A Different Way to Approach the Career Fair

It’s Career Fair time again!

Our Fall Career Fair will be held next week, Wednesday, Sept. 29 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the AMU Ballrooms. We are very excited to have 140 organizations registered for the fair which means there are a lot of opportunities for students in all majors looking for internships, full-time positions, post-graduate volunteer opportunities and co-ops. Career Fair guides will be available in the AMU and in our office by the end of the week and we will be critiquing resumes in the AMU this week and next week. You can also do a search now for employers who are attending on MU Career Manager.

The MU CSC encourages all students in all years and all majors to attend career fairs to explore different careers and learn about job and internship opportunities. We often hear from students that they don’t see the value of attending the career fair if they don’t see their major or a position they want to do listed in the guidebook. As a Communication major myself a few years ago (ha!), I understand why students say this, but look at a career fair as a way to network with professionals who work at organizations that you are interested in, even if it's not your dream job. For example, communication employers do not often participate in formal on-campus recruiting programs (for a variety of reasons), but that does not mean these companies are not looking to hire for these types of positions. Every organization either has a communication department or outsources this work. Identify companies that you are interested and ask them if they can help you connect with someone in their organization who does what you want to do.

While I have your attention, keep in mind there are three things to think about when you are preparing for a career fair; first is preparation and research, second is how to work the fair and third is how to follow up after the fair. For more information, check out our navigating a career fair handout on our website:

Some quick career fair tips:

1. Put together a professional outfit; a suit is best.

2. Bring 10-20 copies of your resume. Keep in mind that some employers will be unable to take your resume, but will instead direct you to apply online.

3. Do your research before the fair; know which employers you want to talk to.
Make an A, B and C list so you can get organized.

4. Know your career goal or what you think you might like to do and say that
Ex. “I am looking for an entry level marketing position where I can
strengthen my interpersonal and marketing skills."

5. ALWAYS follow through on what the employers tell you to do (ex. Apply
online, sign up for an on-campus interview on MU Career Manager, etc.) and
send them a thank you note (email or hand written) to follow up.

You Are Who You're With

Many of you may have recently began a new job, a new semester, or possibly even a new school. The first weeks and months of any new experience involve the formative nature of relationship building. You are making acquaintances, and possibly friends, over the water cooler, in class, and many other places in your daily life. It is important to stop and think about your actions along the way though.

How many times have you walked by a group of people, and because of what you know about some of the group, you make a sweeping assumption about the group as a whole? This is a common phenomenon no matter the setting in which one finds themselves.

Is it right?

Of course not. But we all know that it happens. The real question is, how can you avoid being typecast in your job?

When you are in your new position, no matter the scope of it, seek out someone in a leadership role to turn to for guidance. Develop a mentor-mentee relationship with this person. Not only will you be able to learn a wealth of information from your mentor, you will become associated with them as well by others. At the same time, be aware of the social dynamics throughout the office. If you notice that a group of people are developing a reputation for gossiping, for example, while in the hallway, you may be well served to avoid getting caught up in that activity, no matter how interesting or juicy the information may be.

Just remember, you are always judged based around the company you keep. Don't damage your reputation early in your career at an organization by surrounding yourself with the "wrong" crowd.

Anger and Entitlement Hamper Your Job Search

Recently I have been communicating with an alum who is extremely frustrated with his job search. I have used just about every tool in my toolbox with this individual only to have him reject most everything for one reason or another. My focus now is encouraging him to look at the barriers he might be creating for himself.

One of my favorite articles on this topic is 15 Ways to Overcome Anger

The article talks about how the common ingrediants of anger interfere with moving toward what we really want and need.

These ingrediants are:

• Unfairness


• Loss


• Blame


• Pain


• Focus (on what we don't have)

Is anger or entitlement getting in your way? Learn how to move forward...

http://thinksimplenow.com/happiness/15-simple-ways-to-overcome-anger/

7 Job Search Strategies in a Tough College Job Market

Employers have had to cut their campus recruiting staff and budgets in the past three years. Since fewer employers are interviewing on campus, grads will have to seek them out in other ways and work overtime to uncover hidden job opportunities. The Recruiting Trends 2009-2010 survey fielded by Michigan State University's Collegiate Employment Research Institute gives the employers' side of the employment picture. Here are several tactics based on the employers' needs reported in the survey that new grads can use to implement a more effective job search:

1. Know your offer
Young professionals who know what they bring to an employer, can prove it by past performance, and articulate it in interviews will be most competitive in the hiring process. These graduates know their interests, values, personality and natural talents, or aptitudes, and how to translate who they are to what they do best. They know what knowledge and skills proficiencies they can deliver and what problems they can solve. They have researched the company and are knowledgeable about industry best practices, challenges and trends. They can describe how they could increase productivity or quality, increase revenue or sales, or cut expenses, demonstrated through prior experience in part-time or summer jobs, internships or co-ops, and class projects. Be one of these savvy young professionals!

2. Know your job target
In a tight job market, keeping your options wide actually works against you. When your job objective is vague or too open, it is difficult to know how to go after it or tell others what you are looking for. It's also very difficult for others to know how they can help you. Be specific without being rigid. Be focused and directed.

3. Create a list of target companies
Small companies with less than 500 employees represent the sweetest spot for new hires in this economy. Job seekers can work with a career or reference librarian, or search the internet to create a list of 25 target companies or organizations that could hire them, if the company had the funding. Grads can check with their campus Career Services staff for assistance, or ask if their alma mater provides access to an online database of potential employers called CareerSearch.

4. Network with a clear purpose
The Recruiting Trends 2009-2010 survey indicates that young adults who are connected and learn how to work their networks to their advantage will have a competitive edge in their search for employment. Employers like to hire candidates recommended by current employees. At your target companies, can you or others you know identify someone as a contact? Introduce yourself to them via email or a letter and follow up with a phone call. As they get to know you, perhaps you can request that they submit your resume internally through an employee referral program.

Create a professional profile on LinkedIn if you haven't already and start building your contacts group. Scan the contacts belonging to your contacts for possible bridges into your target companies or career field. Pretend you are an employer or recruiter and cast a critical eye on your Facebook page to see if any modifications need to be made. Small companies use social media to source candidates. Don't miss out!

5. Study company web sites
In spite of smaller recruiting and advertising budgets, companies will always post positions on their web sites. Better yet, use your networking prowess to uncover newly-open positions which haven't hit the company web site or online job bank web sites. Stay ahead of your competition.

6. Take advantage of local job search resources
In addition to fully utilizing your college's Career Services resources, turn to the community career centers and job search groups in your area. For little or no cost, you will have access to programs on job search best practices and volunteer coaches to help you one-on-one with resume editing and interviewing practice. Join an accountability group to ramp up your search quality and speed. You'll mingle with other job seekers, sharing job leads, inside tips, and learn from their wealth of experiences. Expect that most of the members are mid-career adults. Tap into their life and work wisdom, and you'll be far ahead of the game.

7. Be positive and persistent without being pesty
This is the toughest job market most of us have even seen. Each blind alley and rejection gets you one step closer to employment. Shake turndowns off and say, "Next!" just as top athletes do while in the heat of the game. Keep your focus on discovering as many job leads as possible, and remember that you only need one job, one great match between candidate and hiring manager.

© Copyright 2010, Career Vision. Article reprinted with permission.

"A GPA is a number without a story"

The Wall Street Journal has a great blog explaining "how to spin your GPA" with great tips on overcoming the GPA worries when searching for a job. The Career Services Center at MU meets with a lot of students who are working on their resume and looking to begin their search...but are concerned about the "What is your GPA and how does it reflect on your academic abilities" question.

Here are some main points from the Wall Street Journal blog that would benefit ANY student:

• HIGHLIGHT areas where your GPA was higher and actually DOES reflect your abilities - some people focus on their major GPA or if they struggled freshman/sophomore year, they focus on their junior/senior year grades
• Do NOT assume that your prestigious university's name will get you out of a GPA related question. The recruiter may think highly of the school - but you will still need a confident and well thought out answer for any academic related questions.
• GPA is not required to be on a resume - if you do not feel your GPA reflects your abilities and would rather highlight your EXPERIENCE and involvement - then leave the number off.
• The last main point is a quote from Rob McGovern, founder of CareerBuilder and currently serving as CEO of Jobfox.com:

A strong GPA is, without question, something a college graduate should take pride in and use as appropriate during the interview process. But it won’t make or break any job applicant. As a business owner today, I look most favorably on resumes that reflect a recent college graduate’s hunger for learning, and believe that hiring managers are of a similar mind.

Remember - if you have any GPA questions regarding your search or resume - feel free to meet with a Career Counselor in our office (414.288.7423).  We are open all summer!

Bethany Olson
Event Planner/Career Counselor
Marquette University

Making the Most of Your Internship

Happy last day of June! Summer is almost half over (sad, I know), but this is a great time to start thinking about how to make the most of your summer internship or job you have. By now, you understand your job responsibilities, know how to work the copier and what to wear every day, but have you thought about how to make the most of this work experience? Here are 5 sure fire ways to ensure this:

1. Treat every day like it’s your first day on the job: It’s easy to become complacent once you feel comfortable in your work environment, but keep in mind that you are in a temporary position and you want to make a positive impression every day. Do this by asking good questions, but also by working independently. Volunteer for an extra project. Make sure you arrive to work on time every day. Be polite and respectful to everyone in the office (and everyone else you come in contact with) and avoid office gossip. Review the company policies, especially about Internet and cell phone usage while at work.

2. Meet as many new people as you can: By now, you probably know the names of everyone in your department or area, but take advantage of every opportunity to meet new people and build your network. When you meet new people, ask them if you can meet with them for 15-20 minutes either in the office or over coffee so you can ask questions about their role, their career history, and what advice they have for you as someone who is trying to get their foot in the door. Also, don’t forget to connect with them on LinkedIn. Not on LinkedIn yet? Check out LinkedIn’s short new videos especially for students about how to use LinkedIn: http://learn.linkedin.com/students/step-1/

3. Attend the company bbq or any event sponsored by the company: It might seem intimidating, but this is a great opportunity to meet with people who work in other departments in a casual and relaxed setting. We have even heard of interns who have talked to the CEO of a company (who was wearing shorts and flips flops no less!). Unsure of what to say? Use your 60-second commercial (where you have been, where you are and where you are going, i.e. your career goal).

4. Update your job search materials: It’s always a good idea to update your resume as soon as possible so you don’t forget anything, but also to get ready for on-campus recruiting that starts in September. Also, use your resources! Ask your supervisor to take a look at your resume and provide feedback. Think about who you will ask to serve as professional reference. Who can speak positively about your work style and work ethic? Think of your processional references as your cheerleaders. Once you decide who the best person is, make sure you ask that person to be a professional reference for you.

5. Send a thank you note: After your internship is completed (or while you are still there), make sure you express your thanks to everyone who has helped you. This can be a short email or a nice handwritten note.

Don't hesitate to contact our office with any questions. Good luck!

Sun! Fun!! Networking!?!

Bet you didn’t know that the guy standing next to you at the Black Eyed Peas concert works at that really great company you’re dying to intern at, did you? Summer networking opportunities present themselves when you least expect it—you need to be able to spot opps and take advantage.

But we all want to have fun during the summer and networking sounds, well… pretty boring, right? WRONG! Networking can be FUN (especially in summer) and here are some tips to make networking summer-worthy.

1. Make your parents happy and go to that neighborhood BBQ

Free food – good; being outside on a fabulous summer day – good; meeting new people who have established careers – good! When you get invited to go somewhere with your parents and their friends, think about how you can make it fun. I usually try to make a game out of networking (because it is not something I naturally like to do—oops, was I supposed to admit that?!). How many new people can I meet? How many people can I get connected to from the people I meet? Can I learn 5 new things about career fields? The possibilities are endless!

2. Pay attention to what is going on around you

Ever get so focused on one thing that you are completely oblivious to everything else going on around you? It happens to everyone from time to time, but you might miss a great opportunity if you don’t look around. Be willing to explore this summer; join a summer kickball league to meet new people, go somewhere you have never been and pay attention to the people you see, set up an informational interview with someone in a career field you might be interested in, but never thought of before (maybe the career field you learned about at that BBQ?). How aware do you think you are? Test your awareness hereà www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahg6qcgoay4

3. Be ready to talk to people

If I said, “So, tell me a little about yourself,” would you have a response? Since this is going to be your summer of networking, you need to figure out how to tell someone about yourself in a brief, but effective way. Perhaps you might say something like this: “My name is Jane Smith and I am a junior at Marquette University studying Writing Intensive English. I have been really excited about my major lately because I just finished an internship this past spring in a publishing setting and I loved the fast-pace and working with different people. I am hoping to continue gaining experience with professional writing this fall and am looking for opportunities to pursue.” You never know when you can make a connection with someone—all you need to do is tell them what you hope to do.

4. Stay in touch!

After meeting all of these great people this summer, you will need to maintain your relationships. Stay connected through LinkedIn, e-mail short notes with helpful articles or other information to share, and let your contacts know what is going on with you. You must maintain your relationships or all of your hard work (and summer fun) will be for nothing.

Need more help with Networking? Come see us—we are open all summer (even for phone appointments!). To make an appointment, call 414.288.7423.

Getting to the Gateway

Whereas locating MU Career Manager is not that difficult on our new website, finding the Career Gateway section on the page can be a bit more challenging. The same resources (Golden Eagle Search, GoinGlobal, Vault, ReferenceUSA) are still available, and in this post we will detail how to access them.

For students:

On the homepage, there is the login box that you use for MU Career Manager. On the top of that box is a tab, which is titled "Resource Login". If you click on this tab, you will be directed to the old login screen for the Career Gateway. This page then requires you to enter your emarq information. Once you have completed those steps, you are fully able to access all the resources in that section of the website.

For alumni:

Because alumni do not have active emarq information (if you still do from your time as a student, simply use that and follow the instructions above), this process requires you follow a few different steps. First, click on the "Alumni" section on the left toolbar. On the alumni mainpage, you will see a link to the Alumni gateway about halfway down the page. If you click that link, you will be prompted to enter a username and password. This information can be received from our office. You will need to contact us at 414-288-7144 to obtain a login. Following that, you will be in the system and have all the access you previously held as a student.

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