, weve included some sample questions at the end of this document, but you

will want to develop your own questions based on your situation and goals.

PracticePractice by interviewing people for information when you meet someone new or with

your friends. You will find it easy and enjoyable. People generally like to talk about

themselves and their work.

A sample script that you can use to organize your thoughts before calling to set up an

informational interview is below. Adapt it to your circumstances. Practice until:

You are speaking naturally and clearly. Your voice reflects confidence. The impression you make is professional. You do not sound like you are reading a prepared script.


10/17

10

Set the Appointment

Whenever possible, arrange a face-to-face interview. If that is not possible, you canconduct your informational interview by phone. Be friendly, sincere, courteous, and

polite. When talking on the phone, avoid external distractions (e.g., gum chewing, calling

from a cell phone with background noise from a radio or other conversations, etc.).

Follow Up After the Informational Interviews

At the end of the interview, ask for the names of other individuals who might give you

different perspectives. Thank the person, then follow up with a thank you note within 24

hours of your meeting. In your note, you can refer to key points of your discussion or

your plans to follow through on specific suggestions.

Keep Records Of Your Discussions

After each meeting, jot down some key points about your conversation. The next timeyou talk to that person, refer to your notes to refresh your memory. As you talk to more

people, your meeting notes will serve as a source of ideas and additional questions.

Keep Contact Information For the People You MeetMake contact approximately every month. Send them articles of interest and updates on

your progress. Build the relationship you have started. You are developing a network that

will benefit you throughout your career.

With each interview you conduct, you will grow in comfort and confidence with the

process. Even after you are employed, you should keep up the practice of meeting people

and further develop the skills youve started to cultivate through your informational

Sample Phone Script for Setting Up An Informational Interview

Hello (the other persons name). My name is (your full name). (The person who

referred you) suggested that I call you because of your expertise (knowledge,background, experience) in the field of (occupation, trade, industry, profession,

company) for information or advice about careers in your field.

[If calling without a reference, state how you heard about this individual, e.g., I

read about your work in I heard you speak at I know of your reputation

through]

I am interested in this field (as a possible career direction or whatever your reasonsare). Ive read about it and discussed it with others, and I would like to know more. I

would like to meet with you, at your convenience, for no more than 20 - 30 minutes,

to ask you some questions. Could we arrange a time?


11/17

11

interviewing. You never know when your network of contacts will prove useful. And

remember, once you are employed, you will be called on from time to time to assistothers who are seeking job-search information and assistance.

Ask Good Questions During an Informational Interview

Weve included some sample questions below to get you started, but you will want to

develop your own questions based on your situation and goals.

Starting Out

How would you advise someone to start building a career in your field? Where

would you start? What steps should a person just starting out take? What experience

will be expected? How can I get that experience? In what companies, departments,positions? What positions lead to dead ends?

Did you participate in a formal training program? Where?

What education or training is most valued? What is the necessary educational

background for this field? What courses are particularly valuable? What areas ofknowledge are most important for advancement in the field? What degrees?

Certifications? What educational institutions would you suggest?

How did you get your start? What were some of the most important factorscontributing to your success? If you were starting out again, what would you do

differently?

The JobWhat is a typical workweek like for you? What do you actually do?

What are some of the rewards of your occupation? Your field? What do you like

most about your work?

What are some of the difficulties, frustrations, and most frequently recurring

problems?

How flexible can you be in this field/position? Can you work at varied hours? Canyou arrange your own hours? What latitude do you have to plan your own time?

What are your major responsibilities in this job? What part do you play in deciding

priorities?


12/17

12

Ask Good Questions During An Information Interview, continued

Advancement

What are some typical mistakes or errors that prevent a person from advancing in

this field? From succeeding in this kind of work?

What advice would you give a person wanting to advance in your field? Wanting to

build a career?

What is the range of income possible for people in this field? (By now you haveresearched comparative salaries on websites such as salary.com, however, it is useful

to compare published salaries to what your contact knows.) What is the salary

structure? What is the starting salary range? What is the range at different levels ofadvancement? What benefits do people in these positions earn?

What is developing in this field (add some of your own insights from the research

you have done)? Company? Industry? Where do you see the greatest needs? Whatare the most important areas in this field? The major problems?

What are your projections for the future of the industry? What areas do you feelafford the greatest opportunity? The most growth? Where is expansion taking place?

In what markets? With what products?

Is there a deficit of qualified personnel in any part of this field? Where is the bestplace to look for jobs?

Is most of the hiring here done on an external or internal basis?

Special Interests

Do many women/minorities work in this field?

How effective are affirmative action programs in this field? Have you seen the ratios

of women/minority managers change over the past few years?


13/17

BUSINESS ETIQUETTE

MIND YOUR MANNERS!

First impressions are critical in networking and in landing theright job! It is important to always present your best mannersin every situation, and ollow best practices set by your el-

low students and potential colleagues.

1Interviews Be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes early to allinterviews and company unctions. Make sure you have all othe necessary documents needed or the interview (copy orsum, application materials).

2Eye contact Make sure you look people in the eye and keepeye contact consistently. It lets them know you are interested inwhat they have to say and contribute.

3Bad habits Dont chew gum or mints while interviewingor in a conversation with a potential employer. Sit up straightinstead o slouching or leaning. Always have a smile and expressinterest by maintaining eye contact, asking questions and usingvoice inection.

4Dress for success Dress or the job you want, or aspire tohave; dont dress or your current role.

5Company relationships I you are selected or an interview,be sure to choose a time slot sooner rather than later dontwait! Slots ll up quickly and you want to have a time thatworks best or you. Also, i the company is hosting a pre-nightor inormation session, be sure to attend they will be lookingor your participation.

6Thank you letters Send a thank you letter ater each com-pany meeting and stay in touch. (See page 43 or guidelines on

writing and sending a thank you card.)

When you are using e-mail or business correspondence, keep the

ollowing tips in mind:

Include an appropriate salutation. Use titles for customers, pro-

spective employers and others whom you dont know well. Reserve

inormation salutations, such as Hi, or people you know well.

Use bullets for information that can be presented in list form.

Use correct spelling, grammar and punctuation. Keep your e-mail concise.

Consider sending lengthy messages as an attachment write a

brie executive summary e-mail to describe the attachment.

Avoid sending negative or condential information by e-mail.

Use an appropriate closing. Informal closings, such as later

should be reserved or nonproessional correspondence and not

used with hiring managers or business contacts.

Include contact information in your signature. This is another way

or recipients to identiy who you are and how you can be reached.

E-MAIL ETIQUETTE

22 O l i n C a r e e r G u i d e | B U S I N E S S E T I Q U E T T E

Many employers use social networking sites such as Facebook an

LinkedIn to view proles o potential employees. Dont let online

social networking jeopardize your career opportunities. Protect

your image by ollowing these simple tips:

1Be careful. Nothing is private. Dont post anything on yoursite or your riends sites you wouldnt want a prospectiveemployer to use. Derogatory comments, revealing or risqu

photos, oul language and lewd jokes all will be viewed as a

refection o your character.

2Be discreet. I your network oers the option, considersetting your prole to private so that it is viewable only by

riends o your choosing. And since you cant control what

other people say on your site, you may want to use the block

comments eature. Remember, everything on the Internet is

archived and there is no eraser!

3Be prepared. Check your prole regularly to see what com-ments have been posted. Use a search engine to look or onlin

records o yoursel to see what is out there about you. I you

nd inormation you eel could be detrimental to your candi-

dacy or career, see about getting it removed and make sur

you have an answer ready to counter or explain digital dirt.

SOCIAL NETWORKING


14/17

DINING ETIQUETTE

Some of the following tips are from the bookPanache Tat Payswritten by Maria Everding, President and Founder of the EtiquetteInstitute, St. Louis, MO, www.TeEtiquetteInstitute.com.

here will be times when interviews occur over a meal. Teollowing tips will help you avoid uncomortable situationsthat can detract rom your interview appearance and peror-

mance. Do not underestimate the importance o good mannersat a business meal; they truly can be a deciding actor in a hiringsituation!

Dont order an alcoholic beverage. Even if the people you arewith do so, avoid it in an interview setting.

Dont order the most expensive item on the menu.

Avoid ordering foods that are dicult to eat (spaghetti, nachos,noodle soup, etc.).

Turn o your cell phone.

Put your napkin in your lap while eating and leave it on thetable, not your chair, i you need to leave the table momentarily.When youre nished with your meal, place your napkin to theright or let side o your plate on the table.

Blot your lips with your napkin before taking a drink to avoidlipstick, lip balm or anything else that may end up on your glass.

Wait for your interviewer to begin eating before you start eating.

Wait for everyone to arrive before beginning any portion of

the meal. Rest your forearms and elbow on the table only in between

courses.

When everyone is seated,unold your napkin and placeit on your lap. Te napkinshould be olded in hal withthe old toward your waist.

Pass both the salt and peppershaker when someone asks orjust one.

Dont hold your utensils in ast.

Bring the food to your mouth,not your mouth to the ood.

Bread is to the left of the plate,drinks are to the right. You canremember this by orming theletter b or bread with yourthumb and orenger on yourlet hand and a d or drinkson your right hand.

B U S I N E S S E T I Q U E T T E | O l i n C a r e e r G u i d e 23

When eating bread, break o a small piece over the bread plate.Butter the broken portion and eat just that much at a time. Forthe butter, take an amount as its passed around the table and putit on your plate to use.

Remove a seed, pit, piece of bone or gristle from your mouthwith cupped ngers and place it under something on your plate,not on the table.

Dont discuss diets or the healthiness/unhealthiness ofyour or other peoples ood; it can make someone angry oruncomortable.

Dont place bags, purses, phones, sunglasses or keys on the table.

Do not apply makeup or brush your hair at the table.

Dont order a to-go container for leftover food.

Typically, the host of the meal will pay the bill.


15/17

should be reserved or when there is no interaction with clients orimportant events. Business casual clothes can be purchased in thesame stores that you purchase suits. Business casual does not includejeans!

Wardrobe PrinciplesTese tips will help guide you when you shop or appropriate clothesor interviews and work.

Wear neutral colors and styles. Examples are navy blue, gray,brown, black and tan.

Never under dress; its better to be overdressed than under and itsbetter to exceed expectations than to disappoint.

I you dont wear a suit, wear a jacket or a third piece (casualjacket, sweater, scar, tie, tasteul necklace).

Never expose too much bare skin. For women, choose to becovered rather than uncovered when thinking about what to wearon legs, arms and upper body.

Keep your appearance current, yet age-appropriate. Tis includeshairstyles, makeup, eyeglasses and shoes. Wear ashion trendssparingly.

Make sure your clothing is a good t. Avoid jackets and pants thatare too large or small.

Shopping Tips

Quality garments can be ound at discount stores, o-price retailersand outlet locations. Avoid impulse shopping; stay ocused and lookor quality abrics. Make a list o the ve things that you really needand shop rom that list only.

Women Whenever possible, purchase all three pieces o a suit:Jacket, pants and skirt.

Men Buy several shirt-and-tie combinations or each new suityou purchase.

Te goal is to not have a closet ull o clothes but a small collectiono quality garments that are worn requently.

Alterations are a must! Tey can make o-the-rack clothing lookcustom made.

Grooming Principles

Women

Hair For business, hairstyles should be neat and appropriate; noth-ing extreme or overdone. It should be attering to your ace shape

First Impressions

First impressions are based on instinct, and emotion and biases; ste-reotypes lie at the oundation o rst impressions. Within 30 seconds,people judge your economic level, your educational level, your social

position, your level o sophistication and your level o success. Withinour minutes, theyve made decisions about your trustworthiness,compassion, reliability, intelligence, capability, humility, riendlinessand condence. Like it or not, it is oten that rst impression thatdetermines your uture more than your proessional achievementsor educational credentials.

First impressions are made with the emotional side o our brain, notthe rational, and experience has taught us that our rst impressions are

usually correct. Te process o labeling others helps the world makesense to us and, once we apply a stereotype to someone, our rationalbrain seeks to validate it. Because we dont want to admit we madea mistake, we cling to our opinions rather than revise them, whichmeans its crucial that the rst impression you make upon someone ispositive.

How can you make a positive rst impression? Determine your audi-ence, identiy their expectations and dress in a way that reects thoseexpectations.

Four Levels of Dress

Traditional Business For men Suit, shirt and tie.For women Matching, skirted suit. (Pant suits are acceptableas well.)

Executive Business Casual For men and women Dened bythe presence o a jacket.

Standard Business Casual For men and women Dened by athird piece such as a sweater vest, twin set, tie, scar or tasteul jewelry.

Basic Business Casual For men and women Dened as twopieces: op and bottom. A shirt or blouse and pants or skirt. Tis

DRESS FOR SUCCESS By Jill Bremer o Bremer CommunicationsCertied Image Proessional: www.bremercommunications.com

24 O l i n C a r e e r G u i d e | B U S I N E S S E T I Q U E T T E


16/17

Additional Tips

Women

Shoes: Closed-toe shoes are the most appropriate to wear on an inter-view and when meeting with clients. (Dont orget to wear nylons onyour legs or those same interactions.) Shoes should be clean with amodest heel.

Skirts: Should be knee length and cover your thighs when you areseated.

Jewelry: Wear minimal, conservative jewelry (a watch, one pair oearrings, one necklace). Avoid noisy bracelets that can distract theinterviewer or client. Earrings should not be larger than the size o aquarter.

Handbag: Your handbag should be conservative, in good conditionand complementary to your outt.

Men

Shoes: Dont orget to shine them!

Socks: Wear them and make sure theyre in good shape and dark incolor.

Tie: Your tie should be conservative; no loud patterns or colors.

Shirt: White or light blue are the most conservative choices; stay awayrom bold or dark dress shirts.

Jewelry: Remove earrings nose and ear or all proessional inter-actions.

Copyright 2009 Bremer Communications

Tese materials may not be duplicated, reproduced or distributed in anymanner without the express written consent of Bremer Communications.

B U S I N E S S E T I Q U E T T E | O l i n C a r e e r G u i d e 25

Each interview oers you only one

chance to make a good rstimpression. Good advice or

interview dressing is to take it to thenext level, even in business casual

environments. The key is to look pol-

ished and proessional.

Anne Voller, Vice President, Executive

Recruitment & College Relations, Macys

and easy to maintain. I your hair is very long, consider a sophisticatedponytail or just pulling the sides back.

Makeup Makeup should be worn by every businesswoman every day.It conceals, smoothes and polishes. ake the time to apply it careullyand blend it thoroughly. A natural look is most appropriate in theworkplace.

Hands/Nails Well-groomed hands and manicured nails are an impor-tant part o your proessional image. Nail polish shades should be sotwithout much iridescence. Polish should never be chipped.

Fragrance Te saest advice or ragrance is not to wear any at all orbusiness. I you do, go very light. Never wear ragrance on interviewsor when meeting new clients.

Body Make sure to be freshly showered/bathed. Wear clothing thatcovers tattoos or body piercings.

Breath Brush your teeth beore the interview. I you use mints orchew gum, make sure they are out o your mouth beore you interactwith the interviewer.

Men

Hair Te best hairstyle is one that looks natural and as i it doesntneed attention. I your hair is very long, consider cutting it beore go-ing on an interview. rim long sideburns or other acial hair.

Face A clean-shaven look is appropriate in most industries.

Hands/Nails Hands need to be smooth with no dead skin or drypatches. Keep ngernails clean, short and smooth.

Fragrance Te saest advice or ragrance is not to wear any at all orbusiness. I you do, go very light. Never wear ragrance on interviewsor when meeting new clients.

Body Make sure to be freshly showered/bathed. Hide tattoos or bodypiercings.

Breath Brush your teeth beore the interview. I you use mints orchew gum, make sure they are out o your mouth beore you interactwith the interviewer.


17/17

Te Weston Career Center seeks to maintain and enhance the reputationof Olin Business School and Washington University with our corporatepartners, prospective partners and the community at large. Studentsare expected to conduct themselves with professionalism, honesty anddecorum for every contact with an employer and to conduct their jobsearch in an ethical fashion at all times. Te following guidelines were

developed for this purpose.

A student will be well-prepared and appropriately dressed for everycontact with an employer. Tis includes company inormation ses-sions, inormational interviews, job interviews and ollow-up activities.

A student will give at least two business days notice before cancel-ing or changing an interview. In the event o a No Show or aninterview, a student must meet with a career advisor within twobusiness days o the missed interview to discuss drating a lettero apology to the recruiter. On-campus recruiting privileges willbe revoked until appropriate ollow-up actions have occurred, asdened by the career advisor.

Academics come rst. Students will avoid missing classes to inter-view, attend company inormation sessions or participate in anyevent sponsored by the WCC and should coordinate with theirproessor(s) i any absences are unavoidable.

Students will always represent themselves accurately to employ-ers in regards to actual data about GPA, academic achievements,skills, and all other inormation. Students are responsible or keep-ing such inormation current in all systems.

Acceptance of an oer, whether verbal or in writing, is consideredbinding. Ater accepting an oer, it is unacceptable to continueinterviewing or other jobs and making ofce visits.

ETHICS IN RECRUITING Students will promptly report all oers and status (i.e., holding,

rejected or accepted) in a timely manner and update their oerstatus appropriately.

Students who are employed while taking classes (e.g., PMBA)will honor their employers contracts or continuing educationbenets.

Students are expected to make an earnest eort to learn aboutthe company prior to an interview. Failure to do so demonstratesthe candidates lack o interest and reects poorly on all students.

Scheduling an interview is a formal commitment betweenthe student and the employer. Nothing damages a reputationwith employers more than ailing to show up or a scheduledinterview. Students will be considered a no-show i they donot appear or their interview and risk suspension rom urtherinterviewing.

Students should promptly acknowledge invitations for ocevisits (scheduled visits to a companys place o business) and in-dicate whether they accept or reject these invitations. Unexcusedabsence rom an ofce visit is subject to the no-show policy.

Recruiter EthicsProessional interviewers are oten trained to ask questions thatonly relate to the applicants ability to do the job. I the intent oa question is not relevant to the applicants ability to do the job,that question may be unlawul; its important to know your rights.Below is a list o acceptable and unacceptable interview questions.

Subject Acceptable Unacceptable

Disability

Citizenship

Age

Military

Experience

Religion or

Creed

Arrest Record

Marital and

Family

Do you have any disabilities that would prevent yourom perorming the duties o the job?Please describe your disability or the purpose o as-sessing any accommodations that need to be made.

Do you have any disabilities?Have you had any recent orpast illnesses or operations?How is your health?

Are you authorized to work in the United States?In which languages are you uent? (I relevant to the job)

Are you a U.S. citizen?Where were you born?What is your native language?

Are you over the age o 18?How old are you?What is your date o birth?

In what branch o the armed orces did you serve?What training or education did you receive in the military?

Were you honorably discharged romthe military?

Its not acceptable to ask about religion.

Have you ever been convicted o a crime that isreasonably related to the job in question?

Have you ever been arrested?

Would you be willing to travel as necessary?Would you be willing to relocate?

Are you married?Do you have any children?Have you made child care arrangements

Networking Info Guide

Documents