Graduation isn't the end of your lifelong membership

The academic year and undergraduate experience are coming to a close for many collegiate members.  However, all initiates are considered members for a lifetime, and are welcome to become involved at a variety of levels.  Large or small, there are many ways to stay a part of Mortar Board.

• Update your address every time you move to stay informed about Mortar Board for years to come.
• Lend a hand to a collegiate chapter by becoming an advisor or assisting with chapter projects and events.   
• Start networking by joining the Career and Graduate School Network, where you can be put in touch with other Mortar Board members in your geographic region, career or field of study.
• Continue your involvement by joining an existing alumni chapter.  To find out if there is one near you, check this list.
• No alumni chapter near you?  With more than 200,000 alumni living in cities all across the world, it is easy to get in touch with members near you to start a new alumni chapter.  Inquire with the National Office for more information. 
• Always check our website for benefits (such as discounts and services) that might help you.

To let the National Office know if you are interested in these types of involvement or others, simply fill out this easy online form. 

Looking for a job? Learn how to prepare for behavioral interviewing

Behavioral interviewing is a strategy used by interviewers to learn how you have reacted in past situations and gauge how you may handle a similar situation or project with their company. An interviewee can tell an employer wants a response in a behavioral format if they use phrases such as “please describe” or “tell me about a time when.”

The best way to prepare for these types of questions is to make lists of situations illustrating your skills and strengths that you can use as a response to a variety of behavioral interview situations. Concrete results or effects are very helpful in illustrating the strengths you are seeking to highlight. 

Answer behavioral questions by:

1. Describing the situation or circumstance in which you found yourself or the task with which you were faced
2. Explain the action(s) you took in the situation
3. Share the end result, stressing positive impacts you made

Some common behavioral interview questions are:

• Can you describe a time where you needed to use teamwork to solve a problem?
• Please give me an example of a time when you had to assume a leadership role unexpectedly.
• Give me an example of a time when you had a conflict with a teammate or coworker and how you solved it.
• Explain a time when you went above and beyond what was needed.

For more information, visit the resources section of the Mortar Board Career Center. This section connects you with career coaches, allows you to share questions with experts, and provides free access to a library of great articles with tips for interviewing and job searching.

Additional interviewing tips to help you land your dream job

Research. Learn all you can about the company before the interview. Read reports, visit the website, scan newsletters and stay up-to-date on any major changes within the company.

Know some common interview questions.  You should arrive prepared and ready to answer anything that comes your way.  Here are a few common questions to launch your preparations.

• Why are you interested in this position/company?
• Tell me about yourself.
• What are your strengths/weaknesses?
• Where do you see yourself five years from now?
• Do you have any questions for me?

Prepare good questions. An interview is a two-way street; you and your interviewer should be learning from each other. Make sure you address key questions about job responsibilities but steer away from questions already covered by the company or inappropriate (i.e. salary and benefits questions). Some good questions to ask:

• Can you explain what a typical day in this role would be like?
• What skills do you consider most relevant for this position?
• What qualities should your ideal candidate for this job possess?
• What is the next step in this process?

Dress the part.  Dressing appropriately often is synonymous with wearing a suit. Pay attention to the details of your appearance and limit jewelry. For men, this means more than a watch is a little much. Don’t forget to top off that great first impression you'll make with a strong handshake. 

Sound natural, not rehearsed. You want to sound prepared with your responses, but not unnatural or mechanical. Practice with a friend or record your responses and listen to them yourself. Don’t be afraid to tell the potential employer about your skills and accomplishments.

Don’t read your résumé verbatim.  There is no need to simply rehash facts already stated on your résumé. Employers have already read it, and this document should serve as a jumping off point for questions. Expand upon what you’ve included in your résumé to give the employer more detail.

Be appreciative. Nothing says "thank you" like a thoughtful, handwritten note.  These notes should be written and mailed immediately after the interview to your interviewers and company contacts.  Depending on mail time and the day of the week, you may want to follow-up with an immediate e-mail after the interview while your card is in the mail.   

Seal the deal. Make sure you thoroughly read any offers you receive, research average salaries in your field, and know what’s expected in your new position. 

Alumni sustaining membership: giving back

Becoming an alumni sustaining member is a great way to give back to Mortar Board after your active membership.  With dues of just $25 annually or $300 lifetime for a recent graduate, it is an easy way to support national initiatives, help fund projects, expand leadership opportunities and provide fellowship grants.  Twenty percent of your membership dues will go straight to the chapter of your choice. 

Those who become a part of the Alumni Sustaining Program will be listed in the annual report, featured in the spring edition of the Mortar Board Forum. 

If you are interested in contributing to Mortar Board’s future, sign up today! 

Connect with other Mortar Board members

Whether you are interested in building professional connections, staying updated on Mortar Board news, or making new Mortar Board friends, Mortar Board offers a networking solution.

Facebook
Millions of people use Facebook each day to keep in touch with friends, upload photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet. On Facebook, you can like Mortar Board or join the national Mortar Board group.

LinkedIn
LinkedIn is an online network of more than 30 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries. Network with other Mortar Board members in numerous career fields by joining the Mortar Board group.

MySpace
Friends, family, classmates, professionals, acquaintances and more connect in the MySpace online community. Get to know other Mortar Board members or simply show your pride by joining the national Mortar Board group.

Twitter
On Twitter, members have the opportunity to subscribe to Mortar Board’s updates in a variety of manners including via the website, RSS feeds, e-mail, SMS text messages and more. These updates feature news about national Mortar Board, remind members of upcoming opportunities and offer special bulletins on merchandise sales and more.

Connect with Mortar Board

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KODA - a unique job-search network for young professionals

You can explore job opportunities in a better way on KODA, the online community for employers and young professionals. KODA showcases companies like New York Life, Yelp, GEICO, Agilent and IDEO. Recruiters from these employers are trying to hire Mortar Board members: they're scouring the KODA community for possible recruits, so create a profile and connect with them.

Find out what these companies are like and understand your career options - they're more diverse than you think. You'll have the added advantage of featuring your affiliation with Mortar Board on your profile, which helps you stand out to employers who are actively searching for recruits in the KODA community.

Sign up now

Need a scholarship?  Search now.

Mortar Board members are given access to a scholarship search engine, hosted by FastWeb. There, members have access to more than a million scholarships with more than $3 billion in awards. 

Browse the search engine now.

Mortar Board provides great benefits to its members

Mortar Board makes every effort to provide beneficial opportunities, outstanding discounts and valuable services to members. 

Be sure to check this list regularly to be sure that you are taking advantage of all the benefits Mortar Board has to offer!

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