The Networking Challenge

Make the most of your networking

Finding people to contact is just part of networking. Try these quick tips to make the most of your conversations with networking contacts:

1. Send an e-mail to introduce yourself when requesting a meeting. Explain (briefly) what you have in common and describe what you hope to learn through your conversation. Include a date and time that you will follow up by phone to schedule your meeting time if you haven't heard back; then, follow through!
2. Research the industry, organization, and person yhou will be meeting prior to your conversation.
3. Consider information that you are learning in classes, internships, or student organizations that might be interesting to your target contact.
4. Make a list of questions to ask. Customize the questions to be specific to the industry and the person you will be contacting.
5. Treat professionals with respect. Use appropriate grmmar and spelling when writing messages. If you've scheduled a meeting, don't cancel. Arrive 15 minutes early.
6. Whether your conversation is in person, on the phone, or via e-mail, follow up with a thank-you note to show your appreciation and improve your chances of creating a productive relationship.

For more information see: Job Choices 2010

Succeeding in a competitive Job Market

Flexibility: For the ambitious job seeker facing a competitive job market, perhaps nothing is more important than flexibility. That means considering options outside of your comfort zone, but it doesn't mean your job search should be unfocused or disorganized. And don't just stop at opening your mind to different job options, be open to relocation.

Start Now: Many students don't think about their job search until senior year. The key is to not sit back and wait: TAKE ACTION NOW.

Use your career center: Your campus career center should be your first stop. Schedule an appointment with a career counselor to explore your career options. Take part in the resume writing, interviewing and other job-search-related events.

Employers say that the lack of research is obvious in interviews and that researching the company, and specific job, if possible - is perhaps the single most important thing a potential employee can do before interviewing. Candidates who fail to do so can come across to employers as disinterested and lacking initiative.

Know what employers want: Most job postings will provide a general list of requirements - the "hard" skills. Perhaps cheif among these is the work-related experience. As a rule, employers prize experience in potential employees, as it provides some evidence that you can, in fact, do the job. For most college students, work-related experience is gained through participation in an internship, volunteer activity or part-time job. (And experience doesn't have to be paid to count.)

In addition, many employers screen candidates based on GPA (generally 3.0 and above is the cut off for consideration).

Finally, employers look for "soft" skills - communication skills, leadership abilities, ability to work in a team, and the like. Employers look for well-rounded individuals. These individuals offer more than just an academic record. "They also participate in sprots or hold leadership positions in student organizations. They have the ability to listen, write, and speak effectively.

Connect with employers: In a competitive job market, it's especially important to use everything at your disposal. While you're in college, take advantage of any opportunities to interact with employers provided through your school. Once you have graduated, you'll find it is not as easy to get access to a group of employers in one location.

Some contacts may be available to you through your school: "Check with your school's alumni association." says Christopher Carlson, manager of university recruiting for Booz Allen Hamilton. "Try to identify alumni who are at companies of interest."

Be thoughtful, be informed: Conduct your job search armed with information and insight so that you don't dismiss a job out of hand or ignore potential opportunities.

Your first job is not likely to be your last, so look at how a job may help you gain experience and develop important skills, even if it's not what you expected to be doing.

For more information see: Job Choices 2010

Cultural Understanding Critical to Care

Minority applicants to medical schools are on the rise. Organizations liek the Association of Ameican Medical Colleges have launched campaigns to increase awareness of the glaring gap (see Aspiring Docs) and increase recruitment of diverse individuals to the health care industry.

An article by the American Medical News in late 2008 reported that first-year medical school enrollment for Hispanics was up by 10 percent from the previous year and that American Indian and Alaska Native enrollees increased by more than 5 percent from the previous year. Enrollemnt for African Americans had also increased, but only slightly.

Ultimately, the answers lie in elementary and high school education to prepare all students for careers in health care. Often, students from under-represented groups are not exposed to enough science and math in high school to be able to excel in those classes in college that would prepare them for advancement to medical school.

Affirmative Action Register: Summer 2009

Climbing Careers

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, wage and salary employment in the health care industry is projected to increase 22 percent through 2016; this is very significant compared to the 11 percent increase for all industries combined. The health care industry is expected to provide approximately 3 million new jobs in teh 2006 - 2016 period.

Affirmative Action Register: Summer 2009

Corporate Careers With Social Impact
Looking to mesh your passion and your paycheck?

You might be surprised by the opportunties in the business world. In the corporate sector, "careers with social impact" is an umbrella term often used to describe innovative work that aims to make positive social or environmental change on a large scale. It is also used to describe careers that measure their impact based on a triple bottom line or blended value approach.

Triple Bottom Line (TBL): is type of accounting that takes into consideratin social, economic, and environmental impacts and benefits. it is also referred to as a "People, planet, and profit" approach.

Blended Value: proposes that "all organizations...create value that consists of economic, social, and environmental value components - and that investors...simultaneously generate all three forms of value providing capital to organizations." (Jed Emerson)

Corporate Career Options:
Job seekers should keep in mind that social impact can be integrated into any job, company philosophy, or industry. Often the best opportunities to create social impact are in places wehre the history may be troubled but the potential for change is great.

Positions:
Rarely do companies hire externally for specific positions that are focused on sustainability or CSR. Often these ositions are created for or filled by a current employee who has taken the initiative to incorporate social change into their mainstream job or deparment.

Positions focus on issues such as "the development of environmental policies, decreasing the company's environmental footprint, and stakeholder engagement." (Net Impact Environmental Sustainability Career Guide).

for more information visit: www.idealist.org

Advising - Four Myths About Federal Service
Students often have misperceptions about government service. Here are the four most common myths and the realities that debunk them.

MYTH #1: THE "BUREAUCRACY" MYTH
Myth: Federal employees are paper pushers who are caught up in bureaucracy. Your work as a federal employees does not make a difference.

Reality: Young federal employees get to work on substantitive issues that affect the future of our coutnry. For students who want to make a difference, the federal government is arguably the best place to contribute.

MYTH #2: TEH "LOW PAY" MYTH
Myth: Salaries for federal employees are low. Hence, you are better off going to work elsewhere.

Reality: Entry level salaries are competitive with many industries. Plus, federal employees advance quickly with the possibility of increasing their salary by 150 percent in just two to three years! The benefits and work/life balance of government offers are often better than any other sector.

MYTH #3: THE "WASHINGTON" MYTH
Myth: Say goodbye to your friends and family. If you work for the government, you have to work in D.C.

Reality: In fact, 84 percent of federal jobs are outside of the D.C. metro region, with 50,000 jobs abroad.

MYTH #4: THE "POLITICAL SCIENCE" MYTH
Myth: Federal employees are all social sciences majors. The government does not need people with other academic backgrounds.

Reality: Federal agencies do not just need social sciences majors. In fact, some of the highest need areas are public health and medicine, engineering, the sciences, business and accounting and informatin technology. There is a place for every background in federal service.

For more facts and information on federal service visit:
http://makingthedifference.org or http://ourpublicservice.org/OPS/programs/calltoserve/