Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel » Grad School http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:53:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Yes, You Need Business Cards Too http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/ http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/#comments Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:49:12 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=7031
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    • ]]>     Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event. College is full of opportunities to meet new people, get into interesting conversations or discover new passions. The contacts that you make may seem random and not applicable to the professional world waiting outside college, yet you never know which one of the people you meet may become your future mentor, your best friend, or your future employer.

    I'm a student. Why do I need business cards?

    Student life does not ordinarily revolve around business cards. But it is important to start building your personal brand already during your university years. Doing so will get you ahead of the majority of your classmates and will serve you well when the time comes to start applying for that first job. Having business cards on hand will help when... ... you suddenly meet an employee of a company you'd like to work or intern for ... you want to differentiate yourself at a careers' fair ... a recruiter asks for your contact information ... you want to seem professional ... you receive someone's card and they ask for yours as well ... you're talking to someone who has your dream job and you want to be able to follow up and get some more tips on how to get where they are

    What should I put on my card?

    As a student, your cards will not be company-branded. This gives you the freedom to include what you think is appropriate, such as:
    • your full name
    • the name of your university, your major and expected year of graduation
    • your contact address
    • email address, telephone number
    • blog url or links to social media profiles (such as LinkedIn)
    • your skills or most impressive experience
    • the industry you'd like to enter or a short byline describing what sort of opportunities you're looking for

    How can I get my cards?

    The easiest way to get your cards printed is to do it online. Vistaprint offers templates for easy design or, my favourite, Moo cards will let you print each card with a different design/photo on the back side. You can thus customise every single card and use your stack as a portfolio. For even more impact, consider using the back of your card to showcase your portrait, photos that you have taken, your designs or ideas, pictures of what you've built/constructed, projects you've been involved with, etc. Start building your personal brand now with business cards that reflect who you are and where you want to go. Have you used business cards as a student before? Tell us about your experience in the comments.

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/feed/ 0     Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/ http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=6971
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    • ]]>     Take advantage of all events These are not "networking events" designed to help you in professional life. No one will be waving a business card in your face and often they will feel very casual. Yet many students miss an important point: these events are as valuable as any intentionally networking event can be. They help you meet new people or catch up with someone you haven't talked to in a while and they do so whilst giving you some common ground and a starting point for conversation. Yet just meeting someone and then never talking to them again is not useful in itself. You want to be able to keep in touch with the people you meet, to share ideas and maybe build a longer-lasting relationship. How do you do that?

    Here are 5 things to do immediately after an event:

    1. Add the people you met on Facebook and/or LinkedIn This is especially useful if you don't have their email address as both these networks let you search by name. Plus it gives you opportunity to contact them even if they graduate, change jobs or move to a different city as their profile on these networks will simply incorporate such changes. Tip: Create a list called "Professional" on Facebook and customise what contacts in this list can see from your Facebook profile.

    2. Send a "nice to meet you" message

    Do this right away, or the next day, but don't wait too long. This is an opportunity to remind them about the recent meeting and a chance to "re-introduce" yourself whilst the meeting is still in their fresh memory and they remember who you are. Tip: Include a link to your blog or profiles online so that they can find out more about you.

    3. Include something personalized

    Was there something from your conversation that you can comment on? Did they maybe mention an upcoming job interview that you could wish them good luck for? Or a recent success that you can congratulate them on? If you promised to do something during your conversation, be sure to deliver. For example: "Hi Joe, It was great to meet you yesterday. Hope the job interview goes well next week and here's a link to the article I mentioned in our conversation..."

    4. Jot down important points from your conversation

    While the conversation is fresh in your mind, jot down any important information or facts that you may need in a follow-up. This could include the topics that you talked about, the name of the school they go to or what clubs they are involved in, any names of friends or relatives or events they mentioned. This will allow you to be topical and to refer to specifics in your next conversation. We all like to feel special when we notice someone took the effort to remember bits of information about us.

    5. Set yourself a follow-up reminder

    Use your calendar or to-do list and set up a reminder for a week/a month or whatever is appropriate in the future when you will get in touch again and see if there's anything you could do for them. Get in the habit of doing these and you'll set yourself up for some great relationships. What do you do to take advantage of various events? Do you have any tips to add?

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/feed/ 0     Diversity Career Resources: African American http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:08:30 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6961
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    • ]]>     The Black Collegian, provides information on career resources for black college students. Job search strategies, graduate school opportunities, career and industry reports are abundantly explored. This site is the cyberspace partner of The Black Collegian magazine, serving the career and self-development interests of African American collegians throughout America since 1970. The second one, Black Career Women, is an organization founded in 1977 and serves as a nucleus of support to identify and address the critical needs of black women in the workforce as it relates to their career mobility and achievement. Here are some key elements of the websites.

    The Black Collegian

    • Employer Profiles – Read about featured employers plus a total of 17 employer profiles “that support diversity and actively recruit on college campuses nationwide.”
    • The Diversity Registry – Connect to DiversityRegistry.com and research companies with “active diversity programs."
    • Job Tools & Career Center – Search for jobs within The Black Collegian’s database, get career advice and tips on internships.
    • Study & Campus Section– Learn about graduate studies, working and studying abroad, scholarships and grants, and more.
    • Extracurricular Section– Additional information just for fun, like music, poetry, and films.

    Black Career Women

    • Career Coaches – Get expert advice on your career path.
    • Careers Section – Read articles and advice on assessments, career exploration, decision making, job searching, and negotiations like salary.
    • Join the Organization – Provides you discounts on programs, free access to Virtual Career Workshop, members only career content, and more.
    • Useful Websites – Lists additional websites that can help with your career development, like Black Career Zone and Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
    There are many other great career resources out there for African Americans. Check out some of these additional handouts and websites.

    Author:

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/feed/ 2     Diversity Career Resources: Part 1 http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:34:48 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6893
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    • ]]>     Personal Branding is all about showcasing yourself and marketing your unique characteristics, interests, and skills. The way you identify yourself (woman/man, African American, LGBTQ, etc.) is protected information and employers cannot refuse to hire based upon these personal identities. There has also been research that states a person’s acceptance of self translates into confidence which employers look for in candidates. What I mean is take the time to know yourself, where you come from, and be confident with those unique characteristics that makes you special. There are some great career resources out there for everyone. I’m going to take a few weeks and share with you some very useful and diverse career webpages. I’m starting off with a general site and then will share more specific websites in the upcoming weeks.

    DiversityWorking.com

    DiversityWorking claims to be the “largest diversity job board online.” This may be true, but it doesn’t have postings for every US state. It is still a good resource for a number of reasons.

    Key Elements of the Website

    • Job Board – You can browse and search for jobs in 72 industries. There is also a section entitled Search Agent where you can schedule your own search agent that notifies you via email when a position that you’re interested in becomes available.
    • Resume Posting – Post your resume to the website and allow employers to search for you!
    • Organization – Provides the job seeker with basic information about the various companies that DiversityWorking showcases. They also provide a link to each company’s website which makes it easy for you do additional research.
    • Career Expo – Take part in the Virtual Diversity Career Expo. 10 weeks with a different career industry each week. There are still 5 career expos that will run throughout the end of 2010 calendar year. The only downside to this element is that it costs to attend, but once you pay it is available 24/7 throughout the weeks.

    Additional Resources for the Job Seeker

    • FAQ Section – Good information with resume and interviewing tips. There’s only one criticism I would give with the resume tips. It suggests adding personal information to your resume, but this is not recommended because some personal information, like age, race, marital status etc. is protected information. There’s also some information on what to do if you experienced discrimination and why diversity is so important to companies.
    • Community Channels – Provides job seekers with specific search agents based on ethnic groups and recent news that have impacted the work place.
    • Diversity News – Recent news articles that impact the world of work, especially related to diversity.
    • Newsletter – Sign up for an email newsletter which provides you with the latest job openings, news, events, and more. You can even select to specify your newsletter to how you identify yourself, choices include ethnic, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, military, and more.
    Check out this resource and watch for more website and resource reviews to come in the upcoming weeks.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/feed/ 0     The Worst Things That Have Ever Happened to You http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/ http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:36:34 +0000 Kelly Cuene http://studentbranding.com/?p=6905
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    • ]]>
    • Tell me about a time when you failed.
    • What are your greatest weaknesses?
    • What is the greatest obstacle you've overcome?
    • What is the most difficult decision you have ever had to make?
    These kind of questions can often catch candidates off guard. They might bring up painful, embarrassing and negative experiences. It is challenging to convey what happened without complaining or coming across as overly negative. At the same time, negative experiences or challenges usually provide for lots of growth and learning. They will allow you to demonstrate to an employer how you tackle tough issues and show them you aren't afraid of making mistakes. Nobody wants to hire someone who will run from problems.

    Some tips for handling these types of interview questions:

    • Don't dwell on the negative. State the situation and swiftly move on to how you dealt with the issue.
    • State the facts and avoid interjecting negative opinions about other people (For example,  "my boss was very demanding" is much better than, "my boss was rude and mean")
    • Make sure to discuss the skills you used to overcome a challenge or deal with a problem.
    • Always end on a positive. What did you learn? How did the situation affect future decisions and actions?
    • Prepare in advance. These situations are tough to talk about and usually the questions we dread most. Practice your responses in advance.
    Even if you're not explicitly asked about a challenging situation, discussing those type of situations allows you to demonstrate how you've grown or used your skills in difficult circumstances. What's the most difficult interview question you have ever been asked?

    Author

    Kelly is a career advisor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she assists undergraduate business students with all aspects of their career development. Connect with Kelly on Twitter, her blog, LinkedIn or BrazenCareerist.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/feed/ 0     Don’t be Steven Slater: Quit Your Job Professionally http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/ http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:40:22 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6785
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    • ]]>     CLICK HERE for a video with CNN reporters interviewing one of the passengers on the plane who witnessed the occurrence. Even though he seems to be turning into a modern folk hero, the way he quit his job is far from recommended. If this is the WRONG way to quit a job, then what’s the right way? How do you quit a job without burning bridges? And, what's so wrong with burning a few bridges if the company and/or supervisor were bad to you?

    Quitting the Job Properly

    Give at least 2 weeks notice, but a month would be preferred. This demonstrates professionalism and courtesy to the company and your boss.

    They will eventually have to replace you and by giving them a heads up, they can initiate a search for your replacement with hopes for only a small gap between you and the new recruit.

    Type a resignation letter. Use professional language and business letter format. Approach your boss with this letter and explain to him/her as to why you're choosing to resign.

    I once heard of a teacher that submitted her resignation letter on a piece of construction paper and written in crayon. You can be assured that she was not given a reference letter upon departure. Sample Resignation Letters.

    Choose your words wisely. When you approach your boss about quitting the job, be sure to give solid reasons for your departure, but keep it positive. If it's a touchy subject, then make sure to discuss it with a trusted friend/family member or a career counselor to adequately prepare. This will help you choose your words properly and leave on a good note.

    Don't Burn Bridges

    1. It's a small world after all. It's amazing who knows who and how much people network and talk within professional industries. If you quit your job unprofessionally, then it's likely your previous boss will talk about it and it may end up affecting your job search.
    2. Get the good reference. Even if you didn't like the job, you can still leave with a good reference from your supervisor or a colleague. Most employers require three references before hiring a new employee.
    3. Make it easy on yourself. If you leave in a professional manner, then it's a lot easier to interview with a new employer. A common question used in interviews is, "Why did you leave your previous job?" It will reflect better on you if you can answer positively than figure out how to spin it, or risk lying. The company you're interviewing with can call your previous employer and inquire whether or not they would consider hiring you back, and a positive response will increase your chances for hire.
    There are some additional suggestions at BEST-JOB-INTERVIEW.com, including offering to train your replacement, be productive until the last day and tie up any loose ends, and more specific information on writing the resignation letter.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/feed/ 0     Want To Forget Important Things? Don’t Take Notes. http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/ http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/#comments Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:44:29 +0000 Lori Bielek http://studentbranding.com/?p=6690
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    • ]]>     take good notes inside the classroom.  However, taking notes outside of class can be just as important.  I have found that the tips and tools I learned about from individuals outside the classroom have been the most influential to my personal and professional success.

    Why should I take notes?

    You are not going to remember everything you hear.  Believe me.  The Dartmouth College Academic Skills Center states that,  "Humans are poor listeners. Research shows that individuals can only recall 50% of what they hear and that 20-30% is incorrect!" There have been many times that I wished I had written things down.  If you don't jot down things when you hear them, you have missed your chance of having the most accurate record.

    When should I take notes?

    Here are some examples of when you should take notes:
    • When researching what college or graduate school to attend
    • When reading advice articles or attending personal development and career workshops
    • When learning new things at your job or internship
    • During your student organization meetings
    • When asking for help, particularly regarding anything technical or computer-related

    Fun tools for note-taking

    I have been able to quickly learn new technologies largely because I have taken notes and saved important information.  When I want to learn new software products or social media tools, I try to seek out free classes or online resources for assistance. To help me keep track, I have found better note-taking tools than pencil and paper or opening a Word document on my PC. My favorite note-taking tool is Evernote.  This is a free application that allows you to take notes through a web browser on any computer, through an app on your Mac or PC, or with a smart phone. Evernote will index all your notes so they are fully searchable. This tool is particularly useful if you don't have your laptop with you and you want to remember something. Another way I have learned to remember important things that I find online is to save the web pages.  Conventional bookmarking on your computer browser can get messy and is only helpful if you have your computer with you.  One useful tool for organizing your bookmarks is the free web app, Delicious. Once you save your bookmarks in Delicious, they are accessible from any computer and many mobile devices.  You can easily tag your Delicious bookmarks so they are arranged by topic. In addition, you can share bookmarks or search other people's bookmarks.
    Tip: Using the Delicious add-on in Firefox makes it really easy to save and retrieve your cataloged bookmarks
    I tend to use the Delicious app for web pages I want to refer to regularly.  I use another tool for when I want to save articles to read just once. For all of you folks (like me) who love to read various tweets, articles and blogs online, but don't always have time at the moment to read the full article, Read It Later will be your new best friend. This web app (also available on smartphones) saves web articles so you can easily access them later. I typically will use Read It Later for saving articles I find on Twitter or through RSS feeds.  Once I have time, I read through the saved articles and delete them as I go.  The Read It Later browser add-on is also a must-have.
    Tip: It would be handy to have Evernote open while you are reading your saved articles, so you can write down any important things you may have learned.

    Note-taking leads to success

    I learned about all of the above apps from classmates or friends.  If I hadn't written down the names of the tools, I would not have remembered to follow-up and make an account. You don't have to be a genius or attend the highest-ranked school to be knowledgeable and successful.  You just have to make the best of what you have -- be a good listener and take good notes, even when you are outside the classroom.

    Author:

    Lori Bielek is the Marketing and Technology Coordinator at University of Delaware’s (UD) Career Services Center where she advises students in the arts and sciences through all steps of their career development.  You can connect with Lori through LinkedIn, Twitter, or the UD Career Services Twitter account (@UDcareers).]]>     http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/feed/ 0     Unemployment Impacts More than Your Wallet http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/ http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/#comments Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:00:12 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6671
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    • ]]>     Bureau of Labor Statistics. They also stated that the median time a person has spent in unemployment is 25.5 weeks, about 6 months. Six months is the time we recommend any job seeker to devote to the job search process. This provides a little relief to know that this average hasn’t changed much considering this recession is about twice as bad as in the 1980s. Even though the job seeking timeline and median unemployment rate matches, the psychological affects have climbed.

    The Snowball Effect

    It doesn’t help that the media continues to report on how bad the unemployment trends are within our economy. Just yesterday I received a phone call from a media representative who wanted to do a story on the fact that the unemployment rates haven’t changed and how that impacts my job as a career counselor and the job seekers. Honestly, what impacts the job seekers outlook most is this developed sense of hopelessness. Even though we’re able to still hold job fairs with local employers looking to fill 50-100+ jobs, the number of seekers attending the fairs has decreased since the start of the recession in 2007. This sense of hopelessness with the job market snowballs and as it increases it also impacts additional areas of a person’s life. The Pew Research Center published recent findings that unemployment not only affects finances, but also relations with family and friends and a loss of self-respect. It's interesting that the time we need our family and friends the most is also the time we tend to cause strain on the relationships, or just ignore them completely. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? This is a time to strengthen relationships and really use them to their full potential. All those years of being there for your friends and family should have some residual effect when it’s your turn to need help. Like I’ve said in some previous posts, no person is an island and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. Self-respect is probably the most critical area that’s impacted by unemployment. If you lose self-respect then you’re decreasing your networking effectiveness, chances to be hired, and overall productiveness of the job search. In essence a loss of self-respect could spiral people into depression. Employers want to hire candidates with confidence and competence to do the job well, and if your self-respect has lowered then it’s likely your confidence and ability to market yourself in a job interview has also decreased. If you’re not sure about your level of self-respect then ask yourself how often you use negative language, like “I can’t…,” “This will never…,” or “No one will help me.”

    A Positive Effect

    There has been one potential positive effect from the recent unemployment, a reassessment of career goals. The forced change of losing a job can lead to a reevaluation of career goals, interests, and overall job and life satisfaction. More and more people are seeking out professional development opportunities and training options to increase their marketability. An even bigger trend, which I’ve seen through counseling appointments, is an interest in returning to school and changing career directions completely. I’ve heard more people state things like “for the past 20 years I’ve worked to support myself (and my family) but it was never what I really wanted to do. Now I have the option to change my career, but I’m not sure how to go about it.” I applaud this risk taking behavior because it could mean an overall increase in life satisfaction. However, be careful when taking risks because if it impacts basic needs of food, shelter, and safety then it could increase the chances of losing self-respect and even depression.

    Dealing with the Aftermath

    There are many ways to productively and positively handle the loss of a job. I’ve actually posted a number of blogs through my career services office that discusses coping with job loss. These contain some good tips about how to mentally prepare for the road ahead, not allow your current situation to have a negative impact on finding a new job, and even some additional job seeking strategies. It’s time to be more conscious of yourself which means taking time out to daily reflect on the positives in your life, recreate with friends, keep a journal, or whatever method works for you. Times of turmoil call for a deeper intuition of self and a recognition of needs. Even as counselors we are reminded that the number one person to care for is you, because if you’re not healthy in mind, body, and spirit then it reduces our effectiveness to help others. So take time to renew and balance your life because that is the core to an effective personal and work life!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/feed/ 0     Independent Job Search – A Thing of the Past http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/ http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/#comments Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:03:17 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6629
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    • ]]>     Use of Career Services Linked to Job Offers. Although I’ve been on the same soap box for three years, it’s nice to read about quantitative data supporting my and every other career counselor’s claim. The article continues to state that there is a positive correlation between the number of visits to a career center and the likelihood of job offers.

    Roadblocks & Recoveries

    Although NACE encourages the use of career centers, it also reported that about 29% of recent job offers were to people who never used the services of a career center. So, it is possible to obtain a job without help, but less likely. With all this supporting evidence, why would anyone not seek help? College can be very busy, especially if you’re balancing a job, extracurricular activities, and family life along with it. Some students may not have much time to visit a career center. Well good news, most career centers have drop-in hours so almost anyone can squeeze in time for a resume critique or job searching assistance. Remember a professional job search will usually take at least 6 months before an offer is given, and during that time the job search process should be seen as a full time job. Many students go through college not knowing about the career center and its services. This dilemma is a little harder to find a solution. I would hope that all faculty members are telling students about the services on campus and even students can share their good experiences, but that doesn’t mean that everyone listens or is aware that it’s something he/she might need. Here’s some more good news, most career centers offer services to their alumni for free or for a low fee. It would be better to have used the services while you’re in school because it’s free for current students, but know that it’s never too late to seek assistance. Sometimes it’s hard to ask for help. Asking for help means that we have to put our pride aside and admit that we may not be good at writing resumes, interviewing, or networking. Let’s look at it this way, if you’ve never been trained in any of these skills, then how are you expected to be successful with them? Think of a visit to the career center as training for the job search. They teach you how to write a technical resume, coach you on what to say to employers and how choosing the right words makes all the difference. Most career centers even offer opportunities to put these skills into practice, like at job fairs and networking events.

    Lesson Learned

    It happens to the best of us. We all stumble, fail, lose, or wish we had a do over for various times in our lives. Even I didn’t realize how little I knew about resumes until I visited my college’s career center. It was amazing the difference between my original resume and the updated resume after my appointment with a career counselor. Not only did it look more professional, but I also received more phone calls from employers with the new resume (during my last job search). Lesson learned: Don’t be afraid to seek out a little help, because you can’t do it all by yourself!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter. ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/feed/ 0     When Stressed: Don’t Procrastinate, Take a Break http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:53:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel » Grad School http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:53:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Yes, You Need Business Cards Too http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/ http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/#comments Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:49:12 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=7031
  • Ten Easy Tips for Networking Your Way into a Job
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    • ]]>     Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event. College is full of opportunities to meet new people, get into interesting conversations or discover new passions. The contacts that you make may seem random and not applicable to the professional world waiting outside college, yet you never know which one of the people you meet may become your future mentor, your best friend, or your future employer.

    I'm a student. Why do I need business cards?

    Student life does not ordinarily revolve around business cards. But it is important to start building your personal brand already during your university years. Doing so will get you ahead of the majority of your classmates and will serve you well when the time comes to start applying for that first job. Having business cards on hand will help when... ... you suddenly meet an employee of a company you'd like to work or intern for ... you want to differentiate yourself at a careers' fair ... a recruiter asks for your contact information ... you want to seem professional ... you receive someone's card and they ask for yours as well ... you're talking to someone who has your dream job and you want to be able to follow up and get some more tips on how to get where they are

    What should I put on my card?

    As a student, your cards will not be company-branded. This gives you the freedom to include what you think is appropriate, such as:
    • your full name
    • the name of your university, your major and expected year of graduation
    • your contact address
    • email address, telephone number
    • blog url or links to social media profiles (such as LinkedIn)
    • your skills or most impressive experience
    • the industry you'd like to enter or a short byline describing what sort of opportunities you're looking for

    How can I get my cards?

    The easiest way to get your cards printed is to do it online. Vistaprint offers templates for easy design or, my favourite, Moo cards will let you print each card with a different design/photo on the back side. You can thus customise every single card and use your stack as a portfolio. For even more impact, consider using the back of your card to showcase your portrait, photos that you have taken, your designs or ideas, pictures of what you've built/constructed, projects you've been involved with, etc. Start building your personal brand now with business cards that reflect who you are and where you want to go. Have you used business cards as a student before? Tell us about your experience in the comments.

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/feed/ 0     Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/ http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=6971
  • Don’t Let Shyness Derail Networking Opportunities
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    • ]]>     Take advantage of all events These are not "networking events" designed to help you in professional life. No one will be waving a business card in your face and often they will feel very casual. Yet many students miss an important point: these events are as valuable as any intentionally networking event can be. They help you meet new people or catch up with someone you haven't talked to in a while and they do so whilst giving you some common ground and a starting point for conversation. Yet just meeting someone and then never talking to them again is not useful in itself. You want to be able to keep in touch with the people you meet, to share ideas and maybe build a longer-lasting relationship. How do you do that?

    Here are 5 things to do immediately after an event:

    1. Add the people you met on Facebook and/or LinkedIn This is especially useful if you don't have their email address as both these networks let you search by name. Plus it gives you opportunity to contact them even if they graduate, change jobs or move to a different city as their profile on these networks will simply incorporate such changes. Tip: Create a list called "Professional" on Facebook and customise what contacts in this list can see from your Facebook profile.

    2. Send a "nice to meet you" message

    Do this right away, or the next day, but don't wait too long. This is an opportunity to remind them about the recent meeting and a chance to "re-introduce" yourself whilst the meeting is still in their fresh memory and they remember who you are. Tip: Include a link to your blog or profiles online so that they can find out more about you.

    3. Include something personalized

    Was there something from your conversation that you can comment on? Did they maybe mention an upcoming job interview that you could wish them good luck for? Or a recent success that you can congratulate them on? If you promised to do something during your conversation, be sure to deliver. For example: "Hi Joe, It was great to meet you yesterday. Hope the job interview goes well next week and here's a link to the article I mentioned in our conversation..."

    4. Jot down important points from your conversation

    While the conversation is fresh in your mind, jot down any important information or facts that you may need in a follow-up. This could include the topics that you talked about, the name of the school they go to or what clubs they are involved in, any names of friends or relatives or events they mentioned. This will allow you to be topical and to refer to specifics in your next conversation. We all like to feel special when we notice someone took the effort to remember bits of information about us.

    5. Set yourself a follow-up reminder

    Use your calendar or to-do list and set up a reminder for a week/a month or whatever is appropriate in the future when you will get in touch again and see if there's anything you could do for them. Get in the habit of doing these and you'll set yourself up for some great relationships. What do you do to take advantage of various events? Do you have any tips to add?

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/feed/ 0     Diversity Career Resources: African American http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:08:30 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6961
  • Diversity Career Resources: Part 1
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    • ]]>     The Black Collegian, provides information on career resources for black college students. Job search strategies, graduate school opportunities, career and industry reports are abundantly explored. This site is the cyberspace partner of The Black Collegian magazine, serving the career and self-development interests of African American collegians throughout America since 1970. The second one, Black Career Women, is an organization founded in 1977 and serves as a nucleus of support to identify and address the critical needs of black women in the workforce as it relates to their career mobility and achievement. Here are some key elements of the websites.

    The Black Collegian

    • Employer Profiles – Read about featured employers plus a total of 17 employer profiles “that support diversity and actively recruit on college campuses nationwide.”
    • The Diversity Registry – Connect to DiversityRegistry.com and research companies with “active diversity programs."
    • Job Tools & Career Center – Search for jobs within The Black Collegian’s database, get career advice and tips on internships.
    • Study & Campus Section– Learn about graduate studies, working and studying abroad, scholarships and grants, and more.
    • Extracurricular Section– Additional information just for fun, like music, poetry, and films.

    Black Career Women

    • Career Coaches – Get expert advice on your career path.
    • Careers Section – Read articles and advice on assessments, career exploration, decision making, job searching, and negotiations like salary.
    • Join the Organization – Provides you discounts on programs, free access to Virtual Career Workshop, members only career content, and more.
    • Useful Websites – Lists additional websites that can help with your career development, like Black Career Zone and Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
    There are many other great career resources out there for African Americans. Check out some of these additional handouts and websites.

    Author:

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/feed/ 2     Diversity Career Resources: Part 1 http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:34:48 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6893
  • Diversity Career Resources: African American
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    • ]]>     Personal Branding is all about showcasing yourself and marketing your unique characteristics, interests, and skills. The way you identify yourself (woman/man, African American, LGBTQ, etc.) is protected information and employers cannot refuse to hire based upon these personal identities. There has also been research that states a person’s acceptance of self translates into confidence which employers look for in candidates. What I mean is take the time to know yourself, where you come from, and be confident with those unique characteristics that makes you special. There are some great career resources out there for everyone. I’m going to take a few weeks and share with you some very useful and diverse career webpages. I’m starting off with a general site and then will share more specific websites in the upcoming weeks.

    DiversityWorking.com

    DiversityWorking claims to be the “largest diversity job board online.” This may be true, but it doesn’t have postings for every US state. It is still a good resource for a number of reasons.

    Key Elements of the Website

    • Job Board – You can browse and search for jobs in 72 industries. There is also a section entitled Search Agent where you can schedule your own search agent that notifies you via email when a position that you’re interested in becomes available.
    • Resume Posting – Post your resume to the website and allow employers to search for you!
    • Organization – Provides the job seeker with basic information about the various companies that DiversityWorking showcases. They also provide a link to each company’s website which makes it easy for you do additional research.
    • Career Expo – Take part in the Virtual Diversity Career Expo. 10 weeks with a different career industry each week. There are still 5 career expos that will run throughout the end of 2010 calendar year. The only downside to this element is that it costs to attend, but once you pay it is available 24/7 throughout the weeks.

    Additional Resources for the Job Seeker

    • FAQ Section – Good information with resume and interviewing tips. There’s only one criticism I would give with the resume tips. It suggests adding personal information to your resume, but this is not recommended because some personal information, like age, race, marital status etc. is protected information. There’s also some information on what to do if you experienced discrimination and why diversity is so important to companies.
    • Community Channels – Provides job seekers with specific search agents based on ethnic groups and recent news that have impacted the work place.
    • Diversity News – Recent news articles that impact the world of work, especially related to diversity.
    • Newsletter – Sign up for an email newsletter which provides you with the latest job openings, news, events, and more. You can even select to specify your newsletter to how you identify yourself, choices include ethnic, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, military, and more.
    Check out this resource and watch for more website and resource reviews to come in the upcoming weeks.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/feed/ 0     The Worst Things That Have Ever Happened to You http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/ http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:36:34 +0000 Kelly Cuene http://studentbranding.com/?p=6905
  • Before the Interview, Do the Homework!
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    • ]]>
    • Tell me about a time when you failed.
    • What are your greatest weaknesses?
    • What is the greatest obstacle you've overcome?
    • What is the most difficult decision you have ever had to make?
    These kind of questions can often catch candidates off guard. They might bring up painful, embarrassing and negative experiences. It is challenging to convey what happened without complaining or coming across as overly negative. At the same time, negative experiences or challenges usually provide for lots of growth and learning. They will allow you to demonstrate to an employer how you tackle tough issues and show them you aren't afraid of making mistakes. Nobody wants to hire someone who will run from problems.

    Some tips for handling these types of interview questions:

    • Don't dwell on the negative. State the situation and swiftly move on to how you dealt with the issue.
    • State the facts and avoid interjecting negative opinions about other people (For example,  "my boss was very demanding" is much better than, "my boss was rude and mean")
    • Make sure to discuss the skills you used to overcome a challenge or deal with a problem.
    • Always end on a positive. What did you learn? How did the situation affect future decisions and actions?
    • Prepare in advance. These situations are tough to talk about and usually the questions we dread most. Practice your responses in advance.
    Even if you're not explicitly asked about a challenging situation, discussing those type of situations allows you to demonstrate how you've grown or used your skills in difficult circumstances. What's the most difficult interview question you have ever been asked?

    Author

    Kelly is a career advisor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she assists undergraduate business students with all aspects of their career development. Connect with Kelly on Twitter, her blog, LinkedIn or BrazenCareerist.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/feed/ 0     Don’t be Steven Slater: Quit Your Job Professionally http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/ http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:40:22 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6785
  • Burning Bridges Leaves You as an Island
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    • ]]>     CLICK HERE for a video with CNN reporters interviewing one of the passengers on the plane who witnessed the occurrence. Even though he seems to be turning into a modern folk hero, the way he quit his job is far from recommended. If this is the WRONG way to quit a job, then what’s the right way? How do you quit a job without burning bridges? And, what's so wrong with burning a few bridges if the company and/or supervisor were bad to you?

    Quitting the Job Properly

    Give at least 2 weeks notice, but a month would be preferred. This demonstrates professionalism and courtesy to the company and your boss.

    They will eventually have to replace you and by giving them a heads up, they can initiate a search for your replacement with hopes for only a small gap between you and the new recruit.

    Type a resignation letter. Use professional language and business letter format. Approach your boss with this letter and explain to him/her as to why you're choosing to resign.

    I once heard of a teacher that submitted her resignation letter on a piece of construction paper and written in crayon. You can be assured that she was not given a reference letter upon departure. Sample Resignation Letters.

    Choose your words wisely. When you approach your boss about quitting the job, be sure to give solid reasons for your departure, but keep it positive. If it's a touchy subject, then make sure to discuss it with a trusted friend/family member or a career counselor to adequately prepare. This will help you choose your words properly and leave on a good note.

    Don't Burn Bridges

    1. It's a small world after all. It's amazing who knows who and how much people network and talk within professional industries. If you quit your job unprofessionally, then it's likely your previous boss will talk about it and it may end up affecting your job search.
    2. Get the good reference. Even if you didn't like the job, you can still leave with a good reference from your supervisor or a colleague. Most employers require three references before hiring a new employee.
    3. Make it easy on yourself. If you leave in a professional manner, then it's a lot easier to interview with a new employer. A common question used in interviews is, "Why did you leave your previous job?" It will reflect better on you if you can answer positively than figure out how to spin it, or risk lying. The company you're interviewing with can call your previous employer and inquire whether or not they would consider hiring you back, and a positive response will increase your chances for hire.
    There are some additional suggestions at BEST-JOB-INTERVIEW.com, including offering to train your replacement, be productive until the last day and tie up any loose ends, and more specific information on writing the resignation letter.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/feed/ 0     Want To Forget Important Things? Don’t Take Notes. http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/ http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/#comments Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:44:29 +0000 Lori Bielek http://studentbranding.com/?p=6690
  • Suprax Generic
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    • ]]>     take good notes inside the classroom.  However, taking notes outside of class can be just as important.  I have found that the tips and tools I learned about from individuals outside the classroom have been the most influential to my personal and professional success.

    Why should I take notes?

    You are not going to remember everything you hear.  Believe me.  The Dartmouth College Academic Skills Center states that,  "Humans are poor listeners. Research shows that individuals can only recall 50% of what they hear and that 20-30% is incorrect!" There have been many times that I wished I had written things down.  If you don't jot down things when you hear them, you have missed your chance of having the most accurate record.

    When should I take notes?

    Here are some examples of when you should take notes:
    • When researching what college or graduate school to attend
    • When reading advice articles or attending personal development and career workshops
    • When learning new things at your job or internship
    • During your student organization meetings
    • When asking for help, particularly regarding anything technical or computer-related

    Fun tools for note-taking

    I have been able to quickly learn new technologies largely because I have taken notes and saved important information.  When I want to learn new software products or social media tools, I try to seek out free classes or online resources for assistance. To help me keep track, I have found better note-taking tools than pencil and paper or opening a Word document on my PC. My favorite note-taking tool is Evernote.  This is a free application that allows you to take notes through a web browser on any computer, through an app on your Mac or PC, or with a smart phone. Evernote will index all your notes so they are fully searchable. This tool is particularly useful if you don't have your laptop with you and you want to remember something. Another way I have learned to remember important things that I find online is to save the web pages.  Conventional bookmarking on your computer browser can get messy and is only helpful if you have your computer with you.  One useful tool for organizing your bookmarks is the free web app, Delicious. Once you save your bookmarks in Delicious, they are accessible from any computer and many mobile devices.  You can easily tag your Delicious bookmarks so they are arranged by topic. In addition, you can share bookmarks or search other people's bookmarks.
    Tip: Using the Delicious add-on in Firefox makes it really easy to save and retrieve your cataloged bookmarks
    I tend to use the Delicious app for web pages I want to refer to regularly.  I use another tool for when I want to save articles to read just once. For all of you folks (like me) who love to read various tweets, articles and blogs online, but don't always have time at the moment to read the full article, Read It Later will be your new best friend. This web app (also available on smartphones) saves web articles so you can easily access them later. I typically will use Read It Later for saving articles I find on Twitter or through RSS feeds.  Once I have time, I read through the saved articles and delete them as I go.  The Read It Later browser add-on is also a must-have.
    Tip: It would be handy to have Evernote open while you are reading your saved articles, so you can write down any important things you may have learned.

    Note-taking leads to success

    I learned about all of the above apps from classmates or friends.  If I hadn't written down the names of the tools, I would not have remembered to follow-up and make an account. You don't have to be a genius or attend the highest-ranked school to be knowledgeable and successful.  You just have to make the best of what you have -- be a good listener and take good notes, even when you are outside the classroom.

    Author:

    Lori Bielek is the Marketing and Technology Coordinator at University of Delaware’s (UD) Career Services Center where she advises students in the arts and sciences through all steps of their career development.  You can connect with Lori through LinkedIn, Twitter, or the UD Career Services Twitter account (@UDcareers).]]>     http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/feed/ 0     Unemployment Impacts More than Your Wallet http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/ http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/#comments Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:00:12 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6671
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    • ]]>     Bureau of Labor Statistics. They also stated that the median time a person has spent in unemployment is 25.5 weeks, about 6 months. Six months is the time we recommend any job seeker to devote to the job search process. This provides a little relief to know that this average hasn’t changed much considering this recession is about twice as bad as in the 1980s. Even though the job seeking timeline and median unemployment rate matches, the psychological affects have climbed.

    The Snowball Effect

    It doesn’t help that the media continues to report on how bad the unemployment trends are within our economy. Just yesterday I received a phone call from a media representative who wanted to do a story on the fact that the unemployment rates haven’t changed and how that impacts my job as a career counselor and the job seekers. Honestly, what impacts the job seekers outlook most is this developed sense of hopelessness. Even though we’re able to still hold job fairs with local employers looking to fill 50-100+ jobs, the number of seekers attending the fairs has decreased since the start of the recession in 2007. This sense of hopelessness with the job market snowballs and as it increases it also impacts additional areas of a person’s life. The Pew Research Center published recent findings that unemployment not only affects finances, but also relations with family and friends and a loss of self-respect. It's interesting that the time we need our family and friends the most is also the time we tend to cause strain on the relationships, or just ignore them completely. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? This is a time to strengthen relationships and really use them to their full potential. All those years of being there for your friends and family should have some residual effect when it’s your turn to need help. Like I’ve said in some previous posts, no person is an island and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. Self-respect is probably the most critical area that’s impacted by unemployment. If you lose self-respect then you’re decreasing your networking effectiveness, chances to be hired, and overall productiveness of the job search. In essence a loss of self-respect could spiral people into depression. Employers want to hire candidates with confidence and competence to do the job well, and if your self-respect has lowered then it’s likely your confidence and ability to market yourself in a job interview has also decreased. If you’re not sure about your level of self-respect then ask yourself how often you use negative language, like “I can’t…,” “This will never…,” or “No one will help me.”

    A Positive Effect

    There has been one potential positive effect from the recent unemployment, a reassessment of career goals. The forced change of losing a job can lead to a reevaluation of career goals, interests, and overall job and life satisfaction. More and more people are seeking out professional development opportunities and training options to increase their marketability. An even bigger trend, which I’ve seen through counseling appointments, is an interest in returning to school and changing career directions completely. I’ve heard more people state things like “for the past 20 years I’ve worked to support myself (and my family) but it was never what I really wanted to do. Now I have the option to change my career, but I’m not sure how to go about it.” I applaud this risk taking behavior because it could mean an overall increase in life satisfaction. However, be careful when taking risks because if it impacts basic needs of food, shelter, and safety then it could increase the chances of losing self-respect and even depression.

    Dealing with the Aftermath

    There are many ways to productively and positively handle the loss of a job. I’ve actually posted a number of blogs through my career services office that discusses coping with job loss. These contain some good tips about how to mentally prepare for the road ahead, not allow your current situation to have a negative impact on finding a new job, and even some additional job seeking strategies. It’s time to be more conscious of yourself which means taking time out to daily reflect on the positives in your life, recreate with friends, keep a journal, or whatever method works for you. Times of turmoil call for a deeper intuition of self and a recognition of needs. Even as counselors we are reminded that the number one person to care for is you, because if you’re not healthy in mind, body, and spirit then it reduces our effectiveness to help others. So take time to renew and balance your life because that is the core to an effective personal and work life!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/feed/ 0     Independent Job Search – A Thing of the Past http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/ http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/#comments Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:03:17 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6629
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    • ]]>     Use of Career Services Linked to Job Offers. Although I’ve been on the same soap box for three years, it’s nice to read about quantitative data supporting my and every other career counselor’s claim. The article continues to state that there is a positive correlation between the number of visits to a career center and the likelihood of job offers.

    Roadblocks & Recoveries

    Although NACE encourages the use of career centers, it also reported that about 29% of recent job offers were to people who never used the services of a career center. So, it is possible to obtain a job without help, but less likely. With all this supporting evidence, why would anyone not seek help? College can be very busy, especially if you’re balancing a job, extracurricular activities, and family life along with it. Some students may not have much time to visit a career center. Well good news, most career centers have drop-in hours so almost anyone can squeeze in time for a resume critique or job searching assistance. Remember a professional job search will usually take at least 6 months before an offer is given, and during that time the job search process should be seen as a full time job. Many students go through college not knowing about the career center and its services. This dilemma is a little harder to find a solution. I would hope that all faculty members are telling students about the services on campus and even students can share their good experiences, but that doesn’t mean that everyone listens or is aware that it’s something he/she might need. Here’s some more good news, most career centers offer services to their alumni for free or for a low fee. It would be better to have used the services while you’re in school because it’s free for current students, but know that it’s never too late to seek assistance. Sometimes it’s hard to ask for help. Asking for help means that we have to put our pride aside and admit that we may not be good at writing resumes, interviewing, or networking. Let’s look at it this way, if you’ve never been trained in any of these skills, then how are you expected to be successful with them? Think of a visit to the career center as training for the job search. They teach you how to write a technical resume, coach you on what to say to employers and how choosing the right words makes all the difference. Most career centers even offer opportunities to put these skills into practice, like at job fairs and networking events.

    Lesson Learned

    It happens to the best of us. We all stumble, fail, lose, or wish we had a do over for various times in our lives. Even I didn’t realize how little I knew about resumes until I visited my college’s career center. It was amazing the difference between my original resume and the updated resume after my appointment with a career counselor. Not only did it look more professional, but I also received more phone calls from employers with the new resume (during my last job search). Lesson learned: Don’t be afraid to seek out a little help, because you can’t do it all by yourself!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter. ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/feed/ 0     When Stressed: Don’t Procrastinate, Take a Break http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/ http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/#comments Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:49:12 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=7031
  • Ten Easy Tips for Networking Your Way into a Job
  • Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event
  • 750 Mg Levaquin
    • ]]>     Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event. College is full of opportunities to meet new people, get into interesting conversations or discover new passions. The contacts that you make may seem random and not applicable to the professional world waiting outside college, yet you never know which one of the people you meet may become your future mentor, your best friend, or your future employer.

    I'm a student. Why do I need business cards?

    Student life does not ordinarily revolve around business cards. But it is important to start building your personal brand already during your university years. Doing so will get you ahead of the majority of your classmates and will serve you well when the time comes to start applying for that first job. Having business cards on hand will help when... ... you suddenly meet an employee of a company you'd like to work or intern for ... you want to differentiate yourself at a careers' fair ... a recruiter asks for your contact information ... you want to seem professional ... you receive someone's card and they ask for yours as well ... you're talking to someone who has your dream job and you want to be able to follow up and get some more tips on how to get where they are

    What should I put on my card?

    As a student, your cards will not be company-branded. This gives you the freedom to include what you think is appropriate, such as:
    • your full name
    • the name of your university, your major and expected year of graduation
    • your contact address
    • email address, telephone number
    • blog url or links to social media profiles (such as LinkedIn)
    • your skills or most impressive experience
    • the industry you'd like to enter or a short byline describing what sort of opportunities you're looking for

    How can I get my cards?

    The easiest way to get your cards printed is to do it online. Vistaprint offers templates for easy design or, my favourite, Moo cards will let you print each card with a different design/photo on the back side. You can thus customise every single card and use your stack as a portfolio. For even more impact, consider using the back of your card to showcase your portrait, photos that you have taken, your designs or ideas, pictures of what you've built/constructed, projects you've been involved with, etc. Start building your personal brand now with business cards that reflect who you are and where you want to go. Have you used business cards as a student before? Tell us about your experience in the comments.

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/feed/ 0     Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel » Grad School http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:53:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Yes, You Need Business Cards Too http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/ http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/#comments Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:49:12 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=7031
  • Ten Easy Tips for Networking Your Way into a Job
  • Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event
  • 750 Mg Levaquin
    • ]]>     Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event. College is full of opportunities to meet new people, get into interesting conversations or discover new passions. The contacts that you make may seem random and not applicable to the professional world waiting outside college, yet you never know which one of the people you meet may become your future mentor, your best friend, or your future employer.

    I'm a student. Why do I need business cards?

    Student life does not ordinarily revolve around business cards. But it is important to start building your personal brand already during your university years. Doing so will get you ahead of the majority of your classmates and will serve you well when the time comes to start applying for that first job. Having business cards on hand will help when... ... you suddenly meet an employee of a company you'd like to work or intern for ... you want to differentiate yourself at a careers' fair ... a recruiter asks for your contact information ... you want to seem professional ... you receive someone's card and they ask for yours as well ... you're talking to someone who has your dream job and you want to be able to follow up and get some more tips on how to get where they are

    What should I put on my card?

    As a student, your cards will not be company-branded. This gives you the freedom to include what you think is appropriate, such as:
    • your full name
    • the name of your university, your major and expected year of graduation
    • your contact address
    • email address, telephone number
    • blog url or links to social media profiles (such as LinkedIn)
    • your skills or most impressive experience
    • the industry you'd like to enter or a short byline describing what sort of opportunities you're looking for

    How can I get my cards?

    The easiest way to get your cards printed is to do it online. Vistaprint offers templates for easy design or, my favourite, Moo cards will let you print each card with a different design/photo on the back side. You can thus customise every single card and use your stack as a portfolio. For even more impact, consider using the back of your card to showcase your portrait, photos that you have taken, your designs or ideas, pictures of what you've built/constructed, projects you've been involved with, etc. Start building your personal brand now with business cards that reflect who you are and where you want to go. Have you used business cards as a student before? Tell us about your experience in the comments.

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/feed/ 0     Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/ http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=6971
  • Don’t Let Shyness Derail Networking Opportunities
  • Networking Tips: A Step-By-Step Guide
  • Your Brand is Only as Effective as Your Follow-up
    • ]]>     Take advantage of all events These are not "networking events" designed to help you in professional life. No one will be waving a business card in your face and often they will feel very casual. Yet many students miss an important point: these events are as valuable as any intentionally networking event can be. They help you meet new people or catch up with someone you haven't talked to in a while and they do so whilst giving you some common ground and a starting point for conversation. Yet just meeting someone and then never talking to them again is not useful in itself. You want to be able to keep in touch with the people you meet, to share ideas and maybe build a longer-lasting relationship. How do you do that?

    Here are 5 things to do immediately after an event:

    1. Add the people you met on Facebook and/or LinkedIn This is especially useful if you don't have their email address as both these networks let you search by name. Plus it gives you opportunity to contact them even if they graduate, change jobs or move to a different city as their profile on these networks will simply incorporate such changes. Tip: Create a list called "Professional" on Facebook and customise what contacts in this list can see from your Facebook profile.

    2. Send a "nice to meet you" message

    Do this right away, or the next day, but don't wait too long. This is an opportunity to remind them about the recent meeting and a chance to "re-introduce" yourself whilst the meeting is still in their fresh memory and they remember who you are. Tip: Include a link to your blog or profiles online so that they can find out more about you.

    3. Include something personalized

    Was there something from your conversation that you can comment on? Did they maybe mention an upcoming job interview that you could wish them good luck for? Or a recent success that you can congratulate them on? If you promised to do something during your conversation, be sure to deliver. For example: "Hi Joe, It was great to meet you yesterday. Hope the job interview goes well next week and here's a link to the article I mentioned in our conversation..."

    4. Jot down important points from your conversation

    While the conversation is fresh in your mind, jot down any important information or facts that you may need in a follow-up. This could include the topics that you talked about, the name of the school they go to or what clubs they are involved in, any names of friends or relatives or events they mentioned. This will allow you to be topical and to refer to specifics in your next conversation. We all like to feel special when we notice someone took the effort to remember bits of information about us.

    5. Set yourself a follow-up reminder

    Use your calendar or to-do list and set up a reminder for a week/a month or whatever is appropriate in the future when you will get in touch again and see if there's anything you could do for them. Get in the habit of doing these and you'll set yourself up for some great relationships. What do you do to take advantage of various events? Do you have any tips to add?

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/feed/ 0     Diversity Career Resources: African American http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:08:30 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6961
  • Diversity Career Resources: Part 1
  • Web Tools to Use for Career Exploration
  • Career and Branding Advice I’m Liking Lately
    • ]]>     The Black Collegian, provides information on career resources for black college students. Job search strategies, graduate school opportunities, career and industry reports are abundantly explored. This site is the cyberspace partner of The Black Collegian magazine, serving the career and self-development interests of African American collegians throughout America since 1970. The second one, Black Career Women, is an organization founded in 1977 and serves as a nucleus of support to identify and address the critical needs of black women in the workforce as it relates to their career mobility and achievement. Here are some key elements of the websites.

    The Black Collegian

    • Employer Profiles – Read about featured employers plus a total of 17 employer profiles “that support diversity and actively recruit on college campuses nationwide.”
    • The Diversity Registry – Connect to DiversityRegistry.com and research companies with “active diversity programs."
    • Job Tools & Career Center – Search for jobs within The Black Collegian’s database, get career advice and tips on internships.
    • Study & Campus Section– Learn about graduate studies, working and studying abroad, scholarships and grants, and more.
    • Extracurricular Section– Additional information just for fun, like music, poetry, and films.

    Black Career Women

    • Career Coaches – Get expert advice on your career path.
    • Careers Section – Read articles and advice on assessments, career exploration, decision making, job searching, and negotiations like salary.
    • Join the Organization – Provides you discounts on programs, free access to Virtual Career Workshop, members only career content, and more.
    • Useful Websites – Lists additional websites that can help with your career development, like Black Career Zone and Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
    There are many other great career resources out there for African Americans. Check out some of these additional handouts and websites.

    Author:

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/feed/ 2     Diversity Career Resources: Part 1 http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:34:48 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6893
  • Diversity Career Resources: African American
  • Twitter From a Novice
  • Maximize your career center experience
    • ]]>     Personal Branding is all about showcasing yourself and marketing your unique characteristics, interests, and skills. The way you identify yourself (woman/man, African American, LGBTQ, etc.) is protected information and employers cannot refuse to hire based upon these personal identities. There has also been research that states a person’s acceptance of self translates into confidence which employers look for in candidates. What I mean is take the time to know yourself, where you come from, and be confident with those unique characteristics that makes you special. There are some great career resources out there for everyone. I’m going to take a few weeks and share with you some very useful and diverse career webpages. I’m starting off with a general site and then will share more specific websites in the upcoming weeks.

    DiversityWorking.com

    DiversityWorking claims to be the “largest diversity job board online.” This may be true, but it doesn’t have postings for every US state. It is still a good resource for a number of reasons.

    Key Elements of the Website

    • Job Board – You can browse and search for jobs in 72 industries. There is also a section entitled Search Agent where you can schedule your own search agent that notifies you via email when a position that you’re interested in becomes available.
    • Resume Posting – Post your resume to the website and allow employers to search for you!
    • Organization – Provides the job seeker with basic information about the various companies that DiversityWorking showcases. They also provide a link to each company’s website which makes it easy for you do additional research.
    • Career Expo – Take part in the Virtual Diversity Career Expo. 10 weeks with a different career industry each week. There are still 5 career expos that will run throughout the end of 2010 calendar year. The only downside to this element is that it costs to attend, but once you pay it is available 24/7 throughout the weeks.

    Additional Resources for the Job Seeker

    • FAQ Section – Good information with resume and interviewing tips. There’s only one criticism I would give with the resume tips. It suggests adding personal information to your resume, but this is not recommended because some personal information, like age, race, marital status etc. is protected information. There’s also some information on what to do if you experienced discrimination and why diversity is so important to companies.
    • Community Channels – Provides job seekers with specific search agents based on ethnic groups and recent news that have impacted the work place.
    • Diversity News – Recent news articles that impact the world of work, especially related to diversity.
    • Newsletter – Sign up for an email newsletter which provides you with the latest job openings, news, events, and more. You can even select to specify your newsletter to how you identify yourself, choices include ethnic, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, military, and more.
    Check out this resource and watch for more website and resource reviews to come in the upcoming weeks.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/feed/ 0     The Worst Things That Have Ever Happened to You http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/ http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:36:34 +0000 Kelly Cuene http://studentbranding.com/?p=6905
  • Before the Interview, Do the Homework!
  • Can You Tell A Good Story?
  • Let Your Inhibitions Be Your Guide
    • ]]>
    • Tell me about a time when you failed.
    • What are your greatest weaknesses?
    • What is the greatest obstacle you've overcome?
    • What is the most difficult decision you have ever had to make?
    These kind of questions can often catch candidates off guard. They might bring up painful, embarrassing and negative experiences. It is challenging to convey what happened without complaining or coming across as overly negative. At the same time, negative experiences or challenges usually provide for lots of growth and learning. They will allow you to demonstrate to an employer how you tackle tough issues and show them you aren't afraid of making mistakes. Nobody wants to hire someone who will run from problems.

    Some tips for handling these types of interview questions:

    • Don't dwell on the negative. State the situation and swiftly move on to how you dealt with the issue.
    • State the facts and avoid interjecting negative opinions about other people (For example,  "my boss was very demanding" is much better than, "my boss was rude and mean")
    • Make sure to discuss the skills you used to overcome a challenge or deal with a problem.
    • Always end on a positive. What did you learn? How did the situation affect future decisions and actions?
    • Prepare in advance. These situations are tough to talk about and usually the questions we dread most. Practice your responses in advance.
    Even if you're not explicitly asked about a challenging situation, discussing those type of situations allows you to demonstrate how you've grown or used your skills in difficult circumstances. What's the most difficult interview question you have ever been asked?

    Author

    Kelly is a career advisor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she assists undergraduate business students with all aspects of their career development. Connect with Kelly on Twitter, her blog, LinkedIn or BrazenCareerist.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/feed/ 0     Don’t be Steven Slater: Quit Your Job Professionally http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/ http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:40:22 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6785
  • Burning Bridges Leaves You as an Island
  • Write a Killer ‘Thank You’ Letter
  • Vermox Without Prescription
    • ]]>     CLICK HERE for a video with CNN reporters interviewing one of the passengers on the plane who witnessed the occurrence. Even though he seems to be turning into a modern folk hero, the way he quit his job is far from recommended. If this is the WRONG way to quit a job, then what’s the right way? How do you quit a job without burning bridges? And, what's so wrong with burning a few bridges if the company and/or supervisor were bad to you?

    Quitting the Job Properly

    Give at least 2 weeks notice, but a month would be preferred. This demonstrates professionalism and courtesy to the company and your boss.

    They will eventually have to replace you and by giving them a heads up, they can initiate a search for your replacement with hopes for only a small gap between you and the new recruit.

    Type a resignation letter. Use professional language and business letter format. Approach your boss with this letter and explain to him/her as to why you're choosing to resign.

    I once heard of a teacher that submitted her resignation letter on a piece of construction paper and written in crayon. You can be assured that she was not given a reference letter upon departure. Sample Resignation Letters.

    Choose your words wisely. When you approach your boss about quitting the job, be sure to give solid reasons for your departure, but keep it positive. If it's a touchy subject, then make sure to discuss it with a trusted friend/family member or a career counselor to adequately prepare. This will help you choose your words properly and leave on a good note.

    Don't Burn Bridges

    1. It's a small world after all. It's amazing who knows who and how much people network and talk within professional industries. If you quit your job unprofessionally, then it's likely your previous boss will talk about it and it may end up affecting your job search.
    2. Get the good reference. Even if you didn't like the job, you can still leave with a good reference from your supervisor or a colleague. Most employers require three references before hiring a new employee.
    3. Make it easy on yourself. If you leave in a professional manner, then it's a lot easier to interview with a new employer. A common question used in interviews is, "Why did you leave your previous job?" It will reflect better on you if you can answer positively than figure out how to spin it, or risk lying. The company you're interviewing with can call your previous employer and inquire whether or not they would consider hiring you back, and a positive response will increase your chances for hire.
    There are some additional suggestions at BEST-JOB-INTERVIEW.com, including offering to train your replacement, be productive until the last day and tie up any loose ends, and more specific information on writing the resignation letter.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/feed/ 0     Want To Forget Important Things? Don’t Take Notes. http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/ http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/#comments Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:44:29 +0000 Lori Bielek http://studentbranding.com/?p=6690
  • Suprax Generic
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  • Confidence is the Winning Strategy
    • ]]>     take good notes inside the classroom.  However, taking notes outside of class can be just as important.  I have found that the tips and tools I learned about from individuals outside the classroom have been the most influential to my personal and professional success.

    Why should I take notes?

    You are not going to remember everything you hear.  Believe me.  The Dartmouth College Academic Skills Center states that,  "Humans are poor listeners. Research shows that individuals can only recall 50% of what they hear and that 20-30% is incorrect!" There have been many times that I wished I had written things down.  If you don't jot down things when you hear them, you have missed your chance of having the most accurate record.

    When should I take notes?

    Here are some examples of when you should take notes:
    • When researching what college or graduate school to attend
    • When reading advice articles or attending personal development and career workshops
    • When learning new things at your job or internship
    • During your student organization meetings
    • When asking for help, particularly regarding anything technical or computer-related

    Fun tools for note-taking

    I have been able to quickly learn new technologies largely because I have taken notes and saved important information.  When I want to learn new software products or social media tools, I try to seek out free classes or online resources for assistance. To help me keep track, I have found better note-taking tools than pencil and paper or opening a Word document on my PC. My favorite note-taking tool is Evernote.  This is a free application that allows you to take notes through a web browser on any computer, through an app on your Mac or PC, or with a smart phone. Evernote will index all your notes so they are fully searchable. This tool is particularly useful if you don't have your laptop with you and you want to remember something. Another way I have learned to remember important things that I find online is to save the web pages.  Conventional bookmarking on your computer browser can get messy and is only helpful if you have your computer with you.  One useful tool for organizing your bookmarks is the free web app, Delicious. Once you save your bookmarks in Delicious, they are accessible from any computer and many mobile devices.  You can easily tag your Delicious bookmarks so they are arranged by topic. In addition, you can share bookmarks or search other people's bookmarks.
    Tip: Using the Delicious add-on in Firefox makes it really easy to save and retrieve your cataloged bookmarks
    I tend to use the Delicious app for web pages I want to refer to regularly.  I use another tool for when I want to save articles to read just once. For all of you folks (like me) who love to read various tweets, articles and blogs online, but don't always have time at the moment to read the full article, Read It Later will be your new best friend. This web app (also available on smartphones) saves web articles so you can easily access them later. I typically will use Read It Later for saving articles I find on Twitter or through RSS feeds.  Once I have time, I read through the saved articles and delete them as I go.  The Read It Later browser add-on is also a must-have.
    Tip: It would be handy to have Evernote open while you are reading your saved articles, so you can write down any important things you may have learned.

    Note-taking leads to success

    I learned about all of the above apps from classmates or friends.  If I hadn't written down the names of the tools, I would not have remembered to follow-up and make an account. You don't have to be a genius or attend the highest-ranked school to be knowledgeable and successful.  You just have to make the best of what you have -- be a good listener and take good notes, even when you are outside the classroom.

    Author:

    Lori Bielek is the Marketing and Technology Coordinator at University of Delaware’s (UD) Career Services Center where she advises students in the arts and sciences through all steps of their career development.  You can connect with Lori through LinkedIn, Twitter, or the UD Career Services Twitter account (@UDcareers).]]>     http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/feed/ 0     Unemployment Impacts More than Your Wallet http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/ http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/#comments Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:00:12 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6671
  • A Career Counselor’s Spring Break Abroad
  • Learning from Success and Failure
  • Volunteering: Your hidden lifeline
    • ]]>     Bureau of Labor Statistics. They also stated that the median time a person has spent in unemployment is 25.5 weeks, about 6 months. Six months is the time we recommend any job seeker to devote to the job search process. This provides a little relief to know that this average hasn’t changed much considering this recession is about twice as bad as in the 1980s. Even though the job seeking timeline and median unemployment rate matches, the psychological affects have climbed.

    The Snowball Effect

    It doesn’t help that the media continues to report on how bad the unemployment trends are within our economy. Just yesterday I received a phone call from a media representative who wanted to do a story on the fact that the unemployment rates haven’t changed and how that impacts my job as a career counselor and the job seekers. Honestly, what impacts the job seekers outlook most is this developed sense of hopelessness. Even though we’re able to still hold job fairs with local employers looking to fill 50-100+ jobs, the number of seekers attending the fairs has decreased since the start of the recession in 2007. This sense of hopelessness with the job market snowballs and as it increases it also impacts additional areas of a person’s life. The Pew Research Center published recent findings that unemployment not only affects finances, but also relations with family and friends and a loss of self-respect. It's interesting that the time we need our family and friends the most is also the time we tend to cause strain on the relationships, or just ignore them completely. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? This is a time to strengthen relationships and really use them to their full potential. All those years of being there for your friends and family should have some residual effect when it’s your turn to need help. Like I’ve said in some previous posts, no person is an island and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. Self-respect is probably the most critical area that’s impacted by unemployment. If you lose self-respect then you’re decreasing your networking effectiveness, chances to be hired, and overall productiveness of the job search. In essence a loss of self-respect could spiral people into depression. Employers want to hire candidates with confidence and competence to do the job well, and if your self-respect has lowered then it’s likely your confidence and ability to market yourself in a job interview has also decreased. If you’re not sure about your level of self-respect then ask yourself how often you use negative language, like “I can’t…,” “This will never…,” or “No one will help me.”

    A Positive Effect

    There has been one potential positive effect from the recent unemployment, a reassessment of career goals. The forced change of losing a job can lead to a reevaluation of career goals, interests, and overall job and life satisfaction. More and more people are seeking out professional development opportunities and training options to increase their marketability. An even bigger trend, which I’ve seen through counseling appointments, is an interest in returning to school and changing career directions completely. I’ve heard more people state things like “for the past 20 years I’ve worked to support myself (and my family) but it was never what I really wanted to do. Now I have the option to change my career, but I’m not sure how to go about it.” I applaud this risk taking behavior because it could mean an overall increase in life satisfaction. However, be careful when taking risks because if it impacts basic needs of food, shelter, and safety then it could increase the chances of losing self-respect and even depression.

    Dealing with the Aftermath

    There are many ways to productively and positively handle the loss of a job. I’ve actually posted a number of blogs through my career services office that discusses coping with job loss. These contain some good tips about how to mentally prepare for the road ahead, not allow your current situation to have a negative impact on finding a new job, and even some additional job seeking strategies. It’s time to be more conscious of yourself which means taking time out to daily reflect on the positives in your life, recreate with friends, keep a journal, or whatever method works for you. Times of turmoil call for a deeper intuition of self and a recognition of needs. Even as counselors we are reminded that the number one person to care for is you, because if you’re not healthy in mind, body, and spirit then it reduces our effectiveness to help others. So take time to renew and balance your life because that is the core to an effective personal and work life!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/feed/ 0     Independent Job Search – A Thing of the Past http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/ http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/#comments Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:03:17 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6629
  • Levaquin 750mg
  • Maximize your career center experience
  • Authenticity and the Job Search
    • ]]>     Use of Career Services Linked to Job Offers. Although I’ve been on the same soap box for three years, it’s nice to read about quantitative data supporting my and every other career counselor’s claim. The article continues to state that there is a positive correlation between the number of visits to a career center and the likelihood of job offers.

    Roadblocks & Recoveries

    Although NACE encourages the use of career centers, it also reported that about 29% of recent job offers were to people who never used the services of a career center. So, it is possible to obtain a job without help, but less likely. With all this supporting evidence, why would anyone not seek help? College can be very busy, especially if you’re balancing a job, extracurricular activities, and family life along with it. Some students may not have much time to visit a career center. Well good news, most career centers have drop-in hours so almost anyone can squeeze in time for a resume critique or job searching assistance. Remember a professional job search will usually take at least 6 months before an offer is given, and during that time the job search process should be seen as a full time job. Many students go through college not knowing about the career center and its services. This dilemma is a little harder to find a solution. I would hope that all faculty members are telling students about the services on campus and even students can share their good experiences, but that doesn’t mean that everyone listens or is aware that it’s something he/she might need. Here’s some more good news, most career centers offer services to their alumni for free or for a low fee. It would be better to have used the services while you’re in school because it’s free for current students, but know that it’s never too late to seek assistance. Sometimes it’s hard to ask for help. Asking for help means that we have to put our pride aside and admit that we may not be good at writing resumes, interviewing, or networking. Let’s look at it this way, if you’ve never been trained in any of these skills, then how are you expected to be successful with them? Think of a visit to the career center as training for the job search. They teach you how to write a technical resume, coach you on what to say to employers and how choosing the right words makes all the difference. Most career centers even offer opportunities to put these skills into practice, like at job fairs and networking events.

    Lesson Learned

    It happens to the best of us. We all stumble, fail, lose, or wish we had a do over for various times in our lives. Even I didn’t realize how little I knew about resumes until I visited my college’s career center. It was amazing the difference between my original resume and the updated resume after my appointment with a career counselor. Not only did it look more professional, but I also received more phone calls from employers with the new resume (during my last job search). Lesson learned: Don’t be afraid to seek out a little help, because you can’t do it all by yourself!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter. ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/feed/ 0     When Stressed: Don’t Procrastinate, Take a Break http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/ http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=6971
  • Don’t Let Shyness Derail Networking Opportunities
  • Networking Tips: A Step-By-Step Guide
  • Your Brand is Only as Effective as Your Follow-up
    • ]]>     Take advantage of all events These are not "networking events" designed to help you in professional life. No one will be waving a business card in your face and often they will feel very casual. Yet many students miss an important point: these events are as valuable as any intentionally networking event can be. They help you meet new people or catch up with someone you haven't talked to in a while and they do so whilst giving you some common ground and a starting point for conversation. Yet just meeting someone and then never talking to them again is not useful in itself. You want to be able to keep in touch with the people you meet, to share ideas and maybe build a longer-lasting relationship. How do you do that?

    Here are 5 things to do immediately after an event:

    1. Add the people you met on Facebook and/or LinkedIn This is especially useful if you don't have their email address as both these networks let you search by name. Plus it gives you opportunity to contact them even if they graduate, change jobs or move to a different city as their profile on these networks will simply incorporate such changes. Tip: Create a list called "Professional" on Facebook and customise what contacts in this list can see from your Facebook profile.

    2. Send a "nice to meet you" message

    Do this right away, or the next day, but don't wait too long. This is an opportunity to remind them about the recent meeting and a chance to "re-introduce" yourself whilst the meeting is still in their fresh memory and they remember who you are. Tip: Include a link to your blog or profiles online so that they can find out more about you.

    3. Include something personalized

    Was there something from your conversation that you can comment on? Did they maybe mention an upcoming job interview that you could wish them good luck for? Or a recent success that you can congratulate them on? If you promised to do something during your conversation, be sure to deliver. For example: "Hi Joe, It was great to meet you yesterday. Hope the job interview goes well next week and here's a link to the article I mentioned in our conversation..."

    4. Jot down important points from your conversation

    While the conversation is fresh in your mind, jot down any important information or facts that you may need in a follow-up. This could include the topics that you talked about, the name of the school they go to or what clubs they are involved in, any names of friends or relatives or events they mentioned. This will allow you to be topical and to refer to specifics in your next conversation. We all like to feel special when we notice someone took the effort to remember bits of information about us.

    5. Set yourself a follow-up reminder

    Use your calendar or to-do list and set up a reminder for a week/a month or whatever is appropriate in the future when you will get in touch again and see if there's anything you could do for them. Get in the habit of doing these and you'll set yourself up for some great relationships. What do you do to take advantage of various events? Do you have any tips to add?

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/feed/ 0     Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel » Grad School http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:53:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Yes, You Need Business Cards Too http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/ http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/#comments Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:49:12 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=7031
  • Ten Easy Tips for Networking Your Way into a Job
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    • ]]>     Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event. College is full of opportunities to meet new people, get into interesting conversations or discover new passions. The contacts that you make may seem random and not applicable to the professional world waiting outside college, yet you never know which one of the people you meet may become your future mentor, your best friend, or your future employer.

    I'm a student. Why do I need business cards?

    Student life does not ordinarily revolve around business cards. But it is important to start building your personal brand already during your university years. Doing so will get you ahead of the majority of your classmates and will serve you well when the time comes to start applying for that first job. Having business cards on hand will help when... ... you suddenly meet an employee of a company you'd like to work or intern for ... you want to differentiate yourself at a careers' fair ... a recruiter asks for your contact information ... you want to seem professional ... you receive someone's card and they ask for yours as well ... you're talking to someone who has your dream job and you want to be able to follow up and get some more tips on how to get where they are

    What should I put on my card?

    As a student, your cards will not be company-branded. This gives you the freedom to include what you think is appropriate, such as:
    • your full name
    • the name of your university, your major and expected year of graduation
    • your contact address
    • email address, telephone number
    • blog url or links to social media profiles (such as LinkedIn)
    • your skills or most impressive experience
    • the industry you'd like to enter or a short byline describing what sort of opportunities you're looking for

    How can I get my cards?

    The easiest way to get your cards printed is to do it online. Vistaprint offers templates for easy design or, my favourite, Moo cards will let you print each card with a different design/photo on the back side. You can thus customise every single card and use your stack as a portfolio. For even more impact, consider using the back of your card to showcase your portrait, photos that you have taken, your designs or ideas, pictures of what you've built/constructed, projects you've been involved with, etc. Start building your personal brand now with business cards that reflect who you are and where you want to go. Have you used business cards as a student before? Tell us about your experience in the comments.

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/feed/ 0     Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/ http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=6971
  • Don’t Let Shyness Derail Networking Opportunities
  • Networking Tips: A Step-By-Step Guide
  • Your Brand is Only as Effective as Your Follow-up
    • ]]>     Take advantage of all events These are not "networking events" designed to help you in professional life. No one will be waving a business card in your face and often they will feel very casual. Yet many students miss an important point: these events are as valuable as any intentionally networking event can be. They help you meet new people or catch up with someone you haven't talked to in a while and they do so whilst giving you some common ground and a starting point for conversation. Yet just meeting someone and then never talking to them again is not useful in itself. You want to be able to keep in touch with the people you meet, to share ideas and maybe build a longer-lasting relationship. How do you do that?

    Here are 5 things to do immediately after an event:

    1. Add the people you met on Facebook and/or LinkedIn This is especially useful if you don't have their email address as both these networks let you search by name. Plus it gives you opportunity to contact them even if they graduate, change jobs or move to a different city as their profile on these networks will simply incorporate such changes. Tip: Create a list called "Professional" on Facebook and customise what contacts in this list can see from your Facebook profile.

    2. Send a "nice to meet you" message

    Do this right away, or the next day, but don't wait too long. This is an opportunity to remind them about the recent meeting and a chance to "re-introduce" yourself whilst the meeting is still in their fresh memory and they remember who you are. Tip: Include a link to your blog or profiles online so that they can find out more about you.

    3. Include something personalized

    Was there something from your conversation that you can comment on? Did they maybe mention an upcoming job interview that you could wish them good luck for? Or a recent success that you can congratulate them on? If you promised to do something during your conversation, be sure to deliver. For example: "Hi Joe, It was great to meet you yesterday. Hope the job interview goes well next week and here's a link to the article I mentioned in our conversation..."

    4. Jot down important points from your conversation

    While the conversation is fresh in your mind, jot down any important information or facts that you may need in a follow-up. This could include the topics that you talked about, the name of the school they go to or what clubs they are involved in, any names of friends or relatives or events they mentioned. This will allow you to be topical and to refer to specifics in your next conversation. We all like to feel special when we notice someone took the effort to remember bits of information about us.

    5. Set yourself a follow-up reminder

    Use your calendar or to-do list and set up a reminder for a week/a month or whatever is appropriate in the future when you will get in touch again and see if there's anything you could do for them. Get in the habit of doing these and you'll set yourself up for some great relationships. What do you do to take advantage of various events? Do you have any tips to add?

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/feed/ 0     Diversity Career Resources: African American http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:08:30 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6961
  • Diversity Career Resources: Part 1
  • Web Tools to Use for Career Exploration
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    • ]]>     The Black Collegian, provides information on career resources for black college students. Job search strategies, graduate school opportunities, career and industry reports are abundantly explored. This site is the cyberspace partner of The Black Collegian magazine, serving the career and self-development interests of African American collegians throughout America since 1970. The second one, Black Career Women, is an organization founded in 1977 and serves as a nucleus of support to identify and address the critical needs of black women in the workforce as it relates to their career mobility and achievement. Here are some key elements of the websites.

    The Black Collegian

    • Employer Profiles – Read about featured employers plus a total of 17 employer profiles “that support diversity and actively recruit on college campuses nationwide.”
    • The Diversity Registry – Connect to DiversityRegistry.com and research companies with “active diversity programs."
    • Job Tools & Career Center – Search for jobs within The Black Collegian’s database, get career advice and tips on internships.
    • Study & Campus Section– Learn about graduate studies, working and studying abroad, scholarships and grants, and more.
    • Extracurricular Section– Additional information just for fun, like music, poetry, and films.

    Black Career Women

    • Career Coaches – Get expert advice on your career path.
    • Careers Section – Read articles and advice on assessments, career exploration, decision making, job searching, and negotiations like salary.
    • Join the Organization – Provides you discounts on programs, free access to Virtual Career Workshop, members only career content, and more.
    • Useful Websites – Lists additional websites that can help with your career development, like Black Career Zone and Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
    There are many other great career resources out there for African Americans. Check out some of these additional handouts and websites.

    Author:

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/feed/ 2     Diversity Career Resources: Part 1 http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:34:48 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6893
  • Diversity Career Resources: African American
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    • ]]>     Personal Branding is all about showcasing yourself and marketing your unique characteristics, interests, and skills. The way you identify yourself (woman/man, African American, LGBTQ, etc.) is protected information and employers cannot refuse to hire based upon these personal identities. There has also been research that states a person’s acceptance of self translates into confidence which employers look for in candidates. What I mean is take the time to know yourself, where you come from, and be confident with those unique characteristics that makes you special. There are some great career resources out there for everyone. I’m going to take a few weeks and share with you some very useful and diverse career webpages. I’m starting off with a general site and then will share more specific websites in the upcoming weeks.

    DiversityWorking.com

    DiversityWorking claims to be the “largest diversity job board online.” This may be true, but it doesn’t have postings for every US state. It is still a good resource for a number of reasons.

    Key Elements of the Website

    • Job Board – You can browse and search for jobs in 72 industries. There is also a section entitled Search Agent where you can schedule your own search agent that notifies you via email when a position that you’re interested in becomes available.
    • Resume Posting – Post your resume to the website and allow employers to search for you!
    • Organization – Provides the job seeker with basic information about the various companies that DiversityWorking showcases. They also provide a link to each company’s website which makes it easy for you do additional research.
    • Career Expo – Take part in the Virtual Diversity Career Expo. 10 weeks with a different career industry each week. There are still 5 career expos that will run throughout the end of 2010 calendar year. The only downside to this element is that it costs to attend, but once you pay it is available 24/7 throughout the weeks.

    Additional Resources for the Job Seeker

    • FAQ Section – Good information with resume and interviewing tips. There’s only one criticism I would give with the resume tips. It suggests adding personal information to your resume, but this is not recommended because some personal information, like age, race, marital status etc. is protected information. There’s also some information on what to do if you experienced discrimination and why diversity is so important to companies.
    • Community Channels – Provides job seekers with specific search agents based on ethnic groups and recent news that have impacted the work place.
    • Diversity News – Recent news articles that impact the world of work, especially related to diversity.
    • Newsletter – Sign up for an email newsletter which provides you with the latest job openings, news, events, and more. You can even select to specify your newsletter to how you identify yourself, choices include ethnic, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, military, and more.
    Check out this resource and watch for more website and resource reviews to come in the upcoming weeks.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/feed/ 0     The Worst Things That Have Ever Happened to You http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/ http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:36:34 +0000 Kelly Cuene http://studentbranding.com/?p=6905
  • Before the Interview, Do the Homework!
  • Can You Tell A Good Story?
  • Let Your Inhibitions Be Your Guide
    • ]]>
    • Tell me about a time when you failed.
    • What are your greatest weaknesses?
    • What is the greatest obstacle you've overcome?
    • What is the most difficult decision you have ever had to make?
    These kind of questions can often catch candidates off guard. They might bring up painful, embarrassing and negative experiences. It is challenging to convey what happened without complaining or coming across as overly negative. At the same time, negative experiences or challenges usually provide for lots of growth and learning. They will allow you to demonstrate to an employer how you tackle tough issues and show them you aren't afraid of making mistakes. Nobody wants to hire someone who will run from problems.

    Some tips for handling these types of interview questions:

    • Don't dwell on the negative. State the situation and swiftly move on to how you dealt with the issue.
    • State the facts and avoid interjecting negative opinions about other people (For example,  "my boss was very demanding" is much better than, "my boss was rude and mean")
    • Make sure to discuss the skills you used to overcome a challenge or deal with a problem.
    • Always end on a positive. What did you learn? How did the situation affect future decisions and actions?
    • Prepare in advance. These situations are tough to talk about and usually the questions we dread most. Practice your responses in advance.
    Even if you're not explicitly asked about a challenging situation, discussing those type of situations allows you to demonstrate how you've grown or used your skills in difficult circumstances. What's the most difficult interview question you have ever been asked?

    Author

    Kelly is a career advisor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she assists undergraduate business students with all aspects of their career development. Connect with Kelly on Twitter, her blog, LinkedIn or BrazenCareerist.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/feed/ 0     Don’t be Steven Slater: Quit Your Job Professionally http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/ http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:40:22 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6785
  • Burning Bridges Leaves You as an Island
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    • ]]>     CLICK HERE for a video with CNN reporters interviewing one of the passengers on the plane who witnessed the occurrence. Even though he seems to be turning into a modern folk hero, the way he quit his job is far from recommended. If this is the WRONG way to quit a job, then what’s the right way? How do you quit a job without burning bridges? And, what's so wrong with burning a few bridges if the company and/or supervisor were bad to you?

    Quitting the Job Properly

    Give at least 2 weeks notice, but a month would be preferred. This demonstrates professionalism and courtesy to the company and your boss.

    They will eventually have to replace you and by giving them a heads up, they can initiate a search for your replacement with hopes for only a small gap between you and the new recruit.

    Type a resignation letter. Use professional language and business letter format. Approach your boss with this letter and explain to him/her as to why you're choosing to resign.

    I once heard of a teacher that submitted her resignation letter on a piece of construction paper and written in crayon. You can be assured that she was not given a reference letter upon departure. Sample Resignation Letters.

    Choose your words wisely. When you approach your boss about quitting the job, be sure to give solid reasons for your departure, but keep it positive. If it's a touchy subject, then make sure to discuss it with a trusted friend/family member or a career counselor to adequately prepare. This will help you choose your words properly and leave on a good note.

    Don't Burn Bridges

    1. It's a small world after all. It's amazing who knows who and how much people network and talk within professional industries. If you quit your job unprofessionally, then it's likely your previous boss will talk about it and it may end up affecting your job search.
    2. Get the good reference. Even if you didn't like the job, you can still leave with a good reference from your supervisor or a colleague. Most employers require three references before hiring a new employee.
    3. Make it easy on yourself. If you leave in a professional manner, then it's a lot easier to interview with a new employer. A common question used in interviews is, "Why did you leave your previous job?" It will reflect better on you if you can answer positively than figure out how to spin it, or risk lying. The company you're interviewing with can call your previous employer and inquire whether or not they would consider hiring you back, and a positive response will increase your chances for hire.
    There are some additional suggestions at BEST-JOB-INTERVIEW.com, including offering to train your replacement, be productive until the last day and tie up any loose ends, and more specific information on writing the resignation letter.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/feed/ 0     Want To Forget Important Things? Don’t Take Notes. http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/ http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/#comments Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:44:29 +0000 Lori Bielek http://studentbranding.com/?p=6690
  • Suprax Generic
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    • ]]>     take good notes inside the classroom.  However, taking notes outside of class can be just as important.  I have found that the tips and tools I learned about from individuals outside the classroom have been the most influential to my personal and professional success.

    Why should I take notes?

    You are not going to remember everything you hear.  Believe me.  The Dartmouth College Academic Skills Center states that,  "Humans are poor listeners. Research shows that individuals can only recall 50% of what they hear and that 20-30% is incorrect!" There have been many times that I wished I had written things down.  If you don't jot down things when you hear them, you have missed your chance of having the most accurate record.

    When should I take notes?

    Here are some examples of when you should take notes:
    • When researching what college or graduate school to attend
    • When reading advice articles or attending personal development and career workshops
    • When learning new things at your job or internship
    • During your student organization meetings
    • When asking for help, particularly regarding anything technical or computer-related

    Fun tools for note-taking

    I have been able to quickly learn new technologies largely because I have taken notes and saved important information.  When I want to learn new software products or social media tools, I try to seek out free classes or online resources for assistance. To help me keep track, I have found better note-taking tools than pencil and paper or opening a Word document on my PC. My favorite note-taking tool is Evernote.  This is a free application that allows you to take notes through a web browser on any computer, through an app on your Mac or PC, or with a smart phone. Evernote will index all your notes so they are fully searchable. This tool is particularly useful if you don't have your laptop with you and you want to remember something. Another way I have learned to remember important things that I find online is to save the web pages.  Conventional bookmarking on your computer browser can get messy and is only helpful if you have your computer with you.  One useful tool for organizing your bookmarks is the free web app, Delicious. Once you save your bookmarks in Delicious, they are accessible from any computer and many mobile devices.  You can easily tag your Delicious bookmarks so they are arranged by topic. In addition, you can share bookmarks or search other people's bookmarks.
    Tip: Using the Delicious add-on in Firefox makes it really easy to save and retrieve your cataloged bookmarks
    I tend to use the Delicious app for web pages I want to refer to regularly.  I use another tool for when I want to save articles to read just once. For all of you folks (like me) who love to read various tweets, articles and blogs online, but don't always have time at the moment to read the full article, Read It Later will be your new best friend. This web app (also available on smartphones) saves web articles so you can easily access them later. I typically will use Read It Later for saving articles I find on Twitter or through RSS feeds.  Once I have time, I read through the saved articles and delete them as I go.  The Read It Later browser add-on is also a must-have.
    Tip: It would be handy to have Evernote open while you are reading your saved articles, so you can write down any important things you may have learned.

    Note-taking leads to success

    I learned about all of the above apps from classmates or friends.  If I hadn't written down the names of the tools, I would not have remembered to follow-up and make an account. You don't have to be a genius or attend the highest-ranked school to be knowledgeable and successful.  You just have to make the best of what you have -- be a good listener and take good notes, even when you are outside the classroom.

    Author:

    Lori Bielek is the Marketing and Technology Coordinator at University of Delaware’s (UD) Career Services Center where she advises students in the arts and sciences through all steps of their career development.  You can connect with Lori through LinkedIn, Twitter, or the UD Career Services Twitter account (@UDcareers).]]>     http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/feed/ 0     Unemployment Impacts More than Your Wallet http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/ http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/#comments Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:00:12 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6671
  • A Career Counselor’s Spring Break Abroad
  • Learning from Success and Failure
  • Volunteering: Your hidden lifeline
    • ]]>     Bureau of Labor Statistics. They also stated that the median time a person has spent in unemployment is 25.5 weeks, about 6 months. Six months is the time we recommend any job seeker to devote to the job search process. This provides a little relief to know that this average hasn’t changed much considering this recession is about twice as bad as in the 1980s. Even though the job seeking timeline and median unemployment rate matches, the psychological affects have climbed.

    The Snowball Effect

    It doesn’t help that the media continues to report on how bad the unemployment trends are within our economy. Just yesterday I received a phone call from a media representative who wanted to do a story on the fact that the unemployment rates haven’t changed and how that impacts my job as a career counselor and the job seekers. Honestly, what impacts the job seekers outlook most is this developed sense of hopelessness. Even though we’re able to still hold job fairs with local employers looking to fill 50-100+ jobs, the number of seekers attending the fairs has decreased since the start of the recession in 2007. This sense of hopelessness with the job market snowballs and as it increases it also impacts additional areas of a person’s life. The Pew Research Center published recent findings that unemployment not only affects finances, but also relations with family and friends and a loss of self-respect. It's interesting that the time we need our family and friends the most is also the time we tend to cause strain on the relationships, or just ignore them completely. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? This is a time to strengthen relationships and really use them to their full potential. All those years of being there for your friends and family should have some residual effect when it’s your turn to need help. Like I’ve said in some previous posts, no person is an island and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. Self-respect is probably the most critical area that’s impacted by unemployment. If you lose self-respect then you’re decreasing your networking effectiveness, chances to be hired, and overall productiveness of the job search. In essence a loss of self-respect could spiral people into depression. Employers want to hire candidates with confidence and competence to do the job well, and if your self-respect has lowered then it’s likely your confidence and ability to market yourself in a job interview has also decreased. If you’re not sure about your level of self-respect then ask yourself how often you use negative language, like “I can’t…,” “This will never…,” or “No one will help me.”

    A Positive Effect

    There has been one potential positive effect from the recent unemployment, a reassessment of career goals. The forced change of losing a job can lead to a reevaluation of career goals, interests, and overall job and life satisfaction. More and more people are seeking out professional development opportunities and training options to increase their marketability. An even bigger trend, which I’ve seen through counseling appointments, is an interest in returning to school and changing career directions completely. I’ve heard more people state things like “for the past 20 years I’ve worked to support myself (and my family) but it was never what I really wanted to do. Now I have the option to change my career, but I’m not sure how to go about it.” I applaud this risk taking behavior because it could mean an overall increase in life satisfaction. However, be careful when taking risks because if it impacts basic needs of food, shelter, and safety then it could increase the chances of losing self-respect and even depression.

    Dealing with the Aftermath

    There are many ways to productively and positively handle the loss of a job. I’ve actually posted a number of blogs through my career services office that discusses coping with job loss. These contain some good tips about how to mentally prepare for the road ahead, not allow your current situation to have a negative impact on finding a new job, and even some additional job seeking strategies. It’s time to be more conscious of yourself which means taking time out to daily reflect on the positives in your life, recreate with friends, keep a journal, or whatever method works for you. Times of turmoil call for a deeper intuition of self and a recognition of needs. Even as counselors we are reminded that the number one person to care for is you, because if you’re not healthy in mind, body, and spirit then it reduces our effectiveness to help others. So take time to renew and balance your life because that is the core to an effective personal and work life!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/feed/ 0     Independent Job Search – A Thing of the Past http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/ http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/#comments Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:03:17 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6629
  • Levaquin 750mg
  • Maximize your career center experience
  • Authenticity and the Job Search
    • ]]>     Use of Career Services Linked to Job Offers. Although I’ve been on the same soap box for three years, it’s nice to read about quantitative data supporting my and every other career counselor’s claim. The article continues to state that there is a positive correlation between the number of visits to a career center and the likelihood of job offers.

    Roadblocks & Recoveries

    Although NACE encourages the use of career centers, it also reported that about 29% of recent job offers were to people who never used the services of a career center. So, it is possible to obtain a job without help, but less likely. With all this supporting evidence, why would anyone not seek help? College can be very busy, especially if you’re balancing a job, extracurricular activities, and family life along with it. Some students may not have much time to visit a career center. Well good news, most career centers have drop-in hours so almost anyone can squeeze in time for a resume critique or job searching assistance. Remember a professional job search will usually take at least 6 months before an offer is given, and during that time the job search process should be seen as a full time job. Many students go through college not knowing about the career center and its services. This dilemma is a little harder to find a solution. I would hope that all faculty members are telling students about the services on campus and even students can share their good experiences, but that doesn’t mean that everyone listens or is aware that it’s something he/she might need. Here’s some more good news, most career centers offer services to their alumni for free or for a low fee. It would be better to have used the services while you’re in school because it’s free for current students, but know that it’s never too late to seek assistance. Sometimes it’s hard to ask for help. Asking for help means that we have to put our pride aside and admit that we may not be good at writing resumes, interviewing, or networking. Let’s look at it this way, if you’ve never been trained in any of these skills, then how are you expected to be successful with them? Think of a visit to the career center as training for the job search. They teach you how to write a technical resume, coach you on what to say to employers and how choosing the right words makes all the difference. Most career centers even offer opportunities to put these skills into practice, like at job fairs and networking events.

    Lesson Learned

    It happens to the best of us. We all stumble, fail, lose, or wish we had a do over for various times in our lives. Even I didn’t realize how little I knew about resumes until I visited my college’s career center. It was amazing the difference between my original resume and the updated resume after my appointment with a career counselor. Not only did it look more professional, but I also received more phone calls from employers with the new resume (during my last job search). Lesson learned: Don’t be afraid to seek out a little help, because you can’t do it all by yourself!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter. ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/feed/ 0     When Stressed: Don’t Procrastinate, Take a Break http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:08:30 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6961
  • Diversity Career Resources: Part 1
  • Web Tools to Use for Career Exploration
  • Career and Branding Advice I’m Liking Lately
    • ]]>     The Black Collegian, provides information on career resources for black college students. Job search strategies, graduate school opportunities, career and industry reports are abundantly explored. This site is the cyberspace partner of The Black Collegian magazine, serving the career and self-development interests of African American collegians throughout America since 1970. The second one, Black Career Women, is an organization founded in 1977 and serves as a nucleus of support to identify and address the critical needs of black women in the workforce as it relates to their career mobility and achievement. Here are some key elements of the websites.

    The Black Collegian

    • Employer Profiles – Read about featured employers plus a total of 17 employer profiles “that support diversity and actively recruit on college campuses nationwide.”
    • The Diversity Registry – Connect to DiversityRegistry.com and research companies with “active diversity programs."
    • Job Tools & Career Center – Search for jobs within The Black Collegian’s database, get career advice and tips on internships.
    • Study & Campus Section– Learn about graduate studies, working and studying abroad, scholarships and grants, and more.
    • Extracurricular Section– Additional information just for fun, like music, poetry, and films.

    Black Career Women

    • Career Coaches – Get expert advice on your career path.
    • Careers Section – Read articles and advice on assessments, career exploration, decision making, job searching, and negotiations like salary.
    • Join the Organization – Provides you discounts on programs, free access to Virtual Career Workshop, members only career content, and more.
    • Useful Websites – Lists additional websites that can help with your career development, like Black Career Zone and Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
    There are many other great career resources out there for African Americans. Check out some of these additional handouts and websites.

    Author:

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/feed/ 2     Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel » Grad School http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:53:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Yes, You Need Business Cards Too http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/ http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/#comments Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:49:12 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=7031
  • Ten Easy Tips for Networking Your Way into a Job
  • Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event
  • 750 Mg Levaquin
    • ]]>     Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event. College is full of opportunities to meet new people, get into interesting conversations or discover new passions. The contacts that you make may seem random and not applicable to the professional world waiting outside college, yet you never know which one of the people you meet may become your future mentor, your best friend, or your future employer.

    I'm a student. Why do I need business cards?

    Student life does not ordinarily revolve around business cards. But it is important to start building your personal brand already during your university years. Doing so will get you ahead of the majority of your classmates and will serve you well when the time comes to start applying for that first job. Having business cards on hand will help when... ... you suddenly meet an employee of a company you'd like to work or intern for ... you want to differentiate yourself at a careers' fair ... a recruiter asks for your contact information ... you want to seem professional ... you receive someone's card and they ask for yours as well ... you're talking to someone who has your dream job and you want to be able to follow up and get some more tips on how to get where they are

    What should I put on my card?

    As a student, your cards will not be company-branded. This gives you the freedom to include what you think is appropriate, such as:
    • your full name
    • the name of your university, your major and expected year of graduation
    • your contact address
    • email address, telephone number
    • blog url or links to social media profiles (such as LinkedIn)
    • your skills or most impressive experience
    • the industry you'd like to enter or a short byline describing what sort of opportunities you're looking for

    How can I get my cards?

    The easiest way to get your cards printed is to do it online. Vistaprint offers templates for easy design or, my favourite, Moo cards will let you print each card with a different design/photo on the back side. You can thus customise every single card and use your stack as a portfolio. For even more impact, consider using the back of your card to showcase your portrait, photos that you have taken, your designs or ideas, pictures of what you've built/constructed, projects you've been involved with, etc. Start building your personal brand now with business cards that reflect who you are and where you want to go. Have you used business cards as a student before? Tell us about your experience in the comments.

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/feed/ 0     Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/ http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=6971
  • Don’t Let Shyness Derail Networking Opportunities
  • Networking Tips: A Step-By-Step Guide
  • Your Brand is Only as Effective as Your Follow-up
    • ]]>     Take advantage of all events These are not "networking events" designed to help you in professional life. No one will be waving a business card in your face and often they will feel very casual. Yet many students miss an important point: these events are as valuable as any intentionally networking event can be. They help you meet new people or catch up with someone you haven't talked to in a while and they do so whilst giving you some common ground and a starting point for conversation. Yet just meeting someone and then never talking to them again is not useful in itself. You want to be able to keep in touch with the people you meet, to share ideas and maybe build a longer-lasting relationship. How do you do that?

    Here are 5 things to do immediately after an event:

    1. Add the people you met on Facebook and/or LinkedIn This is especially useful if you don't have their email address as both these networks let you search by name. Plus it gives you opportunity to contact them even if they graduate, change jobs or move to a different city as their profile on these networks will simply incorporate such changes. Tip: Create a list called "Professional" on Facebook and customise what contacts in this list can see from your Facebook profile.

    2. Send a "nice to meet you" message

    Do this right away, or the next day, but don't wait too long. This is an opportunity to remind them about the recent meeting and a chance to "re-introduce" yourself whilst the meeting is still in their fresh memory and they remember who you are. Tip: Include a link to your blog or profiles online so that they can find out more about you.

    3. Include something personalized

    Was there something from your conversation that you can comment on? Did they maybe mention an upcoming job interview that you could wish them good luck for? Or a recent success that you can congratulate them on? If you promised to do something during your conversation, be sure to deliver. For example: "Hi Joe, It was great to meet you yesterday. Hope the job interview goes well next week and here's a link to the article I mentioned in our conversation..."

    4. Jot down important points from your conversation

    While the conversation is fresh in your mind, jot down any important information or facts that you may need in a follow-up. This could include the topics that you talked about, the name of the school they go to or what clubs they are involved in, any names of friends or relatives or events they mentioned. This will allow you to be topical and to refer to specifics in your next conversation. We all like to feel special when we notice someone took the effort to remember bits of information about us.

    5. Set yourself a follow-up reminder

    Use your calendar or to-do list and set up a reminder for a week/a month or whatever is appropriate in the future when you will get in touch again and see if there's anything you could do for them. Get in the habit of doing these and you'll set yourself up for some great relationships. What do you do to take advantage of various events? Do you have any tips to add?

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/feed/ 0     Diversity Career Resources: African American http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:08:30 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6961
  • Diversity Career Resources: Part 1
  • Web Tools to Use for Career Exploration
  • Career and Branding Advice I’m Liking Lately
    • ]]>     The Black Collegian, provides information on career resources for black college students. Job search strategies, graduate school opportunities, career and industry reports are abundantly explored. This site is the cyberspace partner of The Black Collegian magazine, serving the career and self-development interests of African American collegians throughout America since 1970. The second one, Black Career Women, is an organization founded in 1977 and serves as a nucleus of support to identify and address the critical needs of black women in the workforce as it relates to their career mobility and achievement. Here are some key elements of the websites.

    The Black Collegian

    • Employer Profiles – Read about featured employers plus a total of 17 employer profiles “that support diversity and actively recruit on college campuses nationwide.”
    • The Diversity Registry – Connect to DiversityRegistry.com and research companies with “active diversity programs."
    • Job Tools & Career Center – Search for jobs within The Black Collegian’s database, get career advice and tips on internships.
    • Study & Campus Section– Learn about graduate studies, working and studying abroad, scholarships and grants, and more.
    • Extracurricular Section– Additional information just for fun, like music, poetry, and films.

    Black Career Women

    • Career Coaches – Get expert advice on your career path.
    • Careers Section – Read articles and advice on assessments, career exploration, decision making, job searching, and negotiations like salary.
    • Join the Organization – Provides you discounts on programs, free access to Virtual Career Workshop, members only career content, and more.
    • Useful Websites – Lists additional websites that can help with your career development, like Black Career Zone and Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
    There are many other great career resources out there for African Americans. Check out some of these additional handouts and websites.

    Author:

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/feed/ 2     Diversity Career Resources: Part 1 http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:34:48 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6893
  • Diversity Career Resources: African American
  • Twitter From a Novice
  • Maximize your career center experience
    • ]]>     Personal Branding is all about showcasing yourself and marketing your unique characteristics, interests, and skills. The way you identify yourself (woman/man, African American, LGBTQ, etc.) is protected information and employers cannot refuse to hire based upon these personal identities. There has also been research that states a person’s acceptance of self translates into confidence which employers look for in candidates. What I mean is take the time to know yourself, where you come from, and be confident with those unique characteristics that makes you special. There are some great career resources out there for everyone. I’m going to take a few weeks and share with you some very useful and diverse career webpages. I’m starting off with a general site and then will share more specific websites in the upcoming weeks.

    DiversityWorking.com

    DiversityWorking claims to be the “largest diversity job board online.” This may be true, but it doesn’t have postings for every US state. It is still a good resource for a number of reasons.

    Key Elements of the Website

    • Job Board – You can browse and search for jobs in 72 industries. There is also a section entitled Search Agent where you can schedule your own search agent that notifies you via email when a position that you’re interested in becomes available.
    • Resume Posting – Post your resume to the website and allow employers to search for you!
    • Organization – Provides the job seeker with basic information about the various companies that DiversityWorking showcases. They also provide a link to each company’s website which makes it easy for you do additional research.
    • Career Expo – Take part in the Virtual Diversity Career Expo. 10 weeks with a different career industry each week. There are still 5 career expos that will run throughout the end of 2010 calendar year. The only downside to this element is that it costs to attend, but once you pay it is available 24/7 throughout the weeks.

    Additional Resources for the Job Seeker

    • FAQ Section – Good information with resume and interviewing tips. There’s only one criticism I would give with the resume tips. It suggests adding personal information to your resume, but this is not recommended because some personal information, like age, race, marital status etc. is protected information. There’s also some information on what to do if you experienced discrimination and why diversity is so important to companies.
    • Community Channels – Provides job seekers with specific search agents based on ethnic groups and recent news that have impacted the work place.
    • Diversity News – Recent news articles that impact the world of work, especially related to diversity.
    • Newsletter – Sign up for an email newsletter which provides you with the latest job openings, news, events, and more. You can even select to specify your newsletter to how you identify yourself, choices include ethnic, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, military, and more.
    Check out this resource and watch for more website and resource reviews to come in the upcoming weeks.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/feed/ 0     The Worst Things That Have Ever Happened to You http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/ http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:36:34 +0000 Kelly Cuene http://studentbranding.com/?p=6905
  • Before the Interview, Do the Homework!
  • Can You Tell A Good Story?
  • Let Your Inhibitions Be Your Guide
    • ]]>
    • Tell me about a time when you failed.
    • What are your greatest weaknesses?
    • What is the greatest obstacle you've overcome?
    • What is the most difficult decision you have ever had to make?
    These kind of questions can often catch candidates off guard. They might bring up painful, embarrassing and negative experiences. It is challenging to convey what happened without complaining or coming across as overly negative. At the same time, negative experiences or challenges usually provide for lots of growth and learning. They will allow you to demonstrate to an employer how you tackle tough issues and show them you aren't afraid of making mistakes. Nobody wants to hire someone who will run from problems.

    Some tips for handling these types of interview questions:

    • Don't dwell on the negative. State the situation and swiftly move on to how you dealt with the issue.
    • State the facts and avoid interjecting negative opinions about other people (For example,  "my boss was very demanding" is much better than, "my boss was rude and mean")
    • Make sure to discuss the skills you used to overcome a challenge or deal with a problem.
    • Always end on a positive. What did you learn? How did the situation affect future decisions and actions?
    • Prepare in advance. These situations are tough to talk about and usually the questions we dread most. Practice your responses in advance.
    Even if you're not explicitly asked about a challenging situation, discussing those type of situations allows you to demonstrate how you've grown or used your skills in difficult circumstances. What's the most difficult interview question you have ever been asked?

    Author

    Kelly is a career advisor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she assists undergraduate business students with all aspects of their career development. Connect with Kelly on Twitter, her blog, LinkedIn or BrazenCareerist.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/feed/ 0     Don’t be Steven Slater: Quit Your Job Professionally http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/ http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:40:22 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6785
  • Burning Bridges Leaves You as an Island
  • Write a Killer ‘Thank You’ Letter
  • Vermox Without Prescription
    • ]]>     CLICK HERE for a video with CNN reporters interviewing one of the passengers on the plane who witnessed the occurrence. Even though he seems to be turning into a modern folk hero, the way he quit his job is far from recommended. If this is the WRONG way to quit a job, then what’s the right way? How do you quit a job without burning bridges? And, what's so wrong with burning a few bridges if the company and/or supervisor were bad to you?

    Quitting the Job Properly

    Give at least 2 weeks notice, but a month would be preferred. This demonstrates professionalism and courtesy to the company and your boss.

    They will eventually have to replace you and by giving them a heads up, they can initiate a search for your replacement with hopes for only a small gap between you and the new recruit.

    Type a resignation letter. Use professional language and business letter format. Approach your boss with this letter and explain to him/her as to why you're choosing to resign.

    I once heard of a teacher that submitted her resignation letter on a piece of construction paper and written in crayon. You can be assured that she was not given a reference letter upon departure. Sample Resignation Letters.

    Choose your words wisely. When you approach your boss about quitting the job, be sure to give solid reasons for your departure, but keep it positive. If it's a touchy subject, then make sure to discuss it with a trusted friend/family member or a career counselor to adequately prepare. This will help you choose your words properly and leave on a good note.

    Don't Burn Bridges

    1. It's a small world after all. It's amazing who knows who and how much people network and talk within professional industries. If you quit your job unprofessionally, then it's likely your previous boss will talk about it and it may end up affecting your job search.
    2. Get the good reference. Even if you didn't like the job, you can still leave with a good reference from your supervisor or a colleague. Most employers require three references before hiring a new employee.
    3. Make it easy on yourself. If you leave in a professional manner, then it's a lot easier to interview with a new employer. A common question used in interviews is, "Why did you leave your previous job?" It will reflect better on you if you can answer positively than figure out how to spin it, or risk lying. The company you're interviewing with can call your previous employer and inquire whether or not they would consider hiring you back, and a positive response will increase your chances for hire.
    There are some additional suggestions at BEST-JOB-INTERVIEW.com, including offering to train your replacement, be productive until the last day and tie up any loose ends, and more specific information on writing the resignation letter.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/feed/ 0     Want To Forget Important Things? Don’t Take Notes. http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/ http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/#comments Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:44:29 +0000 Lori Bielek http://studentbranding.com/?p=6690
  • Suprax Generic
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    • ]]>     take good notes inside the classroom.  However, taking notes outside of class can be just as important.  I have found that the tips and tools I learned about from individuals outside the classroom have been the most influential to my personal and professional success.

    Why should I take notes?

    You are not going to remember everything you hear.  Believe me.  The Dartmouth College Academic Skills Center states that,  "Humans are poor listeners. Research shows that individuals can only recall 50% of what they hear and that 20-30% is incorrect!" There have been many times that I wished I had written things down.  If you don't jot down things when you hear them, you have missed your chance of having the most accurate record.

    When should I take notes?

    Here are some examples of when you should take notes:
    • When researching what college or graduate school to attend
    • When reading advice articles or attending personal development and career workshops
    • When learning new things at your job or internship
    • During your student organization meetings
    • When asking for help, particularly regarding anything technical or computer-related

    Fun tools for note-taking

    I have been able to quickly learn new technologies largely because I have taken notes and saved important information.  When I want to learn new software products or social media tools, I try to seek out free classes or online resources for assistance. To help me keep track, I have found better note-taking tools than pencil and paper or opening a Word document on my PC. My favorite note-taking tool is Evernote.  This is a free application that allows you to take notes through a web browser on any computer, through an app on your Mac or PC, or with a smart phone. Evernote will index all your notes so they are fully searchable. This tool is particularly useful if you don't have your laptop with you and you want to remember something. Another way I have learned to remember important things that I find online is to save the web pages.  Conventional bookmarking on your computer browser can get messy and is only helpful if you have your computer with you.  One useful tool for organizing your bookmarks is the free web app, Delicious. Once you save your bookmarks in Delicious, they are accessible from any computer and many mobile devices.  You can easily tag your Delicious bookmarks so they are arranged by topic. In addition, you can share bookmarks or search other people's bookmarks.
    Tip: Using the Delicious add-on in Firefox makes it really easy to save and retrieve your cataloged bookmarks
    I tend to use the Delicious app for web pages I want to refer to regularly.  I use another tool for when I want to save articles to read just once. For all of you folks (like me) who love to read various tweets, articles and blogs online, but don't always have time at the moment to read the full article, Read It Later will be your new best friend. This web app (also available on smartphones) saves web articles so you can easily access them later. I typically will use Read It Later for saving articles I find on Twitter or through RSS feeds.  Once I have time, I read through the saved articles and delete them as I go.  The Read It Later browser add-on is also a must-have.
    Tip: It would be handy to have Evernote open while you are reading your saved articles, so you can write down any important things you may have learned.

    Note-taking leads to success

    I learned about all of the above apps from classmates or friends.  If I hadn't written down the names of the tools, I would not have remembered to follow-up and make an account. You don't have to be a genius or attend the highest-ranked school to be knowledgeable and successful.  You just have to make the best of what you have -- be a good listener and take good notes, even when you are outside the classroom.

    Author:

    Lori Bielek is the Marketing and Technology Coordinator at University of Delaware’s (UD) Career Services Center where she advises students in the arts and sciences through all steps of their career development.  You can connect with Lori through LinkedIn, Twitter, or the UD Career Services Twitter account (@UDcareers).]]>     http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/feed/ 0     Unemployment Impacts More than Your Wallet http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/ http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/#comments Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:00:12 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6671
  • A Career Counselor’s Spring Break Abroad
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    • ]]>     Bureau of Labor Statistics. They also stated that the median time a person has spent in unemployment is 25.5 weeks, about 6 months. Six months is the time we recommend any job seeker to devote to the job search process. This provides a little relief to know that this average hasn’t changed much considering this recession is about twice as bad as in the 1980s. Even though the job seeking timeline and median unemployment rate matches, the psychological affects have climbed.

    The Snowball Effect

    It doesn’t help that the media continues to report on how bad the unemployment trends are within our economy. Just yesterday I received a phone call from a media representative who wanted to do a story on the fact that the unemployment rates haven’t changed and how that impacts my job as a career counselor and the job seekers. Honestly, what impacts the job seekers outlook most is this developed sense of hopelessness. Even though we’re able to still hold job fairs with local employers looking to fill 50-100+ jobs, the number of seekers attending the fairs has decreased since the start of the recession in 2007. This sense of hopelessness with the job market snowballs and as it increases it also impacts additional areas of a person’s life. The Pew Research Center published recent findings that unemployment not only affects finances, but also relations with family and friends and a loss of self-respect. It's interesting that the time we need our family and friends the most is also the time we tend to cause strain on the relationships, or just ignore them completely. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? This is a time to strengthen relationships and really use them to their full potential. All those years of being there for your friends and family should have some residual effect when it’s your turn to need help. Like I’ve said in some previous posts, no person is an island and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. Self-respect is probably the most critical area that’s impacted by unemployment. If you lose self-respect then you’re decreasing your networking effectiveness, chances to be hired, and overall productiveness of the job search. In essence a loss of self-respect could spiral people into depression. Employers want to hire candidates with confidence and competence to do the job well, and if your self-respect has lowered then it’s likely your confidence and ability to market yourself in a job interview has also decreased. If you’re not sure about your level of self-respect then ask yourself how often you use negative language, like “I can’t…,” “This will never…,” or “No one will help me.”

    A Positive Effect

    There has been one potential positive effect from the recent unemployment, a reassessment of career goals. The forced change of losing a job can lead to a reevaluation of career goals, interests, and overall job and life satisfaction. More and more people are seeking out professional development opportunities and training options to increase their marketability. An even bigger trend, which I’ve seen through counseling appointments, is an interest in returning to school and changing career directions completely. I’ve heard more people state things like “for the past 20 years I’ve worked to support myself (and my family) but it was never what I really wanted to do. Now I have the option to change my career, but I’m not sure how to go about it.” I applaud this risk taking behavior because it could mean an overall increase in life satisfaction. However, be careful when taking risks because if it impacts basic needs of food, shelter, and safety then it could increase the chances of losing self-respect and even depression.

    Dealing with the Aftermath

    There are many ways to productively and positively handle the loss of a job. I’ve actually posted a number of blogs through my career services office that discusses coping with job loss. These contain some good tips about how to mentally prepare for the road ahead, not allow your current situation to have a negative impact on finding a new job, and even some additional job seeking strategies. It’s time to be more conscious of yourself which means taking time out to daily reflect on the positives in your life, recreate with friends, keep a journal, or whatever method works for you. Times of turmoil call for a deeper intuition of self and a recognition of needs. Even as counselors we are reminded that the number one person to care for is you, because if you’re not healthy in mind, body, and spirit then it reduces our effectiveness to help others. So take time to renew and balance your life because that is the core to an effective personal and work life!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/feed/ 0     Independent Job Search – A Thing of the Past http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/ http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/#comments Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:03:17 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6629
  • Levaquin 750mg
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    • ]]>     Use of Career Services Linked to Job Offers. Although I’ve been on the same soap box for three years, it’s nice to read about quantitative data supporting my and every other career counselor’s claim. The article continues to state that there is a positive correlation between the number of visits to a career center and the likelihood of job offers.

    Roadblocks & Recoveries

    Although NACE encourages the use of career centers, it also reported that about 29% of recent job offers were to people who never used the services of a career center. So, it is possible to obtain a job without help, but less likely. With all this supporting evidence, why would anyone not seek help? College can be very busy, especially if you’re balancing a job, extracurricular activities, and family life along with it. Some students may not have much time to visit a career center. Well good news, most career centers have drop-in hours so almost anyone can squeeze in time for a resume critique or job searching assistance. Remember a professional job search will usually take at least 6 months before an offer is given, and during that time the job search process should be seen as a full time job. Many students go through college not knowing about the career center and its services. This dilemma is a little harder to find a solution. I would hope that all faculty members are telling students about the services on campus and even students can share their good experiences, but that doesn’t mean that everyone listens or is aware that it’s something he/she might need. Here’s some more good news, most career centers offer services to their alumni for free or for a low fee. It would be better to have used the services while you’re in school because it’s free for current students, but know that it’s never too late to seek assistance. Sometimes it’s hard to ask for help. Asking for help means that we have to put our pride aside and admit that we may not be good at writing resumes, interviewing, or networking. Let’s look at it this way, if you’ve never been trained in any of these skills, then how are you expected to be successful with them? Think of a visit to the career center as training for the job search. They teach you how to write a technical resume, coach you on what to say to employers and how choosing the right words makes all the difference. Most career centers even offer opportunities to put these skills into practice, like at job fairs and networking events.

    Lesson Learned

    It happens to the best of us. We all stumble, fail, lose, or wish we had a do over for various times in our lives. Even I didn’t realize how little I knew about resumes until I visited my college’s career center. It was amazing the difference between my original resume and the updated resume after my appointment with a career counselor. Not only did it look more professional, but I also received more phone calls from employers with the new resume (during my last job search). Lesson learned: Don’t be afraid to seek out a little help, because you can’t do it all by yourself!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter. ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/feed/ 0     When Stressed: Don’t Procrastinate, Take a Break http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:34:48 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6893
  • Diversity Career Resources: African American
  • Twitter From a Novice
  • Maximize your career center experience
    • ]]>     Personal Branding is all about showcasing yourself and marketing your unique characteristics, interests, and skills. The way you identify yourself (woman/man, African American, LGBTQ, etc.) is protected information and employers cannot refuse to hire based upon these personal identities. There has also been research that states a person’s acceptance of self translates into confidence which employers look for in candidates. What I mean is take the time to know yourself, where you come from, and be confident with those unique characteristics that makes you special. There are some great career resources out there for everyone. I’m going to take a few weeks and share with you some very useful and diverse career webpages. I’m starting off with a general site and then will share more specific websites in the upcoming weeks.

    DiversityWorking.com

    DiversityWorking claims to be the “largest diversity job board online.” This may be true, but it doesn’t have postings for every US state. It is still a good resource for a number of reasons.

    Key Elements of the Website

    • Job Board – You can browse and search for jobs in 72 industries. There is also a section entitled Search Agent where you can schedule your own search agent that notifies you via email when a position that you’re interested in becomes available.
    • Resume Posting – Post your resume to the website and allow employers to search for you!
    • Organization – Provides the job seeker with basic information about the various companies that DiversityWorking showcases. They also provide a link to each company’s website which makes it easy for you do additional research.
    • Career Expo – Take part in the Virtual Diversity Career Expo. 10 weeks with a different career industry each week. There are still 5 career expos that will run throughout the end of 2010 calendar year. The only downside to this element is that it costs to attend, but once you pay it is available 24/7 throughout the weeks.

    Additional Resources for the Job Seeker

    • FAQ Section – Good information with resume and interviewing tips. There’s only one criticism I would give with the resume tips. It suggests adding personal information to your resume, but this is not recommended because some personal information, like age, race, marital status etc. is protected information. There’s also some information on what to do if you experienced discrimination and why diversity is so important to companies.
    • Community Channels – Provides job seekers with specific search agents based on ethnic groups and recent news that have impacted the work place.
    • Diversity News – Recent news articles that impact the world of work, especially related to diversity.
    • Newsletter – Sign up for an email newsletter which provides you with the latest job openings, news, events, and more. You can even select to specify your newsletter to how you identify yourself, choices include ethnic, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, military, and more.
    Check out this resource and watch for more website and resource reviews to come in the upcoming weeks.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/feed/ 0     Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel » Grad School http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:53:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Yes, You Need Business Cards Too http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/ http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/#comments Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:49:12 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=7031
  • Ten Easy Tips for Networking Your Way into a Job
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    • ]]>     Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event. College is full of opportunities to meet new people, get into interesting conversations or discover new passions. The contacts that you make may seem random and not applicable to the professional world waiting outside college, yet you never know which one of the people you meet may become your future mentor, your best friend, or your future employer.

    I'm a student. Why do I need business cards?

    Student life does not ordinarily revolve around business cards. But it is important to start building your personal brand already during your university years. Doing so will get you ahead of the majority of your classmates and will serve you well when the time comes to start applying for that first job. Having business cards on hand will help when... ... you suddenly meet an employee of a company you'd like to work or intern for ... you want to differentiate yourself at a careers' fair ... a recruiter asks for your contact information ... you want to seem professional ... you receive someone's card and they ask for yours as well ... you're talking to someone who has your dream job and you want to be able to follow up and get some more tips on how to get where they are

    What should I put on my card?

    As a student, your cards will not be company-branded. This gives you the freedom to include what you think is appropriate, such as:
    • your full name
    • the name of your university, your major and expected year of graduation
    • your contact address
    • email address, telephone number
    • blog url or links to social media profiles (such as LinkedIn)
    • your skills or most impressive experience
    • the industry you'd like to enter or a short byline describing what sort of opportunities you're looking for

    How can I get my cards?

    The easiest way to get your cards printed is to do it online. Vistaprint offers templates for easy design or, my favourite, Moo cards will let you print each card with a different design/photo on the back side. You can thus customise every single card and use your stack as a portfolio. For even more impact, consider using the back of your card to showcase your portrait, photos that you have taken, your designs or ideas, pictures of what you've built/constructed, projects you've been involved with, etc. Start building your personal brand now with business cards that reflect who you are and where you want to go. Have you used business cards as a student before? Tell us about your experience in the comments.

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/feed/ 0     Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/ http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=6971
  • Don’t Let Shyness Derail Networking Opportunities
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  • Your Brand is Only as Effective as Your Follow-up
    • ]]>     Take advantage of all events These are not "networking events" designed to help you in professional life. No one will be waving a business card in your face and often they will feel very casual. Yet many students miss an important point: these events are as valuable as any intentionally networking event can be. They help you meet new people or catch up with someone you haven't talked to in a while and they do so whilst giving you some common ground and a starting point for conversation. Yet just meeting someone and then never talking to them again is not useful in itself. You want to be able to keep in touch with the people you meet, to share ideas and maybe build a longer-lasting relationship. How do you do that?

    Here are 5 things to do immediately after an event:

    1. Add the people you met on Facebook and/or LinkedIn This is especially useful if you don't have their email address as both these networks let you search by name. Plus it gives you opportunity to contact them even if they graduate, change jobs or move to a different city as their profile on these networks will simply incorporate such changes. Tip: Create a list called "Professional" on Facebook and customise what contacts in this list can see from your Facebook profile.

    2. Send a "nice to meet you" message

    Do this right away, or the next day, but don't wait too long. This is an opportunity to remind them about the recent meeting and a chance to "re-introduce" yourself whilst the meeting is still in their fresh memory and they remember who you are. Tip: Include a link to your blog or profiles online so that they can find out more about you.

    3. Include something personalized

    Was there something from your conversation that you can comment on? Did they maybe mention an upcoming job interview that you could wish them good luck for? Or a recent success that you can congratulate them on? If you promised to do something during your conversation, be sure to deliver. For example: "Hi Joe, It was great to meet you yesterday. Hope the job interview goes well next week and here's a link to the article I mentioned in our conversation..."

    4. Jot down important points from your conversation

    While the conversation is fresh in your mind, jot down any important information or facts that you may need in a follow-up. This could include the topics that you talked about, the name of the school they go to or what clubs they are involved in, any names of friends or relatives or events they mentioned. This will allow you to be topical and to refer to specifics in your next conversation. We all like to feel special when we notice someone took the effort to remember bits of information about us.

    5. Set yourself a follow-up reminder

    Use your calendar or to-do list and set up a reminder for a week/a month or whatever is appropriate in the future when you will get in touch again and see if there's anything you could do for them. Get in the habit of doing these and you'll set yourself up for some great relationships. What do you do to take advantage of various events? Do you have any tips to add?

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/feed/ 0     Diversity Career Resources: African American http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:08:30 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6961
  • Diversity Career Resources: Part 1
  • Web Tools to Use for Career Exploration
  • Career and Branding Advice I’m Liking Lately
    • ]]>     The Black Collegian, provides information on career resources for black college students. Job search strategies, graduate school opportunities, career and industry reports are abundantly explored. This site is the cyberspace partner of The Black Collegian magazine, serving the career and self-development interests of African American collegians throughout America since 1970. The second one, Black Career Women, is an organization founded in 1977 and serves as a nucleus of support to identify and address the critical needs of black women in the workforce as it relates to their career mobility and achievement. Here are some key elements of the websites.

    The Black Collegian

    • Employer Profiles – Read about featured employers plus a total of 17 employer profiles “that support diversity and actively recruit on college campuses nationwide.”
    • The Diversity Registry – Connect to DiversityRegistry.com and research companies with “active diversity programs."
    • Job Tools & Career Center – Search for jobs within The Black Collegian’s database, get career advice and tips on internships.
    • Study & Campus Section– Learn about graduate studies, working and studying abroad, scholarships and grants, and more.
    • Extracurricular Section– Additional information just for fun, like music, poetry, and films.

    Black Career Women

    • Career Coaches – Get expert advice on your career path.
    • Careers Section – Read articles and advice on assessments, career exploration, decision making, job searching, and negotiations like salary.
    • Join the Organization – Provides you discounts on programs, free access to Virtual Career Workshop, members only career content, and more.
    • Useful Websites – Lists additional websites that can help with your career development, like Black Career Zone and Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
    There are many other great career resources out there for African Americans. Check out some of these additional handouts and websites.

    Author:

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/feed/ 2     Diversity Career Resources: Part 1 http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:34:48 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6893
  • Diversity Career Resources: African American
  • Twitter From a Novice
  • Maximize your career center experience
    • ]]>     Personal Branding is all about showcasing yourself and marketing your unique characteristics, interests, and skills. The way you identify yourself (woman/man, African American, LGBTQ, etc.) is protected information and employers cannot refuse to hire based upon these personal identities. There has also been research that states a person’s acceptance of self translates into confidence which employers look for in candidates. What I mean is take the time to know yourself, where you come from, and be confident with those unique characteristics that makes you special. There are some great career resources out there for everyone. I’m going to take a few weeks and share with you some very useful and diverse career webpages. I’m starting off with a general site and then will share more specific websites in the upcoming weeks.

    DiversityWorking.com

    DiversityWorking claims to be the “largest diversity job board online.” This may be true, but it doesn’t have postings for every US state. It is still a good resource for a number of reasons.

    Key Elements of the Website

    • Job Board – You can browse and search for jobs in 72 industries. There is also a section entitled Search Agent where you can schedule your own search agent that notifies you via email when a position that you’re interested in becomes available.
    • Resume Posting – Post your resume to the website and allow employers to search for you!
    • Organization – Provides the job seeker with basic information about the various companies that DiversityWorking showcases. They also provide a link to each company’s website which makes it easy for you do additional research.
    • Career Expo – Take part in the Virtual Diversity Career Expo. 10 weeks with a different career industry each week. There are still 5 career expos that will run throughout the end of 2010 calendar year. The only downside to this element is that it costs to attend, but once you pay it is available 24/7 throughout the weeks.

    Additional Resources for the Job Seeker

    • FAQ Section – Good information with resume and interviewing tips. There’s only one criticism I would give with the resume tips. It suggests adding personal information to your resume, but this is not recommended because some personal information, like age, race, marital status etc. is protected information. There’s also some information on what to do if you experienced discrimination and why diversity is so important to companies.
    • Community Channels – Provides job seekers with specific search agents based on ethnic groups and recent news that have impacted the work place.
    • Diversity News – Recent news articles that impact the world of work, especially related to diversity.
    • Newsletter – Sign up for an email newsletter which provides you with the latest job openings, news, events, and more. You can even select to specify your newsletter to how you identify yourself, choices include ethnic, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, military, and more.
    Check out this resource and watch for more website and resource reviews to come in the upcoming weeks.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/feed/ 0     The Worst Things That Have Ever Happened to You http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/ http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:36:34 +0000 Kelly Cuene http://studentbranding.com/?p=6905
  • Before the Interview, Do the Homework!
  • Can You Tell A Good Story?
  • Let Your Inhibitions Be Your Guide
    • ]]>
    • Tell me about a time when you failed.
    • What are your greatest weaknesses?
    • What is the greatest obstacle you've overcome?
    • What is the most difficult decision you have ever had to make?
    These kind of questions can often catch candidates off guard. They might bring up painful, embarrassing and negative experiences. It is challenging to convey what happened without complaining or coming across as overly negative. At the same time, negative experiences or challenges usually provide for lots of growth and learning. They will allow you to demonstrate to an employer how you tackle tough issues and show them you aren't afraid of making mistakes. Nobody wants to hire someone who will run from problems.

    Some tips for handling these types of interview questions:

    • Don't dwell on the negative. State the situation and swiftly move on to how you dealt with the issue.
    • State the facts and avoid interjecting negative opinions about other people (For example,  "my boss was very demanding" is much better than, "my boss was rude and mean")
    • Make sure to discuss the skills you used to overcome a challenge or deal with a problem.
    • Always end on a positive. What did you learn? How did the situation affect future decisions and actions?
    • Prepare in advance. These situations are tough to talk about and usually the questions we dread most. Practice your responses in advance.
    Even if you're not explicitly asked about a challenging situation, discussing those type of situations allows you to demonstrate how you've grown or used your skills in difficult circumstances. What's the most difficult interview question you have ever been asked?

    Author

    Kelly is a career advisor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she assists undergraduate business students with all aspects of their career development. Connect with Kelly on Twitter, her blog, LinkedIn or BrazenCareerist.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/feed/ 0     Don’t be Steven Slater: Quit Your Job Professionally http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/ http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:40:22 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6785
  • Burning Bridges Leaves You as an Island
  • Write a Killer ‘Thank You’ Letter
  • Vermox Without Prescription
    • ]]>     CLICK HERE for a video with CNN reporters interviewing one of the passengers on the plane who witnessed the occurrence. Even though he seems to be turning into a modern folk hero, the way he quit his job is far from recommended. If this is the WRONG way to quit a job, then what’s the right way? How do you quit a job without burning bridges? And, what's so wrong with burning a few bridges if the company and/or supervisor were bad to you?

    Quitting the Job Properly

    Give at least 2 weeks notice, but a month would be preferred. This demonstrates professionalism and courtesy to the company and your boss.

    They will eventually have to replace you and by giving them a heads up, they can initiate a search for your replacement with hopes for only a small gap between you and the new recruit.

    Type a resignation letter. Use professional language and business letter format. Approach your boss with this letter and explain to him/her as to why you're choosing to resign.

    I once heard of a teacher that submitted her resignation letter on a piece of construction paper and written in crayon. You can be assured that she was not given a reference letter upon departure. Sample Resignation Letters.

    Choose your words wisely. When you approach your boss about quitting the job, be sure to give solid reasons for your departure, but keep it positive. If it's a touchy subject, then make sure to discuss it with a trusted friend/family member or a career counselor to adequately prepare. This will help you choose your words properly and leave on a good note.

    Don't Burn Bridges

    1. It's a small world after all. It's amazing who knows who and how much people network and talk within professional industries. If you quit your job unprofessionally, then it's likely your previous boss will talk about it and it may end up affecting your job search.
    2. Get the good reference. Even if you didn't like the job, you can still leave with a good reference from your supervisor or a colleague. Most employers require three references before hiring a new employee.
    3. Make it easy on yourself. If you leave in a professional manner, then it's a lot easier to interview with a new employer. A common question used in interviews is, "Why did you leave your previous job?" It will reflect better on you if you can answer positively than figure out how to spin it, or risk lying. The company you're interviewing with can call your previous employer and inquire whether or not they would consider hiring you back, and a positive response will increase your chances for hire.
    There are some additional suggestions at BEST-JOB-INTERVIEW.com, including offering to train your replacement, be productive until the last day and tie up any loose ends, and more specific information on writing the resignation letter.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/feed/ 0     Want To Forget Important Things? Don’t Take Notes. http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/ http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/#comments Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:44:29 +0000 Lori Bielek http://studentbranding.com/?p=6690
  • Suprax Generic
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    • ]]>     take good notes inside the classroom.  However, taking notes outside of class can be just as important.  I have found that the tips and tools I learned about from individuals outside the classroom have been the most influential to my personal and professional success.

    Why should I take notes?

    You are not going to remember everything you hear.  Believe me.  The Dartmouth College Academic Skills Center states that,  "Humans are poor listeners. Research shows that individuals can only recall 50% of what they hear and that 20-30% is incorrect!" There have been many times that I wished I had written things down.  If you don't jot down things when you hear them, you have missed your chance of having the most accurate record.

    When should I take notes?

    Here are some examples of when you should take notes:
    • When researching what college or graduate school to attend
    • When reading advice articles or attending personal development and career workshops
    • When learning new things at your job or internship
    • During your student organization meetings
    • When asking for help, particularly regarding anything technical or computer-related

    Fun tools for note-taking

    I have been able to quickly learn new technologies largely because I have taken notes and saved important information.  When I want to learn new software products or social media tools, I try to seek out free classes or online resources for assistance. To help me keep track, I have found better note-taking tools than pencil and paper or opening a Word document on my PC. My favorite note-taking tool is Evernote.  This is a free application that allows you to take notes through a web browser on any computer, through an app on your Mac or PC, or with a smart phone. Evernote will index all your notes so they are fully searchable. This tool is particularly useful if you don't have your laptop with you and you want to remember something. Another way I have learned to remember important things that I find online is to save the web pages.  Conventional bookmarking on your computer browser can get messy and is only helpful if you have your computer with you.  One useful tool for organizing your bookmarks is the free web app, Delicious. Once you save your bookmarks in Delicious, they are accessible from any computer and many mobile devices.  You can easily tag your Delicious bookmarks so they are arranged by topic. In addition, you can share bookmarks or search other people's bookmarks.
    Tip: Using the Delicious add-on in Firefox makes it really easy to save and retrieve your cataloged bookmarks
    I tend to use the Delicious app for web pages I want to refer to regularly.  I use another tool for when I want to save articles to read just once. For all of you folks (like me) who love to read various tweets, articles and blogs online, but don't always have time at the moment to read the full article, Read It Later will be your new best friend. This web app (also available on smartphones) saves web articles so you can easily access them later. I typically will use Read It Later for saving articles I find on Twitter or through RSS feeds.  Once I have time, I read through the saved articles and delete them as I go.  The Read It Later browser add-on is also a must-have.
    Tip: It would be handy to have Evernote open while you are reading your saved articles, so you can write down any important things you may have learned.

    Note-taking leads to success

    I learned about all of the above apps from classmates or friends.  If I hadn't written down the names of the tools, I would not have remembered to follow-up and make an account. You don't have to be a genius or attend the highest-ranked school to be knowledgeable and successful.  You just have to make the best of what you have -- be a good listener and take good notes, even when you are outside the classroom.

    Author:

    Lori Bielek is the Marketing and Technology Coordinator at University of Delaware’s (UD) Career Services Center where she advises students in the arts and sciences through all steps of their career development.  You can connect with Lori through LinkedIn, Twitter, or the UD Career Services Twitter account (@UDcareers).]]>     http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/feed/ 0     Unemployment Impacts More than Your Wallet http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/ http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/#comments Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:00:12 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6671
  • A Career Counselor’s Spring Break Abroad
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    • ]]>     Bureau of Labor Statistics. They also stated that the median time a person has spent in unemployment is 25.5 weeks, about 6 months. Six months is the time we recommend any job seeker to devote to the job search process. This provides a little relief to know that this average hasn’t changed much considering this recession is about twice as bad as in the 1980s. Even though the job seeking timeline and median unemployment rate matches, the psychological affects have climbed.

    The Snowball Effect

    It doesn’t help that the media continues to report on how bad the unemployment trends are within our economy. Just yesterday I received a phone call from a media representative who wanted to do a story on the fact that the unemployment rates haven’t changed and how that impacts my job as a career counselor and the job seekers. Honestly, what impacts the job seekers outlook most is this developed sense of hopelessness. Even though we’re able to still hold job fairs with local employers looking to fill 50-100+ jobs, the number of seekers attending the fairs has decreased since the start of the recession in 2007. This sense of hopelessness with the job market snowballs and as it increases it also impacts additional areas of a person’s life. The Pew Research Center published recent findings that unemployment not only affects finances, but also relations with family and friends and a loss of self-respect. It's interesting that the time we need our family and friends the most is also the time we tend to cause strain on the relationships, or just ignore them completely. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? This is a time to strengthen relationships and really use them to their full potential. All those years of being there for your friends and family should have some residual effect when it’s your turn to need help. Like I’ve said in some previous posts, no person is an island and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. Self-respect is probably the most critical area that’s impacted by unemployment. If you lose self-respect then you’re decreasing your networking effectiveness, chances to be hired, and overall productiveness of the job search. In essence a loss of self-respect could spiral people into depression. Employers want to hire candidates with confidence and competence to do the job well, and if your self-respect has lowered then it’s likely your confidence and ability to market yourself in a job interview has also decreased. If you’re not sure about your level of self-respect then ask yourself how often you use negative language, like “I can’t…,” “This will never…,” or “No one will help me.”

    A Positive Effect

    There has been one potential positive effect from the recent unemployment, a reassessment of career goals. The forced change of losing a job can lead to a reevaluation of career goals, interests, and overall job and life satisfaction. More and more people are seeking out professional development opportunities and training options to increase their marketability. An even bigger trend, which I’ve seen through counseling appointments, is an interest in returning to school and changing career directions completely. I’ve heard more people state things like “for the past 20 years I’ve worked to support myself (and my family) but it was never what I really wanted to do. Now I have the option to change my career, but I’m not sure how to go about it.” I applaud this risk taking behavior because it could mean an overall increase in life satisfaction. However, be careful when taking risks because if it impacts basic needs of food, shelter, and safety then it could increase the chances of losing self-respect and even depression.

    Dealing with the Aftermath

    There are many ways to productively and positively handle the loss of a job. I’ve actually posted a number of blogs through my career services office that discusses coping with job loss. These contain some good tips about how to mentally prepare for the road ahead, not allow your current situation to have a negative impact on finding a new job, and even some additional job seeking strategies. It’s time to be more conscious of yourself which means taking time out to daily reflect on the positives in your life, recreate with friends, keep a journal, or whatever method works for you. Times of turmoil call for a deeper intuition of self and a recognition of needs. Even as counselors we are reminded that the number one person to care for is you, because if you’re not healthy in mind, body, and spirit then it reduces our effectiveness to help others. So take time to renew and balance your life because that is the core to an effective personal and work life!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/feed/ 0     Independent Job Search – A Thing of the Past http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/ http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/#comments Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:03:17 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6629
  • Levaquin 750mg
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  • Authenticity and the Job Search
    • ]]>     Use of Career Services Linked to Job Offers. Although I’ve been on the same soap box for three years, it’s nice to read about quantitative data supporting my and every other career counselor’s claim. The article continues to state that there is a positive correlation between the number of visits to a career center and the likelihood of job offers.

    Roadblocks & Recoveries

    Although NACE encourages the use of career centers, it also reported that about 29% of recent job offers were to people who never used the services of a career center. So, it is possible to obtain a job without help, but less likely. With all this supporting evidence, why would anyone not seek help? College can be very busy, especially if you’re balancing a job, extracurricular activities, and family life along with it. Some students may not have much time to visit a career center. Well good news, most career centers have drop-in hours so almost anyone can squeeze in time for a resume critique or job searching assistance. Remember a professional job search will usually take at least 6 months before an offer is given, and during that time the job search process should be seen as a full time job. Many students go through college not knowing about the career center and its services. This dilemma is a little harder to find a solution. I would hope that all faculty members are telling students about the services on campus and even students can share their good experiences, but that doesn’t mean that everyone listens or is aware that it’s something he/she might need. Here’s some more good news, most career centers offer services to their alumni for free or for a low fee. It would be better to have used the services while you’re in school because it’s free for current students, but know that it’s never too late to seek assistance. Sometimes it’s hard to ask for help. Asking for help means that we have to put our pride aside and admit that we may not be good at writing resumes, interviewing, or networking. Let’s look at it this way, if you’ve never been trained in any of these skills, then how are you expected to be successful with them? Think of a visit to the career center as training for the job search. They teach you how to write a technical resume, coach you on what to say to employers and how choosing the right words makes all the difference. Most career centers even offer opportunities to put these skills into practice, like at job fairs and networking events.

    Lesson Learned

    It happens to the best of us. We all stumble, fail, lose, or wish we had a do over for various times in our lives. Even I didn’t realize how little I knew about resumes until I visited my college’s career center. It was amazing the difference between my original resume and the updated resume after my appointment with a career counselor. Not only did it look more professional, but I also received more phone calls from employers with the new resume (during my last job search). Lesson learned: Don’t be afraid to seek out a little help, because you can’t do it all by yourself!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter. ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/feed/ 0     When Stressed: Don’t Procrastinate, Take a Break http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/ http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:36:34 +0000 Kelly Cuene http://studentbranding.com/?p=6905
  • Before the Interview, Do the Homework!
  • Can You Tell A Good Story?
  • Let Your Inhibitions Be Your Guide
    • ]]>
    • Tell me about a time when you failed.
    • What are your greatest weaknesses?
    • What is the greatest obstacle you've overcome?
    • What is the most difficult decision you have ever had to make?
    These kind of questions can often catch candidates off guard. They might bring up painful, embarrassing and negative experiences. It is challenging to convey what happened without complaining or coming across as overly negative. At the same time, negative experiences or challenges usually provide for lots of growth and learning. They will allow you to demonstrate to an employer how you tackle tough issues and show them you aren't afraid of making mistakes. Nobody wants to hire someone who will run from problems.

    Some tips for handling these types of interview questions:

    • Don't dwell on the negative. State the situation and swiftly move on to how you dealt with the issue.
    • State the facts and avoid interjecting negative opinions about other people (For example,  "my boss was very demanding" is much better than, "my boss was rude and mean")
    • Make sure to discuss the skills you used to overcome a challenge or deal with a problem.
    • Always end on a positive. What did you learn? How did the situation affect future decisions and actions?
    • Prepare in advance. These situations are tough to talk about and usually the questions we dread most. Practice your responses in advance.
    Even if you're not explicitly asked about a challenging situation, discussing those type of situations allows you to demonstrate how you've grown or used your skills in difficult circumstances. What's the most difficult interview question you have ever been asked?

    Author

    Kelly is a career advisor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she assists undergraduate business students with all aspects of their career development. Connect with Kelly on Twitter, her blog, LinkedIn or BrazenCareerist.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/feed/ 0     Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel » Grad School http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:53:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Yes, You Need Business Cards Too http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/ http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/#comments Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:49:12 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=7031
  • Ten Easy Tips for Networking Your Way into a Job
  • Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event
  • 750 Mg Levaquin
    • ]]>     Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event. College is full of opportunities to meet new people, get into interesting conversations or discover new passions. The contacts that you make may seem random and not applicable to the professional world waiting outside college, yet you never know which one of the people you meet may become your future mentor, your best friend, or your future employer.

    I'm a student. Why do I need business cards?

    Student life does not ordinarily revolve around business cards. But it is important to start building your personal brand already during your university years. Doing so will get you ahead of the majority of your classmates and will serve you well when the time comes to start applying for that first job. Having business cards on hand will help when... ... you suddenly meet an employee of a company you'd like to work or intern for ... you want to differentiate yourself at a careers' fair ... a recruiter asks for your contact information ... you want to seem professional ... you receive someone's card and they ask for yours as well ... you're talking to someone who has your dream job and you want to be able to follow up and get some more tips on how to get where they are

    What should I put on my card?

    As a student, your cards will not be company-branded. This gives you the freedom to include what you think is appropriate, such as:
    • your full name
    • the name of your university, your major and expected year of graduation
    • your contact address
    • email address, telephone number
    • blog url or links to social media profiles (such as LinkedIn)
    • your skills or most impressive experience
    • the industry you'd like to enter or a short byline describing what sort of opportunities you're looking for

    How can I get my cards?

    The easiest way to get your cards printed is to do it online. Vistaprint offers templates for easy design or, my favourite, Moo cards will let you print each card with a different design/photo on the back side. You can thus customise every single card and use your stack as a portfolio. For even more impact, consider using the back of your card to showcase your portrait, photos that you have taken, your designs or ideas, pictures of what you've built/constructed, projects you've been involved with, etc. Start building your personal brand now with business cards that reflect who you are and where you want to go. Have you used business cards as a student before? Tell us about your experience in the comments.

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/feed/ 0     Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/ http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=6971
  • Don’t Let Shyness Derail Networking Opportunities
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  • Your Brand is Only as Effective as Your Follow-up
    • ]]>     Take advantage of all events These are not "networking events" designed to help you in professional life. No one will be waving a business card in your face and often they will feel very casual. Yet many students miss an important point: these events are as valuable as any intentionally networking event can be. They help you meet new people or catch up with someone you haven't talked to in a while and they do so whilst giving you some common ground and a starting point for conversation. Yet just meeting someone and then never talking to them again is not useful in itself. You want to be able to keep in touch with the people you meet, to share ideas and maybe build a longer-lasting relationship. How do you do that?

    Here are 5 things to do immediately after an event:

    1. Add the people you met on Facebook and/or LinkedIn This is especially useful if you don't have their email address as both these networks let you search by name. Plus it gives you opportunity to contact them even if they graduate, change jobs or move to a different city as their profile on these networks will simply incorporate such changes. Tip: Create a list called "Professional" on Facebook and customise what contacts in this list can see from your Facebook profile.

    2. Send a "nice to meet you" message

    Do this right away, or the next day, but don't wait too long. This is an opportunity to remind them about the recent meeting and a chance to "re-introduce" yourself whilst the meeting is still in their fresh memory and they remember who you are. Tip: Include a link to your blog or profiles online so that they can find out more about you.

    3. Include something personalized

    Was there something from your conversation that you can comment on? Did they maybe mention an upcoming job interview that you could wish them good luck for? Or a recent success that you can congratulate them on? If you promised to do something during your conversation, be sure to deliver. For example: "Hi Joe, It was great to meet you yesterday. Hope the job interview goes well next week and here's a link to the article I mentioned in our conversation..."

    4. Jot down important points from your conversation

    While the conversation is fresh in your mind, jot down any important information or facts that you may need in a follow-up. This could include the topics that you talked about, the name of the school they go to or what clubs they are involved in, any names of friends or relatives or events they mentioned. This will allow you to be topical and to refer to specifics in your next conversation. We all like to feel special when we notice someone took the effort to remember bits of information about us.

    5. Set yourself a follow-up reminder

    Use your calendar or to-do list and set up a reminder for a week/a month or whatever is appropriate in the future when you will get in touch again and see if there's anything you could do for them. Get in the habit of doing these and you'll set yourself up for some great relationships. What do you do to take advantage of various events? Do you have any tips to add?

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/feed/ 0     Diversity Career Resources: African American http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:08:30 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6961
  • Diversity Career Resources: Part 1
  • Web Tools to Use for Career Exploration
  • Career and Branding Advice I’m Liking Lately
    • ]]>     The Black Collegian, provides information on career resources for black college students. Job search strategies, graduate school opportunities, career and industry reports are abundantly explored. This site is the cyberspace partner of The Black Collegian magazine, serving the career and self-development interests of African American collegians throughout America since 1970. The second one, Black Career Women, is an organization founded in 1977 and serves as a nucleus of support to identify and address the critical needs of black women in the workforce as it relates to their career mobility and achievement. Here are some key elements of the websites.

    The Black Collegian

    • Employer Profiles – Read about featured employers plus a total of 17 employer profiles “that support diversity and actively recruit on college campuses nationwide.”
    • The Diversity Registry – Connect to DiversityRegistry.com and research companies with “active diversity programs."
    • Job Tools & Career Center – Search for jobs within The Black Collegian’s database, get career advice and tips on internships.
    • Study & Campus Section– Learn about graduate studies, working and studying abroad, scholarships and grants, and more.
    • Extracurricular Section– Additional information just for fun, like music, poetry, and films.

    Black Career Women

    • Career Coaches – Get expert advice on your career path.
    • Careers Section – Read articles and advice on assessments, career exploration, decision making, job searching, and negotiations like salary.
    • Join the Organization – Provides you discounts on programs, free access to Virtual Career Workshop, members only career content, and more.
    • Useful Websites – Lists additional websites that can help with your career development, like Black Career Zone and Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
    There are many other great career resources out there for African Americans. Check out some of these additional handouts and websites.

    Author:

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/feed/ 2     Diversity Career Resources: Part 1 http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:34:48 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6893
  • Diversity Career Resources: African American
  • Twitter From a Novice
  • Maximize your career center experience
    • ]]>     Personal Branding is all about showcasing yourself and marketing your unique characteristics, interests, and skills. The way you identify yourself (woman/man, African American, LGBTQ, etc.) is protected information and employers cannot refuse to hire based upon these personal identities. There has also been research that states a person’s acceptance of self translates into confidence which employers look for in candidates. What I mean is take the time to know yourself, where you come from, and be confident with those unique characteristics that makes you special. There are some great career resources out there for everyone. I’m going to take a few weeks and share with you some very useful and diverse career webpages. I’m starting off with a general site and then will share more specific websites in the upcoming weeks.

    DiversityWorking.com

    DiversityWorking claims to be the “largest diversity job board online.” This may be true, but it doesn’t have postings for every US state. It is still a good resource for a number of reasons.

    Key Elements of the Website

    • Job Board – You can browse and search for jobs in 72 industries. There is also a section entitled Search Agent where you can schedule your own search agent that notifies you via email when a position that you’re interested in becomes available.
    • Resume Posting – Post your resume to the website and allow employers to search for you!
    • Organization – Provides the job seeker with basic information about the various companies that DiversityWorking showcases. They also provide a link to each company’s website which makes it easy for you do additional research.
    • Career Expo – Take part in the Virtual Diversity Career Expo. 10 weeks with a different career industry each week. There are still 5 career expos that will run throughout the end of 2010 calendar year. The only downside to this element is that it costs to attend, but once you pay it is available 24/7 throughout the weeks.

    Additional Resources for the Job Seeker

    • FAQ Section – Good information with resume and interviewing tips. There’s only one criticism I would give with the resume tips. It suggests adding personal information to your resume, but this is not recommended because some personal information, like age, race, marital status etc. is protected information. There’s also some information on what to do if you experienced discrimination and why diversity is so important to companies.
    • Community Channels – Provides job seekers with specific search agents based on ethnic groups and recent news that have impacted the work place.
    • Diversity News – Recent news articles that impact the world of work, especially related to diversity.
    • Newsletter – Sign up for an email newsletter which provides you with the latest job openings, news, events, and more. You can even select to specify your newsletter to how you identify yourself, choices include ethnic, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, military, and more.
    Check out this resource and watch for more website and resource reviews to come in the upcoming weeks.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/feed/ 0     The Worst Things That Have Ever Happened to You http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/ http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:36:34 +0000 Kelly Cuene http://studentbranding.com/?p=6905
  • Before the Interview, Do the Homework!
  • Can You Tell A Good Story?
  • Let Your Inhibitions Be Your Guide
    • ]]>
    • Tell me about a time when you failed.
    • What are your greatest weaknesses?
    • What is the greatest obstacle you've overcome?
    • What is the most difficult decision you have ever had to make?
    These kind of questions can often catch candidates off guard. They might bring up painful, embarrassing and negative experiences. It is challenging to convey what happened without complaining or coming across as overly negative. At the same time, negative experiences or challenges usually provide for lots of growth and learning. They will allow you to demonstrate to an employer how you tackle tough issues and show them you aren't afraid of making mistakes. Nobody wants to hire someone who will run from problems.

    Some tips for handling these types of interview questions:

    • Don't dwell on the negative. State the situation and swiftly move on to how you dealt with the issue.
    • State the facts and avoid interjecting negative opinions about other people (For example,  "my boss was very demanding" is much better than, "my boss was rude and mean")
    • Make sure to discuss the skills you used to overcome a challenge or deal with a problem.
    • Always end on a positive. What did you learn? How did the situation affect future decisions and actions?
    • Prepare in advance. These situations are tough to talk about and usually the questions we dread most. Practice your responses in advance.
    Even if you're not explicitly asked about a challenging situation, discussing those type of situations allows you to demonstrate how you've grown or used your skills in difficult circumstances. What's the most difficult interview question you have ever been asked?

    Author

    Kelly is a career advisor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she assists undergraduate business students with all aspects of their career development. Connect with Kelly on Twitter, her blog, LinkedIn or BrazenCareerist.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/feed/ 0     Don’t be Steven Slater: Quit Your Job Professionally http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/ http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:40:22 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6785
  • Burning Bridges Leaves You as an Island
  • Write a Killer ‘Thank You’ Letter
  • Vermox Without Prescription
    • ]]>     CLICK HERE for a video with CNN reporters interviewing one of the passengers on the plane who witnessed the occurrence. Even though he seems to be turning into a modern folk hero, the way he quit his job is far from recommended. If this is the WRONG way to quit a job, then what’s the right way? How do you quit a job without burning bridges? And, what's so wrong with burning a few bridges if the company and/or supervisor were bad to you?

    Quitting the Job Properly

    Give at least 2 weeks notice, but a month would be preferred. This demonstrates professionalism and courtesy to the company and your boss.

    They will eventually have to replace you and by giving them a heads up, they can initiate a search for your replacement with hopes for only a small gap between you and the new recruit.

    Type a resignation letter. Use professional language and business letter format. Approach your boss with this letter and explain to him/her as to why you're choosing to resign.

    I once heard of a teacher that submitted her resignation letter on a piece of construction paper and written in crayon. You can be assured that she was not given a reference letter upon departure. Sample Resignation Letters.

    Choose your words wisely. When you approach your boss about quitting the job, be sure to give solid reasons for your departure, but keep it positive. If it's a touchy subject, then make sure to discuss it with a trusted friend/family member or a career counselor to adequately prepare. This will help you choose your words properly and leave on a good note.

    Don't Burn Bridges

    1. It's a small world after all. It's amazing who knows who and how much people network and talk within professional industries. If you quit your job unprofessionally, then it's likely your previous boss will talk about it and it may end up affecting your job search.
    2. Get the good reference. Even if you didn't like the job, you can still leave with a good reference from your supervisor or a colleague. Most employers require three references before hiring a new employee.
    3. Make it easy on yourself. If you leave in a professional manner, then it's a lot easier to interview with a new employer. A common question used in interviews is, "Why did you leave your previous job?" It will reflect better on you if you can answer positively than figure out how to spin it, or risk lying. The company you're interviewing with can call your previous employer and inquire whether or not they would consider hiring you back, and a positive response will increase your chances for hire.
    There are some additional suggestions at BEST-JOB-INTERVIEW.com, including offering to train your replacement, be productive until the last day and tie up any loose ends, and more specific information on writing the resignation letter.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/feed/ 0     Want To Forget Important Things? Don’t Take Notes. http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/ http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/#comments Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:44:29 +0000 Lori Bielek http://studentbranding.com/?p=6690
  • Suprax Generic
  • Job Search: Google’s Three Creative Tools
  • Confidence is the Winning Strategy
    • ]]>     take good notes inside the classroom.  However, taking notes outside of class can be just as important.  I have found that the tips and tools I learned about from individuals outside the classroom have been the most influential to my personal and professional success.

    Why should I take notes?

    You are not going to remember everything you hear.  Believe me.  The Dartmouth College Academic Skills Center states that,  "Humans are poor listeners. Research shows that individuals can only recall 50% of what they hear and that 20-30% is incorrect!" There have been many times that I wished I had written things down.  If you don't jot down things when you hear them, you have missed your chance of having the most accurate record.

    When should I take notes?

    Here are some examples of when you should take notes:
    • When researching what college or graduate school to attend
    • When reading advice articles or attending personal development and career workshops
    • When learning new things at your job or internship
    • During your student organization meetings
    • When asking for help, particularly regarding anything technical or computer-related

    Fun tools for note-taking

    I have been able to quickly learn new technologies largely because I have taken notes and saved important information.  When I want to learn new software products or social media tools, I try to seek out free classes or online resources for assistance. To help me keep track, I have found better note-taking tools than pencil and paper or opening a Word document on my PC. My favorite note-taking tool is Evernote.  This is a free application that allows you to take notes through a web browser on any computer, through an app on your Mac or PC, or with a smart phone. Evernote will index all your notes so they are fully searchable. This tool is particularly useful if you don't have your laptop with you and you want to remember something. Another way I have learned to remember important things that I find online is to save the web pages.  Conventional bookmarking on your computer browser can get messy and is only helpful if you have your computer with you.  One useful tool for organizing your bookmarks is the free web app, Delicious. Once you save your bookmarks in Delicious, they are accessible from any computer and many mobile devices.  You can easily tag your Delicious bookmarks so they are arranged by topic. In addition, you can share bookmarks or search other people's bookmarks.
    Tip: Using the Delicious add-on in Firefox makes it really easy to save and retrieve your cataloged bookmarks
    I tend to use the Delicious app for web pages I want to refer to regularly.  I use another tool for when I want to save articles to read just once. For all of you folks (like me) who love to read various tweets, articles and blogs online, but don't always have time at the moment to read the full article, Read It Later will be your new best friend. This web app (also available on smartphones) saves web articles so you can easily access them later. I typically will use Read It Later for saving articles I find on Twitter or through RSS feeds.  Once I have time, I read through the saved articles and delete them as I go.  The Read It Later browser add-on is also a must-have.
    Tip: It would be handy to have Evernote open while you are reading your saved articles, so you can write down any important things you may have learned.

    Note-taking leads to success

    I learned about all of the above apps from classmates or friends.  If I hadn't written down the names of the tools, I would not have remembered to follow-up and make an account. You don't have to be a genius or attend the highest-ranked school to be knowledgeable and successful.  You just have to make the best of what you have -- be a good listener and take good notes, even when you are outside the classroom.

    Author:

    Lori Bielek is the Marketing and Technology Coordinator at University of Delaware’s (UD) Career Services Center where she advises students in the arts and sciences through all steps of their career development.  You can connect with Lori through LinkedIn, Twitter, or the UD Career Services Twitter account (@UDcareers).]]>     http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/feed/ 0     Unemployment Impacts More than Your Wallet http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/ http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/#comments Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:00:12 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6671
  • A Career Counselor’s Spring Break Abroad
  • Learning from Success and Failure
  • Volunteering: Your hidden lifeline
    • ]]>     Bureau of Labor Statistics. They also stated that the median time a person has spent in unemployment is 25.5 weeks, about 6 months. Six months is the time we recommend any job seeker to devote to the job search process. This provides a little relief to know that this average hasn’t changed much considering this recession is about twice as bad as in the 1980s. Even though the job seeking timeline and median unemployment rate matches, the psychological affects have climbed.

    The Snowball Effect

    It doesn’t help that the media continues to report on how bad the unemployment trends are within our economy. Just yesterday I received a phone call from a media representative who wanted to do a story on the fact that the unemployment rates haven’t changed and how that impacts my job as a career counselor and the job seekers. Honestly, what impacts the job seekers outlook most is this developed sense of hopelessness. Even though we’re able to still hold job fairs with local employers looking to fill 50-100+ jobs, the number of seekers attending the fairs has decreased since the start of the recession in 2007. This sense of hopelessness with the job market snowballs and as it increases it also impacts additional areas of a person’s life. The Pew Research Center published recent findings that unemployment not only affects finances, but also relations with family and friends and a loss of self-respect. It's interesting that the time we need our family and friends the most is also the time we tend to cause strain on the relationships, or just ignore them completely. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? This is a time to strengthen relationships and really use them to their full potential. All those years of being there for your friends and family should have some residual effect when it’s your turn to need help. Like I’ve said in some previous posts, no person is an island and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. Self-respect is probably the most critical area that’s impacted by unemployment. If you lose self-respect then you’re decreasing your networking effectiveness, chances to be hired, and overall productiveness of the job search. In essence a loss of self-respect could spiral people into depression. Employers want to hire candidates with confidence and competence to do the job well, and if your self-respect has lowered then it’s likely your confidence and ability to market yourself in a job interview has also decreased. If you’re not sure about your level of self-respect then ask yourself how often you use negative language, like “I can’t…,” “This will never…,” or “No one will help me.”

    A Positive Effect

    There has been one potential positive effect from the recent unemployment, a reassessment of career goals. The forced change of losing a job can lead to a reevaluation of career goals, interests, and overall job and life satisfaction. More and more people are seeking out professional development opportunities and training options to increase their marketability. An even bigger trend, which I’ve seen through counseling appointments, is an interest in returning to school and changing career directions completely. I’ve heard more people state things like “for the past 20 years I’ve worked to support myself (and my family) but it was never what I really wanted to do. Now I have the option to change my career, but I’m not sure how to go about it.” I applaud this risk taking behavior because it could mean an overall increase in life satisfaction. However, be careful when taking risks because if it impacts basic needs of food, shelter, and safety then it could increase the chances of losing self-respect and even depression.

    Dealing with the Aftermath

    There are many ways to productively and positively handle the loss of a job. I’ve actually posted a number of blogs through my career services office that discusses coping with job loss. These contain some good tips about how to mentally prepare for the road ahead, not allow your current situation to have a negative impact on finding a new job, and even some additional job seeking strategies. It’s time to be more conscious of yourself which means taking time out to daily reflect on the positives in your life, recreate with friends, keep a journal, or whatever method works for you. Times of turmoil call for a deeper intuition of self and a recognition of needs. Even as counselors we are reminded that the number one person to care for is you, because if you’re not healthy in mind, body, and spirit then it reduces our effectiveness to help others. So take time to renew and balance your life because that is the core to an effective personal and work life!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/feed/ 0     Independent Job Search – A Thing of the Past http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/ http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/#comments Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:03:17 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6629
  • Levaquin 750mg
  • Maximize your career center experience
  • Authenticity and the Job Search
    • ]]>     Use of Career Services Linked to Job Offers. Although I’ve been on the same soap box for three years, it’s nice to read about quantitative data supporting my and every other career counselor’s claim. The article continues to state that there is a positive correlation between the number of visits to a career center and the likelihood of job offers.

    Roadblocks & Recoveries

    Although NACE encourages the use of career centers, it also reported that about 29% of recent job offers were to people who never used the services of a career center. So, it is possible to obtain a job without help, but less likely. With all this supporting evidence, why would anyone not seek help? College can be very busy, especially if you’re balancing a job, extracurricular activities, and family life along with it. Some students may not have much time to visit a career center. Well good news, most career centers have drop-in hours so almost anyone can squeeze in time for a resume critique or job searching assistance. Remember a professional job search will usually take at least 6 months before an offer is given, and during that time the job search process should be seen as a full time job. Many students go through college not knowing about the career center and its services. This dilemma is a little harder to find a solution. I would hope that all faculty members are telling students about the services on campus and even students can share their good experiences, but that doesn’t mean that everyone listens or is aware that it’s something he/she might need. Here’s some more good news, most career centers offer services to their alumni for free or for a low fee. It would be better to have used the services while you’re in school because it’s free for current students, but know that it’s never too late to seek assistance. Sometimes it’s hard to ask for help. Asking for help means that we have to put our pride aside and admit that we may not be good at writing resumes, interviewing, or networking. Let’s look at it this way, if you’ve never been trained in any of these skills, then how are you expected to be successful with them? Think of a visit to the career center as training for the job search. They teach you how to write a technical resume, coach you on what to say to employers and how choosing the right words makes all the difference. Most career centers even offer opportunities to put these skills into practice, like at job fairs and networking events.

    Lesson Learned

    It happens to the best of us. We all stumble, fail, lose, or wish we had a do over for various times in our lives. Even I didn’t realize how little I knew about resumes until I visited my college’s career center. It was amazing the difference between my original resume and the updated resume after my appointment with a career counselor. Not only did it look more professional, but I also received more phone calls from employers with the new resume (during my last job search). Lesson learned: Don’t be afraid to seek out a little help, because you can’t do it all by yourself!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter. ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/feed/ 0     When Stressed: Don’t Procrastinate, Take a Break http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/ http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:40:22 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6785
  • Burning Bridges Leaves You as an Island
  • Write a Killer ‘Thank You’ Letter
  • Vermox Without Prescription
    • ]]>     CLICK HERE for a video with CNN reporters interviewing one of the passengers on the plane who witnessed the occurrence. Even though he seems to be turning into a modern folk hero, the way he quit his job is far from recommended. If this is the WRONG way to quit a job, then what’s the right way? How do you quit a job without burning bridges? And, what's so wrong with burning a few bridges if the company and/or supervisor were bad to you?

    Quitting the Job Properly

    Give at least 2 weeks notice, but a month would be preferred. This demonstrates professionalism and courtesy to the company and your boss.

    They will eventually have to replace you and by giving them a heads up, they can initiate a search for your replacement with hopes for only a small gap between you and the new recruit.

    Type a resignation letter. Use professional language and business letter format. Approach your boss with this letter and explain to him/her as to why you're choosing to resign.

    I once heard of a teacher that submitted her resignation letter on a piece of construction paper and written in crayon. You can be assured that she was not given a reference letter upon departure. Sample Resignation Letters.

    Choose your words wisely. When you approach your boss about quitting the job, be sure to give solid reasons for your departure, but keep it positive. If it's a touchy subject, then make sure to discuss it with a trusted friend/family member or a career counselor to adequately prepare. This will help you choose your words properly and leave on a good note.

    Don't Burn Bridges

    1. It's a small world after all. It's amazing who knows who and how much people network and talk within professional industries. If you quit your job unprofessionally, then it's likely your previous boss will talk about it and it may end up affecting your job search.
    2. Get the good reference. Even if you didn't like the job, you can still leave with a good reference from your supervisor or a colleague. Most employers require three references before hiring a new employee.
    3. Make it easy on yourself. If you leave in a professional manner, then it's a lot easier to interview with a new employer. A common question used in interviews is, "Why did you leave your previous job?" It will reflect better on you if you can answer positively than figure out how to spin it, or risk lying. The company you're interviewing with can call your previous employer and inquire whether or not they would consider hiring you back, and a positive response will increase your chances for hire.
    There are some additional suggestions at BEST-JOB-INTERVIEW.com, including offering to train your replacement, be productive until the last day and tie up any loose ends, and more specific information on writing the resignation letter.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/feed/ 0     Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel » Grad School http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:53:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Yes, You Need Business Cards Too http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/ http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/#comments Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:49:12 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=7031
  • Ten Easy Tips for Networking Your Way into a Job
  • Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event
  • 750 Mg Levaquin
    • ]]>     Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event. College is full of opportunities to meet new people, get into interesting conversations or discover new passions. The contacts that you make may seem random and not applicable to the professional world waiting outside college, yet you never know which one of the people you meet may become your future mentor, your best friend, or your future employer.

    I'm a student. Why do I need business cards?

    Student life does not ordinarily revolve around business cards. But it is important to start building your personal brand already during your university years. Doing so will get you ahead of the majority of your classmates and will serve you well when the time comes to start applying for that first job. Having business cards on hand will help when... ... you suddenly meet an employee of a company you'd like to work or intern for ... you want to differentiate yourself at a careers' fair ... a recruiter asks for your contact information ... you want to seem professional ... you receive someone's card and they ask for yours as well ... you're talking to someone who has your dream job and you want to be able to follow up and get some more tips on how to get where they are

    What should I put on my card?

    As a student, your cards will not be company-branded. This gives you the freedom to include what you think is appropriate, such as:
    • your full name
    • the name of your university, your major and expected year of graduation
    • your contact address
    • email address, telephone number
    • blog url or links to social media profiles (such as LinkedIn)
    • your skills or most impressive experience
    • the industry you'd like to enter or a short byline describing what sort of opportunities you're looking for

    How can I get my cards?

    The easiest way to get your cards printed is to do it online. Vistaprint offers templates for easy design or, my favourite, Moo cards will let you print each card with a different design/photo on the back side. You can thus customise every single card and use your stack as a portfolio. For even more impact, consider using the back of your card to showcase your portrait, photos that you have taken, your designs or ideas, pictures of what you've built/constructed, projects you've been involved with, etc. Start building your personal brand now with business cards that reflect who you are and where you want to go. Have you used business cards as a student before? Tell us about your experience in the comments.

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/feed/ 0     Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/ http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=6971
  • Don’t Let Shyness Derail Networking Opportunities
  • Networking Tips: A Step-By-Step Guide
  • Your Brand is Only as Effective as Your Follow-up
    • ]]>     Take advantage of all events These are not "networking events" designed to help you in professional life. No one will be waving a business card in your face and often they will feel very casual. Yet many students miss an important point: these events are as valuable as any intentionally networking event can be. They help you meet new people or catch up with someone you haven't talked to in a while and they do so whilst giving you some common ground and a starting point for conversation. Yet just meeting someone and then never talking to them again is not useful in itself. You want to be able to keep in touch with the people you meet, to share ideas and maybe build a longer-lasting relationship. How do you do that?

    Here are 5 things to do immediately after an event:

    1. Add the people you met on Facebook and/or LinkedIn This is especially useful if you don't have their email address as both these networks let you search by name. Plus it gives you opportunity to contact them even if they graduate, change jobs or move to a different city as their profile on these networks will simply incorporate such changes. Tip: Create a list called "Professional" on Facebook and customise what contacts in this list can see from your Facebook profile.

    2. Send a "nice to meet you" message

    Do this right away, or the next day, but don't wait too long. This is an opportunity to remind them about the recent meeting and a chance to "re-introduce" yourself whilst the meeting is still in their fresh memory and they remember who you are. Tip: Include a link to your blog or profiles online so that they can find out more about you.

    3. Include something personalized

    Was there something from your conversation that you can comment on? Did they maybe mention an upcoming job interview that you could wish them good luck for? Or a recent success that you can congratulate them on? If you promised to do something during your conversation, be sure to deliver. For example: "Hi Joe, It was great to meet you yesterday. Hope the job interview goes well next week and here's a link to the article I mentioned in our conversation..."

    4. Jot down important points from your conversation

    While the conversation is fresh in your mind, jot down any important information or facts that you may need in a follow-up. This could include the topics that you talked about, the name of the school they go to or what clubs they are involved in, any names of friends or relatives or events they mentioned. This will allow you to be topical and to refer to specifics in your next conversation. We all like to feel special when we notice someone took the effort to remember bits of information about us.

    5. Set yourself a follow-up reminder

    Use your calendar or to-do list and set up a reminder for a week/a month or whatever is appropriate in the future when you will get in touch again and see if there's anything you could do for them. Get in the habit of doing these and you'll set yourself up for some great relationships. What do you do to take advantage of various events? Do you have any tips to add?

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/feed/ 0     Diversity Career Resources: African American http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:08:30 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6961
  • Diversity Career Resources: Part 1
  • Web Tools to Use for Career Exploration
  • Career and Branding Advice I’m Liking Lately
    • ]]>     The Black Collegian, provides information on career resources for black college students. Job search strategies, graduate school opportunities, career and industry reports are abundantly explored. This site is the cyberspace partner of The Black Collegian magazine, serving the career and self-development interests of African American collegians throughout America since 1970. The second one, Black Career Women, is an organization founded in 1977 and serves as a nucleus of support to identify and address the critical needs of black women in the workforce as it relates to their career mobility and achievement. Here are some key elements of the websites.

    The Black Collegian

    • Employer Profiles – Read about featured employers plus a total of 17 employer profiles “that support diversity and actively recruit on college campuses nationwide.”
    • The Diversity Registry – Connect to DiversityRegistry.com and research companies with “active diversity programs."
    • Job Tools & Career Center – Search for jobs within The Black Collegian’s database, get career advice and tips on internships.
    • Study & Campus Section– Learn about graduate studies, working and studying abroad, scholarships and grants, and more.
    • Extracurricular Section– Additional information just for fun, like music, poetry, and films.

    Black Career Women

    • Career Coaches – Get expert advice on your career path.
    • Careers Section – Read articles and advice on assessments, career exploration, decision making, job searching, and negotiations like salary.
    • Join the Organization – Provides you discounts on programs, free access to Virtual Career Workshop, members only career content, and more.
    • Useful Websites – Lists additional websites that can help with your career development, like Black Career Zone and Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
    There are many other great career resources out there for African Americans. Check out some of these additional handouts and websites.

    Author:

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/feed/ 2     Diversity Career Resources: Part 1 http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:34:48 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6893
  • Diversity Career Resources: African American
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  • Maximize your career center experience
    • ]]>     Personal Branding is all about showcasing yourself and marketing your unique characteristics, interests, and skills. The way you identify yourself (woman/man, African American, LGBTQ, etc.) is protected information and employers cannot refuse to hire based upon these personal identities. There has also been research that states a person’s acceptance of self translates into confidence which employers look for in candidates. What I mean is take the time to know yourself, where you come from, and be confident with those unique characteristics that makes you special. There are some great career resources out there for everyone. I’m going to take a few weeks and share with you some very useful and diverse career webpages. I’m starting off with a general site and then will share more specific websites in the upcoming weeks.

    DiversityWorking.com

    DiversityWorking claims to be the “largest diversity job board online.” This may be true, but it doesn’t have postings for every US state. It is still a good resource for a number of reasons.

    Key Elements of the Website

    • Job Board – You can browse and search for jobs in 72 industries. There is also a section entitled Search Agent where you can schedule your own search agent that notifies you via email when a position that you’re interested in becomes available.
    • Resume Posting – Post your resume to the website and allow employers to search for you!
    • Organization – Provides the job seeker with basic information about the various companies that DiversityWorking showcases. They also provide a link to each company’s website which makes it easy for you do additional research.
    • Career Expo – Take part in the Virtual Diversity Career Expo. 10 weeks with a different career industry each week. There are still 5 career expos that will run throughout the end of 2010 calendar year. The only downside to this element is that it costs to attend, but once you pay it is available 24/7 throughout the weeks.

    Additional Resources for the Job Seeker

    • FAQ Section – Good information with resume and interviewing tips. There’s only one criticism I would give with the resume tips. It suggests adding personal information to your resume, but this is not recommended because some personal information, like age, race, marital status etc. is protected information. There’s also some information on what to do if you experienced discrimination and why diversity is so important to companies.
    • Community Channels – Provides job seekers with specific search agents based on ethnic groups and recent news that have impacted the work place.
    • Diversity News – Recent news articles that impact the world of work, especially related to diversity.
    • Newsletter – Sign up for an email newsletter which provides you with the latest job openings, news, events, and more. You can even select to specify your newsletter to how you identify yourself, choices include ethnic, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, military, and more.
    Check out this resource and watch for more website and resource reviews to come in the upcoming weeks.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/feed/ 0     The Worst Things That Have Ever Happened to You http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/ http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:36:34 +0000 Kelly Cuene http://studentbranding.com/?p=6905
  • Before the Interview, Do the Homework!
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  • Let Your Inhibitions Be Your Guide
    • ]]>
    • Tell me about a time when you failed.
    • What are your greatest weaknesses?
    • What is the greatest obstacle you've overcome?
    • What is the most difficult decision you have ever had to make?
    These kind of questions can often catch candidates off guard. They might bring up painful, embarrassing and negative experiences. It is challenging to convey what happened without complaining or coming across as overly negative. At the same time, negative experiences or challenges usually provide for lots of growth and learning. They will allow you to demonstrate to an employer how you tackle tough issues and show them you aren't afraid of making mistakes. Nobody wants to hire someone who will run from problems.

    Some tips for handling these types of interview questions:

    • Don't dwell on the negative. State the situation and swiftly move on to how you dealt with the issue.
    • State the facts and avoid interjecting negative opinions about other people (For example,  "my boss was very demanding" is much better than, "my boss was rude and mean")
    • Make sure to discuss the skills you used to overcome a challenge or deal with a problem.
    • Always end on a positive. What did you learn? How did the situation affect future decisions and actions?
    • Prepare in advance. These situations are tough to talk about and usually the questions we dread most. Practice your responses in advance.
    Even if you're not explicitly asked about a challenging situation, discussing those type of situations allows you to demonstrate how you've grown or used your skills in difficult circumstances. What's the most difficult interview question you have ever been asked?

    Author

    Kelly is a career advisor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she assists undergraduate business students with all aspects of their career development. Connect with Kelly on Twitter, her blog, LinkedIn or BrazenCareerist.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/feed/ 0     Don’t be Steven Slater: Quit Your Job Professionally http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/ http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:40:22 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6785
  • Burning Bridges Leaves You as an Island
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    • ]]>     CLICK HERE for a video with CNN reporters interviewing one of the passengers on the plane who witnessed the occurrence. Even though he seems to be turning into a modern folk hero, the way he quit his job is far from recommended. If this is the WRONG way to quit a job, then what’s the right way? How do you quit a job without burning bridges? And, what's so wrong with burning a few bridges if the company and/or supervisor were bad to you?

    Quitting the Job Properly

    Give at least 2 weeks notice, but a month would be preferred. This demonstrates professionalism and courtesy to the company and your boss.

    They will eventually have to replace you and by giving them a heads up, they can initiate a search for your replacement with hopes for only a small gap between you and the new recruit.

    Type a resignation letter. Use professional language and business letter format. Approach your boss with this letter and explain to him/her as to why you're choosing to resign.

    I once heard of a teacher that submitted her resignation letter on a piece of construction paper and written in crayon. You can be assured that she was not given a reference letter upon departure. Sample Resignation Letters.

    Choose your words wisely. When you approach your boss about quitting the job, be sure to give solid reasons for your departure, but keep it positive. If it's a touchy subject, then make sure to discuss it with a trusted friend/family member or a career counselor to adequately prepare. This will help you choose your words properly and leave on a good note.

    Don't Burn Bridges

    1. It's a small world after all. It's amazing who knows who and how much people network and talk within professional industries. If you quit your job unprofessionally, then it's likely your previous boss will talk about it and it may end up affecting your job search.
    2. Get the good reference. Even if you didn't like the job, you can still leave with a good reference from your supervisor or a colleague. Most employers require three references before hiring a new employee.
    3. Make it easy on yourself. If you leave in a professional manner, then it's a lot easier to interview with a new employer. A common question used in interviews is, "Why did you leave your previous job?" It will reflect better on you if you can answer positively than figure out how to spin it, or risk lying. The company you're interviewing with can call your previous employer and inquire whether or not they would consider hiring you back, and a positive response will increase your chances for hire.
    There are some additional suggestions at BEST-JOB-INTERVIEW.com, including offering to train your replacement, be productive until the last day and tie up any loose ends, and more specific information on writing the resignation letter.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/feed/ 0     Want To Forget Important Things? Don’t Take Notes. http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/ http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/#comments Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:44:29 +0000 Lori Bielek http://studentbranding.com/?p=6690
  • Suprax Generic
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    • ]]>     take good notes inside the classroom.  However, taking notes outside of class can be just as important.  I have found that the tips and tools I learned about from individuals outside the classroom have been the most influential to my personal and professional success.

    Why should I take notes?

    You are not going to remember everything you hear.  Believe me.  The Dartmouth College Academic Skills Center states that,  "Humans are poor listeners. Research shows that individuals can only recall 50% of what they hear and that 20-30% is incorrect!" There have been many times that I wished I had written things down.  If you don't jot down things when you hear them, you have missed your chance of having the most accurate record.

    When should I take notes?

    Here are some examples of when you should take notes:
    • When researching what college or graduate school to attend
    • When reading advice articles or attending personal development and career workshops
    • When learning new things at your job or internship
    • During your student organization meetings
    • When asking for help, particularly regarding anything technical or computer-related

    Fun tools for note-taking

    I have been able to quickly learn new technologies largely because I have taken notes and saved important information.  When I want to learn new software products or social media tools, I try to seek out free classes or online resources for assistance. To help me keep track, I have found better note-taking tools than pencil and paper or opening a Word document on my PC. My favorite note-taking tool is Evernote.  This is a free application that allows you to take notes through a web browser on any computer, through an app on your Mac or PC, or with a smart phone. Evernote will index all your notes so they are fully searchable. This tool is particularly useful if you don't have your laptop with you and you want to remember something. Another way I have learned to remember important things that I find online is to save the web pages.  Conventional bookmarking on your computer browser can get messy and is only helpful if you have your computer with you.  One useful tool for organizing your bookmarks is the free web app, Delicious. Once you save your bookmarks in Delicious, they are accessible from any computer and many mobile devices.  You can easily tag your Delicious bookmarks so they are arranged by topic. In addition, you can share bookmarks or search other people's bookmarks.
    Tip: Using the Delicious add-on in Firefox makes it really easy to save and retrieve your cataloged bookmarks
    I tend to use the Delicious app for web pages I want to refer to regularly.  I use another tool for when I want to save articles to read just once. For all of you folks (like me) who love to read various tweets, articles and blogs online, but don't always have time at the moment to read the full article, Read It Later will be your new best friend. This web app (also available on smartphones) saves web articles so you can easily access them later. I typically will use Read It Later for saving articles I find on Twitter or through RSS feeds.  Once I have time, I read through the saved articles and delete them as I go.  The Read It Later browser add-on is also a must-have.
    Tip: It would be handy to have Evernote open while you are reading your saved articles, so you can write down any important things you may have learned.

    Note-taking leads to success

    I learned about all of the above apps from classmates or friends.  If I hadn't written down the names of the tools, I would not have remembered to follow-up and make an account. You don't have to be a genius or attend the highest-ranked school to be knowledgeable and successful.  You just have to make the best of what you have -- be a good listener and take good notes, even when you are outside the classroom.

    Author:

    Lori Bielek is the Marketing and Technology Coordinator at University of Delaware’s (UD) Career Services Center where she advises students in the arts and sciences through all steps of their career development.  You can connect with Lori through LinkedIn, Twitter, or the UD Career Services Twitter account (@UDcareers).]]>     http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/feed/ 0     Unemployment Impacts More than Your Wallet http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/ http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/#comments Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:00:12 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6671
  • A Career Counselor’s Spring Break Abroad
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    • ]]>     Bureau of Labor Statistics. They also stated that the median time a person has spent in unemployment is 25.5 weeks, about 6 months. Six months is the time we recommend any job seeker to devote to the job search process. This provides a little relief to know that this average hasn’t changed much considering this recession is about twice as bad as in the 1980s. Even though the job seeking timeline and median unemployment rate matches, the psychological affects have climbed.

    The Snowball Effect

    It doesn’t help that the media continues to report on how bad the unemployment trends are within our economy. Just yesterday I received a phone call from a media representative who wanted to do a story on the fact that the unemployment rates haven’t changed and how that impacts my job as a career counselor and the job seekers. Honestly, what impacts the job seekers outlook most is this developed sense of hopelessness. Even though we’re able to still hold job fairs with local employers looking to fill 50-100+ jobs, the number of seekers attending the fairs has decreased since the start of the recession in 2007. This sense of hopelessness with the job market snowballs and as it increases it also impacts additional areas of a person’s life. The Pew Research Center published recent findings that unemployment not only affects finances, but also relations with family and friends and a loss of self-respect. It's interesting that the time we need our family and friends the most is also the time we tend to cause strain on the relationships, or just ignore them completely. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? This is a time to strengthen relationships and really use them to their full potential. All those years of being there for your friends and family should have some residual effect when it’s your turn to need help. Like I’ve said in some previous posts, no person is an island and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. Self-respect is probably the most critical area that’s impacted by unemployment. If you lose self-respect then you’re decreasing your networking effectiveness, chances to be hired, and overall productiveness of the job search. In essence a loss of self-respect could spiral people into depression. Employers want to hire candidates with confidence and competence to do the job well, and if your self-respect has lowered then it’s likely your confidence and ability to market yourself in a job interview has also decreased. If you’re not sure about your level of self-respect then ask yourself how often you use negative language, like “I can’t…,” “This will never…,” or “No one will help me.”

    A Positive Effect

    There has been one potential positive effect from the recent unemployment, a reassessment of career goals. The forced change of losing a job can lead to a reevaluation of career goals, interests, and overall job and life satisfaction. More and more people are seeking out professional development opportunities and training options to increase their marketability. An even bigger trend, which I’ve seen through counseling appointments, is an interest in returning to school and changing career directions completely. I’ve heard more people state things like “for the past 20 years I’ve worked to support myself (and my family) but it was never what I really wanted to do. Now I have the option to change my career, but I’m not sure how to go about it.” I applaud this risk taking behavior because it could mean an overall increase in life satisfaction. However, be careful when taking risks because if it impacts basic needs of food, shelter, and safety then it could increase the chances of losing self-respect and even depression.

    Dealing with the Aftermath

    There are many ways to productively and positively handle the loss of a job. I’ve actually posted a number of blogs through my career services office that discusses coping with job loss. These contain some good tips about how to mentally prepare for the road ahead, not allow your current situation to have a negative impact on finding a new job, and even some additional job seeking strategies. It’s time to be more conscious of yourself which means taking time out to daily reflect on the positives in your life, recreate with friends, keep a journal, or whatever method works for you. Times of turmoil call for a deeper intuition of self and a recognition of needs. Even as counselors we are reminded that the number one person to care for is you, because if you’re not healthy in mind, body, and spirit then it reduces our effectiveness to help others. So take time to renew and balance your life because that is the core to an effective personal and work life!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/feed/ 0     Independent Job Search – A Thing of the Past http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/ http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/#comments Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:03:17 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6629
  • Levaquin 750mg
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    • ]]>     Use of Career Services Linked to Job Offers. Although I’ve been on the same soap box for three years, it’s nice to read about quantitative data supporting my and every other career counselor’s claim. The article continues to state that there is a positive correlation between the number of visits to a career center and the likelihood of job offers.

    Roadblocks & Recoveries

    Although NACE encourages the use of career centers, it also reported that about 29% of recent job offers were to people who never used the services of a career center. So, it is possible to obtain a job without help, but less likely. With all this supporting evidence, why would anyone not seek help? College can be very busy, especially if you’re balancing a job, extracurricular activities, and family life along with it. Some students may not have much time to visit a career center. Well good news, most career centers have drop-in hours so almost anyone can squeeze in time for a resume critique or job searching assistance. Remember a professional job search will usually take at least 6 months before an offer is given, and during that time the job search process should be seen as a full time job. Many students go through college not knowing about the career center and its services. This dilemma is a little harder to find a solution. I would hope that all faculty members are telling students about the services on campus and even students can share their good experiences, but that doesn’t mean that everyone listens or is aware that it’s something he/she might need. Here’s some more good news, most career centers offer services to their alumni for free or for a low fee. It would be better to have used the services while you’re in school because it’s free for current students, but know that it’s never too late to seek assistance. Sometimes it’s hard to ask for help. Asking for help means that we have to put our pride aside and admit that we may not be good at writing resumes, interviewing, or networking. Let’s look at it this way, if you’ve never been trained in any of these skills, then how are you expected to be successful with them? Think of a visit to the career center as training for the job search. They teach you how to write a technical resume, coach you on what to say to employers and how choosing the right words makes all the difference. Most career centers even offer opportunities to put these skills into practice, like at job fairs and networking events.

    Lesson Learned

    It happens to the best of us. We all stumble, fail, lose, or wish we had a do over for various times in our lives. Even I didn’t realize how little I knew about resumes until I visited my college’s career center. It was amazing the difference between my original resume and the updated resume after my appointment with a career counselor. Not only did it look more professional, but I also received more phone calls from employers with the new resume (during my last job search). Lesson learned: Don’t be afraid to seek out a little help, because you can’t do it all by yourself!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter. ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/feed/ 0     When Stressed: Don’t Procrastinate, Take a Break http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/ http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/#comments Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:44:29 +0000 Lori Bielek http://studentbranding.com/?p=6690
  • Suprax Generic
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    • ]]>     take good notes inside the classroom.  However, taking notes outside of class can be just as important.  I have found that the tips and tools I learned about from individuals outside the classroom have been the most influential to my personal and professional success.

    Why should I take notes?

    You are not going to remember everything you hear.  Believe me.  The Dartmouth College Academic Skills Center states that,  "Humans are poor listeners. Research shows that individuals can only recall 50% of what they hear and that 20-30% is incorrect!" There have been many times that I wished I had written things down.  If you don't jot down things when you hear them, you have missed your chance of having the most accurate record.

    When should I take notes?

    Here are some examples of when you should take notes:
    • When researching what college or graduate school to attend
    • When reading advice articles or attending personal development and career workshops
    • When learning new things at your job or internship
    • During your student organization meetings
    • When asking for help, particularly regarding anything technical or computer-related

    Fun tools for note-taking

    I have been able to quickly learn new technologies largely because I have taken notes and saved important information.  When I want to learn new software products or social media tools, I try to seek out free classes or online resources for assistance. To help me keep track, I have found better note-taking tools than pencil and paper or opening a Word document on my PC. My favorite note-taking tool is Evernote.  This is a free application that allows you to take notes through a web browser on any computer, through an app on your Mac or PC, or with a smart phone. Evernote will index all your notes so they are fully searchable. This tool is particularly useful if you don't have your laptop with you and you want to remember something. Another way I have learned to remember important things that I find online is to save the web pages.  Conventional bookmarking on your computer browser can get messy and is only helpful if you have your computer with you.  One useful tool for organizing your bookmarks is the free web app, Delicious. Once you save your bookmarks in Delicious, they are accessible from any computer and many mobile devices.  You can easily tag your Delicious bookmarks so they are arranged by topic. In addition, you can share bookmarks or search other people's bookmarks.
    Tip: Using the Delicious add-on in Firefox makes it really easy to save and retrieve your cataloged bookmarks
    I tend to use the Delicious app for web pages I want to refer to regularly.  I use another tool for when I want to save articles to read just once. For all of you folks (like me) who love to read various tweets, articles and blogs online, but don't always have time at the moment to read the full article, Read It Later will be your new best friend. This web app (also available on smartphones) saves web articles so you can easily access them later. I typically will use Read It Later for saving articles I find on Twitter or through RSS feeds.  Once I have time, I read through the saved articles and delete them as I go.  The Read It Later browser add-on is also a must-have.
    Tip: It would be handy to have Evernote open while you are reading your saved articles, so you can write down any important things you may have learned.

    Note-taking leads to success

    I learned about all of the above apps from classmates or friends.  If I hadn't written down the names of the tools, I would not have remembered to follow-up and make an account. You don't have to be a genius or attend the highest-ranked school to be knowledgeable and successful.  You just have to make the best of what you have -- be a good listener and take good notes, even when you are outside the classroom.

    Author:

    Lori Bielek is the Marketing and Technology Coordinator at University of Delaware’s (UD) Career Services Center where she advises students in the arts and sciences through all steps of their career development.  You can connect with Lori through LinkedIn, Twitter, or the UD Career Services Twitter account (@UDcareers).]]>     http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/feed/ 0     Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel » Grad School http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:53:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Yes, You Need Business Cards Too http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/ http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/#comments Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:49:12 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=7031
  • Ten Easy Tips for Networking Your Way into a Job
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    • ]]>     Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event. College is full of opportunities to meet new people, get into interesting conversations or discover new passions. The contacts that you make may seem random and not applicable to the professional world waiting outside college, yet you never know which one of the people you meet may become your future mentor, your best friend, or your future employer.

    I'm a student. Why do I need business cards?

    Student life does not ordinarily revolve around business cards. But it is important to start building your personal brand already during your university years. Doing so will get you ahead of the majority of your classmates and will serve you well when the time comes to start applying for that first job. Having business cards on hand will help when... ... you suddenly meet an employee of a company you'd like to work or intern for ... you want to differentiate yourself at a careers' fair ... a recruiter asks for your contact information ... you want to seem professional ... you receive someone's card and they ask for yours as well ... you're talking to someone who has your dream job and you want to be able to follow up and get some more tips on how to get where they are

    What should I put on my card?

    As a student, your cards will not be company-branded. This gives you the freedom to include what you think is appropriate, such as:
    • your full name
    • the name of your university, your major and expected year of graduation
    • your contact address
    • email address, telephone number
    • blog url or links to social media profiles (such as LinkedIn)
    • your skills or most impressive experience
    • the industry you'd like to enter or a short byline describing what sort of opportunities you're looking for

    How can I get my cards?

    The easiest way to get your cards printed is to do it online. Vistaprint offers templates for easy design or, my favourite, Moo cards will let you print each card with a different design/photo on the back side. You can thus customise every single card and use your stack as a portfolio. For even more impact, consider using the back of your card to showcase your portrait, photos that you have taken, your designs or ideas, pictures of what you've built/constructed, projects you've been involved with, etc. Start building your personal brand now with business cards that reflect who you are and where you want to go. Have you used business cards as a student before? Tell us about your experience in the comments.

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/feed/ 0     Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/ http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=6971
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    • ]]>     Take advantage of all events These are not "networking events" designed to help you in professional life. No one will be waving a business card in your face and often they will feel very casual. Yet many students miss an important point: these events are as valuable as any intentionally networking event can be. They help you meet new people or catch up with someone you haven't talked to in a while and they do so whilst giving you some common ground and a starting point for conversation. Yet just meeting someone and then never talking to them again is not useful in itself. You want to be able to keep in touch with the people you meet, to share ideas and maybe build a longer-lasting relationship. How do you do that?

    Here are 5 things to do immediately after an event:

    1. Add the people you met on Facebook and/or LinkedIn This is especially useful if you don't have their email address as both these networks let you search by name. Plus it gives you opportunity to contact them even if they graduate, change jobs or move to a different city as their profile on these networks will simply incorporate such changes. Tip: Create a list called "Professional" on Facebook and customise what contacts in this list can see from your Facebook profile.

    2. Send a "nice to meet you" message

    Do this right away, or the next day, but don't wait too long. This is an opportunity to remind them about the recent meeting and a chance to "re-introduce" yourself whilst the meeting is still in their fresh memory and they remember who you are. Tip: Include a link to your blog or profiles online so that they can find out more about you.

    3. Include something personalized

    Was there something from your conversation that you can comment on? Did they maybe mention an upcoming job interview that you could wish them good luck for? Or a recent success that you can congratulate them on? If you promised to do something during your conversation, be sure to deliver. For example: "Hi Joe, It was great to meet you yesterday. Hope the job interview goes well next week and here's a link to the article I mentioned in our conversation..."

    4. Jot down important points from your conversation

    While the conversation is fresh in your mind, jot down any important information or facts that you may need in a follow-up. This could include the topics that you talked about, the name of the school they go to or what clubs they are involved in, any names of friends or relatives or events they mentioned. This will allow you to be topical and to refer to specifics in your next conversation. We all like to feel special when we notice someone took the effort to remember bits of information about us.

    5. Set yourself a follow-up reminder

    Use your calendar or to-do list and set up a reminder for a week/a month or whatever is appropriate in the future when you will get in touch again and see if there's anything you could do for them. Get in the habit of doing these and you'll set yourself up for some great relationships. What do you do to take advantage of various events? Do you have any tips to add?

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/feed/ 0     Diversity Career Resources: African American http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:08:30 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6961
  • Diversity Career Resources: Part 1
  • Web Tools to Use for Career Exploration
  • Career and Branding Advice I’m Liking Lately
    • ]]>     The Black Collegian, provides information on career resources for black college students. Job search strategies, graduate school opportunities, career and industry reports are abundantly explored. This site is the cyberspace partner of The Black Collegian magazine, serving the career and self-development interests of African American collegians throughout America since 1970. The second one, Black Career Women, is an organization founded in 1977 and serves as a nucleus of support to identify and address the critical needs of black women in the workforce as it relates to their career mobility and achievement. Here are some key elements of the websites.

    The Black Collegian

    • Employer Profiles – Read about featured employers plus a total of 17 employer profiles “that support diversity and actively recruit on college campuses nationwide.”
    • The Diversity Registry – Connect to DiversityRegistry.com and research companies with “active diversity programs."
    • Job Tools & Career Center – Search for jobs within The Black Collegian’s database, get career advice and tips on internships.
    • Study & Campus Section– Learn about graduate studies, working and studying abroad, scholarships and grants, and more.
    • Extracurricular Section– Additional information just for fun, like music, poetry, and films.

    Black Career Women

    • Career Coaches – Get expert advice on your career path.
    • Careers Section – Read articles and advice on assessments, career exploration, decision making, job searching, and negotiations like salary.
    • Join the Organization – Provides you discounts on programs, free access to Virtual Career Workshop, members only career content, and more.
    • Useful Websites – Lists additional websites that can help with your career development, like Black Career Zone and Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
    There are many other great career resources out there for African Americans. Check out some of these additional handouts and websites.

    Author:

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/feed/ 2     Diversity Career Resources: Part 1 http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:34:48 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6893
  • Diversity Career Resources: African American
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  • Maximize your career center experience
    • ]]>     Personal Branding is all about showcasing yourself and marketing your unique characteristics, interests, and skills. The way you identify yourself (woman/man, African American, LGBTQ, etc.) is protected information and employers cannot refuse to hire based upon these personal identities. There has also been research that states a person’s acceptance of self translates into confidence which employers look for in candidates. What I mean is take the time to know yourself, where you come from, and be confident with those unique characteristics that makes you special. There are some great career resources out there for everyone. I’m going to take a few weeks and share with you some very useful and diverse career webpages. I’m starting off with a general site and then will share more specific websites in the upcoming weeks.

    DiversityWorking.com

    DiversityWorking claims to be the “largest diversity job board online.” This may be true, but it doesn’t have postings for every US state. It is still a good resource for a number of reasons.

    Key Elements of the Website

    • Job Board – You can browse and search for jobs in 72 industries. There is also a section entitled Search Agent where you can schedule your own search agent that notifies you via email when a position that you’re interested in becomes available.
    • Resume Posting – Post your resume to the website and allow employers to search for you!
    • Organization – Provides the job seeker with basic information about the various companies that DiversityWorking showcases. They also provide a link to each company’s website which makes it easy for you do additional research.
    • Career Expo – Take part in the Virtual Diversity Career Expo. 10 weeks with a different career industry each week. There are still 5 career expos that will run throughout the end of 2010 calendar year. The only downside to this element is that it costs to attend, but once you pay it is available 24/7 throughout the weeks.

    Additional Resources for the Job Seeker

    • FAQ Section – Good information with resume and interviewing tips. There’s only one criticism I would give with the resume tips. It suggests adding personal information to your resume, but this is not recommended because some personal information, like age, race, marital status etc. is protected information. There’s also some information on what to do if you experienced discrimination and why diversity is so important to companies.
    • Community Channels – Provides job seekers with specific search agents based on ethnic groups and recent news that have impacted the work place.
    • Diversity News – Recent news articles that impact the world of work, especially related to diversity.
    • Newsletter – Sign up for an email newsletter which provides you with the latest job openings, news, events, and more. You can even select to specify your newsletter to how you identify yourself, choices include ethnic, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, military, and more.
    Check out this resource and watch for more website and resource reviews to come in the upcoming weeks.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/feed/ 0     The Worst Things That Have Ever Happened to You http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/ http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:36:34 +0000 Kelly Cuene http://studentbranding.com/?p=6905
  • Before the Interview, Do the Homework!
  • Can You Tell A Good Story?
  • Let Your Inhibitions Be Your Guide
    • ]]>
    • Tell me about a time when you failed.
    • What are your greatest weaknesses?
    • What is the greatest obstacle you've overcome?
    • What is the most difficult decision you have ever had to make?
    These kind of questions can often catch candidates off guard. They might bring up painful, embarrassing and negative experiences. It is challenging to convey what happened without complaining or coming across as overly negative. At the same time, negative experiences or challenges usually provide for lots of growth and learning. They will allow you to demonstrate to an employer how you tackle tough issues and show them you aren't afraid of making mistakes. Nobody wants to hire someone who will run from problems.

    Some tips for handling these types of interview questions:

    • Don't dwell on the negative. State the situation and swiftly move on to how you dealt with the issue.
    • State the facts and avoid interjecting negative opinions about other people (For example,  "my boss was very demanding" is much better than, "my boss was rude and mean")
    • Make sure to discuss the skills you used to overcome a challenge or deal with a problem.
    • Always end on a positive. What did you learn? How did the situation affect future decisions and actions?
    • Prepare in advance. These situations are tough to talk about and usually the questions we dread most. Practice your responses in advance.
    Even if you're not explicitly asked about a challenging situation, discussing those type of situations allows you to demonstrate how you've grown or used your skills in difficult circumstances. What's the most difficult interview question you have ever been asked?

    Author

    Kelly is a career advisor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she assists undergraduate business students with all aspects of their career development. Connect with Kelly on Twitter, her blog, LinkedIn or BrazenCareerist.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/feed/ 0     Don’t be Steven Slater: Quit Your Job Professionally http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/ http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:40:22 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6785
  • Burning Bridges Leaves You as an Island
  • Write a Killer ‘Thank You’ Letter
  • Vermox Without Prescription
    • ]]>     CLICK HERE for a video with CNN reporters interviewing one of the passengers on the plane who witnessed the occurrence. Even though he seems to be turning into a modern folk hero, the way he quit his job is far from recommended. If this is the WRONG way to quit a job, then what’s the right way? How do you quit a job without burning bridges? And, what's so wrong with burning a few bridges if the company and/or supervisor were bad to you?

    Quitting the Job Properly

    Give at least 2 weeks notice, but a month would be preferred. This demonstrates professionalism and courtesy to the company and your boss.

    They will eventually have to replace you and by giving them a heads up, they can initiate a search for your replacement with hopes for only a small gap between you and the new recruit.

    Type a resignation letter. Use professional language and business letter format. Approach your boss with this letter and explain to him/her as to why you're choosing to resign.

    I once heard of a teacher that submitted her resignation letter on a piece of construction paper and written in crayon. You can be assured that she was not given a reference letter upon departure. Sample Resignation Letters.

    Choose your words wisely. When you approach your boss about quitting the job, be sure to give solid reasons for your departure, but keep it positive. If it's a touchy subject, then make sure to discuss it with a trusted friend/family member or a career counselor to adequately prepare. This will help you choose your words properly and leave on a good note.

    Don't Burn Bridges

    1. It's a small world after all. It's amazing who knows who and how much people network and talk within professional industries. If you quit your job unprofessionally, then it's likely your previous boss will talk about it and it may end up affecting your job search.
    2. Get the good reference. Even if you didn't like the job, you can still leave with a good reference from your supervisor or a colleague. Most employers require three references before hiring a new employee.
    3. Make it easy on yourself. If you leave in a professional manner, then it's a lot easier to interview with a new employer. A common question used in interviews is, "Why did you leave your previous job?" It will reflect better on you if you can answer positively than figure out how to spin it, or risk lying. The company you're interviewing with can call your previous employer and inquire whether or not they would consider hiring you back, and a positive response will increase your chances for hire.
    There are some additional suggestions at BEST-JOB-INTERVIEW.com, including offering to train your replacement, be productive until the last day and tie up any loose ends, and more specific information on writing the resignation letter.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/feed/ 0     Want To Forget Important Things? Don’t Take Notes. http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/ http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/#comments Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:44:29 +0000 Lori Bielek http://studentbranding.com/?p=6690
  • Suprax Generic
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    • ]]>     take good notes inside the classroom.  However, taking notes outside of class can be just as important.  I have found that the tips and tools I learned about from individuals outside the classroom have been the most influential to my personal and professional success.

    Why should I take notes?

    You are not going to remember everything you hear.  Believe me.  The Dartmouth College Academic Skills Center states that,  "Humans are poor listeners. Research shows that individuals can only recall 50% of what they hear and that 20-30% is incorrect!" There have been many times that I wished I had written things down.  If you don't jot down things when you hear them, you have missed your chance of having the most accurate record.

    When should I take notes?

    Here are some examples of when you should take notes:
    • When researching what college or graduate school to attend
    • When reading advice articles or attending personal development and career workshops
    • When learning new things at your job or internship
    • During your student organization meetings
    • When asking for help, particularly regarding anything technical or computer-related

    Fun tools for note-taking

    I have been able to quickly learn new technologies largely because I have taken notes and saved important information.  When I want to learn new software products or social media tools, I try to seek out free classes or online resources for assistance. To help me keep track, I have found better note-taking tools than pencil and paper or opening a Word document on my PC. My favorite note-taking tool is Evernote.  This is a free application that allows you to take notes through a web browser on any computer, through an app on your Mac or PC, or with a smart phone. Evernote will index all your notes so they are fully searchable. This tool is particularly useful if you don't have your laptop with you and you want to remember something. Another way I have learned to remember important things that I find online is to save the web pages.  Conventional bookmarking on your computer browser can get messy and is only helpful if you have your computer with you.  One useful tool for organizing your bookmarks is the free web app, Delicious. Once you save your bookmarks in Delicious, they are accessible from any computer and many mobile devices.  You can easily tag your Delicious bookmarks so they are arranged by topic. In addition, you can share bookmarks or search other people's bookmarks.
    Tip: Using the Delicious add-on in Firefox makes it really easy to save and retrieve your cataloged bookmarks
    I tend to use the Delicious app for web pages I want to refer to regularly.  I use another tool for when I want to save articles to read just once. For all of you folks (like me) who love to read various tweets, articles and blogs online, but don't always have time at the moment to read the full article, Read It Later will be your new best friend. This web app (also available on smartphones) saves web articles so you can easily access them later. I typically will use Read It Later for saving articles I find on Twitter or through RSS feeds.  Once I have time, I read through the saved articles and delete them as I go.  The Read It Later browser add-on is also a must-have.
    Tip: It would be handy to have Evernote open while you are reading your saved articles, so you can write down any important things you may have learned.

    Note-taking leads to success

    I learned about all of the above apps from classmates or friends.  If I hadn't written down the names of the tools, I would not have remembered to follow-up and make an account. You don't have to be a genius or attend the highest-ranked school to be knowledgeable and successful.  You just have to make the best of what you have -- be a good listener and take good notes, even when you are outside the classroom.

    Author:

    Lori Bielek is the Marketing and Technology Coordinator at University of Delaware’s (UD) Career Services Center where she advises students in the arts and sciences through all steps of their career development.  You can connect with Lori through LinkedIn, Twitter, or the UD Career Services Twitter account (@UDcareers).]]>     http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/feed/ 0     Unemployment Impacts More than Your Wallet http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/ http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/#comments Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:00:12 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6671
  • A Career Counselor’s Spring Break Abroad
  • Learning from Success and Failure
  • Volunteering: Your hidden lifeline
    • ]]>     Bureau of Labor Statistics. They also stated that the median time a person has spent in unemployment is 25.5 weeks, about 6 months. Six months is the time we recommend any job seeker to devote to the job search process. This provides a little relief to know that this average hasn’t changed much considering this recession is about twice as bad as in the 1980s. Even though the job seeking timeline and median unemployment rate matches, the psychological affects have climbed.

    The Snowball Effect

    It doesn’t help that the media continues to report on how bad the unemployment trends are within our economy. Just yesterday I received a phone call from a media representative who wanted to do a story on the fact that the unemployment rates haven’t changed and how that impacts my job as a career counselor and the job seekers. Honestly, what impacts the job seekers outlook most is this developed sense of hopelessness. Even though we’re able to still hold job fairs with local employers looking to fill 50-100+ jobs, the number of seekers attending the fairs has decreased since the start of the recession in 2007. This sense of hopelessness with the job market snowballs and as it increases it also impacts additional areas of a person’s life. The Pew Research Center published recent findings that unemployment not only affects finances, but also relations with family and friends and a loss of self-respect. It's interesting that the time we need our family and friends the most is also the time we tend to cause strain on the relationships, or just ignore them completely. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? This is a time to strengthen relationships and really use them to their full potential. All those years of being there for your friends and family should have some residual effect when it’s your turn to need help. Like I’ve said in some previous posts, no person is an island and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. Self-respect is probably the most critical area that’s impacted by unemployment. If you lose self-respect then you’re decreasing your networking effectiveness, chances to be hired, and overall productiveness of the job search. In essence a loss of self-respect could spiral people into depression. Employers want to hire candidates with confidence and competence to do the job well, and if your self-respect has lowered then it’s likely your confidence and ability to market yourself in a job interview has also decreased. If you’re not sure about your level of self-respect then ask yourself how often you use negative language, like “I can’t…,” “This will never…,” or “No one will help me.”

    A Positive Effect

    There has been one potential positive effect from the recent unemployment, a reassessment of career goals. The forced change of losing a job can lead to a reevaluation of career goals, interests, and overall job and life satisfaction. More and more people are seeking out professional development opportunities and training options to increase their marketability. An even bigger trend, which I’ve seen through counseling appointments, is an interest in returning to school and changing career directions completely. I’ve heard more people state things like “for the past 20 years I’ve worked to support myself (and my family) but it was never what I really wanted to do. Now I have the option to change my career, but I’m not sure how to go about it.” I applaud this risk taking behavior because it could mean an overall increase in life satisfaction. However, be careful when taking risks because if it impacts basic needs of food, shelter, and safety then it could increase the chances of losing self-respect and even depression.

    Dealing with the Aftermath

    There are many ways to productively and positively handle the loss of a job. I’ve actually posted a number of blogs through my career services office that discusses coping with job loss. These contain some good tips about how to mentally prepare for the road ahead, not allow your current situation to have a negative impact on finding a new job, and even some additional job seeking strategies. It’s time to be more conscious of yourself which means taking time out to daily reflect on the positives in your life, recreate with friends, keep a journal, or whatever method works for you. Times of turmoil call for a deeper intuition of self and a recognition of needs. Even as counselors we are reminded that the number one person to care for is you, because if you’re not healthy in mind, body, and spirit then it reduces our effectiveness to help others. So take time to renew and balance your life because that is the core to an effective personal and work life!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/feed/ 0     Independent Job Search – A Thing of the Past http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/ http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/#comments Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:03:17 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6629
  • Levaquin 750mg
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  • Authenticity and the Job Search
    • ]]>     Use of Career Services Linked to Job Offers. Although I’ve been on the same soap box for three years, it’s nice to read about quantitative data supporting my and every other career counselor’s claim. The article continues to state that there is a positive correlation between the number of visits to a career center and the likelihood of job offers.

    Roadblocks & Recoveries

    Although NACE encourages the use of career centers, it also reported that about 29% of recent job offers were to people who never used the services of a career center. So, it is possible to obtain a job without help, but less likely. With all this supporting evidence, why would anyone not seek help? College can be very busy, especially if you’re balancing a job, extracurricular activities, and family life along with it. Some students may not have much time to visit a career center. Well good news, most career centers have drop-in hours so almost anyone can squeeze in time for a resume critique or job searching assistance. Remember a professional job search will usually take at least 6 months before an offer is given, and during that time the job search process should be seen as a full time job. Many students go through college not knowing about the career center and its services. This dilemma is a little harder to find a solution. I would hope that all faculty members are telling students about the services on campus and even students can share their good experiences, but that doesn’t mean that everyone listens or is aware that it’s something he/she might need. Here’s some more good news, most career centers offer services to their alumni for free or for a low fee. It would be better to have used the services while you’re in school because it’s free for current students, but know that it’s never too late to seek assistance. Sometimes it’s hard to ask for help. Asking for help means that we have to put our pride aside and admit that we may not be good at writing resumes, interviewing, or networking. Let’s look at it this way, if you’ve never been trained in any of these skills, then how are you expected to be successful with them? Think of a visit to the career center as training for the job search. They teach you how to write a technical resume, coach you on what to say to employers and how choosing the right words makes all the difference. Most career centers even offer opportunities to put these skills into practice, like at job fairs and networking events.

    Lesson Learned

    It happens to the best of us. We all stumble, fail, lose, or wish we had a do over for various times in our lives. Even I didn’t realize how little I knew about resumes until I visited my college’s career center. It was amazing the difference between my original resume and the updated resume after my appointment with a career counselor. Not only did it look more professional, but I also received more phone calls from employers with the new resume (during my last job search). Lesson learned: Don’t be afraid to seek out a little help, because you can’t do it all by yourself!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter. ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/feed/ 0     When Stressed: Don’t Procrastinate, Take a Break http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/ http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/#comments Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:00:12 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6671
  • A Career Counselor’s Spring Break Abroad
  • Learning from Success and Failure
  • Volunteering: Your hidden lifeline
    • ]]>     Bureau of Labor Statistics. They also stated that the median time a person has spent in unemployment is 25.5 weeks, about 6 months. Six months is the time we recommend any job seeker to devote to the job search process. This provides a little relief to know that this average hasn’t changed much considering this recession is about twice as bad as in the 1980s. Even though the job seeking timeline and median unemployment rate matches, the psychological affects have climbed.

    The Snowball Effect

    It doesn’t help that the media continues to report on how bad the unemployment trends are within our economy. Just yesterday I received a phone call from a media representative who wanted to do a story on the fact that the unemployment rates haven’t changed and how that impacts my job as a career counselor and the job seekers. Honestly, what impacts the job seekers outlook most is this developed sense of hopelessness. Even though we’re able to still hold job fairs with local employers looking to fill 50-100+ jobs, the number of seekers attending the fairs has decreased since the start of the recession in 2007. This sense of hopelessness with the job market snowballs and as it increases it also impacts additional areas of a person’s life. The Pew Research Center published recent findings that unemployment not only affects finances, but also relations with family and friends and a loss of self-respect. It's interesting that the time we need our family and friends the most is also the time we tend to cause strain on the relationships, or just ignore them completely. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? This is a time to strengthen relationships and really use them to their full potential. All those years of being there for your friends and family should have some residual effect when it’s your turn to need help. Like I’ve said in some previous posts, no person is an island and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. Self-respect is probably the most critical area that’s impacted by unemployment. If you lose self-respect then you’re decreasing your networking effectiveness, chances to be hired, and overall productiveness of the job search. In essence a loss of self-respect could spiral people into depression. Employers want to hire candidates with confidence and competence to do the job well, and if your self-respect has lowered then it’s likely your confidence and ability to market yourself in a job interview has also decreased. If you’re not sure about your level of self-respect then ask yourself how often you use negative language, like “I can’t…,” “This will never…,” or “No one will help me.”

    A Positive Effect

    There has been one potential positive effect from the recent unemployment, a reassessment of career goals. The forced change of losing a job can lead to a reevaluation of career goals, interests, and overall job and life satisfaction. More and more people are seeking out professional development opportunities and training options to increase their marketability. An even bigger trend, which I’ve seen through counseling appointments, is an interest in returning to school and changing career directions completely. I’ve heard more people state things like “for the past 20 years I’ve worked to support myself (and my family) but it was never what I really wanted to do. Now I have the option to change my career, but I’m not sure how to go about it.” I applaud this risk taking behavior because it could mean an overall increase in life satisfaction. However, be careful when taking risks because if it impacts basic needs of food, shelter, and safety then it could increase the chances of losing self-respect and even depression.

    Dealing with the Aftermath

    There are many ways to productively and positively handle the loss of a job. I’ve actually posted a number of blogs through my career services office that discusses coping with job loss. These contain some good tips about how to mentally prepare for the road ahead, not allow your current situation to have a negative impact on finding a new job, and even some additional job seeking strategies. It’s time to be more conscious of yourself which means taking time out to daily reflect on the positives in your life, recreate with friends, keep a journal, or whatever method works for you. Times of turmoil call for a deeper intuition of self and a recognition of needs. Even as counselors we are reminded that the number one person to care for is you, because if you’re not healthy in mind, body, and spirit then it reduces our effectiveness to help others. So take time to renew and balance your life because that is the core to an effective personal and work life!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/feed/ 0     Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel » Grad School http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:53:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Yes, You Need Business Cards Too http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/ http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/#comments Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:49:12 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=7031
  • Ten Easy Tips for Networking Your Way into a Job
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  • 750 Mg Levaquin
    • ]]>     Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event. College is full of opportunities to meet new people, get into interesting conversations or discover new passions. The contacts that you make may seem random and not applicable to the professional world waiting outside college, yet you never know which one of the people you meet may become your future mentor, your best friend, or your future employer.

    I'm a student. Why do I need business cards?

    Student life does not ordinarily revolve around business cards. But it is important to start building your personal brand already during your university years. Doing so will get you ahead of the majority of your classmates and will serve you well when the time comes to start applying for that first job. Having business cards on hand will help when... ... you suddenly meet an employee of a company you'd like to work or intern for ... you want to differentiate yourself at a careers' fair ... a recruiter asks for your contact information ... you want to seem professional ... you receive someone's card and they ask for yours as well ... you're talking to someone who has your dream job and you want to be able to follow up and get some more tips on how to get where they are

    What should I put on my card?

    As a student, your cards will not be company-branded. This gives you the freedom to include what you think is appropriate, such as:
    • your full name
    • the name of your university, your major and expected year of graduation
    • your contact address
    • email address, telephone number
    • blog url or links to social media profiles (such as LinkedIn)
    • your skills or most impressive experience
    • the industry you'd like to enter or a short byline describing what sort of opportunities you're looking for

    How can I get my cards?

    The easiest way to get your cards printed is to do it online. Vistaprint offers templates for easy design or, my favourite, Moo cards will let you print each card with a different design/photo on the back side. You can thus customise every single card and use your stack as a portfolio. For even more impact, consider using the back of your card to showcase your portrait, photos that you have taken, your designs or ideas, pictures of what you've built/constructed, projects you've been involved with, etc. Start building your personal brand now with business cards that reflect who you are and where you want to go. Have you used business cards as a student before? Tell us about your experience in the comments.

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/feed/ 0     Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/ http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=6971
  • Don’t Let Shyness Derail Networking Opportunities
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  • Your Brand is Only as Effective as Your Follow-up
    • ]]>     Take advantage of all events These are not "networking events" designed to help you in professional life. No one will be waving a business card in your face and often they will feel very casual. Yet many students miss an important point: these events are as valuable as any intentionally networking event can be. They help you meet new people or catch up with someone you haven't talked to in a while and they do so whilst giving you some common ground and a starting point for conversation. Yet just meeting someone and then never talking to them again is not useful in itself. You want to be able to keep in touch with the people you meet, to share ideas and maybe build a longer-lasting relationship. How do you do that?

    Here are 5 things to do immediately after an event:

    1. Add the people you met on Facebook and/or LinkedIn This is especially useful if you don't have their email address as both these networks let you search by name. Plus it gives you opportunity to contact them even if they graduate, change jobs or move to a different city as their profile on these networks will simply incorporate such changes. Tip: Create a list called "Professional" on Facebook and customise what contacts in this list can see from your Facebook profile.

    2. Send a "nice to meet you" message

    Do this right away, or the next day, but don't wait too long. This is an opportunity to remind them about the recent meeting and a chance to "re-introduce" yourself whilst the meeting is still in their fresh memory and they remember who you are. Tip: Include a link to your blog or profiles online so that they can find out more about you.

    3. Include something personalized

    Was there something from your conversation that you can comment on? Did they maybe mention an upcoming job interview that you could wish them good luck for? Or a recent success that you can congratulate them on? If you promised to do something during your conversation, be sure to deliver. For example: "Hi Joe, It was great to meet you yesterday. Hope the job interview goes well next week and here's a link to the article I mentioned in our conversation..."

    4. Jot down important points from your conversation

    While the conversation is fresh in your mind, jot down any important information or facts that you may need in a follow-up. This could include the topics that you talked about, the name of the school they go to or what clubs they are involved in, any names of friends or relatives or events they mentioned. This will allow you to be topical and to refer to specifics in your next conversation. We all like to feel special when we notice someone took the effort to remember bits of information about us.

    5. Set yourself a follow-up reminder

    Use your calendar or to-do list and set up a reminder for a week/a month or whatever is appropriate in the future when you will get in touch again and see if there's anything you could do for them. Get in the habit of doing these and you'll set yourself up for some great relationships. What do you do to take advantage of various events? Do you have any tips to add?

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/feed/ 0     Diversity Career Resources: African American http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:08:30 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6961
  • Diversity Career Resources: Part 1
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    • ]]>     The Black Collegian, provides information on career resources for black college students. Job search strategies, graduate school opportunities, career and industry reports are abundantly explored. This site is the cyberspace partner of The Black Collegian magazine, serving the career and self-development interests of African American collegians throughout America since 1970. The second one, Black Career Women, is an organization founded in 1977 and serves as a nucleus of support to identify and address the critical needs of black women in the workforce as it relates to their career mobility and achievement. Here are some key elements of the websites.

    The Black Collegian

    • Employer Profiles – Read about featured employers plus a total of 17 employer profiles “that support diversity and actively recruit on college campuses nationwide.”
    • The Diversity Registry – Connect to DiversityRegistry.com and research companies with “active diversity programs."
    • Job Tools & Career Center – Search for jobs within The Black Collegian’s database, get career advice and tips on internships.
    • Study & Campus Section– Learn about graduate studies, working and studying abroad, scholarships and grants, and more.
    • Extracurricular Section– Additional information just for fun, like music, poetry, and films.

    Black Career Women

    • Career Coaches – Get expert advice on your career path.
    • Careers Section – Read articles and advice on assessments, career exploration, decision making, job searching, and negotiations like salary.
    • Join the Organization – Provides you discounts on programs, free access to Virtual Career Workshop, members only career content, and more.
    • Useful Websites – Lists additional websites that can help with your career development, like Black Career Zone and Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
    There are many other great career resources out there for African Americans. Check out some of these additional handouts and websites.

    Author:

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/feed/ 2     Diversity Career Resources: Part 1 http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:34:48 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6893
  • Diversity Career Resources: African American
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    • ]]>     Personal Branding is all about showcasing yourself and marketing your unique characteristics, interests, and skills. The way you identify yourself (woman/man, African American, LGBTQ, etc.) is protected information and employers cannot refuse to hire based upon these personal identities. There has also been research that states a person’s acceptance of self translates into confidence which employers look for in candidates. What I mean is take the time to know yourself, where you come from, and be confident with those unique characteristics that makes you special. There are some great career resources out there for everyone. I’m going to take a few weeks and share with you some very useful and diverse career webpages. I’m starting off with a general site and then will share more specific websites in the upcoming weeks.

    DiversityWorking.com

    DiversityWorking claims to be the “largest diversity job board online.” This may be true, but it doesn’t have postings for every US state. It is still a good resource for a number of reasons.

    Key Elements of the Website

    • Job Board – You can browse and search for jobs in 72 industries. There is also a section entitled Search Agent where you can schedule your own search agent that notifies you via email when a position that you’re interested in becomes available.
    • Resume Posting – Post your resume to the website and allow employers to search for you!
    • Organization – Provides the job seeker with basic information about the various companies that DiversityWorking showcases. They also provide a link to each company’s website which makes it easy for you do additional research.
    • Career Expo – Take part in the Virtual Diversity Career Expo. 10 weeks with a different career industry each week. There are still 5 career expos that will run throughout the end of 2010 calendar year. The only downside to this element is that it costs to attend, but once you pay it is available 24/7 throughout the weeks.

    Additional Resources for the Job Seeker

    • FAQ Section – Good information with resume and interviewing tips. There’s only one criticism I would give with the resume tips. It suggests adding personal information to your resume, but this is not recommended because some personal information, like age, race, marital status etc. is protected information. There’s also some information on what to do if you experienced discrimination and why diversity is so important to companies.
    • Community Channels – Provides job seekers with specific search agents based on ethnic groups and recent news that have impacted the work place.
    • Diversity News – Recent news articles that impact the world of work, especially related to diversity.
    • Newsletter – Sign up for an email newsletter which provides you with the latest job openings, news, events, and more. You can even select to specify your newsletter to how you identify yourself, choices include ethnic, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, military, and more.
    Check out this resource and watch for more website and resource reviews to come in the upcoming weeks.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/feed/ 0     The Worst Things That Have Ever Happened to You http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/ http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:36:34 +0000 Kelly Cuene http://studentbranding.com/?p=6905
  • Before the Interview, Do the Homework!
  • Can You Tell A Good Story?
  • Let Your Inhibitions Be Your Guide
    • ]]>
    • Tell me about a time when you failed.
    • What are your greatest weaknesses?
    • What is the greatest obstacle you've overcome?
    • What is the most difficult decision you have ever had to make?
    These kind of questions can often catch candidates off guard. They might bring up painful, embarrassing and negative experiences. It is challenging to convey what happened without complaining or coming across as overly negative. At the same time, negative experiences or challenges usually provide for lots of growth and learning. They will allow you to demonstrate to an employer how you tackle tough issues and show them you aren't afraid of making mistakes. Nobody wants to hire someone who will run from problems.

    Some tips for handling these types of interview questions:

    • Don't dwell on the negative. State the situation and swiftly move on to how you dealt with the issue.
    • State the facts and avoid interjecting negative opinions about other people (For example,  "my boss was very demanding" is much better than, "my boss was rude and mean")
    • Make sure to discuss the skills you used to overcome a challenge or deal with a problem.
    • Always end on a positive. What did you learn? How did the situation affect future decisions and actions?
    • Prepare in advance. These situations are tough to talk about and usually the questions we dread most. Practice your responses in advance.
    Even if you're not explicitly asked about a challenging situation, discussing those type of situations allows you to demonstrate how you've grown or used your skills in difficult circumstances. What's the most difficult interview question you have ever been asked?

    Author

    Kelly is a career advisor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she assists undergraduate business students with all aspects of their career development. Connect with Kelly on Twitter, her blog, LinkedIn or BrazenCareerist.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/feed/ 0     Don’t be Steven Slater: Quit Your Job Professionally http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/ http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:40:22 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6785
  • Burning Bridges Leaves You as an Island
  • Write a Killer ‘Thank You’ Letter
  • Vermox Without Prescription
    • ]]>     CLICK HERE for a video with CNN reporters interviewing one of the passengers on the plane who witnessed the occurrence. Even though he seems to be turning into a modern folk hero, the way he quit his job is far from recommended. If this is the WRONG way to quit a job, then what’s the right way? How do you quit a job without burning bridges? And, what's so wrong with burning a few bridges if the company and/or supervisor were bad to you?

    Quitting the Job Properly

    Give at least 2 weeks notice, but a month would be preferred. This demonstrates professionalism and courtesy to the company and your boss.

    They will eventually have to replace you and by giving them a heads up, they can initiate a search for your replacement with hopes for only a small gap between you and the new recruit.

    Type a resignation letter. Use professional language and business letter format. Approach your boss with this letter and explain to him/her as to why you're choosing to resign.

    I once heard of a teacher that submitted her resignation letter on a piece of construction paper and written in crayon. You can be assured that she was not given a reference letter upon departure. Sample Resignation Letters.

    Choose your words wisely. When you approach your boss about quitting the job, be sure to give solid reasons for your departure, but keep it positive. If it's a touchy subject, then make sure to discuss it with a trusted friend/family member or a career counselor to adequately prepare. This will help you choose your words properly and leave on a good note.

    Don't Burn Bridges

    1. It's a small world after all. It's amazing who knows who and how much people network and talk within professional industries. If you quit your job unprofessionally, then it's likely your previous boss will talk about it and it may end up affecting your job search.
    2. Get the good reference. Even if you didn't like the job, you can still leave with a good reference from your supervisor or a colleague. Most employers require three references before hiring a new employee.
    3. Make it easy on yourself. If you leave in a professional manner, then it's a lot easier to interview with a new employer. A common question used in interviews is, "Why did you leave your previous job?" It will reflect better on you if you can answer positively than figure out how to spin it, or risk lying. The company you're interviewing with can call your previous employer and inquire whether or not they would consider hiring you back, and a positive response will increase your chances for hire.
    There are some additional suggestions at BEST-JOB-INTERVIEW.com, including offering to train your replacement, be productive until the last day and tie up any loose ends, and more specific information on writing the resignation letter.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/feed/ 0     Want To Forget Important Things? Don’t Take Notes. http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/ http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/#comments Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:44:29 +0000 Lori Bielek http://studentbranding.com/?p=6690
  • Suprax Generic
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    • ]]>     take good notes inside the classroom.  However, taking notes outside of class can be just as important.  I have found that the tips and tools I learned about from individuals outside the classroom have been the most influential to my personal and professional success.

    Why should I take notes?

    You are not going to remember everything you hear.  Believe me.  The Dartmouth College Academic Skills Center states that,  "Humans are poor listeners. Research shows that individuals can only recall 50% of what they hear and that 20-30% is incorrect!" There have been many times that I wished I had written things down.  If you don't jot down things when you hear them, you have missed your chance of having the most accurate record.

    When should I take notes?

    Here are some examples of when you should take notes:
    • When researching what college or graduate school to attend
    • When reading advice articles or attending personal development and career workshops
    • When learning new things at your job or internship
    • During your student organization meetings
    • When asking for help, particularly regarding anything technical or computer-related

    Fun tools for note-taking

    I have been able to quickly learn new technologies largely because I have taken notes and saved important information.  When I want to learn new software products or social media tools, I try to seek out free classes or online resources for assistance. To help me keep track, I have found better note-taking tools than pencil and paper or opening a Word document on my PC. My favorite note-taking tool is Evernote.  This is a free application that allows you to take notes through a web browser on any computer, through an app on your Mac or PC, or with a smart phone. Evernote will index all your notes so they are fully searchable. This tool is particularly useful if you don't have your laptop with you and you want to remember something. Another way I have learned to remember important things that I find online is to save the web pages.  Conventional bookmarking on your computer browser can get messy and is only helpful if you have your computer with you.  One useful tool for organizing your bookmarks is the free web app, Delicious. Once you save your bookmarks in Delicious, they are accessible from any computer and many mobile devices.  You can easily tag your Delicious bookmarks so they are arranged by topic. In addition, you can share bookmarks or search other people's bookmarks.
    Tip: Using the Delicious add-on in Firefox makes it really easy to save and retrieve your cataloged bookmarks
    I tend to use the Delicious app for web pages I want to refer to regularly.  I use another tool for when I want to save articles to read just once. For all of you folks (like me) who love to read various tweets, articles and blogs online, but don't always have time at the moment to read the full article, Read It Later will be your new best friend. This web app (also available on smartphones) saves web articles so you can easily access them later. I typically will use Read It Later for saving articles I find on Twitter or through RSS feeds.  Once I have time, I read through the saved articles and delete them as I go.  The Read It Later browser add-on is also a must-have.
    Tip: It would be handy to have Evernote open while you are reading your saved articles, so you can write down any important things you may have learned.

    Note-taking leads to success

    I learned about all of the above apps from classmates or friends.  If I hadn't written down the names of the tools, I would not have remembered to follow-up and make an account. You don't have to be a genius or attend the highest-ranked school to be knowledgeable and successful.  You just have to make the best of what you have -- be a good listener and take good notes, even when you are outside the classroom.

    Author:

    Lori Bielek is the Marketing and Technology Coordinator at University of Delaware’s (UD) Career Services Center where she advises students in the arts and sciences through all steps of their career development.  You can connect with Lori through LinkedIn, Twitter, or the UD Career Services Twitter account (@UDcareers).]]>     http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/feed/ 0     Unemployment Impacts More than Your Wallet http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/ http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/#comments Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:00:12 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6671
  • A Career Counselor’s Spring Break Abroad
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    • ]]>     Bureau of Labor Statistics. They also stated that the median time a person has spent in unemployment is 25.5 weeks, about 6 months. Six months is the time we recommend any job seeker to devote to the job search process. This provides a little relief to know that this average hasn’t changed much considering this recession is about twice as bad as in the 1980s. Even though the job seeking timeline and median unemployment rate matches, the psychological affects have climbed.

    The Snowball Effect

    It doesn’t help that the media continues to report on how bad the unemployment trends are within our economy. Just yesterday I received a phone call from a media representative who wanted to do a story on the fact that the unemployment rates haven’t changed and how that impacts my job as a career counselor and the job seekers. Honestly, what impacts the job seekers outlook most is this developed sense of hopelessness. Even though we’re able to still hold job fairs with local employers looking to fill 50-100+ jobs, the number of seekers attending the fairs has decreased since the start of the recession in 2007. This sense of hopelessness with the job market snowballs and as it increases it also impacts additional areas of a person’s life. The Pew Research Center published recent findings that unemployment not only affects finances, but also relations with family and friends and a loss of self-respect. It's interesting that the time we need our family and friends the most is also the time we tend to cause strain on the relationships, or just ignore them completely. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? This is a time to strengthen relationships and really use them to their full potential. All those years of being there for your friends and family should have some residual effect when it’s your turn to need help. Like I’ve said in some previous posts, no person is an island and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. Self-respect is probably the most critical area that’s impacted by unemployment. If you lose self-respect then you’re decreasing your networking effectiveness, chances to be hired, and overall productiveness of the job search. In essence a loss of self-respect could spiral people into depression. Employers want to hire candidates with confidence and competence to do the job well, and if your self-respect has lowered then it’s likely your confidence and ability to market yourself in a job interview has also decreased. If you’re not sure about your level of self-respect then ask yourself how often you use negative language, like “I can’t…,” “This will never…,” or “No one will help me.”

    A Positive Effect

    There has been one potential positive effect from the recent unemployment, a reassessment of career goals. The forced change of losing a job can lead to a reevaluation of career goals, interests, and overall job and life satisfaction. More and more people are seeking out professional development opportunities and training options to increase their marketability. An even bigger trend, which I’ve seen through counseling appointments, is an interest in returning to school and changing career directions completely. I’ve heard more people state things like “for the past 20 years I’ve worked to support myself (and my family) but it was never what I really wanted to do. Now I have the option to change my career, but I’m not sure how to go about it.” I applaud this risk taking behavior because it could mean an overall increase in life satisfaction. However, be careful when taking risks because if it impacts basic needs of food, shelter, and safety then it could increase the chances of losing self-respect and even depression.

    Dealing with the Aftermath

    There are many ways to productively and positively handle the loss of a job. I’ve actually posted a number of blogs through my career services office that discusses coping with job loss. These contain some good tips about how to mentally prepare for the road ahead, not allow your current situation to have a negative impact on finding a new job, and even some additional job seeking strategies. It’s time to be more conscious of yourself which means taking time out to daily reflect on the positives in your life, recreate with friends, keep a journal, or whatever method works for you. Times of turmoil call for a deeper intuition of self and a recognition of needs. Even as counselors we are reminded that the number one person to care for is you, because if you’re not healthy in mind, body, and spirit then it reduces our effectiveness to help others. So take time to renew and balance your life because that is the core to an effective personal and work life!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/feed/ 0     Independent Job Search – A Thing of the Past http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/ http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/#comments Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:03:17 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6629
  • Levaquin 750mg
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    • ]]>     Use of Career Services Linked to Job Offers. Although I’ve been on the same soap box for three years, it’s nice to read about quantitative data supporting my and every other career counselor’s claim. The article continues to state that there is a positive correlation between the number of visits to a career center and the likelihood of job offers.

    Roadblocks & Recoveries

    Although NACE encourages the use of career centers, it also reported that about 29% of recent job offers were to people who never used the services of a career center. So, it is possible to obtain a job without help, but less likely. With all this supporting evidence, why would anyone not seek help? College can be very busy, especially if you’re balancing a job, extracurricular activities, and family life along with it. Some students may not have much time to visit a career center. Well good news, most career centers have drop-in hours so almost anyone can squeeze in time for a resume critique or job searching assistance. Remember a professional job search will usually take at least 6 months before an offer is given, and during that time the job search process should be seen as a full time job. Many students go through college not knowing about the career center and its services. This dilemma is a little harder to find a solution. I would hope that all faculty members are telling students about the services on campus and even students can share their good experiences, but that doesn’t mean that everyone listens or is aware that it’s something he/she might need. Here’s some more good news, most career centers offer services to their alumni for free or for a low fee. It would be better to have used the services while you’re in school because it’s free for current students, but know that it’s never too late to seek assistance. Sometimes it’s hard to ask for help. Asking for help means that we have to put our pride aside and admit that we may not be good at writing resumes, interviewing, or networking. Let’s look at it this way, if you’ve never been trained in any of these skills, then how are you expected to be successful with them? Think of a visit to the career center as training for the job search. They teach you how to write a technical resume, coach you on what to say to employers and how choosing the right words makes all the difference. Most career centers even offer opportunities to put these skills into practice, like at job fairs and networking events.

    Lesson Learned

    It happens to the best of us. We all stumble, fail, lose, or wish we had a do over for various times in our lives. Even I didn’t realize how little I knew about resumes until I visited my college’s career center. It was amazing the difference between my original resume and the updated resume after my appointment with a career counselor. Not only did it look more professional, but I also received more phone calls from employers with the new resume (during my last job search). Lesson learned: Don’t be afraid to seek out a little help, because you can’t do it all by yourself!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter. ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/feed/ 0     When Stressed: Don’t Procrastinate, Take a Break http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/ http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/#comments Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:03:17 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6629
  • Levaquin 750mg
  • Maximize your career center experience
  • Authenticity and the Job Search
    • ]]>     Use of Career Services Linked to Job Offers. Although I’ve been on the same soap box for three years, it’s nice to read about quantitative data supporting my and every other career counselor’s claim. The article continues to state that there is a positive correlation between the number of visits to a career center and the likelihood of job offers.

    Roadblocks & Recoveries

    Although NACE encourages the use of career centers, it also reported that about 29% of recent job offers were to people who never used the services of a career center. So, it is possible to obtain a job without help, but less likely. With all this supporting evidence, why would anyone not seek help? College can be very busy, especially if you’re balancing a job, extracurricular activities, and family life along with it. Some students may not have much time to visit a career center. Well good news, most career centers have drop-in hours so almost anyone can squeeze in time for a resume critique or job searching assistance. Remember a professional job search will usually take at least 6 months before an offer is given, and during that time the job search process should be seen as a full time job. Many students go through college not knowing about the career center and its services. This dilemma is a little harder to find a solution. I would hope that all faculty members are telling students about the services on campus and even students can share their good experiences, but that doesn’t mean that everyone listens or is aware that it’s something he/she might need. Here’s some more good news, most career centers offer services to their alumni for free or for a low fee. It would be better to have used the services while you’re in school because it’s free for current students, but know that it’s never too late to seek assistance. Sometimes it’s hard to ask for help. Asking for help means that we have to put our pride aside and admit that we may not be good at writing resumes, interviewing, or networking. Let’s look at it this way, if you’ve never been trained in any of these skills, then how are you expected to be successful with them? Think of a visit to the career center as training for the job search. They teach you how to write a technical resume, coach you on what to say to employers and how choosing the right words makes all the difference. Most career centers even offer opportunities to put these skills into practice, like at job fairs and networking events.

    Lesson Learned

    It happens to the best of us. We all stumble, fail, lose, or wish we had a do over for various times in our lives. Even I didn’t realize how little I knew about resumes until I visited my college’s career center. It was amazing the difference between my original resume and the updated resume after my appointment with a career counselor. Not only did it look more professional, but I also received more phone calls from employers with the new resume (during my last job search). Lesson learned: Don’t be afraid to seek out a little help, because you can’t do it all by yourself!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter. ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/feed/ 0     Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel » Grad School http://studentbranding.com The Student Branding Blog, part of the Personal Branding Network, is the #1 resource for career and personal branding advice for high school, college and graduate students. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:53:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Yes, You Need Business Cards Too http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/ http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/#comments Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:49:12 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=7031
  • Ten Easy Tips for Networking Your Way into a Job
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    • ]]>     Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event. College is full of opportunities to meet new people, get into interesting conversations or discover new passions. The contacts that you make may seem random and not applicable to the professional world waiting outside college, yet you never know which one of the people you meet may become your future mentor, your best friend, or your future employer.

    I'm a student. Why do I need business cards?

    Student life does not ordinarily revolve around business cards. But it is important to start building your personal brand already during your university years. Doing so will get you ahead of the majority of your classmates and will serve you well when the time comes to start applying for that first job. Having business cards on hand will help when... ... you suddenly meet an employee of a company you'd like to work or intern for ... you want to differentiate yourself at a careers' fair ... a recruiter asks for your contact information ... you want to seem professional ... you receive someone's card and they ask for yours as well ... you're talking to someone who has your dream job and you want to be able to follow up and get some more tips on how to get where they are

    What should I put on my card?

    As a student, your cards will not be company-branded. This gives you the freedom to include what you think is appropriate, such as:
    • your full name
    • the name of your university, your major and expected year of graduation
    • your contact address
    • email address, telephone number
    • blog url or links to social media profiles (such as LinkedIn)
    • your skills or most impressive experience
    • the industry you'd like to enter or a short byline describing what sort of opportunities you're looking for

    How can I get my cards?

    The easiest way to get your cards printed is to do it online. Vistaprint offers templates for easy design or, my favourite, Moo cards will let you print each card with a different design/photo on the back side. You can thus customise every single card and use your stack as a portfolio. For even more impact, consider using the back of your card to showcase your portrait, photos that you have taken, your designs or ideas, pictures of what you've built/constructed, projects you've been involved with, etc. Start building your personal brand now with business cards that reflect who you are and where you want to go. Have you used business cards as a student before? Tell us about your experience in the comments.

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/yes-you-need-business-cards-too/feed/ 0     Five Things To Do Right After (Any) Event http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/ http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:44:47 +0000 Anna Manasova http://studentbranding.com/?p=6971
  • Don’t Let Shyness Derail Networking Opportunities
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    • ]]>     Take advantage of all events These are not "networking events" designed to help you in professional life. No one will be waving a business card in your face and often they will feel very casual. Yet many students miss an important point: these events are as valuable as any intentionally networking event can be. They help you meet new people or catch up with someone you haven't talked to in a while and they do so whilst giving you some common ground and a starting point for conversation. Yet just meeting someone and then never talking to them again is not useful in itself. You want to be able to keep in touch with the people you meet, to share ideas and maybe build a longer-lasting relationship. How do you do that?

    Here are 5 things to do immediately after an event:

    1. Add the people you met on Facebook and/or LinkedIn This is especially useful if you don't have their email address as both these networks let you search by name. Plus it gives you opportunity to contact them even if they graduate, change jobs or move to a different city as their profile on these networks will simply incorporate such changes. Tip: Create a list called "Professional" on Facebook and customise what contacts in this list can see from your Facebook profile.

    2. Send a "nice to meet you" message

    Do this right away, or the next day, but don't wait too long. This is an opportunity to remind them about the recent meeting and a chance to "re-introduce" yourself whilst the meeting is still in their fresh memory and they remember who you are. Tip: Include a link to your blog or profiles online so that they can find out more about you.

    3. Include something personalized

    Was there something from your conversation that you can comment on? Did they maybe mention an upcoming job interview that you could wish them good luck for? Or a recent success that you can congratulate them on? If you promised to do something during your conversation, be sure to deliver. For example: "Hi Joe, It was great to meet you yesterday. Hope the job interview goes well next week and here's a link to the article I mentioned in our conversation..."

    4. Jot down important points from your conversation

    While the conversation is fresh in your mind, jot down any important information or facts that you may need in a follow-up. This could include the topics that you talked about, the name of the school they go to or what clubs they are involved in, any names of friends or relatives or events they mentioned. This will allow you to be topical and to refer to specifics in your next conversation. We all like to feel special when we notice someone took the effort to remember bits of information about us.

    5. Set yourself a follow-up reminder

    Use your calendar or to-do list and set up a reminder for a week/a month or whatever is appropriate in the future when you will get in touch again and see if there's anything you could do for them. Get in the habit of doing these and you'll set yourself up for some great relationships. What do you do to take advantage of various events? Do you have any tips to add?

    Author

    Anna is a Social Media Marketing Assistant at Pepsmedia, based in Cambridge, UK. Having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2010 with a degree in Social and Political Sciences, she joined the small team straight out of university and is now helping businesses engage with customers online and build communities. She is passionate about the use of social media both in business and for individuals. To find out more, read her Life With Social Media blog, or connect with her on Twitter @annamanasova and LinkedIn.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/five-things-to-do-right-after-any-event/feed/ 0     Diversity Career Resources: African American http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:08:30 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6961
  • Diversity Career Resources: Part 1
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    • ]]>     The Black Collegian, provides information on career resources for black college students. Job search strategies, graduate school opportunities, career and industry reports are abundantly explored. This site is the cyberspace partner of The Black Collegian magazine, serving the career and self-development interests of African American collegians throughout America since 1970. The second one, Black Career Women, is an organization founded in 1977 and serves as a nucleus of support to identify and address the critical needs of black women in the workforce as it relates to their career mobility and achievement. Here are some key elements of the websites.

    The Black Collegian

    • Employer Profiles – Read about featured employers plus a total of 17 employer profiles “that support diversity and actively recruit on college campuses nationwide.”
    • The Diversity Registry – Connect to DiversityRegistry.com and research companies with “active diversity programs."
    • Job Tools & Career Center – Search for jobs within The Black Collegian’s database, get career advice and tips on internships.
    • Study & Campus Section– Learn about graduate studies, working and studying abroad, scholarships and grants, and more.
    • Extracurricular Section– Additional information just for fun, like music, poetry, and films.

    Black Career Women

    • Career Coaches – Get expert advice on your career path.
    • Careers Section – Read articles and advice on assessments, career exploration, decision making, job searching, and negotiations like salary.
    • Join the Organization – Provides you discounts on programs, free access to Virtual Career Workshop, members only career content, and more.
    • Useful Websites – Lists additional websites that can help with your career development, like Black Career Zone and Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
    There are many other great career resources out there for African Americans. Check out some of these additional handouts and websites.

    Author:

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-african-american/feed/ 2     Diversity Career Resources: Part 1 http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/ http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:34:48 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6893
  • Diversity Career Resources: African American
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    • ]]>     Personal Branding is all about showcasing yourself and marketing your unique characteristics, interests, and skills. The way you identify yourself (woman/man, African American, LGBTQ, etc.) is protected information and employers cannot refuse to hire based upon these personal identities. There has also been research that states a person’s acceptance of self translates into confidence which employers look for in candidates. What I mean is take the time to know yourself, where you come from, and be confident with those unique characteristics that makes you special. There are some great career resources out there for everyone. I’m going to take a few weeks and share with you some very useful and diverse career webpages. I’m starting off with a general site and then will share more specific websites in the upcoming weeks.

    DiversityWorking.com

    DiversityWorking claims to be the “largest diversity job board online.” This may be true, but it doesn’t have postings for every US state. It is still a good resource for a number of reasons.

    Key Elements of the Website

    • Job Board – You can browse and search for jobs in 72 industries. There is also a section entitled Search Agent where you can schedule your own search agent that notifies you via email when a position that you’re interested in becomes available.
    • Resume Posting – Post your resume to the website and allow employers to search for you!
    • Organization – Provides the job seeker with basic information about the various companies that DiversityWorking showcases. They also provide a link to each company’s website which makes it easy for you do additional research.
    • Career Expo – Take part in the Virtual Diversity Career Expo. 10 weeks with a different career industry each week. There are still 5 career expos that will run throughout the end of 2010 calendar year. The only downside to this element is that it costs to attend, but once you pay it is available 24/7 throughout the weeks.

    Additional Resources for the Job Seeker

    • FAQ Section – Good information with resume and interviewing tips. There’s only one criticism I would give with the resume tips. It suggests adding personal information to your resume, but this is not recommended because some personal information, like age, race, marital status etc. is protected information. There’s also some information on what to do if you experienced discrimination and why diversity is so important to companies.
    • Community Channels – Provides job seekers with specific search agents based on ethnic groups and recent news that have impacted the work place.
    • Diversity News – Recent news articles that impact the world of work, especially related to diversity.
    • Newsletter – Sign up for an email newsletter which provides you with the latest job openings, news, events, and more. You can even select to specify your newsletter to how you identify yourself, choices include ethnic, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, military, and more.
    Check out this resource and watch for more website and resource reviews to come in the upcoming weeks.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/diversity-career-resources-part-1/feed/ 0     The Worst Things That Have Ever Happened to You http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/ http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:36:34 +0000 Kelly Cuene http://studentbranding.com/?p=6905
  • Before the Interview, Do the Homework!
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  • Let Your Inhibitions Be Your Guide
    • ]]>
    • Tell me about a time when you failed.
    • What are your greatest weaknesses?
    • What is the greatest obstacle you've overcome?
    • What is the most difficult decision you have ever had to make?
    These kind of questions can often catch candidates off guard. They might bring up painful, embarrassing and negative experiences. It is challenging to convey what happened without complaining or coming across as overly negative. At the same time, negative experiences or challenges usually provide for lots of growth and learning. They will allow you to demonstrate to an employer how you tackle tough issues and show them you aren't afraid of making mistakes. Nobody wants to hire someone who will run from problems.

    Some tips for handling these types of interview questions:

    • Don't dwell on the negative. State the situation and swiftly move on to how you dealt with the issue.
    • State the facts and avoid interjecting negative opinions about other people (For example,  "my boss was very demanding" is much better than, "my boss was rude and mean")
    • Make sure to discuss the skills you used to overcome a challenge or deal with a problem.
    • Always end on a positive. What did you learn? How did the situation affect future decisions and actions?
    • Prepare in advance. These situations are tough to talk about and usually the questions we dread most. Practice your responses in advance.
    Even if you're not explicitly asked about a challenging situation, discussing those type of situations allows you to demonstrate how you've grown or used your skills in difficult circumstances. What's the most difficult interview question you have ever been asked?

    Author

    Kelly is a career advisor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she assists undergraduate business students with all aspects of their career development. Connect with Kelly on Twitter, her blog, LinkedIn or BrazenCareerist.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/the-worst-things-that-have-ever-happened-to-you/feed/ 0     Don’t be Steven Slater: Quit Your Job Professionally http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/ http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:40:22 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6785
  • Burning Bridges Leaves You as an Island
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    • ]]>     CLICK HERE for a video with CNN reporters interviewing one of the passengers on the plane who witnessed the occurrence. Even though he seems to be turning into a modern folk hero, the way he quit his job is far from recommended. If this is the WRONG way to quit a job, then what’s the right way? How do you quit a job without burning bridges? And, what's so wrong with burning a few bridges if the company and/or supervisor were bad to you?

    Quitting the Job Properly

    Give at least 2 weeks notice, but a month would be preferred. This demonstrates professionalism and courtesy to the company and your boss.

    They will eventually have to replace you and by giving them a heads up, they can initiate a search for your replacement with hopes for only a small gap between you and the new recruit.

    Type a resignation letter. Use professional language and business letter format. Approach your boss with this letter and explain to him/her as to why you're choosing to resign.

    I once heard of a teacher that submitted her resignation letter on a piece of construction paper and written in crayon. You can be assured that she was not given a reference letter upon departure. Sample Resignation Letters.

    Choose your words wisely. When you approach your boss about quitting the job, be sure to give solid reasons for your departure, but keep it positive. If it's a touchy subject, then make sure to discuss it with a trusted friend/family member or a career counselor to adequately prepare. This will help you choose your words properly and leave on a good note.

    Don't Burn Bridges

    1. It's a small world after all. It's amazing who knows who and how much people network and talk within professional industries. If you quit your job unprofessionally, then it's likely your previous boss will talk about it and it may end up affecting your job search.
    2. Get the good reference. Even if you didn't like the job, you can still leave with a good reference from your supervisor or a colleague. Most employers require three references before hiring a new employee.
    3. Make it easy on yourself. If you leave in a professional manner, then it's a lot easier to interview with a new employer. A common question used in interviews is, "Why did you leave your previous job?" It will reflect better on you if you can answer positively than figure out how to spin it, or risk lying. The company you're interviewing with can call your previous employer and inquire whether or not they would consider hiring you back, and a positive response will increase your chances for hire.
    There are some additional suggestions at BEST-JOB-INTERVIEW.com, including offering to train your replacement, be productive until the last day and tie up any loose ends, and more specific information on writing the resignation letter.

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/dont-be-like-steven-slater-quit-your-job-professionally/feed/ 0     Want To Forget Important Things? Don’t Take Notes. http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/ http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/#comments Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:44:29 +0000 Lori Bielek http://studentbranding.com/?p=6690
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    • ]]>     take good notes inside the classroom.  However, taking notes outside of class can be just as important.  I have found that the tips and tools I learned about from individuals outside the classroom have been the most influential to my personal and professional success.

    Why should I take notes?

    You are not going to remember everything you hear.  Believe me.  The Dartmouth College Academic Skills Center states that,  "Humans are poor listeners. Research shows that individuals can only recall 50% of what they hear and that 20-30% is incorrect!" There have been many times that I wished I had written things down.  If you don't jot down things when you hear them, you have missed your chance of having the most accurate record.

    When should I take notes?

    Here are some examples of when you should take notes:
    • When researching what college or graduate school to attend
    • When reading advice articles or attending personal development and career workshops
    • When learning new things at your job or internship
    • During your student organization meetings
    • When asking for help, particularly regarding anything technical or computer-related

    Fun tools for note-taking

    I have been able to quickly learn new technologies largely because I have taken notes and saved important information.  When I want to learn new software products or social media tools, I try to seek out free classes or online resources for assistance. To help me keep track, I have found better note-taking tools than pencil and paper or opening a Word document on my PC. My favorite note-taking tool is Evernote.  This is a free application that allows you to take notes through a web browser on any computer, through an app on your Mac or PC, or with a smart phone. Evernote will index all your notes so they are fully searchable. This tool is particularly useful if you don't have your laptop with you and you want to remember something. Another way I have learned to remember important things that I find online is to save the web pages.  Conventional bookmarking on your computer browser can get messy and is only helpful if you have your computer with you.  One useful tool for organizing your bookmarks is the free web app, Delicious. Once you save your bookmarks in Delicious, they are accessible from any computer and many mobile devices.  You can easily tag your Delicious bookmarks so they are arranged by topic. In addition, you can share bookmarks or search other people's bookmarks.
    Tip: Using the Delicious add-on in Firefox makes it really easy to save and retrieve your cataloged bookmarks
    I tend to use the Delicious app for web pages I want to refer to regularly.  I use another tool for when I want to save articles to read just once. For all of you folks (like me) who love to read various tweets, articles and blogs online, but don't always have time at the moment to read the full article, Read It Later will be your new best friend. This web app (also available on smartphones) saves web articles so you can easily access them later. I typically will use Read It Later for saving articles I find on Twitter or through RSS feeds.  Once I have time, I read through the saved articles and delete them as I go.  The Read It Later browser add-on is also a must-have.
    Tip: It would be handy to have Evernote open while you are reading your saved articles, so you can write down any important things you may have learned.

    Note-taking leads to success

    I learned about all of the above apps from classmates or friends.  If I hadn't written down the names of the tools, I would not have remembered to follow-up and make an account. You don't have to be a genius or attend the highest-ranked school to be knowledgeable and successful.  You just have to make the best of what you have -- be a good listener and take good notes, even when you are outside the classroom.

    Author:

    Lori Bielek is the Marketing and Technology Coordinator at University of Delaware’s (UD) Career Services Center where she advises students in the arts and sciences through all steps of their career development.  You can connect with Lori through LinkedIn, Twitter, or the UD Career Services Twitter account (@UDcareers).]]>     http://studentbranding.com/want-to-forget-important-things-dont-take-notes/feed/ 0     Unemployment Impacts More than Your Wallet http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/ http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/#comments Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:00:12 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6671
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    • ]]>     Bureau of Labor Statistics. They also stated that the median time a person has spent in unemployment is 25.5 weeks, about 6 months. Six months is the time we recommend any job seeker to devote to the job search process. This provides a little relief to know that this average hasn’t changed much considering this recession is about twice as bad as in the 1980s. Even though the job seeking timeline and median unemployment rate matches, the psychological affects have climbed.

    The Snowball Effect

    It doesn’t help that the media continues to report on how bad the unemployment trends are within our economy. Just yesterday I received a phone call from a media representative who wanted to do a story on the fact that the unemployment rates haven’t changed and how that impacts my job as a career counselor and the job seekers. Honestly, what impacts the job seekers outlook most is this developed sense of hopelessness. Even though we’re able to still hold job fairs with local employers looking to fill 50-100+ jobs, the number of seekers attending the fairs has decreased since the start of the recession in 2007. This sense of hopelessness with the job market snowballs and as it increases it also impacts additional areas of a person’s life. The Pew Research Center published recent findings that unemployment not only affects finances, but also relations with family and friends and a loss of self-respect. It's interesting that the time we need our family and friends the most is also the time we tend to cause strain on the relationships, or just ignore them completely. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? This is a time to strengthen relationships and really use them to their full potential. All those years of being there for your friends and family should have some residual effect when it’s your turn to need help. Like I’ve said in some previous posts, no person is an island and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. Self-respect is probably the most critical area that’s impacted by unemployment. If you lose self-respect then you’re decreasing your networking effectiveness, chances to be hired, and overall productiveness of the job search. In essence a loss of self-respect could spiral people into depression. Employers want to hire candidates with confidence and competence to do the job well, and if your self-respect has lowered then it’s likely your confidence and ability to market yourself in a job interview has also decreased. If you’re not sure about your level of self-respect then ask yourself how often you use negative language, like “I can’t…,” “This will never…,” or “No one will help me.”

    A Positive Effect

    There has been one potential positive effect from the recent unemployment, a reassessment of career goals. The forced change of losing a job can lead to a reevaluation of career goals, interests, and overall job and life satisfaction. More and more people are seeking out professional development opportunities and training options to increase their marketability. An even bigger trend, which I’ve seen through counseling appointments, is an interest in returning to school and changing career directions completely. I’ve heard more people state things like “for the past 20 years I’ve worked to support myself (and my family) but it was never what I really wanted to do. Now I have the option to change my career, but I’m not sure how to go about it.” I applaud this risk taking behavior because it could mean an overall increase in life satisfaction. However, be careful when taking risks because if it impacts basic needs of food, shelter, and safety then it could increase the chances of losing self-respect and even depression.

    Dealing with the Aftermath

    There are many ways to productively and positively handle the loss of a job. I’ve actually posted a number of blogs through my career services office that discusses coping with job loss. These contain some good tips about how to mentally prepare for the road ahead, not allow your current situation to have a negative impact on finding a new job, and even some additional job seeking strategies. It’s time to be more conscious of yourself which means taking time out to daily reflect on the positives in your life, recreate with friends, keep a journal, or whatever method works for you. Times of turmoil call for a deeper intuition of self and a recognition of needs. Even as counselors we are reminded that the number one person to care for is you, because if you’re not healthy in mind, body, and spirit then it reduces our effectiveness to help others. So take time to renew and balance your life because that is the core to an effective personal and work life!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter.]]>     http://studentbranding.com/unemployment-impacts-more-than-your-wallet/feed/ 0     Independent Job Search – A Thing of the Past http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/ http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/#comments Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:03:17 +0000 Karen Obringer http://studentbranding.com/?p=6629
  • Levaquin 750mg
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    • ]]>     Use of Career Services Linked to Job Offers. Although I’ve been on the same soap box for three years, it’s nice to read about quantitative data supporting my and every other career counselor’s claim. The article continues to state that there is a positive correlation between the number of visits to a career center and the likelihood of job offers.

    Roadblocks & Recoveries

    Although NACE encourages the use of career centers, it also reported that about 29% of recent job offers were to people who never used the services of a career center. So, it is possible to obtain a job without help, but less likely. With all this supporting evidence, why would anyone not seek help? College can be very busy, especially if you’re balancing a job, extracurricular activities, and family life along with it. Some students may not have much time to visit a career center. Well good news, most career centers have drop-in hours so almost anyone can squeeze in time for a resume critique or job searching assistance. Remember a professional job search will usually take at least 6 months before an offer is given, and during that time the job search process should be seen as a full time job. Many students go through college not knowing about the career center and its services. This dilemma is a little harder to find a solution. I would hope that all faculty members are telling students about the services on campus and even students can share their good experiences, but that doesn’t mean that everyone listens or is aware that it’s something he/she might need. Here’s some more good news, most career centers offer services to their alumni for free or for a low fee. It would be better to have used the services while you’re in school because it’s free for current students, but know that it’s never too late to seek assistance. Sometimes it’s hard to ask for help. Asking for help means that we have to put our pride aside and admit that we may not be good at writing resumes, interviewing, or networking. Let’s look at it this way, if you’ve never been trained in any of these skills, then how are you expected to be successful with them? Think of a visit to the career center as training for the job search. They teach you how to write a technical resume, coach you on what to say to employers and how choosing the right words makes all the difference. Most career centers even offer opportunities to put these skills into practice, like at job fairs and networking events.

    Lesson Learned

    It happens to the best of us. We all stumble, fail, lose, or wish we had a do over for various times in our lives. Even I didn’t realize how little I knew about resumes until I visited my college’s career center. It was amazing the difference between my original resume and the updated resume after my appointment with a career counselor. Not only did it look more professional, but I also received more phone calls from employers with the new resume (during my last job search). Lesson learned: Don’t be afraid to seek out a little help, because you can’t do it all by yourself!

    Author

    Karen is a Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). At IPFW she assists students in finding internships, coordinates and assists with campus-wide events, teaches a Career Planning course, and meets with students individually to assist them with all aspects of career development. Connect with Karen via LinkedIn or Twitter. ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/independent-job-search-a-thing-of-the-past/feed/ 0     When Stressed: Don’t Procrastinate, Take a Break http://studentbranding.com/when-stressed-dont-procrastinate-take-a-break/ http://studentbranding.com/when-stressed-dont-procrastinate-take-a-break/#comments Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:37:50 +0000 Lori Bielek http://studentbranding.com/?p=6589
  • How to Procrastinate
  • Doryx Buy
  • How to Be Assertive
    • ]]>     When you feel at your tipping point with responsibilities and stress, passive procrastination does n0t usually help.  (Believe me, I have tons of experience.)  What can help, however, is taking a break by focusing on purposeful relaxation, reflection and re-prioritizing.

    Take a break

    Some of my favorite ways to relax are through yoga or a full body massage.  Of course, these are not always available, so an easy way to relax is to practice deep breathing.  This is much more helpful than you might imagine. When feeling overwhelmed, find a place where you can be alone, even if all that is available is a bathroom stall.  Preferably, find a place that is quiet.  You may want to listen to relaxing music (Sarah McLachlan is my favorite).  Take some time just getting into a relaxed state through deep breathing and feeling your body become less tense.  Spending this time on yourself will help you focus on what should be most important in your life -- your health and well-being.

    Prioritize your life

    Once you are relaxed, you can begin to think about how you might want to restructure your life for success.  Perhaps you just need better time management skills.  Spend this time deciding what is most important in your life and, if necessary, think about cutting out things that are less important.  Perhaps you are spending too much energy on unhealthy friendships or relationships.  Maybe you are just over-stretched with responsibilities. Take this time to figure out how you might be able to rearrange your life to be less stressed and more successful in what is most important to you.  Take notes, if necessary. Remember that your well-being and success in school are your biggest priorities while you are a student.  If those are taken care of, you will have more energy for your social life, jobs and internships, and working on your personal brand.

    Begin

    Once you have established some ways you can restructure your life for success, begin implementing your plan.  If you find that you are procrastinating again to avoid stress, just remind yourself of your priorities.  We all fall back into old habits easily, so do not be too hard on yourself. If this process does not end up feeling productive and you continue to be stressed, you may want to seek some assistance at your school's counseling center.  These professionals are well equipped to help you better cope with life's stresses and the crazy times that we all go through. Good luck, and remember to take breaks whenever you need them.

    Author:

    Lori Bielek is the Marketing and Technology Coordinator at University of Delaware’s (UD) Career Services Center where she advises students in the arts and sciences through all steps of their career development.  You can connect with Lori through LinkedIn, Twitter, or the UD Career Services Twitter account (@UDcareers). ]]>     http://studentbranding.com/when-stressed-dont-procrastinate-take-a-break/feed/ 3