Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Spring Break Job Hunt

I can clearly remember almost exactly one year ago to this day when my mom asked me the dreaded question: “what are you going to do this summer?” Summer? I thought. Summer is so far away. But I knew, too, that if I was going to do anything besides work the retail circuit yet again I’d have to start early. So, I came prepared.

“I contacted LMU through reciprocity and I’m going to look through their job database to see if I can find any internships” I replied confidently, happy to have a response to my mother’s demanding eyes. Luckily, I found a few opportunities to get me started through LMU, and wound up with an awesome internship for the duration of the summer.


While Spring Break can be a relaxing break from the stresses of school, it’s also a great opportunity to really hone in on your job and internship search to prepare for summer and beyond. Below are four tips with ideas on how to take advantage of the free time.

  • Use the time to update your resume. While school is in session updating your resume is probably the last thing on your mind. However, the week long break should hopefully provide you with some time to update this crucial document! Even if you’re not currently job hunting, it’s always important to keep an updated resume on hand for any unforeseen situation that might call for it.
  • Set up a few informational interviews. Use your new free hours during the normal work week to schedule an informational interview or two with someone in a field you might be interested in entering. While informational interviews are not actual job interviews, they are great ways to get insider info about a potential career, as well as make connections for any future job hunting you might do. It’s all about networking!
  • If you’re heading home now (and will be back in the summer), begin looking for jobs in the area. The time to begin the hunt for summer internships is upon us. Being anywhere from 50 to 3000 miles away from home during school can seriously put a damper in that search if you’re planning on working there for the summer. So, if you’ve found yourself back there for the Spring Break week, take advantage of it! Start making the rounds in person and doing local searches in your area. Also, if you have a Jesuit school near you (LMU, Loyola Chicago, Fordham, St. Louis University, Boston College, and Gonzaga, to name a few) you might be able to take advantage of their reciprocity program. Call the school and figure out what their options are (and if needed, contact our office to send over a request letter for services), and you could potentially get access to that school’s job database of hundreds of jobs in your area, and more!
  • Network with family and friends. Last but not least, if you’re home use that rare face time to really reach out to your network of family and friends in the area. Maybe your uncle has a friend who is looking for an intern over the summer, or your Dad’s boss was hoping to hire an assistant. The best way to get jobs is through personal connections, so take advantage of it while you can. Let everyone know about your search – the more you put it out there, the more likely you are to find opportunities.

Also, don't forget that the Career Services Center is open for the entire Spring Break, Monday-Friday from 9am to 5pm. We have normal drop in hours Monday-Thursday from 2-4pm, and on Friday from 1-3pm. Take advantage of the down time to get in to see a Counselor or a Career Planning Peer quickly.

Most importantly, don't forget to have a fun and safe Spring Break!
-Sarah

Monday, March 23, 2009

Career Services Center in the News!

If you haven't already seen, the CSC was in the news both for our Career Fair on March 6th, as well as our Speed Mock Interviews on March 11th. Below are the links. Enjoy!

KRON 4 News Coverage of the 21st Annual USF Career Fair

KRON 4 News Coverage of the March 11th Speed Mock Interviews

-Sarah

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Internship of the Week #1

Women in Film& Video New England (Allston, MA)

Office and Production Assistant

Intern with Program administrator of Women in Film & Video. Help organize and manage networking, screening and educational events. Most time in office, much time at events. Work on managing social networking site, outreach, etc. Looking for someone who can give at least one full day a week.

For more information about this and other internships, check out Internship Exchange here!

Wanna Get Noticed? Cover Letters Do the Trick!

Let’s say you’ve got a stellar resume (after having it checked out at the Career Services Center by one of our lovely staff). You’ve got your eye on a couple of jobs that you know you’d be perfect for…and that you desperately need. You email the resume and wait a week. No reply. Two weeks go by, and still nothing. Did you, perhaps, forget to include a cover letter? Even if the job description only asks for a resume, a cover letter is something you should always consider including. Think of it this way: your cover letter is icing on the cake. It makes the whole package look good. So what are cover letters? They give the person reading them (typically a hiring manager) a sense of who you are and why you make a great candidate for a job position. You should also always customize your cover letter for each job you apply for.

Cover letters have three main parts:

  1. The opening paragraph states the reason for the letter. It describes the specific position or type of work that you’re applying for, and it tells the reader how you learned about the opening.
  1. The second part indicates why you’re interested. Write about why you are drawn to the position you are applying for and to the company offering the position. This shows that you’ve got a genuine interest in the company. The second paragraph is also your chance to explain how your academic background makes you a qualified candidate and to point out your specific achievements or unique qualifications as they may relate to the job description.
  1. The closing paragraph indicates your desire for a personal interview. Make sure to close your letter with a statement which will encourage a response, such as, “For an interview, I can be reached at…”

For more tips about writing cover letters, you can refer to our Job & Internship Resource Guide, which can be found here online. For a hard copy, visit the Career Services Center in UC 403.

Seghel

Thursday, March 12, 2009

21st Annual Career and Internship Fair

Our 21st Annual Career and Internship Fair was held this past week on Friday March 6th, and was an outstanding success! Employers from 73 different firms showed up to speak with the almost 700 students who attended the fair. Good job to all who helped, and good luck to those who handed out their resumes!


Students at the 21st Annual Career and Internship fair speak with employers about potential jobs.


A University of San Francisco student discussing his resume with an employer.

How Does Networking Benefit You?

You may have heard the word “networking” before, but what does that actually mean? In some ways, professional networking is very similar to social networking: it involves making a good impression, dressing well for the occasion, and making memorable encounters with acquaintances. But most importantly, networking is the best way to get a job. Between 60-70% of jobs are found through networking! During this current economical crisis, the best way to distinguish yourself from every other qualified person you’re competing for jobs with is through networking. And while having a stunning resume and cover letter will get you closer to your dream job, networking will make people more inclined to help you get there. Here are a few easy and key steps to networking:

· Schedule an informational interview. Informational interviews are a great way to expand your network of professional contacts. Keep in mind that you are not asking the employer for a job. You are simply gathering information in order to develop contacts who know people in key hiring positions, meet people who can make recommendations for you, or to make a preliminary decision if a particular career is right for you.

· Do your homework. If you plan on scheduling an informational interview or attending a networking event, you should do research on the job industry and company that you’re interested in. This also means that you should be prepared to ask questions about the industry, company, and any opportunities that may be available to you.

· Attend a networking event. Networking events gives you an opportunity to generate many contacts in a short period of time. At networking events, such as the Career and Internship Fair that just passed, make sure to have a 30-60 second introduction prepared (elevator pitch). The introduction should include your name, a firm handshake, what you’re currently doing (school, work, volunteer, etc.), and your goals or objectives.

You can find more information about this topic and more on the Career Services Center’s homepage.


Happy networking!

-Seghel

5 Key Resume Tips

  • Limit your resume to one page! For graduate students with a lot of experience: you can get away with two pages, but definitely no more than that. A one page resume is always ideal. Longer is never better. Employers only spend about 20 seconds looking at it anyway, so the more concise it is the better.
  • Always put the city and state for every experience you’ve had, whether it’s a job, volunteer work, or school.
  • Make your job titles pop. You want your job titles to stand out from the rest of the information on your resume so that they’re easy for the employer to find. Italicize, bold, whatever suits your fancy. Just make sure it's distinct.
  • Don’t use resume templates! I know it looks easy to select a template from word an input the information, but don’t give in to the temptation! Employers can spot a template from a mile away, and it makes you look a lot less creative. Do yourself a favor and start your resume from scratch on a blank word document.
  • Make sure the font you use is readable. Use 11-12pt font, 10pt if absolutely necessary, but no smaller than that. Also, make sure to use well known and conservative fonts like Arial or Times New Roman.
-Sarah
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