Letters of Recommendation!

Last week, I told you some of the do's and don't's of references. On a related, BUT VERY DIFFERENT note, it is important to know how to handle a letter of recommendation. You will absolutely need two to three letters of recommendation if you plan to continue your education (i.e. graduate school, law school, medical school, etc.) and some employers also ask for them.

There is a lovely example worksheet in our Job and Internship Resource Guide on page 35 that shows many of the points that should be included in a letter of recommendation. Some of the points include:

• affiliation/ relationship to the person (supervisor, adviser, professor, etc.)
• an honest account your skills, talents, abilities, qualities, etc. Readers can tell when it is not sincere, so choose someone who actually knows you and your capabilities.
• specific examples of how your attributes and accomplishments 

Be sure to give plenty of time to complete the letter before it is due. 

Good luck!

-Allison

Side note: 

The following is a list of attributes (from the National Association of Colleges and Employers) that employers tend to use as basis for selection: ability to communicate, intelligence, self-confidence, willingness to accept responsibility, initiative, leadership, energy level, imagination, flexibility, interpersonal skills, self-knowledge, ability to handle conflict, goal achievement, competitiveness, appropriate vocational skills, direction. 

Just a few things to keep in mind in your day to day!

Career Information Night on 10/21. Sign up by 10/19!

CAREER INFORMATION NIGHT AT USF


Ever wonder what are the hot industries and jobs these days? To help you explore your career options and learn about different industries, companies and jobs, you are invited to participate in our new Career Information Night from 5:30-7:00pm on Wednesday, October 21, 2009.

In a casual setting (casual dress code), meet over 15 recruiters representing different industries such as Law, Health Care, PR/Communications, Media/Radio, Consumer, Civic Government, Federal Government, Education, Publishing, Nonprofit, Museum/Research, Insurance Services and more!
Career Information Night
5:30-7:00pm
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
McLaren Complex, Room 252

IMPORTANT: SPACE IS LIMITED. YOU MUST SIGN UP BY MONDAY, 10/19, FOR THIS EVENT. Career Services Reps will be in front of Market Cafe from 12:00-1:00pm on 10/19 to sign you up. Or, call 415-422-6216, email careerservices@usfca.edu, or stop by UC 403 to reserve your spot.

Tips for Applying to Federal Jobs

Hi all,

Happy Friday!  My coworker attended the Federal Jobs Career Fair at City College this past week and here are some excellent tips and information she learned that will hopefully help you!  If you like to discuss this with a career counselor, call our office at 415-422-6216 to schedule an appointment!

Thanks,

Ellen

Presenter: Julie Saad, Human Resources Specialist, US Office of Personnel Management

Email: julie.saad@opm.gov

Benefits of Government Service:

• Public Service
• Work/Life Balance
• Excellent Advance Opportunities
• Student Loan Repayment Program
• Flex time and tele-work options
• Pay is comparable to private sector

Pay Grades

Range: GS1 to GS15 and varies geographically

GS-5 – requires Bachelor degree

GS-7 -  requires Bachelor degree, 3.0 or higher GPA, member of Honor Society, upper 1/3 of class level

GS-9 – requires Masters degree

San Francisco example of pay grades:

GS-5 - $36,309

GS-7 - $44,976

GS-9 - $55,015

GS-11 - $66,562

By Fall 2012, the Federal government projects to hire 273,000 new workers.  Where the hot jobs will be:

1. Medical & Public Health
2. Security & Protection
3. Compliance & Enforcement
4. Legal
5. Administration & Program Management

Student Hiring Programs:

Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP)

Temporarily work for a Federal agency while in school.

Position terminates upon graduation.

Student Career Experience Program (SCEP)

College studies are related to work at a Federal agency.

Work for agency until graduation.

Agency can offer a permanent position upon graduation.

Presidential Management Fellows Program (PMF)

For graduate students.

2 year, full-time developmental program.

Agency can offer a permanent position upon completion.

Federal Career Intern Program (FCIP)

For recent, new graduates.

Apply for positions announced via the program.

2 year, full-time training/development program.

Agency can offer a permanent position upon completion.

Steps to find Federal Jobs:

1. Go to www.usajobs.gov.
2. Create a USAJobs account.
3. Create a Federal resume.
4. Answer questions posted online.
5. Complete application package by deadline.
6. Follow-up with agency contact.

KSAs = Knowledge, Skills, Ability

1. Address key words/phrases used in job description.
2. Tie experiences to each KSA.
3. Use illustrative examples.
4. Focus on outcomes.

Tips:

1. Apply in the Fall of your last year in school.
2. Plan ahead to thoroughly complete application(s).
3. Tailor your search.
4. Follow up with agency point of contact provided in the job description.

What happens after you apply?

1. After closing date, the agency reviews the applications submitted to USAJobs.
2. Agency selects the best candidates and develops a list.
3. Agency selects the candidates to interview.
4. Agency conducts the interviews.

Basic security clearances are performed in 37 days.  More in-depth security clearances take 72 days.

Key Web Sites:

www.USAJOBS.gov = Federal jobs

www.studentjobs.gov = specifically for students

www.makingthedifference.org = resource to start the exploration process

www.opm.gov/careerintern/index.asp = Federal career intern program

The full Powerpoint presentation will be available on City College of San Francisco Career Center’s web site in the next week.

Internships: Why they are AMAZING

Let me break down for you why internships will be vital to you during your academic career.

Like I mentioned in a previous post, internships are an awesome way to beef up your resume and boost your chances of getting a job after you graduate because: 1) many of them are geared toward undergraduate students who don't have much experience and 2) because they are presented like actual jobs on your resume, not volunteer positions.

And unless you're looking for an internship with a non-profit organization, you can look forward to finding an internship that PAYS.

The best and easiest way to find an internship is by visiting Internship Exchange.   Internship Exchange is an extensive database that is only accessible by 21 colleges and universities.  That means you have a much better chance of landing an internship through this database than Craigslist.com, which is open to the whole wide world.

Internships can be a fun and easy way to explore various career paths before committing to a major/career/graduate school.

Try to aim for 2-3 internships before you graduate: it will serve you well in the long (and short) run.

**To access Internship Exchange, go to our homepage at usfca.edu/career.  Then go to the left hand menu, click on "Students", then click on "Find and Internship."

Seghel

Resume DOs and DON'Ts

Hey everyone!  Here are just a couple of resume tips to keep in mind:

• Beware of dressing up your resume with colorful fonts.  You may be able to make an exception if you're a Graphic Design major, but bring it by for us to check out.
• Resume templates are to be avoided like the plague.  They kinda make it seem like you're lacking initiative if you use one.
• Highlight your volunteer activity.  Especially for underclassmen, volunteering and participating in unpaid internships is a great way to gain experience.
• Be specific about your job responsibilities on your resume.  For example, if you trained a new hire, what exactly did you teach them?

Have a great weekend!
Seghel

How to treat your References!!

So you're ready to get a job. You've had your resume reviewed a couple of times, your cover letter is polished and you have the contact information for the job of your dreams all ready to go. What's missing??

A lot of students have come into the office with resumes that state something like "references available upon request" and we've told you that it is assumed that everyone has references, therefore it's not necessary to write it out. Each applicant should have 2-3 references that potential employers can contact to further verify a person's personality, work ethnic, and performance (among other things).

References can make or break an applicant, so here are a couple of tips to get the best out of your references!

• Keep your references in the loop. This means keeping them informed of every step of your process. Let them know when you are starting to look for a job and ask them if they would mind serving as a reference down the line. Tell them when you've submitted your resume and/or have had an interview and tell them to expect a call. Explain the position so that they are prepared for the employer. If you end up getting the job, MAKE SURE to send them a thank you note. They are probably a significant part of you landing the job, and deserve a thanks! (Plus, it helps if you ever need them to help you out again...)

• References should not be personal. This means Mom, Dad, Grandma, roommate, best friend don't count! You want someone who has observed you in a work, volunteer, or classroom setting. While Mom probably loves you most and can sing your praises to no end, she isn't the one who can give the most accurate account of your employment capabilities.

Remember to bring your reference sheet with you to your interview, so that when the potential employer asks for it (which they most likely will), you are more than prepared. Page 34 in our Job and Internship Resource Guide has an excellent sample reference sheet to help with formatting. This is the green booklet that can be found in our office or is available on our website! Feel free to call or come into our drop in hours with any other questions!
-Allison

What Do YOU Wish You Had Known?

Hey juniors and seniors! We'd like to open up a forum for you to let us know what you wish you had known as freshmen that would have made your life easier now.

Shoot us an email at careerplanningpeer@usfca.edu!