The University of St. Thomas
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Getting help with your resume and fair registration – Career Scoop

By: Becky Durham

Published on: Monday, February 6th, 2012

Career Scoop from the UST Career Development Center

...from the Career Development Center

Is your resume ready? Your resume is your personal marketing tool that should brand you for positions that are of interest in your career field. Your resume serves as an advertisement to quickly offer employers an insight into your intended career/job direction, past experiences, accomplishments, education and more. Stop by during pop-in hours (call for available times) or schedule an appointment for a one-on-one consultation by calling (651) 962-6761. Resume writing seminars are offered weekly.

Once your resume is finalized you will want to consider posting to a resume book in Tommie Careers (PDF Guide) for employers to access.

Seminars offered this week in room 355 Murray Herrick Campus Center:

  • Resume Writing noon Monday, February 6, 2012
  • Orientation to On-Campus Interviewing 3 p.m. Monday, February 6 and noon Thursday, February 9, 2012
  • Job Fair Success Tactics 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 7, and 10 a.m. Thursday, February 9, 2012
  • Interviewing Skill 2 p.m. Wednesday, February 8, 2012
  • Orientation to Job and Internship Fair 1 p.m. Thursday, February 9, 2012
  • LinkedIn Pop-in Critiques 2 p.m. Thursday, February 9, 2012

Job and Internship Fair registration deadline is Wednesday, February 15. If you have attended the Fair in previous years or one of the Job and Internship Fair Orientation sessions this year you are eligible to register. Stop by room 350 in Murray-Herrick Campus Center to complete the paper registration and pay the $20.00 fee. If you want to register but have not yet met the requirements you must attend an Orientation to the Job and Internship Fair or view the webinar prior to registering.

If you are registered for the Job and Internship Fair you should be receiving weekly emails with preparation tips and final details. If you are not receiving these emails please inform us immediately. The weekly emails can be found on our blog.

Posted in Career Scoop Update, General Information | Comments Off

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket: additional events and Tips 16 and 17 – Job Fair Update

By: Becky Durham

Published on: Friday, February 3rd, 2012

Minnesota Private Colleges Job and Internship Fair

Minnesota's Private Colleges Job and Internship Fair

This is for those already registered for Minnesota’s Private Colleges Job and Internship Fair. If you have not registered and would like to attend, please complete an Orientation to Job and Internship Fair and submit your registration before the deadline. Visit our Job and Internship Fair website for additional information and eligibility requirements.

Welcome back to second semester. If you have been away from your email this J-Term or did not register until recently, I suggest you check the weekly articles that were posted during January regarding the Job and Internship Fair.

The previous articles have covered most of the preparation topics for the Fair. I would like to remind you how important it is be ready BEFORE you walk in the door to present yourself to employers. The following seminar is designed to assist students who are attending the Fair to share tips on how to best prepare in advance, what to wear, resume hints, employer approach for the open floor time and floor strategy. The seminar is not mandatory, but highly suggested. The sooner you attend, the more time you will have to prepare. A door prize is distributed at each session.

Job and Internship Fair Success Tactics
Bring your purple packet to the seminar

  • 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7, 2012, in room 355 Murray-Herrick Campus Center
  • 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 9, 2012, in room 355 Murray-Herrick Campus Center

Plan to attend Connecting in the PM Scene

Connecting in the PM Scene: Professional Mingling with UST Alumni will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 9, 2012. Register in advance to receive your own pre-printed business cards for networking. This event will provide you with a great opportunity to practice your job fair skills while meeting with alumni. Appetizers will be served.

Job Fair Tip #16

Have you posted your resume on www.mnpcfair.org? By posting your resume on this site employers can search the database of students attending to invite you to interviews. Employers will use your stated career field of interest(s) as the only search criteria. The resume database will be available through June 2012 for employers to access. Use the “Student” tab on the Private College Job and Internship Fair website to access this feature.

Tip #17

“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” It is important to use as many resources as possible when searching for a job or internship. The Job and Internship Fair is only one of the “eggs.” Have you searched the job and internship postings on the Career Development Center’s webpage? You can also log into Tommie Careers to access additional postings. You can also use  additional job and internship sits such as LandIt and InDeed.

Register to attend seminars

All seminars take place in room 355 Murray-Herrick Campus Center. Register online to attend.

  • Interviewing Skills: 12:15 p.m. on Friday, February 3, 2012 and 2 p.m. on Wednesday February 8, 2012
  • Resume Writing: 3 p.m. on Monday, February 6, 2012
  • Orientation to On-Campus Interviewing: 3 p.m. on Monday, February 6, 2012, and noon on Thursday, February 9, 2012

Pop-in hours with career counselors are also available for quick questions or resume or cover letter reviews.

Individual appointments provide personalized assistance. Call (651) 962-6761 to schedule.

Posted in Private College Job and Internship Fair | Comments Off

7 steps to find a job or internship – Career Scoop

By: Becky Durham

Published on: Monday, January 30th, 2012

Career Scoop from the UST Career Development Center

...from the Career Development Center

Spring classes begin today and along with coursework you should plan to “build your resume.” Building a resume involves strategically thinking about opportunities to develop marketable skills related to your major or career field of interest which may include internships, volunteering or part-time jobs.

To find a job or internship, you can:

  1. Attend the Job and Internship Fair
  2. Check for postings on the Career Development Center website and related links
  3. Network with UST alumni using LinkedIn and attend the event on February 9th (see information below)
  4. Research employers of interest and contact them directly
  5. Participate in on-campus interviews
  6. Attend a seminar to learn about resume, interviewing, job and internship search techniques
  7. The staff at the Career Development Center is available to discuss any of the above resources to assist in your search. For appointments or pop-in hours call, (651) 962-6761

Alumni Sharking Knowledge (ASK)

Want to connect with Alumni? We have created a LinkedIn group to network UST students with alumni. Networking opportunities and alumni support are more important than ever in this rapidly changing job market. With the growing popularity of LinkedIn, it is a great platform for students to make connections with professionals in the field and gain information about a particular career or area of interest. This is a great way the Career Development Center can link Tommies together.

Connecting in the PM (Professional Mingling) Scene

From 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, February 9, 2012, perfect your networking etiquette by refining your elevator pitch and mingling with Tommie alumni. You will hear a short presentation on how to present yourself in a professional and social manner which will be helpful at the Job and Internship Fair as well as other networking events. You will have a chance to develop your skills while making connections with alumni. Dress is business casual and light snacks will be provided. Event is co-sponsored by the Alumni Association. Register to attend.

Undecided about your major?

Reserve your space NOW in the upcoming seminar Charting Your Career Path. A four-part series is being offered in February focusing on self-exploration for students who are searching for majors and/or careers that might be a good fit for them. This program is designed to help you learn about yourself through career assessments and discussion around skills, values, interests, and personality, as well as career decision making and goal setting. Get the direction you need to help map out your future!

Registered students will be charged $25 to cover the cost of career inventories and course materials. Payment will be collected at the first seminar (cash, check, eXpress card only). You must commit to attend all four seminars in order to participate. Registration is open now and can be completed online on the Seminars and Events page. Space is limited so sign up today!

Seminars will be held each Monday in February (2/6, 2/13, 2/20 and 2/27) from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, please contact Laura Lankton at lank6884@stthomas.edu.

Posted in Career Scoop Update, General Information | Comments Off

Interview attire and more: Tips 12 thru 15 – Job Fair Update

By: Becky Durham

Published on: Friday, January 27th, 2012

Job and Internship Fair

Minnesota's Private Colleges Job and Internship Fair

This is for those already registered for Minnesota’s Private Colleges Job and Internship Fair. If you have not registered and would like to attend, please complete an Orientation to Job and Internship Fair and submit your registration before the deadline. Visit our Job and Internship Fair website for additional information and eligibility requirements.

The Career Development Center staff is here to guide you and offer suggestions to increase your success at Minnesota’s Private Colleges Job and Internship Fair. Call (651) 962-6761 to schedule an appointment or “pop-in” for quick questions during our open hours (call for available times each day). For those who missed the video clip of the Fair it would be very useful to listen to student and employer comments and recommendations about the Fair.

TIP #12

Get your attire ready for the Fair. You should be dressed in business professional. This is a chance to put your best foot forward to make a positive, professional first-impression. If you are planning to purchase a new outfit, it may take additional time to find the right size and/or have alterations made to the garment. More interview attire information may be found at About.com.

TIP #13

Explore career options in the science field. Representatives from various bioscience organizations will be participating in panel presentations on at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 21, 2012. The focus is to discuss career paths, internships, and jobs within their organization and allow for time to network with students following each panel. The career paths of Clinical Research, Research and Development, and Laboratory Science will be represented.

TIP #14

Check out the On-Campus Interviewing program. Organizations will be recruiting juniors and seniors for internships and full-time positions. Interviews will take place at UST. If you have not already attended an OCI Orientation (see below) to learn more about this opportunity. If you are already registered, check in about the new positions for the spring schedule.

TIP #15

Register to attend “Connecting in the PM (Professional Mingling) Scene” 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 9, 2012. Perfect your networking etiquette and refine your elevator pitch while mingling with Tommie alumni. Dress is business casual and appetizers will be provided.

Seminars offered

All seminars are held in Room 355 Murray Herrick Campus Center. Register online.

Interviewing Skills

  • Friday, February 3 @ 12:15 p.m.
  • Wednesday, February 8 @ 2 p.m.

Job/Internship Fair Success Tactics (prize drawing at each session)

  • Tuesday, January 31 @ noon
  • Wednesday, February 1 @ 3 p.m.
  • Thursday, February 9 @ 10 a.m.
  • Tuesday, February 07 @ 3:30 p.m.

Job and Internship Success Tactics may also be viewed online as a pre-recorded webinar.

Orientation to On-Campus Interviewing (OCI)

  • Friday, February 3 @ 8:15 a.m.
  • Monday, February 6 @ 3 p.m.

Posted in Private College Job and Internship Fair | Comments Off

Getting ready for the fair! Tips 9 thru 11 – Job Fair Update

By: Becky Durham

Published on: Friday, January 20th, 2012

Job and Internship Fair

Minnesota's Private Colleges Job and Internship Fair

This is for those already registered for Minnesota’s Private Colleges Job and Internship Fair. If you have not registered and would like to attend, please complete an Orientation to Job and Internship Fair and submit your registration before the deadline. Visit our Job and Internship Fair website for additional information and eligibility requirements.

The month of January is quickly passing and that means so is the time to prepare for the Fair. If you have been busy this month and missed tips 1-8 in the previous emails go back and make note of suggestions to get ready for the Fair. If you registered after the emails were sent or if you don’t have them, they are available at stthomas.edu/careerdevelopment/fair/updates. I know many of you are reading the emails because you have replied with questions and you are attending the seminars. GREAT WORK!!!

TIP #9

There are over 125 employers registered to attend! Use the mnpcfair.org site to research the employers and gather the contact information. Refer to pages 13-14 in your packet for research tips. Prepare “cheat sheets” to bring to the Fair for quick reference and to make notes about your contact and follow-up information while at the Fair. The Reference Librarians are a great resource to assist you in finding the best sites to use.

TIP #10

Are you able to identify your top interests and skills and relate those to positions of interest? The handouts and worksheets in your packet on pages 5-9 will give you some basic information on interest themes, skills and values that employers seek in candidates. Use this information to describe yourself and to give life stories on your career related qualifications. The skills listed on page 8 give an indication of what employers are looking for in qualified candidates. You should be able to give an example of how you have developed each of these skills through your academic, work, volunteer, internship or travel experiences. Prepare stories that illustrate your skills in these areas to share with the employers. This technique is referred to as behavioral interviewing and used extensively by employers. Attend an interviewing skills workshop too!

TIP #11

Spend time learning more about occupations available in your major or career field. Within every career field there are numerous related occupations. Are you able to give examples of titles or areas within an organization that would hire people with your career interests/skills? Use the Career Development Center’s website, to research several occupations and complete the worksheet on page 10 of your packet (make additional copies as needed). Employers want you to tell them what you are interested in doing. If you are able to identify career fields, job titles or occupations of interest, even if employers are not recruiting for that position at the Fair, they will get a better idea of your focus and be able to refer you to another contact at their organization.

Seminars to attend

All are held in Room 355 Murray-Herrick Campus Center, register online.

Orientation to On-Campus Interviewing for Spring 2012

  • 1 p.m. on Thursday, January 26, 2012

Job and Internship Fair Success Tactics (bring your packet–door prizes at each session)

  • 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 25, 2012
  • 11 a.m. on Friday, January 27, 2012
  • Noon on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
  • 3 p.m. on Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Posted in Private College Job and Internship Fair | Comments Off

Charting Your Career Path and other upcoming events – Career Scoop

By: Becky Durham

Published on: Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

Career Scoop from the UST Career Development Center

...from the Career Development Center

Charting Your Career Path

Undecided about your major? Reserve your space NOW in the upcoming seminar. Charting Your Career Path, a four-part series is being offered in February focusing on self-exploration for students who are searching for majors and/or careers that might be a good fit for them. This program is designed to help you learn about you through career assessments and discussion around skills, values, interests and personality, as well as career decision making and goal setting. Get the direction you need to help map out your future!

Registered students will be charged $25 to cover the cost of career inventories and course materials. Payment will be collected at the first seminar (cash, check, eXpress card only). You must commit to attend all four seminars in order to participate. Registration is open now and can be completed online on the Seminars and Events page. Space is limited so sign up today!

Seminars will be held each Monday in February (2/6, 2/13, 2/20 and 2/27) from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, please contact Laura Lankton at lank6884@stthomas.edu.

Job and Internship Fair registration

Have you registered to attend Minnesota’s Private Colleges Job and Internship Fair? If so, you should be receiving emails at your UST email address with information to assist you in preparing. If you are not, email career@stthomas.edu or call 651-962-6761 to make sure we have your correct email address. Missed messages can be found in the Job Fair Update message archive.

Employers return to campus

Employers will return to campus by the end of February and through March to interview students for summer internships and full-time jobs. Orientation sessions to the On-Campus Interviewing Program will begin this week (January 18) and will be repeated in to February. Come to learn more about this program giving you easy access to employers!

Market your internship experience

You learned a ton on your internship, didn’t you? Do you know how to express it all to a potential new employer? Let’s unpack this powerful learning experience and make it work for you, turning you into a super-strong candidate! If you have completed an internship experience within the past year, come to this special seminar just for you, Marketing Your Internship Experience at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 24 in the Career Development Center located in Room 350 in Murray-Herrick Campus Center.

Special Events

Employers or other organizations often send our office information about events that are open to students. We post the information on the Seminars and Events section of our website. Be sure to check this periodically as events are continually added that may be of interest to you.

Posted in Career Scoop Update, General Information | Comments Off

Job Fair tips numbered 4 thru 8 – Job Fair Update

By: Becky Durham

Published on: Friday, January 13th, 2012

Job and Internship Fair

Minnesota's Private Colleges Job and Internship Fair

This is for those already registered for Minnesota’s Private Colleges Job and Internship Fair. If you have not registered and would like to attend, please complete an Orientation to Job and Internship Fair and submit your registration before the deadline. Visit our Job and Internship Fair website for additional information and eligibility requirements.

TIP #4

The Job and Internship Fair Success Seminar is being offered at 4 p.m. Thursday, January 19 and 10 a.m. Friday, January 20. These will both take place in Room 355 Murray-Herrick Campus Center. The seminar will offer tips on how to approach the open floor time, introductions to employers, resume tips, interviewing ideas, contacting employers in advance of the Fair and follow-up after the Fair. Bring your packet “I’m Going to the Fair.” If you are not able to attend the live session this is also available as a webinar.

TIP #5

Your resume should be in the final draft stages and ready to send/post to employers. Refer to page 15 in your packet for ideas on resources available through our office to assist you with the development of your resume. The Resume Writing seminar is being offered at noon on Friday, January 20 in Room 355 Murray-Herrick Campus Center or call for daily “pop-in” times for a staff member to review your resume. When your resume is complete, post it on the www.mnpcfair.org website where employers attending the event will have access to your information and may contact you for an interview.

TIP #6

Remember that the student feedback strongly recommends applying in advance. “It really works.” NOW is the time to research employers and apply directly to employers who are accepting resumes in advance of the Fair. Refer to page 15 in your packet for what to include in the letter to employers. (This topic is also covered in the Resume writing seminar dates listed in Tip #5)

TIP #7

Begin to gather information about interviewing skills. Pages 16-19 in your packet give further resources and information about preparing for successful interviews. You may also call 651-961-6761 to schedule a mock interview to practice. You can also practice on your own at any time using InterviewStream and your own webcam. InterviewStream allows you to record your responses to questions and review them on your own.

TIP #8

In addition to the Job and Internship Fair, the spring session for On-Campus Interviewing provides opportunities to meet with employers who are hiring for full-time and internship positions. If you have not attended an Orientation to On-Campus Interviewing (different from the Orientation to Job and Internship Fair) you will need to attend one of the seminars.

Join our Facebook group and follow us on Twitter or read the blog for reminders and to learn more about the current job search trends.

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Offering Effective Information Sessions – Employer Topic

By: Jennifer

Published on: Monday, January 9th, 2012

In the past 18 years, I have seen a lot of Employer Information Sessions.  From my perspective as a career professional, below is a list of suggestions to create really engaging Information Sessions for a college student audience.

  •  Try not to rely too heavily on PowerPoint slides.  If they are used, make sure text is not too dense on each slide.
  • Incorporate video and images where possible.
  • Skype in an executive or employee and ask them to talk about their work. 
  • If bringing alumni in, ask them to not only describe their responsibility areas, but describe a specific, typical project they worked on.
  • Leave out industry-specific jargon and acronyms.
  • Share information about the state of your industry and what current issues are hot.
  • Explain how you differentiate yourself from your competitors.
  • Describe any training or mentoring provided first year on the job.
  • Students are very interested in a typical career path and how long it takes to move from one position to another.
  • Note average hourly wage for interns and average annual salary range for entry-level.
  • Talk about the benefits to you when a student has internship experience.
  • Offer job search and networking advice.
  • Describe what is expected of interns and new hires in terms of professionalism.
  • Prizes/give-aways are always appreciated.
  • Always provide some refreshments too!

Interesting presentations become memorable presentations, and memorable presentations are talked about on campus.

Posted in Employer Hot Topics | Comments Off

Job Fair deadline extended and On-Campus Interviewing starts soon – Career Scoop

By: Becky Durham

Published on: Monday, January 9th, 2012

Career Scoop from the UST Career Development Center

...from the Career Development Center

Happy New Year!

Don’t forget that the Career Development Center is open during J-Term to assist you with your career planning and job and internship search needs. We are staying in the same location, Room 350 in Murray-Herrick Campus Center.

The registration deadline for the Job and Internship Fair has been extended. If you have not previously attended a Fair you will need to attend one of the Orientation to Job and Internship Fair sessions or view the Blackboard webinar and take a quiz prior to registering. Students who have attended a previous Fair are eligible to register without attending the session. For more information see the Job and Internship Fair web page.

On-Campus Interviews will be occurring again starting in February. If you are not registered for the OCI program you must attend an “Orientation to On-Campus Interviewing” to qualify for participation and apply through the On-Campus Interviewing section of TommieCareers. Check the Career Development Center web site often for a list of recruiting organizations and available positions.

Seminars related to resume writing; interviewing skills and other topics are offered weekly. Check them out and RSVP using our event calendar. If you are not able to make the seminars in person you may want to take advantage of the many career related webinars . We have pop-in hours available daily and appointments can be scheduled by calling (651) 962-6761.

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Job and Internship Fair Tips 1-3 – Job Fair Update

By: Becky Durham

Published on: Monday, January 9th, 2012

Job and Internship Fair

Minnesota's Private Colleges Job and Internship Fair

This is for those already registered for Minnesota’s Private Colleges Job and Internship Fair. If you have not registered and would like to attend, please complete an Orientation to Job and Internship Fair and submit your registration before the deadline. Visit our Job and Internship Fair website for additional information and eligibility requirements.

Happy New Year from the Career Development Center! With the New Year come plans for new beginnings. The Job and Internship Fair will provide an opportunity to explore avenues for new internships and new jobs. During the next seven weeks you will receive suggestions on ways to prepare for the Fair. Students who have participated in the Fair previously and completed an evaluation of their experience consistently note that preparing in advance increases their satisfaction and results.

TIP #1

Read the packet, “I’m Going to the Fair.” You should have received this packet when you registered. If you did not, please email career@stthomas.edu and give an address where the packet should be sent. Pages one and two give suggestions on preparing for the Fair.

This is the month to get ready by assessing yourself, researching companies and preparing a letter and resume.

TIP#2

Make plans to attend one of the Career Development Center’s seminars on resume writing or interviewing skills. These seminars can be found online through the Career Development Center event calendar.

TIP #3

Register to attend one of the seminars, “Job/Internship Fair Success Tactics.” Bring your “I’m Going to the Fair” packet to the session. Dates and times for the first two weeks are:

  • Wednesday, January 11 at 3:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, January 12 at 12:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, January 19 at 4 p.m.
  • Friday, January 20 at 10:00 a.m.

All sessions are held in Room 355, Murray Herrick Campus Center. Additional sessions will be offered later in January and into February. Dates and times will be posted.

The success tactics seminar is also offered as a prerecorded webinar format on the Career Development website.

Now is the time to prepare! Next week we’ll have more tips so be watching!

Posted in Private College Job and Internship Fair | Comments Off

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