Category Archives: College

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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Commit to Thrive: State College

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This month, with fellow members of the Eta Sigma Delta Penn State Chapter, I spent time visiting residents of a university-based, life care retirement community in State College, Pennsylvania called The Village.  At least 10% of the residents are Penn State alumni or retired faculty.

A large portion of our visit was spent playing bingo with the residents.  Bingo is an activity that many residents look forward to playing in their free time and it definitely can get competitive.  When we would help the residents with their bingo board, they were so grateful for our assistance.

The time we spent at The Village showed us that simply by spending time one on one with a person, you can make a difference in their day.  It was really sweet to see how much they all appreciated us being there.

Hyatt Thrive’s Global Month of Community Service is focused on all of us making a difference in the communities that we call home.  State College has been home for me during my time at Penn State.  It was great to give back to members of my own community!

 

 About the Author

Shawna Kim is a graduating senior at Pennsylvania State University.  A current Hyatt Ambassador, she promotes Hyatt opportunities on Penn State’s campus and will start the Corporate Management Training program in June 2013.

 

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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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Commit to Thrive: North Carolina

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I took Hyatt’s pledge and volunteered at the Humane Society of Eastern North Carolina.  Although this location is in Greenville, North Carolina, the Humane Society has existed since 1920 and each shelter adopts out 350-400 animals per year.  As a student at East Carolina University, Greenville is home for me most of the year. I chose to volunteer with the Humane Society because I absolutely adore animals. I want the animals at the shelter to feel just as loved as animals with permanent homes.

As a volunteer, my responsibilities include sanitizing the runs, feeding, watering, walking, and playing with the animals. Volunteering at the Humane Society is something I really enjoy doing. Even though I am sad to see them go, it is always a good feeling when an animal is adopted.

Although I’m a member of the Hyatt family, anyone can take Hyatt’s pledge and participate in Hyatt Thrive’s Global Month of Community Service.  For each pledge that is taken by April 30th, Hyatt will donate a book, up to 35,000 books, to a child in need.  For more information on how you can participate, visit www.hyattthrive.com.

 

 

About the Author

Mary Youngblood is currently a junior at East Carolina University.  A Campus Ambassador, she represents Hyatt and promotes our college programs on ECU’s campus.

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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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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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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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Career Progression: Slow and Steady Wins the Race

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In the hospitality industry, when responding to guest requests, we’re encouraged to provide an actual measurement of time. For example, we would tell a guest that their In-Room Dining order will be delivered “within 20-25 minutes” instead of saying “we’ll have it up to you shortly,” because each guest values their time differently and each has a different perception of time.

Similar to guests, I’ve found that college graduates beginning their careers often have a different perception of time, particularly when it comes to career progression. The span of time they believe it will take for them to move up, to move into another role, or to receive their first promotion varies dramatically from graduate to graduate and in my opinion, the word “slow” in any variation is often a word college graduates do NOT want to hear.

Realistic Time Frames

The idea that career growth will come “slowly” or move “slower” than their expectation is often unacceptable, but I feel it’s important that graduates embrace a realistic time frame. I know this is easier said than done, but it starts with the selection process when you’re interviewing for that first opportunity after graduation. Hopefully you selected an organization that offered career advancement, a company that during the interview process had recruiters and representatives that spoke to the available promotion opportunities and potential career paths if you joined their organization.

Assuming that this the case, you now have to examine your own perception of time. When do you expect to move up and receive your first promotion? Does your expectation match with the information you were given when you chose the organization? Recognizing that time frames will vary by industry, allowing yourself at least 1 – 2 years in your current role is probably most realistic. Focus on your day to day performance, excelling beyond the level of expectation for your current position, accepting that one good day or one successful project does not merit a promotion.

If It’s For You, Then It’s Yours

It’s easy to compare yourself to your peers, but essential that you realize that you are your own competition. Use the time to brand yourself as consistent, reliable, and prepared for the next role. Each day you’re winning fans and supporters, making an impression on the decision makers who will assist you with obtaining that position. You have to trust that your opportunity for advancement is there and steady the anxiety or eagerness that can deter your focus.

A Closed Mouth Doesn’t Get Fed

I can’t remember the first time someone told me that “a closed mouth doesn’t get fed”, but that one piece of advice has stayed with me. During your first year in your new role, take advantage of one on one time with your manager to solicit feedback and use scheduled performance discussions/evaluations to chat about your career progression and express your career goals.

Just remember that with these discussions timing is key. A discussion about your career progression on your 7th day of employment is likely too soon, but after 180 days of stellar performance, asking for exposure to additional facets of the division or new responsibilities is a reasonable request.

 

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I Listen to the Things You Say

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As a recruiter for Hyatt’s College Programs, I interview a fair amount of students each year for both internships and management trainee roles. When you have only a short amount of time to determine if a candidate is right for a role with your organization, you listen intently to every word that is said.

There are interviews that make this recruiter’s heart leap with the excitement of finding a strong candidate, and interviews that make me cringe with each answer. Often it comes down to the choice of words a candidate uses during an interview.

“Dealing”

For example, when I ask you to tell me about your internship or your most recent employment experience, you respond and say that you “had to deal with customers” or you “dealt with reconciling financial accounts”.

How can you tell me that you’re a people person and love interacting with the public, but then tell me that all summer you had to “deal” with customers? I see a contradiction here and although it may not have been your intention, the phrase conveys that your experience was negative and one that you tolerated more than enjoyed.

Acronyms

Although I’m impressed when you tell me you founded a student organization and now are the president of “Future Executives and Leaders”, I’m puzzled when you tell me you’re the “president of FEL”. The hospitality industry is full of acronyms, but I’ve learned that college campuses have us beat!

You tell me you are the “President of GHI” or “volunteer regularly with MNO”, and I can probably speak for my recruiter peers when I tell you that it is likely we have no idea what those acronyms mean. Assume your recruiter is unfamiliar with the organization and use its proper name.  Your usage of acronyms during an interview may be selling yourself short.

“I see myself…”

Recruiters are avid users of open ended questions. We want the details and pose questions that encourage elaboration. What’s key is that while elaborating, you support your interests and express your passion. For example, if at the beginning of the interview you say you “see yourself staying close to your hometown”, but later in the interview say you’re “open to relocation”, it’s likely that the recruiter will have a hard time believing you because there is now a conflict with an earlier statement. My best advice is to be honest and offer the truth, not the responses you feel your recruiter will want to hear.

Much like a person considering the purchase of a home, walking through the rooms imagining themselves living in this new space, during an interview I’m imaging you working within our organization. The stories you tell, examples you share, the words you use, all help me draw a mental picture.  Choosing your words carefully will ensure that picture is one of success.

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