Written on 8:23 AM by Xavier Career Development
Most college students have
heard by now that they should create a LinkedIn profile. If you haven’t already done so, creating a
professional page would be a wise decision.
LinkedIn is an extremely powerful tool to help grow your professional
career. Not only does the site expand
your professional network, but it communicates your personal brand and connects
you to opportunities to help you grow your career and your business.
Creating a profile is the
easy part, but how do you make your page stand out to employers? Here are some helpful tips to enhance your
LinkedIn page.
- Be sure your profile
photo represents you as a business professional… your picture is likely the
first thing viewed and first impressions count! Lucky for you, the CDO is
providing free professional head shots
at the spring Career Fair on
February 18th!
- Have a strong
headline to get noticed. Your profile is
not the place to be shy! Write a concise
yet descriptive headline to stand out.
- Talk about ALL of
your relevant experience! Every
experience makes you more marketable even if it isn’t paid or called by a fancy
title.
- Add rich media to
visually enhance your profile and showcase your work. (40%
of people respond better to visual info than plain text and 46.1% of people say a website’s design
is the #1 criterion for determining the credibility of a company.)
So now that you have a
strong, stand out profile, here are some cool things you can take advantage of
on LinkedIn.
- Search the
“Student Jobs Portal” for a list of all the entry-level job and internship
postings on LinkedIn.
- Ask your networks
for help! 70% of jobs are found
through networking, so don’t be afraid to reach out to your connections and ask
about job openings or advice.
- Visit “Company
pages” of the organizations where you want to work and see if you’re connected
to anyone who works there or has previously worked there.
- Check out
LinkedIn’s “Alumni Tool” to see what Xavier grads are doing today.
There are so many
different features to LinkedIn that students don’t realize are available. It can be the major link to you landing your
dream job. So get out there, strengthen
that profile, and start connecting!
For more helpful tips on
using LinkedIn, please visit:
Live, Laugh, and LinkedIn
Muskies,
Bridget Tully
Career Development Office
Intern
|
Written on 3:58 PM by Xavier Career Development
Looking
for a job or internship in a city besides Cincinnati may seem like it would be
a very complicated process. Many
students and alumni may feel like they don’t know where to begin that
search. But if you haven’t learned by
now, the Career Development Office at Xavier is here to help you!
Xavier
University has a reciprocity agreement with all the other Jesuit universities in
the country. This agreement means that
any student or alum can utilize various services provided by these career
service offices at any of the schools that hold this reciprocity
agreement. You can locate a Jesuit
university in the city of your choice and possibly go visit their career
services office for help finding job connections in that particular city. This agreement sometimes allows for you to
attend job fairs that the university holds as well as possible access to their
online job database. These are just a
couple examples of the many advantages that the reciprocity agreement can offer.
Another
way to go about relocating is to do what I did.
I have lived in Cincinnati for most of my life so I knew I wanted to
expand my horizons and look for positions outside of Cincinnati. I had about five cities that I knew I would
love to live in but they were scattered all over the map. Therefore, in my job search process, I made
sure to look at companies that were either national companies or companies that
have locations in cities besides Cincinnati.
I visited company websites to research their location options. Then, at the Fall Career Fair I made it a
point to ask organizations if relocation was an option as well as which city
locations had job openings. Location was an aspect of the job that was very
important to me so if relocation was not possible, then I was able to rule out
that company.
My
advice would be to think of about five ideal cities that you would like to live
in. If you are not sure about specific
cities, then maybe just pick a region that you think you would enjoy. Then, I would look for Jesuit schools in that
area. It would be extremely helpful to
visit the Career Development Office
for help in this department or for more details on how the reciprocity
agreement works.
While
it may seem scary to move out of your comfort zone, there are plenty of people
and resources out there to help you. Set
yourself up for success by utilizing all of these tremendous resources!
Up
Up and Away Muskies,
Bridget
Tully
Career
Development Intern
|
Written on 10:03 AM by Xavier Career Development
Seniors… with 124 days left until graduation, what are you doing to get yourself ready for life after college? Have you thought about where you want to live after graduation? Or maybe thought about a job you’ve always dreamed of having? We’ve all heard by now that in the job search, it’s all about who you know. So make the transition easier for yourself by building a strong network now!
There are so many different networking opportunities available to us to take advantage of! The career fair coming up in February is an excellent networking opportunity. It is a convenient way to speak with several different employers all in one day. Even if you don’t plan on working for a certain organization, there is no harm in simply introducing yourself for a brief conversation. You never know where your paths may cross in the future!
Your mentor is another great network! Mentors not only give advice on the best ways to extend your network, but they can connect you with their contacts as well. They may know someone that works for an organization you find interesting, or maybe they know someone with the job title you someday want, or maybe their cousin works in the city that you want to live in- then that cousin can tell you the best and most cost efficient areas to live in.
Tap into networks that may not seem obvious! We all have friends that have graduated- talk to them and find out if they have friends that you could add to your network. Ask your aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors, friend’s siblings… people love talking about themselves so anyone would be flattered to hear that you want their advice!
Another convenient networking opportunity is offered in The Career Development Office. The office schedules employer resume critiques where real employers are available in the office to sit down with. Not only will they help you improve your resume, but you get to speak with them in an informal setting. Rarely do we get the opportunity to speak with employers in a relaxed environment where we can hear first-hand what they want to see on a resume, so be sure to take advantage of this! Visit the CDO site to see the Employer Resume Review dates.
This last semester at Xavier is going to fly by for us seniors, so let’s take advantage of our time here! After college these networking opportunities probably won’t be so readily available so make the most of what the university offers!
Let the countdown begin Muskies,
Bridget Tully
Career Development Office Intern
|
Written on 5:35 AM by Xavier Career Development
Class, caf bonding, rigorous walks to class, work, updating music for the iPod, extracurricular activities, keeping up with a hectic Twitter & Instagram feed— trust me, I know there is no time in our day to set aside a couple hours to search, prepare, and apply for jobs. We all prefer to put it off and have it sit in the back of our minds to stress us out.
Instead of procrastinating, take advantage of your time over Christmas break! Make a quick list of some things you would love to have done when you come back in January. Here are some ideas…
- Shop for professional attire (while you can maybe squeeze it on your parent’s dime!)
- Research open positions- Click here to use the e-recruiting site to see available jobs!
- Write or edit your resume
- Talk with your parents about your major/career plans
- Make a folder of work samples
- Create or enhance your LinkedIn page- Click here to visit LinkedIn.com
- Apply for 5 jobs
- Meet with your mentor
- Talk to your uncle/aunt/cousin about their jobs and career paths
- Schedule an informational interview with someone holding your dream position
- Find places to volunteer or clubs to join to strengthen your resume
I asked a couple fellow musketeers what they hoped to accomplish with their free time over Christmas break.
Senior psychology major, Lauren Heap, is a Colorado native that spoke of her goals for Christmas break, “I want to research different positions available in Colorado. While I’m home I really want to network with local companies so I can get a job in Denver after graduation.”
Sophomore, Shane Crutchfield said, “My dad is an executive recruiter so he sees several LinkedIn pages and resumes every day. It can be hard to get his help over the phone so I want to sit down with my dad and get his help with strengthening my resume and LinkedIn page. I want to get this done so I am already prepared for opportunities that arise in the future.”
Maybe you could even throw some items on your Christmas wish list.
- A simple necklace to complete your “workplace chic” look
- The perfect tie to nail the interview
- A padfolio to impress employers
Career opportunities can arise when you least expect them. With tests, papers, work, and everything else going on, it is hard to give the job search your full attention and focus. Therefore, over Christmas break, get things done so when an opportunity arises you are already prepared and are ready to present your best self.
Happy Holidays Muskies,
Bridget Tully
Career Development Office Intern
|
Written on 1:10 PM by Xavier Career Development
Deciding
a major feels like a big decision that no one wants to make because it seems
like you are determining the rest of your life!
However, it is nothing to stress about! You just need to do your research and make an
informed decision. Companies today do
not rely on your major as heavily as they do the skills & abilities you can
bring to the table.
I
did not declare my major until my sophomore year at Xavier. When I came to college I knew what I was
interested in, but I did not feel like I was informed enough to make the best
decision. I didn’t want to declare a
major because I didn’t want to end up in a study that I didn’t enjoy.
Therefore,
my freshmen year I focused a lot on my core requirements and enrolled in
classes that would teach me more about different areas of study. I also had several conversations with older
students who were declared majors in the areas I was interested in. It really helped speaking with other students
because they gave me real advice and experiences. I would ask about the teachers, the work
load, the types of assignments, the opportunities their major presented, if
they would’ve done anything differently, and anything else that I would wonder
but probably wouldn’t ask a teacher.
I
also went to the Career Development Office and met with a career
counselor. This was a resource that
helped me in a different way than students were able to. I sat down with the counselor and listed
things that I enjoyed doing and then listed things I did not enjoy as
much. We also discussed my ideal jobs
and areas that I would love to pursue. My
counselor was able to tell me about specifics in certain job areas. She told me the kind of work that might
typically occur day to day, what the pay is like, what my responsibilities
might include, etc. It was very helpful
to sit down with an adult who has a grasp of life after college.
So
before you let the decision stress you out, just take a breather and do as much
research as you can! It is so helpful to
ask around and get different perspectives.
Xavier offers so many great programs that you can’t go wrong! Call the Career Development Office today, or visit us online, to schedule with a
career counselor to discuss your options!
Love
and Muskie Pride,
Bridget
Tully
Career
Development Office Intern
|
Written on 7:19 AM by Xavier Career Development
Are you thinking that you're not quite sure about diving
into the job market or grad school after Xavier? Not a problem! Consider a gap year or more of
post-graduate service by attending the Post-Graduate Volunteer Fair. Xavier graduate, Stephanie Howes, describes
her life changing experience with Post-Grad Volunteering.
When
I was a senior in college, I was stressing out about applying to grad school
and all the work that would follow once accepted. I needed a break from school
but I didn’t want to be that recent biology grad that worked in a lab and lived
at home. I wanted an adventure that
would allow me to give back. While I was struggling with this decision, the
Center for Faith and Justice held the Post-Grad Volunteer Fair. Attending this
fair led me to the perfect post-grad opportunity.
When
I first got to the fair, it was a little overwhelming. There are a lot of
options out there. Thankfully, I had a good mentor at the CFJ who helped me
narrow it down to only the projects I was passionate about. I decided that I
wanted to work with women or children who have been abused or neglected in some
way. This led me to Good Shepherd Volunteers (GSV) because of its mission to
provide “full-time volunteers with the opportunity to use their God-given
talents to serve women, adolescents, and children affected by poverty,
violence, and neglect”. Originally I thought I wanted to go abroad, but through
my discernment and interview process, I realized that I should volunteer in my
own country and understand the need here before going anywhere else.
In
August of 2012, I began my year as a GSV in New York City working with foster
care youth in the Bronx. I moved into my apartment in Astoria, Queens, which
gave me an opportunity to explore one of the world’s best cities with a
built-in group of friends. On top of the volunteer experience, I was able to
experience the different cultures NYC has to offer. I learned about race
relations through my co-workers and learned about cultural festivals such as
Holi (see photo) through the free events around the city. Throughout my year, I
was amazed by all the city had to offer and how much fun I was having.
This
year was also an important year of personal growth. I learned how to live in
NYC on $200 a month for food and recreation. Professionally, I learned how to
be a productive member of a busy social services team. I learned about the
psychological issues and social justice issues surrounding bad parenting and a
broken foster care system. This was hard because I never even looked into
foster care. This caused me nights of crying over horrible stories of abuse and
neglect, and days of smiles and celebrations of accomplishments of the youth
with whom I worked. On top of all this, I learned about me.
My
volunteer year created an opportunity for me to learn about myself. I lived in
an intentional community with 6 other people. We all had varying religions, worldviews,
personalities and experiences. My community members taught me how to resolve
conflicts and how to really “agree to disagree”. I learned about Buddhism,
Agnostics, and how to be open to questioning. They pointed out questions about
my faith and life and helped me to find answers. I learned about my personality
and how I present myself. I now have a better understanding of how people
perceive me and how to be a more emotionally healthy person. This all came
through tools and support that my volunteer staff, co-workers and work
supervisors gave to me.
As
my year came to an end, the GSV staff asked the current volunteers if anyone
would like to go abroad. Since this was my original plan, I was really
interested in the opportunity. I was eager to spend another year living in a community
with marginalized people and the changes that it would bring to my worldview. I
am excited to tell you that in January, I will be starting my second GSV year
by moving to Nong Khai, Thailand. There I will be working with communities
affected and infected by HIV/AIDS. This will only help my future goals of being
a public health official. To learn more about my program please visit: www.gsvolunteers.org or to learn more
about next year please go to: https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/GoodShepherdVolunteersInc/stephaniehowes.html
I
hope that you too consider the post-grad volunteering option. You never know
how giving a year to others will change you.
-Stephanie Howes, Guest Blogger
Xavier University Class
of 2012
The Post-Grad Volunteer option could be the best decision for you! But there is only one way to find out so be sure to attend the Post Graduate Volunteer Fair on October 30th.
Click here to learn more!
Your possibilities are endless Muskies,
Bridget Tully
Career Development Office Intern
|
Written on 6:32 AM by Xavier Career Development
The thought of joining the “real world” is an exciting,
yet scary and stressful idea to ponder.
For that reason I figured it would be helpful to hear about the
experience from a recent Xavier grad.
Leslie Boersma graduated from Xavier in May 2012 with a degree in
organizational communications and a minor in psychology. She now works full time as a special events
coordinator at the Children’s Hospital Foundation in Colorado. Here’s what she had to say about her first
grown up job!
After talking to Leslie and hearing how much she enjoys
what she is doing, my first question was how did she manage to land this
coveted position so early in her career?
She told me it was a long journey but it started by simply following
what she loves.
Leslie described to me that her first experience with a
non-profit organization was when she volunteered at a Make-A-Wish Foundation
event her senior year at X. That opened
her eyes to the concept of raising money for a good cause through fun
events. After learning more about the
culture and dynamic of non-profits, she knew that field was something she
wanted to be a part of. Then, after
graduation Leslie returned home to Colorado and got a job working at a camp for
children with life threatening illnesses.
I asked her about that experience and she joked, “Well I
think essentially they were paying me to be there because the pay was that
bad. But that part did not matter for me
because I loved it so much and I was able to constantly meet families,
children, and doctors who were involved at the Children’s Hospital which
ultimately was where I wanted to be.”
Leslie explained that her experience in the field and her networking
opportunities were the difference that allowed her to stand out and land her
event coordinating position.
Leslie is part of a special events team that manages
90-120 events per year. Her typical
daily responsibility is to foster the relationships that go along with event
fundraising. A few of Leslie’s
responsibilities include: taking on volunteer recruitment and management,
assisting the families with their donation process, and connecting with local
community organizations to find ways for them to help.
“It doesn’t feel like work
when I get to work with women I consider friends. On top of that, I get to plan fun events like
golf tournaments, marathons, and fashion shows that raise millions of dollars
to save children’s lives. I get to meet
sick children and their families and then have the opportunity to make a
difference in their life and see that result first hand.”
I asked Leslie what her advice would be for students
getting ready to join the work force and she emphasized networking, getting
experience in the related field, and following what you love to do. She didn’t know exactly where she wanted to
end up working, but she continued to pursue and learn about areas that
interested her and from there she said, “The job chose her.”
Love and Muskie Pride,
Bridget Tully
Career Development Office Inter
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