How do I get involved?
Just like applying for a job, upload your resumé to the Placement center. After uploading your resumé, you will be asked a few additional questions that will provide your submission with "key words" so employers looking for your skills will find you quickly.
Do I have to sign up in advance to participate in the Placement Center at the Conference?
No, you can sign up at the Conference during the general Conference registration. However, getting an early start and being prepared makes your Placement Center experience much smoother. Early sign up gives you the benefit of:
- Posting your resumé to the website. Remember the "key words" that you added to your resumé by answering the questions? Employers can search these before the conference, potentially allowing your talents to get noticed sooner!
- Conducting your own search of the available jobs. Ultimately, the employers will contact you if they are interested in interviewing you; but, you are able to show initiative and reach out to employers with job postings that fit your skills. Keep in mind, this is a competitive hiring situation. Each job posting should have contact information for a recruiter or hiring manager. Reach out and get noticed!
- Bringing helpful materials that day of the Placement Center. Don't spend your Annual Conference scrambling to find extra copies of your resumé or business cards. Sign up early and come prepared with any printed materials you may need at the Placement Center.
I am a discrete job seeker. I don’t want my current employer to know that I am interviewing. How do I keep them from seeing my resumé on the Placement Center site?
You will not want to upload a resumé. You will have to be more proactive in your search because of this and contact employers directly, but nobody will know you are registered. Of course, we cannot guarantee your anonymity in the physical location of the Placement Center. If you schedule interviews with potential employers, you will need to decide to what extent you want to be forthcoming about meeting publicly.
What do I say when I reach out to a potential employer?
You can make the message to the employer as simple or elaborate as you'd like. Send an email to the contact and let them know you are interest in the position or the organization. If you'd like to be more detailed, explain why you are interested in the position and the specific skills/experiences that you would bring to the organization. Be direct and mention that you are interested in setting up an interview with them on site. Don't forget to let them know your contact information so they can easily get back with you. Shakespeare once wrote “brevity is the soul of wit.” Allow yourself enough writing to portray yourself favorably, but save your big “sales pitch” for the on-site interview.
Should I email my resumé to every employer to maximize my chances for an interview?
You could, but that isn't a good use of your time. Stick to the jobs you are genuinely interested in, and where you have relevant skills for the job. Additionally, the network at SIOP is very close-knit and you don't want the reputation as someone who is "spamming their resumé out." Remember that all employers have access to your resumé online.
Can I walk into the Placement Center and meet a variety of employers?
The Placement Center is not a job fair. Employers and job seekers make appointments via phone or email to meet for interviews during the Annual conference. All Placement Center applicants will be given the opportunity to attend an "open house" format with the organizations participating in Placement Center at the beginning of the conference (further details will be provided), but other than this time, presence in the interviewing area is restricted to those conducting interviews. If you have not registered you cannot use the Placement Center.
What do I do if an employer proposes a meeting time the day of the Conference, and I don't notice until after the proposed time?
If you signed up to participate in the Placement Center, we recommend that you keep an eye on your phone to avoid a situation like this. However, the Conference is a buzzing place and situations like this can happen! Respond to the employer saying that you received their note after their proposed meeting time, but would be very interested in meeting with them. Include times when you are available to make coordination easier for them, giving as many options as possible.
I have an interview scheduled at the Conference. Now what?
Prepare for your interview! Confirm the time and location of the interview with the employer. While the Placement Center is provided with tables and chairs for interviewing, some employers may choose to conduct interviews at their exhibit booth, hospitality suite, in the hotel lobby or restaurant. While there will be a waiting area in the Placement Center for job seekers, you should still establish how to make contact at the scheduled time. If the organization you are scheduled to meet with is interviewing another candidate, wait in the waiting area. If they're not with a candidate, approach the employer and introduce yourself.
Consider the time that your interview is scheduled. If the interview will be during peak times, the interview area can be crowded and loud. Prepare accordingly! Both hiring managers and seekers would benefit from practicing an interview in similar distracting conditions. Have a friend practice with you in a noisy restaurant!
What should I do if I find a job before the conference?
Congratulations on your success! Please contact the SIOP Administrative Office immediately and we will remove your entry from the site.
Conference dress gets more casual each day of the conference. Does this mean that I should dress more casually for interviews as the conference progresses?
Just like any other interview, your goal is to make as positive an impression as possible. It is recommended that you wear business formal attire to your interviews throughout the conference.
What is the mock interviewing process?
Job seekers who sign up for the Placement Center can also participate in the Mock Interview Program, allowing them to gain experience interviewing and receive feedback. SIOP members volunteer to conduct a mock interview with job seekers during the conference and provide constructive feedback to help the job seekers improve their interviewing skills. The SIOP Placement Center committee will send out an email a few weeks before the conference to allow job seekers to sign up for mock interviewing. Each year we have more job seekers than interviewers and space is determined on a first come, first come basis, so be sure to sign up early!
I will not be able to attend the conference this year. Can I still access the job seeker database?
Yes! Even if you cannot attend the conference this year, you can still access the Job Seeker database following the conference without participating in the Placement Center. Access to the web site is available one (1) week after the conference through June 30, 2019. The cost is $60 to access job postings. Contact the SIOP office at siop@siop.org or 419-353-0032 to sign-up.