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Friends vs. Foes: “Social Media in your Career Search” Edition

Social Media seems to be the buzz word of this century. Everywhere you look, brands are touting their online presence in order to connect with their customers in a deep, more interactive way.  As you’re in the midst of searching for a job or internship, it’s important to realize how your social media activity reflects the personal brand you’re trying to convey to potential employers. Thus, here are our Friends & Foes in the social media world.

Best Friend: LINKEDIN

Get a LinkedIn….. Did you get a LinkedIn yet? …. How about now?

Now you may ask: why does LinkedIn need to be my BFF? On a basic level, LinkedIn is the Facebook of the corporate world: it’s a networking platform, an online resume and a career searching tool in ONE. Bob McIntosh of Things Career Related lays out 10 facts you should know about this social media site in order to boost your career search. Here are the highlights: [Find the complete article here]

  • Choose a PROFESSIONAL looking profile photo
  • Don’t sweat the number of “friends”…. It’s about making connections, not just numbers!
  • List something in your work history, even if it’s a job or internship unrelated to your desired industry
  • PROOFREAD…. Spelling errors count on online profiles too
  • Link your blog or professional works to your page!

FRENEMY: Facebook & Twitter

No one is trying to strip these popular social media sites of their valor, but proceed with caution. Regularly check your privacy settings and THINK before you post. It’s not a myth that many HR recruiters and employers actively seek out their candidates on search engines and/or social media platforms to get a better sense of who they may hire. Try googling yourself as a baseline check. Our message is by no means telling you to delete your accounts… in fact, some media, communications and PR positions want you to access Facebook for market research on consumer companies! Take home message: BE SMART!

FRIEND: The Bloggosphere

Blogging signifies your knowledge of online platforms (WordPress, BlogSpot, etc) and willingness to put your ideas and writing style in the public eye. As long as your content is not inappropriate, your blog posts can also show a side of your personality that might not emerge during the interview process.

 

POTENTIAL MORTAL ENEMY: Facebook Open Graph

Although we already listed Facebook as a “frenemy,” we felt the need to re-list it as the potential “Darth Vader” of the Social Media world, especially in light of new technology. As of this month, Facebook’s new search optimization tool “Open Graph” allows Facebook users to perform detailed searches and virtually target any of your information not explicitly set to private, according to The Social Media Monthly.  Based on the current “Privacy Settings” format, here are some recommendations you should consider ASAP!

Under “Who Can See My Stuff”:

  • Change Who Can See Your Future Posts?from “Everyone” to “Friends”
  • Set Review all of your posts and things you’re tagged in to “Activity Log” so you can pre-approve posts before they show up on your Timeline
  • Under Limit the Audience for posts you’ve shared with friends of friends or the public, click “Limit Past Posts” ….That way you’re past posts are private!

Under “Who Can Look Me Up”

  • For Who can look you up using the email address or phone number you provided, it is really up to you. We’d recommend “Friends of Friends” at a bare minimum, so you don’t have random people stalking you via your contact info
  • Set Do You Want Other Search Engines to link to your timeline, PRESS “OFF” (This one is KEY)

_________________________________________

The take-home message:  Enjoy social media, but think about your audience!
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Lessons from a Leprechaun

How to be a Pot of Gold level Employee

In the 2012-2013 academic year, we’ve heard career advice from an ambitious turkey and elf trying to attain their dream internship/jobs. If you were impressed by those career savvy holiday fixtures, wait until you hear what you can learn from a leprechaun… after all we are approaching St. Patrick’s Day.

Although Santa makes his grand marketing appearance every autumn, few other holiday characters

have transcended past their season and impacted the advertising world more than the leprechaun. Yep, our dear friend Lucky, the poster child of Lucky Charms has raked in millions of dollars since its 1964 introduction to the market. Although the taste may factor into this profit, we are most impressed by Lucky’s ability to sustain his image for 59 years!

….How does he do it?

1.)    Dress to Impress: When you have holiday characters like Cupid strolling around in a glorified diaper and the Easter Bunny putting no effort into his au-natural look, the bar is set pretty low for holiday symbols’ business attire. However, their fashion faux paus did not stop Lucky the leprechaun from going the extra mile by sporting a tailored green blazer, shirt, black fitted pants and some classy emerald dress shoes. This little leprechaun’s appearance is not only stylish in an understated way, but business ready.

2.)    Be Memorable (In a Good Way!): The best brands boast memorable taglines, commercials and ads. (Or sometimes brands create jingles that are so annoyingly catchy you can’t forget them despite your greatest efforts—still these are memorable, just in a bad way). Similarly in the workforce well-prepared employees keep their best “elevator pitch” in their back pockets in the off chance they encounter a higher up exec one-on-one. It’s all about being able to sell yourself in the best way possible. As for Lucky, his ingenious tagline “they’re after me lucky charms” has become timeless. His cheerful delivery has inspired millions of sweet-toothed children to attempt their best Irish accent. Moreover, the jingle “hearts, stars and horseshoes! Clover and blue moons! Pots of gold and rainbows and me red balloons!” has successfully convinced every kid to pick all of the lucky charms marshmallows out of the bowl rather than eat the whole cereal. (Run out of marshmallows=Need more cereal=money in General Mills’ bank).  And just for argument’s sake, who would want to hear Santa or the Tooth Fairy say “they’re magically delicious!”? ….that just doesn’t work. Case & Point: The world won’t soon forget our brisk little leprechaun.

3.)    Keep a Positive Attitude: Lucky is constantly being chased by a pack of screaming children trying to steal his possessions. It’s like he is a camp counselor for overly persistent, kleptomaniac children. Despite this horrible job, Lucky maintains his cheery, optimistic demeanor and refuses to snap. Similarly in the work force, we aren’t always going to align with our superiors or fellow employees; however, staying cool, calm and collected is pivotal for excelling in a career. [Side note: Speaking of crazed children, I’d also like to give a shout-out to the Trix Yogurt Bunny here… those kids are relentless too …you are not a Silly rabbit and yogurt isn’t just for kids.]

4.)   Stay Dynamic: With technology constantly evolving, adaptability is key. Today, success means staying on your toes, mapping strategies and always being willing to evolve with the industry. In Lucky Charms commercials, Lucky often finds himself cornered on the edge of a cliff or trapped in a tricky situation, yet somehow he ALWAYS manages to escape. Although these are situations Lucky cannot anticipate, he has built up a certain set of sly magical skills, which enable him to adapt to whatever predicament he finds himself in. Essentially, he is a cross between Jason Bourne & Harry Houdini…and it works.

….So, in Summary

  • In whatever field you go into: Dress well, Be well remembered, Have a good attitude & be adaptable!
  • We think Lucky the Leprechaun may secretly be Richard Branson.

HAVE A GREAT ST. PADDY’S DAY, HOLY CROSS!
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“Harlem Shake” as Corporate Strategy?

It appears that Baauer’s mega hit song “Harlem Shake” is the new “Call Me Maybe” or “Gangnam Style” of 2013, as the broadest spectrum of people have been posting renditions on YouTube, boosting the song to #1 on I-tunes. Although many may brush aside “Harlem Shake” as another fad of pop culture, several businesses are maximizing the hype with their own versions of the dance.

According to an article by Stephanie Gaspary of Career Builder, companies’ “Harlem

Shake” videos are being carefully deployed as corporate recruiting strategies. How & why? Even for entry level jobs, companies are selling themselves to you just as much as you are selling yourself to them. They want to hone top talent to maintain top tier work. Numbers aside, compatibility between candidates and employers is essential and the character of a given company plays a big role in that relationship. If you’re a company, what better way to break the “big scary business” stereotype and flaunt your character than to make your own Harlem Shake video?

So far, all sorts of corporations have jumped on the bandwagon from PepsiCo to Intel. Outside of the commercial milieu, everyone from soldiers in the Norwegian Army to the Kansas University Men’s Basketball team completed “Harlem Shake” videos as a platform to broadcast their culture to the world.

INC.com claims companies with their own versions of the “Harlem Shake” are spreading the message that their business can fulfill the essentials needs of its employees, which are “to feel, connect and belong to their company.” Thus, “Harlem Shake” videos not only serve as a recruiting tool, but also as a method of increasing company morale.

For students and future employees, “Harlem Shake” and its surprising strategic use reminds us to think outside the box…. Sometimes weird methods have the biggest payoff!

P.S. We are sorry to report that Holy Cross Career Planning will not be releasing our own version of the “Harlem Shake.” Try to contain your disappointment, Crusaders.
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Alumni Guest Post: Ty Shaw ’09

Kicking off our Alumni Guest Post series for the Spring Semester, Ty Shaw ’09 discusses how his post grad life led to his current role as a Business Development Consultant at Oracle!

Ty Shaw '09

Job prospects were few and far between when I left “The Cross” in 2009.  America was in the midst of the modern day great depression.  I soon learned the importance of humility, perseverance and strong networking–or as I say, making new friends and embracing old ones.

During my senior year I had one solid job prospect in an industry and location I didn’t want to be in after college, so instead of taking the job, I chose to go back home to Denver, CO.   At the time I was so wrapped up in my own ego and my sense of entitlement that I could not truly understand how tough the economy was.  I was fixed on the thought that I had a great degree from Holy Cross (which I did), and that was all I needed to land a good job.  I was sadly awakened when I spent almost my first year after graduation working with a staffing firm (temp. agency) to keep my resume/skills current.

During that year with the staffing firm, I was humbled.  I could not find permanent work, and I had sent in around one hundred applications and hadn’t landed any interviews.  My dad soon came to me and said “Son, you have to get around the movers and the shakers.”  So that’s what I did, networking became a part of my daily routine.  And I can’t stress enough how important it is to meet people doing things that you think you may be interested in because most companies don’t waste their time looking at resumes where there is no referral with it.  I began to connect with Holy Cross alumni in Colorado that I found off the Holy Cross alumni website, and I joined meetup groups (meetup.com) so that I could mingle with people that were doing the work I wanted to do.  Each networking experience helped me to realize that the best networkers are those that make genuine friends.  In this world we can never have too many genuine people in our lives that want to help and are open to being helped.

After networking in Colorado (and a few jobs later), I thought getting back to HC for a spring football game would be a good idea for me to reunite with old friends and teammates.  And I was right! Going back to HC is what led to my current opportunity at Oracle.  A Holy Cross teammate and friend told me about openings at Oracle and how he was recently hired—and this connection helped lead to my current job.

In my role, I am working as a Business Development Consultant (BDC) for Oracle.  I am responsible for prospecting into companies that have technology issues.  On a day to day basis, I perform in-depth research on these companies to gain a deep understanding of their business.  Also, I am researching to see how Oracle can add value to what they do.  Most of the companies I work with are public so I am able to read their 10k reports to understand their business and see if we can help.

Once I’m done researching companies online that I want to call into, I find people within the company to speak with.  There are a plethora of prospecting tools Oracle has available to BDC’s to use in order to find the right person in a company to speak business with.  The number one goal is to first build rapport with the prospect, and after connecting on a humanly level, I go on to better understand that person’s role inside the company they work for.  Then we get down to business, I ask questions to see if we can add value, and if there is a business pain I proceed to set up a next call to help facilitate the sales process.  My main job is pre-sales, so I do the research, find the business problem and build the relationship before facilitating the rest of the sales process with my sales team.  I also provide advice to my sales team on how we can drive business in their territory based off of the research I find.  Ultimately, I am in the business of helping the customer first and driving revenue second.

My opportunity at Oracle wouldn’t have been possible without my new-found sense of humility, perseverance, and the Holy Cross Alumni community.  The lessons that I have learned are things that I hope that you all can take with you before graduating.  Think long and hard about what you want to do, what will fulfill you, where you want to live, and what kind of work you will be proud of.  In nearly being out of college four years, I’m just now feeling like I’m heading down a path to fulfillment.  A Chu!  Chu!  Rah!  Rah! For Holy Cross!

……………………………………………………..

Connect with this story?

Learn more about the opportunities at Oracle here.
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Happy Valentine’s Day!

The holiday of hearts has rolled around once again. Whether you are planning something romantic, headed to the theaters to see Safe Haven with a box of tissues or are happily apathetic to V-day, we think you’ll enjoy a few career topics related to this notorious holiday.

1.) “We Found Love in the Workplace” via CareerBliss

We found love in a hopeless place.   According to CareerBliss, the workplace is not a place devoid of romantic opportunities. The 6 featured couples demonstrate how everything from a mutual love of quinoa to activities on a company retreat sparked romance between co-workers. Check out their stories and, who knows, maybe you’ll meet your special someone in a future career venture!

2.) “It’s Valentine’s Day…Go Hug Your IT Guy” via Forbes

Forbes proclaims Valentine’s Day isn’t merely a day to show love to family and friends… share the love with your co-workers too! As another opportunity to pay it forward, reach out to someone and make someone’s day with a simple compliment. If you really want to stay true to the article, head to HC’s IT department and let them know you appreciate their work!

3.) “Networking is like Dating: 6 ways to succeed in both arenas” via PR Daily

It’s all about who you know, right? Check out the 6 witty ways Samantha Hosenkamp of PR Daily connects successful networking and dating opportunities. Basic idea: Put your best foot forward!

4.) “10 Jobs Where you’re most likely to Fall in Love” via Huffington Post

Want to see if your career path could be pointed towards a romantic job? Here are a few to start: #10 Computer & Information Managers, #9 Mechanics Managers, #8 Human Resources Specialists. Make sure you follow the link to see the rests of the vocations and which job snagged the number one spot!

5.) “Happy Valentine’s Day Playlist” via Career Builder

Sometimes, all you need is a good old fashioned V-day playlist. Career Builder put together a Spotify playlist to get you in the holiday spirit!

Happy Valentine’s Day, Ho Cro!
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Slaying Zombies & Success in the Real World

Recently, I found myself hooked on AMC’s hit show, The Walking Dead. I’m not sure whether it was the adrenaline of a good zombie-human throwdown or the perplexing amount of questions I had about the cans and cants of a Zombie Apocalypse, but either way I was hooked.

So as I anxiously await the midseason premier February 10th, I couldn’t help but consider the wide set of skills & dashes of luck you need to subsist on a zombie infested planet. Sure the average person can survive Season 1 without much dexterity, but you have to be a pretty resilient and crafty walking dead slayer to endure until Season 3.

  • Now you may ask: Why is the intern rambling about Zombies on a Career Planning blog?
  • The answer: I couldn’t help but draw a parallel between the skill sets of survivors and people who have forged successful careers in the real world. According to a recent Forbes article, “Super Achievers” share 10 major characteristics, which also match those on the Walking Dead. Let’s explore…

1.)  Dedicated to a Vision: For the leader of the pack, Rick, the survival and betterment of the group marks his top priorities and focused vision. Successful corporate figureheads also maintain a vision built on short and long terms goals.

2.)    Intelligent Persistence: Forbes differentiates between dedication & blind

persistence, noting that success is bred by people who are determined, but can also think outside the box from unique angles. Considering that the onset of a Zombie apocalypse is not something most people anticipate, the leading survivors embody endurance and the ability to be shrewd in new situations. We’ve seen Rick & the gang do everything from donning zombie guts to blend in Season 1 to transforming almost any normal object into a weapon in order to maintain their goal of survival.

3.)  Fostering a Community: On The Walking Dead, surrounding yourself with a trusting, varied community is essential. We tip ours hats to Rick for being a police man and somehow scooping up a doctor and a slew of other skilled peeps on his travels. Super Achievers also know how to surround themselves with talented people. The best actors boast top managers, publicists, assistants and connections to top tier directors and studios. Although only one name may see his/her name in shining lights, the best rise up by working with the other talented people.

4.)    Listening & Remaining Open: Success does not solely hinge on delegating tasks and having your opinion heard, it also depends on listening. Thriving leaders share the ability to hear others’ opinions and remain open to changing their ideas. As the big cheese on The Walking Dead, Rick must account for new ideas from the group, especially when trying to escape dangerous situations. When Carl is injured early in Season 2, Rick remains open-minded to the medical options Doctor Hershel provides him. In a broader sense, if you aren’t willing to listen and try new things in a Zombie Apocalypse, you’re as good as gone. The same is true in business!

5.)    Good Storytelling: During a Zombie Apocalypse, holding on to your sanity and positivity means having people around you who can remind you of the past and communicate positively about the future. And if nothing else, since there is no more television or internet (AHH!), compelling story tellers act as your saving grace from perpetual boredom. Take Zombies out the equation, the ability to entice and entertain people is crucial to building networks of people and making success seem easier than it looks.

6.)    Testing Ideas in the Market: Super Achievers possess good instincts and the

fortitude to carry their instincts out. Forbes discusses Bill Gross, the founder of CarsDirect, who followed his gut and tested his online car site—before they even had inventory, four cars had been purchased! We will have to be a little looser with the concept of “market” in the world of Zombies, but Rick marks a prime example of someone who always throws new ideas on the table and tries things out in order to progress. For instance, pushing the group to find the CDC in Season 1 was something that had to be put to the test in order to learn more about the pandemic and better predict survival.

7.)    Managing Emotions: Tom Hanks was pretty spot on as he spewed “There’s no crying in baseball” in the movie A League of Their Own. Although you definitely don’t want the water works streaming in most jobs (well, unless you’re a drama film actor), managing other negative emotions like anger or frustration is equally important, as it reflects the composure shared by most successful leaders. Warding off the walking dead also beckons a sense of calm intensity. Although it is totally understandable to scream when a flesh eating creature is storming your personal space, stay as level headed as possible and the Zombie will be as good as dead… umm again.

8.)    Constantly Evolving: Adaptability is key wherever you are in life. You’re baking cupcakes for a bake sale and the store is out of eggs? Adapt. You’re about to land a multi-million dollar deal and the terms change? Adapt. You’re cornered in a high school gym filled with carnivorous walkers? Adapt… really fast. Thinking on your feet is part of continually yielding successful results.

9.)    Practicing Patience: Although trusting your gut is crucial, Super Achievers also know when to wait for certain opportunities. True go-getters complement their short and long term goals, meaning inaction can signify strategy not unwillingness. Similarly, deciding when to travel and when to stay somewhere during a hurricane of Zombies reflects the virtue of patience as well.

10.) Pursuing Happiness: Empty success equates to nothing in the end. When Super Achievers find happiness in their success, that happiness can propel further success, creating a wonderful cycle. Although portending misery tends to consume most people entrenched in a Zombie Apocalypse, the small instances of optimism tend to be the fuel that keeps Rick and his group going. This may be a relative sense of happiness, but it works!

…So the take away message?

Develop or identify some of these 10 attributes in yourself and you just may flourish in the double benefit of finding success in the real world & surviving if the Zombie plague ever dominates our civilization. Until then… keep coming to Career Planning & keep watching The Walking Dead!

Happy Zombie hunting, Holy Cross!

 
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Battle the Cold, Stay Ahead of the Fold

Nothing says “Welcome to Spring Semester at Holy Cross” quite like a cold front and sub-zero temperatures! While Snuggies, Hot Tea and Netflix mark the most popular ways to cope with Antarctica’s encroachment into Worcester, use your extended indoor hibernation to push yourself ahead of the pack in your career search. How? We thought you’d never ask…

First up: The Good News → College Hiring is up 4% overall! WOOOO

….But who exactly is being hired?


According to a study from Michigan State’s Collegiate Employment Research Institute, prime college hiring revolves around these key facts:

  1. Campus oriented internships and career fairs are the top two recruiting strategies for companies.
  2. Faculty and alumni referrals are two other top recruiting strategies.
  3. Internships are now the hiring source of choice.
Adapted from Youtern.com

…Now what should you do?


  • Come to Career Planning!! (#Hogan203)

    • Career Planning manages our connections to employers & maintains Crusader Connections, so this is the place to go for internship/job hunting
    • Drop-in Hours are Monday thru Friday 1-4PM
      • Drop-ins are appointments for quick career questions or edits to a resume or cover letter
    • Stop by Hogan 203 or call (508) 793-3880 to make a 30-60min appointment with a career counselor
      • Whether you want to create a resume/cover letter or simply discuss career options, these meetings provide the time you need to bolster your success

 

  • Make Connections & Network, Network, Network:
    • Come to our Networking Program Workshop (2/1, Hogan 407/08, 12-1pm) & learn the ins and outs of forging connections
    • Meet alums at the 2013 Student Alumni Career Networking Reception (2/7, Hogan Ballroom, 7:30-9pm) RSVP via Crusader Connections
    • Reach out to alumni & learn about their career paths using the Career Advisor’s Network

 

  • Go DIGITAL (…you can stay in your Snuggie for this one)
    • As the “Facebook of the business world,” LinkedIn is a social media outlet where you want to  establish an online presence
    • Make or update your LinkedIn Profile (Education, Activities, Job/Internships, Honors/Awards, etc.)
    • Connect with friends, family, past co-workers, neighbors, etc.—Even if you think you can’t relate to Aunt Bethany’s career as a cat sweater knitter, still request her on LinkedIn…Aunt Bethany might be knitting sweaters for the CEO of your dream company’s cat!
    • Remember: Many employers search for you on other social media platforms, so adjust privacy settings & be cautious about posting things you wouldn’t want employers to see

    Pick something from the above list & get proactive with your career!

…Then you can hop back in your bed & relax… after all Season 1 of Homeland is not going to watch itself.

Happy career hunting, Crusaders!

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Hire me, Santa!

Happy Finals Week, Holy Cross!

Aside from watching 24 hours worth of A Christmas Story and being caught up in the initial glee and eventual boredom of Winter Break, many of you will be applying for internships or jobs during this time away from HC. If you’ve been through the application process already, you know Cover letters mark a critical piece in the internship/job hunt. Along with your resume, cover letters set the tone between you and your potential employer.

So in the spirit of the Christmas (& job hunting) Season, we’ve included a sample cover letter from Elphadora Elf, a college senior looking to apply to Santa’s workshop. Just like us, Elphadora is seeking a job in this rough economy… she’s even willing to relocate to the North Pole! How does your cover letter shape up to hers??

 

Santa, you should hire her!

 

Have a great holiday break, Holy Cross!

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12 Days of Career Planning Christmas

While you plow through your finals hyped up on caffeine and glimpses of motivation, don’t forget about Career Planning! Our Career counselors are available for appointments until the end of the semester, especially as you start applying and interviewing for internship and job positions during Winter Break. So in the spirit of the holiday season, Career Planning decided to pen our own version of the “ 12 Days of Christmas.” Have a happy holiday & we’ll see you in Hogan 203 soon!

♫ ♬ On the ___ Day of Christmas, HC Career Planning gave to me….
…And come visit us in Hogan TWO-O-THREE. ♫ ♬

12 months open per year

11+ industries recruiting on campus

10 Grad Program Pamphlets

9 Staff Members working

8 hours a day open for appointments

7 Career counselors counseling

6 Shelves of Career Books

5 Golden Resumes Examples

4 PM Drop-ins End

3 Paragraphs in your Cover Letters

2 Student computers

And come visit us in Hogan TWO-O-THREE.

______________________________________________________________

Make sure to check out this post & other interesting articles in this week’s issue of The Crusader, which comes out Friday, December 7th!

Hogan 203 is in the Holiday Spirit!

Good Luck with finals, HC!

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Turkeys need Resumes too!

So it’s Thanksgiving Break: the time for food, family and football. (YES FINALLY!) During this needed break

Tom on the Job!

from the Hill, we venture to guess you might hurl mashed potatoes at the face of the first person to mention school or careers. Since no one wants leftovers seeping into their pores, we’ll set aside the career strategies and tips for a few days.

….However, we did want to share with you the little known fact that some TURKEYS HAVE RESUMES TOO!

So in the spirit of the holiday, take a look at Thomas Turkey’s resume and see how yours shapes up in comparison!

HAPPY TURKEY DAY HC!

And don’t forget….

Picture Sources: #1 #2