Career Guide 17-18

CAREER GUIDE 2017–2018

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

clemson.edu/career

CENTER FOR CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

/ClemsonCCPD

Collect business cards from those you meet throughout the day

and, once you get home, study them. Go over the names and

positions of those you came in contact with and send thank you

letters to them.

When you receive a job offer, respond in writing. Express both

your decision to accept or reject the offer and your appreciation

for their time and consideration. Whatever the outcome, your

first on-site interview is over and has prepared you for future

interview processes. This gets you one step closer to your

dream job.

EMPLOYMENT TESTING

It is not unusual to be asked to take a test on anything from

your basic skills to your personality. Do not stress out. This is

a good sign. If they are willing to spend time and money to

test you, you must be in the final group of potential employees.

Relax, take your time and do your best.

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

Throughout the application process, you should evaluate the

company just as much as they evaluate you. Closely consider

their answers to questions dealing with opportunities for

advancement, community life and training tools. Check out the

diversity of the company and make sure you can picture yourself

fitting in. Also, consider the office set-up: Who typically has

the corner offices? Do you foresee good, productive competition

within the office or do you sense backstabbing? How is the

morale of the company? Remember, this could potentially be your

“home away from home” so cover all the bases.

The company will likely ask for feedback from you about your

experiences throughout the day. Be positive and constructive and

if you are still interested in the position make sure you let it be

known. If representatives do not provide adequate closure then

you initiate it tactfully by asking about the next few steps in the

process.

STAY PROFESSIONAL

INTERVIEW REVIEW AND FOLLOW-UP

The following procedures should be followed after every interview:

Take good notes: During or immediately after the interview, write

down what you discussed, why you are a good fit for the job and

any possible objections you think the interviewer may have about

your background.

Draft a brief follow-up letter: While developing your follow-up

letter, you should remember to show positive “matches” between

what they want and what you have to offer; refer to previous

experiences or education; volunteer further information; ask for

clarification regarding anything that came up in the interview;

offer to provide references; justify a reason to get together.

Send a thank you note: After every interview, even when you are

not interested or unqualified for the job, you should send a thank

you letter within 24 hours.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

Ideally, the job you will accept will be with a company you believe

in and has a culture that fits your values. The job duties might

not be exactly what you were looking for but weigh the possibility

of future growth and advancement. Candidates will often take

a job with the hopes of moving into a new and more challenging

position.

Specific items you may want to consider before accepting a

position are:

Salary

As mentioned above, not everything is about the salary. The

opportunity for growth, training, and securing the first job are

all important factors to consider. Be mindful of the differences

of Gross Income (often referred to as ‘salary’) and Net Income

(‘take-home’ pay).

Location

The location of your job is an important factor to consider: know

what your values are and how important working close to home is

for you. Consider the cost of living in the area and the commute

to work. Specific things to consider as you research this: a) traffic

patterns, b) public transportation, c) parking availability & fees,

and d) personal safety at different hours.

Insurance

Will you be able to qualify for insurance immediately upon

being hired or do you need to wait 30 days or longer? If you

need to wait, you will need to look into temporary health and life

insurance policy. What is your cost per paycheck if the employer

offers health insurance? How much will insurance cost on the

open market? Especially for small businesses, private sellers are

often the only option. Is the employer offering Life or Disability

Insurance?

Vacation and Sick Leave

Some companies will negotiate with new hires for more vacation

or sick days, and, in general, there can be more flexibility here

than with other elements of the employer benefits package.

Flexibility

Some companies may offer options other than the traditional 9 to

5 workday. Be sure you know what the employer expects from you.

Does the organization offer a teleworking opportunity?

Relocation Expenses

If you are relocating, does the employer offer financial relocation

assistance?

Retirement

What kind of retirement package is offered? Is the employer

offering to match the contribution? When do you have access or

when are you vested? If no package is offered – how will you save

for my own retirement?

Taxes

What are your tax deductions per paycheck? A good resource is

ADP’s paycheck calculator.

Travel

Know how much travel is expected in your new job. It is important

to consider if you will use your own car, a rental car, or if a

company car will be provided.

Education/Certifications

Many companies have professional and educational development

programs. Find out if your company offers these benefits and

whether you qualify. Will you get time off for continuing your

education or attending conferences/seminars? Additionally, some

companies offer tuition reimbursement.

Mobile Phone

Will you be given a mobile phone for business only, or business

and personal use? Is it in the form of reimbursement or allotted

amount up front for a certain amount? And, if so, does having

a company mobile phone mean you would expected to respond

during non-work hours?