ESPN: Together We Triumph-Bobcat Edition

 "Together We Triumph"

 ^{Bobcat Edition}

  ^{ESPN representatives are coming to Texas State. Why? To meet you! This sports network is recruiting a wide variety of majors and skill sets for jobs and internships. An information session will be held in the Alkek Teaching Theatre from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 1st. ESPN is eager to recruit a broad pool of candidates and doesn't want anyone to feel intimidated.  One of the representatives coming is currently} 

 ^{managing people at the Longhorn Network for the University of Texas at Austin and treks to the Hill Country a few times a year. On this trip he has decided to detour through San Marcos to our campus. Be ready bobcats!}  

^{ESPN's parent company, Disney, will also be a topic at the information session. ESPN and Disney are great places to start a career. Those pursuing degrees in Mass Communication, Journalism, English, Math, Business, Biology, Engineering, and more are welcome. Certain hobbies and interests are important to ESPN: sports knowledge, social media literacy, statistics, and creative writing. Full-time job and internship opportunities are available. Do research and be knowledgeable about ESPN as a company and jobs they offer. Have sexy questions to ask that go beyond what is available online. Bring copies of your completed resume and grab hold of this opportunity. This is the first time ESPN has come to Texas State, so dress to impress. Come early or stay late to speak with a recruiter in a smaller setting. They will be accepting resumes, so stand out and get yours on top of the stack.}

^{ESPN is headquartered in Bristol, Connecticut, therefore, willingness to relocate is a must when considering a job with ESPN or Disney. They are looking to hire people to write their blogs, manage their social media sites, assist in video and live event production, and more. Determination, hard work, competitiveness and positivity are just a few qualities that ESPN looks for in its employees.}

 ^{Created By: Alanna Gray} 

Tips and Tricks for Tomorrow's Job Search TODAY

Career Services has a lot of first-rate events scheduled this fall. Be sure to check out all of Career Services Fall 2013 Events. Mark your calendar, request off of work, and prepare for next summer's job search now. Invest in yourself. Consider Career Services a consistent part of college life. The Career Kickoff is upon us, Rock Yo Resume shortly after that, and the beneficial Job Search Boot Camp in the last week of this month. Participating in one, or all of these great opportunities help prepare you to stand out from the masses of people applying for the job you want. Being prepared is simply indispensable. Make the time to invest in your future. Best of all, Career Services events are FREE. 

what: Career Kickoff
when: Wednesday September 11, 2013
           10:00am-2:00pm
where: LBJ Student Center Mall

This first (and quickly approaching) event available to you is designed to kickoff the job and internship search. Get pumped up and avoid procrastination at the Career Kickoff. Young college life is more than a great time at a good party. It is also a great time to gain experience and knowledge.Career Kickoff is a quality event to stop by because it sparks thoughts about steps to take before meeting with potential employers. Representatives from Career Services will be there to answer any and all questions. Additionally, four companies will have representatives there to shake your hand. New York Life, PLS Logistics, TTI and Davis Vision. Even if these companies are not for you, come practice networking and communication skills.  If you have a question or comments about Career Kickoff, comment on this post.  The abundance of career advice out there can get conflicting or confusing. Don't get overwhelmed just yet. Instead, get started paddling up the career river. If something isn't working: change course. As Psychologist Meg Jay said, "Don't be defined by what you didn't know or didn't do." Check out Jay's TED Talks Career Kickoff Advice for inspiration and stop by LBJSC Mall on Wednesday: we'll be there!

what: Rock Yo Resume
when: Monday and Tuesday September 23 and 24, 2013
           10:00am-2:00pm
where: LBJ Student Center Mall
Bring your resume onto campus, because Career Advisors and Career Counselors will be ready to offer constructive criticism and advice on how to improve it. A little perspective and feedback concerning your resume is necessary before sending it off to potential employers. Formatting, length, and content are factors that set your resume apart from others. Small details go a long way when your resume is filed into a pile with hundreds of other job and internship hopefuls. Do you have a professional email address? Is your resume tailored to the job you want? Do you have the necessary key words? Are there appropriate highlights? Additionally, discussing your resume is beneficial because you may realize that you have forgotten to list major accomplishments or responsibilities you've had. Maybe you're thinking that you don't have any accomplishments to list. This opportunity is great for all students. Students who are not in the market for a job or an internship right now still benefit from having a well crafted resume on file. The fact of the matter is, the next big opportunity can happen at any time. Rock Yo Resume is conveniently two days in a row. So, if Monday is inconvenient then stop by in-between classes on Tuesday and vice versa. Now is the perfect time to spruce up your resume for the fall job fairs that are just around the corner.

what: Job Search Boot Camp
when: Wednesday September 25, 2013 
            5:30pm-7:30pm
where: LBJ Student Center Ballroom

It's time to stretch those job-search muscles that have been withering away in the Texas heat. Bring your professional self armed with a resume to participate in each station of the Job Search Boot Camp. Do yourself a favor and prepare for the upcoming job fairs. The stations that will be set up include:

• Speed Interviewing- This is a great opportunity to practice interview skills with actual employers, speed-dating style. Answer interview questions for three minutes and get one-on-one feedback for two minutes before rotating to the next employer. Participation here will provide excellent networking opportunities in addition to improving interview technique.
• Networking Bullpen- There will be a bullpen, fully equipped with refreshments, and a perfect opportunity to network. According to an ABC News report, 80% of today's jobs are landed through networking. Learning from and connecting with professionals and fellow ambitious bobcats is key to job placement because as the saying goes: "It's not what you know, it's who you know."
• Resume Building- Bring your resume with you. Get advice on how to improve the formatting and content. Here is a great opportunity to ask potential employers, Career Advisors and Career Counselors specific questions about your resume. 
• Social Media- Get some tips and tricks of how to clean up your social media sites for professional purposes. Learn how to market yourself through social media and ask questions about any social media concerns. See why social media has become increasingly important when searching for a job.
• Professional Image- There will be a station where fashion merchandising retailers offer professional dress tips and advice. Both men and women can learn how to spruce up their look for future job fairs and interviews.

You can walk away from the Job Search Boot Camp armed with confidence and prepared for the quickly approaching job search. This event is for all students, because there is no time like the present to expose yourself to these opportunities. Specifically, juniors and seniors who need to fulfill their internship criteria for spring graduation can benefit from this as they compete for internship placement. Juniors and seniors who are currently searching for a job (or putting it off) will also benefit from this event. It may give you the boost you need. The boot camp will allow students the opportunity to learn the habits of highly effective job seekers from real employers. Having a great resume, connections, and presenting yourself professionally cannot only get you into the interview room, but they can get you the job. Getting the job makes the tedious search and preparation worth it, so arm yourself with the tools to get to the top.

Getting noticed is crucial to getting the job. Taking the initiative to attend events like these sets you apart and puts you in the interview room. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions: leave them here on the Career Services Blogger. Someone else may have the same thoughts or questions as you. Check back a couple of times a month for tips, tricks, and discussions. See you soon!

Created By: Alanna Gray

Career Services for Alumni: providing lifelong assistance for every step of your career path

By: Thadra Vrubel, Assistant Career Counselor Intern & Liberti Zimmerman, Career Services Marketing and Outreach Intern                                                                                                                                                   
Congratulations to our May and August 2013 Graduates!!

Graduating can be both exciting and scary. It’s an exciting accomplishment to graduate from a University and finally begin your career. On the other hand, transitioning from being a student to being an adult can be stressful as you search for a job and adjust to working full-time.

Some of you may be asking yourself, “What do I want to do?” “How can I use my degree?” Some of you may be considering graduate school. Whatever your concerns and goals are, Career Services is here to help. As Texas State Alumni, you can still take advantage of our resources and programs at no cost to you.

Once a Bobcat, Always a Bobcat.

Texas State University is one of few universities that offer Career Services resources to Alumni, regardless of whether they have joined the Alumni Association. Career Services staff will not ask you for a fee for using the resources available. All of the resources available to students at Career Services continue to remain available to you as a graduate.

Update your e-mail address. If you wish to continue receiving e-mails from Career Services, set up an account on Jobs4Cats if you do not have one already and provide a personal e-mail address. Your university issued NetID will not be valid after a certain time frame.

Resources

Here are some resources and opportunities that you can take advantage of to help find a job or further your education.

•  Jobs4Cats. You may continue to utilize Jobs4Cats and maintain a profile. You can also utilize Jobs4Cats to learn about the companies that will be interviewing on campus and various career related events. In addition to Jobs4Cats, visit our Resources page for a list of recommended job search sites.

• Online publications and resources. We have career-related handouts on our website ready to be downloaded. Check out our informative handouts on cover letters, resumes, curriculum vitae, elevator speeches, interviews, career portfolios, and more.  

•  Mock interviews. Schedule a practice interview with one of our career counselors by calling our front desk at 512.245.2645 and filling out the Practice Interview Request form online. You can also practice interviewing from the privacy of your computer by using Interview Stream. 

•  48-hour online resume and cover letter critique. Draft you resume and/or cover letter and send it to Career Services here for feedback.

•  Job Fairs. You are more than welcome to attend our job fairs. Find out when and where by checking out our Events page.

• Graduate school. Are you trying to decide if graduate school is the right for you? We can help you with this decision-making process. If you've already determined that graduate school is the next step, let us help you apply. Set up an appointment by calling 512.245.2645.

Networking opportunities

The job market continues to be a difficult market. Recent graduates continue to find it difficult to obtain a position. In these times, we encourage you to continue to look for networking opportunities with fellow Texas State Alumni and peers from your program.

• Join the Alumni Association to connect with fellow Bobcats.

• Join Career Services and other Texas State groups on LinkedIn.

While it may be easy to become discouraged because the search is taking longer than expected, this can be a useful time to get creative in how you use your degree. It may require taking a less than desirable position so you can build some skills and continue to network.


Congratulations and we wish you all the best!


Questions about the resources available to Texas State Alumni? Call us at 512.245.2645 or visit our website at www.careerservices.txstate.edu 

Tips for Incoming Freshmen: Get the Most Out of Student Organizations

By Liberti Zimmerman, Career Services Marketing and Outreach Intern

Define your purpose.

Want to meet new people and make new friends? Make a difference at Texas State and feel like you are a part of something? Maybe you know people who benefited from being a part of a particular organization and you want to get in on the action too. Student organizations are great for all those things. Did you know they are great resume builders too? Here are five more reasons to consider joining one or more student organizations:

1. Explore your interests
2. Fulfill leadership roles
3. Gain career-related experience
4. Improve your communication skills
5. Networking opportunities

You can use your experiences to demonstrate qualifications and skills when you apply for an internship and a job. It’s never too early to start thinking about your career goals. Invest some time thinking about what you want to get out of student organizations. What are your interests? What do you value? What kind of experiences are you looking to gain? With over 300 registered student organizations on campus, there is something for everyone.

Explore. Discover. Lead.

• Visit the Campus Activities Campus Student Organizations(CASO) website and search for ACTIVE organizations. You can also attend the student organization fair in the fall or spring. 

          Here are a few types of registered student organizations (RSOs):

1. Honor: While honor organizations may or may not be associated with a specific major or department, grade point average (GPA) and credit hours are determining factors in whether or not you will be eligible to join. The general benefits are academic recognition, networking opportunities, access to resources, career-related experience, and community service.
2. Professional/Academic: Organizations that are associated with your major and career goals can help you gain related experience and skills outside the classroom.
3. Political/Chartered/Multicultural: Do you want to participate in student government at Texas State University, in organizations affiliated with a certain political party, in organizations interested in advancing students of certain ethnicity or a certain gender professionally and socially? There are many student organizations to consider.
4. Greek: Organizations that focus on building strong relationships and networking connections, encouraging high scholastic achievement, and giving back to the community. Visit the Greek Affairs website for information on any of Texas State’s 30 recognized fraternities and sororities. 

• Get involved in the organizations that interest you the most and work on building relationships with the members. They are your future connections.

• Become an officer or join a committee. Employers are always seeking leadership experience.

Showcase your experiences and qualifications.

• Career Services can help translate your experiences, responsibilities, and the skills that you’ve gained in a resume and/or cover letter.

1. Online publications and resources. Download our informational handouts on resumes, cover letters and career portfolios.
2. CareerBeam. Use this resourceful site to help build your resume and cover letter.
3. 48-hour online resume and cover letter critique. Draft your resume and submit it to Career Services here for feedback.
4. Schedule an appointment to discuss and explore your interests and career goals, the internship and job search process, and/or to get feedback on resumes, cover letters, curriculum vitae, etc. Set up an appointment with one of our counselors by calling our front desk at 512.245.2645.

• Career Services can help you communicate the relevancy and quality of your experiences in an interview.

1. Online publications and resources. Download our informational handouts on job interviews, informational interviews and phone interviews.
2. Conduct a mock interview with one of our career counselors. You can request a practice interview here.
3. Interview Stream. Interview Stream is a website that allows you to practice and record mock interviews on your computer at any time. You can critique yourself or send your interview to one of our career counselors for feedback.

Request a presentation. 

Did you know student organizations can request a presentation from Career Services? Inform the leaders of your organization if you are interested. All that is required is the completion of the Presentation Request Form.


Questions about resources or the Career Services website? Call us at 512.245.2645 or visit our website at www.careerservices.txstate.edu.

Hidden Gems from the Career Services Website

Have you checked out the Career Services website lately?

If not, you're missing out on tons of resources to help you explore your professional interests, find a job and discover your career.

 

Here are a few resources we're lovin' right now:

      For the career explorer

• Candid Career. Features informational interviews with professionals working in thousands of professions across the world.
• Career Assessments. Fun and easy online assessments (and some here in the office, too) help you determine your values, interest and skills. Get started with Focus2, then set up a counseling appointment to take the Myers-Briggs or Strong Interest Inventory.
• Online Publications & Resources. Jam-packed page full of major-specific information, career-related handouts on resumes, interviews, cover letters and more, and more links to our great online resources.

      For the job seeker

• Career & Job Listings by Field. Find online job-posting boards, association websites and major- or industry-specific advice for over 40 majors.
• GoinGlobal. Highlights opportunities abroad and features career guides for over 35 countries, a job-posting board and tons of helpful cultural and professional tips.
• Interview Stream. Practice your interview skills from the privacy of your own computer. Record your answers to common or industry-specific interview questions, then critique yourself or send your interview to a career counselor for feedback.
• Jobs4Cats. Your one-stop-shop for part-time, full-time, internship and on-campus positions (including work study). Register or update your profile here. 

      For the continuing student

• Applying to Grad School FAQs. Answers your questions about the GRE, admissions requirements and statements of purpose.

Questions about online resources, the Career Services website or your current job or internship search? Call us at 512.245.2645 or visit our website at www.careerservices.txstate.edu.