Why Attend Upcoming Career Fairs?

In a previous blog, we discussed tips for being successful for Career Fair season.  Now we will discuss the top three reasons to attend a career fair in the first place. 

1. Opportunity to network and practice professional communication.  There are very few chances you get where you will be able to meet and interact with so many potential employers on one day, at one time, in one location.  Take advantage of that!  By making a positive and lasting impression on potential employers early in the game, they are more likely to remember you when they are at the point of making hiring decisions.  Attending a career fair is definitely a way to distinguish yourself from other candidates.     
2. Gather information about potential career opportunities.  A career fair is your chance to learn important information about employers.  It can be a way to figure out which employers may or may not be a good fit for you.  By talking to actual employers, often you can gain more information and insights than you would get from simply researching their website and looking up information on your own.  According to the University of Missouri College of Business (http://business.missouri.edu/1719/default.aspx), below are some sample questions to ask a recruiter at a career fair:

• What kind of entry level jobs are available in your organization?
• Where are your organization’s job opportunities geographically located?  Is there a relocation expectation?
• What can I do now to prepare for a career in your organization or industry (class projects, work experience, study abroad)?
• What do you look for in the ideal job candidate?
• What is the work environment like (size of organization, type of supervision, travel)?

  3. Land an internship or full-time job.  Many human resources departments who participate in career fairs    rely on them to recruit employees.  So your chances of landing a position significantly increases when you attend a career fair and make a positive impression.

The next Park University Career Fair is taking place on Wednesday, October 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Breckon Sports Center – East Dome on the Parkville campus. For more information about this career fair or other upcoming fairs, go to www.park.edu/careers or contact Traci Klasing at traci.klasing@park.edu or 816-584-6407.

Not Enough Time!

Have you ever felt like there are not enough hours in the day to get everything accomplished? Between classes, jobs, family, and other responsibilities, most college students can relate to this feeling. The feeling often indicates that there is room for improvement in time management skills. Having good time management skills is essential for reducing stress and keeping your work under control. Some things you can do to help manage your time effectively are set goals, prioritize your tasks, manage interruptions, avoid procrastination, and schedule your tasks. Some of these things are obviously easier said than done, but working on these areas can go a long way in reducing stress.

For more tips and details on how you can improve your time management skills, a great website to visit is www.mindtools.com. This website provides links to a variety of articles that not only help with time management, but also help with other areas such as stress management, memory improvement, decision making, leadership, and communication skills.

How to Dress for Success!

While the college campus may be the perfect forum in which to exhibit your flair for the latest in fashion style, the interview is not the place to do so. Campus fashions and work fashions are two different worlds. This is not to say that you need to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe. One or two well-chosen business suits will serve you all the way to the first day on the job and beyond.

For those of you, who need a quick review of the basics, follow these guidelines for successful interview dress:

Men and Women

• Conservative two-piece business suit (solid dark blue or grey is best)
• Conservative long-sleeved shirt/blouse (white is best, pastel is next best)
• Clean, polished conservative shoes
• Well-groomed hairstyle
• Clean, trimmed fingernails
• Minimal cologne or perfume
• Empty pockets– no bulges or tinkling coins
• No gum, candy, or cigarettes
• Light briefcase or portfolio case
• No visible body piercing (nose rings, eyebrow rings, etc.) or tattoos

Men

• Necktie should be silk with a conservative pattern
• Dark shoes (black lace-ups are best)
• Dark socks (black is best)
• Get a haircut; short hair always fares best in interviews
• Fresh shave; mustaches are a possible negative, but if you must, make sure it is neat and trimmed
• No beards (unless you are interviewing for a job as a lumberjack!)
• No rings other than wedding ring or college ring
• No earrings (if you normally wear one, take it out)

Women

• Wear a suit with a jacket and skirt or slacks; no dresses
• Shoes with conservative heels
• Conservative hosiery at or near skin color (and no runs!)
• No purses, small or large; carry a briefcase instead
• If you wear nail polish, use clear or a conservative color
• Keep your makeup simple and natural (it should not be too noticeable)
• No more than one ring on each hand
• One set of earrings only

Article brought to you by www.collegegrad.com

Presented By

Tiffany Benson, Career Specialist @ Park University Academic Support Center

Gearing up for Career Fair Season

Attending a career fair is a great way to get exposure to an organization,  meet with recruiters and get a job.  Below are tips for being successful at a Career Fair:

• Learn and use proper interviewing techniques. Communicate effectively. Ask appropriate questions and speak clearly using proper grammar.
• Have a firm handshake and grip the recruiter’s entire hand.  Do not have a weak or fingertip handshake.  This is a recruiter’s first impression of you and can be interpreted as a sign of your level of self confidence and self-esteem.
•  Make eye contact and smile.
• Do not just walk to a recruiter’s table to get the “goodies” they give out. Make sure you are interested in the organization.
• Do not ask employer representatives, “What jobs do you have?” or “What can your organization do for me?” or “What do you do?”  Your research should have given you these answers already. 
• Prepare a resume that is accurate and grammatically correct. Then proofread it and have others do so. The Career Development Center can help you with this!
• Dress neatly. While different employers have different expectations of dress, you cannot go wrong by dressing as you would for an interview or business meeting…that means a suit!
• If you are not looking for full-time employment, let the recruiter know that up front. Many also have part-time or internship opportunities.
• If you do not know what type of position you want, provide the recruiter with information (major, courses taken, skills, experiential education assignments, and other experience) that could help determine what positions might be suitable for you.
• Always get business cards or use the contact information in the career fair booklet (handed out at the door) for future follow-up and networking.

Employers offered the following feedback on students that most impress them at career fairs

• Students who demonstrate a familiarity with the organization
• Students who have intelligent questions to ask
• Students who have thought about the way they might fit into the organization
• Students who present themselves in a professional manner
• Students who have researched the companies prior to attending the fair

Please check out www.park.edu/career for a full listing of all career fairs.

For further information contact Traci Klasing at traci.klasing@park.edu or call 816-584-6407.

The Benefits of Graduate Assistantships

Hello!  My name is Marissa Garcia, and I am excited to be working this semester as a graduate intern in the Park Career Development Center.  I am a student at UMKC who is working on my Master’s in Higher Education Administration.  I also work as a graduate assistant in the UMKC Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.

As I begin the second year into my Master’s program, I look at my graduate assistant position as being one of the best decisions I could have made while completing my degree.  In this blog, I want to outline the top 5 reasons as to why I feel that a graduate assistantship is an excellent opportunity and would recommend it to students who are in graduate school or considering graduate school in the future.

1.  Relevant experience.  Not only does my assistantship allow me to gain valuable knowledge, communication skills, and leadership abilities, but it also allows me to work in the type of setting that I see myself working in the future.

2.  Flexible schedule.  My graduate assistantship is similar to a work-study position in that academics are considered a top priority, and therefore, my work schedule is catered to my school schedule.

3.  Financial assistance.  My assistantship pays the tuition for two out of the three graduate courses I take each semester and also gives me a monthly stipend for the twenty hours I work each week.  Although it does not cover everything, every little bit helps!

4.  Expands my network.  Working in the Multicultural Student Affairs Office has expanded my network to not only those who work in the office, but also those who work in departments that Multicultural Student Affairs collaborate with.  What does that mean for me?  I have a lot more connections at UMKC than I did before starting my assistantship.

5.  Great location.  I work and go to school at the same place.  Need I say more?

If you are considering a graduate program at a particular institution, I definitely recommend researching if that institution offers graduate assistantships.  For more information about graduate assistantships, feel free to contact me at mgx88@umkc.edu.

5 Reasons to attend an Etiquette Dinner

In our current economic climate it is important to represent yourself as polished as possible in all settings, including business dinners.  Below are 5 reasons why you should attend an Etiquette Dinner.

1.  Learn how to mingle and network with fellow students and employers in a social setting.

2.  Understand the proper way to eat in a business setting.  For example, when you are asked to dinner with a potential employer you will need to know which fork goes with what entree, how to place your napkin when you leave the table, which direction to pass dishes, etc.

3.  Enjoy a delicious 3-course gourmet meal for a significantly reduced price.

4.  You will be given tips on appropriate dress, how to introduce yourself in a group setting and the usage of business card etiquette (yes, there is such a thing).

5.  It is just plain fun!

For more information on how you can attend the Career Development Center’s Etiquette dinner on September 22nd,  go to www.park.edu/career.

Hello world!

Hello!  Welcome to Park University’s Career Development Center blog.  Our staff will be updating the blog frequently and we will be talking about job search and career information.  Check us out often!