BUILD YOUR CAREER

 

June 16, 2020 | Online
On June 16, 2020, Executive Director of the Public Leadership Education Network Sarah Bruno, Cybersecurity/Technology Business Development Lead for Jaros, Baum & Bolles Min Kyriannis, and JNA Associates President Nancy Lubin joined Women In International Security President Chantal de Jonge Oudraat for a conversation on how to put your best foot forward when searching for a new job and interviewing. The panelist shared tips on how to shine in an interview, negotiate salary, and ease into a new work environment. This conversation was the second webinar in our Professional Development Series co-hosted by Women In International Security. Members can watch a recording on our Member Career Resources Platform.

Advice from our Panelists

Ace your interview

  • Be confident. Think of an interview as a conversation and ask honest questions

  • Prepare: do your research! Know who is interviewing you, learn all you can about the company

  • Be yourself--an interview is not just about your qualifications, it's about whether you're a good fit for each other

  • Dress for the part--be professional, but be yourself

  • To connect over Zoom, smile and move occasionally to seem more engaged

  • Keep your answers concise (about 90 seconds) and use examples from your experience 

  • Be ready to answer standard questions: "tell us about yourself and your experience", “what are your weaknesses”, etc. When addressing “weaknesses”, show that you’re willing to learn and looking to grow

  • Know your resume backward and forwards--and be prepared to elaborate

  • Emphasize your soft skills

  • Practice, practice, practice! Have a strong awareness of yourself and how you come across


Negotiate your salary

  • Always negotiate and never be the first one to offer a number 

  • Do your research and know your worth by identifying a range. Don’t just research job titles, look at job responsibilities

  • Practice, don’t panic

  • Keep three numbers in mind: your goal, your absolute minimum, and what you expect

  • Don’t negotiate over email, use the phone--and make sure you’re talking to the right person

  • A good rule of thumb is to keep your counter offer within in $5-10k of the company’s offer

  • Keep in mind that salary is only one part of your compensation--look at all your benefits

  • If they ask for your previous salary, try to push it off: “I can discuss that once I understand this position better”

  • If your previous salary is public, don’t get discouraged--that could be why you are making a transition

  • Don’t be afraid to ask, but be ready to compromise. Know your worth, but also know what’s practical--it’s possible the negotiation won’t end with the salary you wanted, and it’s up to you if you want to move forward


Getting started in your new position

  • Start any new job by listening. Offices have different cultures and there is a lot to learn

  • Take initiative, be ready to pitch in, and be patient. Have a good attitude and don’t act like tasks are beneath you

  • Make sure you ALWAYS show integrity. Your professional reputation will follow you

  • Have a growth mindset and keep an open mind 

  • Not getting to your number? See if you can renegotiate in 6 months once you've proven yourself


Renegotiate your salary

  • Get clarity on when your next review is, so you know when you can ask for a raise or promotion

  • Keep a running list of your accomplishments to be prepared for your next negotiation


If you didn't get the job, now what?

  • Be gracious and thank them--you never know when another position might open up

  • Go back to networking--leverage your contacts and membership networks. Use your connections to get your resume to the top of the pile--personal recommendations go a long way

  • Connect with peers and those one step ahead of you, not necessarily the CEO

  • When you have an informational interview, ask them to introduce you to someone else


Thank you to our speakers!

Sarah BrunoSarah Bruno is the Executive Director of the Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN), providing program and administrative oversight to the organization. Prior to PLEN, Sarah consulted with nonprofit organizations to help them improve their operations and fundraising strategies. Previously, Sarah served as the Chief Operating Officer at the Truman National Security Project & Center for National Policy, National Development Director at America Votes and a Development Writer at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Before coming to Washington D.C., Sarah worked as Development Coordinator at the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. A lifelong feminist and long-time advocate for social justice, Sarah holds a Master’s degree in macro social work from Boston University and a B.A. in Anthropology with a Women’s Studies concentration from Haverford College.

Min KyriannisMin Kyriannis has 25+ years in converged, global, information technology, cybersecurity, physical security, as well as risk management across the US, Europe, Middle East and Asia. She has been cited in many professional publications and is widely recognized as a leader in the Security Technology industry. She currently serves as the cybersecurity and business development lead at Jaros, Baum & Bolles where she focuses on promoting cybersecurity, physical security, and technology as an integral part of all building technology systems. She currently serves as Chair of SIA’s Cybersecurity Advisory Board and Vice-Chair of SIA’s New Product Showcase Committee, the Advisory Board for SecuritySpecifiers, as well as Co-President of Women In International Security – NY Chapter.

Nancy LubinDr. Nancy Lubin is President of JNA Associates, Inc, a research and consulting firm focused on the former USSR, especially the Caucasus and Central Asia. She has consulted for over 80 private foundations, international organizations, US government agencies/contractors, the media, NGOs, law firms and Fortune 100 corporations. For over 25 years, Nancy has also conducted salary negotiation and career seminars, as well as one-on-one career advising. Previously, she served as Soviet specialist and project director at the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment; associate professor at Carnegie Mellon; one of the first women Fellows at the Wilson Center; consultant, ABC News; and elsewhere. She holds a PhD from Oxford, a BA from Harvard, and studied in Moscow, Leningrad, and Tashkent. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and has served on several boards.

Chantal de Jonge OudraatDr. Chantal de Jonge Oudraat has served as President of Women In International Security (WIIS) since February 2013. Prior to joining WIIS, she was the founding and executive director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) North America. Her previous positions include senior advisor to the US Institute of Peace Center for Gender and Peacebuilding; associate vice president and director of the USIP Jennings Randolph Fellowship Program; adjunct associate professor at Georgetown’s Walsh School of Foreign Service; and senior fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations at Johns Hopkins SAIS. Her areas of specialization include women, peace and security, international organizations, arms control and disarmament, and peacekeeping. She did her undergraduate studies at the University of Amsterdam and received her PhD in Political Science from the University of Paris II (Panthéon).