Career Jump-Start met on Tuesday, 26 June 2012

Career Jump-Start met on Tuesday, 26 June 2012 at First United Methodist Church of Richardson, Texas. About 42 people were present to learn from a panel of human resources experts. Panelists were: Kurt VandeMotter, Myra Olvera, Joyce Wood, and Sedrick Evans. Kurt VandeMotter is a principal at Calise & Co.  Myra Olvera is a manager in human resources at Borden Dairy Company. Joyce Wood is a contract recruiter. Sedrick Evans is a human resources consultant to Dean Foods.  Advice provided by this panel includes:

• Keep a positive attitude
• Select an accountability partner or team of up to three or four persons
• Resumes need to match interests and be tailored to each job description
• Tell a great story about yourself
• Include a professional summary in your resume 
• Understand that average recruiters read only the top one half of the first page of each resume
• Interviews continue through conversations with receptionist, breaks, lunch, etc. 
• Realize that the CEO’s secretary might be giving the receptionist a break and participating in your interview
• Two-minute introduction provides response to request to tell about yourself – have this memorized to overcome nervousness 
• When possible, tour the business (retail store) before going to the interview
• Research the company thoroughly 
• Phone interviews are some of the hardest - dress for the job and watch your expressions in a mirror – expressions are conveyed over the telephone 
• Follow-up with a thank you (details were debated)
• Answer why they should hire you

NEXT WEEK: NO MEETING on Tuesday 03 July 2012 due to the Independence Day Holiday on 04 July 2012

Career Jump-Start usually meets on Tuesday evenings at First United Methodist Church, 503 North Central Expressway, Richardson, Texas 75080. Official information about this group is available at http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/CJS-HPUMC/ and  http://www.fumcr.com/pages/caring_career_support.