Category Archives: Miscellaneous

Summer 2013

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Even though it’s summer, Career & Leadership Development still offers all of our regular career services to students and alumni. In fact, summer can be the perfect time to seek out career assistance:

  1. Career Staff have clear schedules. If you’ve ever struggled to get an appointment during busier times of the year, you will have your choice of meeting times during the summer months.
  2. You have time to complete career “assignments”. When you leave a career appointment, you will likely have some stuff to do. This ranges from starting a draft of your resume, revising your resume, doing career research, searching for opportunities on Hawk Jobs, etc. The hustle and bustle of the fall or spring semesters makes it hard to pencil in these to-dos. During the summer, you have a lot more time to get stuff done.
  3. Be better prepared for the year ahead. Next year is your year for an internship. You plan on attending the Hawk Career Fair at the end of September. You graduate in December 2013 or May 2014. All of these are important reasons to go into the new school year with a great resume, polished online image, and internship/job search plan in place.

Summer Career Services Available To UW-Whitewater Students & Alumni

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To schedule a summer appointment, contact Career & Leadership Development at 262-472-1471. If you are on campus, you can stop at our front desk in the University Center (Room 146, up the ramps/stairs across from Freshens). While most appointments occur in person, our staff is also open to phone and/or Skype appointments. Simply specify your needs when you schedule. And don’t forget about all of the resources on our Career Resources website.

Wishing all our readers a fun and relaxing summer break!

Hooray for Winter Break!

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I don’t know how you feel, but this semester seemed to fly by faster than ever before. It has been a busy semester in Career & Leadership Development, but it’s all a good kind of busy. Just like you, we appreciate the short break between semesters. Amidst taking some time off, many of us will use the break to tackle projects that demand our full attention.

Winter

Over your winter break, you might wish to do the same. Have you been putting off career-related projects because of work, classes, or your social life? Winter break is the perfect time to do some of this work. Here are some ideas for your to-do list:

Do your career homework. Homework?? On break?! Don’t worry, this “assignment” should be enjoyable. Take time over the break to make some decisions on your career direction and the next steps you should take. If you are at the point of trying to decide on a major, explore the career possibilities linked to the majors you are considering. Then, do a little more research on the careers that sounds interesting. Start developing a Plan A, B, and C for career paths.

Develop a career plan for the spring semester. Without overloading yourself with too much to do during the spring semester, identify a few things you can easily accomplish that will get you closer to your career goal. The beginning point for creating your plan is understanding what employers in your field will be looking for in new hires. Here are some ideas for gaining the skills and background employers will be seeking:

Need more ideas? Check out this post from YouTern: Your Back-to-School Checklist Will Never Be the Same

Work on all of those traditional career tasks we tend to put off for later. Add content to your resume (or start writing it if you don’t have one). Spend time building or improving your LinkedIn profile. Create and order networking cards. Whether looking ahead to summer internships or that first job out of college, you’ll want all of these pieces in place for applications, career fairs, networking events, etc.

If you are working on any of these things over the break and have questions, we are still here to help. Our counselors and advisors are taking appointments, and most of us are open to phone appointments, too. You can also email us, which works particularly well for resume reviews. Just contact Career & Leadership Development at 262-472-1471 to schedule an appointment or find our direct contact information here.

Other Winter Break Posts:

Photo by Jarek Zok

Evaluating Company Hiring Practices

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Occasionally students ask us whether or not we think a specific company offers a legitimate employment opportunity. Most often this occurs after a student has been interviewed, and something about the experience just doesn’t sit right with the student. During these type of conversations I think that the career advisors at UW-Whitewater, such as myself, can assist you best by asking many questions to help you think through the type of employment situation that best fits your professional goals and interests.

For example, some people aren’t bothered by and even excel in employment where all or most of your pay is based upon commission, whereas others will avoid this arrangement at all cost. A reasonable goal, therefore, is to select an employment situation that best meets your expectations for reasonable pay and your personal willingness to take risks.

Dave: Interviewed

With this in mind, here are a few of the issues and questions to remember as you talk with employers:

Is the company representative being forthright with the information they provide regarding your pay as well as other aspects of employment? It’s perfectly fine for a company to base their pay to you on how well you perform. Generally this occurs in sales positions, where sales reps earn a percentage of the sales they make, and we all understand that there is both an inherent risk and reward involved with this sort of arrangement. The important thing is that the information the company hiring representative provides you is clear. There may be a few companies who will want you to make an up-front financial investment to pay for your training or equipment, and if this is the case, this should be transparent as well so you can make an informed decision.

Are you being asked to make an unreasonably quick decision on accepting employment? If you interview and are offered the job on Monday, and they want you to let them know by the end of the day on Tuesday, then I suspect you may feel a bit rushed and uneasy about employment with this company. If you feel pressured to accept before the offer is recinded, then I’d be wary about employment with this company.

Things that make you go ‘hmmmm…’ While it may be acceptable practice in some industries to hold interviews in coffee shops or other public settings, generally speaking most recruiters will find a private, professional setting to conduct their interviews. Similarly, it may be alright to hold interviews at a hotel, but they should reserve a meeting room in which to conduct the interview, not invite you to their room for the interview. You want to use your intuition and ask yourself if the situation “feels right”. Often business is conducted outside of the traditional 9-5 workday, but the vast majority of hiring practices tend to occur within the work day and week.

If the hiring representative asks you questions that don’t feel right, or are illegal, then I’m not sure I’d want to work for that company. Trust your gut on this one, and be informed about the type of questions that you should never be asked during an interview.

Definitely seek out the advice of the staff of Career & Leadership Development whenever you have questions about finding the fit that’s best for you.

Photo by Dave Fayram.

Getting Warhawks to Work

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Welcome to Career & Leadership Development!

Welcome to Career & Leadership Development

Another year begins, and with it comes….

  • Four different career fairs
  • Lots of resume “doctoring”
  • More internship and job searches
  • Interviews here, there, EVERYWHERE

The career counselors/advisors in Career & Leadership Development are ready to help you make progress towards your career goals! How exactly can we help? Let me tell you!

Career Counseling/Advising: We have five career counselors/advisors on staff to help you with your career development. Not sure what you want to do when you graduate? You can meet with a counselor to discuss options connected with your major and interests. Know what you want to do, but not sure if you’re doing everything possible to get there? A career advisor can work with you on a plan that will help you achieve success. Career questions big and small is what career counseling/advising is all about.

Job Search Strategies: Getting a job doesn’t just happen overnight. It takes work, and your search is basically a job in itself. Meet with a career advisor to plan your search – identify key job search strategies for your career field, have your resume reviewed, practice interviewing, and more.

Career Fairs: Every year, the UW-Whitewater campus hosts four career fairs. First up are the Accounting Career Fair and Hawk Career Fair. The Hawk Career Fair is the largest fair of the year, with upwards of 100 or more employers attending. Mark your calendar now for Wednesday, September 26, and get more information on Hawk Jobs and Facebook.

Hawk Jobs: Looking for a job on campus or around Whitewater? Looking for an internship? Looking for a job for after graduation? Hawk Jobs is your one stop shop for work opportunities. Not sure how to navigate the system? Meet with a career counselor/advisor for a quick overview.

This is just a sample of the ways we can help you with your carer plans. Schedule an appointment today: Stop by our office in the University Center (Room 146 – up the ramps/stairs across from Freshens smoothies) or call our main desk at 262-472-1471.

And be sure to connect with us on Twitter and Facebook for access to a ton of career advice! Best of luck with the year ahead, and let us know how we can help you with your career needs!

Take Charge of Your Career This Summer

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Welcome to summer break! The time off from classes makes for the perfect time to do some career planning, and following are some steps you can start with over the break. Remember, our career advising staff will be here all summer to help, so don’t hesitate to contact us!

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Explore Your Career Interests

Take advantage of your downtime by exploring career options. Start with a resource like the University of Tennessee’s “What Can I Do With This Major?” website to see what kinds of careers might connect with your area of study. Take your research another step and learn about different kinds of jobs on Inside Jobs. As you narrow down your list, consider setting up informational interviews with professionals in the field. Not only are informational interviews great for learning more about a particular career, they are great for building your professional network.

Prepare for Your Job/Internship Search

Jump start your job or internship search for next year by putting all the pieces in place this summer. Resume need work? Make edits to your resume (or create your resume if you don’t have one yet) and have a career advisor take a look at it. Not in Whitewater this summer? No problem! You can email your resume to us for review – Send it to career@uww.edu and an advisor will respond with feedback.

Once your resume is in tip-top shape, move on to the other phases of the job/internship search. Hopefully, your resume will eventually score you interviews. Be an interviewing master before the time comes by scheduling a mock interview with a career advisor.

Finally, start planning your overall search strategy. There are lots of ways to find an internship or job. And the more tactics you employ, the more likely you’ll be to see success. Again, consulting with one of our career advisors is the perfect way to start.

Save the Date…

Speaking of the job/internship search, be sure to save the date for the 2012 Hawk Career Fair:

  • Wednesday, September 26th, Noon to 4:00pm, Williams Center Gym 1.

Connect with UWWCareer

Keep in touch with us this summer through social media. We’ll be sharing helpful information to keep you on track with your career planning: resume/cover letter tips, interviewing advice, job search strategies, and actual job postings.

If you’re at the internship stage, our Internship Coordinator shares internship-specific information on Twitter – @uwwinternships – and on Pinterest – pinterest.com/uwwinternships. And be sure to follow this summer’s intern bloggers on the UWW Internships Blog.

Again, we’re here to help through the summer months. We’re available to meet with you in person, on the phone, using Skype, or via email. The Career & Leadership Development office is open from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday during the summer. The best way to schedule an appointment is by calling (262) 472-1471.

Photo by e pants

Let’s Talk Money!

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At some point during your job search process, you will likely run into a question related to your salary expectations. You may see it on a job application where an organization may ask “What salary range are you looking for?” Or you may be asked during an interview, “What are your salary expectations?”

Money

No matter where you encounter this question, it often poses a challenge for job seekers. What do you say? If you quote a figure that is too high, will you price yourself out of a job? If you quote a figure too low, will you be selling yourself short?

One of the keys to successfully handing this question is to do your research during your job search process. Career & Leadership Development has several resources available to assist you:

As you review the salary information, keep a few things in mind. First, some employers offer very little room to negotiate salaries for entry-level positions. Be sure to set realistic expectations for yourself and establish a budget to determine what you need to make.

Second, when considering your future earnings, remember to account for other variables including the benefits that may be offered by the employer and the cost of living associated with the geographic location of the job.

By utilizing this information, you will be better prepared to handle the salary question. You may choose to tell the employer that your salary expectations are negotiable or that you are interested in learning more about the benefits program to get a complete picture on the total compensation offered by the organization.

If you do quote a salary figure, be sure to justify your response based on the research you have conducted, and cite your sources!

If you would like additional assistance regarding how to handle salary questions, or assistance with job searching and interviewing in general, schedule an appointment with a member of the Career & Leadership Development team.

Photo by Andrew Magill

Unpacking Your Study Abroad Experience

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Students who study abroad frequently describe their experience as life-changing. The opportunity to live in and learn from another culture, as well as see and experience another part of the world, provides the participant with a great reason to reflect upon their life, their culture, and their identity.

The experience demands an investment of physical and psychological energy which will test and enhance the participant’s communication skills, ability to solve problems, adapt to change and be flexible. And, not least of all, there’s a good deal of confidence to be gained by successfully negotiating the challenges inherent in living in another country.

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These mindsets and skills are highly transferable and will help students both obtain and succeed in their careers. What follows are a few tips that may help employers understand the value of your study abroad experience as you conduct your job search.

  • First, don’t assume that your interviewer understands the value of your study abroad experience. Chances are most recruiters and hiring managers haven’t studied abroad and may not fully understand the numerous, varied ways that the experience has contributed to your learning and career development. They may view the experience as interesting and fun, but miss the learning implications inherent in the experience. The student will need to “connect the dots” on their resume and in their interviews.
  • Second, many students who participate in study abroad present the experience on paper and in person as “academic tourism.” When asked about their experience during interviews, a common mistake is to talk about how much fun the experience was, or how incredible it was to experience Amsterdam or the Great Wall. While true, understand that the interviewer wants to know how your experiences have contributed to the development of skills and competencies they desire. Therefore, it’s better to talk about what you learned as a result of your experience and specifically align what you learned with the skills and competencies that the employer seeks in the ideal applicant for the position for which you’re interviewing. Basically, they want to know how your experience abroad will add value to their organization if you are hired.
  • Lastly, spend some time to reflect upon what it is that you’ve learned as a result of your study abroad experience. What did you learn about the culture of your host country? Did the experience expand your knowledge of your own identity and culture? What skills did you use to adjust and adapt to your host culture? Have your attitudes about your home culture and country changed as a result of the experience? These are just a few of the questions to ask yourself during and after your study abroad experience.

Photo by Ralf Schulze

Snuggies and Career Planning: Winter Break “R&R”

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I can remember sipping the last drop of an energy drink while watching a long night transition to another day. It’s that time of the year again: Finals. I know the pressure you all feel as finals are underway. Luckily, Winter Break is right around the corner. Winter Break is a time when you can take a mental vacation from coursework and get some good “R&R”: rest and relaxation. Sorry to say, but career planning never takes a break. Getting rest and relaxation is absolutely necessary, but I want to propose an additional type of “R&R” that will help you take another step towards your career aspirations: reflect and reconnect.

Coffee time

Reflect

  • Social media and journals: take the time to look back at your past interactions. How have you grown? What have you learned? Identifying your strengths and experiences make you a more effective interviewer and improves your ability to make career decisions. In addition, employers are very likely to search your name on the internet, so take good care of your online presence. Search your name on Google to explore results and remove any off-putting results. If you do not have a social media presence, take the time to create a LinkedIn page.
  • Master resume: create or update your master resume. A master resume is a placeholder for all of your experiences. When you get ready to submit a targeted resume, you can easily copy and paste experiences from your master resume. Also, this is a great way to maintain an up-to-date resume and to assess additional experiences you would like to pursue.

Reconnect with Family and Friends

  • The Questions: Family and friends will want to know your major, your career aspirations, and every other detail that will take place for the next twenty years of your life. While these questions can be burdensome, welcome them. Your career is a serious matter and whether you are a freshman or senior, discussing your future can lead you to new ideas, create renewed excitement, and challenge you to do more research about your career aspirations. Also, discussing thoughts about your career can help you become more effective in articulating your interests and career aspirations which will be help with interviewing, career fairs, graduate personal statements, and other situations.
  • Networking: Family and friends are a prime source for networking. Connect with family or friends who may be in a career field of interest. Be intentional and these conversations can lead to a variety of opportunities such as a mentor relationship, job shadowing, informational interviews, and future volunteer, internship, or job opportunities.

Make an appointment with a career counselor at Career and Leadership Development to get more tips on effective networking, identifying career interests and majors, and internship or job search strategies during Winter Break.

Don’t forget to curl up in your snuggie and enjoy your break!

Past entries about ways to utilize Winter Break:

What to do During Winter Break?
Winter Break To-Dos: Part 2

Photo by Roger Price.

Welcome Back Students!

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The staff in Career & Leadership Development are here to help you with your career-related needs. We can meet with you in person, have a conversation over the phone, or electronically. Feel free to schedule with us by calling our main office at (262) 472-1471, or by stopping by our office located in room 146 of the University Center.

Let me introduce the career staff available to help you. The following staff work with students in each of these areas:

Brian Bredeson – All majors in the College of Education; All Science and Mathematics majors

Jason Brown – All Humanities and Social Science majors; Career assessment, counseling/planning

Kathy Craney – Veteran’s, Returning Adults, Federal Government jobs, and work visas; Career counseling/planning

Laura Jacobs – All majors in the College of Arts & Communications; Internships

Frank Lanko – All majors in the College of Business & Economics

Margaret O’Leary – Available to answer questions about your Hawk Jobs account

Eunice Lehner – Available to answer questions about our On-Campus Interview program

Here is an overview of how we can help you…

Career Exploration – Meet with a career counselor to talk about career paths that best align with your interests, values, and abilities.

Career Information – Staff can assist with your research into various careers and industries, and talk about employment trends.

Job Search Strategy – Discuss how to best organize and conduct your job or internship search. Learn to implement an effective process for finding a job, and about the resources we have online to help you with your search.

Help with Internship and Job Search – Whether you’d like your resume reviewed or help preparing for your interview, we can help you with all aspects of your search.

Developing Your Professional Network – Discuss how tactics such as informational interviewing can help you develop your professional network and help guide your job search.

Social Media – Do you want to know more about how to use LinkedIn for your job search? Other forms of social media? Staff are willing to review your profile and discuss how to effectively use these tools.

Advice About Accepting Offers – We’re here to offer advice on the “do’s” and “don’ts” when responding to employment offers.

Transition Into Work Issues – Staff are available to help talk through strategies for successfully starting your job or internship.

The Career & Leadership Development office is open from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Fridays.

Summer Services

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UW-Whitewater students and alumni are encouraged to contact Career & Leadership Development for help with their career-related needs. Here is a summary of the career services we offer:

Self-Exploration Services – Meet with a career counselor to assess your interests, values, and abilities, and gain a better understanding of your career path.

Career Information – Staff can assist with your research into various careers and employment trends.

Job Search Strategy - Talk with a staff member about how to organize and conduct your job or internship search. Learn about how to follow an effective process for finding a job, and discover the resources we have online to help you with your search.

Help with Internship and Job Search – Whether you would like your resume reviewed or help preparing for interviews, we can help you be prepared for your search.

Developing Your Professional Network -  Discuss how tactics such as informational interviewing can help you develop your professional network and help guide your job search.

Social Media - Want to know more about how to use LinkedIn for your job search?  Other forms of social media? Staff are willing to review your profile and discuss how to effectively use these tools.

Advice About Accepting Offers - We’re here to offer advice on the “do’s” and “don’ts” when responding to employment offers.

Transition Into Work Issues – Staff are available to help talk through strategies for successfully starting your job or internship.

Major Specific Help - These staff work with students enrolled in the following academic programs, or students interested in these employment areas:

Brian Bredeson – All College of Education majors; and all Science and Mathematics majors

Ron Buchholz – All College of Business & Economics majors, including MBA and MPA

Kathy Craney – Anyone interested in Federal Jobs; Veteran’s; and Returning Adults

Laura Jacobs – All Arts & Communications majors; all Languages, Social Sciences, and Humanities majors

We’re available to meet with you in-person, on the phone, by using Skype, or via email. The Career & Leadership Development office is open from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday during the summer. The best way to schedule an appointment is by calling (262) 472-1471.