Real Questions to Ask Employer in a Job Interview

							        Questions to Ask

How is the training program
    structured? Time/format
I read company is planning
    expansion into Mexico
    …could you tell me about
    plans and opportunities for
    international placement?
        Questions to Ask


Average time it takes to reach
   _________ position?
Could you describe the
   employee evaluation
   system? How often will I
   receive a formal evaluation?
        Questions to Ask

What opportunities are there to
  move from one functional
  area to another if I see an
  opportunity in which I am
  interested?
         Career Fair Tips

Introduce clearly, smile, handshake,
    eye contact
Be confident!! Be positive
Ask questions
Dress professionally
Pick up brochures
Ask to set up interview
Handshake, thank you, business card
      On-Site Interview

Separate interviews
Group interviews
Testing
Social skills
Assessment center activities
       On-Site Interview

BIG MISTAKE
 Lack of extensive company/
 industry research
Research people, too
 Contact individuals
More situational interviewing
        On-Site Interview

Focus on team skills
Courtesy to all
Most desired job, tell them
Demonstrate how committed
you would be (one/two minute
commercial)
     Thank You Letter

Refer to interview date/place
   and say thank you
Express desire to work for
   company
Reiterate qualifications
Close with phone # and action
Job Offers
Get offer in writing
Set decision date
Questions
 Frequency of salary and
  performance review
 Promotional opportunities
 Professional development
Job Offers
Total compensation
 Base salary
 Benefits
  % of base salary
  Compare benefits across
   companies – start dates
www.datamasters.com/
Job Offers
Negotiating salary
 Leaverage other offers
 Moving expenses
 Signing bonuses
Acceptance letter
Decline letters
      The Merchandising
          Portfolio



      From Oklahoma State
           University
  Portfolio Examples Courtesy of
       MSU and OSU Interns
Shiretta Ownbey, Associate Professor
Why Use a Portfolio?

           Differentiates
            you from other
            job candidates
           Highlights your
            skills, abilities,
            and experiences
 Why Use a Portfolio?

Makes your interview
 interesting
Allows you to direct
 some of the interview
 conversation
Demonstrates you
 are a professional
 Case Recommendations
Buy nice quality portfolio or
 presentation case
 Black or brown cases are preferred
 Use acetate sheets to protect
  contents
 Smaller size cases are best for
  merchandising portfolios
 Think About This!

Professional portfolio, not a
 scrapbook
What does employer need or
 want to know about applicant?
Pages should illustrate an ability,
 skill, or experience desired or
 needed
 Portfolio Example
Tips
Use cover page
Introduce a theme
 and/or look
Include name and
 contact info
State degree, major,
 and minor
Include college or
 university name
Portfolio Example
Portfolio Example
Tips
Insert resume
 after cover page
Use resume
 paper that
 coordinates with
 portfolio look
Proofread
 resume carefully
Portfolio Example
Tips
Highlight industry field
 trips/tours
Brief, concise caption
 and title
2 photo edges are
 shaped (left)
Background mats add
 color
1 photo is cut within
 image (right)
 Portfolio Example
Tips
Highlight
 internship
Caption focuses on:
  Project goals
  Project activities
  Project
   outcomes
 Portfolio Example
Tips
Highlight education
 through a field trip
Caption focuses on:
  global industry
  industry
   networking
Note photo cuts
May cut shapes from
 art paper for visual
 interest
Portfolio Example
Tips
Evidence of
 experience
 related to
 technology is
 valuable
Cut photos in
 various shapes
 Portfolio Example
Tips
Leadership in the
 community
 demonstrates
 initiative, character,
 and work ethic
Communicate
 important aspects of
 experience in
 caption
Example Categories to
Highlight in Portfolio
Communication       Internship
 skills               experiences
Training others     Networking
Technology          Creative skills
Visual              Customer service
 merchandising       Market experience
Management skills   Promotional
Leadership           experience
Tours and trips     Special event
                      coordination
 General Recommendations
Start collecting materials and ideas
Search for, retrieve, and store ideas
Use good craftsmanship
  Center items correctly
  Measure
  Cut straight
  Proofread resume, titles, and captions
  Attach materials cleanly
 General Recommendations
Buy good resume-quality paper
Choose professional looking paper
 designs
Use colored art paper for accents
 and photo mats
Use professional lettering
Choose appropriate adhesives for
 different materials
 General Recommendations
Plan page layout before laser
 printing or attaching materials to
 expensive paper
Test it first on regular paper!
Get feedback from other people
 first!
Ask an expert to read captions
 first!
 How to Get Inspiration
Take a field trip to an art store
 and notice supplies
 Colored pens, X-acto knives, rulers,
  reprographic film, transfer lettering,
  decorative tapes, etc.
Visit a craft store, notice
 supplies
 Scissors for unique edges, stickers that
  look professional, etc.
 How to Get Inspiration
Visit a stationery store
 Consider letter-writing paper as
  accent paper behind visuals
 Consider using an envelope on a
  page with a visual “rising” from it
 Consider textured papers for
  surface interest
 Consider laser-printable border
  papers
 How to Get Inspiration

Review page layouts in
 magazines /adapt good ones
Find interesting quotes to
 illustrate your philosophy and
 use them as “pull quotes”
Search the Internet, looking for
 great ideas
Content Recommendations

Develop a look or theme
Use the look or theme
 throughout
Include variety of visuals
Vary page layouts for
 interest
Content Recommendations
Take many photos to ensure
 having a few good ones
10-15 pieces is average number
 20 pieces is good maximum
Focus on your skills, abilities,
 and experiences
Develop brief, concise captions
 Think “impact statements”
Let’s Examine Some
 Portfolio Examples
Portfolios of:

Angela Schroeder, Apparel merchandising senior
   Internship - Polo-Ralph Lauren Shop, Tulsa
Keri Cain, Apparel merchandising senior
   Internship - Target, Tulsa
Nicole Shores, Apparel design/production senior
   Internship - Vanity Fair Intimates, Atlanta
Kelly Norvell, Apparel design/production senior
   Internship - Anna Sui, New York
                Portfolio Example

                Tips
                 May include Table of
                  Contents (optional)
                 No page numbers
                  needed
                 Notice use of hand
                  sketches, “star”
                  stickers, and gold tape
                  for framing


Kelly Norvell
Portfolio Example

Tips
 Highlight activities
  you coordinated
 Take action photos
 Student should appear
  in some photos
 Note background mats
 Use color scheme
  throughout portfolio
 Note edge on mats
 May overlap photos
                          Angela Schroeder
Portfolio Example

Tips
 Extensive travel can
  show experience,
  knowledge of other
  cultures, and
  additional education
 Focus on professional
  aspects of such travel
 Notice “Harrods” store
  was cut around image

                           Angela Schroeder
                   Portfolio Example

                   Tips
                    Highlight trips to
                     market or other
                     examples of real
                     experience in business
                     or industry




Angela Schroeder
Portfolio Example

Tips
 Highlight leadership in
  student or community
  organizations
 The caption mentions:
   Officer leadership
   Oral presentation
     on internship
   Doing on-campus
     display for her club
                            Angela Schroeder
                   Portfolio Example

                   Tips
                    Highlight internship
                     experience
                    Photos show displays
                     student designed
                    Notice unique framing
                     of photos




Angela Schroeder
Portfolio Example

Tips
 Highlighting front
  window displays
  completed during
  internship
 Note overlap of
  photos
 Note use of art paper
  in background
 Note vertical caption

                          Keri Cain
Portfolio Example

Tips
 “Watermarks” can be
  laser printed as
  background
 This portfolio has a
  “Leadership” theme
 Pull quote is used on
  side of page
 Captions were laser
  printed
 Great action shots
                          Keri Cain
            Portfolio Example

            Tips
             Leadership in
              promotion of fashion
             Notice “framing” of
              photo with solid strips
              cut from art paper




Keri Cain
Portfolio Example

Tips
 Highlight campus
  leadership outside
  your department
 Cite an actual activity
  or event you helped
  coordinate




                            Keri Cain
Portfolio Example

Tips
 Highlight campus
  leadership outside
  your department
 Use your caption to
  indicate the skills you
  developed
 Note the pull quote
 Note frame on photo


                            Keri Cain
            Portfolio Example

            Tips
             Highlight internship
              experiences
             Focus on
              merchandising or
              retail functions that
              are important to
              employers
             Communicate
              important aspects of
              experience in caption
Keri Cain
Portfolio Example

Tips
 Highlighting retail
  experience from
  internship
 Use a variety of
  visuals such as floor
  layouts, as
  appropriate




                          Keri Cain
Portfolio Example

Tips
 Highlighting creativity
  session led by intern
 Caption focuses on
  creative techniques
  used and presentation
  board developed




                            Nicole Shores
What Other Categories Can
You Suggest for Inclusion
   in a Merchandising
        Portfolio?