Get Ready for Campus Recruiting

The Digest is usually sent out weekly during the fall and spring recruiting timeframes (less frequently at other times) but may be sent out at additional times when important, time-sensitive information is available.The following students are automatically subscribed to the Digest:

• Majors: Economics, Quantitative Economics, Math, Computer Science
• Concentrations/Emphases: Business & Management Studies, Finance, Management
• Students who indicate ‘business’, ‘communications/marketing/media’, and ‘still exploring’ as a career interest in Handshake.

To receive the Campus Recruiting Digest or request removal, please complete the Campus Recruiting Communication OPT IN/OUT Form.

When you see this banner, you’ll know to read carefully to ensure you have critical information to access opportunities.

Stay Organized

One of the most common reasons that people avoid activities related to job and internship searches is that it becomes overwhelming.  Keeping track of your applications, helpful people, employers of interest, and resources you are using can really help you compartmentalize your tasks – meaning, you have a place to keep all of the information you need for when you have time to work on it.  Considering using a tool to stay organized – here are two templates you can copy and make your own:

• Career Activity Tracker – Version 1
• Career Activity Tracker – Version 2

Using a career activity trackers is also a great way to share what you are doing with a Piper Center career coach to help make sure you are working as effectively as possible on your search.

Review Job and Internship Postings

Handshake is your source for up-to-date job and internship postings for campus recruiting this fall.  All Campus Recruiting jobs and internships have a label, “ocr” (on-campus recruiting) that you can filter on to find opportunities associated with the on-campus recruiting program – or simply click on the OCR link below.  A job or internship that is labelled “ocr” indicate an opportunity that has a strong pipeline between employer and the college.Campus Recruiting Opportunities in HandshakeCreate a plan. Make an appointment in Handshake with Trent Davis, Bryan Shealer, or Kirsten Cahoon to discuss opportunities and design a strategy.

Identify Companies of Interest to You

Researching the company is like studying prior to an exam; make time for this important step. Engage with employers as much as possible BEFORE applying for opportunities.  Employers are increasingly prioritizing and selecting candidates who have demonstrated prior interest through engagement with their recruiting activities.

• Attend virtual and in-person info sessions.  Cameras on for virtual events, stay for as much as you can, ask questions.
• Join pre-professional student clubs – employers will often engage through clubs.
• Apply for any externships, leadership programs, or other student-focused activities.
• Register with the employers through their online recruiting systems.

Attend the Recruiting Showcase and other employer events  to learn about the company and the specific positions offered.  This is an especially efficient way to engage with employers who regularly hire Oles.  All sessions are listed in the “Events” tab in Handshake.

Know the Industry. Spend some time developing an understanding of the industries that interest you.  Online research is a great placed to start – check out professional organizations, industry sites, relevant publications, news outlets, and any other credible resources you can find.  Building a basic knowledge and vocabulary about specific industries will help you be more confident and knowledgeable when you present yourself to potential employers.  Informational interviews are also a great way to build knowledge about your areas of interest.  A Piper Center coach can help you identify alumni who would serve as excellent resources.  LinkedIn Learning offers video tutorials to help you brush up on industry-specific skills. There are also public free courses and tutorials that may be relevant as well.

Research the Employers to get a broad view of each organization and its primary business.

• Research Employers How-To Guide
• Campus Recruiting Employer List (with links to websites)
• Library Employer Research Tools

Get Professional and Polish Your Resume

1. If you haven’t already… draft a resume!

• Use the Piper Center’s on-line resume resources to help you write a first draft.
• Have a Piper Center Peer Advisor help you revise your first draft. (Peer Advisors are available on a drop-in basis in the Piper Center, Monday through Friday, from 8:30-4:30)
• A Piper Center business career coach –Bryan Shealer, or Kirsten Cahoon – should review your final resume drafts to ensure you are putting your best foot forward.  Please schedule an appointment in Handshake for a resume review.  Coaches have specialized insight into how to shape your resume for Campus Recruiting opportunities.
• Just like a great paper, creating a top notch resume takes many drafts, and therefore takes time to create.  Try to avoid waiting until the last minute to create a resume.

2. Revise and Specialize your Resume

• Tailor your resume to the position you are applying for; you may need more than one version to be effective if you are applying different types of roles and companies!
• Use skills, abilities, and terms from job descriptions in your resume.
• Compare the job or internship posting with your resume to ensure you are matching keywords and phrases to ensure that employer applicant tracking systems “see” your resume.
• Utilize information from your research on the company.
• Make sure the descriptions of your experiences (bullets) are starting with the right action verbs and are results and impact-oriented.

Note: For Campus Recruiting opportunities, you should typically include your GPA on your resume if it is above a 3.0.  If you have questions or concerns about listing your GPA on your resume, please see a coach.

Hone Your Interview Skills

If selected for an interview, you will receive email or phone notification from the employer  Respond to these messages as quickly as possible – ideally within 24 hours.  Waiting too long to reply to an invitation for an interview can take you out of consideration.  If you need more time, at least respond to the recruiter to acknowledge receipt of their email and indicate that you will respond with the needed information as soon as you can.The use of “one-way” or asynchronous interviews are increasingly common for an initial, screening interview.  Common platforms include: HireVue, Pymetrics, Montage, and Mya.  Candidates will access an online system and will record their answers to recorded interview questions.  These should be treated like any other interview, although it can feel a bit awkward at first.  As with assessments, we encourage you to complete these video interviews as soon as possible.  Here is a great guide to navigating these toolsMany large employers also use online assessments as an initial requirement prior to formally interviewing.  These assessments may measure a basic technical aptitude, problem solving, writing, or other soft skill.  Advanced preparation is usually not helpful and St. Olaf students tend to do very well here.  Typically, you will be given a week to complete an assessment.  Try to complete them as soon as possible since you won’t be able to move forward until they are done.To make a great impression when you interview, you’ll need to take time to prepare for your interviews by practicing answers to common interview questions.Utilize the Piper Center ResourcesSchedule a practice (mock) interview on Handshake by making an appointment with a career coach.  This is one of the most important things you can do to increase your chances of success.

• Practice answers to commonly posed questions.
  • General Interview Questions, e.g. “What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?”
  • Behavioral Questions, e.g. “Tell me about a time when…”
  • Use the S.T.A.R. Technique to organize your answers.
• Prepare a benefit statement.
  • This answers the “Tell me about yourself” question, which in an interview setting, is harder than you think!
• Use LinkedIn Learning for a crash course on acing your interview.

Evaluating, Negotiating, and Accepting Offers

Congratulations! You made it through campus recruiting. Make an appointment with your Piper Center career coach to reflect on the recruiting season, discuss offers, and next steps.

• Evaluating an Offer and Negotiating Salary

Understand Campus Recruiting Participation Policies for Students

Policies are in place to protect the reputation of the college – and its students – in the eyes of employers.  This is important to ensure that Oles have access to top recruiting opportunities now and in the future.  All students are expected to understand these policies and reflect the highest ethical standards when engaging with employers.  When in doubt, speak with a coach to discuss.  Violation of these policies can result in your removal from formal recruiting activities.

• Campus Recruiting and Event Policies – Students