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What Not to Wear Edition: Don’t let your wardrobe SPOOK your Employers!

Muhahahahaaa! It is the week of Halloween and all across the hill students may hear the cry’s from the ghost of “What Not To Wear”...who Howls in the night at the thought of Holy Cross students wearing  ridiculous outfits to professional events.

 

Soooo to avoid having the ghost of “What Not To Wear” haunt  you in

your dreams, let’s use this opportunity to have a refresher on the basics of dressing to impress.

 

First things first…the Ghost has something major to say “NOOO jeans, NO sneakers, NO flip-flops, NO excessive jewelry and NOOOO bodily piercings or marks  are recommended for dressing for success. You’re welcome to dress in these articles before and after the interview/event but absolutely not during!”

For an interview, the ghost has a general rule of thumb “you can never be overdressed.” You only have a short period of time to be assessed by the potential employer and you best make it work! Important to remember that you’re being assess on more than just your outfit. While you want to convey professionalism through your dress, you don’t want to be remembered for having spent too long putting together an outfit but being under qualified for the job.

Here are the basics for putting together your wardrobe before an occasion.

(If you already own these items, GREAT!…If not, you may want to make some effort to at least have one set of professional clothes in you closet just in case you are ever asked to throw it on.)

Men: (Fairly Simple)

  • 1 Basic suit with neutral color and white button down shirt.
  • Simple Tie neutral colored
  • DARK colored socks (Don’t Let the Ghost catch you wearing WHITE)
  • Leather dress shoes
  • PRESS EVERYTHING! NOOOOO WRINKLES

Women:

  • Conservative Dress/skirt (Knee-Length) or ironed business slacks with a blouse
  • NO LOUD colors! (this includes any jewelry, nails and hair)
  • Limit the perfume & amount of jewelry on hands/neck
  • Simple hairstyle (Nooo fixing hair during interview!)
  • Simple heels or flats (No dancing heels!)

Outside of an interview setting, it is very important to remain professionally dressed in the workplace. You may see the term “Business Casual” in some places as the desired attire for a particular event or occasion. It is important to also understand what this means so you’re not too casual.

Though business casual does blend the personal with the professional it really exists to make people feel more comfortable and be their most productive!

For Men: business casual usually means skipping the suit jacket and tie for a simple look that consist of a pressed collared shirt, usually tucked in a pair of dress pants all complemented nicely with a belt.

For Women: generally women can wear any type of skirt or dress with a hem that is past the knee or a tailored pair of dress pants with a blouse that isn’t too revealing. Closed-toed shoes are recommended, though heels and flats are always acceptable.

Although it may seem like we are trying to quash your self-expression…Were not!  There are many ways to dress professionally and still incorporate your own style. Remember that dressing conservatively does not mean you cannot be stylish! You just want to make sure that the interviews remember you because of you r great answers,not your weird appearance. We gave you the basics now go out there and put it all together in a way that best represents who you are to your potential employer!

For tips on ways to “Stand Out From the Crowd” visit http://www.midwestsearchgroup.com/interview-tips

Happy Halloween Holy Cross!

 And be sure to get your wardrobe in place for Trick or Treating! 

 
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Easter Egg Hunt vs. Your Job Hunt

Just in time for Easter Break….

On the Hunt…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scurries of eager, bushy-eyed children arrive to the event grounds. The sea of pastel outfits and empty baskets is inescapable. It’s the calm before the storm; It’s the annual Children’s Easter Egg hunt in Suburbia, USA.

 

A key organizer of the event—dressed in something that can only be described as a doily’s cousin— steps up to the podium and proclaims “START NOW.” Like a stampede of African safari animals, kids charge all over the grounds to collect as many eggs as possible.

 

The competition heats up. Little Billy elbows his friend out of the path of a hidden blue egg, while Mary Sue (I guess this is set in the 1950s with that name) takes a tumble en route to a group of pink eggs piled at the bottom of the stairs. She picks herself up and continues to search. The famous line “All is fair in love and war—and Easter egg hunts” is coming to fruition.

 

Thirty minutes later, some kids manage to hoard over 30 eggs with their superior skill sets or help from a buddy, while others withdraw from the race and stand sadly on the sidelines. A few scour the yard & locate a few unearthed eggs with great persistence, while other kids joyfully receive eggs that people decided to share.


…Graduating seniors, one of the above children is YOU in the scramble for full time employment. Underclassmen, the same goes for you for your internship search. PLEASE Note that the only person in the story who does not find employment is the one who gave up! So, whether you were lucky enough to get an early offer, have started to expand your search or happen upon a job during your quest for employment, you must always be armed with optimism and dedication!

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

If you are still looking for a job/internship, here are 5 Quick tips for Easter Break:

  1. SEARCH: Sign on to Crusader Connections or the Liberal Arts Career Network and search for open positions with keywords of relevant job titles, companies, industries, etc
  2. ESTABLISH ONLINE PRESENCE: Create or polish your LinkedIn Profile
  3. NETWORK & LEARN: Reach out to a previous employer, family friend or HC Alum in your desired field & ask how they reached their current position
  4. EDIT: Proofread & perfect your Resume
  5. CONTACT US! Call or email Career Planning & make an appointment to meet with a Career Counselor to discuss your options or look over resumes, cover letters, etc. (508-793-3880 or Careers@holycross.edu)

So as you enjoy Easter Break… Remain optimistic, eat one too many chocolate eggs (or Peeps) and STAY HUNGRY IN YOUR JOB HUNT!
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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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How to Forge a Successful Career

Holy Cross students are undoubtedly the ambitious type, but what does it really take to build a successful career in the “real world”? This week Career Planning will be hosting the panel, “How to be a Successful Alumnus.” As a companion to our workshop, HC Career Counselor Megan Chester discusses some key tips to making your career successful…. Enjoy!

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Entering the world of work and achieving alumni status is an amazing accomplishment, but landing a job is only the first step.  Maintaining professional success once you leave Holy Cross is vital to the longevity of your career path.

First impressions are lasting and all situations require that you put your best professional foot forward.  Attend meetings and sessions fully prepared.  Write your ideas and questions down and complete your contribution to the best of your ability.  Before emails or documents go to your boss, clients or colleagues, be sure to thoroughly proof read your work.  Do not forget to dress the part, clothing attire is part of the office culture.  No need to break the bank on a new wardrobe, but you will want to update your closet with a few basics such as slacks, button-up shirts and a pair of sturdy dress shoes.

A new work setting comes with new co-workers.  You can pick your friends, not your staff members.    Throughout your career, you will encounter personalities that will challenge you.  Find ways to develop positive working relationships by learning the strengths of those you work with and how you can achieve company goals together.

Your first job will not be your last job, networking never ends.  Create a LinkedIn profile and join Holy Cross and industry affiliated groups.  Building relationships within your industry will allow you to move up in your career path.   The friendly staff in the Career Planning Center can help you create your profile and teach you how to effectively network online.

For more about forging your successful career, come to the How to be a Successful Alum Workshop at 4 PM in Hogan 403 on Monday November 5, click here for details.