STUDENTCALENDAR DECEMBER 2008
134 Mary Gates Hall • (206) 543-0535
careers.washington.edu
Take Time to Rest & Prepare re you having a hard time trying to think of what to do over this holiday vacation? Are you scheming to come up with activities to keep busy? Well there’s no need to keep brainstorming-- in fact, stop right now! Have you ever thought of rest as “doing something”? If not, consider it now. In our society we tend not to rest enough, and one of the best things you can do for your body is take the time to relax, not only physically but mentally as well. In the driven, bustling culture that we live in it’s easy to forget how to really let yourself relax, so here are a few suggestions. 1. Let your mind wander. This will allow you to contemplate and recharge, and maybe even plan a little for a successful Winter Quarter. 2. Make time to be idle. Yep, that’s right! Tell Mom you need time to gather your thoughts and gain perspective on your life and the world around you. The further benefits of rest include reducing stress, anxiety and depression. 3. Allow yourself to sleep. Getting a sufficient amount of sleep will increase your alertness, creativity and productivity. Remember that resting is an incredibly beneficial pastime for your mental and physical health. You have our permission to go home and do nothing but rest over your Winter Vacation. You’ll come back recharged and refreshed for the New Year!
Take Note Need career help during December? We’re here, even when school’s not in session… •
•
s251108
Walk-Ins will be offered through the last day of Finals Week (December 12th.) They will resume on the first day of Winter Quarter (January 5th.) Our office will be closed on Thursday, December 25th and Friday, December 26th, as well as Thursday, January 1st. Other than that, we’re here and ready to help!
Su
M
30
1
7 14 21 28
D ECEM 2
8 15 22 29
BE R 20 08 W Th 3 4
T
9 16 23 30
10 17 24 31
F
11 18 25 1
Sa
5
6
12 19 26 2
13 20 27 3
Holiday Traditions December is a month of snow and celebration, as people all across the world gather with their families to celebrate a variety of holidays, or to just enjoy being together. As you head off for Winter Break, take a moment to check out some of our staffs’ winter traditions, and then go enjoy some of your own! •
“My favorite part about the holidays is baking cookies with my little (but increasingly tall) teenage brother, which we’ve done since he was small.” –Emma, Employer Relations
•
“My mom used to give me one last gift when she tucked me into bed on Christmas night. Something small, but often it would be my favorite gift. Besides, getting tucked into bed by your mom is always the best.” –Alyce, Customer Relations
•
“My favorite holiday tradition is that my whole family gets all dressed up and goes to Salty’s at Alki for brunch. We eat and talk, and eat some more.” –Kris, Counselor
•
“We have a Baked Potato Party the weekend prior to Thanksgiving. Everyone brings something to stuff in a potato. It’s an opportunity to hang out with friends prior to the family time on Thanksgiving Day.” –Susan, Director
•
“One of our traditions is to attend a theater production during the holiday season.” –Vic, Counselor
•
“We always have a Teriyaki basted Turkey for Thanksgiving!” –Lisa, Customer Relations
•
“I like hand-making holiday cards for family, friends, and coContinued on page 2
(1)
STUDENTCALENDAR WORKSHOPS OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS
All workshops, unless noted, are in the UW Career Center (134 MGH).
Job Offer and Salary Negotiations 12/4, 1:30-2:30
Resumes and Cover Letters 12/9, 3:30-4:30
Career Discovery Week 2009 Career Discovery Week has grown significantly over the last several years. Not only is the number of speakers and individual sessions up, but the number of attendees has increased almost tenfold since 2000 (see graph). Join us this January to make Career Discovery Week 2009 our most successful yet!
Job Search for International Students 12/16, 3:30-5:00
Successful Interviews 12/2, 3:30-5:00 • 12/10, 3:30-5:00
This year, the tri-campus Career Discovery Week offers over 100 sessions on career development and exploration topics. And there is quite literally something for everybody, from “What Can I Do with a Drama Major?” to “Careers in Sports” to “Yikes! Do I Really Want to be a Teacher?” and MUCH MORE!
workers. Mostly, I love having an excuse to eat anything that’s pumpkin-flavored!” –Briana, Counselor •
“We visited relatives in England one year and they had poppers out on the table for Christmas Eve Dinner. We liked it so much that now we do that every year!” –Erin W., Intern
•
“It’s all about the seafood – fresh crab during the holidays is one of our favorite traditions.” –Patrick, Counselor
•
“We always go with our family friends to get a Christmas tree. Afterwards we go home for clam chowder, blueberry muffins, hot buttered rum, and a nap!” –Cara, Customer Relations
•
“Near midnight on New Years’ Eve, we get on [the] speaker phone with all our family across the country and share at least one way that we have improved ourselves or our lives in the past year. That way everybody always starts off the New Year with congratulations and success.” –Erin F., Employer Relations
•
“On December 26th we celebrate Kwanzaa. Each family member gives a brief speech acknowledging how blessed we are and reaffirming our love for family and friends. We dress in traditional African attire, share a meal and entertainment.” –Diane, Employer Relations
•
“I always enjoy baking cookies for family and friends.” –Barb, Customer Relations
•
“My family celebrates the Swedish Saint Lucia Day with traditional breakfast rolls and candles that represent the festival of light. We sit around in our fair isle sweaters, cheeks pink from a little too much gløgg, singing ‘Jeg er så glad i juletid…’” –Shella, Peace Corps Representative careers.washington.edu | (206) 543-0535
The Career Discovery Week 2009 website will go live in early January with news and updates: http://careerweek.washington.edu.
Husky Career Toolbox
http://careers.washington.edu/ToolBox
C on n e c t i o ns
Holiday Traditions (continued from page 1)
Networking events are planned for many departments on campus, and special recruitment events and career fairs are included in the wealth of Career Discovery Week offerings.
Here at the UW Career Center, we know that the lifestyle of a student can be pretty hectic and from time to time it may feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day. That’s why we offer 24/7 services! At our online Husky Career Toolbox you can access the resources you need at a time that’s convenient for you. •
Optimal Resume is a free service designed to help you easily create, design and manage unlimited numbers of resumes in a variety of formats based on your major and career goals.
•
Virtual Interview is a tool that allows you answer and receive feedback to common interview questions—all online. Can’t make it in for a live mock interview with a counselor? Visit the online tool to get the practice and advice you need.
•
The Vault Career Library allows you to browse information on over 3,000 companies and over 50 different career paths. Get Searching!
•
Resumes and cover letter advice is always available on our website. Look to the Gold Career Guide (online in PDF form) for resume and cover letter guidelines, and check out the PowerPoint slides from all of our workshops. And remember, the UWCC is here for you all day, every day.
(2)
STUDENTCALENDAR myStory: Beth Scholler
W
hen one meets UW senior Beth Scholler for the first time, the phrase “not a talker” is the one furthest from your mind. Beth is engaging and well-spoken, and talks of her past and her success with ease and modesty. Yet she claims that when she arrived at North Seattle Community College, where she attended school before transferring to the UW, she was not a talker and certainly not involved. But a few key professors saw a special spark in Scholler, and encouraged her to become involved in the campus community. She became president of the college’s Phi Theta Kappa branch, and quickly became adept at public speaking and creating service projects.
sonal interaction with the guests. They would play games, or talk about their backgrounds and experiences, sharing their lives with Scholler. She found that “there are so many reasons for homelessness, and the population that is at the shelter because they’ve made poor choices is usually very small. Most are there because of hard luck or difficult family situations.” In Scholler’s experience, the stereotypical idea of a homeless person with a drug problem was never the norm. She gained a new perspective and a new respect for those who face such a difficult daily struggle.
Scholler feels that her involvement in many different areas of the UW has completely strengthened and enriched her academic experience. In the future, Scholler hopes to create a career that can combine her love of literature with her passion for working on community social issues. But for now, Scholler continues to become increasingly Afraid she would “disappear” in the involved with the campus commumasses at the UW, Scholler made a nity as she pursues her degree. In the conscious effort summer she worked to seek ways to as an orientation She may have started become involved leader for freshwhen she arrived and transfer as a quiet, shy individ- man at the Seattle students with First campus as a junior. ual, but she’s become Year Programs, She worked hard and she worked to become a tutor a proven leader on the as a the leader of through the Pipea Transfer Interline Project, which est Group (TRIG) UW campus. she found motivathroughout the fall. tional and rewardScholler may have ing. That experience was followed started her college career as a quiet, shy closely by a life-changing opportunity individual, but she’s become a proven to participate in Service Learning leader on the UW campus, in more through her Comparative History of ways than one. “Not a talker”, my foot. Ideas class. The 100-level class, entitled “A Question of Human Nature” led her to serve at Seattle’s ROOTS - Written by Cara MacMillan Young Adult Shelter. Scholler assisted with everything from set up, to food preparation, laundry, and cooking and serving breakfast in the morning. Email your story to mystory@u.washington.edu. But her favorite part was her percareers.washington.edu | (206) 543-0535
Spotlight On Workshops •
Job Offer & Salary Negotiation “Okay the employer is interested, now how do I get the offer and the salary and benefits I want?” What is the employer concerned about? How do I decide between several job offers? How much time do I have to decide? When do I talk money? What if I change my mind? Learn how to solve these issues so that you keep options open and maintain your integrity and worth.
•
Job Search for International Students Looking for work presents special challenges for international students. This workshop covers differences between U.S. employers’ expectations versus differing values in other cultures and addresses how to overcome some of the obstacles that international students face when conducting a job search in the United States. Learn how to increase your job search skills and find out about employment eligibility options for working in the U.S.
•
Resumes & Cover Letters Is your resume up to date? Increase your understanding of how your resume is used in the job search and make sure it targets your career goal. Learn how to compose a resume that reflects your greatest strengths and talents. Explore formats that say, “Hire me!” Find out about electronic resumes: what they are, how to use them, and how to send them.
•
Successful Interviews How to prepare for and conduct interviews that get that job offer! The following issues are addressed: interview formats, researching companies, answering those tough behavior-based and other interview questions, interview ethics and etiquette. A role-play is included to demonstrate an effective interview strategy.
CAREER QUICKLINKS • UW Career Center Website http://careers.washington.edu • Husky Career Blog http://careers.washington.edu/Blog • Husky Career Toolbox http://careers.washington.edu/Toolbox • Up-to-the-Minute Student Event Calendar http://careers.washington.edu/Students/Calendar
(3)
STUDENTCALENDAR DECEMBER 2008 Career Clips
Quick Tips for Your Career Success
From the Blog: Get Out of Town... No, Seriously. By Cara MacMillan
After spending an amazing ten months on exchange in New York City in 2006, I spent my last few hours in The Big Apple soaking in one last Broadway show. Within 24 hours of curtain call, I was back in Seattle, leaving behind my favorite concrete jungle and its punishing summer heat. My year on exchange was the absolute best thing I did in my college career (and I like to think I did a lot of good things.) I had the opportunity to experience another university, land a job, and take time to soak up the unique culture of a different city. I discovered tiny diners, memorized subway routes, met countless new and amazing people, and by the end of the year I felt like a native. While we were slogging through winter 2008 here in Seattle, American Ethnic Studies major Jennifer McAdam was enjoying summer in the Southern Hemisphere: she travelled to New Zealand with a program offered by the CHID Department. Jen’s program focused on learning the history of New Zealand, as well as contemporary issues at play within the culture, and the lingering effects of colonization. Jen’s experience abroad deepened her appreciation for her major, and has inspired her to pursue careers that deal with diversity. “I want to continue finding ways to learn about other cultures,” she says. “My exchange in New Zealand was an excellent jumping off point.” Whether you’re interested in going on exchange within the United States or abroad, the University of Washington has several different programs for you. The National Student Exchange program, which is operated by the office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, handles domestic exchanges within the United States, while the office of International Programs & Exchanges offers a wide variety of study abroad programs. You can also find out about other great opportunities through individual departments. Whether you want to jet-set across the country or around the world, opportunities abound at UW. So jump in, take the plunge, do something different and expand your horizons! We did, and we loved every minute of it.
What Top Entry Level Employers Want From CollegeGrad.com
CollegeGrad.com, released the results of its survey on what employers want most in hiring new college grads. What is most important to entry level employers – the college you graduated from? Your GPA? Or what you majored in? According to the survey results, the answer may surprise you. The criteria that the employers ranked as most important are as follows: • • • • • • • •
The student’s major (44%) The student’s interviewing skills (18%) The student’s internship/experience (17%) The college the student graduated from (10%) Other miscellaneous qualifications (5%) The student’s GPA (4%) The student’s personal appearance (1%) The student’s computer skills (1%)
The survey results indicate that 44% of employer respondents ranked a student’s major as the top priority for hiring consideration. This is up slightly from 42% in 2007. Interviewing skills and a student’s internships and experience ranked second and third. The fourth place ranking was a surprise to this year’s results - the college that the student graduated from was ranked as the top criterion for hiring consideration by 10% of employer respondents. This is up from just 1% and last place in 2007.
Q&A With Patrick Chidsey Sr. Career Counselor
He loves to hike, kayak and camp, and he could teach Bear Grylls a thing or two on Man Vs. Wild. Meet Patrick… Q: What’s the most
common question students ask, and what’s the answer? A: “I need a real job—how do I get one?” Use HuskyJobs. Network. Use a variety of job search strategies. Embrace and share your strengths. Be patient, but persistent. Q: Do you have a nickname? A: As a kid, my cousins called me “Pat Pat the Water Rat.” Q: What UWCC services should students take more advantage of? A: Workshops, employer panels, and networking events. Q: Do you have a hidden talent? A: Hackysackin’ Q: What’s your favorite quote? A: “Life is a journey, not a destination.” –Aerosmith Q: Any other tips or advice? A: Be yourself. Work hard and play hard.
The UW Career Center newsletter is brought to the students of the University of Washington each month with contributions from staff and students like you. If you have any questions, please contact us through our website or by stopping by. Nick Morse, Editor and Layout Cara MacMillan, Writer Erin Wilson, Contributing Writer
Read the rest of this article and more on our website at http://careers.washington.edu/News.
careers.washington.edu | (206) 543-0535
(4)