Archive for the online identity Category
Posted on November 1, 2012 with No Comments
It’s commonly said that we’re separated, at most, by six degrees of separation from any other person. In their recent book, the start-up of YOU, Reid Hoffman (cofounder and chairman of LinkedIn) and Ben Casnocha discuss the 1967 study that this oft repeated phrase is based on. They also note how it might show up in daily life: “The clerk at the local hardware store once hiked through Yosemite with your brother-in-law. Your new girlfriend is in the same bowling league as your boss…It’s fun to make these unexpected connections.”
These connections, however, they argue, are more than fun and interesting, they are gateways to new information and potential opportunities. Hoffman and Casnocha discuss the importance of having both strong and weak ties in our networks. The strong ties are built on trust and well developed mutual interest and similarities, while the weaker ties can “serve as bridges to other worlds.”
Most students and alumni realize after some reflection, that they do know someone who may be a good potential contact in their career exploration and job search. Quite often the person they think of is one of those weaker ties, or 2nd degree contacts, for example the uncle of a friend. All students, however, can tap into the power of the extended UVM alumni network through LinkedIn. As Hoffman and Casnocha write, “Online social networks are converting the abstract idea of worldwide interconnectedness into something tangible and searchable. Out of an estimated one billion professionals in the world, well over 10 million of them are on LinkedIn.”
If you’re not LinkedIn, it’s time. If you are already on it, chances are you could be using it more effectively.
To get started:
~Kala
Tags: advice, Career, career connection, career path, events, Experience, how to, job search, Jobs, Networking, online identity, photos, quotes, Savvy Seniors, search, social media, tips, your first job
Category: Career Exploration, Event, Helpful Resources, Job Searching, Networking, Uncategorized, online identity, social media
Posted on October 26, 2012 with No Comments
1. Conduct research using online internship databases
These contain hundreds of internship possibilities and enable you to search by area of interest and geographic preference. You can also set up search engines for email alerts on internships of interest. Catamount Job Link is a great resource. Here are some other databases to help you get started.
2.Target companies and organizations
Have your heart set on a particular organization? Check out their website under ”Careers” and see if there are internships posted. If not, contact Human Resources to inquire about internships and the application process. If there’s no internship program, get to work identifying possible contacts in the organization with whom you might network.
3. Network, network, network!
Who is already in your network that might have good contacts for you? Family, friends, parents of friends and faculty can serve as great starting points. Another great resource is the UVM Career Connection, our own network of alumni, family and friends. Remember, networking is about relationship building, so establish the connection first and then move into conversations about internships.
4. Attend Career and Internship Events
The Internship Hop on October 31, 2012, is a great way to get started on the internship search. Browse our resources, connect with career counselors for a personalized internship search, check out listings, and see where other UVM students have done internships. Job Fairs are another great way to find an internship. Talk with employers, establish a relationship and follow up!
5. Stop by Career Services for a Drop-In
Drop In’s are a great way to learn about options and resources. Talk with a career counselor for help identifying areas of interest and strategies for your search.
6. Create your own internship
Every employer has projects they just can’t get to. Be the solution to their problem. Ask the employer what projects they need help with and then set to work turning this into an internship.
As with any job search, a multi-pronged approach, along with persistence and follow up are key! Start now and keep working all of these strategies and you will be among those who gain that all-important career experience through an internship!
~Mary Beth
Tags: advice, alumni, Career, career path, Catamount Job Link, Experience, how to, inspiration, internship hop, internship search, Internships, Job Fair, Networking, online identity, photos, search, social media, tips
Category: Career Exploration, Catamount Job Link, Event, Helpful Resources, Internships, Networking, Uncategorized, online identity, social media
Posted on April 12, 2012 with No Comments
Commencement is just six weeks away! If you don’t already know what you are doing and how to get there, here are some tips and advice to get you going.
Not Sure what you Want to Do?
You’re not alone!
What can you do today to prepare for tomorrow?
Take one small step towards your goals!
More Great Advice!
100 Blog Posts Every College Senior Should Read
Quint Careers: Job Search Advice for College Seniors: Job Hunting in Times of Uncertainty
Linked In Founder Shares Advice: Take Intelligent Risks
6 Tips for Success all College Seniors Should Know
~Kala
Tags: advice, Career, career connection, career path, Catamount Job Link, how to, Interviewing, job search, Jobs, Networking, online identity, photos, resume, Savvy Seniors, search, social media, tips, your first job
Category: Career Exploration, Dress to Impress, Helpful Resources, Job Searching, Networking, Uncategorized, online identity, resume, social media
Posted on November 29, 2011 with No Comments
Marshall McLuhan famously wrote that “the medium is the message.” When you list your blog on your resume, the message you send to a potential employer is that you understand the importance of modern media and its role in society. As a medium, a blog is very much an extension of yourself; it allows you to express a fuller version of yourself beyond your resume.
A blog is not just for writers and artists to advertise their portfolios, it’s a tool for all jobseekers to demonstrate their ability to analyze, synthesize and communicate information in their field. By blogging about professional and academic experiences, jobseekers can animate those bullet points on their resume, bringing to life a semester abroad, a service-learning course, or an internship. Here is a good example.
Like anything else you include on your resume, you must carefully consider whether or not your blog promotes you as a candidate. Poorly organized, infrequently updated, incredibly personal or irrelevant blogs can work against you! Also keep in mind that a blog can be a compliment to a resume but it is not a substitute.
Other Advantages of Blogging
-A blog can reveal hard-to-communicate personal qualities: passion, creativity, imagination, etc.
-Blogging allows you to come across as an individual before the interview.
-Know the tools of the trade: more and more companies are using blogs to organize projects
-Your blog will pop up if employers Google you!
Don’t have a blog? Here is a basic guide to getting started as well as strategies for writing good blog posts and maintaining a blog routine.
~Jarrod
Tags: advice, blogging, Career, Experience, how to, online identity, photos, quotes, resume, social media, tips
Category: Helpful Resources, Uncategorized, online identity, resume, social media
Posted on July 21, 2011 with No Comments
Here in Career Services, we’ve been talking a lot about our online presence. Social Media has increasingly become a major force in today’s job market. Employers are using Twitter and Facebook to post open positions. Job seekers and long time professionals are connecting in special interest and industry specific groups on LinkedIn. Interviews are being conducted on Skype and we have yet to see how emerging technologies like Google+ will factor in.
While we’re excited about the ways that we use these platforms in our office, we’re also eager to work with you on how to create and manage your own social media presences. Even though most students are engaged with some type of social media at this point, have you considered how you might use these mediums as tools in your job search and career process?
Career Sherpa developed a 3-part series earlier this summer highlighting some of the strategies that can be most effective when developing your social media profile, including:
There are so many social media outlets in today’s world and these are just sampling of them. Regardless of which you choose to participate in, it’s important to make social media a tool in your career toolbox. By developing your own social media presence, you can make intentional decisions about your image and stay current in the ever-changing world of work.
~Ashley Michelle
