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Persevere

May 1, 2009 By pepa Leave a Comment

Have you had to overcome obstacles or difficulties in your job search? Who hasn’t in
this economy? Companies have cut back on hiring, decreased starting salaries and
even pulled back offers. Learn how others have had to persevere in their search to land an internship or full-time position.

After picking up some tips from these guys, we’d love to hear your stories and ideas too. Post them in the comments section below.

Student Profiles:

Marcelo Rolim

Name: Marcelo Rolim

Year: Recent Grad

Major: Supply Chain Management

Company: The Hershey Company

Job: Supply Chain Development Program

Location: Hershey, PA

Home town: Midland, MI

1. What have you done to seek employment in today’s job market?
I have gone to every career fair, and handed out my resume to every company that seemed interesting. I practiced my interviewing skills by signing up for Mock Interviews through myspartancareer.com. In addition, I maintained contact with every single one of the employers that I have met throughout my college years, in order to show initiative and perseverance from my part.

2. What have been your biggest challenges?
The biggest challenges that I encountered were the limited number of entry-level positions for various companies, and the uncertainty of businesses needs due to the economic situation. Another big challenge has been getting my offer rescinded over Christmas break. At that point, I had already made a decision on that company and started researching for housing in the area. Nonetheless, this experience has taught me that you never know what the future holds. Therefore, you need to be ready for whatever life throws at you. In this case, it provided me the opportunity to start searching again for an even better job.

3. How have you kept from getting discouraged?
I have stayed positive throughout the entire process. I applied and interviewed for various positions. As long as I had another opportunity in sight, I remained focused and optimistic.

4. What’s been the outcome of your search?
I have accepted a full-time position within The Hershey Company. I will be joining Hershey’s Supply Chain Development Program (SCDP) in June, and moving out to the east coast.

5. What is one piece of advice you would give someone looking for a job?
I would advise them to start networking young, utilize all the resources available in your college, and get a jump-start on your career by attending career fairs and extending your knowledge with an internship experience.

Sonia Mediratta

Name: Sonia Mediratta

Year: Senior

Major: Human Resource Management

Home Town: Portage, MI

1. What have you done to seek employment in today’s job market?
Network with family and friends, attend career fairs, and look for
jobs on-line.

2. What have been your biggest challenges?
Facing rejection after having an amazing interview. I was very close in getting an offer from
a company but at the last minute, the company decided to hire a master’s student for the undergrad level position.

3. How have you kept from getting discouraged?
Going after my dreams and never giving up.

4. What’s been the outcome of your search?
Still interviewing for positions and have an interview coming up for a 2 year HR rotational
position with a company out in Boston.

Matt Dunatchik

Name: Matt Dunatchik

Year: Senior

Major: Supply Chain Management

Home Town: Livonia, MI

1. What have you done to seek employment?

I started to seek employment last fall by attending the Career Gallery in October. At the time I was quite successful and received interviews. I would constantly check myspartancareer.com for job postings that sounded interesting to me and that I qualified for. I also used my network to get my name and resume out there. I obtained two second round interviews from the fall, but to no avail.

In the spring I was a bit more proactive and began applying to company websites while continuing to use myspartancareer and my network. I got a few interviews through myspartancareer and have still been applying and looking for a job that way.

2. How have you kept from getting discouraged?

It’s very hard not to take the rejection personally, but it’s something that you must get over if you are going to stay strong and positive in your career search. When I first got rejected I took it very personally because I thought I did a good job on the interview. In order to better myself I wanted to reach out to the company and ask why they went with other candidates. I asked them to give me some feedback if they could so I could better develop myself and work on any area that wasn’t my strong suit. Luckily the company gave me some feedback that I used to become a better interviewer.

Staying positive in this economic time can be tough, but maintaining a good attitude and knowing that it WILL get better is what helps me get through. I know that I have a great degree from a well respected University and even though it might be harder than in the past, I will find a job if I remain positive and proactive. It’s something you have to constantly remind yourself of, or you will get discouraged and not stay on the right track in your job search.

3. What is the outcome?

As of now I am still currently looking for a job, but I am not letting the worry get to me. I won’t be fully graduated until the summer and I know if I don’t find anything by then, it won’t be the end of the world. I have a second round interview with Coyote Logistics and I’m very positive about it. I have been studying the company and really asking myself if this is a job that I will be able to handle, and a company I will fit with. I want to be fully prepared for the interview and fully confident in myself.

If worst comes to worst and I don’t find a job by the end of the summer, I know that the Career Gallery in the beginning of October will be a great opportunity for me to pursue companies that are hiring, companies that I am interested in. There are hundreds of resources out there and staying positive will only better yourself in this poor economic situation.

Resources and Related Links:

Feel free to share your own story about persevering in your job search in the comments section!

Posted by pepa on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 6:19 am (Edit)
Filed under CASH, Career, job search · Tagged with

Filed Under All Blog Posts Tagged With bad economy, bad times, career search, career services, finding a job in bad economy, job search, lear center, michigan state university, MSU Career Services Network, recession, tough times

Oprah’s on Twitter! Are you?

April 17, 2009 By mark Leave a Comment

Well it’s official, Twitter is the now the real deal, mainstream, cool tech toy to talk about. Today Oprah made her first Tweet and if that doesn’t legitimize Twitter then I don’t know what will. In addition to Oprah jumping on the bandwagon, Ashton Kutcher and CNN just had a competition to see who could be the first to have a million followers! Ashton punkd CNN and ended up winning that one. But now that every TV personality, business leader and famous pet has a Twitter account does it take away from Twitter’s previous exclusive feel. Twitter used to be the gem of the technologically savvy Web 2.0 generation, where you could keep up to date on new tech updates, digital marketing trends or New York City traffic updates. Now my feed is filled with celebrity gossip straight from the mouths of the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and Al “LockBox” Gore. Although Twitter might be losing some of it’s intrigue to those early adopters, it can still be a great way to stay in touch with your online network. Not to be one on the outside, CASH for Careers is on Twitter too. You can follow us at @cashforcareers and get live updates from our blog and other great career search info. You can find more tips on how to use Twitter for your job search by following this link.

Still not sure about all the hype about Twitter? Check out this parody of Twitter and what it’s done to it’s most loyal users, it’s definitely good for a laugh or two.

PS you can follow me on Twitter too! Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions about CASH, Twitter or even if you just need dating advice. Hit me up at @Kenyonm1.

By: Mark Kenyon

Remember! Follow us @cashforcareers!

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Filed Under All Blog Posts Tagged With career search, celebrities, cnn, job search, michigan state university, twitter

Satisfied With Your Work?

April 15, 2009 By mattV Leave a Comment

How important is job satisfaction? “The Career News” has one word for the person who continues to go to a job they severely dislike: insanity. “To be happier in your work life you need to start doing things differently. If you don’t, you’re practicing the definition of insanity – doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. It might be worthwhile to start changing your attitude towards your job.” I think most of us would be very surprised to learn the percent of people who actually enjoy going to work every day. As you look at your job or a potential new job it is important to consider how well you will like what you are doing. Sometimes the happiness an enjoyable job can give you is worth more than the increased salary or benefits that you may initially think are more important.

http://www.thecareernews.com/newsletter.php?news=1041

By: Matt V.

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Filed Under All Blog Posts Tagged With career search, careers, job satisfaction, job search, jobs, work satisfaction

How To Find a Job in Tough Times

April 13, 2009 By mattD Leave a Comment

Are you still having trouble landing that job? Do you still think your resume could look a bit better? Do you want to know how to use professional networking sites to better your career development? If you answered yes to any of these questions you need to check out the Mid-Michigan Career Development Showcase. It will feature Molly Fletcher who is the agent to Tom Izzo and John Smoltz, as well as an established author. Also Kevin Donlin, the co-author of Guerrilla Marking for Job Hunters 2.0.

This free event should be a great time to learn and grow professionally. Hope to see you all there!

How to Find a Job in Tough Times: The mid-Michigan CAREER DEVELOPMENT SHOWCASE

This April 20 Event Will Feature Molly Fletcher – Agent to Tom Izzo and John Smoltz, and Author of “Your Dream Job Game Plan” and Kevin Donlin contributing co-author of Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0

This free mid-Michigan area networking reception hosted by the MSU Alumni Association on the evening of Monday, April 20 will feature Molly Fletcher — author of the book “Your Dream Job Game Plan – 5 Tools for Becoming Your Own Career Agent”, Kevin Donlin, contributing co-author of Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0, and John Hill, Director of Alumni Career Services with the MSUAA. The three will discuss proven job-search tactics, including how to get hired using LinkedIn.com, why your resume is not working (and how to fix it), how to network without being a pest, and more.

This free event will be held at the College of Communication Arts and Sciences at MSU in Room 147. So please mark your calendar and RSVP to John Hill at the MSUAA at hilljohn@msu.edu (please put date of the event in subject line) today.

WHAT: Mid-Michigan MSUAA CAREER DEVELOPMENT SHOWCASE
WHO:Sports Agent and Author Molly Fletcher, Job Search Specialist and Author Kevin Donlin, MSUAA Director of Career Services John Hill
WHEN:Monday, April 20, 2009 @ 7:00 pm ET
WHERE: College of Communication Arts and Sciences, MSU, East Lansing, 48824 Room 147
RSVP REQUESTED: hilljohn@msu.edu (please put date of event in the subject line)

Further yourself, your career and the Spartan nation. Hope to see you there.

Speaker bios:
Molly Fletcher is the President of Client Representation for Career Sports and Entertainment where she represents hundreds of the brightest MLB stars, NBA coaches, PGA and LPGA golfers, NCAA basketball and football coaches, and media personalities! She is the world’s leading female sports agent. She works with high profile clients such as John Smoltz, Jeff Francoeur, Ernie Johnson, Jr., and Tom Izzo on a daily basis. Having spent most of her youth playing tennis competitively and competing at Michigan State University (1989-1993), Fletcher is able to connect with her clients on a personal and professional level and always act in their best interests. Fletcher’s personal passion for teaching relationship-building techniques and following her “Five Tools” approach for pursuing any career has enabled many young professionals from both inside and outside the sports industry – to fulfill their employment dreams. In 2008, she authored the book “Your Dream Job Game Plan Five Tools for Becoming Your Own Career Agent” published by JIST.

Kevin Donlin is the creator of The Simple Job Search Institute, a division of Guaranteed Resumes, LLC located in Edina, Minnesota. Since 1996, he has written and edited more than 10,000 resumes and cover letters, and assisted nearly 3,000 clients. A contributing co-author of Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0 and author of two job-search books, Kevin writes a job search column for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and has been interviewed by The New York Times, Fortune magazine, The Wall Street Journal, CBS Radio and Fox TV, among others. Kevin is a frequent speaker on job search topics across America. Kevin is a graduate of Michigan State University.

John Hill, Director of Alumni Career Services, is charged with providing career services to all MSU alumni. He also conducts career/professional/corporate development events on various topics including: Taking Your Online Connections Offline For Career Success, How Gen Y Fits In With Gen X and Boomers in the Workforce and Developing Your Career Search Strategy.. John is a graduate of Michigan State University.

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Honesty is the Best Policy in Career Searching

April 13, 2009 By ryan Leave a Comment

According to a study done by Careerbuilder.com, 57% of employers dismiss potential candidates for jobs upon finding even the smallest fabrication on a resume. A word to the wise: don’t compromise your character for a job (because you won’t get it)!

For more information on this topic, check out this link.
Also, check out Michigan State University’s falsification of information policy at: http://www.bus.msu.edu/learcenter/myspartancareer/falsepolicy.pdf

By: Ryan Mckinnon

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Filed Under All Blog Posts Tagged With career search, careers, honesty, job search, jobs, resumes

21 Eppley: First Impressions [Episode 1]

April 13, 2009 By mark Leave a Comment

your mother always told you to share...

Filed Under 21 Eppley, All Blog Posts, CASH Videos Tagged With 21 Eppley, appropriate work dress, career search, careers, funny, job search, jobs, lear center

The Vera Success Story

April 10, 2009 By ashleyG Leave a Comment

At my graduation party last year I received all of the usual graduation gifts. Cards with $10 bills and inspirational books telling me I could be anything I dreamed were piled on the table at the end of the party. There was one gift, however that I had no idea what to make of. It was a Vera Bradley zip ID case. The gift seemed like a handy carrying case for my MSU ID and phone so I decided to throw it on my keychain. After two days on campus I couldn’t walk five feet without seeing a Vera Bradley handbag or purse.
Small town designers Barbara Baekgaard and Patricia Miller started Vera Bradley to make travel luggage more feminine. The success of the line and generation of a complete business plan has now led them to become one of the most popular bag designers on the MSU Campus. Follow this link to learn more about the business history behind Vera Bradley.

http://henriettashandbags.com/vera_bradley_handbags.html

So if a regular 9-5 job isn’t for you, always remember that an entrepreneurial spirit and a solid business plan can lead to great things!

By: Ashley Goodenough

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Filed Under All Blog Posts Tagged With career search, careers, fashion, job search, jobs, vera bradley

California Dreaming…

April 10, 2009 By jenn Leave a Comment

California knows how to party….

…or have internships.

With the snow falling in April, people might want to start looking for warmer climates to work in. California is known for its sandy beaches, hot sun, and of course the entertainment industry. Many people move to California to “make it big” in Hollywood, but what about just getting a job behind the scenes?

Most big entertainment companies, such as Time Warner and Viacom, hire for internships and jobs year round and most have offices based in the sunny state of California.

Some interesting jobs/internships are as follow:

MTV Networks Internship Program – San Francisco, California
INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTION:   MTV Networks San Francisco is part of MTVN’s growing digital media division. Our products (including Shockwave.com, AddictingGames.com, Atom.com, and Xfire.com) fall under channels such as Nickelodeon Kids & Family and Comedy Central online. Our networks are on the lookout for bright, creative students to participate in our internship program. Our internships are designed to offer students an opportunity to gain insight into the online media industry. Interns obtain hands-on experience by working in jobs related to their career fields and by interacting with professionals in on-the-job situations. Preference will be given to those going into their junior/senior year. We work with the student to determine how many days a week they are able to intern (usually 2-3 days per week for about 16-30 hours).
MTV Intern
Live Nation Director of Client Services- Hollywood, California
SUMMARY:
This position acts as the direct liaison between the venue box offices, VP of Ticketing and Live Nation Tickets software. The Director will manage a client service staff based primarily in Los Angeles. Applicant must be able to provide exceptional client service to internal and external venues, develop standards and oversee all Live Nation Ticketing operational standards and initiatives.
Live Nation Job
Time Warner Summer 2009 Intern – Cartoon Network Studios, Finance Department  Location United States – California
Job Description: Please Note: Internships are UNPAID and structured to last approximately 12 weeks. Course Credit is available. Resume, Cover Letter and a College Reference is required. Students should have a strong academic record (3.0 strongly preferred) and good character. Students must have completed their sophomore year in college prior to the start of the internship. In addition, students may not have graduated college or graduate school prior to the start of the internship (i.e. students must still be enrolled in school during the time of the internship). Students seeking college credit are strongly encouraged to apply. Note to International Students: All international students will be required to provide documentation of proper visa paperwork prior to your arrival if accepted to the program. Only J1 or F1 visas will be accepted. Due to the high volume of candidates for Turner’s Internship Program, interested students are encouraged to apply for openings as soon as possible, as these positions will be filled on an ongoing basis. Future semester Internship postings will be available after the current semester deadline.
Time Warner Intern

So get out there, and try to stay warm!

By: Jennifer Wolff

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Filed Under All Blog Posts Tagged With california, career search, careers, internships, job search, jobs, mtv, music and movies, time warner, viacom

Watch Out for Workplace Rudeness

April 8, 2009 By mark Leave a Comment

Ever wonder if someone was being rude or just plain ignorant? Are you rude and you don’t even know it? Careerbuilder.com recently came out with six behaviors you should definitely stay away from. The first on the list: interruption. I’m sure just about everyone can relate to this in some form. Have you ever been trying to complete an assignment for a nearing deadline and a coworker or friend will not stop interrupting you. It becomes so annoying that you can hardly work or stay focused. “Interruptions are offensive on many levels. When you interrupt someone, you suggest that your time and ideas are more important than everyone else’s and that you have no interest in listening to what they have to say.”

Remember when your parents always reminded you to use your P’s and Q’s. Well, it turns out this is still a problem for adults. Ignoring the words “please” and “thank-you” is one of the six behaviors to be avoided in the office. “In a 2002 Public Agenda survey, 48 percent of adults expressed only ‘sometimes’ encountering people who made an effort to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’; 16 percent said they saw such behavior ‘practically never.’” A few words to show gratitude can put someone in a good mood — or at the very least can keep someone out of a foul mood. Why not do it?”

If you would like to learn of the other four behaviors to be avoided in the office, you can find them at the following website:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/worklife/04/01/cb.workplace.rudeness/index.html

By: Mark Kenyon

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Have a Recession Depression?

March 27, 2009 By mattD Leave a Comment

We are all going through it. This economic time has been tough on us all, especially as students looking for full-time jobs or internships. Has this current recession got you down? Are you frightened by the debt you have, or the security of your job, or the shrinking dollar? If you watch the news it’s hard not to get completely depressed about the way of the world, but here is some good advice to help lift your spirits.

1.    List your assets.
2.    Make a budget and STICK TO IT!
3.    Analyze your source of income
4.    Save money
5.    Take care of you- Physically
6.    Take care of you- Mentally

You can delve into these suggestions much more by checking out this article. http://www.ehow.com/how_4542090_not-discouraged-current-recession.html

Remember, keep your head up, stiff upper lip, and know that it WILL get better!

By: Matt Dunatchik

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Filed Under All Blog Posts Tagged With career search, depression, economy, job, job search, recession

…Have I Heard of You Before?

March 27, 2009 By David Leave a Comment

So you’re at a career fair, and some companies you have never seen or heard of are everywhere. Delta? Alcoa? Lear? C.H. Robinson? Many of these companies are actually pretty large corporations that want YOU to work for them, and with a little bit of effort, you can. Perhaps you do know that Delta is an airline, Alcoa is an aluminum company, Lear is an automotive supplier, and C.H. Robinson is a Logistics company, but there are scores of smaller companies that look for top quality candidates as well.

Next time you’re going to a fair/presentation/interview, do a quick Google seach of the company and find: what they are, what they do, and anything new they’re up to. Mention it to them and you’ll stand out among the rest that approach them with quesitons like, “What do you do, and what can you do for me?”

Check out some of these companies websites to see if you’d like to apply, and check out MySpartanCareer.com for companies at your next career fair.

Delta (http://www.deltajobs.net/college.htm)
Alcoa (http://www.alcoa.com/global/en/careers/student.asp
Lear (http://www.lear.com/jsp/common.jsp?page=al_cl_universityrelations)
C.H. Robinson (http://www.chrobinson.com/careers/default.asp)

By: Dave Samuels

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Filed Under All Blog Posts Tagged With career fairs, career search, job search, jobs, prepare

New Career Workshops being offered!

Persevere

Oprah’s on Twitter! Are you?

Satisfied With Your Work?

How To Find a Job in Tough Times

Honesty is the Best Policy in Career Searching

21 Eppley: First Impressions [Episode 1]

The Vera Success Story

California Dreaming…

Watch Out for Workplace Rudeness

Have a Recession Depression?

…Have I Heard of You Before?

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