career development and employment services · 2014. 10. 23. · grad school timetable 2 job search...
TRANSCRIPT
Ready for the Next Step?
You are in the homestretch now! Congratulations on
entering your final year here at Gannon! Are you ready
to start your career, or is graduate school in your
future? Focus on the path ahead. Here are some tips to
help make the next step in your life an easier one.
Update your resume with any experience gained
over the summer. Then, make an appointment to
have it reviewed.
Pay attention to application deadlines, test
requirements and financial aid opportunities for
graduate and professional schools.
Connect with faculty, alumni and people you know
who work in your field of choice to learn more about
potential opportunities.
Secure letters of recommendation from faculty and
job/internship supervisors.
Career Development and Employment Services
Career Development & Employment Services
(CDES)
Student Success Center
1st Floor Palumbo Center
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
814.871.7680
Career Development is a
component of the Life
Planning Dimension.
Senior Bulletin
October 2014
Inside this Issue:
Grad School Timetable 2
Job Search Tips 3
Top Qualities
Employers Seek 4
Social Media’s
Connection to
Employment
5
Job & Internship Fair October 15th WestPACs is the largest job fair in the Pittsburgh
region, with over 120 employers currently regis-
tered. The WestPACs Job & Internship Fair will
be held on Wednesday, October 15th from
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Monroeville Convention
Center. A list of attending employers and the
positions they are seeking to fill can be found
here. Save the date and plan accordingly. If you
pre-register (before October 14th) for the Job &
Internship Fair, you have the opportunity to talk
to these employers for FREE! If you decide to
walk-in on the day of the event, it is still only a
$10 fee. All attendees are required to wear ap-
propriate professional business attire. If you
wish to attend, please send a copy of your
resume to [email protected] so it can
be approved before the fair. Why? See page 5!
Connect with CDES on Facebook, Twitter, EngageU & LinkedIn!
Search for Gannon University Career Development and Employment Services on
Facebook & LinkedIn and follow us on Twitter @GUCDES.
Be sure to also visit our website for valuable information:
www.gannon.edu/depts/cdes/
Check out the Job Search
Guide for helpful tips and
info on how to be successful
in your future job search.
Page 2 CDES Senior Bulletin - October 2014
“Opportunity
does not knock;
it presents itself
when you knock
the door down”
~ Kyle Chandler
Grad School Time Table Senior Year: Fall
Listed below is the checklist for the Graduate School process for the fall semester of
your senior year. Making sure these are all completed
by the end of the semester will really help keep you on
track.
Complete applications. Keep photocopies for your
records.
Request official transcripts be mailed out in enough
time to meet deadlines.
Request letters of recommendation and provide
individuals with your resume and transcript.
Attend Graduate and Professional School Fairs.
Complete applications for graduate assistantships.
Deadlines vary from September to April.
Take entrance exams, schedule a visit and develop
your resume if not already completed.
Estimate the cost of a graduate school education: tuition, books, room and board,
and transportation.
Register for Graduate and Professional School Financial Aid Service (GAPSFAS),
complete the Financial Aid Form (FAF), and check with school financial aid offices
for more information.
Attention December Graduates!
Career Counselors are available to help!
Schedule an appointment by calling 814.871.7680.
For more information on searching for jobs, please check out our Job Search Guide at:
http://ww4.gannon.edu/depts/cdes/pdfs/Jobsearchguide2008.pdf
More graduate school resources are available at:
http://ww4.gannon.edu/depts/cdes/grad.asp
Are you about to graduate in December? Will you be looking for a job? The Job Locator
System is here to help! All you have to do is:
Fill out the JLS form by clicking here, then email a copy of your resume to
Companies contact CDES seeking candidates with specific skills and educational
backgrounds.
CDES matches candidates' qualifications with company requirements, then sends
appropriate resumes to the company for review.
Company reviews resumes and contacts selected individuals for interviews.
JLS is a great way to expand your job hunt! For more information on JLS, click here.
Have you taken the GRE, LSAT or MCAT?
Your goal is to connect with the job(s) that match your career interests,
education, skills, personality traits, values and salary/benefits
expectations. Whether the job market is strong or weak, competition is
still intense in most fields, especially for the best and most desired jobs.
To be competitive, you must learn how to conduct an effective job search
and then put the plan to work. Job searching does not stop with the first
job you get. It continues throughout your working life, whether your goal is
to move up in a company or to find opportunities elsewhere.
Page 3
Use a planner or calendar to identify 2 to 3 hours a week where you will work on job search related activities (yes, you have
to fit this in between school, work, activities and fun time). Schedule time to create a resume, research jobs/companies,
practice interviewing, network with contacts and attend job fairs or interviews.
Set goals. It is important to think about both short and long term objectives. The job you obtain after graduating from
college is only the first step in a lifelong career path. Yes, the immediate objective may well be a “good paying job,” but give
thought to how that job fits into an overall career. You are likely to change jobs or companies two to three times in the first
five years of working after graduation.
Answering some or all of these questions will help define your goals.
What would be my ideal career or job? What has my degree prepared me to do?
What are my key interests, skills and abilities?
What have my work experiences taught me about what I like to do the most?
What kind of work environment would be best for me?
Would I take a low-paying job just to get a foot in the door at a company?
What are my geographical preferences? Close to home? How far away?
Where do I want to be in one year? Three years? Five years?
What is my salary expectation? Is it realistic for my field?
What skills do I hope to learn/build upon at my first job?
If I am unable to find a job in my ideal career path, what is my backup plan?
What other factors do I need to consider in my career search: Significant other? Family responsibilities?
Financial needs? Special needs? Other?
What would a Google search of my name reveal about me? How does my Facebook or Twitter account reflect my
character? What would an employer think of me? (Check out page 5 for Social Media Tips!)
BEGIN THE JOB SEARCH 6 TO 12 MONTHS
BEFORE GRADUATION
Finding a job is hard work: it takes time, effort and motivation.
In today’s economy, it may take 12 to 15 months to find the job you want.
The time to begin is early in your senior year.
Use the information inside this newsletter as a guide in planning and organizing your job search.
CDES Senior Bulletin - October 2014
The Job Search
Stay tuned to our social media channels and bookmark http://ww4.gannon.edu/depts/cdes/events.asp to keep current on
the latest event and job fair information. Got questions? Janet Armbruster can help! Contact: [email protected].
Page 4
Save The Date!
For more information on resumes, check out our Resume Guide online at:
http://ww4.gannon.edu/depts/cdes/pdfs/Resumeguide2012.pdf
E-mail your resume to [email protected] to receive feedback from a career counselor.
**= Must submit approved resume to Janet Armbruster ([email protected]) prior to registering for event.
Don’t wait until the last minute! Get your resume approved ahead of time. Employers notice.
CDES Senior Bulletin - October 2014
Fall 2014
10/15/14 | 10 am-3 pm | Western PA Collegiate Job & Internship Fair @ Monroeville Convention Center** (Check out page 1!)
Spring 2015
3/11/15 | 10 am-3 pm | Western PA Collegiate Job & Internship Fair @ Monroeville Convention Center**
3/19/15 | Noon–4 pm | Penn State Behrend Spring Career & Internship Fair @ Junker Center**
3/25/15 | 9:30 am-3:30 pm | PERC (Pittsburgh Education Recruitment Consortium) @ Monroeville Convention Center**
Top Ten Qualities Employers Seek
What makes an ideal job candidate? Of course, top candidates need to have the requisite major, GPA
and relevant work experience, but it’s their soft skills that make them ideal.
In terms of the skills that differentiate candidates, employers responding to NACE’s Job Outlook 2013
say they want good communicators who can make decisions and solve problems while working
effectively as part of a team. The following are the top qualities employers look for when hiring:
1. Ability to verbally com-
municate with persons
inside and outside the
organizations.
2. Ability to work in a team
structure.
3. Ability to make decisions
and solve problems.
4. Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work.
5. Ability to obtain and process information.
6. Ability to analyze quantitative data.
7. Technical knowledge related to the job.
8. Proficiency with computer software programs.
9. Ability to create or edit
written reports.
10. Ability to sell or influ-
ence others.
Page 5
“I’m a great
believer in
luck, and I
find that the
harder I work,
the more I
have of it.”
~ Thomas
Jefferson
For more information on how to clean up your
social media presence, visit: http://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/spotlight/college-
students-clean-up-your-online-profiles-now/
Clean Up Your Act:
Social Media’s Connection to Employment
CDES Senior Bulletin - October 2014
Social media is playing a larger role in how companies consider your employment. In fact, 2
out of 5 hiring managers look at applicants’ social profiles before making hiring decisions. In
today’s competitive job market, it is important for you to stand out on paper, in person, and
even online. Here are 4 easy steps to help clean up your social media sites.
Cover Photo – This is your first impression; make it a professional picture, not something
embarrassing or immature.
Clean Your Profile – You should go back and remove any posts, pictures and other
activity that employers may consider offensive. Always remember: Privacy settings are
your friend. Everyone does not have to see everything.
Polish It Up – Employers can see posts you have made on other peoples profiles; make
sure your comments are appropriate.
Play the Professional – Make yourself look good by posting pictures with coworkers at
work functions or volunteering. Share inspirational posts and interact with social media
accounts that are associated with your field of work. Social media can actually help your
job search if you follow these simple steps.
For more information on how social media fits into networking and your personal brand, stop by
the Student Success Center on the 1st floor of Palumbo or call 814-871-7680 and schedule an
appointment with John White.
In a study done by N.A.C.E., almost 75% of students expected
employers to check their social media profiles. Take a minute to
Google yourself and see what information employers can obtain
by just typing your name.
Have You Googled Yourself Lately?
Why Attend A Job Fair?
"I wasn't even planning on going to the job fair the year I
participated, however, my last minute decision ended up being one
of the best that I've ever made." Are you still unsure about
WestPACs? You do not want to miss an opportunity that could
provide you with a chance to land your very first job! Go back to
page 1 and read more, or click here to check out the WestPACs
website for more information!