Is it Easy to be Green?

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Find out how to get started in a 'Green Career' Tuesday, November 17, 2009 from Noon to 1pm. Click here for more information

Grad School Letters of Recommendation

Are you considering applying for grad school? Your applications will be due soon and then comes the task of finding letters of recommendation. MyGraduateSchool.com has some good tips on asking for these highly sought after letters.

This article goes through:

• How to ask for a letter of recommendation
• The right time to ask for a letter
• Help them write effective letters
• Waive the right to see your letters
• Follow-up

CLICK HERE to read the full article.

Self-confidence is the memory of success

As a graduate intern, I have the opportunity of giving classroom presentations on topics such as resumes and cover letters, as well as interviewing and networking. I have given several presentations before, but mostly to middle school or high school students, so finding myself giving presentations in a college classroom made me a bit anxious. When going over the material for the presentation, I was confident that I knew the material- but anxious how I would look to college students- seeing as I am a young woman- would they take me seriously?

Through my graduate program we have a class that allows us to practice the skills we have learned from our previous classes on real clients. I say "real" because we are given a case-load and meet with clients each week. I find myself often working on the very problem I have (self-confidence) with my clients. Though my experiences in clinic and in Career Services, I have noticed an overwhelming amount of students and community members who lack self-confidence. They don't feel they are worthy of love, appreciation or even a job.

Why? Who has been telling them they are unworthy? The answer would be....yourself!

I have included a simple self-confidence exercise that I hope you partake in. Building ones self-confidence does not make you a snob or stuck on yourself- rather it gives you an edge. If people see you are confident in yourself- they are more likely to listen to what you have to say and appreciate your ideas.

Self Confidence Exercises

Like physical exercise, self confidence exercises are a way of building strength. Instead of focusing on physical strength, these exercises build character and self-respect.

For these self confidence exercises, you will need a special journal. The first exercise is at the end of each day write down any event in which you receive positive feedback. If you get a well-deserved compliment from your boss, write it down. If your family expresses appreciation for something you’ve done, such as prepare a special meal or take the family on a picnic, add that to your journal as well. If your child tells you that you’re the best mom or dad in the world, record that in your journal.

You can also include in your journal memories of past events that you handled well. It is human nature to remember our failures. If you dwell on the things you have done wrong in your life, your self-confidence will decrease. Instead, remind yourself often of all the things you have done right in your life, both large and small.

November is Career Development Month!

Exciting and beneficial events are planned for the month of November, as we in Career Services will be providing several events to encourage professional career development. Whether you are interested in learning more about careers in the arts, or maybe tips to become an entrepreneur, Career Services has several workshops to fit your needs!

Have you ever thought of owning your own business? Wonder what it takes to start your own business? Meet local entrepreneurs and the organizations that help them be successful. Find out what they did to start and how they've kept it going.

Entrepreneur Employer Panel
Meet local entrepreneurs and the organizations that help them
Time:12:00PM Thursday, November 19th
Location:Walb Union 114
Facebook and other online social networks can have a negative impact your career. How do you protect yourself when your Facebook page is public?! Learn about other professional online social networks and how to use them effectively. Co-Sponsored with Delta Sigma Pi.

Online Social Networking: Put your best Face(book) forward
How social networking can help you get a job or prevent you from being hired
Time:9:00PM Tuesday, November 17th
Location:WU 222

Network with employers that believe the environment is something to preserve. Find out how they got started in a "green" career. Discover what you can do now to prepare for a professional "green" career.

Green Careers Employer Panel
Network with people "greening" Fort Wayne
Time:12:00PM Tuesday, November 17th
Location:Walb Union G21

Are you interested in Sports or the Fitness industry? Would you like to meet people from local teams and media sources?

Sports & Fitness Careers Employer Panel
Make yourself marketable in this competitive field!
Time:12:00PM Thursday, November 5th
Location:Walb Union room 114

Meet employers in the Arts industry. Learn what it took for them to be successful. Find out what you should be doing now as preparation and NETWORK with employers!!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location: Rhinehart Center room 164

ATTENTION Employers!

Are you familiar with JobZone, IPFW's online job board? It's monitored through IPFW Career Services and provides many tools and services that employers can take advantage of through the office.

Here are some of it's amenities:

• Allows local employers to post a job for FREE!
• Once a job is posted all IPFW students and alumni have access to view and apply according to your specified method
• Career Services will email faculty to promote the opportunities to students
• Jobs are posted around campus for more accessibility to students
• You can request resume referrals through our office if you want to be more proactive (look for a registration form soon to come on our website)
  
• Detailed instructional video on how to post a local job for free (see below)

For more information contact IPFW Career Services at (260)481-0689 or visit the website at www.ipfw.edu/career.

Self-Assessment and Decision Making

Last night I presented to a group of students pursuing their GED about career planning, namely self-assessment and decision making. I utilized a packet of handouts developed by Smith College's Career Development Office given to me by a colleague--the packet covered interests, skills, values, an experience log, the importance of support systems, and accomplishments. The accomplishments handout seemed to elicit the best response from the group, and it got me to thinking about using it every time we write a resume or interview for a job.

Think about it: most of us are really uncomfortable "bragging" about ourselves on a resume, never mind the interview. Does that come from a lack of self-confidence, or from lack of practice talking about ourselves that way? You can practice speaking highly of yourself till the cows come home, but believing it is a totally different thing. So then it becomes a confidence issue. Maybe a way to tackle that is thinking back on our life accomplishments (education, work, volunteering, helping out a friend, hobbies, etc.) and acknowledging what we gained from these accomplishments.

So I've got a challenge for you: make a list of 5 accomplishments you've experienced throughout your life. Then, list the skills you obtained from that achievement, as well as the characteristics or qualities that allowed you to complete those accomplishments. An example...

Accomplishment: Earning a 3.0 GPA for the semester
Skills: Communicating with my professor outside of class time to ask questions, time management, effective studying, working as part of a team in a study group, gathering and making sense of information for exams and papers, research skills, etc.
Characteristics: Dedicated, persevering, goal-oriented, disciplined, interpersonal skills (getting along with my study group members), self-motivated, etc.

Try this before you write your next resume or prepare for your next interview, and see if it helps to build your self-confidence. If nothing else, it'll give you something to talk about in the interview!

Diversity Resources? We Got That.

    Did you know there are a wide variety of resources aimed at diverse populations of students linked to the IPFW Career Services website? Let me share a few of my favorites:

    The Riley Guide This site contains a long list of links to other diversity websites for such audiences as workers over fifty, women and people who want to work with faith-based organizations.

    Lat-Pro Recruiters for top companies use this website to find bilingual professionals (Spanish/English and Portuguese/English)

    International Student.com A 'one stop shop' guide with information on study abroad, services, and resources for international students.


    Hire-a-Hero Website dedicated to maximizing opportunities for U.S. service men and women

    Want more? Check out the rest at www.ipfw.edu/career
(Look under Diversity Career Resources on the left side of the page.)