Fact: There are over 14,000 profiles in the Facebook CofC Network.

Fact: MySpace is one of the most trafficked websites on the Internet.

Fact: Social Networking websites like Facebook and MySpace can be used against you during the hiring process.

There is one common denominator between college students world wide (though there are a few of you who will say Not Me!). That is social networking. I do not mean going out to parties or clubs and hanging out with friends. Social networking in today’s world means connecting socially through the Internet on “social network” websites. You talk with friends, leave ‘presents,’ post pictures and your views of the world around you all without leaving your computer. But have you thought about what those messages or pictures are saying about you? For example, the pictures of you dancing on top of a table at a local bar may not be the best image for a potential employer to see.

More and more employers are becoming connected to potential employees in the various social networking websites. They do ‘research’ on employees and may not hire you based on the impression they receive. But it does not end once you get the job. Just because employers are paying you, does not mean they are not checking up on you. Pictures or comments that are deemed unprofessional by your employer or potential employer can harm you.

Before the job search process (and after you get the job) think of a few simple things to combat a negative impression your employer may have toward you.

• Make sure all of the pictures of you (both ones you post and others post) do not feature you being too unprofessional.
• Do a Google search of yourself to see what appears. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
• If you do have a Facebook or MySpace account you may want to set the privacy settings higher so only friends can view it.

For more tips and suggestions go to our Social Networking page. What are some other ways you can combat negative impressions based on your social networking pages? Do you have any horror stories about employers and these sites? Do you think employers should use social networking sites to check on present or future employees?

If you listen to the news about the economy, you may come away with the idea that there are no jobs out there, so what is the point in looking? Actually, there are still job opportunities, but fewer of them. This means that there is more competition, and upcoming graduates must work harder and smarter in order to find the jobs available.

Here are tips for finding jobs in the current economy:

• Don’t just look on major job sites on the internet for jobs!
  Since advertising on these sites costs money, and employers don’t want to be flooded with resumes, fewer jobs are being listed on the major internet job sites now.
• Take every opportunity to make a personal connection to get leads on job possibilities, like talking to your roommate’s parents who live in a city of interest to you….or doing an informational interview with an alumnus of the College of Charleston working in a company you’re interested in but currently isn’t listing any openings. Leads can come from faculty, friends, acquaintances, your hairdresser, anyone!
• Avoid casting your net too wide….don’t say you are interested in “anything” unless you really are! (And most of you aren’t! Would you flip hamburgers? Drive a delivery truck? No? Then you aren’t interested in anything.) Focus your search and your networking efforts on opportunities in which you are interested and for which you have some capabilities/qualifications.
• Target your resume cover letter to match the job requirements and preferences of the vacancy.
  Research the company and the job to help you in personalizing your correspondence. This is critical in today’s job market!
• Be prepared to start at a lower level than you had originally planned. Look for opportunities
  to get your foot in the door of organizations or companies that interest you. Take the opportunity to learn and to prove yourself, and to position yourself for promotional opportunities when they occur.
• Realize that the process takes time, energy and effort.

A job search in the current economy is not for the faint of heart. And experts agree that “waiting it out” and doing nothing is the worst strategy, because it shows a lack of energy and interest in your career. At least if you are trying and making an effort, employers may appreciate that fact and consider you when they have an opening come available.

Check out this recent graduate’s job search success story and learn from his experience!

E-mail Etiquette: A Quick Guide to Writing a Professional E-mail

What is a major? Not a hard question to answer is it? According to Dictionary.com it is “a subject or field of study chosen by a student to represent his or her principal interest and upon which a large share of his or her efforts are concentrated.” For example, if you are majoring in Business then you will primarily be studying the business world including market trends, management, advertising, and much more!

But did you catch the first part of the definition? It says “principal interest.” This means you should find an interest in what you are studying. I have talked with several students who claim they chose their major because it was recommended to them by family or friends. Or they chose biology because it makes a great degree to get into medical school. You should not choose your major based on other people’s suggestions, likes and dislikes, but based on your likes and dislikes.

Remember that a major does not equal a career. Just because you choose to study journalism does not mean you have to go into that career field. While in school you will have the opportunity to study a variety of subjects to build your knowledge and skill base; opportunities to complete internships and study abroad trips. It is those activities that will help you land the job of your choice. So if you want to major in art, theater, or some other subject area that you find enjoyment in then do so. Just remember to gain relevant experience in your other activities because those will go a long way to help you with your career goals.

Here are some things to consider when you are choosing your major:

• What do you enjoy doing? Remember, you do not want to choose an area where you hate doing the work even if you are good at it.
• Research different majors. Talk with faculty, students, and your career counselor about different majors you are considering. Get all the facts.
• And last and most importantly remember that if you do not like your current major it is ok to change to another one. Most students switch majors while they are at school so you will not stick out if you do. Just remember the more you change your major the longer you may potentially be in school.

Have you had in Major dilemmas that you want to share?

It’s happened to all of us.  We’re going about our day, doing our jobs, when suddenly someone is screaming at us, insulting us, or generally making us wish we hadn’t gotten out of bed that morning.

 Learning to manage emotions is an important part of becoming a professional.  So how do you project a professional image while you’re screaming inside? Here are some tips to help you when emotions threaten to bubble over.During the conflict or incident:
1.  Focus on doing your job.  Specifically focusing on your duties and the task at hand will help you keep your emotions in check, and ensure you continue to perform well under stress.

 After the conflict or incident:

Clothes make the man (or woman). Have you ever heard that statement? In most cases this is not true-we are not who we are because of the clothes we wear, but in the interview it is the case. When meeting the employer for the first time our clothes convey an unspoken statement about ourselves. With the right clothes you can say a lot of positive things to your employer, but with the wrong clothes you can say goodbye to your dream job. Martin Yate, writer of “Knock ‘em Dead” a great book to guide you in the job search, sums it up perfectly. “When you dress like a professional, you are likely to be treated as one, and that’s a good head start to give yourself without saying a word” (Knock ‘em Dead, p120). Here are some simple rules to help you decide what to wear for the interview.

Rule 1: Be Conservative (everyone). While at heart you may be the most liberal minded person, you are trying to get a job-not speak out about your personal beliefs through you style of dress. When thinking conservative clothing, think about neutral colors like black, navy, gray, or white, though I would suggest avoiding the white leisure suit. No bright colors, so no hot pinks or teals or purples. You do not want the employer to focus so much on your suit that they are not even listening to you because you chose to wear that purple suit with the black wing tip shoes. Not a good choice.

Rule 2: For the Men When choosing your interview attire remember to keep a professional image in mind. This includes a suit (2 or 3 button), a nice tie, matching shoes (preferably in leather), and a solid or small patterned shirt. Always make sure that your suit fits and does not sag or is to tight. If you do not have a suit you can buy an reasonably priced one from any of the local department stores. Make sure your tie and shirt match your suit. No animal or art inspired ties. Remember to stay conservative.

Rule 3: For the Women Ladies your rules are very similar to the men’s but with a few additions. Women should try to go with skirted suits versus a pant suit. Skirts are the most conservative for women, but if you only have a pant suit do not panic, it is not the end of the world or your job prospect. The skirt of your suit should rest at or just above your knee. It is a nice length that allows you movement but does not show too much leg. Also check the length when you sit down. If it crawls to far up your legs go for another suit.

Rule 4: Jewelry (for everyone)

Again keep it conservative. Only women should wear earrings. Sorry guys leave them at home. For women the earrings should be small and not flashy. No other body piercing should be visible. Rings: only one per hand. And women if you wear a necklace keep it simple. If you have a question about a piece of jewelry better to err on the side of caution and not wear it.

There are a lot of other rules written and unwritten that you should consider when dressing for your interview. Click here for more information about Interview attire at the Virginia Tech’s Career Services. For more tips please go to the Career Center website or visit our office and peruse our reading material.

Do you have any interview clothing stories or tips?

Reference: Yate, Martin. Knock ‘em Dead. Avon, MA: Adams Media. 2006. (This book and others are located in the Career Center library).

The day is finally here. After four (or five) years, you are now ready to go into the world of professional employment. But where will you find that wonderful new career? One choice is at the 2009 Spring Career Fair. There will be over 70 different employers lined up to talk to you about possible futures with them.

You can go to the Career Center’s website to find more information about the Career Fair like who is attending and what they are seeking. One thing to remember about the Career Fair is to visit as many employers/graduate schools as possible. Maybe you feel pretty confident that you want to work with _______ but have you also thought about _______? Never pigeon hole yourself into one job or place to work without looking at all the different options.

As you have most likely guessed I am a big fan of tips and rules. Well, here a few to follow when preparing for and coming to the Career Fair.

1. Do your research. Look at the different companies coming to the Career Fair on our website and investigate them. What do they do? Where are they located? Are you interested in them?

 2. Prepare your resume and bring at least 20 copies. By now you should have a well written resume that highlights your experience and achievements. If you do not—Write One! Please bring it by the Career Center for the Career Advisor to look at. I love looking at resumes and will enjoy helping you make yours perfect.

 3. Dress the Part. Come to the Career Fair in professional dress. You are selling yourself to the different employers and they need to be able to picture you working in their company. See our website for more tips on professional dress.

4. Don’t be shy. The Career Fair is not a time to show your shyness. Be bold and approached the different employers/grad schools because they are not going to just grab you out the crowd. Go say hi, talk about their company, talk about yourself.

These were just a few tips to get your started. Also, check out the list of companies already slated to come to the career fair and the new preparation video on our homepage. Remember, come to the Spring Career Fair and get started on that wonderful new career that is waiting for you.

How NOT to Succeed in the Workplace

Whether you’re at a part-time job, internship, full-time job, or volunteer position, here are some sure-fire ways NOT to succeed at work!

    1.  Ignore the office dress code

    2.  Have a bad attitude

    3.  Arrive late repeatedly without calling, or – better yet – don’t show up at

         all

    4.  Do homework without your supervisor’s permission

    5.  Have extended personal conversations at work – either on the phone or

         with friends who stop by the office

    6.  Surf the internet, text message, or send personal emails without your

         supervisor’s permission

    7.  Get involved in office politics or gossip

    8.  Cover up mistakes by lying or shifting blame

    9.  Make excuses and avoid personal responsibility

   10  .Discuss confidential information outside of the appropriate venue

Okay, so how DO you succeed at work?  Check out our online training sessions in the Student Employment box at www.cofc.edu/careercenter.  There’s also a helpful handout on Workplace Essentials – http://www.cofc.edu/careercenter/WORKPLACE%20ESSENTIAL1.pdf

A cover letter serves as your letter of introduction to the employer, and is also a valuable marketing tool in the job search process.  So the answer is yes, you should definitely include a cover letter when applying to job or internship opportunities.  Also, think of it this way:  your resume lists your credentials…your education, experience, training, skills.  But the resume doesn’t communicate WHY you are interested in the specific company to which you are applying, WHY you are interested in this specific job or career field, WHY you would be good fit for the position, or WHY this opportunity fits your interests and career goals.  The cover letter needs to address those questions. 

So how do you go about writing a cover letter?  Look carefully at the job listing – it usually lists the requirements and duties of the job.  Take a highlighter and mark the key words in the job description and the qualifications or requirements.  Now, how do you fit those requirements?  Have you gained experience and/or knowledge of some or all of the job duties?  (Don’t forget about your classes and class projects – you may have gained experience and skills from those as well as from internships or jobs!)  Try to tailor the letter to the job description as much as possible, because these are the key points for the employer in looking at candidates to interview.

Another tip:  When emailing your resume to an employer, your cover letter should be the actual message you send, not sent as an attachment (unless you are instructed to send the cover letter as an attachment).   When applying to a position via email, it is critically important that the employer see something which entices them to read your resume – and a well crafted cover letter can provide this information.

For more information, including sample cover letters and a sample email cover letter, download our Help Guides at:  http://www.cofc.edu/careercenter/tipsheets.html.

Also, for a great article, with additional tips and another sample cover letter, go to JobWeb at www.jobweb.com.  This site contains a wealth of career and job search advice for college students!

And remember, once you have draft of your cover letter, the Career Center will be happy to review and critique it and provide you with feedback and tips for improvement.  Just call our office for an appointment or come in during our drop in hours Monday – Friday, 1 – 4 pm.

Off-campus employment opportunities are a great way to get a glimpse into the ways of the professional world. The city of Charleston has an array of employment possibilities, often times only walking distance from campus

Working off campus provides many different incentives to college students. Those eclectic group of employers have many different perspectives to offer in the world of business, allowing student to gain first-hand experience in the workplace. Branching out from the umbrella of higher education increases your ability to network with professionals and local business owners. If you choose to pick a part-time job that is related to careers in your major, you will gain direct career experience that serves as a substantial resume builder. Along with building a strong resume, working off-campus often times means building more financial security. The wages off-campus tend to be more competitive than employers on campus, giving students the opportunity to make good pay and good connections.

Along with the perks come some of the harsher aspects of working in the real world. Many employers are looking for employees that share similar goals concerning their job. They may not particularly care that being a student comes first for most people that choose to work during college. This means that free nights and weekends may be forfeited for the sake of a paycheck. Your off-campus employer may expect you to be available during holidays and school breaks. For most students who live in dorms, leaving Charleston for Christmas break is not an option, so you definitely want to keep that in mind when choosing an off-campus employer.

Whether you choose to work on or off campus during your academic career, choose wisely. The connections you make in college with forever shape your professional development and your college experience. Always keep in mind that the Career Center is here to help guide your choices and answer your questions throughout the process of your college career and professional development.