Archive - 2009

When I give presentations about the Career Center’s services to large groups, I frequently begin by asking this question:  “How many of you would rather go to the dentist than think about career planning?” Every time I ask this question, students raise their hands in agreement. For many of us, planning for future careers and searching for a job or internship is a lot like going to the dentist, something we’d rather put off for another six months because it’s uncomfortable or even scary to think about. 

If you’re worried or uncomfortable about beginning a job or internship search, or starting life after you graduate, the Career Center offers a class through the Career Connections Program to help you get started.  This one-credit class will help you feel more confident about your job or internship search and next steps for after you graduate.  In class, you will » Read more

Fall semester is beginning to wind down and with the end of the term soon approaching I am sure your pockets seem as though they are winding down too. Between studying for final exams, packing your belongings up, and saying goodbye to all your friends, your thoughts may be elsewhere but starting the holiday season off penniless isn't ideal. Time to start searching for a winter break job.

Finding the money to buy those “Christmas/Hanukah/Kwanzaa/Solstice…” gifts shouldn’t be nearly as hard as you think. We are happy to report the seasonal hiring outlook, while down from last year’s numbers, is still good. Many companies, usually retailers, hire an abundance of temporary workers to prepare for boosts in traffic and other activities during the holiday season. Common jobs in this sector consist of stocking, wrapping, exchanging, selling, and transporting. In addition to retailers, an extra need exists in companies focused on the transportation and delivery of goods. To put it simply: Gifts need to be shipped and received. » Read more

The Fall Career Fair has come and gone. Over 65 employers including Fred Meyer, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Yelp, and US Marine Officer Selection met with 450 UO students and 12 companies scheduled next day, on campus interviews with almost 90 students.

So, what now?

Whether you made a great employer connection or not, read on. There’s advice here for everyone!

If you talked with an employer at the fair and found what they had to offer interesting, be sure to follow up with them. Whether by e-mail, phone, or standard mail, contacting the employer is a great way to remind them about you and show your seriousness about the job opportunity. Here are a few examples of follow up to your discussion at the fair:

 • If you left the initial conversation with no clear next step, send a follow up note thanking them for their time at the fair and ask what they suggest as a next step in the process.

 • If the employer asked you to fill out an on-line application, after completing the application send a note letting the employer know you completed that step and ask about the next step in the process. » Read more

If you’ve been offered a job by an employer in a different location, you may want to ask whether help is available for your move. Many companies will assist new hires with relocation costs. While relocation packages vary widely from organization to organization, it never hurts to ask what is available. What kinds of costs should you be thinking about? Trips to visit the area to look for a place to live, fees associated with buying or renting a home, and the cost of moving your possessions, among others.

Relocation Bonuses
Many organizations will simply offer a relocation bonus, a set amount of money to help you with the costs of moving. While the bonus may tempt you as an opportunity to reward yourself with a major purchase – like a large flat screen TV – think twice before rushing off to the store. Make a list of all the costs associated with moving and settling into a new home and figure out how much you will need up front. » 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 tomorrow, November 12, from noon to 5 p.m. in the EMU Ballroom and we hope you’ll be feeling well prepared and confident as you go in to introduce yourself to recruiters and find out about career paths and job openings at companies that interest you. We have featured some helpful content on our blog over the past couple weeks to get you geared up for the fair. Here are some of the highlights: » Read more

Kelli Koontz
Recruiting & Employment Specialist, Fred Meyer Stores

I travel to many schools within the Pacific Northwest seeking the best candidates for our summer internship program. A very important thing to keep in mind when you’re at The Fall Career Fair this Thursday is that you have only one opportunity to make a first impression.  Here are a few suggestions on how to make that first interaction a positive one.

Tips for success at the Career Fair: » Read more

Make a Good First Impression
If you are planning to attend the Fall Career Fair, November 12 at the EMU, you’re probably wondering what to wear. As you may have guessed, this is not the time to wear your jeans, hoodie and flip-flops. Focus on making a good first impression. While the employers may be coming  to your environment, they are wondering how you would fit into their environment. You want to look like the kind of person who would be an asset to their organization.

How to Dress?
We recommend business casual: unwrinkled cotton trousers with a belt, a pressed long-sleeved shirt or nice polo shirt, and leather shoes (not athletic shoes) or a skirt (but not a mini and not too tight), a tailored blouse or tailored sweater or sweater set, and dress shoes (not athletic shoes). A simple knee-length or longer dress is also appropriate (in plain colored, not patterned materials, with no velvet or shimmery fabrics). Showing cleavage is not appropriate. » Read more

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