Wednesday, November 30, 2011
I Am Graduating… Now What?
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
What Matters in a Resume?
What Matters in a Resume?
CONTACT | Andrea Koncz, ext. 121, or Mimi Collins, ext. 119, 800.544.5272 |
akoncz@naceweb.org | |
mcollins@naceweb.org | |
DATE | November 17, 2011 |
SUBJECT | What Matters in a Resume? |
BETHLEHEM, PA—What do employers look for in a resume? Beyond the candidate’s ability to meet standard criteria—the “right” major or work experience—employers are most likely to look for evidence that the candidate is able to work in a team, according to a new survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Nearly 80 percent of employers taking part in NACE’s Job Outlook 2012 survey said they search for evidence that the potential employee can work in a team, and more than three-quarters indicated they want the resume to show the candidate has leadership abilities and written communication skills. Evidence of problem-solving skills and a strong work ethic round out the top five “soft skills” employers seek on resumes. In fact, says Edwin Koc, NACE director of research, “Overall, results show that the ability to work in a team is the number one soft skill employers seek in their new hires.”Consequently, job candidates need to showcase that ability in their interactions with employers, not just on the resume, but in the interview as well. NACE offers more resume advice in “Write the Right Resume” at http://bit.ly/NACEResumeHelp. Figure 1: On a resume, employers look for evidence of… 1. Ability to work in a team 2. Leadership skills 3. Written communication skills 4. Problem-solving skills 5. Strong work ethic. Source: Job Outlook 2012, National Association of Colleges and Employers | |
About the Survey: The Job Outlook 2012 survey was conducted August 3 - September 23, 2011, among NACE employer members; 244, or 26.8 percent, took part. Approximately 23 percent of respondents represent organizations in the Northeast, 38.5 percent are with firms in the Southeast, 25 percent are from the Midwest, and 13 percent are with companies in the West. NACE will monitor and report on the job market for the Class of 2012 throughout the year. About NACE: Since 1956, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has been the leading source of information about the employment of college graduates. For more information, visit www.naceweb.org. NACE maintains a virtual press room for the media atwww.naceweb.org/pressreleases/. |
Friday, November 11, 2011
Fall into the Job Search
Now that I am a professional, the approaching holidays bring other memories to mind - the job search. You may internally think that you should just focus on your studies so that you can make the grades that you need to make. You may feel too tired to launch a search right now. I encourage you not to put this off. If you have no idea where to start, there is one thing that I want you to do. Make an appointment with a career counselor. Just dial 512-245-2645 and say "I want to make an appointment to see a career counselor about my job search". Easy. Have some one hour times in mind, and you can just tell the counselor everything that concerns you regarding finding a job. It really doesn't matter what kind of job you are seeking. Talk to the counselor about full-time jobs, seasonal jobs, internships, part-time jobs and summer jobs. Just start the ball rolling. You will feel a lot better when you can say to any of your loved ones "I am meeting with a career counselor to help me with my search".
So, what if you have done that first step, and you are just not getting any responses in your job search? You could still meet with a counselor to discuss strategies. Amazingly, there are a number of behaviors that many do not contemplate in the search. For example, have you ever listened to yourself speak? No, really. We have all had the professors that we didn't like in class, just because it was hard to listen to that person lecture. Well, what do you sound like? No one wants to hire someone that sounds as flat as a dish towel (unless that is a job requirement). Does your tone sound desperate? You know how those people sound, too. They are the ones that you won't call back or the ones you won't give your phone number. It's hard to warm up to that person, right? If you visit a potential employer in person, what are you wearing?
Just asking for an application or inquiring about a job in person is part of the interview. I remember meeting a young man (with his mom) and helping him with his part-time job search a few years ago. He had visible piercings and tatoos. I explained how to use our database and he focused on one job that he really wanted. I gave him some tips and he and mom went on their way. A couple of weeks later, his mother called me because she noticed that there was an opening in our office. I explained that we have a dress code for our employees, and her son's look simply would not work in our office. A few days later, I did meet the young man again. His mom sent him to the office anyway. This time, there were no piercings, and he wore khaki pants! Imagine what I might have thought when I met him the first time if he had been dressed that way. Do not understimate the power of a good first impression.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
10 Worst Mistakes of First Time Job Hunters
If you're in your final year of college, be warned: the rumors about landing a job in this economy are true. You should be taking steps today, not next semester, to prepare yourself.
An April 2011 survey conducted by Braun Research on behalf of Adecco Staffing U.S. found that 71% of 500 recent four-year college graduates would have done something differently to prepare for the job market. While companies will hire 9.5% more graduates from the class of 2012 than they did from the 2011 graduating class, according to another poll, employers are still looking for the pick of the litter.
"When you're not familiar with the job market or job seeking, you really don't know how much effort it will take," said Kathy Kane, senior vice president of talent management for Adecco NA,
To find out what students can do to better prepare for the current job market, we spoke with career coaches, recruiters and recent graduates.
"I would have started looking for jobs earlier."
Putting off your job hunt isn't a wise move. Among the Adecco survey's respondents, 26% said they would have started looking for potential positions earlier.
"It's easy to fall into 'my weekend starts on Thursday' mode, rather than 'I've got to put my job search into full gear today' mode," said Kane, "but procrastinators will have fewer choices."
Most students don't start thinking about their careers until they have to, said Lindsey Pollak, a career expert who focuses on Generation Y in the workplace. "There's so much you can do that's not a lot of work and not overly time consuming."
"I would have actually networked."
For students and older professionals alike, networking can feel like the most dreaded part of a job hunt. Twenty-nine percent of respondents to the Adecco survey said they would have spent more time building a solid professional network.
"Networking can be scary," said Pollak, "but about 70% of jobs are found through networking." Students who spend their time trolling job boards should instead spend that time making solid connections with people who are respected and involved in the workforce, industry experts and alumni, and spend only 30% of their time looking at job listings.
For the most part, Pollak said, people love to help students. As long as you are gracious and thankful and not trying to hard-sell yourself right off the bat, potential connections are likely to be receptive.
"I would have taken on a job or an internship in addition to my courseload."
Bottom line: There's no substitute for experience.
Having some professional experience under your belt before entering the workforce has become a necessity for many employers.
"I don't know a company that doesn't want people with internship experience," said Pollak. "My advice is to get yourself through the recession any way you can, and come out with whatever experience you can."
Look for internships that provide college credit or are paid. Otherwise, gain work experience in a setting such as waiting tables -- and talk with people at each and every table. "There are CEOs who started networking while they were waiting tables," Pollak said.
If you can't find a full- or part-time position on- or off-campus, try going to the Internet for virtual work. "There are jobs you can get without even leaving your dorm room," Pollak said, including maintaining someone's social media outlets, working as a copyeditor or building a website for a small business. Many of these types of jobs have flexible hours, an added benefit for busy students.
"I would have gotten more involved in career-relevant extracurricular activities."
On-campus groups, clubs, events and activities are a great place to get experience that translates to the working world. Skills are skills. You can show you have gained relevant experience by planning concerts on campus or working as a freshman orientation assistant, for example.
"Everybody wants to hire people who understand how to manage projects, work alongside difficult people, and have built their communication skills," said Kane. If you were on the dance team, and choreographed a group performance, for example, you've developed creative, leadership and training abilities, all of which translate to the workplace.
Experts say it's a matter of framing the extracurricular experience you've had in a professional way. Try thinking of your biggest accomplishments as a member or leader of an extracurricular group, and using them to brainstorm resume bullet points.
"I would have applied to more jobs."
Many recent graduates regret not putting out more feelers. According to the Adecco survey, 26% of recent graduates would have applied to more jobs prior to finishing school.
Putting your hat in the ring is the only way to be considered for most opportunities. The trick is to keep track of the applications you send out. "Sending in your application for hundreds of jobs on Monster.com will work against you," said Dan Schawbel, a personal branding expert and author of Me 2.0. Not only is it difficult to remember what you applied for and when, but you're also likely to send out generic resumes.
Write your resume so it highlights your experience with each position's requirements. Not sure what your relatable skill-set is? Try creating a Venn diagram that illustrates all of the skills and experience you've developed. The overlap can indicate your primary strengths, and the remainder can help you see where you have specific skills related to your prospective industry.
"I would have focused more on becoming 'professional.'"
Save the sweatpants and fratty T-shirts for the weekend. Replace them with clothes that are fitted, pressed and at the very least casual-Friday appropriate even when you're going to class. You may think dressing well every day doesn't matter, but the professors you ask for recommendations will remember your style.
Another way to show your professionalism is to pick up the tab for networking coffees, and send thank-you notes for even a little bit of help. "If someone gives you advice, all you have to do is say thank you after the fact," Pollak said.
And, of course, monitor your online appearance. Clean up and privacy-protect your Facebook accounts, start Tweeting interesting news (instead of which class you're skipping), be careful where you "check-in" on your smartphone, and set up a solid LinkedIn profile, Pollak said. Add a signature line to your e-mail account and set up a professional voicemail message.
"I would have done more to figure out what my career goals were."
Your first job out of college is unlikely to be your dream position, if you even know what that is. Indecision can hold you back, so set up some informational interviews to try to narrow your focus.
"It's a rare gift at any age to know what your passion is," said Bruce Tulgan, CEO of Rainmaker Thinking, a New Haven, Conn.-based management consultancy that focuses on integrating generations in the workplace. "In 99 out of 100 cases, people start to learn about a career path, gain experience in something, and over time they become passionate about it."
Don't be afraid to try something that you're initially lukewarm about, said Pollak. "I don't believe in dead-end jobs when you're early in your career," she said, "because everything is experience."
"I would have gone to the career center."
This is what they call a "no-brainer." You might not think you need your university's services, but there's no reason to find out the hard way you did something wrong that could have been avoided.
"College students have an advantage other job seekers don't -- an on-campus career center staffed with people who have one purpose: to help students find jobs," said Kane of Adecco. "Most career centers aren't taken advantage of to their full extent."
Once you get to know the counselors and they know what you're looking for, they can tell you about new opportunities, Kane said. It's also a good place to practice your elevator pitch, draft introductory e-mails or cover letters, perfect your resume, or any other measures you don't want to run by friends or family members.
"I would have kept better track of my achievements."
Experts say that even on-campus accolades belong on your resume.
"Start creating tangible results with your name on them so you have evidence of your ability to add value," said Tulgan. "Save the tangible results, date them, and be prepared to present them."
Tracking how many donations you collected from calling alumni or that you created a new filing system for the admissions office are achievements that translate to everyday work activities. Don't forget to highlight your academic awards, such as making the dean's list or honor society.
"Any accomplishment matters," said Schawbel. " Track them in a public setting, like your LinkedIn profile." If it's not out there for people to find, those achievements won't be doing anything to help you, he said.
"I would have focused more on developing relevant skills."
Having an awareness of industry-specific skills as well as broad, transferable ones is a way to really stand out.
"Companies aren't investing as much in training, so companies are more likely to look for someone who can hit the ground running," said Kane. That isn't just familiarity with industry terminology, it's also having professional "street smarts."
"Show your understanding of chain-of-command issues, working with older, more experienced colleagues and working with people in parallel roles in other departments, or with vendors and customers," said Tulgan.
You should also have excellent customer service knowledge – not only to use as a professional, but also to use as a job seeker. That includes making yourself available, being fully prepared for interviews,and knowing how to problem-solve, Tulgan said. "Above all, develop self-management skills and the ability to work effectively with a manager," he said.
Write to Kelly Eggers
September 2011 Employment Changes by Industry
FedEx to hire 20,000 to handle holiday business - Memphis Business Journal
FedEx to hire 20,000 to handle holiday business
Memphis Business Journal by Andy Ashby, Staff writer
Date: Monday, October 24, 2011, 10:51am CDT
Related:
Logistics & Transportation- Andy Ashby
- Staff writer - Memphis Business Journal
FedEx Corp. will hire 20,000 seasonal employees to help the company handle its busiest holiday season yet.
The Memphis-based transportation company expects to move more than 17 million shipments, almost double its daily average volume on Dec. 12, the projected busiest day in company history. In 2010, the company’s busiest day was Dec. 13, with 15.6 million shipments.
FedEx (NYSE: FDX) says the 10 percent year-over-year increase will be driven by FedEx SmartPost, a residential shipping service designed for online and catalog retailers, as well as expected increased volume at FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery.
Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, FedEx forecasts more than 260 million shipments to move through its worldwide shipping networks. This would be a 12 percent increase for the holiday season over last year when 232 million shipments were processed.
“As e-commerce continues to grow and demand increases with more customers shopping and conducting their business online, FedEx SmartPost is poised to handle the increase in shipments,” Fred Smith, chairman, president and CEO of FedEx said in a statement. “More than 290,000 FedEx team members also stand ready to deliver the holidays and enable commerce around the globe.”
Holiday sales are expected to grow 2.8 percent during November and December to $465.6 billion, according to theNational Retail Federation. This is higher than the average increase of 2.6 percent over the last 10 years.
The NRF also predicts that 46.7 percent of shoppers will buy online as compared to 43.9 percent in 2010. Holiday online shopping is expected to increase by 12 percent during the 2011 season, according to eMarketer.
The Candidate Skills/Qualities Employers Want
Spotlight for Career Services Professionals, October 26, 2011
When it comes to the importance of candidate skills/qualities, employers are looking for team players and candidates who have strong verbal communication skills, according to respondents to NACE’s Job Outlook2012 survey.
Survey participants rated “ability to work in a team structure” and “ability to verbally communicate with persons inside and outside the organization” as the two most important candidate skills/qualities. These are followed by candidates’ “ability to make decisions and solve problems,” “ability to obtain and process information,” and “ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work.”
The least important candidate skills/qualities on the list are the “ability to create and/or edit written reports” and the “ability to sell or influence others.”
Following is the list of the employer ratings:
Employers rate the importance of candidate skills/qualities
Skill/Quality | Weighted average rating* |
Ability to work in a team structure | 4.60 |
Ability to verbally communicate with persons inside and outside the organization |
4.59 |
Ability to make decisions and solve problems | 4.49 |
Ability to obtain and process information | 4.46 |
Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work | 4.45 |
Ability to analyze quantitative data | 4.23 |
Technical knowledge related to the job | 4.23 |
Proficiency with computer software programs | 4.04 |
Ability to create and/or edit written reports | 3.65 |
Ability to sell or influence others | 3.51 |
*5-point scale, where 1=Not important; 2=Not very important; 3=Somewhat important; 4=Very important; and 5=Extremely important
Source: Job Outlook 2012, National Association of Colleges and Employers
The Job Outlook 2012 survey was conducted August 3 through September 23, 2011, among NACE employer members; 244, or 26.8 percent, took part. The report is available to NACE members atwww.naceweb.org/job_outlook_2012/
Report: Top 15 most scary jobs
1. Bomb squad technician
2. High rise window washer
3. Armed forces
4. Miner
5. Police officer
6. Alaskan crab fishing
7. Mortician
8. Firefighter
9. High school teacher
10. Cemetery worker
11. Exterminator
12. Stand-up comedian
13. Animal control
14. Stunt person
15. Politician
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Careers Services is Here To Help!
Monday, October 10, 2011
Open Positions at Hyatt Regency Austin
Current Open Positions at
Hyatt Regency Austin
October 7, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Fall Job & Internship Fair List of Employers
Students should dress professionally, and bring numerous copies of their resume. A complete list of employers attending can be viewed via Jobs4Cats under the 'Career Events' tab.
Organization Name
|
City
|
State
|
Academy Sports & Outdoors
|
Katy
|
TX
|
Accenture
|
San Antonio
|
TX
|
ACTIVE Life
|
Austin
|
TX
|
Aerotek, Inc.
|
Hanover
|
MD
|
Alcatel-Lucent
|
Plano
|
TX
|
Apple, Inc.
|
Elk Grove
|
CA
|
Army & Air Force Exchange Service
|
Dallas
|
TX
|
Association Member Benefits Advisors
|
Austin
|
TX
|
AXA Advisors, LLC
|
Dallas
|
TX
|
BMW & MINI of San Antonio
|
San Antonio
|
TX
|
BP Sales Inc.
|
Richardson
|
TX
|
Buckeye International Inc.
|
Maryland Heights
|
MO
|
Buckle
|
Kearney
|
NE
|
BuildASign.com
|
Austin
|
TX
|
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.
|
Eden Prairie
|
MN
|
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
|
Indianapolis
|
IN
|
Chevron Services Company
|
Houston
|
TX
|
Cintas Corporation
|
Corpus Christi
|
TX
|
Consolidated Electrical Distributors
|
Irving
|
TX
|
Consolidated Graphics
|
Houston
|
TX
|
Dahill- A Xerox Company
|
San Antonio
|
TX
|
Dillard's, Inc.
|
Arlington
|
TX
|
Echo Global Logistics
|
Chicago
|
IL
|
Energy One
|
Austin
|
TX
|
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
|
Austin
|
TX
|
ExxonMobil - Information Systems
|
Houston
|
TX
|
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Austin South
|
Austin
|
TX
|
Farm Credit Bank of Texas
|
Austin
|
TX
|
Fastenal
|
San Antonio
|
TX
|
Ferguson, a Wolseley Company
|
Newport News
|
VA
|
First Command Financial Planning
|
San Antonio
|
TX
|
First Investors Corporation- San Antonio
|
San Antonio
|
TX
|
FLOORING SOLUTIONS, INC.
|
AUSTIN
|
TX
|
Frost & Sullivan
|
San Antonio
|
TX
|
Gary Job Corps
|
San Marcos
|
TX
|
Government Partnerships Program
|
San Marcos
|
TX
|
Graduate College, Texas State University
|
San Marcos
|
TX
|
Graduate Studies in Student Affairs, Texas State University
|
San Marcos
|
TX
|
HEB Grocery
|
San Antonio
|
TX
|
Hertz Corporation
|
Orlando
|
FL
|
J.P. Morgan Chase
|
Chicago
|
ID
|
JCPenney
|
Plano
|
TX
|
Kohl's Department Stores
|
Menomonee Falls
|
WI
|
Liberty Mutual Group
|
Boston
|
MA
|
Lilly, USA
|
Indianapolis
|
IN
|
Loomis International
|
Pasadena
|
TX
|
MassMutual
|
Austin
|
TX
|
Mattress Firm
|
Houston
|
TX
|
MCCOY'S BUILDING SUPPLY
|
San Marcos
|
TX
|
McLane Company
|
Temple
|
TX
|
Medtronic Diabetes
|
San Antonio
|
TX
|
Merion Realty Management, LLC
|
Houston
|
TX
|
Michael Kors
|
San Marcos
|
TX
|
Modern Woodmen of America
|
Austin
|
TX
|
Nebraska Book Company
|
Lincoln
|
NE
|
Neff Rental LLC
|
Miami
|
FL
|
New York Life Insurance Company
|
Austin
|
TX
|
North Star Consultants of Texas
|
Austin
|
TX
|
Northwestern Mutual
|
Austin
|
TX
|
Paycom
|
Oklahoma City
|
OK
|
Peace Corps
|
Dallas
|
TX
|
Planto Roe Financial Services
|
San Antonio
|
TX
|
Republic National Distributing Company
|
Schertz
|
TX
|
Ryder Transportation
|
Houston
|
TX
|
Samsung Austin Semiconductor
|
Austin
|
TX
|
Sherwin-Williams PSG
|
Richardson
|
TX
|
SHI International Corporation
|
Austin
|
TX
|
South By Southwest Festival & Conference
|
Austin
|
TX
|
Stage Stores, Inc.
|
Houston
|
TX
|
Target Corporation
|
Brooklyn Park
|
MN
|
TEKsystems
|
San Antonio
|
TX
|
TEXAS COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
|
Austin
|
TX
|
Texas Department of Banking
|
Austin
|
TX
|
Texas Department of Transportation - HR/CH
|
Austin
|
TX
|
The Reynolds and Reynolds Company
|
Houston
|
TX
|
United States Marine Corps
|
Austin
|
TX
|
USAA
|
San Antonio
|
TX
|
Walgreens
|
Deerfield
|
IL
|
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
|
San Antonio
|
TX
|
Wisenbaker Builder Services
|
San Marcos
|
TX
|
Zale Corporation
|
Irving
|
TX
|