Networking: On Campus Recruiting

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NetworkingOn Campus Recruiting
Leslie Lynn Office of Career DevelopmentSpring
2012
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Agenda

• OCDs Two Functions
• Importance of Networking for On Campus Recruiting
  Success
• Events and Activities
• Online Resources
• Terminology and Concepts
• Role of Current Job Postings
• Questions When and How?

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Mission and Function

• OCD has two primary functions
• To prepare students for a successful career
  search and
• To develop and manage corporate relationships
  with recruiters who hire at Ross School of
  Business

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OCD is Comprised of Two Teams

• To develop and manage corporate relationships
  with recruiters who hire at Ross School of
  Business
• Recruiting
• 4 Recruiting Relations Managers
• Manage company relationships by industry

• To prepare students for a successful career
  search
• Career Education
• 4 staff counselors
• Approx. 45 MBA peer counselors

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OCD Recruiting Team
Lisa Kozlo Cindy Cantrell Dwana Jones Maria Hayes
Industry Breakout Industry Breakout Industry Breakout Industry Breakout
Brand/CPG Consulting Investment Banking Automotive
Pharma Accounting Financial Services Manufacturing
Health Care Non-Profit Real Estate Energy
Retail Technology Government
Entertainment Telecom Utilities
Transportation
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Please Remember

• Employers like to hire people they know and
  trust therefore, relationships with potential
  employers are critical to obtaining a job
• True for both on- and off-campus jobs

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Company Goal Meet students, promote
opportunities within company, and select students
for jobsStudent Myth On-Campus recruiting is a
smorgasbord of opportunities and an easy way to
get a jobReality On-Campus recruiting is a
very competitive process. Focused candidates are
much more successful than those who try to
recruit for multiple functions. Networking among
several functions is very challenging from a time
management standpoint.
On-Campus Recruiting
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Presentation Format

• Corporate presentations are M-Th beginning Sept.
  10
• Generally held at Ross at 5 or 7 p.m.
• May be off-site if large crowd expected
• Company will bring alums/HR reps
• Short presentation on positions offered
• Q A
• Reception

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Etiquette

• Business casual dress (unless Fin. Services
  Consulting)
• Entering and leaving presentation (watch doors)
• Laptops
• Dont take them out (notes or solitaire?)
• Cell Phones
• Turn off
• Questions during presentation
• Remember, you are not in an audience of one
• Send thank you e-mail with reminder of
  conversation
• Get recruiters business card

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The Reception

• Be careful about eating and talking at the same
  time
• Do not monopolize a recruiters time
• Be considerate of classmates who would like to
  join the conversation
• Do not corner recruiters
• DO NOT UNDERMINE A CLASSMATES SEARCH
• If you are not familiar with this type of
  networking, make a counseling appointment for
  practice/tips

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Tips for Success

• Research companies prior to presentation
• Be on time/familiarize yourself with locations
• Sign in and collect literature
• Attend the reception
• Ask for business cards if you talk with someone
• Be courteous of your fellow students
• Relax -- people at the presentation want to see
  you succeed

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Activity

• Introduce yourself to the person to your right
• Feedback
• How was the handshake?
• Did your partner seem confident?

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Potential Pitfalls

• Coming in late/Leaving early
• Being overly aggressive when trying to meet
  company representatives
• You are only in competition with yourself show
  your best side!
• Asking inappropriate questions
• Dressing in an unprofessional manner
• Taking food from receptions for presentations you
  did not attend

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Common Questions

• What should I wear?
• What is business casual?
• Do most companies have more than one
  presentation?
• What if two or more companies in which I am
  interested are presenting on the same night?
• Should I bring a resume/business cards?

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Networking Hours

• Tables in the Wintergarden or one-on-one appts.
• Check recruiting events calendar on iMpact
• Tips
• Business casual dress (unless Fin. Services or
  Consulting)
• Research companies and positions prior to
  attending
• Wear your Michigan Ross Name tag on the right
  side
• Shake hands with the recruiter
• Be ready with elevator pitch
• Be comfortable with small talk
• Bring resume/business cards

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Networking Hours

• Usually held in Wintergarden, similar to a career
  fair
• Some companies have more formal procedures
• Drop by and by appointment (becoming more
  prevalent, set up via clubs), individual and
  small group formats
• Great way for students to ask specific questions
  and make contacts within the company
• Tips
• Business casual dress (no jeans)
• Be prepared with conversational items
• Previous tips (bring resume, be courteous, send
  thank you)

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Etiquette Networking Hours

• Business casual okay (except Fin. Services
  Consulting)
• One-on-one format, usually, so can ask more
  personal-professional questions
• Take literature
• Do not ask overly personal questions
• Stay positive
• Do not monopolize a recruiters time
• Be aware of time

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Other Activities (Not OCD)

• Companies may invite you to private events such
  as dinners and company tours (via resume database
  or club)
• Clubs will often bring in companies for resume
  reviews, mock interviews, career symposia,
  mentoring opportunities, private dinners and
  receptions
• Tip though some of these interactions may seem
  light-hearted, companies are evaluating you
• e.g., do not let a company give you your first
  mock interview/resume review!
• Dont get too informal with recruiters/alums

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Activity

• Small Talk
• 3 Minutes
• Partner A Recruiter
• Partner B Student
• Make small talk
• Switch 3 minutes
• Partner A Student
• Partner B Recruiter
• Small talk on another subject

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Elevator Pitch

• What is it?
• 15-60 second speech about who you are and what
  type of job youre seeking
• When is it used?
• Informational interviews, career fairs, corporate
  presentations, office hours
• Can even be used with classmates, at the grocery
  store, etc.

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Elevator Pitch Goals

• Engage people in everyday life to help you
  brainstorm career search strategies and connect
  with others who work in similar functions or
  industries (could be for informational or
  strategic networking OR direct job leads)

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Be Specific

• Looking for a restaurant
• Do you know any good restaurants in Ann Arbor?
• Vs.
• looking for a restaurant near the business
  school that offers a variety of different foods,
  is quick and inexpensive and also offers
  smoothies

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Your Elevator Pitch

• Broad Statement
• Im hoping to find a finance position.
• Tailored Statement
• I am seeking an opportunity in finance within
  the high-tech industry where I can utilize the
  analytical skills I have developed as an
  automotive engineer. I would love to work for a
  mid-sized company in the Bay Area where there is
  a balance of structure and the freedom to
  innovate.

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Practice your Elevator Pitch

• Partner with a classmate
• A give pitch, B make conversation
• B give feedback to A
• B give pitch, A make conversation
• A give feedback to B

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Online Resources

• Recruiting Events
• Job Database
• View positions by On Campus or by Interview Week
  (contrast with Job Postings)
• On-Campus job posting anatomy
• Timeline, Interview Schedule, Citizenship
  Requirements
• Contact Company Rep for real and specific
  questions related to the position NOT for
  general networking or finding an alumnus

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• Questions?
• Got some? Timing is everything.

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Asking Questions Dos and Donts

• Do know the art of asking questions
• Be considerate of the person to whom you are
  asking the question.
• Try to frame the question positively.
• Give the person the opportunity to shine rather
  than defend.
• Be considerate of others. Does the question have
  general applicability?
• Make sure you are interested in the response.
• If possible, do research in order to pose
  well-informed questions.
• Know when to stop asking questions.

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Asking Questions Dos and Donts

• Dont ask the following types of questions
• Question solely intended to show how smart you
  are.
• I read in the WSJ today that, I think
  therefore
• Question that is really a speech.
• Dont you think that your company should
• Question framed in the form of a resume.
• When I was working at Acme Consulting, I
• Question that is easily researched.
• Where is your company located?
• Question involving sensitive topics.
• What do you think of the recent layoffs at your
  firm?

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Sample Question Types

• Large group (10 people) situations
• Questions on company structure or organization.
• Questions on organizational values.
• Questions on relevant industry trends affecting
  the company.
• Questions on current or future initiatives.
• Questions on MBA-specific topics
• Roles and responsibilities of new hires
• Expected career progression
• On-campus recruiting process
• In large group settings, it is especially
  important not to put the recruiter on the
  defensive.

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Sample Question Types

• Small groups (2 to 10 people) situations
• Questions on the recruiters role in the company.
• Questions on recruiters background with the
  company.
• Follow-up questions based on recruiters role and
  background.
• Questions on recruiters perception of the
  company.
• Questions on recruiters experience with the
  School.
• Questions on MBA-specific topics
• Desired skills and experiences
• Expected career progression
• In a small group setting, take into account the
  relevance of your question to others in the group.

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Sample Question Types

• Individual (one-on-one) situations
• Introduce yourself and your background.
• Questions on the recruiters role and background
  with the company.
• Questions on organizational culture. (What kind
  of people do well?)
• Questions on how to succeed in the recruiting
  process.
• Questions on your fit with the company.
• Sensitive Questions.
• In the one-on-one setting, take care to develop
  rapport first. Sequence of questions should not
  disturb the flow of conversation. This is not an
  interrogation.

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Other Opportunities to Meet Employers

• Zell Lurie Entrepalooza
• MPowered Career Fair
• Diversity Conferences NSHMBA, National Black
• Many functional/geographic/diversity clubs hold
  forums during the fall
• Join the club that encompasses your interests to
  learn more!

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Your On-Campus Approach

• What is a closed list?
• Why do I want to be on it?
• How do I request inclusion on the close list of a
  company of interest?
• The answers to all these questions and more!
  will be addressed in the bidding workshop

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• Questions?