Study Abroad: More than a Vacation

I studied abroad in Spain this past summer with the notion that there would be no homework. Why I thought this, I don't know. I was on summer mode, and I have never once taken a class, let alone done homework, in summer. Also, I didn't think of myself as really being in school. I was in a foreign country, making new friends, and everything was new. There was too much to see and too little time to think about academics. But after I started developing relationships with my peers, the professors, and the coordinators of my study abroad program, I realized that I was establishing contacts with people that might be useful in my career. Then I started focusing a little more on my purpose for studying abroad.

Even though many people think of "studying" abroad as nothing more than travelling, I have to admit that studying abroad was not a vacation. Many people have internships abroad, or study another language with professors that don't speak the students' native language. Don't get me wrong, this experience was challenging in a completely beneficial and fulfilling way, but I think students need to know that most study abroad programs are not a cake walk. You have to attend classes regularly, as most of your grade depends on class participation, and since, in my opinion, temptation to not go to class and not do homework is a bit more prominent while studying abroad, you really have to prioritize.

My Spanish professor did not speak any English. Yes, that was extremely intimidating at the beginning of my program, but I knew I needed to delve in. No professor in any country teaching any language expects the study abroad students to be perfect. Why would students be studying if they already had the subject, language, and culture down pat? Conversations you can have with professors and program directors about the language, culture, and prospective career opportunities will really help you develop contacts within that country if you potentially choose to work there.

And then there is the "vacation" part of studying abroad, which I think is the travelling aspect of it. I studied in Spain, but I travelled to many different countries and met many different people last summer. I made a friend in my study abroad program who travelled with me, and so not only did I make contacts with people I interacted with in other countries, but people who live not far from me in the U.S. No matter what your focus is when you study abroad, you're only benefitting yourself! You make friends, learn about different cultures, and boost your resume potential by having this experience. Even though you still need to work hard, and you should to get the most out of your time abroad, it is a fun opportunity in a challenging way. Yes, studying abroad is more than a vacation, but if you do it right, you'll learn a lot about yourself!

First-Year Open House

The First-Year Open House is approaching fast and it is vital that all first-years do not miss out on this great opportunity to get acquainted with Career Services. The event will take place November 18^th at 11 a.m. in Career Services located in Bonds. I actually attended this event my first-year in college and it was definitely an experience. It was informative, as well as, engaging. I learned a lot about the different aspects of Career Services and what they could offer me as a student. I enjoyed this event so much; I began to also take advantage of other programs that I would have not known existed otherwise. The First-Year Open House also offers free pizza and a chance at winning Chipotle gift cards. I would strongly recommend this event to all first-years because not only does it reward free pizza and potentially chipotle gift cards; it is very essential to YOUR success moving forward. Come and check us out!  

Taking the Discover test and making a 4-year action plan

One of the first things every freshman student should do when coming to college is take the Discover test! The discover test is composed of several questions to help find out what someone is interested in and then helps to find an area of study based on what is most interesting to that student. I took the Discover test my second semester of my freshman year. After taking a few classes I quickly realized that Business Administration was not for me! I made an appointment with a Career Services advisor and together we went over my results and came up with an idea of what major would go along with what I was interested in. I always thought I would be a business major but after I took the test I realized I am more of a hands on person. Working with things such as financial statements did not seem as appealing to me after all. After I completed my Discover test and found a new major I began to make my four year action plan. Every student should have a four year action plan because it allows the student to see what they have already done and what needs to get done. Along with that, it comes in handy when scheduling classes. If you have your four year action plan completed then while you are registering for classes you are able to see exactly what classes you need to complete your core as well as your major and minor requirements. Jumpstart your college years by taking the discover test and making your own four year action plan!

Tips for writing a resume and cover letter

Now that I am a junior in college, I can see that two important documents that every student must have are a resume and cover letter. A resume and cover letter are like your golden ticket to your dream job or internship. I learned that lesson in high school. When I was a senior, I had a hard time finding a summer job. At first, I just completed the required applications but after a week of searching with no interest from employers, I began to hand out my resume with the application even though most of the places I was applying to did not require one. Sure enough, I received a phone call saying I was hired and one of the reasons why was because of my resume.


No matter how outstanding your accomplishments may be no one will ever know about them if you don’t promote them effectively in a cover letter and resume. Even if you are not the most qualified applicant for a job or internship, the simple fact that you have a well written resume and cover letter may make the difference between you getting the job or not.

Below are some basic tips for resumes and cover letters:

• Limit your resume to one or two pages

• Limit the length of your cover letter to one page approximately 3-5 paragraphs

• Include specific examples in your cover letter to illustrate your skills and background

Career Services is the perfect place to go to clean up your resume and cover letter!

• Come to a Resume Writing Clinic to learn the details of building an effective resume

• Call or stop by to make a 30 minute appointment with one of our Career Advisors

• Come to Express lanes for a quick 15 minute review of your resume or cover letter

Exploring Internships

INTERNSHIPS…Although sometimes it is hard to find an internship that fits...It is worth the time it takes applying, and searching. There are many places to find internships, here are two I use:

1. The Baldwin-Wallace College Career Network, here you can find a listing of internships, a brief description of the company, requirements such as major or experience.

2. Clevelandintern.net is similar to the BWCN but the job posting are not postings called directly to our office, but they include a lot of Cleveland Area companies that have available positions.

I created an account with Clevelandintern.net three years ago, I forgot I had an account with Clevelandintern.net, but this past summer 2010 I got a call from a company who reviewed my resume and called me for an interview. Unfortunately their schedule conflicted with mine because I was taking classes in the summer, but the point is I got an interview without even applying to the job. This is a great tool because many companies in the Cleveland Area are searching this database looking for candidates and resumes and setting up interviews.

To me…Internships are important…not only because they are a resume booster…You can gain hands on experience…apply in classroom learning…test drive to see if you like the career path… and learn from a professional environment...

If you leave a positive, lasting impression on your supervisor it can sometimes lead to a full-time position, or can provide great recommendations.

If you need a little more direction in seeking internships you can attend an Exploring Internship Workshop which will help you learn strategies for searching, applying and securing an internship.

Exploring Internship Workshop:

· September 30, 2010 11:45-12:45 p.m. Kamm 106

· November 11, 2010 11:45-12:45 p.m. Sandstone I

Grad School Fair and Grad School

When I was starting out at B-W, I was a Business Administration major. After much thought, I decided I needed to be more specific in what I wanted my career to be and I chose Accounting. I chose Accounting for several reasons: I was interested in the 3/2 Program which allows me to get my Bachelor’s and Master’s in 5 years and also obtain 150 credit hours to sit for the CPA Exam. I actually apply this spring for the 3/2 program and am doing it because:


1. Grad school is a great for me to further my education;
a. I sometimes say… “Well, I have to go through more school, but essentially it is a 1-2 year investment with a high return.”

2. Grad school will help me increase my earning power once I enter the workforce
a. I can’t say no to that!

3. Grad school will increase my knowledge of my career field
a. Once I get out into the workforce I will want to perform at a high level and understanding my career field in-depth is a fast way to excel amongst my peers.

So now begins the process of applying…wish me luck!

On-Campus Recruitment in Career Services

As an English and Spanish major, I know that I will not be partaking in much on-campus recruiting in Career Services. By working here for over a year, however, I have observed several things from students during on-campus recruitment that I would like to share with those of you who may participate in the recruitment process.

I have noticed that it's always important for students to arrive early. The employers and recruiters always are! I remember one student who arrived only about five minutes early, and everyone in Career Services was panicking because he had to fill out paperwork beforehand. It just looks like you're really excited about the position if you arrive early and prepared!

It also looks like you're ready for a career when you dress up for on-campus recruiters. Although recruiting on-campus may seem more informal than having an interview in an employer's office, you should always dress for the job you want. Seeing students dress casually around campus and then seeing students dress in the most professional clothing is quite a contrast and sometimes it's hard to believe it's the same person I saw wearing sweatpants the day before!

All in all, on-campus recruitment is a convenient way for students to proactively seek the job they want. And although it's conveniently located right in our office, it should still be approached with the same professionalism as an off-campus interview.

IT IS THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN...

Welcome back students of Baldwin-Wallace College. I hope you all had a great summer and you are ready for the upcoming year.

Here in Career Services we have a lot of exciting news for you all. If you are not familiar with us we are located in Bonds (Room 104). We are here to help you find that internship or future job opportunity. We want to give you a solid foundation when it comes to your future. We offer many Resume Writing Clinics, Exploring Internship Workshops, and one on one Resume Critique with one of our very helpful Career Advisors, along with many other events.

First thing that is essential to do is make sure you have a B-W Career Network Account set-up and Updated. Being signed up with our B-W Career Network gives you the ability to see our calendar and the many upcoming events, look at internship and job postings, and gives you access to all the great tools available to you, so YOU can potentially find that internship or job.

STEPS TO GET INVOLVED IN CAREER SERVICES

• CREATE YOUR B-W CAREER NETWORK ACCOUNT (THE B-W CAREER NETWORK WEBSITE)

• ATTEND A RESUME WRITING CLINIC

• COME TO CAREER SERVICES AND SCHEDULE A ONE ON ONE APPOINTMENT WITH ONE OF THE CAREER ADVISORS

• ALWAYS KEEP YOUR B-W CAREER NETWORK ACCOUNT UPDATED

• ALWAYS KEEP AN EYE ON THE CALENDER FOR ANY UPCOMING EVENTS

EXCITING UPCOMING EVENTS AND DATES

• (SEPTEMBER 9TH) EXPLORING INTERNSHIPS WORKSHOP

• (OCTOBER 5TH) GRADUATE SCHOOL FAIR

• (NOVEMBER 4TH) CAREER AND INTERNSHIP EXPO

HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON…

SPRING 2010 semester is officially over!!!

On behalf of everyone in Career Services, we would like to wish all B-W students a safe summer.

To all graduating Seniors: We wish you the best of luck with all your future endeavors. Be sure to fill out the Post Graduation Survey and don’t forget Career Services is here to help you after you have graduated.

We are committed to the success of our current students and alumni. Make sure to utilize your summertime wisely: Use it to take classes or intern and, of course, to relax. We want to thank you all for using our services, attending our special programs and our workshops. We hope you have learned and found them useful. We invite returning students to visit Career Services next fall to find out what we have to offer and how you can benefit. We are dedicated to providing services to help every student through the journey to career success. Until next year, have a great summer!

Jobs for the Future

Ever wonder what you'll be doing over for the next 10 years or so? Odds are you won't be doing the same thing you're doing now. In fact, the job you may have in the future may not even exist today. Take a look at the following websites to see which industries are worth considering for the future based on employment growth and which industries are declining.

Hot Jobs for the Future

60 Jobs that will Rock the Future

Industries with the Fastest and Biggest Growth

The Next Decade's Growth Industries

Top 10 Green Jobs for the Future

And if you're still curious about what career path to go down after graduation, make an appointment with Career Services or explore the B-W Career Network.

The Economy and Green Jobs

Throughout U.S. history we have experienced eras in time such as “The Industrial Revolution” and with the most recent recession we are commencing a new era; the era of “Sustainability,” so to speak. The U.S. Government has invested billions of dollars into green energy and sustainable resources. The industry is on the boom and there is an increasing demand within the field. Case in point, Baldwin-Wallace College has implemented a new major founded on Sustainability to better equip students for an increasingly sustainable world. They have also had a wind turbine installed on campus. It is the new trend of the era to “GO GREEN.” Companies are now resulting to hiring Energy Auditors, Scientists, and Engineers to assist them in “going green” and making sure they are doing all in their power to be sustainable. April 22, 2010 marks the 40th Earth Day which helps to promote sustainability and conservation of the Earth’s resources; I highly encourage all to not only consider their impact on the Earth and how they can become more sustainable as individuals, but to also consider a “green job” in your field.
· IT
· Healthcare
· Business
· Engineering
· Management
· Science or Math

Career Connections and Mentors

Gaining experience before entering the job market can make a huge difference, which is why networking and connecting with professionals in your field of choice is vital. Baldwin-Wallace College Career Services offers a mentoring database called Career Connections which allows students to search for an alumni mentor; this program offers a variety of benefits for students and alumni alike such as:

1. Job Shadowing
2. Relocation Advice
3. Informational Interviews
4. Networking
5. Industry Information

Gaining access to Career Connections is fairly easy; any student who has a Baldwin-Wallace College Career Network account can access Career Connections with the following steps:

1. Log on to the B-W Career Network with the username and password provided by Career Services (www.bw.experience.com)

2. On the home screen, click on the Career Connections link and from here you can view mentors profiles and request to connect.

In addition, please be sure to be professional when interacting with mentors.

1. All communication (verbal and written) should be professional
2. Respond to mentors in a timely manner
3. Last but not least, Be sure to thank your mentors for their support

Transitioning into Life after College

Being able to expect the unexpected and embrace change are good ways to go about preparing for life after college, or "the real world." Job searching, living arrangements, finances, and relationships will all have to be juggled with, but with some heads up it will all be manageable. The following articles may help you start planning for the "in between" of college and career. And don't forget, to start looking for jobs and internships now, login to the B-W Career Network.


10 Myths About Life after College
An article with a positive look at all the negatives you've heard about post-grad life

Life after College
A website with blogs and articles about life, work, money, careers, and happiness after college

How to Adapt to Life after College
A website with a step-by-step (and brutally honest) way to approach life after you graduate

Making a Successful Transition from College to Career
A "reality check" for what college has and has not prepared you for


Or make an appointment with Career Services to explore your options for post-graduation!

The Art of the Elevator Speech

What is an elevator speech and why do I need one?

• An elevator speech is a short introduction of who you are and what you have to offer in about 200 words or less. It should highlight your uniqueness and focus on the benefits that you provide. It is delivered in an enthusiastic, upbeat way and includes introducing yourself, shaking hands, and making eye contact.

How do I come up with a good speech?

• Do your research. This means doing a lot of introspection to figure out your strengths and weaknesses, as well as your interests and abilities. Be sure to state what exactly you are seeking (e.g. internship. full time job, etc.).

Need help or more information? Check out these links for more ideas:

• http://bschool.pepperdine.edu/career/content/elevatorspeech.pdf
• http://www.businessweek.com/careers/content/jun2007/ca20070618_134959.htm
• http://www.quintcareers.com/writing_elevator_speeches.html
  

DRESS for SUCCESS

Dress is key to making an impression. Not understanding or considering your environment at the workplace or during an interview can cause a positive or negative first impression. Your attire and appearance conveys to others who you are, and many of us want to make a good impression. Sometimes it is difficult to understand what does and does not constitute business professional attire, business casual or casual dress, and the magnitude of importance this plays in our professional lives.

Continue reading to learn more…

Attire is a critical aspect of professionalism that many people overlook. It is important for us as students and emerging leaders to show that we want to be taken seriously. Your clothes should stand out as polished, but not draw a lot of attention. Appropriate attire supports your image, furthermore allowing you to exhibit yourself as someone who takes the interview process and employment seriously. For example, your appearance gives a college recruiter or interviewer a first impression, before directly speaking with you. Your attire should make you feel confident. I hold firmly to the saying “Dress for the job you want, not the one you have.” I try to do so at my internships and summer jobs because of the opportunity to network with other professionals. Keep in mind that these professionals did not interview you so they do not know about your experiences or skills. Their first impression of you will be based solely on your appearance. In addition, once you are employed, always be sure to dress appropriately for the type of job or industry. If you are unsure about proper attire for the workplace, ask your supervisor before your first day on the job.

**** (NOTE: Attached is a helpful guide to proper business attire and etiquette. Feel free to use as a reference.)

C:\Documents and Settings\career\Desktop\Guide to proper dress & etiquette.pdf

What Employers Want

Hmm…Have you ever wondered what qualities or skills employers look for in an employee? Employers look for employees that are enthusiastic and motivated. They seek qualities such as oral communications, writing skills, teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity. It is important as college students to be able to fine tune these skills while attending school; taking necessary steps such as:

• Becoming a leader on campus can bolster teamwork and communication skills
• Taking challenging classes can expose you to problem-solving
• Experimenting with different forms of art can bring out your creativity

Learning to immerse yourself in a diverse range of activities, courses, and experiences can pay huge dividends for you later. Not only are you expanding your social capital by meeting new people, you are simultaneously becoming a well-rounded, diverse individual. In addition to that, do not disregard the importance of networking and resume-building activities; they will essentially provide the opportunity for you to showcase your abilities.

In conclusion, as a student here at B-W I have reaped benefits from being involved on campus. I was able to use these resume builders to obtain a job as a Resident Assistant; involvement is another way to create opportunities for yourself.

SPRING INTO CAREER WEEK

Hey, B-W students!

Check out the Spring 2010 Career Week events:

1.Monday, February 22nd

Why Science & Innovation?
4:00-5:00 pm, Center for Innovation & Growth

Express Lanes
1:00-3:00 pm, Tressel Lounge, Rec Center

2.Tuesday, February 23rd

Resume Writing Clinic
11:45 am-12:45 pm, Kamm 106

Internship Registration Workshop
12:00-12:30 pm, Career Services, Bonds 104

Express Lanes
3:30-5:00 pm, Wheeler, 2nd floor

3.Wednesday, February 24th

Express Lanes
9:00-11:00 am, Kamm 1st floor Snack Room

Why Social Science & Humanities?
4:00-5:00 pm, Malicky 10

4.Thursday, February 25th

Graduate School Workshop
11:45 am-12:45 pm, Malicky 10

Express Lanes
2:00-4:00 pm, Lang, Main Lounge

5.Friday, February 26th

Cleveland State University Spring Career Fair
9:00 am-2:00 pm, Cleveland State University, Wooding Gym

6.Saturday, February 27th

Kaplan Graduate School Practice Exams (pre-registration required)
Start time vary, Math & Computer Science Building

Prepare for summer internships, after graduation and much more! Take advantage of these events that will lead you towards Career Success.

If you have any questions about the upcoming events, feel free to contact the Career Services Office at 440-826-2101 (ext 2101), or email career@bw.edu. You can also stop by our office in Bonds #104.

Connection to the Real World--Employment, Graduate School--Start Networking!

Throughout my time at B-W I have realized how extremely important it is to network and establish connections for future endeavors. Whether you are searching and applying for jobs, internships or graduate school, it is important for you to begin establishing a connection to the real world early in your college career. This will allow you to be better prepared for life after graduation. Let me explain how you can begin this process:

•Test drive career choices with internships to see if you like the environment or career path.

•Evaluate your best fit career choice based on your interests and strengths.

•If you’re unsure about attending graduate school, then research graduate school programs, requirements, and talk to professionals in the field.

•In addition, begin to network with employers you meet, attend networking events on campus, connect with alumni career mentors, and keep close contact with past employers & contacts for future references.

Compile a list of people who can serve as potential references by developing relationships with faculty and supervisors. Come to Career Services and utilize the mentoring program, Career Connections. This program allows you to connect with B-W’s alumni professional who have volunteered to provide you with real world advice and tips on how they reached their goals, the process of adjusting to life after college, and much more. You can also consider informational interviewing that will allow you to identify what employers in your field seek and begin to prepare by tailoring your experiences or developing necessary skills. Baldwin-Wallace College and Career Services can provide you with many resources to prepare you for the real world. Begin taking advantage of all the resources that will help you down the path to a successful career.

Reasons to Consider a Job with the Federal Government

When students start looking for jobs, a lot of them don’t consider the possibility of working for the government. They may think that they aren’t qualified, there aren’t any jobs that would fit with their major, or that the government doesn’t hire students who haven’t graduated or who are fresh out of college. However, this is not the case. According to a new report — Where the Jobs Are: Mission Critical Opportunities for America, released in July by the Partnership for Public Service, government-wide projected hiring needs based on a survey of 34 federal agencies and representing nearly 99 percent of the federal workforce , finds nearly 193,000 mission critical jobs need to be filled in the next two years!

There are also some benefits included with a job in public service, including loan repayment! The Federal student loan repayment program permits agencies to repay federally insured student loans as a recruitment or retention incentive for candidates or current employees of the agency. The program implements 5 U.S.C. 5379, which authorizes agencies to set up their own student loan repayment programs to attract or retain highly qualified employees.

So where do you look if you’re interested in working for the government? Here are some sites to get you started:

• http://www.studentjobs.gov
• http://www.students.gov.
• http://www.usajobs.gov
• www.makingthedifference.org/index.shtml
• www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/employ/govtjob/fedjob.pdf
• www.pmf.opm.gov/

Finally, here are some tips on finding a job with the federal government: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWcJWyHEn9Q

The Career Services Office also has many resources available in our resource library and online. Stop by Bonds 104 or call 440-826-2101 if you have any questions!

References

References are essential elements to a resume that can further solidify your hiring at a company. Companies look to references to gain further insight on: who you are as a person, what type of work ethic you possess, and what type of skills you bring to the table. Furthermore, references can either make or break you. Be sure to ask before adding someone to your resume as a reference; this can backfire and become a very messy situation if the reference does not know of you adding them as a reference. In addition, make sure that you have a well-developed relationship with the person you chose as a reference.

Next, after choosing the appropriate reference, it’s time to prepare them to be able to speak informatively about you in the letter; this should involve giving them a copy of your resume, talking with them about your goals and aspirations, as well as, informing them of the position you are applying for and the job requirements; this will allow them to tailor your skills to the position and speak strongly about you as a candidate.

Lastly, follow-up and thank them for taking the time out to write the reference letter and be sure to keep them updated on the outcome of the whole process.

All You Need to Know about Internships

Internships are a great opportunity to get experience in a field that is interesting to you! Whether you're interested in a specific career path, major, or simply curious about what a job requires, internships offer real life experience for academic credit.

Benefits of internships include:

• Test potential career paths without a permanent, full-time commitment.
  
• Develop competencies and gain knowledge that employers seek when hiring college graduates.


• Explore and clarify your major and career goals with professionals in your field.


• Establish a network of professional contacts and mentors who may serve as references and assist you with your professional, full-time search.
  
• Increase your marketability for your full-time employment and admission to graduate school.
  
• Take responsibility for your own learning and create a more rewarding college experience.
  

Career Services is offering an Exploring Internship Workshop a few times throughout the semester. Anyone curious about internships will benefit from this workshop, so come find out anything you would want to know about how to get an internship.

To begin the process of interning, you will need to attend an Internship Registration Workshop, offered every Tuesday at noon in Career Services, Bonds room 104. Pre-registration isn't necessary.

The following resources can help you locate an internship:

• Office of Career Services
  
• B-W Career Network
  
• ClevelandIntern.Net
  
• Annual Career & Internship Expo
  
• Family, friends, faculty, and staff contacts
  

Remember that you must have at least Sophomore status, carry at least a 2.0 GPA, and meet the criteria established by the specific department/division and the Office of Career Services.

Examples of places B-W students have interned in the past include:

• The Cleveland Museum of Art
  
• The FBI
  
• The Cleveland Clinic
  
• The Cleveland Indians
  
• The Cleveland Cavaliers
  
• The Cleveland Browns
  
• The Cleveland Orchestra
  
• The Great Lakes Theater Festival
  
• FirstEnergy
  
• Earth Day Coalition
  

Further information and guidelines about internships can be found on the B-W Career Network, the Career Services website, and by calling or stopping by the office of Career Services, located in Bonds room 104. Start planning for this terrific opportunity!