Part Time jobs anyone?!?!?!?!

So classes are back in full swing and your pocketbook is empty from that pesky fee payment and bookstore. Need some cash?? How about a PT job??? Check out http://www.departments.dsu.edu/career/ for the newest job openings in the area.

What can I do with my major?

Do you have a major already picked out? Are you still looking for what you want to do for the rest of your life...or at least the next few years?Now that you're taking all these classes pertaining to your major, what can you do with it anyways?Do these questions sound familiar?Check out this site below to view detailed information about your major!This page gives information about everything you want to know about your major, plus it gives extra links and sources where you can find even more fun stuff about your future career! Check it out!http://www.careers.siue.edu/majors/majors/default.html

Career Portfolios...Continued

Now that you have the basics of a Career Portfolio (look below), let's look at what else is included in a Career Portfolio.
Here are some great tips!
- Make it stand out!- Use a dark-colored binder. (Professional looking)
- Your name should be easily found on or in it.
- Use page protectors on all or none of the pages. (don't pick and choose which pages get protected...just cover them all or nothing)
- Your resume and other documents that you create should be printed on bond, watermarked paper.
- Remember, details matter! (Employers notice the little things!!)Inclusions:What else should be included in a Career Portfolio?
- Award certificates, participatory certificates, newspaper clippings in which you are featured, samples of your best work, letters of appreciation, letters of thanks, etc. (remember not to over do it...the employer doesn' t need EVERY newspaper article or certificate you have. Save the Kindergarten Student of the Week award for something else)
- Anything that highlights your character, involvement, or skill should be included in your portfolio.- Mini portfolios can include items that pertain to a theme.
For example, a management student's portfolio may include items from management classes, activities, events, etc.
- A master portfolio should include everything you would ever want to show someone. You might choose to just use pieces of it for meetings with potential employers.When should I present my portfolio?In an interview, you can mention it during the conversation, or the interviewer might ask if you have one. If not, take a few minutes to spotlight it. Don't be shy!Once again, back to the rules of networking: honk your own horn because if you don't, chances are no one else will!
And finally...Be Creative!- Put some of your work on the web! This makes it easy for a hiring manager to quickly review your work.- Include pieces of your written work in your portfolio. Many times, employers will want to see how well you communicate in writing.
- You might consider having a few photocopies of the important pieces of your portfolio to leave with the interviewer.
- The format of a portfolio varies by industry. For example, a CIS student may need an electronic portfolio to showcase some of his or her abilities.
- The only rule about portfolios is to make your portfolio work for you and for the position you're seeking. Include only information relevant to the position you are seeking and to what the company is looking for in a new hire.
Now you are ready to shine!!! Be proud of your accomplishments and make your Career Portfolio show off your strengths & achievements!! Good Luck!

Impressive Career Portfolios

What is an Impressive Portfolio?
A Career portfolio is designed to "flaunt your stuff." An impressive portfolio catches the eye and helps the viewer form a good impression of you in their mind. It showcases your style and your personaility and an impressive portfolio can help you get an intervew, a job, and recognition.

Where do I begin?
To begin your Career Portfolio, here are the essentials you will need: Resume, Transcripts, & Letters of Recommendation.

Resume:
1) Do not title it "Resume." Obviously, it is a resume!
2) Feature your name in bold or make it stand out in some way. Your address and phone number should be easy to find.
3) Highlight your long-term career goals, your educational level and institutions attended, your relevant employment experiences, and other activities.

*Put down what you think the employer wants to see...and what pertains to the job you want
*Transcript:A potential employer views your transcript as an indication of your efforts to learn presented material. (yes, your grades in college DO matter) If it does not portray a positive image of you, consider leaving it out of your portfolio.

Letters of Recommendation:
Obtain the most impressive letters you can. Request letters from people who are able to comment positively on your character, scholastic ability, extra-curricular activities, and professionalism. Allow ample time for your references to write quality letters; do not ask someone to write a letter over the weekend or even in one week. Give your reference a date in which you need it by..and don't make that date the same as the application deadline!Send thank you notes to your references and maintain between three and seven letters of recommendation so you can pick and choose!

*Check back for more information about Career Portfolios!*

Career Development Checklist

Happy Wednesday everyone! To boost your Career Development, here is a link for checklists of each year of college. Your first year checklist should include assessment and major exploration while the sophomore year focuses on career exploration. Third year focuses on gaining experience so you know what to do in the working world and the last year of college is all about JOB SEARCHING and landing that awesome first job!! Follow this link to find a Career Development checklist for your year in college and get on the right path to a great career! Remember that DSU Career Services has great job fair opportunities and oncampus interview for all of our students seeking full time jobs or interships. Again, let us know if you have any questions or require any assistance!http://www.heidelberg.edu/studentlife/careerdevelopment/students

Yay for Transferable Skills

As you begin your job search, it is important that you know your own qualifications. Over the years you have developed many skills from coursework, extracurricular activities and your total life experiences. All this time you were building job skills!!...Who knew?! A prospective employer expects you to be able to apply the skills you have learned in college (except the possible "inappropriate skills") to the work environment.This online quiz has a list of five broad skill areas which are divided into more specific, skills. You need to rate the skills indicating your ability in each area. It then gives you detailed results about the five categories. Ready to check it out...
Here you go... http://www.d.umn.edu/kmc/career_transfer_survey.html

When Your Interviewer is a Freak...

What do you do if you end up seated across the desk from an eccentric person? You may feel a bit uncomfortable with his or her unorthodox approach. While your first instinct is to think that you don't want the job if this person is representative of the company, give the firm the benefit of the doubt and focus on yourself, not the interviewer. Just be yourself and say what you came to say.The mute.This is the person who doesn't seem to know what to ask you. He or she looks at your resume and can't formulate any questions or reach any conclusions. You get very short responses to any questions you ask. It's clear that you are going to have to help this person through the interview. Break the silence by saying "Why don't I start by giving you an overview of my experience?" Then head into your core messages.The chatterbox.This person runs on and on, busily talking about what she does, what the company does, the corporate climate, his life history, blah, blah, blah. The good news is that you are learning some things about the company and the work environment; the bad news is that the person is learning nothing about you. While it's best to let this person blab on, when he or she takes a breath, be prepared to inject your key messages. You might say, "This is great information, I see where my experience as a brand manager at XYZ can help the company reposition its product. For instance..." Now, you can become the chatterbox.The quirky questioner.This person goes beyond the expected questions such as: tell me about yourself, what are your strengths and weaknesses, where do you see yourself in five years. He or she may ask something completely out of left field like: "Did you buy that suit just for this interview?" "Do you like clowns?" "Do you think women make good managers?" "If you were a cloud, what kind would you be?" If you think the recruiter is just odd but harmless, dodge the question with a laugh and bridge to a point you want to make about yourself. You could say, "That's an interesting question, when I think of clouds it reminds me of dealing with corporate change. In my previous position I spearheaded a task force to ?" If the question is simply inappropriate, it's OK to say so.The close talker.Straight out of Seinfeld, this person has a different idea of how much space to leave between the two of you. If it's making you crazy, fake a cough and back up your chair. Try to find an excuse to adjust your seat by dropping your pencil or getting up for a minute to look for something in your briefcase. When you return, re-adjust your chair. If this isn't possible, try leaning into the interviewer's space. Sometimes this will cause the person to back away. If you can't create a buffer zone, don't let it bother you, consider the closeness as intense interest in you and stay focused on your key messages.Whatever screwball behavior you encounter, take charge of theinterview. Put the question you want to answer on the table thenanswer it. You came to talk about yourself. If you can relate atleast one interesting example of how you solved a problem, achieveda goal or contributed to a team, you may actually engage theinterviewer in a dialog about you. After the interview, follow up with a brief thank-you letter that reiterates the key messages your intergalactic interviewer may or may not have heard.

Phone Interviews!!!

Phone interviewing has become increasingly popular over the past few years. For applicants, the goal of a phone interview is to secure an in-person meeting. For recruiters, it's to narrow their list of prospects. You can increase the odds of passing this initial screening if you follow our advice:

DO:

Do give accurate and detailed contact information in your cover letter so your interviewers can easily connect with you.

Do ensure that household members understand the importance of phone messages in your job search.

Do know what job you are interviewing for.

Do practice, if possible. Have a friend call you to do a mock phone interview so you get the feel of being interviewed over the phone. When being interviewed by phone, do make sure you are in a place where you can read notes, take notes, and concentrate. If you cannot devote enough time to a phone interview, do suggest a specific alternate time to the recruiter. It’s often best to be the one who calls back so you can be mentally prepared.

Do consider keeping some notecards or an outline in front of you to remind yourself of key points you want to cover with the interviewer. You don’t want your responses to sound scripted, but you don’t want to fumble for important points either.

Do also have your resume in front of you so you can remember highlights of your experience and accomplishments.Do ensure that you can hear and are being clearly heard.

Do consider standing when being interviewed on the phone. Some experts say you’ll sound more professional than if you’re slouching in an easy chair.

Do consider dressing nicely for the phone interview. It may sound silly since the interviewer can’t see you, but you really will project a more professional image if you’re dressed for the part instead of wearing, for example, a ratty bathrobe.

Do mimimize distractions. Flushing toilets, clamoring dishes and barking dogs sometimes interrupt phone interviews, recruiters report. Some experts recommend not using a cellphone.

Do create a strong finish to your phone interview with thoughtful questions

Do followup with a thank-you letter.

Don't

Don't feel you have to fill in the silences. If you’ve completed a response, but the interviewer hasn’t asked his or her next question, don’t start babbling just to fill in airtime. Instead, ask a question of your own related to your last response.

Don't panic if you have special needs. If you are hearing-impaired, for example, phone interviews are still possible.

Don't snuffle, sneeze or cough. If you can’t avoid these behaviors, say “excuse me.”

Don't chew gum or food, or drink anything noisyWhen in job-hunting mode, don't have a disproportionately silly or long greeting on your answering machine or voicemail.

Source: http://www.quintcareers.com/phone_interviewing-dos-donts.html

Interviewing, Interviewing, Interviewing!!!

Get VERY helpful interviewing information here...http://www.rileyguide.com/interview.htmlThe above website touches on the below interviewing subjects:Interviewing Advice Addressing Problems Improper Interview Questions After the Interview Variations on the Job Interview Interviewing via Video ConferenceHappy Interviewing!!

Informative Fun Videos

Check out these videos I found on CollegeGrad.com...
http://www.collegegrad.com/job-search-videos/