Boise State Career Center

Reactions to the BSU Winter Portfolio Show

2010-12-03T13:10:00.000-08:00

Below is a post from Ryan Lascano on his website http://ryanpatricklascano.com/ under the notes section. This is being reposted here with Ryan's permission to help future students.
Thanks Ryan!

Every semester the Boise State students in the Portfolio class hold a show to exhibit the most recent graphic design and illustration graduates. Tonight was the winter 2010 show, so my coworker Thomas Walsh and I headed over to check it out.

Every semester the Boise State students in the Portfolio class hold a show to exhibit the most recent graphic design and illustration graduates. Tonight was the winter 2010 show, so my coworker Thomas Walsh and I headed over to check it out.

The show is something I look forward to as a professional, not only to see what work is being done at our local university, but what students are coming out into the market. Supporting emerging designers is something I personally place a great importance on, and believe it’s our responsibility as professionals to support them and help prepare them for life in the real world.
But I have to say, I was somewhat disappointed in this semester’s show, so I’d like to share a few things I experienced and some feedback I have for emerging designers in our community.

Present Your Work, Present Yourself

Portfolio shows like this are tremendously important for students to not only present their work, but to get a taste of the real world and interact with professionals that work in the industry. Showing your book and the projects you’ve done in school is part of it, but a big part is selling yourself. Present your work as if you’re excited about it (and you should be), tell me a little bit about each piece, the concept and the research you did and anything you learned while doing it. This is a demonstration of presentation skills and critical thinking abilities as well as your design skills. If I were in the position to hire a recent grad I want to know they can think about their work, put a concept behind it, and present that idea to me or a client.

Your work should also be relevant. I saw a few books tonight that had some really random work, supposedly self directed pieces that looked more like experiments in Photoshop. That stuff is great, but not when it’s the majority of your book. I want to see that you can do those experiments within the scope of a creative brief and successfully marry it to an ad campaign, an interactive piece or an environment. A good portion of the work you show needs to be relevant to the types of job you want — art for art’s sake won’t get you very far in the client-driven design world.

Engage Your Audience

Shows like this present a rare opportunity for young designers to have a few minutes of one-on-one time with local industry pros. These people are busy, and getting an interview any other way might be more difficult. So when given that opportunity designers need to make the most of it. Introduce yourself to anyone who stops by your booth, talk to them, engage them — don’t talk to your neighbor about unrelated things, don’t stare at the ceiling or just stand against the wall quietly. Be proactive about making connections and relationships.

Out of probably 9 or 10 grads tonight, one of them introduced themselves. I intentionally keep to myself in order to entice the students to make the first move, but this time only one gal bit. I would want to hire designers who are interested in what I do, who make an effort to talk to me and share their work. Likewise, if you aren’t interested in me, I’m not interested in you and won’t make the effort to critique your work or pursue you any further. Engage anyone who stops by, regardless who you think they are, because you never know what connections they have or how much say they have in recruiting new talent. At the very least it’s good practice. If you aren’t making an effort to present yourself, you’re just wasting your own time.

Are You A Designer or an Illustrator?

This is the same problem I see at every show — students who have on their promo materials that they are a “Graphic Designer & Illustrator”. That’s great, but you need to pick one. In my opinion creatives who try to do design and photography, or design and illustration, rarely excel at both. At some point you’re going to have to choose. In terms of finding a job, I would want to hire someone who knows design but might also be able to illustrate rather than an illustrator who sort of laid out a business card once. I’ve seen a lot of “designer-slash-illustrators” who have a book full of illustration and very little design. In a small market a broad range of talent will go far, but if you call yourself a designer then you better know your stuff.

More Than Design

The biggest thing that designers need to grasp is that it’s about more than just designing. It’s more than making something look pretty, or using that cool new font you found. Students need to learn early on how to do research, how to develop a concept and tell a story with their work. That may be a lot to ask for students, but in a small, competitive market designers who can do that will get the better jobs.

Why Should I Hire You?

This is the question every grad should be addressing right from the start. Impress me. How would you be an asset to our company and our clients, or anyone else’s? And are you someone I want to work with every day? I would hire someone with fairly good design skills who was also motivated, passionate about design and excited to learn new things. I wouldn’t hire someone who had great design skills but didn’t show any interest in presenting their work to me. Sell your work, sell your skills, and most importantly sell yourself.

As I mentioned earlier, only one gal introduced herself to me and presented her work. Her name is Jenny Flint, and I told her she’d be the one to get a job somewhere. She had good work, was well spoken and knew her stuff. I don’t remember anyone else, couldn’t put a face to a name, and certainly don’t remember what work belonged to whom. But I certainly remember Jenny Flint.

Overall I think the grads need a bit more coaching in their Portfolio classes — how to interact with people, how to be interesting and outgoing, and how to sell themselves and their work. I wrote an article about Career Tips for Design Students over at Arrows & Icons a while back, hopefully it might still be of help to someone. As professionals I think we need to be doing all we can to influence the local design programs and the students coming out of them.

Beware of Aggressive Recruiters

2010-09-09T14:32:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Debbie Kaylor, Career Center Director:

I wanted to draw your attention to "a relatively new way of recruiting" students into business opportunities that is happening on our campus as well as campuses across the nation.

As you may be aware, there are a lot of companies that recruit students to sell their products door to door. These products range from books to house painting jobs, security systems to pesticides, or cutlery to name a few. The "job opportunity" is NOT a job opportunity at all, but rather a business opportunity where you are not an employee of the company, but rather an independent contractor who is responsible for your own taxes, your own profit (and loss), and often times you have to make an "investment" in order to get started.

While I certainly see the value in business opportunities, they also come with a lot of risk that you may not be prepared to take. The end result of these business opportunities can be money earned and experience gained; however, the end result can also be students who owe the company money, student who feel the company did not treat them fairly, and students who didn't set money aside for taxes. For these reasons, the Career Center has taken a stance that we do not allow these types of companies to use any of our services or attend any of our events.

I want to make you aware that these companies are, once again, actively on our campus because while we can set a policy for the Career Center, we cannot keep them off of a public campus. In order to get in front of you, they watch class schedules. Once they figure out class schedules, representatives from these companies go into full classrooms prior to faculty arriving and tell you about their opportunities encouraging you to attend informational sessions or complete a form with your contact information. They also toss out statements like "we are working with your Career Center" or ".... my job is to get you a great summer internship!" insinuating that they are affiliated with the university. Please be aware that they are in no way affiliated or supported by Boise State University.

I would encourage you to approach these opportunities with caution and make sure you understand exactly what the opportunity is, what is expected of you, and what you can expect from the company! I want to reiterate that I do not think these business opportunities are necessarily "bad" experiences. You just need a lot more information than these companies tend to give you before embarking on one. Our experience has been that most of these company representatives make the opportunity sound really great and do not give you all the details that you need. Our job is to lay out the whole story so you can make an informed decision.

If you have any questions about these recruiters, you have experienced their recruiting efforts, or you have participated in one of these business opportunities, we would love to hear from you. You can call us at 426-1747 or email us at career@boisestate.edu

Finally, our Fall Career Fair is coming up on October 6th and Graduate and Professional School Day is October 12, both are in the Jordan Ballroom. We look forward to seeing you there!

The Career Center has MOVED!

2010-07-26T07:36:00.000-07:00

That’s right, the Career Center is no longer located in the Alumni Center building! After almost a full week of packing, organizing, and cleaning, we are finally in our new home.

We are now located in the first floor of the Technical Services building, next to the SUB and across the street from the Rec Center, at the corner of University and Bronco Circle. Advising and Academic Enhancement will also be moving into this same building later this week.

We will be closed today (Monday, July 26) to try to get enough unpacking done so that our offices are at least somewhat functional, and then we will be back open for business starting tomorrow! (Just don’t mind the boxes that will undoubtedly still be scattered around the office if you come in this week!)

Come see us and check out our new office!

Likability is Everything

2010-07-16T11:43:00.000-07:00

Hopefully you know by now that it’s next to impossible to get a job these days without help from someone else in the form of a referral or a recommendation. Since the jobs that are out there aren’t really being advertised, you’ll have to find out about openings from people you know or can meet. Even when a job is advertised, there will be so much competition that you’ll need somebody at the company advocating for you in order to really stand a chance.

Since the job search comes down to relationships, your likability is everything… and this is NOT the time to go with the “I am who I am, and they’ll either like me or not” approach. If you want people to want to help you, they have to like you, and you are largely in control over whether they do or not. Everybody has likable traits. Everybody also has some not-so-appealing traits. You can choose which of your traits you showcase when interacting with others.

One of the biggest factors we see negatively impacting job seekers’ likeability these days is a negative attitude. This can be a challenge for a lot of job seekers to get under control, especially if you have been looking for a job for awhile and are frustrated. Letting others see that negativity, though, is a big mistake. You can vent to your closest friends and family, but when talking with others, it’s time to muster up all the positivity you can.

While your frustrations with your job search and the economy might be completely justified, coming across as having a negative attitude is just not likeable. No employer wants to hire someone who seems to have a negative attitude, nor will people want to help you by referring you for an open position or introducing you to one of their contacts.

Sometimes when you’re really frustrated, it can come across even when you’re trying to hide it. So don’t just hide your negative attitude, change it. Reframe your job search in a positive way… Remember, there are jobs out there for the people willing to do whatever it takes to get them. Decide to be a top candidate, get out there, meet the right people, be likeable, and you’ll find success.

An argument against being depressed

2010-06-30T09:02:00.000-07:00

Granted, the news about the job market is pretty depressing. Every month more jobs are lost, and there are more job seekers than there are openings. That’s the reality, and there’s nothing you can do about those facts.

Does that mean that you should just get depressed and give up? NO, even though you might be tempted to say, “Well if there are not enough jobs, then what’s the point?”

What has REALLY changed in this job market is that with fewer jobs and more highly qualified job seekers, the openings that do exist are going to the top candidates. Don’t think of yourself as the top talent? Well, if that’s the case, what are you going to do about it?

You now have two choices. You can choose to be depressed and give up, or, you can choose to BE top talent. That’s right- it’s a choice. And it’s your choice to make. The students and alumni I work with who have decided that they’re going to be the best and do whatever it takes to get the job they want, are getting jobs. They’re doing the right things to prepare for their career- getting experience however they can, developing relationships with the right people, and perfecting their job search strategies, and are perfectly willing to invest as much time and effort into achieving their goals as it takes. These are the “top” people the jobs are going to. The biggest correlation we’ve seen with job search success is the applicant’s level of commitment to being the best and willingness to do whatever it takes.

Therefore, if you DECIDE you’re going to be the best and do whatever it takes, jobs are out there for you. Granted, if everybody made this decision, then we’d have a real competition problem. But what you have going for you right now is that the majority of job seekers aren’t as committed as they need to be… making it easy for you to rise to the top if you decide to.

So don’t let the bad news about the job market get you down; just take that information for what it is- your guide to what it’s going to take to get a job.

Unemployed... and bored?

2010-06-15T08:55:00.000-07:00

People tell me all the time that they wish they could find a job because they’re so bored from being unemployed and having nothing to do. Well, I’m going to throw a seemingly radical idea out there- if you’re a job seeker, you have no excuse to be bored!

You’ve probably all heard the phrase, “Getting a job is a full-time job.” You’ve probably also said to yourself, “Yeah right, like I’m going to spend as much time looking for a job as I would if I had an actual paying job!” Well, in this job market especially, that phrase is quite literal. There’s a direct correlation between the time and effort you put into your search, and the outcome.

One of the problems is that many job seekers spend an hour or so each morning scouring job boards… and then quit for the day because they don’t know what else they should be doing. In reality, there are way more job search activities than you could ever even fit into a single day. If you’re a trying to conduct a successful job search, you need to be researching companies of interest, locating individuals to make contact with at those companies, making calls to contacts, setting up “coffee meetings,” conducting informational interviews, building your online brand, getting out there and attending events to meet new people, volunteering in order to enhance your resume and build your network, and ideally, even doing some pro bono consulting work to keep your skills fresh. Whew! That’s exhausting just looking at that to-do list!

So, if you’re bored, great! Use that free time and energy to your advantage to get out there and secure a real, paying job that much quicker!

Miss the Bootcamp? You missed out!

2010-06-02T08:58:00.000-07:00

As exhausted as the Career Center staff was at the end of our 2^nd annual Job Search Bootcamp, we definitely agreed with the students, alumni, and employers who unanimously proclaimed the event a success.

The message across the keynote presentations, breakout sessions, and employer panels was the same throughout the day… and we didn’t even plan it that way! The themes that emerged were Be Bold, Be Creative, Find a Problem and Be the Solution. All of the speakers stressed professional networking as the key to a successful job search, a skill which attendees got the chance to use with twenty-five employers from all different industries at the employer panel and networking reception.

Despite it being a long day of learning, skill-building, and networking, attendees left the event feeling energized, excited, and optimistic about the job search ahead of them. We heard comments from participants throughout the day like “This was the best $10 I’ve ever spent,” “This was so much more than I was expecting it to be,” and “Every graduate needs to come to this.”

If you missed this year’s Bootcamp, there’s good and bad news. The good news is we’ll be having another one next year… but the bad news is that it’s a year away! The other good news, though, is that the Career Center is available year-round to Boise State students and alumni, and can provide you with one-on-one advising on all of the topics covered at the Bootcamp. If you missed out on this event, don’t fall behind in your job search. Come see us right away!

We're back for summer!

2010-06-01T09:48:00.000-07:00

Let me get a quick introduction out of the way… I’m Jennifer Iuvone, one of the Career Counselors at the Boise State Career Center (also known as “one of the Jennifers” if you’ve been in our office!), and I’ll be writing the Career Center blog over the summer. During the school year, our Career Peers manage our blog, but since they have the summer off, you’re stuck with me!

Now that the dust has settled a bit from our 2^nd annual Job Search Bootcamp that took place on May 21, I’ll be starting to share some thoughts with you throughout the summer on all the various topics that interest me (and hopefully you as well), related to job searching in this economy and the career development process.

Stay tuned!

2010-04-22T11:00:00.000-07:00

I have a confession. I am completely, 100% addicted to “Deadliest Catch” on Discovery. Ever since it came out I have been fascinated with the crabbing industry and every spring I have this little voice in my head that keeps telling me to try and get on a boat, become a greenhorn. In my mind I can see myself being that elusive greenhorn that does everything right and always has energy and who is over qualified and we pull in a record catch. I, however, am terrified at the same time. It’s literally the world’s most dangerous profession! I’m a 22 year old from Boise, what the hell are crabs anyways?!

Honestly it draws a great parallel with academia. Being in school gives you an amazing amount of confidence. I remember when I was in nursing school I just knew that I was going to be this amazing nurse who would bring sweeping reform to Capitol Hill. My illusions of grandeur did not however make up for the fact that I was scared beyond belief of stepping away from a manikin and having someone’s life in my hands. Even now that I’m an education major I’m still scared about venturing out beyond college. I’ve been in school for around 21 years and doing something new is petrifying, however I need to leave eventually. So what I’m saying is that I need to take control of my future.

The career assessments that I took at the career center helped me to make the decision to switch to an education major and they can help you too. Take control of your future, come into the Career Center.

2010-04-08T10:46:00.000-07:00

You have to literally be living under a rock not to have heard about the Tiger Woods scandal. His lying has not only cost him a stable family life but many big name sponsors have completely dropped sponsoring him, costing Tiger millions of dollars. Now I know his situation is far from what you and I get into every day, but if we look at it from a different perspective its really not.

Tiger misrepresented himself to his employers (his sponsors) and when the “cookie crumbled” he was sent packing. Padding your resume, AKA lying on it, can cost you a future job or even your current one. Millions of people do it every day, a slightly higher GPA here, a better job title there and bravo; you are qualified for that job! You get called in for an interview and you notice the sun is shining brighter and the birds are singing a little sweeter. You go in and you are rocking the interview, everything is coming up roses… until you are asked to demonstrate your fluency in shorthand or provide a hard copy of your college transcript. Then you retreat home, jobless; it’s raining and you don’t have an umbrella.

Not only have you lost this job but you don’t know what contacts this employer has with other ones. The boss at the next job you apply for might just be his best friend and even if you are completely honest with this resume your reputation is not. So a good rule of thumb to live by is DON’T LIE ON YOUR RESUME! It will only come back to bite you someday, just like it did in these fine cases:

1. Candidate claimed to be a member of the Kennedy family

2. Applicant invented a school that did not exist

3. Job seeker submitted a résumé with someone else's photo inserted into the document

4. Candidate claimed to be a member of Mensa

5. Applicant claimed to have worked for the hiring manager before, but never had

6. Job seeker claimed to be the CEO of a company when he was an hourly employee

7. Candidate listed military experience dating back to before he was born

8. Job seeker included samples of work, which were actually those of the interviewer

9. Candidate claimed to have been a professional baseball player (CareerBuilder)

2010-03-25T12:33:00.001-07:00

In this tough economic climate layoffs and unemployment are inevitable. Jobless rates are hitting an all time high, for college graduates, reaching 4.6% last year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Now it might not seem that bad compared to the national unemployment rate of around 9.3%, but it is the highest unemployment rate for college graduates since unemployment by education status was first tracked in 1970 (Shin, 2009).
So what does this mean for you, students of Boise State? Well it means that you need to prove to your employer you are worth hiring, and that’s where the Career Center comes into play. The Career Center has tons of resources to help you in your job-hunt. Things like resume advice, mock-interviews where you practice interview skills, cover letter help, and career assessments are all at your disposal. However, if you were to only use one thing, that the Career Center offers, make it internships.
“The National Association of Colleges and Employers' 2009 Student Survey found that only 19.7 percent of graduates from the class of 2009 who applied for jobs had one by the end of April. Of those, about 23 percent of graduates with internship experience had a job, while only 14 percent of students without internship experience managed to find work” (Carpenter, 2009).
Having an internship is also a great way to see if you really want to work in the field you are studying. Wouldn’t you want to know if you are getting a degree in something you don’t like doing before you get your diploma? Wouldn’t it feel awesome to find out that you absolutely love what field you are going into? But most of all, wouldn’t you love to have a job?

Alternative Summer Employment Pt. 2

2010-03-11T11:17:00.000-08:00

Let’s say that this summer you want to get away from all the hustle and bustle of Corporate America and just travel around the U.S. Unfortunately for nearly all of us that is unrealistic. However if you are looking to get away for a while and work a little too then you should check out work exchange programs with hostels.

It basically works like this, you find a hostel that has a work exchange program, you apply, and then you go and work for the hostel. Usually you get either a small stipend or, more commonly, you get free lodging for as long as you are working. It’s a pretty sweet option, and you can go virtually anywhere. Take, for example, the Pahoa Hostel in Hawaii. If you work on their organic farm for just 2 hours a day your accommodations are provided, and that’s just one example. You can literally go from coast to coast, not having to pay for your room and board. The great thing about this program is that you can even go overseas! Ever thought of taking a quick hop over the pond to England? Well Ill tell you, you wont find a cheaper room then a free one.

This is, albeit not the most financially sound, a great option if you want to get away for the summer and don’t mind working for it!

Alternative Summer Employment pt. 1

2010-03-04T10:58:00.000-08:00

Hello March!! You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to say that. March is the start of so many things, March Madness, the sun not setting at 5pm, spring break and more importantly, for some of you early birds out there, it’s the start of lining up a summer job.

Securing a good summer job can make or break your three-month reprieve from school. If you start your search early enough you can basically have your pick of employment but if you wait you can get stuck with the leftovers, which frankly stinks. I’ve definitely had my share of ‘leftovers’ before but there have been those summers, where I prepared early, and had the time of my life… at camp!

If you are looking for an alternative to your mundane summer job, working at a summer camp might be for you. You get to work with kids, be outside in a cool environment, learn quirky camp songs, make smores, live in a cabin all summer, and your meals are covered! Where can you go wrong? At the summer camp I worked at we got to do high ropes courses and archery with the kids, take them rock climbing and hiking, tubing and swimming, oh we even had a blob! (Heavyweights reference)!

Working at camp was a life-changing experience for me and at the end of the summer I didn’t want to leave (a first for my summer jobs). There are thousands of summer camps across America, from as close as McCall and as far away as Maine, and most of them have a hard time getting a full staff.

So if you are looking for an alternative to summer employment, take a look at a summer camp. You’ll change the life of the kids and they might just change yours too.

Carrots and Koozies

2010-02-25T12:01:00.000-08:00

I’m sure you’ve all seen that image of a rabbit with a carrot, on a string, in front of its nose, its always working towards a goal but can never catch it. Sometimes college feels like that, especially if you realize that your degree is in a field you don’t want to work in, then you end up like me, going to school for seven years. I’ve always been working my way towards that metaphorical carrot knowing, in the back of my mind, that it is still, and always will be, just out of reach. But that all changed when I went to the Career Fair yesterday. I got excited. Companies actually showed interest in me, not just their standard smile and a handshake, but genuine interest. Now, not only can see my “carrot” but I can catch it. I know I’m going to have a job right out of college and that’s awesome considering the fact I get to start repaying my freshman year student loans next month.

For everyone that didn’t go to the Career Fair because you’re, “a freshman” or you’re not an “engineering or business major” or for whatever reason, you really missed out. Not only did the Career Fair give me a huge boost to my confidence but my drinks will always be cold thanks to the Sherwin-Williams can koozie that I scored.

Career Fair Time!!

2010-02-18T14:31:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to attend the 2010 Spring Career Fair on Wednesday, February 24th from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm in the SUB Jordan Ballroom.

Find a list of employers that have registered for the fair at http://career.boisestate.edu

Come early and come prepared!

See you at the fair.

Why am I an Intern?

2010-02-05T08:18:00.000-08:00

Last semester, I was overwhelmed by the amount of school work I had. I took five upper division classes and each came with a lovely stack of homework. By the end of the semester I was burnt out and had a difficult decision to make. I was contemplating taking a semester off to recharge. I didn't want to lengthen the time until I receive my degree so I came up with another plan that allowed me to stay in school and recharge at the same time. I decided to do a part time internship. I am taking just three classes besides my internship, and my homework load has become quite manageable. I would be lying if I said this semester has been easy. I wake up every morning at six to get ready for the day. Every day I'm doing something whether it is work, class or my internship from 8 to 5 and some nights until 9. Most nights I have homework to work on or I go to bed early, but already I've enjoyed this semester more than any other semester because of my internship.

Why do I enjoy my internship so much? I work for two senators at the Idaho State Legislature. I spend hours every day in committee meetings or researching laws in other states or reading tax reports. I don't get paid for any of it but it is still the highlight of my day. The work I do every day makes me feel like a part of the process that up until now I have only studied. I have been given the opportunity to see part of what my future career might look like and so far I like the picture. Every day I meet new people who are full of stories about the field I chose to study. Maybe I lucked out. Not everyone who does an internship in their field is bound to like it, but I am glad I took an opportunity to see what my field is like before I dive head first into a career.

There are plenty of other reasons for doing an internship. All the people I meet will be good references later on and this is a very good resume builder. But from one student to another, why should you do an internship? Do it to see if you enjoy it.

The Problem with Burning Bridges

2010-01-29T08:15:00.000-08:00

Imagine this: your boss has once again given someone who you feel is less qualified a promotion over you; or your leading a team to do a company report and one coworker gives you his piece of the report late leaving you scrambling to meet the deadline. Chances are you've experienced a situation similar to one of these. Misunderstandings and differences of opinions are not only a part of our personal lives but a part of our professional working lives as well. How we handle tough situations at work may have a lasting impact on our careers. When faced with these situations some choose to bury their feelings which can lead to a continuation of the problem or a lack of devotion towards work. Others become angry and burn bridges they may need later on in their career.

Consider the recent feud between Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien and NBC. Jay Leno says that he was approached by executives back in 2004 about stepping down at the Tonight Show to let rising star Conan O'Brien host the show. Despite the desire to stay on the Tonight Show, Leno announced his retirement from it and stepped down after 17 years last year. He was instead given a half hour prime time show on NBC. After four months of The Jay Leno Show, ratings continued to be poor. NBC decided to move Jay Leno's show to the time slot held by the Tonight Show and push Conan's show back. Conan refused to cooperate with the plan. Leno and O'Brien started making cracks at NBC for the mess in their monologues and eventually turned on each other as well. Conan eventually negotiated a $40 million dollar deal to leave the Tonight Show after just seven months of hosting it. Despite the circumstances surrounding his departure, Conan's final thoughts towards NBC in his last show were very gracious. He understood that no station hires comedians solely on fame. His future career depended on his ability to show a forgive and move on mentality. It is too soon to tell how the feud will effect the careers of both comedians, but with the negative press surrounding the events, it almost certainly will. Not every one's situation is that dramatic or public but like these comedians how we handle tense work situations will effect our careers and our value in the eyes of the company.

As in most situations, proper communication is the key to whether the situation is handled well or poorly. The authors of Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High understand that people have a tendency to communicate poorly when under pressure or when confront. This New York Times Bestseller seeks to teach people how to communicate effectively and calmly when opinions vary, stakes are high or emotions run strong. What is a crucial conversation? According to the book, "they are day-to-day conversations that affect your life" (1). The tools in this book require a lot of practice but may keep you from burning bridges or running away from issues that a truly important to you. Reading this book is a good investment for your current or future career.

Crucial conversations tools for talking when stakes are high. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2002.

Some Things to Consider

2010-01-22T08:33:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows that economic conditions are tight. The news is filled with stories of new layoffs and dismal unemployment numbers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released the newest edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook which provides a ray of hope. They provide information on the fields expected to grow fastest between now and 2018 and those with the largest projected growth job growth for the same time period. Check out the numbers.

Occupations with the largest projected job growth, 2008-18:
Registered Nurses: Increase of 581,500 jobs.
Home Health Aides: Increase of 460,900 jobs.
Customer Service Representatives: Increase of 399,500 jobs.
Combined Food Preparation and Servers: Increase of 394,300 jobs.
Personal and Home Care Aides: Increase of 375,800 jobs.
Full List
Fastest-growing occupations, 2008-2018:
Biomedical Engineer: Projected increase of 72 percent.
Network Systems and Data Connection Analysts: Projected increase of 53 percent.
Home Health Aides: Projected increase of 50 percent.
Personal and Home Care Aides: Projected increase of 46 percent.
Financial Examiner: Projected increase of 41 percent.
Full List
Before you go change your major to snag these jobs consider another story by the AP that came our a few weeks ago. They report on a Conference Board study that shows that Americans who are satisfied with their jobs is down to a record low of 45% which is the lowest it has been since the study began in the 80s. Why are there so many unsatisfied people? The number one reported reason is that people don't find their jobs interesting. The Career Center can help you find a career that will interest you. Call us so that some day you can be part of the 45%.

Coldwater Creek coming to the Career Fair

2010-01-12T08:46:00.000-08:00

It is important to come to the Career Fair prepared! We asked Amber Bertolucci, Corporate Recruiter for Coldwater Creek, to share some advice on how students can prepare to attend the Career Fair. Below, are the suggestions she shared with us.

A few things that I appreciate in a candidate can be found below:

- Do research on the company, the product we sell, and our location.
- Always have a fresh clean copy of your resume available to hand out.
- If you are a Creative major I like to see samples of portfolios (pictures that can be attached to the resume for reference later).
- Professional appearance
- Have an idea of what internship you are interested when you reach the booth.

We are excited to have Coldwater Creek on campus for our 2010 Career Fair to be held on Wednesday, February 24th. They are an excellent Idaho based retailer. The headquarters for Coldwater Creek are located in Sandpoint. At the fair they will be recruiting for a number of internships that will be located in Sandpoint for the summer. Go to http://career.boisestate.edu/careerfair.htm and click on the link to 'research companies attending the fair' to read more about Coldwater Creek as well as other companies registered to attend the fair.
jr

I almost forgot I had a job

2010-01-08T13:54:00.000-08:00

From Thanksgiving to New Years, I don’t think much “work” actually takes place. Instead the days are filled with holiday planning, eating and playing. In our office we always look forward to our white elephant gift exchange as it always ends up being a lot of laughs…for most of us. For the unfortunate one who gets the rubber gloves and old hat, we wish you better luck next year.
We are also humbled and grateful during the season of giving by working together to help those students struggling to make ends meet while attending classes and raising a family. Our admiration goes out to you as you work to make a better life for you and your family in this demanding economy.

As we have returned to the office throughout the week we have spent time updating each other on our holiday events and gifts.

If you have made an appointment to meet with Alex, I suggest grabbing your snuggie and warm drink. You will find yourself nestled next to the new fireplace/heater in his office. A fireside chat might be just what you need to get your career plan in order.

Debbie is the only one who was fortunate enough to attend the Fiesta Bowl. She has chronicled the trip on her Facebook page. Friend her and live the Fiesta Bowl magic all over again! She is now lobbying to have the Broncos invited to the White House. After all, who wouldn’t want to meet the 14-0 Broncos…including the President of the United States?

We are all looking forward to beginning another new year here at the Career Center. We work to remain optimistic about the job market. At this point the reviews are mixed as to whether we are going to see much improvement in the job market or not. In any case, we will continue to help students to become the best possible candidates for those jobs that are out there. While they may be few and far between, they are out there. We already have 26 employers registered for the Career Fair coming up and February 24th and are adding to that list everyday.

Keep working hard and moving ahead. If you need a break contact Alex for some fire time.

Boise State University At- Graduation Survey

2009-11-17T12:09:00.000-08:00

Boise State University
Academic Year 2008-09 At-Graduation Survey

During the fall of 2008 and the spring of 2009, the Career Center administered an At-Graduation Placement Survey to the Fall 2008 and Spring/Summer 2009 graduates. We collected surveys via Capstone Courses and on-line. A total of 1614 responses were received. There were a total of 2846 graduates in the Fall of 08 and Spring/Summer of 09 which were included in the survey. For purposes of this survey, we did not include COAT graduates as they participate in their own survey. The response rate for this survey was 57%.

In addition to this general university report, reports were created by college and by department. Additional data including names of organizations employing students in career employment and internship positions and position titles is included in these specific reports.

Highlights from the survey include:

-Five out of six colleges had a 50% or higher response rate with the College of Engineering coming in at a 77% response rate.

-Given the job market that the 08/09 graduates faced, the percent of students who had jobs declined over past years. However, 34% of respondents say their degree helped them obtain new employment or advance within the organization where they are currently working. The national average for 08/09 grads who have landed jobs, according to NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) is 20%.

-The college of Health Sciences and College of Engineering led the way with students whose degree helped them obtain new employment or advance within the organization where they are currently working with both coming in at over 50%.

-As expected, a larger percentage of respondents are opting to continue in school following their graduation. 26% of respondents will be going on to graduate or professional school or continuing on with undergraduate studies within a year of graduating from Boise State. 23% of respondents from both the College of Arts and Sciences and Social Sciences and Public Affairs state that they are continuing on to graduate or professional school within the next year.

-70% of respondents will stay and work in the Treasure Valley with an additional 9% working in other areas of Idaho. The western US came in as the favorite destination for grads outside of the state of Idaho with 12% of respondents stating that their job will be located in the Western US.

-40% of respondents participated in an Internship while at Boise State. 47% of SSPA and 43% of COEN respondents participated in internships.

-31% of respondents who participated in an Internship were offered career employment as a result of their internship. Over 40% of respondents from the College of Business and Economics, College of Health Sciences, and College of Engineering reported receiving their career employment offers as a result of their internship.

-An additional 35% of respondents participated in a field experience (not considered an Internship) while at Boise State. 32% of those participating were offered career employment as a result of this experience. The College of Education (79%) and College of Health Sciences (57%) lead the way in non-internship field experiences.

-47% of respondents used the services at the Career Center with BroncoJobs, events, and job search assistance topping the list of services used.

To read and see more detailed results please go to http://career.boisestate.edu.

“A career on a college campus…say what!?”

2009-10-29T14:51:00.000-07:00

I am not talking about a student wage or work study job, I’m talking about a full-time paying gig. In celebration of Careers in Student Affairs Month, I thought I’d share my thoughts and experiences.

Yesterday I participated on a “Careers in Student Affairs” panel geared to students thinking about careers in Student Affairs. While there were a few students attending and a lot of great questions asked, I think students initially don’t consider this career for a couple of reasons.

1. What the heck is Student Affairs? Student Affairs is the functional area of the university that assists student growth and success through programming and services. Some of us also teach and work in the classroom. This area includes departments like Student Activities, Housing, Financial Aid, the Student Recreation Center, Health and Wellness, the Student Union, Women’s and Cultural Centers, Admissions and of course the Career Center. This is not the entire list, but you get the idea. Our goal is to promote student success and development.

2. Didn’t even know this was a career option? (this fit me) I didn’t grow up thinking, “I could be a student affairs professional”. No, I wanted to be an engineer or a billionaire or something. Student affairs was the farthest thing from what I thought I could and should do.

3. I want to get the heck out of here (this also was me). Though I had a great time in college, when I was done, I was done! No more all nighters, no more books, no more papers and especially no more midterms and finals. I wanted to have a “career” job to go to and make MONEY! I wanted to have bills (I know, stupid) and be a grown up. I finally made it from the minor leagues to the big show. I wanted to prove myself and conquer the world.

Listening to the other panelist yesterday, showed how there is not just one path or major to get into this field. One panelist was a hotel/conference manager and business owner; one was considering law school and corporate life; other prior careers included fitness and heath policy. My career started out in the safety field working in a hospital.

When that first August rolled around the after I graduated, I realized how much I missed college. I was working at a university medical center and saw all those students with their backpacks heading to classes and labs. I remember thinking to myself, ”dang, just last year that was me”, not a care in the world, no bills, no rent, no “real” boss, it was going to class, going to the gym, grabbing a bite to eat on campus, in one word - nirvana. Yeah, yeah, I know, I said I wanted those bills and other grown up things, but you know, I really truly love the college environment and that time in life.

After a couple of years of this I decided to go back to school. I applied to graduate school, was accepted and obtained a graduate assistantship as a hall director on campus. I loved my job as a hall director and making a connection with students. My supervisor at the time asked me to consider “student affairs” as a career. The university I was at had a program geared toward counseling and college students, so I applied, was accepted and let’s just say the rest is history.

I’ve worked in housing, a cultural center, and career services/centers. I even did a stint at a large high tech company in their training and education area. All my experiences have lead to other and greater opportunities. In fact, I am only limited by where and what I want to do.

I’ve learned how to manage budgets, direct and implement projects and programs, develop websites and marketing campaigns, coordinate and put on events. Most importantly, I have been able to work with a lot of great students who have become employees, employers, colleagues, mentees and of course friends. I also hope, I’ve made an impact in their lives, because they have in mine. I’ve said this before and I will say it again, I absolutely love my job!

So, if you are thinking of this as a possible career field, here are some things to think about:

1. You won’t get rich doing this. It’s true, but you know what, we are all driven by different things and money is not my driver, making a difference is.
2. Do you like working with people? Do you like helping students succeed? Are you someone who people feel is easy to talk to and develop trust? If you are, this might not be a bad fit.
3. Do you like variety in your work life? Our days our never the same. Is every day sun shiny and great…no, but at the end of the day, week or month, do I think…wow, I get paid to do this. My day is filled with counseling appointments, brainstorming sessions, classroom presentations, employer visits and networking events. Have I said it before, “I love my job."
4. Are you someone who works well in a team? Not only do we collaborate within our own teams, but with other units throughout campus. We also assist and work with student teams.
5. Find a mentor. Is there someone who works in one of these areas that you look up to? How did they get there? What do they like about what they are doing? Will they be willing to get you involved in activities to test drive this career?
6. Get involved and engage on campus. My interest in this career started way before I became a hall director. I was a campus ambassador, giving tours, speaking at high schools, etc. I was also a resident assistant and a residence hall officer. It began when I was still a student and I didn’t even know it. All my experiences have lead in some way to the next stop on my journey.
7. Visit the Career Center. If you are not sure what career path you should follow, let us help you. Remember, this is what we do and we love helping you succeed.
-AG

"If I look at another resume I am going to freak!"

2009-10-22T11:54:00.000-07:00

It is no secret that unemployment is up and job openings are down. But, there are still job openings out there. Yes, there are still companies hiring! Although, for any one job opening a company has, I would guess that they get at least 100 applicants for the position.

Even if your resume is submitted online there is still some one who has to sort through the resumes to find the most suitable candidates. After a while the person reviewing resumes must be seeing double and wondering why everyone loves those resume templates on Word.

Although blood, sweat, and tears went into the multiple revisions of your resume, your resume might be viewed by someone who has already read 80 resumes that day. By then one resume is just blending into the next.

How does anyone get a job by just submitting a resume?
Especially when you have no control over the mood or energy level of the person reviewing resumes.

What can you do to get your resume to standout in the crowd?

Here are some true life examples from what I have seen. (These are just examples not ideas. I am in no way suggesting that these are things you should do.)

-Neon colored pink, green, or red paper

-Perfume sprayed paper (I loved the smell of the resume but the resume itself I didn’t care for)

-A before and after picture of yourself on your resume (submitted for a health related position)

-Resume made to look like a scrapbook

-Burned resume around the edges to give a treasure map or old scroll type of look

-Using landscape format

-Using an odd size of paper

If you are going into a creative field then maybe a resume with pictures drawn on it or the edges burned might go over well with the creative minds reviewing your resume. But, for the rest of us burned edges just look like a horrible accident your resume got into.

Again, how does anyone get a job by just submitting a resume?
In this job market the truth is a lot of people don’t.

What to do…

NETWORK!

In this job market I cannot say this word enough to job seekers.

NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK
(Along with submitting your resume)

If a bleary eyed hiring manager is sorting through a stack of 98 resumes and comes across a name they recognize they may think, “Oh yes, I remember this person from the Boise State Career Fair. I will set it aside and review it tomorrow when I am not as tired.”

You have just been saved from going to the round file sitting on the floor. Getting through the next review is up to the quality of your resume and the impression you left on the person when you met them.

Although not always given the opportunity to hand your resume to a person when applying for a job, just meeting someone from the company involved in the hiring process helps. Any face to face meeting and/or personal interaction is going to help regardless of whether or not you were able to hand them your resume. Name recognition is very powerful!

Never pass up an opportunity to attend a networking event either in the community or on-campus. Check with your department and the Career Center for any upcoming networking types of events.

“The Sun ‘ll Come Out Tomorrow…”

2009-10-01T10:15:00.000-07:00

What are you doing in this down economy to prepare yourself for the up economy?

Although the winter season is quickly approaching, now is not the time to hibernate and hide out from a bad economic climate.
During these times of hardship many people are forced to use their ingenuity and creativity to make ends meet.
Yesterday, I had a little boy (probably between 7-10 years old) come to my door selling homemade bread to earn money for his piano lessons. He stated that he wanted to continue to take lessons but needed to earn some money to pay his teacher. While I am not sure about neither the legality of this, or the sanity of his parents who let him go to door to door by himself, I admired his entrepreneurial spirit. I may consider peddling some homemade muffins in order to continue paying my cable bill.
Not really, but you get the idea that people are coming up with new ways to make ends meet.

Sometimes what you do on the side ends up being the more prosperous endeavor. Take for example the following historical events:

David McConnell was selling books door to door in 1886, when the business wasn't so good he started giving perfume out as bonuses to women to get them to buy his books. Finally the perfume was more popular than his books and so he started a company that is known today as Avon.

William Wrigley Jr. started a Chicago based company in 1892 selling soap and baking powder. To encourage people to buy his products he began offering chewing gum as a bonus. As with David McConnell - soon Wrigley's bonus became more popular than the product he was trying to sell. Wrigley changed his company to sell chewing gum and, as they say, the rest is history.

Soichiro Honda was turned down by Toyota Motor Corporation during a job interview as “engineer” after World War Two. He continued to be jobless until his neighbors starting buying his “home-made scooters”. Subsequently, he set out on his own to start his own company. Honda. Today, the Company has grown to become the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer and one of the most profitable automakers - beating giant automaker such as GM and Chrysler. With a global network of 437 subsidiaries, Honda develops, manufactures, and markets a wide variety of products ranging from small general-purpose engines and scooters to specialty sports cars.

Don’t let this economy bring you down. Study hard, work hard, play hard and develop skills you need to get you where you want to go. The sun will come out and you need to be ready to run when it does.

Develop persistence.
Believe in yourself.
Build social and verbal skills.
Learn to not take rejection personally.
Continue to invest in yourself.

"If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest." -- Benjamin Franklin

“So you gotta hang on ‘til tomorrow...”

Can your name keep you from getting hired?

2009-09-11T14:04:00.000-07:00

Since Nicole Richie and Joel Madden named their new baby boy Sparrow, it got me wondering how a hiring manager might view his resume. One of his middle names is James so maybe he will go by that and hide the fact that his first name is Sparrow.

But I wonder can your name keep you from getting jobs? I grew up with a kid named Johnny Carson. Maybe the employer assumes he will be funny and is disappointed when he isn't. What if you had the unfortunate luck of being named Charles Manson. Would an employer even call you in for an interview after seeing that name on a resume?
Or you could be named:
Ben Dover
Fifi Trixibell
Moon Unit
Apple
Diva Muffin

I have heard job seekers also mention that their ethnic sounding name or hard to pronounce names work against them.

Of course considering someone's name as part of the hiring process is not only wrong but illegal. While hiring managers may not intend to discriminate against a candidate based on a name or ethnicity, the name could still signal something about the applicant's skills or background that is relevant to the job. For example, an employer may try to assume that an applicant with the last name of Ortega speaks fluent Spanish.

If job seekers feel that their first name conveys an image they are uncomfortable with, then they could just use their first initial on a job application or résumé. But deemphasizing a last name is obviously not realistic.

Instead, job seekers should focus more on the aspects of their image that they can control, like their online presence or the email address they use for correspondence. For example, beerandchicks@hotmail.com probably won't convey a professional image to a hiring manager.

"College-Degree-For-Employment" Talk

2009-08-28T09:08:00.000-07:00

Are you one of the thousands of students who has changed your major from something you really enjoy to something you thought would be easier to get a job in? In this economy finding a job and keeping a job seem to be first and foremost on students minds as they evaluate their choice of major.
I often have students ask me which jobs start out at the highest pay. For many that answer will help them to choose their major. There are many factors that go into choosing a major. The reasons are a little different for everyone. It is helpful to talk through your reasoning with a Career Counselor to determine if this major will lead you to a personally fulfilling and successful career.

Choosing a major that is going to be the best fit for your interests and skills has always been important. But, this year the importance of a well rounded education and planning to manage your career through the changing economy has been emphasized by President Kustra in his State of the University address on August 19th.

Copied below are some direct quotes from President Kustra's speech regarding majors and careers.

"The current recession and its impact on jobs and careers reminds us of the importance of offering our students the breadth and depth of programming with choices in academic preparation. I hear parents of students and the students themselves ask more and more these days whether this or that major will lead to employment upon graduation. And I guess you can’t blame them in this tough job market.

But it worries me that we will now focus less than ever on the value of an undergraduate education in providing the student with life-long skills that will stand the test of time, survive the downturns in the economy and guarantee not just the first job, but the second, third and fourth jobs when people are forced—or choose—to switch careers.

I also worry that this college-degree-for-employment talk will prevent students from choosing the major of their first choice—where they may excel—only to take the utility major and struggle with a less interesting experience. How many times have we listened to a student’s tale of woe, choosing the wrong major and then changing to the more appropriate choice later, but adding time and cost to the completion of the degree? And how many of us in college correctly predicted the course of our careers anyway?"

Planning to manage you career through ups and downs in the economy will be key as you get out into the working world.

If you are wondering "What can I do with a major in...." The Career Center has a great resource to help you research that question. Go to http://career.boisestate.edu/WCIDWAMI/Majors/default.html Click on the major you are interested in and read through the suggested careers you might go into for that degree. I guarantee we can find you a variety of career options for any degree offered at Boise State. The key is deciding what you WANT to do.

After all Confucius says, "If you enjoy what you do, you will never work another day in your life"

Welcome 2009 Fall Semester!

2009-08-20T14:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to a new semester! We have a number of fall events planned this year. Please read the event list to the right and mark your calendars.

Succeeding on the Job...

2009-05-11T14:21:00.001-07:00

Perhaps you know everything there is to know about school after attending it for seventeen years; however, what do you know about the workplace? The transition from college into that first job can be a difficult one. In order to master the assimilation process, pay attention to the following tips from an article written by Ed Holton in the National Association of Colleges and Employers magazine:

Holton suggests that the first year on the job is critical. Your long term success can depend upon how well you do during your first year in the work world.

First year success strategies:

1. Slow Down

Don't try so hard to impress your colleagues that you are speeding into the process;

you may end up embarrassing yourself this way. It is good to understand everything

there is to know about the company before you try and take over. You need to keep

open ears and a mouth shut while learning the ropes.

2. Learn the Culture

Unique sets of norms and rules come from a company's particular culture and

personality. Some of these are difficult to pick out right away; they are often

informal. Watch and learn.

3. Manage a Good Impression

The first impression you make is very important; any time you are starting a new job,

there will be many people within the company watching you. Read the organizational

environment in order to determine the right way to act. Be ready to change and learn.

Have the attitude that you are willing to be the new employee and find your place in

the company.

4. Learn the Art of Being New

Being the "new person" matters in everything that happens at work. It may be an

uncomfortable position to be in; however, you can learn the art of being new. Accept

your newcomer role, and understand the importance of the transition period.

5. Manage your Expectations

There is sometimes a gap between expectations and reality for some new hires. You

must expect to be surprised; the fact is that many parts of your job will not be what

you were expecting. People skills and teamwork are going to be the best thing you can

bring to the company.

6. Become a Savvy Subordinate

The most important person in your new career is going to be your boss. What you do

in the company must support your boss. Making your boss look good will help you

to succeed in the company. You have to learn to be a good follower before you will

make a good leader.

Although transitioning from school into work may never be called easy, these important success strategies will help you sail through the process. Look over them before entering that new job, and you can be sure you will be more informed on not only what your role is, but also how you can succeed in the new workplace.

Important Resume Tips...

2009-04-27T14:07:00.000-07:00

re⋅su⋅me

2 [rez-oo-mey, rez-oo-mey] –noun

a brief written account of personal, educational, and professional qualifications and experience, as that prepared by an applicant for a job.

Your resume is your chance to shine! This is the one document that separates you from everyone else applying for the same job. Before the employers know you, they know you by your resume. Is the information on your resume helping you or hurting you to find that perfect job? Pay attention to the following tips provided by the Daily Writing Tips website.

Making the right improvements to your resume may make a world of difference.

1. Know the purpose of your resume

Some people write a resume as if the purpose of the document was to land a job. As a result they end up with a really long and boring piece that makes them look like desperate job hunters. The objective of your resume is to land an interview, and the interview will land you the job (hopefully!).

2. Back up your qualities and strengths

Instead of creating a long (and boring) list with all your qualities (e.g., disciplined, creative, problem solver) try to connect them with real life and work experiences. In other words, you need to back these qualities and strengths up, else it will appear that you are just trying to inflate things.

3. Make sure to use the right keywords

Most companies (even smaller ones) are already using digital databases to search for candidates. This means that the HR department will run search queries based on specific keywords. Guess what, if your resume doesn’t have the keywords related to the job you are applying for, you will be out even before the game starts.

These keywords will usually be nouns. Check the job description and related job ads for a clue on what the employer might be looking for. You can read more about resume keywords on the article Tapping the Power of Keywords to Enhance Your Resume’s Effectiveness.

4. Use effective titles

Like it or not, employers will usually make a judgment about your resume in 5 seconds. Under this time frame the most important aspect will be the titles that you listed on the resume, so make sure they grab the attention. Try to be as descriptive as possible, giving the employer a good idea about the nature of your past work experiences. For example:

Bad title: Accounting
Good title: Management of A/R and A/P and Recordkeeping

5. Proofread it twice

It would be difficult to emphasize the importance of proofreading your resume. One small typo and your chances of getting hired could slip. Proofreading it once is not enough, so do it twice, three times or as many as necessary. If you don’t know how to proofread effectively, here are 8 tips that you can use.

6. Use bullet points

No employer will have the time (or patience) to read long paragraphs of text. Make sure, therefore, to use bullet points and short sentences to describe your experiences, educational background and professional objectives.

7. Where are you going?

Including professional goals can help you by giving employers an idea of where you are going, and how you want to arrive there. You don’t need to have a special section devoted to your professional objectives, but overall the resume must communicate it. The question of whether or not to highlight your career objectives on the resume is a polemic one among HR managers, so go with your feeling. If you decide to list them, make sure they are not generic.

8. Put the most important information first

This point is valid both to the overall order of your resume, as well as to the individual sections. Most of the times your previous work experience will be the most important part of the resume, so put it at the top. When describing your experiences or skills, list the most important ones first.

9. Attention to the typography

First of all make sure that your fonts are big enough. The smaller you should go is 11 points, but 12 is probably safer. Do not use capital letters all over the place, remember that your goal is to communicate a message as fast and as clearly as possible. Arial and Times are good choices.

10. Do not include “no kidding” information

There are many people that like to include statements like “Available for interview” or “References available upon request.” If you are sending a resume to a company, it should be a given that you are available for an interview and that you will provide references if requested. Just avoid items that will make the employer think “no kidding!”

11. Explain the benefits of your skills

Merely stating that you can do something will not catch the attention of the employer. If you manage to explain how it will benefit his company, and to connect it to tangible results, then you will greatly improve your chances.

12. Avoid negativity

Do not include information that might sound negative in the eyes of the employer. This is valid both to your resume and to interviews. You don’t need to include, for instance, things that you hated about your last company.

13. Achievements instead of responsibilities

Resumes that include a long list of “responsibilities included…” are plain boring, and not efficient in selling yourself. Instead of listing responsibilities, therefore, describe your professional achievements.

14. No pictures

Sure, we know that you are good looking, but unless you are applying for a job where the physical traits are very important (e.g., modeling, acting and so on), and unless the employer specifically requested it, you should avoid attaching your picture to the resume.

15. Use numbers

This tip is a complement to the 13th one. If you are going to describe your past professional achievements, it would be a good idea to make them as solid as possible. Numbers are your friends here. Don’t merely mention that you increased the annual revenues of your division, say that you increased them by $100,000, by 78%, and so on.

16. One resume for each employer

One of the most common mistakes that people make is to create a standard resume and send it to all the job openings that they can find. Sure it will save you time, but it will also greatly decrease the chances of landing an interview (so in reality it could even represent a waste of time). Tailor your resume for each employer. The same point applies to your cover letters.

17. Identify the problems of the employer

A good starting point to tailor your resume for a specific employer is to identify what possible problems he might have at hand. Try to understand the market of the company you are applying for a job, and identify what kind of difficulties they might be going through. After that illustrate on your resume how you and your skills would help to solve those problems.

18. Avoid age discrimination

It is illegal to discriminate people because of their age, but some employers do these considerations nonetheless. Why risk the trouble? Unless specifically requested, do not include your age on your resume.

19. You don’t need to list all your work experiences

If you have job experiences that you are not proud of, or that are not relevant to the current opportunity, you should just omit them. Mentioning that you used to sell hamburgers when you were 17 is probably not going to help you land that executive position.

20. Go with what you got

If you never had any real working experience, just include your summer jobs or volunteer work. If you don’t have a degree yet, mention the title and the estimated date for completion. As long as those points are relevant to the job in question, it does not matter if they are official or not.

21. Sell your fish

Remember that you are trying to sell yourself. As long as you don’t go over the edge, all the marketing efforts that you can put in your resume (in its content, design, delivery method and so on) will give you an advantage over the other candidates.

22. Don’t include irrelevant information

Irrelevant information such as political affiliation, religion and sexual preference will not help you. In fact it might even hurt your chances of landing an interview. Just skip it.

23. Use Mr. and Ms. if appropriate

If you have a gender neutral name like Alex or Ryan make sure to include the Mr. or Ms. prefix, so that employers will not get confused about your gender.

24. No lies, please

Seems like a no brainer, but you would be amused to discover the amount of people that lie in their resumes. Even small lies should be avoided. Apart from being wrong, most HR departments do background checks these days, and if you are buster it might ruin your credibility for good.

25. Keep the salary in mind

The image you will create with your resume must match the salary and responsibility level that you are aiming for.

The list includes 44 different tips to improving your resume...click here to see more!

Don't Fall Behind On Your Networking!

2009-04-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

Have you recently been laid off? Or have you been slacking on updating your job applicant information and network? Believe it or not there are easy and efficient ways to keep up with your network. According to an article posted on MSN Careers there are five simple steps to completing these tasks:

1. Make a list
Create a list of everyone you know and have known, whether or not you know where they are today, suggests Duncan Mathison, an author, speaker and consultant on companies and professionals impacted by layoffs. Circulate the list to people you have stayed in touch with and they can often fill in the blanks, reintroduce you and even remind you of others who would be worthwhile to connect with.

2. Perform a Google search
Start by typing in the full name of the person you are searching, says Melissa Cassera, publicity specialist. Try searching for his or her full name + the state in which they live. If you find a name but no contact information, try typing in the full name + the word 'e-mail' or 'phone.'

3. Contact your undergraduate or business school
You may score current contact information by responding to requests from your Alma maters' alumni association, says Debra Condren, business psychologist, coach, author and founder of AmbitionIsNotADirtyWord.com. Update your own contact information and professional biography and stay visible to your former classmates, she says. "Let folks know what you're up to and they may surprise you with a blast from the past phone call or e-mail, just when you were wondering how to find them."

4. Use social networks
Look up old colleagues on LinkedIn, Plaxo, Jigsaw, Brightfuse and Facebook, Cassera suggests. Many of these sites have search functions where you can search by company -- even if someone has left the organization, there's a good chance they've listed it in their previous work history.

5. Fill in the gaps
If you are missing links in your network, you must replace or renew them. Revisit your trade organization, attend local networking events and use your current data base to get connected to new contacts, says David Hults, author of "From Cornered to Corner Office." If you're laid off, ask people who would be good contacts to know. Some will surely know the 'movers and shakers' in your industry.

For more information visit the following website:http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-1896-Job-Search-Five-Ways-to-Refresh-Your-Outdated-Network/?sc_extcmp=JS_1896_advice&SiteId=cbmsn41896&catid=js

Top Ten Jobs For 2009 Graduates

2009-04-13T09:35:00.001-07:00

According to a recent MSN article, the 2009 graduates have something hopeful to look forward to when coming out into the continuing decaying job market! It is said that the top ten jobs for 2009 will be as follows:

Accountants and Auditors: best for anyone majoring in accounting
Database administrators: best for anyone with a major that deals with computer science, information science or management information
Electrical engineers: best for anyone with an engineering degree
Financial analysts: best for anyone with a major in economics, finance, business administration, accounting or statistics.
Management analysts: best for anyone with a business administration degree
Marketing managers: best for anyone with a business administration degree
Mechanical engineers: best for anyone with an engineering degree
Network systems and data communications analysts: best for anyone with a degree in computer science, information science or management information systems
Personal financial advisers: best for anyone with a degree in accounting, business, finance, economics, mathematics, or law minors
Sales manager: best for someone with an administration degree

So don't look too down when thinking about what career path you are choosing! There is still hope! To read the article in full detail go to: http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-1870-College-Internships-First-Jobs-10-Promising-Jobs-for-the-Class-of-2009/?sc_extcmp=JS_1870_advice&SiteId=cbmsn41870&catid=cg

Need Career Information?

2009-04-10T13:23:00.000-07:00

Although the Career Center website provides links to several helpful blogs and websites, it may benefit you to check out this site. The boot camp that the Career Center is holding soon at the Student Union building will be featuring a speech from a gentleman that is very in tune with what is going on in the "career world".

Before attending the boot camp, you may want to check out some of the important facts and research that is provided on the CERI website. CERI stands for Collegiate Employment Research Institute. This website is put together by a team of people from Michigan State University that track down all the important information college students need to know about careers before and after graduation. There are not only extremely helpful tips and facts on the site, but some very interesting ones as well.

Some of the important sections of the website are as follows: recruiting trends, assessment support, student transition, and milennial young adults. This website contains numerous information that will help you with the job search process, transition into a career, and also any other information you would like to know about careers at this time. Go check it out!

www.ceri.msu.edu

Videos in the ILC

2009-04-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

I'm sure most of you have been in the new, sharp ILC building. If you have, you couldn't have missed the tons of TV's all over the walls inside. There are small monitors by all of the tables on the first floor. If you haven't noticed them go check 'em out! Not only is it a pretty neat place to hang, with all of the new state of the art computers and comfy couches on every floor, but now those small monitors on the first floor will be playing cool videos with really helpful information.

The Career Peers at the Career Center have taken on a new venture and created videos to play on those screens in the ILC. The videos are small, one minute clips with no sound. But the sound need not be heard, for the information they provide is all you need; lots of tips and helpful hints that could help when looking for a career in our struggling economy. The first video that has been produced is on Internships and how they can help in getting a job right now. It should be up in the ILC in the near future so look for it. New videos are also currently in production. If there are any suggestions on what you'd like to see in the future just comment on here directly, or shoot us an email at bsucareercenter@gmail.com. We'll work on getting those wants and suggestions met.

We will also be posting the videos on our iTunesU page so you will be able to check them out on there if you haven't been able to make it to the ILC lately. To get to the iTunesU page just go to the Career Center's website, career.boisestate.edu. Then click on the tab labeled iTunesU page. You can login with your BroncoWeb username and password. Make sure you check back from time to time to see the new videos that could make a difference in landing a job!

Low Unemployment Rates Resulting In Relocation

2009-04-03T09:51:00.000-07:00

Many graduating college students have a lingering fear when it comes to job searching and future employment; it's the idea of possibly having to relocate. As of right now our economy is so bad that many cities have reached unemployment percentages that are higher than ten percent. People are losing their jobs daily and with even more cut backs the rates are only predicted to increase.

For graduating students here at Boise State you might have to considered relocating when applying for your potential career. If you aren't afraid to relocate there could be more job opportunities for you! According to the CNN.com there were 46 cities in September 2008 that have unemployment rates that are below four percent. Of those 46 cities 13 cities are only a state or two away from Idaho. The 13 cities include and their unemployment rates include:

Sioux Falls, South Dakota - 2.5
Idaho Falls, Idaho - 3.3
Rapid City, South Dakota - 2.9
Bismarck, North Dakota - 2.5
Casper, Wyoming - 2.5
Logan, Utah - 2.5
Fargo, North Dakota - 2.8
Lincoln, Nebraska - 3.0
Prove-Orem, Utah - 3.0
Billings, Montana - 3.1
Salt Lake City, Utah - 3.2
Grand Forks. North Dakota - 3.4
Ogden-Clearfield, Utah - 3.5

For the full list of cities visit: http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/11/24/cb.best.cities.find.jobs/index.html.

Feeling stressed about graduating this year?

2009-03-30T13:23:00.000-07:00

We have just the fix for that problem. The Boise State University Career Center is holding its first annual Job Search Boot Camp! Although graduating may usually be something rather exciting, this year there is a little bit more unpredictability graduates are experiencing as they begin to search for jobs.

*** The purpose of this workshop is to provide you with job search tools (targeted resume development and government and public service jobs application processes), skills (networking and interviewing), and opportunities to connect with national and local employers***

Beginning the day is businessman, Mark Rivers, CEO of Brix and Company, a developer specializing in urban redevelopments, notably BODO and Linen District. He will be taking a look at the Treasure Valley economy and job market.

Later on at lunch, a keynote address will be given by Dr. Phil Gardner, Director of the Collegiate Employment Research Institute at Michigan State University. He is an expert on the national college labor market and transitioning from college to work. In order to learn more about CERI, visit www.ceri.msu.edu.

All throughout the day, workshops will be going on to help you build your job search skills and learn how to have a very successful job search. At the end of the day, there will be an employer panel and a networking reception. This will allow you to learn more about jobs you are interested in, as well as gain insight and advice from those with more experience.

This exciting new Job Search Boot Camp will be held on Thursday, May 28th from 8:30 am- 5:00 pm in the Student Union Building. The space is limited! If you are interested in holding a spot, please RSVP to the Career Center at career@boisestate.edu. This will hold your spot until you have a chance to come pay for and pick up your ticket at the Career Center. The cost of the workshop is $5 for December 08 and May 09 graduates and $10 for all other alumni. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Are You Linked In?

2009-03-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Although our current economy may scare you, there are things you can be doing to greatly improve your chances of landing a job. A huge trend right now is networking. And thanks to the internet, there are countless ways you can begin doing this. Networking works; here are a few important facts to consider:

According to statistics gathered by the Sandler Sales Institute, "If someone introduces you and attends and introductory meeting or call, the chance of closing the business or getting the job is 80%. Similar chances through a cold call are 1%."

A recent study by InsightExpress found that 43% of the online population is using a social networks.

One of the most common networking sites right now is LinkedIn. According to the official website (www.linkedin.com), "LinkedIn is an interconnected network of experienced professionals from around the world, representing 170 industries and 200 countries. You can find, be introduced to, and collaborate with qualified professionals that you need to work with to accomplish your goals."

The following information is directly from the LinkedIn website:

When you join, you create a profile that summarizes your professional expertise and accomplishments. You can then form enduring connections by inviting trusted contacts to join LinkedIn and connect to you. Your network consists of your connections, your connections' connections, and the people they know, linking you to a vast number of qualified professionals and experts. Through your network you can:

Manage the information that publicly available about you as a professional
Find and be introduced to potential clients, service providers, and subject experts who come recommended
Create and collaborate on projects, gather data, share files and solve problems
Be found for business opportunities and find potential partners
Gain new insights from discussions with like-minded professionals in private group settings
Discover inside connections that can help you land jobs and close deals
Post and distribute job listings to find the best talent for your company

Click on the link to watch a short video to learn more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzT3JVUGUzM

Boise Young Professionals

2009-03-19T13:44:00.000-07:00

The job market getting you down? Looking for some help sharpening your skills?

Well if your over the age of 21 then keep reading!

In 2006 the Boise Chamber of Commerce created the Boise Young Professionals. It is a networking group that has over 800 members currently from 400 different companies. It was created to attract new and retain existing young talent in the area. Its members are from a wide array of careers: From attorneys, entrepreneurs, engineers, to artists, non profit workers and many more. The goal of the BYP is,"to attract, develop and retain a talented workforce in the Boise Valley by connecting, empowering and engaging young professionals." They hold networking functions, monthly events, community service projects, and bring in many different guest speakers. BYP has three core areas that it focuses on for all of its members: Professional and Leadership Development, Community and Civic Involvement, and Events and Networking. Aside from all of the professional events and meetings, members also go out to casual dinners and fun evenings together. It is a great way to bond with people of your same interests and have fun at the same time.

Networking. It is one of the most crucial things any job seeker at the moment should be doing. As the saying goes, "its not how much you know, but who you know."Growing your network of friends, acquaintances, colleagues can help you immensely in this time of job shortage. Joining a networking group such as the Boise Young Professionals is an easy way to increase the amount of people you know that can potentially benefit you and in turn increase your chances at landing a job this year. This is just one great group you can join. There are many others that might be more suitable to your liking, you just have to look. So if you haven't started improving your network and are looking for a job, get on it! Check the BYP and other networking groups out; They might just be the extra help you need.

How To Be Successful at Winning a Job

2009-03-16T09:43:00.000-07:00

Before a big interview do you get nervous? Do you forget what to say? Or maybe do you get tongue-tied and show that you aren't confident due to our struggling economy? Well here a a couple steps to helping you become successful at winning the job.

Step 1: sell results instead of your skills!

- Explain the ways that your skills transfer from the past and present jobs instead of just giving your potential employer a list of your skills.

- Then ask yourself before the initial interview "How am i an asset to their company?" so when they possibly ask you the same question you wont hesitate.

2) define yourself well:

- Explain yourself in a concise statement or even in a sentence. For example, tell:

- who you are

- your biggest strength

- the biggest benefit that you bring to the employer

- Also again ask yourself what you can do for this employer that your competitor's can't. When doing so include your skills, experiences, and talent and turn them into a selling position for the employer.

With these few steps added into your interviewing process it will impress your potential employer and possible gain you a new job. Good luck!

Podcasts...Check 'em out!

2009-03-09T09:52:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered what the Career Center is all about?

You might have too much going on to stop by the career center or you might've looked on the website, but couldn't get a real good idea of what's going on at the career center. Well, now you don't just have to read about what's going on; check out the podcasts and see what's happening. The Career Peers have created short videos about the career center: All of its resources, events, and other helpful videos. Some of the helpful videos already up are on: Internships, Interviews, BroncoJobs, Intro to the career center and more. These videos can help explain some of the resources more in depth and give helpful tidbits. They can be reached easily two different ways.

The first is going directly to the itunesU website at:

https://itc.boisestate.edu/itunesu/Default.asp

Then sign in with your broncoweb account username and password. Go to the career center page and click on any of the videos.

You can also view them by going to the career center's web page at:

http://career.boisestate.edu/

There will be a link to the itunesU page and after clicking on it just follow the same steps as above.

So go check out the podcasts, they're there to help!

Is the Economy So Scary You Are Thinking of Continuing Your Schooling?

2009-03-04T12:58:00.000-08:00

Is the economy starting to scare you? Are you beginning to think that staying in school or applying for graduate school is starting to look like a good plan for your future? These questions are a continuing annoyance to current college students who are graduating or preparing to graduate.Now that the economy is taking a huge turn for the worse and the job market is becoming more and more competitive, a larger number of students are planning on attending graduate school in hope of receiving a master's degree. The most frequently asked questions are will this hurt or better their credentials? And will is possible that a master's degree can grant me a higher paying salary?To answers these questions; of course gaining a master's degree would better your credentials! Not only will it do that but it could also help you in a hiring process. After completing graduate school you can finally apply that information to your resume. What this can maybe do is help you stand out more to an employer who is looking over your resume, rather than someone who had only received a bachelor's degree.Receiving a master's degree can also boost your salary depending on the nature of the job. According to CBSalary.com these career salaries can be affected depending on which degree you obtain:

Degree type: Accounting:
-Bachelor's degree: $45,893
-Master's degree: $50,468
-Related careers: accountant, auditor, bookkeeping clerk, tax examiner, budget analyst, loan officer

Degree type: Art:
-Bachelor's degree: $34,460
-Master's degree: $43,112
-Related careers: art director, illustrator, animator, multimedia artist

Degree type: Biochemistry:
-Bachelor's degree: $38,511
-Master's degree: $46,921
-Related careers: agronomist, forensics specialist, geneticist, pharmacologist, environmental scientist

Degree type: Chemistry:
-Bachelor's degree: $45,385
-Master's degree: $56,617
-Related careers: waste management specialist, technical writer, science technician, food scientist

Degree type: Computer programming:
-Bachelor's degree: $50,985
-Master's degree: $72,515
-Related careers: computer systems analyst, computer programmer, computer scientist, computer systems designer

Degree type: Economics:
-Bachelor's degree: $47,326
-Master's degree: $63,429
-Related careers: economist, loan officer, financial manager, reporter

Degree type: Elementary teacher education:
-Bachelor's degree: $33,242
-Master's degree: $43,997
-Related careers: Any position within an elementary school

Degree type: Engineering:
-Bachelor's degree: $54,181
-Master's degree: $69,752
-Related careers: engineering technician, sales engineer, civil engineer, architect, drafter

Degree type: Finance:
-Bachelor's degree: $41,446
-Master's degree: $50,468
-Related careers: insurance underwriter; budget analyst; securities, commodities and financial services sales agent

Degree type: Foreign languages and literatures:
-Bachelor's degree: $37,113
-Master's degree: $43,112
-Related careers: teacher, writer, interpreter

Degree type: History:
-Bachelor's degree: $37,340
-Master's degree: $43,112
-Related careers: archivist, curator, librarian, researcher, political aide

Degree type: Human resources management:
-Bachelor's degree: $37,874
-Master's degree: $56,094
-Related careers: compensation and benefits; training and development; employment, recruitment and placement specialist

Degree type: Science management:
-Bachelor's degree: $49,116
-Master's degree: $70,668
-Related careers: operational researcher, investment analyst, market research analyst, transportation planner, systems analyst

Degree type: Mathematics:
-Bachelor's degree: $50,582
-Master's degree: $57,471
-Related careers: statistician, mathematician, actuary, cost estimator

Degree type: Philosophy:
-Bachelor's degree: $34,163
-Master's degree: $43,112
-Related careers: professor, lawyer, policy analyst, lobbyist, critic

Degree type: Physical sciences:
-Bachelor's degree: $31,258
-Master's degree: $69,842
-Related careers: animal scientist, hydrologist, meteorologist, engineer, fish and game warden

Degree type: Psychology:
-Bachelor's degree: $35,085
-Master's degree: $37,528
-Related careers: probation officer, correctional treatment specialist, career counselor, health educator, outreach coordinator

Degree type: Sociology:
-Bachelor's degree: $36,905
-Master's degree: $38,749
-Related careers: social worker, sociology teacher, market researcher, school counselor, public policy analyst

This list contains data taken from CareerBuilder and SalaryExpert research, and represent starting salary offers for recent graduates in 2008. So if you are unsure if graduate school is good for you; go and speak to your career counselor today!

Career Fair Results...

2009-03-02T12:41:00.000-08:00

Although this Career Fair was affected by troubling economic times, it was a successful event last Wednesday. The economy did perhaps cause about half the amount of employers to attend the fair as usual; however, the room was filled with representatives from various companies. The final count of employers was fifty-nine, and approximately 1,000 students wandered through the fair from 9 am to 3 pm. One major difference in this Career Fair was the amount of alumni that attended the event. Due to the poor job market, several graduated students were back to look for work.
Even though most of the employees are not hiring right now, the event still served as a great networking tool. And what better way to find out more about the companies around Boise and the surrounding areas? For those students who are not planning on graduating any time soon, the Career Fair can provide them with information about career options. In order to follow up with any of the companies that attended the Career Fair this spring, you can click the link on Broncojobs. Some of the employees that held booths at the event were Frito-Lay, Boise Police Department, Fast Enterprises, Bodybuilding.com, and the city of McCall.

Heard about on campus interviews?

2009-02-23T09:10:00.000-08:00

The hiring companies are coming to us! ... not the other way around. It is a good idea to be constantly checking BroncoJobs in order to find out what businesses will be in the Career Center doing campus interviews. Once you are on BroncoJobs, there is a link for On-Campus Interviews that will direct you to a list of all the employers that will be coming soon. For example, this week would be a great time to be preparing for the interviews that will be taking place on March 6. Frito-Lay will be in the Career Center looking for the perfect match for their sales management training program. The following information provides the details to this impressive job opportunity:

Position Type:
Full Time (degree required)

Desired Major(s):
All Majors

Description:
The Sales Associate role at Frito-Lay is Critical to Our Success: Sales Associates participate in a 12 month training program designed to provide an understanding of our business and the leadership skills necessary to perform the role of District Sales Leader (DSL)
•After training, Sales Associates will lead teams of 8 to 15 Route Sales Representatives (RSR)
•Sales Associates are responsible for sales and expense accountability of $4M to $10M in annual revenue
•Sales Associate will lead and oversee day-to-day sales, logistics, inventory, scheduling, training and customer selling Working at Frito-Lay is Rewarding:
•Competitive salary
•Quarterly bonus (after training)
•Pension plan (100% Company-funded)
•Annual performance-based merit increase
•Comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) with Company match, participation in PepsiCo’s stock option plan, and more
•Generous opportunities for career growth

Qualifications:
•Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, Sales, Marketing, or related major
•Prior sales or management experience is preferred, but not required (including internship experience)
•Demonstrated Leadership ability—coaching and motivating a team Problem solving and analytical skills
•“Clear” driving record for the past 3 years Work Environment:
•Must be willing to drive a step van for up to 6 months during training and on the job as needed .
•Must be willing and able to perform some physical tasks (setting up displays/racks, lifting up to 40 lbs.)
•Some weekend/holiday work required
PepsiCo is committed to delivering sustained growth through empowered people acting with responsibility and building trust. Frito-Lay hires experienced leaders who are committed to excellence and feel passionate about embracing the core PepsiCo values. If you are interested in becoming a part of a world class company, visit www.pepsicojobs.com. Frito-Lay, Inc. is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V/D

Desired Class Level(s):
Senior, GRAD, Alumnus
Work Authorization:
Citizen, Perm Resident, US
Salary Level:
50-55
Job Function:
Business, Management, Marketing/Sales

Keep checking Broncojobs to find out more about the on-campus interviews that are taking place! This could be the way to your new job after graduation...

Jobs That Will Disappear or Appear In The Next 20 Years

2009-02-20T12:13:00.000-08:00

While reading the news I stumbled upon a very interesting yet far fetched article on forbes.com. The article was all about the jobs that could possibly disappear and appear in the next 20 years. Some of these ideas are a little hard to imagine but once you think about it it strangely makes sense.

The jobs that could possibly disappear are mainly common low wage jobs with a few exceptions. For example, grocery cashier, film processor, CD store manager, encyclopedia writer, miner, call center representative, fighter pilot, oil wildcatter, construction worker and union organizer. The reason for the possible disappearance of these jobs is because of better and more developed technology. The depletion of these jobs makes sense because we have grocery lines where we can scan and bag our own groceries and then pay the machine and be on our way. We also have Ipods which is much easier than going out and buying CDs and we also have developed computers that can now navigate and develop blue prints.

Some of the jobs that could possibly be around in the next 20 years or more are the hard ones to imagine. They say that we will more than likely need gene screeners. Certain technicians who can collect and analysis DNA from people. This would kind of be like a drug test and they would more than likely use this gene screen before hiring a potential employee. Another job could be quarantine enforcer. This is basically what you imagine when you hear the job title; someone who enforces the deadly sick people to stay in a neighborhood or building. Just like you see in the movies. There is also the idea of drowned city specialist. The description for this job is a specialist who can rescue and relocate houses to higher grounds during the disaster of a flood. The article also said that there could be use of Animal Guardians. This job description is of someone who would basically be a lawyer for a certain specie of animal, like a gorilla. The reason behind this is because people through out the states are trying to classify some animal species as "humans". There is also talk about a hydrogen fuel station manager. Its been talked about lately that hydrogen could be the next cost competitor to gasoline. If this were to happen it would create a lot more factory jobs that would require new and used skills.

The more of the far fetched jobs that could possibly appear would be teleport specialist, space tour guides, hollywood holygrapher, and dirigible pilots. I highly believe that these last four jobs won't be available for the job market in the next 20 years. If you are curious about this article or want to know more about the job positions that I just described the website for the article is: http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/CollegeAndFamily/MoneyInYour20s/BestandWorstPayingJobs.aspx

Just scroll down to the bottom of the web page and look for the box that is titled More Of Forbes and MSN Money.

FREE Etiquette Dinner for Seniors!

2009-02-17T14:51:00.000-08:00

Nowadays business is rarely strictly conducted in the office. A lot of business is done on the golf course or over dinner. An interview might even be held over a nice meal. Don't fool yourself into thinking the employer just wants to eat while they talk to you. They're not just listening to what you're saying; they're looking at how you present yourself.

So come to the FREE Etiquette Dinner and learn how to "wow" them. There will be a four course gourmet meal on behalf of our Corporate Sponsors to help you prepare for these situations.

The Boise State University Career Center and Athletic Department are co-hosting the free dinner.

Who: Seniors Graduating in May or December 2009

What: Etiquette Dinner

When: Tuesday, March 3, 6-9 pm

Where: Double R Ranch Club

Stueckle Sky Center

Bronco Stadium

Cost: FREE!

Attire: Business Professional

The event will start off with a networking reception where students and employers will have the chance to meet and mingle. Then, during the four-course meal, an etiquette expert will take you through the basics of proper dining from the use of the napkin, silverware, and glassware to what to do at the conclusion of the meal as well as general business etiquette tips.

RSVP is required for attendance. To reserve your seat, contact the Career Center at 208-426-1747, or at career@boisestate.edu. ACT NOW: Seating is limited.

Career/Job Fair of 2009 Is Just Around The Corner!

2009-02-11T12:27:00.000-08:00

Yes, once again it is time for the famous Boise State Spring Career/Job Fair! This year it will be held on February 25th in the Student Union Building from 9 am to 3 pm. If you are interested in looking for employment or to possibly set up an internship, don't miss this!

As of right now we have about fifty-five employers signed up to attended our fair. If you would like to view the registration list go to the Boise State Career Center website at https://boisestate-csm.symplicity.com/events/students.php?cf=09springcareerfa. This list is still open for registration and hopefully there will be more employers signing up soon!

This career/job fair is for you so take advantage of this opportunity and all students are invited! The resources that will be available to you will be career information, establishing contacts for networking, to identify student employment, internships, and career opportunities and to meet with employers and hear what employers are looking for.

Don't forget that if you are going to attend the fair for the purpose of looking for a job position(s), that you should bring in a recently updated resume and dress the part! Not everyone will want to hire you in ripped jeans and flannel button up! Tell your friends and we hope to see you all there!

How to create job opportunities...

2009-02-09T14:15:00.001-08:00

With all the talk about the horrible economy, many May 2009 graduates are feeling slightly hopeless in regards to finding a first job. However, there are simple steps that can be taken in order to improve the chances of obtaining careers even through this unpredictable economy. A blog titled Satisfying Career-Happier Life contains an article titled "2009 Graduates: Tips on getting hired this year". The article states, "An article in CCN Money forecasts grim prospects for the 2009 graduates, it says after graduating next May, college seniors are likely to face the worst job market in 15 years." Because of this disappointing job market it is crucial to use strategies and steps to landing a career.
Some of the tips from the previously mentioned blog are as follows:
Consider an Internship First: Most businesses and employers desire for their newly hired members to have had some kind of internship experience. If an employer has the choice between someone with a year's worth of internship experience verses someone with none, they will most likely go with the first one.
Tap your Parents' Network: Networking is still the most important part of finding jobs, and in order to locate more connections, check with your parents. Perhaps they know someone that is experienced in your field that either knows about possible job openings or can help you with your resume.
Be Ready to Relocate: While you may be totally comfortable living where you are currently, it may not be a bad idea to expand your horizons at this time. Apply several different places because you never know what opportunities may await you.
Research and Resources: There are numerous books out there written about different jobs and fields. Also, since the interent is so extensive in this age, it would not be a bad idea to begin researching online what is out there. Use your University Career Center resources by either visiting the center or going to their website. Please visit the Boise State University's Career Center website at career.boisestate.edu.

Graduating this year?

2009-02-06T11:39:00.000-08:00

Like many other graduates you might be dreading graduation. Fearful that there will be no jobs available once you receive your degree. Well keep that chin up because there are jobs out there. Sure, the job market might be a little more competitive, but positions are available. Here are just a few careers that are on the rise in these coming years and that happen to have pretty nice salaries too.

1. Actuaries- 60% work in insurance industries crunching numbers to determine risks in pension plans, insurance coverage, or investment strategy. A high math capability and financial savvy will be needed, but many also only possess a bachelor's in math, business, or statistics. This could be a quick way to get on your feet.

Median income-$95,420. High- $145,600. 24% rise in positions projected from 2006-2016.

2. Marketing Managers- Lead marketing campaigns by finding potential customer bases for products and services and keep track of what the competition is doing. You can enter with as little as an associate's degree in business, finance, or marketing, but of course the more figures you want on your paycheck the more school you'll have to finish. Those with MBA's had the highest figures. Median income-$104,000. High- $150,000 and up. 12% rise in positions projected from 2006-2016.

3. Computer software Engineers- Many often begin their careers after completing an online associate's course in programming or IT systems. Some starting salaries can reach up to the $90,000 range. But just like most jobs, to get more, you have to work more. The highest earners made a little over $130,000. That is, those with a bachelor's degree and a little more. The job outlook is great here with an estimated 38% rise in positions from 2006-2016.

These are only a few positions that can be promising in the rough times ahead. There are many more out there. So start looking!

Need More Career Exploration?

2009-02-02T11:49:00.001-08:00

Are you confused about your current major? Or do you think your major you are pursuing is just not for you except you don't know where to go from there? Well at the Boise State Career Center you have a few options to help you out.

As of right now we offer two different types of career planning/ decision-making process tests. The first test looks at your interests, skills and values and is called the Discover test. This test is quite simple and takes about thirty minutes. Once you have completed the test it will provide you with job positions that best fits your interests, skills and values. There is no charge to complete this test.

The second test is called the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). This test is more focused on your personality preferences. The main purpose of this test is to help you discover personality type and how if affects you career choice, your career exploration, and your career development. It will also provide you with a list of the top ranking careers that match your personality type. However there is a fifteen dollar charge to take this test but it is well worth it!

After taking these tests you will need to further explore your potential career areas by researching more occupational information. A good start would be looking for any related majors or training programs, the length of training required, expected salary range and schools that offer that program/training. You may also think about visiting several other websites that can also help with your research:

Career Information Databases:

The Occupational Outlook Handbook (US dept. of Labor): http://www.bls.gove/oco
America's Career Info Net (Career OneStop): http://acinet.org/acinet
The O*Net: http://online.onetcenter.org
"What Can I Do With a Major In...": http://career.boisestate.edu/WCIDWAMI/Majors/default.html
Salary.com: http://www.salary.com

If you would like to take these a test or tests call the career center today at (208)426-1747 to schedule an appointment. Also don't forget about our advising fair coming up on the 17th on February!

Here's our ten cents...

2009-01-30T13:40:00.000-08:00

Come to the Advising Fair! It is going to be held on February 17th in the Jordan Ballroom in the Student Union Building from 9 am to 3 pm. It is open to all students and will include the following:

* advising help

* major exploration
* presentations from a variety of departments

* including Nursing, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Engineering, Accounting
* career options related to your desired major
* scholarship information
* presentations from student clubs and organizations within a department

* including Leadership Program, Pre-Law Club, Service Learning Program, and International Programs
* information about research opportunities within a department

The department presentations are as follows:

9:30-10:00 Nursing, Accounting

10:15-10:45 Service Learning and International Programs

11:00-11:30 Pre-Law Advising and Leadership Development

1:00-1:30 Criminal Justice

1:45-2:15 Psychology

Check out the Boise State Career Center Group on Facebook for additional and updated information!

Get Involved!

2009-01-26T11:14:00.000-08:00

In today's highly competitive job market your involvement in school clubs and organizations could be the difference in placing a desired job upon graduation. Bachelor's degrees are becoming more common and your resume could use a little more than just that to beef it up and make it more competitive. An easy way to make yourself and your resume more appealing is to join some campus clubs or organizations.

Campus clubs and organizations offer a variety of benefits to members. The fees and time put in is absolutely worth the rewards if you seek to have an edge over your competition in the job market. Not only do club memberships offer resume improvement, but they can also give you a better insight into a desired career.

Maybe you think you'd like to become a lawyer, but you're not quite sure what all the duties of the job are and the things you'd have to do to become one. Well joining the Pre Law Club would help figure these things out. Not only would you figure these things out, but clubs would also help its members prepare to take exams like the LSAT, which are difficult ventures even with the help of a club, imagine taking it on without help.

And even if you are the brightest of your class, landing a job sometimes takes a little extra. Connections. Making valuable connections lead to a chance for more opportunities. Knowing people can make all the difference. A club or organization is a prime opportunity for making some connections that could be helpful later on. Also, clubs are sometimes the primary target for grad schools when looking through applications. Holding a position in the club will only make yourself standout more, so don't just settle after joining.

So go join a club! Get involved in an organization! Here's a link to the list of all the clubs and organizations at BSU.

http://clubs.boisestate.edu/details/

Reconsidering College Student Career Options in 2009 and Beyond

2009-01-13T08:30:00.000-08:00

*Previously published in the National Career Development Career Convergence Newsletter.

By Patrick Lennahan

The issues influencing college students' career options have been wide-ranging and tumultuous in the last half of 2008, including a worldwide economic meltdown, raging shifts in employment and unemployment, corporate financial implosions, massive layoffs, state government budget cuts, and amazing growth in federal spending deficits. This "perfect storm" of a faulty global economy has already begun to have a multi-tiered effect on the college students with whom we work, changing their options for next semester, next year, and beyond.

What Are We Up Against?

The magnitude of the economic downturn in the United States and abroad is not completely clear yet, but as this article went to press on December 1, 2008, the National Bureau of Economic Research declared that the US economy has been in a recession since December 2007. New corporate layoffs and employment "consolidations" are being announced every week, with a trickle-down effect reaching across every sector of our society. The sector that career services practitioners face, the post-secondary student population, will definitely be affected. In a November 21, 2008 press release, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) indicated that hiring prospects for the graduates in the Class of 2009 appeared to be as strong as last year, but that employers are keeping "a watchful eye on those hiring needs, so they can shift gears if necessary." The data for this most recent portion of the Job Outlook 2009 report was gathered from mid-August through October 3, 2008, just as the tidal wave of corporate failures was beginning to rise. The latest data from the national economic experts suggests that the deteriorating employment trends will not begin to stabilize until late 2009 or early 2010, and this picture will not show significant improvement in many regions until late 2010 or even into 2011. Thus the impact on graduating, current, and prospective students will require continuous monitoring.

Career services professionals need to be well informed on all of these factors so that we may likewise inform our students and other constituents.

Current and Prospective Students
The most immediate impact on current and prospective students will be in the area of college choice. Some current students are already exploring the necessity of transferring from their current campus to a less expensive one. This will also affect prospective students in their initial choice, as sources for family financial contributions dry up. Some of the choices to be made reflect stark concerns over finances and expenses, even for many on-going students:

Private vs. public institutions
In-state vs. out-of-state institutions
Community colleges vs. 4-year colleges vs. universities
Commuter vs. residential institutions
Urban vs. rural institutions
Is study abroad still affordable?

There will also be an impact on financial aid awards, with reductions already being announced by some state agencies due to funding cuts related to state income shortfalls. Those same funding cuts are leading to tuition increases for many institutions, some already announced and going into effect in January 2009. The awarding of student loans, either to the student or the parents, has tightened up considerably as lenders have become highly cautious about minimizing loan default risk. Students are being caught between increasing costs and decreasing funds. To make matters even worse, part-time jobs, summer jobs, and internships are expected to tighten up considerably over the next six months. There are certainly still some jobs to be had, but students will need to be more open-minded and goal-oriented when seeking work.

Career services staff must assist these students to pursue a creative, realistic and far-reaching job search.

Graduate and Graduating Students
Some of the effects on graduate students will be similar to those on the undergraduates. They will need to be more careful about selecting a program of study at an affordable institution. They should expect diminished opportunities for financial support, as well as limited chances for part-time jobs and internships. Teaching and research assistantships started to disappear at the end of last summer and they will certainly take another hit in the coming year, while some graduate assistant benefits (e.g., health insurance) may also end up on the chopping block. Graduate students should prepare themselves very carefully for the job search, since they may end up in competition with the BA and BS graduates for jobs and salaries.

The new baccalaureate graduates will also need to be very well prepared for the job search and should start as early as possible (i.e., this month) for what will be an extremely competitive job market. Career services staff will be able to use articles from the local and national press to underscore the even greater importance of a strong resume, persuasive cover letter, and practiced interviewing skills this year. It will be crucial for any new graduate to be able to clearly articulate the value that they bring to an employer in their letters, in networking, and in their interviews.
Exercises presented by the career staff using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and its language about strengths and shortcomings can be very helpful in preparation for networking and interviewing. We can already anticipate, however, that some recruiting organizations will reduce or eliminate their campus presence this year. Some job offers already extended will be amended with later starting dates and some offers may be rescinded altogether.

Career services staff will need to counsel students through any of these unfortunate situations.

Getting an Edge in the Job Market with Assistance from Career Services

The seniors about to graduate should be encouraged to take full advantage of the typical array of services, including campus interview programs, job fairs, workshops, opportunities for formal and informal networking, and mentoring programs. The employment picture will be very challenging over the next year, but hiring is still taking place. Students should be visiting their campus career services office and taking advantage of the expertise of their career staff now more than ever.
Mentoring programs are often populated by individuals who are motivated to invest in the future of the students, such as alumni and parents of other students.
Those students who do not yet have some sort of career-related work or internship experience may benefit from a crash course in finding some; brief "career boot camp" or "Reality 101" programs are often successful at this.
Career services professionals can help students to reframe their career and occupational goals, broadening their focus to include opportunities in the not-for-profit arena or the federal government which they may have overlooked.
Of course, some students will decide that this year is the perfect time to defer the job search by pursuing graduate study, but that should be a well-founded decision to gain credentials and skills, rather than just an exercise in procrastination.
Students should be encouraged to make the most of their skill base in the job search, especially in areas such as technology, leadership, writing and communication, speaking and presentation, and quantitative and analytical skills. Students can bring such skills into fields like health care, technology, or the federal government. They can pursue opportunities in new fields and technologies, such as sustainability initiatives and "green" industries. Most organizations are continuing to hire at some level even in this downturn, but they can be much more selective than before about which jobs get filled and by which candidates. So a student will just have to work harder than before to prove that they are the most desirable candidate for the job. And career services professionals will need to impress upon their students the need for preparation, persistence and drive in the job market in order to be successful over the next few years.

Patrick Lennahan is a Career Advisor in the Career Services office (http://career.uri.edu) at the University of Rhode Island. An adjunct professor in the Holistic Counseling program at Salve Regina University, he also maintains a private practice in career counseling. He has worked in career services in higher education at six institutions over more than 30 years. He holds a BA in Psychology from Seton Hall University and pursued doctoral studies in Counseling and Student Personnel Administration at Cornell University. He is recognized as a Master Career Development Professional and a Global Career Development Facilitator. He serves as Associate Editor of NCDA's Career Convergence in charge of the Post-Secondary Department. He may be contacted at plennahan@uri.edu.

Ease into the Business World

2008-12-17T13:24:00.000-08:00

Perhaps you have finally figured out everything there is to know about life on the college campus, and then comes the work environment. The following information is provided by the National Association of Colleges and Employers 2009 Job Choices magazine in an article titled "Adapting to Corporate Culture". You may want to consider using a few of the suggestions given as they are the top ten strategies to help you effectively manage office politics.

1. Know the company culture. It is very important to know how your organization operates. Understanding everything from dress attire to decision-making procedures will help you blend into the company.

2. Never make the boss look bad. Seems a little obvious, huh? Be careful to do everything you can within reason to support your boss and improve his or her image.

3. Identify the people with power. Every company has those that yield more power. Be sure to develop a good relationship with these people.

4. Be a straight shooter. You should always follow through with your commitments, and be loyal to everyone within the company.

5. Be visible. Try not to always be hiding behind your desk. The more you are out and involved in the company or activities, the more exposure you get. Staying an extra half hour to work is not a bad thing either. Usually managers are the ones to stay late which means they will notice your extra work.

6. Be indispensable. Try to seek key assignments and do such an amazing job on them that your supervisors can not imagine how the business would run without you there.

7. Be accountable. Account for your own actions. Never blame others for something that went wrong unless it was clearly not your fault. Even then, be careful as to how you go about pointing this out.

8. Handle criticism constructively. Listen carefully to the suggestions that are given to you, and try to make improvements.

9. Listen more than you speak. You will learn more by listening, and others will then tend to listen to you when you do speak. You will probably be taken more seriously.

10. Treat everyone with respect and consideration. Be respectful to all employees whether they are above or below you.

Networking Works...

2008-12-10T14:09:00.000-08:00

Networking Perhaps you have heard the saying "it's not what you know, but who you know." Net-work-ing: v. intr. "To interact or engage in informal communication with others for mutual assistance or support." Many people miss out on the importance of networking in order to find a job. Because of the current economy and lack of jobs, networking can be extremely beneficial to the job search.
The following information has been taken from an article in the 2009 Job Choices for Business and Liberal Arts Students: While many of us are familiar with networking through social networking sites, we may be unsure how to best go about networking for a future job. "Networking is not one-sided: it works both ways. You offer assistance to others just as they offer assistance to you. Perhaps the easiest way to think about networking is to see it as an extension of being friendly, outgoing, and active."

Here are 8 tips for creating and keeping a healthy network:

1. Make a list of everyone you know--and people they know--and identify how they could help you gather career information or experience.
Think about who you know at school. Professors, friends, or friends' parents can all be helpful. Have you volunteered? Did you have a part-time job? Participate in an internship? Consider anyone you have come across.

2. Sign up for an alumni mentoring program.
Several colleges offer these programs, and they can be very beneficial for building relationships with people.

3. Join the campus chapter of a professional society that relates to your career choice.
This can instantly be a network for you. Being around others that share your interest and career choice will improve learning in this field. You may be able to learn more about potential employers from others.

4. Volunteer at a local museum, theater, homeless shelter--anywhere that even remotely relates to your field of study.
Volunteering will allow you to learn more about your chosen field and also connect with people in that field.

5. Speak to company representatives at career fairs, even if you are not ready to look for a job.
You may want to tell the employers that you are not currently looking for a job but would like to know more about the company. This interaction, however, can help you when looking for a job later down the road.

6. Attend company information sessions at your college and talk one-on-one to the recruiters who run them.

7. Schedule informational interviews with people who can tell you about their careers.
Meeting with people in person or over the phone is usually best for these types of interviews. It is not a good idea to immediately ask the person what they can do for you. Focusing on how the company works and how the person chose this field would be helpful.

8. Remember to be courteous and tactful in all your conversations, to send thank you notes to people who help you, and to find ways to help others as well.
Do not drop your network once you have gotten a job. Improve the relationships you already have and also look for opportunities to create new connections throughout your career.

Internships

2008-12-08T09:50:00.000-08:00

If you're reading this, chances are you're in school and like most students have a part-time job. You're working around a full load of classes and your job's set hours. It's easy to get stressed out with all the busyness. Wouldn't it be nice if your job worked around your schedule? Or maybe you'd like to lighten your school load and drop a class? With an internship these things are possible and provide many more valuable opportunities as well.

An internship is a chance to receive academic credit and hands on learning outside of the classroom. Not just outside of the classroom, but at your everyday, convenient job. Internships can last a semester, a summer, a year, or longer. Even your current job may be used as an internship. Most internships offer very flexible hours that usually work around your school schedule. In fact, thousands of local organizations offer paid internships with flexible schedules to work around your schedule. You can even replace an elective course in your major with an internship. The number of hours an intern is required to work usually depends on the employer and the intern. There are some requirements that you must fulfill upon applying for an internship. Those requirements will vary from your major department, but are going to include GPA, attaining a certain status in school and hours working.

The opportunities an internship offers are indispensable. Practical hands-on work experience is a major plus and always look good on resumes. Also, if your not too sure about what you want to do after graduation, you can get an internship in a certain field and see if it's a good match for you. While interning, you have a huge chance to network with people that can possibly be helpful later on in life. The networking factor is a big one as it serves as a foot in the door and possible connections for the future. Not only will you benefit from all of these things, but also on average new hires with internship experience are offered higher starting salaries than those with no internship experience. Also, almost 40% of interns at major organizations become full-time employees upon graduation.

So get on it! Check and see if your job qualifies for academic credit. The application for internship credit is on the BSU career center at http://career.boisestate.edu/

Your First Year on the Job

2008-12-03T12:24:00.000-08:00

As the fall semester quickly comes to an end, many graduates are preparing to start their professional jobs. However, your career job is not like going to college anymore- no more sweatpants to class or sleeping until noon. Your first year on the job will be very different and is essential to understand that you will have a lot to learn about your organization. "You need to know how to establish yourself, learn the "way things are done," and figure out what you need to do to earn credibility and respect," according to Job Choices- For Business and Liberal Arts Students. Some success strategies to having a great first year on the job are to slow down, learn the culture, manage a good impression, learn the art of being new, manage your expectations, and become a savvy subordinate. To understand these further, look at the descriptions below.

*Slow Down: Instead of trying to dazzle collegues with your new initiatives, open your eyes and ears to learn about the company and the people in it. Learn the way things are done before you take charge.

*Learn the Culture: Each organization has a unique set of rules and norms, often informal and unspoken. Watch your collegues, pay attention to what they spend their time on, and see how they communicate and work together. Find ways to "fit in".

*Manage a Good Impression: Everything you do is magnified-everyone is watching and evaluating your ability to succeed. While many factors play a part in what they are looking for, they want to notice your attitude that you are willing to do what it takes to fit in on the team.

*Learn the Art of Being New: Accept your role as the newcomer and perform at your best, while learning the organization, to become accepted.

*Manage you Expectations: Many aspects of your job will not be what you thought they would be. The job may not be as glamorous, important, or high level as you thought. The important thign is to be realistic about your role in the organization.

*Become a Savvy Subordinate: Learn what your boss wants, needs, and expects and do it! Be a problem solver instead of a problem finder.

Overall, your first year on the job is crucial to your future success in the professional world. Be sure to slow down, learn the culture, manage a good impression, learn the art of being new, manage your expectations, and become a savvy subordinate. Good Luck!
*Source is: Job Choices 2009- For Business & Liberal Arts Students.

What is a Cover Letter?

2008-12-01T10:46:00.000-08:00

Many students and job seekers still do not know what exactly is a cover letter. A cover letter is basically a letter of interest. Every time you apply for a job (part-time, full-time, or any time) you write your potential employer this letter explaining why you would be a great candidate for the job. This letter is suppose to grab their attention and make them interested in interviewing you.

When brainstorming for your cover letter there are two general effective ways to convince your potential employer. First you describe how you would be a good match with what they are looking for. Mainly you want to focus on what you can do for them if they hire you and how great of a benefit you could be to their company. Then secondly you want explain how you really want the job. Don't forget that when you do explain why you are interested in the position that it still needs to remain professional.

There really isn't a set criteria for how to write a cover letter but there is a standard formula that is easy for everyone to use. In the first paragraph of the letter you should state why you are writing this letter. Then follow that paragraph with a detailed description of why you are qualified for the job. The third paragraph is where you can provide supplemental information and then finally sum the letter up in your last paragraph.

Cover letters are always attached to the front of a resume when turning in an application. They must be neat and professional looking. The usual length for the letter is no more than one page with a size ten of twelve standard font and remember to always carefully proofread! Errors will make you look careless to your potential employer. If you need any help brainstorming or writing your cover letter call the Boise State Career Center and make an appointment; they are always willing to help!

Boise State University At Graduation Survey

2008-11-24T13:37:00.000-08:00

The Career Center administers an At-Graduation Placement Survey each Fall and Spring semester. Our most successful method of collecting data is via Capstone Courses. We also collected responses on-line. Currently, the response rate for these surveys is averaging 54%. Additional data including names of organizations employing students in career employment and internship positions and position titles is included in these specific reports.
If you would like further information regarding these reports, please contact the Career Center at career@boisestate.edu or (208)426-1747.

Highlights from the survey include:
Excellent collaboration with all colleges in administering the survey in their capstone courses.
A 90% response rate from our College of Engineering graduates.
28% of respondents participated in undergraduate or graduate research while at Boise State.
44% of respondents say their degree helped them obtain new employment or advance within the organization where they are currently working.
68% of COEN respondents and 63% of Health Sciences respondents say their degree helped them obtain new employment or advance within the organization where they are currently working.
21% of respondents will be going on to graduate or professional school within a year of graduating from Boise State.
75% of respondents will stay and work in the Treasure Valley. The percentage of students taking jobs in the western United States doubled from the Spring of 07 to the Spring of 08.
40% of respondents will earn $40,000 or more in their first year out of college.
33% of respondents participated in an Internship while at Boise State
53% of SSPA and 46% of COEN respondents participated in internships.
42% of respondents who participated in an Internship were offered career employment as a result of their internship.
An additional 35% of respondents were offered career employment as a result of their field experience (not considered an Internship) while at Boise State.
**To view actual survey results please go to the Career Center's web site at http://career.boisestate.edu.

You're a What? (Jobs You've Never Heard Of)

2008-11-19T14:31:00.000-08:00

Dying fruit in the grocery store? Testing how well deodorant works? It may surprise you to find out these particular jobs exist! Although we have all heard of lawyers, doctors, and policemen, there's a good chance we know very little about several jobs listed in the article "37 Weird Jobs that You Can Actually Make a Living At." This interesting post can be found on the website jobprofiles.com. While not all 37 jobs will be listed, the following job titles and descriptions may amaze, shock, or even confuse you.

Odor Tester: This chemist must make sure all deodorants and anti-perspirants are working against odors. We can be thankful someone finds out first that a deodorant doesn't work and not us as we interview for our dream job.
Citrus Fruit Dyer: There may be a reason the fruit at the grocery store is so colorful. Some commercial farmers actually die fruit a more vibrant color to help with its ripeness.
Cheese Sprayer: Sounds weird enough right? These people tend the machines that spray cheese or butter on popcorn or other small food items. The exact amount of cheese or butter must be poured into the large mixing kettle before it is sprayed on the food.
Snake Milker: Thankfully these people know what they are doing! This job involves getting the venom out of snakes in order to make anti-venom in order to aid those of us that unfortunately get bitten.
Rodeo Clowns: Next time you attend a rodeo, just remember that clown is getting paid! Can you imagine traveling around and performing as a clown at various rodeos while nearly getting trampled by angry bulls?
Furniture Tester: I know what you're thinking, who wouldn't want to get paid to sit in a comfy recliner? However, there is much more to the job. These people test the furnitures durability and strength, materials, functioning drawers, flammability, ect.
Cartoon People/ Mascots: I hate to break it to you, but the last time you went to Disneyland, it wasn't really Snow White you were getting your picture taken with. Soem people have an entirely different identity at work. These people make a living by wearing princess dresses and taking pictures with children.
Braille Translator: This person translates text into Braille for the blind. These texts can include novels, music, textbooks, and brochures. Sounds like a very monotonous job; however, it is an excellent and important tool.
Dice Inspector: A lot can be determined by a roll of the dice. For this reason, someone must inspect the quality of the dice. Casino dice are called perfect or precision dice because they are manufactured into perfect cubes. This way the chance of landing on any of the six sides is absolutely equal.

Next time you are dreading going to work, or pondering about your dream job, think about the ones you have just learned about. They may entice you or simply make you proud to be n a different career path. Just remember, there are more job options out there than you think!

On Campus Interviews

2008-11-17T10:12:00.000-08:00

In addition to BroncoJobs the Career Center also offers On Campus Interviews. An on

campus interview is just that. Employers conduct interviews in rooms set aside at the Career

Center. You don't even have to go driving around looking for the business, they come to you! Interviews usually go on most of the day so you can go to class and then walk over after for your interview. All of the on campus interviews are scheduled through BroncoJobs. Also, a list of upcoming on campus interviewers is on the Career Center's website (career.boisestate.edu). Applications procedures are specific to each employer. It is up to the employer to decide if they still want to interview someone who didn't submit all of the application materials. Make sure to note when application deadlines are as they can be up to two weeks before the actual interview. For position and applications details log into BroncoJobs.

There are certain times when employers are going to be looking to hire. There is the fall recruiting season and the spring season. The fall recruiting season is usually from October to December. The spring season is from February to May. The fall recruiting season is just about over for this year, but there are still some employers coming in the next few weeks. Check the Career Center's website to see who is left. This fall season the Career Center has 29 employers scheduled to do on campus interviews, so about ten a month this season. The spring season is yet to be determined, but you can count on the Career Center aiming to beat the number from the fall season.

So if you're looking for a job, get on BroncoJobs and start looking for a convenient on campus interview. Hurry! There are still many on campus interviews left!

Inspire your Career, Develop your Dreams!

2008-11-12T12:33:00.000-08:00

November is National Career Development Month and Boise State is celebrating it during the week of the 17th-21st. This event highlights the importance of life-long career development and the personal empowerment of all people. This would be good time to set up an appointment with the Career Center to work on your resume or perhaps do a practice interview... you never know when an opportunity will come knocking!

For Career Development Month, Boise State's Career Center is setting up information tables around campus, where you can play the game of "Life". Here you will learn the wages of various career choices, to hopefully guide your college education and allow exploration of career opportunities. Come see us at the business building (11-17), the multi-purpose building (11-18), and the ILC (11-19) between 11-2 to play the game of "Life"!

Also, the Boise State Career Center is producing video podcasts on Boise State's iTunesU. Be sure to explore and subscribe to new podcasts, so that you can find out more about the Career Center staff, services, and career information.

Need A Job?

2008-11-10T10:46:00.000-08:00

If you are a current student or are even an alumni here at Boise State University and you are in desperate need of a job; look no further. Boise State's Career Center has an easy access program called Bronco Jobs for all students looking for an on campus job that is either a part time or full time, summer, temporary, or work study position. Bronco Jobs can even be useful for alumni looking for a specific career according to their degree. Need help? Just follow the following steps:

1) First go to your bronco web home page. On the right hand side of the web page there should be a column of links to other specific web sites. You will be looking the the Bronco Jobs links which should be the 7th link down from the top of the column. Once you have located the link click on it.

2) Now you should be at the Boise State's Career Center web site. If you look to the left hand side of the web page you will again find a column of link choices. The link you will want to choose this time is Students and Alumni. When you have located this link click on it.

3) The next web page that you will be directed to is the Information for Students and Alumni web page. Here you will look for the Employment Services headline. If you are a current degree seeking student here at BSU you will want to click on the bullet labeled Student Employment - part time, summer, temporary, work study and full time employment. If you are an alumni to BSU you will want to click on the bullet labeled Career Employment. It would also be a good idea to check out all the other information that is given to you under the rest of the bullets. The BSU Career Center has very good information to help you with you're job search.

4) After choosing you're desired bullet of choice you will again be directed to another website (don't worry you are almost done). Here on this web page you will want to click on the bullet labeled Bronco Jobs. This bullet will lead you to the actual Bronco Job web page.

5) The next step for you to do is to register for Bronco Jobs. To do this you must know you're new Boise State email address (ex. name@u.boisestate.edu) and you will also need to know your student ID number. If you are having difficultly remembering these then just give the Career Center a call at (208)426-1747.

6) Finally after you have finished your registration form you might have to wait up to twenty-four hours before you are sent a confirmation email from Bronco Jobs. Once you do get the confirmation email you will be given a temporary password to use to access your account.

After finishing all of these steps you are now ready to embark on the journey of finding a job. If there are any questions or you need any help feel free to contact the Boise State's Career Center at (208)426-1747. Good luck job hunting!

Finding and Choosing a Career…

2008-11-05T11:05:00.000-08:00

According to an article on the Correct College website (www.correctcollege.com) there are five key steps you must take in order to land that perfect job for you. We will focus on the first step, which is absolutely crucial.

Knowing yourself: In order to find the career that will best fit you, you must know some things about yourself. Sometimes people are too concerned with pleasing others and forget to meet their own needs and desires. According to the article “How to Discover and Choose the Best Career For You” you should be asking yourself three questions.

1) What are you passionate about? What do you really love to do? What do you really care about?

2) What are you natural talents? What comes easy to you? What are your strengths?

3) What is your personality type? Some jobs may seem attractive to you at first, but just may not fit who you are. Do you like to work in groups or alone? Are you expressive or closed? Are you easy going or do you need a set schedule?

Now you are probably wondering how to find the answers to these questions. While the last may need to be researched, you can get started on the first two by simply starting a list. Once you have developed a list, it may be a good idea to ask people you are close to how they would answer the questions about you. Parents, friends, and possibly coworkers may provide you with some of the answers you are looking for.

The third question will probably take a little bit more work. Numerous books give information on personalities; however the most helpful tool might be a personality test. The Myers-Briggs personality test is an excellent aid to discovering what career may best fit your personality.

The Career Center provides a Myers-Briggs assessment for $15.00. In order to schedule an appointment, call the Career Center at 426-1747.

When to go to Grad School

2008-11-03T12:40:00.000-08:00

You’ve just finished attaining your undergraduate degree and now you’re getting ready for the next step, but what will that next step be? Will you go directly to graduate school? Or will you enter the workforce and get some experience before going to graduate school? Neither way is the “correct” way, it just depends on your individual circumstances. Only you can determine when the time is right for you.

Many may believe that going to graduate school right after undergrad school is just what you’re supposed to do, but it’s certainly not the case for everyone. Some may not want to wait a few extra years to jump in the workforce. Also, the financial burden that comes with grad school may be more than some students could handle after just taking four years of loans to get their undergraduate school. And, some students might just want to take a break before losing their social life for another few years. Whatever the case may be there are many advantages to waiting to go to graduate school. For those who want to start working, that extra experience and time to figure out exactly what you want to do is a major plus that could save money and time. Waiting could also help kill some of the financial stress. You could pay off your loans before taking more and also some jobs will even pay for you to obtain a graduate degree. Academic burnout could also be avoided by taking a little time to relax before taking on the heavy workload of a graduate degree.

There are also many advantages to going directly after undergraduate school. The material is still fresh in your mind, your still in the school routine, and most recent graduates have yet to start a family and are free of dependants. You are used to writing papers, studying and getting by on a tight budget. Also, one of the hardest parts of graduate school is just getting in. If you have a good relationship with some professors you’ll have a good source of reference letters for the application process.

Before deciding on going to graduate school, you need to consider the time, energy and effort it is going to need. It would be ideal to take some time and do a bit of personal reflection. Consider what factors are influencing your decision to go. Avoid being swayed by what others are doing and think you should be doing. The choice is yours and you’re the only one who can really decide when the time is right

The Job Search

2008-10-29T12:51:00.000-07:00

With the stock market dropping and reports of layoffs across the country, the thought of graduating college and entering the job market is a scary thing right now. However, there are a few strategies to set you apart from the crowd and find a job that best fits you!
Getting a job is a lot of work! In this economy, it is important to put time aside to search for jobs and specialize your resume to fit each company you apply for. It is quoted that it can take around 6 months to find a job, and in this economy, it is important to understand there is a lot of competition, so you need to put the time and effort in to have better chances.
Network! "It's not what you know, it's who you know." As many as 80% of jobs are never advertised, so look at your contacts as a place to start. Great ideas for networking include internships or volunteer work, take any opportunity to meet people in your field, and joining clubs or organizations related to you career.
Utilize ALL your skills! Look at jobs that are related to your major but also look at using other skills you may have learned in your education and other working experiences. Be open to new experiences and career opportunities that you never really considered before.
The Boise State Career Center is a great resource to use to help get you started and prepare you for the next step, a CAREER! We can help you with your cover letters and resumes, practice interviews, and internship connections. Remember to start early, network, and be a well rounded candidate for jobs you apply for.

Volunteer or Intern Abroad

2008-10-27T11:10:00.000-07:00

Ever wanted to volunteer or intern abroad but didn't want to give up 27 months of your life to the Peace Corps or go overseas to just study for academic credit? Many students have the same feelings as I do until I stumbled across Cross-Cultural Solutions (CCS). This is a international non-profit organization that was founded in 1995 and has no religious affiliations and no political affilations. The goals of this organization is to bring people from all over the world to work together and share perspectives while fostering cultural understandings. There are ten countries to choose from including Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Peru, Russia, Tanzania, and Thailand. Depending on which program you choose to enroll you will have the option of picking how much time you spend overseas volunteering.
The programs that CCS offers are volunteering abroad, interning abroad or insight abroad. Volunterring abroad is a short-term program where you will be working with local organizations in the country of your choosing. Some oganizations could include orphanages, childcare centers and schools, health clinics, hospitals, homes for the elderly, center for people with disabilities, and any other community organizations. In this program you are allowed to choose from the ten countries mentioned before and you can choose between two to twelve weeks of volunteering. Interning abroad is an international internship where you can gain work experience in the areas of health, education or social services. You may also be able to gain academic credit. This program also allows you to choose from the ten countries mentioned before and the amount of time you want to volunteer between at least two weeks to the maximum of twelve weeks. The last program CCS offers is insight abroad. In this program you will start and complete a group project within a community. Your choices are limited when choosing a country and you can only volunteer for a week.
CCS also believes that if you want a better understanding and experience in another country that you must have free time. The organization does have a home-base for their volunteers where you will be staying with other volunteers and CCS staff. They give you the evenings and the weekends off to go explore or simple enjoy yourself and the other volunteers. All of your daily needs are taken care of, including lodging, meals and transportation.
If this organization sounds interesting to you then i suggest you log on to their website www.crossculturalsolutions.org or give them a call at 1-800-380-4777 to design a plan. Get out there and do something great, engage in field work and reseach or simply go for an alternative break!

Grad Day Review

2008-10-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

The Graduate and Professional School Day on October 21 welcomed 48 different graduate programs. Out of these, nine were from Boise State University including the school of engineering, nursing, interdisciplinary studies and many others. A steady flow of students entered the event; a total of around 250 attended the fair. Several students leaving the fair said it was very helpful talking to representatives and that many of their questions had been answered. Several schools were from the Northwest, and a handful of health and law schools were present. Some of the health schools included Western University of Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, and the University of Utah College of Nursing. A large number of law schools attended which included Gonzaga, Hamline, Lewis and Clark, Seattle University, University of Idaho, University of Oregon, and Willamette. Overall, the fair ran smoothly and provided curious students with the information they needed.

Careers...Careers...Careers

2008-10-15T14:21:00.000-07:00

The Career Fair took place on Wednesday, October 1 in the Jordan Ballroom in the Student Union Building. Many employers took advantage of this great opportunity to recruit students; 74 different businesses were present. Throughout the day, around 1,000 students toured the fair, speaking with the various employers and picking up a bag full of goodies along the way. The recruiters ranged from police departments to accounting firms to food companies. Frito-Lay's booth was hard to miss with their chip display that reached from the floor to the ceiling. Several hospitals and health care clinics from around the valley represented themselves. Cell phone companies and banks educated students on their policies and procedures. A number of students came to the fair dressed professionally, and the employers appreciated this gesture. Several job-seekers were able to earn interviews to further their chances of working for these companies. The Career Fair proved to be a success, and the Career Center looks forward to hosting the second one in the spring time.

Thinking about Graduate School?

2008-10-10T09:43:00.000-07:00

The Graduate and Professional School Day will be held Tuesday, October 21 in the Jordan D Ballroom. This event will take place from 2:00-5:30 pm. All students are welcome to attend. Representatives of graduate and professional schools from across the nation, the Northwest, Boise State and other local programs will be represented to provide information and answer questions about their specific programs. Representatives will include law schools, health care programs, MBA programs, engineering programs, Boise State University programs, and many more. For additional information or future guidance, contact the Career Center at (208) 426-1747.