Life after college

People say high school is the best four years of your life. Then they say college is the best years of your life. But what about life after school? It seems like things get better as you get older, but no one really glorifies what happens after you leave campus and start your first job. I’ve been out of college now for almost 3 years and here is why I think life after college has been just as great as high school & college.

New places, new faces, new adventures. Now that you are out of the classroom and into the workplace, you are meeting some great people in the area or industry that love what you like to do too. They can offer you advice, guidance, and even become a friend or mentor. While change is usually scary and met with hesitation, especially if you have moved to a new city, it is also exciting and presents new opportunities for growth and accomplishment.

Money. You are actually MAKING money now. Instead of looking between seat cushions for 27 cents to buy a pack of Ramen, you can actually eat a real meal and start to enjoy things in the city you are in – movies, festivals, restaurants, etc. However, now that you are on your own, you become responsible for your own bills, including student loan debt. Make sure to create a budget for yourself and have realistic expectations of what you can and cannot afford. For more help on budgeting, check out our helpful handout on budgets.

Work/Life Balance. This is what I enjoyed most after I finished college. You can leave your work at the office and not have to worry about the assignments, papers, and finals looming in the future. You can come home from work and do what you want. Occasionally work and your personal life will overlap, but usually in a good way. Social events are common ways co-workers can get to know one another better and build stronger relationships. Creating a sports team, nights out on the town, and holiday parties are typical events where you can mingle and bring significant others to meet your co-workers. But remember to keep your integrity and still act professional if your work and personal life overlap. Here are more helpful hints on navigating extracurricular activities related to work and other aspects of the first year of being a professional.

Last FREE LUNCH of the year!

 On the Road to Your Career
FIRST YEAR AS A PROFESSIONAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who is driving your career? 

1. Join the Career Services Center for this luncheon series focusing on a monthly hot career topic. 
2. Each month a professional from Kohl’s Corporation representing specific career fields will share industry and expert career advice alongside your Marquette University Career Services Center counselors. 
3. If you are navigating your career, don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable information while filling up on a free lunch!

April's On the Road to Your Career
Powered by Kohl's
Date: Thursday, April 19
Time: 12:30 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.
Location: AMU 157
Topic: First Year as a Professional
Menu: Sub Sandwiches with coffee, lemonade, and water

Topics will include: Career Services, Financial Literacy, and Networking after graduation

No RSVP required.  Questions?  Email bethany.olson@marquette.edu

Soon to be Alumni...

Around this time of year graduates are gathering their cap and gowns, double checking their academic credits, searching for full time positions or post-graduate opportunities, and soaking up as much time as possible with friends and classmates whom they'll miss. It's a busy time in life, a big step towards the future.

Gladly, we here at CSC Never Can Say Goodbye (very famous song by the Jackson 5). To our alumni, we offer job search assistance even after you've graduated from Marquette and moved on. Can't make it in to the office for an appointment, that's quite alright - the CSC Alumni web page (www.mu.edu/csc/alumni) connects you to amazing online resources we recommend to alumni.

Congratulations Graduates! Remember, you only live life once, so make it a good one ;-)

THREE great reasons to attend the On the Road to Your Career: Dress for Success event on Tuesday, March 27th:

1. Eat a delicious free lunch (menu listed below)
2. Relax and watch a runway show full of interview outfit tips
3. Win one of five $20 Kohl's gift cards being given away!  (all you have to do is attend to be in the drawing!)

March's On the Road to Your Career - Includes a runway show!
Powered by Kohl's
Date: Tuesday, March 27
Time: 12:30 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.
Location: AMU 227
Topic: Dress for Success
Menu: Hors D'Oeuvres: pizza tarts, breaded ravioli, bbq meatballs, pretzel sandwiches, fruit kabobs, vegetables, with water and coffee
RSVP HERE















Questions?  Contact Bethany Olson, Event Planner at bethany.olson@marquette.edu or 414-288-4850.

It's time for an etiquette dinner!

If you are like many college students, you have not thought much about dining etiquette. Sure, your mom may have told you not to talk with your mouth full and maybe that you have to use a certain fork for dessert, but the advice has likely ended there. Good thing you have Career Services!

We are hosting a dining etiquette dinner on
Monday, April 23 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. in the AMU Ballrooms. Dining etiquette is more than just table manners. From sitting down to ordering to making small talk, learn the essentials for making the most of your personal presentation during a meal. We just heard from one of our former interns that she is still using the advice she learned from an etqiuette dinner. She was invited to dinner with her boss and his wife and was of course nervous, but felt more at ease because she learned so much at the etiquette dinner.

Registration on MU Career Manager is required.

Register on MU Career Manager with the following steps:
-Log on to MU Career Manager HERE
-Click on CAREER EVENTS on the menu at the top of the page
-Choose Workshops as the category
-Choose Professional Etiquette Dinner
-Click on REGISTER button
-Fill out online registration form and have a credit card ready for payment

This event is also great for student organizations to attend as a group.

Thanks to generous sponsorship by Aldi, your $10 registration fee pays for a portion of your four-course meal, valued at $30.00. Pay by credit card online with registration (Visa, Mastercard, American Express accepted).

Questions? Contact our office!

Are Your Expectations Realistic?

I am going to be planting my first vegetable garden this year and I have an image in my head of beautiful fruits and vegetables that are so tasty my two little boys will want to eat them straight from the garden. Well, I shared this wonderful image with my husband and he was kind enough to save me some disappointment by pointing out some very important facts...

Fact 1 - I don't know the first thing about growing fruits and vegetables.
Fact 2 - I have a proven track record of letting weeds take over other plantings in our yard.
Fact 3 - There are tons of critters in our yard that will most assuredly eat all of the "bounty" before my boys even get a chance to harvest.

And this is what you call managing expectations. Now that doesn't mean that I can't achieve my goal of a beautiful garden. Of course I can, but it is going to take A LOT more time and effort than I originally thought. Since becoming more realistic about the prospect of a garden I have been reading a lot and talking to people a lot to gather information. I have also been thinking about how much time I will need to spend tending to the garden each day to be successful. AND I am realizing that even if I do everything the best way that I know how that I still might not get the result I want because I am a gardening rookie and I am basing my image of a successful garden off of my mother-in-law's garden (who grew up on a farm and makes a living with my father-in-law as a farmer). Oh, and did I mention my lack of a green thumb?

In the same way that I had some unrealistic expectations, I find that students also need help managing expectations when it comes to their career. Some students don't know what they want for a career, but become frustrated because they think they should just KNOW. Well, that is unrealistic. People discover their passion through gathering information and experiencing life - sometimes things get figured out sooner and sometimes it takes a while. Discovering a career path cannot be rushed and it is not going to happen without spending time and effort.

We also see students who know where they are headed, but have unrealistic expectations about their career path. Perhaps they think they will make more money than is realistic because they know people who are in "X" profession who make a lot (how long have they been out working and how do you know how much they make, anyway?) or that they will be given a lot of responsibility because they feel ready for it (gotta pay your dues and work your way up the ladder, I'm afraid).

So perhaps as you think about your career, ensure you are making time to base your expectations in reality by doing research, talking to people and planning because if you are unable to manage your expectations you may find yourself disappointed.

What to ask yourself?

For some, job offers are beginning to roll in, and for others, the job search continues. But for all, whether undergraduate or graduate students (like myself) on the brink of graduation or continuing professionals, we ask ourselves questions about positions we are considering. We are torn between location, companies, campuses, salaries, benefits, and other factors, like, family, significant others, age, points in our lives, finances, etc., some in our control and some not in our control. We are also toying with the opportunities in front of us and if they will get us to where we want to be in the future and if we will enjoy it.

Recently, a classmate and colleague of mine attended a conference for young professionals in our career field and returned back to campus with a comprehensive list of things to consider when job searching, specifically things to ask oneself. I found it particularly intriguing, mostly because I’m job searching for myself currently, but also because the questions really hit on the roots for the reasoning behind applying or accepting a job. Here are some of the questions to ask yourself:

· What is the amount of organizational support (philosophically and financially) given to the potential role and the other people with which you will work?

· Is a balanced life possible in the work setting or is “workaholic” lifestyle expected and reinforced?

· Are stimulating colleagues available who will be willing to create try new approaches and innovate?

· How was your predecessor perceived?

· Is there access to further professional development opportunities?

· Will the physical environment help or block your progress in your job?

· Does the staff team seem genuinely eager to have you on staff?

· How well do departments around the campus/company interact with each other? What departments do you have the greatest contact?

· How would you describe the culture of this department?

· What is the supervisory style of the potential person to which I would be reporting?

All of these things can help clear your mind when weighing whether or not to apply or accept a position with a particular organization. Hopefully this can help you establish a life, not just a job.

Organize your internship or job search!

One of the most difficult aspects of an internship/job search is keeping everything organized!  The last thing you want is to get a call from a recruiter a month after you applied to a job and not know anything about it because the posting has expired! 

Here are a few great options to stay organized:

• Online version: Job Mango was created from the perspective of the employer; as candidates they were interested in hiring often times failed to respond to their emails. Digging deeper, they discovered that many job seekers find it difficult to keep track of the vast number of jobs they have applied for and hence, cannot track potential employer inquiries. They decided to make it easier for you to find a job, and created JobMango to keep track of the job application process for you! www.jobmango.com

• Desktop version: Keep a spreadsheet with ALL your job search information.  Microsoft Office has a great template with sheets for Resume Submissions, Networking Contacts, Interviews, and Career Websites. 

• Print version: Develop a job search binder with dividers separating topics such as Job Search Documents, Networking Contacts, Follow-up, Target List of Companies.

How do you keep organized during your internship/job search?

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!!