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?

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!

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