Career TV

New Website!

Career TV is one of my new favorite websites! This website is designed to help college students and young professionals develop long-lasting, successful careers. It provides job seekers with free, personalized career profiles, career coaching, career-related videos, salary reports, and career news. You can also learn more about industries, companies, and get quick video tips on a variety of career topics.

Check it out! www.careertv.com

Summer Internships

Want an internship for summer? DON'T WAIT! Start now to increase chances of your top internship choice. Indiana INTERNnet published some simple steps in their December 2008 Newsletter on how to get an internship by summer. Click here for the complete article.

Here are some basic steps to get you started:
January

1. Visit the Career Services office (KT 109 at IPFW)
2. Write down some goals/objectives for a positive internship experience
3. Update your resume
4. Research companies and internship directories (like JobZone and Indiana INTERNnet)

February

1. Attend workshops and practice your interviewing & networking skills
2. Request a mock interview with Career Services
3. Attend any career fairs in the area
   

March

1. Attend career fairs
2. Continue to apply for positions found on company websites and internship directories
3. Begin interviewing (don't forget to send thank you notes after interviews)
4. Continue networking with faculty, alumni, and employers
5. Attend the Mock Interview Day on March 25th (call 260-481-0689 for more info)

April

1. Attend Summer Job & Internship Fair (April 2nd in Walb Ballroom 10am-2pm)
2. Attend NICE Expo (April 16th in Walb Ballroom 2-6pm)
3. Continue researching companies, applying and interviewing

May

1. Accept offered position via letter of acceptance
2. Contact the Office of Career Services or your major department (which ever applies) to inform them of internship and ensure all proper paperwork is completed for the school
3. Start your internship (some internships won't start until June, though)

For more information about which office you should contact at IPFW when doing an internship, please review the slide presentation below. Good Luck Internship Hunting!

Job Security vs. Happiness

I found an article titled "They Left the Corporate Cocoon to Blossom" on CNN.com this morning. It profiles three people who left high-paying positions at large corporations to pursue their dreams. It got me to thinking about the role your values play in the career choices you make.

I must admit that job security is probably my number one work value, but, as this article illustrates and reminds us career counselors, it's not the number one work value for everyone. I think in these challenging economic times, we tend to think, though, that everyone values job security above everything else. However, this article shows how it doesn't have to, and makes some excellent points regarding how work values like challenging assignments, job satisfaction, and productivity at work can override the idea that we should stay in our current job no matter what, given the job market these days. Check it out: http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/worklife/01/08/jumping.ship/index.html

2009 - New Year, New Opportunities!

Happy 2009!

Are you in need of some career goals / resolutions for the 2009 new year? If so, here are 10 resolutions aimed to help you develop a plan to achieve career success, expand your knowledge and sharpen your skills in the new year!

10. Join a Student Organization or Professional Association
9. Do an Informational Interview or some Job Shadowing
8. Attend a Job Fair
7. Volunteer
6. Give a Presentation
5. Attend a Networking Event
4. Learn New Technology or Computer Skills
3. Update your Resume and Cover Letter
2. Register for a Mock Interview
1. Do an Internship!

So, get your career goals / resolutions for 2009 in order. Visit the Office of Career Services in Kettler 109.

"Inside" resource for job-hunters and business professionals

Are you getting nowhere with job searching and have exhausted many resources? Check out the Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance webpage. The Alliance works hard at developing Allen County and allowing businesses to expand in the area.

In their words: "We are your economic development experts. We employ a holistic approach when your company is seeking advice, support, and financial incentives. We are your first point of contact when you’re looking to locate, relocate, or expand your operations. Our project managers streamline the process (from project start, to end, to follow-up) of working with government entities, commercial brokers, and workforce development organizations."


What's great about The Alliance for job seekers is their News Center. It feeds you news, events, rankings, case studies and newsletters that tell you about growth in the area and other newsworthy information. And, where there's growth there are new jobs!

Go to: http://www.theallianceonline.com/ for more information about The Alliance and to subscribe to their RSS feed in the News Center.

Get Great Career Advice While Surfing the Web

You’d love to get great career advice.  There are important issues you know you should be focused on, how to job search, what do with your life: but honestly, who has the time?  

Well, I recently found out about a fun resource that can at least be of a little help getting career information.  It’s called JobRadio.fm and is sponsored by Simply Hired a job search engine similar to Indeed. 

JobRadio.fm features a collection of great podcasts from around the web.  Two that I really like are Jobs in Pods, where recruiters give information on what it’s like to work for their company and Secrets of the Job Hunt a podcast from a social networking site for recruiters and jobseekers that features interviews and information from all over the country.

You can either listen live or download individual podcasts.

Internships on a Time-Budget

I don't want to hear the excuses of: "I don't have time to do an internship" or "I need to keep my current job because I have bills to pay" or "My degree will guarantee me a job, I don't need an internship." All of these thoughts are either outdated, false, or just an excuse to not leave the comfortable job you have now. It's scary to embark on a new experience and take a risk, but that's exactly what you need to do if you want to be successful upon graduation. I'm not saying you should quit your current job before you even start looking for an internship, but just because you have certain needs doesn't mean you can't have the same opportunities as other students.

Employers are now expecting students to graduate and already have experience. Most students will then say, "How can I get experience if you won't hire me?" The answer to this Catch-22 is INTERNSHIPS!! An internship, or two, while in college shows not only that you're interested in your career path by going the extra mile to gain relevant experience, but it also demonstrates to employers that you are committed to your career, a hard worker, and a multi-tasker. Plus, when employers see candidates with experience versus candidates without experience, who do you think they will pick?

It's a competitive job market right now with national unemployment reaching 6.5% and Indiana unemployment reaching 6.4%, the highest rates in 16 years! Schmitt & Baker (1), researched recession periods in America and predict that it will only get worse before it gets better. According to their assessments we fall in the Severe Projected Recession category with a prediction of national unemployment reaching 8.4% in 2011. "What are you saying Karen?!" I'm saying that you need to do everything you can now, to prevent yourself from falling in that unemployment statistic in the future.

Now that I have your attention and your heart is racing with anxiety, let me put it at ease with some comforting options and truths about gaining relevant experience before you graduate.

• TRUTH: Co-ops (Cooperative Education experiences) are always paid and are renewable. They are also one way to gain relevant experience within your major. Check with your academic department if this is an option for your major.

• TRUTH: A lot of internships are already paid. Employers base the pay for interns on their budget and most will offer some type of compensation for students. If the internship description does not specifically mention that it's paid, you can always inquire about your options AFTER the company offers you the internship. Check out ways to negotiate your salary for some good tips. You can find books on these and there is a section in our career guide about it as well.

• TRUTH: You can turn your current volunteer experience into a great internship. Many places that work with volunteers are in a constant need for help and if you only ask what more you can do, then more could be granted. I highly suggest preparing your "pitch" with examples of what you can do to help that also matches your major. Remind the organization that you are being trained in this particular major and if you could keep your current hours, or add a couple on to sweeten the deal, then they can only gain from this opportunity.
  

• TRUTH: Ask for more responsibilities at your current part-time job and gain relevant experience. If applicable... Some jobs may not have this option for you but if you are working a part-time job now and are interested in gaining more experience, then ask your supervisor for more responsibilities and turn this job into something more.
  

• TRUTH: Job Shadowing is another viable option. You have the opportunity to learn about the company and know if you would be a good fit within the certain position you shadow. This is also a great way to network and "get your foot in the door" at an organization/company in which you're interested. You only have to give up a couple hours out of one day to do job shadowing, a great option for busy students.
  

Employers are still looking for interns for this coming spring 2009 semester and are beginning to look for summer 2009 interns. Check out JobZone at www.ipfw.edu/jobzone and Indiana INTERNnet at www.indianaintern.net for current internship opportunities. Utilize your networks like professors, family members, friends, and the friendly counselors in the Office of Career Services, when looking for internships. Good luck and don't get caught in the Catch-22... INTERN NOW!


1. Schmitt, J. and Baker, D., What We’re In For: Projected Economic Impact of the Next Recession, Center for Economic and Policy Research, January 2008.