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    A Capital One recruiter’s 3 networking tips for students

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    You’ve found the dream job or internship. Whether or not you know someone at the company, it’s in your best interest to invest time in connecting with folks working there; it could be a difference maker in landing a new career opportunity. 

    Chiara, a recruiter for Capital One’s Students & Grads Programs, is here to help you connect and build relationships by sharing her three tips for networking. 

    Take a strategic approach

    It’s absolutely crucial to do your research! You want to connect with someone through a common interest or a mutual colleague or friend. Of course, LinkedIn can be a great place to start, but consider finding people through other platforms.

    Capital One’s Business Resource Groups (BRG)—voluntary, associate-led groups for cultural celebration, community service and professional development—are great ways to expand your network. Many BRGs sponsor and attend career fairs and student conferences, so be on the lookout for them! 

    National organizations and societies are also great for meeting people. Connect with groups that share your identity or professional interest, like the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and Rewriting the Code—both of which are Capital One partners. The groups are like your secret weapon for networking, finding resources and getting tailor-made support for your academic and/or professional journey.

    Have a plan

    First things first: Use the “S.E.E.” method when meeting someone. That stands for smile, eye contact and enthusiasm. The S.E.E. method can help set the stage for a great conversation prior to giving your elevator pitch. 

    As for the elevator pitch, think of it as being three parts. Say what you do, what makes you unique and either how you can help them or how they can help you. Practice your pitch beforehand to ensure it flows smoothly and feels natural.  

    As that initial conversation is wrapping up, be sure to get their contact info so you can send a personalized thank you email or LinkedIn message referencing something specific from the conversation. Lastly, follow up with them periodically, whether it’s sharing relevant articles, inviting them to events or simply checking in to see how they’re doing. 

    Be authentic

    Remember, being yourself is the key to building meaningful connections. 

    Don’t try to impress by pretending to be someone you’re not. It can be easy to get caught up in the job or internship search and force yourself to pursue an opportunity that doesn’t feel true to you. You should be building relationships that last beyond one meeting. It’s easier for someone to mentor you or be your advocate when they truly know you and your passions.

    People are more likely to remember and connect with the real you.

    Head over to Capital One’s profile to learn more about the company and browse open roles, upcoming events, and more. More

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      in Career Hacks

      Job Searching 101: Where Do You Start?

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      Whether you’re a current student, an early career professional, or just someone looking for their next job opportunity, a question you might be asking yourself is, “Where do I start the job-hunting process?”.

      With so many different avenues and ways to learn about new jobs (there are more than you think), the job-hunting process can be overwhelming. A lot of time is spent looking for jobs, applying, interviewing, and waiting for job offers, so it’s important that you use your time wisely. Two ways to do that are by making sure you’re looking in the right places and doing everything possible to accelerate and amplify your job-hunting process.

      But where are the right places to look and how do you amplify your job-hunting process? In our recent Job Searching 101 virtual event, we invited Manny Contomanoli the Director at the Office of Career Services at Harvard University, Norma Gaier, the Executive Director for Texas Career Engagement at the University of Texas, John Pearson the North American Early Careers Manager at Unilever, and Cindi Love, the CEO of Out For Undergrad to fill us in on these job-hunting secrets.

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      Respond to Uncertainty With Curiosity

      One of the most important things to remember when starting the job search is not to stress out if you aren’t sure what you want to do. On the contrary, you should take this as a fun and exciting opportunity to explore different things.

      Curiosity is going to be your biggest weapon at this stage that is best used in as many places as possible. The more things you expose yourself to the quicker you will find what you’re passionate about and what you want to spend your life doing!

      Set Your Standards and Don’t Lower Them

      Once you do know what you want to do, it’s important that you set certain standards and metrics for yourself and try not to change them. When you know what you want and exude confidence about it, you are able to express passion for an opportunity when you finally come across it. 

      Organic, natural passion is something that recruiters love to see. Don’t be the person who fires off a bunch of random applications just because a company is hiring. If you don’t care enough about a position to look into it, it’s probably not something you want to spend a good chunk of your time doing.

      Don’t waste your time or the recruiters! The only time when standards might be ok to be changed, and you’re going to hate us for saying this, is when it comes to the paycheck. Never choose a job just because of what you get paid. Look to the other standards you set to lead the way. 

      Think more about things like the work you get to do and who you get to do it with! Having a flexible schedule or the perfect location might take precedence over a higher salary. Additionally, culture, mission, growth, products, and projects should also weigh in on your decisions!

      Use The Resources at Your Disposal

      One thing that frustrates employers and recruiters is people who don’t use the job-hunting resources they have at their disposal! College campuses, for example,  are full of them. Specifically, Career Centers on college campuses tend to be the most obvious resource for those looking for jobs. 

      Whether it’s resume advice, cover letter tutoring, job fairs, or connections to employers who are actively hiring, career centers are a gold mine when it comes to finding jobs.

      But college campuses aren’t the only place where opportunity awaits. In our completely unbiased opinion, WayUp is one of the best places for students and young professionals to find a job. Our platform is easy to use and matches you with job openings with the intention of finding you your perfect fit. Whether it’s through our virtual events where you get to meet employers, our blog content full of career tips and advice, or our job matching platform, we are the stepping stone you need. Also, don’t forget social media! The WayUp Instagram is full of great job-searching ideas and tips! 

      Besides that, there are tons of other networking platforms like job fairs and LinkedIn that are handy resources to meet people. However, you just need to make sure you’re reaching out to the right people.

      Reach Out to The Right People

      While networking is one of the most important tools when it comes to job hunting, you have to know how to do it properly. Early career candidates and even people with industry experience repeatedly make the same networking mistakes and waste their time and opportunities establishing connections that are either unauthentic or not really valuable.

      One of the most important things to consider when it comes to networking is knowing where to aim. In our Job Searching 101 event, John Pearson of Unilever explained the benefits of reaching out to someone on the team you want to apply to instead of just a recruiter for a company.

      “Many companies out there have multiple recruiters so they might not necessarily be recruiting for the role you’re interested in. Instead, reach out to someone that’s actually on the team. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten emails from a director or a manager that was with a department and said, ‘Hey, I spoke to a great candidate on Linkedin. I think he or she would be a great fit for the role. Please set him up for an interview, or include them in the next Discovery center.’ I would strongly recommend that because then it’s a direct pipeline to the personal recruiter who’s recruiting for that role.”
      John Pearson, North America Early Careers Manager, Unilever

      As John made clear, the internet is your friend! You just have to learn how to use it right. That means doing your due diligence and research to find out who the key decision-makers are and how you can reach them in an authentic way.

      At the end of the day, no matter where you are in your professional career or job-hunting cycle, the most important thing you do is take the first step. Whether that first step is touching up your resume, creating an email template, or doing any of the suggestions on this list, the most important thing you do is start!

      For more career advice and tips on how to find a job, keep up with the WayUp community guide and look out for new Job Searching 101 virtual events! More

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      in Career Hacks

      Don’t Go Into an Interview Without Doing These Key Steps

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      You might be the perfect candidate, with a perfect resume, and exactly what a company is looking for. But, if you don’t know how to interview well, or conduct yourself in a professional manner don’t expect to land a job. 

      Over the years, the interview process has evolved into a digital landscape with new rules and codes of conduct. Although the platforms have changed, the importance of interviewing has only grown. As a job marketplace, our main focus is to get you hired. While you might think of us mainly as a place where you can find jobs, we are also dedicated to your success and are a resource that strives to help you every step of the way.

      This being the case, we hosted a Job Searching 101 event with recruiters from companies like Expedia, Discover, and CVS Health to identify a list of interview tips and ways to prepare for an interview in 2023.

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      Research Everything About a Job & Company

      First and foremost, before you even apply to a company, research must be done. While knowing all the ins and outs of the position you’re applying for is important, far more research is needed. 

      Learn about the company and its standing in the industry. What are some of the recent goals and expectations that the company has set for itself? Bonus points if you’re familiar with recent events that the company was involved in and you’re able to bring it up naturally in conversation. What are the company values, what is their mission and culture? Do you know their mission statement?

      However, as much as you want to be informed and well-researched going into an interview, you also want the dialogue to flow naturally. You’re not trying to prove your knowledge or solve a problem, so try not to overdo it! As Taiana Hale, a College Recruiter for CVS Health says, “research the company and understand their industry and goals as an organization. However, try not to overdo it. You’re not trying to prove your knowledge. We still want the interview to seem natural.”

      Understanding the Process

      When you get to the interview portion of a job application it is best to familiarize yourself with the process as much as possible. Don’t be afraid to ask your main point of contact, whether it is the recruiter or the employer, what the particular process is like. 

      Is there a behavioral part and a technical part? Is there a case study portion? Ask them what is to be expected and what some good ways to prepare are. Not only will you be able to prepare yourself better for the interview but you’ll demonstrate to the recruiter or employer that you’re taking the time and energy to make sure you do a good job and potentially get the job.

      Another great option is to reach out to someone who works at the company and ask them for tips! While you may not get a response 100% of the time, if you approach someone professionally and authentically they are more likely to help. At the end of the day, all processes are different, so don’t pull your hair out trying to memorize questions or certain steps of an interview.

      Reliable Technology

      The next thing you need to keep in mind when going into an interview is to have reliable technology that you have a firm grasp on. In this virtual age, a large percentage of job applications and interviews are done online through video chat or otherwise. This being the case, candidates need to make sure they have a good web connection, they’re testing the applications or platforms being used for the interview, and no technical difficulties will occur during the interview.

      “I had an interview and the candidate was 12 minutes late because they hadn’t loaded the application and couldn’t get into the system. I hope that they learn from that and take more preparation going into the interview process next time”
      Lane Garnett, Sr. Manager Recruiting Process and Engagement, Discover Financial Services

      You could be the ideal candidate for a company but if you’re lagging on the video interviewing aspect you could get nixed. While in-person interviews have not been done away with entirely, virtual interviews are becoming more and more common. One way or another, having your technology locked in will ensure that you don’t miss out on a job because of a technicality.

      Appearance and Aesthetic

      Your appearance, whether it’s during an in-person interview or a virtual one, is critical. For virtual interviews, you want to make sure your background is neat and orderly and there are no distractions or off-putting stimuli. Adding a blurred filter to your background on a video call may be a good idea to ensure you aren’t showing an unprofessional background.

      Always make sure you check how you look on camera before starting the interview. Glares from lighting, messy clothes in the background, and sound interference will all make you look unprofessional in the eyes of recruiters. So if you have roommates, make sure you let them know you’re going to be on an interview before they barge in asking about happy hour!

      “This one time I was interviewing this one candidate, and they had their background was all set up fine and dandy, but they didn’t tell their roommates they were interviewing this day, and the roommates kind of barged into the room and started talking about “a crazy bender” they had last night, and it was not the best impression.”
      Sean Bea, Early Careers Recruiting Expedia Group

      When it comes to what you wear, the more formal you are the better. However, it’s a great idea to take note of what the aesthetic of a company is before going into an interview. Is everyone buttoned up with a jacket and tie? Or are some people rocking more casual wear with sweaters and shirts? Don’t fake your appearance, but always look professional so the employer will see you as a fit for their company.

      The Question Part

      At the end of your interview, more often than not, the person on the other end will ask if you have any questions yourself. The worst thing you can do in this situation is say no. On the other hand, a well-thought-out and intellectual question will leave a very good impression on the interviewer.

      One great question is to ask the interviewers themselves about their own experience of the company. What do they like and enjoy about working there? What are some of the challenges they face and how can you support and assist them in some of those things? How do you measure success?

      The list of good questions you can say at this moment goes on. Just remember to keep it relevant to the job and to ask something that seems like you’re interested in the longevity of your contributions to the company. You want to show that you have been paying attention and are engaged in the conversation. 

      How Do You Follow Up After an Interview?

      This last interview tip is one that a lot of people tend to forget. Make sure to send the recruiter or whoever interviewed you a follow-up and thank you email. The first 24 hours after an interview is the best time to go ahead with a follow-up. 

      Use it as an opportunity to expand a little bit on what you discussed during the interview and points that resonated with you. If there was something that stood out to you or something you aligned with, whether it was one of the company’s core values, the direction they’re headed, or an attribute of the job, don’t be afraid to share that.

      The more interviews you do, the better you will get. While it may be a time to show yourself off and what you’re capable of, don’t forget to use the interview as a time to see if the employer is a right fit for you.

      The more you think about interviews as a conversation and an exchange of information the more at ease you will feel. Keep up with the WayUp community as we continue to share resume secrets, career tips, and professional information you can’t get anywhere else. 

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      For more career advice and tips on how to find a job, keep up with the WayUp community guide and look out for new Job Searching 101 virtual events! More