As an education major, I am required to create a professional website displaying my skills as a professional. I admit, when I first heard about creating a professional website, I groaned inwardly. . . but the truth of the matter is that a professional website is not that difficult to create! I, with only an inkling of computer knowledge, have created a professional website through Expression Web.
I would encourage all of you who read this to consider creating your own webpage. On this webpage, you can display projects and information that make you highly employable. In fact, I hope to attach some of my English documents to my web site in the future.
A professional web site can boost your online image, as it can put your name higher on a Google results list. Furthermore, a professional web site allows others to see what you do and how well you have completed your work. Navigation buttons and layout can signal to an employer that you are organized and prepared for the professional world.
For those of you who do not have a professional web site and would like to see one, they are listed on the MC site under "Current Students" and the hyperlink "Student/Faculty Web Pages." I hope that this post has been helpful to you, and I wish everyone a happy, healthy January break!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
New Year's Resolutions: Creating Goals For Success
Perhaps it is a bit late to be posting about New Year's Resolutions, but January is not over yet. After the ball drops at midnight, resolutions are made varying from the mediocre to the near-impossible. My resolution for the upcoming year is to decide (definitively) on my major and set my course for the coming years at MC.
This resolution will require a variety of preparations: I will need to assess my motivations for pursuing my major, decide if that motivation will be enough to keep me within that field, and discover what the requirements are for that particular major. January Session has caused me to reassess my decision to teach, thereby causing a reassessment of my motivations.
Career Services offers testing to find individual motivations and careers to match personalities and interests. Appointments can be made with Betty Butterbaugh to do testing that will help you choose the career that best fits you. Remember to drop by Career Services for any help that you may need concerning your future career, graduate school programs, or job experience!
This resolution will require a variety of preparations: I will need to assess my motivations for pursuing my major, decide if that motivation will be enough to keep me within that field, and discover what the requirements are for that particular major. January Session has caused me to reassess my decision to teach, thereby causing a reassessment of my motivations.
Career Services offers testing to find individual motivations and careers to match personalities and interests. Appointments can be made with Betty Butterbaugh to do testing that will help you choose the career that best fits you. Remember to drop by Career Services for any help that you may need concerning your future career, graduate school programs, or job experience!
Summer Jobs: Money and Experience
Now that the Fall semester is over, we are all looking at plans for the future, whether that be our future career or courses. I, personally, have been giving some consideration to my plans for the summer. I know that I want a summer job where my skills will be utilized and weaknesses can be addressed. Like all students, I also want to make money for the next Fall semester.
Summer jobs, like most other positions, are usually filled by networking. It is not necessarily about who is the most qualified for a position, but who an employee knows is available and willing to do the job. My first meaningful job was working as support staff at a daycare. What did that mean? It means that I was on-call at all times and had scheduled work days. How did I get the job? My cousin worked there and told me that I could interview right away.
Obtaining a summer position often depends on who you know, not what you know. For that reason, I encourage all of you reading this to begin expanding your network. Your network can be expanded by joining professional organizations, attending professional development meetings or conferences, or participating in religious or social activities. Many positions are filled by word-of-mouth, as opposed to posting the position in a newspaper or online. Networking is key to the job search!
Summer jobs, like most other positions, are usually filled by networking. It is not necessarily about who is the most qualified for a position, but who an employee knows is available and willing to do the job. My first meaningful job was working as support staff at a daycare. What did that mean? It means that I was on-call at all times and had scheduled work days. How did I get the job? My cousin worked there and told me that I could interview right away.
Obtaining a summer position often depends on who you know, not what you know. For that reason, I encourage all of you reading this to begin expanding your network. Your network can be expanded by joining professional organizations, attending professional development meetings or conferences, or participating in religious or social activities. Many positions are filled by word-of-mouth, as opposed to posting the position in a newspaper or online. Networking is key to the job search!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Let's Talk. . . About Résumés
The résumé is potentially the most important document that you can submit to an employer: the résumé will give the employer the information that you will use to "sell yourself" to an employer, thus earning your interview and potential employment. A résumé should include your name, contact information, objective, education, relevant coursework, employment history, and other relevant experience.
Not all résumés look alike. Graduate schools, professional societies, and institutions of higher learning utilize a different kind of résumé, called a "Curriculum Vita," which covers not only the aspects of a regular résumé, but also includes research experience, professional experience, publications, presentations, affiliations, and any professional development.
Another difference is the layout of the résumé itself. Some people prefer to divide sections by underlining the heading, while others prefer to put the heading in a column to the left, thereby separating the information from its heading. Fonts can vary, though employers will probably follow the rule of MLA format: if it cannot be read, it will not be read.
For help with writing or revising a résumé, schedule an appointment with Career Services.
Not all résumés look alike. Graduate schools, professional societies, and institutions of higher learning utilize a different kind of résumé, called a "Curriculum Vita," which covers not only the aspects of a regular résumé, but also includes research experience, professional experience, publications, presentations, affiliations, and any professional development.
Another difference is the layout of the résumé itself. Some people prefer to divide sections by underlining the heading, while others prefer to put the heading in a column to the left, thereby separating the information from its heading. Fonts can vary, though employers will probably follow the rule of MLA format: if it cannot be read, it will not be read.
For help with writing or revising a résumé, schedule an appointment with Career Services.
The End of the First Semester: Running Toward Opportunities
The first semester has ended and we are currently in what is referred to as "January Session." As a First-Year student, I had no idea what my first semester of college would be like. I wanted to believe that I would tackle everything with the passion that I had in high school, but I could not be sure that that would be the case. As it turns out, I did fine in my classes and even made the Dean's List.
First semester taught me to run. I ran to class, ran to work, and even ran straight into the opportunity to present my research at the First-Year Writing Symposium. For all the running that I did in the past semester, doors have opened for me at Manchester College. Today, I ran to class, to lunch, and then here- to my computer in Career Services- to relate to you the gifts one receives when he or she runs toward the opportunities available to them.
Every student should keep in mind that, while it is necessary to take time to relax, running toward your goals will get you there faster. Runners will often tell you that running clears their minds: people think better when they are energized. I encourage you to beginning running toward your goals- find something that you want and go get it!
First semester taught me to run. I ran to class, ran to work, and even ran straight into the opportunity to present my research at the First-Year Writing Symposium. For all the running that I did in the past semester, doors have opened for me at Manchester College. Today, I ran to class, to lunch, and then here- to my computer in Career Services- to relate to you the gifts one receives when he or she runs toward the opportunities available to them.
Every student should keep in mind that, while it is necessary to take time to relax, running toward your goals will get you there faster. Runners will often tell you that running clears their minds: people think better when they are energized. I encourage you to beginning running toward your goals- find something that you want and go get it!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Shared Funding Internships
Hello, everyone!
While working on an article for Career Services that would appear in the Oak Leaves, I thought that the topic for the article might be an excellent topic for this blog. As a part of my job, I am responsible for familiarizing myself with what makes a person preferable to an employer- and I have found that an internship can make all the difference.
On the seventeenth of February from 2:30 to 4:00 P.M., Manchester College will host an Internship Fair in the Upper Union. Employers will be available during this fair to answer questions that possible applicants may have. Students may consider bringing copies of their resumes to provide the employers.
Manchester College will be offering eleven shared funding internships, available through the generosity of a grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. and local employers. Each internship lasts ten weeks and pays $4,000. For those seeking to apply for one of the internships, a completed resume is due to Leticia Kalita via e-mail (lnkalita@manchester.edu) no later than 5 P.M. on February 18th.
I wish all of you a great beginning to the new year!
While working on an article for Career Services that would appear in the Oak Leaves, I thought that the topic for the article might be an excellent topic for this blog. As a part of my job, I am responsible for familiarizing myself with what makes a person preferable to an employer- and I have found that an internship can make all the difference.
On the seventeenth of February from 2:30 to 4:00 P.M., Manchester College will host an Internship Fair in the Upper Union. Employers will be available during this fair to answer questions that possible applicants may have. Students may consider bringing copies of their resumes to provide the employers.
Manchester College will be offering eleven shared funding internships, available through the generosity of a grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. and local employers. Each internship lasts ten weeks and pays $4,000. For those seeking to apply for one of the internships, a completed resume is due to Leticia Kalita via e-mail (lnkalita@manchester.edu) no later than 5 P.M. on February 18th.
I wish all of you a great beginning to the new year!
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