What not to wear (or do) at MBA admissions fairs

I’ve been accused over the years of having unrealistically high expectations of people and I’m sure in some cases it’s true. However, the preponderance of things that really make me get hot under the collar are so low on the expectations spectrum, they really are hard for me to wrap my mind around. Which brings me to what not to do/wear to an MBA admissions fair.

If you’re not familiar with graduate school fairs, the idea is simple enough–colleges and universities send representatives to key cities around the world to meet with prospective students. Some fairs attract hundreds of students and institutions of higher learning. Admissions representatives are trying to stand out from all of the other schools to reel in the best and brightest students. Prospective students are trying to gather information about target schools, present themselves well, and also to get a feel for each program’s culture. Given the goals of the event, it shouldn’t come as a shocker that both groups want to put their proverbial best foot forward. But that doesn’t always seem to be the case for some attendees. Following are some random observations.

Don’t bring a Teacup Chihuahua. I was going to specify graduate school fair, but I think this should be a universal rule for any fair (job fair, state fair, renaissance fair, health fair, etc.) Would you be taken by surprise if you saw a guy carrying a Teacup Chihuahua as he went from table to table? Are my expectations too high on this one?

Blue jeans, by any other color, are still blue jeans—and blue jeans are generally bad when you want to present yourself as an aspiring business professional. I specify color as I’ve had conversations with students on guidelines for business professional dress and they try to find a loophole by wear black jeans because I mentioned that blue jeans weren’t acceptable. I wonder if those students end up working as attorneys??

It’s generally a good idea to tuck in your shirt. I know that might come as a shocker, but I think people want to know you are willing to put in that little extra effort required to tuck in your shirt…especially if you’re wearing jeans. I’m no fashionista (or would that be fashionisto? So much for four years of high school Spanish), but I’m going to say I think it looks bad at a graduate school fair.

Stiletto heels. As with the previous point, you won’t be seeing me as a judge on Project Runway, but I’m pretty sure stilettos are a bit on the high side at recruiting functions.

If you’re only there to grab free stuff, at least try to be subtle about it. I actually watched a guy come up, reach in front of someone who was in the middle of a conversation with a representative from one of the schools, so he could grab a handful of free pens. I can see making a mad dash if they were giving away Mont Blancs, but the pens were probably 50-75 cents each. Was that really necessary? It’s just a hunch, but I don’t think that guy was there to make friends and influence people…I think he was there for the schwag.

I often find myself wondering where common sense has gone and if it’s ever going to make its way back into the mainstream. If it’s gone for good, maybe I’ll adopt myself a Teacup Chihuahua, un-tuck my shirt, throw on some black jeans, put on some heels, grab a handful of free pens, and ride off into the sunset.

It’s Not Who You Know…It’s Who Knows YOU!

This is a guest post by J.T. O’Donnell, nationally syndicated career strategist and founder of CAREEREALSIM.com.

I was trading e-mails with a colleague, Thomas Parry, founder of a very innovative new local networking program in Greenville, SC called Linking the Upstate. We were discussing new trends in networking and he said, “It’s not who you know, it’s who knows YOU,” which suddenly made me want to explain what that really means.

Once upon a time…

There was a job seeker who was accomplished, smart and very professional. He had so much to offer. He had a wonderful personality, had been very involved in various activities, and thus, knew lots of people. Yet, he could not find a job. Why? Because nobody knew him.

I’m sure you are thinking: “What is she talking about? She said he knew lots of people.”
Ahh, but there is a difference between the two. You can know thousands of people, and yet, if you aren’t connecting with them and making sure they are aware of your unique career identity, then the hard truth is they don’t know you and can’t help you find a job.

Why does this matter?

Well, if you are job seeking right now, then you’ve surely heard the industry statistic that says currently 80% of all jobs are being landed via referral. That means, someone you know most likely knows about a job that would be a fit for you. BUT, they may not know you well enough to connect the two.

If you want to find a job, you need to market your ‘company-of-one.’ And every good marketer knows, when times are tough and sales are down, you must do the following:

• Get real clear on who your target audience is.
• Build a strong, positive message they won’t forget.
• Get out there and spread the message as much as you can.

Most job seekers have #1 and #2 covered. Their resume is polished, their cover letters are well-written and they even have their Facebook and LinkedIn accounts up and running. But, it’s #3 where the majority of job seekers grind to a halt. This is where the excuses come in: “I can’t call employers,” and “I’ll feel stupid asking my friends for help. Besides, they know I’m looking for a job.” And my all-time favorite, “I don’t want to seem desperate.”

If this is how you feel, then it sends a strong message about how little you actually value the professional services you provide. I’m not asking you to be pushy and overly confident. In fact, there are many people who are overdoing it in that department right now. All I am asking is for you to be proud of your skills enough to want to effectively spread the word about them.

I realize your mind is racing right now. The idea of putting yourself in the position to be judged by others has the appeal of eating worms. But trust me, like anything in life, the more you do it, the easier it gets. Besides, for you those of you that watch Man vs. Wild, you know when food is scarce, you eat what will sustain you. (Actually, that guy has eaten some crazy stuff!)

And here’s some good news:

Unlike the marketing of most products and services, there are two things in this situation that work in your favor:

• The people you are contacting recognize they could be in the same position as you one day.
• Helping a person find a job is a great feeling and doesn’t require much more than a recommendation by e-mail or phone. You are still going to have to make it through the interview and get the job on your own.

So, here’s what you need to do:

Logistically, job seekers need to be connecting and promoting their career identity to at least 10 people per day. Otherwise, they can expect their job search process to be drawn out. If you are having trouble reaching that number on a daily basis, then besides the traditional forms of networking, here are two additional ways:

• Build your personal brand on Twitter. (You can sign up to receive step-by-step instructions on how to do this.)
• Create an Interview Bucket List. (Watch video that explains this concept.)

In Summary

Finding your next job is going to boil down to making a good, lasting impression on as many people as you can. It’s the best way to ensure they think of you when they hear about an opportunity that might match your skills and experience. At the end of your next job search day, the only thing that should be assessed is the quality of the connections you’ve made.

So, I ask you. How many people know YOU as a result of what you did today?

J.T. O’Donnell is a nationally syndicated career strategist and founder of the career news and perspective site, CAREEREALISM, where free tools and resources for the savvy professional are made available daily. O’Donnell can be reached via Twitter at twitter.com/jtodonnell and by e-mail at info@careerealism.com.

Interview Attire: Looking Like a Million Bucks, For Significantly Less

Looking to overhaul your interviewing wardrobe on a tight budget? Check out this week’s guest post from Laura Knepper, fashion guru and owner of LKc Style.

Wool Suit $150 @ Kohl's

It used to be a handful of people interviewed for a job and the most talented person was clearly ripe for picking. With today’s scary unemployment figures, the pool of competition is now vast. It is possible that there are many equally talented people all interviewing for the same job. Anyone interviewing right now is, or should be attempting, to differentiate, or personally brand, themselves from the crowd. One piece of personal branding is style. Although the economy has our pocketbooks thinner, there are some great ways to personally brand yourself via style specifically for your next interview:

1. Decide what you need.

• Suit: A charcoal grey or navy suit is superbly classic and professional. It will stand out more than a regular black suit that most people will choose for an interview. Both colors are versatile and can be worn for many other occasions in the future. Ladies, skirts can still be worn for interviewing, but consider it in the context of the job for which you are interviewing.  
• Shirt: Crisp, classic white. Never opt for anything showy in your interview. Ladies, choose something with a slight embellishment around the neck or a subtle pattern. You probably already have this; if not, it’s easily found for under $25 at Target, Kohl’s (check out their Arrow Fitted Dress Shirt for $21) or any department store. 
• Tie: A bold but not distracting tie will be best for interviewing. Some of my favorite and least expensive ties can be found at topman.com—all below are only $20.
• Shoes: Black will coordinate best with the charcoal suit and a very dark chocolate brown or black will coordinate best with the navy (avoid lighter browns for interviewing, they are too casual looking). Best deals and biggest variety can usually be found at DSW Shoe Warehouse. Shine your shoes before the interview if you don’t buy new; they’ll appear new.
• Accessories: consider belts, watches, cufflinks and pocket squares as additional but not always necessary for interviewing. Choose one or two quality accessories that may already be in your wardrobe. Avoid anything looking worn or faded. Ladies, wear jewelry that is classic and not distracting; pearls are almost always the best choice.

2. Preview two to three stores and look for sales.

• Target and Kohl’s have suits at very low cost. They will probably have blended fabrics which isn’t optimal, but you can still have a look without paying for the high quality fabrics.
• Department stores like Macy’s and Boston Store can have decent brand name suits at moderate cost and are having huge sales frequently due to recent tanking retail sales. Tell a sales associate your budget and ask for the best quality suits in that range.
• Men’s Wearhouse has a huge variety and most sizes. Sales abound frequently here too. The sales associates here will be most knowledgeable. Their costs can range from moderate to high. Be upfront about your budget and they will be able to pinpoint your needs.

3. Try Suits On.

• I think this is a given, especially for bigger ticket items or items that will be worn frequently—but I know a few of you that might walk out of a store without a test drive first. A suit that meets your financial and aesthetic needs on the hangar may or may not fit your body in the dressing room. You must try on any suit you are seriously considering purchasing. There may be slight areas that need tailoring (see #4), but overall, it should appear to flatter your body.

4. ALWAYS get tailored.

• Find a trustworthy tailor. Some department stores and Men’s Wearhouse will have their own tailors for a quick fix. Your drycleaners might even have a spiffy and spendthrift tailor. Look on Yelp.com for reviews in your area. Consider this person similar to your doctor—they will get to know your body and what it needs over time—try to find someone you like, that has reasonable prices, and is convenient.
• Some consider a tailor a luxury. It shouldn’t be. Especially if you are saving money on purchasing a less expensive suit, a tailor is the BEST and least expensive way to make the suit look more expensive!

Good luck in the interview process. Wear your suit and a sincere smile with confidence. For more tips on business attire, casual wear and other style do’s and don’ts, visit me at www.lkcstye.com/blog.

Courting Your Career on Viralogy

Recently, I had a chance to chat with Jun Loayza of Viralogy fame about the parallels between dating and the job search and all things career adjacent.

Check it out.

Anatomy of a networking email

Crafting an email to someone you’d like to network with is tough. What should you say? How long should it be? Should you attach a resume?

As you craft your message, ask yourself what you’re hoping to accomplish by contacting them. Are you hoping to learn more about a particular career path or company? Or are you hoping to expand your network by reaching out to fellow alumni? Once you’ve determined the 2-3 key points of your message, you can then begin to build content around them.

And, don’t underestimate the power of an effective subject line. If you were referred by someone the person you’re reaching out to knows, be sure to use that as your subject line ex. “Referred by Shawn Graham.” Or, you can include the name of your undergraduate institution. Whatever you decide, you want to include a common point of reference that will pique their interest enough to open your email.

A lot of job seekers ask if they should attach a resume when writing an introductory email. I usually recommend holding off until you’ve been able to establish a rapport or until they ask for one. If you decide to attach your resume, consider saying something along the lines of “a copy of my resume is attached for your reference.”

Now on to a sample email:

Dear …………:

I located your contact information in the University of Pittsburgh alumni network and I was hoping we might be able to connect over the telephone for 15 minutes at your convenience. It would be great to learn more about your background including how you got started in marketing at Johnson and Johnson and to connect with a University of Pittsburgh alum.

Just to give you a quick overview of my background, I am a rising senior at Pitt with a concentration in marketing. This summer, I will be interning in brand marketing at Johnson and Johnson.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.

Best,
Steve

Steve Smith
University of Pittsburgh ‘10