The Career Start Guide: Forget Everything You Know About Starting A Career

THE CAREER START GUIDE
Forget Everything You Know About Starting a Career

When the economic crisis hit and hiring slowed to a trickle, recent graduates took much of the blow.
Freshly educated and motivated to enter the professional world, these eager young minds found
themselves in front of a seemingly insurmountable brick wall. Unemployment reached 10.2 percent —
the highest it’s been since 1930 — and the job market was showing few signs of recovery.
So what did many graduates do? They gave up.
In May 2009, fewer graduates had begun the job search than at any time before. In May 2008, about
67 percent had begun the process. However, at the end of the last school year, only 59 percent of
2009 graduates had begun their job search. 1
Now fast-forward a few months. What percentage of 2009 graduates actually has a job?
Only 20 percent of last year’s graduates have secured a job since earning their college degree.1
Isn’t Generation Y supposed to be

the best and the brightest of all
generations yet? Don’t companies ONLY 20% OF LAST YEAR’S GRADUATES
desire the intelligent young HAVE SECURED A JOB SINCE EARNING
employees with a fresh outlook and a burning THEIR COLLEGE DEGREE.
desire to succeed?
What is keeping these educated individuals from finding a job?
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It has little to do with raw natural ability, as the current generation of young job seekers is equally if
not more capable than generations of the past. Yes, the recent economic crisis and resulting job
scarcity is making the process of starting one’s career more difficult, but there has to be some other
reason why the unemployment rate for recent college graduates rose above the national average to
10.6 percent at the end of last year.2 The most likely answer is that these students never learned how
to find jobs and start their careers.
Yes, in all those years of extensive education a crucial skill was overlooked. That skill — important to
the success of any and every individual — is job-hunting. And at a time when the average student
graduates with $23,200 in educational loans to pay back, that skill becomes especially important.3
Many members of Generation Y are misinformed or just simply uninformed when it comes to
starting a career.
But that is ok. We can help. We have been in your shoes. Read on to learn more about how to start
your career.
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before we begin:
my story
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My name is Mario Schulzke, and I am the founder of CareerSparx. I am

originally from Germany and came to the U.S. as an exchange student when
I was 16 years old. What I was envisioning to be a year of sunshine at a
beach turned into living on a ranch in rural Montana. But I loved it and
ended up going to school at the University of Montana. Upon graduation, I
immediately took a full-time job with an advertising agency. The pay was
good, but the experience wasn't. I wasn't learning enough, and there were
no great people for me to learn from.
So, much to my mother's dismay, I quit and moved to Seattle, where I spent
the next six months sleeping on a friend-of-a-friend's floor. Why? To be able
to intern at a company that I really admired. I worked directly for the
president of the company, and my pay was limited to a free bus pass and
whatever leftover lunches were available after client meetings.
I went from a comfortable job to an unpaid internship. I had nothing – no

car, no cell phone, no girlfriend. Yet, it was the smartest decision I've ever
made. Because that unpaid internship was the perfect spark to what has
been a pretty successful career so far.
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At 29, I am now a senior director at that very company. I sit on the board of advisors at the
University of Montana, started instructing college students at the age of 23, published a book
that was featured on “20/20” and am the founder of IdeaMensch.com. Along the way I also
received my green card, bought my first home and picked up a pretty lazy cat named Otto.
I had the idea for CareerSparx because I saw so many recent graduates struggle to get started.
To find their first job. To figure out a way to make ends meet. So, I’ve decided to help. And joining
me is a number of great people at companies like Apple, Nike and Google, to name just a few.
Anyway, get started by reading this report. And stay tuned in via our e-mail updates, because
there's a lot more great information coming down the pike. If you have any questions, don't
hesitate to e-mail me directly at mario@careersparx.com.
Yours truly,
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Table of contents
The most qualified don’t always get the job...........................................................................................08
Treat ‘getting the job’ like a job itself......................................................................................................16
If you want a job, you need experience....................................................................................................24
Interested employers will do their homework on you.............................................................................38
Sometimes companies that are not hiring are most likely to hire you...................................................45
Getting an interview is the hardest part..................................................................................................48
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Truth #1:
The most qualified [on paper]

don’t always get the job.
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Yes, that Ivy League diploma only goes so far. This often comes as a big shock for many recent grads,
but those that are the most qualified on paper do not always get the job. We’re not saying that all
colleges are equal, but we are saying that your alma mater is not the most important detail for getting
the job.
Coming from a merit-based system (school and grades) that rewards those who receive the best
marks on paper, this can seem hard to believe. Those who score better on tests receive the highest
grades and are accepted into the most prestigious schools. You would think that these same students
automatically receive the best jobs as well, but that’s actually not true. There are many other factors
besides your grades that contribute to whether you land the job over the next candidate.
Your ability to form and maintain relationships with others is the most important skill involved in
finding a job. This skill — in the professional sense — is commonly called networking.
Networking can be defined as the “deliberate

process of exchanging information, resources,
support and access in such a way as to create OVER HALF OF ALL EMPLOYEES
mutually beneficial relationships for personal OBTAINED THEIR JOBS THROUGH
and professional success.”4 NETWORKING
According to The Wall Street Journal, over half of all employees obtained their jobs through networking.13
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Many people are a little uneasy upon hearing the term ‘networking.’ They think of
‘schmoozing,’ pretending to be nice just to get something, and of awkward events with
corporate employees doing anything and everything to work their way up the corporate ladder.
We’re here to tell you that true networking is not and should never be that way.
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Networking is About Forming Relationships.

The ultimate goal may be to start a career, but no conversation should ever begin with that intention in
mind. Networking is about forming relationships — almost friendships — so that people can help each
other out and everyone can benefit from the situation.
You already have a network whether you realize it or not. In fact, with expertise in Facebook, Twitter,
MySpace, etc., many argue that yours is the most connected generation in history.
Although you may be a novice in the professional world, you are still in a position to bring value to any
relationship. You already have a network that includes your professors, family, friends and friends’
family; it may remain largely untapped at this point. Once you begin mapping out who you know and
what they do, you will be able to connect people that wouldn’t have met otherwise and bring benefit to
others’ lives.
A simple example: Your mother is an accountant and your friend’s father needs a new accountant
for his law firm. Add to that the fact that you just happen to be interested in becoming a lawyer. By
making the connection between your mother and friend’s father, you are bringing benefits to both.
Additionally, your friend’s father finds out that you’re interested in law and because you did him a
favor, he may invite you to intern at his firm. Stuff like this happens all the time, and it could be
happening to YOU if you maintain the right mindset.
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What is the Right Networking Mindset?

Maintaining the right mindset involves:
Having Confidence in Yourself

This is the most important factor in being an effective networker. You must have confidence in yourself to
speak and hold conversation with others. You also must have a true belief in your abilities and talents if
you are going to convince anyone else that you possess those talents. To achieve confidence in your
conversational abilities, you have to practice.
Continually Meeting New People

You want to get in the habit of always meeting and talking with new people. While this does not mean
that you have to become best friends with the barista at Starbucks, speaking with him might be good
practice for the future. Anyone you meet can have valuable information.
Working on Your Conversational Skills

Going along with the ‘meeting new people’ point is the value of building your conversational
skills. Spend more time talking to others and learning about them. The more people you talk to
— and especially the more strangers — the easier it will be to converse with anyone.
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Testing Your Memory

You should always be working to remember something about every person. While the name is certainly
important, you also should concentrate on what the person does (professionally or personally). By
training yourself to remember one or two key facts about every person you meet, you are providing the
background knowledge for successful networking, and you will be able to connect people based on
their needs and livelihoods.
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Everybody is Shy (or at Least They Think so)

You may be looking at the list of things involved in maintaining the right mindset with a sense of
trepidation. Holding actual conversations with total strangers could seem rather daunting to
someone who is shy. Well, if you think you’re shy, then you’re not alone:
Interestingly, 75 percent of ‘great conversationalists’ call themselves shy!5
A study by Stanford University’s Shyness Clinic found that as many as 50 percent of us say we’re
shy.4 Similarly, Susan RoAne, networking expert dubbed the ‘mingling maven,’ surveyed 100 great
conversationalists. Guess what? A whopping 75 percent of them still thought of themselves as shy.5
There are many reasons attributed to our unfounded belief that we are all shy, but as Dr. Lynne
Henderson, Director of Stanford University’s Shyness Clinic states, “Shyness is not a disease. It’s a
habit pattern that can be
relearned.”4
SHYNESS IS NOT A DISEASE.

IT’S A HABIT PATTERN THAT
CAN BE RELEARNED.
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Practice, Practice, Practice

The best way to overcome shyness and gain confidence in yourself as a conversationalist is to
practice. Better to learn now when talking with waiters, gas station attendants and neighbors
than at a professional networking event or business association, right?
Keep the four points mentioned previously in mind at all times as you work your way through this guide. It
may not come easy at first, but you will definitely notice that it becomes easier as time passes. It will be
rewarding to see that you’ve created a relationship with a total stranger who will very likely remember
you as well (as the person who was nice enough to ask about his/her day). There could be other,
unforeseen benefits too; who knows, you may even be able to tell the Starbucks guy, “The usual,
please,” and he’ll remember your order.
Remaining aware of these things and actively practicing throughout the day will help you form the
habit of meeting new people and retaining information about them — the basis for excellent
networking. It takes 21 days to form a habit; start now and chances are, it will become more natural
for you in no time.
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Truth #2:
Treat ‘getting the job’

like a job itself.
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Do You Know How Long the Average Job Search Takes?

Yes, getting a job is hard work but beginning your career at the right place is so important to the rest
of your life. Where you live, your salary and your work environment — everything will determine the
course you will take. You must begin in the right place if you are to flourish in your career. In order to
stay strong during a full-time, six-month job search you must begin on the right foot with realistic
expectations of what is to come. Luckily there are certain themes that remain consistent
throughout the process, no matter where you plan to apply.
6 MONTHS
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5 Themes for Achieving Job Search Success

The professional world revolves around these rules. So should you.
1. Action
This is the first and probably the most important theme. If your job search ever becomes stagnant and
you are failing to get the results that you’d like, take action. Make sure that you are always doing
something to work toward finding a job. This theme applies:
Mentally
Always be thinking about the next step that you need to take. Read the news, become
knowledgeable and sharpen your mind. Take in information and you will have more to talk about
with others — you will find conversations becoming easier and less one-sided.
Physically
You should be meeting people and interacting in person whenever you can. Always go for face time
and do not spend too much time on the Internet. Remember that networking is the best way to find
a job. Get out there and meet people face-to-face. You will find that when it comes time to interview,
you will be much more comfortable.
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2. Organization
In your job search, as well as every other aspect of your life, it’s important to stay organized. We will
recommend several tools to help you accomplish this, but the ball is in your court when it comes to
actually using them. If you can remain organized you will always know who to contact and when, the
right time to send follow-up emails and thank you notes, as well as all of the little details to achieve
networking success. Organization comes natural to some but for others can be quite difficult. One way
that seems to help many people is to make lists. Practice keeping track of what you need to do and
when. This applies to:
Your Actions
Plan accordingly so that you can allocate enough time to your job search. Begin using a calendar
and create a daily schedule to ensure you accomplish what you need to each day.
Your Contacts
Organize your contacts so that you can easily find anyone you need. Include any notes that may be
helpful for networking and know who can help you with what.
Your Research/Notes
All of the research you are doing on companies and people, and the notes you take along the way
about what worked for you and what did not, should be organized. Whether you keep a running
Excel or Word document or go old-fashioned with a box of alphabetized notecards. Then you can
always find what you need and be prepared for any situation.
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3. Individualization
Always give individualized attention. Be specific whenever possible. When it comes to contacting a
person or company, focus on what you would say to that person or that company specifically. Always
avoid being generic. Show that you really care by putting in the extra time to do background research
and over prepare. Individualization applies to both the passive and active parts of your job search and
should be seen in:
Your job search materials

Your resume and cover letter should be tailored to each specific job and company. Similarly, your
personal profiles online should give specific, concrete examples of your skills and accomplishments.
Your contact with others

Your e-mails and any other form of contact with professionals should also be individualized.
Try to make a personal connection with the people you meet for use in future correspondence.
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4. Persistence
This is another theme that we have stressed throughout and are going to continue to stress until
you find a job … and then we’re going to stress it again. When it comes to finding a job, you should
never give up — and you will find a job. You can’t win if you never try. Persist, but do not be
annoying. Follow up. If you send an application and fail to receive a response, contact again; many
companies are just waiting to see who wants it bad enough to keep on asking. Be persistent in:
Your job search in general

Do not give up and you will find a job.
Your contact with others

Always follow up after contacting a person or company and follow the correspondence to the final
step — the thank you note.
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5. Professionalism
You are an adult now. From your e-mail address to the way you speak to people to your business attire,
you should exude professionalism. This will go a long way — many young people these days have
become casual in so many aspects of their lives that they forget the importance of this theme. It is
important to be professional in all aspects of your life, including:
Your personal attire

This includes what you wear to interviews and to work, and when meeting with other professionals.
Even at a casual networking event, you should be sure to look polished. Casual attire does not mean
sloppy.
Your job search materials

Your resume and cover letter should be professional looking.
Your correspondence with others

Your contact with others should always be professional. Remember, you are addressing adults, not
your best friends.
Your online presence

This includes your social networking profiles, e-mail address, blog and everything else someone could
find about you online.
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These five themes should always be in the back of your mind as they apply to everything you do in this
job search process. Anytime you are wondering how you should act or approach a situation, think of
these themes and model your behavior accordingly. The professional world lives by these rules, and so
should you.
In case you already forgot, here they are again:
1. Action
2. Organization
3. Individualization
4. Persistence
5. Professionalism
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Truth #3:
If you want a job,

you need experience.
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Here are some facts that will help illustrate how competitive the current job market really is and how
necessary actual industry experience is to starting your career:
Overall, hiring of graduates with any degree will decline by 2 percent compared to 2009.6
Employers plan to hire 7 percent fewer college graduates from the class of 2010 than they did from
this year’s graduating class.7
On the bright side …
• In 2009, 23 percent of students who interned had a job in hand at graduation. For those without
internship experience, just 14 percent left college with a signed-sealed-and-delivered job.8
• Of the 2009 graduates that now have jobs, 73 percent completed an internship during their
undergraduate term.8
• More than 75 percent of employers said they prefer candidates with relevant internship
experience.8
MORE THAN 75% OF RESPONDING
EMPLOYERS SAID THEY PREFER
CANDIDATES WITH RELEVANT
INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE.
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Hit the Ground Running

Employers are looking for candidates who can hit the ground running. The best way to do that is to get
some relevant experience in the form of an internship. With internship experience in your industry, you
will be steps ahead of many other applicants and — at the very least — in the same position as other
high-achieving individuals.
Another thing to consider is the increasing prevalence of the “intern-to-employee” situation. As

companies are trimming the fat and cutting back on unnecessary jobs and budget lines, they
cannot afford to make hiring mistakes. Training an employee for two months only to find out that
he is a complete ‘dud’ in the real work environment is not acceptable. Companies can, however,
afford the cheap or nonexistent intern salary and are turning to motivated young interns to fill
the gap. If you receive an internship opportunity and excel in your position, there is a pretty good
chance you could be offered a full-time position.
Internships are key for those who are lacking actual experience and for those who may be struggling
to fill a one-page resume. Here’s why:
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Gain Real World Experience

Internships are extremely important for gaining real world experience. Most employers like to see
some type of experience in the field you are trying to enter, in a similar field or in the business world
period. Internships provide you with this necessary experience.
Continue Your Education

Internships allow you to continue your education in a non-classroom environment. You will learn
many things that you were never taught in the classroom about the work environment. At the
same time, you will find real-life examples of many of the principles you learned in class.
Although, the knowledge you gain as an intern will not necessarily be specific to that job or
company, it will apply to the professional world in general. Gaining this knowledge will help you
when it comes to networking and the interview process.
Set Yourself Apart

Many people in your same situation do not and will not have internship experience. You can set yourself
apart from your peers by essentially performing many of the tasks you would be given in a full-time
entry-level job, except you’re doing it as an intern. You should come out of the experience with
accomplishments for your resume and new skills to tout.
But internships are not only important for those with limited professional experience. In fact, many people
argue that starting as a company intern is better than starting as a full-time employee.
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7 Reasons Why Starting as an Intern is Better than Starting

as a Full-Time Employee:
1. You Have the Opportunity to Work Directly Under a High-Level Employee
Oftentimes entry-level employees are placed in positions at the bottom of the career ladder. Interns,
on the other hand, are generally placed under higher-level employees that can act as mentors and
serve as great sources for advice. Working under a top-level employee gives you access to someone
with more experience and industry knowledge. Additionally, if you show yourself to be an intelligent
and hard-working individual, you may end up collaborating on important projects that you wouldn’t
have access to in an entry-level position.
2. Your Position Allows You to Learn Rather than Just Simply ‘Do Work’
The nature of an internship defines the experience as one in which it is more important for interns to
learn about the company and the industry than to complete repetitive tasks. As an entry-level employee
you are more confined because you are expected to focus on and complete the tasks specific to your job.
As an intern, however, you are expected to ask questions and set up informational interviews with
other employees in order to better understand the ‘big picture.’ While this does not mean that you
won’t be given work to complete as an intern, it does mean that you have greater flexibility when it
comes to managing your time.
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3. You Get the Chance to Work on Many Different Types of Projects

Since the nature of an internship is focused on general learning, your work may be more diversified.
Instead of focusing on a single project or task, you may be given work in several areas of the company
that will require the use of different skills. Through this process you will get a better idea of where your
interests and talents lie.
4. There is No Long-Term Commitment

Another advantage of an internship is the lack of a long-term commitment — the average internship
lasts 12 weeks. If you sign on as an entry-level employee, companies expect that you are in it for the
long haul. Some companies will have a three-month probation period after hiring, but expect you to
perform as if you are on board for the long term. They may wish to provide you with training or spend a
significant amount of money on preparing you for your future at their company. Quitting early can be
considered bad form and could prevent you from receiving letters of recommendation.
Successful completion of an internship, on the other hand, can at least provide you with
recommendation letters (if you were a good intern) and the short time frame allows you to complete
multiple internships if you still need help deciding what you want to do or need more experience in a
specific area. Additionally, internships allow you to get a better idea of the type of work environment
that best suits you. Do you like the corporate feel? Do you prefer wearing a suit or casual dress to
work? You will be able to answer these questions to ascertain where you will be most productive and
more importantly, happy.
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5. Companies Always Will Need Interns
This means that it will be easier to find an internship than a full-time job because you will have a larger
pool of opportunities. It also means that you have a greater chance of working with a big name in your
industry — the biggest and best often take on the most interns.
6. Experience is Not Required

This is another reason why it’s easier to find an internship than a job. Most companies require entry-
level employees to have some type of experience — something you may not have.
Internships usually do not require experience because they are made to give you that experience. It
will benefit you in the long run if you can gain the oh-so-valuable experience before entering the
professional job search because it increases your chance of getting noticed.
7. More Work Experience = More Money

Your starting salary may be higher if you have actual experience and the ability to prove you will succeed at
your job. If you can demonstrate concrete results, companies will be more likely to hire you because all of
the guesswork is taken out of the situation. Why not spend a few months in an internship to set yourself up
for starting your career in the best position possible?
Not convinced yet? Here are several success stories of people who started their careers as either
interns, temps or in other rather unconventional ways. But they are not just that, they also are great
friends of mine. So, I am going to get a bit more personal in the coming pages.
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Chris Wright (age 29)

After graduating college, Chris spent a couple of years teaching English
in South Korea. Upon his return, he called me and we discussed him to
coming to work with me in Southern California. Well, on his drive down
from Montana, he stopped in Northern California where he had the
opportunity to make some quick money as a temp.
At Google.
Long story short, he never made it down to Southern California. Chris

Wright is now the product marketing manager for Google Chrome and
one of the few people in his position who doesn’t have an MBA from
some sort of Ivy League institution.
What You Can Learn

Temping can be a great way to get your foot in the door at a great company. Just make sure
you’re temping for a company that you can really see yourself working for.
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Adam Steffen (age 28)

Much like Chris, Adam also started his career as a temp. But unlike Chris, Adam
knew all along that he wanted to work at Nike and coming in as a temp was the
best way to go about it. Adam now is a category planner for Nike Basketball in
North America. His responsibilities have included overseeing $500 million of the
top line revenue in the geography. What’s interesting about Adam is that he
came in with literally zero experience. He turned a few small connections and
lots of hard work into what many would consider a dream job.
What You Can Learn

If there is a company that you absolutely want to work for, do whatever it takes to
get in.
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Evan Ferrari (age 32)

Evan, more than anyone I know, always had the dream of working in an
advertising agency. He wanted to be in this industry and started his career in
the mail room of a San Francisco agency. When everybody else went home,
Evan began working on “volunteer” projects for the agency’s planning team.
Over time people started recognizing that he was a very smart guy, and he
eventually became a junior planner at the agency.
Today Evan is the director of strategic planning at Saatchi & Saatchi in Los
Angeles where he is in charge of developing marketing strategies for the
agency’s largest client, Toyota. It’s one of the best and most high-profile
advertising jobs in the country.
What You Can Learn

If you’re in your dream company or industry but don’t have your dream job
quite yet, start offering people your help internally. Help everyone
everywhere, but most importantly, help the people whose job you want.
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Maghan McDowell (age 26)

Maghan has pursued her dream of working in the magazine industry
without abandon. By the time she graduated from college she had
five, yes five, internships under her belt, including gigs at Coed, Quick
& Simple and Marie Claire magazines. In addition, Maghan freelanced
for more than six publications while studying for her degree. She
currently serves as the executive editor of INsite magazine, as
managing editor of the Gainesville Business Report and as executive
editor of Welcome magazine. She’s a study in creating opportunities
for yourself because she believes they very rarely drop in your lap.
What You Can Learn

Work for free. Accept the assignments that no one else wants to do,
and when you’re working hard, work harder. It’s all experience (even
if you don’t get paid) that pays off in the long term.
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Jesse Lakes (age 27)

Jesse Lakes is the iTunes global affiliate manager at Apple. His story
is unique in that he actually never wanted to work for someone else.
Jesse spent years traveling the world as a raft guide and making
money via various affiliate marketing ventures. At some point, he
decided to take what he learned and write an e-book about it called
Mastering the iTunes Affiliate Program.
When he emailed the friendly folks at Apple to get their permission to

publish the book, they first threatened to sue him. Then they read the
book ... and offered him a job.
What You Can Learn.

Experience means everything. It doesn’t have to be an internship, but instead it
can be an awesome project that you’ve worked on.
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Ben Wiener (age 37)

Ben Wiener is currently the CEO of WONGDOODY, a marketing company,
which employs more than 150 people and is ranked among Inc.com’s
fastest growing companies in America. He began his career as an intern
at WONGDOODY shortly after the agency’s founding and has been there
ever since. He began taking on new accounts and responsibilities
quickly as he showed an aptitude for the business and kept working his
way up, eventually opening the Los Angeles office and becoming partner
and CEO.
What You Can Learn

It is possible to work your way to the very top of exactly the same
company that you began your career — even when you started as an
unpaid intern.
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Notice a Trend?
After reading about these successful businesspeople that have worked their way from humble
beginnings to the top, you should begin to notice a trend among their work habits. Every single one
made the most of his or her situation and worked hard to be much more than average.
Your internship can be the springboard for your professional career as well. Put everything you’ve got
into it and the payout will come in the future. Always be learning and continue to challenge yourself;
you can only get better by pushing yourself to new heights again and again. Make the most of what
you’ve been given; every opportunity can become a learning opportunity. Finally, be confident in your
abilities; if you believe you can do it, you will do it.
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Truth #4:
Interested employers will do

their homework on you.
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Hiring Managers Do Not Want to Waste Their Time

An increase in candidates has hiring managers finding out all they can before wasting valuable time
on an interview.
• On average, a company interviews only one person per 245 resumes it receives.9
• More than 71% of HR managers browse social networks looking for candidates.10
• Finally, 35% of employers reported they have found content on social networking sites that
caused them not to hire a candidate.11
Job boards flooded with unqualified applicants and overall recruitment dissatisfaction are resulting in a
more proactive search for job candidates. Companies are cutting budgets for posting job ads online
because they are simply receiving too many applications from both under-qualified and over-qualified
individuals. This inundation is leading recruiters to
go on the offensive and search websites such as
71% OF HR MANAGERS
LinkedIn, Facebook and others for more information
BROWSE SOCIAL NETWORKS
than is provided in the standard application.
LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES.
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Have You Ever Googled Yourself?

Pretty much everyone has typed their own name in a search engine at least once during their
lifetime. What came up when you tried? Have you tried lately? If not, you might want to (some
people are unpleasantly surprised by what they find).
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WWPED (What Would a Potential Employer Do?)

Put yourself in the shoes of a potential employer. You’ve got the candidate’s resume and cover letter and
you’re slightly intrigued. You’re at least intrigued enough to use the 10 seconds it takes to put your
fingers to the keyboard and type “candidate’s name” into a search engine. Easy, right? Almost too easy …
Nonetheless, information will appear. But will the information that Google provides for you have a
positive or negative effect on your candidacy for a job?
Regardless of whether you find negative or positive information, or none at all, this exercise is
helpful because you are doing something that a potential employer will be doing when you apply
for a job. Employers utilize any means possible to find background information on you so that
they know more about you before an interview or — sometimes — know that you shouldn’t get an
interview. It also is important to realize that having no information is not necessarily good; when you
are being compared to other candidates that do have a significant Web presence, you could be
overshadowed.
| 41
Companies are Using the Internet to Find and Research

Potential Employees
It is important to realize that companies are using the Internet to find and research potential
employees. What are you doing to establish your presence? You always should be aware of what
information appears when someone searches your name on Google and you should do everything in your
power to make sure that whatever comes up isn’t going to hurt you. The more information you provide and
the more places you put this information, the greater the chance is that a potential employer will find you.
Besides Google, companies are using multiple social networking websites to perform this background
research as well.
Facebook has become a common 44% OF EMPLOYERS LOG ONTO SOCIAL

source of information for people NETWORKS LIKE FACEBOOK TO EXAMINE
responsible for hiring new employees: THE PROFILES OF JOB CANDIDATES.
Vault.com, a leading career information website, recently reported that 44 percent of employers log onto
social networks like Facebook to examine the profiles of job candidates, and 39 percent have looked up the
profile of a current employee.12
But don’t delete just yet! There is at least one reason to have your information on the Internet.
| 42
Online Networking
Your parents — and maybe even your grandparents — are beginning to use Facebook to connect with
old friends, network and find jobs. Don’t believe me? Of all active Facebook users, more than two-thirds
are out of college. And the fastest growing demographic is adults 35 years old and older!12
You may want to consider the practical implications of social networking sites — in this case, their
ability to help you connect with potential employers in order to get the job of your dreams.
• According to a report from Classified Intelligence LLC, “61 percent of employers view social
networks as a promising channel to discover candidates.”12
• A Clearswift.com study confirms that “71 percent of HR managers understand these new tools and
browse social networks looking for candidates.”12
These numbers are only on the rise as social networking becomes more popular and the tech-savvy
generations grow older. And there are thousands of social networking websites out there for every need
and niche.
The point of this discussion is that you need a significant presence on the Internet.
Not only is the Internet used by companies to proactively find employees and research potential
candidates — it can also be a valuable asset for networking.
| 43
The idea is simple: If you’re not visible, you’re not found.

According to William Arruda, a brand strategist and personal branding guru, “as the hiring process
evolves from posting job openings to seeking out ideal candidates, virtual visibility will become more
critical to securing the perfect position. This will force all professionals proactively to build their
brands online and bolster them in the real world.”12
| 44
Truth #5:
Sometimes companies that are

not hiring are most likely to
hire you.
| 45
You’ve discovered your passion in life and the perfect position that will allow you to spend your days
doing something you actually want to do and get paid for it!
You’ve also spent your time doing research and have found your “dream company.” But when you go on the
company website to check out the employment opportunities, a big fat “no longer accepting applications” is
the only thing you can see. Pushing aside disappointment, you wait until the next day to call the company to
inquire about openings. Maybe they don’t update their website, you tell yourself. But tomorrow comes and
your eager inquiry is met by a polite, “Sorry, but we’re not hiring right now.”
I guess that means you just can’t find a job at your dream company right now ... or can you?
Defeat is the next step for the uninformed. But

some people know that there always is a hidden
job market. Get this: OF ALL AVAILABLE JOBS,
80% ARE NEVER ADVERTISED.
• Of all available jobs, 80 percent are never advertised.13
• More than 50 percent of all employees obtain their jobs through networking.13
So, what is one way you can you tap into the hidden job market? The informational interview.
| 46
The “Informational Interview” is a Beautiful Thing

It is basically just a chance for you to ask questions of a professional in your field. It is much more
relaxed, serves as an opportunity for you to learn from them and your prospective career and future
are not hanging in the balance. It is your chance to learn about your desired job from someone who
has firsthand experience — and probably a lot of it.
What may be of even more interest to you is that “one out of every 12 informational interviews results
in a job offer,” according to Katharine Hansen, author of, “A Foot in the Door: Networking Your Way
Into the Hidden Job Market.”14
With Whom Should I Conduct an Informational Interview?

Well, a great place to begin is with the people you’ve been referred to by your close contacts. You also
can interview alumni or anyone else that you’ve come across in your industry of interest. Generally, it
is best to have some type of connection to this person though, whether it’s a person or common school
or association.
If a friend-in-common hasn’t referred you to a specific person, try to find someone that holds a
position you would be interested in having. “Sometimes it’s more informative to interview someone
who simply holds the kind of job you’d like to have,” says Hansen in her book. “That’s especially
true for college students who can benefit from interviewing recent grads with entry-level jobs.”
| 47
Truth #6:
Getting an interview
is the hardest part.
| 48
Companies receive countless applications for available positions, applications that come in the form of a
few pieces of paper with only the general information that a resume and cover letter can provide. There
is no explaining low grades, a lack of experience or a gap in your employment history. At the same time,
there is no way to truly convey your integral part in winning a client, preparing a presentation for the
board members or the true value of the leadership you provided to your peers in the club you joined in
college.
Igniting the Spark

The sad fact is that your resume and cover letter alone cannot really show who you are, what you
want and why you will succeed. All you can do is try to ignite a spark, create that exciting moment
that occurs when an employer sees a glimmer of hope amidst an endless stack of applications.
If you can create that spark, you’ve already accomplished the hardest part. That spark marks an
interest in you as a potential candidate, the beginning of a journey that may lead to your new career,
and hopefully, an interview.
If you’ve done any independent research you may have noticed that there are countless websites
that can provide you with upwards of 600 potential interview questions. While it cannot hurt to be
over-prepared, what in the world are you going to do with 600 sample interview questions?! That is
a ridiculous, overwhelming and unnecessary amount of sample answers to prepare, especially
when there is a good chance that you’ll be asked a question that isn’t even on the list.
| 49
What We Can Learn From the 600+

The good news, though, is that we can learn from these questions. They all are basically getting at the
same type of information. If you are aware of this and can prepare certain information in your head
beforehand, you will be able to adapt your answers to any form of the questions. Plus, instead of
looking like you rehearsed your answers, the interview will flow naturally in the form of a conversation,
making the interview easier on you and the person on the other side of the desk.
| 50
The Four Big Interview Questions

We’ve boiled it down to four important answers that you need to
provide in order to have a successful interview. While you will
definitely be asked additional questions that will affect whether you
receive a job offer or not, these are what we believe are crucial for
your success.
Even if you are never asked these questions specifically, the answers
to these questions are what the employer is looking for. Anything you
can do during the interview to make these answers clear will help
you get the job.
| 51
1. Why are You Applying Here?

With this question, companies are looking for two things:
A. Why this industry/field/position?
B. Why our company specifically?
A. Why this Industry/Field/Position?

First of all, there must be a reason why you chose your major and why you are looking for the job you’re
looking for. You need to come up with something better than, “Well, it seemed kind of interesting.”
Try to think of the specific and unique reasons that you are interested in the job. Anecdotes work
well to paint a picture in the mind of the person asking you the question and the unique ones will be
remembered. Try to convey your passion for the subject matter. What is it about this stuff that gets
you fired up?
No clear path? No problem.
If your major and past experience does not easily identify with the job you’re applying for (i.e.
psychology major applying for a position in real estate), it may be a little more difficult to answer this
question but if you can link the two together, you will stand out from other candidates.
| 52
B. Why Our Company Specifically?

The second part of the question requires thorough background research on your part. Make sure that
you’ve read through the company website and its press release pages and have taken the time to
Google the company as well. This will provide you with ample information to use in answering part two
of the question.
If you’ve read into the company’s background or mission statement, you will find the values in which
the company prides itself, such as “customer satisfaction, attention to detail, honesty,” etc. Relating
your answer to a company’s mission statement shows that your values are in line with the company’s
values — a very positive thing. However, don’t lie just because you think it will please the person
you’re speaking with. You shouldn’t have to anyway; after all, you applied there for a reason. Tell them
why!
| 53
2. What Kind of Skills and Accomplishments Do You Have?

Every employer wants to know what you possess that will enable you to complete the job satisfactorily.
You’ve already spent plenty of time evaluating and preparing your accomplishments for your resume;
now you must communicate that same information in your interview!
Know the content of your resume. You should have concrete, specific examples of the skills you
possess and the things you’ve accomplished. Again the focus is on accomplishments as opposed
to responsibilities.
This question is all about what you can do for the company. Why should they hire you? How can you
benefit them? Instead of focusing on what they will do for you (i.e. provide a great learning experience)
focus on tangible benefits for the company (i.e. increased sales, efficiency, etc.) What kind of skills
would the ideal candidate possess?
Translate each skill into a benefit. For example, if you are very organized and finish your tasks ahead
of schedule, say that you have (or will) increased company efficiency.
| 54
3. What kind of person are you?

As opposed to the last question that focuses on your skills, this one is about your personality. Are you a
driven and curious individual? Do you think more logically or creatively? Do you work best as part of a
team? Knowing your personality as it pertains to the workplace will allow you to communicate how you
will fit in with the company culture and the lifestyle required of your new position.
This question often comes in the form of “strengths and weaknesses.” Employers will ask you what
your greatest strength and biggest weakness are. You need to be prepared for this!
Think of three solid strengths that you can elaborate on, prove by example and tie in with the type of
job that you’re applying for. Go beyond “smart, driven and responsible” because that is what everyone
is going to say. For example, instead of simply saying ‘driven,’ you could say “motivated by failure to
continue improving,” which is a more elaborate version of basically the same thing.
When it comes to providing a weakness, don’t go overboard with the “make your weakness sound like a
strength” thing by saying something like, “Oh, I work too hard” or, “All I do is focus on my job.” Answers
like those are laughable and you will lose credibility for providing them. Instead, provide a true weakness
(that’s not TOO much of a weakness) and explain how you’ve been improving. For example, “Sometimes I
have trouble keeping track of appointments but ever since I began using a calendar and my Blackberry,
I’ve become more organized.”
| 55
Overall, be honest in your assessment. Employers will generally get an idea of whether you’re telling
the truth throughout the course of conversation. If you describe yourself as very outgoing and people-
oriented but are actually shy, the difference will be obvious and your credibility will be lost. Work with
what you’ve got, and emphasize the strengths you do have!
| 56
4. What Distinguishes You From Other Candidates?

The final important question involves how you can differentiate yourself from the other
candidates. As with many entry-level positions, more than one person will be capable of
completing the job responsibilities. What makes you the best one for the job?
Each person has their own unique selling proposition that sets them apart from others. This does not
have to be a single characteristic but can be a combination of several, the aggregate of which creates the
perfect candidate. Take the time to define what it is about you and what you are going to do to be the best.
Try to communicate your passion for the material, your commitment to the job and your eagerness to
learn more.
Need a little extra help? Sometimes it is easier to answer this question with help from a third party.
Ask a close friend or a parent, “what makes me unique that would set me apart in the job selection
process?” Oftentimes you will hear answers that make sense but that never came to your mind before.
| 57
Getting It Right
Solidify Your Answers
If you can solidify the answers to all of these questions, then you will be ready to handle almost
anything. Keep in mind though that you are not looking for a script. These questions will come in
many different forms, but the underlying answers that the employer is looking for will be the same.
Practice with Someone who’s Been There

If you are unsure about what you are going to say, spend some time with someone older who’s gone
through the process before and get their take on your answers. They may have little pointers here and
there that will steer you in the right direction.
Trust Yourself
Finally, go with your heart. Spend some time and put some real thought into the answers that you are
going to provide. Be honest with yourself — the truth will be expressed not only in your words, but in
your body language and emotion as well. The better you know yourself, the better you will be able to
convey that to someone else!
| 58
Good Luck.
These tips should get you thinking about all of the different aspects involved in starting your career;
some are obvious and some may be completely new to you. But in a time of job scarcity even for
college graduates, they are all important.
This report represents part of the foundational knowledge and the proper mindset necessary for starting
your career. It’s a difficult process — especially in these turbulent times — but we’re here to help.
We will be providing you with additional free content beyond this report, with tips and strategies that
you can use to develop a better understanding of the current job market and for successfully
beginning your career.
Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for more information to come. We’ve got a lot of exclusive how-to
content coming down the pike, so please stay subscribed.
Chief Sparxster
CareerSparx.com
| 59
Footnotes
1NACE Job Outlook 2009. Rep. Bethlehem, PA: National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2009. Print.
2 “College Graduates Facing Mounting Debt, Rising Unemployment - Real Time Economics–WSJ.” WSJ Blogs–WSJ. 1 Dec. 2009. Web. 02
Feb. 2010.
www.blogs.wsj.com/economics/2009/12/01/college-graduates-facing-mounting-debt-rising-unemployment/tab/article/
3 “Average
College Debt Load Surges To $23,200.” SayEducate | Making Life Decisions Simplified. 3 Dec. 2009. Web. 02 Feb. 2010.
www.sayeducate.com/2009/12/03/average-college-debt-load-surges-to-23200/
4 Baber,
Anne, and Lynne Waymon. Make Your Contacts Count Networking Know-how for Business And Career Success. New York:
AMACOM/American Management Association, 2007. Print.
5 RoAne,Susan. “Making Small Talk - Big Deal About Small Talk.” Susan Roane. Web. 29 Jan. 2010. www.susanroane.com/articles/
bigdealaboutsmalltalk.html
6 “Survey says job market for 2010 graduates still gloomy–Nov. 17, 2009.” CNNMoney.com. 18 Nov. 2009. Web. 29 Jan. 2010.
www.money.cnn.com/2009/11/17/news/economy/college_graduates_jobs/index.htm
7 “Hiring Down 7 Percent for College Class of 2010 (9-16-09).” NACE. 16 Sept. 2009. Web. 29 Jan. 2010.
www.naceweb.org/Press/Releases/Hiring_Down_7_Percent_for_College_Class_of_2010_(9-16-09).aspx
8 NACE 2009 Student Survey Rep. Bethlehem, PA: National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2009. Print.
9 Burt, Erin. “Ten Job Hunting Myths.” Kiplinger. 7 Apr. 2005. Web. 2 Feb. 2010.
www.kipbiz.org/columns/starting/archive/2005/st0407.htm
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10 Clearswift. “Internet and Web 2.0 Creates Unfamiliar Battleground for HR Professionals.” Press Release.
www.clearswift.com/news/item.aspx?ID=1351
11 ” More Employers Screening Candidates via Social Networking Sites.” CareerBuilder.com Jobs–The Largest Job Search, Employment &
Careers Site. Web. 02 Feb. 2010.
www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-1337-Getting-Hired-More-Employers-Screening-Candidates-via-Social-Networking-Sites/
12 Schawbel, Dan. Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success. New York, NY: Kaplan Publishing, 2009. Print.
13 Bradford, Stacy L. “Experts Offer Their Tips For Fruitful Networking.” Wall Street Journal, February 28, 2005.
14 Hansen, Katharine. Foot in the door networking your way into the hidden job market. Berkeley, Calif: Ten Speed, 2000. Print.
| 61

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THE CAREER START GUIDE

Forget Everything You Know About Starting a Career

So what did many graduates do? They gave up.

Isn’t Generation Y supposed to be

What is keeping these educated individuals from finding a job?

My name is Mario Schulzke, and I am the founder of CareerSparx. I am

I went from a comfortable job to an unpaid internship. I had nothing – no

Treat ‘getting the job’ like a job itself......................................................................................................16

If you want a job, you need experience....................................................................................................24

Interested employers will do their homework on you.............................................................................38

Getting an interview is the hardest part..................................................................................................48

The most qualified [on paper]

Networking can be defined as the “deliberate

Networking is About Forming Relationships.

What is the Right Networking Mindset?

Having Confidence in Yourself

Continually Meeting New People

Working on Your Conversational Skills

Testing Your Memory

Everybody is Shy (or at Least They Think so)

Interestingly, 75 percent of ‘great conversationalists’ call themselves shy!5

SHYNESS IS NOT A DISEASE.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Treat ‘getting the job’

Do You Know How Long the Average Job Search Takes?

5 Themes for Achieving Job Search Success

Your job search materials

Your contact with others

Your job search in general

Your contact with others

Your personal attire

Your job search materials

Your correspondence with others

Your online presence

In case you already forgot, here they are again:

If you want a job,

On the bright side …

Hit the Ground Running

Another thing to consider is the increasing prevalence of the “intern-to-employee” situation. As

Gain Real World Experience

Continue Your Education

Set Yourself Apart

7 Reasons Why Starting as an Intern is Better than Starting

3. You Get the Chance to Work on Many Different Types of Projects

4. There is No Long-Term Commitment

6. Experience is Not Required

7. More Work Experience = More Money

Chris Wright (age 29)

Long story short, he never made it down to Southern California. Chris

What You Can Learn

Adam Steffen (age 28)

What You Can Learn

Evan Ferrari (age 32)

What You Can Learn

Maghan McDowell (age 26)

What You Can Learn

Jesse Lakes (age 27)

When he emailed the friendly folks at Apple to get their permission to

What You Can Learn.

Ben Wiener (age 37)

What You Can Learn

Interested employers will do