Career Pathways
Delve into industry-specific content and resources related to clusters of occupations that Furman graduates traditionally pursue.
Identity Based Resources
Consider all the ways that you can gain experience, both inside and out of the classroom, to become a marketable candidate for opportunities after Furman.
Career Resources
- Resume
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Cover Letter
- Job Search
- Networking
- Interview Preparation
- Offer and Salary Negotiation
Your resume is essentially a marketing tool that concisely communicates the value of your experiences, skills, and accomplishments in one document. In the case of a job or internship search, the purpose of your resume is to get you an interview.
Recruiters report spending on average 6-8 seconds scanning a resume.
With that in mind, it’s important to be strategic about what information you include and how you present it.
There are many different resume formats and styles out there, and there is no “perfect” way to write a resume. However, there are certain guidelines to take into account regarding structure, content, and formatting.
Once you are familiar with resumes in general, it is important to tailor your information to the position and industry you are applying for.
A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a special type of resume traditionally used within the academic, scientific, and research industries.
CVs are much more comprehensive than resumes including earned degrees, work history and experiences, as well as sections dedicated to teaching, research, publications, and presentations. A CV tends to be much more static in nature and is only updated as your accomplishments grow.
Cover letters are important because they give the hiring manager an understanding of who you are, how you learned about the opportunity, why you are interested in working for the organization, and why you would be a great fit for the position.
The content of your cover letter will expound upon a few key points from your resume that highlight the skills and experiences your potential employer is looking for. Keep in mind that this is also an opportunity to demonstrate your writing ability. Make sure that your writing is cohesive, concise, grammatically correct, and confident in tone.
The job search can be intimidating. Don’t let the pressure of your end goal keep you from taking small steps today. Utilize our job search quick start guide and associated activity for tips on what steps to take first. Need assistance in organizing your job prospects? Feel free to consult the Job Application Tracker tool to help with organizing your incoming job applications. This handy tool is designed to organize important information relating to targeted companies, potential connections, and general application considerations.
TOP JOB BOARDS
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HANDSHAKE
Search thousands of employment opportunities, register for career-related events, schedule an appointment with a career advisor, and connect with great companies and organizations all in one place with Handshake.
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INDEED
Indeed.com is the #1 job site in the world with over 250 million unique visitors every month. Indeed strives to put job seekers first, giving them free access to search for jobs, post resumes, and research companies. Every day Indeed connects millions of people to new opportunities.
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LINKEDIN
Use LinkedIn to network, research companies of interest, locate informational interview contacts, and improve your personal brand. This free site opens the door to over 70 million professionals around the globe, representing 150 industries.
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UPSTATE JOB BOARD
Looking to Move Up with a career in Upstate South Carolina? Big names in business, technology and financial services maintain major headquarters operations in the Upstate, which means a range of open positions, including in marketing and sales, human resources, IT and much more. Find a job in Upstate, SC today.
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INDUSTRY SPECIFIC JOB BOARDS
Handshake, LinkedIn, and Indeed provide a vast amount of job postings for all industries. To look at job boards that post specifically for the industry you want to work in, visit our Career Pathways page.
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EARLY CAREER PROGRAMS
This list features many well-known employers who offer rotational, leadership development, management training or other dedicated programs targeting college graduates entering the work force. These employers often provide opportunities for a broad array of majors; however, some opportunities may be more selective based on major. Keep in mind that many opportunities may have deadlines early in the academic year (ie. late summer into fall semester), especially the banks, finance and consulting companies.
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NETWORKING
Networking is building and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships to develop career prospects. It is one of the most important factors of career success. 80% of jobs are not posted online but instead found through networking. This process takes grit, patience, and commitment.
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INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS
These brief conversations are an opportunity for you to get to know more about a professional, a career field, or a company that you’re interested in pursuing and share your elevator pitch.
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FURMAN PROFESSIONAL NETWORK
Want to meet with a Furman alumni about career trends, applying for graduate school, the job search process, work-life balance, or lessons learned? The Mentoring office can connect you with professionals to answer your questions and provide guidance as you navigate the next steps of your career path.
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FOLLOW UP
Finally, if you have connected with an employer through any Malone Center events during the year, make sure that you follow up with that connection on a regular basis. This may lead to that connection thinking of you when they know of an available opportunity.
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INTERVIEW PREPARATION
Preparing for an interview takes time, dedication, and practice. There are many different types of interviews depending on the position and industry. Make sure you prepare for your specific interview situation.
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BIG INTERVIEW
Big Interview can help you work through your verbal and nonverbal communication skills so you can make your best impression in an interview. Big Interview gives you industry-related advice and an opportunity to put it into practice. Record your interview practice and send it to a Malone Center Career Advisor for additional tips and tricks to ace your interview.
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FOLLOWING UP
Send a thank-you email and/or note the same day of your interview with specific things you appreciated about the company and individuals you met. If they choose to move forward in the hiring process they will likely ask for your references, be prepared with a list to give them and make sure to ask permission of those you list as references.
INTERVIEW TYPES WITH SAMPLE QUESTIONS
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BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEWS
Behavioral interviews are the most common type of interview. You will be asked questions that relate to your past behavior to help determine your skill level and fit for the organization. Organizations will determine what skill sets are ideal for the position and then ask questions that target those skills. Utilize the STAR Method to be effective in answering these questions.
- Sample Interview Questions
- Tell me about a problem you have solved in a unique or creative way.
- Tell me about a difficult decision you had to make.
- Tell me about a goal you set that you did NOT reach.
- Give me an example of a time when you had to work with someone who was difficult to get along with.
- Give me an example of a time when you showed initiative and took the lead on a project.
- Give me an example of how you manage your time. What factors do you consider?
- Tell me about a time when your opinion was challenged. How did you handle it?
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CASE INTERVIEWS
Case interviews are used by consulting firms (and occasionally graduate programs) to evaluate your analytical thinking skills and your poise under pressure. Typically, a case focuses on solving a problem and your goal throughout the interview is to discuss and analyze the problem with the interviewer and provide a recommendation based on quantitative and qualitative reasoning.
The purpose of the interview is not necessarily to get the “right” answer, but to show that you can think critically, remain calm under pressure, and that you understand fundamental concepts.
- Sample Interview Questions
- Your nephew runs a lemonade stand. Yesterday was Monday and he was open from 2pm – 5pm, and sold 2 cups. What should he do differently tomorrow?
- Volvo claims it is the safest car in the world because fewer people die in a Volvo than in a car made by any other manufacturer in the world. What’s wrong with this conclusion?
- How many gallons of gasoline does an average gas station in America sell on an average day?
Furman students now have access to CaseCoach, the world’s #1 case interview prep platform. Every year, more than sixty thousand candidates use CaseCoach to double their chance of receiving an offer. Over a hundred leading universities and two of the top-3 global management consulting firms have chosen CaseCoach as their interview preparation partner.
CaseCoach provides everything you need to prepare for case study interviews used by top consulting firms and other employers, including:
· Comprehensive video courses covering Case Interviews, Case Math, Consulting Fit Interviews, and McKinsey’s Personal Experience Interview
· 25 interview videos featuring real candidates who went on to join top consulting firms with detailed commentary on their performance
· Unlimited access to the Practice Room, where you can organize mock interviews with other students, within your school or from our 100+ partner schools, and track your performance
· A searchable library of 100+ exclusive case studies with solutions, covering a variety of sectors, functions and formats
· Calculations, structures, case math and charts drills to perfect critical skills on your own
· A candidate dashboard where you can generate a personal preparation plan with a daily list of tasks tailored to your objectives, schedule, and background
To gain access to CaseCoach, please schedule an “Industry Insight Business, Finance & Consulting” appointment via Handshake with Katie Pluemer for instructions and redemption code.
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MULTIPLE MINI INTERVIEWS
Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) are becoming popular among medical schools and other allied health profession programs (Physician Assistant, Physical Therapy, etc.). MMIs consist of several short practical assessments, usually less than 10 minutes each. You’ll be presented with a scenario before each mini interview and you will have a bit of time to prepare an answer. Then you’ll either be asked a question by an interviewer or have to engage in a role-play scenario with an actor.
Here are the key things you need to know about MMIs:
1. MMI interviews will probably take about 2 hours
2. Each mini interview will usually take no longer than 10 minutes
3. Most universities will have around 10 MMI ‘stations’- Sample Interview Questions
- A close friend in one of your university classes tells you that his mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. He feels overwhelmed by his studies and is considering dropping his courses to spend more time with his mother. How do you counsel your friend? (2 minutes to prepare, 8 minutes to answer)
- Joe is a pizza delivery worker. The pizza shop he works for has a “30 minutes or less” delivery guarantee or else the customer does not have to pay. On Joe’s most recent delivery, he spots a woman who appears to be injured. There is no one else around and the woman seems to be unable to move by herself. However, Joe knows that if he returns empty-handed again, he will be fired from this job which he most desperately needs. What do you think Joe should do? Justify your solution in terms of practical and ethical considerations.
- Discuss an experience that allowed you to learn something important about yourself. How will this lesson help you succeed in your career?
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PHONE & VIRTUAL INTERVIEWS
Phone interviews are usually the first step in the recruiting process. It is also sometimes called a “phone screen.” These conversations are usually 30 minutes to 1 hour long and consist of generalized interview questions. The interviewer wants to hear more about the experiences on your resume. Prepare for this as you would a normal face-to-face interview.
Virtual interviews are now commonplace with many employers. There are additional dynamics to consider as you prepare for a virtual interview. Read our virtual interviewing guide for tips on lighting, staging, and virtual etiquette.
- Sample Interview Questions
- Tell me about yourself.
- What do you consider to be your greatest strength/weakness?
- Why do you want to work for this organization?
- How does this position align with your career goals?
- How do you handle stress?
- How did you decide on your major?
- How did you decide to attend Furman?
- Describe your most significant accomplishment.
Once you have completed the job search and interview process, the next step is to negotiate your job offer. Schedule an appointment for guidance through this process.