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January 28, 2008
Stories from the Fairs - We Wanna Hear!
At the fair last week I hit it off with a marketing and advertising company. I walked up to their table with little knowledge of what they do, but found what I think is going to be my #1 opportunity for this summer.
It was great because I was able to drop off a resume, and because I was able to talk to one of the higher-ups about his company and my background.
When you're in any situation career related, look for ways in which your background fits with the company or organization. You carry your history with you, and the skills and insights from past experiences are what provide you with the ability to be successful (or not!) in any new context.
For me, my history with Internet marketing and SEO fit well with what they were trying to do, and it made the conversation interesting for the both of us.
Do you have a similar story from the fair? Like... did you find a company that you didn't expect? What about an insight from the fair? What about an internship program you're really excited about?
Or even better: tips you want me to pass onto the boss about the fair?
Just post them as a comment (and if it is a suggestion, I'll be sure to pass it on for you).
-Nick
Peer Advisor
Posted by glauchni at 06:56 PM | Comments (0)
January 24, 2008
Use the Momentum!
Tuesday and Wednesday of this week were great days for those of us looking for an internship this summer. We had some great companies come to flourish their programs, and AMAZING turn out from students who impressed all of the recruiters!
We took the time to pass out info sheets regarding this blog to employers with space to give their two cents, so expect their tips and responses in the near future.
Most importantly - you dropped off resumes earlier this week, but you can't simply sit back and wait for those recruiters to call you! Grab that card they gave you and send an email expressing how great it was to talk to them! And finish that application to their post on the Career Center Connector or directly at their website.
Just because you "schmoozed" the recruiter doesn't mean the job is done! It has just begun! Use the momentum of the fair to get on top of those positions and one step closer to that acceptance email or phone call.
-Nick
Peer Advisor
Posted by glauchni at 06:47 PM | Comments (0)
January 23, 2008
Multicultural Career Fair
Today, (Wed the 23rd) is the MULTICULTURAL CAREER FAIR. Just to clarify, this title is not meant to dissuade anyone from attending... The companies attending this fair are simply looking to diversify their work environments. This can mean thousands of different skills and talents that are not necessarily culturally or racially dependent.
If you feel that you have something different to offer; such as a language skill, definitely stop by the fair and see how you can apply this talent on the job!
Posted by lucisolc at 12:39 AM | Comments (0)
January 22, 2008
Internship/Multicultural Career Fair
Yes, prospective full-time job/internship seekers, today is the internship fair. Over 80 companies from a wide cross section of industries are convening in the Michigan Union to recruit University of Michigan students. Here's a link about the Internship Fair and the Multicultural Career Fair. Here are a few tips:
1. Dress well - This doesn't mean you have to wear a pricey Italian cut suit, nor does it mean that jeans are acceptable. I'd say wearing at least business casual, but most people will be a little bit dressier.
2. Bring resumes - Definitely have a copy of your resume handy. Employers might ask for them and you might want to look over it in the hallway before you enter the ballroom.
3. Do your homework - Having a little background on employers you want to talk to is a good idea. Knowing about them will give you fodder for conversation and you want have to waste time discussing what is already listed on companies' websites. A list of participating organizations can be found here
Also, definitely go to both days of the fair. Different employers will be here on different days. Bring your M-Card! The fairs are today and tomorrow from 2pm-6pm.
Posted by ntambe at 08:54 AM | Comments (0)
January 16, 2008
Basic Resume Format
For students who are just starting the resume writing process, format is the most difficult part. Sometimes its easy to know what you want to say, but finding the right way to say it is hard.
There are a bunch of different ways to format your resume, but whatever way you choose, it has gotta be consistent and easy to read through. Formatting is used so that employers can pick out relevant information within the small period of time they have, so make sure your formatting accomplishes that.
A starting point is simply to Bold the organization/company title on the left most margin. Underneath that you can indent your own job title, maybe even italicize it. And underneath that, bullet the skills you developed and utilized while doing what you did. Not just "what you did".
Here's kinda what it looks like (without the dots):
UM Career Center
......Peer Advisor
.........-Worked with students in one-on-one advisory setting
Hope it helps!
-Nick
Peer Advisor
Posted by glauchni at 04:19 PM | Comments (0)
January 08, 2008
Why Internships?
Everyone goes into college with thousands of different things in mind. Just a few are freedom from parents, the excitement of a new city (maybe even state or country), new friends and new classes. But all too often, the importance of new professional experiences gets lost in the commotion.
Internships are very important because they help to develop a well-rounded and professionally prepared individual. On top of the growth that comes from working in a professional setting, an internship gives a person a look into a different field or industry, it allows them to meet leaders in all sorts of organizations, and take on some of the roles they only learn about in the classroom.
Its important to remember the role that internships play in your learning during your time as an undergraduate. Too often students go through their years here ignoring three quarters of their resume (the one right beneath your "Education" section) even though it is often the one most important to employers.
-Nick
Peer Advisor
Posted by glauchni at 10:02 AM | Comments (0)