Summer is here..what should I do?

So this will be my last post until next fall...so I thought that I would leave you with some tips on how to fill your homework less (is that a word? oh well!) days.

I would first recommend continuing to use all of the programs (Ask an Alum, Sigi 3, the Career Services Website, etc.) that I have listed in my previous posts.

Second, I would recommend volunteering or getting a job that pertains to one of your interests. Though you may be undeclared, it doesn't hurt to do an activity that you enjoy. You will be building your resume and gaining experience. Who knows, maybe you will discover what you want to major in!

Third, I would recommend making an effort to network and talk to others about their careers and college experiences. The summer months are filled picnics, grad parties, and family vacations-the perfect place to make yourself known. You will be surprised to find how many people want to share their career with you. It might even give you some ideas of your own. A future internship may even become available.

But, most of all, enjoy the summer!!!! Let the career searching begin!

Sigi 3!!!! Another answer to the major question

Hey everyone!

So far I have recommended to you the handouts and Ask an Alum and Friends..but I have yet another recommendation. Sigi 3! This is another online system that enables you to look up specific majors and careers. It can be located on the UWEC Career Services homepage under the "Students" link.

Once logged in, there are a variety of options available for exploring your future including links titled: "Check out occupations," "See what I can do with my major," "Find a major," "Search for a school," and "Look for a job."

Since I am thinking that most of you who are reading this blog because you are undeclared or a unsure of your major, I would recommend starting with the "Find a major" link. Under this link, is subtitle called "Occupational Info" which allows you to search by title, major, skills, interests, and even personality type. I think it is best to search under "major."

If you are searching by major, it will ask for what College the major you are thinking of is under (Arts and Sciences, Business, etc.), which will be link you to a list of majors. Once you chose a major from the list, it will take you to a page that lists careers that "you would be well suited for," or that share interests/skills with the major.

Once you choose a career, links will be made available regarding work settings, required education, income, job outlook. It even lists that type of college classes that you will have to take if you chose this major.

I think that this resource is so helpful because it gives you a quick yet detailed guide to a job you might interested. Through using Sigi 3, I narrowed my major/career choices greatly because I would see something that didn't particularly appeal to me, such as extensive education or a poor job outlook.

Try it out! Explore your possibilities!

The next step: Ask an Alum and Friends

The major fanatic here again.
So...you have narrowed down your major search to a couple of choices, now what do you do? While, Ask an Alum and Friends, of course! If you read the previous post, this program was mentioned, but I wanted to explain it to you in greater detail.

Ask an Alum and Friends is an online system in which students, like you, can connect with Alumni who have graduated from UWEC. There are wide range of Alumni in the system, from alumni that have just graduated in the past few years to twenty or thirty years ago. The system provides the student with a Alumni's biography, educational history, and current job information.

Why would connecting with Alumni matter?

Well, because they are true examples of what people are doing after they graduate. It is great resource to see what people are doing with the majors you are considering.

Here are the steps that I would recommend following.

1. Go to the Career Services website: www.uwec.edu/career and click on the link: Students followed by the link: Ask an Alum and Friends. Click on Student Login.

2. Click on "Search for Specific Alumni." A screen should pop up, that consists of drop down menus for a number of categories including: Major, Minor, Industry, and City. Enter a major and/or minor you are considering and press "search." Remember: The more specific you are the less Alumni that will appear, but they may be better tailored to what you are looking for.

3. Grad year, Job titles and employer and employment location will appear. If you are interesting in knowing more than the given information, click on "Show Detail."

4. More detail should then appear. If this Alumni interests you, click on "Request Match."

5. Once you request a match, UWEC Career Services will be contacted. They will then create a folder for you that contains the contact information. An email will then be sent to you to tell you to come to pick it up at our office, Schofield 230. Once you pick up the folder, you are free to contact the alumni. This is most often done by email or phone.

*Remember that you do not have to Request a match, it is only if you want to receive more information than is already given. However, you will not be allowed to view the Alumni's personal information such as phone number or email address unless you request the match*

I would highly suggest using this resource even if you don't plan on directly contacting Alumni. By viewing examples of what people are doing with their majors after they graduate, you could narrow down your own list of majors.

So..give it a try! It won't hurt! Good luck and enjoy this resource!

Job Search Struggles

Help me I can't find a job!!!

As a Career Associate at Career Services, you would think that I would be on top of finding a job before I graduate...however, I'm struggling. I've gone through all the right motions and steps to get to this point where employers with Human Resources positions should want to hire me:

- Graduating in May 2008 with Bachelor of Science in Organizational Communication
- Loyal employee to Career Services throughout my 4 years at UWEC
- Training and Development internship with Bush Brothers and Company (Bush's Baked Beans)
- Recruiting internship with Express Employment Professionals
- Executive board member of two student organizations and member of the professional
organization for my major (SHRM)

Sadly, I still can't find anything. What makes my search most difficult is that I'm relocating to another area so I can't "physically" go and meet with potential employers at the drop of a hat. So, with this blog I would like to describe the alternative methods that aren't as commonly used that I've been utilizing to find my perfect job 199 miles away.

1. Contacted all of the staffing agencies in the area I will be relocating to incase they have available positions or know of other companies with available positions (It never hurts to have someone else helping to find a job for you; however, be aware of scams. You should NEVER have to pay money for someone to find a job for you!!)

2. Checked all of the City of... and Chamber of Commerce websites in the area (Look for tools for job searching, lists of company names to check out, and events going on in the area)

3. Continuously checking newspapers, Careerbuilder, Monster, Indeed, Jobs in..., etc. You never know when you might find the right job just waiting for you on the internet.

4. Constantly networking-although it's hard from 200 miles away if people remember you're looking for a job in a specific area they will hopefully contact you or recommend you if they come across something. (TIP: because any communication is networking make sure you are always aware of the image you're portraying-it should be very professional at the least)

5. Utilized my school's job site and other UW system school's job sites. Also, Career Services has a program called Ask An Alum-this was useful to find contacts in the area that I could do informational interviews with (Remember: informational interviews do not equal jobs; You should never expect to get a job from an informational interview.)

6. Joined the area SHRM chapter (Professional organization relevant to my major). There are many of these available for every different field. It's an easy way to get involved in the community by attending meetings, events, and networking with other members.

7. Tap into previous employers to see what connections they may have for you, especially if they are in the area you're looking to move to

These are some of the things that I've been working on to try and find a job. As of right now, I have a phone interview next week and if that doesn't go well I'll be back on here brainstorming even more alternative ways to finding a job!

Have a good day and good luck in your own job searches!!

Major trouble?? -Career Services is a start!

I am in my second semester here at Eau Claire and currently undeclared. In the past year, I have went through all the possibilities-from health care administration to communication sciences and disorders. As of right now, I am thinking of majoring in social work. I think that it would be awesome to work with families and birth mothers in arranging adoptions. I feel that it would be so rewarding!

Though I am not officially "declared," you may ask how I got to this point. Well through Career Services, of course! I started working here the second week of school and from my first day in the office I was amazed by all that it has to offer. CS has binders full of major descriptions, pamphlets and plenty of worksheets to keep your mind buzzing!!!

I began by looking at the list of majors that UWEC offers and putting a star next to any major or minor that I was possibly thinking of, even if it was very unlikely that would end up declaring it. From the majors that I put a star by, I grabbed the corresponding handouts. These handouts list the benefits to earning a degree from UWEC, what type of classes that you will take, the skills you will acquire and some of the interests and values that held by those in that major. The handout also lists organizations to get involved in as well as job titles that people with this major hold. Lastly, the worksheet gives ways in which you can learn more about the major both on campus and through other websites. All this from just one worksheet!!!

If you are exploring majors. start looking at these worksheets and stay tuned for further steps on how to make that major (hehe) decision!!

Do not Despise Small Beginning

My dad always used to tell me that and I'm fairly certain he wasn't the original author, so whoever first said that pearl of wisdom, my apologies for not giving you credit. Anyway, what do I mean by "Do not despise small beginnings?" Everyone has to start somewhere and the job market is very competitive. Sometimes you can make the best possible impression and there just happens to be someone with better qualifications out there. That's just the way it is for many recent graduates, especially those of us non-computer nerds/accounting masterminds. What is one to do when the job search process feels fruitless?

Think about internships. *gasp* Especially if you've never yet had one. Yes, even if they're underpaid or even unpaid. Before getting all offended at the prospect of being a lowly intern after all your hard work to obtain a degree, think about how terribly incestuous some industries are. Everybody knows everybody in some job markets and it's not so much what you know, as who you know. Ever seen an entry level job description that requires X years of previous experience? Confused? Employers, unfairly as it is, can find people who have that and would obviously prefer it. This means the first year out of college we might have to hold on to the grueling restaurant server shifts in our agonizing quest for those X years of previous experience! Of course, some are fortunate enough to land a job making bank right away (aka. MIS and Accounting folk), but not all. Just don't think you're too good for an internship simply because you have a degree. Many employers use internship positions as trial stages to try you out and see if you're a good full-time, salary position fit so don't rule those out. Don't get discouraged. Make it a point to spend a certain amount of hours each week searching and applying. Don't throw out the ramen noodles just yet because you might have to start small. Good luck!

Professional Associations: Not Just for "Grown Ups"

Hi, Moriah here again!



One often overlooked area of many resumes is professional associations. Maybe people assume that they aren't qualified to join them since they're not yet professionals. But having the connections that come along with professional association memberships can give you inside knowledge and direct your attention to important areas of your field. Here is a compilation of several other benefits.

Joining while still a student is a much better deal than waiting until after graduation. Some organizations have minimal $10-35 fees for a one -year student membership. (Full memberships for professionals can reach $100.)

Along with getting cheaper dues, you can begin to refocus your attention from classroom knowledge to the mainstream culture of your field. Discover who is the Brad Pitt of geology and the J-Lo of finance. Learn about the lesser-known or hot subfields of your discipline.

Staying informed about the ins and outs of your field is important to impressing interviewers. Like employer research, participation in a professional association will show increased dedication and commitment in your interviews. A candidate that demonstrates genuine interest in his/her field stands out head and shoulders above a candidate who merely went through school and got a degree.

Professional association memberships also tell a lot about your professional development. If you know enough to join an organization and follow the activities and information it puts out, employers will see that you are concerned with your professional development and are likely to be a more motivated worker.



These are only a few of the outside benefits of association membership. For a database of hundreds of associations, see Associations Unlimited. Don’t neglect this potential asset in your career development!