Senior Struggles: 8 ways to keep job search frustration from stealing your inspiration

February 22, 2012

Follow each week as we present step-by-step suggestions to achieve post-college success with less senior year stress.

If the mid-winter weather hasn’t got you feeling down, then the seemingly endless process of finding a job has probably gotten to you by now. Sending countless emails, getting people to talk to you and look at your resume, all while finishing your schoolwork, can wear you down and take a serious toll on your confidence and motivation.

So, while we’re usually telling you what to do and how to do it, this week we just want you to reflect and get re-inspired. What drives you? What inspires you to get back up on that horse and write another cover letter? We’re going to share some of our favorite inspirations, but this week, just find what works for you.

1. Watch an inspirational movie. Here are a few we like:

2. Watch an interview of someone you admire, such as a CEO, creative director or entrepreneur.

3. Read a book that inspires you. Here are a few to get you started:

  • Bossypants by Tina Fey
  • If you Have to Cry, Go Outside by Kelly Coutrone
  • The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp

4. Watch a great Youtube video:

5. Take a good quote to heart. Here’s a couple to get you started:

  • “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who are alive.”

            – Howard Thurman

  • “It doesn’t matter how slow you go, so long as you do not stop.”
         — Confucius

6.Watch great commencement speeches…and believe what the speakers say.

8. Retrace the footsteps that led you to realize your career aspirations in the first-place. There must be a reason you have been trying so hard to get a job in whichever field, so find it again and carry on.

Photo credits:
bispham2 / CC BY-ND-NC 2.0
neilconway / CC BY 2.0

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Posted by Nell Gable

Senior Struggles: 8 basic networking tips

February 15, 2012

Follow each week as we present step-by-step suggestions to achieve post-college success with less senior year stress.

Whether you’ve been looking since the fall or haven’t begun to think about it, it is by no means too late to start or continue your job search. In fact, sometimes it’s best to take a deep breath, and go back to the basics. Here is a basic set of networking tips to help you get started.

spider web

Not that kind of web.


1. Cast a wide net. Start by making a list of anyone and everyone whom you know that might be able to inform you about your desired career OR who might be able to link you to someone who can. Some find it helpful to create a networking spreadsheet, others a simple word document. Find what works for you and start emailing, phoning and talking to your web of contacts. I try to constantly talk about my career aspirations–to my hairstylist, professors, co-workers friends–anyone who might suddenly realize that they DO have a friend or uncle or hairstylist who might be able to help. You just never know.

2. Don’t forget about social networking. Is your LinkedIn account up-to-date? Is your Facebook profile appropriate? Start learning the tips and tricks to networking via social media.

3. Keep asking questions, but make sure they’re the right kind. Once you’ve reached out to your network of contacts, start asking questions and advice. Say you get the email address of someone in the industry/area you’d like to get a job in. Don’t start off with, “Hi I’m really hoping to get hired at your company, can you help me?” It’s best to ease into this new and fragile relationship. Start by simply asking how they got there, and what advice they have. Hopefully previous networking has led you to some of the “right” questions. By building on your previous networking experiences, you are better informed when it comes to the next level of networking.

4. Thank people as you go along. It’s easy to forget this one, but it may be the most important part of networking. Being gracious and appreciative makes people WANT to help you. If you treat people like stepping-stones, they tend to disappear.

5. Target specific organizations. We often talk about researching an industry, but at some point you need to start targeting specific companies and perusing networking contacts within them. There are a number of ways to do this:

  • LinkedIn- search the company you want to work for and find someone within it to politely contact for advice, NOT a job.
  • Career counselors- visit The Career Center and talk with a career coach. Ask about ways you can identify people to contact for advice or even an informational interview.
  • Google- you can find out just about anything on Google these days. Try searching the company you want to work for and finding an employee to reach out to. Take a look at names mentioned in press releases, news articles, and on websites.

6. Achieve in-person contact. This can take shape in a number of ways, but will likely be an essential part of job search networking. Here are some things to try:

  • Set up an informational interview with one of your contacts. Ask to buy them lunch or coffee, and come prepared to ask questions, NOT ask for a job (yet).
  • Join a professional association.  These groups often hold networking events and gatherings where you can meet people and practice your pitch.

7. Maintain relationships. Again, don’t forget to express gratitude to those who have helped you along your networking path. Simple thank-you cards are great, thank-you emails and phone calls are good too. Let people know how you are doing, and ask how they are doing too. Networking is two-way street.

8. Stay true to you. Take some time to revisit your iPlan. Make sure you know your story, community and presentation, and don’t stray too far from your unique personal brand. Stay true to who you are what it is you really want to do. And remember…

“If you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.”

-Conan O’Brien

Photo credit: cybershotking / CC BY 2.0

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Posted by Nell Gable

Senior Struggles: 5 email mistakes to avoid in your job search

February 2, 2012

Follow each week as we present step-by-step suggestions to achieve post-college success with less senior year stress.

1. Punctuation and grammar mistakes: writing skills are essential for just about every career so make sure you know the difference between your/you’re, to/too/two, their/they’re/there BEFORE you send that friendly networking email. These small mistakes can be glaring and it would be to bad if you had you’re chances at a dream job ruined.

2. Forgotten attachments: Make sure you attach all the files you’ve promised. There’s nothing more embarassing than following a perfectly polished email with, “oops forgot the attachment” so always double-check.

3. Overly conversational tone: keep your audience in mind and always write appropriately and respectfully when asking for a job, or for advice. You need their help, not the other way around. Avoid excessive exclamation points and smiley faces. Some people (especially those from older generations…) may not get the implied light-heartedness of the extra punctuation and could just think you’re yelling at them.

4. Overly dry tone: In our post on advice from publicist Kelly Cutrone, we emphasized the benefits of creativity in reaching out to people during the job search. Use your own unique voice and speak passionately to ensure that you stand out, but make sure you avoid the above mistakes.

5. Failing to follow up: don’t take a lack of response as rejection. Chances are, the person you’ve contacted is busy and has important people and responsibilities to deal with, so a friendly follow-up email is nothing to worry about. Simply start with something like, “Dear___, I just wanted to follow up on my previous email, please let me know when you have a chance to talk…” While the rule still stands–be respectful and “politely persistent,” if you want your voice to be heard, then you might have to speak up.

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Posted by Nell Gable

Winter Expo Surprises: Health Care, Real Estate, and Research

January 17, 2012

With 70+ organizations registered for this Wednesday’s Winter Career Expo it can be hard to sort through all the amazing opportunities. Follow along as we feature some of Expo’s hidden gems: organizations that might surprise you, unexpected positions and more…

If you’ve been to a career fair before you know it’s pretty easy to find the banking, consulting and retail organizations.  Tomorrow’s Expo includes some career fields that might surprise you:

Health Care
Cardinal Health is a global, dynamic Fortune 19 healthcare services and whole sale distribution company. We think of ourselves as the business behind healthcare because we focus on making it more cost-effective. We work with pharmacies, hospitals, doctor’s offices, surgery centers and clinical labs—basically anywhere healthcare services are offered. We offer internship and full-time employment opportunities across the organization.

CONMED Corporation is a global medical technology company that specializes in the development and sale of products and services that allow our physician customers to deliver high quality care and as a result, enhanced clinical outcomes for their patients. ConMed Patient Care will be hiring an Associate Territory Manager (ATM) for Michigan.

Real Estate
Landmark Commercial is a 22 year old commercial real estate brokerage company specializing in retail investment sales, site selection, land and property acquisition and shopping center leasing agencies.  We are going to hire a serious minded, ambitious, gregarious, entrepreneurial, tenacious individual that will work side by side with industry veterans of the highest level.
Rockwood Capital, LLC is a real estate investment firm which provides debt and equity capital combined with real estate expertise to select value-add office, residential, retail, hotel, and data center opportunities in key markets throughout the United States. Rockwood Capital is recruiting for internships

Research
Ben Venue Laboratories, Inc. was founded in 1938 and is a leading contract manufacturer of highly complex, sterile injectable drug products for the global pharmaceutical industry. Ben Venue Laboratories is recruiting for pharmaceutical technicians, chemists, microbiologists, production supervisors and more.

The Survey Research Center (SRC) is an international leader in interdisciplinary social science research involving the collection and analysis of data, especially data from scientific sample surveys. The SRC Summer Internship Program is a 10 week, 20 – 40 hour per week paid position for undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in social science research.

Visit the Winter Expo website for more information on all the organizations scheduled to attend.

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Posted by Sally Schueneman

Winter Expo Surprises: Environmental Organizations

January 16, 2012

With 70+ organizations registered for this Wednesday’s Winter Career Expo it can be hard to sort through all the amazing opportunities. Follow along as we feature some of Expo’s hidden gems: organizations that might surprise you, unexpected positions and more…

It’s less common to see environment-focused organizations at career fairs. This year, however, there are several new and returning environmental organizations.

Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park
A new organization to Winter Expo, the Conservancy’s mission is to engage public support for the park and enhance public use and enjoyment of the park. They are recruiting for Field Instructor-Teaching Internship (a 10-month teaching internship) and a variety of summer positions.

ENVIRON International Corp.
An international consultancy, ENVIRON works with clients to help resolve their most demanding environmental and human health issues. They are recruiting for Entry Level Associate with responsibilities that include conducting environmental assessments, evaluating environmental samples and reviewing regulatory requirements.

Clean Water Action
Since 1971, from Washington D.C. to the local level, Clean Water Action has led the fight to protect our nation’s waters.  They are recruiting for interns and full time organizers.

NSF
NSF International is an independent organization that certifies products and writes standards for food, water and consumer goods to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment.  They are recruiting for: Certification Project Manager, Associate Toxicologist1 and Technician.

Visit the Winter Expo website for more information on all the organizations scheduled to attend.

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Posted by Sally Schueneman

Winter Expo Surprises: Non-Profit Organizations

January 12, 2012

With 70+ organizations registered for next week’s Winter Career Expo it can be hard to sort through all the amazing opportunities. Follow along as we feature some of Expo’s hidden gems: organizations that might surprise you, unexpected positions, and more…

You might think that non-profit organizations don’t attend career fairs. However, Winter Expo has 17 non-profit organizations registered to attend (almost 25%).  Here are some examples:

The Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation
GRDC is a non-profit community organization in northwest Detroit representing a coalition of five neighborhood organizations, over 5,700 residents and 400 businesses. They are recruiting for Farmers’Market Intern, Community Security Program Intern and Vacant House Program Intern.

The Greater Flint Health Coalition
GFHC is a non-profit healthcare coalition – a true partnership between healthcare providers and purchasers, consumers and committed citizens, government leaders, insurers, educators and all those concerned about the well-being of our community and its residents.  They are recruiting for Project Managers, Health & Wellness Professionals, and Special Project positions.

Playworks
Playworks is a national nonprofit organization that supports learning by providing safe, healthy and inclusive play and physical activity to schools at recess and throughout the entire school day.  They are recruiting for coaches

Summer in the City
Summer in the City is a super fun, super flexible, super fulfilling Detroit-centric community service organization. There’s very little we won’t do for our community once we put our (and your!) minds and imaginations to it. This is the place to be for a crazy cool collectively creative Summer in the City!  We’re looking for Crew Members!

Visit the Winter Expo website for more information on all the organizations scheduled to attend.

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Posted by Sally Schueneman

Campus Employment: Gaining more than a paycheck

January 4, 2012

katherine man at the career center info deskIt’s no secret that juggling academics, social events, and extracurricular activities can be challenging; but students Like Katherine Man, who have chosen to add a part time job to their busy life, have found that there can be some unexpected benefits to having a job in the campus community. There are over 260 jobs to be had working for the University of Michigan RIGHT NOW, so, why not check out some of the perks to on-campus employment?

Katherine Man hasn’t decided on a major yet, but that doesn’t mean she lacks focus. She began working as an information desk assistant at The Career Center last year and so far, she says, the experience has been fantastic. “Work puts me in a good mood”, Katherine says about her part-time job which requires her to greet students and employers coming into the career center for appointments, answer phones, schedule meetings and work with The Career Center calendar. Because of her job, she says, Katherine has become a master of multitasking. In fact, she continued working while she was being interviewed and she didn’t miss a beat!

Katherine also expresses how much she enjoys working in a professional setting. Though she hasn’t started her career search yet, she knows that the communication and organizational skills she is developing as the info desk assistant will help her in any career path that she might choose. And while she’s working, she’s also networking. By working for the University, Katherine becomes more engaged in the campus community, which can be a great source of ideas, knowledge and guidance for students.

As with any job, it can be difficult to juggle all of her obligations at once, especially around exam time, says Katherine. However, she feels grateful to work in an environment where her supervisors understand what students go through. Surprisingly though, Katherine found that she is more likely to stay organized and on top of her work when she’s busy. Her part-time commitment at The Career Center hasn’t hindered her schoolwork at all!

Lessons aren’t only learned in the classroom and certain skills need real-world practice to perfect. Katherine is just one example of a student who is getting the most out of their time at the University of Michigan by working hard, both in the classroom and on the job. Of course, some people just can’t fit the time in for a job and there’s no shame in that, but if you can find the time, look no further than your very own campus—chances are, you’ll get more than just extra spending money out of the experience.

Start your on-campus job search at the UM Student Employment Office website.

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Posted by Nell Gable

Winter Break: Tackling LinkedIn

December 28, 2011

LinkedIn penThe professional networking site LinkedIn can seem a bit overwhelming to college students, but it can be an invaluable resource when it comes to connecting with professionals. Why not work on building your LinkedIn profile and network while you have some free time this winter break? Once you’ve created your profile, you can use InMaps to see a visualization of your connections, and from there, the possibilities are endless! Here are some helpful LinkedIn-themed blog posts we’ve run on this blog previously, to get you started:

Getting started on LinkedIn

The value of LinkedIn

Student-friendly LinkedIn profile options

InMaps tips and tricks

LinkedIn for struggling seniors

Photo credit: sheilascarborough / CC BY 2.0

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Posted by Nell Gable

Eight New Alumni Profiles

December 6, 2011

Wherever you go, Go Blue!

The University of Michigan has one of the largest living alumni bodies in the world, at over 500,000 strong. Have you ever wondered what your fellow Wolverines do after graduation, and how they got there? We’ve recently added eight new alumni profiles to our website to help showcase a few more paths that are available to you when your time in Ann Arbor is complete. You’ll find out why these alumni chose their major, what their first year on the job was list, what’s on their “career to-do list,” and more! This round of additions includes Wolverines working in sales & marketing, law, financial services, government, non-profit, education, and human resources. Take a look!

For more ideas about what Michigan alumni are doing after graduation, take a look at the rest of the alumni profiles on our website, visit the UM Alumni Association, or take a look at one of the various alumni groups on LinkedIn.

Photo credit: Michigan Union Graphic Design Office

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Posted by Scott Tsuchiyama

Words of Advice from Alumni in the Entertainment Industry

November 15, 2011

microphoneOn Friday, November 4th, the Department of Communication studies and the Michigan Association of Communication Studies (MACS) hosted the Entertainment Media Career Forum. At the event, a panel of Michigan alumni shared stories about the paths that led them to work in the entertainment industry. They also provided tips and advice on how to be successful in their industry.  The common theme throughout the event was “work hard and be persistent”. All of the panelists said they’ve struggled due to the unpredictability of their field, but judging from the exciting stories they shared (Allie Foster recently bumped into Julia Roberts on the set of the Today Show), the struggle was well worth the career.

Sad you missed the event? Here is some of their best advice:

“In the entertainment industry, it’s about making any connection that you can, you never know who might be able to help you land a job one day”

“People with the ‘never say no’ attitude are the ones who get ahead. It’s all about working harder than the other guy.”

“If you want to work in the entertainment industry, it’s ok to have no idea what you want to do as a senior. My best advice to you: don’t freak out.”

“Be prepared to move far from home if you’re passionate about something.”

“Don’t be above any entry level job, everyone has to work their way up in this industry.”

“They key to success is being ‘politely persistent’, that’s how I got my job at NBC.”

“It’s a little bit of luck and a lot of time, persistence and hard work.”

“When you don’t know, say you don’t know. You don’t want to learn that lesson the hard way.”

“Read, read, read. It’s important to know what’s going on in the industry you want to work in.”

“Make sure you have an opinion. Your opinion is never wrong, because it’s an opinion!”

“The best idea in the world won’t work unless you do.”

Events such as this one are a great reminder that the University of Michigan Alumni network is an invaluable resource, composed of fellow Wolverines who want to see you succeed — never be afraid to utilize your alumni connections!

Photo credit: hiddedevries/CC BY 2.0

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Posted by Nell Gable

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