NHHI Hiring Spotlight – Reginald Williams

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Reginald Williams, and I’m a Financial Assistant 4 at Yale University’s Divinity School and a resident of New Haven. Before my current position, I worked in New Haven’s Department of Assessment from December 2017 to October 2021.

I graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and earned an MBA from Southern Connecticut State University.

Tell us about your job search.

I applied to numerous jobs in New Haven, Hartford, Storrs, and New York, and most of my job searches focused on roles at financial institutions or in business offices.

You joined New Haven Works during your job search. What was that experience like?

I would not be working at Yale University if it were not for the one-on-one attention that my New Haven Works job coaches gave me in person, over the phone, and via email.

New Haven Works helped me to fine-tune my resume, prepare for interviews, and, most importantly, understand the hiring process at Yale.

Before joining New Haven Works, I applied for different types of jobs all over the university with no success. Working closely with my job coach, I learned that I would be more likely to get hired if I tailored my job search to specific positions for which I was qualified. I also started to carefully read position descriptions before applying to ensure I had the skills for the job. Lastly, I modified my cover letters to ensure they mentioned specific skills/abilities listed in the job posting.

I’m grateful for the individualized attention from my job coach at New Haven Works. Paying specific attention to the required skills and abilities section of the job posting and bringing those points out in my cover letter and resume were a huge benefit.

Tell us about your current roles at Yale.

As a Financial Assistant 4, I handle expense reports for all faculty members at the Divinity School. Utilizing Workday, I create journal entries that transfer and reconcile funds between Divinity school departments. I also handle invoicing, check generating, and recording payments to the Divinity School.

What advice do you have for other job seekers?

Join New Haven Works If you are looking for gainful employment, sign up with New Haven Works. It’s free and beneficial in numerous ways.

Focus Your Approach.

When you find an organization that you want to work for, pick one job family or position title and apply over and over again to positions that you qualify for. It shows recruiters that you are focused, dedicated, and have the skills & abilities to succeed in the role.

If you apply to random jobs all over the organization, recruiters may think you are searching for any job and are unsure about what you want.

Resume and Cover Letter.

Create a plain, easy-to-read resume—no illustrations or colors.

Place your accomplishments and how well you perform your job duties, your proficiency level at them, first in your bullet points. In the same bullet point, supplement that information with your baseline daily responsibilities to highlight your out-performance.

Use action verbs at the beginning of your bullet points, e.g., “executed,” “managed,” “optimized,” etc.

Add keywords and critical industry phrases from your job field or job postings you are applying to within your resume and cover letter. It bolsters the look and feel of your resume and cover letter and makes you seem more professional and industry adroit.

The Interview.

Never be late. Show up fifteen minutes before an interview. Interviewers know when you arrive, and they may never mention it, but showing up early will help make an excellent first impression.

Research everyone interviewing you if you are given their names. Look at their LinkedIn pages, and memorize relevant sections of their bios.

Practice and memorize the top ten common interview questions and questions specific to the job, company, and industry. One or more is bound to come up in your interview. Practice your answers out loud, so you can hear the answers and memorize your answers. You are less likely to stumble over answers if you have prepared well.

Come prepared to tell a few brief stories about past experiences on the job that demonstrate your skills. Recruiters are looking for evidence that you can do what you say. Telling real-life stories can boost your credibility and show recruiters that you are thoughtful and diligent.

Be Prepared to Show Your Skills.

If you are applying for a job that requires a demonstratable skill, be well-practiced in that skill before the interview. Interviews should tell you in advance if you will be tested on a particular skill, but it is possible they will not. You may be tested on your skills during the interview to verify the assertions within your resume. For example, if you are applying to a job that requires Excel skills, have all the basic functions within Excel memorized. Know how to use them on command. Consider looking up YouTube tutorials or taking practice tests online to ensure that you are adequately prepared. Go into your interview prepared for all contingencies, including a test.