It’s finally here, Spring Break.  You have been planning this with your roommates for months and you are all leaving early in the morning for Cabo San Lucas…WOO-WOO!!!!  Party time!!!

Before your start going wild, remember a few critical things:

1.  Make sure you have a handle on your privacy settings for both Facebook and Twitter. You might be on the beach but employers who wish they were might be creeping on your posts!

2.   Avoid uploading pictures of you in a compromising situation.  This includes you as a bystander.  People make judgments based on photos whether they are accurate or not.

3.   If all of your friends decide to get tattoos at 2:00 a.m. make sure you put it somewhere you can cover up in the workplace.  The vacation is a week but the tattoo is pretty much forever.

4.   If you are expecting a job offer any day now, remember, it might be your future employer calling when the phone rings.  If you can’t be professional let it go to voicemail and return the call ASAP once you have “gathered your thoughts.”

If you are staying at home this Spring Break, there are some things you can do to be productive.

1.   Update your resume

2.   Call at least two people that could help you network and invite them to coffee.  This is a perfect time to catch up and begin asking for advice on navigating the internship/job search.

3.    Don’t have an interview suit?  This is a perfect time to visit Marshall’s, TJ Maxx or a consignment shop and see what you can find.  Did you know you can sometimes go to Goodwill and find suits with the tags still on?

4.   Begin lists of organizations you would be interested in learning more about or working for within your preferred geographic area.  Don’t know what is out there?  Starting researching.

Finally, wherever you go and whatever you do, remember to be safe and come back to campus with lots of stories!

Cath Borgman

Director, Career Planning Center

The Career Planning Center occasionally falls victim to rumors about what exactly the office can do for students and it’s time to set the record straight. A career center at a fellow Jesuit school, University of Loyola Maryland, has identified a few myths that are associated with career centers and we’d like to debunk some of these as well.

1.   Most of the services are for seniors or business majors.
As Peter Griffin would say, this one really grinds our gears! The Career Planning Center has many services that any student can use, regardless of their major and year. At Fairfield, each career counselor works directly with one of the four schools and colleges (Arts & Sciences, Engineering, Nursing, and Business) to help ensure the entire staff is aware of the unique needs of all types of majors. Furthermore, think of each year as having a career development goal building on the previous years:

• First Year – Discover Yourself and Explore Options
• Sophomore Year – Start Formulating Career Plans
• Junior Year – Acquire Experience
• Senior Year – Transition to the Real World

Review our services and suggested timeline.

2. The Career Center places people in jobs.

Remember the old adage, “Give a person a fish and they’ll eat for today. Teach a person to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime”?  The same concept applies with finding a job in the sense that the staff at the Career Planning Center wants you to learn how to do an effective job search so you’ll be able to do them throughout your entire life. The trends in career development show that most people change jobs about 10 times in their career, so there is an extremely good chance that your first job search will not be your last!

3. Good companies don’t come to campus.

The Career Center’s brings a wide range of companies to campus interested in recruiting students for full-time and internship opportunities. Keep in mind that for smaller or even out-of-state organizations, on-campus recruiting may not be worthwhile due to having too few available positions or because of the distance needed to travel to campus. Also, some of the companies that are extremely popular don’t necessarily need to come to campus because they know students will find them. Meet with one of our career counselors to discover ways to identify any of these types of employers and their “hidden” opportunities.

Visit Experience to find out which companies are posting opportunities and which are coming to campus to recruit, or conduct a corporate presentation or information session.

4. The jobs available through Experience or at the Career Fair are only for business majors.

While a number of companies seek business majors, there are many employers who seek and hire liberal arts and science majors. It’s also true that some companies have positions requiring specialized knowledge and skills, such as engineering and accounting. But others, especially when it comes to entry-level positions, are more interested in applicants who can communicate effectively, work well on teams, and can carefully illustrate how their skills and experiences align with the employer’s needs – a perfect fit for many liberal arts majors.

There is a separate Nursing Career Fair where local hospitals come to campus to recruit our nursing students. If you are a nursing student interested in working outside of the local area or at a very competitive hospital, please come to the Career Planning Center early and often so we can help you with your job search process.

5. The Career Center cannot help me apply to graduate school or to a post-graduate service program.

Career counselors are here to help you with every aspect of applying to graduate school, including program research, the application process, interviewing, and help with your personal statement. The same applies for post-graduate service and in that instance we work closely with the staff in Campus Ministry to make sure you are aware of a variety of opportunities.

6. The services are no longer available after I graduate.

We are happy to work with all Fairfield alumni at any stage of their career and our services are provided to alumni at no cost. Go Stags!

7. There are no internships for freshmen and sophomores.

While some internships are geared towards juniors and seniors, due to the knowledge and skills acquired in their advanced courses, many employers are interested in hiring freshmen and sophomore interns. The staff at the Career Center has numerous tips and resources to share when it comes to the internship search process that can apply to students at any stage of their college career.

Hopefully, we’ve debunked some of the myths you might have heard and we invite you to come to the Kelley Center to experience the services we provide for yourself. You can make an appointment by calling 203-254-4081 or come to drop-in hours Tuesday-Friday from 1:30-4:00pm. Let the truth set you free!

Meredith Marquez, Associate Director
mmarquez@fairfield.edu

Over the last month or so, our friends at Twitter introduced a brand new (and awesome) social media network that lets you record and share  6 second looping video clips online. When I signed up and started playing with it, it reminded me a lot of Instagram but with videos.  You know that friend of yours on Instagram who constantly posts pictures of their dog or cat wearing glasses? Ever wonder how they got him to wear them so perfectly? With Vine, those 2 dimensional “Pet Wearing People Clothes”  pictures transforms into a 6 second clip of the PROCESS of your friend getting those glasses on their pet – you now see the drooling,  the barking, and real struggle that it took to get the glasses to stay on their pet’s head. It goes from a picture to a story…

One of the best ways I have read Vine be explained/described is  “Vine is to YouTube what Twitter is to WordPress/Blogger”. It’s  social at the core and addictive. As a technology, it is user friendly – it records while you’re touching the screen, pauses when you take your finger away, and stops when you hit 6 seconds…

So now, the “Why you should care” part… First things first, in this day and age it is important to stay current  and relevant. If you are applying for an internship/job that involves social media, marketing, communication, PR, technology (I could keep going) that means staying on top of emerging technologies. Imagine how impressive you might sound at your next interview if you talk about ways the company might be able to expand their social media presence by using this new social network called Vine… I know I would be impressed. The Career Planning Center cares about this new social network because we want to make sure we are encouraging and empowering you all to be RESPONSIBLE social media users. Just like we say with Facebook or Twitter it is important to become experts on privacy settings and never post anything you wouldn’t want an employer to see. But at the same time, if you are planning on going into an industry where social media is relevant, it is important for you to be an active user.

With all that being said check out VINE and start posting some videos!

Steph Grejtak

 Assistant Director,  Career Planning Center

First things first, a big thank you to all of the employers and amazing students who came out to the Career Fair yesterday. The room was alive and you could tell there was some serious networking going on. But just like any networking event meeting and talking with people is just one small component  - it is the follow up that really takes it to the next level. With that being said, this is to all the students out there who met with any employers…

Sending a follow up letter or email message reiterates your interest in the organization and serves as a reminder of who you are to a busy recruiter who met with many candidates during the event. Here are some simple tips with writing a solid thank you note:

1. Be prompt.

If the the Career Fair was yesterday that means you should send a follow up note TODAY. Now there is the great debate over email vs. handwritten notes. My gut, send an email right away and if you want to do handwritten note because you are a romantic (which I am), then send BOTH. The last thing you want is for the employer to not get your note for some reason. I have heard a ton of horror stories about hand written notes never making it the employer…. You don’t want this to you be you.

2. Keep this basic structure.

Paragraph 1: Remember it is a THANK YOU note, so be sure to express your gratitude.

“Thanks for taking the time to meet with me at the career fair on Thursday. I really appreciated hearing more about the internship program with XYZ company. ”

Paragraph 2: Sell yourself. This is your opportunity reiterate why you’re a perfect candidate for the job. What experience/skills or abilities can you bring to the company?

Paragraph 3: Reinforce your interest in the position and the company, and let the recruiter know you’d welcome further discussions.

3. Keep it short, sweet, and personal.

Thank you notes shouldn’t be much longer than 2 -3 paragraphs. Think of this letter as another way to show you communication skills – a solid written and succient letter is proof you are able to articulate your ideas in a digestible manor. It is also important to address specific points that you and recruiter discussed.

4. Avoid spelling & grammatical errors.

OK, this is a no brainer… Read over your email and make sure it is perfect.

5. Be Confident (& humble)

Moral of this point, do not come off as desperate. When it comes to the hiring process  recruiters don’t show pity for desperate people. They want to hire people who are confident, collected, and capable.

Steph Grejtak

 Assistant Director,  Career Planning Center

In less than 24 hours 70 employers from a variety of industries will invade Fairfield’s campus. At first glance this might seem daunting… But it is not! Consider this an amazing opportunity for you to network with employers and learn more about what types of careers are out there. It is also a great place for you to get experience talking about YOU.  Below are some tips on how to make the most of the Career Fair.

How to Prepare:

• Know who is coming!  Checkout the Career Planning Website for the complete list of attendees.
• Research in more depth about the employers that you want to meet. What do they do? Are they hiring?
• Be prepared to introduce yourself with a 30-60 second “Elevator Pitch:
  • - Communicate a professional/enthusiastic attitude, use a firm handshake, and have a confident smile.
• -  Prepare a sincere, one-minute “commercial” about yourself.  Include information such  as: your major, courses, GPA, skills, activities, work values, reason why you would be a  good match with their company/industry, what makes you a special candidate, what your greatest  strengths are, or what you have to offer. Summarize your relevant skills, interests, and  background.

Day of the Fair (TOMORROW!)

• Arrive early and check out the floor plan, this might help ease any anxiety you have going into the day.
• Collect Business Cards and write something notable on the back about the person, this makes writing thank you notes very easy!
• Bring a pad of paper to take notes.
• Bring copies of your resume on RESUME PAPER even if they have the resume already
• Be open to talking to different companies, you never know what types of opportunities are out there.
• Don’t pair up with a buddy – go off on your own.. It is easy to get comfortable going up in pairs, but employers want to talk to you individually.
• DRESS FOR SUCCESS!

Day After the Fair

• Review your notes & business cards to craft thoughtful thank you notes..
• Be sure to email or write thank you notes sooner rather than later.

Final Tips

• Do your homework on the companies you are interested. They want to know your interest & knowledge of company.
• Dress for success
• Go early and know is attending
• Project a positive image
• Know your elevator pitch!
• DO NOT BE PASSIVE – ask questions!

 You can do it and if you need anything CPC Counselors will be there the whole day! 

Chances are at some point you will be interviewing by Skype. While you will still need to research and prepare for your interview doing all the things you need to do as if it were an in person interview there are other critical elements that can enhance your success.   Here are some tips from College Bound Success Inc. to help you excel with this type of interview.

How do you prepare for
an online interview? 

Did you know that, according to Forbes Magazine, more than 60% of companies are conducting job interviews online via Skype?

In today’s global workplace, the Skype interview is a fast, inexpensive, and convenient recruitment tool.  Interviewing through Skype brings challenges and opportunities. With the right preparation, you can excel in your online interview and successfully land your next job!

Top 6 Tips to Ace Your
Skype Interview   

1. Dress for Success

• Treat it like an in-person interview – dress in business attire from head to toe.

2. Establish a Professional Environment    

• Determine an appropriate interview space and arrange a quiet area to eliminate background noise.
• Ensure a neat work area and simple background. Suggestions:Keep your resume and other appropriate documents, including questions for the interviewer, close at hand.Solid or simple pattern colored wall
• Organized bookshelf or desk
• Avoid plain white background, windows, or a busy background that may distract the interviewer.

3. Check Your Equipment  

• Ensure you are connected to high speed internet.
• Test your webcam and microphone to verify that you are seen and heard clearly.
• Confirm that your Skype username and status are appropriate and professional.

4. Control the Lighting 

• Be seen at your best. Too much or too little light can make it difficult for the interviewer to see you clearly.

5. Ensure Professional Body Language

• Treat the online interview the same as you would in person.   Maintain good eye contact by looking directly into the camera rather than at the interviewer’s or your own image.
• Be conscious of your body language and maintain good posture.
• Keep hand gestures to a minimal.
• Remember to smile!

6. Practice Makes Perfect

• Ask a friend or colleague to conduct a mock interview with you on Skype.
• Dress in your interview outfit and sit with good posture.
• Practice speaking audibly and clearly, and looking into the webcam.
• With a few practice sessions, you will be comfortable and prepared to ace your Skype interview!

If you ever need a place to conduct your Skype interview, you can do it at the Career Planning Center.

Sue Quinlivan

Associate Director, Career Planning Center

As you might already know, an interview is a conversation between you and a potential employer.  In a perfect scenario, it is a mutually informative conversation where you both learn something from one another. For example:

 “You are the perfect candidate!” or “I do NOT want to work here!”

Remember, the “fit” between you and the interviewer – how natural the conversation is, how much you enjoy one another’s company, how confident and positive you seem and how interested they are in spending time with you can be just as important. Also keep in mind, interviewing is a skill and like any skill one should practice and prepare to be successful.

A Career Planning Center counselor is available to assist you in honing your interviewing skills and can help you prepare for any interview!  But in the mean time, here are some great tips on how to be an “Effective Interviewer”.

Prepare for the Interview

The first step in preparing for an interview is to research everything there is to know about the organization and the specific industry it is in.  Employers expect you to have done your “homework” and be able to clearly articulate why you are interested in working for that particular company. The only way to do that is to KNOW the company inside and out.

Starting your research:

Go to the company’s website and start digging!

• You want to know as much as you can – who are their clients? Their competitors? What are their products or different services? Do they have an annual report?
• Set a Google alert for the corporation and the industry so you can start getting alerted on anything that is     occurring in the news.
• With all of your research, begin to formulate questions that you can ask the employer during the interview.

Start reading the paper!

• You need to have an understanding of what is going on in the world.
• Some employers might even ask you a question about a current event!

Now that you know the company inside and out, it is time to get to know YOURSELF!

• Assess the requirements of the job and determine how your qualifications meet the employer’s needs.
• Relate skills, projects, and internships to the position.
• Know your resume and be able to DISCUSS it in detail.
• Prepare answers to potential interview questions (see Interview question handout.
• To boil it down, an employer is interested in knowing the answer to three basic questions:

1. Why are you interested in this field?

2. Why are you interested in this position and organization?

3. What relevant skills and experiences do you have that will make you successful?  WHY YOU?

The Interview

Dress for success!

• Be sure to dress professionally – wear a suit, conservative tie or blouse, clean shaven, limited jewelry, and bring a portfolio (more on dressing professionally in future blog post!)

Getting there!

• Know the location of the interview in advance and arrive early.
• Check in 5-10 minutes early – think of this as your first impression!
• Bring copies of your resume on RESUME PAPER even if they have the resume already.
• Prepare for inclement weather, bring an umbrella.

Communicating in the Interview

• A successful interview involves making a positive first impression and building rapport with the interviewer.
• Offer a good firm handshake and small talk to break the ice; be sure to be responsive.
• Your nonverbal communication is just as important as what you say.
• Maintain good eye contact, sit up straight, and be aware of your nervous habits (are you a tapper?
• There are 4 different styles of interviews, understanding the types will help you be intentional in your answers

• As the interview comes to an end, be sure to express your interest in the position and summarize why you are well qualified.
• Ask what the next steps will be or when you can expect to hear from the interviewer.

Follow Up E-mail

• Write a thank you email shortly after the interview
• This shows your interest in the position and provides you with one more opportunity to illustrate why you are                     perfect for the job.
• If you are not contacted within the specified amount of time, call or e-mail your contact to restate your interest and inquire about the status of the hiring process.

Do not be a nag, that might turn the interviewer off.  Try to be patient and wait until they make a decision.

OK that was a lot! Again, come by if you want to do some one on one prep for any interview!

Steph Grejtak

 Assistant Director,  Career Planning Center

Finding Nemo has a totally new meaning today as we hunker down to prepare for the storm. We wanted to let everyone know that the Career Planning Center will be closing at 12:30 today. All appointments will be rescheduled and Drop-In Hours will not be held.

Stay safe & warm!