Thursday, February 23, 2012

Post Career Fair To Do List

Focus on Follow-up

article from National Career Fairs

You’ve attended the career fair, made connections, left behind your resume and made a great first impression- now what do you do? Now is the time to show the employer just how interested you are in that position. Following are some helpful tips and suggestions on what to do after the career fair is over.
Within the week following the event, send a thank you email or note. This will ensure that the employer remembers you and makes another good impression. Sending a thank you email or note is a professional gesture that shows your interest and maintains an open line of communication.
  • Keep your thank you note or email professional and to the point, and remember to proof read it as well as you did your resume.
  • Thank the recruiter for his/her time and express that you have a great interest in the company and position. You may want to mention why this job is such a great fit for you.
  • If after sending your note you have not heard from the employer, do another follow up and ask about the status of the position and next steps.
A full day at a Career Fair is definitely stimulating and it is likely that you had a lot of conversations, made many connections and have some things you’d like to reflect upon. Take some time to work on the items below to continue advancing your job search.
  • At the fair you will do a lot of networking with other attendees and may have received information about other companies and job openings. When you leave the event remember to follow up on those leads as well.
  • Discuss the meetings with friends to keep the discussions you had fresh in your memory.
  • Read over the notes you took while at the fair about the company, open positions, and other suggestions you may have received from recruiters or attendees.
  • Think back on your conversations and write down the things you would like to remember to focus upon in a future networking situation or interview.
You took a great step with attending the career fair, making connections and following up. Keep that momentum going and continue to focus on your job search rather than waiting to hear back from companies. Until you have accepted a new job offer you should continue to pursue leads.
  • If you made a commitment to an interview be sure to show up or cancel promptly. Leave the recruiter with a positive impression even if you decide the next step is not a right fit for you.
  • Recruiters do not always respond right away, and sometimes not at all, to thank you notes. Stay on track with your follow ups and requesting information on next steps.
  • Consider your next job offer carefully- it is important to find a job, but take the time to select a position that is a fit so that you aren’t quickly engaged in another job search.
  • Job rejections are not fun, but everyone receives them at one time or another. Look at it as a way to close out that chapter of your job search and move on to the next. This company is not the only one who will appreciate the skills you have to offer.
Throughout your job search remember to maintain that positive, action-oriented attitude that got you to the career fair in the first place. Each connection and discussion is an opportunity to move you forward!

- National Career Fairs solely focuses on creating quality hiring events where employers and job seekers make connections face to face.

Who Am I?

How amazing would it be to have a career that properly fits you and keeps you excited to come back day-after-day?

You're thinking, "impossible BUT that'd be great if it was possible." Be assured, it is indeed possible! Finding your ideal career field becomes slightly easier once you can concretely answer the question: Who Am I?

Though it may not be in the forefront of your mind, you are a combination of your interests (what you do in your spare time), your skills (what you do well, what others tell you that you do well), and your values (qualities important to you). A complete mixture of those personal components also equates to your career goal(s).

Just think about it, a career that allows you to do what you like doing (interests), utilize those things your good at (skills), and all while upholding your values - sounds fairly ideal to me.

Don't freight, developing a career goal your absolutely satisfied with will not happen over night. But take the first step now - list out your interests, skills, and values (5-8 in each category should suffice).

By having your career goal in mind, finding that ideal career field will becoming a lot easier. If you're still in a pickle, reach out to Career Services {414-288-7423}. We love and are happy to help.

PS - if you like the CSC blog and find it helpful, share it with a friend or classmate :-) Spread the CSC Joy!!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Work/Life Balance

It’s the biggest challenge we face as working professionals: balancing work and our personal life. There isn’t an easy solution or a model to follow or a code hidden in the stars to uncover. No matter what profession you are in, this will present itself at one point in time (most likely, more often than not).

Back in December, I attended a conference for career counselors and employers and attended a great session about self-renewal and creating a work life balance. For me, it has been a daily struggle trying to balance being a full time graduate student, working 40 hours a week between 3 jobs (all at separate locations), volunteering as an advisor for 2 of my sorority’s chapters (both in two different states), and attempting to have a personal life. Some days I barely found the time to fulfill my basic needs – eating, sleeping, etc. But after attending the self-renewal session, I realized that if I couldn’t take care of myself, how could I accomplish everything else I was doing and do it to the best of my ability.

There are 4 areas where self-renewal needs to take place: Physical, Spiritual, Intellectual, and Social/Emotional. Fulfilling these areas requires you to schedule time to do these activities and be mentally present while doing them. Some areas might be more important to others, but if you are able to do things for yourself, you can excel professionally and help others succeed.
So if you find yourself going into the office every Sunday or doing school work till 4am every night, ask yourself – What will I do for myself today?