50 Glassdoor Announces: Best Places to Work - Employees' Choice Awards

Glassdoor announces the top 50 Best Places to Work for 2012!

What makes this list unique is that it's the "Employees' Choice" of workplace awards - the winners were selected by the 250,000 employees that completed a company review on Glassdoor during 2011.

Check out who did (and didn't) make the list - 50 Best Places to Work:

http://www.glassdoor.com/Best-Places-to-Work-LST_KQ0,19.htm?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=best-ne-BPTW&utm_campaign=best-ne

Mastodon Mentors Program

IPFW’s Career Services office has started the Mastodon Mentors Program this spring 2012! Many people do not realize the mentoring relationship is an invaluable resource. Building a mentor relationship can be as simple as understanding why it is important, where to begin, and what to look for in a mentor. Let’s begin with why mentoring is important. We have all heard at one time or another that networking is extremely valid and useful, and mentoring can play a key role in the process of developing your network by introducing you to their own network of professionals. Did you know 80% of jobs are filled without ever being advertised? Mentors can also help you gain abundant knowledge and tools for success. Mentors are more experienced and recognize the steps for accomplishing your career goals. It may seem daunting as to where to begin with the mentoring process. No need to worry, the Mastodon Mentors Program will provide the structure in which to find a mentor, specifically an alumnus from IPFW. You will be able to view available mentors in your field through JobZone, and email the matches of your choice. The mentors will contact you and the process will begin, it’s that simple! The qualities you want to look for in a mentor include someone who will provide career direction and guidance, challenge you, and encourage growth. If you are interested in finding a mentor, the time is now! In preparation for the Mastodon Mentors Program, update your profile in JobZone (www.ipfw.edu/jobzone), upload your resume, and tell your career counselor what types of mentors would be interesting to you! We are currently gathering info of those interested in being Mastodon Mentors. If being a mentor is of interest to you, please contact Christine Force, On Campus Recruiting Coordinator in Career Services, at 260-481-6640 or forcec@ipfw.edu.

Travel Experience for Your Resume

Often students wonder if it's worth their time and money to study abroad or with the National Student Exchange experience.  My response is always the same... YES!!  Not only will it broaden yourself as a person and give you opportunities to experience something you otherwise wouldn't have, but it also looks great on a resume!

Why Employers Care About Travel Abroad

The Journal Online has a nice article about how studying abroad increases employability, which came from a study by the Council for Industry and Higher Education entitled Global Horizons and the Role of Employers.  It discussed these points that many students who've studied/traveled abroad.

• Comfortable and enjoy working in a diverse office environment
• Willing to work and travel all over the world for the job
• Bring additional language skills and culture awareness to the company

The article continues to explain some of the personal reactions by employers.  Here are a few reactions by employers:

"In a global economy, these skills and competencies are increasingly sought by employers, and students with this experience will find that their employability is higher than without it.”

“The value of [a student’s] international experience goes beyond purely the acquisition of language – it lies in the ability to see business and personal issues from other than your own cultural perspective."

How to Incorporate Your Abroad Experience into a Resume

There are many ways to add your study/travel abroad experience to your resume.  The IPFW Career Guide is one resource which provides examples on how a typical study abroad experience might be explained in a resume.  Check out the Career Guide HERE, and go to page 17 for an example.

Basically you have 2 options: 1) List it in your Education section as another school, or 2) List it as a separate section and expand upon your experiences and learning components. Salisbury University has a pretty good online resource for other ideas on how to incorporate your study abroad experience in a resume.

You're Fired!

Job applications, interviews and resumes are all meant to emphasize your strengths and your best qualities. But, what if you were fired from your last job?

Let’s check out our Career Guide and see if it has any tips:

“If you were fired, you need to approach it in a factual format, with no emotion. Be honest; do not lie. Tell what you learned from it and how you are better because of it.” (IPFW Career Guide, page 56)

Take Responsibility- The truth is, you might be furious at your previous employer, what they did to you, may be completely unfair, or you may feel frustrated by your own poor performance. Your new employer, doesn’t want you to cast blame.  See where you can find fault in your own actions, even if it was only that you stayed too long at a job that you knew wasn’t right for you. Remember, there’s a fine line between being honest and giving way too much information.

Share What You’ve Learned-What would you do differently now? Learn how to better manage your time? Be more accurate in your work? Resolve conflict more quickly? Let your prospective new employer know.

Share What You’ve Done- If you’ve anything that might show the employer that you’ve improved from the past, like receive additional training in an area where you were lacking let him or her know.

Finally, keep in mind that you want to emphasize the positive, which in this case is how enthusiastic you are about starting a new job and a phase in your life!

*You can pick up a free copy of the Career Guide in the Career Services office in Kettler 109 or find it online at: http://new.ipfw.edu/dotAsset/213057.pdf”

IPFW Externship Program!

Spend your Spring Break doing an Externship!!
[March 5-9, 2012]

The externship program is designed to give IPFW students the opportunity to explore a specific career field while networking with professionals and alumni within the community...so, it is kind of like a mini-internship. We run it during Spring Break!

Click HERE for more information about the externship program!

Participating Employers:

Allen County Circuit Court

Allen County Superior Court

Allen County Government Purchasing

Allen County Department of Health

Allen County Government HR

Aunt Millie’s Bakeries

Boys & Girls Clubs of FW

Caring About People

Cindy Friend Lifestyle Studio

Downtown Improvement District

Easter Seals Arc

Fastenal

Fort Wayne Youtheatre

IPFW Career Services

IPFW Human Resources
IPFW URC (Marketing)

Ivy Tech

Journal Gazette

Junior Achievement

MSKTD

Northrop Grumman

OmniSource

South Side High School

UPS

The Woodhouse Day Spa

and many more...

The deadline for students to apply is February 13th!

Students must apply for externships on JobZone!
[All externships will be posted on JobZone on January 26th]

MBA Panel- November 29th!

You're Invited!
IPFW Career Services and the MBA Council are hosting a panel for MBA students on November 29, 2011 from 5:30- 7:00pm in the Neff Lecture Hall.

Moderator:
Dr. Karen Moustafa, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Management, Doermer School of Business

Panelists:
Debra Williams, Senior VP - Human Resources, Parkview Health Systems
Mike Altendorf, MBA, VP of Information Technology, Do it Best Corp.
Rise Taylor, CFA, CPA, CTP, FLMI, Vice President, Lincoln National Life
Emily McCabe, MBA, Merchandise Analyst, Vera Bradley
Nick Harter, MBA, Financial Representative, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network
Kevin Noll, MBA, First Vice President, Tower Investment Services

Schedule:
5:30 - 6:00 pm: Networking and Appetizers
6:00 - 7:00 pm: Panel

Questions? Contact Career Services at 260-481-0689

Informational Interviews

An informational interview is an appointment which you schedule with someone who works in a career you’d like to learn more about. Unlike job interviews, informational interviews do not require you to sell yourself to an employer. While an employer may not grant a job interview because vacancies do not exist, informational interviews can often be arranged regardless of an existing vacancy. Informational interviews are arranged with those likely to provide the information directly or with those who can refer you to persons with relevant information. If you are in the process of choosing an academic major, making career choices, changing careers, or beginning a job hunt, then information interviews may help you explore your possibilities.

Identifying who to talk to is often the barrier that people don't get beyond. ("I don't know anyone in this field..."). Look for those who: Share a common academic major or interest, enthusiasm or involvement in some activity or lifestyle that appeals to you, or work in a setting that appeals to you (e.g. hospitals, textile company, colleges, airlines). You can also call community service agencies, trade and professional organizations (e.g., women's organizations, Chamber of Commerce, Information Management Association) and attend meetings (local, state, regional) for professional associations in your career interest field(s). Remember, people are generally interested in talking about what they do and how they do it. But, don't waste their time or your time-be prepared!

 Read about the career area and organization in which the person you'll be interviewing is engaged. Know exactly what kinds of information you want by having a list of questions in mind. Generally, don't ask something routine that is readily available elsewhere. Check the Internet for any web sites associated with the organization or career field in which you're interested.

 Learn more by visiting Career Services in Kettler 109 or calling (260) 481-0689 for an individual appointment with a career counselor.

 *Adapted from the FSU Career Center.