Project Fantastic!

I am so happy with my mentor! This is going to be a great experience and we have only had one meeting. The very first meeting was fun and informative. For the most part we just talked about ourselves and what we liked to do. Just background information basically.

But the fun part was when we started to talk about what we wanted from this mentor-ship and what could be done. So as we sat and talked in Panera for almost two hours we hashed out a basic schedule of times I could come in. Plus Amy, my mentor, talked about different projects I could help out with, the different people I could meet too. I am thrilled knowing that what I thought would be pretty basic is almost like an internship!

It is exciting to know that I am going to be helping Hallmark marketing and development.

I can't wait to blog more after my first meeting with the team next Wednesday.

But in the mean time I will blog about someone in the office by Friday!

Leggo

Tuesday. Oh Tuesday, you were an interesting day. I mean really you were like last minute crazy out of control some how pulled together crisp and clean in the end. Yeah I am that good. Okay so I did have some help but that is beside the point of this.

On Tuesday the first meeting for the Career Mentor Program 2012 started at 5:45. It was the orientation for the start of a whirl wind mentor ship in midst of a whirl wind semester. Talk about going crazy, last semester I thought would never end, now we are in February and the classes are flying by.

Any who the orientation was fantastic and informative as well. I found out the best ways to contact my mentor, and how to have really good first meeting! Needless to say I am stoked to meet my mentor from Hallmark!

At the meeting however I was posed a question, okay well we all were asked the same question, do you have questions for your mentor. So obviously I am nodding yes in response but when the question continued on. Do I have questions that are quick, simple and good for my first time meeting my mentor? The answer in nope. None what so ever, in any way, shape, or form. I am questionless.

So now comes the part of major panic on my part as I walk back to my dorm. I begin to think that the world am I going to be asking this slightly random person that I have never met in my life before that I am being paired with for the next couple of months. Truth be told I had a list of questions, but they are more appropriate for when I am actually working in the mentors field.

I am at a loss what do I ask, how do I ask it, what is good or bad, what if I hit a nerve by complete accident. I know that this is the first time meeting this person so I have to make an impression. I am still not sure exactly what I will be asking my mentor. I hope I have some questions written down before I meet her but who knows. Hopefully by the time I meet my mentor I will be 100% ready for it, but only time will tell... So leggo make some questions.

Suggestions?

Back on the Hill 2012!

Okay so it is a new year here at the Hill and Career Services is starting it off right. There are multiple events coming up in the next few weeks that will bring up many opportunities and may even bring about an exciting summer adventure. Located on our board down in the hallway by the Cage is a calendar that says all of the events that include times, locations and deadlines. If you have any questions at all about the calendar, just stop by the office, which is located on the second floor of the Union past the Perch and to the right. We’d love to help you with your resume and job searching needs.

Make sure to keep up with the blog because February is going to be resume month. We will be reviewing the aspects of a resume from the basic details to the things that will make your resume stand out.

Good luck with the job researching and classes everyone!

Let's Get Started!

As a new year starts so do new traditions. Okay so maybe keeping a blog isn’t a tradition but it is something I have wanted to start for a while. This is the Career Services blog, it is going to be filled with funny stories from the office, up coming events and tips for etiquette and job hunting! I am so excited that for whoever actually reads this gets to go on this journey with me. So let’s get started.

Every week there will be at least one post about the happenings in the office by me or someone from the office. Plus I will introduce a new person each week, so when you come in you’ll know a familiar face.

This week’s Career Services employ being introduced is me! I am a freshman here at William Jewell College and I absolutely love it here. It is a great experience and I can’t wait for the rest of my college experience. I am a triple major here at Jewell, my majors are Business Administration, Organizational Communication and the ACT-IN major. So basically I am going to be a busy person. In life I hope to work in marketing or advertising. It just fits my personality so well and I am blessed to go to a school that offers great programs too. My hobbies are fishing, reading, and photography. I am in love with life and can’t get enough of it either! It is just so exciting and fun that I make the very best of every opportunity.

Here in the office I really just help out people who come in looking for help with a resume or job search, I'm still kinda learning the ropes but I am getting there. Career Services is here for you! To get to the office go to the second floor of the Union, go past the perch and turn right! You’ll see our door open so just walk right in and you’ll see a smiling face welcome you to our little office.

If you really want to keep up with all the happenings in the office join our Facebook groups and follow us on Twitter. We post a lot of information on the Facebook pages and quick stuff on the Twitter! (The links are located on the left side of the page!)

For whoever is reading this, just have a great weekend, stay safe and good luck job hunting!

Grad School Career Fair and Seminar

Thursday November 17

Career Fair: YGCU Atrium
11am - 1pm
Avila
Kaplan Test Prep
Mid America Nazarene
Park University
Rockhurst University
UMCK Bloch School of MGT
University of Missouri School of Law
University of Saint Mary

Seminar: YGCU 212
2:15pm - 3:15pm
Kaplan Test Prep
UMKC Bloch School of MGT
University of Missouri School of Law

This Week's Events

10/26/11 - Workforce Recruitment Program Intv.

10/28/11 - Park University Career Fair

Creating a Killer Cover Letter

By Lindsay Olson

Many job seekers question whether or not they should send a cover letter with their resume. It’s a question that’s up for debate between job search professionals, and you’ll receive conflicting advice everywhere.

People skip the cover letter because they think that companies don’t read them and that they are a waste of time to write. While it is true that some hiring managers and recruiters won’t take the time to read a cover letter, plenty of companies do consider one necessary for a candidate to receive serious consideration. Not sending a cover letter for a position could be a risky move, so if you are extremely interested in the position for which you’re applying, your best bet is to include one.

Think of your cover letter (or introductory letter) as a high-level overview of your resume and an additional tool to elaborate any specific information. It provides you with the opportunity to highlight your strengths and answer any possible objections up front. Focus the content on the specific skills that the job description mentions so that the hiring manager knows right away that you fit her criteria. Once you’ve covered that and have gained the reader’s attention, you can use it fill in any details that might not fit on or be appropriate for your resume.

For example, if you are applying for a job that requires French language skills, it might not be fitting to mention in your resume that you lived in France for a few years as a teenager with your family, but your cover letter is the perfect place to tell that story.

If you foresee any obstacles, such as in the case of applying for a job out of state, mention them in your letter. Let’s say you are applying for a job in New York City and live in Utah, but plan to move to New York soon; let the company rep know so she doesn’t feel like you’re looking for a relocation package. If you are planning on being in the region where you are applying for jobs, make sure you include this early on in your cover letter.

Successful Cover Letters

There’s no single formula for success when it comes to writing a stellar cover letter, but you can be sure that the more unique and creative your cover letter, the more attention it will get. A quick cut and paste job changing the title of the position won’t cut it. The meat of the cover letter should be customized for the specific position using the job description and your knowledge of the company as a guide about what to cover in the introduction.

Relate your experience to the job description. The best cover letters should leave the reader with the desire to call you to come in for an interview before even opening your resume.

Keep the letter relatively short. It’s an introduction to you and your resume, so three to five paragraphs should suffice. Resist the temptation of writing a full page (or more) to get in all of the great things about you; it’s better to keep some of that for the interview.

Address your letter to the hiring manager, and if at all possible, get his or her name. A personalized letter is much better than one addressed “To Whom It May Concern.”

What to Include

• Start your letter by identifying the position you are interested in and where you found it (this is unnecessary if you are applying through a job site directly). If the company is hiring for more than one position that you’re interested in and qualified for, specify which ones. Only choose the positions for which you are a close enough fit. Otherwise, your search comes across as unfocused.
• Provide three outstanding reasons why you are ideal for the job. It’s not enough to say, “I’m the perfect fit for this role.” Instead, you should back it up with examples. Refer back to the job description to align what you focus on with the responsibilities and challenges of the position.
• Bullet points or a table to match your background to the requirements works well to highlight your three main points. They’re visually easy to skim, and they show the reader where her eyes should focus. Stick to just three (maybe four) points, rather than a long list. Your resume should answer the rest.
• Don’t forget your contact information! Provide both your e-mail address and your phone number, as well as any links to your portfolio or samples of your work.

And finally, don’t be too stuffy. Yes, your letter should be professional, but it should also show your personality. Be relaxed in your letter, and don’t be afraid to toot your own horn. Sometimes the job description can give you an idea of the company’s formality. If the description is a bit off the wall and personable, respond in a similar tone. On the other hand, if the job description is very stilted and formal, a more traditional letter may appeal more to the reader.

Lindsay Olson is a founding partner and public relations recruiter with Paradigm Staffing and Hoojobs, a niche job board for public relations, communications and social media jobs. She blogs at LindsayOlson.com, where she discusses recruiting and job search issues.