WJC Career Services Goes Virtual
Looking for a job or postdoctoral training opportunity? Need help with your resume/CV, cover letter, online profile, or interview coaching?
WJC students and alumni are most welcome to schedule a career services meeting with Meridith Apfelbaum, Assistant Dean of Students and Career Coach, through CareerLink. This system serves as the vehicle for scheduling career coaching appointments and also houses job/postdoctoral listings for new and seasoned professionals, employer contacts, and an online career library. Alumni have the ability to create an account in the system and students can login using their main WJC username and password. Once in the system, click on Counseling Appts on the left nav bar and you will be able to choose an appointment date/time. Meridith will then receive a notification and send you a Zoom link for the appointment. If you are having trouble finding a time that works for your schedule in the system, email Meridith with some days/times that work for you, and she will schedule a meeting at a time that works best. Email address: Meridith_Apfelbaum@williamjames.edu
NOTE: Employers are hiring our students and alumni for professional positions during this time! They are looking for aspiring LMHCs, LMHCs, Postdocs, early career & seasoned school and clinical psychologists, human services providers, and Organizational Development/HR professionals. Some employers are hiring for virtual/telehealth positions with the option to go in-house at a later date and some continue to hire for in-house positions – really depends on the employer – but they are hiring. In fact, some are hiring for immediate crisis management positions due to the pandemic.
Navigating the job search and remot working during COVID-19 - Resources from indeed.com
Job Search Advice and Where to find Remote Work in a variety of fields:
- www.indeed.com/career-advice/coronavirus-job-resources - job listings and advice
- www.youtube.com/watch?v=5knd2wMTeVk – helpful 30 minute webinar
Ten tips for online/virtual interviews
- Get familiar with the technology and make sure it works – Be sure you have access to any meetings links and codes, so you can login to the interview meeting. Double-check that you have the right date, time, and time zone. Also, be sure to check your computer webcam and microphone ahead of the interview, to ensure that they are working. And, ensure that you have a stable internet connection.
- Be mindful of your interview environment – Choose a room that is quiet, well-lit, and free from distractions. Also, be sure that your background is neutral and not distracting. You want the interviewer to pay attention to you and your answers, not the clutter on the floor or wall behind you!
- Be on-time, not too early and not late – Login to your online interview 2 or 3 minutes early. Don’t logon any earlier, as the interviewer may be meeting with someone else. And, don’t logon late, as the interviewer may think you forgot about the meeting.
- Dress the part – Dress professionally, as you would for an in-person interview. This is very important, as it puts you in the mindset for a professional meeting and helps to create a great first impression. Be sure to wear the full outfit, even though the interviewer may only see the top half of you…better to be safe, than sorry, when a camera is on!
- Body languate – Do not get up and walk around during the interview. Sit in one place, avoid tapping on the table, and have eye contact with your interviewer, as this helps to establish rapport and trust. Practice looking into your webcam, as opposed to looking at the video of yourself.
- Know yourself – Take an inventory of your strengths and favorite stories from your past jobs, practicum, and internship situations. Think of your knowledge areas, skills, and personal attributes. If you are an aspiring clinician, share about your successful cases, groups, and crisis interventions. Do you have telehealth experience? If yes, be sure to share that, especially if you are interviewing for a position that is currently virtual.
- Know the organization – Read their website. Do information interviews with alumni, faculty, staff, and fellow students that may know the organization well.
- Write out answers to frequently asked questions – just to help you collect your thoughts ahead of time, not to memorize word-for-word. Best to do this a few days before the interview, as opposed to cramming right before.
- Practice! Schedule a mock interview with Career Services – WJC Career Services will do an actual practice interview with you via Zoom and provide you with coaching and feedback.
- Send a thank you within 24 hours via email – Always best to send a brief “thank you” email; 4 – 5 sentences. Mention that the interview confirmed your strong interest in the position, reiterate three strengths that make you a good fit for the position/organization, genuinely thank them for taking the time to meet with you, and let them know that you hope to speak with them again in the near future.
Interested in hiring our WJC students and alumni?
Are you a recent or seasoned alum looking to hire WJC students or fellow alumni to work at your organization? Are you an employer looking to hire our talented WJC students and/or alumni?
WJC Career Services will advertise postdoctoral opportunities and professional job opportunities for alumni and current students to view. To advertise an opportunity, you are welcome to create an employer account in CareerLink and post directly into the system, or you can email any job listings directly to Meridith Apfelbaum, Assistant Dean of Students and she will post on your behalf. Email address: Meridith_Apfelbaum@williamjames.edu. This is an easy, convenient, free way to advertise your current recruiting needs.
