Career Center Weekly Blog

Picture it – you’ve submitted your resume, wowed them at the interview, and landed the perfect job. Now what? Understanding office etiquette is one of the first steps toward success in the workplace – whether you’re working part-time at the College or enjoying your dream career after graduation.

So, what is office etiquette? Office etiquette addresses practices and behaviors that are acceptable in a professional setting. Here are some basics:

• Arrive on time
  • Call if you’re going to be late or can’t come in
• Remember that office resources are not for your personal use
• Don’t work on homework without your supervisor’s approval
• No personal calls
  • If you do receive a call, keep it brief
• No surfing the Internet, text-messaging, emailing, or instant messaging
• Leave no trace
  • If you mess it up, clean it up
  • If you use the last of something, replace it or let someone know who can
• Follow the workplace dress code
• Be enthusiastic and Friendly–your attitude influences your speech and mannerisms
• Avoid slang and NEVER use foul or offensive language in the workplace
• Make and effort to establish positive, professional relationships with your co-workers
  • A professional relationship is one that fosters a positive and productive work environment

Establishing positive, professional relationships with your co-workers is extremely important.

• Do your job
  • Let your co-workers know they can count on you
• Being considerate and thoughtful
  • Think how your behavior may affect others Read the rest of this entry »

One of the biggest resources a student in any discipline can have is their professors.  These are the people who have studied in certain areas to a great extent and have numerous contacts and resources in the field.  Please contact them for more in-depth information.

In the Career Center we have several print resources that have great information about possible career fields for the art major by Blythe Camenson.

• Careers in Art
• Great Jobs for Art Majors
• Great Jobs for Liberal Arts Majors

There are hundreds of others books that may also peak your interest.  Remember a major does not equal a career so even if you have that Arts Management degree you are not necessarily pointed at the art industry as seen in our alumni Arts Management majors.

The Internet is another great resource to use when trying to find more information about a field of study or career interest.  Here are some great websites that may interest you:

• The American Association of Museums
• South Carolina Arts Commission
• The New York Foundation for the Arts’
• Southern Arts Federation
• National Assembly for State Arts Agencies
• Americans for the Arts

These are only a few of the thousands of websites out there for the Art Management major.  Explore the links at the Arts Management Program for more great sites.  Do you know of other sites that may interest Arts Management majors?  Share them!

In the last hundred years or so the world has changed so much. Now it takes just seconds to converse with someone in another country versus weeks. And traveling between the borders is a common occurrence. We now live in a global community where we can and do actively participate in the world outside our borders. Because of this global view more and more people are choosing to study and work abroad. But where do you find these opportunities to explore the world? The study abroad experience is easy. Check out the Center for International Education where they have a lot of different learning opportunities around the world.

Finding a career or just a summer job abroad may be a little more challenging. Looking for a position locally is hard enough, but add in the distance factor (thousands of miles) it becomes even more challenging to locate and obtain those positions. There are a lot of different resources you can use to help you with the Career Beyond the Border dilemma. But take caution on setting all your hopes and dreams on landing your first job abroad.

“Every year, the Career Center sees numerous students who have studied or traveled abroad, and who want to continue to gain international experiences through working abroad after graduation. The reality is that finding an international job is a very challenging task, and professional jobs overseas are not generally available to entry-level applicants. However, there are opportunities and programs available for upcoming and recent graduates for work abroad experiences. Many of these programs have application deadlines well in advance of your graduation date, and some require fees for processing paperwork for visas, so if working abroad after graduation is one of your goals, it is important that you begin to explore programs and application requirements as soon as possible.” –Linda Robinson, Full Time Job Coordinator at the Career Center

Some things to try to help boost your resume in order to gain a Career Beyond the Border:

• Rack up the time spent abroad—the more experience you have in other countries will benefit you—think more than just one semester
• Hone your foreign language skills—what company will want to hire you if you cannot speak the language of the country you will be working in?
• Try to get an internship working abroad or try a service organization in another country to gain experience

Check out the links on the Career Center’s website for more help on locating information about working abroad (http://www.cofc.edu/~career/helpfulweblinks-location.html#international)

Also look at Making the Difference a website devoted to federal jobs in international relations. You may not work immediately in another country but these will give you the exposure that is essential to you and your career goals.

Do you have any advice for other students seeking experience in other countries?

I can tell you day in and day out all about the Arts Management major and the possible career directions, but it is always better to get information from the source. In this case that source is from an alumnus who went through the same program you are going or thinking of going through. Below are five questions I posed to Ms. Miriam Dolin, a College of Charleston Arts Management graduate, and her very insightful answers.

1. Why did you choose Arts Management as a major when you attended College of Charleston?

I initially chose the major because I wanted to go into the “business side” of the theatre… I didn’t want to major in Theatre and Arts Management had an interesting blend of classes in the Arts and business classes. I just took the Intro course and realized there were so many facets to the field of Arts Management that surely there was a place for me somewhere.

2. How do you think it benefited you then and now?

It benefited me in college because I was able to take so many different classes that interested me. Now, in my field, when I went on job interviews, people were very interested in what skillset came out of that major. It only sets you apart in a positive way from others who were a generic business or communications major.

3. Tell me a little bit about your current position?

Currently, I am the Associate Development Director for a 501c3 organization, Medical Development for Israel, Inc. We raise funds for the Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel. It is the only Tertiary care hospital serving children from all backgrounds in the Middle East. This organization is based out of New York City.

I NEVER thought I wanted to go into Development (Fundraising)… actually I went to grad school in Arts Administration after COFC and it was there that I decided to go into fundraising and to not do it for the arts.

4. If you could give any advice to current students in this major or thinking about this major what would it be?

If you think you would like to work for a non profit of any kind, not necessarily in the arts, this is still the major for you. I say this because this program at COFC teaches you so much about the non-profit sector in general. You still take business classes, but you learn so much about the non-profit world, which is becoming more and more appealing for people to go into after they get burnt out in the corporate sector.

5. Any other comments or advice?

The Arts Management program was the best decision I made for myself. The professors were wonderful and I still remember certain lectures from my classes. You get a lot of personal attention, which I feel is hard to find in other majors. Also, the people I graduated with are still great resources for me as I move along in my career in New York City.

Next week come back for different resources you can use to find more information about the Arts Management Major and careers in the field.

If you have any other additional questions for Ms. Dolin please go to the Career Mentor Network located in CISTERNonline. 

The interview is an important step in the job hiring process. You, the potential employee, have wowed them with your resume and now you just need to back up all that information and wow them in the interview. Those minutes (or hours) you sit before your potential boss or supervisor can make or break you. If the employer is not impressed during the interview then it is a guarantee that you will NOT receive the position.

The way you act during an interview can effect the impression the employer has about you. For example, if you tend to jump around in your chair the employer may become distracted by your gymnastics and not pay attention to your responses to their questions. Here are some tips for behavior in the interview no matter if it is for a part-time job, an internship or full-time position.

You have most likely heard the expression that first impressions are hard to change. This is especially true when meeting with a potential employer for the first interview. The initial reaction they have to you may greatly effect their recommendation for hire. When meeting the employer you need to greet them with a smile and an enthusiastic personality. A positive attitude will show the employer you are excited about being there and that you have confidence in yourself and your abilities. If you go in with a frown or lack luster personality the employer may get the wrong impression and think you are either not serious about the job or that working with you would not be a pleasant experience. Remember the employer is sizing you up to see not only if you can do the job, but if you will work well with others.

Another key behavior you need to be aware of is your body language. During the interview your body language is a key element in showing your confidence. Do not fidget with your hands, pen, hair, or anything else. This will betray you if you are nervous or the employer may think your mind is not on the interview. Another way of showing your complete attention in the interview is to look at the employer in the eye.

Not only do you have to be careful about what your body is saying silently, you need to be extra aware of what your mouth is saying. The words you use will help the employer paint a picture of the kind of person you are. Remember these tips: first, no cursing in the interview. It is very rude and unprofessional and you want the employer to see you as a professional. Second, try to avoid filler words like “um,” “you know,” and “like.” These words can be distracting for the employer and may make it hard to follow your speech. The last key tip for speaking in the interview is use correct grammar. Keep in mind you are not hanging out with your friends and talking casually. Using correct grammar will help you appear professional and educated; if you do not use the right words the employer can get the wrong impression about you. They need to be able to imagine you talking with clients or other workers.

There are a lot of other behaviors you should avoid during the interview. Share some of your own thoughts about interviewee behavior. What did you do that impressed the employer? Or did you do something so bad you bombed the whole thing?

The first installment of the major of the month!

Do you like art, but do not want to be an artist? Does the idea of planning events or writing grants appeal to you? Do you want to manage the finances, volunteers, or collection of an organization? Or do you just like the background an Arts Management degree can give you?

If so, then a Bachelor of Art in Arts Management may be the best fit for you. In this degree you will learn about the world of art, but also come to understand the business aspect of it as well. The course catalog has a great summarization, “. . . prepares students to become leaders, managers and members of arts organizations.” These organizations can range from museums, galleries, theater companies, plus other organizations not in the art world. The sky is the limit.

Do you want to know more about a degree in Art Management? Next Wednesday we will be featuring alumni from this degree program. Miriam Dolin, Associate Development Director for Israel, Inc. She will be answering some great questions about what she got out of the program and her current employment. Plus if you have any questions feel free to make them in the comments section.

But What Can I do with an Arts Management Degree?

Anything! That is the great thing about going to school at a liberal arts college; you will learn a variety of different skills and knowledge that will prepare you for the world, no matter what you do. There are some careers out there though that just scream out for an arts management major.

Here are a few job titles you could eventually have:

Read the rest of this entry »