Name: Katie Schmit
Age: 22
Occupation: Communications assistant for Citizens Utility Board
Residence: Rogers Park
Five things she learned:
– Use internships to test jobs and companies.
– Go on informational interviews and ask for advice on how to get into a field.
– Keep your resume to one page.
– Practice answering interview questions out loud.
– Follow up with employers after sending your resume.
Five mistakes she made:
– Not starting earlier and waiting “too long to ask for help.”
– Getting comfy with temp work while waiting for a job offer.
– Limiting her job search to communication positions only.
– Letting want ads intimidate and not applying for jobs she now feels she could have gotten.
– Sending form letters along with resumes.
Name: Danielle Miller
Age: 30
Job: Registered nurse in labor and delivery at Advocate Christ Medical Center.
Residence: Hyde Park
Five things she learned:
– Dress professionally. Even though it’s a hospital, leave the scrubs at home.
– Prepare a list of questions for the interviewer such as weekend work requirements and turnover rates.
– Ask to take a tour and speak with the employees who are working.
– Research online and apply only for jobs in your specialization.
– Ask the recruiter about the department’s strength and weaknesses.
Five mistakes she made:
– Limiting the shifts she was willing to work.
– Not telling recruiters about herself and how she could benefit the department.
– Feeling sorry when turning down job offers and not being more upfront.
– Not asking if the orientation period would include both day and night shifts.
– Keeping questions to herself because she wasn’t sure whom to ask.
Name: Reiko Suber
Age: 25
Occupation: Bankruptcy attorney for Mayer, Brown,
Rowe & Maw LLP
Residence: West Loop
Five things she learned:
– How to act during a lunch interview and avoid embarrassing mistakes.
– Researching the recruiter in advance means you can impress by asking related questions.
– Connecting with the interviewer can count just as much as grades.
– You have to know a firm’s financial future–a classmate was jobless after her firm went out of business.
– Never underestimate the power of looking really good in a suit.
Five mistakes she made:
– Not pushing her preference for what type of law she would like to practice.
– Taking a job without thinking about having to adjust to a new city.
– Not asking more questions about the work type and office environment.
– Being overly formal in interviews.
– Not looking for more jobs once she had an offer.
Name: Justin Pomazal
Age: 23
Job: assistant retirement consultant for Towers Perrin
Residence: Lincoln Park
Five things he learned:
– Go to campus career fairs to meet with recruiters.
– Take professional certification exams early to show companies you’re focused and ambitious.
– Act personable during interviews so recruiters know you can handle client concerns.
– Use sample resumes as guides.
– Narrow your search to only the companies you like.
Five mistakes he made:
– Didn’t negotiate salary or benefits.
– Accepted job after internship and stopped searching.
– Got comfy with offers and accidentally told a recruiter he was content with other offers.
– Put job interviews before classes.
– Didn’t budget to buy a suit, dress shoes, shirt and tie.
