Career Chat

It sure is hard to think about summer when it’s 17 degrees outside and the sidewalks are covered with ice and snow, but the application deadlines for some really great summer internships are rapidly approaching. For example:

Takeda Pharmaceuticals will hold on-campus interviews for its incredible paid internships on February 7th, and their application deadline is February 1st.

American Cancer Society’s Patricia Sanderson Memorial College Internship Program (paid PR internship) deadline is February 14th.

City of Chicago Mayor’s Office Fellowship Program – Summer 2011 deadline is February 11.

National Institutes of Health Office of Intramural Training and Training’s Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research deadline is March 1.

Don’t miss out on really incredible internship opportunities with early application deadlines. For more information about these and lots of other great internship opportunities, start searching Loyola’s RamblerLink today.

A favorite blogger of mine, Toni Bowers, just posted another winner – “Five Ways to Risk Failure and Improve Your Career.” She discusses ways to use failure to advance your career that seem like wonderful tips for job seekers in today’s difficult market.

I particularly love her closing paragraph:

Bottom line, the fastest way to succeed in your career is to allow yourself to fail — early and often. The more new avenues you try and the more often you try them, the more you’ll learn about your passions, talents, and ambitions

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Read Toni’s entire blog, along with comments at blogs.techrepublic.com.com/career/?p=2685&tag=nl.e124

Under30CEO recently polled its readership to determine the top 10 U.S. cities for young entrepreneurs based on the best resources, schools, events, climate and social scene. New York was rated top city, and Chicago came in 6th. They liked our beaches, but didn’t care for our “Windy City” nickname.

Take a look at the other cities making the list at Top 10 Cities for Young Entrepreneurs in 2010.

TechRepublic’s Career Blog has a rather interesting item “Techie seeks non-profit job: How to be a big, misunderstood fish in a small pond” about potential difficulties posed in switching from a for-profit corporate IT position to a non-profit. In her blog, Toni Bowers notes:

Trends in social entrepreneurship and skills-based volunteering, inspired by boomers who want more from work than wages and worry, are motivating greater numbers of corporate employees – even techies – to consider careers in the non-profit sector.

If you’re a techie who has bravely tuned into your wild inner longing for social change, no longer satisfied in hunting down bugs for dollars, you may be tempted to follow the scent to freedom. But making the transition from corporate to charity can be a rough one – akin to stepping back in time 20 years.

While this blog is aimed at people in IT switching from the corporate world to the world of non-profits, I’m sure others in different careers face some of the same types of issues and would benefit from Toni’s tips.
Take a look: http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/career/?p=2666&tag=content;leftCol

Career Development Center Director Darby Scism was quoted in the 12/19/10 Redeye article “How to Find Your Dream Job — and Keep it!”

Check out her advice at http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/redeye/2010/12/for-hire-2011-job-forecastoptimistic.html

Just received an e-mail from CareerBuilder linked to their blog titled “How Not to Job Hunt” about how some candidates shoot themselves in the foot with phone interviews. Apparently, some candidates fail to consider external noises that are transmitted along with their carefully thought-out answers to questions.

http://www.theworkbuzz.com/interviews/how-not-to-job-hunt/

The blog started a flurry of comments and discussions about phone interviews and interviews in general, which make reading the blog even more interesting. I particularly like the comment by Annie on December 1 regarding courtesy to the front desk “gate keeper.” Check it out!

Ever wonder exactly what employers are looking for in the current tight job market? The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) polled employers and found that verbal communication skills topped the list of “soft” skills they are seeking in new college grads. Other “soft” skills rated highly by employers were strong work ethic, teamwork skills, analytical skills and initiative.

Interestingly, when asked how satisfied they were that new college graduates could deliver on key skills, employer response was mixed. They reported being “very satisfied” with the teamwork and analytical skills of new college graduates, but verbal communication skills, initiative, and a strong work ethic all fell below that level, with ratings hovering between “somewhat” and “very satisfied.”

In addition to these skills, surveyed employers also rated nine other skills/qualities as
“very important” to “extremely important”, with GPA requirements and internship or other work experience topping the list.

Other skills included strong work ethic, teeamwork skills, analytical skills and initiative.

Commercials are bombarding us with advertising, television with heart-warming specials, and there’s joyful music in the air. You know what that means, don’t you? A GREAT time of the year for your job search! Yes, indeed, think of all of those holiday parties, family gatherings, reconnection with old friends, New Year’s Eve, exchange of resolutions …it’s the super-networking time of the year!

Face it: you know that everyone is going to ask what you’ve been up to or what you plan to do after graduation. So why not get them interested… helpful… searching their mental contact lists for great connectors?

Throw away your old sheepish “I’m still looking for a job” reply and come up with something more upbeat, exciting, and specific:

“I’m looking for an entry-level position in a public relations firm that specializes in sustainability endeavors. I had a couple of really exciting internships that gave me really solid experience, and I want to continue working in that field. Did I ever tell you about the sustainable garden project I developed on last summer that showed…. ?”

Get them excited! Get them to see you as someone who has so much to offer a potential employer. Then ask them for suggestions and if they know of anyone who could help you.

Here’s hoping you have a wonderful holiday and a happy and successful 2011.

Adrian Ackerman of Briefcases Direct, LLC e-mailed us with information about “Dress For The Job You Want“, a 50 page book that is totally free to download. It’s full of tips on how to dress professionally, as well as the importance of interview attire for the type of position you seeking.

Sorry ladies – this book is directed at the guys.

Interested in a possible green career involving sustainability?

I guess I’ve tended to think of sustainable farming as something new. I just read an interesting article about Planter’s long history of sustainable farming, and their project to share their knowledge with cashew farmers in Africa. Take a look at SmartPlanet’s article “Mr. Peanut Goes to Africa.”