Cardinal Career Connection

Leggo

2012-02-02T14:09:00.002-06:00

Tuesday. Oh Tuesday, you were an interesting day. I mean really you were like last minute crazy out of control some how pulled together crisp and clean in the end. Yeah I am that good. Okay so I did have some help but that is beside the point of this.

On Tuesday the first meeting for the Career Mentor Program 2012 started at 5:45. It was the orientation for the start of a whirl wind mentor ship in midst of a whirl wind semester. Talk about going crazy, last semester I thought would never end, now we are in February and the classes are flying by.

Any who the orientation was fantastic and informative as well. I found out the best ways to contact my mentor, and how to have really good first meeting! Needless to say I am stoked to meet my mentor from Hallmark!

At the meeting however I was posed a question, okay well we all were asked the same question, do you have questions for your mentor. So obviously I am nodding yes in response but when the question continued on. Do I have questions that are quick, simple and good for my first time meeting my mentor? The answer in nope. None what so ever, in any way, shape, or form. I am questionless.

So now comes the part of major panic on my part as I walk back to my dorm. I begin to think that the world am I going to be asking this slightly random person that I have never met in my life before that I am being paired with for the next couple of months. Truth be told I had a list of questions, but they are more appropriate for when I am actually working in the mentors field.

I am at a loss what do I ask, how do I ask it, what is good or bad, what if I hit a nerve by complete accident. I know that this is the first time meeting this person so I have to make an impression. I am still not sure exactly what I will be asking my mentor. I hope I have some questions written down before I meet her but who knows. Hopefully by the time I meet my mentor I will be 100% ready for it, but only time will tell... So leggo make some questions.

Suggestions?

Back on the Hill 2012!

2012-01-19T12:34:00.001-06:00

Okay so it is a new year here at the Hill and Career Services is starting it off right. There are multiple events coming up in the next few weeks that will bring up many opportunities and may even bring about an exciting summer adventure. Located on our board down in the hallway by the Cage is a calendar that says all of the events that include times, locations and deadlines. If you have any questions at all about the calendar, just stop by the office, which is located on the second floor of the Union past the Perch and to the right. We’d love to help you with your resume and job searching needs.

Make sure to keep up with the blog because February is going to be resume month. We will be reviewing the aspects of a resume from the basic details to the things that will make your resume stand out.

Good luck with the job researching and classes everyone!

Let's Get Started!

2011-11-11T14:17:00.003-06:00

As a new year starts so do new traditions. Okay so maybe keeping a blog isn’t a tradition but it is something I have wanted to start for a while. This is the Career Services blog, it is going to be filled with funny stories from the office, up coming events and tips for etiquette and job hunting! I am so excited that for whoever actually reads this gets to go on this journey with me. So let’s get started.

Every week there will be at least one post about the happenings in the office by me or someone from the office. Plus I will introduce a new person each week, so when you come in you’ll know a familiar face.

This week’s Career Services employ being introduced is me! I am a freshman here at William Jewell College and I absolutely love it here. It is a great experience and I can’t wait for the rest of my college experience. I am a triple major here at Jewell, my majors are Business Administration, Organizational Communication and the ACT-IN major. So basically I am going to be a busy person. In life I hope to work in marketing or advertising. It just fits my personality so well and I am blessed to go to a school that offers great programs too. My hobbies are fishing, reading, and photography. I am in love with life and can’t get enough of it either! It is just so exciting and fun that I make the very best of every opportunity.

Here in the office I really just help out people who come in looking for help with a resume or job search, I'm still kinda learning the ropes but I am getting there. Career Services is here for you! To get to the office go to the second floor of the Union, go past the perch and turn right! You’ll see our door open so just walk right in and you’ll see a smiling face welcome you to our little office.

If you really want to keep up with all the happenings in the office join our Facebook groups and follow us on Twitter. We post a lot of information on the Facebook pages and quick stuff on the Twitter! (The links are located on the left side of the page!)

For whoever is reading this, just have a great weekend, stay safe and good luck job hunting!

Grad School Career Fair and Seminar

2011-11-10T13:47:00.003-06:00

Thursday November 17

Career Fair: YGCU Atrium
11am - 1pm
Avila
Kaplan Test Prep
Mid America Nazarene
Park University
Rockhurst University
UMCK Bloch School of MGT
University of Missouri School of Law
University of Saint Mary

Seminar: YGCU 212
2:15pm - 3:15pm
Kaplan Test Prep
UMKC Bloch School of MGT
University of Missouri School of Law

This Week's Events

2011-10-24T15:09:00.001-05:00

10/26/11 - Workforce Recruitment Program Intv.

10/28/11 - Park University Career Fair

Creating a Killer Cover Letter

2011-09-29T14:41:00.003-05:00

By Lindsay Olson

Many job seekers question whether or not they should send a cover letter with their resume. It’s a question that’s up for debate between job search professionals, and you’ll receive conflicting advice everywhere.

People skip the cover letter because they think that companies don’t read them and that they are a waste of time to write. While it is true that some hiring managers and recruiters won’t take the time to read a cover letter, plenty of companies do consider one necessary for a candidate to receive serious consideration. Not sending a cover letter for a position could be a risky move, so if you are extremely interested in the position for which you’re applying, your best bet is to include one.

Think of your cover letter (or introductory letter) as a high-level overview of your resume and an additional tool to elaborate any specific information. It provides you with the opportunity to highlight your strengths and answer any possible objections up front. Focus the content on the specific skills that the job description mentions so that the hiring manager knows right away that you fit her criteria. Once you’ve covered that and have gained the reader’s attention, you can use it fill in any details that might not fit on or be appropriate for your resume.

For example, if you are applying for a job that requires French language skills, it might not be fitting to mention in your resume that you lived in France for a few years as a teenager with your family, but your cover letter is the perfect place to tell that story.

If you foresee any obstacles, such as in the case of applying for a job out of state, mention them in your letter. Let’s say you are applying for a job in New York City and live in Utah, but plan to move to New York soon; let the company rep know so she doesn’t feel like you’re looking for a relocation package. If you are planning on being in the region where you are applying for jobs, make sure you include this early on in your cover letter.

Successful Cover Letters

There’s no single formula for success when it comes to writing a stellar cover letter, but you can be sure that the more unique and creative your cover letter, the more attention it will get. A quick cut and paste job changing the title of the position won’t cut it. The meat of the cover letter should be customized for the specific position using the job description and your knowledge of the company as a guide about what to cover in the introduction.

Relate your experience to the job description. The best cover letters should leave the reader with the desire to call you to come in for an interview before even opening your resume.

Keep the letter relatively short. It’s an introduction to you and your resume, so three to five paragraphs should suffice. Resist the temptation of writing a full page (or more) to get in all of the great things about you; it’s better to keep some of that for the interview.

Address your letter to the hiring manager, and if at all possible, get his or her name. A personalized letter is much better than one addressed “To Whom It May Concern.”

What to Include

Start your letter by identifying the position you are interested in and where you found it (this is unnecessary if you are applying through a job site directly). If the company is hiring for more than one position that you’re interested in and qualified for, specify which ones. Only choose the positions for which you are a close enough fit. Otherwise, your search comes across as unfocused.
Provide three outstanding reasons why you are ideal for the job. It’s not enough to say, “I’m the perfect fit for this role.” Instead, you should back it up with examples. Refer back to the job description to align what you focus on with the responsibilities and challenges of the position.
Bullet points or a table to match your background to the requirements works well to highlight your three main points. They’re visually easy to skim, and they show the reader where her eyes should focus. Stick to just three (maybe four) points, rather than a long list. Your resume should answer the rest.
Don’t forget your contact information! Provide both your e-mail address and your phone number, as well as any links to your portfolio or samples of your work.

And finally, don’t be too stuffy. Yes, your letter should be professional, but it should also show your personality. Be relaxed in your letter, and don’t be afraid to toot your own horn. Sometimes the job description can give you an idea of the company’s formality. If the description is a bit off the wall and personable, respond in a similar tone. On the other hand, if the job description is very stilted and formal, a more traditional letter may appeal more to the reader.

Lindsay Olson is a founding partner and public relations recruiter with Paradigm Staffing and Hoojobs, a niche job board for public relations, communications and social media jobs. She blogs at LindsayOlson.com, where she discusses recruiting and job search issues.

2011-05-06T16:19:00.002-05:00

Choose Your Boss Wisely

11:53 AM Wednesday April 20, 2011

by Priscilla Claman

Most job-seekers aren't just looking for the right work — they're looking for the right manager, too. To a large extent a manager will control your assignments and your work environment, so it makes sense to try to learn more about her long before you're hired.

But in an hour-long interview with a hiring manager, you will be lucky to get fifteen minutes to ask your own questions. For this reason, as a job candidate you should not only be concerned with your answers to a hiring manager's questions, and but also a potential manager's answers to your questions.

It was early in my career when I first used this technique. I was the interviewee, and let's just say the hiring manager reputedly had a management style akin to that of a Mafia boss — ruthless, and obsessed with loyalty. I asked if there was someone working for him that he considered a real star that I could learn from. He was quick to answer:

"That would be Barbara. One time, I gave her an assignment and she came back to me pleading that I give it to someone else. She didn't feel comfortable doing it, and said that in all the years she had worked for me she had never asked for anything but this. Of course, I told her that I had given her an assignment, and expected her to do it. Barbara said, 'Yes, boss,' and did it. And that is why she is the star on my team."

I learned more about his management style in that answer than if I had asked him directly. I had enough information right there to make my own decision.

To make an informed judgment about your potential boss, it's important to ask the right questions during the interview:

1.Start out by asking about a past project or accomplishment in detail. Get into specifics. Instead of hearing responses like, "I believe in delegating to my people," you'll want to get to, "We had a weekly meeting on the project, and people came to me between meetings with something they wanted my help with..." Make it a point to find out what the manager did, not just what she read in the latest issue of HBR. This way you'll begin to understand how she actually conducts business in practice, and whether or not that's a culture you want to be a part of.

2.Ask about customers or colleagues. A good starting point is, "Can you give me an example of a typical customer, and what they are like?" Not only do you want to know what the customers are like, but also the manager's attitude toward customers. If you are great with customers and your manager doesn't respect them, your manager probably won't like you. And if you treat customers the way your manager does — i.e., without respect — your customers won't like you either.

Even before the Q&A section of the interview, look for repeated patterns of unconscious behavior. This will help you predict future behavior. Notice how the interviewer is saying things, not just what he is saying. Does he spend a lot of time talking about himself? Does he often use the word "I," and never use "we" to describe his department? You can expect that manager to be pretty self-focused. Or, does the manager talk about "the team" and compliment or refer to others on the team? If you are a team-oriented person, you probably will have an easier time working for the second manager, regardless of what the job is.

Listen carefully during the interview. Does the manager grill you? Challenge your answers? Not let you get a word in edgewise? You can expect that to continue on the job. Or, does the manager welcome you? Show you around? Give you a chance to present yourself? You can expect that in the future, too.

Just as in my interview with Mr. Mafia Management Style, get the data on your potential boss early on — then decide if he's the right manager for you. This way, when you accept an offer after you have learned what to expect from your manager, you are much more likely to be secure in your success.

And if you're wondering if I answered "yes" to the offer from the "boss" — well — that's a topic for another time.

Priscilla Claman is president of Career Strategies, Inc., a Boston-based firm offering career coaching to individuals and career management services to organizations. Priscilla is a former corporate Human Resources executive and author of the book, ASK: How to Get What You Want and Need at Work.

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

FOCUS-2 is a self-guided, online career and education planning tool for use by college students. It will enable you to assess your interests, values, skills, personality, and aspirations as they relate to careers and college majors. FOCUS-2 is designed to help you choose the best major for you and explore occupations that match your profile. Students who use FOCUS-2 make better decisions about their goals and plans and learn how to manage their careers.

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

Some people introduce a guest speaker, then make a run for it. Can't get away fast enough. They are moving at such a pace that they should be sponsored by Nike or Gatorade. The guest speaker has not even reached the stage and the person who introduced him or her flies by without even shaking hands. Or that person dives off the stage in the opposite direction. Where's the fire?

When introducing a speaker, wait at the lectern until the speaker gets there. Shake hands with the speaker, then walk --don't run-- back to your seat. If you are the guest speaker, wait for the emcee to return to the lectern and shake hands before departing.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

This will be the last blog post for this school year. It will start back up again in August. Be looking for it!

Thank you to all who have read the blog this year!

-Career Services Office

2011-04-29T16:43:00.001-05:00

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

5 Tips to Get a Job in 2011

Make relationships to find your next job!
by Clarky Davis | FNC iMag

If you’re job hunting, the days of printing out résumés and sending them to every company you can think of are over. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s all about networking. While networking may seem daunting at first, it’s not only a quicker and easier route to landing a new job, it can help remove some of the isolation you may feel if you’re unemployed. Not sure where to start, or want to maximize your network? Follow the tips below.

LinkedIn
With its online community recently surpassing 100 million users, LinkedIn is a must for job-seekers. On LinkedIn, you can create a profile, add your résumé and skills, and connect with business colleagues and friends past and present. What separates LinkedIn from other social networking sites is that it allows your online persona to remain completely professional. You won’t have to worry about “friending” business associates on Facebook or Twitter and then having your friends post unprofessional photos of you for everyone to see!

Beyond.com
Beyond.com is another valuable resource for job-seekers to network online. The thing I love about this site is that you can browse their extensive lists of local and national networks by location or occupation. Check out their Engineering channels, for example, and you’ll find 164 communities and online job boards for specialties like chemical engineering, electrical product managers, safety engineers, and more.

Hit Up the Big Boys
Which large, national companies in your field are always hiring? Find contacts who work at these companies through your networking efforts, and make sure to introduce yourself. Ask your contact if you can take them out to lunch or a cup of coffee to find out more about their company. You’ll gain insider knowledge, and your contact will think of you first if an opportunity arises. Also keep in mind that the U.S. government is always hiring for a wide variety of positions. Visit USAJobs.gov to browse openings by agency, state or occupation.

Think Local
One of the best places to network is at a local level. Go to CareerOneStop.org and select your state on the upper right to connect to your state’s department of employment and find out about local job postings and upcoming career fairs. You can also find resources to learn more about different types of careers and free job training that may be available to you.

Keep It Up
Remember, networking is an ongoing process that doesn’t end with posting your résumé! Make sure to stay active in your communities, both online and off. Get together with other job-seekers regularly to keep up your spirits and share any leads you’ve found. It may take a while, but with a little networking you can land the job of your dreams.

For more financial tips, visit Clarky's website. And for more career tips, click here.

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

FOCUS-2 is a self-guided, online career and education planning tool for use by college students. It will enable you to assess your interests, values, skills, personality, and aspirations as they relate to careers and college majors. FOCUS-2 is designed to help you choose the best major for you and explore occupations that match your profile. Students who use FOCUS-2 make better decisions about their goals and plans and learn how to manage their careers.

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

Remember what they used to tell you in grammar school about brushing your teeth? Ignore your teeth and they will go away.

The same is true for a good secretary, assistant or other administrative professional. April 27 is Administrative Professionals Day. In a tough economy when organizations make do with less, more work falls to the administrative professionals, so treat them right. Do something special for that day -- take them to lunch, buy some flowers, a gift or gift certificate, let them go home early. Year round, be attentive, make eye contact, say thank you, recognize effort, offer encouragement and most importantly, a kind word.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

2011-04-08T15:58:00.001-05:00

How Many Thank-You E-mails Land the Job?

After a job interview, you need to follow up to stay visible—without becoming a pest. Consultant Lynn Taylor offers tips on finding the right frequency

By Lynn Taylor

I once had two excellent and equally qualified candidates competing in the final round for a public relations writer position. The job took longer to fill than anticipated. Candidate A was virtually silent after the interview and thank-you e-mail. I did all the reaching out thereafter to ensure that this applicant was still available. Candidate B sent the thank-you and also checked in about every 10 days with interesting links and industry information.
When I called to thank Candidate B, he was enthusiastic, professional, and upbeat, which underscored my impression from the first two interviews. We spoke again after another of his e-mails. He managed to stay top of mind during the search period. Finally, I had the time and resources to act on making the hire. I had to go with my gut: Since Candidate B went out of his way to demonstrate his interest for the job, I selected him. He remained part of my team for years until he had to relocate for personal reasons.
So Candidate A lost out in large part because he failed to follow up with enthusiasm. But over the course of my career, I've also had to exclude candidates from the running because they made pests of themselves after the interview.

Pressure Tactics That Don't Work

I once interviewed a prospective candidate who was in good stead for a writer/researcher position. I told him I needed a few weeks and would get back to him. But within a couple days he launched a barrage of e-mails and calls and continued for a few weeks, sometimes hinting he had other job opportunities. While he truly may have had these other offers, his mention of them struck me as a pressure tactic. It rubbed me the wrong way, as it would any hiring manager. The typical reaction is: "If you have another great offer, don't let us stop you."
(On a side note, if you really do have another offer pending and feel that the hiring manager would want to know because you're a finalist, then a separate, more urgent voice mail or e-mail makes sense. Don't name the other employer—simply explain that "I'm more interested in the job with your organization, but I do have to make a decision." Make sure that you have an offer letter in hand and would really take the job before you let on to the other prospective employer.)
In my case, I hinted to the candidate that his level of follow-up wasn't necessary, but he kept on deluging me with e-mails. We excluded himself from consideration. The candidate we ultimately hired had followed up with a "thank you" e-mail, a second e-mail, and a couple of phone calls all within about six weeks after the interview. She made just the right amount of contact.
So how do you know what the right amount of follow-up is? Every other week is a good general rule, especially if you're getting a positive response from the interviewer. But every situation differs, so keep the following tips in mind.
Consider the pace of hiring. If hiring is at a fast clip, say in three weeks, and you're in the running, make your frequency weekly instead of every other week.
Think about the hiring manager's reaction to you. Did the interviewer start the session with a great deal of interest—and then shift into dullness? Are you hearing questions that focus on your weaknesses? If your gut tells you that this is not a fit, then don't go beyond a standard thank-you e-mail. And in general, a brief interview along with a courteous "thank you," and no follow-up from the company means, "Don't call us, we'll call you." A situation in which you've been given specific dates for their next steps in the interviewing process minimizes the need for follow-up beyond a thank-you e-mail. If you hound the hiring manager regardless, you may hurt your chances for other positions that develop in or outside the company—and may have been more suitable.
Consider the reaction to your first follow-up attempt. A response such as "We'll get back to you" usually means you can skip the any additional follow-up. The ball is in their court.
Remember that "thank you" takes thought. You want to act fast by sending the thank-you e-mail the day of the interview or the next day—but think before composing it. If multiple people have interviewed you, vary your language in the thank-you messages, highlighting what resonated with each. Your note should serve as a subtle sales tool that, depending on the situation, does one or more of the following: a) reinforces why you're a good match for the position; b) demonstrates your enthusiasm; and c) clears up any possible misconceptions in an upbeat way. It should always indicate something positive about the future, even if it's as simple as: "I look forward to hearing from you."
Ask yourself, "What's the job 'personality?'" Align your response with the nature of the position. For example, sales and marketing jobs call for tenacity, so applicants for such jobs can be more aggressive in their follow-up efforts.
Keep it Short. Remember, you're not trying to befriend this prospective employer; you're trying to stay visible. Keep your follow-ups concise and professional, not chatty.
Offer Value. Assuming you're on the A list, you may send informational e-mails with links to pertinent industry articles, relevant LinkedIn discussions, or upcoming industry seminars. Use introductions such as "I thought you might find this interesting …" or "In case you missed it …." You might also provide an update on a new course completed, newly acquired software training, an award received, or an article published.
Remember that frequency matters. Space your follow-ups accordingly. If the employer is taking two or more months in its search, stagger your follow-up to at least a couple weeks apart, depending on the reaction you're getting.
Exercise your right to follow up. If the company says you're among the final contenders and communications then cease, inquire directly about your standing at the company. After all, in order to advance your career continually—and your life—you need to know whether you have a chance at this job or you should look elsewhere.

To read the article online chick here.

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

People often ask, "Who goes first through the revolving door?"

Allow guests and people who outrank you to go first through the revolving door. You may even put the door in motion to assist them (if the door does not have a motion sensor that does the job.) Enter the section behind them -- you don't want to be too familiar. All else being equal, the person who gets to the door first, enters first. If you are leading a group on a tour, you would go first through the door.

For those of you who like to kick it old school, social etiquette dictates that a gentleman puts the door gently in motion (lest he send the lady flying out the other side) and allows a lady to take the first section and he takes the section behind her. If the door opens onto a dark street, the gentleman goes first. Another view: Emily Post says a gentleman allows a lady to go first if the door is in motion, but the gentleman goes first if the door is not in motion.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

4/8	Rockhurst University
	YGCU Atrium 10-11:30 am
4/11	Target
	210 YGCU By appt
4/13	Applied Learning Process
	Yates Dining Room By appt

2011-04-01T15:48:00.000-05:00

6 Ways to Ace a Job Interview on Skype

By Lynn O'Shaughnessy | Mar 9, 2011
With employers increasingly conducting job interviews over Skype, it’s important to be able to ace an online job interview.
Recently I read an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education about the experiences of a professor who participated in three job interviews via Skype. I wanted to pass along some advice he offered after the experience, as well as other tips for conducting an online job interview or business conversation via Skype.

6 Skype Interview Tips

1. Make eye contact.

During in-person interviews, it’s a no brainer to make eye contact, but it’s harder to do on Skype. To make eye contact on Skype, you need to look into the camera on your computer - not on the image of the person on the screen. You’ll want to adjust your camera so it’s at eye level.

2. Create a new Skype account.

Create an account that isn’t cutesy or crass like vegasguy. Stick with your name and, if that’s already taken, add some numbers to it. Make sure the photo icon that you use with your account looks professional.

3. Understand the technology.

Make sure you understand how Skype works before an interview. That includes being able to share links, files and photos, as well as instant messaging. Practice before the big interview.
Even if you think you’ve mastered Skype, the free video chat service is always updating its software. I’ve used Skype for a long time, but when I was ready to call someone recently, I realized that the interface looked different and I hadn’t built in time for this aggravation.

4. Practice.

Practice a call with a friend and pay attention to how you look on camera. Good lighting is important. Also check how you are sitting. It’s often not flattering to sit squarely in front of the camera. Try positioning your body slightly to the left or right and then swivel your head back. That’s what professional photographers instruct their clients to do.

5. Clean the room.

The interviewer isn’t just going to get a good look at you. She’ll notice whether your office is a pigsty. Whenever I Skype someone — unless it’s one of my brothers or sisters — I make sure my office looks clean. That means dumping my piles of papers, newspapers and the box of dog biscuits out of camera range.

6. Keep the room quiet.

Turn off your office phone and cell phone and keep dogs and cats out of the room.
Lynn O’Shaughnessy is author of The College Solution and she also writes a college blog for CBSMoneyWatch.

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

Never pass out business cards at the dinner table.

In addition, do not pass out your business cards indiscriminately to everyone in the room. If someone who has received one of your cards notices this, that person will no longer feel important or special, because you are shooting your cards pell mell at everyone, like tennis balls out of an oscillating ball machine.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

4/5	Spring 2011 Career Fair
	Mabee Fieldhouse, Avila University 10am-3pm
4/7	Edward Jones
	212 YGCU By appt
4/8	Rockhurst University
	YGCU Atrium 10-11:30 am
4/11	Target
	210 YGCU By appt
4/13	Applied Learning Process
	Yates Dining Room By appt

2011-03-25T17:08:00.002-05:00

10 tips to ace your next job interview

By Liz Ryan, Contributing Columnist, Kiplinger.com
Tribune Media Services
March 21, 2011
Given the late-winter thaw showing up in what has been an ice-cold job market, many workers are pondering a topic they haven't worried much about lately -- job interviews.

Here are my favorite interview tips for job candidates, from new grads to ultra-experienced hires:

1. Know the employer's business.

In the pre-Internet days, job-seekers were advised to ask, "Who do you consider your principal competitors?" to show their alertness and interest in a job. These days, it signals the opposite. By the time you arrive for a job interview, you've already got to know not only the employer's business profile but also which organizations compete in its arena and how your target employer compares to every other major player in its market. That's true whether you're applying for the CFO slot or hoping to answer the phones in its call center.

Begin by touring the employer's own Web site, then move on to LinkedIn to learn about its leaders. From there, journey over to Glassdoor.com to see what past and current employees are saying about the firm, its culture, its business prospects and the quality of its leadership.

2. Prepare questions.

Your research will pay off in another way: It will give you fodder for great interview questions you can ask the recruiter, hiring manager and any other company reps you meet during your interview. When you're invited for the interview, ask your scheduler who you'll be meeting, by name and title. Knowing the job titles of the people on your interview roster will allow you to come up with position-specific questions to pose to each person you meet. If you're a marketing person and one of your interviewers is a sales manager, you can ask, "What should the person in this role accomplish in the first three months, for you as an internal customer to be overjoyed with his or her performance?"

3. Get the inside scoop.

Use LinkedIn to find people in your second- or third-degree network who worked for your target employer in the past. Since they're connected to people you know and they don't work there anymore, these folks will be more likely than current employees to give you the eye-opening scoop on the organization's culture and challenges. Use the Get Introduced Through a Connection button on the user's LinkedIn profile page to make these connections through mutual friends, asking for a quick telephone chat. (Be sure to thank these helpful folks for their time!)

4. Collect personal contact information.

As you meet each new person in your interview lineup, ask him or her for a business card. Do it the minute you're introduced, before you sit down, or you're likely to forget. Since lots of people don't carry business cards in their pockets while they're at work, be ready with pen and paper to take down each person's name and contact information if no business card is handy. You'll need to know the names, titles and e-mail addresses for each person you meet, so you can compose and send a customized thank-you note to each of them.

5. Tell personal stories.

When you're asked the standard interview questions, use stories to make your accomplishments come to life. You don't have to wait for the interviewer to ask you a "story question," such as "Tell me about a time when you worked with a difficult customer." You can give a story-type answer to any interview question.

If the question is "Have you been using FrameMaker very long?" your answer can begin, "You know, once we were under the gun to get some documentation done for a version of the product that was custom-built for one client. I hadn't used FrameMaker for that sort of thing before, so I pulled out the manual and began reading...." It's a great goal to tell two or three pithy, human stories in each job interview, to bring your talent to life and to get out of the zero-impact "yes, no, somewhat" rut.

6. Zoom in on the employer's pain.

In 2011, it's not enough to let an employer know that you've got skills X, Y and Z. You have to make it clear that you've faced down the same dragon the employer is facing now, and that means you've got to know which sort of dragon is circling the castle. Float a pain hypothesis early on in the interview -- something like, "My take is that you're looking to get sales leads assigned and acted on more quickly after trade shows. Is that the biggest area you're looking for this new hire to handle, or am I missing something major?" Once you and the hiring manager are talking about the business issues and not the often-irrelevant list of job requirements, your conversation will become much more substantive and fun.

7. Save the salary discussion for round two.

It's not a great idea to bring up salary in the first interview, because it's a bad use of everyone's time. If they aren't interested in you, why worry about the salary? When you get the call or the e-mail inviting you for a second interview, go ahead and broach the salary topic. Ask the recruiter, "Is now a good time to sync up on salary? Would you be the right person to have that conversation with?"

There's no sense going for a second interview (or first interview, if you've already passed a phone screener) if you and the employer aren't in the same ballpark salary-wise. If they ask you what you were earning at the last job, smile and say, "I'm focusing on roles in the $X range."

8. Save a question for the end.

Hiring managers tell me that when they've got a promising candidate sitting in front of them, it's a terrible disappointment for the manager to ask "So, have any questions for me?" and to hear the candidate say "No." Don't be left queryless -- have a list of ten or 20 questions, and jot down new ones that occur to you as you're sitting in the interview. (Yes, it's fine to bring a pad and pen to an interview, tucked into a portfolio, and it's fine to take notes as you're listening or even talking.) Here are a couple of useful questions: 1) What was the incident or the trend that caused you to decide to hire this person now? and 2) Can you tell me why this position exists -- either a bad thing that happened in the absence of this person, or a story about a time when my predecessor (assuming I get the job) saved the day?

9. Stay alert.

Job interviews can be overwhelming and exhausting. An interview is a performance, and performances are grueling. You've got to stay alert and in the game, whether you're on site for two hours or six. That means no spacing out, staring into space or (as one of my memorable least-favorite interviewees did) spitting water into the potted plant during the interview.

Be focused from the moment you walk in the door. That means not using your cell phone while waiting to be picked up in the lobby, and having a warm greeting in mind when your host shows up to meet you. (It's hard to forget a young man I met in the lobby one day. Tim had arrived for a face-to-face interview; I'd phone-screened him the day before. "Are you Tim, by chance?" I asked. Tim looked startled and replied, "Why, yes, I am! Are you Miss Ryan? You sounded so much younger on the phone!")

10. Say thanks.

Thank each person you meet on the interview trail, and when you get home, send each one a thank-you e-mail, as well. (That's when the contact info you grabbed from each person will come in handy.) In your thank-you notes, mention as specifically as you can what you and each interviewer talked about. "Thank you for your time" is general and namby-pamby, but "Thanks for your fantastic description of the plastic extrusion process. You put a complicated process into words very well!" will not only flatter the recipient but also bring you, the candidate, back to mind sharply. Say something in each thank-you message about the wheels that are still turning in your head, post-interview. "Since I left you, I've been thinking about the CRM issue you raised, and wondering whether the new Siebel plug-in tools would be worth a look." Let the manager know that your brain is already turning over the issues the firm is facing. Don't beg for another interview or praise yourself, but be positive: "I'm looking forward to the next conversation" has the right mix of hopeful and not desperate notes.

All contents copyright 2008 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc.; distributed by Tribune Media Services

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

Don't be foiled by butter in foil wrappers. Take the butter pat out of the foil wrapper and ease it onto your bread plate with your knife. (Your bread plate is on your left -- you need to know this, because everyone else at the table is watching you to figure out which bread plate is theirs.)

When you are finished with foil butter wrappers and paper sugar wrappers, tuck them under the rim of your bread plate to get them out of sight. If the butter pat came in one of those individual plastic butter tubs, flatten it (without too much enthusiasm). You should not accumulate a large stack of these items, because in a business meal, you know to use butter and sugar in moderation.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

3/29	Dept of State
	212 YGCU 12:30-2 pm
4/5	Spring 2011 Career Fair
	Mabee Fieldhouse, Avila University 10am-3pm
4/7	Edward Jones
	212 YGCU By appt
4/8	Rockhurst University
	YGCU Atrium 10-11:30 am
4/11	Target
	210 YGCU By appt
4/13	Applied Learning Process
	Yates Dining Room By appat

2011-03-11T10:57:00.000-06:00

9 Tips for Refreshing Your Resume

By Erin Peterson

Published March 08, 2011 | Bankrate.com

Give Your Resume a Facelift
As the job market slowly improves in 2011 and you dust off that old resume for a job search, you may find it's time to give it a face lift.
As always, your resume should be attractive and readable. But now there's more than just snail mail to send it out. It has become important to make the most of the Internet to distribute and display your resume effectively on social networking, job-hunting and career sites, and in job-application engines on corporate websites.
Follow these nine tips to update your resume for 2011 and beyond.
Focus on Selected Accomplishments
Hiring managers don't want to read a laundry list of your job duties, since they can typically figure out your responsibilities based on your title. Instead, focus on measurable achievements -- numbers, percentages, awards -- that show your skills, says Bruce Hurwitz, president of Hurwitz Strategic Staffing in New York.
"Create bullet points of three to five selected accomplishments so that the reader of the resume would immediately know why, objectively, they should consider you for the position," Hurwitz says.
Be Brief
Even if you could write dozens of pages on your work history, avoid the temptation. You'll have plenty of time to dig into the details of your skills and accomplishments when you get into an interview, so consider your resume to be a highlights reel. Curate the best of the best to keep your resume to a manageable one or two pages.
"In a resume, think these three things: short, sweet and to-the-point," Hurwitz says.
Remove Pointless Sections
If you're tempted to list your hobbies, your personal information and health, or even the phrase "references available on request," reconsider. Not only do they take up valuable space you could use to showcase your accomplishments, but they could make you look downright unprofessional.
"Some of these things used to be standard 15 or 20 years ago, but now they'll make you look dated," says Cheryl Palmer, an executive career coach and founder of Call to Career in Silver Spring, Md. A human resources director is going to assume you'll furnish references at the interview. Hobbies aren't worth listing unless they're somehow relevant to the job you're applying for, and your personal information -- marital status, children -- also isn't relevant.
Triple Check to Make Your Resume Error-Free
Employers often spend just seconds with a resume, and a single typo can send it to the discard pile.
"A resume does not get you hired, but it is commonly used to get you eliminated from the next phase of the recruiting process," says Robin Reshwan, founder of Collegial Staffing in Alamo, Calif.
Hiring managers may toss resumes for even the smallest matters -- a single typo, inconsistent punctuation, or even cliched phrases like "detail-oriented" or "people person."
"Only after the easy eliminations have been made do busy managers actually read the content of selected resumes," she says.
Have More Than one Format
Yes, you spent four hours getting the bullet points, margins, bolding and fonts just right in your Word document.
Here's the bad news. When you submit that document to an online job or corporate site, it's going to turn into a mess, with apostrophes morphing into strange squiggles and characters, and all those crisp paragraphs into a massive lump, Palmer says.
This is why it's important to prepare your resume in several different formats, so your hard work doesn't go to waste. Some popular ways to save your resume are in Word, as plain text and as a PDF. The PDF also works well if you have an artistic element to your resume that you don't want to lose. Different employers prefer different formats, so be sure to double check.
Take Advantage of LinkedIn
Job searching or not, everybody who's anybody is on the business networking site LinkedIn, including employees from every Fortune 500 company and most recruiters. You should be on it, too. It's a great way to keep your job information current. And, because of its ubiquity, it won't raise red flags with your employer who might otherwise catch on to your job search.
You can add photos, recommendations and an online portfolio to help others get a sense of your work. Just make sure you're consistent, Palmer says.
"Make sure that the dates of your resume match up with the dates on your LinkedIn profile," she says. "You don't want employers comparing the two and asking themselves which one is right."
Use LinkedIn and Twitter Together
Like peanut butter and chocolate, LinkedIn and Twitter go great together. LinkedIn requires users to give permission to others to access their information. This often means it's difficult, if not impossible, to link up to future employers.
However, you can follow the feeds from companies and their employees on Twitter without any permission. "You can use a Twitter (feed) to gather intelligence about a particular company you've targeted, then start a conversation with them on Twitter," Palmer says.
If the conversation is worthwhile, you can easily send them a link to your LinkedIn profile to go beyond Twitter's limit of 140 characters per message.
Know Your Confidentiality Needs
The Internet has opened up new worlds for job seekers, but it's important to understand that if you're willing to share your information on the Web, everyone can find out that you're ready for a new gig, including your current boss. If discretion is important to your job search, it's best not to post your resume to any online job sites.
"Once you put your resume on the Internet, you can kiss confidentiality goodbye," says Hurwitz. "Only do it if you're comfortable with your boss asking you why you're looking for a new job."
Ditch the Video Resume
Unless you're looking to anchor the 6 p.m. newscast, don't bother making a video resume. There's a reason traditional documents work best. They're easy to search, they're simple to file and store, and they're easy to scan in just a few seconds.
"If hiring managers are only going to spend a few seconds looking at each resume, they're certainly not going to spend their time watching videos," Hurwitz says. "If you're applying for a position as a controller, it doesn't matter how you function in front of a camera. It matters how you function in front of a keyboard."

Public Service and Non-Profit Career Fair

If you missed the fair, don’t fret! The Career Services office has a list of companies and contact information!

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

When a co-worker returns to the workplace after a medical leave, never say, "I know what you are going through." In medicine, every case is unique.

Do not ask prying questions about one's condition or treatment. If one wants you to know, one will offer that information. Do not burden the person with stories of your own health problems or those of family or friends. Do not corner the person with your own treatment or health advice. Lastly, do not avoid that person, because you are not sure what to say.

Smile and say, "We are glad to have you back. Is there anything I can do to help?"

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

3/18	Country Financial
	Park University
3/24	State Street COSMC
	YGCU

It's Almost Spring Break!

2011-03-04T15:43:00.000-06:00

Five Great Ways To Spring Clean Your Résumé

Ford R. Myers, Get the Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring | Mar. 1, 2011, 2:31 PM

If you find that your résumé isn't getting the results you want, spring is the perfect time to clean it up.
Ford R. Myers, Career Coach, Speaker and Author of "Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring," (John Wiley & Sons, 2009, www.GetTheJobBook.com), suggests the following five tips to freshen up your résumé this spring.
1. BE BRIEF: Less is Always More
Of the five main sections of a résumé - Personal Information, Career Summary, Professional Experience, Education and Affiliations or Professional Development - the Career Summary is where brevity counts most.
"The Summary is a brief statement of who you are, where you're 'coming from,' and what skills and expertise you have to contribute to an organization. All you'll need to grab the reader's attention are five or six lines of text highlighting the benefits and contributions you offer as a professional," states Myers.
2. BE SPECIFIC
Résumés that get noticed focus on specific results. Quantify everything you can, including retention rates, sales numbers, profit margins, performance quotas, and so on. Whenever possible, use percentages, dollars and hard numbers.
"Although individuals should be as specific as possible throughout the entire résumé, this tip should be exercised most in the 'Professional Experience' section. Here is where your past jobs, roles, responsibilities, and accomplishments are listed. It's also where most employers and recruiters focus 90% of their attention.
The information you present here, and how you present it, can decide the fate of your candidacy within about 10 seconds of scanning time," explains Myers.
3. BE ACTIVE
Myers urgesrésumé writers to use strong action verbs at the beginning of every sentence. Words such as "create," "launch," "initiate," "devise" and "conduct" have a lot more impact than a vague phrase such as "was responsible for."
4. BE SELECTIVE
Focus on information that is truly relevant to your career goal, and edit out the rest. "There is no need to focus on your after-school job or high school achievements if they are not relevant to the career you are looking for or if they are in your distant past," says Myers.
5. BE HONEST
Myers warns job seekers to never lie on a résumé, "If you lie, you will always lose in the long run."
"Yourrésumé is a 'living document' that will be edited and updated through the course of your job search and your entire career," adds Myers. "Taking a good look at it this spring, as well as the start of every season, will help you put your best foot forward."
For more information and other useful tips to help those in career transition achieve career success, visit http://www.GetTheJobBook.com and http://www.CareerPotential.com
Reprinted by permission of Ford R. Myers, a nationally-known Career Coach and author of "Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring." Download your Free Special Report, "10 Vital Strategies to Maximize Your Career Success" at http://www.careerspecialreport.com.
www.businessinsider.com/

Public Service and Non-Profit Career Fair

If you missed the fair, don’t fret! The Career Services office has a list of companies and contact information!

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

When you are invited to someone's home for a dinner party, do not call ahead to dictate to the hostess/host what you should be served based on your likes, dislikes, diet, allergies or other health condition. If you have an overwhelming urge to do this because you are sure it would make the hostess happy to make sure you are happy -- quash that urge.

Eat what you can. Leave what you can't. Do not show up with your own meal. If you have a serious allergy to the lobster bisque or shrimp cocktail that could land you in the hospital, excuse yourself from the party. If you would like more control over the menu, throw your own party.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

3/8	2011 Kansas Statewide Career Fair
	Salina Bicentennial Center 2:30 pm – 6:30 pm
3/9	U.S. Navy Walk-up Recruiter Lunch & Learn
	YGCU 10:00 am – 2:00 pm 11:30 am-12:30 pm
3/18	Country Financial
	Park University
3/24	State Street COSMC
	YGCU

2011-02-25T16:45:00.000-06:00

Job Interview? 9 Great Tips to Get You to Round 2

By Amy Levin-Epstein | Feb 24, 2011

Get ready to nail your next interview, job seekers. I’ve asked my experts for their A-list advice to get you a second interview. I suspect you’re already savvy enough to send a thank you note and avoid lying on your resume. Let’s take your technique to the next level.
What follows, in no specific order, is a tried-and-true list of job interview tips. And by all means, if something else has worked even better for you, please sign in below and share it in the comments section.
1. Ask them upfront why they wouldn’t hire you.
The interview is coming to a close, but make sure you stick your landing, says Roberta Chinksy Matuson, President of Human Resource Solutions and author of Suddenly in Charge: Managing Up, Managing Down, Succeeding All Around. “Always end the conversation with the following question: ‘Is there anything about my background that gives you concern?’” says Matuson. Now you’ve bought yourself a bonus round to derail any doubts.
2. Prepare sound bites.
Successes and skills need to be displayed clearly. “A sound bite is succinct and direct, catchy and easy to remember. An example is ‘I’ve designed logos for three Fortune 500 companies,’ or ‘My efficiency plan decreased product-delivery times by 15 percent without costing the company one cent,’” says Charles Purdy, senior editor and career expert at Monster.com. Implant these one-liners in your brain, and you won’t be grasping for words.
3. Ask for homework.
Until you’re hired, you’re an unknown to your potential employer. You sound great, but can you perform? Erase that question by asking for a trial assignment, suggests Sara Sutton Fell, CEO and founder of FlexJobs. “Ask whether there’s any job-related task that you could do for them that would allow you to showcase your qualifications and maybe even save them a little time,” says Sutton Fell. Do a good job, and you’ll be getting paid to do the same work soon enough.
4. Mirror your interviewer.
You might feel like you’re in the hot seat, but if you can match your interviewer’s speed of speech and mannerisms, you’ll both feel more like you’re old friends and less like you’re in an NCIS interrogation room, says Ken Sundheim, CEO and Founder of KAS Placement, a New York City-based staffing agency. Not sure how you’re doing? “If you’re following their tone, speed and breathing correctly, validate your pacing technique by taking a sip of water - the interviewer will take a drink as well,” says Sundheim.
5. Be a stalker (within limits).
I hope you’re already Googling the person who will interview you, and reading about the company - but you need to feel it out further. “Dig deep by using tools like Klout and Pipl,” says public relations executive Meryl Weinsaft Cooper co-author of Be Your Own Best Publicist: How to Use PR Techniques to Get Hired, Noticed and Rewarded at Work. “Lurk around LinkedIn. Do some investigations by interviewing people who work there, or those who have left, to get the skinny on the culture and crowd.”
6. Record a pre-interview practice.
Ever wish you could tell how you sound in an interview? Find out, suggests Marlene Caroselli, Ed.D., author of The Critical Thinking Toolkit: Spark Your Team’s Creativity with 35 Problem Solving Activities: “A week ahead of the interview, record your reply to expected questions. Play the tape back and analyze your responses. Would you hire you?” If the answer is no, press rewind and try again.
7. Lean in for the kill.
OK, we’re exaggerating slightly. But you do want to lean slightly forward so your interviewer can tell you’re game. “Slouching or leaning back may send the wrong signals. When you sit down for a formal interview, lean forward to show interest and active listening,” says Kathryn Minshew, co-founder and editor-in-chief of PYP Media, an online career consulting tool for women.
8. Use the word “we.”
Look, I trust you when you tell me you’re a team player - but during an interview, you can come across as a total narcissist by using only the word “I,” says Kimberly Schneiderman, job search consultant and owner of City Career Services. She suggests talking about what your last team created, and only then describing your particular role. An example: “At ABC Company, the New Projects Team, of which I am a member, created a new app that would identify bakeries by location for our users. My role on the team was to identify bakeries within a specific radius of New York City and categorize them by specialty.”
9. Bring props.
Think of an interview as show and tell, suggests Jenni Luke, national executive director of Step Up Women’s Network. “Bring a ‘brag book’ of career accomplishments which demonstrates the quality of your work. [Or] if you see great work that a competitor is doing, bring that to the interview and critique it,” says Luke. This will clearly show what you can do and how you think. Bonus: Having a prop can also calm jittery nerves.

Public Service and Non-Profit Career Fair

If you missed the fair, don’t fret! The Career Services office has a list of companies and contact information!

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

Not only should you send a typed-written thank you note for an interview, you should also send a thank you note if you are hired.

Whether it was an individual who hired you or a board or directors, thank them for the opportunity and express your enthusiasm for the job. Send out the note before your first day on the job.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

2/28	Vector Marketing
	Atrium 10:00 am – 1:00 Pm
3/1	Teacher Career Fair
	221-222 YGCU 1:00 pm -3:00 pm
3/2	MidAmerica Nazarene University MBA Program
	YGCU 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
3/8	2011 Kansas Statewide Career Fair
	Salina Bicentennial Center 2:30 pm – 6:30 pm
3/9	U.S. Navy Walk-up Recruiter Lunch & Learn
	YGCU 10:00 am – 2:00 pm 11:30 am-12:30 pm

Another Busy Week!

2011-02-18T16:11:00.002-06:00

Tips for a Competitive Resume

Published February 04, 2011 | FoxNews.com

Unemployment rates may have fell in January to 9% from 9.4 % in December according to the Labor Department's report today, but the job market remains extremely competitive due to the recession.
Matthew Rothenberg, editor-in-chief of career Web siteTheLadders.com, said no matter what kind of job you are applying for--or if the salary is $25,000 or $100,000-- the most important thing is to demonstrate your value to potential employers, and be specific. “Don’t divert your resume with what your goals are on an objective statement,” Rothenberg said. “Make yourself stand out and say ‘This is exactly how I bring value, and how much value I can bring,’ and back it up with numbers.”
Here are Rothenberg’s tips for brushing up your resume to stand out in the job market:
No. 1: Update your history. Being current should always be a priority, he said, and any and all new clients and companies need to have a spot on your resume. “Make sure in your history and summary section, these new ones are added,” he said. The more in-depth your resume is, the more successful you will be in the job race.
No. 2: Demonstrate your value with figures. “The more dollar and percentage signs you can get in it, the better,” Rothenberg said. If you have increased your own budget at a company, or are bringing in more revenue as part of a team, include the details for potential employers.
No. 3: Review your skills. Keeping your skills set current is important, and helps set you apart, Rothenberg said. “Make sure you update it often,” he said. “Are there any recent certifications you’ve received, or experiences you can add to it? Pick things that really demonstrate your skills.”

Public Service and Non-Profit Career Fair

If you missed the fair, don’t fret! The Career Services office has a list of companies and contact information!

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

Since we are just past Valentine's Day, it is important to talk about the people in your organization that need love the most: the ones who fix your computer. IT people usually deal with people at their worst. Their computer is not working. Their Internet is down. They have lost the Power Point presentation they have been working on the last five hours, and with it, the will to live.

IT people deal with people who are stressed out. Whether they are in your office or on another continent offering support by email, instant message (or that archaic device known as the phone), do not transfer your stress to others. Be patient, be positive and treat people who are assisting you with respect and kindness.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

2/21	A Christian Ministry in the National Parks
	Atrium 10 am - 2 pm
2/22	Health Professionals Career Day
	Atrium 1 pm- 3 pm
2/24	Department of State Open Info Session
	212 YCGU 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
	Career Athletes Networking Event
	The 810 Zone on the Country Club Plaza, 4686 Broadway, KCMO 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
2/28	Vector Marketing
	Atrium 10:00 am – 1:00 Pm

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-11T15:59:00.003-06:00

Friday, February 11, 2011 3:43 PM

It’s All in a Name … or Is It?

By Louise Fletcher

I'm happy to be one of CareerRealism's Twitter career experts. We answer job seeker questions in 140 characters or less, but today's question seemed to call for a more detailed answer. Here it is:

"I am in job search mode, and have decided to take the opportunity to transition into another field. It is a role I have performed in the past but not titled. Advised by professionals/experts in the field, that it is feasible. However, although my targeted resume has gotten to the hiring managers, and even some interviews, I do not get offers because I lack experience. How do I find the right balance? I don't want to give up on this new dream!"

This is a situation many of my clients find themselves in. It's a common misperception to think you have to have held a title in order to have success. Actually, this isn't true. You just have to be smart about how you communicate your skills in your resume. Because a great resume will not only open doors - it will also remove the 'not enough experience' reservations people have about you.

If you are in a similar situation to the one outlined above, I'm going to give you a few of my favorite resume strategies to change perceptions. For the sake of illustration, let's say you have been employed for 10 years as an executive assistant within a small company. During that time, part of your responsibility has been marketing and this is the part of your work that you love. You've now decided to apply for marketing positions but you don't have any related titles on your resume. So what can you do? Here are just 3 ideas:

Find ways to demonstrate expertise and then link to these on your resume

Write an article, blog posting or Squidoo page about marketing. Make it really, really good! Write about something you know inside and out. Then place a link prominently in your resume and cover letter, saying something like "Check out my article on 10 ways to market a small business through social media."

Highlight your marketing experience right upfront

Head your resume: "EXPERIENCED MARKETING PROFESSIONAL" and write a sub-header like "10 years of marketing experience despite never holding a marketing title" or "I've been the untitled marketing manager at my current company for 10 years." If you can find a way to inject some light humor into this sub-header - even better!

Employers won't miss the fact that you don't have a marketing title, so you might as well address it right upfront and get it out of the way.

Focus mainly on Marketing

As you write your job descriptions and accomplishment bullet points for each position, focus on marketing. Don't write about accomplishments that have nothing to do with marketing, no matter how impressive they are. Reinforce your marketing expertise with every word you write.

Of course, if our fictional job seeker needs to apply for executive assistant positions, she'll need a completely different resume and that's OK. Your goal is to show your readers how you are the perfect person to meet their needs.

It's important to note that these tips only work if you actually do have enough experience but the experience just isn't clear to employers because of your job title. If you don't have that experience, you'll have to get it before you can convince anyone to hire you. The best way to do that is to step up and volunteer to help the marketing team in your current company. Take on as much as they can throw at you - it's all fodder for your eventual getaway.

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

FOCUS-2 is a self-guided, online career and education planning tool for use by college students. It will enable you to assess your interests, values, skills, personality, and aspirations as they relate to careers and college majors. FOCUS-2 is designed to help you choose the best major for you and explore occupations that match your profile. Students who use FOCUS-2 make better decisions about their goals and plans and learn how to manage their careers.

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

Dr. P.M. Forni, author of Choosing Civility and The Civility Solution and co-founder of the Johns Hopkins Civility Project said he is often asked about the saying, "Nice guys finish last."

His response is, "Smart and nice are the most powerful combination."

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

2/14 Federal Reserve Open Info Session

Yates Dining Room

10-11

2/15 Public Service and Non-Profit Career Fair

221 YGCU

2:30-4:45

Enjoying This Weather?

2011-02-04T16:37:00.001-06:00

White Gloves, Party Manners, and Job Interview Tips

Jan. 29 2011

By: Kerry Hannon

Say it’s so. Forty-two percent of companies expect to increase hiring in the next six months, according to a quarterly survey conducted by the National Association for Business Economics released this week.

ABC News reported that of the 35 leading economic experts their reporters interviewed, most said they expected hiring to improve over the next six months. One firm they contacted, financial consulting giant, Deloitte, said it is ready to increase its payroll by 10,000. “Holy Mackerel!,” as my late father would have said.

On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will release January employment figures, so we may have a better sense of whether hiring is gaining traction. Last month, the news was encouraging, so I’m hopeful.

If job openings are lighting up, then for boomers transitioning into a new job–whether it’s full-time or a part-time position to bolster retirement income– it’s your time.

I figure smart companies will be looking to hire talent, experience, and someone who can hit the ground running. There are plenty of you out there to cull from. They’ve cut to the bone, and they need an infusion of ready-to-roll workers.

Here’s a list of 10 interviewing tips that can help you get one of those jobs.

1. Your interview starts before you shake hands. Be early. Ten or fifteen minutes is about right. You’re on stage from the instant you state your name at the receptionist desk. Most interviews last between 25 and 30 minutes, so your performance time is short and sweet, use every minute of it.

Don’t sit in the waiting area gabbing on your cell, for example, or tweeting. Focus on why you are there. It’s Ok to review a list of questions you want to ask.

2. Bantering sets the tone. Kick-off the first few minutes of your interview as you would a conversation with someone you have just met at a business reception. Keep it relaxed, conversational, yet professional, and not too personal. Commenting on wall décor or a desk accessory is acceptable, but saying you like someone’s shoes may be stepping over the line, is my standard advice.

I personally like to scan someone’s photographs, say, and see if I can find a common bond. A framed image of a Labrador Retriever, or a horse, always sets an instant connection for me. These initial moments are where the chemistry between the interviewer and you can spark. Think speed dating.

3. Offer your resumé before you sit down. Presenting a resumé to an interviewer is akin to bringing a gift to a host or hostess. You’re passing along something of value in exchange for their invitation to meet and their time. By taking it out in the opening moments of the interview, it becomes an interactive asset. If there are areas or responsibilities that you want to emphasize or explain, the interview is your chance to draw attention to them.

People think if something is on their resumé, that it’s clear to the interviewer what the significance of it is, but those bullet points don’t always speak for themselves.

4. Synch up with the interviewer’s rhythm. It’s important to go at their tempo. Don’t try too hard and talk too fast. Answer concisely and with a confident, relaxed manner. Pause before you respond–even repeat the question if need be–to buy yourself some moments to gather a measured answer.

•No rapid off the top of your head answers. This isn’t Jeopardy. There’s no race to push the buzzer. You might come off as flip without meaning to do so.

•Don’t talk so much that you go on for ten minutes answering one question. Crisp and to the point answers allow the interviewer to get to all their questions and gather as much knowledge about you as they can.

•Be enthused, but not fawning. You’re a pro, remember. Act interested and dignified. Interviewers really want to know what appeals and intrigues you about their company, too. It’s a two-way street. Yes, you are there to sell yourself, but they are selling the job too. It also makes them feel good about their own good fortune to work there. Even the most jaded hiring manager has a glimmer of insecurity.

5. Subtly slip into the conversation that you’ve done your background check. Set up a Google news alert for the company and the specific industry to make sure you’re au courant ahead of time. This insider knowhow will show that you’re aware of the state of their business right now. It will make it easier to respond to questions about why the job is something that’s a good match for both of you–that you have the key skills to solve their challenges today and moving forward.

6. Stick to your main selling points. It’s easy to veer off topic in an interview. Write down and practice at home three main selling points about yourself to help you stay focused. I recommend that towards the end of the interview, you click through your mental checklist to make sure you’ve covered each of your topic points during your discussion. If not, don’t leave until you have. If the interviewer is wrapping things up, and you can sense this, politely interject that you want to make sure you mention X, Y, or Z, and why.

7. Don’t be thrown-off if asked if you think you’re overqualified for a position. You might be. Here’s your canned answer: What matters to you at this stage is having the opportunity to work with outstanding people in a company whose values and products you believe in and where your skills and experience can be used in a meaningful way. Bottom line: They could only be so lucky to get someone who can bring even more oomph than they need.

8. Use your mentoring skills as a selling point. Explain how mentoring has always been a part of your work style. It’s a process that you have benefited from over the years as a mentee and a mentor and hope you can continue to give back by guiding less-experienced co-workers. And you’re open to learning from them too. Again mentoring helps both people.

9. Ask for a business card. In this age of e-mail, a business card seems a little quaint, but it’s a tangible gift exchange. You can leave them with yours, while accepting a card in return with appreciation. It intrinsically shows you’re interested in them, as well as the job. Ask if they prefer to be contacted via phone or email.

10. Good manners count. No hugs here. Go for a firm handshake, look them straight in their eyes with a warm smile, and offer genuine thanks for their time.

And call me old-fashioned, but never forget to write a thank-you note to everyone you interviewed with, often you will meet with more than one person on a company visit.

I’m a stickler for this in all aspects of my life. I learned the power of a proper note from the yellow-covered White Gloves and Party Manners that my mother gave me when I was a child. It’s an etiquette guide for young people, first published in 1965, that was written by Marjabelle Young Stewart and Ann Buchwald (wife of Art Buchwald).

A thank-you note is simple, classy, and just might make you stand apart among a roster of applicants. I personally like a handwritten one, but an e-mail works today, if you shoot it off within 24-hours. In many cases, the immediacy is welcomed and effective.

It’s not wrong to do both, particularly if there’s additional material you’d like to share with the interviewer, or if there were any questions you stumbled on, or didn’t answer well before you left. Use your correspondence to wrap up and leave a positive impression.

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

FOCUS-2 is a self-guided, online career and education planning tool for use by college students. It will enable you to assess your interests, values, skills, personality, and aspirations as they relate to careers and college majors. FOCUS-2 is designed to help you choose the best major for you and explore occupations that match your profile. Students who use FOCUS-2 make better decisions about their goals and plans and learn how to manage their careers.

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

You have been shown to your table in the restaurant. Instead of being laid out, your eating utensils (flatware) are snugly tucked into a single napkin bundle, like they are going off to summer camp. What's a diner to do?

First, free the flatware and place the napkin in your lap. Then, lay out the flatware in your place setting. What goes where? Here is an easy way to remember: the words "fork" and "left" have four letters, so the forks go on the left side of your place setting. The words "spoon," "knife" and "right" have five letters, so spoons and knives go on the right. The knives are closest to the plate, blade in, and the spoons are on the outside.

Enjoy your meal and remember to eat neat!

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

2/9 US Navy

Union

10-2

2/14 Federal Reserve Open Info Session

Yates Dining Room

10-11

2/15 Public Service and Non-Profit Career Fair

221 YGCU

2:30-4:45

Enjoying This Weather?

2011-02-04T15:15:00.000-06:00

White Gloves, Party Manners, and Job Interview Tips

Jan. 29 2011

By: Kerry Hannon

Say it’s so. Forty-two percent of companies expect to increase hiring in the next six months, according to a quarterly survey conducted by the National Association for Business Economics released this week.

ABC News reported that of the 35 leading economic experts their reporters interviewed, most said they expected hiring to improve over the next six months. One firm they contacted, financial consulting giant, Deloitte, said it is ready to increase its payroll by 10,000. “Holy Mackerel!,” as my late father would have said.

On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will release January employment figures, so we may have a better sense of whether hiring is gaining traction. Last month, the news was encouraging, so I’m hopeful.

If job openings are lighting up, then for boomers transitioning into a new job–whether it’s full-time or a part-time position to bolster retirement income– it’s your time.

I figure smart companies will be looking to hire talent, experience, and someone who can hit the ground running. There are plenty of you out there to cull from. They’ve cut to the bone, and they need an infusion of ready-to-roll workers.

Here’s a list of 10 interviewing tips that can help you get one of those jobs.

1. Your interview starts before you shake hands. Be early. Ten or fifteen minutes is about right. You’re on stage from the instant you state your name at the receptionist desk. Most interviews last between 25 and 30 minutes, so your performance time is short and sweet, use every minute of it.

Don’t sit in the waiting area gabbing on your cell, for example, or tweeting. Focus on why you are there. It’s Ok to review a list of questions you want to ask.

2. Bantering sets the tone. Kick-off the first few minutes of your interview as you would a conversation with someone you have just met at a business reception. Keep it relaxed, conversational, yet professional, and not too personal. Commenting on wall décor or a desk accessory is acceptable, but saying you like someone’s shoes may be stepping over the line, is my standard advice.

I personally like to scan someone’s photographs, say, and see if I can find a common bond. A framed image of a Labrador Retriever, or a horse, always sets an instant connection for me. These initial moments are where the chemistry between the interviewer and you can spark. Think speed dating.

3. Offer your resumé before you sit down. Presenting a resumé to an interviewer is akin to bringing a gift to a host or hostess. You’re passing along something of value in exchange for their invitation to meet and their time. By taking it out in the opening moments of the interview, it becomes an interactive asset. If there are areas or responsibilities that you want to emphasize or explain, the interview is your chance to draw attention to them.

People think if something is on their resumé, that it’s clear to the interviewer what the significance of it is, but those bullet points don’t always speak for themselves.

4. Synch up with the interviewer’s rhythm. It’s important to go at their tempo. Don’t try too hard and talk too fast. Answer concisely and with a confident, relaxed manner. Pause before you respond–even repeat the question if need be–to buy yourself some moments to gather a measured answer.

•No rapid off the top of your head answers. This isn’t Jeopardy. There’s no race to push the buzzer. You might come off as flip without meaning to do so.

•Don’t talk so much that you go on for ten minutes answering one question. Crisp and to the point answers allow the interviewer to get to all their questions and gather as much knowledge about you as they can.

•Be enthused, but not fawning. You’re a pro, remember. Act interested and dignified. Interviewers really want to know what appeals and intrigues you about their company, too. It’s a two-way street. Yes, you are there to sell yourself, but they are selling the job too. It also makes them feel good about their own good fortune to work there. Even the most jaded hiring manager has a glimmer of insecurity.

5. Subtly slip into the conversation that you’ve done your background check. Set up a Google news alert for the company and the specific industry to make sure you’re au courant ahead of time. This insider knowhow will show that you’re aware of the state of their business right now. It will make it easier to respond to questions about why the job is something that’s a good match for both of you–that you have the key skills to solve their challenges today and moving forward.

6. Stick to your main selling points. It’s easy to veer off topic in an interview. Write down and practice at home three main selling points about yourself to help you stay focused. I recommend that towards the end of the interview, you click through your mental checklist to make sure you’ve covered each of your topic points during your discussion. If not, don’t leave until you have. If the interviewer is wrapping things up, and you can sense this, politely interject that you want to make sure you mention X, Y, or Z, and why.

7. Don’t be thrown-off if asked if you think you’re overqualified for a position. You might be. Here’s your canned answer: What matters to you at this stage is having the opportunity to work with outstanding people in a company whose values and products you believe in and where your skills and experience can be used in a meaningful way. Bottom line: They could only be so lucky to get someone who can bring even more oomph than they need.

8. Use your mentoring skills as a selling point. Explain how mentoring has always been a part of your work style. It’s a process that you have benefited from over the years as a mentee and a mentor and hope you can continue to give back by guiding less-experienced co-workers. And you’re open to learning from them too. Again mentoring helps both people.

9. Ask for a business card. In this age of e-mail, a business card seems a little quaint, but it’s a tangible gift exchange. You can leave them with yours, while accepting a card in return with appreciation. It intrinsically shows you’re interested in them, as well as the job. Ask if they prefer to be contacted via phone or email.

10. Good manners count. No hugs here. Go for a firm handshake, look them straight in their eyes with a warm smile, and offer genuine thanks for their time.

And call me old-fashioned, but never forget to write a thank-you note to everyone you interviewed with, often you will meet with more than one person on a company visit.

I’m a stickler for this in all aspects of my life. I learned the power of a proper note from the yellow-covered White Gloves and Party Manners that my mother gave me when I was a child. It’s an etiquette guide for young people, first published in 1965, that was written by Marjabelle Young Stewart and Ann Buchwald (wife of Art Buchwald).

A thank-you note is simple, classy, and just might make you stand apart among a roster of applicants. I personally like a handwritten one, but an e-mail works today, if you shoot it off within 24-hours. In many cases, the immediacy is welcomed and effective.

It’s not wrong to do both, particularly if there’s additional material you’d like to share with the interviewer, or if there were any questions you stumbled on, or didn’t answer well before you left. Use your correspondence to wrap up and leave a positive impression.

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

FOCUS-2 is a self-guided, online career and education planning tool for use by college students. It will enable you to assess your interests, values, skills, personality, and aspirations as they relate to careers and college majors. FOCUS-2 is designed to help you choose the best major for you and explore occupations that match your profile. Students who use FOCUS-2 make better decisions about their goals and plans and learn how to manage their careers.

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

You have been shown to your table in the restaurant. Instead of being laid out, your eating utensils (flatware) are snugly tucked into a single napkin bundle, like they are going off to summer camp. What's a diner to do?

First, free the flatware and place the napkin in your lap. Then, lay out the flatware in your place setting. What goes where? Here is an easy way to remember: the words "fork" and "left" have four letters, so the forks go on the left side of your place setting. The words "spoon," "knife" and "right" have five letters, so spoons and knives go on the right. The knives are closest to the plate, blade in, and the spoons are on the outside.

Enjoy your meal and remember to eat neat!

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

Feb 9
US Navy

Union

10 am-2 pm

Feb 14 Federal Reserve Open Info Session

Yates Dining Room

10am-11am

Feb 15 Public Service and Non-Profit Career Fair

221 YGCU

2:30pm-4:45pm

More News from Career Services

2011-01-28T16:07:00.000-06:00

Internships are Important, But How Do you Land One?

By Emily Driscoll

Published January 25, 2011

College students take note: Internships are now considered essential for demonstrating work experience to potential employees and can significantly increase your chances of getting hired for a full-time job after graduation.

According to a study conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, (NACE), 42.3% of college seniors with internship experience who applied for a job received at least one job offer, while only 30.7% of seniors sans internship experience received an offer.

Internships provide students a taste of the working world, and let them become familiar with a potential job sector. As more universities stress the importance of internships the market is becoming more competitive. Here are four tips career experts shared on what students need to know and be prepared for to land their dream summer internship.

How/Where to Find Internships

While it might sound basic, career experts say that students often over look the best resource for finding an internship: their career center on campus. Not only can students practice mock interviews with career counselors, but recruiters often alert career centers about openings for interns within their companies says Kaplan Mobray, career expert and author of The 10Ks of Personal Branding.

“Employers build relationships with those career service directors—they actively engage those offices and set schedules to come to campus to find great students,” he says.

Once you establish what contacts your career center has, Web sites such as Internships.com or SimplyHired.com can also be sources for finding positions.

If you are interested in interning at a particular company don’t be put off by not finding an explicit internship program.

“It's important to really target employers who individualize themselves for interning and working in the future and go after those employers,” says Lauren Berger, CEO of Intern Queen Inc, a Web site that connects college students with internships. “Just because you can't find a job listing or an internship listing at one of your dream companies doesn't mean they're not available.”

Ask your family, friends and teachers about possible internship openings, you never know who knows who.

“Students should speak with teachers, family, former employers, clergy members, coaches, friends, parents of friends—anyone and everyone you can think of—and ask for contacts in their geographic and/or career fields of interest,” says J.P. Hansen, author of The Bliss List: The Ultimate Guide To Living The Dream At Work And Beyond.

Time is of the Essence

However you choose to find internship opportunities, Jenny Floren, founder and CEO of Experience.com, advises that students begin the search well ahead of time.

“It’s crucial that students not wait until the spring to start researching summer internships because often times there are strict application deadlines and stiff competition to consider,” she says.

Sell Yourself at the Interview

Berger, 26, stresses the importance of a strong cover letter that details your specifics (name, address, school, major, etc.) as well as your commitment to the internship if it’s out of state.

“That way the employer takes your application seriously,” Berger says. “The employers don't want to waste their time--their time is very precious.”

If you get called in for an interview, do your homework: know the company’s history, employees and outlook.

Run through practice interview questions and formulate solid, thoughtful answers.

“Practice the three P’s: prepare, practice and persuade,” suggests Hansen. “Research your target companies, practice interview questions and answers, and persuade with confidence.”

At the end of the interview, potential employers may give you a chance to ask some questions in return. Ask them.

Berger says to take advantage of this time to ask for a description of a typical day as an intern at the company, which can help the student get a feel of their duties.

“It's also going to tell me how much attention the company is putting into their internship program,” she says. “If the employer has nothing to say and can't tell you what an intern does it their company, that's kind of a red flag.”

You Got it! Now What?

Once you land an internship, you need to treat it with the same respect as a full-time job. Mobray explains that all too often, college students get stuck in the mentality that they are “just an intern,” which can be unappealing to a prospective employer.

“The reality is, whether you are an intern or a full-time employee, you are an employee of that particular company or organization,” he says. “The quicker you can acclimate yourself from being a student who’s got an internship to, I’m working at a company and I just have an internship title, the more you stand out as someone who could be easily employable in a full-time [job].”

No matter where you work, there is bound to be some down time, don’t get discouraged. When things slow down, use the time to learn about different areas and employees of the company.

"The best thing that an intern can do is to build beneficial relationships so that when they need a job, they can reach out to their personal and professional networks and try to connect with someone who is hiring,” says Intern Queen’s Berger.

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

FOCUS-2 is a self-guided, online career and education planning tool for use by college students. It will enable you to assess your interests, values, skills, personality, and aspirations as they relate to careers and college majors. FOCUS-2 is designed to help you choose the best major for you and explore occupations that match your profile. Students who use FOCUS-2 make better decisions about their goals and plans and learn how to manage their careers.

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

Be loyal to your boss. Speak well of your superior to others and support his or her initiatives. Your job is not only to advance your own career, but also to make your superior look good.

Seek out supervisors and mentors who are ethical, that you will be proud to support. Never do anything illegal or unethical for your superior, because you will be held accountable.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

2/1 Career Mentor Program Orientation

WSC 304

5:45-7 pm

2/1 Vector Marketing

Union

10-1

2/9 US Navy

Union

10-2

2/14 Federal Reserve Open Info Session

Yates Dining Room

10-11

2/15 Public Service and Non-Profit Career Fair

221 YGCU

2:30-4:45

In the Home Stretch!

2010-12-03T15:15:00.002-06:00

7 Job-Hunting Tips For 2011

Annie Mueller Thursday, December 2, 2010

For recent graduates as well as victims of downsizing, layoffs and other economic backlashes, the job market can be an intimidating place. But the 2011 job hunt could be just the chance you need; let go of some of those old job-hunting habits and tackle the 2011 market with these updated tips.

Keep your social networking alive, well and professional.
If you've been neglecting your Linkedin account and playing Farmville instead, it's time to switch gears and look at social networking as one more step in the successful job hunt. It's fine to have accounts for personal social networking, but spend less time on those and lot more time on the profiles you have that relate to your past, current and future career. Get involved in local groups on Linkedin, update your professional blog daily and follow professionals in your field on your Twitter account. A neglected or unprofessional social profile can hurt your job hunt, but a regularly updated and professionally focused social presence can open many doors.
Find a job with Twitter.
Twitter is useful for far more than to-the-minute updates on the personal lives of your favorite friends and/or celebrities. Twitter can help land you a new job. First, follow influential folks in your field. Keep up with what's going on. Participate. Be part of the profession even if you're still looking for a job. Second, use a Twitter search tool to look for jobs, conferences and networking opportunities with people in your field. Twitter can be just a time-waster, sure; but it can also be a way to connect with people in your profession, build relationships - and maybe even end up with the job you want.
Polish up your resume.
Social networking is a powerful way to get the contacts you need, but most often you'll still have to send in a resume for those job applications. Don't send an outdated resume in after you've updated your online presence. Make sure that both your resume and your online profiles are current and the best representation of your work experience and education.
Get active even (especially) if you're unemployed.
Local connections are one of the most powerful ways to find a job; plus you'll only get depressed if you sit at home in your sweats all day. Join local organizations, volunteer and get involved in your community. Use your expertise to help other people out. Offer free seminars in your church or community organization, write articles for the paper or mentor someone who's new to the field. Staying up to date in your field and active in your community gives you something to say when those potential employers ask, "So what have you been doing in the last six months?" (Don't let a period of unemployment keep you from landing a new job. Check out Bridging The Gaps On Your Resume.)
Look for ways to be an expert.
If you're a recent graduate looking for your first job, then that whole "work experience" section of the resume is often a painful subject. You may not be able to fill it up with years on the job, but do what you can to establish some expertise in your area. Attend conferences and seminars, take classes and get certifications. Write articles or author a blog. Interview professionals in your field; visit places that are relevant to your field; contribute to journals, blogs, papers, online groups and professional organizations.
Check out your freelancing options.
Downsizing isn't a word most of us like, but it does have one potential benefit. More downsizing means more outsourcing, which means that many companies are looking to hire freelancers on a contractual basis to do all those jobs that still have to be done. Search local classifieds and job boards for listing for freelance, temporary or contract jobs, which are predicted to keep growing in number in 2011 (5).

Sure, it may not be how you want to work long-term, but it can help you stay afloat financially, keep getting that work experience and establish more connections in your network. When those companies do start hiring, you'll already be a name they know. (Freelance work is a way to escape the daily grind - but don't ignore the added responsibility that comes with freedom)

7. Tap into your social network.
Don't be reticent when it comes to letting people know that you're looking for work. No, you don't want to attack your friends and family members with a day-to-day account of your job hunting exploits, but simply mentioning that you're looking for work in XYZ field can be helpful. Chat up strangers and you never know what kind of connections you'll make. There's a reason it's called social networking. (The CFA Institute provides members with a variety of ongoing career and networking benefits. To learn more, read Ongoing Career Benefits For CFAs.)

The Bottom Line
Finding a great job is about more than practicing interview techniques, crossing your fingers, and hoping that your persistence really will pay off. It's about using the resources at your fingertips, in your community, and in your network. Get smart with your job hunt in 2011, and you could be the one handing out tips for 2012.

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

This week's Tip is simple yet essential to maintaining a good image in business and society. If you are at a holiday party or any party and someone is about to take your picture, set down your beverage so you are not photographed with beverage in hand.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

1/18	COSMC-HOA Interview Day Signups
	218 YGCU 8 am
2/1	Career Mentor Program Orientation
	WSC 304 5:45-7 pm

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-19T14:38:00.002-06:00

The Top 5 Interview Tips No One Mentions

Tips From Recruiters, Hiring Managers and Coaches

By MICHELLE GOODMAN

November 3, 2010

By now, we've all heard the same oft-repeated recommendations for acing a job

Study your resume so no one can stump you on its claims. Practice your answers ahead of time. Break the ice by mentioning a hobby, alma mater or former city of residence that you and your interviewer share. Ask plenty of questions. Take notes if you have to. Look sharp. Don't fidget. Ooze enthusiasm. Be polite to receptionists and assistants. Turn off your cell phone. Don't show up drunk, gassy, sweaty or accompanied by your mom. Send a thank-you note after the fact.
But what about the lesser-known interviewing code of conduct? If you're new to job hunting or you've been out of the interviewing loop for a decade or two, you'll likely have countless questions -- for example: How long should my answers be? What should I do with my hands when I'm talking? What emergency provisions should I bring? How can I let them know I'm ready to start on Monday without sounding like a total suck-up?
For insider suggestions, I polled dozens of recruiters, hiring managers and interview coaches. Their top tips follow.

Talk in Bullet Points

"Sometimes the most tricky interview question is 'Tell me a little bit about yourself,'" said Rahul Yohd, an executive recruiter with the firm Link Legal Search Group in Dallas.
"This is one of the most critical questions in any interview, not only because it is usually one of the first questions asked, but because it is one of the few times in the interview where you can take control," he said. Unfortunately, he added, "It's almost impossible to effectively condense your entire life into a 60- to 90-second response."
To avoid crossing the line between informative answer and off-the-rails ramble, Yohd recommends "scripting out" your response and rehearsing it aloud until perfect.
"Bullet-point out the four to six areas of your life, mostly professional, that you feel will be important for the interviewer to know about," he explained. "Then refine it to where the answer takes no longer than 60 to 90 seconds to deliver."

Pay Attention to Body Language

There's being animated in the interview, and then there's punctuating every sentence you utter with jazz hands. To strike the right balance, Lisa McDonald of Career Polish, Inc., a job search consulting firm based in Fishers, Ind., recommends mimicking your interviewer "to make sure your body language does not overpower theirs."
For all the big "hand talkers" out there, McDonald offers this advice: "Put the tip of your middle finger to the tip of your thumb and press your fingernail into the pad of your thumb. This helps you be aware of your hands without being noticeable."
On the flip side, introverts should pay attention to whether they're actually making eye contact with their interviewer -- a must if you want to come across as reliable and confident.
"It sounds so basic, but try video-taping a mock interview and see whether or not you are actually comfortable with this," said Corinne Gregory, president of SocialSmarts, a consultancy based in Bellevue, Wash. that helps people hone their social skills. "You'll probably find you are looking around, looking away much more than you think you are."
Fortunately, Gregory has an easy remedy: "Look [your interviewer] in the eyes when you begin a point, then look just below the eyes or to one side of the nose. Finish by looking the person in the eyes again at the end of your statement."

Assemble a Survival Kit

It may sound simple, but if you haven't interviewed in a couple of years, it's all too easy to leave the house without change for the parking meter or any other interviewing essentials. For this reason, experts suggest assembling a survival kit ahead of time and leaving it in your car or briefcase. Among the necessary items:

Map (or GPS), cash, change and a full tank of gas.
Bottled water and non-perishable snack in case your interview runs longer than expected.
Breath mints, toothpicks, deodorant, a spare shirt, stain removal stick, hair brush, lip balm, and any other grooming items you routinely use.
Tissues and hand sanitizer if you're getting over a cold.
Pen and notepad so you can take notes and bring along a cheat sheet of interviewer names and titles, questions to ask and those bullet points about your career I mentioned earlier.
Extra business cards and copies of your resume, references, work samples and any presentations you plan to give.

Ooze Enthusiasm

"I regularly hear of hiring managers who select a less qualified candidate because they liked the person's energy," said Debra Yergen, author of "Creating Job Security Resource Guide". "They liked their ideas. And they liked their enthusiasm. It's one of the top influencers in an interview."

Of course, when you've been interviewing for 6, 12 or 18 months, putting on a happy face is sometimes easier said than done. If you fall into this camp, Yergen has a suggestion: "Listen to a song or look at a picture or provide yourself a prop that you know will make you smile, laugh and feel good. Use that prop right before the interview and you won't believe the difference it will make."

Those hard-pressed to find a happiness prop might try envisioning that stack of past-due bills on their kitchen table all paid off. That ought to tease out a genuine smile.

End with a Zinger

Closing the interview can be tough. You want to let the hiring manager know you're excited about the position and you want to ask -- without sounding desperate -- when you can expect to hear from them next. But you also need to punctuate the meeting with a lasting positive impression.

One way to do so is to close with a question that shows you're already thinking about how you'll succeed in this new position. Alison Green, a management consultant in Washington, D.C. who writes the blog Ask a Manager, recommends this one: "Thinking back to people who have been in this position previously, what differentiated the ones who were good from the ones who were really great?"

"This question excites managers because it signals that you care about being not just good, but truly great," Green explained. Even better, she said, "They've generally never heard anyone ask it before."

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

In the crowded gate area in the airline terminal there are few empty seats. A tiny woman with dark hair places her laptop on one seat with her bag in front of it and leaves an empty seat next to it where she plans to sit. Then she moves to another set of seats and sits and chats with two co-workers. An older man comes along toting his luggage and makes for the empty seat. She stops him and says, "Oh no - that's mine." The man pauses and looks at her sitting in the other seat, then shuffles on.

No one should be able to hog three seats in a crowded gate.

In adult life, there is no such thing as "I called it!" There is no such thing as "this seat is saved" when the seating area is filled, when the train or bus is filled, when the theater is filled. If your friend or kin has not arrived, that is not the problem of the person who is there and looking for a place to sit down. Your bag, no matter what kind of day it's had in the underbelly of the airplane or going through security, does not warrant a seat of its own.

Make room for others. Place bags on the floor or on your lap. Give up your own seat for those who are elderly, frail, pregnant, juggling small children or anyone who looks like they could really use it. Rather than say, "Do you want this seat?" say, "Please take this seat."

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

11/30	Career Mentor Program Reception
	Yates Dining Hall 5:30-7
12/2	Graduate School Seminar
	212 YGCU 2:15-3:15

Busy Week!

2010-11-12T13:38:00.000-06:00

Not-So-Common-Sense Interview Strategies

By Scott Shrum
Perhaps the only thing that stokes anxiety in young job-seekers more than the fear of being jobless is the anticipation of walking into an interview for a coveted job. While applicants have been spoon-fed such mundane advice such as what responses to prepare (hint: skip the obvious questions) and how early to arrive at one’s appointment (another hint: very early is more annoying than impressive), there are some bigger-picture interview best practices that many young job-seekers seem to have overlooked.
While the following strategies may appear to fall into the bucket of “common-sense interview tips,” too many applicants fall short on these basic ideas, suggesting that they must not be all that common. Remembering these key points— and practicing them as much as possible—will go a long way toward making a strong impression with a hiring manager:
• Project confidence without arrogance. Generation Y notoriously confuses projecting confidence with projecting arrogance. How to strike a balance between the two? Practice, practice, practice—
ideally in a live setting, with someone you don’t know well (such as a friend of a friend). You will quickly gain a better sense of which jokes are a bit too much, when to push back vs. when to agree, and whether you’re sending the wrong signals to an interviewer. Practice speaking with your interviewer as a peer, rather than as a superior. If you can get comfortable with that, you will be in great shape.
• Keep your answers succinct. As a hiring manager, I find nothing worse than watching an interviewee ramble through his or her answers. If you find yourself doing this often, it probably means that you weren’t prepared for the question, or you have an answer but haven’t practiced how to present it in a brief, coherent way. Your answers should be conversational, but should always have a clear beginning, middle and end, and should take no more than a minute or two each. For answers to questions that you know will be longer (such as “Why do you want this job?”), give the interviewer a verbal indication of the length of your answer by saying something like “Well, the three main reasons are… ” and then count them off on your fingers: “One …”
• Go in with a short list of things you absolutely must cover. It’s your job to get these critical themes out on the table. For example, if you know an employer particularly values time-management skills, it is imperative that you emphasize that as a strength before the interview concludes. If your time is up and the interviewer never asked you about it, then it’s your fault, not theirs. Many job interviews start off with “Walk me through your resume,” or “Tell me about yourself.” This is your chance to address your key themes right away.
• Remember that a good interview is a two-way conversation. Interviewers will vary greatly in their style, but you ideally won’t do all of the talking during your interview. As objective as they mean to be, interviewers are more likely to remember the candidate who told interesting stories or pleasantly surprised them in some way. Comments such as “That’s interesting, tell me more,” and “That’s pretty impressive,” are good signs that you’re getting through to your interviewer. Blank stares and curt “wrap up”-type comments are signs that the two-way dialogue isn’t taking root.
• But … it’s still an interview. Ideally, you will be able to strike a smart balance between having an enjoyable conversation and still maintaining the structure of the interview, making sure that your key themes are covered and that the interviewer has answered all of their questions. After all, when the interview is done, the interviewer needs to answer some questions about you, and they can’t do that if you’ve just spent 45 minutes talking about politics and football. Make it enjoyable, but remember that it’s still an interview!

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

Some people can talk like it is an Olympic sport. When someone repeatedly drops by your office or cubicle and talks non-stop, it can feel like hostage situation, because it ties you up and prevents you from completing business. What can you do?

Smile and say, "I am sorry to interrupt, but I have to focus on this project" or "I need to get back to work." You may add, "Thank you for stopping by." Then continue with your work. If the person is sitting, stand up, look that person in the eye and play the broken record, "I need to get back to work now."

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

11/15	AAF-KC Career Day
	Uptown Theater 8-5
11/17	Air Force Opportunities
	Union 10-2
11/30	Career Mentor Program Reception
	Yates Dining Hall 5:30-7

Enjoy Your Week!

2010-11-05T14:30:00.002-05:00

7 Sales Tips For Getting The Job

Stephanie Christensen, provided by

Friday, November 5, 2010

As a job-seeker, your role is to market your good or service - in this case, yourself - to the buyer who is extending the best offer in exchange. Sound like sales? Essentially, it is. Luckily, the sales profession is full of superstars willing to share their secrets. Below are seven practical sales tips to ensure that you close the job deal every time.

1. Pass the Gatekeeper
Traditionally, gatekeepers have been admins, assistants and, in the case of job-seekers, human resources. With the influence of technology like caller ID, voicemail and email, it's harder, and more critical than ever, to get directly to the hiring manager. The key is to dangle a carrot before they can hit "delete". For job seekers, this means establishing credibility early on and how you'll deliver results. If you have worked for a competitor or have industry expertise, say so upfront. If you don't, reference something noteworthy that has happened in their company recently or research that has just been done in your industry. Doing so shows you are engaged in both the industry and that company in particular.
2. Know Your Audience
Sales people have different pitches for different buyers, and job-seekers should too. Technology today makes it simple to find out the back story on a prospective hiring manager. If their LinkedIn profile indicates a specific company or industry expertise, tailor your pitch to focus on points in your background that will be relevant and personal to them. If you can sense that your interviewer is stressed or time-crunched, don't sit in their office droning on about every point in your resume. State your core objective in the interview early on, and support it with three main points. If the conversation begins to flow and they probe further, elaborate. If not, they'll appreciate and remember your ability to be succinct when needed.
3. Offer Excellent Customer Service
Customer service makes or breaks your chance of getting and keeping customers in sales, and the same is true on the job. In this case, your customers are the person you work for, the teams you work with and external clients. Just as you are more excited about doing business with a company that passionately embodies your mission, so are people you encounter on the job. Radiate enthusiasm and tell prospective employers why you are so interested in the job and company, and how you plan to maintain that level of commitment years into your career. Then, make sure you do just that once you've landed the job.
4. Establish a Relationship With One Key Question
Simply ask your employer "What is it that you want to achieve?" Then use this knowledge to address a proposed solution that your skills and expertise will offer in the position.
5. Always Be Closing
It is not likely that you will be offered a job on the spot (and not a good idea to accept one on the spot, either!) But good sales people are always moving towards the next step needed to close the sale, and so should job-seekers. Towards the end of your conversation, the interviewer will generally ask whether there are any additional questions. Seize this opportunity to close the sale. Just as a salesperson's job is to ask for the order, yours is to ask for the opportunity.
6. Follow Up
Stay top of mind with your interviewee and use your one last chance to make a good impression. Write a simple email within a day of the interview, reiterating what you can do for the company and thanking them for the meeting. Keep it short and to the point. It will express to the employer that you are not only interested, but adept at follow-through.
7. Network in Person
While tools like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter have made it easier than ever to have plenty of social media and business connections, don't forget the power of a face to face conversation. Make a commitment to keep your "living and breathing" network as plentiful as your online ones. Join a club where you'll meet other like-minded professionals, strike up conversations, volunteer, or participate in local business events. While you should focus on just making connections, not specific leads, have a one minute "sound bite" down that will succinctly tell people about yourself. You'd be surprised how just a few minutes of face-to-face time can stick with people down the road.
The Bottom Line
Just as salespeople have formed a routine for effective sales calls, so should you as a job-seeker. Putting these tried and tested tips into practice can help you spend less time and energy looking for jobs, and more into developing the career you want.

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

When the master of ceremonies introduces the after dinner speaker, all else ceases. There is no tittering, twittering, dithering or jittering. Finish eating and sipping coffee before the speaker begins, turn your chair toward the speaker and give the speaker your undivided attention. No, you may not text under the table.

If your ill-timed dessert arrives after the speaker begins, you may finish it as quietly and unobtrusively as possible. A speaker can be distracted by the clanking of dishes, silverware and glasses or the uttering of "yummy noises." You may not ask the banquet staff to box any part of the meal "to go," nor put food into a plastic baggie in your purse, man-bag or pockets.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

11/15	AAF-KC Career Day
	Uptown Theater 8-5
11/17	Air Force Opportunities
	Union 10-2
11/30	Career Mentor Program Reception
	Yates Dining Hall 5:30-7

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-29T14:53:00.001-05:00

Bridging The Gaps On Your Resume

Erin Joyce, provided by

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

If you are one of 14.8 million Americans who are unemployed, you may be dealing with how to explain your absence from the working world to potential employers. No hiring manager likes to see big gaps between jobs, but there are several good explanations that you can offer to minimize the job-gaps on your resume. Follow these tips to avoid gaping holes in your resume.
Formatting
You can adjust the formatting of dates to eliminate the appearance of obvious unemployment streaks. For example, change any "Month/Year" references to state only the year.
For example:

Server: June 2003 - April 2005
Sales Associate: February 2006 - May 2007

Changes to:

Server: 2003 - 2005
Sales Associate: 2006 - 2007

Suddenly, that 10-month period of unemployment doesn't seem so obvious. Of course, if you're asked for particular dates, you're busted, but this method reduces the chance of having to explain prolonged unemployment.
Fill In the Blanks
If you do have significant gaps in your resume, it isn't the end of the world. Consider what you did spend your time doing during those periods. Did you volunteer, learn new skills or were there extenuating circumstances that kept you out of the workplace? This can all have a place on your resume if it adequately explains/justifies a prolonged absence.
For example, upon graduating, you may not have been able to get a job right away, but if you volunteered in a position related to your desired field, the mention of it turns a negative gap into a positive sign of devotion to your career path. If you were downsized but spent your time out of work taking classes or freelancing to update your skills, that's another great attribute. Listing these activities helps to paint you as a proactive person who, even if down on your luck job-wise, continues to actively seek ways to improve.
Streamlined Resumes
Don't feel like you have to account for 100% of your time from your childhood on. It is perfectly acceptable (and in many cases, in your best interest) to keep your listed work experience to only those jobs which are relevant to the position you are applying for. If you were out of work for a year during high school, this isn't going to be a big strike against you. Just be sure to include any activities, such as education, that would keep you from working.
Answer Honestly...
If you were let go because of a problem with your performance, and your interviewer asks for specifics, be honest. Explain what the problem was, but focus on what you did to resolve the issue or to ensure it didn't happen again. If you were out of work because of health or personal issues or because of a personal crisis (a parent taking ill or passing away, for example), mention it succinctly and again, focus on what you have done to remedy the problem (or how you are keeping it under control) and how the experience has improved you. Don't feel like you have to volunteer this information, unless it is an extremely obvious gap on your resume and even then, be concise - your employer can always ask if they need more details.
...But Don't Play the Blame Game
Always answer questions concerning sensitive issues diplomatically - no bad-mouthing former employers! Doing so will make your interviewer wonder if you'll do the same thing to them in the future. Before you even submit your resume, make a list of all the gaps you are concerned about and write out what happened, how you resolved it and why it won't happen again. If there was an issue with a former co-worker or boss, don't name names. If there was a personal issue, don't go into detail - simply state the basic facts of what happened and when.
Remember, employers are looking for stable employees, but that doesn't mean issues won't arise. A stable employee is one who can handle the hurdles life puts up and learn from the challenges they presented.
The Bottom Line
Be upfront and confident - life happens. Employers aren't looking for someone who never experiences challenges; rather, they want someone who is capable of handling them. More often than not, the gaps in your resume are nothing to be ashamed of. Just make sure you highlight the positive from every situation.

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

The exceptional manager hand writes personal notes to his or her staff. Whether a scrawl on a memo or report, a fold over note or on executive monarch statonery, the manager express praise, encouragement and gratitude.

"Your hard work paid off on that presentation -- thank you for all of your efforts."

"Nice job on the event -- we could not have done it without you."

"We all have those days when everything seems to go wrong -- keep your chin up, you are doing a great job."

"I am proud of the progress you have made with the team!"

If the thought enters your head, "I can just do that by email. It would be faster." Stop. Step away from the keyboard, take your finger off the mouse and pick up a pen. Remember the pen? There should be one on your desk somewhere. Write the note BY HAND. This, of course means the exceptional manager will also have to work on handwriting skills.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

11/1-3	Mentor Interviews
	YGCU 210
11/1	Nursing Employment Fair
	YGCU 221-222 10:30-1
11/2	Etiquette Dinner
	Embassy Suites 6-8
11/3	The Employment Guide’s 2010 Job Fair
	NKC Community Center 10-3
11/15	AAF-KC Career Day
	Uptown Theater 8-5

Almost Fall Break

2010-10-08T11:03:00.002-05:00

Tips on Following Up After You Send a Resume

By Lindsay Olson

Posted: October 7, 2010

One of the most frequent questions I get from job seekers is about follow-up timing after submitting a resume. Who do I contact and how long should I wait?
The answer depends on how you were introduced to the company. If you respond to a job posting online, it's important to remember that some ads generate hundreds of responses a day. Many companies have tools to automate processing your application into their applicant tracking systems. A real person may not be looking at the responses sent and many times, the hiring manager isn't even involved at this stage.
The best way to make sure your resume gains the attention it deserves is to tweak it to fit the job description. It sounds like obvious advice, but job seekers often don't do it. Integrate the keywords that a recruiter might use to find a qualified candidate in their database. Your goal is to make sure your resume will be found and put on the short-list. If you have done this and haven't heard back, give it a week and follow-up.
The best-case scenario is when you know someone within the company. An internal recommendation almost always holds more weight (as long as you are qualified). If your contact presents your resume to the hiring manager or the HR department directly, your chances getting an interview improve immensely. Ask your contact to let you know when your resume has been received, and follow-up directly with the hiring contact in a day or two by phone or E-mail.
In both cases, your follow-up should be concise, polite, and reiterate your interest in the position. Highlight how your qualifications make you a good fit. Be specific and don′t assume that the company will recognize your name or for which position you applied.
A few key points about following up:

Don't re-send the same resume and cover letter multiple times for the same position. Sending the same E-mail over and over lessens your chance of getting an interview because it seems desperate and disorganized. Make it obvious that you are following up on a specific position for your applications sent on a specific dates.
Keep a positive tone in your follow-up message. A job search can be frustrating, especially when you feel that you are qualified and don't receive a response. A negative or an accusatory tone will kill your chance of getting a response as well as any future opportunities with the company.
It would be wonderful to hear back from every employer, but it's not realistic. If you have followed up three times and have not heard back, it's time to move on. Don't take it personally.

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

No one wants to have what's known as "a Peter Brady party" where no one shows up. Once you commit to attend an event, honor that commitment. Do not throw over your host/hostess for a better offer or assume there will be plenty of people there without you.

R.S.V.P. on an invitation means, "Respond please." Inform the invitee whether you will attend or not attend the event. "I think I might be able to be there…" is not the right answer. When you answer an invitation, you are responding or replying. There is no such thing as "RSVPing." (It would not exactly have a nice ring to it, in any case.)

If you decline an invite, it is not necessary to state a reason why. Gifts for an event which you will not be attending, such as a graduation party, birthday, shower or wedding, are optional.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Happy Homecoming!

2010-10-01T14:51:00.002-05:00

Give Yourself A Resume Makeover
Susan Adams, 09.16.10, 4:20 PM ET

I've just discovered the toughest thing about putting together a résumé. To write a really good one, you have to figure out what's special about yourself. What is your personal brand?
I'm a journalist with 30 years of experience. So what? How are my skills different from those of countless other 50-something media folk toiling in the editorial trenches?
It had been 10 years since I'd fixed up my résumé, past time for an update. I wrote an article back in December that surveyed some of the latest thinking on topics like video résumés and keywords, but readers and friends have been asking for more basic advice. So I decided to do a résumé fix-up story, using myself as a guinea pig.
My first step was to find a couple of sources who have worked extensively with professionals in my field. I turned to James Borland, a New York career coach affiliated with the Five O'Clock Club, who has done outplacement for clients at The New York Times, Newsday and Time magazine. I vetted Borland's advice with Eileen Wolkstein, a veteran coach I greatly respect and whom I've quoted numerous times.
Borland started out by confirming my suspicion that it makes sense to seek help from a coach who's worked with others in your field. If you're going for a job in financial services, for instance, use someone who's critiqued lots of Wall Street résumés. Do not let a coach write your résumé, however; you have to do it yourself. "An H.R. person or a recruiter will immediately pick it up if a résumé has been written for someone," Borland says. "All they have to do is spend five minutes with the person, and they can tell the words on the page are not words the candidate would use."
Both Borland and Wolkstein agree that your résumé should not be a mere list of jobs you've had, followed by brisk summaries of the work you did and your college and graduate degrees. That was problem No. 1 with my old version. It wasn't a marketing document. "Your résumé should entice the reader to want to see you," he says. "It should be designed to sell you as an interesting person to talk to."
Wolkstein agrees. She also thinks a résumé should tell a story about the résumé-writer, a story that captures the reader and makes one want to know more.
Borland told me I had to figure out three reasons someone should hire me, and put that at the top of the page in the form of a summary. That was another element my old version lacked. I just had the word "Experience" underneath my name and contact info, and under that, my current job title and responsibilities.

Borland criticized my old version as too dense. Break up the Forbes section into bullet points, he advised. Pick four to six accomplishments during my tenure, and pull them out, using details and active verbs. I took a stab at that, and Wolkstein pushed me further. I had used the words "write," "edit" and "create" too many times. I felt mortified, given that I make my living as an editor, when she suggested, "What about other verbs?"
At least Borland liked the fact that I'd mentioned a couple of cover stories I'd written that piqued his interest, including a piece on South Africa's first black billionaire. That line did what both Borland and Wolkstein wanted me to do: It invited the reader to be interested in me, and it sold me as someone who could produce a substantial piece of work on an intriguing topic.
Borland also exhorted me to describe the reach of the media companies I'd worked for. My old résumé simply said, "Senior Editor, Forbes." He insisted I include the circulation (900,000 for the magazine, and Forbes.com reaches 18 million people a month). I should do the same with the other places I'd worked.
Still, when I showed Wolkstein my rewritten draft, she pronounced it "essentially good," but not quite there yet. "What is your place in the world of journalism that makes you special?" she challenged me. Which brought me back to Borland's point: I should write a marketing document. I'm still working on it.

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

Ogden Nash said, "I don't mind eels, except at meals."

If you are at a dinner party in someone's home and you are served something you do not like, do not say anything. This might sound wasteful, but cut it up (whatever IT is), push it around the plate and pretend you are enjoying it, while keeping up with the lively conversation at the table. Telling people you find their food distasteful is like telling them their baby is ugly.

Thank your hosts for a lovely evening before you leave. There's always fast food on the way home.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

10/1	Mentor Blitz
	10-7 Union
10/4	Nursing Resume Workshop
	10:15-11:05 306 Marston

Homecoming Starts This Week!

2010-09-24T14:26:00.001-05:00

The Worst Mistake You Can Make On Your Resume

Karen Burns, On Wednesday September 15, 2010, 11:46 am EDT

Fact: Job hunters obsess about resumes. Who wouldn't? There's so much to get right--functional versus chronological, objective statements (pro and con), key words, templates, references, font size, white space, action verbs, employment gaps, placement and style of bullets, typos, and whether to include hobbies (probably a "no" on that last one).
So much, in fact, that we often forget the most important ingredient of a really great, interview-obtaining, new-job-snagging resume: It needs to be written specifically for the job you're after.
Does that mean you have to do a new resume for every single position you apply for? Yes, that's exactly what it means.
Fear not, this is not as laborious as it sounds. You don't have to start from scratch each time. All you need to do is edit--or refocus--your "master" resume to sync with the job in question. How?
--First, read and reread the job description. Study it. Ponder it. Identify the words and phrases the employer uses to describe the position.
--Next, take a look your work accomplishments, certifications, education, and experience. You should be keeping lists of all this stuff. This is the raw data you draw on to craft your resumes and cover letters, too.
--Then ask yourself which of your credentials can honestly be described using the same words and phrases the employer uses in the job description.
--Finally, take those words and phrases and use them to describe yourself in your resume. From this point, all you have to do is plug in info from your master resume. See, it's not a total rewrite. In fact, most of your resume will stay the same. You'll find that customizing your resume gets easier each time you do it.
A few more thoughts to consider:
--If you use a career objective at the top of the page, it should include the exact job title of the position you're seeking.
--Remove experience/qualifications that have nothing to do with the job in question. You want to make it easy for employers to see the credentials they most care about.
--Try to figure out what credentials are of highest importance to the employer and put those first. Pretend you are in the employer's shoes and ask yourself, "What's my biggest need? What's most important to me about this job?" Talk to your mentor and contacts in the field. Try to find people who are already doing the job you want and ask them, "What is the most important part of your job?"
--If your past job titles are ambiguous, overly jargony, or don't obviously relate to the job you're applying for, rephrase them in laymen's terms--in a way that shows how those past jobs qualify you for this new job.
So, what's the worst mistake you can make on your resume? Failing to customize. It's a new employment market out there. A cookie-cutter resume just doesn't cut it anymore. You need to show your potential employer that you're applying for this job, not just any job. Good luck.

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

When mailing a business letter (the traditional way, not the celebrated "e" kind), the return address should be on the front of the envelope in the upper left corner. When sending a personal letter by mail, the return address should be on the back flap of the envelope.

If the business letter is of a personal nature on "monarch" stationery (smaller than a standard business letter, 7 1/4 x 10 1/2 inches, commonly used by executives) or a correspondence card (4 1/4 x 6 1/4), then the return address should be on the back flap of the envelope.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

9/24	Cerner
	10-11 Union
	UMKC Law School Admission
	Union
9/29	UMKC Fall 2010 Career Fair
	10-3 Sinney Rec Center
10/1	Mentor Blitz
	10-7 Union
10/4	Nursing Resume Workshop
	10:15-11:05 306 Marston

Get Ready for Fall!

2010-09-20T13:58:00.001-05:00

9 Job Tips You Can Learn From Politicians

Published: Wednesday, 15 Sep 2010 | 11:17 AM ET

By: Cindy Perman
CNBC.com Writer

When you think about it, politicians running for office are really just conducting one, long job interview with voters.

So start taking some notes along the campaign trail — there are some good lessons that will help with a job search!

Here are nine things you can learn from politicians that will help with your job search.

1. Think of Your Job Search Like a Campaign.

Just like a politician gets out there, shaking hands and kissing babies, you, too, must get out there and spread the word to everyone and anyone who will listen that you are looking for a job.

“We’re talking about networking both online and shaking hands in person,” said Matthew Rothenberg, the editor-in-chief at TheLadders. com and co-author of “You’re Better Than Your Job Search.”

“You’re campaigning for a job,” he said.

So, initiate as many meetings as you can — whether it’s with someone you know who works at the company you’re applying to or an old colleague. And, very important — never turn down an invitation to a happy hour, birthday party or kids’ soccer game. Every outing is a chance to spread the word that you’re looking for a job.

2. Prepare a Stump Speech.

You are the candidate and when you campaign, they’re going to want to know what your message is.

Don’t — and that’s a capital DON’T — rely on your ad-libbing skills.

Write.

It.

Down.

“Politicians will write down their talking points that make their key arguments,” Rothenberg said. “You need to be able to have a stump speech that you can give over and over again … your 30-second recap of what you can offer to an employer.”

Now, that’s not to say memorize a script — just that you should know what your key talking points are and make sure you drive them home.

3. Remember: It’s Not About You.

One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is thinking it’s all about them. Why this job would be good for me. What’s in it for me.

You need to make sure you tell your future employer what’s in it for them.

“One of my favorite analogies is, ‘Ask not what the company can do for you, but what you can do for the company,’” Rothenberg said.

“Take that JFK mantra to heart!” he said. “It’s about how you will fit the needs of the organization.”

4. Cheat.

No! Not, cheating on your spouse. (Though we know more than a few politicians do that kind of cheating!)

What this cheating means is that you don’t have to come up with your three talking points on your own — you can get them right from the human-resources person at the company you’re applying to.

Just ask them: What are the top three things you’re looking for?

Then, all you have to do is fill in the blanks, about how you would fill those three things — how you are those three things.

5. Make Them Love You

Do you make a terrible first impression? Do you feel like people only like you once they’ve gotten to know you?

Well, too bad! Politicians don’t have that luxury — and neither do job seekers.

“I don’t care if you’re the smartest guy or gal in the room — if people don’t like you, it doesn’t matter!” said Peggy Klaus, a career coach and author of the book “Brag! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It.”

Klaus says be aware of the way you come across. Are you warm? Are you friendly? Do you look people in the eye?

“If you’re condescending and arrogant — they’re not going to vote for you — and they’re not going to hire you,” she explained.

If you’re shy or introverted, “that’s no excuse!” Klaus said. You can learn behaviors that will help endear you to people.

For example — Smiling.

“It’s not too hard! Even if you don’t feel like it — you act as if you’re delighted to be there,” Klaus said.

Plus, make eye contact. Give them a firm hand shake. Ask questions — and, this is the one people often forget — make sure you’re a good listener.

If you’re nervous, Klaus has a method for warming up.

“I go over the top. I get myself really excited,” Klaus explains. “As I’m walking down the hall for the interview, inside my head, I’m saying: 'I’M REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE! I’M SO DELIGHTED TO MEET THESE PEOPLE! I CAN’T WAIT FOR THEM TO MEET ME!'”

It sounds crazy — but it works. What you’re doing, Klaus says, is focusing on the positive — and shoving out all those negative thoughts like, “My pants are too tight” or “I hate my hair.”

6. Remember, You’re ‘On’ 24-7

It’s not just during the job-application process or the interview — you have to be “on” at all times.

“Make sure that your brand is what you want communicated at all times — 24-7,” Klaus said. “That means from the way you walk into the interview, physically, vocally — to not having any Facebook photos of you drinking and smoking a hookah,” she said.

And, don’t start slacking just because you’ve landed the job — you have to keep it up even after you’re hired.

“The day after they’re elected, politicians are running again,” Klaus said. “And the same thing holds true for a job candidate — Even when you get the job, you’re still auditioning. People are judging you all the time.”

7. When You Screw Up, Do Some Crisis Management.

“Just like reporters’ or citizens can dish the dirt on a politician by looking through what’s searchable online — folks have the goods on you as well!” Rothenberg said.

“It’s very important that you search the public record the same way that employers most assuredly will — there’s no getting around that,” he said.

So make sure you Google yourself, know what’s out there — and either clean it up, or make sure you address it head on in the interview.

You should always assume that the interviewer has Googled you, so have your answers ready — especially for the embarrassing stuff.

"You can spin anything if you use the right words,” said comedian Harrison Greenbaum. “Caught stealing company funds at your last job? You were 'recognized for your wealth redistribution acumen.' Caught cheating on your wife with your secretary? You 'excelled at internal affairs.' Caught drinking excessively at your advertising firm? Well, that would probably make an awesome TV show," he quipped.

8. Stay. On. Message.

Politicians get peppered with tons of questions that are all across the map — Do you support the Tea Party? What did you think of Lady Gaga’s Meat dress at the VMAs? Do you have a love child?

You won’t face nearly that many crazy questions — but you still need to take a page out of the campaign book and, no matter what you’re asked — stay on point.

“No matter what the question is, and no matter how impertinently put, the politician has an answer and doesn’t get distracted by the host’s badgering,” Cenedella and Rothenberg write in "You're Better Than Your Job Search." “We can’t say whether that’s good for us voters, but we can tell you it’s deadly effective for giving a great interview!”

So stay on message. No matter what they ask you, always circle back to your three main points.

9. Be Persistent.

Some people treat applying for a job like dating.

Should I call again? Is it too soon? Maybe I should wait for him to call me?

That may work for dating but when you’re applying for a job — you have to be persistent.

“It’s OK to be persistent in asking for that endorsement — getting that endorsement from the hiring manager, from the company,” Rothenberg said. “Hopefully they’ll vote for you.”

Oh, and don’t forget to vote for yourself!

Career Athletes

On Tuesday night, nearly 300 student athletes attended two sessions with Career Athletes. Judy Rychlewski says, “Career Athletes representatives speak the language of the athletes, couching their career development message in terms like game plan, competition and success. Chris Smith, former NFL player and Director of Community Development for Career Athletes, demonstrated how to use the “Day in the Life of” (DIOL) technique in order to relate athletic traits to the job being sought. Each student was encouraged to pick their top 3 traits from a list of 25 traits of an athlete and develop their own stories for future interviews. To me, this was both powerful and practical! I am glad to have the support of Career Athletes in helping our student athletes prepare for career success.” This seminar was sponsored by Northwestern Mutual.

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

In social etiquette, when gentlemen are introduced to ladies, the gentlemen stand and the ladies remain seated. Both ladies and gentlemen stand when introduced to older people, clergy or other dignitaries. Young ladies stand when introduced to older ladies. (Which can be a tricky situation with ladies who are sensitive about their age.)

The business world is gender neutral. In business, both ladies and gentlemen stand for introductions. To remain seated is to insult -- as if you are telling the person he or she is not important.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

9/20	Federal Reserve Open Info Session
	9:45-11 212 YGCU
9/21	2010 Job Fair Employer Guide
	10-3 Penn Valley College
9/23	FRB Deadline
9/24	Cerner
	10-11 Union
	UMKC Law School Admission
	Union

Quote from the Office:

“Tree stands? Oh I was thinking Christmas trees!” - Judy

Back in the Swing of Things!

2010-09-10T14:53:00.002-05:00

Employee Diversity Training Doesn't Work

By Lisa Takeuchi Cullen Thursday, Apr. 26, 2007

Some decades ago, the powers that be declared that employee diversity was a good thing, as desirable as double-digit profit margins. It's proving just as difficult to achieve. Companies try all sorts of things to attract and promote minorities and women. They hire organizational psychologists. They staff booths at diversity fairs. They host dim-sum brunches and salsa nights. The most popular--and expensive--approach is diversity training, or workshops to teach executives to embrace the benefits of a diverse staff. Too bad it doesn't work.
A groundbreaking new study by three sociologists shows that diversity training has little to no effect on the racial and gender mix of a company's top ranks. Frank Dobbin of Harvard, Alexandra Kalev of the University of California, Berkeley, and Erin Kelly of the University of Minnesota sifted through decades of federal employment statistics provided by companies. Their analysis found no real change in the number of women and minority managers after companies began diversity training. That's right--none. Networking didn't do much, either. Mentorships did. Among the least common tactics, one--assigning a diversity point person or task force--has the best record of success. "Companies have spent millions of dollars a year on these programs without actually knowing, Are these efforts worth it?" Dobbin says. "In the case of diversity training, the answer is no."
The law is one reason that employers favor diversity training. In the wake of whopping settlements in race-discrimination suits against large companies, including Texaco and Coca-Cola, over the past decade, employers believe that having a program in place can show a judge that they are sincerely fighting prejudice. But this too is a myth, says Dobbin: "I don't know of a single case where courts gave credit for diversity training."
Social psychologists have many theories to explain why diversity training doesn't work as intended. Studies show that any training generates a backlash and that mandatory diversity training in particular may even activate a bias. Researchers also see evidence of "irresistible stereotypes," or biases so deeply ingrained that they simply can't be taught away in a one-day workshop.
Consultants on diversity insist that the training they give has value. R. Roosevelt Thomas, founder of the American Institute for Managing Diversity, says corporate America must first redefine the word. "Diversity means differences and similarities," he says, be they in race, gender or corporate culture. He teaches executives to focus on skills and not familiarity. "In a foxhole, I want someone who can shoot," he says. "I don't care where they're from. Some folks have to be reminded of that."
So what does work? The study's findings in this area were striking too: at companies that assigned a person or committee to oversee diversity, ensuring direct accountability for results, the number of minorities and women climbed 10% in the years following the appointment. Mentorships worked too, particularly for black women, increasing their numbers in management 23.5%. Most effective is the combination of all these strategies, says Dobbin.
In practice, companies find that a multipronged approach leads to results. General Electric initiated an aggressive diversity strategy under former CEO Jack Welch that included employee networks, regular planning forums, formal mentoring, and recruiting at colleges popular with minorities. Perhaps most significantly, GE appointed a chief diversity officer, Deborah Elam. In 2000, women, minorities and non--U.S. citizens made up 22% of GE's officers and 29% of senior executives. By 2005, their ranks swelled to 34% among officers and 40% of senior execs. "Training just to train is not enough," says Elam. "You've got to have accountability at the top." Accountability for the careers of women and minorities requires a substantial commitment of time, staff and money--but so does diversity training. And only one works.

Dum Dums!

Thank you for all participated in this year's Career Service Dum Dum guessing Contest.  We had great participation and enjoyed all of your guesses.

Our mission is to help you in your decision making by providing resources, opportunities and professional experiences to meet your career goals.

You are ALL winners and to receive your prize, please stop by our office located on the second floor of YGCU Room 218.

The total count of dum dums was 553.  The Grand Prize Winner goes to Jessica Chandler with a Guess of 550. Thank you again,

      The Career Services Team

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

Start meetings on time. If you hold up meetings for latecomers, you are treating the people who did show up on time as if their time is less valuable. If you make a habit of starting late, people will assume your 9:00 AM meeting really begins at 9:20 AM and at 9:00 AM they will all still be grabbing coffee and wondering out loud about who took the last doughnut.

Respect your audience: end on time. Have an agenda and stick to it. If you are speaking at the meeting, be prepared with your material. People who are unprepared talk and talk and talk until attendees are slipping under the table.

We all know of certain people who can talk the leg off a chair and those who can derail a meeting onto the strangest topics. As the meeting leader, you are in charge. In your mind, you may be tackling them at the knees and throwing them to the conference room floor. In reality, a simple, "We seem to have slipped off topic and we need to return to our agenda..." will do.

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

9/14	Career Mentor Program Orientation
	5:45-7 WSC 304
9/16	KU Business Fair
	12-5 KU 5^th flr Union
9/20	Federal Reserve Open Info Session
	9:45-11 212 YGCU
9/21	2010 Job Fair Employer Guide
	10-3 Penn Valley College

Quote from the Office:

“Why’s there a rock in my shoe? Oh wait, it’s a chocolate chip.” - Katie

Fall Semester 2010

2010-09-03T10:55:00.000-05:00

Welcome Back!

The Office of Career Services is very excited to start the new school term! We’re busy planning events and networking opportunities for all of you. We hope that you take advantage of the services that we offer throughout the semester, whether it’s help with a resume or finding an internship. Hopefully you’ll also use the various web resources that we have set up. As of now Career Services has our official website, a Facebook group and fan page, a blog, a Twitter account, and of course eRecruiting. We try to update each of these regularly with information useful to you the student! Let us know if there is anything we can add to make sure everyone knows about the opportunities available!

How to sell 'soft' skills

Bob Lankard

CTW Features

Have you ever asked questions in a letter only to have the responder answer some questions, but ignore others? Some job seekers treat job applications this way. They respond to some qualifications an employer specified in an ad and ignore others.

Often, job seekers are more comfortable explaining hard skills, such as software they have mastered, degrees they have earned or machines they are qualified to operate. Soft skills - qualities such as being a self-starter or being terrific at project management - may be more challenging to present and explain.

The upshot: some candidates simply avoid presenting their soft skills all together. Others resort to selling these skills using weak qualitative claims, such as "I am great at project management." To strengthen their pitch, candidates should skip the 'I ams' and work to deliver specific examples that demonstrate their soft skills.

A talent for organizing is a great soft skill, and one that many employers value and seek out.

To present organizational skills on an application, cover letter, résumé or in the interview, consider these approaches.

Have you ever been asked to help out with a project? What did you do to get the job done? For example, perhaps you solicited businesses to get donations for a fundraiser.

Have you ever been recognized for your productivity on the job? Look at old employee evaluations.

Think about projects where you used your planning skills. Think about the process you went through. Are there other occasions where you used the same process?

The best way to sell organizational skills in an interview is to tell a story. The applicant who obtained donations for the fundraiser could tell how many they collected, the most interesting donation, or how he solved a problem that arose.

Your application, résumé or cover letter may give the message of good or bad organizational skills all by itself. An application with smudges and incomplete answers shows someone to be poorly organized. On the contrary one that is clean, without errors, and complete answers shows good planning.

Something New Called Focus 2!

Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.

It helps you decide what your major should be!

OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!

Be sure to check it out today!

Etiquette Tip of the Week:

Ever get to the end of a letter and ask yourself, "How do I end this?" Here are some ideas on how to close:

Best closing for a business letter: Sincerely, Sincerely yours, Very sincerely,
Also appropriate for business and slightly less personal: Yours truly, or Very truly yours,

(Yours, by itself, is something you yell out to your partner in doubles tennis.)

Acceptable, but a little on the chilly side: Cordially or Cordially yours,

To someone you know well, but not enough to kill the fatted calf over: Regards, Warm regards, Kindest regards, Best wishes, All the best, As always, As ever,

For a family member or close friend: Love, With much love, Fondly, Affectionately, Affectionately yours,

Addressing clergy or members of high political office: Respectfully, or Respectfully yours, Faithfully, Faithfully yours,

Thanking someone: Gratefully, Gratefully yours,

As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com

Events for the Week:

9/7	Meet the Accounting Firms
	4-6 Rockhurst
9/8	Mink Law Day
	3-7 Overland Park Con Cntr
9/14	Career Mentor Program Orientation
	5:45-7 WSC 304
9/20	Federal Reserve Open Info Session
	9:45-11 212 YGCU