Finding Your Path

Many of my student appointments start out with the same simple question, "what can I do to help you out today?" The answers I've heard, and continue to hear, vary greatly! Here's why, every student/person is different. You may be a freshman coming in to get a general sense of the Career Services Center and how we can aid you in your career development, or a Senior three months from graduation seeking trendy job search strategies.

As a mission to MU students and alumni, "The Marquette University Career Services Center strives to assist all students in discerning, developing, and pursuing meaningful traditional and non-traditional career paths."

So whether your walking the path of: Career Goals, Internship, Graduate/Professional School, Post-Graduate Volunteer Service, or First Job, we've got a compass for you. Don't ever feel as if your behind, to far ahead, or just plan lost, your path is individually your own.

To set up an appointment with a career counselor, call the Career Services Center at (414) 288-7423 or email us at: career.services@marquette.edu

Hope to see you soon!

Winter Career Kick-Off 2012--Calling All Students!

So, this is it. This is the semester where you really take control of your future. New Year’s Resolutions aside, you know that internship is within your reach. That co-op you’ve had your eye on? Yours. The scary abyss that is The Job Search? Starts today. This semester is when you begin to answer that one question, THE question: “So what are you doing after college?” This semester, laughing out loud does not seem as funny or appropriate an answer (was it ever appropriate?), so get your butt into gear and do this the right way: with help.

This semester, Career Services is taking things up a notch—and adding some extra incentives. Not only are there a gazillion events catered to your every need, worry and fear about your future, but now you get rewarded for being proactive…for starters, how does an iPad sound? Insert: the Winter Career Kick-Off 2012.

It’s really easy. Attend 4 events this semester (not difficult) and have your Winter Career Kick-Off Stamp Card stamped at the end of each event. Then, hand in your completed stamp card by March 1^st either at the 4^th event you attend or in the CSC office (Holthusen Hall, first floor) to be entered in a drawing for to win one of the following: an iPad, an MU Padfolio or a $10 Qdoba Gift Card! There are over 50 prizes up for grabs!

If you haven’t picked up or printed out your stamp card, it’s not too late! Take charge this semester and let Career Services help take the pressure off! Stop by the CSC Booth for some resume advice, attend a Career Fair or sign up for the other fabulous events that qualify. Go here: (http://marquette.edu/csc/events/wintercareerkickoff.shtml) for events and Winter Kick-Off 2012 details. Be bold, make a move and take charge of your career and your future—Now!

Work Smarter, Not Harder: Building Your PLN

Often when I talk to students about using Twitter, I find them disinterested... in fact, they often say, "I already use Facebook to post status updates." Other times, I will find that the student already uses Twitter, but he or she is not maximizing it. So, here is one more way to consider using Twitter - to build your Personal Learning Network.

Career Tipster is a resource full of really current job advice and explanations of the Personal Learning Network have been all over this blog. Basically, the idea is that you need to build knowledge in your field to become an expert and the best way to do this is to collect information from a large number of resources. There are many ways to do this such as maintaining contact with instructors and networking within your field, but Twitter is also a great way to pull a lot of information to one place.

I know when I am on Twitter, I am not telling people that I just "Grabbed coffee with Sally," but I am following experts on topics that interest me such as health and baking (hmmm, those are sort of contrary to each other, aren't they?). Anyway, check out this Career Tipster blog for more info on building your own PLN.

Happy New Year!

It's 2012! Let's start the year off right and focus on building our professional network and learning.

Our favorite Gen Y Career Expert Lindsey Pollak posted some great tips on her blog that all college students (and professionals like me!) can take advantage of. Her blog discusses 3 easy career habits we can all commit to for the new year.

I am going to try to take her advice; will you?
Read on: 3 New Career Habits for the New Year


Posted in Lindsey Pollak's Career Advice for Young Professionals on January 4, 2012

Informational Interviews

Marquette, like most universities and colleges, has been gracious enough to give students four weeks of time off over the holidays and before the start of the new semester. Most students tend to utilize this time to sleep, spend time with family & friends, and catch up TV shows. They miss out on the opportunity to explore career options and learn about possible careers. Don’t worry, I was guilty of this too when I was in college.

Take the time away from text books and class to have informational interviews with people you know or in a career field that interests you. Informational interviews are different than job interviews. You are seeking information about a job or career field verses selling yourself for a particular position. This can help you decide whether or not a particular field is a career possibility or explore different options within a specific area.

Reach out to family, friends, and professors about people they might know in a career field that interests you. You can also reach out to alumni through the Marquette University Alumni Association (MUAA) LinkedIn group. There are over 11,000 members in various career fields in this group that are usually more than happy engage in a discussion with a current student.

Always come prepared with written questions so you will be able to make the best use of your time and learn as much as you can. Here are some suggested questions to ask during an informational interview:

What were the jobs you had which led you to this one?

Are there any specific courses a student might take that would be beneficial in this field?

What aspects of a career in this field do you consider particularly good? Particularly bad?

How do you see the jobs in this field changing over the next two years?

What special advice would you give a young person entering this field?

Check out our website for more questions and advice on informational interviews and refuse to snooze this winter break and get a jump start on your future! Also, the Marquette University Career Services Center is currently open and we are happy to help you!