Tag: Weston Career Center

LinkedIn is a window to potential employers, and it is often the first place recruiters will look when seeking talent. Making connections on LinkedIn is also a great way to build your professional network and form relationships with potential mentors. Career Consultant Anne Petersen provides these tips for making professional connections on LinkedIn:

1. Introduce yourself and draw a connection—or two

Point out what you have in common, such as an alma mater, extra-curriculars, or similar internship experiences.

If you are contacting an alumnus, start by saying “I see you earned your degree from Olin” or “I am a student at Olin Business School.” Then say “I came across your profile on the University Page. Like you, I am pursuing a career in  ___.” Close by saying “Let’s stay connected on LinkedIn.”

In your subsequent conversation, get to know your connection (and share your own background/ interests) so that you develop a professional and personal connection.

2. Seek counsel, not a job referral, when making connections on LinkedIn

It’s important to get advice on things like how they found their job, what’s their function/ industry really like, and how they describe their company’s culture.

Once your invitation to connect is accepted, you are a first-degree connection and can send a message. Start building a relationship by sending a message with these points:

Subject: Thanks for accepting my invitation to connect.

In the body of the message, write something like: “I see you currently work at ABC technology in ___. As I pursue a career in ____, I would like to learn more about your work and the company culture.” Or, alternatively, if you are working on a school project that is relevant to your new connection, say “I am working on a research project on ____ and would value your input.” Close by asking for a call or short meeting: “Do you have 15 minutes for a call next week? If so, any afternoon is good for me. Let me know when is best for you.”

Remember: LinkedIn is a community that is for building relationships. If you ask for a job, you will certainly turn off potentially valuable members of your network.

3. Keep your communication concise

Your contact probably gets hundreds of digital communications daily. Be sure to stay on point.

4. Write your introduction in a conversational way

It shouldn’t sound like a formal cover letter or a casual note to a friend. If in doubt, share with another student or advisor in advance, to make sure it sets the right tone.

5. Commit to taking no more than 15-20 minutes of their time

Acknowledge that they are busy and that you won’t take more than 15-20 minutes of their time. Let them know when you hit the 15 minute mark in your conversation, and they will typically offer to talk a bit longer.

6. Show courtesy

Send a thank you expressing gratitude for the time your contact invested in sharing their experiences and providing advice.

7. Continue to stay in contact after connecting on LinkedIn

Stay in contact with your new connection by sending pertinent articles, providing a progress update, or looping back regarding conversations with their networking leads.

Anne Petersen is a career consultant at the Weston Career Center, specializing in marketing, innovation, and leadership training and assessment. Anne has industry experience in consumer package goods and advertising.

Photo, above: Steve May with teammates and locals in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

In addition to world-class academics and a general “fit” with the friendly students and impressive instructors, Olin’s tremendous support for veterans is part of the reason I came to Washington University as an MBA candidate. There is not enough time in the day to take advantage of all the support available to Olin students. It’s a tremendous problem to have, and it started right when I got into St. Louis before the MBA Program even officially began.

Two days before the Olin MBA Program started, the veterans attended a two-day “MBA Boot Camp” to “square us away” and get us ready for the difficult (but rewarding) road ahead. The name “MBA Boot Camp” is fitting—not because of the intensity that is associated with most military basic trainings, but because of the efficiency. From the moment we stepped on campus, everything was planned to get us “up to speed” on everything we needed to know to help us prepare for the MBA program.

The author, Steve May.

Meals, career advice, platform introductions, classroom and case discussions, and networking experiences were a few of the events that were planned and executed to the minute. Most notably, the Weston Career Center introduced themselves and the multitude of services they provide students—from resume and cover letter advice, to conference and interview preparation. It was very clear that they were there to help. At the end of the first day, for example, I was following up with a career advisor after a great face-to-face meeting to help finalize my resume for a veterans job conference in October. On the second day, each core instructor led an academic discussion on their subject area, the accompanying platform, and an introduction to the case method. Needless to say, MBA Boot Camp did a tremendous job preparing us to excel and lead when the MBA program began days later.

As veterans, we have all had trying experiences in various locations throughout the world. More than a rigorous military basic training, “MBA Boot Camp” was an introduction to the vast amount of resources and support available to all students, and, especially veterans in the MBA Program at Olin. It truly is overwhelming, and overwhelmingly positive. MBA Boot Camp cemented what I knew to be true; that I had selected the right program for me.

Steve May is a 2018 MBA Candidate in the full-time MBA Program at Olin Business School. Learn more about Olin’s top-ranked full-time MBA program and resources for military veterans.

I once met with a client and we talked about what she was hoping to focus her career direction towards. She mentioned helping companies create strategic business plans and specifically wanted to focus on small businesses starting out. I was impressed. I liked her clear perspectives and direction. When I asked what her experience was, she said “I like talking to people about this and I am very good at providing advice.” I asked again what her specific experience was so we could establish her credibility in her resume. What floored me was that she said she didn’t have any “real” experience, but that people should just trust her, given her education and passion. I kindly told her that it just doesn’t work that way.

I do understand that sometimes your current or past job title or position may not 100% align to the direction you want to take.

I’ve been there. I get it. You want to take your skills and capabilities and utilize them in a different, perhaps more fulfilling, manner.

There are ways to showcase your talents and establish credibility for future and different opportunities. You need to help future employers see you in the role you want even if it may not jump out from a title or a specific role you previously had in an organization. However, you must also take action to fill gaps in experience where they exist. Be honest with yourself. Can you step into your “dream” role without honing any additional skills or gaining additional experience? You owe it to yourself and to your potential employer to gain the requisite experience in the areas you want to develop and work in. You have to establish your credibility, it is that simple.

How do you establish credibility in your career?

There are a number of ways to establish credibility, and it does involve having a plan and making an investment. By “investment” I don’t only mean money. Investment could be time. I know, I know. You are saying, “I have no more time in my schedule to devote to this! Why can’t I just write my resume so it sounds like I can do it?” Again, it just doesn’t work that way.

First, the plan. Understanding what you want to do is the first step. Say for instance you know this—you have been doing content development for an online retailer, and now you want to move into managing strategic projects for a brick and mortar retailer. What skills do you think you need to move to this new opportunity? If you aren’t sure, you should take the time to do a bit of research. Check out job descriptions for the role you want. Find people on LinkedIn that have your “dream” job. What certifications do they have? What types of roles did they have getting to where they are now? Are there any professional organizations you could join to start to network and interact with people in the area you want to move to? How about volunteering in a way that uses the skills you are looking to strengthen? Could you run a project for a non-profit that involves an auction or some other type of retail aspect? These are just some ideas. I am sure you can think of a few yourself.

What makes you credible?

Now, the second step, the investment. This is where you, based on the plan you developed in step one, sign up and show up. It may, unfortunately, also involve paying up. Maybe one of your items is to receive a project management certification of some sort. This will probably cost some money but in the long run would be worth it. This is the step that is all about doing—doing whatever you think is necessary to gain the experience in the area you want to focus on.

Once you have taken the steps necessary to demonstrate your skills and capabilities, then and only then, can you begin to establish your credibility in your resume.

This post originally appeared on LMHAdvisors. In addition to LMHAdvisors, Lisa Hebert serves as a Career Advisor specializing in supply chain, consulting, and Olin’s veteran student population.

Photo, above: Stephanie Chen and fellow interns at a baseball game!

This summer, I interned at Hill’s Pet Nutrition with the Global Marketing and Innovation team, and I had a wonderful experience! Hill’s Pet Nutrition is a global division of Colgate-Palmolive, and the mission of the company is to help enrich and strengthen the special relationships between people and their pets. As a pet-lover and a dog parent, I was extremely passionate about the business!

Stephanie and her dog, Riley.

The program was very well-organized and has extremely high visibility within the organization. The 10-week internship started with a warm welcome by the entire marketing team, including the marketing leadership team. We also got to have one-on-one sessions with the senior leaders in the organization— including the Global CEO! In addition to all the meetings, we were also exposed to cross-functional teams and visits to the factory, a visit to the creative agency, a tour in the Pet Nutrition Center, and a volunteer opportunity with the local Humane Society, where Hill’s Pet Nutrition has shelter programs. All the activities not only helped us to understand the business and the company much better, but also helped us to meet new people and bond better with the Hill’s family.

My two projects included therapeutic portfolio simplification and delivering recommendation to drive share on the non-core categories, which I truly enjoyed. In addition to market research and data analysis, I had a lot of interaction with a cross-functional team: from regional marketing teams in Canada, Europe, and the Far East, the customer development team in the U.S., and finance, supply chain, and vet affairs, I enjoyed meeting different people and learning from them! I also got to do a field visit with one of the territory managers, which helped a lot in understanding our customers and the business. By the end of the ten-week program, we all had the opportunity to deliver the final presentation to the senior management team, including the Global CEO and all the functional leaders.

Last but not least, what I enjoyed most was the culture and the friendly colleagues. We all had great managers and mentors to work with and to learn from. What’s more, you would be surprised by the number of nationalities represented in Hill’s corporate head office in Topeka (10!), especially in the global marketing team. Everyone was extremely friendly and supportive of one another!

Guest blogger: Stephanie Chen, MBA ’17

Photo, above: Siddhartha Sharma (left) worked as an intern at Con Edison this past summer.

The only thing on my mind when I decided to pursue an MBA was to move from conventional energy to sustainable energy.

After working more than four years in conventional energy strategy division for one of the largest investment banks,  I realized that as much as I enjoy working with numbers and strategy, the carbon and environmental impact of my role on the world was not positive. At the same time, the steady growth in renewable energy sector and how alternative fuel options can have a long-term positive impact started growing on me.

Over the summer I worked with Con Edison, one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the United States. Con Edison was exploring innovative, high-impact business models for electrifying transportation, and because of its unique service territory, the company needed tailored solutions.

As a EDF Climate Corps Fellow intern at Con Edison, I came up with a three-part strategy to help provide such a solution. First, I performed broad research, providing a deep base of knowledge on the electric vehicle (EV) value chain, key players, and international best practices for EVs.

Second, I evaluated specific utility-led pilots, synthesizing the macro and sector-specific research, and created recommendations for Con Edison actions.

Finally, I created several sophisticated financial models that incorporated over 100 variables to determine first- and third-party cash flows and lifetime value. All three pieces, the foundational research, strategic analysis, and financial quantification, positioned Con Edison to make significant, positive impacts in the EV market. I was able to provide a financially viable solution that incorporates huge amount of Carbon savings that go a long way to help NYC meet the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate.

I learned a lot about working as an external consultant in a regulated industry and how to cater to various stakeholders, and I definitely attribute a lot of the credit I received for my internship to what I learned in Olin (especially from core classes like strategy, leadership, and corporate finance). The experience of delivering a such an impactful project was something that will help me in the long-term, especially considering the stakeholders were the City of New York, Con Edison, and all of the residents in utility’s territory.

Guest blogger: Siddhartha Sharma is an MBA ’17 student at Olin Business School studying within the consulting platform.

In addition to expert advising and free coffee, Olin’s Weston Career Center offers courses, skill-building workshops, networking activities, and resources to prepare students for a lifetime of career management.

Students new to Olin may not be aware of the plethora of resources the WCC provides students. (Did we mention free coffee?) Allow us to introduce some of the WCC’s best offerings for students interested in career development or embarking on the job search:

Access to the Bloomberg Terminal

The Bloomberg Terminal allows students to access the Bloomberg data service, which provides real-time financial data, news feeds, and messages. The terminal is available in the WCC office by request.

Career development videos

On the Olin Careers website students will find recruiter advice and insights on topics such as résumé writing, effective business communications, interviewing, and strategic relationship building.

Guidance for veterans

Veterans have a proven record of performance and are ready to serve in civilian jobs where there is a need for leadership, team building, organizational commitment, and advanced technical training. The WCC offers coaching and resources for veterans and collaborates with the Olin Veterans Association to prepare students for the transition to civilian employment.

Interview Wiki

The Wiki is a student-editable archive of historical interview questions, along with other information, that is searchable by company. Students can update the Wiki questions after interviews to ensure that the questions are current.

LGBTQ resources

For the sixth consecutive year, the WCC was recognized with the highest level of certification (A+) by the national OUT for Work Career Center Certification Program.

The WCC offers resources to LGBTQ students seeking information on locating gay-friendly companies, coming out during the job search and transitioning into the workplace. In addition, the Weston Career Center partners with the WUSTL LGBT Student Involvement and Leadership office to provide a variety of programming. Any student seeking a confidential advising appointment may contact the Weston Career Center at wcc-director@olin.wustl.edu.

Management 201–Management Communications

A collaboration between faculty and Weston Career Center career advisor, MGT 201 Management Communication is a required course for all sophomores and offers students tools for a successful job search. Students get individualized attention to identify, articulate, and sell their value to an employer. They will develop their résumés, elevator pitches, and interview skills and build a strong online brand presence. Each professional development session is supplemented with workshops led by Weston Career Center experts, to provide hands-on tools and exposure to the technology and resources offered at Olin and the Weston Career Center. The course also teaches students to develop their business writing and public speaking skills as they solve real life client communication challenges.

Seminar series and workshops

Designed to give Olin students an advantage in the marketplace, seminars and workshops are presented by outside experts and corporate partners.

Working closely with our network of alumni, employers, and faculty, our employer relations team explores domestic and global markets for hiring trends and employment opportunities. We’re continually cultivating our partnerships with exceptional companies—and building a reputation for interns and graduates who are ready for business, with the tools and talent to create value for their organizations.

A student meets with a representative from evetos at the 2013 Meet the Firms event.

On-campus recruiting

Throughout the year, hundreds of companies recruit Olin students through on-campus, phone, and Skype interviews. The WCC interview-suite computers are fully equipped with Skype services and webcams that are available for student use.

BSBA and specialized masters students can apply for positions and sign up for interviews through CAREERlink. MBA candidates can do the same through MBAFocus.

Upcoming recruiting events: 

• Wednesday, Sept. 14: Meet the Firms
• Tuesday, Sept. 20: Meet the Firms

Networking road shows and career fairs

The WCC sponsors several events to provide networking opportunities, including Meet the Firms events, domestic and international road shows, symposiums, New York and Silicon Valley Career Treks, and club-sponsored activities. Other networking opportunities include all-campus career fairs at Washington University.

A network of professional associations

Olin has chapters of the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA), the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA), National Association of Women MBAs (NAWMBA), and Net Impact. These organizations sponsor annual career conferences that provide access to recruiting companies. In addition, these associations encourage academic and career development.

Olin is also a member of the Forté Foundation—a consortium of major corporations and top business schools that has become a powerful change agent in educating and directing talented women toward leadership roles in business.

In addition, Olin is a founding member of  The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management—the country’s preeminent organization promoting diversity and inclusion in American business. The Consortium has built a 50-year legacy of fostering inclusion and changing the ethnic and cultural face of American business.

Information sessions

Companies host these events to enhance visibility on campus, preview the quality of Olin’s talent, and serve as a precursor to their on-campus recruiting schedules. Don’t miss the chance to meet recruiters and learn more about their companies, industries, and career opportunities.

Upcoming company information sessions:

• Tuesday, Sept. 6: AT&T, Reinsurance Group of America (RGA), Bain & Company, and Raymond James
• Wednesday, Sept. 7: Capital One, The Resource Group, and Bain & Company, Inc.
• Thursday, Sept. 8: Deloitte Consulting LLP and ECG Management Consultants
• Monday, Sept. 12: Cardinal Health and Booz Allen Hamilton
• Tuesday, Sept. 13: Bayer, Lincoln International, Kimberly-Clark and Travelers
• Wednesday, Sept. 14: Wal-mart and Bain & Company, Inc.
• Thursday, Sept. 15: Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Protiviti, Avascent, and General Mills
• Friday, Sept. 16: Deloitte Consulting
• Monday, Sept. 19: RBC Capital Markets & MasterCard International
• Tuesday, Sept. 20: Nielsen & Bloomingdale’s
• Wednesday, Sept. 21: Nielsen, Citigroup & Villhard
• Thursday, Sept. 22: Anheuser-Busch, Essilor & Accenture

Salary information and employment statistics

The WCC compiles internship and job-offer data to provide employment information to students, employers, and relevant partners. Information that is reported is confidential, and statistics are aggregated in report format.