Career Planning

Baxter understands that feeling successful in life is often tied with building a fulfilling career. Take time to explore what jobs match your skills, interests, and hemophilia considerations. It’s never too early to start making things happen! Want to see what kinds of jobs are out there? Use job search engine sites such as Monster, CareerBuilder, or Yahoo! HotJobs to search for job postings. If you have a particular company you are interested in, visit the company’s website to search for jobs.

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See how Brandon combined hemophilia with a rewarding career.

  • NETWORKING

    In today’s job market, many jobs are filled by the time an advertisement for the position appears online1.

    With this reality, knowing someone with connections is critical to finding work. Everyone including your friends, college professors, and internship co-workers can be a potential piece of your job-finding network. Turning a collection of colleagues into a useful network, however, takes some doing.

    • Stay in Touch – Don’t just post birthday wishes on Facebook. Really stay in touch.
    • Share Your Vision – Let potential references know your goals. They can help get you there.
    • Join Groups and Associations – Meet people who are in or will be entering your field.
    • Be Appreciative – “Thank you” is a powerful, underused phrase. Thank You cards are even better.
    • Manage Your Brand – Facebook and LinkedIn project you to the world. Define how you are seen.
    Reference
    1. Marquadt, Katy. 4 Ways to Tap Into the Hidden Job Market. US News and World Report. http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2010/11/04/4-ways-to-tap-into-the-hidden-job-market.htm. Published Nov. 4, 2010. Accessed Dec. 9, 2010.

  • RÉSUMÉ

    Your résumé is a snapshot of your education, accomplishments, talents, and awesomeness.

    It will be passed around like mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving, so a lot of eyes will scan its content. Here are some tips to make yours a winner:

    • Customize It – Don’t always send out the exact same version of your résumé. Slight tweaks to show how you match a certain vacancy can make a big difference.
    • One Page – Keep it focused and concentrated. Save something for the interview.
    • Save It as a PDF with Your Name – Most word processors allow you to save as a PDF. PDF formatting doesn’t change. Let it be seen as you intend.
    • Proofread – Mistakes reveal sloppiness. Employers don’t like sloppy.
    • Share It – Send copies to your career network. Be known.

  • COVER LETTER

    There are many myths and urban legends that surround the cover letter.

    It may capture the exact tone and matter an employer is eager to add to their team. It may just be glanced over by a software scanner. What will happen to yours? We can’t be certain. Here’s what we know for sure:

    • Be Job-Specific – Show that you know what you are applying for, who you’ll be working for, and how you meet their needs.
    • Separate Yourself – Use some space to share your story.
    • Proofread – Notice a trend here? It’s true. Employers don’t like sloppy.
    • Be Professional – Get a Gmail account using your name as the address. Check that email at least once a day.
    • Set Up Your Voicemail – Turn off your ringback. Set up a nice professional greeting stating your name, number, and offering to return the call.
    • Include Contact Info – Use a signature block at the close of your email so that your contact information is clear and easy to find.

  • INTERVIEW

    An interview is your chance to seal the deal.

    By the time you show up for your interview, your social media broadcasts have likely been looked at, and your résumé and cover letter have been read. Now is the time for action.

    • Research Everything – Use everything at your disposal to know what you can about the position and the company, then practice the interview.
    • Dress For Success — First impressions are critical. If in doubt, clean and conservative is usually the way to go.
    • Bring Your Résumé – If someone asks for it, you will need to be prepared. If you have a portfolio, bring that, too.
    • Be On Time – Prepare for traffic, snow, zombie apocalypse. Arrive 10-15 minutes early.
    • Don’t Gloat – Facebook and Twitter are searchable. Do not go on Twitter boasting about how you owned the interview. That’s just bad form.
    • Show Your Appreciation – Stay in the minds of those who interviewed you by sending Thank You emails (or even better, handwritten Thank You cards).

The tips provided are meant to be purely indicative. Please speak with your guidance counselor about career planning.