Friday, October 31, 2008

Happy Halloween from Career Services

Students, check out this video http://www.scaryinterview.com/ to find out why interviewing skills are so important.

InterviewStream is an excellent tool for anyone wanting to enhance their interviewing skills. It is a private and free way to practice answering the most asked interview questions. You do not need an appointment! Just stop in to Career Services during our office hours of: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Major decisions...

Choosing a major and planning for your career is a very individual process. To help you in this process, consider participating in some of the activities listed below. Some may be more applicable than others, but all can help you clarify your options and make the right choice.
  • Learn about yourself, your interests and abilities. Set up an appointment with Career Services to complete and discuss at least one of the following self-assessment inventories: Self-Directed Search to Kiersey Temperament Sorter.
  • Complete the on-line FOCUS Career & Educational Planning System. It provides you with a complete picture of your interests, values, personality, skills, and leisure activities using self-assessment questionnaires, interest inventories, and personality testing. After you have assessed your personal attributes, the system searched its career and occupational information database to help you identify occupations and career paths that match your personal characteristics. You will need your SMU username and the password is "saintmary."
  • Review the SMU catalog. The catalog shows what majors are offered and what the requirements are (if any) for acceptance into the majors. Visit with faculty in various departments to learn more about the majors.
  • Register for the one-credit course Career Exploration (PD 101) offered the second eight weeks of each semester.
  • Research occupations that interest you. Use the resource library in Career Services and the website to learn more about various occupations.
  • Browse through the "What Can I Do With This Major" handout to find out what types of jobs are available for certain majors.
  • Interview and/or job shadow professional working in occupations you are considering.
  • Participate in a field exploration experience. This is a planned work experience, open to qualified sophomores, for academic credit. It allows student an opportunity to explore a field they are interested in. Stop by our office for more information about field exploration.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

2008 100 Best Companies to Work For



See the full list of America's top 100 employers at http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/bestcompanies/2008/, including detailed company profiles, top locations, and contact information. Plus, post your thoughts on the winners in the Best Companies blog.

Friday, October 17, 2008

How to Work a Career Fair

Career Fair 2008
Wednesday, October 22
Noon - 4:00pm
McCown Gym, WSU Campus

If you are attending your first career fair and are not quite sure what to do, who to talk to or even what to wear, never fear. Career services can help.

10 Preparation is Key

Visit career services before the event to help determine your best career options and fit.

9 Do your Homework

While preparation helps you pin point which companies pique your interest the next step is to learn as much as you can about the companies you want to approach. Get a list of companies that will be attending your career fair and then research their websites.

8 Keep an Open Mind

Be open to new possibilities and opportunities. Many companies may initially seem unappealing but can have career opportunities in areas you haven't thought of. For example a large retailer not only has retail, sales and marketing positions but also has buying, human resources and accounting positions as well.

7 Come Dressed for Success

People will remember you if you are well dressed, clean cut and distinguish yourself from everyone else at the event.

6 Bring your Resume

If you have done your homework and know a recruiter's name and position you should have a personalized cover letter and resume ready. Have general copies handy for those unexpected companies that strike your interest - ask where you can forward a personalized resume later.

5 Follow-up

Touch base with recruiters after the event for those positions you are truly interested in.

4 Don't Rush It

Take the time to introduce yourself to the recruiter. Shake their hand and smile. Recruiters will always remember people who are positive and professional.

3 First Impressions

Remember that when you do introduce yourself it is the first step in the interview process. The recruiter will want to know your major, when you are graduating, the opportunities you are interested in and why you would be suited to those opportunities.

2 Ask Questions

This is a chance to increase your knowledge about the industry and the opportunities available. Take your time. However, a common mistake is asking too much too soon - save the questions about salary and benefits until a future meeting.

1 Relax

This is not the be all and end all of your career. Enjoy the day and use this as a starting point to your career search.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

What's Your Perfect Job? Take the Test!

Self-Directed Search

The Self-Directed Search (SDS) is the world's most widely used career interest inventory. It matches your skills and interests to specific careers, college majors, and fields of study.

The SDS was developed by Dr. John Holland whose theory of careers is the foundation for most of the career inventories used today. His theory relates people to six themes: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional.

Work environments and occupations are classified by these six themes. People who choose careers that match their own themes are more likely to be satisfied and successful.

The SDS will hlep you to understand more about yourself, your skills, and your interests. This assessment can not tell you what career to pursue. Only you can make that decision. However, using the results from the SDS, other assessments, and by researching occupations, you can make a well thought out decision.

The "GMA" anchors took the Self-Directed Search test, which matches personality with possible careers. The results so far have been surprising. Sam Champion a shoe salesman? Chris Cuomo a hair stylist?

If you would like to take the Self-Directed Search, stop by Career Services & Internships in 136 Marys.

http://www.smumn.edu/sitepages/pid896.php

http://blogs.abcnews.com/gma/2008/09/whats-your-perf.html

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Students want their future employers to demonstrate "Green"

Today's Millennnial college students and recent grads are overwhelmingly interested in connecting the "green movement"--i.e., environmental friendliness and responsibility--to their future careers, according to a recent survey by Experience.

Of the more than 2,700 students/grads who participated in the study, 81 percent said it's important for them to work for a "green' company--one that is "green-friendly, green-conscious, or green-certified."

Similarly, 79 percent said they'd be more likely to accept a job offer from a "green" company over an identical offer from another company.

Source: Experience news release, August 4, 2008

Friday, October 3, 2008

Kearns sharpens career focus, thanks to internship

by Jason Schulte, Pierce County Herald

One of the main goals of an internship is to see whether or not that is the career the intern wants to do.

For Nicole Kearns, her internship with the Pierce County Sheriff's Department this summer confirmed her interest in criminal justice. "It sealed the deal," the 2006 Ellsworth High School graduate said. "Being able to live and experience it, I know this is what I want to be."

Kearns spent about eight weeks from early May - late June observing several areas of law enforcement. She went on ride alongs with members from the K-9 Department, Water Patrol and regular Patrol (one of those ride alongs was even to the Stanley Correctional Facility to help transport a prisoner on May 22---her 20th birthday).

Kearns also spent time in probation and parole, watched court cases, sentencing hearings and jury trials, and observed the dispatch/jail area. She also viewed Taser training and went to the county's shooting range. "It's a real fun environment to work for," she said. "The staff is really supportive." And that was one of the things that surprised her. "I was impressed with how welcoming they were," she said. "They're not going through the motions. They showed you what they did and why they did it." She added she was impressed by the way sheriff's deputies handled themselves in stressful situations.

Kearns is starting her final year at Saint Mary's University in Winona, Minn., majoring in criminal justice with the intention of being a lawyer. "It's something I wanted to do," she said, who explained that, growing up, her nose was always in a book.

Kearns said she is on target to graduate a year early and is doing everything possible to accomplish that. During her last two weeks of the internship, she took morning classes at UW - River Falls, then would work her eight-hour shift with the sheriff's department and then take two - to - three hours of online classes. Kearns praised the sheriff's department for their flexibility in helping her obtain that schedule. "They were great, which was a big help," she said.

Looking into a crystal ball, Kearns said that, once she becomes a lawyer, she would like to work on the prosecution side so she can help victims and practice law in a small, rural setting. Kearns is the daughter of Kim and Larry Kearns, and has an older brother, Joshua.