Transform yourself into the best candidate for the job!

I was looking around to see what different people and organizations are saying about what is important regarding finding and landing a job. A common theme seemed to pop up everywhere; and it’s a theme that we can’t stop talking about here at CSC. Any guesses?

Personalization, personalization, personalization.

Besides the obvious problems with misspelling a company’s name (or including the wrong company’s name!), a hiring manager can tell when you haven’t tailored your cover letter and/or resume to fit their wants and needs.

So how do you make yourself look like the very best person for the job?

Take the time to research each company individually. Read the job description carefully, and identify the skills or requirements they are looking for.

Once you know what they’re looking for, think about the experiences you have that show how you acquired each of those skills. It won’t do you much good to go into detail about your incredible painting skills when they are clearly asking for someone with public speaking skills. Now, this doesn’t mean you should make up a story about “that time you spoke to an auditorium full of hundreds of people,” when it was really only a few friends. It does mean that you should brainstorm examples that show your speaking abilities, i.e. class presentations or giving reports to your club.

If the company doesn’t have a job description (or even if they do…), find out any and all information you can about them. Read their mission statement, their impact on the community, etc. Even if you don’t use this information for your resume or cover letter, it will certainly benefit you in an interview. Or, it may even show you that this isn’t a company you want to apply to.

The point is: know what you’re applying for, understand what they are looking for, and use your creativity (truthfully) to show why you’re the best candidate for the job!

Good luck!
-Allison

You CAN Still Apply for Summer Internships

Hey Everyone!

Hope your semester is going well so far and you’re not too stressed about classes (I know I am).  Here’s something you don’t have to stress out about: it’s not too late to apply for summer internships.  There are a ton of internships that are still available and have deadlines that extend to mid-April.  But don’t wait that long to apply!  You know as well as I do that time flies.  And trust me- the earlier you apply, the better.  You have a much better chance of landing an internship if you submit your resume right around when they’re starting to be accepted.  Just make sure to come by our office during Drop-In hours to have us check out your resume and cover letter before submitting them.

Another thing to keep in mind is that our internship database is separate from our job bank.  You can find internships at Internship Exchange, which you can register for on our website at www.usfca.edu/career (Click on the “Student” link in the left-hand navigation menu).  It only takes a few minutes to register, so do it as soon as possible! 

Have a great weekend,

Seghel

Resume and Cover Letter Workshop

Are you finding that your Resume or your Cover Letters are lacking a little… color? Do you want to find a way to make them stand out? Well don’t fret, because the Resume and Cover Letter workshop is going on next Wednesday, February 3^rd, from 5:30-7:00pm in McLaren 252.

Make sure to bring those monochrome Resumes and Cover Letters and we’ll help you brighten them up!

See you there,

Sarah

Ciao ragazzi! (“Hey guys!” In Italiano)

It has been a long, challenging, and incredibly amazing five months since I’ve last written to you all. In that time I’ve been studying abroad in Rome, traveling to different parts of Europe, and yes, even sky diving (and there are pictures… awful, hilarious pictures). To sum it up: the lessons that I’ve learned from my study abroad experience will last me a lifetime.

However, I am also incredibly excited to be back in one of my favorite cities in the world, San Francisco, not to mention very happy to be back in my home away from home, the Career Services Center.

Anyway, the main purpose of this post is to extend a warm welcome-back to all of you just coming out of hibernation from the winter break (or just back from your seasonal job, or intersession, or your own study
abroad experience, or grandma’s house, or your hometown, or awkward family gatherings… you get the idea) and a big hearty good luck for the semester to come.

Hope to see you all soon in the CSC!
-Sarah

New Expanded Drop In Hours at CSC!!!

Welcome to the beginning of the Spring 2010 semester!  We at CSC hope everyone had a nice, relaxing, and rejuvenating break.

To better serve our students, we have expanded our Drop-In hours, adding 7 additional hours per week!

Here is the new schedule:
Mondays:  11 - 2
Tuesdays:  11 -2 & 4 - 7
Wednesdays:  11 -2 & 4 - 7
Thursdays:   11 - 2
Fridays:  11 - 2

Please stop by UC 403 and see us!

Ellen and the CSC gang

Top 5 Career Resolutions for 2010

New Year, New You! It’s 2010, and it’s time to set new goals to transform your year and your career.  If you’re looking to land a promotion, a new job, or make a career change this year, consider these five career resolutions:

Resolution #1: Get Your Resume in Shape
Is it time to wipe the dust off your resume and give it a fresh new look?  99% of resumes aren’t as strong as they could be!  Write a resume that focuses on accomplishments rather than descriptions.  Focus on numbers, data, and achievements, and highlight what makes you an accomplished candidate.

Resolution #2: Quit the Bad Interviewing Habits
How do you kick those bad interviewing habits that drive recruiting directors crazy?  Arrive 10 minutes early, give a firm handshake, dress professionally, and smile to gain a positive first impression.  Do a couple of mock interviews before the real thing, so you can polish and hone your answers.  Think about your strengths and weaknesses, and don’t try to trick the interviewer.  Being a perfectionist or “working too hard” are not valid weaknesses!

Resolution #3: Learn a New Professional Skill
By learning a new skill you make yourself more marketable, beef up your resume, and gain great talking points.  Take a computer class or get up-to-speed on the latest in social media.  Attend industry conferences, learn another language, or become the expert in a niche topic.  Learning a new skill is an effective and impressive way to position yourself for success.

Resolution #4: Spend More Time with Family and Friends to Beef Up Your Network
How can you use your network to land a great job?  Most job openings aren’t posted, and more than 60% of candidates get a job through networking.  Spend time with your friends and family, and let them know what you’re looking for.  Ask if they have friends or colleagues in your industry of interest who would be willing to set up an informational interview with you.  You may be surprised with how many connections your Uncle Phil has!

Resolution #5: Stay Positive about the Job Search
The job search can be long and frustrating, and it’s easy to come down with a serious case of the job search blues.  The first thing you need to remember is that you’re not alone.  Millions have been affected by the shaky economy, and few people consider a gap on your resume a red flag these days.  Set small goals each day to work towards, and celebrate small achievements to keep you moving forward.
Best of luck in 2010!
(Excerpted from JobBound.com)
 
Cheers,
Ellen 

Don't Freeze Over This Winter: Check Out Resume Collect

Hey everybody! I bet a few of you have heard rumblings of something called Resume Collect. So what is it exactly?

Resume Collect is a great opportunity for seniors to send out their resume en masse to many employers at once. This process is super easy! It just requires that you log into DonsCareers and click on the link "Jobs I Qualify for." A list of jobs will come up with that you can apply to. However, you have to have your resume already uploaded so you can just send it over to the employers. If the employers dig your resume, they'll contact you.

Make sure you swing by the Career Services Center during our Drop-In hours so that we can take a look at your resume before you upload it.

Resume Collect will start December 14 and will close January 31.