Archive for the ‘college students’ Category
Target, Beer Pong and Party Schools
Filed under: college students, higher education, student affairs | Tags: binge drinking, alcohol, Princeton Review, Target, beer pong
Comments (5) Recently, members of the student affairs community were upset/disappointed/outraged at a photo of a Target end cap marketing ping pong balls, card tables and plastic cups as “college essentials” (i.e. everything you need to set up a game of beer pong…aside from the beer – where were you on that, Target?)
In related news, the Princeton Review recently released their list of the top party schools. Every year a big deal is made by media and university staff about this list. Administrators dread it. News outlets announce it as if it’s groundbreaking, hard-hitting news. Universities release statements about their efforts to address drinking issues on campus and promise worried parents they are doing everything they can. Student affairs pros condemn the list and talk about how it dangerously glamorizes binge drinking.
I don’t think the Target display nor the party school rankings are particularly helpful and it is disappointing to see companies try to maximize profit by playing on dangerous stereotypes about what college should be and/or assumed or proven ideas about college students’ drinking habits.
However, we can condemn the party school rankings and the beer pong displays as much as we want but that stuff really doesn’t matter. If the lists disappeared and Target took down their beer pong display, the binge drinking problems would still be there. Those are symptoms of the problem, not the problem itself.
Instead, universities need to focus efforts on two areas: 1) helping students make informed decisions about drinking and provide the appropriate resources to students dealing with alcohol issues, and 2) evaluating and making changes within the culture in which colleges and universities with a lot of drinking problems operate.
Here at University of Wisconsin-Madison we have students who engage in high-risk drinking because they grew up in Wisconsin, a state with a huge drinking culture (check this Milwaukee Journal Sentinel series about it – it’s eye opening). Wisconsin leads the nation in percentage of the population that drinks, binge drinking, number of taverns, drunk driving offenses, etc. It’s no wonder Sconnies have issues with alcohol. Boycotting Target and blaming stupid lists from from companies trying to make a quick buck isn’t going to change that. Our time can be better spent on other efforts to address binge drinking on our campuses.
What do you think? Am I totally off the mark? After all, I’m just a career services person who fixes resumes. I’m curious what those of you who that work in Dean of Students offices, judicial affairs, residence life and other departments that have to deal more directly with student drinking think about this.
The Problem with Blog-Based Resume Advice
Filed under: college students, job search, resume writing, social media, workplace | Tags: blog advice, blogging, pet peeves
Leave a Comment I realize that this post is right above a post I previously wrote about resume advice.
But here’s the deal: There are some resume guidelines that generally apply to most job seekers (“Proofread your resume for errors”). There is a lot of blog-based resume advice that doesn’t.
When I read bloggers’ recommendations to add fancy graphics to a resume or to disregard the one-page length recommendation, I cringe. Those are individual and industry-specific suggestions. What might fly for a graphic designer will not work for a non-profit professional, and so on.
I read blogs written by those in social media, marketing and other creative or technology-related industries which claim resumes aren’t even necessary anymore because they’ve been replaced by online media. Yet, my office works with over 400 employers a year that say, yes, a resume is still absolutely necessary (for entry-level positions geared toward business majors, that is). Will resumes go away in the future? Probably. But we’re not quite there yet, at least, not in all industries, at all hiring levels. Many students I work with would be grossly under prepared without a resume and would probably not do well with a 3-page resume filled with fancy, colorful graphics, either.
The bottom line is, everything has context. Be sure to consider what perspective a blogger brings to their advice and the industry in which they have the most experience. That’s not to say someone who works in one industry can’t benefit from ideas presented by someone in a completely different industry. Weigh advice from others against what you know to be true about your industry and your own experiences – which, of course, you know best – and tailor those ideas for your specific situation.
Resume Checklist: Seven Things to Examine Now
Filed under: college students, job search, resume writing | Tags: resumes
Leave a Comment Crafting an effective resume is sometimes a tedious process and always never-ending. Once you have your basic info on paper, there are quick things you can do to make sure your information is presented in the best way. Since it’s fall on-campus recruiting season, I’ve seen a loads of resumes lately. The most common issues I see:
1. Too much or not enough white space. Hold your resume at arm’s length. Does your eye travel to a big, white, open space first? Then there is too much of it. On the flip side, if a reader cannot pick out your most recent 2-3 experiences and/or your educational information (for college students and recent grads) then the page has too much text, too few spaces or is just too messy. Use some white space to break things up.
2. Overformatting. Bold, italics, underlining, capital letters, etc. can all make the most important information on the page stand out. Few things on the resume need to be bolded, underlined, italicized AND capitalized. Use no more than two methods of emphasis at once. It works most effectively when used sparingly.
3. Gigantic name or teeny tiny name. Your name is important. It should be a few fonts sizes larger than the other items on the resume. But that’s it. Anything larger, even if it’s just with the best of intentions to help the reader remember who you are, makes you look like an egomaniac. Conversely, a name that is too small is difficult for a reader to find or remember. Never a good thing.
4. No results. It’s alright to list the tasks you’ve completed at your previous jobs/internships/extracurriculars but it’s better to include the result of your actions. What did you accomplish or achieve? How did what you did save money, make money or result in positive change for the company/organization?
5. Repeating verbatim the same skills/tasks. Each phrase or descriptive line on the resume should highlight a new skill or a new way in which the skill was used. One page isn’t much, so don’t waste space by repeating what you’ve already said in another section. Even if the task or skill being described is the same, the environment in which it was used is different and can at least be worded in a way that shows some diversity of experience.
6. Incomplete information. Every experience listed on the resume should include employer name, city/state, title and dates of employment. List all titles held at each company and the dates each position was held.
7. Using templates. You want your resume to stand out. To be unique. A template, by definition, is used to make things look the same. This is bad news if your goal is to stand out. Use a blank Word doc instead. Plus, templates turn into a hot mess when transmitted electronically.
Finally, get someone else to take a look at your finished resume to check for any errors. Sometimes a second set of eyes can catch things you might miss after looking at the document for hours on end.
Ideas Don’t Become Reality In Your Mind So Share Them With People Who Can Help You Out
Filed under: college students, networking, social media | Tags: career management, college students, leadership, sharing ideas, vision, young professionals
Leave a Comment Last week I served as a facilitator at the LeaderShape Institute. For seven days I was locked up in a pastoral center with over 60 college students who were thinking, breathing, living leadership for 16+ hours a day. It was ridiculously intense yet powerful.
Central to the program is the process of creating a vision and putting the vision into action. It was inspiring to see students’ ideas of what could be, but even more so, the way they instantly started sharing resources to get each other started. It shouldn’t come as a surprise – Gen Y loves to work with a team to get things done – but it was impressive, nonetheless. By the end of the leadership “bootcamp” students left with a refined vision that was stronger than when they started and campus resources, community organizations and business contacts that could help make their ideas a reality – all thanks to their peers.
At the same time, I was able to take a peek at some changes to one of my favorite sites, Brazen Careerist. For a long time, I’ve been a fan of the way the site brings together young professionals and creates a community around blogging. Today their new social networking site is launching, with improved features that allow users a more convenient way to share ideas and follow the ideas of others. At a glance, users can see what other community members are reading and thinking plus share their own thoughts on a profile page:
I like how it is similar to LinkedIn but instead of being mainly focused on users’ work experience, something college students and young professionals usually have little of, it capitalizes on ideas, the future and working together. Gen Y uses collaboration all the time: organizing a volleyball tournament, building a Habitat for Humanity house, planning a pub crawl, making their LeaderShape vision a reality. The same collaboration should be applied toward career development. Campus career advisors continually preach about the importance of networking. The new Brazen Careerist site makes relationship-building and collaboration among young professionals easy and allows college students to leverage two of the best resources they have: the desire to work with others to achieve goals and fresh, interesting ideas. Head on over to Brazen Careerist and check it out.
Three Easy Ways to Not Annoy Recruiters
Filed under: college students, job search, on-campus recruiting | Tags: interviewing, job seekers, on-campus recruiting
Comments (4) I’m not a recruiter, but I work with lots of them and the undergraduate students they are looking to hire. Sometimes little things can have a big impact on the application process. Three quick ways to be a better candidate:
1. Use your first and last name in your resume file name
I receive a lot of emails with attached files labeled “Resume”. Later, I have no idea which resume belongs to whom. Annoying. For HR people receiving hundreds of emailed resumes a day, that’s a problem. Make it as easy as possible for a recruiter to save, forward and find the information you send.
2. Don’t say, “I’ll do anything”
No, you probably won’t. Or, you’ll be hired into a position, figure out it isn’t a good fit and then quit. Recruiters don’t look good when the hires they recommended leave the company right away. Saying “I’ll do anything” does not demonstrate flexibility, it makes a candidate seem indecisive or impetuous and is a red flag. Know how your skills and experiences will add value to the organization. Don’t expect the employer to figure it out for you.
3. Treat everyone with respect
This should go without saying, but nerves or stress can change our normal behavior. Be polite to everyone you meet during company visits, from the parking lot attendant, to the receptionist, to the person in the elevator. It’s disappointing to see a stellar candidate totally blow the interview by behaving rudely when they let their guard down or get flustered. You never know who will have input in hiring decisions.
Rebounding from a Rescinded Job Offer
Filed under: college students, economy, job search | Tags: economy, job offers
Leave a Comment It’s that time of year, when career center staff track down all their grads in order to record post-graduation plans. In our office, lots of students are reporting exciting full-time and internship plans. A few, however, have had their accepted offers rescinded by employers, due to the economy. I feel for these students. They’ve done everything right, probably turned down other offers, and then all of a sudden, no more job. Here are some tips for job seekers who find themselves in similar situations:
Grieve
A rescinded offer is a total bummer. It’s okay to feel disappointed, sad, upset, and/or really angry. Once you accept how you feel you can begin to move beyond that and start taking steps to recover.
Get clarification about what happens next
Some companies who have to pull offers will provide compensation in some way. Some will let you keep a signing bonus, if you received one, or give you other monetary compensation. A few may even be able to offer you a different position in another division, department, etc.
Ask for a reference or referral
Many recruiters will serve as a reference as you re-launch your job search, figuring it is the least they can do. Their recommendation to other employers is valuable. You’ve essentially been pre-screened, and will be viewed as a highly qualified candidate because you’ve already survived the competition’s interview process. It’s like dating – people are attracted to people already in relationships because they figure they must be a good partner. Employers are attracted to candidates deemed “hirable” by someone else.
Stay in touch
Even though you might be disappointed and angry, be professional when communicating with the company. Maintain your relationship so when things turn around, you’ll be considered for new opportunities.
Contact companies that made you other offers
If you turned down other offers, swallow your pride and get in touch with those organizations to see if they’re still looking for candidates. You may find a company isn’t willing to hire you because they don’t want to be your second choice, but most will still be interested, if you were a strong candidate and they are in a position to hire. Checking back with other employers is much easier if you graciously turned down their offer and maintained professionalism in the process, so remember this when evaluating, accepting and declining job offers.
Contact your career center
Career center staff have relationships with lots of employers and may be able to direct you to employers they know are still hiring. They can act as your advocate as you negotiate for compensation or if you think you’re being treated unfairly.
Let your network know you’re looking
If you kept in touch with your contacts, they probably knew you accepted a position. It’s going to take some work to let them know that your situation has changed. Your story is one people can sympathize with though, so capitalize on that and ask for help.
Students: No Internship? Do This Instead
Lately, I’ve met with quite a few students who are just beginning to think about their summer plans. I have to break the news that most recruiting is over and intern positions are filled. Many students give up; the motivated ones can follow these tips to build skills in other ways:
1. Conduct informational interviews
Students who meet with me know I cannot say enough about the benefits of informational interviews. I’ve had 8 jobs and internships since graduating college 6 years ago and of those, five were a direct or indirect result of an informational interview.
An info interview is exactly like it sounds: you find someone who works in a field of interest and discuss with them their career path, current position and their advice for new professionals. From this, you get insider information about industries and companies, but more importantly, you start to build a relationship. It’s a much more effective way of networking. You’re actually spending time getting to know someone, instead of passing a business card at some schmoozy social event. Plus, people love to talk about themselves.
2. Start a blog
Blogging takes time and persistence. Without classes, you’ll have lots of time – which gets you halfway there. If you blog about a topic related to your field of study or career interests, you have a personal branding and marketing tool. Build your blog over the summer, then add it to your resume and talk about it in interviews. It shows employers you are actively engaged within your intended profession and not afraid to put your ideas out there. See some examples here.
3. Work on your online networking
Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date and you’re maximizing its potential. Are you participating in group discussions? Connecting with new people? Researching common career paths? If you’re not on LinkedIn, start here.
Check out Twitter, too. While Twitter is not as obvious a career resource as LinkedIn, it is still a great career tool. Unlike other social networks, it allows you to connect with total strangers, with a diverse range of interests and experiences. Use online resources to complement your face-to-face networking efforts. Some users post jobs and career advice.
4. Join a professional association
Professional associations often post jobs, organize networking events, put on conferences and allow you to meet new people in your field. Usually these organizations have less expensive student membership rates. The best part is that you’ll probably be one of the youngest people in the room at any organization event. The more experienced folks will be impressed by your motivation and initiative and many will be eager to help you out.
5. Leverage your seemingly unrelated summer job to gain related experience
So many students dismiss their part-time or summer work. “I was just a waitress.” Or, “I just did data entry.” Maybe you’re not working your dream job, but there are probably opportunities for you to learn more – if you ask for it. Talk to your supervisor about shadowing people in departments you are more interested in.
Or, if you see a problem or an issue needing attention, don’t wait for permission. Take charge and do something to proactively address it.
6. Plan for fall
Maybe you missed prime recruiting season for summer internships, but let that be a lesson learned for the future. Use summer to identify employers of interest. Get your resume up to date, brush up on interviewing skills and make sure you are building and nurturing your network.
If you need to, take a summer course to free up time in your schedule during the academic year so you can do an internship then. There will be less competition for intern positions. And, utilize your campus career center during the summer. Advisors often have more time on their hands during the summer months.
7. Create your own internship experience
During the summer between my two years of grad school I wanted an internship but there were zero relevant intern or job postings in the small northern Wisconsin town I was living in at the time. I contacted the local two-year college and asked if they could use the help of an unpaid intern. A few e-mail exchanges later, I was on-campus and learning tons about how a community college operates, something about which I knew next to nothing prior to my internship. This approach is especially useful with smaller organizations that may not have structured internship programs or don’t recruit on-campus.
Not all industries or companies are open to creating an intern opportunity. If companies won’t take you on, a non-profit organization might be able to use your skills. Consider volunteering instead.
8. Start your own business
Avoid employers all together. Start your own business. Employers love to see you can manage your time, prioritize responsibilities, lead others, work independently, communicate or organize data. You can do all this while running your own business, even if it is as simple as a lawn care or baby-sitting service.
