Speed Career Networking

Last year, I was offered three internships on the basis of meeting one person at a Networking Dinner. The benefits of connecting with others are immense; if I did not attend the event I would have not met the necessary connections to even be offered an internship. With that in mind, navigating such events can be nerve-wracking which is why Baldwin-Wallace College Career Services is offering a Speed Career Networking Event before our annual Career and Internship Expo. Speed Networking is an event where people interact with the sole purpose of gaining business contacts and exchanging contact information. It is often compared to “speed dating” in a professional sense. Networking is an essential skill needed to succeed in the professional world. It is known that about 70-80 percent of jobs are filled through networking. With that said, the Speed Networking event will take place on Friday, October 30, 2009 from 1pm to 3pm in Sandstone 3. We hope to see you there and ready to gear up for the Career Expo on November 5, 2009.

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!!!

Westfield Insurance Meet & Greet

Interested in pursuing a career in the insurance sector? Westfield Insurance is holding a Meet & Greet this Wednesday, the 21st from 9-1 in the Kamm Boardroom!!! Representatives will be here to network with students and share information about internship opportunities. Refreshments will be provided as well. All majors are welcome, especially Business, Computer Science, Criminal Justice & Economics.

Resume & Cover Letter Tips

Everyone knows how important a first impression is. But some people don’t realize that their resume and cover letter is usually the first impression given to a perspective employer. If you have a good resume and cover letter, it can lead to an interview and then, a job. However, if you don’t have a good resume and cover letter, chances are you won’t even get a phone call. To help you with making a great first impression, here are some tips. Good Luck!

Things Not To Do:

• No Cover Letter: Cover letters are so important to the application process that many hiring managers automatically reject résumés that arrive without them. Make the most of your cover letter by expanding on a few of your qualifications, explaining any gaps in employment or providing other information that will entice the employer to read your résumé.
• Assuming spell-check is good enough: In a 2007 survey, 63 percent of hiring managers told CareerBuilder.com that spelling errors are the most frequent mistakes they see in résumés. Spell-checkers can pick up many typos -- but they won't catch everything (manger vs. manager, for example). Always proofread your résumé several times, and ask a friend to give it a final once-over.

Things To Do:

• Find a Job. Without a job description to work from, it’s impossible to tailor your skills and accomplishments to fit the employer’s job requirements. Your resume and cover letter should be tailored to the job description! If you do this, there is no need for an objective statement.
• Research the Prospective Employer. Know as much as you can about the company and try to incorporate that into your resume and cover letter. Whether they have won awards, recently introduced a new product or concept or whatever…make sure you find way to incorporate it!

• Do use action verbs. Do use active voice. Action verbs give your resume strength, power, and direction. Strong sentences are those in which a subject performs an action (active voice) as opposed to an action being performed on the subject (passive voice). For example, “I wrote the SOP for a 5000 employee organization” creates a stronger impression than “the company SOP was written by me”. In the same fashion, remove any statement beginning with ‘Responsibilities included’. Go straight to the verb!

• Incorrect: Know how to accurately file records.
• Correct: Accurately filed over 10,000 records on a weekly basis

For more information on resume writing and interviewing tips, visit http://fishbowlresume.blogspot.com

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.

Graduate School Fair

You know what has been on my mind lately…grad school! I have recently learned while working in Career Services that we will be hosting a graduate school fair on October 6, 2009 in the new Center for Innovation and Growth. We have a host of graduate schools attending such as: The Ohio State University, Case Western Reserve, Cleveland State and many more. This is a great opportunity to explore your options after B-W. If you are interested and would like more information on the colleges attending and the programs they are offering, it will be located on the Blackboard site under the Career Services tab for Graduate School Fair. I strongly encourage all to make use of this great opportunity. In addition, registration for the fair is available through the B-W Career Network or by contacting Career Services at (440) 826-2101.

Reasons to Participate in On-Campus Recruitment

The most important fact about On-Campus Recruitment is that instead of the job seekers approaching employers, the employers come to campus with job and internship opportunities. Qualified candidates can express their interest and employers then choose the candidate who best matches their needs.

Some Benefits of On-Campus Recruitment:

• Companies get the opportunity to choose from and select the best talent in a short span of time.
• College students get the opportunity to present themselves to some of the best companies within their industry of interest. Landing a job or internship opportunity while still in college and joining just after graduating is definitely what all students dream of!

I know that interviewing can be nerve-wracking, but just keep in mind that it will never be as bad as this: http://www.kewego.com/video/iLyROoafYPtQ.html