REAL WORLD
Xavier University Fall Career Fair |
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Fall Career Fair
Welcome
Career Development Office
from the Director
530 Conaton Learning Commons 3800 Victory Parkway Cincinnati Ohio 45207-1161 www.xavier.edu/career 513.745.3141 cdo@xavier.edu
Welcome to the Fall Career Fair! We are delighted to have you join us. With over 100 employers in attendance, this fair is an excellent opportunity to network and make connections with recruiters. As a student or alum of Xavier University you have access to the Career Development Office throughout all stages of your career. I would also like to thank all of our generous sponsors for their support for the Fall Career Fair. Because of their financial involvement, our fair continues to be a success!
The CDO works to
connect, educate & empower
Xavier students & alumni with resources & services, to achieve
MEANINGFUL CAREERS
over their lifetime.
Jen Franchak Executive Director Career Development Office
Thank you to our
SPONSORS
Where Are The Employer Profiles? A few things have changed with the Career Development Office’s recent transition from eRecruiting to Hire-A-Muskie, including the location of the employer profiles. The profiles can be found both by logging into www.hireamuskie.com or by downloading the Hire-A-Muskie app on your phone. After logging into Hire-A-Muskie with your Xavier username and password, you will click on the event tab in the top bar. Under the career fair tab, click ‘2015 Fall Career Fair.’ This will take you to the employer listing. Each listing has information on what the organization is seeking and connects you to the organization profile. A new and exciting feature with this module is the ‘My Top 10 Companies.’ You can add companies to your top ten list, which notifies an organization that you are interested in their positions, and it will send them a copy of your default resume in Hire-A-Muskie. Note: Do not begin your Top 10 selection until you have uploaded your most recent resume into Hire-A-Muskie. To ensure that you have a top notch resume, visit the Career Development Office during our Career Fair Prep Week. We will have both employers and career coaches reviewing resumes. For a list of times, visit www.xavier.edu/career. The Hire-A-Muskie career fair module is a great tool to introduce yourself to an organization. To really stand out as a candidate, you should add them to your Top 10 list, plus research a few facts about the organization and mention them in your elevator pitch.
Hire-A-Muskie Now Available in an App!
Want direct access to the employer profiles? Download the career fair app. Go to the app store and look for ‘Careers by Simplicity.’ After you download the app, log in using your Xavier username and password. Click on the Career Fairs icon on the bottom menu bar. Then click on ‘Upcoming’ on the top menu bar. Click on the ‘2015 Fall Career Fair,’ then click on ‘Number of Employers Registered.’ After selecting ‘Let’s get started,’ you will see the employer profiles. You can click on each employer’s name to learn more about them and select them as your ‘My Top 10 Companies.’
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REDMOND MILLERICK, COMMUNICATIONS INTERN
Written by Andrea Mersmann
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Written by Andrea Mersmann Want to speak with a coach about your LinkedIn profile? Make an appointment on Hire-A-Muskie (www.hireamuskie.com). Please note: Business students should make an appointment with Andrea Mersmann
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rom day one, we’ve encouraged you to get involved on campus. That’s because we know being involved outside the classroom enhances your college experience. Being involved provides opportunities to make meaningful relationships and discover more about yourself. We know that you’ll be less likely to transfer to another college and more likely to come back to visit as an alumni. Being involved makes your life at college more exceptional, and you’re happier because of it. We also know being involved ‘looks good on your resume,’ but how do you translate your involvement in co-curricular pursuits into something valued by employers? Learning how to articulate what you’ve gained during these outside-the-classroom experiences (aka co-curricular) can enhance your resume and give you an advantage in your job or internship search. The most co-curricular involvement opportunities on Xavier’s campus are through student organizations. With 160+ different organizations to choose from, all with varying levels of commitment, joining an organization is one of the easiest ways to get involved. Being involved in a student organization, whether you are a president, event coordinator, treasurer, member, or serve in another capacity, can offer you real-life, tangible experiences which easily translate to a resume or an interview. Students who are applying for jobs or internships frequently use their experiences and the transferable skills developed in a student organization to demonstrate their qualification for a job position. Doing so is a great way to showcase skills you can offer an employer, like critical thinking, problem solving, delegating tasks, interpersonal and intrapersonal communication, leading a group, organization, time management, and working or interacting with diverse groups of people. Adding it to your resume: It’s not as important to list which organizations you were involved with, but how you were involved. Steer away from simply listing organizations or positions you held; instead showcase your responsibilities, achievements, and skills used. Examples: ‘Prepared bi-weekly volunteer schedule for 45+ member student organization.’ ‘Negotiated vendor contracts for student organization events.’ ‘Grew attendance at student organization’s signature event by developing innovative marketing strategies.’
You can utilize your co-curricular involvement experiences to compliment and fill gaps in your academic curriculum. Because many available internships and jobs require knowledge beyond a single focus area or expertise, it’s important to diversify your resume – which isn’t always possible to fit in your academic plan. Many employers favor applicants who have expertise in areas such as marketing, technology and social media, leadership, finance and budgeting, and the ability to speak multiple languages - regardless of the field. Your involvement in a leadership development program may give you an edge over other applicants. Search for opportunities to get involved in, which can be thoughtfully integrated with your interests to enhance your degree. Compare your skill set to those of the people who have your dream job and work on what’s missing. Adding it to your resume: Find parallels between job descriptions and the skills you’ve gained in your involvement activities, then write a cover letter detailing your qualifications. Be sure to practice how to bring up your experience during your interview. Examples: ‘…my involvement with Xavier’s International Student Association and my experience working with the Center for International Education uniquely qualifies me for the position of… because…’
For many employers, a degree alone is not indicative of a wellrounded graduate; they want to know how you’ve invested your time in college. Your time spent outside the classroom tells a story about you. It can illustrate you’ve made the most out of the four short years here, you’re a self-made leader, you’re passionate about your field of study, you’re finding self-directed ways to learn and develop your talents, and you’re an innovator and collaborator... How you’ve utilized your time outside of the classroom can translate to how you will perform as a professional. Incorporating your involvement story on your resume and in your interviews will give you an advantage in your job or internship search! To learn more about how to get involved at Xavier, contact the Office of Student Involvement: XUInvolvement@xavier.edu www.Xavier.edu/Involvement or visit the office in 210 Gallagher Student Center Xavier University Fall Career Fair |
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the 12 week interview Written By Bill Cunningham Dean of SugarCreekU
As you embark on your search for employment in an internship, here are some ideas to think about during your search.
• Have a clearly defined objective if you are looking for a job in your area of study. Even if you are not 100% sure about your choice of majors, you increase your chances of being hired if you are passionate about your field of expertise. Guy Kawasaki, one of Apple’s first marketing gurus, believes you should “Plan deliberately, act emergently.” After all, the reason you are pursuing an internship is to find out whether or not this makes sense for your future.
• Look for companies who hire multiple interns.
We have found interns can learn a lot from each other as well as from their specific job. Having a group of interns who meet frequently (SugarCreek’s meet every week on Monday afternoons for a fireside chat with one of our execs) provides a channel to learn more about other parts of the company and to dispel your fears that you are the only one in a particular situation.
• If possible, find companies who rotate you through different departments.
Not only will you get a better view of the whole company, but you will begin building a network should you end up as a full-time employee after graduation. Organizations desperately need people who can manage and communicate across functional areas of the company.
• Check to see if a company assigns mentors to interns.
Mentors may or may not reside in your department and sometimes are recent hires, so you have a ‘go-to” person to ask questions you might not want to ask your boss. Mentors can also help you navigate any office politics since they are intentionally not in your chain of command.
• Think of this as your twelve week interview and a two-way street.
You evaluate the opportunity as a potential employee while the company looks for great candidates to help their company grow.
As we expand our business, interns and new hires will play a vital role in our growth strategy. SugarCreek is looking for talented individuals seeking opportunities to grow in the ever-changing food industry. Our teams include Quality Assurance, Supply Chain, Human Resources, Marketing, Operations, Safety and Environmental. While food industry experience is beneficial, the most successful people at SugarCreek have a strong work ethic, the ability to learn quickly and can work functionally among various departments and locations.
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FINDING AN INTERNSHIP
It’s Just That Simple! Written By Darian Richardson Assistant Director, Experiential Education
You’ve probably heard it many times before, “you need an internship before graduation.” Maybe this was drilled into your head by a faculty advisor, professor, or even a parent. One thing those people have in common is …they’re right! That means gaining “real world” experience is arguably one of the most important things you can do while in school to land the career of your dreams. The competition will be fierce, but here are five simple tips that will land you that internship:
1. There is no time like the present! Once you step foot on Xavier’s campus, the clock begins. Beginning freshman year, set up as many relevant experiences as possible (i.e. work study, join clubs, volunteer, special class projects showcasing teamwork and leadership). Experience comes in many forms.
2. Take inventory and craft a resume. Document of all your experience and make a list of all the career relevant activities you have accomplished. Your resume is a great opportunity to articulate your experience in a meaningful way so employers see what you have to offer. Scheduling an appointment with an experienced Career Coach in the Career Development Office is a great way to get started.
3. Identify your interests. If you’re going to pursue an internship, have ideas of what you’re interested in, and focus your attention there. Internships are your opportunity to “test drive” a variety of career fields, so choose your path carefully.
4. Locate the opportunities. You can start by using Xavier’s job board, Hire-A-Muskie, to identify opportunities locally or in your home state. Career fairs are another great way to interact with top employers hiring for internships - Xavier hosts them every fall and spring semester. Networking with family, faculty, and alumni can also be useful, not to mention a number of online resources like www.internship.com. And of course…apply!
5. Be proactive! None of these strategies work without you taking the initiative, so give it a try! When you put forth the effort, you’ll be that much closer to landing your perfect internship.
REAL WORLD Searching for an internship that gives real world experience? Look no further than Luxottica Retail. You may know them from their retail stores: LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sears Optical, Target Optical, Sunglass Hut, Apex by Sunglass Hut, ILORI, and Optical Shops of Aspen. Or you may own one of their eyewear brands: Oakley, Ray-Ban, Vogue, and Oliver Peoples, among others. This global company offers a 10 week summer internship program for rising juniors and seniors pursuing a Bachelor’s degree. Student interns engage in departmental projects, participate in weekly networking, personal and professional events, and finish their internship with a presentation for their department, highlighting their accomplishments. The majority of Luxottica’s recruiting happens at the career fairs. MaryBeth Smoot, Xavier alum of 2011 Master’s of Education, loves recruiting at Xavier. She says Xavier students have “drive, energy and ambition.” This past summer MaryBeth recruited 5 Xavier students for internship positions within varying departments at Luxottica: Maria Elena Juarez, Patrick Carlotti, John Riedel, Jake Haigis and Megan Brault. Recruiting year round for summer internships, Smoot spoke with 3 of the interns at the fall career fair and 2 at the spring fair. All five interns love the culture at Luxottica. Interns are given the opportunity of deciding the path they want to take. Megan Brault says she felt valued as an intern. Her projects were items that are important to the organization, and not simply busy work. Intern projects vary from verifying job descriptions (in Human Resources) to testing controls where there is an inflow or outflow of money (in Internal Auditing). Another aspect appealing to Xavier students is Luxottica’s formal mentor program. To expose them to a part of the business which is different than their summer assignment, and to gain awareness of how successful individuals within the organization have been able to navigate their careers (both externally and at Luxottica), each student intern is matched with a Luxottica mentor outside of their summer internship department. The mentor/mentee pair is selected based on the background and functional interest of each individual. The pairs meet a minimum of 4 times during the summer to discuss personal experiences, learn about a different department, and ask any additional questions. Interested in applying to Luxottica for an internship? MaryBeth Smoot has great advice. She recommends career fair attendees, first and foremost, be themselves. More importantly, MaryBeth says students should have an idea of what they want. While internships are a good method of exploring a desired career path, she cannot create a good match for students who don’t have any idea what they are looking for in an internship.
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Want to stand out from the crowd at the fall career fair? When you approach MaryBeth, make sure you have researched Luxottica. Read through their website including their eyewear and retail brands and follow their social media pages to learn about their culture. An internship at Luxottica requires a 3.0 GPA, and typically targets rising seniors. MaryBeth not only looks for strong academic skills, but also involvement on campus (especially leadership experience), study abroad experience and/or service work.
Apply at www.hireamuskie.com
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Written By Jennifer Bush Assistant Dean Graduate Programs, MBA
Getting a degree in History was the best decision of my life. It might be surprising to see this statement, especially given current educational trends toward technical and STEM degree programs. While these degrees and training are vital, a degree in history provides a skill set that prepares you for success in all areas of career and life. A history major has the ability to: 1) See the big picture and the little details at the same time, thus giving a fully dimensioned perspective to strategy development and problem identification and solution. 2) Focus and find answers through curiosity, intrigue, and dedication – qualities which are crucial to the success of any project. 3) Be creative and innovative because by knowing what happened in the past, new approaches can be developed and implemented for the future. 4) Be unafraid to ask hard questions and to challenge the status quo, both of which are deadly limitations in any industry. 5) Develop an appreciation & respect for people, places, and things, all of which are interconnected and intertwined, are crucial for an effective work place and team management and success. My history degree led me to teaching first, business second, and finally higher education and management. I work with students. I manage people. I maintain budgets. I oversee fiscal health and effectiveness. I develop programs, assess them, modify, and start the process over as needed. My history degree paired with my graduate degree has made me a well-rounded professional who is comfortable partnering & interacting with colleagues from diverse industries, educational background, countries, and cultures. A degree in any Arts & Science discipline is a spring board from which any career can be launched. So to all my fellow Arts & Science majors, be proud! You have made the best decision of your life in getting an Arts & Science degree.
For more information on career paths for arts and humanities majors make an appointment with Barbara Turner-Michaelson using Hire-A-Muskie.
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www.hireamuskie.com
Written by Emily Moores Communications Assistant
Not everyone is meant to sit in a cubicle, and Meni Johnson is one of those people. Meni, a graduate student in the Masters of Science in Human Resource Development program, loves an active and engaging environment. She embodies the Jesuit value of Cura Personalis; a person who cares for the people around her. Ms. Johnson does not simply want a job; she wants a career. She began looking at Waffle House as a possible employer for its stock options, mobility (literally city to city) and opportunity for advancement. After her initial meeting with Brandis Taylor, Area People Director, Meni realized this was a company that cares about the development of every single employee. The feeling was mutual. Brandis Taylor shared, “Meni is one of the most talented Management Trainees we’ve hired in these last few years! This came as no surprise to us as we knew the caliber of Xavier students. What first caught our attention with Meni is her bright, engaging personality.”
“Meni is one of the most talented Management Trainees we’ve hired in this last few years! This came as no surprise to us as we knew the caliber of Xavier students.”
Waffle House’s Leadership program looks for students who love a fast-paced work environment that strays from the traditional 9-5. Ideal applicants are passionate about leadership, coaching and motivating others, and looking to begin a long and lucrative career. The personalities which succeed at Waffle House are energetic team members who thrive on engaging with people from all walks of life. Currently, they only recruit for the metro-Cincinnati market, but once you begin your career, you have the option to relocate wherever a Waffle House is located. The starting pay is $40,000 annually.
Waffle House is in the “people business,” and Meni’s personality fits right in. Every quarter, Waffle House invites the highest-performing trainees in the region to a Leadership Dinner held by the company’s Executive Vice President. The company begins grooming you for the highest levels of Senior Management once they see your talent. Waffle House quickly spotted Meni’s passion and she was invited within her first week. Everyone loves Meni, not just for her sparkling personality, but because of her dedication and ability to go above and beyond.
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Written by Rita Stall You know the old adage, ‘It is not what you know; it is who you know.’ Well, for the most part, this is true. There are a lot of statistics out there, so we can state with certainty that many, many jobs are obtained through a network of closely referred individuals. Fortunately, building networks is a much simpler process than we may imagine, and taking advantage of career fairs can be an effective beginning. Career fairs bring a host of hiring staff, recruiters, and managers with an assortment of objectives. Working primarily in the MBA office, I have had graduate students approach me with a variety of reasons why they write off career fairs- they do not feel like they will find a job at the fairs; employers are not actually looking to hire; companies attending are of no interest to them. Well, for these students, they are missing the chance to cash in on some very valuable contacts and the potential to build a network of possible career opportunities. As someone who has sat behind many fair tables, I can definitely say career fairs are a way for recruiters to capture potential talent. Yes, they may not be hiring today. Yes, they may not currently be hiring for your targeted position. Yes, it might not be your dream company. Do not lose sight, however, of the impression you can build with that hiring manager. See, the thing is, recruiters know people. In fact, that is their business. They attend career fairs to seek candidates who really make an impression, stand out; ones with whom they feel confident they can maintain an open dialogue for current or future positions. Also, recruiters know other recruiters. I have seen it happen many times, a situation in which one recruiter may not have a position, but will call up another to discuss this really great candidate, who may be a great fit for the other company. Do not dismiss the opportunity to make these valuable contacts!
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Rita Stall is the Assistant Director for Career Development within the Williams College of Business. Rita joins the Career Development Office with a wealth of professional development experience including occupational changes, vocational advancement, and setting long-term career ladders. She facilitates personal and professional coaching for current students and alumni, with a special focus on MBA students. She is available to assist students with job readiness advisement including but not limited to career exploration, resume reviews, job search strategies, interviewing skills and networking.
To schedule an appointment with Rita, log into Hire-A-Muskie.
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Global consulting leader in talent, health, retirement, and investments seeks brilliant, high-energy, dedicated individuals with a passion for improving the health, wealth, and careers of people around the world. Stop by and see us at the fall career fair and let’s make tomorrow, today. Mercer is an equal opportunity employer. M/F/D/V.
www.mercer.com 20254-AD-230715
from an MBA to an MBA
Written By Erin King MBA Graduate 2015
Since most MBA students are already working in full-time positions when they begin the program, students who pursue their MBA immediately after finishing their undergraduate face a unique set of challenges. Two months into my MBA career, I walked into the fall career fair feeling very nervous. I knew only a handful of companies at the career fair were interested in hiring MBAs for internships, so the pressure was on. After a few conversations, I found my way to the Kroger booth, where I struck up a conversation with Tim- the HR associate who hired me for my MBA internship and eventually helped me land my full-time position with Kroger. During my undergraduate career, I worked three internships with different organizations throughout Cincinnati. As an MBA student, I found getting an internship to be a bigger challenge, since most companies cater their internship programs to undergraduates. I have been told my previous internship experience was a major factor in selecting me for the internship, but other factors really sealed the deal, like being able to talk about the skills I gained in and out of the classroom and my desire to learn. As an undergraduate or MBA student looking for an internship to begin your career, here are a few things I learned that will hopefully help you, too. • Use your experience to your advantage. that’s why you take classes and work internships. Learn the standard questions most interviewers ask and draw from your experience in and out of the classroom to formulate your answers before you walk into an interview. That way, when someone says, “Tell me about one time you worked with a dysfunctional group and how you resolved it,” you have an example story prepared about a class or internship experience which fully answers the question and shows your great negotiation skills. • Pursue as many internship and job experiences as you can. Even if you can only work 10 hours each week, do it. Seek out internships with different companies or ask HR about completing rotations in different departments within the company. Experience sets you apart from other applicants, and hiring managers really do notice. • Don’t be afraid to take an internship or entry-level position if you don’t have a lot of work experience. Employers recognize your education and degree, but they also see you need more experience before you can move up. Keep in mind they see your degree as a sign you want to continue moving up the ladder, so you will stick out in their mind when new opportunities come up. • Even if an offered position doesn’t seem like the perfect fit, take it. No matter where you work, you will learn something about the company, the department, and yourself. Each internship I took showed me what I did and didn’t want in a career, helped me expand my network, and got me one step closer to the job I wanted. • If you get an internship, work closely with HR from the beginning. A few weeks after you are hired, set up a meeting with an HR associate to let them know you are interested in continuing with the company in the future. If they are looking to hire interns into full-time positions, they will continue the relationship with you- but you have to drive the conversation. Xavier University Fall Career Fair |
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