Interview Tips

Interviews may be the most nerve racking part of finding that dream job, but with proper preparation, you can turn that dreadful interview into the first step to obtaining that job! The fist step to take is to do your research! If you don't come prepared for an interview, this gives the impression that you will not come to the job prepared as well. Next, practice your 30-second elevator speech. This will showcase your talents and experiences and allow employers to have a quick glimpse at your acheivements. Lastly, during the interview answer all questions honestly and to the point. Also, provide examples to support your answers. Try not to hesitate, or avoid answering questions. The more confident you are with yourself, the more confident you will appear to employers! I personally have learned from my own mistakes. In past interviews, to make myself seem more interested, I would as numerous questions, even if they do not pertain to the job I was being interviewed for. Instead of appearing interested, I know now I was asking far too many irrelevant questions. My personal tip is to ask questions but limit them and make sure they are relevant to your specific job and the company.

To help students with the fear or anxiety about interviews, Career Services is hosting an Interview Prep Workshop For All Majors next Tuesday in the Union.

Time: 12-1pm
Date: November 8th
Location: Student Union, Sandstone 1

How to Prepare for a Career Fair

Want to be involved with the career fair but don’t know where to start? Come to the How to prepare for a Career Fair TONIGHT from 6-8 pm in the Student Union, Sandstone 3.
Career Services will get you up to date and tell you all the do's and don’ts you need to know to be ready to take on all the employers when looking for a job or internship!
See you then!

Get prepared for the Career & Internship Expo!

Each year Baldwin-Wallace Career Services works to bring our alumni and current students a great event that can benefit everyone in one way or another. This year has come up fast, and we are excited to be hosting the 2011 Career & Internship Expo in Lou Higgins Rec Center on Thursday, November 3rd, 2011.

The Expo will be held from 5:30-8PM and professional dress is required. For examples of what professional clothing looks like, take a peek at the displays in front of the Candy Counter in the Union or check out some great tips from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. (Additionally, Virginia Tech also has some nice tips you can find here.)

Over 70 employers will be attending, including our fantastic sponsors:
American Greetings Corporation, Cliffs Natural Resources, Inc., DDR Corp., Edgepark Medical Supplies, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Equity Trust Company, Fastenal, Hyland Software, Inc., Jenne Distributors, Meyer Distributing Company, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, Park Place Technologies, Quicken Loans, Skylight Financial Group, Westfield Insurance

So what can you do to help you be prepared? Here are some helpful tips:
• Pre-register on B-W Career Network before Wednesday, November 2nd.
• Create/Tune-up your resume.
• Work on your “elevator speech”, or a 30 second pitch that describes yourself and your goals to a perspective employer.
• Print copies of your resume to possibly hand out/leave with employers.
• Know what employers are attending & make a list of the employers you would like to meet.
• Research the employers you plan to meet.
• Attend programs held by Career Services to help you with your prep.

How to Prepare for a Career Fair Tuesday, November 1
6 - 8 pm Student Union, Sandstone 3

Resumania for all Majors Wednesday, November 2
3 - 5 pm Career Services, 104 Bonds

Express Lanes (Walk-in Advising):
Mondays 1 - 3 pm Recreation Center, Tressel Lounge
Tuesdays 9 - 11 am Kamm, 1st Floor Snack Room
(There will be no Express Lanes this Thursday, so make sure you get to one of the other dates if you need to have your resume looked over.)

For more information you can visit BWCN or contact Career Services at 440.826.2101 | email career@bw.edu

JOBS IN DEMAND: Computer Science & Digital Media TONIGHT!!!

Looking for an exciting opportunity to gain insights into industries that are HOT right here in NE Ohio?
Come to the Jobs In Demand Series: Computer Science & Digital Media, TONIGHT, Oct. 25

Learn from experts in these industries and network with professionals from companies such as Sherwin Williams, FirstEnergy, OEConnection, and more!

What are you waiting for? Don't miss out on this great opportunity! All majors are welcome!!

Jobs in Demand: Computer Science & Digital Media
TONIGHT, Tuesday, October 25
4-5:30 pm
Student Union, Sandstone 3

Studying Abroad Opens the Door to the Rest of the World!

With the end of the semester approaching fast, have you thought about what other experiences you want to gain while you are at B-W? Getting involved and pursuing developmental experiences are important and can be extremely rewarding later on in life. Here at B-W there are numerous opportunities available for students to take part in.

Mark Twain once said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” There are infinite possibilities available to you in college that can change the way you think and act, and studying abroad is just one way to explore, dream, and discover.

Studying abroad is the process of pursuing academic coursework in a different country. For those looking to take the plunge, there are many types of excursions to choose from. There are typical semester and year-long experiences available throughout the school year and over the summer, but here at B-W, there are also options for shorter trips. These shorter trips, which are generally faculty-led, can range from 2-weeks to 1 month. The Study Abroad Office here at B-W can give you more details on types of trips, locations, and what academic programs are available.

Not only does study abroad allow you to travel, but the experience exposes you to different perspectives and ways of life. While your comfort zone may be challenged, you will gain insights into worlds you know little about and develop friendships that will last a lifetime. But the rewards don’t stop there. A study abroad experience can be influential on a resume and provide you with a new outlook on your job search or career path.

Studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that can shape the way you live your life.

So are you ready to expand your knowledge base, meet new people and see what the world has to offer? Then why not talk with the study abroad office and see what experiences are in store for you!

Internships

I personally consider internships to be just as important as going to class. Being inside of a classroom and listening to your professor explain what it would be like to work in a particular field is one thing; actually working in your field of choice and gaining knowledge from applying those learned skills is completely different! Not only do internships provide you with that extra experience, it also builds your resume which helps you to stand out above your peers. Students can make an appointment with an advisor to have a 30 minute session for a resume review or to answer any other career related questions. Career Services offers Exploring Internships Workshops to help students who are searching for internhips. In addition,

Exploring Internships Workshops:

Wednesday, October 26
12 - 1pm, Kamm 132

To schedule a individualized 30 minute appointment with a Career Advisor, call our office at 440-826-2101 or stop by Bonds, Room 104.

What do PNC, Progressive Insurance, & J.P. Morgan have in common?

They will all be @ B-W TONIGHT, Wednesday, October 12 for the 2nd Installment of the Jobs in Demand Series!

Jobs in Demand: Finance, Insurance, & Banking
TONIGHT, Wednesday, October 12
Kamm 107
4:00 - 5:30 pm

Learn from experts in the Finance, Insurance, & Banking industries and discover great opportunities & jobs right here in NE Ohio!

Express Yourself With A Resume and Cover Letter!

Want an internship? Looking for a job? Not sure if your resume is up to par? Career Services is the place for you. While resumes may seem easy to set up, you may be missing the mark on how to make yourself stand out from the rest of the working world.

You really want to be up-to-date on what different companies and organizations are looking for when applying for a job. This is where Career Services steps in. We have a ton of resources for all students to help you get started on building your resume.

Don’t have a resume and want to showcase your unique skills and experiences? Then come to one of our Resume Writing clinics. It is a great opportunity for first year students, or upperclassman to know more about how to start and update a resume.

The dates for upcoming our Resume Writing Clinics are: 

• Wednesday, October 19th in the Union Sandstone 1 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm
• Thursday, October 27th in Kamm 106 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm
• Wednesday November 16th in Ritter 101 from 4:00 – 5:00 pm

If you are unable to attend one of these clinics, then stop by our Express Lanes, which take place every week! They are fifteen minute sessions with a Career Advisor, who can look over your resume, give you advice on what to add or change, or tips on how to organize it. You can find the Express Lanes times on your Blackboard site under your Career Services link. Once there, check out the Career Services Fall Calendar.

Another great source is setting up an appointment with one of our awesome advisors in the Career Services office. They love meeting new students, and want to help B-W students succeed in finding a job or internship. Be sure to have a resume ready no matter what shape it’s in. Your resume can only get better.

But enough talk about resumes. When applying for a job or internship, a lot of organizations may also want a cover letter from you. If you do not know what a cover letter is, let me explain. It is a brief description of who you are, what your experiences have been in that field, and why you are interested in the job or internship. It is basically a quick bio for an employer to find out more about you and what you can offer as an employee. Having a strong cover letter will really help you to be remembered when it comes to interviewing. You can also come into our office for an appointment to go over your cover letter.

Remember it is never too late to build your resume or start on a cover letter. With great resources at B-W, you will be prepared with a flawless resume and cover letter to land the job or internship you really want.

GRAD SCHOOL FAIR TONIGHT!

Thinking about Graduate School?

 Be sure to attend the Grad School Fair TONIGHT, Tuesday, Oct. 4!
College and university recruiters from over 100 graduate programs will be on hand to talk to you about application requirements, program details, and can answer any questions you may have! Dress is business casual.

3rd Annual Grad School Fair
TONIGHT, Tuesday, October 4
5:00 - 7:00 pm
Center for Innovation & Growth (CIG)

Don't miss out on this great opportunity! For a complete list of schools and graduate programs being represented at the fair, visit the B-W Blackboard site: https://bb.bw.edu/

Discovering the Right Path for Your Future

Being in college doesn’t guarantee having all the answers. There may be times when you feel like you are the only person who has yet to declare a major or decide what you want to do after college, but I promise you are not alone.

According to an MSNBC article by Gayle B. Ronan, “Eighty percent of college-bound students have yet to choose a major.” Furthermore, the article goes on to say that around fifty percent of students who have declared a major can end up changing their major an additional two or three more times.

The decisions faced in college can be frustrating, and when it comes to picking the path that is right for you, Baldwin-Wallace Career Services is here to help. Don’t even know where to start? That’s okay. By coming in to Career Services and getting information for logging in, students can access a site called Discover. Through a simple online survey that you can take from the comfort of your residence hall, Discover helps to assess your interests, abilities, and values. Once completed, Discover points out career areas that may be compatible for you. It is recommended that students come in for an appointment with an advisor after completing the Discover survey. As someone who has personally utilized Discover, I can tell you that talking with someone who is trained to read your results is a great help.

Whether you are undecided, unsure, or just seeking general career advice, the advisors at Baldwin-Wallace are always willing to help you take the first (or second) step in the right direction for your future.

Discover HOT Jobs and Internships in Northeast Ohio!

If you are looking to discover HOT Jobs and Internships in Northeast Ohio, join Career Services tonight and come to the first
Jobs in Demand Series: Healthcare and Social Service!

Meet with industry professionals, network, and learn about what
skills employers are looking for!

Jobs in Demand Series: Healthcare & Social Service
Thursday, September 29, 2011

4:00 - 5:30 pm
Recreation Center, Higgins 204

Is Grad School In Your Future?

Have you ever considered going to graduate school? Students choose to pursue graduate school for many reasons. Whether you want career or professional advancement opportunities, or want to know more about a particular subject, Career Services can help you take the right steps to reaching your post B-W goals!


October 4 marks the Graduate School Fair taking place at B-W. Currently, over 40 schools have signed up to attend offering a diverse set of programs. Whether you are looking to receive your MBA (Masters of Business Administration), MA (Master of Arts), MS (Master of Science), or another type of degree, the Graduate School Fair can open doors to finding the right school and program for you.


Before you come to the Fair, take part in our Graduate School Workshop Part 2 which will go over vital information regarding admission requirements, application procedures and which tests you might have to take. The workshop will be next Tuesday, September 27th in Malicky 114 from 12:10 – 1:10 pm. Career advisors will be on hand to talk about next steps and what you should do to prepare for the upcoming Graduate School Fair!


Coming to these events will also put you into a drawing to win either a Kaplan Prep Test Course for any graduate school exam compliments of Kaplan, or a free Cap & Gown, from the Career Services Office!


So come and join us for these great upcoming events! Information about the Grad School Fair can be found on the B-W Career Network. A list of schools attending can also be found on there!

Career Services Can Help You With On-Campus Recruiting!

College is the fastest four years of your life. Sometimes as freshmen, you don’t realize the opportunities available to begin the job and internship search! Your future starts the first day you start school at B-W, and it is never too early to start working on building your resume and making career connections. One easy way of doing this is by participating in on-campus recruiting. Through on-campus recruiting, companies and business come to B-W to recruit students for internships and jobs. No matter what year you are, it is a great way to make connections with employers and to get to know what is that they do, and also what they look for in an employee.


The Career & Internship Expo, one of our largest events here in Career Services, takes place in November. Last year over 70 companies participated. They want to meet students like you, and answer any questions you have. It’s a professional environment, but also a more comfortable way to approach a business and ask about job and internship opportunities. Career Services also offers different preparation programs that will help prepare you for the Expo so you can be at the top of your game to score a job or internship.

Another way Career Services can help you prepare for such situations is by coming into our office and setting up an individual appointment with an advisor. By doing this you can have your advisor help you go over your resume, cover letter, and even ask interview questions. Career Services has a great program called the Perfect Interview where you can set up a mock interview to help you familiarize yourself with the interview process. Look for our flyers and calendars to see upcoming event information. It is never too late to prepare for your future, and Career Services can help!

Career Services...the best kep secret!

Career Services is an on-campus resource for both students and alumni. Competing for jobs and internships is hard enough, but not having the right resources to be able to present yourself well is even worse.
This is where Career Services comes into play! Career Services has various events throughout the year to help prepare students for the "real world". I personally love this office! The career advisors have turned my terrible mess of a resume into a masterpiece that I am proud to present to any employer! If you have no idea where to go or who to turn to for help with your career related problems, come straight to the Career Services office! Don't be shy! Come right in and a career advisor will help you with your cover letter or resume, freshen up  your interview skills, or simply help you find your dream job or internship.

Located in Bonds and open Monday through Friday, Career Services is here and ready to help! Whether it's in our office for an individual appointment or at one of our many events, we are here for you! Each week we offer events such as Express Lanes, Resume Writing Clinics and Internship Workshops.

Take a look at some of our upcoming events:
 Graduate School Workshop Part 1: Tuesday, September 20th
 Graduate School Workshop Part 2: Tuesday, September 27th
 Graduate School Fair: Tuesday, October 4th

Consider Blogging...as a Career!

If you're thinking of a unique way to utilize your resourcefulness, creativity, writing, or if you're like me and you're open to an interesting opportunity for English majors, consider becoming a blogger. Blogs can be personal and professional, and they're great for communications, public relations, and marketing purposes. Be part of the industry you're interested in working for, but in a new way. Bloggers can work freelance, for newspapers and magazines, book publishers, radio and television stations, and business or non-profit organizations. Plus, it's a fun way to be subjective about a topic that you're passionate about!

Imagine all the contacts you gain from the people that follow your blog. It's a great way to network professionally, while allowing people to get to know your interests based on the information you write about. Some experience is needed, preferably a bachelor's degree, but majors vary. You could be hired to write an economics blog if you majored in economics. The same goes for political science, botony, anything! And tell Mom and Dad that, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in a summary of 2009, the average salary was $54,000/year nationally. That's about $26.00 per hour, and if you get to freelance in your pajamas, that's not a bad trade-off!

If you consider yourself someone with insatiable curiosity and you're looking for an "out of the box" way to target a career path, consider blogging. Or start doing it as a hobby and see what kind of following you get. It's not the same old kind of personal or professional writing you're used to, so you might learn you're a writer and you never even knew it.

Juggling the Transition from College to Everything After

As a graduating senior, I'm fully aware of the looming responsibilities a senior endures in his or her final semester as an undergraduate. I keep thinking back to senior year in high school, when arrangements were in the works to choose a college and the relief I felt when I finally had my plans lined up for post-graduation. I also remember the struggle it was to balance school work, extracurriculars, and time to plan for the future. That was high school! Now, the options seem endless, and so does the school work. I'm ready for it all to be over, but at the same time, thinking about everything I need to do before it's over is beyond overwhelming. Finding time to devote to planning for the imminent future, which will be here, ready or not, in 40-some days, is now more of a challenge than ever.

My advice is to figure out how much time you have to devote to various responsibilities, otherwise known as Time Management 101. But, as a soon-to-be college graduate, you're a pro at time management by now, right? I tend to think about the "here" and "now," focusing on what I need to do in the moment, taking everything day by day. That will leave me without a plan, which I will have to scramble to put together immediately after I graduate. Take about an hour or so, depending on how much homework, how many extracurriculars, hours at work, etc. you have, to devote to a job, internship, or graduate school search. Organizing the information you encounter is also helpful, so be sure to file or save your information in case you need to come back to it. Be sure to set goals for yourself in terms of following up with your application. Employers aren't necessarily going to do it for you! Remember, the ball is in your court from here on out.

It's not all about planning for a career or graduate school. Graduation is also about leaving some room for emotional and social fluxes. Everything is exciting one minute, and then for the same reasons it was exciting, it's all stressful the next minute. Take time to slow down and reflect on yourself so that you can be prepared to know yourself and what you expect from yourself when you graduate. Don't have an identity crisis, but rather embrace these challenges as a motivation. And don't forget to savor the last several weeks by really spending time with YOU because those 40-some days will be over before you know it.

Government Career Day on March 24th

Are you interested in careers in government? If you answered YES, plan to attend Government Career Day on Thursday, March 24th at the Dolan Center for Science and Technology at John Carroll University from 9 am to 2 pm.
Government Career Day is a unique opportunity to connect and network with government agencies that have immediate or future hiring needs. Additionally, a series of workshops will be offered during the day covering such topics as navigating the usajobs.gov web site; writing KSA's; applying for jobs with the State of Ohio; and federal employment for veterans.

The event is sponsored by the Federal Executive Board of Cleveland and Cleveland State University in cooperation with John Carroll University, Baldwin-Wallace College, Case Western Reserve University and Ursuline College.

To prepare for Government Career Day, take advantage of Career Services scheduled resume writing clinics or express lanes to create and polish your resume. If you are not able to attend any of the scheduled workshops, just call 440.826-2101 or drop by Career Services, Room 104 Bonds to schedule an appointment with a career advisor.

If you’re interested in internships and/or government careers, you won’t want to miss this event. Mark your calendar for Thursday, March 24th!

Calling All Seniors!

Are you a senior getting ready to enter the workforce; this can be a very trying time and a nerve-wracking one as well. Although I am not a senior, while meeting last summer with professionals I experience the “real world” first hand. It was definitely one that you want to be fully prepared for and have a smooth transition into. Career Services and Counseling Services have teamed up to present to all seniors insight on how to make your transition from college to career. It will take place on Wednesday, February 23^rd  at 4pm in SS2; this is sure to be a great presentation and a very helpful one as well.

Wrestling with an Undeclared Major, No Problem?

Are you undecided about your major; this is not a bad thing. Being undecided affords you the opportunity to sample courses from many majors and choose one that fits your likes and interests. We all were at some point undecided majors within our college careers and it takes time to figure out exactly what you want to do for the rest of your life. For instance, I understood coming to B-W that I wanted to be a business major, what I did not know was what area I wanted to pursue. I eventually took courses from different majors within the department and settled on one that fit me well and that I could see myself doing. If you are undecided about a major or career path, Career Services can help you. On Thursday, February 24^th we are hosting an event to help undecided students prepare to declare a major. It will take place in SS3 during community hour.  So come on down and PREPARE TO DECLARE!

Governement jobs webinars

No fear Career Services is here!
With graduation quickly approaching, finding a job is taking the number one spot on many college students to do lists. Does the secret service or FBI sound like your dream job? Well you’re in luck because Career Services is having a webinar directed towards students who are interested in jobs and internships with the federal government. This webinar will highlight a number of internships across government, and show students how to research, find and apply for an internship that is right for them. Even if you are not completely sure if this may be the right fit for you, give it a try anyway and who knows you may find that working with the federal government is perfect for you! For me personally, whenever I am not completely sure if I should attend an event by Career Services I give the office a call or simply go anyway. That way I do not feel guilty for not going and to my surprise the event turns out to be very helpful.

There are going to be two webinars on 2/8/11 and 2/16/11 both of which you can call and register for at 440.826.2101. Don’t forget, you can always register for any Career Services events on the B-W Career Network, too