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Last night the Career Center, in collaboration with the College of Arts and Sciences, UO Libraries and the UO Alumni Association, presented “So You Want My Job?” a panel discussion featuring recent UO grads from Social Science majors.  

Larry Singell, associate dean of Social Sciences, provided introductory remarks focused on illuminating the skill development and collateral learning that comes with pursuing a degree in the Social Sciences. He expanded on how valuable the knowledge students develop at University of Oregon is to potential employers. Students from Social Science majors graduate with the ability to think analytically and creatively, synthesize information, deal effectively with ambiguity, and to research and retrieve information.

The program then focused on a question and answer period with our panelists mediated by Deb Chereck, director of the Career Center. Our panelists included: » Read more

The Fall Career Fair is approaching and everyone keeps saying you need to be prepared. So you’ve perfected your resume and have a general idea of the type of position that will use your skills. Now, how do you work the fair and set yourself apart from the competition? One strategy is to develop your “elevator speech.” » Read more

We’ve all heard the phrase that “someone found a job because they knew someone.”  This is the essence of one of the most effective job search strategies: NETWORKING. Connecting with people in a career area of interest allows you to gain valuable information about a particular career, company, and/or industry while letting that person learn more about you. In a networking conversation, you are able to discuss your strengths and interests in perhaps, a more informal way.

Networking also helps you prepare for the interview process and prepares you to answer crucial questions asked during an interview. If the person with whom you are networking is an employee of the company you are interested in, they might “put in a good word” for you. The more you talk to professionals in your career area of interest, the easier it’s going to be when you actually have a formal job interview. 

The Career Center is hosting several upcoming events designed to help you practice your networking skills and increase your confidence: » Read more

Imagine that it’s the day of the Fall Career Fair, you’ve just stepped into the Ballroom, and you’ve found an employer that you want to speak with, but now what!?  What is the employer looking for, how do you make a good impression?

When it comes to Career Fairs, one thing you can trust is that employers are here to look for qualified UO candidates for their employment opportunities. It’s good to know the room full of people is actually there to recruit.  So hold your head up high and dive in, but before you do, it’s important to know what the employers are expecting.  Here are a few tips and tricks on how to make the most of your conversation with recruiters. » Read more

Career Success: Jeseika Mitchell with the Sherwin-Williams Company

You know who you are: the driven, self-motivated type who can't wait to make things happen. Well, if it's a career path you're looking for, Sherwin-Williams is a great place to start. That’s what Jeseika Mitchell, a University of Oregon graduate, was looking for when she was nearing graduation last year. After completing the company’s Management/Sales Training Program, she is now an Assistant Manager at a Sherwin-Williams store in Bend. Jeseika’s responsibilities include managing day-to-day store operations, training employees, handling store merchandising, assisting in developing her store’s annual sales plan, and handling her store’s accounts receivable function. In her words, Jeseika enjoys working at Sherwin-Williams because “everyday I feel like my hard work pays off. No diligent effort I make goes unnoticed.” » Read more

*** This is part of the Student to Job Seeker Series. Keep an eye out for future posts that will guide you through the sometimes difficult transition from being a student to an active and successful job seeker.

The Fall Career Fair is only eleven days away. Dozens of companies and organizations will be showing up on Thursday, November 12 ready to take resumes and hire University of Oregon students so it is best to narrow down who you are interested in and where they will be at in the fair.

Start your research with the searchable list of participating employers or our downloadable guide to the fair. » Read more

Roadtrip Nation, a public television and webisode series, is coming to campus Tuesday, November 10 and they will be bringing with them their huge green RV and a message of self-discovery and growth through interviewing the nation’s most inspiring people.

About Roadtrip Nation
Started in the summer of 2001 by a group of students who hypothesized that one way to figure out what you want to do with your life and who you want to be is to interview “people who are doing what they love, then ask them how they got there.” That group traveled 17,000 miles and interviewed 85 “eclectic” people, including former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Now what they have done has transformed their passion into Roadtrip Nation and a movement that “encourages students to hit the road in search of interviews with people who have defined their own distinct routes through life.”

Roadtrip nation is now broadcasted nationally through PBS and has been picked up by over 200 local stations including PBS’s Oregon’s affiliate OPB. They are now in their sixth season and are taking applicants for their seventh. » Read more

Resumes and Online Applications

The UO Fall Career Fair is coming November 12, and NOW is the time to create or tune up your resume. Especially if you are a junior or senior, think about this important marketing tool.  As you begin the process of searching for a job or internship, you’ll want to have a well-crafted resume to impress potential employers.  It can also be helpful if an employer directs you to fill out an online application - your information has already been carefully organized on your resume!

Basic Guidelines for Writing a Strong Resume:  » Read more

Confused on what you can do with your liberal arts degree or having a difficult time narrowing down your options? Come hear a panel of Oregon Alumni and professionals discuss how they found themselves in surprising careers with their liberal arts degrees. Susan de la Vergne will also be speaking on liberal arts degrees at the event "Nothing Prepares You for Leadership Like the Liberal Arts" on Tuesday, Novemeber 17.

"So You Want My Job?" Panelists

Shawn Halsey
Umatilla County, Emergency Management Communications Coordinator
University of Oregon 2001 Graduate, Political Science

Amy Lodholz
Newberg Area Habitat for Humanity, Event and Volunteer Coordinator
University of Oregon 2005 Graduate, Environmental Studies

Jennifer Matteson
Xerox, Course Developer
University of Oregon 1992 Graduate, International Studies

Carmen Rubio
Latino Network, Executive Director
University of Oregon 2007 Graduate, Political Science » Read more

I Thought I was supposed to Plan My Career!

Especially in a down economy, people may ask “what can you do with a Liberal Arts degree?” The answer is, of course, a lot of things. While we encourage you to explore possible career paths, and then make a plan of action, we also know the value of being open to possibilities that arise along the way to your goal. What kind of possibilities? Chance encounters, unexpected opportunities and bits of information that can help you or steer you in a new direction. If you are prepared, you can take advantage of this kind of serendipity!

How to Prepare for Chance Opportunities » Read more