No, seriously. How often do you? If you are job seeking, do it right now, and do it frequently as you seek to establish a professional online image.
Brian Krueger, president of the site CollegeGrad.com (worth a visit at www.collegegrad.com/) cites “a growing trend in the number of employers who are Googling candidates and visiting social-networking sites . . . to research for additional information” on job candidates who are under consideration.
What might begin as a well-intended electronic investigation for candidates’ achievements could lead to employers viewing pages with profiles, photographs, and even videos that could be detrimental to employment opportunities. Krueger cites researchers’ estimates that “99% of MySpace and Facebook web pages are considered to contain inappropriate information. He asks job seekers to remember that “the Internet blurs the line between what is public and what is private.”
“Jobs Choices” magazines are an excellent resource. Published by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, take some time to check it out at http://jobchoicesonline.com/. In the Diversity Issue of “Jobs Choices 2012,” author, blogger (www.lindseypollak.com/blog) and lecturer Lindsey Pollak offers “10 Tips for Using Social Media in Your Job Search.” You can link to her list at: http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nace/JobChoices2012DiversitySpecial/#/22.
Her top tip? Develop a professional presence. She asks: “What do people find when they Google you?” She recommends setting up a profile on Linkedin, “which is a 100 percent professional network.” Social media profiles should be edited by adding professional details.
Another article by Meg Langland in the same issue of “Jobs Choices” gives the successful job seeker some vital tips on “Workplace e-Etiquette.” She begins the article with an admonition: “Accustomed to texting during class? Do you check your Facebook page throughout the day? Send tweets to your followers? If you’re about to enter the world of work, expect your communication habits to undergo a radical change.”
To view the complete article, written by the Director of Career Services at Westminster College, who presents on and writes about e-etiquette and the new college graduate, go to: http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nace/JobChoices2012DiversitySpecial/#/50.
Langland ends her listing of “General Rules of Thumb for New Employees” with this caveat: “Be wise about what you post on online social networking sites; remember you are now an employee and not only representing yourself but also an organization.”
Briefly stated, what Krueger, Pollak, and Langland, all respected professionals in their field are suggesting is that you Google yourself before, during and after your job search. And look at the content there and in your social media accounts through the eyes of your prospective employer.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
So you’ve graduated—now what?
You’ve swept up the confetti, recycled the beverage containers and got the worst of the stains out of the carpet, so now that the graduation party is over, here are eight things you can do to get your job search on track:
Bear down on your search. Think through your next steps, clarify where you want to go. What is it that you want to do with the next few years of your life? Use books like “What Color is Your Parachute” is that is your style, or use people like a friend or significant other who will ask you the right questions about your direction.
Polish your LinkedIn profile. Oh? OK—set up your LinkedIn profile. Decide what you want to say about yourself; pick some key themes from your resume. Remember you are building your brand, so there are some things you can do in LinkedIn to remind people you are out there. For instance, post a status update about once a week to keep your name top of mind. Post a professional photo! That way when you ask people to link with you, they can be reminded of what you look like. You are more likely to build connections with a photo than without one.
Visit your career coordinator in the Career Services Center. You can bat around ideas, review your resume, and get help with job search strategies. Talk about the two basic questions everyone must answer: what do you want to do and where do you want to do it.
Finalize your resume with your coordinator’s help.
Review CSUcareerline employer contacts by searching by industry or specific company. Contacts’ phone numbers and email addresses will be right there.
Look for networking events that might appeal to you. Professional groups publish calendars on their websites, so you should be able to find some very specific events for your interests as well as more general events with a wide appeal.
Do a mock interview. It will help you with the real thing, as well as prepare you for networking opportunities. If you are introverted, it is even more important to practice talking to strangers.
Finally, make your job search your job. Treat it like a regular job by spending thirty hours a week on it. Plan your day with perhaps Internet research in the morning, letter writing and resume mailing in the evening, with the afternoons free for information interviews and networking events.
Bear down on your search. Think through your next steps, clarify where you want to go. What is it that you want to do with the next few years of your life? Use books like “What Color is Your Parachute” is that is your style, or use people like a friend or significant other who will ask you the right questions about your direction.
Polish your LinkedIn profile. Oh? OK—set up your LinkedIn profile. Decide what you want to say about yourself; pick some key themes from your resume. Remember you are building your brand, so there are some things you can do in LinkedIn to remind people you are out there. For instance, post a status update about once a week to keep your name top of mind. Post a professional photo! That way when you ask people to link with you, they can be reminded of what you look like. You are more likely to build connections with a photo than without one.
Visit your career coordinator in the Career Services Center. You can bat around ideas, review your resume, and get help with job search strategies. Talk about the two basic questions everyone must answer: what do you want to do and where do you want to do it.
Finalize your resume with your coordinator’s help.
Review CSUcareerline employer contacts by searching by industry or specific company. Contacts’ phone numbers and email addresses will be right there.
Look for networking events that might appeal to you. Professional groups publish calendars on their websites, so you should be able to find some very specific events for your interests as well as more general events with a wide appeal.
Do a mock interview. It will help you with the real thing, as well as prepare you for networking opportunities. If you are introverted, it is even more important to practice talking to strangers.
Finally, make your job search your job. Treat it like a regular job by spending thirty hours a week on it. Plan your day with perhaps Internet research in the morning, letter writing and resume mailing in the evening, with the afternoons free for information interviews and networking events.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Transitioning to the Real World
Many CSU students are quite familiar with the “Real World”. You may be working full or part time, raising children, involved in community activities, and so you are no stranger to time management.
Doesn’t that just kill you when people make a distinction between your college experience and “the real world”? Somehow they imply that you are not ready for the responsibilities of a career after graduation, that you have no clue as to what will be required of you in a “real” job.
CSU students work as salespeople, servers, support staff, substitute teachers, tellers, interns, co-ops, cooks and cashiers. They know how to balance work, school, family and life, setting priorities and meeting goals.
So what will be so different after graduation?
Here are some ideas to ensure your professional success:
1. Look in your closet. Jeans and flip flops may have sufficed for the past few years, but now you will need to upgrade your wardrobe. You will need one or two good suits (especially for interviewing). Even if the work environment is casual, gentlemen should always wear collared shirts; women should forsake the skinny jeans and go with dress slacks.
2. Find a mentor. Your company may have a mentoring program in place, but if not, find someone (not your supervisor) who can help you navigate the vagaries of the corporate world. You need to learn the politics of the organization from an insider.
3. Be nice to secretaries. They know where the bodies are buried, but they’ll never tell, hence the name “Secret-aries”. They will keep you out of trouble with bosses, auditors and the like, as long you treat them with respect.
4. Work a full day, every day. No coming in late, no extended lunch breaks, no unexplained absences. Your boss expects you to be there every day. No matter what long time employees may do, you still have to prove yourself, so demonstrate that you are dependable.
5. Admit your mistakes. Every sitcom on TV has an episode where someone tries to cover up a blunder at work. It makes for great comedy but lousy reality. Confess your error before it gets out of control, and you will save yourself a lot of grief.
Doesn’t that just kill you when people make a distinction between your college experience and “the real world”? Somehow they imply that you are not ready for the responsibilities of a career after graduation, that you have no clue as to what will be required of you in a “real” job.
CSU students work as salespeople, servers, support staff, substitute teachers, tellers, interns, co-ops, cooks and cashiers. They know how to balance work, school, family and life, setting priorities and meeting goals.
So what will be so different after graduation?
Here are some ideas to ensure your professional success:
1. Look in your closet. Jeans and flip flops may have sufficed for the past few years, but now you will need to upgrade your wardrobe. You will need one or two good suits (especially for interviewing). Even if the work environment is casual, gentlemen should always wear collared shirts; women should forsake the skinny jeans and go with dress slacks.
2. Find a mentor. Your company may have a mentoring program in place, but if not, find someone (not your supervisor) who can help you navigate the vagaries of the corporate world. You need to learn the politics of the organization from an insider.
3. Be nice to secretaries. They know where the bodies are buried, but they’ll never tell, hence the name “Secret-aries”. They will keep you out of trouble with bosses, auditors and the like, as long you treat them with respect.
4. Work a full day, every day. No coming in late, no extended lunch breaks, no unexplained absences. Your boss expects you to be there every day. No matter what long time employees may do, you still have to prove yourself, so demonstrate that you are dependable.
5. Admit your mistakes. Every sitcom on TV has an episode where someone tries to cover up a blunder at work. It makes for great comedy but lousy reality. Confess your error before it gets out of control, and you will save yourself a lot of grief.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Party Like an Employed Rock Star
Once you return from Spring Break, all energized and ready to push through the rest of the semester, those who are graduating in May will want to add a visit to Career Services on their To Do list. Call us at 216.687.2233 to set up a meeting with your Career Coordinator (we'll tell you who that is when you call).
1. Graduation Party initiations? Check
2. Catering arranged? Check
3. Soft drinks ordered (drink responsibly). Check
4. Visit Career Services. Check
5. Register for CSUcareerline? Check
See resume examples here, before you come into Career Services.
1. Graduation Party initiations? Check
2. Catering arranged? Check
3. Soft drinks ordered (drink responsibly). Check
4. Visit Career Services. Check
5. Register for CSUcareerline? Check
See resume examples here, before you come into Career Services.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Employers' Biggest Complaint
According to the latest Recruiting Trends survey conducted by Michigan State University, employers are not happy with some of the students they see at career fairs and other recruiting events. Their biggest complaint is that students have unrealistic ideas about careers.
For instance, students often have unrealistic expectations about salaries in their fields. They are expecting to be paid much more than the market rate for entry level workers. To remedy that, make sure you do your homework on salary research before you meet with an employer. Ask Career Services about the latest salary surveys; go to our website; check salary.com, glassdoor.com and other respected sites.
Perhaps even worse, students are unable to articulate their skills and competencies during interviews, do not present themselves in a professional manner and lack professional maturity. What do you think about these statements?
For instance, students often have unrealistic expectations about salaries in their fields. They are expecting to be paid much more than the market rate for entry level workers. To remedy that, make sure you do your homework on salary research before you meet with an employer. Ask Career Services about the latest salary surveys; go to our website; check salary.com, glassdoor.com and other respected sites.
Perhaps even worse, students are unable to articulate their skills and competencies during interviews, do not present themselves in a professional manner and lack professional maturity. What do you think about these statements?
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Mark Your Calendars for Spring Career Week 2011
The Career Services Center offers special workshops during both a Pre-Career Week and Career Week for Spring Semester.
Pre-Career Week runs from Tuesday, February 22 through Friday, February 25. Networking, resume writing and working the career fair effectively are some of the topics that will be covered that week. Walk-in resume critiques will be available on Friday, February 25 from 10:am-2:30pm in RW 280.
The 6th Annual Etiquette Dinner will be held on Thursday February 24 from 5:00pm – 8:00pm in the SC Ballroom. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the Career Services Center at 216.687.2233.
Spring Career Week runs from Monday, February 28 through Friday, March 4. We will have several employers presenting workshops from places like the FBI, and Karpinski Engineering. Why not do a mock interview with a real employer? Sherwin Williams will once again be sending recruiters to the Career Services Center to help students sharpen their interview skills. Appointments can be made through the CSUcareerline system soon.
Finally, the festivities culminate with the 32nd Annual Spring Career Fair on Friday, March 4 in the PE Building, from 9:00am to 2:00pm. Over 100 employers are expected. You can check the list by going to www.csucareerfair.com.
Pre-Career Week runs from Tuesday, February 22 through Friday, February 25. Networking, resume writing and working the career fair effectively are some of the topics that will be covered that week. Walk-in resume critiques will be available on Friday, February 25 from 10:am-2:30pm in RW 280.
The 6th Annual Etiquette Dinner will be held on Thursday February 24 from 5:00pm – 8:00pm in the SC Ballroom. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the Career Services Center at 216.687.2233.
Spring Career Week runs from Monday, February 28 through Friday, March 4. We will have several employers presenting workshops from places like the FBI, and Karpinski Engineering. Why not do a mock interview with a real employer? Sherwin Williams will once again be sending recruiters to the Career Services Center to help students sharpen their interview skills. Appointments can be made through the CSUcareerline system soon.
Finally, the festivities culminate with the 32nd Annual Spring Career Fair on Friday, March 4 in the PE Building, from 9:00am to 2:00pm. Over 100 employers are expected. You can check the list by going to www.csucareerfair.com.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
