Career Services here for you
This is Career Services News for students in the Raj Soin College of Business. Look for a new issue each fall, winter and spring quarter to highlight upcoming events, opportunities and resources to assist you in career planning and the job search process.
Career Services offers an array of services to all students at Wright State University in the areas of student employment, career exploration, cooperative education/internship and job search assistance. Explore the Career Services Web site to learn more.
Career Services
E334 Student Union
http://career.wright.edu
(937) 775-2556
Career Services advisor for business majors: Julie Todd, julie.todd@wright.edu
Winter quarter events
To view all Career Services events for the year, visit the Career Services Events Calendar. To view job fairs and events other than those sponsored by WSU Career Services visit the list of off-campus job fairs.
Winter On-Campus Interviewing opportunities
Each fall, winter and spring quarter employers interview students and alumni in Career Services for a variety of co-op/internship and career employment positions.
You must have an active résumé in The Wright Search to participate in On-Campus Interviewing. For new registered users, it may take up to two business days after uploading a résumé to have access to the On-Campus Interviewing component of The Wright Search, so plan ahead!
On-Campus Interviewing sign-ups begin the first week of class each quarter, and new interview schedules are added throughout the quarter, so check for additions on a weekly basis.
Learn more about On-Campus Interviewing
IT Digital Mixer
The Digital Mixer is a networking event that brings together students, faculty, and employers as an opportunity for Greater Dayton's future information technology workforce to connect with regional information technology employers. Advance registration is required.
Who should attend? This event is open to regional college and university students pursuing majors related to information technology including Management Information Systems, Computer Science and Computer Engineering. Students interested in co-op/internship and career employment opportunities are encouraged to participate as well as students interested in learning about information technology careers.
This event will be held on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Student Union Apollo Room. Students should come dressed in business casual attire. In addition, students are advised not to bring résumés due to the nature of this event, and instead exchange business cards.
Review sample of business card layout
Students who wish to participate must register online by 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 10. Registered students are invited to submit résumés in Microsoft Word or PDF as attachments via email to julie.todd@wright.edu by 5:00 p.m., Friday, February 13 to be included in résumé packets created for individual employers. Name your document using the following format: LastnameFirstnameSchool.doc (for example, SmithJoeWrightState.doc).
Review sample content and layout of résumés
Visit the link below for tips on preparing and participating in this event including recommendations for business casual attire, strategies for networking with employers and overall presentation, and a list of participating employers.
Learn more about the Digital Mixer
EmployAbility Career Fair
During this event employers talk to individuals with disabilities about job opportunities, including non-degree generalist positions, co-op, internship, and career employment opportunities. Job candidates are advised to dress professionally and bring plenty of résumés. One copy of the résumé is required for admission.
This event will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon in the Student Union Apollo Room. More information
Other events
Two other events on the Career Services calendar may be of interest to business majors. Even though these events are targeted to other Colleges, both provide an opportunity to network with employers. Students are encouraged to visit the Career Services Web site prior to the event to see the list of participating employers.
Recruiting Day for Engineering and Computer Science will be held on Monday, February 9, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Student Union Apollo Room. More information
College of Liberal Arts Recruiting Day will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Student Union Apollo Room. More information
Hot topic: Job searching in a tight market
With constant news about the economy, 2009 graduates need to take steps NOW to gain a competitive edge. Some of the suggestions below are not new, but are even more important in a tight job market. For specific hiring and recruiting trends for 2009, schedule an appointment with a Career Services advisor.
Build your résumé
This has two meanings. First, build your résumé by having a professional document free from errors with a nice presentation, relevant information, and a focus on your qualifications, strengths and accomplishments related to your job target. Tailor your résumé to each job. Treat your résumé as a proposal by demonstrating how your past experience will benefit the prospective employer. Second, build your résumé by gaining experience related to your major through co-op/internship experience, developing your leadership and communication skills through extracurricular activities, and seeking unique opportunities to make you stand out like a study abroad experience.
Polish your image
Impress employers with your professional image which includes your marketing tools (résumé, cover letter), written and verbal communication skills (email correspondence, phone conversations), professional dress (job fairs, networking opportunities, interviews), follow up skills, and overall confidence and enthusiasm. You do not want to be overlooked because of something that you can prepare for, practice or even control. Furthermore, if you have a public profile on a social networking site like Facebook or MySpace, keep in mind that more and more employers visit these sites when considering potential employees. Make sure that the content is portraying the right image of you.
Consider growth industries
There are some industries predicted to grow or remain steady. Consider these industries while job searching in a tight job market: Technology, Energy, Health Care, Federal Government, and Environmental. Conduct research to identify companies and organizations within these industries in your target city. Under Related links below, get more information about the 2009 job outlook in How You Fit Into the Tight Job Market.
Create goals
Keep yourself on track and motivated by creating realistic and manageable goals. For example, giving yourself a weekly goal to apply for new jobs, identifying new companies related to your job target, and connecting with new contacts through networking. Try to stay positive throughout the process, though difficult it may be. Staying positive will help you stay motivated. In addition, recruiters can often sense negativity. Keep a good attitude and remember that you are not alone. Many others are facing the same challenges.
Be flexible
In a tight job market, you may need to consider multiple job locations. Decide where you are willing to live and work. Considering more than one geographic region can provide more opportunity. In addition, not only pursue your dream job, but also those positions that contain aspects of your dream job or can lead to your dream job.
Network
Remember, networking is still the best job search method. Many employers rely on referrals and fill positions before having the need to advertise them. Who does your network include? Family, friends, professors, club advisors, past and current supervisors, coaches, classmates, customers or clients, professional association members...and all the people they know! Look for new ways to network and connect with people. Join a professional association, attend business seminars or luncheons promoted in the business sections of newspapers or through the College of Business, take advantage of the alumni networking program offered through Career Services, meet recruiters at job fairs, talk with customers or clients if you work in a restaurant, gym, country club or salon, for example. Think outside the box! In addition, some find networking sites such as LinkedIn a great networking tool.
Professional association directories: American Society of Association Executives, International Directory of Professional Associations, Weddle's
Related links
How You Fit Into the Tight Job Market
Make Your Cover Letter Count in a Competitive Job Market
How to Jump-Start a Flagging Job Search
Making Employers Click (Online) for You
Resource corner: Employer directories
Career Services has a collection of employer directories available for students in the Career Resource Center. These resources are useful tools in the job search process, especially for a job seeker who is targeting a specific industry, type of employer, or location. These resources cannot leave the office; however, students are welcome to spend time in the Career Resource Center during office hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) to make copies or take notes. Below is a list of sample directories in Career Services.
Dayton Business Journal Book of Lists
The Dayton Business Journal publishes a yearly Book of Lists, which provides lists and rankings of Dayton area companies and organizations that were published in the Dayton Business Journal throughout the year. For example, you can find lists for Accounting Firms, Advertising Agencies, Computer Networking Companies, Federal Government Contractors, Financial Planning Firms, Minority-Owned Companies, Money Management Firms, Staffing Companies, Top 100 Companies, Woman-Owned Companies, and much more. If you are looking for a job in the Dayton area this is a great tool to identify new and established employers in the area. Each listing includes the employer name, address, phone number, Web site and a brief profile on the company.
If you are job searching outside of Dayton, a Book of Lists is available for purchase for over 60 markets. Visit http://www.bizjournals.com/bookoflists/ to see which markets have this resource and to get information about purchasing the resource.
Ohio JobBank
The JobBank book series are employment almanacs targeted to specific job markets. Career Services holds the Ohio JobBank book which includes employers in the Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo markets. Employers are categorized into industries such as Accounting and Management Consulting; Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations; Banking, Savings and Loans; Computer Hardware, Software and Services; Exporters and Importers; Financial Services; Pharmaceutical Distributors; Real Estate; Transportation and Travel; Utilities; and more. For each employer an address, phone number and Web site are provided as well as a brief profile on the company. This book also contains a section on industry associations for professional development.
You can find JobBank books for most states and major cities, so if you are job searching outside of Ohio, search for the JobBank book specific to your target city.
Jobs Almanac
The Jobs Almanac is similar to the Ohio JobBank but it includes employers across the nation. Like the Ohio JobBank book, employers are categorized into similar industries like Accounting and Management Consulting, and then further organized by state.
International Jobs Directory
The International Jobs Directory is a resource which provides information on international businesses as well as American businesses with international interests and operations. In addition, this book provides tips and strategies for finding international employment, listings of international internships, and relevant associations and societies.
And more
Career Services has more specific employer directories such as the 100 Best Non Profits, The Book of U.S. Government Jobs, and Directory of Japanese Affiliated Companies in the U.S.A. and Canada. In addition, registered users of The Wright Search database have access to the Career Services employer database.
The Internet is also a great tool to research and even the Yellow Pages provides an employer directory for your city. Local libraries are also a great place to go; librarians are knowledgeable, experienced researchers. Other helpful organizations with company information include the local Better Business Bureau and Chamber of Commerce, and Hoover's Industries online has a comprehensive database of more than 600 industries which can be searched by geography.
More to explore: The Washington Center
Add power to your résumé with a D.C. internship
Whether you plan to build a career in Dayton, or travel the world with your profession, an internship in Washington, D.C., will add a powerful talking point to your résumé.
Since 1998, more than forty Wright State students in a variety of majors have participated in Washington, D.C. internships, through The Washington Center (TWC) for Internships and Academic Seminars.
With the power and responsibility of the D.C. internship on their résumé, these students have moved forward on impressive career paths in national, state, and local politics; communications; social services and advocacy; human rights advocacy; law; federal government management; educational programs lobbying and evaluation; and filmmaking!
Past Wright State student internship placements made by TWC
Social Services and Advocacy
Victim Advocate, D.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence
District Attorney's Office, Domestic Violence Division
Intern, Share Our Strength
Program Assistant to the Manager, N Street Village
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Intergovernmental AffairsHuman Rights
Oxfam America
Amnesty International USA, Advocacy in Europe department
Intern, Assistant to the Executive Director, Free the Slaves
Intern, International Outreach, Save Darfur CoalitionCommunications and Marketing
Communications Intern, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Energy Star Division
Intern, Palumbo & Cerrell (lobbyists specializing in intellectual property)
Garrett, Yu and Hussein (public relations firm)
Communications Intern, Center for Clean Air Policy
Special Events Assistant, U.S. Department of the TreasuryInternational Relations and Development
Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Office of Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Operations, U.S. Department of State
United Nations Association of the United States of America, National Capital Area
Voluntary Visitors Program, U.S. Department of State
Program Assistant, Office of International Visitors/Voluntary Visitors Division
Junior Program Officer, Youth Programs Division, U.S. Information Agency
Foreign Affairs, U.S. Information Agency
MWH Global, Inc.Defense and Security
Intern, Department of the Army, Office of the Assistant G1 for Civilian Personnel, Program Support Division
Corporate Planning Intern, Defense Logistics Agency
Intern, U.S. Marshall Service
Intern, U.S. Coast Guard ExchangeAccountancy, Finance, Budget
Intern, General Accounting Office
Intern, U.S. House of Representatives Budget Committee/Democratic Staff
Intern, American Security Council FoundationCongressional Internships with
Representative Louis Stokes
Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones
Senator Mike Dewine
Representative Mike Turner
Representative Paul E. Gillmor
Representative Sherrod BrownLaw
Legal Intern, Special Litigation Division, Civil Rights & Government Services Section, District of Columbia Office of Corporation Counsel
Office of Maria Carlotta Mendoza, Attorney at Law
Public Defender Service for the District of ColumbiaOther Interests
Executive Assistant, U.S. Department of Education/Presidential Scholars Program
Library Intern, Sewall-Belmont House/National Women's Party
The League of Women Voters
Intern, Greater Washington Ibero American Chamber of Commerce
Wooly Mammoth Theater Company
TWC has a history of placing WSU students in internships that reflect their major and interests. All majors are invited to apply for TWC internships.
The Washington Center now offers internship experiences abroad, in Quebec, Canada (fluency in French required); London, England; Oxford, England; and Sydney, Australia. These programs include a two week orientation program in Washington, D.C., followed by eight weeks in the foreign city - working four and a half days each week, taking a class, and participating in other aspects of TWC internships.
Participation in TWC programs does require out of pocket expenses. However, scholarships and funded programs are available from TWC to defray expenses, including federal employment programs which fully fund the costs.
Some details about TWC internships, from a WSU perspective, are available at: http://career.wright.edu/events/twcscholarships/details.html
To learn more about The Washington Center, visit their Web site: http://www.twc.edu or contact the Wright State TWC liaison, Debra Wilburn, Assistant Director, Career Services, 937-775-2556.
Meet the expert: Jason Stefani, Target
This section of the newsletter provides an opportunity for a Wright State recruiter to provide his or her opinion on a career related topic. Please remember, this is the perspective of one recruiter from one organization.
When asked for his perspective on listing GPA on résumés, Jason Stefani, Campus Recruiter with Target, provided the following:
When writing a résumé, you are basically writing a document about who you are, the great things about you, and why a company should be interested in talking to you about a position with their organization. It is your opportunity to "sell" yourself in a written format. If you think about how you sell yourself in social settings, business settings, academic settings, you naturally focus on your strengths. When trying to win people over you will typically win with your strengths.
As you write your résumé you need analyze if your GPA is a strength for you or not, and decide accordingly whether or not to include it on your résumé. If it is a strength for you (at least 3.0 or above) then include it.
There are other companies that recruit on campus that do not take GPA into account as heavily. Many are looking for engaging and dynamic leaders. These companies may be more interested in your activities throughout college than they are your GPA. Did you take on leadership roles on campus when it was not required of you? Were you a part of student government, volunteer activities, Greek life, athletics? Hiring leaders in my industry, I would typically hire a 3.0 student who was heavily involved on campus before I would hire a 4.0 student who simply excelled in the classroom but nowhere else.
In conclusion, focus on your strengths. If your GPA is a strength then call it out on your résumé and be proud of it. If it is not a strength, then do not list it and call out your other strengths that will make you a desirable to the organization you are pursuing.
- Jason Stefani, Target
Featured employer: Qbase
Thank you, Qbase, for contributing the following profile:
What's unique about Qbase and why would you want to intern here? Well, we're a dynamic small business made up of seasoned business leaders, highly experienced technologists and young professionals. At Qbase, you'll have the right tools and opportunities to advance your career, both now and after graduation. Qbase is simply different. We are passionate about customer service and excellence and committed to fairness and integrity in dealing with all those in contact with our business. To quote one of our interns, “One of the best things about working at Qbase is the daily, positive responses we get from our clients.”
As for what we do: Qbase delivers leading solutions in data enhancement, management and analytics and thrives on creating the most inventive approach to any data challenge. Founded in 2006 by executives and technologists formerly with LexisNexis, Qbase develops market-specific solutions that leverage data for smarter decision-making. Headquartered in Dayton, Qbase is also an anchor tenant in the Nextedge technology park in Springfield, providing complete technology solutions for large and small businesses and the government, with more than 500 clients worldwide. We create database solutions, software products, and provide IT products and services to solve any of our customers' problems. And we do it with genuine enthusiasm. One of our recent interns put it best: “The excitement here at Qbase is unmatched by any other company I have ever worked for.”
Finally, we believe our internship program is one of the state's best. We have reached out to all of the colleges and universities in the region and have already had students intern here from Clark State, Wittenberg, Cedarville, Central State, Wright State and the University of Dayton. At Qbase, the internship program and the students involved in it are a high priority, providing a pipeline of candidates for full-time positions to several departments. Our interns have worked in various areas, including Marketing/Communications, Human Resources, Sales, Administrative Support, Technical (IT, Software, Data, Research and Modeling), Operations, Strategy, Client Services and Finance. In the past three years, 67 students have been employed as interns, with 30% eventually becoming full-time employees here at Qbase. Our internship program provides students with the opportunity to gain critical business skills and first-hand experience, while at the same time helping Qbase develop outstanding new team members.
Interested in learning more about Qbase? Visit www.qbase.us or find us on Facebook.
Business student spotlight: Grant Orians
Thank you, Grant, for the following success story:
As a business student, I have always believed that it is essential to do the best you can in everything you do. By always striving to set yourself above the crowd, you will reap the benefits of your hard work in more ways than you can imagine. Coming in as a freshman, I was just happy to get my school work completed, but I soon realized that the degree alone would not be my ticket for success. In order to make the most of my time at Wright State University, I knew that I would have to actively pursue involvement in student organizations and sign up for co-ops and/or internships. The benefits gained from being involved and career-focused early on as a student have been immense. The one area that has really affected me personally has been the knowledge and experience gained from my internships.
Coming into to college, I had a vague idea that internships/co-ops were helpful in landing jobs after graduation. While this aspect is true, my experience has shown me that that internships/co-ops provide far more benefits than most people realize. First of all, it is a job. A job that gives you “real world” work experience while paying you (often very well) to gain experience that is necessary to get a job in your future career. Not to mention that internships/co-ops give you an opportunity to test out a variety of areas you may be interested in before you start your career. Of my two internships, I have worked in a small business (Ag Credit) and a large corporation (Marathon Oil Corporation). This has given me a broader understanding of the sheer variety of jobs that are available in the Information Technology (IT) field. My internships have also helped me to narrow down the future IT careers that I intend to pursue. All in all, my several internships are all owed in part to the excellent staff at Career Services. Their résumé building services and various recruiting events have been instrumental in guiding me down the successful path that I am on. I strongly recommend that every student should take advantage of the services they offer. Along with my internships, my involvement with campus organizations has also been integral to my success here at Wright State.
As a current student, I have joined a variety of organizations to not only build my résumé, but develop necessary skills as well. I am currently the President of the M.I.S. Club, an ISOM Student Advisory Board member, and a member of the Newman Catholic Student Association (NCSA) Leadership Committee. Beforehand, I never thought that I would be capable of setting up meetings or planning events, but I took the risk and applied myself to get the positions I have today. It has been well worth the effort, as I have gained leadership, time-management, and social skills that I did not have before. These organizations also tie into my future plans, as I will use the skills I have learned in my internship next summer with Marathon. As you can see throughout this article, the best advice for being a successful student is to simply do your best. Get involved, do an internship, and take advantage of all of the resources that are offered to us. Remember that you will only get as much out of college as you put in to it.
- Grant Orians, Junior, Management Information Systems
Spread the word
If you have a success story or have personally experienced the benefits of utilizing Career Services and are willing to share your experience, please contact Julie Todd at julie.todd@wright.edu.
Etiquette tip
Compliments of At Ease Inc.
Are you getting the most out of your day?
Do you plan your work and then work your plan? Do you act rather than react? Do you manage interruptions rather than letting them control you?
Good time managers create a daily list of what they want to accomplish. When they have a block of 10 minutes or an hour, they go directly to that list to see what they can get done. They also plan a time of the day when they can act rather than react. For some, it is the beginning of the day before phones and start ringing, people dropping by and email messages start coming in. For others, it is the end of the day when most people are long gone.
Finally, good time managers see interruptions as opportunities. They answer questions in a succint manner and encourage others to do the same. They stand up when someone unexpectedly enters their work area rather than inviting the person to take a seat.
If you would like to receive monthly tips from At East Inc., send a request to sabath@ateaseinc.com.
