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Why You Need Career Services
By Patrick M. Green
It happens each semester: the famous response from students
when I explain how Career Services can be a helpful resource
to them. First the quizzical look, then the dismissal, as if
to say, "What can you do for me? I am just a first-year
student." One first-year student poignantly responded to me,
"Can't we just learn before I talk about careers." This one
made me laugh out loud − and stop to think. Actually, this
particular first-year student had a great point: that this is
an educational institution with a focus on learning. And that
is exactly why students need to visit the Career Center in
their first and second years on campus − to learn about the
career development process.
Do you really think you will wake up one day and say: "That
is what I am going to do, actuarial science" or "I have
decided I am going to be an elementary school teacher"? If
only life decisions were so easy. Instead, they are usually
based on a plethora of factors: past and present experiences,
classes we enjoy, the influence of family and friends, or
pressure to declare a major that we are really not sure of.
These are the cues for you to visit the Office of Career
Services.
Top Five Reasons First- and Second-Year Students
Should Visit the Office of Career
Services
According to recent research, the trend
is that employment after graduation is increasingly
competitive. What does this mean for first- and second-year
students? It means you need to be prepared early in your
career development process to meet and surpass your
competition. It means the sooner you begin this process, the
more clearly you can establish and achieve your career goals,
or just figure them out. The following are the top five
reasons students in their first and second years of a
university education can benefit from visiting Career
Services:
Reason #5: To learn more about yourself.
Career Services offer a variety of assessment tools to discuss
how your interests, skills, and values fit with different
career paths; to demonstrate how your personality and
preferences match different career fields; and to show how
your interests fit others with similar interests in the
working world.
Reason #4: To access career coaching:
One-on-one career counseling allows you to discuss with a
professional career advisor your career goals, or to explore
different areas of interest to clarify your career goals.
Reason #3: To understand what free resources are
available: Since there is more to networking than
MySpace and Facebook, it is essential to learn all the online
resources available to you, such as the online career library,
sample resume and cover letters, and a website to search for
jobs and internships.
Reason #2: To get started with the
process: Career development is just that − a process.
By visiting the Office of Career Services or meeting with a
career counselor, you make the first step of this process and
are able to establish some goals for your career
development.
Reason #1: To determine your major: For
students who are still exploring your options for majors,
Career Services can offer assistance through meetings with
career advisors and the use of other valuable resources, such
as the "What Can I Do With This Major?" website and free
assessments.
For more information about the Office of Career Services,
you can schedule an appointment in Chicago at (312) 341-3560
and in Schaumburg at (847) 619-7921, or visit us at http://www.roosevelt.edu/ocs/.
Patrick M. Green, EdD, is the director of
the Office of Career Services at Roosevelt
University.
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The Values-Driven Job Search
By Kimberly Shea and Patrick
Green
What does it mean for you to be a student with a Roosevelt
University education who is planning your career? As our
mission states, it means we prepare our students to be
"socially conscious citizens for active and dedicated lives as
leaders in their professions and their communities." How you
define "social consciousness" is based on your values, and we
encourage you to keep those in mind as you go through the
career planning process.
Defining Your Values
To be successful in your career planning process, you must
find opportunities that align with your personal values
system. It is essential to articulate what is important to
you, what you value. We recommend that you create a personal
values checklist and use it when evaluating job or internship
opportunities. Periodically check to make sure you continue to
live these values throughout your professional life. For an
example of a personal values checklist, click here: http://www.roosevelt.edu/ocs/documents/PersonalValuesChecklist.pdf
Linking your Personal Values with Your Professional
Values
We recommend reflecting on the following questions
throughout your career planning process:
- What is most important to you in your job search?
- How will you evaluate potential employers based on your
values?
- What research tools will you use to collect information
on potential employers?
- What questions do you need to ask of the potential
employer to find the right opportunity during your search?
There are a variety of resources available to help you
research organizations. Visit the Graduation Pledge Alliance
website (www.roosevelt.edu/ocs/graduationpledgealliance.htm
or http://www.graduationpledge.org/)
for ideas, or set an appointment to visit with a career
counselor at Roosevelt.
The Interview Process
The interview process works both ways; the employer is
evaluating you, but you are also evaluating the employer. Once
you feel confident in how your values are going to guide your
search, create questions that will help you evaluate whether
the opportunity is aligned with your professional values. The
following are some suggested questions to ask the employer in
an interview. You may come up with others that fit your value
system.
- What is the organization's mission, and how is it
implemented into the operations of the organization?
- How does the organization hold itself and its employees
accountable for these expectations?
- What are the benefits, and who is eligible?
- Are there opportunities for community service, and what
is the organization's overall approach to community
relations?
- What is the organization's record on occupational health
and safety? Waste handling?
- What efforts have been made to minimize waste from the
organization?
- Are there child care, dependent care, and employee
assistance programs?
Ultimately, it is up to you to determine your personal
values system and how you want to incorporate this commitment
into your career planning, career choices, job search, and
professional life.
For more information, or to become a part of the Graduation
Pledge Alliance, a campaign to raise the social and
environmental awareness among college graduates, visit the
Office of Career Services website: www.roosevelt.edu/ocs/GraduationPledgeAlliance.htm
or http://www.graduationpledge.org/.
Patrick M. Green, EdD, is the director of
the Office of Career Services at Roosevelt
University.
Kimberly Shea is a career
counselor in the Office of Career Services at Roosevelt
University.
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Career Fair 101
By Tamar Frolichstein - Appel
Why Attend a Career Fair?
No matter what stage you are in the development of your
career, attending a career fair can advance your career
development process.
For career fair novices, let's start at the beginning:
What is a career fair? It is an event that
provides employers the opportunity to connect with college
students and graduates who are interested in learning about
the range of positions and internships available at different
companies and organizations. Some career fairs, like the
upcoming fair at Roosevelt University, are open to all
industries and to people with all majors and degrees. Other
fairs may be specific to particular industries or fields.
What happens at a career fair? Employers
are given tables where they can set out materials about the
organization they represent and the positions for which they
are recruiting. Students and alumni walk around meeting
employers, collecting information from the employers, sharing
their resumes and making professional connections. Along with
learning about the world of work and building your
professional networks, attending a career fair is also an
excellent opportunity to practice your interviewing and
networking skills.
How do you prepare for a career fair?
- Know yourself. It is fine to
go to a career fair before you are looking for a job, but
know what industries you are interested in learning about
and have an idea of when you would be available for a job or
internship. If you are looking for a job or internship, be
clear about what you are looking for.
- Prepare an excellent resume.
Make sure that it clearly states what position you are
applying for and what training and experience you have that
qualifies you for this position. Be sure to bring plenty of
copies of your resume printed on high-quality paper.
- Prepare a brief introduction for
employers. This should include who you are,
what you do, and why the employer should be interested to
learn more about you. Practice, practice, practice!
- Research the career fair.
Check the OCS website for a listing of organizations that
are planning to attend the career fair. Research these
organizations and develop a list of those that you are most
interested in learning more about and connecting with. Think
of questions that you would like to ask employers to help
strengthen your connection with them. Plan a strategy to
meet with your priority employers first and later to talk to
other organizations.
- Plan your career fair visit.
Dress professionally, just as you would for a job interview.
Come early with lots of energy and a positive attitude.
Leave bulky bags and coats on the side so you are free to
shake hands, pass out your resume and collect information
from the organizations.
- For additional assistance:
Check out the OCS website: http://www.roosevelt.edu/ocs/students.htm
and make an appointment to meet with a career counselor.
What next?
After the career fair, you must follow up with the
employers that you met. If they have not asked you to complete
an online application or send an additional resume, you should
plan to send a thank you note and suggest desired next steps
in building your professional network.
A Word to Career Fair Veterans: Remember
each career fair is an opportunity to increase your
professional network, learn more about the world of work and
practice career development skills. Make sure that you are
personally prepared, have done your homework about the fair,
and are ready to make the most of this important professional
opportunity.
The Office of Career Services is sponsoring two
career fairs this spring:
You can also learn more about preparing for a career fair
by attending the Preparing for a Career Fair
Workshop being offered on both of Roosevelt's
campuses this spring. Please check the eRecruiting calendar http://roosevelt.erecruiting.com/stu/home
for more details.
Tamar Frolichstein - Appel is a career counselor in the
Office of Career Services at Roosevelt University.
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experience
Internships and You: Understanding the Big
Picture
By Ryan Smith
When it comes to job searching and advancing, they say it's
all about who you know, and there is no better way to reach
out and make contacts in your industry than by gaining
valuable experience working with people who share your career
goals. No matter what your major, an internship is a good
idea. A theatre major can learn about the industry by doing an
apprenticeship, even if there is no onstage time involved.
Journalism majors may not be publishing stories at their
internship sites, but they are certainly establishing
connections with key players in their field. In order to make
sure that the internship you have signed up for really works
for you, there are a few key things to consider.
The best internships are ones that provide a good match for
the student and employer. By interviewing with an employer,
reviewing the duties, having clear goals, and asking thorough
questions, you will realize pretty quickly if the placement
would be a good match for you or not. Finding the right work
environment is paramount not only for your happiness, but
ultimately to your success.
Choose an internship where it is clear that you will be
assigned a mentor. Making that first transition into your
field of choice can be intimidating, so having someone to
connect with and learn from can facilitate the process and
enrich your overall experience. Don't be afraid to ask your
mentors and peers questions and see how they made it to where
they are now. You might be surprised, and possibly amused, to
find out that they have had experiences similar to you, or, at
the very least, that you are not alone. Everyone has a story
based on his or her experiences, and those stories may very
well relate to your career path.
Make certain upon completing your internship program that
you walk away with tangible recognition of your contribution
to your employer and your accomplishments. Document all of
your hard work by keeping any reports, presentations, clips,
or articles you produced while there. Be sure to speak up and
volunteer for assignments and share your ideas. Constantly ask
yourself if you are being an active and present contributor to
your experience.
Lastly, evaluation is one of the most crucial parts of any
internship program for both interns and their respective
employers and schools. Clearly examine what lessons you have
learned, what you have achieved, and what obstacles you have
overcome. Also, clarify how this experience has solidified
your career plans and what your next steps will be.
Most importantly, always remember to stay in contact with
your career center's internship coordinator to ensure that you
are in a successful program. Clear communication and a well
thought out plan of action are your biggest allies in an
internship. Follow these guidelines, and at the end of your
internship, you might hear those words made famous by Mr.
Donald Trump himself, "You're Hired!"
Ryan Smith is the internship coordinator
for the Office of Career Services at Roosevelt's Chicago
campus.
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Etiquette in the Job Search
By Teri Cullen
When you are conducting your job search, it is not only the
mechanics of your job search that will help you land your
dream job, but also the way in which you conduct yourself
during the job search that can affect the outcome. When
conducting your job search, it is very important to use proper
etiquette, which can be defined as an acceptable form of
conduct. There are many factors to consider when using
appropriate job search etiquette.
Email
- Remember to use business writing in your email messages.
- Check your spelling and grammar. Always proofread your
email before sending it out. Most word processing tools have
spelling and grammar checking tools. Use them if you have
access.
- Be sure to have an appropriate email address. If you are
not sure about your email address, then don't use it. If you
need to, have a separate address for your job search. For
instance, if your address is bestcubsfan@aol.com or
wildwendy@yahoo.com,
do not use it for your job search. An email address that is
limited to first and last names is a better choice.
- Avoid using emotive icons and common internet-based
abbreviations (such as LOL, BTW, FYI). These are fine for
personal communications, but will convey an unprofessional
image that may eliminate you from consideration for many job
opportunities.
Phone and Voice Mail
- Have an appropriate greeting on your voice mail. Make
sure that your greeting sounds professional.
- When you have a screening phone interview, behave as if
you were at a regular interview. Try not to use your cell
phone for the phone screen because sometimes you can
experience static or dropped calls.
- If the job listing states "no calls", do not call. It
will show the employer that you can follow instructions.
- It is appropriate to follow up on your resume, once you
have sent it. But do not call the employer more than once
unless you have been asked to do so.
Cell Phone
- The best advice is to NOT bring your cell phone to your
interview.
- If you need to have your cell phone with you, be
sure to turn it off. You do not want your phone to ring
during your interview.
- If you do leave your cell phone on during your
interview, and it rings, do not answer the call.
The Interview
- Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. You do not want the
employer waiting for you.
- Dress appropriately for the work environment. A suit is
usually recommended. If you have any questions about what to
wear, please contact the Office of Career Services for
additional information.
- Be sure to address the person(s) who is interviewing you
as Mr., Mrs., or Ms., until you are asked to call him or her
by first name.
- Be prepared. Ask questions. Research the company. Show
interest.
- Always send a thank you letter within 24 hours of your
interview.
These are a few examples of using proper etiquette in your
job search. Something as simple as having your phone ring
during an interview or dressing inappropriately for the
interview can jeopardize your chances of getting a job offer.
For more information on etiquette in the job search, please
attend the Networking and Etiquette Reception on April 11 from
4:30 to 6:30 pm. in the Congress Lounge of the Auditorium
Building. The cost for this event is $10. You may also access
the informational resources on the Career Services website at
www.roosevelt.edu/ocs/interview/default.htm,
or call (312) 341-3560.
Teri Cullen is a Career Counselor in the Office of Career
Services at Roosevelt University.
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