Career Connections Blog

Just last week a student told me her prospective employer “googled” her.  Turns out, they had also searched her on Facebook.  Equally as interesting, I’ve noticed that some of my Facebook friends make derogatory comments about their work, job, or employer on their walls. 

It seems as though social networking is a lot like playing hide-and-seek with a 4-year-old . . . . if they have their face covered, they think you can’t see them.  Some people make the same mistake with the internet.  Because you aren’t face-to-face with the reader, you feel more comfortable in divulging large amounts of personal information. 

People have been known to have their homes robbed because they made a comment on a web page that they would be out of town for the weekend.  Don’t rob yourself of a great job opportunity by making the mistake of placing disparaging information on your social networking page.

PREVENT IT:

So to the extent you can control it, don’t put anything out there that will haunt you later. 

FIX IT:

Edit the web page or ask the owner/webmaster to correct the page.

DEFEND IT:

If you can’t prevent it or fix it, be prepared to defend it in a job interview!

You simply can’t be too careful about what you put on the wonderful world wide web!  It can come back to “haunt” you later.

Lots of college students and even some recent graduates have very little experience with “real” jobs—so it should come as no surprise that lots of employers aren’t exactly ecstatic with many of their new hires with those freshly minted degrees!

So who is supposed to be preparing you for the workplace?  Your parents?  Your professors?  Should employers be expected to train you in the basics of “how to be a professional” on the job?

Well, I don’t know who is “supposed” to prepare you, but I do know that employers are tightening up on their expectations these days.  If you don’t measure up, chances are that you won’t last very long in that job.  In fact, lots of employers these days won’t even hire anyone who doesn’t have some experience holding down at least a summer job or an internship.  

So, check yourself:  what are your answers to these questions?

1.    Good idea or bad idea:  Post a Twitter or Facebook comment criticizing your boss or your company.  (Bad idea!  And don’t assume your boss wouldn’t be up on such social networking sites!)

2.    Good idea or bad idea:  Answer your cell phone, read texts, or send texts while a more experienced co-worker or superior is training you in an office procedure.  (A really bad idea—and rude, too!)

3.    Good idea or bad idea:  Send a thank-you email to a co-worker who has helped you become familiar with the inter-office communication system, and copy the boss.  (Very nice.  Both your co-worker and your boss will be impressed with your thoughtfulness, and the boss will be pleased with your co-worker’s kindness as well—good all around!)

4.    Good idea or bad idea:  Consistently come in to work just a bit late, and dress a bit more casually than most others in the office.  (Duh, no!  Always be on time, except on that rare occasion that an emergency situation arises.  And try to dress at about the same level as your co-workers.)

There’s more, of course.  But the bottom line is that you’re going to have to take responsibility for learning professional behavior if you want to be successful in your first real job.  And one way you can do that is to visit us in the ULM Career Connections Office in LIB 302.  We’re happy to help!  
 

You've moved in your dorm room, know where all your classes are, and may have even had your first quiz.  Now it is time to meet the staff of Career Connections! 

 We are located on the 3rd floor of the Library in Room 302 and would love to meet you.  The Office of Career Connections & Experiential Education basically assists with anything related to finding a job - - part-time, full-time, or internships - - and will probably come into contact with you sometime in your college career.  So here are a few tips (aka assignments) that will help keep you informed of the latest activities and opportunites offered through our office:

1.  Register with us:  https://webservices.ulm.edu/careerconnections/login.php

2.  Join our Facebook group:  http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=60102548367&ref=ts

3.  Follow us on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/ULMCCEE

4.  Mark your calendar for a workshop:  http://www.ulm.edu/careerconnections/events

5.  Register for a career fair:  http://www.ulm.edu/careerconnections/events

We hope to see you soon.  The more we know you; the more we can help you find the perfect job!

Using your skills:
So, you have all this experience and you’ve built up skills that are worth something.  Think about becoming a consultant—sharing your skills for a fee.  Businesses and individuals are often willing to hire someone for a specific project, even if they don’t want to take on a permanent employee.  Being a consultant keeps you in the marketplace, and it can be another avenue to a fulltime job.  You may even decide that you like the independence of being your own boss!
 

Thinking outside the box:
There’s work out there; it just may not be exactly the sort of job you’d envisioned.  Open your mind.  Talk with younger folks, even your children.  What about online work?  More and more people are working from home, using their computers and their telephones to stay connected with the office, which may be completely outside their geographic area.

You might also do “temp work.”  Often, temporary jobs lead to more permanent positions as the company realizes your value.

And, believe it or not, more and more workers over 40 are accepting internships, even though they may get minimal pay or no pay at all.  Internships are another way to get your foot in the door, to make yourself and your value known to the employer, while further developing your skills.

Resume update:
Have you polished up your resume lately?  If not, be aware that the “rules” for resume writing are constantly changing, and yours may be out of date.  

For one thing, more and more employers prefer that resumes be delivered electronically, rather than on paper.  Some companies even require that you fill out an online application, rather than or in addition to a formal resume.

Our website, www.ulm.edu/careerconnections, includes sample resumes and application letters (under “tips and resources”), as well as advice on writing these documents.   The samples are in Word, so you can even use them like templates, substituting in your own information.  One tip for older workers:  if your experience spans many years and/or many jobs, you might consider using the “functional” resume format rather than the traditional format.  In the functional resume, you’re able to focus on relevant skills and accomplishments rather than specific jobs.

And we’re happy to help.  Call us at 318-342-5338 to schedule an appointment to work on updating your resume, improving your interview skills, and searching for a job.  Our services are available to ULM alumni as well as students.