Finding MU Career Manager

As mentioned in the last posting, our website has gone through a major overhaul. As with any new design, it can be tricky to identify where some resources that you commonly use are now located. Today's focus will be on MU Career Manager, our Marquette specific job database.

Students and alumni that are looking for MU Career Manager need to go no farther than our home page to access the login for the system. On the right side of the page you will see a yellow box with "MU Career Manager Student Login" inside of it. All you have to do is enter your username and password into those fields and you are in the database. It's really that simple.

Employers that are looking to login to MU Career Manager only require one extra step along the way. At the top of the yellow box, there are three tabs. One is for employer login. Any employer can simply click that, and then fill in the fields as noted above to enter the system.

We hope that this new login system for MU Career Manager will help to make the process easier for each of you, as it eliminates screens that you have to view in order to login to the site.

A New Look CSC

Those astute CSC fans out there may have noticed that a couple weeks ago our website got updated. Actually, updated may not be quite accurate; it was completely overhauled. The Career Services Center webpage is now much more user friendly, while still offering you all the resources that existed with the old site.

The big question that always comes with any new website is "where did _______ go?" Over the next couple weeks, we'll be detailing all that information here on the blog to help you identify where the key resources are now located.

For example, on the right side of the homepage, you will find a calendar of our upcoming events. Now, given that it is currently summer, this section looks a bit scarce. As the next semester approaches though, you'll see the dates and locations of events on the front page, broken up by type as well.

Coming up tomorrow: MU Career Manager

Summer Vacations and Your Career

As the semester winds down, many of you are probably thinking about how you will spend your summer. Freshmen and sophomores may be looking forward to reconnecting with friends from high school. Juniors might be looking forward to staying here in Milwaukee for the summer. Seniors may very well be preparing for the transition between life as a student and life as a graduate. No matter what your situation, it is important to remember that your career will continue to cultivate itself even while you are away from campus.

We all wish that we could return to the summers when we had total freedom and zero responsibility. Unless you are independently wealthy (and if so, we always accept donations!), odds are that you will be looking for work somewhere, whether it is full-time, part-time, an internship, or even volunteering. Seek something out that you will enjoy. You will always perform better in a setting where you are excited about your tasks and can show that enthusiasm. Your co-workers will notice, and you will be making a positive impression on the people that may be your references for your next job.

Additionally, remember that while you are out having fun over the summer (and you should still do that), talk to anyone that you can. If you are working at Summerfest selling a particular product that Milwaukee may or may not be well-known for, make small talk with your customers and find out what they do in the real world. Who knows, you may be talking to someone who is doing exactly what you ultimately want to do. Effective connections are consistently made in non-traditional settings. I was recently on an airplane and overheard a new business deal being brokered by two people that were previously strangers, but just happened to work in areas that had considerable synergy.

Summer vacation is a great break from the stresses of school. Just remember, your career never stops evolving, so make the most of your break through experience and networking while enjoying the vacation as well!

Tweet Tweet Tweet

The birds outside your window aren’t the only ones tweeting and getting excited about May! On Friday, April 30th, we will be launching our MUCSCJobs Twitter account!

The goal of MUCSCJobs is to post multiple positions throughout each weekday! These positions will be from employers looking for both students and alumni from ALL MAJORS! Each job tweet will include a link to the job posting in MU Career Manager. If you’re looking for a new position, be sure to follow MUCSCJobs!

Don’t be fooled, Career Services isn’t new to twitter. In fact, our office account MU_CSC has been tweeting for a year now. If you aren’t already following MU_CSC, follow for great career advice, to hear about our exciting events and to discover links to career articles. We had also been utilizing the MU_CSC account to post hot jobs. However, we recently decided to launch MUCSCJobs to tweet about these positions posted in MU Career Manager. For those of you who are searching for positions, this is a great resource as we can give you more volume for tweets. For those of you who are happily employed (Congratulations!) you can pay more attention to MU_CSC than MUCSCJobs to focus on the career advice.

There are many ways to dress for success!

Recently we sent out our monthly enews on what to wear to an interview. We stated that it is ALWAYS appropriate to wear a suit. I stand by that assertion. Perhaps we should have clarified that the type of suit, the color of suit, the style of suit, the fashion of the suit; that all of those choices are dependent upon the industry. Of course what one candidate wears to an interview for a creative position will differ greatly from what another candidate wears to an accounting interview at a bank. Depending on the organization culture, styles may differ within the same industry. Ultimately, the goal is for you as a job seeker or graduate school candidate to feel comfortable and confident; looking your best. Choose attire that allows you to forget about how you look (knowing you look great) and focus on selling yourself and your skills to potential employers.

You cannot go wrong in a suit.

Because I have been advising students for over 17 years I wondered if my advice was out-of-date. So I contacted Lindsey Pollak, Gen Y Career and Workplace Expert, and here is what she had to say:

"In the vast majority of interview situations, a suit is the appropriate option. In conservative industries (e.g., law, finance, accounting), it is the only option. If you think you are interviewing at an organization where a suit might not be required (e.g., a surfwear start-up or a hip hop record label), you must find out for sure. This means reaching out to anyone you can find in that company or industry and asking what you should wear (ask friends and family, reach out on LinkedIn, anonymously call the HR department where you’re interviewing, etc.). If the clear advice is to wear something other than a suit, then you can safely wear something else. The bottom line: Never wing it. Find out for sure what’s appropriate. Never lose an opportunity because of your outfit."

Her blog is http://www.lindseypollak.com/blog.

We also contacted one of our employer advisory board members, Wade Krogwold of Direct Supply, who shared this:

"As a recruiter at a company that does not have a dress code, we have people that wear everything from shorts and a t-shirt to a suit and tie. But for interviews, I recommend that students dress professionally. Wearing professional attire reflects two things – you are serious about making the transition from college to your career, and you realize you will be making an important decision. Thus, appropriate attire for most interviews will entail suiting up. There are exceptions to that based on the profession you are going into; for example, creative talent roles like graphic, fashion or interior design, and retail roles (corporate and consumer) will look at your attire as an indication of your skills and ‘fit’ for the role.

However, it is better to err on the side of wearing conservative, professional attire. And instead of spending an exorbitant amount of time on what you are going to wear, spend it on preparing examples that illustrate when you have completed similar tasks and successfully used the skills they are seeking. I am impressed by a candidate that can articulate why they are a match for the role and can share examples that reinforce that match. At the end of the interview you want people to remember you for your skills, talents and passion – not the awesome red shoes you paired with your outfit."

Here are some examples of traditional and less-formal interviewing attire:

Happy Interviewing! Laura

April showers bring...

...knowledgeable and interesting professionals into the Career Services Center.

April in our office is all about Celebrating YOUR Career. There is no better way for us to celebrate careers in our office than bring in the professionals who are working in those careers every day. Therefore, throughout April, we have developed six panels to bring you the true, uncut and uncensored stories about careers and life after Marquette from those in the field. During these hour long panels we will provide one or two questions to start the conversation, but the rest of the questions are up to you, the audience. If you can’t stay for the entire hour, stop by and absorb the advice that your schedule allows.

Not convinced that a panel is going to be beneficial for you? I’ll admit it. As a senior graduating in May with a full-time position lined up, I had my doubts about attending a panel as well. However, when I attended my first panel, the African-American Career Professionals Power Lunch, in February I was astounded at how relevant all of the material was to my career development. I found myself fully engaged as a listener, absorbing the advice of these professionals. Not only did I learn things to apply to my career, but during the panel there was also direct mention from every panelist of internships they had available. Listening to the panel, I couldn’t help by imagine how things would have been different during my college career if I had attended one of these panels earlier in my college career.

It was not a fluke that my first experience was so beneficial. During the second panel I attended, the Diverse Women Leaders Power Lunch, I gained advice on how to maintain a work-life balance. These tips have been extremely helpful for me this semester with my work-life-school balance. I can’t imagine how they will be helpful in the future with whatever life throws my direction.

Bottom line:

Freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, alums and faculty: THESE PANELS HAVE SOMETHING OF VALUE FOR Y-O-U!

April Panels

Communication Panel
Monday, April 12; 12:00-1:00pm
Career Services Center Seminar Room, Holthusen Hall, 1^st Floor

Life After Marquette Panel
Monday, April 12; 4:00-6:00pm
Career Services Center Seminar Room, Holthusen Hall, 1^st Floor

Technical Panel
Tuesday, April 13; 12:00-1:00pm
Career Services Center Seminar Room, Holthusen Hall, 1^st Floor

Health Sciences Panel
Wednesday, April 14; 12:00-1:00pm
Career Services Center Seminar Room, Holthusen Hall, 1^st Floor

Government Panel
Thursday, April 15; 12:00-1:00pm
Career Services Center Seminar Room, Holthusen Hall, 1^st Floor

Power Lunch: Asian/Pacific Islander Professionals
Tuesday, April 28; 12:00-1:00pm
AMU 163

Spring Break = Time to Re-energize!

Whether you are going somewhere or not for spring break...it can definitely be a time to refocus.  With midterms over and a week off - here are some suggestions:

• Use the time to develop your job search, internship search, or career exploration plan.  Our office is open during spring break so make an appointment with one of the counselors to get set (414.288.7423).  If you are not on campus...use our website for tips on how to start the process. 

• Wherever you find yourself over spring break - NETWORK.  We have some great stories about students networking and finding great opportunities with random people they sat next to on a plane!  Every person you meet along the way can be an amazing contact for you - take advantage.

• If you've got some extra time...take the time to either create or update your social media profiles as a way to brand yourself.  If you haven't yet, check out www.linkedin.com | www.weebly.com | www.twitter.com.

• Last...but not least.  As tempting as it may be - use CAUTION when posting any spring break pictures.  It can come back to haunt you during your internship/job search.  

Networking Tips!

Networking is the career topic for February, so I thought I’d share some useful information and articles that HR Guru recently came out with on the topic ranging from the basic how-to’s, to why it is important for new hires to network, and common mistakes to avoid.

Here are a few key ideas to remember when networking:

1. Know what you want. Before networking, always have a goal in mind.
2. Seek Mentors. Ask for advice rather than job opportunities.
3. Networking is a two way street. Make sure to reach your contacts more than just times you need something.
4. Follow up after every interview or meeting to reiterate your interest and keep you fresh in their mind.
5. Utilize social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter for networking purposes.
6. Always show appreciation for the favors you receive.


To read more in depth on networking tips and advice, visit these helpful links:


Networking mistakes to avoid

15 minute guide to networking

Demystifying the rules of networking

Why networking at work is important for new hires

Networking tips for the holidays

Are your networking skills toxic

Stalk your way to a new job

Take a quiz: Are you a networking expert? (Must join the site to see results, but it’s free.)

Let's do it again! Speed Networking 2010

So.... you have heard of speed dating and speed skating and speed racer and speedy gonzalez. And honestly you have probably heard of Speed Networking too; but have you actually done it?

Have you actually walked into a room filled with bigwigs? Rubbed elbows with the fine alumni of Marquette? Made connections that will help you in your future career?

Well why not? You are officially invited to Speed Networking 2010!

CIRCLES: Speed Networking with Alumni- registration required
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Wisconsin Club

This student/alumni program will include one-on-one networking with alumni and employers during a 30-minute speed networking. We will attempt to match students with professionals by industry.

Watch coverage of Speed Networking 2009.

If this sounds terrifying to you, no worries, I will walk you through the how-tos. It's really one-on-one so no talking TO CROWDS of people.

You gotta learn how to do it SOMETIME, why not now?

A Busy February Ahead!

Happy (belated) New Year's everybody! We hope all of you had a great break and the start of the new semester is going well.

We here at Career Services have been busy over the course of the last month working to set up numerous helpful events to make the job or internship process that much easier for you. February may be a short month, but you can be sure that there will be no shortage of events for you to attend! We hope to see and help you all February (and every other month after)!

Wednesday Feb 3rd: Mock Interview Day

Looking to improve your interviewing skills before the big job or internship interview? Schedule a 30 minute mock interview with employers that regularly recruit Marquette students. What better way to find out how prepared you really are? Sign-ups are open now, so stop by our office in Holthusen Hall or give us a call at 288-7423 to reserve your spot. Space is limited, so sign up soon!

Monday, Feb 8th: Career Fair Prep Workshop (5-7pm)

Learn everything you need to know about successfully navigating a career fair from a recruiter. Hear about what recruiters look for, how to approach them, proper follow-up, and so much more. Bring your resume too and receive a critique from our staff while the session is underway. No reservation required, just stop by AMU 227. Did we mention there will be free food too?

Thursday, Feb 18th: Workforce Career Fair (4-8pm)

Looking for a job or internship? Come by our annual spring career fair in the AMU Ballrooms and meet prospective employers that want to meet you. Currently there are over 100 organizations registered, with more signing up each week. Many of these organizations will also be interviewing on campus later in the semester, so make that positive first impression.

Tuesday, Feb 23rd: Speed Networking with Alumni (5:30-7:30pm)

Get the opportunity to meet up to 50 Marquette alumni in one evening! Our speed networking events, this time held at the Wisconsin Club, allow students to get to know alumni who are looking to help you in your career. Space will be limited, so keep an eye out for registration announcements in the near future.