Category Archives: Careers

Graduating Without a Job Offer?

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So you’re counting down the days until graduation.  Marking each day off of the calendar.  Although there is definitely the excitement of closing a significant chapter, for some there may be a bit of anxiety about the unknown and what lies ahead.  Particularly for those graduates who may not have received a job offer and feel like everyone has an offer or plan except for them.  Here are a few actions you can take to help your situation. 

Follow Up On Prior Interviews

Start by following up on your prior interviews.  Don’t assume that because you didn’t hear back from the interviewer that you aren’t perhaps still in “play” for a position.  A simple email, I suggest you attach your resume, reiterating your interest in working for their company and asking for an update will suffice.  Depending upon their scope of responsibility, a recruiter may meet with a ton of candidates; it never hurts to remind them that you’re out there.  Perhaps the opportunity you originally met with them about was filled, but there is always the possibility that they can consider you for a different role. 

Spend time on LinkedIn

Take a few minutes and update your LinkedIn profile.  Be sure it now reflects the degree you’ve obtained and any other special skills or experiences.  LinkedIn shares the changes you’ve made to those in your network, so this is a great way to put yourself out there and in the forefront of your professional connections. 

I have to tell you that I love this feature and look forward to seeing what the graduates in my network are doing now and if there is the possibility that they could eventually fill an opportunity at our company.

While you’re on LinkedIn, take a look at the connections of your parents, professors, advisors, and mentors.  Is there someone they’re connected to that could possibly assist you with obtaining position in your ideal industry?  If so, ask for an introduction!  You may be surprised where a simple LinkedIn connection leads!

Alumni and Career Services

Another resource to explore would be your school’s career services team.  Don’t assume that just because the semester is ending that all jobs are filled.  Company representatives are inclined to reach out to career services with their last minute openings.  Career Services can also connect you with school alumni in your prospective field as well. 

Don’t Panic

You are surely not alone in this situation.  Don’t panic, the last thing you need is additional pressure on yourself.  The same focus that you’ve used to obtain your college degree now needs to be turned to obtaining that first position to launch your career.  You can do it! 

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Consider the Total Compensation Package

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I am aware that my friends and I are getting older. I am not sure when it happened, but I came to the realization during a conversation with one of my best friends. She was talking about how close she is to becoming fully vested, and what this means for her financial future. Vesting and retirement funds aren’t exactly the main topics of conversation for soon to be college graduates, but, when you are evaluating an offer, you need to consider more than just salary.

Retirement Benefits

I joined Hyatt Corporation almost thirteen years ago. At the time, I was more focused on having fun and furnishing my first adult apartment; retirement was far from my mind. Luckily, the hotel’s Benefits Manager encouraged me to start saving for my retirement right away. Considering the fact that the company offered a match on my contribution, I would essentially be walking away from “free” money by choosing not to participate.

Some benefits may not seem important right now, but as your priorities change, they may have more value.   Does your potential employer offer incentives for you to start saving early for your retirement?  Is there a match or employer contribution on your behalf?  How long do you have to work with them before you’re fully vested?  These are all factors that you should consider when comparing offers. Today, I’m thankful that I started saving for my retirement right away.

Health Insurance & Paid Time Off

It is likely that you will remain on a parent’s insurance after graduation. However, health insurance is another important benefit to consider, as well as paid time off if you’re sick or want to take a vacation. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of receiving an offer, but the time you are allotted to make a decision should be used to evaluate the various benefits that come with your offer.

Lunches, Parking, Dry Cleaning

Consider the little expenses that can quickly add up. For example, the cost of lunch or parking each day, and the cost to dry clean or purchase a professional wardrobe. Make sure to keep in mind the location of your job. A work site that is close to your home will cut down on the cost of commuting each day. Ask your employer if he or she offers discounts or reduced fees for these types of things. If they do, factor the cost of the expense and the savings you will potentially receive (this is basically additional money in your paycheck).

At Hyatt, employees of our full-service hotels receive free or reduced meals. If you are assigned a cost of $5 per day for lunch and work 5 days each week you will save bout $25 per week or $100 per month!

Remember, evaluating an offer is about more than just salary. You have to broaden your focus and consider the total compensation package!

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How to Dress for the Job You Want

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Over the course of my career, I have interviewed applicants wearing business suits, jeans, and even one wearing a bikini top and shorts (It was Florida, what can I say!). Hopefully, you will agree that I know a thing or two about interviews and will trust me when I say that the clothes you choose to wear to an interview can set the stage for your success.

 

Staging

Consider a person who is attempting to sell their home: One recommendation that is often made is to clear the clutter and “stage” the home so that prospective buyers can easily imagine living there. This allows the potential buyer to not get distracted by obtrusive wall colors or outrageous décor.

During an interview, your recruiter is imagining how well you’ll fit into their brand. Therefore, a similar approach should be made when selecting clothing for an interview. You should wear clothing and colors that support your brand, not distract from it.

It is crucial that, when selecting the outfit you’re going to wear to your interview, you need to consider your prospective company’s brand as well. Ask yourself: ”What are the words that you would use to describe their brand?” If they are a bit more chic and trendy, you can accommodate your suit in your clothing selection. Just be sure to recognize that just because something is fashionable it does not mean it’s professional.

Fashion Hiccups

In my current role, the bulk of my interviews are with current college students or recent college graduates. I think gentlemen have an easier time when it comes to attire. They wear a suit, a shirt, and a tie. Women, on the other hand, have more options when it comes to choosing an outfit which can lead to “fashion hiccups.” It is essential that you do a “dry run” of your selected outfit. Does the hemline rise a bit too high when you sit down? Do the shirt buttons gap or does the neckline fall too low? Solicit the opinions of others, but make sure those you ask are honest and aware that this is the outfit that you’re wearing to an interview.

 

Polish and Piercings

Lastly, remember the details. Take out the visible piercings depending upon the prospective company (gentlemen may want to remove their earrings). Don’t forget to polish your shoes, that’s a detail often overlooked. When it comes to nail polish, it’s either “all on or all off”, chipped and peeling polish never looks good. Proceed with caution when it comes to nail art or “accent” nails.

Although, you may feel like your interview outfit is boring, or does not completely reflect your personality, consider the adage, “dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”

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How I Can Tell You’re Not Prepared

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I’m a huge proponent of preparing for an interview. I advocate researching the perspective company, creating a set questions, and, if possible, connecting with the recruiter via LinkedIn prior to the interview. Nevertheless, there will still be those individuals who choose to “wing it,” and go into the situation unprepared. As a recruiter, I can easily tell when a candidate has not properly prepared for the interview. Here’s how:

You Can’t Explain Why You Want to Work Here

It starts with the explanation of why you want to work for the company. I typically ask this question when interviewing candidates for Hyatt’s college programs.  Although responses vary, basic answers such as, “I’ve stayed in Hyatt Hotels as a child,” and “You’re a hotel company, a leader in the industry.” is an instant giveaway.  Also if your response focuses solely on information from a recent press release, then I will likely assume that you did a simple search and honed in on the first link that came up on Google.

If you cannot properly explain or elaborate on why you want to work for the company, your recruiter may doubt your intentions and question how seriously you take your career search.

You Ask Poor Questions

I am sure there is a sense of relief once you get to the Q& A portion of an interview, but this is not the time to relax. In fact, you should be more alert than ever. The quality of the questions you ask at the conclusion of the interview will indicate your level of preparation, and whether you leave the recruiter with a favorable impression. If you have trouble coming up with questions to ask, or do not ask any questions at all, I will likely feel that you are unprepared and are not serious about pursuing a career with our company.

You’re Late

Lastly, if you show up to the interview late or appear tired/disheveled, the recruiter will assume that you have poor time management skills. I certainly will.

Remember, it is important as a candidate to:

  • Be ready for an interview by articulating the specific reasons why you want to join an organization.
  • Be knowledgeable about the company. Ask questions that demonstrate your knowledge and reflect that you have done research.
  • Be a few minutes early for the interview, ensure that you are well-rested, and, most importantly, PREPARED.

 

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Representing Hyatt at the Women’s Forum in Deauville, France

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Priscilla Guasso, current Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator, is the guest blogger for this piece focused on her current travels for Hyatt.

If after graduating from my alma matter, good old University of Illinois in Champaign, IL, I was asked to describe where I would be today, I could have seen myself answering something along the lines of “hopefully doing something that I truly enjoy and have a passion for.”

I started with Hyatt over 6 years ago, how I got in the door will have to be a blog for another day! My career thus far has allowed me the opportunity to explore my passion for making an impact in peoples lives and meeting amazing individuals along my travels.  So what is this mystery job?  I proudly serve as Hyatt’s diversity and inclusion coordinator, a job that entails representing Hyatt at various conferences and events with the purpose of networking with many companies and bringing back best practices to further assist Hyatt in achieving our goal of being the most preferred brand for our associates.  More specifically, I helped develop our Diversity & Inclusion framework and closely follow the impact we are making around our Workforce, Workplace and Marketplace for women, various ethnicities, generations, LGBT, and people with disabilities.

Just this past year from July thru December I averaged 2-3 trips per month attending various conferences around the world.  My most memorable trip during that time was when I was asked to represent Hyatt at the Women’s Forum in Deauville, France.  As you can imagine I was not only excited to be in Paris for the first time ever, but even more excited to have the opportunity to be amongst 900+ influential women from around the world.  The Women’s Forum is a place where both men and women come together once a year in Deauville to empower women to make their voices heard and to impress upon the international business community that with everyone’s commitment we can tip the balance for a world that resembles our growing demographics.

For three whole days I had the opportunity to hear panelists ranging from female CEOs and executives, to entrepreneurs and writers from around the world.  They had a plethora of advice on what companies and organizations can or should be doing in the workforce and workplace to create more opportunity of advancement for women at all levels.  It also better prepared my colleagues and I to take a step back and evaluate what we are doing at Hyatt to recruit, retain and develop our own associates.  So many ideas stemmed from this trip, including the global expansion of our Women’s employee network group.

While attending the conference was inspiring both on a personal and professional level, also having the opportunity to meet a number of my colleagues that work out of Paris was insightful.  In speaking with them I learned that while we may see so far away from each other, our company culture and values honestly stay the same.  The entire time I felt as if I was traveling with colleagues I had known for a long time, when in actuality we had just met 3 days ago.

This trip taught me a number of lessons, one for instance, how to be a saavy luggage packer.  But in all honesty my best advice to anyone that goes to conferences would be to network with as many people as possible!  While I have a number of mentors that I tap into for advice, I met two people within my travels that I’ve stayed very close in contact with (one is from Germany!) and they have given me some great personal and career advice!

I look forward to being a guest blogger again and having the opportunity to share more about my adventures with recently joining the National Hispanic Corporate Council board and my trip to Brazil in June for the Women’s Forum!

Dream big and happy travels!

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You’ve Heard It Before…..Never Burn Bridges

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“Never burn bridges” is probably one of the oldest pieces of professional advice. Without a doubt this advice has been given and received countless times, and although so simple, it’s timeless advice, that is so true even today.

Six Degrees of Separation

During my career with Hyatt, I’ve worked with a number of individuals and worked for multiple directors and general managers.  Although I’ve moved on from their teams, I’ve always tried to leave the relationship on a positive note.  One of the reasons why is because I recognize that although Hyatt has over 80,000 employees, we’re all in some way connected. It’s pretty likely that I will work with an individual again, or perhaps they will be the person someone calls for feedback on what it was like to work with me.

Respect at All Levels

It’s shortsighted for us to think that the individuals in our life today won’t possibly pop up further down the road, which is why I’m an advocate of respect at all levels.  It doesn’t matter the role a person is currently in or how connected they appear to be to your future.  Treating someone with respect, saying hello when you pass a person in the hallway or on campus, learning an individual’s name, is always a good idea.  It makes it easier when you are later paired to work with them on a group project or have to reach out to them for assistance.

Every Goodbye Isn’t Final

Each day we make decisions, sometimes our decisions are small, such as what to have for lunch, and other times our decisions are much larger.  Ultimately, the decisions we make and how we handle those decisions may come back to haunt us.  One of the students I recruited two years ago learned this lesson firsthand.  Due to situations in his personal life, he needed to move closer to his hometown.  Ideally he wanted to transfer to another location within our company, but because there weren’t any immediate openings, he chose to resign and pursue other options.  One of those options was a company that he interviewed with while he was in college.

He had come pretty close to receiving an offer from them and he thought for sure that it would be easy for him to reestablish the relationships he formed within the organization.  There was just one problem.  When he accepted the offer to work for us, he ended all communication with this other organization and didn’t let them know that he had accepted a job offer. Instead he just ignored their calls and essentially decided to “burn a bridge.”

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Now is Not the Time to Change Your Mind

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Cue Taylor Swift because this blog needs background music!  I had my first candidate rescind their acceptance of an employment offer.  The candidate received an offer of employment, considered the offer, accepted the offer, and almost four weeks later called to tell me that they had changed their mind and was taking back their acceptance.  Rescinding your acceptance is an act that is difficult for a recruiter to forgive.  In fact it’s very likely that because of this action, “we are never, ever, ever getting back together”. 

A Question of Integrity

Yes, I have reached out to offer a candidate and found out during the conversation that they had already accepted another offer.  When in this situation, I’m most impressed by the candidate who is gracious, quick to inform me they have accepted another offer, and doesn’t want to hear the details of my offer because they’ve already committed themselves to another organization.  It’s truly about your professional integrity and staying true to your word. 

Know When Your Search is Over

Rescinding an offer is the result of not knowing when your search is over.  After you accept an offer, it’s time for you to get out of the game!  I know that it’s a difficult balance.  You’re perhaps interviewing with multiple companies and they’re coming back with offers at different times, but ultimately if during the interview process, you adequately researched prospective companies, asked questions of value during the interview, and assessed your true interest in each organization, you should be able to accept an offer with confidence.  Once that offer is accepted, it’s truly about demonstrating loyalty to your new organization and respecting the trust relationship you’ve built with your recruiter. 

Predictor of Future Behavior

There are studies that focus on the belief that past behavior is a predictor of future behavior.  A recruiter may be able to forgive the candidate who rescinded their acceptance, but it’s unlikely that they’ll forget and again consider that candidate for an opportunity at a later time.  This is because if a candidate makes a commitment and then goes back on their word, it’s probably likely that if given another chance and actually joining the organization, they will leave for what they “perceive” to be a better opportunity.  A recruiter doesn’t want to take that risk.  Cue Taylor because “we are never, ever, ever getting back together”.

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What NOT to do After Receiving an Offer

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I’ve often compared recruiting to dating; there are so many similarities that it’s hard not to do so.  Like dating, both parties (recruiter and candidate) want to present themselves in the best light and be equally attractive to each other.  In the beginning, each party is likely seeing other people and the promise of exclusivity is not yet there.  With each phone call, email, and interview, a relationship is built; with all of these actions leading to the culmination of the courtship:  a long-term commitment, a proposal of marriage or from a recruiting standpoint, the extension of a job offer.

But here is where things can get sticky. For some candidates, they’ve waited for this moment and will accept the opportunity on the spot!  Other candidates will have a harder time because maybe they’re a bit unsure.  With the latter individuals in mind, here are my suggestions on what NOT to do once you receive a job offer.

Don’t Pretend to Consider an Offer

I get it, interviewing with only one company is extremely risky. You want to be in a position where you’re entertaining multiple offers; this is the ideal position for the graduating college senior.  But this ideal position is a tricky one because although you’ve received an offer, what if it’s from the company that’s not your first choice?

My best advice, consider the offer.  Don’t just pretend to consider it.  Your recruiter will know if you’re just going through the motions waiting for a better offer to come in.  Instead examine all the elements and determine if you were to receive no other offers, would you be happy accepting the one that’s in front of you?

Focus on the Offers that ARE on the Table

Yes, in an ideal world all employers would respond within the same time frame, but that is very unlikely. If you have an offer on the table, but are waiting to hear from another organization, reach out to the organization you’re waiting for and let them know you have another offer.  If they don’t get back to you, move on, and focus on the offer that is actually in front of you, not the one you’re waiting to appear.

The last thing you want to do is to lose an offer you actually have for one that “might” be forthcoming.  Even more so, the last thing a recruiter wants to hear is that you are not sure if you can accept their opportunity because you “may” be getting an offer from another organization.  Although it may not be your intention, the message the recruiter hears is “I am so not interested in your opportunity that I would rather wait for another offer to come along than accept the offer you’ve extended.”

Decline before the Deadline

A recruiter will likely give you a timeframe to consider their job offer.  Don’t wait until the very last day to inform them of your decision.  I suspect that when the offer came in, you had a pretty good idea of if you were going to accept or decline the opportunity.  You’ve probably spent the remainder of the deliberation time affirming why your initial decision is the right one for you. Once you’ve determined that you don’t want the opportunity, reach out to the recruiter and politely decline.  Not waiting until the very last day shows respect for the recruiter’s time and allows them to potentially offer another candidate.

Declining an offer is much like a breaking off a relationship.  It’s a better discussion to have over the phone instead of via email or voicemail.  It’s during a break up that you learn the most about a person and depending upon how the situation is handled, you may or may not be able to go back to being just friends.

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Mentors, Relationships, and Employee Engagement

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Samantha Konner, former Corporate Management Trainee and current F&B Manager, is the guest blogger for this piece focused on employee engagement and the impact of mentors.   

Annually, employees of Hyatt complete a satisfaction survey and give feedback regarding how happy we are with our jobs, managers, hotel, and Hyatt in general.  Although the survey is completed just once a year, employee engagement is a daily responsibility and a huge part of my role as a Hyatt manager.  

Before I received the results of this year’s engagement survey, I received a phone call from a former boss.  I speak to him from time to time and keep him updated about my career and life. He has always been on my side, there when I needed help or for him to support a career move.  The call was quick, he congratulated me on our survey results, wished me a “Happy Thanksgiving” and then we both went on with our day. I was overwhelmed by his call and recognized how much faith he truly has in my abilities and how much he believes in me. 

Later that day, we received the results of this year’s survey and the results for my team at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe reflected a great increase year over year! It warmed my heart to see that our team had made such an impact there and that our staff appreciated the efforts we put into the outlets.  After the results were announced, I also heard from two of my most recent bosses who reached out to congratulate our team and thank me for my efforts. I don’t work for them anymore and have moved on to another Hyatt hotel, but they both called to express how proud they were of our scores and the efforts we gave to get those numbers.

I’ve been thanked before and sent congratulatory emails in the past, but there was something about those phone calls from my mentors and former bosses.  They re-energized me and I have a different view on what I do everyday. The one thing that truly makes me confident that I will settle in and find my groove here in San Antonio is the support system I have that is not in Texas, those people who I look up to and call mentors and once called “boss”.  I hope to one day be a boss/mentor to someone, just like those that I have in my life.

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Careers at Hyatt: Director of Revenue Management

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Promotion and transfer opportunities within Hyatt allow our employees the flexibility to navigate their own career path and adjust its direction in support of both professional and personal goals.  In the following blog, Kim Dixon, Director of Revenue Management, shares the Hyatt career path that led to her current role. 

Although I graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences, the experience of being “walked” to another hotel during spring break inspired me to work in the hospitality industry and led me to Hyatt. 

A month after my graduation, I started my career with Hyatt as a Rooms Management Trainee at the Hyatt Regency Washington.  After completing the training program, I was promoted to Assistant Executive Housekeeper, a position I held for about 9 months before being promoted to the role of Guest Service Manager. I remained at the hotel for two more years and during that time held the positions of Reservations Manager and Executive Houskeeper. 

In 2002, I transferred to the Grand Hyatt New York as Front Office Manager.  After two years in that position, the hotel rewarded my work and I was promoted into the role of Assistant Rooms Executive.  Shortly after my promotion, the Rooms Executive position at the Hyatt Regency Jersey City became available.  Recognizing that I was ready for a Division Head role, I was encouraged to apply for the opportunity and became the Rooms Executive at the Hyatt Regency Jersey City in 2004. 

Kim with her family

When I started with Hyatt, I thought I wanted to be in Human Resources, but found along the way, that I enjoyed involvement with the daily operations of the hotel more. Once I had children, I wanted a job that had more predictable hours, but still allowed me autonomy and the ability to make a positive impact for the hotel, which is why in 2005, I shifted my career path to Revenue Management and became the Revenue Manager for the Hyatt Morristown.  

In 2008, I was promoted to Director of Revenue Management.  I am responsible for managing the revenue function of multiple Hyatt Hotels.  One of the best parts about my job is that there isn’t really a typical day. Some things that happen every day include updating my revenue management system (e-Flex) to ensure the hotels are selling properly, evaluating pricing to ensure the hotels are right priced, evaluating group and catering business to ensure the best fits for the hotels, strategizing to fill need periods in the hotels, and forecasting revenues.

The number one thing that keeps me with Hyatt is that we’re a performance based company. If you do well, your hard work will be recognized and others will support your career goals.  During my first interview at the Hyatt Regency Washington in 1998 with Gary Dollens, he told me precisely that and I find it to still be true to this day.

Professionally, the biggest lesson I have learned so far is to never stop learning. Life and business are continually evolving, and those people who are the most successful are the ones who anticipate the change, make the most out of it, and keep moving.  My best advice to recent college graduates is to follow their passion to a position that will give them a great learning experience.  They might be surprised at where it leads them.

 

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