Monday, November 30, 2009

Holiday Hours

A few dates/tips to keep in mind as winter break approaches:

- The office will be close on December 24th and will re-open on January 4th.
- December 9th will be the final evening drop in session and will resume on January 26th.
- Other than 12/24-1/3, 12-2pm drop in hours are as usual!
- Phone appointments are welcome!


This is a really great time to take advantage of our services and counselors, as there is more time for personal attention!

Keep pushing, the semester's almost over!!

Insider's View on College Success

Monday, November 23, 2009

more on internships!

Hey all-

The semester is coming to an end over the next few weeks and I know we're all putting everything we have into this final push before we can enjoy our holidays and winter break! Your schoolwork should absolutely be your number one priority right now, but if you have any spare time, it's a good idea to be thinking about and looking out for a possible internship over winter vacation. (That's a potential 5 week internship!)

If you've been to the Career Services Center or attended one of our workshops, then you've heard us harp on the goal of having 3 internships before graduation. If you're closer to graduation, then you really want to utilize your remaining time as best as possible! Talk to your advisers, professors and academic departments about any opportunities. Search on DonsCareers and Intership Exchange. Browse through the listings, or create a saved search of what you're looking for and make the databases work for you!

If you need help registering for DonsCareers or Internship Exchange, or have any other questions about internships (or anything else career-related), feel free to stop in during drop-in hours. (M-F 12-2, T/W 5-7).

Have a fantastic Thanksgiving and eat lots of turkey!


-Allison

Thursday, November 12, 2009

REVIEW YOUR RESUME WITH A PROFESSIONAL RECRUITER ON 12/1, 12/2 & 12/3

Bring your resume and let a real-world recruiter review it BEFORE graduation and the upcoming Resume Collect program. Be ready to impress employers with an effective resume that will get results!

Tuesday, 12/1
12:00-1:30pm
Across from Crossroads Café, 1st floor of University Center
Representatives: Northwestern Mutual Financial Network (Financial Services) and PSI Industries (Environmental/Engineering Firm)

Wednesday, 12/2
12:00-1:30pm
In front of Market Café, 2nd floor of University Center
Representatives: KGO-TV/ABC 7 (Media) and Influx Partners (Technology Executive Recruiter)

Thursday, 12/3
12:00-1:30pm
Across from Crossroads Café, 1st floor of University Center
Representatives: MassMutual (Financial Services) and Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker (Law Firm)

Questions? Call USF Career Services at 415-422-6216, careerservices@usfca.edu, or stop by UC 403.

What I Wish I Had Known

Juniors and Seniors!!

As the semester winds down, we are trying to finish our "What I Wish I Had Known" campaign strong. We want to know what you wish someone had told you when you were a freshman or a sophomore about jobs, internships, campus resources, or anything else career related that would make your life so much easier now, on the verge of graduation!

We're still accepting emails at careerplanningpeer@usfca.edu, but to make it easier for you, we will be at a table outside of Market Cafe next Wednesday, 11/18 from 11am-noon to collect your answers! Please stop by and say hello!

Have a fabulous weekend!
-Allison

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Starting a New Job


So we focus a lot on how you get a job. Where to apply, what steps to take, how to interview, etc. Well, what about once you do get the job? How do you keep it? How do you gain the respect of your employers and co-workers? Here’s an article to give you a couple of tips in make a great impression at your new job!


“Landing a job takes plenty of time and energy, but being a success in the workplace doesn’t stop once you’ve been hired. It is important to make a good impression- especially in the first critical weeks of employment- in order to connect with your coworkers, learn job responsibilities, and fit into your company’s culture. Here are some tips for job success from CareerBuilder.com, LLC:


·         Get a good night’s rest.
·         Learn the names of your coworkers as soon as possible.
·         Do your research. Visit your company’s website, read its publications, and otherwise familiarize yourself with its products/services to get a handle on its mission.
·         Be positive. Smile and speak in an upbeat voice.
·         Be a work warrior. Arrive ahead of time to work each day, take only the allotted time for lunch and breaks, and leave when or after your fellow employees finish work for the day.
·         Take the initiative. Always be willing to tackle tasks that make your boss’s life easier.
·         Take notes. Write down assignments, procedures, contact information, and names of people you frequently deal with.
·         Appearance counts. Dress appropriately for your position and be well groomed.
·         Be flexible. Be ready to handle unexpected challenges.
·         Be appreciative of the attention and help of others.
·         Be a good listener and learner.
·         Connect with your boss. Learn his or her personality and work style.
·         Ensure that you meet your employer’s expectations. Check in with your boss to see if expectations are being met.
·         Get to know your colleagues.
·         Observe and learn from your coworkers. Find out who the rising stars are and emulate their work habits.
·         Identify and avoid office politics.
·         Respect the established order.
·         There is no “I” in team. Teamwork is the key to success in today’s corporate world.


-CAM Report (September 2009)
(Career Advancement Management College & Career Press, LLC)


I hope this is helpful for you all!
-Allison

Tips from the Careers in Finance Panel

Thanks everyone for a great turnout last night at the Careers in Finance Panel. If you weren't able to attend or jut want a neatly typed recap, here is a brief summary of tips/discussion points:

  • Read. Read as much as you can, as often as possible about all things going on in finance. All panelists mentioned reading the entire Wall St. Journal and the Financial Times every day. They read The Economist and Barrons cover-to-cover every week. It's easy to spot in an interview who is well read and who isn't.
  • Communication and writing skills are essential. One panelist told of recently firing a UCLA, 3.9 GPA Economics major because he didn't handle himself professionally on the phone with clients.
  • Hours in finance are insanely long, even after you've been in the business for a long time. 3 of the panelists, all age 45 or older, wake up at 4AM or earlier every workday and typically work until around 6. Lynda Sullivan, who worked for many years in corporate finance for both Goldman Sachs and Montgomery Securities, reported working 80-100 hour work weeks (you do the math) for the first 10 years of her career. 
  • The panelists mostly agreed that New York is a great place to start a career in finance. "If you can make it there, you'll make it anywhere!" Also, panelist noted that in New York, while the hours are just as exhausting, the social life is much better for people in their 20's. In San Francisco, everyone is too tired to go out at night because they all wake up at 4AM!
  • Just like many careers, passion is key to a successful career. If you don't love this, don't do it. Joe Morford, a Research Analyst, said "I get paid to keep up with my hobbies. How cool is that!?"
  • "Who you know" is most important as far as getting a job. All 4 panelists said that they rarely go through a pile of resumes but instead hire people who they know or who come recommended by friends or colleagues, even for entry level positions.
That's it for now. There was so much more discussed last night and I'll post more thoughts later if I have them. 

-Alex

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

CAREERS IN FINANCE PANEL-WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 5:30 PM, FROMM HALL, BERMAN ROOM



CAREERS IN FINANCE
A panel of successful business professionals discuss their career paths and success strategies.
Wednesday, November 4th
5:30-7:00 PM, Fromm Hall, Berman Room

What does it take to make it in investment banking?
What's life really like in the world of finance?
What are the current financial career trends?
What are different career options in investment banking?
How important is it to have an MBA?




CAREERS IN FINANCE, PANELIST BIOGRAPHIES
UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO, NOVEMBER 4, 2009
5:30 PM, FROMM HALL, BERMAN ROOM

Lynda Sullivan is the director of Public Equities and Fixed Income at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation where she is responsible for an approximately $2 billion portfolio of public equity and fixed income investments invested by 25 external managers globally.  Linda began her career as an Analyst in the Corporate Finance department at Goldman Sachs in New York. After business school, she returned to investment banking, spending six years at Montgomery Securities executing public and private equity financings for consumer companies (largely retailers).  From Montgomery, she moved to the corporate office of Gap Inc. where she held management positions in both the Treasury and Corporate Planning and Analysis departments. Lynda graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with undergraduate degrees in Engineering and Business and received a M.B.A. from Stanford University.

Joe Morford is a Managing Director and Senior Analyst in the Research Department at RBC Capital Markets covering the Financial Services sector.  He joined RBCCM in August 1999 from First Security Van Kasper, and before that he held analyst positions at both B.T. Alex. Brown and Keefe, Bruyette, & Woods. He has been recognized both as an All-Star Analyst by the Wall Street Journal and as a Wall Street Sharpshooter by the American Banker, and he holds a Masters degree in Philosophy from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

Jeff Oster is a Managing Director in the Private Wealth Management division of UBS Financial Services. He concentrates on fixed income, alternative investments block trading and cash management for family offices and wealthy families and individuals. Jeff has 17 years of experience in the client advisory business and previously was a Managing Director at both Lehman Brothers and Montgomery Securities. Jeff received his B.A. in International Relations from California State University at Chico and his M.B.A. from Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

Jeff Spears is the CEO of Sanctuary Wealth Services LLC . Jeff has over 24 years experience in wealth management as a wealth advisor and a national manager of the wealth management businesses at Montgomery Securities, Bank of America Private Bank, and Presidio Financial Partners LLC. Jeff received his Bachelors in Business Administration from Baylor University.


-Alex

Monday, November 2, 2009

what are my skills?

There is always a bit of confusion when it comes to the skills section of a resume. Should you include one? What should you list if you do? Your resume is pretty much all about showing off the skills that you've acquired through your experiences, so how do you know what goes where?

Generally, it is a good idea to include a skills sections. It rounds out the resume and gives it a nice conclusion. BUT it is important to make sure you're including the right types of skills...

One common mistake is to list everything that you're good at under the skills section, including things like multi-tasking, listening, problem-solving, etc. While those are important skills to have and demonstrate, if your resume is done correctly, those skills, which we call soft skills will be demonstrated throughout your accomplishment statements (see page 6 of "Job and Internship Resource Guide").

What you want to include in your skills section is what we call transferable skills or hard skills. These are  specific skill sets that you have learned and can apply elsewhere. These include, computer software programs (examples: Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint), language abilities, any licenses you have (CPR, First Aid training, lifeguard, etc.), other program abilities (restaurant POS systems). Basically, distinct skills that you have acquired through your experiences.

It is also important to include your level of proficiency in each of your skills. The language that we typically use is proficient, intermediate or basic, but this can vary for specific skills. For example, with languages you would use terms like bilingual, fluent, conversational, or basic written and/or spoken level.

I hope this clears things up a bit, but if you still have questions, brainstorm what you think might be appropriate skills and bring in your resume to get checked out during drop in hours!

-Allison
Rosie
rosie

Rosie is an outgoing Junior Psychology major who has worked in the office since her Freshman year. She wears multiple hats including president of her sorority Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc. and Vice President of Internal Affairs for Greek Council. As a very involved student leader she is a great resource for all things USF
Nathan
rosie

Nathan hails from the tropical state of Hawaii. When he is not in his business suit for his business classes, he is just "chilling" and bringing the Aloha Spirit to the office. He has worked for the Career Services Center for three years and has extensive experience with other internships including his most upcoming internship with Bank of Hawaii in summer 2012