The Murray State News

Fall Career Fair

.

100 Oakley Applied Science Bldg msu.careerservices@murraystate.edu 270.809.3735 murraystate.edu/careerservices

2

Fall Career Fair 2012

The News October 3, 2012

ACTIVATE ACCOUNT NOW! Racer Tracks is available to every Murray State student, alumni and faculty or staff member with an M#!

Students/Alumni with M#: Login to MyGate. Select Academics tab and then click on the Racer Tracks Icon.

Create your profile and upload a resume to begin applying for employment opportunities and internships

Faculty/Staff with M#: Login to MyGate. Select Employee tab and then click on the Racer Tracks Icon.

Create your profile. Optional: upload a resume to begin familiarizing yourself with the system to promote to your respective students.

Activate your account as soon as possible to prevent missed opportunities!

Note: Accessing Racer Tracks through Career Services will be deactivated soon.

The News October 3, 2012

Fall Career Fair 2012

3

Important Info: COVERLETTER Cover letters are important documents of introduction, relaying who you are and what you offer to a potential employer. They are written in a business-letter format. You should use simple and straightforward sentence structure, but avoid starting every sentence with “I” or “my.” The reader should reach the end of your letter thinking, “This person fits the job!” because you used the language from the job description and confidently and succinctly told them that you are the match.

Dos • Collect the correct company information including contacts, job description and mailing information • Tailor the letter to a specific position and company • Address the letter to a specific person • Elaborate on skills and qualifications not listed on your resume • Use same color and quality paper and envelope • Type address on envelope • Keep letter to one page in length • Obtain input from others for opinions on content • Proof and reproof • Ask for an interview and provide dates and times of availability

Don’ts • Address letter to “Gentlemen” or “To Whom It May Concern” • Make each paragraph too lengthy, limit each to 4-5 sentences • Exaggerate or claims skills that are untrue • Make the letter so general that it could go to any company • Handwrite your application materials, except your signature • Forget to say what position for which you are applying • Begin any paragraph with “I” or “My” • Fold your letter or resume

4

Fall Career Fair 2012

SAMPLERESUME Is yours ready?

Resume Tips: – Avoid templates!

– Proof over and over and have someone in the Career Services review it.

– Vary your resume for different jobs, changing objective or summary and content every time.

Consider changing format and content for others.

– Keep resume to one page if have less than 10 years of experience.

– Omit high school information by mid sophomore year.

– Use bullets, not blocks of text to encourage readability.

– Tell the truth 100% of the time.

Optional Headings include but not limited to: – Affiliations – Memberships – Organizations – Professional Development – Training – Experience – Volunteer – Special Class Projects – Special Training – Certifications For additional assistance or for resume critiquing contact Career Services at 809-3735 or by e-mail at msu.careerservices@ murraystate.edu or by appointment at 100 Oakley Applied Science Building.

The News October 3, 2012

A resume is a targeted personal marketing piece that summarizes your education and experiences to highlight your qualifications as they relate to the job you are seeking.

The News October 3, 2012

Fall Career Fair 2012

5

Fall 2012 Recruiters The Fall Career Fair has attracted recruiters with nationwide employment opportunities. Don’t miss what may be your only opportunity to network with individuals from your field of study or interest. Fairs like this one sway companies large and small – even some Fortune 100 and 500 companies! Come prepared with resumes and professional or business-casual dress.

Aerotek Industry: Other Jobs Being Recruited: Recruiter/Sales Majors Being Recruited: Business Administration; Management; Marketing; Mass Communications Ag Connections, Inc. Industry: Agriculture/Farming/Agribusiness; Technology - Other Majors Being Recruited: Computer Information Systems; Computer Science; Telecommunications Systems Management; Agribusiness; Agricultural Science and Technology; Agriculture Mechanization; Agronomy AgriGold Hybrids Industry: Agriculture/Farming/Agribusiness Jobs Being Recruited: Sales Intern; Full Time Sales Trainee Aleris International, Inc. Industry: Accounting; Manufacturing; Technology Information Systems; Technology - Network Administration Majors Being Recruited: Business Administration; Management; Occupational Safety & Health; Environmental Engineering Tech; Environmental Regulartory Affairs; Industrial & Engineering Tech, Mfg Tech, G&D; Manufacturing Technology; PreEngineering Aleris Rolled Products Industry: Manufacturing Majors Being Recruited: All Majors Archer Daniels Midland Company Industry: Agriculture/Farming/Agribusiness Jobs Being Recruited: Grain Operations Intern; Grain Terminal Operations Management Trainee Majors Being Recruited: Agriculture Mechanization Asbury Theological Seminary Industry: Education/Academia - Other; Religion; Academic Majors Being Recruited: Religious Studies Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc Industry: Energy/Utilities Jobs Being Recruited: Protective Services Intern; Safety Intern Majors Being Recruited: Occupational Safety & Health; Criminal Justice

Bellarmine University Industry: Academic Majors Being Recruited: All Majors Bethel University Industry: Education/Academia - Other Jobs Being Recruited: Recruiter; Academic Advisor; Business Development Majors Being Recruited: All Majors Black Gold Farms Industry: Agriculture/Farming/Agribusiness Jobs Being Recruited: Farm Technician; Agronomy Intern Majors Being Recruited: Agribusiness; Agricultural Education; Agricultural Science and Technology; Agriculture Mechanization; Agronomy Boys Scouts of America Industry: Non-Profit - Other Jobs Being Recruited: District Executives Majors Being Recruited: All Majors Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations - Warren Plant Industry: Manufacturing Jobs Being Recruited: Safety Coordinator Majors Being Recruited: Occupational Safety & Health Briggs & Stratton Industry: Manufacturing Jobs Being Recruited: Part-Time Operator Bunge North America Industry: Agriculture/Farming/Agribusiness Majors Being Recruited: All Majors Campbellsville University Industry: Education/Academia - Other Majors Being Recruited: All Majors Capital Financial Group Industry: Finance/Banking - Other; Insurance Jobs Being Recruited: Financial Advisor; Intern Carey Counseling Center Industry: Social/Human Services - Other; Healthcare Psychology Jobs Being Recruited: Case Managers; Therapist Majors Being Recruited: Nursing; Social Work; Sociology; Clinical Psychology; General Psychology Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation Industry: Finance/Banking - Other Jobs Being Recruited: Information Services Analyst -

2012/2013 College Graduates; Information Services Analyst - 2013 Internship Majors Being Recruited: Computer Information Systems; Computer Science; Management of Technology Christian County, Kentucky Industry: Other Majors Being Recruited: All Majors City of Murray, Kentucky Industry: Government - Other Clarksville, Tennessee Police Department Industry: Law - Other CNA Insurance Industry: Insurance Jobs Being Recruited: Risk Control Trainee; Risk Control Intern Majors Being Recruited: Occupational Safety & Health; Industrial & Engineering Tech, Mfg Tech, G&D Colonial Life Industry: Insurance Jobs Being Recruited: Sales Managers; Sales Representatives Majors Being Recruited: All Majors Combined Insurance Industry: Insurance Jobs Being Recruited: Full Time Sales Agent Majors Being Recruited: All Majors Computer Services, Inc. Industry: Technology - Other; Telecommunications Jobs Being Recruited: Interns for Summer 2013; Network Security Engineers; Software Engineers Majors Being Recruited: Computer Information Systems; Computer Science; Telecommunications Systems Management Consolidate Grain and Barge Industry: Agriculture/Farming/Agribusiness Jobs Being Recruited: Grain merchandiser Trainee; Grain Merchandiser Intern; Operations Management Trainee; Operations Management Intern Majors Being Recruited: All Majors Consolidated Electrical Distributors Industry: Technology - Other; Wholesale Enterprise Rent-A-Car Industry: Other Jobs Being Recruited: Mgmt Trainee; Mgmt Trainee Intern

6

Spring Career Fair 2012

The News October 3, 2012

Recruiters (continued) Fastenal Company Industry: Other Jobs Being Recruited: Sales Trainee Majors Being Recruited: Business Administration; Marketing; Mass Communications Four Rivers Behavioral Health Industry: Healthcare - Other; Non-Profit - Other; Social/Human Services - Other Jobs Being Recruited: CLINICAL PRACTITIONER; EARLY CHILDHOOD MH SPECIALIST; CLINICAL ASSOCIATE; COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL; CLINICAL ASSESSMENT AND REVIEW SPECIALIST Majors Being Recruited: Nursing; Social Work; Human Services; Counseling; Clinical Psychology; General Psychology Gerdau Industry: Manufacturing Jobs Being Recruited: Management Associate Majors Being Recruited: Occupational Safety & Health; Civil Engineering Tech (Architect & Constr); Construction Engineering Tech; Industrial & Engineering Tech, Mfg Tech, G&D; Mechanical Engineering Tech; Elec Engineer Tech Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, The Industry: Automotive; Manufacturing Jobs Being Recruited: TBD Majors Being Recruited: Occupational Safety & Health Gray Construction Industry: Architecture - Other; Construction; Engineering - Other; Safety/Emergency Jobs Being Recruited: Site Safety Technician; Project Engineer; Intern Majors Being Recruited: Occupational Safety & Health; Architectural Engineering Tech; Construction Engineering Tech; Engineering Science Hamilton-Ryker Company Industry: Human Resources Majors Being Recruited: Industrial & Engineering Tech, Mfg Tech, G&D Hauk Kruse & Associates Industry: Accounting Jobs Being Recruited: Staff Accountant Majors Being Recruited: Accounting Heritage Bank Industry: Finance/Banking - Other Hopkinsville Police Department Industry: Government - Other Jobs Being Recruited: Police Officer Hortica Insurance & Employee Benefits Industry: Insurance

REMEMBER: Don’t forget to dress appropriatly for the Career Fair – professional dress required!

Jobs Being Recruited: Safety/Loss Control Trainee Majors Being Recruited: Business Administration; Computer Information Systems; Occupational Safety & Health JE Dunn Construction Industry: Construction Jobs Being Recruited: Project Engineer; Assistant Superintendent Majors Being Recruited: Civil Engineering Tech (Architect & Constr); Construction Engineering Tech; Engineering Physics; Electrical & Telecomm Engr

Modern Woodmen of America Industry: Finance/Banking - Other Jobs Being Recruited: Financial Representative; Pathway to Leadership Murray State University Army ROTC Industry: Education/Academia - Other Jobs Being Recruited: ROTC Cadets Murray State University WKMS-FM Industry: Communications/Media - Other Jobs Being Recruited: News Intern

John Deere Industry: Agriculture/Farming/Agribusiness Jobs Being Recruited: Environmental, Health & Safety Majors Being Recruited: Occupational Safety & Health; Industrial Education; Environmental Engineering Tech

Nashville School of Law Industry: Law - Other Jobs Being Recruited: Law School Applicants

Kenlake Foods Industry: Engineering - Other; Human Resources; Manufacturing Jobs Being Recruited: Career Training Program (CTP) for Mgmt Positions; Operations CTP

Northwestern Mutual Industry: Finance/Banking - Other; Insurance Jobs Being Recruited: TOP 10 Internship; Financial Advisor; Financial Representative Majors Being Recruited: Business Administration; Finance; Economics; Management; Marketing; Public Relations; Pre-MBA; Undeclared

Liberty Mutual Group Industry: Insurance Jobs Being Recruited: Loss Contol Consultants Majors Being Recruited: Occupational Safety & Health Logan Aluminum Industry: Manufacturing Jobs Being Recruited: IT Internships; ME Internships; EE Internships Majors Being Recruited: Computer Information Systems; Computer Science; Mechanical Engineering Tech; Elec Engineer Tech M.A. Mortenson Company Industry: Construction Jobs Being Recruited: Safety Engineer Majors Being Recruited: Occupational Safety & Health Marathon Petroleum Company, LP Industry: Energy/Utilities Jobs Being Recruited: HES&S Intern/Co-op Majors Being Recruited: Occupational Safety & Health; Environmental Engineering Tech; Industrial & Engineering Tech, Mfg Tech, G&D Mediacom Industry: Telecommunications Jobs Being Recruited: Commercial Account Reps; Direct Sales Reps Missouri State Highway Patrol Industry: Government - Other Jobs Being Recruited: Trooper; Communications; Civilian Support Personnel

Nucor Steel Arkansas Industry: Manufacturing Majors Being Recruited: Accounting; Computer Information Systems; Computer Science; Telecommunications Systems Management; Occupational Safety & Health; Applied Physics; Electromechanical Engineering Techology; Engineering Physics; Engineering Science; Industrial & Engineering Tech, Mfg Tech, G&D; Manufacturing Technology; Mechanical Engineering Tech; Mathematics; Applied Engineering & Tech Mgt; Elec Engineer Tech; Electrical & Telecomm Engr Owens Corning Industry: Manufacturing Jobs Being Recruited: Environmental, Health & Safety Intern Majors Being Recruited: Occupational Safety & Health; Environmental Regulartory Affairs Pella Corporation Industry: Manufacturing Jobs Being Recruited: TBD Majors Being Recruited: Business Administration; Economics; Management; Education-Business Education; Industrial Education; Manufacturing Technology Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service Industry: Agriculture/Farming/Agribusiness; Education/Academia - Other; Non-Profit - Other; Social/Human Services - Other; Nonprofit Organization; Academic Jobs Being Recruited: Extension Educator - Ag & Natural

The News

Fall Career Fair 2012

October 3, 2012

7

Recruiters (continued) REMEMBER: Don’t forget to dress appropriatly for the Career Fair – professional dress required!

Resources; Extension Educator - Health & Human Sciences; Extension Educator - 4-H Youth Development; Extension Educator - Economic & Community Development Majors Being Recruited: Organizational Communication; Public Relations; Agribusiness; Agricultural Education; Agricultural Science and Technology; Agriculture Mechanization; Agronomy; Animal Health Tech/Animal Sci/Equine/Pre-Vet; Animal Science; Animal Technology; Equine Science; Horticulture; Exercise Science; Psychology/Clinical Mental Health; Sociology; Child Development; Education-Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; Family & Consumer Studies; Health & Physical Education; Youth & Nonprofit Leadership; Middle School Education; Social Science; Human Services; Counseling; Public Administration; General Psychology; General Studies; Educational Policy; Home Economics; Vocational Home Economics; Exercise Sci; Wellness/Pre-PT/Pre-OT/Pre-PA; Tch Ed & Prof Dev/Elementary; Physical Education Rosendin Electric Inc. Industry: Construction Jobs Being Recruited: EH&S Manager; Construction Majors Being Recruited: Occupational Safety & Health;

Construction Engineering Tech; Engineering Graphics & Design; Engineering Physics; Engineering Science RubinBrown, LLC Industry: Accounting Jobs Being Recruited: Accountant-Assurance; Accountant-Tax; Consultant-Business Advisory Services; Intern-Assurance or Tax; Intern-Business Advisory Services Majors Being Recruited: Accounting Safety Training & Consulting Inc. Industry: Safety/Emergency Jobs Being Recruited: Training assistant.; Site Safety Tech.

SAIC (Science Applications International Corp) Industry: Defense Jobs Being Recruited: JAVA Developer; DBA; JAVA Software Engineer Majors Being Recruited: Computer Science Samford University - McWhorter School of Pharmacy Industry: Education/Academia - Other; Healthcare Other; Pharmaceutical; Sciences - Other; Academic

Jobs Being Recruited: Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) Applicants Majors Being Recruited: All Majors Sherwin Williams Company Industry: Retail/Merchandising Jobs Being Recruited: Management Trainee Majors Being Recruited: Finance; Economics; Management; Marketing Southern Illinois University School of Law Industry: Law - Other Majors Being Recruited: All Majors Sportable Scoreboards, Inc. Industry: Manufacturing TempsPlus, Inc. - Employment Services Industry: Human Resources Majors Being Recruited: All Majors Tennessee Department of Audit Industry: Government - Other Jobs Being Recruited: Legislative Auditor 1; Legislative Audit Investigator 1; Legislative Systems Auditor 1

McWhorter School of Pharmacy

PREPARING PHARMACISTS Who Transform Lives McWhorter School of Pharmacy at Samford University is grateful to the Kentucky pharmacists who serve as preceptors in the cities listed below. These pharmacists have attained affiliate faculty status, and we thank them for their service.

Bardstown Beaver Dam Bowling Green Burlington Campbellsville Corbin Elkton

Flemingsburg Glasgow Henderson Lexington London Madisonville Mayfield

Samford University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Employer. Produced by Samford Office of Marketing and Communication

Mt. Vernon Murray Owensboro Paducah Williamsburg

For more information, go to

pharmacy.samford.edu

We are recruiting for Information Services.

Stop by our booth to learn more about the opportunities.

Fall Career Fair 2012

8

The News October 3, 2012

Recruiters (continued) Majors Being Recruited: Accounting; Business Administration; Computer Information Systems; Criminal Justice Transamerica Agency Network Industry: Insurance Traylor Bros., Inc. Industry: Construction Majors Being Recruited: Occupational Safety & Health Turner Construction Company Industry: Construction Jobs Being Recruited: Engineering Assistant; Engineering Co-op Majors Being Recruited: Occupational Safety & Health; Civil Engineering Tech (Architect & Constr); Construction Engineering Tech; Engineering Science U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Industry: Engineering - Other; Government - Other Jobs Being Recruited: Cost Engineering; Mech/Elec Engineering; Construction Rep; Safety Specialist Majors Being Recruited: Occupational Safety & Health; Construction Engineering Tech; Engineering Physics; Environmental Engineering Tech Ulrich Medical Concepts Industry: Healthcare - Other Majors Being Recruited: Computer Information Systems; Computer Science; Health & Physical Education; Technology Education; Medical Technology

United States Marine Corps Industry: Aviation/Aerospace; Defense; Government Other; Law - Other Jobs Being Recruited: Officer Candidates Course Candidates; Platoon Leaders Course Candidates Majors Being Recruited: All Majors United States Navy Recruiting District St. Louis Industry: Government - Other; Non-Profit - Other Jobs Being Recruited: various Majors Being Recruited: All Majors United Systems & Software, Inc. Industry: Technology - Other Jobs Being Recruited: Sales; Application Developer; Web Developer; Application and Systems Support University of Tennessee Math Graduate Studies Program Industry: Education/Academia - Other Jobs Being Recruited: Graduate Teaching Assistants; Graduate Teaching Associates Majors Being Recruited: All Majors

Majors Being Recruited: All Majors URS Corporation Industry: Construction; Engineering - Other; Transportation Majors Being Recruited: Occupational Safety & Health; Civil Engineering Tech (Architect & Constr); Construction Engineering Tech; Elec Engineer Tech Webstaurant Store Industry: Wholesale Jobs Being Recruited: Customer Solutions Specalist; Operations Trainee; E-Commerce Trainee Majors Being Recruited: All Majors Youth Villages Industry: Nonprofit Organization Majors Being Recruited: Criminal Justice; Social Work; Psychology/Clinical Mental Health; Sociology

University of Kentucky (UK Gatton College MBA Program ) Industry: Education/Academia - Other Majors Being Recruited: All Majors University of Louisville, School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies Industry: Academic

Counselor offers inside scoop on fairs Katie Mantooth Career Counselor I’ve worked in career services at four institutions over the past 14 years, and coaching students in how to navigate a career event is pretty similar at each place. Sure, I diligently research internet articles and listservs to offer the most up-to-date tips to my students, but it wasn’t until two years ago when I walked around a career fair with a student that my eyes were opened! Here’s the inside scoop.

1. Recruiters are often alumni and/or only a year or so older than most graduating seniors!

The cool thing about this is it hasn’t been long since they were in your shoes so their compassion tends to be high. However, be careful to not get too casual. This is a job search not a sorority reunion.

2. Recruiters may leave early.

Perhaps they have to catch a flight out of Nashville or they’re tire or hopefully they aren’t disappointed in

what they’ve seen and figure it won’t get better in the last 30 minutes. But it’s just a fact of career events; despite the fact that the company has paid to be here to recruit you, lots of recruiters leave early. That means you want to arrive early. Career Fair starts at 10 a.m. and officially ends at 3 p.m.

3. Recruiters often wear khakis and polo shirts.

But you will still attend in a suit because you are a college student desperately trying to communicate that you understand professional behavior and that you respect these recruiters (yes, even the ones who leave early) and their time.

4. It gets crowded and it’s hard to get to speak with some recruiters.

Have a plan. Know who is attending and with whom you want to talk. Hit those tables early. But be flexible enough to talk to those recruiters who aren’t as busy. You might be shocked to learn about a great job opportunity and hey, it’s great practice!

5. Recruiters spend about 30 seconds

scanning your resume.

And then (I saw it with my own eyes.) they either start asking you questions or they put it in the trash pile. Again, have a plan. First, impress the recruiter with your verbal introduction (Elevator Speech), eye contact and confident hand shake. Then, as he reviews (freakishly fast) your wellwritten and effectively designed resume, he sees confirmation of that which you just told him.

6. Even if you don’t put your GPA on your resume, they are probably going to ask about it.

I tell every student I work with, “If your GPA is below a 3.0, you probably don’t want to list it on your resume.”

Well, those sneaky recruiters know that we career folks tell you that, and many want to know what your GPA is.

So, they ask and write it on your beautifully designed resume. So, be prepared. Don’t cringe and answer all apologetically. Your answer should communicate what you have learned (perhaps from your mistakes) and

what you understand about your academic background and how it relates to the available position.

7. Some recruiters aren’t actually taking resumes.

That’s right. We tell you to take a bunch of beautiful resumes and some recruiters won’t take it! They will instead send you to their website to navigate the application process there.

Many are here to educate you about their company, and for you to benefit from their knowledge about the company and application process!

8. There will be opportunities to sign up for interviews the next day.

You want to be the person who after listening to your introduction, briefly reviewing your resume and asking a few questions, the recruiter says, “This all sounds great! I would like to interview you tomorrow. Sign up here.”

At this point you should know when you’re available the next day.

Bring a copy of your class or work schedule with you and put it in your portfolio.

The News October 3, 2012

Fall Career Fair 2012

Career Fair

Tips Career fairs provide job seekers a way to explore opportunities from many companies in one location. It’s a great way to learn about job openings, research companies and practice your iterviewing and networking skills. To get maximum results, prepare ahead of time so that your efforts are effective, impressive and beneficial to your job search. Network!

1. Update your resume.

Though you won’t target every resume you distribute at Career Fair as you would for an application, it should be as up-to-date with your relevant experience and goals as possible.

2. Research participating companies & positions.

Find a list of participating employers on Career Services’ website.

3. Dress professionally.

Wear a suit with dress shoes. Your hair should be well groomed and in general, you should look like you are interviewing for a job, not going out.

4. Prepare your elevator speech.

In less than 60 seconds, introduce yourself; tell what type of employment you seek; summarize your relevant education, experience and skills; reiterate interest and ask a meaningful question. Thank the recruiter, ask for a business card and move on.

5. Bring copies of your resume.

Print your resume on resume quality paper and bring enough copies to distribute to companies with whom you want to speak and a few extras.

6. Bring a folder or portfolio.

This will hold your resumes, a pen and paper for making notes about specific job opportunities and the business cards you will receive from recruiters.

7. Come early.

Some recruiters leave early so come early if you don’t want to miss anyone.

8. Don’t chat with friends...this isn’t a social outing!

You want to stand apart from your peers so don’t join groups chatting about tomorrow night’s party. Tell your friends you will talk to them later.

9. Ask questions.

Prepare questions for various recruiters to show sincere interest and knowledge of their company/organization.

10. Follow-up with recruiters.

Send an email that night thanking recruiters for their time during Career Fair and forwarding your most updated resume. Write (if you have legible hand writing) a thank you note as well, and mail it the next day.

9

10

Fall Career Fair 2012

The News October 3, 2012

The News October 3, 2012

Fall Career Fair 2012

Career Services Message:

It is nearly impossible for a new worker to get a job in today’s economy without real-world experience in his or her field of study, ie., an internship. It is the old adage, – you can’t get a job without any experience, but you can’t get any experience if no one will give you a job.

So what do you do if you find yourself in the same boat? You take an internship any way you can.

Contact Career Services for a resume critique that is sure to get you noticed.

The Boy Scouts of America believes – and, through over a century of experience, knows – that helping youth is a key to building a more conscientious, responsible, and productive society.

Your resume is key to getting you an interview so don’t let it prevent you from getting the attention you deserve.

Let Career Services troubleshoot and strengthen your job search documents to assist you in making a great “first impression!”

Here is what we offer: • Ideas on format, content, and organization • Detailed descriptions on areas that need improvement or enhancing • Rewritten statements to imply exactly what you want to say and how to state it • Highlighted skills and abilities to match qualifications of the position • Suggested heading categories that you may be omitting • Sample action words and terms indicating knowledge level • And more…..

11

Stop by our booth on Oct. 10

12

Fall Career Fair 2012

The News October 3, 2012

What Employers Want: The Perfect Candidate Every student, at every university, wants to know what employers looking for in their future employees. At Career Services our goal is to inform you of the skills you are really going to need to succeed following graduation.

The job description will provide you with a list of required qualifications - a particular major or group of majors, a specific skill set, a minimum GPA and so forth - but employers have a substantial list of abilities, qualities, attributes and “soft” skills that they also seek in their new hires.

Employers are searching for several different abilities, qualities, attributes and “soft” skills in their new hires.

• Leadership skills

• Tactfulness

• Strategic planning skills

• Communication skills (written and verbal)

• Creativity skills

• A strong work ethic

• Technical skills

• Teamwork/interpersonal skills

• Computer skills

• Analytical problem-solving skills

• Organizational ability skills

• Initiative

• Friendly/outgoing personality

• Relevant work experience (through an internship or co-op assignment)

• Entrepreneurial/risk taker

• Flexibility and adaptability Detail-oriented

Images: sxc.hu

Source: Job Outlook 2011, National Association of Colleges and Employers

The News October 3, 2012

Fall Career Fair 2012

Playing Fair:

13

HOTTEST CAREERS

Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Job Seeker by the National Association of Colleges and Employers Principles for Professional Practice Committee

Experts predict where jobs will be in 2018

What’s your part of the search?

Government economists estimate which occupations will have the most job openings between 2008 and 2018. Openings occur because new jobs are created and because workers retire or leave the field for other reasons.

What you can expect from employers: 1. Confidentiality Employers are expected to maintain the confidentiality of student information. Employers shouldn’s disclose information about you to another organization without prior written consent, unless necessitated by health or safety considerations.

2. Accurate information Employers are expected to provide accurate information about their organizations and employment opportunities.

3. Freedom from undue pressure Employers are expected to provide you with a reasonable amount of time to make a decision about accepting an employment offer. Employers are also expected to provide you with a reasonable process for making your decision, it is improper for employers to pressure you to revoke your acceptance of another job offer.

4. Timely communication Employers are expected to inform you of your status in the hiring process and communicate hiring decisions within the agreed upon time frame.

5. Fair treatment If an employer is required by changing conditions to revoke a job offer that you have accepted, your entitled to a fair and equitable course of action. That can include, but is not limited to, financial assistance and outplacement service.

1. Provide accurate information about your academic work and records, including courses taken, grades earned, positions held and duties performed You can, however, refuse to provide an employer specific information about any job offers you may have received from others. You can give broad responses to such questions, naming types of employers – “I’ve interviewed with employers in the retail industry” – and offering salary ranges rather than specific dollar amounts.

Bachelor Degrees Occupation

Total Job Openings 2008–2018

Elementary school teachers, except special education

597,000

Accountants and auditors

498,000

2. Be honest.

Do NOT lie or stretch the truth on your resume or applications, or during any part of the interview process.

Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education

412,000

Middle school teachers, except special and vocational education

251,000

3. Interview genuinely.

Interview only with employers you’re sincerely interested in working for and whose eligibility requirements you meet.

Computer systems analysts

223,000

Computer software engineers, applications

218,000

Network systems and data communications analysts

208,000

Computer software engineers, systems software

153,000

Construction managers

138,000

Market research analysts

137,000

4. Adhere to schedules.

Appear for all interviews, on campus and elsewhere, unless unforeseeable events prevent you from doing so. And, if you can’t make the interview because of an unexpected event, notify the employer at the earliest possible moment.

5. Don’t keep employers hanging.

Communicate you acceptance or refusal of a job offer to employers as promptly as possible so they can notify other candidates that the position is filled or that they are still being considered.

6. Accept a job offer in good faith.

When you accept an offer, you should have every intention of honoring that commitment.

6. Testing information Employers should inform you in advance of any assessments, the purpose of the tests and their policies regarding disclosure of test results.

7. Withdraw from recruiting when your job search is complete.

If you accept an offer or decide that full-time graduate or professional studies are for you, notify your career center and withdraw from the oncampus recruiting process immediately. And, inform employers that are actively considering you for a job that you are no longer seeking employment.

7. Nondiscrimination Employers are expected to avoid discrimination in their recruitment activities and to follow equal employment opportunity and affirmative action principles.

8. Claim for reimbursement.

If an employer has agreed to reimburse you for expenses you incur during its recruitment process, your request should be only for reasonable and legitimate expenses.

Graduate Degrees Occupation

Total Job Openings 2008–2018

Postsecondary teachers

553,000

Doctors and surgeons

261,000

Lawyers

240,000

Clergy

218,000

Pharmacists

106,000

Educational, vocational and school counselors

94,000

Physical therapists

79,000

Medical scientists, except epidemiologists

66,000

Mental health and substance abuse social workers

61,000

Instructional coordinators

61,000

Information provided by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Information provided by nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nace/JobChoices2012_business/index.php

14

Fall Career Fair 2012

The News October 3, 2012

Using social media responsibly Sam Crume Freeman+Leonard Imagine if someone could read minds. Think about the consequences of your peers hearing your inner monologue. What if our deepest thoughts were public information? Maybe you’re someone who has to bite your tongue every time you see a particular co-worker or your boss. Maybe you are a college student looking for a job and a certain professor makes you squirm. Maybe you had a rough night that you don’t want anyone to know about. Do you really want this information getting back to people you know? We live in a world of instant access to an infinite amount of information; however, your personal information doesn’t have to be among the masses of the internet. You don’t have to post inappropriate pictures or write offensive things, there is a choice to be responsible.

It seems today that everyone is using social media. According to Tom Webster of Edison Research, “51% of adults in the United States, ages 12 and up are using Facebook,” and Twitter has between 36 and 56 million active users. That’s a lot of people. Consider this; about one out of every two people have access to whatever someone posts on Facebook and about one out of every seven people have access to whatever is tweeted. Future employers, grandparents, parents, friends, and co-workers have access to whatever you do and say.

Think of social media as another way to build the brand that is you.

What do you want a potential employer or recruiter to think you stand for? As a college student and intern, I know that every student is worried about finding a job after graduation. As a student, you want to have every edge you can possibly get.

That being said, college is a time of change, uncertainty, independence, and yes, often stupidity. Just assume that everyone whom you know and will ever know will read what you post. Your future boss doesn’t want to find out that you made a racial slur over twitter, and Grandma doesn’t need to see the pictures of you and you’re buddies drunk at a party. You never want to forget that you added a colleague or superior and then made a rude remark about them. Think about the consequences of what information you are making public.

In regards to finding a job, think of social media as another way to build the brand that is you. What do you want a potential employer or recruiter to think you stand for?

It is important to understand that you’re digital footprint can only grow. Once something is out there, it stays out there. Imagine whatever you do on the internet as a permanent tattoo. The tattoo might be under your shirt, but with a little effort, it can be seen. You may have posted something years ago, and that picture, tweet, or status update is somewhere out there. Whether you’re applying for an internship over the summer, or running for political office, your words literally will echo for eternity. Employers are now able to run background checks on individuals through social media sites. There is an entire industry arising to do background checks on social media sites. According to Jennifer Preston of the New York Times, “There is a year-old start-up, known as Social Intelligence, which scrapes the Internet for everything prospective employees may have said or done online in the past seven years.” According to Preston, Social Intelligence assembles a profile of everything you’ve done that meets the criteria of “racist remarks; references to drugs; sexually explicit photos, text messages or videos; flagrant displays of weapons or bombs and clearly identifiable violent activity.”

You can’t clean it up. We must simply be responsible.

Social media sites can be an extremely useful tool when it comes to job searching. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn will get your name out there, and help build networks.

Guidelines • Don’t post a picture or reference any illegal activity.

• Don’t post offensive commentary regarding any racial, cultural, or religious community.

• Don’t insult people in a position of authority. An insult to your boss over the internet is still an insult, and cause to be reprimanded or even fired.

• Don’t share personal information that you don’t want everyone to know about.

• Don’t write anything that you wouldn’t be willing to say to anyone.

Imagine that your grandparents will read everything you ever post and see every picture.

@MSUCSO

Murray State University Career Services Office

Murray State University Career Services

The News

Fall Career Fair 2012

October 3, 2012

15

What can Career Services do for me? u

.h

c sx

A lot more than you are probably aware! Career Services provides MSU students and alumni with a variety of opportunities and assistance in all aspects of career development. Please use the following FREE services to maximize your career potential!

Employment Opportunities Information on full- and part-time employment and daily, updated listings of job vacancies on and off campus are available on the Career Services website and in the Career Services office (100 Oakley Applied Sciences Building).

In addition, applications for local student work programs can be obtained in the office.

Career Counseling Trained professional staff members are available to assist you one-on-one or through group orientations with career planning, job search techniques and Internet searches. A computerized program called Discover is also available for you to explore job choices and determine which jobs might be your best fit.

Tracks is exclusively unique to MSU students, alumni, faculty and staff. To begin, simply log on to your MyGate Account and click your “academics tab”. Scroll down and click on the Racer Tracks logo. From there, you can upload multiple resumes and manage your own credentials electronically on a continuous basis while searching for employment opportunities, and internships.

Perfecting your Resume and Cover Letter To perfect your resume and/or cover letter, first email them to kmantooth1@murraystate.edu. Next, call 270-8093804 to make an appointment to meet with Katie and discuss suggestions to enhance your documents. You will be sure to leave with a resume that will stand out against competition!

Career Fairs Career Services sponsors various events throughout the year, including Fall and Spring Career Fairs as well as Teacher Career Fairs. All students and alumni are encouraged to attend and network with company representatives.

Additional information and a calendar of events can be obtained in the Career Services office or on the website. Questions? Contact Regina Hudspeth at vhudspeth@murraystate.edu or 270-809-2907.

Mock Interviews Mock interviews are designed for you to learn about the interview process and gain interviewing skills. Mock interviews can be arranged on an individual basis for most any type of interview setting and are held in the Career Services office, unless otherwise stated. To sign up for a mock interview, contact Katie Mantooth at kmantooth1@murraystate.edu or 270-809-3804.

Graduate School The staff in the Career Services office can assist individuals interested in graduate or professional school by providing information on applications, interviews, scholarships, testing and admission requirements. We have listed excellent links for information through our website.

On-Campus Interviews Announcements of employers interviewing on campus are posted on the Career Services website and throughout campus. You can schedule an interview with a recruiter through a Racer Tracks account. Company information is available in the office and on the web and should be reviewed prior to interviewing.

Questions? Contact Regina Hudspeth at vhudspeth@murraystate.edu or 270-809-2907.

Online Recruiting Create an account on “Racer Tracks”, a new single sign-on job search database, today! Racer

Cooperative Internships By participating in this program, you have the

opportunity to apply skills and knowledge learned in the classroom to actual on-the-job experience while gaining course credit. The work experience can be a full or part-time, paid or non-paid, career-related position. You can elect to co-op/intern for a summer, semester or an academic year. To be eligible for this program, you must be in good academic standing and be enrolled at MSU the semester prior to the work assignment. Enrollment must be concurrent with employment. Need further information or assistance? Contact Ray Karraker at rkarraker@murraystate.edu or 270-809-3117.

KHEAA Work-Study Program The Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority Work-Study Program provides job opportunities to eligible students by placing them in career-related positions. You must be a Kentucky resident, have at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA, and be progressing satisfactorily toward completion of a degree. For more information, contact Donna York at dyork@murraystate.edu or 270-809-2906.

National Student Exchange Program (NSE) Through the NSE network, undergraduate students have the opportunity to study for up to one year at one of over 180 colleges and universities at little or no more cost than attending MSU. This program allows you to take advantage of the academic strengths of the other universities in their chosen programs. Many returning students also have new perspectives on their education and better appreciation of their home region, family and campus. For more information, contact Donna York at dyork@murraystate.edu or 270-809-2906.

Visit our website at http://campus.murraystate.edu/services/careerservice s/index.htm to learn more about what we can do to make you one of our many success stories.

Fall Career Fair 2012

16

Employers to hire 13% more new 2013 college graduates Report by National Association of Colleges and Employers Data Employers expect to hire 13 percent more new college graduates from the Class of 2013 than they did from the Class of 2012, according to NACE’s Job Outlook 2013 survey.

Employers in pharmaceutical manufacturing; computer and electronics manufacturing; retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; management consulting; and professional services anticipate double-digit increases in hiring.

Early projections show employers plan to target business-, engineering-, and computer-related degrees at the bachelor’s level during the 2012-13 college recruiting season. (See Figure 1.)

The percentage of employers with firm plans in place for spring recruiting is also on the upswing. This year, 37.6 percent of survey participants indicated firm plans to

recruit in spring 2013, while 34.4 percent of employers that participated in the Job Outlook 2012 survey indicated firm plans to recruit in spring 2012. (See Figure 2.)

Figure 2: Spring 2013 Recruiting Plans

Figure 1:

Who’s in Demand?

1.

Finance

2.

Computer & Information Science

3.

Accounting

4.

Business Administration/Management

5.

Mechanical Engineering

6.

Management Information Systems

7.

Electrical Engineering

8.

Computer Engineering Marketing/Marketing Mgmt.

Spring 2013

Firm plans in place

37.6%

34.4%

Tentative plans in place

27.3%

31.8%

All recruiting in fall

18.6%

18.2%

9.

Unsure

15.5%

15.1%

10. Economics

Not hiring

1%

0.5%

Spring 2012

Source: Job Outlook 2013 National Association of Colleges and Employers. www.naceweb.org

Don’t find a sales job, find a sales career.

Combined Insurance is looking for quality individuals to join our sales force as full time sales agents or management candidates.

We provide paid training, sales management opportunities, a minimum guaranteed income for up to 26 weeks – dependent upon meeting specific production requirements, comprehensive benefits and leads for your local market.

Equal Opportunity Employer

October 3, 2012

Top 10 Bachelor’s Degrees for the College Class of 2013

Recruiting Plans

For more information contact Caitlin Williams at 317-447-8872 caitlin.williams@combined.com.

The News

or

The News October 3, 2012

Fall Career Fair 2012

17

7 Rules for Networking Success Many people think that networking during a job search means calling everyone you know and asking them for a job. They associate networking with being pushy, overbearing, and an overall pest.

People often shy away from networking because they don’t want to be labeled as this type of person.

But research shows that 70-80% of all jobs are filled through networking. How can this be so, if networkers are such an annoying, self-serving lot?

Successful networkers are not egocentric, aggressive jerks. They show a sincere interest in their networking contacts. They work hard to develop a relationship, establish their credibility, and share information. They follow the rules of the game where everyone has something to gain. Like the lottery, you have to be in it to win it. Below are seven rules to follow for successful networking.

not asking him for a job; you’re just asking him for advice and insight. The stakes are low and the expectations are reasonable, so he is more likely to help you.

Don’t take up too much of the other person’s time.

Have an agenda and keep the meeting on track.

Nothing scares people more than the prospect of someone eating up a lot of their time. Many people don’t want to cram yet another meeting into their already jam packed day. Contrast these two situations:

Don’t ask for a job…Ask for information.

Networking is not about asking everyone you know for a job. As a matter of fact, when you network you should never ask someone for a job…You ask them for information that will help you in your search. Your goal is to build a relationship and establish rapport so that if a potential opportunity becomes available in the future, they will want to refer you. Compare these two scenarios: Scenario One “Joe, I’ve been out of work for six months and I’m really strapped for cash. Do you know of any open positions in your department?”

You’ve put Joe in a very difficult position. Sure, he can sympathize with your situation, but he may not be able to offer you a job. Perhaps he’s not in a position to refer you, or there’s a hiring freeze, or there aren’t any openings right now. Whatever answer Joe gives you, it’s bound to be disappointing.

So to redeem himself, Joe says, “I don’t know of any open positions, but why don’t you give me your resume and I’ll send it to the HR department where I work.” Bad move. Unless your skills match a specific opening in the company at that point in time, it’s bound to never be looked at. Joe will feel that he’s done what he can for you, but you will be no better off.

Scenario Two ”Joe, as you know, I most recently worked for a medical device company in their marketing group. I know that you’ve been in pharmaceutical sales for the past 15 years and I’m very interested in learning more about marketing roles within your industry” I don’t expect you to know of any open positions in your organization, but I’d like the opportunity to speak with you briefly to learn more about your organization and the pharmaceutical industry in general.”

Joe may think, OK, here’s a friend that wants some information and sees me as some sort of expert on the topic. That’s kind of flattering. I guess I could spend a few minutes with him. Does Joe know you’re looking for a job? Probably. But you are

ibility, and cover all the critical agenda items.

Give the other person a chance to speak.

Ask questions.

When you network it is imperative that you do not do all the talking. If you have asked another person for advice, make sure they have the opportunity to offer it. Also, when you do all the talking, the other person might feel confused and unsure of what they are supposed to do with the information you have supplied. Here are some questions you can ask to keep your exchange balanced and establish rapport.

How long have you been with this company/field?

What do you like/dislike about your job? What type of training do you need for positions such as yours?

What is the culture of this company and what are its guiding principles?

Ask for suggestions on how to expand your network. One of the main goals of networking is to tap into the network of the people you are meeting with.

Each person you meet knows 200 or more people. If you can gain introductions to some of them, you quickly increase your network and your chances of finding the right connection. Ask your contacts if they can recommend a professional organization or the names of some other people you should be talking to.

Create a vehicle for follow up.

If you want to establish rapport with another person, you need to create ways to keep the relationship going. Ask the person if you may keep them informed of your search progress. If you read an article that pertains to a discussion you had at a networking meeting, cut it out and send it to them with a brief note. Try to find at least two to three opportunities per year to reconnect with members of your network.

Scenario One You meet with Mary after a mutual friend has agreed to help you set up a brief 20-minute meeting.

You neglect to prepare for the meeting, ramble, get off topic and spend an hour and a half with her.

Mary feels that you have abused the use of her time and you haven’t gotten to the critical questions you’d hoped to ask during the meeting. Mary feels burned and vows never to network again.

Scenario Two You walk into the meeting with a prepared mental agenda that includes: A reminder of who referred you and perhaps some brief chit-chat about that mutual acquaintance. A statement up front that you have no reason to believe Mary can offer you a position and a reiteration of why Mary’s information is of interest to you. An explanation of your agenda. “Today I’d like to tell you a bit about myself and get your perspective on the future of the high-tech industry.”

Remember to discuss your skills and accomplishments and show how you can add value to an organization. By planning out your meeting ahead of time, you establish your professionalism, gain cred-

Find ways to reciprocate.

Building a network is about creating a genuine, caring relationship. Thank your contact for the information they have supplied and see if you can help them in some way. Maybe your contact is interested in living in an area that you are familiar with or has a child interested in attending the same school you just graduated from. Share your knowledge of the school and your experience there as a way to help the other person. Keep notes on what you learn about your contacts so that future correspondence can have a personalized touch like “How was Jane’s first year of school?”

Always thank your contacts in person and follow up with a letter. If your handwriting is legible, the personalized touch is always appreciated.

Networking is an ongoing process. It requires persistence, attention, organization, and good will.

Incorporate the art of networking into your job search campaign now and you will gain opportunities and build relationships that will last a lifetime.

Graphic provided by sxc.hu Information provided by blueskyresumes.com

18

Fall Career Fair 2012

The News October 3, 2012

The Art of Salary Negotiation Most American job hunters are unfamiliar with negotiating techniques.

The result is a loss of millions of dollars in salary and benefits.

After an exhausting job search, it’s tempting to get closure on the whole experience by just taking whatever they give you.

Resist the urge to get it over and done with. Take a time out to stop and think.

This is your one shot at getting the best compensation package. Don’t blow it.

For many, evaluating job offers is foreign, difficult and time consuming.

Negotiating is not limited to high paying positions. More than you think, if you have been offered a job you have been offered an opportunity to negotiate for more.

It’s a common practice that the interviewer will raise the salary question before you are prepared to answer it.

Outright refusing to address the issue will not make a positive impression.

The question may also be used as a screening tool to weed out candidates that expect more than the employer can offer.

One option is to throw the question back to the interviewer with a response like, “I’m sure you have a range for this position. I’m curious to know what that is.” Another reply could be, “Based on the requirements for this position, what is your typical salary range for this opportunity?” You could also respond by saying, “I am seeking a compensation package that is consistent with the responsibilities and goals for this position. Can you tell me more specifics about the job and the expectations?” or “I would prefer to discuss salary after an offer is made.” If the interviewer comes back with a reasonable range, based on your research, you can say something like, “That’s something I can work with. We can iron out the details after we agree on a firm offer.” If they press you for a figure, don’t give them a precise number. Instead, respond by saying, “Based on my research, I would expect this position to pay within the low $$s to upper $$s.” or “This is what I understand is the going rate for a position with this level of responsibility.”

The range should be slightly above the expected range.

By adhering to these tactics you will only increase your chances of receiving the best compensation package. Here are my 34 tips to make the process less stressful and more manageable.

Written by Tom Denham

1. Discuss salary only AFTER an offer is made. You’re in a stronger negotiating position when it’s clear that they want you.

2. Take some time to evaluate your priorities, values, interests and goals well before you get to the salary negotiation stage.

3. Read Jack Chapman’s Book: Negotiating Your Salary: How to Make $1,000 a Minute.

4. Research what the job is worth using: Salary.com, PayScale.com, Nytimes.salary.com and CBsalary.com.

cific and concrete reasons why you are worth what you are requesting.

14. Explain how you are going to either make or save them more money first, and then give them your ideal salary figure.

15. Tell how your skills and past success will translate to future accomplishments.

16. Observe the non-verbal messages they send you during the negotiations.

17. Listen carefully to what they are

5. Determine in advance your compensation package needs. Ask yourself, “What do I really need in order to accept this offer?”

6. Role play with a professional career counselor. Don’t try to wing it.

9. Remain open on the topic of salary. Be reasonable and realistic.

10. Be clear on the grounds of why you are seeking to negotiate. You must truly believe you deserve what you’re asking for.

11. Tie your salary requirements to the job duties not to your personal circumstances (i.e. mortgage, car, family, lifestyle, etc.).

12. Sell yourself on why you are worth what you are asking by using information and facts that can support your case.

13. Back up a counter-offer with spe-

24. Lying about past salary history in an interview or application is wrong. Avoid it. It will only get you into trouble eventually.

25. Ask for a time extension in order to delay if you are waiting to hear back from other employers.

26. Be confident and assertive, but polite and professional.

Getting angry will not get the relationship off on the right foot.

27. Keep your poise if your requests are not met, thank your contact and then request more time to consider the offer.

7. Remember an employer is only willing to negotiate if they believe it is in their best interest. Make it a Win-Win negotiation!

8. Resist any urge to disclose. Remember, the person who states salary first is usually the loser.

23. Study the benefits of 401k, insurance, vacation, tuition, etc. when evaluating the total compensation package.

28. Negotiate for other benefits (i.e. additional vacation time, telecommuting, flextime, etc.) if salary is non-negotiable. saying and also what they are not saying. Learn what they are really trying to communicate.

18. Ask what you can look forward to in terms of your professional career development and growth.

29. Negotiate down from a higher number rather than up from a lower number.

30. Say you are confident that you can work out a salary if you’re the right candidate, if they ask you about salary early on.

19. Ask about the timeline for performance evaluations and raises.

31. Ask them to clarify that the offer is a firm offer. Confirm any changes to the offer with an email to avoid misunderstandings.

20. Accept the best position for you; don’t be seduced solely by money. It tends to be a poor long-term motivator.

32. Express appreciation when negotiations are over.

21. Ask yourself a lot of questions, “Where will this job take me professionally?” or “Is this what I need?”

33. Refuse any unacceptable offers promptly, politely and professionally. Burning any bridges that will come back to haunt you.

22. Ask for substantially more than what the employer is offering and they may rescind the offer.

34. Negotiate BEFORE you accept the offer. Don’t expect to get more afterwards.

Information provided by blog.timesunion.com/careers/34-tips-for-salary-negotiation

The News October 3, 2012

Fall Career Fair 2012

19

10 ways to use Linkedin to find a job 3. Find out where people at a company came from.

Linked in Searching for a job can suck if you constrain yourself to the typical tools such as online jobs boards, trade publications, CraigsList, and networking with only your close friends. In these kinds of times, you need to use all the weapons that you can, and one that many people don’t—or at least don’t use to the fullest extent, is LinkedIn. LinkedIn has over thirty-five million members in over 140 industries. Most of them are adults, employed, and not looking to post something on your Wall or date you. Executives from all the Fortune 500 companies are on LinkedIn. Most have disclosed what they do, where they work now, and where they’ve worked in the past. Talk about a target-rich environment, and the service is free.

Here are ten tips to help use LinkedIn to find a job. If you know someone who’s looking for a job, forward them these tips along with an invitation to connect on LinkedIn. Before trying these tips, make sure you’ve filled out your profile and added at least twenty connections

1. Get the word out.

Tell your network that you’re looking for a new position because a job search these days requires the “law of big numbers” There is no

LinkedIn “Company Profiles” show the career path of people before they began work there. This is very useful data to figure out what a company is looking for in new hires. For example, Microsoft employees worked at Hewlett-Packard and Oracle.

4. Find out where people from a company go next.

LinkedIn’s “Company Profiles” also tell you where people go after leaving the company. You can use this to track where people go after leaving your company as well as employees of other companies in your sector.

5. Check if a company is still hiring.

Company pages on LinkedIn include a section called “New Hires” that lists people who have recently joined the company. If you have real chutzpah, you can ask these new hires how they got their new job.

6. Get to the hiring manager.

LinkedIn’s job search engine allows you to search for any kind of job you want. However, when you view the results, pay close attention to the ones that you’re no more than two degrees away from. This means that you know someone who knows the person that posted the job—it can’t get much better than that. (Power tip: two degrees is about the limit for getting to hiring managers.

I never help friends of friends of friends.) Another way to find companies that you have ties to is by looking at the “Companies in Your Network” section on LinkedIn’s Job Search page.

7. Get to the right HR person.

The best case is getting to the hiring manager via someone who knows him, but if that isn’t possible you can still use LinkedIn to find someone inside the company to walk your resume to the hiring manager or HR department. When someone receives a resume from a coworker even if she doesn’t know the coworker, she almost always pays attention to it.

8. Find out the secret job requirements.

Job listings rarely spell out entirely or exactly what a hiring manager is seeking. Find a connection at the company who can get the inside scoop on what really matters for the job. You can do this by searching for the company name; the results will show you who in your network connects you to the company.

If you don’t have an inside connection, look at profiles of the people who work at the company to get an idea of their backgrounds and important skills.

9. Find startups to join. stigma that you’re looking right now, so the more people who know you’re looking, the more likely you’ll find a job.

2. Get LinkedIn recommendations from your colleagues.

A strong recommendation from your manager highlights your strengths and shows that you were a valued employee. This is especially helpful if you were recently laid off, and there is no better time to ask for this than when your manager is feeling bad because she laid you off. If you were a manager yourself, recommendations from your employees can also highlight leadership qualities.

Maybe this recession is God telling you it’s time to try a startup. But great startups are hard to find. Play around with LinkedIn’s advanced search engine using “startup” or “stealth” in the keyword or company field. You can also narrow by industry (for example, startups in the Web 2.0, wireless, or biotech sectors).

10. Build your network before you need it.

As a last tip, no matter how the economy or your career is doing, having a strong network is a good form of job security. Don’t wait until times are tough to nurture your network. The key to networking (or “schmozing”), however, is filled with counter-intuitiveness. First, it’s not who you know—it’s who knows of you. Second, Great schmoozers are not thinking “What can this person do for me?” To the contrary, they are thinking, “What can I do for this person?”

For more on schmoozing, read “The Art of Schmoozing.”

Graphic by sxc.hu Information courtesy of blog.guykawasaki.com/

The News

Fall Career Fair 2012

20

October 3, 2012

Meet the Career Services Staff

RossMeloan

Director Dr. Ross Meloan is an alumnus of Murray State University with experience in Student Affairs, the Registrars Office and Counseling and Testing since 1977. Dr. Meloan was also a Director of Franklin College from 1975-77 and is a 18-year veteran of the Career Services Office.

Dr. Meloan is married to Sharion Meloan, the Administrative Assistant to the Vice President for Finance & Administrative Services. He recently became the proud grandfather of another aspiring soccer player.

RayKarraker

KurtisNicholson

Cooperative Education/ Internship Coordinator Ray Karraker joined the Career Services staff Fall 2008 as the Coordinator of Cooperative Education and Internships. Ray comes to Murray State from a business background in the banking and financial services industry. He is a graduate of Murray State with a BS in economics (’74) and M.B.A. (’77). He resides in Murray with his wife, Sabrina and daughter MacKensie.

Ray is active in his church and enjoys numerous outdoor activities.

100 Oakley Applied Science Building

KatieMantooth

ReginaHudspeth

DonnaYork

Graduate Assistant

Career Counselor

Career Specialist

Administrative Assistant

Kurtis Nicholson, formerly the Outreach Coordinator with Upward Bound, returned to Career Services summer 2012 as a graduate assistant where he helps coordinate Racer Tracks, career events and oncampus interviews. Career Services is happy to have him back as he worked here as an undergraduate as well.

He is currently working on a master's in Agricultural Education, and he also received his bachelor's at Murray State in Animal Health Technology. Kurtis is a proud member of Hester College, the Murray Youth Baseball & Softball Association and FFA as well as a volunteer with Special Olympics KY.

Katie Mantooth joined Career Services in August 2012. She brings over 13 years of career services experience and looks forward to helping Murray State students successfully navigate both the career development and job search processes; develop resume and cover letter writing and interview skills; as well as implement effective job search and professional branding strategies.

Katie graduated from the University of South Carolina with a master's in student personnel services and Queens University of Charlotte with a bachelor's in corporate communications.

Regina Hudspeth has been with Career Services since Fall 2007. She manages Racer Tracks, a resource she encourages all MSU students to utilize for their job search, plans career fairs sponsored by Career Services, and coordinates on-campus interviews.

You will find her out on campus presenting on job search techniques or in her office encouraging students through the process as well.

Regina obtained both her BS and MS degrees at Murray State University. She is married to Danny Hudspeth, '78, and has two sons; Dominique, '08 and O’Shea (Brooke), Lexington, KY, both University of Kentucky graduates.

Donna M. York is often a Murray State student's first contact with Career Services.

She keeps the office running and can be reached to schedule an appointment with a staff member.

Donna also manages the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority WorkStudy Program (KHEAA), a program that benefits both employers and students. She also serves as the Program Assistant to the National Student Exchange Program (NSE), a program that allows MSU students to exchange with different universities in the United States, its territories, and Canada for up to a year.

270-809-3735

msu.careerservices@murraystate.edu

murraystate.edu/careerservices