In the Home Stretch!

7 Job-Hunting Tips For 2011

Annie Mueller Thursday, December 2, 2010

For recent graduates as well as victims of downsizing, layoffs and other economic backlashes, the job market can be an intimidating place. But the 2011 job hunt could be just the chance you need; let go of some of those old job-hunting habits and tackle the 2011 market with these updated tips.

1. Keep your social networking alive, well and professional.
   If you've been neglecting your Linkedin account and playing Farmville instead, it's time to switch gears and look at social networking as one more step in the successful job hunt. It's fine to have accounts for personal social networking, but spend less time on those and lot more time on the profiles you have that relate to your past, current and future career. Get involved in local groups on Linkedin, update your professional blog daily and follow professionals in your field on your Twitter account. A neglected or unprofessional social profile can hurt your job hunt, but a regularly updated and professionally focused social presence can open many doors.
2. Find a job with Twitter.
   Twitter is useful for far more than to-the-minute updates on the personal lives of your favorite friends and/or celebrities. Twitter can help land you a new job. First, follow influential folks in your field. Keep up with what's going on. Participate. Be part of the profession even if you're still looking for a job. Second, use a Twitter search tool to look for jobs, conferences and networking opportunities with people in your field. Twitter can be just a time-waster, sure; but it can also be a way to connect with people in your profession, build relationships - and maybe even end up with the job you want.
3. Polish up your resume.
   Social networking is a powerful way to get the contacts you need, but most often you'll still have to send in a resume for those job applications. Don't send an outdated resume in after you've updated your online presence. Make sure that both your resume and your online profiles are current and the best representation of your work experience and education.
4. Get active even (especially) if you're unemployed.
   Local connections are one of the most powerful ways to find a job; plus you'll only get depressed if you sit at home in your sweats all day. Join local organizations, volunteer and get involved in your community. Use your expertise to help other people out. Offer free seminars in your church or community organization, write articles for the paper or mentor someone who's new to the field. Staying up to date in your field and active in your community gives you something to say when those potential employers ask, "So what have you been doing in the last six months?" (Don't let a period of unemployment keep you from landing a new job. Check out Bridging The Gaps On Your Resume.)
5. Look for ways to be an expert.
   If you're a recent graduate looking for your first job, then that whole "work experience" section of the resume is often a painful subject. You may not be able to fill it up with years on the job, but do what you can to establish some expertise in your area. Attend conferences and seminars, take classes and get certifications. Write articles or author a blog. Interview professionals in your field; visit places that are relevant to your field; contribute to journals, blogs, papers, online groups and professional organizations.
6. Check out your freelancing options.
   Downsizing isn't a word most of us like, but it does have one potential benefit. More downsizing means more outsourcing, which means that many companies are looking to hire freelancers on a contractual basis to do all those jobs that still have to be done. Search local classifieds and job boards for listing for freelance, temporary or contract jobs, which are predicted to keep growing in number in 2011 (5).

Sure, it may not be how you want to work long-term, but it can help you stay afloat financially, keep getting that work experience and establish more connections in your network. When those companies do start hiring, you'll already be a name they know. (Freelance work is a way to escape the daily grind - but don't ignore the added responsibility that comes with freedom)

7.  Tap into your social network.
Don't be reticent when it comes to letting people know that you're looking for work. No, you don't want to attack your friends and family members with a day-to-day account of your job hunting exploits, but simply mentioning that you're looking for work in XYZ field can be helpful. Chat up strangers and you never know what kind of connections you'll make. There's a reason it's called social networking. (The CFA Institute provides members with a variety of ongoing career and networking benefits. To learn more, read Ongoing Career Benefits For CFAs.)

The Bottom Line
Finding a great job is about more than practicing interview techniques, crossing your fingers, and hoping that your persistence really will pay off. It's about using the resources at your fingertips, in your community, and in your network. Get smart with your job hunt in 2011, and you could be the one handing out tips for 2012.

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

FOCUS-2 is a self-guided, online career and education planning tool for use by college students.  It will enable you to assess your interests, values, skills, personality, and aspirations as they relate to careers and college majors.  FOCUS-2 is designed to help you choose the best major for you and explore occupations that match your profile.  Students who use FOCUS-2 make better decisions about their goals and plans and learn how to manage their careers.

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

This week's Tip is simple yet essential to maintaining a good image in business and society.  If you are at a holiday party or any party and someone is about to take your picture, set down your beverage so you are not photographed with beverage in hand.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

1/18	COSMC-HOA Interview Day Signups
	218 YGCU 8 am
2/1	Career Mentor Program Orientation
	WSC 304 5:45-7 pm

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Top 5 Interview Tips No One Mentions

Tips From Recruiters, Hiring Managers and Coaches

By MICHELLE GOODMAN

November 3, 2010

By now, we've all heard the same oft-repeated recommendations for acing a job

Study your resume so no one can stump you on its claims. Practice your answers ahead of time. Break the ice by mentioning a hobby, alma mater or former city of residence that you and your interviewer share. Ask plenty of questions. Take notes if you have to. Look sharp. Don't fidget. Ooze enthusiasm. Be polite to receptionists and assistants. Turn off your cell phone. Don't show up drunk, gassy, sweaty or accompanied by your mom. Send a thank-you note after the fact.
But what about the lesser-known interviewing code of conduct? If you're new to job hunting or you've been out of the interviewing loop for a decade or two, you'll likely have countless questions -- for example: How long should my answers be? What should I do with my hands when I'm talking? What emergency provisions should I bring? How can I let them know I'm ready to start on Monday without sounding like a total suck-up?
For insider suggestions, I polled dozens of recruiters, hiring managers and interview coaches. Their top tips follow.

Talk in Bullet Points

"Sometimes the most tricky interview question is 'Tell me a little bit about yourself,'" said Rahul Yohd, an executive recruiter with the firm Link Legal Search Group in Dallas.
"This is one of the most critical questions in any interview, not only because it is usually one of the first questions asked, but because it is one of the few times in the interview where you can take control," he said. Unfortunately, he added, "It's almost impossible to effectively condense your entire life into a 60- to 90-second response."
To avoid crossing the line between informative answer and off-the-rails ramble, Yohd recommends "scripting out" your response and rehearsing it aloud until perfect.
"Bullet-point out the four to six areas of your life, mostly professional, that you feel will be important for the interviewer to know about," he explained. "Then refine it to where the answer takes no longer than 60 to 90 seconds to deliver."

Pay Attention to Body Language

There's being animated in the interview, and then there's punctuating every sentence you utter with jazz hands. To strike the right balance, Lisa McDonald of Career Polish, Inc., a job search consulting firm based in Fishers, Ind., recommends mimicking your interviewer "to make sure your body language does not overpower theirs."
For all the big "hand talkers" out there, McDonald offers this advice: "Put the tip of your middle finger to the tip of your thumb and press your fingernail into the pad of your thumb. This helps you be aware of your hands without being noticeable."
On the flip side, introverts should pay attention to whether they're actually making eye contact with their interviewer -- a must if you want to come across as reliable and confident.
"It sounds so basic, but try video-taping a mock interview and see whether or not you are actually comfortable with this," said Corinne Gregory, president of SocialSmarts, a consultancy based in Bellevue, Wash. that helps people hone their social skills. "You'll probably find you are looking around, looking away much more than you think you are."
Fortunately, Gregory has an easy remedy: "Look [your interviewer] in the eyes when you begin a point, then look just below the eyes or to one side of the nose. Finish by looking the person in the eyes again at the end of your statement."

Assemble a Survival Kit

It may sound simple, but if you haven't interviewed in a couple of years, it's all too easy to leave the house without change for the parking meter or any other interviewing essentials. For this reason, experts suggest assembling a survival kit ahead of time and leaving it in your car or briefcase. Among the necessary items:

• Map (or GPS), cash, change and a full tank of gas.
• Bottled water and non-perishable snack in case your interview runs longer than expected.
• Breath mints, toothpicks, deodorant, a spare shirt, stain removal stick, hair brush, lip balm, and any other grooming items you routinely use.
• Tissues and hand sanitizer if you're getting over a cold.
• Pen and notepad so you can take notes and bring along a cheat sheet of interviewer names and titles, questions to ask and those bullet points about your career I mentioned earlier.
• Extra business cards and copies of your resume, references, work samples and any presentations you plan to give.

Ooze Enthusiasm

"I regularly hear of hiring managers who select a less qualified candidate because they liked the person's energy," said Debra Yergen, author of "Creating Job Security Resource Guide". "They liked their ideas. And they liked their enthusiasm. It's one of the top influencers in an interview."

Of course, when you've been interviewing for 6, 12 or 18 months, putting on a happy face is sometimes easier said than done. If you fall into this camp, Yergen has a suggestion: "Listen to a song or look at a picture or provide yourself a prop that you know will make you smile, laugh and feel good. Use that prop right before the interview and you won't believe the difference it will make."

Those hard-pressed to find a happiness prop might try envisioning that stack of past-due bills on their kitchen table all paid off. That ought to tease out a genuine smile.

End with a Zinger

Closing the interview can be tough. You want to let the hiring manager know you're excited about the position and you want to ask -- without sounding desperate -- when you can expect to hear from them next. But you also need to punctuate the meeting with a lasting positive impression.

One way to do so is to close with a question that shows you're already thinking about how you'll succeed in this new position. Alison Green, a management consultant in Washington, D.C. who writes the blog Ask a Manager, recommends this one: "Thinking back to people who have been in this position previously, what differentiated the ones who were good from the ones who were really great?"

"This question excites managers because it signals that you care about being not just good, but truly great," Green explained. Even better, she said, "They've generally never heard anyone ask it before."

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

FOCUS-2 is a self-guided, online career and education planning tool for use by college students.  It will enable you to assess your interests, values, skills, personality, and aspirations as they relate to careers and college majors.  FOCUS-2 is designed to help you choose the best major for you and explore occupations that match your profile.  Students who use FOCUS-2 make better decisions about their goals and plans and learn how to manage their careers.

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

In the crowded gate area in the airline terminal there are few empty seats.  A tiny woman with dark hair places her laptop on one seat with her bag in front of it and leaves an empty seat next to it where she plans to sit.  Then she moves to another set of seats and sits and chats with two co-workers.  An older man comes along toting his luggage and makes for the empty seat.  She stops him and says, "Oh no - that's mine."  The man pauses and looks at her sitting in the other seat, then shuffles on.

No one should be able to hog three seats in a crowded gate.

In adult life, there is no such thing as "I called it!"  There is no such thing as "this seat is saved" when the seating area is filled, when the train or bus is filled, when the theater is filled.  If your friend or kin has not arrived, that is not the problem of the person who is there and looking for a place to sit down.  Your bag, no matter what kind of day it's had in the underbelly of the airplane or going through security, does not warrant a seat of its own.

Make room for others.  Place bags on the floor or on your lap.  Give up your own seat for those who are elderly, frail, pregnant, juggling small children or anyone who looks like they could really use it.  Rather than say, "Do you want this seat?" say, "Please take this seat."

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

11/30	Career Mentor Program Reception
	Yates Dining Hall 5:30-7
12/2	Graduate School Seminar
	212 YGCU 2:15-3:15

Busy Week!

Not-So-Common-Sense Interview Strategies

By Scott Shrum
Perhaps the only thing that stokes anxiety in young job-seekers more than the fear of being jobless is the anticipation of walking into an interview for a coveted job. While applicants have been spoon-fed such mundane advice such as what responses to prepare (hint: skip the obvious questions) and how early to arrive at one’s appointment (another hint: very early is more annoying than impressive), there are some bigger-picture interview best practices that many young job-seekers seem to have overlooked.
While the following strategies may appear to fall into the bucket of “common-sense interview tips,” too many applicants fall short on these basic ideas, suggesting that they must not be all that common. Remembering these key points— and practicing them as much as possible—will go a long way toward making a strong impression with a hiring manager:
• Project confidence without arrogance. Generation Y notoriously confuses projecting confidence with projecting arrogance. How to strike a balance between the two? Practice, practice, practice—
ideally in a live setting, with someone you don’t know well (such as a friend of a friend). You will quickly gain a better sense of which jokes are a bit too much, when to push back vs. when to agree, and whether you’re sending the wrong signals to an interviewer. Practice speaking with your interviewer as a peer, rather than as a superior. If you can get comfortable with that, you will be in great shape.
• Keep your answers succinct. As a hiring manager, I find nothing worse than watching an interviewee ramble through his or her answers. If you find yourself doing this often, it probably means that you weren’t prepared for the question, or you have an answer but haven’t practiced how to present it in a brief, coherent way. Your answers should be conversational, but should always have a clear beginning, middle and end, and should take no more than a minute or two each. For answers to questions that you know will be longer (such as “Why do you want this job?”), give the interviewer a verbal indication of the length of your answer by saying something like “Well, the three main reasons are… ” and then count them off on your fingers: “One …”
• Go in with a short list of things you absolutely must cover. It’s your job to get these critical themes out on the table. For example, if you know an employer particularly values time-management skills, it is imperative that you emphasize that as a strength before the interview concludes. If your time is up and the interviewer never asked you about it, then it’s your fault, not theirs. Many job interviews start off with “Walk me through your resume,” or “Tell me about yourself.” This is your chance to address your key themes right away.
• Remember that a good interview is a two-way conversation. Interviewers will vary greatly in their style, but you ideally won’t do all of the talking during your interview. As objective as they mean to be, interviewers are more likely to remember the candidate who told interesting stories or pleasantly surprised them in some way. Comments such as “That’s interesting, tell me more,” and “That’s pretty impressive,” are good signs that you’re getting through to your interviewer. Blank stares and curt “wrap up”-type comments are signs that the two-way dialogue isn’t taking root.
• But … it’s still an interview. Ideally, you will be able to strike a smart balance between having an enjoyable conversation and still maintaining the structure of the interview, making sure that your key themes are covered and that the interviewer has answered all of their questions. After all, when the interview is done, the interviewer needs to answer some questions about you, and they can’t do that if you’ve just spent 45 minutes talking about politics and football. Make it enjoyable, but remember that it’s still an interview!

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

FOCUS-2 is a self-guided, online career and education planning tool for use by college students.  It will enable you to assess your interests, values, skills, personality, and aspirations as they relate to careers and college majors.  FOCUS-2 is designed to help you choose the best major for you and explore occupations that match your profile.  Students who use FOCUS-2 make better decisions about their goals and plans and learn how to manage their careers.

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

Some people can talk like it is an Olympic sport. When someone repeatedly drops by your office or cubicle and talks non-stop, it can feel like hostage situation, because it ties you up and prevents you from completing business. What can you do?

Smile and say, "I am sorry to interrupt, but I have to focus on this project" or "I need to get back to work." You may add, "Thank you for stopping by." Then continue with your work.  If the person is sitting, stand up, look that person in the eye and play the broken record, "I need to get back to work now."

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

11/15	AAF-KC Career Day
	Uptown Theater 8-5
11/17	Air Force Opportunities
	Union 10-2
11/30	Career Mentor Program Reception
	Yates Dining Hall 5:30-7

Enjoy Your Week!

7 Sales Tips For Getting The Job

Stephanie Christensen, provided by

Friday, November 5, 2010

As a job-seeker, your role is to market your good or service - in this case, yourself - to the buyer who is extending the best offer in exchange. Sound like sales? Essentially, it is. Luckily, the sales profession is full of superstars willing to share their secrets. Below are seven practical sales tips to ensure that you close the job deal every time.

1. Pass the Gatekeeper
Traditionally, gatekeepers have been admins, assistants and, in the case of job-seekers, human resources. With the influence of technology like caller ID, voicemail and email, it's harder, and more critical than ever, to get directly to the hiring manager. The key is to dangle a carrot before they can hit "delete". For job seekers, this means establishing credibility early on and how you'll deliver results. If you have worked for a competitor or have industry expertise, say so upfront. If you don't, reference something noteworthy that has happened in their company recently or research that has just been done in your industry. Doing so shows you are engaged in both the industry and that company in particular.
2. Know Your Audience
Sales people have different pitches for different buyers, and job-seekers should too. Technology today makes it simple to find out the back story on a prospective hiring manager. If their LinkedIn profile indicates a specific company or industry expertise, tailor your pitch to focus on points in your background that will be relevant and personal to them. If you can sense that your interviewer is stressed or time-crunched, don't sit in their office droning on about every point in your resume. State your core objective in the interview early on, and support it with three main points. If the conversation begins to flow and they probe further, elaborate. If not, they'll appreciate and remember your ability to be succinct when needed.
3. Offer Excellent Customer Service
Customer service makes or breaks your chance of getting and keeping customers in sales, and the same is true on the job. In this case, your customers are the person you work for, the teams you work with and external clients. Just as you are more excited about doing business with a company that passionately embodies your mission, so are people you encounter on the job. Radiate enthusiasm and tell prospective employers why you are so interested in the job and company, and how you plan to maintain that level of commitment years into your career. Then, make sure you do just that once you've landed the job.
4. Establish a Relationship With One Key Question
Simply ask your employer "What is it that you want to achieve?" Then use this knowledge to address a proposed solution that your skills and expertise will offer in the position.
5. Always Be Closing
It is not likely that you will be offered a job on the spot (and not a good idea to accept one on the spot, either!) But good sales people are always moving towards the next step needed to close the sale, and so should job-seekers. Towards the end of your conversation, the interviewer will generally ask whether there are any additional questions. Seize this opportunity to close the sale. Just as a salesperson's job is to ask for the order, yours is to ask for the opportunity.
6. Follow Up
Stay top of mind with your interviewee and use your one last chance to make a good impression. Write a simple email within a day of the interview, reiterating what you can do for the company and thanking them for the meeting. Keep it short and to the point. It will express to the employer that you are not only interested, but adept at follow-through.
7. Network in Person
While tools like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter have made it easier than ever to have plenty of social media and business connections, don't forget the power of a face to face conversation. Make a commitment to keep your "living and breathing" network as plentiful as your online ones. Join a club where you'll meet other like-minded professionals, strike up conversations, volunteer, or participate in local business events. While you should focus on just making connections, not specific leads, have a one minute "sound bite" down that will succinctly tell people about yourself. You'd be surprised how just a few minutes of face-to-face time can stick with people down the road.
The Bottom Line
Just as salespeople have formed a routine for effective sales calls, so should you as a job-seeker. Putting these tried and tested tips into practice can help you spend less time and energy looking for jobs, and more into developing the career you want.

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

FOCUS-2 is a self-guided, online career and education planning tool for use by college students.  It will enable you to assess your interests, values, skills, personality, and aspirations as they relate to careers and college majors.  FOCUS-2 is designed to help you choose the best major for you and explore occupations that match your profile.  Students who use FOCUS-2 make better decisions about their goals and plans and learn how to manage their careers.

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

When the master of ceremonies introduces the after dinner speaker, all else ceases.  There is no tittering, twittering, dithering or jittering.  Finish eating and sipping coffee before the speaker begins, turn your chair toward the speaker and give the speaker your undivided attention.  No, you may not text under the table.

If your ill-timed dessert arrives after the speaker begins, you may finish it as quietly and unobtrusively as possible. A speaker can be distracted by the clanking of dishes, silverware and glasses or the uttering of "yummy noises." You may not ask the banquet staff to box any part of the meal "to go," nor put food into a plastic baggie in your purse, man-bag or pockets.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

11/15	AAF-KC Career Day
	Uptown Theater 8-5
11/17	Air Force Opportunities
	Union 10-2
11/30	Career Mentor Program Reception
	Yates Dining Hall 5:30-7

Happy Halloween!

Bridging The Gaps On Your Resume

Erin Joyce, provided by

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

If you are one of 14.8 million Americans who are unemployed, you may be dealing with how to explain your absence from the working world to potential employers. No hiring manager likes to see big gaps between jobs, but there are several good explanations that you can offer to minimize the job-gaps on your resume. Follow these tips to avoid gaping holes in your resume.
Formatting
You can adjust the formatting of dates to eliminate the appearance of obvious unemployment streaks. For example, change any "Month/Year" references to state only the year.
For example:

Server: June 2003 - April 2005 Sales Associate: February 2006 - May 2007

Changes to:

Server: 2003 - 2005 Sales Associate: 2006 - 2007

Suddenly, that 10-month period of unemployment doesn't seem so obvious. Of course, if you're asked for particular dates, you're busted, but this method reduces the chance of having to explain prolonged unemployment.
Fill In the Blanks
If you do have significant gaps in your resume, it isn't the end of the world. Consider what you did spend your time doing during those periods. Did you volunteer, learn new skills or were there extenuating circumstances that kept you out of the workplace? This can all have a place on your resume if it adequately explains/justifies a prolonged absence.
For example, upon graduating, you may not have been able to get a job right away, but if you volunteered in a position related to your desired field, the mention of it turns a negative gap into a positive sign of devotion to your career path. If you were downsized but spent your time out of work taking classes or freelancing to update your skills, that's another great attribute. Listing these activities helps to paint you as a proactive person who, even if down on your luck job-wise, continues to actively seek ways to improve.
Streamlined Resumes
Don't feel like you have to account for 100% of your time from your childhood on. It is perfectly acceptable (and in many cases, in your best interest) to keep your listed work experience to only those jobs which are relevant to the position you are applying for. If you were out of work for a year during high school, this isn't going to be a big strike against you. Just be sure to include any activities, such as education, that would keep you from working.
Answer Honestly...
If you were let go because of a problem with your performance, and your interviewer asks for specifics, be honest. Explain what the problem was, but focus on what you did to resolve the issue or to ensure it didn't happen again. If you were out of work because of health or personal issues or because of a personal crisis (a parent taking ill or passing away, for example), mention it succinctly and again, focus on what you have done to remedy the problem (or how you are keeping it under control) and how the experience has improved you. Don't feel like you have to volunteer this information, unless it is an extremely obvious gap on your resume and even then, be concise - your employer can always ask if they need more details.
...But Don't Play the Blame Game
Always answer questions concerning sensitive issues diplomatically - no bad-mouthing former employers! Doing so will make your interviewer wonder if you'll do the same thing to them in the future. Before you even submit your resume, make a list of all the gaps you are concerned about and write out what happened, how you resolved it and why it won't happen again. If there was an issue with a former co-worker or boss, don't name names. If there was a personal issue, don't go into detail - simply state the basic facts of what happened and when.
Remember, employers are looking for stable employees, but that doesn't mean issues won't arise. A stable employee is one who can handle the hurdles life puts up and learn from the challenges they presented.
The Bottom Line
Be upfront and confident - life happens. Employers aren't looking for someone who never experiences challenges; rather, they want someone who is capable of handling them. More often than not, the gaps in your resume are nothing to be ashamed of. Just make sure you highlight the positive from every situation.

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

FOCUS-2 is a self-guided, online career and education planning tool for use by college students.  It will enable you to assess your interests, values, skills, personality, and aspirations as they relate to careers and college majors.  FOCUS-2 is designed to help you choose the best major for you and explore occupations that match your profile.  Students who use FOCUS-2 make better decisions about their goals and plans and learn how to manage their careers.

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

The exceptional manager hand writes personal notes to his or her staff.  Whether a scrawl on a memo or report, a fold over note or on executive monarch statonery, the manager express praise, encouragement and gratitude.

"Your hard work paid off on that presentation -- thank you for all of your efforts." 

"Nice job on the event -- we could not have done it without you."

"We all have those days when everything seems to go wrong -- keep your chin up, you are doing a great job." 

"I am proud of the progress you have made with the team!"

If the thought enters your head, "I can just do that by email. It would be faster."  Stop.  Step away from the keyboard, take your finger off the mouse and pick up a pen.  Remember the pen?  There should be one on your desk somewhere. Write the note BY HAND.  This, of course means the exceptional manager will also have to work on handwriting skills.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

11/1-3	Mentor Interviews
	YGCU 210
11/1	Nursing Employment Fair
	YGCU 221-222 10:30-1
11/2	Etiquette Dinner
	Embassy Suites 6-8
11/3	The Employment Guide’s 2010 Job Fair
	NKC Community Center 10-3
11/15	AAF-KC Career Day
	Uptown Theater 8-5

Almost Fall Break

Tips on Following Up After You Send a Resume

By Lindsay Olson

Posted: October 7, 2010

One of the most frequent questions I get from job seekers is about follow-up timing after submitting a resume. Who do I contact and how long should I wait?
The answer depends on how you were introduced to the company. If you respond to a job posting online, it's important to remember that some ads generate hundreds of responses a day. Many companies have tools to automate processing your application into their applicant tracking systems. A real person may not be looking at the responses sent and many times, the hiring manager isn't even involved at this stage.
The best way to make sure your resume gains the attention it deserves is to tweak it to fit the job description. It sounds like obvious advice, but job seekers often don't do it. Integrate the keywords that a recruiter might use to find a qualified candidate in their database. Your goal is to make sure your resume will be found and put on the short-list. If you have done this and haven't heard back, give it a week and follow-up.
The best-case scenario is when you know someone within the company. An internal recommendation almost always holds more weight (as long as you are qualified). If your contact presents your resume to the hiring manager or the HR department directly, your chances getting an interview improve immensely. Ask your contact to let you know when your resume has been received, and follow-up directly with the hiring contact in a day or two by phone or E-mail.
In both cases, your follow-up should be concise, polite, and reiterate your interest in the position. Highlight how your qualifications make you a good fit. Be specific and don′t assume that the company will recognize your name or for which position you applied.
A few key points about following up:

• Don't re-send the same resume and cover letter multiple times for the same position. Sending the same E-mail over and over lessens your chance of getting an interview because it seems desperate and disorganized. Make it obvious that you are following up on a specific position for your applications sent on a specific dates.
• Keep a positive tone in your follow-up message. A job search can be frustrating, especially when you feel that you are qualified and don't receive a response. A negative or an accusatory tone will kill your chance of getting a response as well as any future opportunities with the company.
• It would be wonderful to hear back from every employer, but it's not realistic. If you have followed up three times and have not heard back, it's time to move on. Don't take it personally.

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

FOCUS-2 is a self-guided, online career and education planning tool for use by college students.  It will enable you to assess your interests, values, skills, personality, and aspirations as they relate to careers and college majors.  FOCUS-2 is designed to help you choose the best major for you and explore occupations that match your profile.  Students who use FOCUS-2 make better decisions about their goals and plans and learn how to manage their careers.

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

No one wants to have what's known as "a Peter Brady party" where no one shows up.  Once you commit to attend an event, honor that commitment.  Do not throw over your host/hostess for a better offer or assume there will be plenty of people there without you.

R.S.V.P. on an invitation means, "Respond please."  Inform the invitee whether you will attend or not attend the event.  "I think I might be able to be there…" is not the right answer. When you answer an invitation, you are responding or replying.  There is no such thing as "RSVPing."  (It would not exactly have a nice ring to it, in any case.) 

If you decline an invite, it is not necessary to state a reason why.  Gifts for an event which you will not be attending, such as a graduation party, birthday, shower or wedding, are optional.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Happy Homecoming!

Give Yourself A Resume Makeover
Susan Adams, 09.16.10, 4:20 PM ET

I've just discovered the toughest thing about putting together a résumé. To write a really good one, you have to figure out what's special about yourself. What is your personal brand?
I'm a journalist with 30 years of experience. So what? How are my skills different from those of countless other 50-something media folk toiling in the editorial trenches?
It had been 10 years since I'd fixed up my résumé, past time for an update. I wrote an article back in December that surveyed some of the latest thinking on topics like video résumés and keywords, but readers and friends have been asking for more basic advice. So I decided to do a résumé fix-up story, using myself as a guinea pig.
My first step was to find a couple of sources who have worked extensively with professionals in my field. I turned to James Borland, a New York career coach affiliated with the Five O'Clock Club, who has done outplacement for clients at The New York Times, Newsday and Time magazine. I vetted Borland's advice with Eileen Wolkstein, a veteran coach I greatly respect and whom I've quoted numerous times.
Borland started out by confirming my suspicion that it makes sense to seek help from a coach who's worked with others in your field. If you're going for a job in financial services, for instance, use someone who's critiqued lots of Wall Street résumés. Do not let a coach write your résumé, however; you have to do it yourself. "An H.R. person or a recruiter will immediately pick it up if a résumé has been written for someone," Borland says. "All they have to do is spend five minutes with the person, and they can tell the words on the page are not words the candidate would use."
Both Borland and Wolkstein agree that your résumé should not be a mere list of jobs you've had, followed by brisk summaries of the work you did and your college and graduate degrees. That was problem No. 1 with my old version. It wasn't a marketing document. "Your résumé should entice the reader to want to see you," he says. "It should be designed to sell you as an interesting person to talk to."
Wolkstein agrees. She also thinks a résumé should tell a story about the résumé-writer, a story that captures the reader and makes one want to know more.
Borland told me I had to figure out three reasons someone should hire me, and put that at the top of the page in the form of a summary. That was another element my old version lacked. I just had the word "Experience" underneath my name and contact info, and under that, my current job title and responsibilities.

---

Borland criticized my old version as too dense. Break up the Forbes section into bullet points, he advised. Pick four to six accomplishments during my tenure, and pull them out, using details and active verbs. I took a stab at that, and Wolkstein pushed me further. I had used the words "write," "edit" and "create" too many times. I felt mortified, given that I make my living as an editor, when she suggested, "What about other verbs?"
At least Borland liked the fact that I'd mentioned a couple of cover stories I'd written that piqued his interest, including a piece on South Africa's first black billionaire. That line did what both Borland and Wolkstein wanted me to do: It invited the reader to be interested in me, and it sold me as someone who could produce a substantial piece of work on an intriguing topic.
Borland also exhorted me to describe the reach of the media companies I'd worked for. My old résumé simply said, "Senior Editor, Forbes." He insisted I include the circulation (900,000 for the magazine, and Forbes.com reaches 18 million people a month). I should do the same with the other places I'd worked.
Still, when I showed Wolkstein my rewritten draft, she pronounced it "essentially good," but not quite there yet. "What is your place in the world of journalism that makes you special?" she challenged me. Which brought me back to Borland's point: I should write a marketing document. I'm still working on it.

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

FOCUS-2 is a self-guided, online career and education planning tool for use by college students.  It will enable you to assess your interests, values, skills, personality, and aspirations as they relate to careers and college majors.  FOCUS-2 is designed to help you choose the best major for you and explore occupations that match your profile.  Students who use FOCUS-2 make better decisions about their goals and plans and learn how to manage their careers.

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

Ogden Nash said, "I don't mind eels, except at meals."

If you are at a dinner party in someone's home and you are served something you do not like, do not say anything. This might sound wasteful, but cut it up (whatever IT is), push it around the plate and pretend you are enjoying it, while keeping up with the lively conversation at the table. Telling people you find their food distasteful is like telling them their baby is ugly.

Thank your hosts for a lovely evening before you leave.  There's always fast food on the way home.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

10/1	Mentor Blitz
	10-7 Union
10/4	Nursing Resume Workshop
	10:15-11:05 306 Marston