UVM Career Services Blog

Blogging Yourself into a Job

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

World of Work: Kathryn Sylvester Manciocchi ‘02

Posted on November 17, 2011 with No Comments

Kathryn Sylvester Manciocchi ‘02
Benefits Specialist
Millennium Partners Sports Club Management / Sports Club LA
http://www.thesportsclubla.com
San Francisco Bay Area, CA

Major: Environmental Studies

How would you describe what you do on a typical day?

On a typical day, I can work on any of the following:

• Benefits enrollment, presentations and questions
• Working with employees, vendors and brokers
• Open enrollment and changes to plans
• 401K administration
• Leave and worker’s compensation administration
• COBRA and unemployment administration
• Company wellness program

What advice do you have for students searching for jobs or internships in your field?

Check out events from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and Northeast Human Resources Association (NEHRA) and do lots of informational interviews!

Do you like numbers and math? Are you interested in the healthcare industry? Perhaps, you like law and legal matters? This may be for you!

What three words best describe your work environment?

Busy, Engaging and Fun. It’s different every day!

Describe your best day at work.

My best days are when I get a “thank you” for a job well done and I am satisfied with my work at 5:00pm.

Major Decision: Finding Your Academic Path

Posted on November 15, 2011 with No Comments

With course registration upon us, many students are turning their attention to the topic of majors.  Some have declared a major but may be reconsidering it, and others have explored different topical areas by taking a diverse array of classes but still aren’t sure which major is right for them.  So at a University that offers over 100 majors (and even more in minors), how do you find your academic fit?

The University of Vermont Career Services website has some good tools for the exploration, but these are only one part of your toolkit.  There’s a whole community of resources available to you as you make this decision, and it’s important that you gather as much information as you need to make your choice comfortably before settling.  Here are some ideas:

• Start with self-exploration
• Peruse the list of majors offered at UVM
• Learn more about the ones you’re interested in in the University Catalogue
• Set-up meetings with faculty and student services staff to talk more about particular major(s) of interest
• Continue taking classes in subject areas that excite you
• Talk to a career counselor during Drop-In Hours:
  -Mondays – Thursdays, 1:00 – 4:00 pm (L/L E-140)
  -Tuesdays, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm (Rosa Parks Room, Davis Center)

It’s important to enjoy the process of choosing a major.  It can be stressful at times, but remember that college is a great time for exploration.  As Joseph Campbell once said, “The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty ‘yes’ to your adventure.”

~Ashley Michelle

Doing Good, Doing Well: Make Money Doing What You Love

Posted on November 10, 2011 with No Comments

Meaning making & making money?

Are they mutually exclusive or is it possible to do both?  Yes!

Here are the steps:

• Define what matters to you
• Explore opportunities
• Learn from others
• Take a stand, take a step – get involved!

Find out what is possible:

Considering a Non-Profit Career

Learn from the experts:

Idealist.org

Get in the conversation:

Join LinkedIn & their non-profit groups, including:

Non Profit & Philanthropic Job Board
Non Profit Network
Non Profit Professionals
UVM Career Connections: Non Profit & Social Services

Clarify your Mission:

Friday, Nov. 11, 1:30 pm: Creating a Personal Mission Statement & Action Plan,
Career Services L/L E 166.

Get Involved:

UVM is a great place to start

Do a year of service:

Non-Profit Fellowships

~Holly

The Job Fair is over: What Next?

Posted on November 8, 2011 with No Comments

Thank you for helping make our Fall Job Fair a great success!
If you missed it, the Spring Job Fair is Wednesday, March 21^th, 2012.

Next Steps

-Follow up with recruiters! Check out these tips for professional e-mails.
-Applying for a position? Polish that resume.
-Moving on to the next stage? Prepare yourself for interview success!

Still Looking?

Check out these resources:

• Catamount Job Link

• Indeed

• Resources for Specific Job Fields

• Part Time Job Resources

Or Network your way to a great opportunity! Don’t miss our networking events in Boston and New York City over the winter break.

We’re here to support you:

Drop-ins: L/L E140, Monday – Thursday: 1-4pm
Davis Center Drop-ins: Rosa Parks Room, Tuesdays: 11am-1pm

~Kala