Marketing Your Liberal Arts Degree To Employers:
Roy Y. Chan, M.A.Indiana University, Bloomington
[email protected] 8, 2015
Discovering What Career is Calling You
October 24, 2015
• To address challenges in the job/internship search process
• To identify strategies on how to market yourself to employers.
• To help translate your skills to the workplace environment.
Objectives
True OR False:These days many people challenge the value of a liberal arts education.
It’s expensive, and it fails to lead directly to a job.
FALSE!
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YOU Are in Demand!
Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U), 2015
Examples of Successful Liberal Arts
People
John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State
• B.A. in Political Science, Yale University, 1966
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Michael Eisner, Walt Disney Company CEO
• B.A. in English Literature, Denison University, 1964
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Susan Wojcicki, YouTube CEO• B.A. in History and Literature, Harvard University,
1990
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Sarah Clarke, Actress of 24 (Nina Myers)• B.A. in Fine Arts and Italian, Indiana University, 1991
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What do the these people have in common?
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“So I’m about to graduate…How do I get there????”
• Bullet point one• Bullet point two• Bullet point three• Bullet point four• Bullet point five
Two Key Steps to Market Liberal Arts Degree
• 1) Discover Your Path• 2) Selling Your Potential
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1) Discover Your Path
• “I’ll do anything…I just need a job”
• “I have a B.A. degree…I’ll take any job”
Not true!
More likely, you don’t know what you want to do or how to get there.
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1) Discover Your Path
Three categories to explore your path
a) Values – What makes you happy?
b) Interests – What is calling you?
c) Skills and Strengths - When do you shine?
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1) Discover Your Path
a) Values – What makes you happy?
• Have a high salary OR meaningful work?
• Have time freedom/flexibility/autonomy OR clear path for advancement?
• Have friendship OR competition?
* Not sure? Consider completing The Values Assessment
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1) Discover Your Path
b) Interests – What is calling you?
1) What subject do you like to talk about?
2) What subjects in the bookstore do you go first?
3) If money did not exist, what are three activities you’d love to experience?
* Not sure? Consider taking The Strong Interest Inventory (SII) or The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
(MBTI)
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1) Discover Your Path
c) Skills and Strengths – When do you shine?
1)What do your friends tell you about yourself?
2)What was your favorite subject in school?
3)What role do you assume in team projects?
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1) Discover Your Path
Values Interests Skills
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2) Selling Your Potential
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FACT
Your major is NOT important. Rather, your abilities/skills and drive for success matter more than major.
2) Selling Your Potential
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Tell Your Story
1)What are the values, interests and strength you identified in your self-reflection?
2)What is an event that has helped shape who you are today?
3)What is an accomplishment, in schooling, volunteering, internship, or work?
4)What skills did you gain from your major?
What makes you unique?
2) Selling Your Potential
October 24, 2015
1)Resume – Quality over quantity
2)Cover Letter – Customize your story to their needs
3)LinkedIn – Title and Summary are key
4)Informational Interviewing – Ask questions to employers and tell your story.
3) Job Hunt Effectively
Two Biggest Factors How Employers Select Employees
1)Internal Candidate
2)Network
October 24, 2015SLIS IUB (Edit via "View" Menu then "Header and Footer...")
2) Job Hunt Effectively
October 24, 2015SLIS IUB (Edit via "View" Menu then "Header and Footer...")
Set Job Search Goals
3) Selling Your Potential
October 24, 2015SLIS IUB (Edit via "View" Menu then "Header and Footer...")
• “I don’t have relevant experience.”• “My degree doesn’t relate to a career.”• “I’m just like everyone else.”
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Purpose of liberal arts education
Roy’s “RST” Secret Ingredient
1)The “R” Rule – It’s not about your Resume; it’s about our Relationships
2)The “S” Rule – Smile, Smile, Smile
3)The “T” Rule – Thanking and Follow Up is key skill to success
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Final note….Did you know that IU offers FREE career coaching session for both IUAA members and IUAA non-members? Set up an appointment today at: [email protected]
October 24, 2015
Questions? Comments?
Roy Y. Chan, M.A.
Indiana University, Bloomington
(562)-338-1507
For more information, visit: www.royychan.com or www.linkedin.com/in/rychan
October 24, 2015