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!

Professionally Developing over Winter Break

Campus is fairly empty around this time of year as many students have traveled away from campus to celebrate the holidays, or simply enjoy almost an entire month off from school. I do though advise you, do not utilize your entire break sleeping and catching up on your favorite TV dramas.

Winter break can be an amazing time to job shadow a professional in your career field of interest. Especially for those of you looking to relocate back home (outside of Wisconsin) after you've completed your degree. Job shadowing is beneficial to those exploring various career paths, those exploring specializations within a career field, those interested in a particular company/corporation, as well as those simply looking to make an inside connection with a specific company. The benefits of a job shadowing experience are invaluable - getting an inside glimpse into a company/profession, networking with professionals, getting your name out there (self-branding), receiving professional development advice, and maybe even feedback on your resume.

Making the request of a job shadowing opportunity may feel odd to some but fairly natural to others. For those who aren't comfortable reaching out to professionals they've never meet before, there's a softer approach - ALUMNI. Finding an MU alumni in your career field of interest could be as easy as browsing through the LinkedIn Marquette University Alumni Association (MUAA) group. The majority of MU alumni greatly enjoy connecting with current MU students and other alumni - if they didn't, they probably wouldn't have joined the group.

So take the plunge, set up a job shadowing experience over break!

Need additional assistance with this process, check out the Job Shadowing handout online (http://mu.edu/csc/undergraduate/documents/JobShadowing.pdf). And please do keep in mind that the MU CSC Career Counselors are still hard at work on your behalf during the winter break, so feel free to give us a call at (414) 288-7423 to set up an appointment over break or for next semester.

The REAL reasoning behind the 60 second elevator pitch!

So you know how we are always telling all of you to fine tune your 60 second commercial/elevator pitch when at career fairs and networking events?  Seth Godin, an expert on marketing yourself, gives such great and simple advice below.  Use it in your next encounter where you have to introduce yourself professionally!

No one ever bought anything in an elevator

The purpose of an elevator pitch isn't to close the sale.

The goal isn't even to give a short, accurate, Wikipedia-standard description of you or your project.

And the idea of using vacuous, vague words to craft a bland mission statement is dumb.

No, the purpose of an elevator pitch is to describe a situation or solution so compelling that the person you're with wants to hear more even after the elevator ride is over.

Read more of Seth Godin's Blog and check out his website.

Six Degrees of Separation

There is an idea that any two people in this world are connected by only six degrees of separation, or six personal connections. I recently attended a conference in St. Louis related to my career field. Like most conferences, meeting new people is the main event other than the educational programming sessions. The idea of six degrees of separation was in full force at this conference, which was a great lead into networking.

As many as 75% of jobs are not available publically. Most employers prefer referrals from employees or other people they know since they know people that have experience and are reliable. Currently networking is the main resource people and students are using to find jobs. With the semester winding down, and the prospect of several weeks of no homework and tests, start thinking about the people you will be running into over the holidays and semester break. Between friends, family, old high school friends, former employers, and distant relatives, plan to spend some time networking over break. You never know who people know and what opportunities are out there! Maybe you are just six degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon!

Career Fairs - The Big Debate

The Career Services Center is hosting, not one, but two career fairs this spring.  We often hear concerns from students when promoting career fairs.  I've listed some arguments (along with my own counterarguments) 

Argument 1: "The companies aren't currently looking for students with my major."
Counterargument 1: Fair argument!  The thing is, even if they don't have your major or position you are seeking listed, this doesn't mean you can't talk to them about opportunities.  True, they might say "we aren't hiring for that right now" or "I only hire for a specific department".  But you can't tell me they won't have SOME sort of contact for you.  If they don't or aren't willing to share this with you, well then maybe it's not the type of company you want to work for anyways? 

Argument 2: "I've never heard of anyone that got a job from a career fair."
Counterargument 2:  You are right, I've never heard of a person who got offered a job AT the career fair.  The point of a career fair is not to walk out with a job - that's just crazy.  The point (one of many), is to get an INTERVIEW or at least a lead in your job/internship search.  I have heard of plenty of students getting interviews from a career fair.   

Argument 3: "I have work/school/internship during the career fair."
Counterargument 3:  Legitimate.  So if you can't rearrange your work/internship schedule and if your professor does not allow you to miss for the career fair, there are alternatives.  Within the career fair guidebook and online (MU Career Manager), we have the companies attending the fair along with contact information.  Now I don't have to tell you how difficult it is to get a phone number or email address of an actual HR person these days, do I?  The career fair guidebooks are priceless and you can contact any of those employers listed to let them know you aren't able to make the fair but would like to apply for the position.  It's a great idea to contact them BEFORE the fair if possible so it shows your drive. 

Argument 4: "I don't know what to do or say when I actually GET to the career fair - it all seems too overwhelming.  I feel more comfortable searching and applying for jobs online."
Counterargument 4:  I was right there with you when I was in school!  Had I known there was a resource like Career Services to help prep me for events like this, I would have actually GONE to events like this!  You can get your resume critiqued , practice your 60 second commercial, and go over the whole career fair process with a career counselor.  Just call 414.288.7423 or drop by Holthusen Hall, 1st floor to make an appointment.

Argument 5: "The recruiters just tell us to apply online.  I can do that without having to wear a suit to my classes."
Counterargument 5: That is frustrating to hear, isn't it?  OK, what we have heard from several recruiters is that it's a company policy that everyone applies within their system.  Heck, even current employees have to apply within the system for a new position.  The policy may be the same for every candidate applying but you can really stand out from every other candidate in other ways.  Impress them at the fair!  I recently heard a recruiter say, "candidates who stop by our booth at the fair are automatically considered for an interview."  After knocking their socks off at the fair, FOLLOW UP!  This is where most students drop off - so you just emailing your resume/cover letter or calling after the fair puts you at a definite advantage!

Pretty convincing?  If you saw good points in my counterarguments...even if you rolled your eyes - here are the spring career fairs for you to at least think about attending.  We get great attendance at these events, so yes, some students do actually see the usefulness but we always love to see those numbers increase.  The point of my blog is to (hopefully) show you how career fairs are a great OPPORTUNITY.  When opportunity knocks...answer!

Reverse Career Fair Registration is Open! Tuesday, February 7, 2012
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
AMU Ballrooms

What is a Reverse Career Fair?
Employers consistently ask for exposure to Marquette University student organizations and access to student leaders. A Reverse Career Fair is an excellent opportunity for student leaders to showcase their professional skills and the values and skills gained as a result of being involved in student organizations.
Student Organizations: More Information | Registration

Thank You!

Two simple words that can have quite the impact!

Thank You acknowledges your gratitude, your appreciation, and your gratefulness towards something in which has been done for you or towards you. As young children, saying thank you was drilled into our everyday lives - oh come on, don't tell me my parents were the only ones enforcing the please and thank you rule.

Well, oddly enough, they were on to something! As we've all grown up quite a bit since then, saying thank you sometimes slips our minds, admit it. Here's when it should never slip your mind though: DURING YOUR JOB SEARCH. Sending a thank you letter, in typed, handwritten, or e-mail form could be the difference between you getting an offer or not. Let's say there's two candidates (you being one of them) and you're both similarly skilled and capable of doing the job; sending in a professional thank you letter may lean the interviewer further in your direction.

A thank you letter offers you the opportunity to restate your top skills and make mention of those things you may have forgotten about during the interview. Send your thank you letter(s) out within 24 hours of the interview, and lastly, be sure to send a thank you letter to everyone in which you met with that day.

The same tactic can be used when you've conducted an informational interview or shadowed a professional; the verbiage may change but the foundation remains the same.

So, in the spirit of the holiday season, let us remember the importance of those two little words - Thank and You.

~*~Happy Holidays All~*~

Knowing & Owning Your Skills

PSST… those of you hoping to begin a career after graduation read this!

A very wise person once told me that a résumé gets you an interview, and an interview can
then lead to you getting a job/career. Now I know we’ve all heard before, from some person or another, to just try our hardest and put our best foot forward during interviews. Here’s the problem with that, if your résumé is not impressive enough to get you the interview, you’ve just missed out on your opportunity to wow the interviewer(s) in person.

So you ask, “How do I create a résumé that will shine above the rest and put me closer to the top of the interviewing list?” There are countless ways to make it happen, one being, knowing and owning your skills. MU CSC very recently had an On the Road event that presented the topic of “Identifying and Building Your Skills.” We learned that employers have standards, along with expectations. They desire for potential new hires to possess good communication, technology, critical thinking, problem solving, and leadership skills, just to name a few. A significant amount of job descriptions will list (directly and indirectly) the skills new employees should have.

So now you ask, “what does this have to do with my résumé?” Well, here’s a simple exercise to aid you in pulling all of those pieces together:

1. Grab a blank sheet of paper and write down all of the skills and job qualifications the employer has mentioned in the job description
2. Now place a check next to each skill/qualification you feel as if you possess
3. Next, think of an experience, or two, in which you’ve displayed that skill
4. Last step, and most important, incorporate those skills into your résumé so that
   employers can clearly see why you’re the ideal candidate for the job.
   

That’s it! With three easy steps you’ve just intensified and enhanced your résumé.

“WAIT”, you scream, “I’m not sure if I can do this on my own.”

My reply, “No worries, that’s what the MU CSC Career Counselors and Advisors are here for.
Either stop by – Holthusen Hall, first floor – or give us a call at (414) 288-7423 to set up an appointment.”

My First Professional Interview!

I just had my first professional interview experience and I survived! When I first saw that the company I was interested in was going to be interviewing on campus I knew that I needed to update my resume in order to highlight the qualities I have that the employer was seeking. In order to prepare for the interview I was sure to know everything on my resume and have answers to the commonly asked questions located on MU CSC's homepage. With the help of my current supervisor I also came up with several of my personal/work experiences where I "worked as a team," "did project management," and "overcame an obstacle" so I would be ready for any behavior based questions. I wanted to be sure I had lots of different things to talk about so that I wouldn’t be repeating myself and so there wouldn’t be any awkward silences. But I think the most important thing I did to prepare was being ready to be excited about the interview. I tried to turn my anxiety about the interview into excitement. And I really think my enthusiasm took me beyond my qualifications for the job. A positive outlook made this stressful interview a positive experience for me, and I think for my interviewer as well since I got a second interview! So my advice for anyone else about to embark on their very first interview is: over prepare, show enthusiasm (even if you are too nervous to feel it at the time), and have lots of questions! Even if you feel like your questions were already answered by the interviewer, try to rephrase them or make them more detailed. I felt like my interviewer really knew how interested I was in the job because I asked plenty of question. And GOOD LUCK!

I was an Arts & Sciences Major...

I would have loved an event like this!  

 
I was a Psychology major and knew I was going to go to graduate school right away but I really would have figured a lot of things out earlier had I attended an event like Career Essentials for Arts & Sciences Majors.  I still had to interview for the graduate program and sell myself and my skills, which I was NOT prepared for.

Whether you are early in your career exploration or in the interview process - this workshop will give you tools to walk away with!  Plus, free snacks and beverages is always nice :)

No matter what your major or class year - stop by!  No RSVP is required.


Email bethany.olson@marquette.edu with any questions!