/2009-2_Studen by The Career Center of the University of Washington

ISSUE 14 • FEBRUARY 2009

134 Mary Gates Hall • (206) 543-0535

careers.washington.edu

Love the One You Work For

h, Valentine’s Day: the ultimate Hallmark holiday. For those of you who dress in black and pay homage to “Singles’ Awareness Day (SAD)” on February 14th, we completely understand. But as long as we’re getting all this love shoved down our throats, let’s talk about something we can all get on-board with: loving what we do. In the words of Steve Jobs, former CEO of Apple Computers and Pixar Animation Studios, “You’ve got to find what you love. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” It may sound cliché, but finding a career you love is one of the keys to success and happiness: people who enjoy what they do are often happier, healthier, and more productive in both their personal and professional lives. If you’re looking for a career that’s more than just work, stop by the UW Career Center and let us help you out. (By the way, we love chocolate!)

The Secret to Success in This Job Market Despite the doom and gloom we all keep hearing about, there are some encouraging industry projections. In this webinar, you will learn where the jobs are for college graduates as well as specific steps you can take to manage your job search in this challenging job market. Come join the UW Career Center at a free webinar “College Seniors CAN Thrive in this Job Market,” Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 11:00 in our lobby. Following the session, career counselors will answer questions, provide tips and help you find the resources you need for job search success.

Take Note •

The UW Career Center will be closed Monday, February 16th in observance of President’s Day. Curious about how President Obama is spending his day? Visit www.whitehouse.gov.

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Did you know we have hundreds of resources available online? Check them out at http://careers.washington.edu/Toolbox.

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The Value of Hiring Liberal Arts Students An Interview with Tiffany Palaniuk, Target Stores

Think your Liberal Arts degree will leave you unemployed after graduation? Think again. We asked Target’s Tiffany Palaniuk to shed some light on the value of hiring Liberal Arts students. Here’s what she had to say… Q: Why hire a Liberal Arts student? A: An education in Liberal Arts usually stresses thinking critically; taking a topic or problem and narrowing it down to its most critical state. This skill shows the candidate’s ability to take only the most valuable aspects from a challenging situation. Students of the Liberal Arts are taught to be global citizens in terms of their community involvement, which enables them to better understand and work with individuals of diverse backgrounds. This also plays into the idea of flexibility; most industries are excited by candidates who take a flexible approach to problem-solving. Q: What skills do Liberal Arts students possess that are valuable to your organization? A: Like most businesses or industries, we understand the value of hiring individuals who bring various types of skills to the table. If we only hired business administration students, it’s very possible that our business and the ideas that drive it could become “stagnant”. A liberal arts education gives students the ability to think critically and present their thinking in an organized, concise manner. It also provides a broad knowledge base so that students have at least some knowledge of several disciplines and aren’t limited to just one field. Q: What types of positions do employees with Liberal Arts backgrounds typically hold at Target? A: We have many employees with Liberal Arts backgrounds that work in Store Leadership. Their experience with community involvement and campus leadership allowed them to easily transition into leadership positions in the retail sector. We also have many employees from the Liberal Arts discipline who work in Recruiting, Community Relations & Giving, Public Relations, and Diversity.

(Continued on page 2)

ISSUE 14 • FEBRUARY 2009 • Page 1

WORKSHOPS OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS

CAREER FAIRS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

How to Find a Job

Featured Employer Night: Sales, Marketing & Management

All workshops, unless noted, are in the UW Career Center (134 MGH).

Learn more about these events throughout this newsletter.

2/5, 1:30-2:30 • 2/24, 3:30-4:30

2/4, 3:30-5:30 • MGH Commons

Internships and Summer Jobs

Public Service & Nonprofit Opportunities Fair

2/27, 1:30-2:30

2/19, 3:00-5:30 • MGH Commons

Job Offer & Salary Negotiation

Ocean & Fishery Sciences Career Fair 2/27, 10:00-2:00 • FSH Lobby

2/20, 1:30-2:30

Job Search for International Students

Learn more about these and other events online at http://careers.washington.edu/Students/Calendar.

2/10, 3:30-5:00

Making the Most of a Career Fair 2/18, 3:30-4:30

Roadmap to Your Major (*171 MGH) 2/10, 2:30-3:30 • 2/11, 3:30-4:30 • 2/17, 5:00-6:00

The Value of Hiring... (continued from page 1)

Resumes & Cover Letters

Q: Any other advice you’d like to share?

2/2, 3:30-4:30 • 2/13, 1:30-2:30 • 2/18, 1:30-2:30 • 2/26, 3:30-4:30

A: Use your individual experiences and education to directly show how that translates into desirable skills in the workplace. Illustrate to a potential employer the direct effect you can have on their business through your “tangible” skill set to really make an impression.

Successful Interviews 2/3, 3:30-5:00 • 2/11, 12:30-2:00 • 2/17, 3:30-5:00

Husky Career Network

interviews ... internships ... jobs

 Search

 Apply

 Interview! The UW Career Center’s online job board, HuskyJobs, features thousands of opportunities exclusively for Huskies! You’ll find part- and full-time jobs and internships for all majors and degree levels. Check back frequently. Employers add new opportunities every day! What are you waiting for? Log on now!

huskyjobs http://careers.washington.edu/huskyjobs

www.washington.edu/alumni/careers/hcn

We know that finding a job isn’t easy. Even when you find an industry that is interesting, you may not be sure that the daily “ins-and-outs” will be a good fit. What if you could talk to someone working in the field who could tell you what a typical day looks like, what the best and most challenging aspects of the job are and what to expect? Even better: what if that someone was a UW alum? That’s where the Husky Career Network comes in. Search the network to find UW alumni working in the field that interests you. They’ve provided their contact information and are eager to talk to you... so jump in! For tips on informational interviewing, check out Emma’s blog post: http://careers.washington.edu/blog/2008/08/Informationalinterviewing-Its-so-hot-right-now.

UW Career Center Workshops

http://careers.washington.edu/students/workshopsandclasses

They’re fun, informative, and best of all, they’re FREE! The UW Career Center offers a variety of different workshops each month, and February is no exception! Workshops are hosted by our experienced and knowledgeable counseling staff, and include handouts of materials that will help you even after the workshop is over. It’s an informative and interactive way to learn how to make yourself a fantastic candidate and it comes with the added advantage of getting to hear your peers’ questions and concerns, as well as voice your own. Workshop descriptions are available online at the URL above. The web page also features links to the PowerPoint slides from each workshop, so if you can’t make it, you can always check out the workshops online.

ISSUE 14 • FEBRUARY 2009 • Page 2

Spotlight On Events

myStory: Dana Badeen

hen UW junior Dana Badeen started college, she had her sights set on the stars— literally. Badeen enrolled at the University of Michigan to pursue an engineering degree that would lead to a career as an astronaut but midway through her college career she was struck by two simultaneous realizations. First, those who succeed in the space industry are the best of the best and, while Badeen was a strong student, she was not at the top of her ultra-competitive class. Secondly, even if Badeen made it in the space business, that did not necessarily mean she would make it into space. The majority of astronauts’ work, Badeen found out, is on the ground.

In August of 2008, Badeen joined other Industrial Design students and several faculty members for the Design Program in Rome, one of the programs offered through the UW’s Exploration Seminars. Badeen said she chose to embark on this adventure for both personal and practical reasons: she was determined to experience that once-in-alifetime opportunity of studying abroad and she needed an Art History credit. It was interesting “to see how historical art influences modern design and advertising,” Badeen said. “I particularly enjoyed learning about international perspectives and experiencing advertising in a culture where consumerism does not reign supreme. [They] put more effort into their craft. For me, it was proof of a different kind of existence than the throw-away culture we live in,” Badeen continued.

began coursework in Industrial Design.

“What I’m doing now is not the ‘be all, end all,’” Badeen said, “I have a passion for design and that’s why I’m in the program. I am absolutely not on the path I thought I’d follow when I started college.”

After returning from her adventures Jolted by these realities, Badeen abroad and kicking off the school year, decided to complete her Industrial EnBadeen is working with the Industrial gineering degree in Design Student AsMichigan but forego sociation to help “I am absolutely not her sky-high career teach students about on the path I thought the importance of goals. building a viable I’d follow when I After graduation, portfolio of work. Badeen found a job started college.” She is currently in the Seattle area examining how her and began taking Exengineering and tended Learning courses at The School design degrees might dovetail in her of Visual Concepts. After a few months future career. with SVC she applied to the UW and As she continues to study Industrial Design her degree from Michigan has come in handy. In the graphic design field, designers are often hard-pressed to communicate with engineers and the process of blending the technical and design aspects of a project can be difficult. With her background in engineering, Badeen can easily spot the technical limitations of a design project and solve problems. Employable? Definitely.

Frankly, we are thrilled that Dana Badeen did not become an astronaut. With all her talent and skill, we need her here on Earth! — Written by Cara MacMillan

For more information about the programs mentioned above, visit these websites. - The UW Design Program in Rome: http://depts.washington.edu/explore/programs/2009/italydesign.htm - The UW Exploration Seminars: http://depts.washington.edu/explore

ISSUE 14 • FEBRUARY 2009 • Page 3

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Featured Employers Night: Sales, Marketing and Management 2/4, 3:30-5:30 • MGH Commons If you’re interested in a professional opportunity in sales, marketing, or management, you won’t want to miss this great event! Featured Employers Nights (FENs) are career fairs on a small scale featuring nearly 40 employers from a particular industry. FENs offer a unique opportunity to speak with employers in a more intimate, personal setting. For this FEN, some organizations in attendance are CH Robinson Worldwide, E&J Gallow Winery, First Investors, Kohl’s, Liberty Mutual, Target Stores, Wells Fargo Financial and many more! For a complete list of employers attending, and tips on how to prepare, visit http://careers.washington.edu/Events/FEN.

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Public Service and Nonprofit Opportunities Fair 2/19, 3:00-5:30 • MGH Commons Want to change the world? Don’t wait—make your mark! Get started by attending one of the year’s unique events: the Public Service and Non-Profit Opportunities Fair! Employers from non-profit, social services and government agencies will be in attendance, looking to hire for volunteer, intern and full-time career positions. All students and alumni are invited to this free event, which is sponsored by the UW Career Center, the Carlson Leadership & Public Service Center, the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs, the Program on the Environment & the School of Social Work. A complete list of attending organizations can be found at http://careers.washington.edu/ Events/PS-NPO-Fair.

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

Career Clips

Quick Tips for Your Career Success

Getting Through the Winter... You Can Do It! Cara MacMillan

With the holidays over and Winter well underway I find myself, once again, wondering how in the world I’m going to get through the next few months. The rain, the cold, the dark… Valentine’s Day… ew. But what if, instead of slogging through the winter months, you could take action and come out the other side feeling accomplished and satisfied? I know this is a departure from your usual post-hibernation crawl into spring but imagine this: You attend one of the many helpful workshops offered by the UW Career Center, perhaps jazzing up an old resume, or learning how to make the most of a career fair, or getting tips on how to interview well. You’re confident about your ability when, in mid-February... You attend one of the fabulous career fairs being offered on-campus, perhaps speaking with an employer of interest at the Public Service & Non-Profit Career Fair on February 19th. You hit it off and they set up a time to interview you in March. Before your scheduled interview…

Q&A With Lynnea Erickson Sr. Career Counselor

She can be found learning about reflexology, listening to chakra chants on her iPod, and dispensing career advice. Meet Lynnea…

You swing by the UW Career Center once again for a Mock Interview with one of our professional career counselors. After an interview role-play (with interview questions created specifically based on your resume and the position you’re applying for) the counselor provides you with feedback on what went well and what could be improved. On a whim you also decided to have your mock interview recorded on a DVD, so you look it over the night before your interview for further inspiration. Now...

Q: How long have you been with the UW

In March, you interview with the company you spoke with at the career fair back in February and, suddenly you’re on your way! Without your having noticed, the cherry trees on the Quad have bloomed, Dancing with the Stars is almost over and your friends are planning a summer trip to Cancun. Not only have you survived the gloomy Seattle winter but you’ve come out the other side well on your way to your career goals. Go you!

Q: What’s your favorite workshop to host? A: My current fave is “Making the Most of a Career Fair.” Career fairs can be noisy and chaotic, and the workshop really helps students to prepare and present themselves well.

Save a Little Money, Have a Lot of Fun.

Q: What’s your favorite place to eat in Seattle? A: Hippie-trippie meals from the Sunlight Café.

Emma O’Neill

Fellow latte-lovers, may I first say that you will find no judgment here. But if you’re having a hard time figuring where you can cut corners, decrease your own personal monthly budget and stretch that paycheck a little farther during these tough economic times, there are some surprisingly easy solutions. Thanks to the New York Times we can still be savvy, productive, caffeinated and well-dressed employees... on a dime (or at least with a smaller amount being accrued in credit card debt every month). Here are some ideas… Drink drip: Sure, it’s not as fun as a flavored latte but this could save you an astonishing amount of money each month. According to the NYT article, you can save up to $1,500 a year by cutting out pricey trips to Starbucks. Yikes. Bring your lunch: You don’t have to switch to ham and cheese every day but try bringing your lunch a couple times a week rather than lunching-out. You’ll save a bunch of money and it’s entirely possible that you’ll be eating better too. Lean Cuisines, leftovers, sandwiches, Luna Bars, grapes, apples, oranges... they all make tasty lunch tagalongs. Ditch the gym: Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting we all start foregoing exercise. Quite the opposite–the NYT article suggests we simply get creative about exercise and lose the monthly fee associated with gym membership. There’s no monthly fee for taking a quick walk at lunch, for example, or meeting a friend to walk Green Lake rather than grab happy hour. Check out budget retailers: I will preface this by saying that I am already a huge fan of Target, H&M and other budget retailers like many of you too, I imagine–so this may be preaching to the choir. The NYT also suggests checking out high-end second hand or thrift stores. Many such stores exist and this can be a great way to update your wardrobe with less expenditure. Functional and professional doesn’t always equal “huge price tag.”

ISSUE 14 • FEBRUARY 2009 • Page 4

Career Center? A: I’ve been here for a year and a half but was in various other student services positions at UW for almost nine years.

Q: What’s your favorite book? A: Oh gosh. I’m all over the map with books. A few that come to mind include Laurie Garrett’s The Coming Plague. It’s like a non-fiction detective thriller involving world health. I couldn’t put it down-- so now you know how geeky I really am!

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 Alyce Mallet, Contributing Writer