It's April Fool's Day, but don't be a fool forever

I was that person. You know, the one in your classes, who is too scared to ask a question or share an opinion. I was afraid of being wrong or looking stupid. They say with age, comes wisdom, and I'm definitely old enough to know how dumb I was then because I didn't raise my hand when I didn't understand or had a comment to share. The quote in the picture above hangs in my office as reminder to me to ask questions.

On this April Fool's Day, we don't want you to be a fool forever.  Below are 12 typical questions we often receive from students.

What are typical careers for a communication major? (or any other major)
Where can I go to get more information about what environmental engineers do? (or the occupation that interests you)
How can I answer the interview question, "What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?"
Is this where I take the "test?"

What is the difference between a co-op and internship position?
Where can I find a summer internship in Seattle? (or some other location of interest)
What are other ways I can get experience besides working in an internship?
Does leadership experience count with employers or graduate programs?

What is the best format to use for my resume? (hint: there is not one right answer!)
Where can I get help with practicing for an interview?
What is the timeline to follow for my graduate school applications?
What kind of help do you provide as I apply to medical schools?

Which one of these questions do you want to ask? We have answers for these questions and more! You just need to take that first step and come see us for advising, available at these times and locations.

What questions do you have about your future plans? Career Services advisors can assist you. 

Let us help you reach the next step of the journey to your career.

The March Madness of Job Search: Are you ready for your BIG GAME?

NCAA Basketball Tournament season is upon us! Even if you're not a basketball fan, you've probably seen a game or 2 or heard about March Madness. Still in the hunt for a job? We've tied the madness of your search to all the basketball hoopla in the infographic below where you can find resume, cover letter, and interview tips as well as data points from May 2014 graduates found in our annual Post-Graduation Report.

Improve your job search game with tips from this infographic!

Rejected by an employer or grad school? 5 Ways to Shake It Off!

N-O. Such a small word, but those 2 letters make a huge impact. This time of year is the season where you may hear this word as you are contacted by employers, graduate programs, medical schools, law schools or other colleges or universities. I heard that word from my first choice school when I applied to college (actually it was maybe - I was wait-listed and never got to YES) and I heard NO when I applied to law schools. So, when rejection comes, what do you do?

Reflect. Look back over the process you just went through. Is there anything you would do differently? Do you wonder if your interview skills need work? You can schedule a mock interview with a career advisor by calling 540-231-6241. Review your application materials. Anything need tweaking there? Research a school's web site for information about typical applicants and average scores or GPAs that are accepted. How do your scores compare? Ask questions. You can ask an employer or program for feedback about your interview or application. Some may share and others may not, but it never hurts to ask for feedback. That will give you some areas to work on for the next interview or application.

Breathe. Exercise. When I received reject letters, going for a run or walk helped me clear my head, change my perspective and feel better about myself. Working out your frustration with physical exertion can help you get a handle on the varied emotions you are feeling.

Talk. Discussing the rejection you experience with a friend, relative or career advisor can help you digest the refusal. And, your personal board of directors can also help you decide on next steps you want to take. If you feel like you need additional coaching for next steps, come meet with us in Career Services. 

Try. What new strategy or direction could you try? Do you want to take a gap year to test out that next step you were planning to take? A gap year before additional education is not a bad thing. You can build skills and experience you can bring to the next round of applications. Or, if you are job searching, apply for some positions elsewhere. Taking an initial position at an organization that is not your dream job or dream company, could lead to a future position or company that is. When I didn't get something, I felt let down at the time, but something much better came along. 

Believe. Only you have the gifts you bring to an employer or graduate school. Are you in doubt of those gifts after not receiving an offer? If you want to feel better about yourself, we can point you a number of places to so some self-exploration. One tool is to discover your top talents using StrengthsQuest. Don't know your top 5 talents? Find out here, and then make an appointment with a career advisor to talk about what you learn and next steps for you to take. And, if you want to do even more self discovery, we can help. Rather than looking back, we can help you move forward to SOAR focusing on your strengths, identifying opportunities, creating some aspirations, striving for results you want to see. Come see us, and let's get started!

Like Taylor Swift says in her song, as you face rejection, Shake it off. 

And then do what Frank Sinatra recommends in his song: Take a deep breath, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again. 

You can do it, and we can help.

So, go ahead and Shake it Off with Taylor Swift.

"Cause the players gonna play, play, play

And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate

Baby I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake

Shake it off. Shake it off

Heartbreakers gonna break, break, break

And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake

Baby I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake

Shake it off, Shake it off

Shake it off

Shake it off

Shake it off

Shake it off"

Lyrics from Taylor Swift's Shake it Off

And, if you're not a Taylor Swift fan, then Pick Yourself Up and start all over again with Frank Sinatra.

Job Search Gone Cold? 7 ways to warm up!

We finally got our first big snow of 2015 and we’re in for a frigid week. While it’s cold outside, use this time to warm up your job search. Here are 6 warm ups for you with a bonus recipe thrown in!

Want to move to a different part of the country? Check out CareerSHIFT where you can customize your search for listings targeting a certain job title or location. And, if you have a dream employer but no contacts, you can search for contacts at employers as well. Once you locate an employer, send that contact a letter of inquiry with your resume.

Attend career fairs. Next week the Computer Science Consortium, Connection and CareerFest fairs will all be held. Connection is for ALL majors. And, if you don’t already have Spring Break plans, there are career fairs in Richmond and Northern Virginia during our break. Find out more about various fairs here.

Ramp up your brand online by fine tuning your LinkedIn profile. The more complete your profile, the more LinkedIn can help you, and the more you will bubble up in searches. Tap into a special job search site LinkedIn has created just for you. And, FIND ALUMNI by accessing them under CONNECTIONS in the LinkedIn tool bar. Tailor your requests to connect with alumni.

Make Hokies4Hire a regular part of your search by setting up saved searches (a job search agent), so you will get emails when a new job is added that meets your criteria. You can also participate in on campus interviews and look for contacts in the Employer Directory in Hokies4Hire.

Use GoinGlobal to research a city where you plan to relocate. This site features over 40 US City Guides with links to job listing sites. Tap into professional networking groups for a particular city and learn about top industries. And, if you are an international student, access the H1B Plus database to find employers who have been through the H1B process with other employees.

Put yourself out there! Don’t be afraid to reach out to contacts through friends of parents or parents of friends. Maybe that contact is a neighbor, someone you met at a conference, someone you know from class. Most people like helping others. If you find someone who won’t assist you, move on to the next contact. As I tell the 2 Hokies I raised, 

“It  never hurts to ask. The worst answer you will get is no!”

Need more ideas to warm up your job search? Come see us in Career Services or at a location near you. To make an appointment with a career advisor, call 540-231-6241. We can help you heat up your job search!

To close, warm up for real with this homemade hot chocolate recipe from the Hershey Cocoa box. Nothing like HOMEMADE HOT COCOA to warm up on these cold days we’ve been having. Stay warm and try some of these tips to make your job search heat up!

Picking the Right Fork and Acing the Job Dinner Interview

You’ve just received an interview with your dream company, but it includes a meal. Would you know what to do? Or which fork to use first? On Wednesday, October 24, Career Services hosted its annual Dining Etiquette Dinner. We have some advice on how to successfully navigate a meal interview with a potential employer. 

 DO dress appropriately. Men should wear at least a jacket to the meal, while women should stick to a dress or skirt and avoid sandals.

DO order your meal first. Since you are the guest, it is custom for you to order your meal first. It is also expected that your employer will pay for the meal, since they invited you.

DO remember to use polite table manners. Be sure to wait for everyone else to be seated before putting your napkin on your lap or opening the menu.

DO act gracious. Avoid causing a scene by sending food back or fussing over small errors with the order. The employers are taking note of how you behave in social situations.

DO build bridges, not ramps! By this, we mean to always put your knives, forks, and spoons down by placing the entire utensil on the plate. Don’t rest them on the table like a “ramp”. 

DON’T discuss controversial topics such as politics, religion or sex during the meal.

DON’T slouch or place your elbows on the table. An upright posture shows that you are positive and attentive to the conversation with the employer.

DON’T forget to treat this as any other interview. It is important to bring copies of your resume, to research the employer and position beforehand, and to have questions prepared for the interviewer.

DON’T leave your phone on. It would be rude to the employer if your phone went off during the interview. Be sure to also keep it off the table and hidden from sight.

DON’T order alcohol, even if you are of age.

If you follow these Do’s and Don’ts, your interview should run smoothly. Remember that the priority of your interview is to be respectful and polite—treat the meal as you would an interview in a professional setting. One of the advantages to a lunch or dinner interview is that you can utilize moments of chewing to think of your answers before responding!

It's almost Halloween--but career fairs aren't so spooky!

Business Horizons 2014. Photo credit: Pamplin: College of Business Magazine 

Walking into a career fair can be a terrifying experience—the room is filled with other students competing to impress potential employers for the same opportunities you want. However, if you choose to prepare for this event, your experience doesn’t have to be so scary. In fact, you will find being prepared leads to confidence and success. You can use these tips for the upcoming FallConnection Job Fair on Oct. 14^th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Squires Commonwealth.

Research the employers beforehand

Do your homework before the career fair. You should research which companies are coming to the fair, what kind of positions they have available, what the company does, and what they are looking for. Create a list of the companies you know you want to approach.

Look over your resume – again

Not only should you be proofreading your resume for any mistakes or checking to see if all your information is updated, but you should also be sure to refresh your memory on your experiences. Be prepared to talk in-depth about any experience on your resume, because a recruiter may ask for you to explain further. Be sure to print many copies on resume-quality paper!

Have your questions ready

Avoid questions like, “What does your company exactly do?” or “What is the salary?” You can stand out to an employer with smart and thoughtful questions. Some examples of good questions would be, “What opportunities are there for collaboration” or “What does an average day look like for an employee at your company?”

Know what you’re going to say

Be sure to have at least a 30 second introduction prepared. This elevator pitch should include who you are, what you have done, what you can do, and what you are interested in from the employer. It can be a good idea to end your pitch with a question regarding the position or company, so that you are pulling the employer into a conversation. After you’ve figured out what you want to say, practice it until it becomes smooth and natural.

Remember, if you take the time to prepare for each individual employer, your efforts will be noticed!

ACHIEVE: Prepare and Your Chance Will Come

As you enjoy this week away from your regular university routine, take a minute to think about our third topic for National Career Development Month: ACHIEVE. What is your plan for after you complete your studies here at Virginia Tech? Do you need help creating one? Career Services is here to help you put together a plan to set and reach your goals. Below are tips or resources to put you on the path to ACHIEVE.

Whichever direction you choose as you finish your degree, Career Services can help you reach your goals. How can we help you ACHIEVE? Let us help you get started!

Have a question for an employer? Get answers TONIGHT!

Have a question for an employer? Get answers TONIGHT from employers! Need some job search tips? Questions about interviewing? Unsure about starting your first professional position? Find answers tonight and network with employers.
Employer Panel starts at 6 pm in Smith Career Center:
More information here

 

November: A Perfect Time to Explore Careers

November. When we think of November, many things come to mind. For Americans, Election Day, Veterans' Day and Thanksgiving are all November events. THANKSGIVING BREAK! For us sports fans, the start of the college basketball season as the college football season winds down. No Shave November. On top of all these observations, November is a special month in career centers across the US because it is National Career Development Month.

How can Career Services help you develop your career? 3 key ways we highlight in our slogan: Explore. Experience. Achieve. In this post, we're focusing on EXPLORE.

Our newest tool to assist you in your career exploration, CandidCareer, can be accessed right from our website; be sure to start at our web site rather than going directly to the CandidCareer site. This site features 1000's (that's right, thousands!) of interviews with people in all sorts of different careers from A - Z:

Alumni Association Exec, Broadcast Producer, Career Counselor, Dentist, Environmental Scientist, Food Safety Manager, Golfball Diver (for real!), Home Inspector, Insurance Analyst, Judge (Circuit), Lumber Dealer, Mutual Fund Manager, Nurse Neonatal ICU, Operations Manager, Public Relations VP, Real Estate Broker, Social Media Manager, Technology VP, US Ambassador, Veterinarian, Writer and Editor, Yoga Instructor

Each interviewee shares a job description, loves vs. challenges, preparation tips, the speaker's story, and final advice. One feature I really like in this site is that you can search for careers by major.

In addition, many of the professionals in Candid Career share career advice on a variety of topics including tough interview experiences, phone interviews, how to dress, cover letters, networking, resume writing, salary negotiation (mostly about asking for a raise), and more. Need career advice at 2 a.m.? Visit CandidCareer to see if you can find an answer there.

For more resources to help you explore, check out our Columbus Day post on exploring.

Start the journey to your career during this special month devoted to career development. Explore careers as you map out your future. If you need help charting out your exploration, call 540-231-6241 to set up a meeting with one of our career advisors. What questions do you have about the careers you want to explore?

It’s Columbus Day: Do your own exploring of your career options

As course request for Spring 2014 approaches, some of you may be wondering if you are in the right major. If you are questioning your choice, taking steps to do some self and career exploration can help. And after all, today is Columbus Day, a perfect time for you to set sail exploring your career options.

Explore YOURSELF

There are a number of ways you can do some exploring of yourself. See these prior blog posts for information on self-assessment tools and on finding your major out of chaos.

To get started with self exploration, call 540-231-6241 and make an appointment with one of our career advisors.

Explore CAREERS

Here are 7 recommended “ports of call” as you map your voyage to research careers:

NEW!!! CandidCareer.com: Click on CandidCareer via the Career Services web site. This site has over 3700 videos on careers. You can search for careers, view Popular Tags, click on Explore where people talk about different aspects of their jobs or check out their Channels where you can research different industries.

VT Post Grad Report: If you are wondering what VT graduates do after they finish their bachelor’s degrees in a particular major, this is the site for you. In this report, you can see where graduates went to work including job titles, employers and locations or where they pursued an advanced degree where schools, degrees and locations are shared.  And, you can see trends where more than 5 years’ worth of data is available.

What can I do with a major sites: similar to our report mentioned above, many other career centers have great data that we have linked to here. My favorite sites that we are linked to include UT-Knoxville, UNCW, University of Delaware and Florida State University. On these sites you can see popular job titles by major, key skills you develop in a major, typical employers and links to places to go for more information.

Wetfeet.com: A publisher of many career books, Wetfeet’s site has 2 key resources that are really helpful for career exploration: over 25 Industry Profiles and 40 different Careers. Want to know more about Sports and Entertainment or Advertising and PR? How about Internet and New Media or Computer Hardware of Software? They have industry profiles for all of those and more.

MyPlan.com: If you click on Careers in MyPlan.com, you can search for detailed information about careers in which you are interested. Almost 500 of the careers in MyPlan have short video clips you can watch as well. And check out their Top Ten Lists that are linked on the Careers Page. Come see us if you want to do the Assessments in MyPlan – you can do them for FREE if you visit us first.

ONET: I really like ONET because when you look up an occupation, you can see if the skills, values and interests you learned about in your MyPlan self-assessment fit any of those for a career you are considering. You can also look for jobs that have a Bright Outlook, relate to the Green Economy, or a STEM Discipline under Find Occupations.

Visit our career library: We still have 100’s of books about different careers in our Career Resource Center. We are open 8 – 5, M-F, where you can read our books, but you can also check out most of our books. And, you can see if we have a book on a particular career using our online catalog, Library Thing. Let us know if we don’t have a book you think we should have. We are always looking for suggestions.

Meet with our Captains of Careers

Still feel like a sinking ship after visiting these ports of call as you decide your career direction? Make your final port of call Career Services where you can meet with one of our experienced Captains of Careers aka career advisors. Call 540-231-6241 to make an appointment.

Start the journey to your career on this day we celebrate Columbus’ voyage!