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!

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

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!

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

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.

IMPORTANT INTERVIEWING TIPS!!!

Dear Fellow B-W Students,

Have you ever wondered how to prepare for an interview? How to answer questions. How not to answer questions. What to ask. What not to ask. Have you thought about how you act during an interview? Perhaps you fidget or close your eyes or make funny faces.

If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, I would encourage you to drop by Career Services and take advantage of a great technology tool. Wouldn’t it be great to see yourself in an interview situation and be able to evaluate yourself? With Perfect Interview, you can hear your "ums", "uhs" and "okays", listen to your responses and observe your behavior. Perfect Interview is a software program that simulates an interview situation. A web cam actually tapes your practice interview. The software includes features to coach and guide you in answering questions appropriately. How great is that? I have used Perfect Interview and it was helpful to see my reactions. Now I know what I need to practice to improve my interviewing skills. So stop by Career Services and schedule a time to use the Perfect Interview software. Practice is key to acing an interview.

Here are some interviewing tips that I have found helpful:

· Research the company you are interviewing, jot down notes to take with you to your interview.
· Prepare a list of question to ask the interviewer(s).
· Prepare any documents, writing samples, extra copies of your resume ahead of time. Avoid doing this the day of your interview.
· Get enough sleep the night before
· If the location of the interview is at an unfamiliar place, drive by the day before to avoid getting lost and being late the day of your interview.
· Make sure you are comfortable in business attire. It is always best to err on the conservative side than to not be professionally dressed.
· Arrival early to have time to catch your breath and observe the work environment.
· Ask for a business card to follow-up with a thank you note.

Here are some questions that are common for an interviewer to ask:

1. Tell me about yourself?
2. Describe a difficult work situation/project and how you overcame it.
3. What do you find are the most difficult decisions to make?
4. How do you handle stress and pressure?
5. What do people most often criticize about you?
6. Why should we hire you?
7. What challenges are you looking for in a position?
8. What did you like or dislike about your previous job?
9. Who was your best boss and who was the worst?
10. If you can have your ideal position, what would it be and what would you be doing?
11. What do/did you like most about your job? (As listed in your resume)
12. What is your salary requirement? Make sure to research and respond with a broad range. (Don't ask for too much or too little).

HOW TO GET THAT INTERNSHIP YOU DESIRE!!!

Hey, B-W students!

Looking for internships??? I am looking for an internship too…besides being a great resume builder, it will allow me to gain hands-on experience and apply my in-class learning to real life situations. An internship will also give me a chance to test drive a career. With this in mind, The Career & Internship Expo is a great way to meet a variety of employers who are hiring. This event will be held November 5th from 5:30-8:00 p.m. in the Student Union. Come prepared with your updated resumes and confidence to meet the employers. Consider these important steps on how to prepare for the Career & Internship Expo:

First, update your resume and have it critiqued by a Career Advisor at Express Lanes from 2:00-4:00 p.m. in the Main Lounge of Lang Hall. If you don’t have a resume don’t worry you can attend the Resume Writing Clinic, from 11:45-12:45 p.m. in Malicky 114. Both Express Lanes and the Clinic are scheduled for Thursday October, 29th.

Second, prepare yourself and your image to meet the employers at the fair. Plan to attend Creating the Polished Professional workshop on Thursday November 3rd from 11:45-12:45 in Kamm 107. John Fuehrer, Assistant Professor in the Business Division, is the key presenter. You will receive practical advice to help you create a poised, self-assured and competitive professional image.

Finally, prepare for the Career & Internship Expo by learning how to navigate the expo, how to approach the employers, and much more. The How to Prepare for a Career Fair event will also give you a chance to ask specific questions. This workshop will take place Wednesday, November 4th from 6:00-7:00 p.m. in Kamm 101.

Once you find an internship and you want to receive college credit, be sure to attend an Internship Registration Workshop. This workshop is held every Tuesday from 12:00-12:30 in the Career Services Office, Bonds 104.


Take advantage of Career Week programming. I guarantee you will feel more prepared for a successful internship search! GOOD LUCK!!!

What do you want to do when you grow up?

I came to college thinking I knew exactly what I wanted my academic major to be; well, that changed my sophomore year. I actually picked up a second major. I discovered an interest in public relations, and decided to take PR courses to test that interest. Not only did I enjoy the classes, but I could picture myself working in the PR field. So, I am now a double major in Business and Public Relations. I have given myself the flexibility of two different career paths, therefore not limiting myself. Not only do these two majors complement each other but they can work hand in hand. I am glad that I discovered this passion for PR in time to take classes and declare it as a major. B-W students, don’t waste time trying to figure it out!!! Come to Career Services and take the DISCOVER assessment. It will allow you to explore career options that match your abilities, interests and values. This assessment will ask many varied questions. Based on your responses, it will provide results about careers that may align with your personality, passions, and much more. LET THIS CAREER TECHNOLOGY TOOL GUIDE YOU TO A PATH IN DISCOVERING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AFTER GRADUATION AND WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN DURING YOUR TIME HERE AT B-W. Utilizing Discover is an important step in your journey to career success.