Employers often ask JD/MBA students why they have chosen to earn both degrees. Be prepared to link your business career goals to the benefits of earning a law degree. It will be of great benefit to include a Career Objective statement at the top of your resume to establish at the outset your desire to combine the two in a business situation. For example:

CAREER OBJECTIVE
A position in human resources management where I may apply my business skills and extensive knowledge of the legal and regulatory environment.

There is no doubt that a great legal resume is very different from a great MBA resume. Pay close attention to formatting. Avoid listing your experience in paragraph form. Instead, use bulleted statements to describe your experience and accomplishments. Emphasize business and managerial experience. List your experience with a law firm or other legal organization from a business perspective. For example:

Baker, McReynolds, Byrne, O'Kane, Shea & Townsend
Legal Clerk - Internship, May 2003 - August 2003

• Researched and analyzed legal concepts in both statutory and case law for use in trials
• Increased file retrieval efficiency by reorganizing system for filing closed cases
  

This section taken from an actual JD/MBA resume emphasizes this student's analytical skills, ability to conduct useful research, and improve the internal operations of an office. Be very specific about your achievements and know how that can be translated in a business environment.

You should also be prepared for employers to be concerned about your graduation date. Most MBA recruiters hire MBA interns with the intention of bringing them on board full-time after graduation. If you will not complete both the MBA and JD program in two years, be prepared to offer reasons why that organization should consider you for an internship. Offer to return the following summer to tackle more advanced projects if necessary.

For more information, please visit http://www.mbamonster.com/Resume_Checklist.html.

1. A cover letter is not as important as a resume.
A cover letter is just as important, if not more, than a resume. If an employer LIKES what they see in your cover letter, they will be more likely to LIKE what they see in your resume (this is called the "halo effect" for you psychology buffs). If an employer DOES NOT LIKE what they see in your cover letter, they may never get to your resume!

2. A cover letter is intended to give an employer an overall understanding of your past.
A cover letter should give an employer an understanding of WHAT YOU CAN DO now and in the future. It should not be an extensive description of your past.

3. Your cover letter is simply a repeat of your resume.
A cover letter should "personalize" your information and identify how your skills and experiences are directly relevant to the position you are applying for.

4. You should try to dazzle an employer with a cover letter that is filled with large, fancy words.
Keep your cover letter clear and to-the-point. If you can replace a large word for a clearer, more concise word, DO IT (i. e., repair—fix, assistance—help)!

5. Cover letters should be written in paragraph style with no variation.
Just as in vocal communication, you can emphasize your most important points in a cover letter.
To do this:
Use bullets to emphasize relevant qualifications
Use underlining or bold to emphasize a word or phrase.

6. It does not matter what kind of font/printer/paper I use to create a cover letter.
These components of a cover letter a very important, especially if you will be sending your resume and cover letter through the mail. Ensure that your cover letter is visually appealing by printing it on a laser printer on high quality resume paper (your resume and cover letter should be printed on the same paper).

7. A cover letter should begin with the salutation, "To Whom it May Concern".
Try your best to find the name of the person who will be receiving the letter. If this is not possible, use a position title in the salutation (i. e., Dear Hiring Manager:)

Here are six surefire ways to make your cover letter stand out from your competition when apply for an MBA internship:

1. Grab the employer's attention immediately in the first paragraph. Begin with a sentence that entices the employer to continue reading.
2. Tell the employer what you can do for him or her!! Tell the employer how you meet their qualifications and convince them that you can be a benefit.
3. Show the employer that you have researched the company! This is perhaps one of the most important things you can do, because it will place you in the minority, for most job applicants do not do this.
4. When discussing experience relevant to the position, highlight an accomplishment that you feel proud of. Also, discussing past examples of behavior gives the employer a hint of what you would be like in the position.
5. Limit your cover letter to one page.
6. Always remember to do a spell check and PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD!! One simple mistake could cost you the position.

One very powerful interview strategy that may set you far ahead of your competition is a well-thought-out, professional career portfolio.

For many individuals in creative positions (i.e., creative advertising, graphic/web design, etc.), using a portfolio is not a secret. It is a very necessary part of the job search, much like a cover letter and a resume. However, for other, less-creative positions, using a portfolio in the job search is not as well-known. Here is how this technique can be a internship-search secret weapon for MBA students seeking internships in any profession or industry:

Reasons for Using a Professional Portfolio
A strong professional career portfolio provides direct evidence of your relevant accomplishments. It provides potential employers with a "snapshot" of your achievements to date, the type of work you have done, and the type of employee you will be. A professional portfolio goes well beyond a cover letter and resume. Rather than simply telling an employer about your skills, it provides physical evidence of them.

How a Professional Portfolio Should Be Used
A professional portfolio is typically presented within an interview situation. A portfolio should be neat, clear and concise and be tailored to a specific type of position. For example, a student applying for a computer programming internship might present an example of a program he or she has written when asked about relevant programming experience. Additionally, a marketing communications intern candidate might present an example of marketing brochures that he or she has created when asked about previous marketing experience.

Contents of a Professional Portfolio
There are a variety of items that may be included in a professional portfolio. Contents selected should be relevant to your industry and internship of interest and should provide evidence of your skills/achievements to a potential employer. Example portfolio items include:

• Letters of Recommendation from Employers/College Professors
• Performance Reviews
• Thank-You Notes
• Awards, Scholarships, Grants
• Examples of Writing: Articles, Papers
• Examples of Projects
• Examples of Presentations
• Brochures/Fliers Created
• Certificate Programs
• Academic Curriculum
• Web Sites/Pages Created
• College Transcripts
• Marketing Plans
• Computer Program Code

Types of Professional Portfolios
A traditional type of portfolio generally consists of a high-quality, leather-bound folder that attractively displays professional documents. Plastic sheet covers may also be used for an added professional look and to help protect valuable documents.

Another type of includes an electronic or web portfolio. This may be advantageous if your employer of choice utilizes web/electronic resumes in their search for interns. In many cases, this is an advanced version of a resume that provides links to portfolio information.

Conclusion
In conclusion, using a portfolio can help anyone move to the top as an internship candidate. It goes beyond a cover letter and a resume by providing employers with direct physical examples of your skills and accomplishments.

MBA Career Fair success lies in effective preparation and communication. Make sure to research the employers that you want to visit. It is important to learn about their companies and overall industrues, as well as the positions they are looking to fill and what type of candidates they are looking for. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for your next MBA career fair:

1. Arrive with a positive attitude and have your 30-second commercial or "pitch" ready.
2. Bring at least 20 copies of your resume. Employers only look at resumes for an average of 10 seconds. You will want to make sure you leave employers with the best impression possible. Check out the MBA Resume Workbook for advice on how to construct the ultimate resume, and/or check out MBA Sample Resume 1, MBA Sample Resume 2 and MBA Sample Resume 3 for guidance.
3. Do your research! The more you know about a company, the more you can converse with the company representative and the more memorable you will be.
4. Plan a few key questions! Be ready to ask intelligent questions like asking how your skills might be utilized within the framework of the company and by asking questions about relevant news within that organization. Make sure to ask the recruiter what he or she likes best about the corporate culture to better assess if that company is right for you.
5. Get the interviewer's business card. If you are called for an interview, you will want to follow up with a letter that reinforces the points you made and the facts you learned.
6. Maximize, Maximize, Maximize! The lines for employers might be daunting, but don't fail to maximize this opportunity. Talk to every company that fits your experience and ambitions. If you meet with 20 recruiters, at the end of the day you will know 20 people by name. That sure beats sending a blind resume to "Recruiting Director."
7. Wear proper business attire. First impressions count! Check out InternshipGPS' article Dress to Impress for more tips for how to dress for such events.
8. Follow-up. Some would say it is one of the most important. You would be surprised at how few job-seekers actually take the time to follow-up their career fair interviews, thus when you do it, you will have an edge over the many others who do not. There are two main methods of follow-up. Some experts suggest actually calling the recruiter the evening of the fair and leaving a voicemail message thanking the recruiter again for his/her time that day. A more concrete and traditional method is to write a thank you note and mail it the next day to the address on the recruiter's business card. In the letter, thank the recruiter for his/her time, restate your interest and qualifications for the position, reiterate your interest in a second interview, and make a promise to follow-up the letter with a phone call (and then make sure you do in fact call). You probably should enclose another copy of your resume to be sure. What should the thank you letter look like? Here is a sample thank you letter to a career fair recruiter.
   

Promote your MBA internship opportunities on InternshipGPS!

Want to post your internship and already know how? Click Here!

New to InternshipGPS? Read on to learn how to easy it is to promote your internships on InternshipGPS!

InternshipGPS.com is one of the most comprehensive sources on the web for MBA internships and information related to the internship search resumes, cover letters and MBA internship interviews. Promoting your opportunities on InternshipGPS is an inexpensive, but highly-effective way to reach hundreds of top internship-seeking MBA students worldwide.

While InternshipGPS currently searches the web, including several job sites, such as Monster, CareerBuilder and Indeed, to identify, screen and post MBA internships daily, it is not possible to guarantee that all will be found or included. And considering that so many employers offer internships, it may be difficult for yours to stand out from the "crowd."

Make sure that internship-seekers do not miss your opportunities by promoting them directly through InternshipGPS. It's inexpensive, only $50 for 45 days, and it's easy, just follow these steps:

1. Click here to go to our own internship listing platform, a service hosted by SimplyHired.
2. Click on the "Post a Job" link on the upper righthand side of the page.
3. Complete the internship posting and payment process.

That's it! You're done. Your opportunity will be displayed on our internship listing platform for 45 days. But that's not all. Your internship will also be featured for 10 days at the top of the InternshipGPS.com, allowing internship-seekers every time they visit any page of our website. In addition, your internship will be highlighted in a featured in a daily post on the website. This post will be sent out as a daily e-mail update to subscribers. This makes it easy for internship-seekers to see your opportunities even on a day when they do not visit the website.

If you are an employer or a recruiter, are interested in promoting your opportunities on InternshipGPS, but still have some questions or concerns or would like to propose a promotional idea or opportunity, please contact me directly at princeofdesign(at)gmail.com.

1. Tell me about yourself: The most often asked question in interviews.
You need to have a shortstatement prepared in your mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed. Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start with the item farthest back and work up to the present.
2. Why did you leave your last job?
Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, co-workers or the organization. If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forward-looking reasons.
3. What experience do you have in this field?
Speak about specifics that relate to the position you are applying for. If you do not have specific experience, get as close as you can.
4. Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain why. A good explanation is that you have set goals, and you have met some and areon track to achieve the others.
5. What do co-workers say about you?
Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either a specificstatement or a paraphrase will work. Jill Clark, a co-worker at SmithCompany, always said I was the hardest workers she had ever known. Itis as powerful as Jill having said it at the interview herself.
6. What do you know about this organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on the organization before the interview. Find out where they have been and where they are going. What are the current issues and who are the major players?
7. What have you done to improve your knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate to the job. A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as positive self-improvement. Have some good ones handy to mention.
8. Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this area. Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for this organization. Anything else is a distraction.
9. Why do you want to work for this organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be based on the research you have done on the organization. Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.
10. Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the organization. This can affect your answer even though they asked about friends not relatives. Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well thought of.
11. What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you will probably lose if you answer first. So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like, 'That’s a tough question. Can you tell me the range for this position?' In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard, will tell you. If not, say that it can depend on the details of the job. Then give a wide range.
12. Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player. Be sure to have examples ready. Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your team attitude. Do not brag, just say it in a matter-of-fact tone. This is a key point.
13. How long would you expect to work for us if hired?
Specifics here are not good. Something like this should work, 'I’d like it to be a long time, or as long as we both feel I’m doing a good job.'
14. Have you ever had to fire anyone? How did you feel about that?
This is serious. Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to fire people. At the same time, you will do it when it is the right thing to do. When it comes to the organization versus the individual who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the organization. Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in force.
15. What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery dissertation here. Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes. That’s the type of answer that works best here. Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.
16. If you had enough money to retire right now, would you?
Answer yes if you would. But since you need to work, this is the type of work you prefer. Do not say yes if you do not mean it.
17. Have you ever been asked to leave a position?
If you have not, say no. If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying negative things about the people or organization involved.
18. Explain how you would be an asset to this organization.
You should be anxious for this question. It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they relate to the position being discussed. Give a little advance thought to this relationship.
19. Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the organization needs. Do not mention any other candidates to make a comparison.
20. Tell me about a suggestion you have made.
Have a good one ready. Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted and was then considered successful. One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.
21. What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question. Think real hard but fail to come up with anything that irritates you. A short statement that you seem to get along with folks is great.
22. What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good examples: Your ability to prioritize, Your problem-solving skills, Your ability to work under pressure, Your ability to focus on projects, Your professional expertise, Your leadership skills, Your positive attitude.
23. Tell me about your dream job.
Stay away from a specific job. You cannot win. If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain credibility. If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will be dissatisfied with this position if hired. The best is to stay genetic and say something like: A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute andc an’t wait to get to work.
24. Why do you think you would do well at this job?
Give several reasons and include skills, experience and interest.
25. What are you looking for in a job?
See answer # 23
26. What kind of person would you refuse to work with?
Do not be trivial. It would take disloyalty to the organization, violence or lawbreaking to get you to object. Minor objections will label you as a whiner.
27. What is more important to you: the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the most important. There is no better answer.
28. What would your previous supervisor say your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities: Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard work, Creativity, Problem solver
29. Tell me about a problem you had with a supervisor.
Biggest trap of all. This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss. If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former boss, you may well end the interview right there. Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any trouble with a supervisor.
30. What has disappointed you about a job?
Don’t get trivial or negative. Safe areas are few but can include: Not enough of a challenge, You were laid off in a reduction, Company did not win a contract which would have given you more responsibility.
31. Tell me about your ability to work under pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of pressure. Give an example that relates to the type of position applied for.
32. Do your skills match this job or another job more closely?
Probably this one. Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may want another job more than this one.
33. What motivates you to do your best on the job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but good examples are: Challenge, Achievement, Recognition
34. Are you willing to work overtime? Nights? Weekends?
This is up to you. Be totally honest.
35. How would you know you were successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures: You set high standards for yourself and meet them. Your outcomes are as uccess. Your boss tells you that you are successful.
36. Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the interview if you think there is a chance it may come up. Do not say yes just to get the job if the real answer is no. This can create a lot of problems later on in your career. Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.
37. Are you willing to put the interests of the organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question. Do not worry about the deep ethical and philosophical implications. Just say yes.
38. Describe your management style.
Try to avoid labels. Some of the more common labels, like progressive, salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or descriptions depending on which management expert you listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you will manage according to the situation, instead of one size fits all.
39. What have you learned from mistakes on the job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain credibility. Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive lesson learned. An example would be working too far ahead of colleagues on a project and thus throwing coordination off.
40. Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question. If you know about blind spots, they are no longer blindspots. Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here. Let them do their own discovery on your bad points. Do not hand it to them.
41. If you were hiring a person for this job, what would you look for?
Be careful to mention traits that are needed and that you have.
42. Do you think you are overqualified for this position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you are very well qualified for the position.
43. How do you propose to compensate for your lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer does not know about, bring that up. Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard working quick learner.
44. What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive. Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of high standards. All bosses think they have these traits.
45. Tell me about a time when you helped resolve a dispute betweenothers.
Pick a specific incident. Concentrate on your problem solving technique and not the dispute you settled.
46. What position do you prefer on a team working on a project?
Be honest. If you are comfortable in different roles, point that out.
47. Describe your work ethic.
Emphasize benefits to the organization. Things like, determination to get the job done and work hard but enjoy your work are good.
48. What has been your biggest professional disappointment?
Be sure that you refer to something that was beyond your control. Showacceptance and no negative feelings.
49. Tell me about the most fun you have had on the job.
Talk about having fun by accomplishing something for the organization.
50. Do you have any questions for me?
Always have one or two questions prepared. Questions prepared where you will be an asset to the organization are good. How soon will I be able to be productive? and What type of projects will I be able to assist on? are good examples.

For more information, please visit http://bhuvans.wordpress.com/2006/08/19/50-common-interview-qa/

To effectively follow-up with an organization after your interview:

• Write to/Email the person who interviewed you within 24 hours if by letter or 48 hours if by email. Try to choose the method of communication that suits the company. Therefore, use email if they have emailed you.
• Thank them for the interview irrespective of how it went or ended.
• Be sure to have the right name and job title.
• Be brief and polite.
• Do not appear ‘pushy’ or impatient.
• Do not send multiple, identical notes. If you were interviewed by more than one person, send one to the person who was in charge.
• If you were not rejected on the day of the interview, include that you will be happy to provide any further information that might be required.

To effectively perform in an interview:

• Make sure to dress clean, smart and formal.
• Be spontaneous when giving answers to interview questions. While it is important to prepare ahead of time, you do not want your answers to sound scripted.
• Be confident, and try not to appear nervous or shy. If you have got this far, the organization is interested in you.
• Be the first person to say ‘hello’ and extend your hand when you meet your interviewer.
• Bring your file, notebook or dossier. Do not spread it out on the desk or table, but let it be seen by the interviewer.
• Do not be presumptious, and do not refer to ‘we’ as if you were a part of the organization already.
• If given the opportunity to ask questions, ask one or two at the most. Make them simple and have them ready. Do not pull out a long list.
• Watch for non-verbal cues.
• Make good, consistent eye contact.
• Lean forward, look interested, nod when the interviewer is speaking to you and be enthusiastic.
• Ask for clarification of any question that you do not understand.
• Don’t be critical of a previous employer or person. It will not make you an attractive candidate.
• Do not bring up salary requirements or ask about compensation in the initial interviews for any given opportunity unless the interviewer brings it up first.

To effectively prepare for your internship interview:

• Research the organization and the industry or sector in which it operates. Make sure to get up-to-date information right up until the time you have the interview. That level of knowledge and interest will impress your interviewer(s).
• Get a friend or family member to simulate the interview with you before you go. Practice answering general interview questions.
• Set some goals for the interview so to make sure that your key points successfully come across.
• Re-read your cover letter and resume before, and take some copies of these documents with you.

In the preparation for a job interview, you must begin by taking a look at yourself. A good first impression is key to getting off on the right foot at the start of an interview. Being clean and neat would definitely be a plus in making that good first impression. There is only going to be one chance at making a positive first impression, so nothing should be overlooked.

The first couple of things that should be taken care of prior to the interview are making sure that you are clean and well-groomed. By well-groomed I mean that your hair should be neat and cut appropriately for the position that is being pursued.

The second thing that should be taken care of prior to the interview is to make sure you wear the appropriate clothing. Nothing too flashy or too trendy should be worn, because you don't want your own individual style to come across wrong. A nice dark suit, maybe dark blue or charcoal, whether it is a man or a woman going for the position, would be a step in the right direction. It may be the one thing that changes their minds and makes it easier for them to choose some other candidate. At the end of the day, you want to show them that you are serious about the chance you may have at working there and so, you don't want something as simple to change as what you wear to ruin your chances. Therefore, something conservative and dark with the appropriate shirt, tie, and shoes would be a great start in preparing for an interview.

Don't know what to wear for an interview? Here are some helpful tips:

• Wear clothing that is both professional and comfortable for you.
• Be clean, which goes for you and your clothing.
• Be fairly conservative in dress--a two-piece suit, white dress shirt, and tie for a man. Women should wear either a more conservative suit or dress.
• Wear clean dress shoes.
• Wear a simple, clean hairstyle.
• Avoid excessive jewelry, make-up, or perfume/cologne.
• Wear a belt whose color matches that of your shoes.
• Do not wear white socks. Wear socks that go well with the color of your suit and shoes.

Here's what you might want to bring:

• A watch (but don't look at it during the interview)
• A pen and pad of paper (for taking notes)
• Extra copies of your resume
• A briefcase or portfolio rather than a backpack or purse

For more information, please visit http://www.prejobinterview.com/Job_Interview_Dress.html

Before submitting a final version of your resume, be sure your answer to each of the following questions is yes!

• Is your resume 1 page? A 1 page resume is recommended unless you've had considerable years of experience (extensive experience) or executive level experience because many recruiters won't read more than one page.
• Have you included your current MBA Program and your anticipated graduation date under the Education section of your resume?
• Have you started most of your bulleted statements with action verbs?
• Do you provide evidence of analytical skills?
• Do you provide evidence of leadership ability?
• Do you demonstrate that you are a team player?
• Do you go beyond listing what you did to providing the results of your work?
• Have you listed your academic honors?
• Have you listed other information that sets you apart from the rest?
• Have you checked for grammatical and spelling errors?
• Are you consistent with your use of present and past tense?
• Have you checked your contact information (phone #, email address, address, etc.)?
• Are your margins wide enough so that all information is visible when printed?
• Have you had someone else read through your resume to check for clarity and errors?

For more information, please visit http://www.mbamonster.com/Resume_Checklist.html

Prince of Design today unveiled its most recent development, InternshipGPS.com, an innovative online MBA internship resource center specially designed to facilitate the MBA internship search and overall application process for first-year graduate business students worldwide seeking opportunities in the United States.

Year after year, thousands of first-year MBA students throughout the world compete with one other for the top summer internship opportunities: however, while there are numerous job search engines and job posting websites, as well as countless off and online guides on resumes, cover letters and job interviews, there are few, if any, that truly focus on MBA students and centralize all of these opportunities and informational resources in one easy-to-navigate location.

At InternshipGPS.com, graduate business students can quickly view and link to the latest MBA internship opportunities posted by employers and recruiters from all across the web. In addition, interested employers and recruiters can contact InternshipGPS directly to post and/or promote their unique internship opportunities. Lastly, InternshipGPS will also provide guides and resources on resume and cover letter building, as well as on best practices and strategies for internship interviews.

InternshipGPS is committed to serving the needs of MBA students in their career path navigation. Students are encouraged to contact InternshipGPS with ideas, suggestions and concerns regarding how the organization can serve them more effectively.

While currently up and running, InternshipGPS.com is slated to officially launch this coming fall for the 2008-2009 internship search season.

For more information about InternshipGPS, please visit http://www.internshipgps.com/.

Media Contact :
Chris Perry
Prince of Design
E-mail: princeofdesign(at)gmail.com