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Achieving Your

Career Dreams

2020 EDITION

Reid Grawe

Director of IS Placement

WELCOME!

Welcome to the world of Information Systems! We congratulate you for making it this far, and

we are excited to see the professional you will become over the next few years. The next few

years will require hard work, but it will be worth it. Reid and the Business Career Center staff are

here to help you prepare yourself for your professional opportunities. Don’t hesitate to reach

out to us for help!

PURPOSE

This guidebook was written by students who have been in your shoes and want to show you the

ropes. We have felt the anticipation and anxiety of starting a new program, and we want to help

you hit the ground running.

Many of you have been prepared for the academic rigor of the IS Core through your previous

schooling and the prerequisite courses but you may be unaware of another aspect that comes

with the IS Core—Recruiting!

This reference guidebook aims to help you understand how to take control of your career and

enter the recruiting process—what it is, how it works, and the resources and tools that are

available to you to help you fulfill your dreams. This is not meant to be an exhaustive manual.

Instead, we anticipate that you will read this manual before you attend orientation and you will

look back on this guide as you have questions about the recruiting process. If there is anything

that you are confused about after reading this guide, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at

iscareerservices@gmail.com.

Table of Contents Meet Reid Grawe 1

Reid’s Role (What he is and what he isn’t) 2

Information Systems Overview 3

Introduction 3

Differentiating “IS” from related fields 4

IS career paths - What can I do with this degree? 5

Development – MISM track 5

Business Analytics/Intelligence – MISM track 5

Security – MISM track 5

Management 6

Consulting 6

Information Technology 6

Other 6

Master’s Programs (MBA vs. MISM) 7

What is the MISM? 7

What about an MBA? 7

Recruiting Process 8

Fall Recruiting 10

Winter Recruiting 10

Information Sessions 11

Summer Watch List 12

International Students 12

The Big 4 13

Career Fairs 14

General Career Fair 14

STEM Career Fair 15

Meet the Firms 15

AIS Sponsorship Night 16

Utah Startup Marketplace 16

Preparing Yourself to Find an Internship 17

Resume 17

Reid’s Tips on Resumes 18

Good, Better, & Best Resumes 22

Strengthen Your Bullets 23

IS Resume Example 24

Cover Letters 25

LinkedIn 26

Your Picture 26

Your Personal Brand 27

Get Connected on Linkedin 27

F.I.R.E. on LinkedIn 28

Common Searches 28

Action items 28

Handshake 29

Complete Your Profile 29

Stay in the Loop! 29

Upload your Resume & Transcript 30

Search for Opportunities 30

Search for Events 30

Talk with a Career Counselor 30

Interviewing 31

Before the Interview 32

Me in 30 Seconds 32

Research 33

Mock Interviews 33

Interview Attire 34

During the Interview 35

Tips For Virtual Interviews 35

Interview Questions 35

Questions for the Interviewer 36

After the Interview 38

Receiving Offers 40

An Example Process 40

Negotiating an Offer 41

Accepting and Declining Offers 41

iscareers.byu.edu 42

IS Resources 42

Helpful Links 42

2 Hour Job Search 44

IS Core Summer Boot Camp 44

AIS (BYU Student Chapter of a National Organization) 45

IS Career Explorer Tableau Dashboard 46

Additional resources 47

Friday Forecast (Job and Internship Newsletter) 47

Marriott School Employment Reporting 48

2020 EDITION UPDATES (LAST UPDATED 5/4/2020)

● Marriott School Resume template link updated (pg 16).

● Tips on mission section of resume link updated (pg 19).

● LinkedIn Connection invitation article update (pg 25).

● “After Interview” thank you note article update (pg 35).

● Added hyperlink for 2 Hour Job Search Guide (pg 40).

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MEET REID GRAWE

Reid Grawe is your Information Systems Career Counselor. He

will mentor you through the recruiting process. His full-time

job is to help you, as he often says, “achieve your dreams.”

However, he cannot help you achieve your dreams if you

haven’t shared them with him!

Read further to learn a little more about Reid, but we

encourage you to meet with him in person!

Reid Grawe (pronounced GRAW-veee) is currently the Director

of Information Systems Placement in the BYU Marriott School

of Management. Since he joined the Business Career Center in 2006, he has enjoyed creating

relationships with employers, faculty members, and students. He continues to focus on

preparing students to achieve their dreams.

Reid is a retired Lieutenant Colonel, having served over 25 years as an active duty US Army

Officer. He graduated from Brigham Young University in Financial Planning and Counseling and

from Syracuse University with an MBA in Operations and Management. Reid served his mission

in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

Reid is a former BYU Single’s Ward Bishop and is a former Stake Employment Specialist in Lehi.

He also serves as a Mt. Timpanogos Temple Ordinance Worker. He and his bride, Julie, were

married in the Salt Lake Temple 38 years ago, and they are the parents of six daughters. They

have eleven granddaughters and three grandsons.

Reid’s info:

To discuss your career options, resumes, and cover letters, schedule an appointment to meet

with Reid. You can also get advice about searching techniques, interviewing, and networking.

Feel free to meet with him and ask whatever questions you may have. Schedule an appointment

by going to Handshake and selecting the “Career Center” tab on the top ribbon, then clicking

the “Appointments” section from the drop down. You may also visit the Business Career Center

receptionists in 447 TNRB, or contact Reid’s assistants at iscareerservices@gmail.com.

Reid

Grawe

436 TNRB

801-422-5800

grawe@byu.edu

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REID’S ROLE (WHAT HE IS AND WHAT HE ISN’T)

Sometimes we hear rumors about Reid’s role in your employment search. Some students think

that Reid is similar to a stock broker—that just by walking through his door they will land an

internship or job on the spot. It doesn’t work that way.

Reid is a terrific resource to use as you search for jobs and internships. He has great insights

about opportunities for IS students. He is often able to put you in contact with alumni and

recruiters from various companies. Reid will advocate for you with employers if you ask him to,

but he isn’t a miracle worker; you have to do the initial leg work. In order to be the best

candidate possible, you should follow the steps outlined in this reference guide.

All of Reid’s insights depend on what your dreams and desires are. He will discuss your dreams

with you, but he will not outline them for you. Ultimately, you have the substance, and you are

the one who delivers. It is your job to make things happen.

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INFORMATION SYSTEMS OVERVIEW

INTRODUCTION

The IS description below can be found on the BYU IS department website:

Information systems involves the

synthesis of business and

technology. Professionals define,

develop, and maintain the

information system infrastructure

that supports the operations of all

businesses, governments, and other

institutions. These professionals use

a wide variety of skills in carrying

out this function.

The BS Information Systems degree

develops the ability to function

effectively as a professional,

applying state-of-the-art

technology in solving business

problems. Students are trained in business and information systems and taught to understand

complex business environments.

Built on a solid foundation of business courses, the curriculum advances

students’ understanding of technologies in the design and development of information systems.

They gain technical expertise in systems analysis; systems design and implementation; database

development and management; programming; telecommunications networking; 2-tier, 3-tier,

and n-tier application development; and web application development.

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DIFFERENTIATING “IS” FROM RELATED FIELDS

Information Systems involves the synthesis of Business and Technology. We have the technical

experience to know how to communicate with the Computer Science and IT majors while still

having the business acumen to work with management.

At BYU there are four majors that provide similar technical training:

● Computer Engineering: Designing and constructing computers

● Computer Science: Creating and utilizing system programming languages

● Information Technology: Handling systems infrastructure & hardware

● Information Systems: Leveraging systems to solve business problems

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_system#/media/File:IS-Relationships-Chart.jpg)

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IS CAREER PATHS - WHAT CAN I DO WITH THIS DEGREE?

The Information Systems (IS) program teaches you how to leverage technology to solve

business problems. Technology is used in every industry and position today. The following

categories are the general areas our IS students choose for their dream career path but with IS,

opportunities are limitless! The following lists are career options for BSIS and MISM students.

MISM students can select a track from any of the first three sections.

DEVELOPMENT – MISM TRACK

Software developers assist in software development activities on current projects. Including

development tasks in various programming languages, unit testing, debugging and correcting

defects in code, meetings with project team members and customers, reporting on current

activities, working with databases, and issue tracking systems, and working in both individual

and paired programming assignments.

Web/App developers create and refine web site and mobile application user interfaces using

web technologies such as CSS, HTML, jQuery and other programming languages. They are

responsible for designing, coding, and modifying websites and apps, according to client

specifications. They strive to create visually appealing sites and apps that feature user-friendly

design and clear navigation.

Quality assurance Employees test software projects using a variety of software programming

languages, develop and maintain test documentation, create and perform test cases, and collect

basic quality metrics.

User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) designers are primarily concerned with how the

product feels. The broad responsibility of a UX designer is to ensure that the product logically

flows from one-step to the next.

BUSINESS ANALYTICS/INTELLIGENCE – MISM TRACK

Business Analytics goes beyond simple data collection. Through skillful analysis, this in-

demand discipline provides professionals with an overall view of an organization’s standing,

answering vital questions about financial gains and losses, areas for improvement and product

performance.

Data architects are concerned with designing, creating, deploying and managing an

organization's data architecture. They define how the data will be stored, consumed, integrated

and managed by different data entities and IT systems, as well as any applications using or

processing the data in some way

SECURITY – MISM TRACK

Security professionals monitor intrusion detection systems, analyze log data for suspicious

activity, investigate and research emerging security threats, and evaluate system vulnerabilities.

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Protecting information security systems today takes advanced training; candidates for sought-

after positions must possess up-to date knowledge and sharp skills.

Risk Assurance employees analyze a company’s systems to assure that they are following

national regulations and security guidelines. They work with Audit professionals to create trust

and confidence in financial reporting and internal control within an organization, and assess

risks and controls related to business imperative

MANAGEMENT

Project Managers oversee the planning, implementation, and tracking of a specific short-term

project that has a beginning, an end and specified deliverables. PMs interacts with customers,

engineers, team leads, and other team members throughout the completion of the project.

Program/product managers oversee several related projects with the intention of improving

an organization’s performance or product at all stages of the product life cycle.

CONSULTING

Consultants work with organizations and clients to solve business problems. Day to day

activities can consist of auditing business processes, evaluating potential solutions, and working

with a Client to build a software solution that solves the problem.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Information Technology is the handling of system infrastructure & hardware for an organization.

Since this is so closely related to Information Systems, students often find themselves drawn to

these roles.

OTHER

Many students take the skills they develop in the IS program to other areas of work they are

passionate about. Student have found opportunities to use technology to find innovative

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solutions for companies not in the technology industry, such as family businesses or their own

start-ups.

MASTER’S PROGRAMS (MBA VS. MISM)

WHAT IS THE MISM?

While enrolled in the junior core, students have the option to apply for the Master of

Information Management program (MISM). This program admits approximately 60 students per

year. The MISM is a two-year degree, but the first year replaces the undergraduate senior year.

This allows students to earn a graduate degree by completing only one extra year of course

work.

Students in the MISM program take the Marriott School’s graduate core of classes along with

other graduate students—including the MBA and Master of Accountancy students. MISM

students take additional graduate-level technology electives. Visit

http://marriottschool.byu.edu/mism/ for more information about the MISM degree.

WHAT ABOUT AN MBA?

Often students are conflicted about whether they should do the MISM or work for a few years

and return to get an MBA. The fact is, often employers don’t significantly differentiate between

the two degrees. MISM students at BYU are enrolled in many of the same classes as MBA

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students. Truthfully, an MISM degree could almost be considered a technology-focused MBA.

RECRUITING PROCESS

Recruiting season can be extremely overwhelming. Past semesters recruiters have been on

campus the second week of fall semester. This year will have a similar timeframe, but will focus

more on virtual recruiting. We recommend that before school starts, you take some time to

research and gather ideas about a potential career path. That way you can make the most of

your time when recruiters come.

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Fall 2017 STEM

244

Winter 2018

STEM

126

Fall 2017

General

113

Winter 2018

General

87

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FALL RECRUITING

The recruiting cycle infographic above shows the breakdown of the recruiting seasons. Fall

recruiting comes and goes extremely quickly. During the beginning of the fall semester,

especially between mid-September and mid-October, most companies will be recruiting online

or on-campus. There are information

sessions for just about every company, some

that are specifically in conjunction with AIS,

and others that are put on independently by

the company. Stay informed through the

Friday Forecast, CareerLaunch and AIS

newsletter.

If you’re interested in pursuing an internship

at one of the Big 4 accounting firms, you’ll

want to apply in the fall*. There are many other companies that recruit for internships in the fall,

but unlike the Big 4, many of these companies have internship opportunities during the winter

semester as well (Some companies like Adobe don’t start their internship recruiting until late

February).

If you don’t find an internship during the fall, don’t panic! But don’t stop looking either! We

recommend that you determine a few specific companies, locations, or job functions that

interest you. This will help you narrow your search. If you need help developing your list, we

encourage you to come talk to Reid.

*See note in “The Big 4” section pg. 13 regarding students pursuing the MISM

WINTER RECRUITING

Internship recruiting returns with a vengeance during the winter semester. The Big 4 Meet the

Firms event is during winter semester. You have to be more focused during winter recruiting

because fewer employers come during this round than in the fall.

Some companies will recruit for both semesters, but

often you’ll see a fresh batch of employers in the

winter. If you have a plan, you’re probably okay, but if

you aren’t sure and can’t decide on where you would

like to work, there is the possibility you could end

up without an internship or job offer come

summer.

During the busiest times of recruiting, we recommend

that you keep an eye out for the Friday Forecast or

check CareerLaunch. This will have job opportunities

and events outlined for you.

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INFORMATION SESSIONS

Most information sessions occur around the time of the General and STEM Career Fairs.

Employers will hold these informational meetings to help you learn more about the company

and to allow you to network with some of their representatives. There is a significant number of

information sessions that are sponsored in conjunction with AIS (the Association for Information

Systems – see more information on this in the “Other Resources” section).

Information sessions are often posted

to Handshake under the “Events” tab

and on CareerLaunch. We recommend

that you visit Handshake often to stay

up to date on these events. Also, IS-

specific information sessions are

announced through AIS newsletters

and the weekly Friday Forecast email

(more information on this in the

“Friday Forecast” section).

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SUMMER WATCH LIST

If March rolls around and you find yourself without an internship or full-time job, don’t panic!

We’re still able to help you, but please recognize that the majority of the employers you want to

work for may have finished recruiting for the season. The field can be extremely competitive.

As the winter semester comes to a close, Reid’s assistants will begin compiling a list of students

who haven’t yet received internships and full-time positions. Often employers will approach us

at the last minute expressing a need to fill positions. We email these opportunities out to

students who have expressed interest in joining the Summer Watch List.

By the end of March, we send out a survey that asks what your

preferences are for job positions and work locations. You must

take this survey in order to opt-in to the watch list! If you’re on

the Watch List, you’ll receive information about any job

opportunities that we hear about from employers and any other

information we think is helpful to you in your search. Again, we’re

here to help you!

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

If you’re an international student requiring H1B sponsorship, your selection of companies may

be limited. Don’t miss the International Student Orientation with Reid that’s normally held within

the first two weeks of the fall semester. Please review this link: http://www.myvisajobs.com/Visa-

Job-Browse.aspx.

Most of you understand the CPT and OPT rules associated with your visa status. Make sure you

stay connected with the International Student Services Office:

https://internationalservices.byu.edu/ The MSB also has a staff member dedicated to

international student concerns. His name is Jonathan Wood (jcwood@byu.edu).

Traditionally, only about 15 employers will sponsor H1B visas for full-time employment. Check

with Reid during your search, and he will update you.

2016 STEM Entry Level H1B Sponsors

Accounting Firms: Ancestry Goldman Sachs

Deloitte, EY Anglepoint Google

Adobe DaVita Melaleuca

Apple Fast Enterprises Microsoft

Amazon Fidelity Investments Walmart

Go to the IS Career Explorer (link) for a view of other possibilities.

*Please be careful about assuming H1B sponsorship. A company that’s an H1B STEM sponsor

isn’t necessarily a sponsor of Information Systems (IS) at the entry level. Several companies may

sponsor PhDs, but not entry-level bachelor’s or master’s degrees.

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We look for the best IS opportunities for international students. Please read this entire reference

guide—it applies to you.

THE BIG 4

The Big 4 Accounting Firms—Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC—are significant destinations for IS

students. IS graduates typically are not expected to

work the rigorous hours that are demanded of

accountants, but this does not mean that

employers value IS employees any less. IS

employees provide key support for companies and

are highly valued by these firms. If you choose this

path, you will work mainly with clients to conduct IT

audits, or work in advisory (consulting) roles.

This type of work is not for everyone, but a good

number of graduates happily choose this career

path every year. If you love Dr. Romney’s Business

Processes and Controls class, then you may want

what accounting offers.

Be aware that because BYU’s Accounting program is always ranked as one of the top three in

the nation, accounting firms start the recruiting process very early—during the first few weeks of

school during the fall semester. Their focus is on full-time in the fall. At the winter “Meet the

Firms” event for the Accounting and IS students, you’ll have the opportunity to meet Big 4

employees from locations all over the US. Their goal is to get you thinking about a future job or

internship at their firms.

If you plan to pursue the Master of Information System Management degree (MISM), be aware

that the Big 4 firms DON’T allow consecutive internships. This means that you should pursue an

internship with them after your first year of the MISM—not the summer after the junior core.

However, feel free to express your interest in them early and pursue their summer leadership

programs (these programs are built for those seeking the MISM).

The first thing the Big 4 firms will ask you about is your preferred work location. Each of the

Big 4 have offices in almost every major city, and they want you to work somewhere you’re

excited to be. During the initial screening process, they may ask questions regarding why you

want to live in that particular city, if you have been there before, etc. They want to know if you

like your preferred location enough to stay there for a few years rather than asking for a transfer

after a few months of working there.

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CAREER FAIRS

In addition to “Meet the Firms”, two main career fairs are typically held each Fall and Winter

semester: the General Career Fair, and the STEM Fair. This year those fairs will be broken up into

smaller fairs directed more towards specific majors. See the Careers and Experiential Learning

page for more information. Several other small career fairs are also held, a few of which are

highlighted below. For each of the primary career fairs, our team will publish a list of companies

attending, ranked by the interest these companies express in IS majors.

This year the Career Fairs will be hosted on a software called Easy Virtual Fair. Stay tuned for

more information. We will be releasing more details on this platform as we get them. Many of

the same principles that have applied to Career Fairs in previous years still apply.

Before the Fair

There are several events during the week of each career fair. If you’re particularly interested in a

company, don’t miss any events it holds, especially resume review nights. The more interactions

you have with the representatives of the companies you’re interested in, the higher your

chances are of landing an interview with them.

At the Fair

Make sure to dress in business professional attire. Even though you won’t be interacting with

recruiters in person, you can still make an impression by looking professional, and it will boost

your confidence. You can view dress guidelines available in the Marriott School Magazine here:

Dress Guidelines (pages 8-17). For men, suit & tie combos are recommended. Remember, this is

your first impression with a recruiter.

Update your resume. Make sure you have at least one updated version of your resume to

submit to recruiters. You can also prepare multiple versions of your resume catered to the

different companies you’re interested in pursuing.

When you talk to potential employers, you can ask them for their business card information.

Take a moment to jot down any notes about your conversation with them before moving on to

other recruiters. This will help you remember the company after the fair.

The General Career Fair and STEM Fair have different focuses. Specific details relating to both of

these fairs can be found below.

GENERAL CAREER FAIR

This career fair is for all majors across campus, so it will have a wider variety of

companies. Some companies attend both the STEM and the General Fair. Feel

free to talk to these companies at both fairs if you really want to work for them.

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STEM CAREER FAIR

The STEM fair has a more narrow focus and attracts more IS

employers than the General Career Fair. We strongly

recommend that you attend this fair.

The Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Career

Fair is specifically for students in STEM majors. Companies will

likely list which majors they’re recruiting for. You can also refer to the list of companies

searching for IS students that we publish the week before the STEM Fair to know which

companies to network with.

MEET THE FIRMS

There are two “Meet the Firms” events: private accounting & finance firms come in the fall, and

the Big 4 and other accounting firms come in the winter. This mini career fair is for Accounting,

Finance, and IS students. Here, companies seek accounting talent. In addition to the Big 4, Grant

Thornton and other major employers, such as Disney, attend this event (consecutive internships

may be offered by companies other than the Big 4). Before attending Meet the Firms, you

should answer the following questions:

1. Do you want to work in the accounting industry?

Although IS majors who work at accounting firms often don’t perform accounting

functions, you should understand what accounting is before applying to any of the firms

that attend this event.

2. Do you plan on applying to the MISM?

Some employers don’t allow you to have consecutive/back-to-back internships (see “The

Big 4” Section above).

3. Where do you want to live when you graduate?

Many of these employers have offices around the country. They want to know where you

plan to settle down so they can assign you to a location where you’re happy staying.

Be clear and positive as you talk with employers at this event. Tell them what you want to do,

even if you have to say, “Right now, my best guess is X.”

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AIS SPONSORSHIP NIGHT

This mini career fair is limited to AIS sponsors only. These 16 companies tend to focus their

recruiting on AIS members. This event often happens the night before the STEM fair in Fall

Semester.

UTAH STARTUP MARKETPLACE

An additional fair is for startup companies based in Utah. If you’re interested in working for

these companies, get more details here: Utah Startup Marketplace.

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PREPARING YOURSELF TO FIND AN INTERNSHIP

At this point, you may have very minimal knowledge about what aspects of IS you enjoy. That’s

okay! You don’t need to know right away. You just need to prepare to make yourself attractive

to potential employers.

RESUME

Your resume isn’t always the first impression you’ll

make with an employer, but it may be your last.

Your resume should be focused on the impact you

have had on previous organizations you have

worked for. If your only job has been working as a

busser at a local restaurant, focus on what impact

your role had on the company: “Maintained order

and streamlined dish-washing processes to reduce

turnover time by 10%.” Even if these impact-

producing numbers on your resume are estimates,

ensure that they’re accurate and realistic.

When designing your resume, we recommend that you follow the Marriott School of

Management resume template. This template can be found at iscareers.byu.edu, on the

“Resources” page under the “Resume” tile. A sample resume is also available.

You should have already submitted a resume with your application to the IS program. Reid and

his team will be reviewing these resumes and providing feedback to you about improvements

you can make. When you would like to get additional feedback on your resume, you can submit

it to VMock.

Using AI, VMock has built a platform that will allow

you to upload your resume and then receive specific

feedback on how to improve it. You can also add

members of Reid’s team as career coaches, who can

give you feedback on VMock, allowing you to make

all your edits in one place.

VMock is a good tool to check your formatting,

action verbs, and how well you quantify your impact in each of the experiences you list, but it is

not all inclusive feedback. You will need to put in additional thought and effort to polish your

resume, even if you reach the “green zone” on VMock. Be sure to make all necessary changes

between submissions as you only have 10 submission opportunities per year. If, for any reason,

you run out of submissions, please email iscareerservices@gmail.com and we will work with you.

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VMock will be our primary way of giving you feedback on your resumes, helping you in your

preparation for recruiting season. Click here for a series of video tutorials on how to use VMock

and receive feedback from your career coaches.

Below is a list of common improvements to keep in mind as you’re updating your resume

(“Reid’s Tips on Resumes”).

When Reid reviews your resume, he may write a number that corresponds to an

improvement/tip you can find on this list. We recommend that you print out the following pages

and use them as a checklist guide for updating your resume.

REID’S TIPS ON RESUMES

GENERAL GUIDELINES

□ 1. Length – one page max, three

sections: Education, Experience,

and Skills & Achievements.

□ 2. Consistent format – Use a

streamlined, easy-to-follow format.

We recommend using the Marriott

School IS template found below.

The easiest way to implement it is

to create a table in Word. If you

need help formatting, please come

see any member of the IS Careers

team.

□ 3. Correct Grammar & Spelling – Turn on spell checker. One misspelled word is all it

takes to have your resume set aside! Check for verb-tense consistency, especially with

‘led’ and ‘lead.

HEADER

□ 4. Objectives & Summaries – Remove “Objectives” and “Summary” sections from this

resume. “Objectives” section’s material should be in your cover letter. “Summary”

information should be posted on your LinkedIn profile. For more on this, see the

“LinkedIn” section (pg. 23). Also, Remove the phrase “References available upon

request” – This is no longer used on resumes. Employers understand that if asked, you

can provide a separate page of references. Thus, prepare a separate page to take with

you to an interview and provide it only if you’re asked for it.

□ 5. Contact Information – Place only one line with contact information under your name.

Remove contact labels – a phone number is recognized as a phone number and an

email address is recognized as an email address without you putting labels on them.

You only need to provide one phone number—the one you want potential employers

to call.

SECTION 1: EDUCATION

□ 6. Marriott School – Marriott is spelled with two r’s and two t’s. Don’t mess this up!

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□ 7. Degree Title – “Bachelor of Science Information Systems” or “BS Information Systems”.

Don’t mention Master of Information Systems Management unless you’re already in

the program. Even if you plan to go into the MISM, you aren’t there yet (When you’re

accepted into the MISM, remove BSIS and only list the Master of Information Systems

Management degree).

□ 8. Remove High School - Your diploma got you into college, you don’t need it on this

resume (You’re allowed an optional bullet under Skills and Achievements for High

School accomplishments).

□ 9. Transfer Student – If you came from another college and did not receive an Associate

Degree there, then list the following (e.g.): “Transfer Student – General Studies and

Music” under the name of the transfer college or university.

□ 10. Graduation Date – Only list the future month and year when you’ll receive your BSIS

degree (until you’re accepted as an MISM student if you’re pursuing that degree).

□ 11. GPAs – Yes, put it on this resume. All of the IS employers will review your resume to

see if you have the qualifying GPA (most employers have a minimum qualifying GPA of

3.00). Use three digits when reflecting GPAs (3.40 or 3.56). You’re in a technical major,

so your GPA tends to be lower than some of the non-technical business degrees. Once

you have completed your first semester in the core, you have the option of listing your

major GPA as follows: “Major GPA x.xx.”

□ 12. Specialized Courses – This title is preferred over “Relevant Coursework.” If you

choose to list Specialized Courses, only list the course titles, not the course numbers.

Employers want to know the name/subject area of the course you took (e.g.

“Specialized Courses: Java, Accounting, and VBA”). Specialized courses may include

courses both outside the IS curriculum and IS elective courses that are appropriate for

the job you’re applying for.

□ 13. Associations/Clubs – write: “Member – Association for Information Systems and (any

other relevant clubs)

SECTION 2: EXPERIENCE

□ 14. Only ONE statement per bullet – Don’t put a period(.) in the middle of your bullet

and start a new sentence/thought. Bullets can contain commas, semi-colons, dashes,

and conjunctions (‘and,’ etc.), but no periods. Most bullet statements should be no

more than two lines.

□ 15. Present Tense Action Verbs – These verbs should be found only in jobs that you’re

presently doing. Keep in mind that it’s possible to have completed something in your

present job. Thus, only in your present job can you have both present tense and past

tense action verbs. Here is a list of good action verbs.

□ 16. “Purpose to be accomplished” bullets – If you haven’t completed the project or goal

you were hired to do and/or that project has not been launched yet, write your bullet

using: ‘anticipated to…’, ‘expected to…’, or ‘projected to…’ statements, placing the

project or goal after the word ‘to’. (e.g. “Key member of 12-person team developing a

revenue solution that’s anticipated to increase profits by more than 50%.)

□ 17. Locations – Yes, include locations of where you work/worked. This means city and

state or country. Put the location information next to the name of the

employer/business. Don’t include full street addresses or zip codes.

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□ 18. Replace the words ‘learned’ or ‘gained’ with ‘applied’ or ‘used’ – You’re expected

to learn or gain skills in a job or on a mission and then apply or use them, so showcase

your application of the skills you have learned or gained.

□ 19. Don’t use ‘I’ or other personal pronouns (me, my, they, their, our, etc.) – This is a

bullet-statement resume. All bullets start with action verbs, and the subject ‘I’ isn’t

placed in front of these action verbs. You shouldn’t be writing paragraphs that narrate

what you have done. Story telling has its place during the interview.

□ 20. Remove weaker action verbs – Readers of your resume need to know specifics of

your work. Using the verbs ‘helped’ or ‘assisted’ don’t communicate what you

personally did to make an impact. Whenever you want to use ‘help’ or ‘assist’ think

about what you really did, and use a stronger action verb to describe it.

□ 21. Missions – Yes, put your mission on this resume. Use the title ‘Volunteer

Representative’ instead of ‘Missionary.’ Prepare three bullets: The first two bullets focus

on leadership, training, teaching, motivating, organizing, and setting and achieving

goals. The last bullet is for humanitarian service (e.g. “Performed community service

on a weekly basis including hospital visits, soup kitchen help, painting schools, etc.”)

Here are some more tips on the mission section of your resume.

□ 22. Non-IS? - What should you focus on in your non-IS related “Experience” bullets? Let

your experience focus on and show soft skills such as leadership, teamwork, outward

achievement, and customer service (see “Infusing Soft Skills” section, pg. 21).

□ 23. Good Better Best/So What? Tips – Rewrite your bullets to impress employers with

what you have accomplished. How you performed is more important than a list of

responsibilities you were hired to perform. See the “Good, Better, & Best Resumes”

section below for help with making your bullets stronger.

SECTION 3: SKILLS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

□ 24. Skills – We’re in a technical major and need to reflect our technical skills In two bullet

points. List proficient (highly capable) and experienced (exposed to/familiar) technical skills. No soft skills here. (e.g. “Proficient in Java, Python” and “Experienced with C++, HTML”). When listing your skills, keep this in mind- Proficient means that

you’re highly capable. This doesn’t mean perfection, but it does mean you won’t be

relying on Google for advice very often. Experienced, on the other hand, means that

you have used it in the past and are capable of using it again, although possibly

needing help.

□ 25. Volunteer Work – Includes clubs/organizations

□ 26. One High School Bullet – Optional

□ 27. Foreign Language Skills – When describing your foreign language skills, you can be a

“Native,” “Fluent,” or “Conversational” speaker. (e.g. Native Korean Speaker, Fluent

Japanese Speaker, and Conversational Spanish Speaker). Unless you’re a translator,

listing English on this resume isn’t necessary. Normally, missionaries are considered

“Fluent” up to two years after completing their missions. Remove the words “Read,”

“Write,” and “Speak” when referring to foreign languages; only use “Native,” “Fluent,”

or “Conversational.”

□ 28. Interests – Employers enjoy having the opportunity to get to know your personality,

so tell them a few brief, unique things you enjoy doing in your free time. “Enjoy

mountain biking, snowboarding, video editing, and gardening.” This is a great

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opportunity to have a personal connection with the interviewer and be a memorable

candidate afterward.

□ 29. Eagle Scout – Last line in this section.

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GOOD, BETTER, & BEST RESUMES

Good Resumes present job-description bullets that focus on expressing the list of tasks you

were hired to do.

Better Resumes present results bullets that focus on expressing measured changes that came

because of your work. These bullets show the difference you made in your role. Normally, these

bullets will show #’s, %’s, and $’s. These bullets are better than job-description bullets because

an employer can make a value statement/judgment about your performance based on the

numbers you provide. You can make estimates to express these changes.

Best Resumes reflect results and impact on customers/others. They show how others feel

about/were affected by your performance. These bullets focus on impact by expressing

‘benefits delivered/received’ and/or their effect on people. (You may not always be able to

add impact to a better bullet due to lack of space, but when you can, recruiters will sense your

value, appreciate the difference you made in that job, and know how you’re the type of

employee who is fully invested in your work.)

Examples:

o Good – Compiled data into a functional format for billing department

o Better – Overhauled the billing department’s data reports allowing compilation of over

6,000 daily transactions and achieving recognition for fewest errors

o Best – Created billing department’s key reports program that accurately compiled over 6,000

daily transactions, reduced errors by 12%, and saved clients over $600K in quarterly costs

Infusing “soft skills” (leadership, teamwork, outward achievement, and customer service) into

bullets:

o Led a team of 12 to…

o Key member of a team tasked with …

o Applied problem-solving techniques to…

o Presented reports used by key management that …

o Recognized for achievement in…

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STRENGTHEN YOUR BULLETS

Use the word ‘that’ to resolve the question of “so what?” Why should I care? What has changed

since you took over the job? What difference did you make?

Read every bullet you have written and ask “so what?” because everyone who reads your bullets

is asking that question. Think about what you want potential employers to know/perceive about

you. Will this bullet tell them what you did and how it matters?

Process:

1. Place the word ‘that’ at the end of your bullet and then write the phrase which answers

the “so what?” question. Normally, the first word after the word ‘that’ is the ‘change verb’

that describes what changed because of the task you completed (e.g. “increased,”

“improved,” “ensured,” “saved,” “created,” etc.).

2. After writing the phrase following ‘that,’ remove the word ‘that’ and rewrite the bullet.

Doing this will strengthen the bullet, but the bullet will need to be refined.

3. Yes, you can have bullets with the word ‘that’ in them, but not every bullet can. As you

rewrite these bullets, try to restrict yourself to having only one ‘that’, only one ‘which’,

and a few verbs with ‘ing’ endings.

Tips:

- Bullet points should be no more than two lines.

- Reid’s analogy – Don’t just dig holes in sandboxes, build sand castles.

- Impressive resumes showcase results and impact on customers. What has changed since

you took over the position? What benefits do others receive from your results?

- Make a difference.

Examples:

-Orchestrated a weekly specialized notification program to 400 IS students with information

relating to job and internship opportunities, that increased awareness for the IS program

-Developed a dynamic management report with Excel Pivot Tables used in detailed quarterly

government compliance reporting, which improved accuracy and efficiency by 60%

-Created a comprehensive SAP dashboard Business Objects support team to prevent and

diagnose outages, decreasing incident response time by 10%

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IS RESUME EXAMPLE

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COVER LETTERS

About 10-15% of job applications use cover letters, so we will just cover the basics. The cover

letter is meant to give you personality and set you apart from other applicants. You can

reference your resume in your cover letter, but you want to expand deeper about who you are

and how you could impact the company if hired.

Reid recommends that you generally have four paragraphs with four sentences each, if

possible:

1) Introduction:

● Exhibit enthusiasm or drive for the position you are applying for, touch on your

“Me in 30 seconds” (pg. 32) “I’m excited to apply for_________.”

● Mention a connection with someone in the company and their department: Jeff

Sanders in the IT department strongly recommended that I apply for this position.

● Specifically state why you like the company: Your company has a reputation for

having an amazing work environment and inspired leadership.

● List two skills you want to expound: I am well suited for the position because I

have a high level of integrity and excellent project management skills. Both of which

skills will make me a valuable member of your team.

2) Skill Paragraph 1: integrate the skill with an experience where you demonstrated that skill:

“I always do my best to uphold my values not only in the workplace, but in my personal

life as well. I exhibited integrity when I worked as a bank teller at Zions Bancorporation

several years ago. At the time, my manager pushed us hard to sell products to

customers. Most of these products were either loans, lines of credit, or credit cards. I did

my best to sell them, but also kept in mind how a product would affect the customer in

the long run. As a result, when I felt it was ethically wrong to sell a product that could

potentially hurt a customer in the long run, I didn’t set them up. I didn’t make as high of

bonuses as I could have, but I did leave every day with a clear conscience, which is worth

more to me than any bonus they could have offered.”

3) Skill Paragraph 2: integrate the 2nd skill with an experience where you demonstrated that

skill.

4) Aggressive Close: Thank them for the opportunity to be part of their company, provide

your contact information, tell them you will contact them in 7 days or so to follow-up if you

don’t hear from them, and end with a direct statement:

“Thank you for the opportunity to be a member of your software development team. I

will contact you within 7 days to see if you have all you need to make your decision.

Should you desire to speak with me sooner, please contact me at 801-283-9281. I can

also be reached by email at chrisabbot@gmail.com. I look forward to joining your team

and I am certain that it will be a positive experience for the both of us.

Sincerely,

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Chris Abbot

Chris Abbot”

LINKEDIN

LinkedIn is an incredibly important resource for digital recruiting.

With everything happening right now due to COVID-19, pay special

attention to this section.

LinkedIn can be a powerful resource for employers who are looking

to learn more about candidates. On LinkedIn you can provide more

details about yourself, your skills, and your accomplishments than

you can on a one-page resume. If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile,

make one! If you already have one, make sure it’s updated! The free

version of a LinkedIn account is appropriate for your needs as a student.

Reid is an extremely useful resource when it comes to developing your LinkedIn profile. He is

often a guest lecturer in classrooms across campus and presents on how to effectively use

LinkedIn. If you would like him to review your profile, send him an email with a link to your

profile and include anything you want him to specifically look for.

Also, VMock provides a tool for improving your LinkedIn Profile, called Aspire. Access it by going

to the VMock website, and going to the Aspire tab on the left hand side. Click here for a series

of video tutorials on Aspire, as well as VMock in general.

YOUR PICTURE

Your profile picture should be of only you, not of you

and your spouse. You’re the only one interviewing for

the position. Your picture should reflect the job you

want to have. If you want a job as a river guide, your

picture should show you in a kayak. If you want a job

at a major accounting firm, your picture should be of

you in professional attire. One of the most important

parts of your picture is that your eyes are clearly

visible. You can tell a lot about people by their eyes, so

employers want to see them.

Note: Feel free to connect with Reid on LinkedIn. Be aware, however, that he will not accept

your invitation to connect if you don’t have a picture associated with your profile!

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YOUR PERSONAL BRAND

When considering what to put on your LinkedIn profile, make sure that whatever you put up is

consistent with your personal brand. Ask yourself the following questions:

- What message do I want to send to employers?

- What do I want companies to know about my interests and motivations?

Always be transparent and honest on your LinkedIn profile. Your summary should be similar to

your Me in 30 Seconds (pg. 31). Eighty percent of employers are looking at social media to

determine how you would “fit” with their organization’s culture. Your interests will help them

determine this.

View the slide deck Reid uses in in his presentations about branding your LinkedIn here

GET CONNECTED ON LINKEDIN

Your first objective on LinkedIn should be to find

and connect with people you know. You don’t

have to try to get 500+ contacts right away.

You shouldn’t connect with every person you

think you might know on Facebook. Your

connections represent your professional network.

Treat them as business connections, not “friends.”

For tips on composing LinkedIn connection invitations, read this article.

In addition to personal connections, take the time to follow a few companies you’re interested in

working for. Oftentimes when employers are considering candidates for internship or job

positions, recruiters will review the candidates’ LinkedIn profiles. You’ll score some major points

if you follow the company on LinkedIn.

You should also join LinkedIn groups. Many of these groups represent people living your dream.

If you aren’t connected with a person, you can’t send him or her a message; however, if you’re in

the same group as that person, you can send a message.

Some groups that can connect you with people who are “living your dream” are found in the list

below:

BYU Information Systems

Marriott School of Business

BYU Management Society

BYU Alumni

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F.I.R.E. ON LINKEDIN

LinkedIn is a useful medium for connecting with alumni – especially the alumni who are “living

your dream.” Alumni are generally happy to mentor and help students learn more about the

company they work for or to help students along their career paths. Use the process below to

find alumni to talk with about a position you might be interested in:

● Find 10 alumni on LinkedIn who work in the companies that you want to work for

o Use this resource to find Alumni through various means, including LinkedIn

● Informational interviewing (Live Research)

o Identify those alumni/contacts who could provide you with the best information

● Reach out and get introduced to an Alumnus/Mentor or Hiring Manager

o If you find someone who isn’t a first-level connection:

▪ Ask for an introduction through another person in your network who is

connected to that person or see if you’re in a group with that person

▪ Always include a key message of why you’re contacting that person

▪ Your introduction and message should be a professional message to have

a conversation offline (i.e. Meet for lunch or a phone conversation)

● Engage with that person offline (for less than 30 minutes)

COMMON SEARCHES

The main LinkedIn search bar provides a basic search, while the Advanced Search feature refines

or narrows your search.

Use https://university.linkedin.com/linkedin-for-students to get more familiar with LinkedIn and

how it can help you in the job search. Also refer to this PDF document (but know that the

Student Jobs Portal was discontinued).

ACTION ITEMS

● Google your name; see what’s out there about you. Make sure that information is true.

● Create an “All Star” profile:

o Post a professional picture

o Create an awesome summary (Google this; there are a lot of resources out there)

o Connect with alumni and IS classmates

o Customize your public LinkedIn URL (see: https://goo.gl/VK0BCe)

o Join groups made up of people who are living your dream

o Follow companies that you have an interest in working for

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HANDSHAKE

Your primary tool for recruiting will be the

BYU Handshake. Handshake is an online

resource that connects BYU students to

employers and allows users to search job

listings, apply for jobs, communicate with recruiters, sign up for on-campus interviews, and

schedule appointments to meet with Reid (the Director of Placement for the IS program).

As a BYU student, you automatically have an account on Handshake. When you log in for the

first time, you’ll be prompted to complete your profile. You should do this TODAY!

COMPLETE YOUR PROFILE

Make sure your profile is current and correct. The key elements of your profile will automatically

be filled in from the university, but the majority of your profile comes from you. Employers only

see certain parts of your profile when you apply for a position. The additional profile information

that employers don’t see allows Handshake to be more tailored to you.

STAY IN THE LOOP!

Email notifications – by default, you’ll receive emails from Handshake about new jobs and

events. If you don’t want to receive these emails, you can adjust these settings by logging in to

Handshake and selecting the tab with your name and photo, then clicking on “Settings &

Privacy” and selecting Notification Preferences.

You can ‘follow’ employers to find specific jobs and upcoming events. We will also supply you

with information about events each week in the Friday Forecast.

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UPLOAD YOUR RESUME & TRANSCRIPT

To apply for jobs, you need to have at least one default resume on Handshake. To add your

resume, save it as a PDF, find the “Documents” tab under your name, click “Add New

Document,” and follow the onscreen instructions.

Need to submit your unofficial transcript along with your resume? Not sure how to do it?

Check out the instructions below:

1) Log in to MyBYU and find “Campus Links,” the “School” tab, and then AIM to find your

transcript

2) Click on “Student Academic Record” and then click on “Progress Report” (ABC Report)

3) Click on the “Full Progress Report” link (below your “Current Programs”), and save your

report as a PDF

4) Log in to Handshake, and click on the “Documents” tab under your name

5) Select Transcript as the type of document to upload

SEARCH FOR OPPORTUNITIES

Use the “Jobs” tab on your homepage to search for job opportunities. You can search by

keyword, industry, location, major, etc. Don’t forget to save your custom searches to save time

while searching in the future.

SEARCH FOR EVENTS

Information Sessions and Career Fairs are great ways to learn more about an organization and

start networking. Information Sessions are found under the “Events” tab of Handshake. If you

‘follow’ a company, events for that company will appear in your newsfeed.

TALK WITH A CAREER COUNSELOR

Your Career Counselor (Reid Grawe) is here to help you! Schedule an appointment to discuss

your career options, resumes, cover letters, interviewing, networking, or search techniques by

going to Handshake and clicking on “Career Center” then selecting “Appointments” from the

drop down, by visiting the Business Career

Center (447 TNRB), or by sending us an

email.

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INTERVIEWING

As you apply for positions on Handshake and elsewhere, you’ll receive invitations to be

interviewed. The most important piece of advice we have when it comes to interviews is to BE

YOURSELF! Employers recognize that you’re just entering the program and that you don’t know

a ton yet, but if they like you as a person and perceive you as the “best fit” for the position,

you’ll receive an offer. The top things that an employer looks for in a candidate are as follows:

Below is information on a few things that you should do before, during, and after the interview:

Likeability (Interview)

Motivation/Fit

(Interview/LinkedIn)

Competence

(Resume /LinkedIn)

15%

25%

60%

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BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

ME IN 30 SECONDS

The Me in 30 Seconds or Elevator Pitch* is a short statement about you and your passions. This

statement can be used when introducing yourself to an employer at a career fair or when an

interviewer asks you to “Tell me about yourself.”

In its simplest form, your Elevator Pitch should follow this format:

1. Full Name (First or Preferred First and Last Name)

● If your name is hard to pronounce, make sure you

say it clearly.

2. Where you’re from

● If you’re an international student, also say how long you have been in the US for.

3. Deliver your passion in this format: “I do _______ because I love _______.”

● “I am studying IS because_________.”

● “In my last internship, I created __ that solved __ and saved the company

$100,000.”

4. Connect the company with your passion. They need to know why you want them.

● “Your company has a reputation for _______.”

● “I believe this position fits me because _______.”

5. Express your interest (In a controlled way, of course)

Normally, an elevator pitch ends with you asking this question:

● “Who do you know that I should talk to about this?”

As you meet an interviewer, you should replace the question with one of the following:

● “I’m excited for this interview; I really want to join your team!”

● “I would love to work for your company!”

● “I want to serve you and your clients and hope I have the opportunity to do so!”

* The term Elevator Pitch comes from the scenario of meeting

someone in the elevator (perhaps the CEO of the company!) and he

or she asks you, “What do you do?” You have a short amount of

time to make an impression (the amount of time it takes to ride the

elevator from the floor you’re on to the floor that you or the CEO is

getting off at!), and to tell the CEO enough about you that he or

she remembers you the next time you meet. Make yourself

memorable in the best way!

This section should sound

extremely familiar to

returned missionaries. Think

door approaches or street

contacts.

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RESEARCH

Visit the company’s website and take a look at its “About Us” section. Get a feel for the company

culture and product or service. Be familiar with the company’s mission statement if it has one.

Find the job description on the company’s website or on Handshake. Compare your resume and

experience to all aspects of the job description. Think through your responses to questions

interviewers may ask you about your experience (e.g. If the job description says you have to

know JavaScript and you have never used it before, what will you say if/when this is brought up

in the interview?).

Look up the company on LinkedIn. See if any of your connections work at this company. Find

someone at that company who is living your dream. Take the time to reach out to him or her to

ask for that person’s perspective on the culture and mission of the organization. Ask any

questions you feel are necessary in order for you to get to know the company and/or resolve

concerns you may have.

Here are 5 questions you could ask your inside contact:

1. Can you tell me what it’s like to work for Company XYZ?

2. How can I impress someone in the interview? Are there any do’s or don'ts that I should

be aware of?

3. What’s your toughest interview question?

4. Is this position everything it’s advertised to be?

5. Does the company really care about you and your success?

If you can’t find an inside contact on LinkedIn, call the recruiter and say, “I want to be the best

candidate for this position. I have a few questions for someone who is doing this job. Could you

connect me?”

MOCK INTERVIEWS

Even if you’re comfortable with interviewing, we encourage you to meet with Reid to stage a

mock interview. Schedule an appointment with him through Handshake. Before your

appointment, make sure to email Reid a copy of your current resume and the position’s job

description.

The Marriott School provides an excellent practice resource called Big Interview. This resource

is an online tool that offers challenging, virtual mock interviews for all experience levels and

dozens of industries. Big Interview offers a comprehensive video training curriculum covering all

aspects of an interview, and a step-by-step interview answer builder for crafting answers to

behavioral questions. To login go here: https://marriottschool-byu.biginterview.com/ and use

the code 0741.

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INTERVIEW ATTIRE

Unless otherwise specified, dress up, not down. This means that for interviews you should come

in business professional attire (and arrive 5-10 minutes early). You need to show that you have

the ability to be mature and fit in with the company’s professional work environment. Check out

some dress guidelines from the Marriott School Magazine here (pages 8-17). Although some

start-up companies have a casual dress code at work, you should still dress professionally for the

first interview.

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DURING THE INTERVIEW

TIPS FOR VIRTUAL INTERVIEWS

1. Test your technology

a. Check your internet connectivity

b. Confirm your camera is working

c. Make sure your microphone works

d. Making this checks 5 minutes before an interview is risky

2. Set the Scene and Minimize Distractions

a. Ensure the camera angle is professional (optimal lighting, make yourself the focal

point of the view, etc.)

3. Sit Down Prepared

a. It is the same as any other interview, it’s just virtual! Don’t go in blind!

4. Practice, Don’t Memorize

5. Monitor your Body Language

a. Be professional. Try not to slouch and look engaged! Smile! But don’t be creepy.

6. Dress the Part

a. Dress for the role you want! Not the one you have.

7. Make a Connection

a. Do your best to make a personal connection with the person who is interviewing

you.

8. Be Yourself

a. Yes, you! Companies want to know exactly what they’re hiring.

9. Immediately Follow Up

a. Send a thank you email to whoever interviews you along with anyone you may

have met within 24 hours of the interview.

At the end of the day, virtual interviews follow the same structure as normal interviews, they are

just virtual. Go figure! You’ll be great as you follow the guidelines laid out in this section.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

In order to ace an interview, you must master these six questions published by the company

Under Cover Recruiter: Under Cover Recruiter's Most Commonly Asked Interview Questions.

Additionally, the Business Career Center maintains a list of commonly asked interview questions

to be aware of. You can access this list from the BYU Marriott School website.

We also recommend that you look up common interview questions for your specific company

on glassdoor.com, other recruiting sites, and even Google.

When answering behavioral-based questions (“Tell me about a time when you…”), remember

S.T.A.R.

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Situation – Describe the situation

Task – Explain the Task

Actions – What action did you take?

Results – What were the results of your actions?

QUESTIONS FOR THE INTERVIEWER

At the end of an interview, the interviewer may ask if you have any questions for him or her –

prepare at least two questions asking for advice. You should also prepare at least two to three

questions about the company or position. Do your homework! Make sure you ask smart

questions.

Advice Questions:

What’s the best way to impress the team I’ll be working with?

How would you advise me to prepare for this internship?

Smart Questions:

Can you tell me a little more about how my role fits into the organization as a whole?

What do you need a person in this job to do right now to meaningfully contribute to the

company?

Say WHAT matters, stay FOCUSED, and END.

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Not-so Smart Questions:

What can you tell me about the company’s medical

insurance?

When could I expect a promotion?

At the very end of the interview, don’t be afraid to

ask, “Based on our conversation today, would you

feel comfortable in recommending me for the

position?” This will allow the interviewer to explain

his or her thoughts about the interview and for you

to receive feedback.

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AFTER THE INTERVIEW

Be sure to say thank you. If appropriate, you may ask the interviewer for a business card. At a

minimum, you should send the interviewer a thank you email within 24 hours. A thank you card

may be used as well. You want the interviewer to remember you and for the right reasons. This

article provides some guidelines about thank you notes.

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We also recommend that you give Reid some feedback regarding your interview experience. If

Reid is aware that you interviewed with that company, he can advocate for you.

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RECEIVING OFFERS

Generally, within two weeks of the final interview, you’ll hear from the recruiter. Yes, you’ll likely

receive an internship offer. Normally you’ll have two weeks to respond to the company

regarding your decision. If for some reason you don’t, you can appropriately ask for a few days

or a week to make a decision. Always be sure to pray about your decision.

It should be noted that receiving offers earlier and earlier is becoming increasingly common, as

much as a year in advance. Great care should be taken with any offer, but especially with very

early offers. See more below about the process in general and what to do to accept an offer. See

more about early offers in particular under Accepting and Declining Offers.

AN EXAMPLE PROCESS

Every company conducts its interviews differently, but an example of the interview process is

shown below. This process is very similar to dating and marriage:

Résumé Asking for a 1st Date

(Make a good first impression)

Interview 1st Date

(Don’t mess it up, or you won’t

get a second chance)

2nd Interview (Time to meet with dad)

Accept Offer Committed/Engaged

(You’re off the market-- no more

flirting!)

Begin Work Marriage (You did it!!)

Reneging* Just don’t do it

(*Reneging is going back on your previous acceptance of an offer. Can be an honor code violation, and it burns bridges with companies)

The Courting Process

Define the Relationship

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NEGOTIATING AN OFFER

As a general rule, you won’t need to negotiate an internship or entry-level job offer. MISMs may

have more opportunity to negotiate. Oftentimes an offer has benefits (e.g. office amenities,

bonuses, health insurance, etc.) that

you should take into consideration

beyond just salary. For entry-level

positions, we at the Business Career

Center maintain an overall average

salary number. If you feel that your offer is significantly lower than this average, talk to Reid and

he can give you insights into how to best handle the negotiation. Sometimes the best question

to ask is this: “Is any part of this offer negotiable?”

ACCEPTING AND DECLINING OFFERS

Receiving offers as much as a year in advance is becoming increasingly common for students,

especially while on their first internship. Be aware that you are free to decline any offer if it

doesn’t align with their objectives or just doesn’t feel right. However, if it is right, move forward

and make it a successful decision, even if it comes far earlier than anticipated.

Be gracious when declining offers. Contact recruiters directly to let them know that you

respectfully decline the offer. Don’t delay the bad news. Let them know as soon as possible after

you have made your decision. If appropriate, give specific

reasons for declining. Don’t be afraid to tell them that you

based your decision on what you felt was best for your family

or that you felt you received a better offer elsewhere. The

‘cost of living’ in the area isn’t an adequate reason for

declining an offer.

If you accept an offer, celebrate! However, you aren’t done!

You need to report your internship or job offer on the

Marriott School Database immediately after accepting an

offer (see more information in the “Other Resources” section

below). This step is extremely important!

Also, once you accept an offer, we encourage you to help your peers find internships and/or

jobs. Spread the wealth!

Don’t accept an offer and then go back on your decision. Ever! This is known as “reneging”

on an offer. Doing so has a negative impact on you, the IS program, and BYU as a whole. Aside

from some extreme circumstances, reneging on an offer can be considered an Honor Code

violation. This is a serious matter that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

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If you feel the need to renege on an offer, talk to Reid immediately. He can help you determine

the best course of action.

ISCAREERS.BYU.EDU

The IS Career Team is developing a website specifically for BYU IS students. This website is a

one-stop place to get the most relevant information about all things IS. Check it out at

iscareers.byu.edu. There are a few different sections of the website, including: Resources, the

Career Explorer Tableau Dashboard, and Placement Stats.

IS RESOURCES

Visit the “Resources” section and find different resources that you can browse, including this

booklet, resources related to resumes, recruiting, interviewing, connecting, offers, the 2 Hour Job

Search guide, Reid’s latest Tips and article finds, and the IS Core Summer Boot Camp. We’re

constantly adding new resources to help you find your dream careers!

HELPFUL LINKS

CareerLaunch.byu.edu is an official website of the Marriott Business School that focuses on

personal, professional development. Each degree and official Marriott School clubs have

individual pages where they post relevant, customized content for their students.

We recommend viewing

CareerLaunch for tips and

tricks before the recruiting

season starts, like many of

the resources contained in

this book. You’ll find

resume, interview, and

LinkedIn tips, as well as

interesting articles about

the career opportunities in

the Information Systems

professional world.

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Each student should log into CareerLaunch and customize their contact preferences to make

sure the site provides relevant content. Each student will get their personalized “alerts” each

week, showing them relevant articles, job postings, and upcoming events.

Each degree and club have a tag. By selecting the ones you are interested in, you will filter all

blog, job, and event posts. You can also say which type of jobs and events you are most

interested in, as well as how frequently CareerLaunch will email you.

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2 HOUR JOB SEARCH

This guide will walk you through an outline of “The 2 Hour Job Search” process by Steve Dalton,

Senior Career Consultant at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, to help you select,

prioritize, and contact prospective employers so you can land your critical first interview. While

reading the actual book is the best way to follow this process, this

guide will give you an overview of the process. The process is

designed to be focused and efficient and will only take a total of 2

hours but can be broken into pieces.

"The '2 hours Job search' has totally changed my perspective

about how to land a job. I learned the true power of networking.

By applying the principles , I have had dozens of information

interviews that helped me 1) learn the culture of the companies, 2)

understand the challenges entailed in the job I'm looking for, 3)

and more importantly, I gained valuable advice from professionals

that are now advocating for me because of the trust built during

the interview ." --Jairo Franco, BSIS Senior

IS CORE SUMMER BOOT CAMP

Before the Core you probably wondered what

you can do to hit the ground running in the

Fall, especially when it comes to

internships. How will you decide what kind of

internship you want? What should you say to

recruiters? What companies hire BYU

students? We have prepared a virtual 5-week Boot Camp program that will get you started on

the path to becoming an IS professional. Each week will include spotlights on career paths and

companies, as well as simple tasks that are designed to only require 30 minutes of your time

(but you are definitely welcome to spend more time than that).

● Week 1: Exploring IS career paths

● Week 2: Resumes

● Week 3: Connecting

● Week 4: Recruiting

● Week 5: Recap and revisiting your plan

If you choose to follow through with each task of the Boot Camp, you will be better prepared for

recruiting season during the fall of the IS Core.

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AIS (BYU STUDENT CHAPTER OF A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION)

Association for Information Systems (AIS): a Marriott School student

organization - Build connections, skills, and friends beyond the

classroom--that's what we do in the Association for Information

Systems. We offer unique opportunities to meet with company

recruiters and IS alumni, as well as the students currently in the

program. With many classes held virtually this semester, AIS will be

more important than ever when finding the connections you want in

the IS program. Join AIS by following this link and receive our

weekly newsletters for upcoming events and insights you don't

want to miss!

AIS is currently sponsored by 16 employers that pay to have exclusive access to IS students. AIS

facilitates numerous information sessions in the weeks surrounding the career fairs. Most of

these events are catered with food from local restaurants. You must be a member of AIS to

attend these information sessions. Visit the AIS club website to join the club (see the links

below).

In addition to recruiting activities, AIS holds Value-Added Forums. These are technical training

nights for students to learn more about new technologies. Often these skills aren’t fully

addressed in the classroom. These skills can be important in your becoming a well-rounded

technology professional.

AIS also holds events that are geared toward fun activities. A particular employer often sponsors

each of these events, so you’ll have opportunities to network with company representatives.

Recent events have included laser tag, ice skating, the nickel arcade, and a trampoline park.

We strongly encourage you to join AIS (join here!). The friendships and professional

development opportunities found at AIS events are extremely valuable to your IS career. AIS

membership costs $35 for a lifetime. You pay once and don’t have to worry about it again. If

you attend AIS functions, you’ll get your money back in the food alone.

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IS CAREER EXPLORER TABLEAU DASHBOARD

This dashboard is published on our website to help you explore the career paths and

opportunities available in the world of Information Systems. Use it to create your career dream

so that we can help you achieve it! The dashboard pulls the Marriott School placement data of

IS students.

● Tab 1 - Main Career Explorer

o Filter the data by company name, placement

type, state, job category, placement year (year

the student started working in that position),

program, and international sponsors

(companies that have previously hired international students).

o Use the lasso tool on the map to select specific cities/areas that interest you.

o Look at the Breakdown table to see the instance of each opportunity a student

has taken broken down by company, placement type, city, job category, job title,

placement year, and program.

o Select different categories on the pie chart to filter the whole dashboard by that

job category. Hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard to select multiple sections

of the pie chart.

● Tab 2 - Offering trends

o This tab shows historic trends of when companies have made internship or full-

time offers to BYU students.

o If you are interested in a specific company, you can filter the trend line by that

company to see when they usually pitch their offers. This is important because

some companies are on campus the second week of fall semester while others do

not start recruiting until January. Knowing this information will prepare you for

when your dream company is most likely to offer your dream opportunity.

● Tab 3 - Alumni & Skills

o The data for this tab comes from a survey we send out to all IS students who

have been out on internships or will be starting their full-time jobs. This is still in

its beginning stages of development, so the database is relatively small.

o Use the Skills table to learn which hard skills are being used by companies. This

table includes a hyperlink to the LinkedIn Job Search filtered by the skill you

selected. This search is just another resource to explore companies you may be

interested in pursuing.

o The Alumni table on this tab is a list of past or current student who have agreed

to connect with students interested in the company they interned/worked for.

Their email is listed so you can contact them directly. If you do not see a contact

for a company you are interested in, come in and visit with Reid to access his

connections.

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

FRIDAY FORECAST (JOB AND INTERNSHIP NEWSLETTER)

We as the Business Career Center team send out a newsletter every Friday to inform students of

upcoming events and job/internship postings. This is a great way to stay on top of information

sessions, career fairs, internship opportunities, job opportunities, interviews, announcements,

and tips on how to achieve your dream job.

We attempt to limit our email distributions to ONE email per week. We do this intentionally to

reduce the number of places you have to look for information. We encourage you to glance

through these newsletters even if you have already achieved your dream to stay in the loop on

things and be enabled to help others who are seeking jobs and internships.

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MARRIOTT SCHOOL EMPLOYMENT REPORTING

Congratulations on receiving an offer! Once you have accepted an internship or job, you have

only one step left! You need to share the good news! Please report your internship or job to the

Marriott School on the MS database right after receiving your offer.

Reporting this information is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! Employment data is used by agencies,

such as BusinessWeek, to rank business schools and IS programs across the country. Not

reporting your internship/job information has a negative impact on the reputation of the

Marriott School and the IS department, which can trickle down to create a negative impact on

your personal IS reputation.

Don’t be surprised to hear from us if you don’t report. We will follow up with you via email,

phone calls, texts, or whatever it takes to encourage you to report. Do us both a favor and

report your internship or job in a timely manner.

If you work in a part-time or full-time job over the summer only, report this job as an

internship.

Note: Salary information is protected and safeguarded. We will never reveal your individual

salary to other students or employers. The reason the database asks for your salary is your

salary is added to others’ salaries to become part of the overall averages published by the

Marriott School.

Report your offer information here: https://marriottschool.byu.edu/msmadmin/placement