Career Guidance
Yup, we’ve decided to phase out our career blog and focus our efforts in new-ish areas [i.e. Facebook]. We started this blog in April 2006 and 100s of posts later, now on the verge of 2010, it’s time for a change.
We’ve posted brief and length entries on a whole host of topics – mostly career related, some not-so-much. Lately we’ve posted more video and audio content and links to informative articles & career/life themed websites. Helping keep this blog alive, updated & fresh has been a lot of fun and a lot of work. Big shout out’s and thank you’s to Emma, Briana, Cara, Joel, Nick, Susan, Erin, Alyce, Gretchen and all our guest student/alumni bloggers.
You can continue to find me working physically IN the Career Center, and online via LinkedIn, and posting now to our center’s Facebook page [become one of our fans!], UW Making the Difference: Federal Careers Blog and the ArtsLink blog. Also, be sure to continue key-word searchin’ your way to useful info online, like what you can find via this NWJobs general career blog, this PSBJ Biz-Tech blog, and this page for Pacific Northwest economic news.
Still wrapping your brain around this social media “revolution” [some would say], then check out this video.
You’ll still find the career related content/tips/advice/inspiration you need/want via our center’s website and Facebook page. If youneed convincing that Facebook is a top online hang-out spot for lots and lots of people, check out these stats, provided by Alexa.com [iStrategy Labs and Facebook]:
- Facebook currently attracts more than 25% of the world's Internet traffic.
- Between August and October 2009 alone, its traffic increased more than 24%.
- 70% of Facebook users are outside the U.S.
- The average Facebook user has 130 friends.
- 18- to 24-year-olds are still the largest Facebook population at 17 million, but 35- to 54-year-olds are the fastest-growing age demographic, increasing by 276% between June ’08 and Jan ’09.
- 65 million active users access it via a mobile device.
- Mobile users are 50% more active on Facebook than non-mobile users.
Have a great 2010! Here’s to a worldwide economic recovery! Cheers ya’ll…
For some of us, it's that time of year again: workplace holiday parties. Although the economy has forced a national trend that means up to 50% of us won't be indulging in workplace holiday shindigs, for those of you working in a place where a party is still being thrown, you should know that these can be a great place to shine, but are also an equally great place to make some bad decisions that could negatively impact your workplace reputation.
Wondering how to be smart about your holiday party this year? Check out a list of do's and don'ts courtesy of Quintessential Careers. Need a little more direction? Don't miss an "Etiquette Mistakes at the Company Holiday Party" primer, courtesy of about.com. Check out this recent article from Careerbuilder.com that espouses the benefits of networking at holiday parties, and also gives a shout-out to my favorite holiday elf, Dwight Schrute :-)
NWJobs [aka The Seattle Times] surveyed lots of local residents, and by clicking here, you can learn about some work environments people really enjoy.
Categories for large and small employers are noted below, results from this survey found here.
Favorite Seattle-area company;Favorite Eastside company;Favorite Snohomish County company; Favorite Pierce County company; Best benefits; Coolest office space; Favorite nonprofit; Most family-friendly company; Most unusual perk(s); Favorite biotech company; Favorite creative company; Favorite education & training company; Favorite green-collar company; Favorite health care company; Favorite hospitality company; Favorite technology company; Favorite temp/recruitment agency
If you want to work or intern for one of these employers, check if they have postings in HuskyJobs, see if UW Alumni work for them [network - use the UWAA & LinkedIn!], check out the jobs/employment/career page of their website, fine tune your resume, cover letter and interviewing skills, and let The Career Center know how/if we can support you.
If you are stuck in your job search and just not sure what to do ... re-establish a game plan, surround yourself with positive supporters and believe that with strategy, patience, persistence and luck, you'll get to where you want to be. If living and working in Seattle / Puget Sound doesn't interest you anymore, explore these guides for finding work in other cities and finding overseas opportunities.
Good luck, believe in yourself, keep an open mind and go for it!
If you missed November 3rd's Graduate and Professional School Fair or November 16th's Law School Fair, I won't hide the fact that you missed a good time. Representatives from more than 75 institutions attended the Graduate and Professional School Fair, and reps from more than 80 (!) attended the Law School Fair. It was a great opportunity to connect face-to-face with admissions representatives from programs all over the region and the nation.
But if you missed either event, all hope is definitely not lost, because the UW hosts many year-round resources for connecting you with pre-professional information, guidance and advice.
If you're thinking of heading to Graduate and Professional School, for instance, you'll want to be sure to check out the entire webpage of resources hosted by our team here at UWCC.
And if you're thinking of heading to Law School, please tell me you've checked in with the Gateway Center's Pre-Law Advising team. If you haven't yet, don't fret - just check out their online resources, then scurry to the Gateway Center (MGH 171).
If you're interested in pursuing Health-related graduate or professional education, be sure to attend April 28th's Health Graduate and Professional School Fair, being offered from 4-7pm in the Upper Husky Den. More information will be available on the Career Center website by late Winter Quarter.
Finding the face-to-face contact with admissions reps that was offered at the fairs earlier this month can be tricky to duplicate. However, there are some options to consider:
- Some programs make department-specific visits on campus, if there's a target population they're interested in recruiting. Check in with your departmental advisers if there's a school or two that is of particular interest.
- Look at other school's events websites. Sure, it's always nice to attend these events on your home turf, but sometimes neighboring colleges and universities offer these fairs at different times, and many times they're open to the public, and students from local schools. Be sure to call the event coordinator listed on the website first, though, to ensure you're able to attend.
- Visit the admissions page of any and all institutions that you're particularly interested in attending. Often times they'll have a calendar of their recruiting fairs and activities - maybe there's one happening in a neighboring city, or even a town where you have a friend/relative and could bunk for a night.
And last but definitely not least, keep an eye on the UWCC calendar for next year's Fair dates!
Sometimes I like to think about Eeyore. Seriously, he's an amusing little guy, is he not? And I think Eeyore's important to remember in this economy. Why, you might ask? Well let me play out a little scenario below.
Eeyore: good morning. If it is, which I doubt. Of course I'll never be able to find a job in this economy, so I should probably just stay inside and eat cookies and watch Tool Academy on Vh1. And maybe I'll stay at UW a couple extra quarters so I can delay the inevitable rejection that awaits me in the great big world beyond UW.
Savvy UW job seeker's reponse: Eeyore, lose the 'tude! Didn't you know that pursuing an internship is a great way to improve your employment chances, according to research done by the National Association of Colleges and Employers? That experience outside the classroom can lead to more success after graduation? Get on HuskyJobs, you cranky creature you, find that internship, and take a step towards securing meaningful employment.
Questions on the internship process, or how to land one? Visit us online at http://careers.washington.edu/Students/Find-Jobs-and-Internships , and don't let Eeyore get you down.
To be honest, November is not one of my favorite months. The summer sun is gone, the excitement that accompanies the start of the new school year has dissipated and the beautiful red leaves have fallen to the ground. Yet, ski season and winter holidays seem eons away.
November requires resilience as we come to terms with the fact that the rain is here to stay, that we have no control over the performance of our favorite sports teams and that professors actually expect work from us! If you're struggling to maintain your motivation and mood, remember to be thankful for November's blessings (Pumpkin-flavored everything! Three federal holidays! Television sweeps!) and to spend your energy on things you can control.
Consider using November as a springboard to begin thinking about your future in 2010 and beyond. The Career Center can help you channel your mid-autumn restlessness into a productive career exploration or job search process. So be sure to come check us out in 134 Mary Gates Hall. We think you'll be thankful you did.
You are not alone. You can find work. You can find meaningful work. Job searching takes time, strategy, optimism, organization and luck. Part time / contract / seasonal / internship / co-op positions often lead to full time, career roles. Find your foot-in-the-door, do great work, develop a rock-solid reputation and be kind to others.
The Seattle Times just posted about the job market, Fortune magazine shares some useful info, One Day One Job has a super duper article for new grads, Reuters highlights using the web to mix it up, and the [free] daily updates of the Puget Sound Business Journal are key for keeping up with the Northwest economy & job market.
Some jobs are advertised. Most jobs are hidden, not visible to the public. Tapping into the hidden job market takes strategy. Network, ask for advice, meet as many people as you can, share stories & promote your strengths. Luck may play a part in your search … be open to that intangible & keep your eyes & ears open for situations and opportunities which may boost your luck. UW students & alumni can use HuskyJobs for free, year round. If you want to work on campus, go directly to the units & departments that interest you and stay in touch with their key decision makers. Other ideas are to embrace professional & alumni associations [advice & contacts!], vary up your search strategies, be patient [yet persistent!] and … surround yourself with positive supporters who can help you through this transition / potentially tough time. Believe in yourself. Go for it! Check these other posts I’ve made if needing a boost. If looking for a laugh, check out Chris Rock on Youtube and his thoughts on jobs vs careers.
Not sure what networking is all 'bout? Check this short clip out:
Excellent tips, words of encouragement and strategies from some experts:
So last week, Dawgs, my neck started hurting. My shoulders ached. I woke up with a headache, kept it most of the day, and went to bed with it each night. I started noticing the bags under my eyes and a voracious appetite for caffeine. So what's a girl to do? Spend a weekend morning in bed with coffee, her Nintendo DS and some strategically placed naps, naturally.
And guess what? I came out the other end of it feeling a lot better, thanks to taking four seemingly-measly hours to myself. And that's what I want to encourage you to do. Yes, do your homework. Absolutely, attend your internship. Of course, study for your midterms. But when you have a moment to take a real, live break - take it and run with it.
Sure there are dishes to be washed, laundry to be done, people you haven't seen in a while, grandmas you owe a phone call to, the list goes on and on. But an equally important thing, keeping our sanity and our health, is often the first thing we cross off our list. I challenge you, Huskies, to flip that upside down this week. Because in a particularly aggressive flu season, a particularly tricky economy, not to mention the tough classes, demanding jobs or internships and more - taking good care of yourself is key to staying happy and healthy. So here's to your health and happiness! 
Choices come in all shapes and sizes.
Where should I attend college? Should I sleep-in or go for a jog? Should I study abroad? Do I want sweetener with my coffee? Accounting or finance option? Should I go on that blind date? Do I want an MBA or head to law school after my undergrad degree? Internship or travel in Europe or Asia this summer?
Life, careers and yes, college, centers on all types of decisions. Choosing where to focus your energy is the ongoing challenge, and opportunity. You can pursue educational and professional endeavors that align well with your unique talents, gifts and skills you enjoy using. You can do the opposite as well – make decisions about your near and distant future that do not align well with the energizing ingredients that make you special.
My hope is that you choose the first option mentioned above, and invest time and energy in uncovering, embracing and sharing abilities / talents / core skills / activities which come naturally to you. Yes, I’m talking about strengths here. Merriam-Webster defines [strength] … as “a strong attribute or inherent asset”. Everybody has strengths. Public speaking. Active listening. Leading research projects. Creative expression. Working with kids. Persuading others. Learning new technology. Risk taking. Writing. Repairing car engines. These are just a few examples. Everybody has their own unique combination of abilities that are inner motivated, core to who they are as a person. Core strengths are motivated skills that are used repeatedly in early and recent experiences in which you have done well and enjoyed what you were doing. Placing significant strengths at the nucleus of your life and career decisions, leads to maximizing more of your potential. Trust me.
Strengths grow and evolve over time. Core strengths stay fairly consistent throughout our lives, even if the venue, activity or environment where the strength is used, changes. One key to making informed and strategic decisions about our futures, is to take action to recognize, embrace and market our inner-motivated strengths. American icon Barbara Cook once said, “if you’re able to be yourself, then you have no competition. All you have to do is get closer and closer to that essence.” Alternative rock band Audioslave sings, “to be yourself is all that you can do”. Good advice, now let’s get started.
A few days ago, NPR did a radio segment on the coywolf, a hybrid of a coyote and the gray or red wolf. No one knows for sure, but perhaps the coywolf exists because it is genetically better suited to its environment. With its wily coyote ways and its large, deer-eating wolf’s head, the coywolf is able to negotiate around humans as well as hunt successfully in the wild. The coywolf has prepared itself to keep on keepin' on.
A friend of mine graduated a few years ago with a BA in Psych and a BS in Zoology. She works with birds at a veterinary clinic and loves it. But she doesn’t know what she’s going to do next. She will eventually need to move on to a better-paying job with more responsibility, but if she doesn’t start preparing for it now, she won’t be ready when the time comes! Maybe she could hybridize her current education and her new work experience with veterinary school? Only she knows the answer. But will need something more to keep her skills formidable to her current environment!
So how are you surviving in the wild? Think about how you can augment your inherent abilities, passions, and education with something new that can help you meet your own goals. It’s never too early to start asking yourself “what’s next?”
And of course, if you need some good advice or just a sounding board to bounce your ideas off of, come down to the Career Center and let us help you! Good luck!
Speaking of wily coyotes... (clearly he's not hybridized).
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