Career Development and Employment Services Graduate and Professional School Fair Senior Bulletin September/ October 2015 Inside this Issue: Getting Ahead of the Rest 2 Job Search Tips 3 Top Qualities Employers Seek 4 Social Media s Connection to Employment 5 Career Development & Employment Services (CDES) Student Success Center 1st Floor Palumbo Center 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 814.871.7680 cdes@gannon.edu Our 32nd Annual Graduate and Professional School Fair When? October 6th from 10am-1pm in Where? Waldron Center s Yehl Ballroom. Representatives from over 30 graduate and professional schools will be on hand to discuss admission requirements, application procedures, career opportunities and financial aid information. Cash prizes will be offered again and a representative from Kaplan will be available to answer questions about graduate admissions tests. Admission is FREE. Check out: http://www.gannon.edu/gradfair. Career Development is a component of the Life Planning Dimension. Connect with CDES on Facebook, Twitter, EngageU & LinkedIn! Search for Gannon University Career Development and Employment Services on Facebook & LinkedIn and follow us on Twitter @GUCDES. Be sure to also visit our website for valuable information: http://www.gannon.edu/student-life/career-development-and- Employment-Services/
Page 2 Don t Get Left in the Dust! Finding a job is hard work: it takes time, effort and motivation. In today s recovering economy, it may take 12-15 months to find the job you want. The time to begin is early in the senior year, and you can use the information inside this newsletter as a guide in planning and organizing your job search. Career Counselors are available to help! Schedule an appointment by calling 814.871.7680 For more information on searching for jobs, please check out our Job Search Guide at: http://www.gannon.edu/student-life/career-development/students-and-alumni/job- Search-Tools/ You Are Almost There! Opportunity does not knock; it presents itself when you knock the door down ~ Kyle Chandler You are in the homestretch now! Congratulations on entering your final year here at Gannon! Don t let senioritis set in; there is always more work to be done. Are you ready to start your career, or is graduate school in your future? Focus on the path ahead. Here are some tips to help make the next step in your life an easier one. Create a resume now! If you already have one, update it with any experience gained over the summer. Then make an appointment to have it reviewed. (Short on time? Email your.doc to cdes@gannon.edu for feedback). Pay attention to application deadlines, test requirements and financial aid opportunities for graduate and professional schools. Connect with faculty, alumni and people you know who work in your field of choice to learn more about potential opportunities. Secure letters of recommendation from faculty and job/internship supervisors.
Your goal is to connect with the job(s) that match your career interests, education, skills, personality traits, values and salary/benefits expectations. Whether the job market is strong or weak, competition is still intense in most fields, especially for the best and most desired jobs. To be competitive, you must learn how to conduct an effective job search and then put the plan to work. Job searching does not stop with the first job you get. It continues throughout your working life, whether your goal is to move up in a company or to find opportunities elsewhere. The Job Search Page 3 Use a planner or calendar to identify 2 to 3 hours a week where you will work on job search related activities (yes, you have to fit this in between school, work, activities and fun time). Schedule time to create a resume, research jobs/companies, practice interviewing, network with contacts and attend job fairs or interviews. Set goals. It is important to think about both short and long term objectives. The job you obtain after graduating from college is only the first step in a lifelong career path. Yes, the immediate objective may well be a good paying job, but give thought to how that job fits into an overall career. You are likely to change jobs or companies two to three times in the first five years of working after graduation. Answering some or all of these questions will help define your goals. What would be my ideal career or job? What has my degree prepared me to do? What are my key interests, skills and abilities? What have my work experiences taught me about what I like to do the most? The least? BEGIN THE JOB SEARCH 6 TO 12 MONTHS BEFORE GRADUATION What kind of work environment would be best for me (large/small company, specific industries)? Would I take a low-paying job just to get a foot in the door at a company? What are my geographical preferences? Close to home? How far away? Where do I want to be in one year? Three years? Five years? What is my salary expectation? Is it realistic for my field? What skills do I hope to learn/build upon at my first job? If I am unable to find a job in my ideal career path, what is my backup plan? What other factors do I need to consider in my career search: Significant other? Family responsibilities? Financial needs? Special needs? Other? What would a Google search of my name reveal about me? How does my Facebook or Twitter account reflect my character? What would an employer think of me? (Check out page 5 for Social Media Tips!)
Page 4 Save The Date! Stay tuned to our social media channels and bookmark http://www.gannon.edu/student-life/career-development-and-employment-services/ to keep current on the latest event and job fair information. Got questions? Janet Armbruster can help! Contact: armbrust003@gannon.edu. Fall 2015 09/30/15 12pm-4pm Penn State Behrend Fall Career & Internship Fair @ Junker Center** 10/6/15 10am-1pm Graduate & Professional School Fair @ Waldron Campus Center, Yehl Room 10/14/15 10am-3pm Western PA Collegiate Job & Internship Fair @ Monroeville Convention Center** 10/14/15 8am 2015 Slippery Rock University Educator Professional Development Day & Job Fair @ Smith Student Center Ballroom Date TBD Communication Career & Internship Fair @ Edinboro University Student Center Spring 2016 3/9/16 10am-3pm Western PA Collegiate Job & Internship Fair @ Monroeville Convention Center** 3/30/16 9:30am-3:30pm PERC (Pittsburgh Education Recruitment Consortium) @ Monroeville Convention Center** Date TBD Penn State Behrend Spring Career & Internship Fair @ Junker Center** **= Must submit approved resume to Janet Armbruster (armbrust003@gannon.edu) prior to the registration of the event Don t wait until the last minute! Get your resume approved ahead of time. Employers notice. For more information on resumes, check out our Resume Guide online at: http://www.gannon.edu/student-life/career-development/students-and-alumni/job-search-tools/resume-writing/ E-mail your resume to cdes@gannon.edu to receive feedback from a career counselor. Top Ten Qualities Employers Seek What makes an ideal job candidate? Of course, top candidates need to have the requisite major and GPA, and relevant work experience, but it s their soft skills that make them ideal. In terms of the skills that differentiate candidates, employers responding to NACE s Job Outlook 2013 say they want good communicators who can make decisions and solve problems while working effectively as part of a team. The following are the top qualities employers look for when hiring: 1.Ability to verbally communicate with persons inside and outside the organizations 2.Ability to work in a team structure 3.Ability to make decisions and solve problems 4.Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work 5.Abilitiy to obtain and process information 6.Ability to analyze quantitative data 7.Technical knowledge related to the job 8. Proficiency with computer software programs 9. Ability to create or edit written reports 10. Ability to sell or influence others.
Page 5 Clean Up Your Act: Social Media s Connection to Employment Social media is playing a larger role in how companies consider your employment. In fact, 2 out of 5 hiring managers look at applicants social profiles before making hiring decisions. In today s competitive job market, it is important for you to stand out on paper, in person and even online. Here are 4 easy steps to help clean up your social media sites. Cover Photo This is your first impression; make it a professional picture, not something embarrassing or immature. Clean Your Profile You should go back and remove any posts, pictures and other activity that employers may deem as offensive. Always remember: Privacy settings are your friend. Everyone does not have to see everything. I m a great believer in luck, and I find that the harder I work, the more I have of it. ~ Thomas Jefferson Polish It Up Employers can see posts you have made on other peoples profiles; make sure your comments are appropriate. Play the Professional Make yourself look good; post pictures with coworkers at work functions or volunteering. Share inspirational posts and interact with social media accounts that are associated with your field of work. Social media can actually help your job search if you follow these simple steps. For more information on how to clean up your social media presence, visit: http://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/spotlight/college-students-cleanup-your-online-profiles-now/ The Center for Experiential Education The Center for Experiential Education (EXED) has a lot to offer! Check out their latest newsletter here: http://www.gannon.edu/student-life/experiential-education/