On February 22, the U.S.-Russia Chamber of Commerce (USRCC) partnered with LUKOIL International Upstream West Inc. (LIUW) to host a Young Professionals HR Panel and Networking event. It attracted around 40 participants from diverse companies and industries, although the majority of attendees represented the Energy sector.

Bonnie Beard

The panel discussion offered insight from industry experts on how to prepare a resume that stands out, how to use social media for networking and job searching, the best job search websites, and how to ace an interview. During the discussion, speakers provided the audience with a frank discussion featuring real examples, challenges and opportunities.

I was honored to serve as a panelist and participate with other industry leaders in the development of young professionals. This topic is especially relevant in today’s energy market where many people find themselves in the job market for the first time as a result of low energy prices.

My advice to the group was to share with them a perspective from an employer’s point of view. Cold calls are like junk mail. Nobody likes them. Employers typically do not like cold calls, so, what should you do? Make a plan and work your plan.

First, determine the industry you want to target and the type of company you want to work for, including the geographic location, size of the organization, culture that you want to work in, and what the company stands for.

Next, do your research; then, make a list of companies that meet your criteria.

I SHARED SEVERAL ACTIONS THAT CAN BE ADDED TO ANY JOB SEARCH TOOLKIT INCLUDING:

• Research Company websites, read news articles about the companies, contact Chamber of Commerce or your local government’s business association for a list of their members, and peruse classified employment advertisements in the newspaper. To get started quickly, you can research companies on websites such as Yahoo Finance© or Google Finance© and read articles from Fortune.com such as “The 25 Best Global Companies to Work For” or Forbes’ list of “The World’s Biggest Public Companies.” • Prepare a great resume and post it on job boards such as Glass Door©, Careerbuilder. com, Monster.com, Indeed.com, and LinkedIn.com.

• Prepare for the Interview. A list of common interview questions can be found on several job boards such as Careerbuilder.com. One common question is: ‘Why do you want this job?’ Tailor your response to ‘why I will be a good fit for the job.’ Avoid compensation and benefits questions and disparaging remarks about your former company or your boss.

• Network. Identify your network and work it. Your network includes everyone you know. Arrange an informational interview by asking someone in your network to contact one of their colleagues to arrange for you to meet them and ask them questions about the industry or job you’re interested in. It is not a job interview. It is an opportunity for you to speak to someone in the industry who can provide tips to help you target the companies on your target list or remove companies from your list if the feedback isn’t good. This type of interview can also help you validate whether or not the position you chose to target is right for you.

Ultimately, your plan should include what you really want to do, enjoy doing and what you are good at. Maybe you should work for yourself. How can you market skills you already have? Consider turning hobbies into careers. Research, prepare and network to find just the right job for you.