Jump Start Your Job Search Over Winter Break!

How can you get your foot in the door while you are at home over winter break? How about setting up some informational interviews? This is a great way to get your name out there with potential employers while also gaining valuable insight into what it looks like in the “real world.” Here are some tips for informational interviews:

Avoid the ‘cold call’: Try to find someone you know who knows someone at a company for which you are interested in working. It is always best to have a referral than to make the cold call.

Plan carefully: Be flexible with meeting times since the person you are meeting with is likely to be very busy and they are doing this as a favor to you.

Care about more than just job openings: This is a great chance to learn about the culture and everyday life of a company and its employees. Even if there isn’t a job opening at the company right now, these meetings can still be very valuable.

Ask a lot of questions about culture: Some examples are:
How long is a normal work day?
Do most people only communicate by email?
Do clients get your personal cell phone number?
Do people “feel bad” about taking vacation time?
How long do most people stay with the company?

Determine next steps: If after the meeting you are still interested in the company, set expectations for a follow up with your interviewee. Let them know that you will send your resume, ask for a tour of the company, or ask if there is anyone else at the company that you should contact about job openings. Let them know that you will stay in touch with them and thank them for their time.

Follow up: Make sure you follow through on your promises that you made when you were determining your next steps. Send your resume if you promised to do that, follow up with any other contacts that they suggested to connect with. And most importantly, make sure to send a thank you note to let them know that you appreciate the time they spent with you.

To read more about these tips, please visit: http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/10247.aspx.

Enjoy your break and take advantage of this extra time that you have to do some job search research! See you in January!

Happy Holidays!

Make the most out of Recruit-A-duke over winter break

What is one thing you can do in Recruit-A-Duke over winter break? If you haven't already done this...

Take the work out of finding one with a Search Agent from Recruit-A-Duke! The Search Agent will send you emails on new and available job postings based on your targeted preferences. Follow these steps and create your own now.

1. Login to Recruit-A-Duke and select On-Campus Recruiting and Job Postings for JMU Students under the Job Opportunities tab.

2. Click on the Advanced Search tab.

3. Check the Save As box highlighted in grey.

4. Input your search criteria in the available boxes and click Submit.

5. After you’ve reviewed your results, select the Search Agents tab. The search you just conducted will be listed there.

6. Click on Schedule and fill-out the listed criteria.

7. Click Submit and you have your Search Agent set up

You can also run the Search Agent directly on Recruit-A-Duke whenever you login, just click run instead of schedule once you have set up the agent. Using this tool will give you an extra edge in your job search process.

Alumni Spotlight: Victoria Gonzales

As December graduation quickly approaches and May graduation is just around the corner, finding a job and deciding where to move can be overwhelming. For Victoria Gonzales, a May 2008 graduate, finding her ideal job in an ideal city may have taken a while, but it was worth the wait.

Gonzales graduated from JMU with a degree in Organizational Communication. After graduation, she moved back to her hometown of Virginia Beach where she worked for two years as a hotel general manager and then as an inside account manager for international military sales.

At the conclusion of her second year working in Virginia Beach, she wanted something more exciting, bigger and farther from home. She had adopted Frank Sinatra’s perspective that, “if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere,” and decided to move to New York City. Though a move that far may seem frightening and out of reach, she was determined to make it.

Landing her dream job.

For Gonzales, the transition was easy and seamless. After enjoying the first few months and searching for a job, she attended a JMU alumni career fair in NYC. Upon researching companies that would be in attendance, she decided to talk to the representative at Bluewolf, an On-Demand Software Services company.

“What could I offer them?” was her original question. Although she did not think she was technical enough for the role, she decided to speak to them anyway. She had faced a similar situation at her previous position.

“I didn’t know anything about selling tactical and operational equipment to the military or international sales, but I learned and I did well, so why not?” Gonzales said.

After a few interviews, she landed the job. At Bluewolf, Gonzales is a Technical Recruiter in the IT Resourcing department. Her job is to find qualified candidates that fit a certain position based on their skills and resume. These candidates are obtained through Bluewolf’s internal database and from job boards such as Monster and CareerBuilder. For Gonzales, her focus is on selling the client and the opportunity to the candidate and vice versa.

A day in the life.

A typical day for her starts after a 5-minute walk to the subway. She takes the M train seven stops into the Flatiron district in Manhattan. At 8:30 her day begins in the office in a meeting called “pipeline.” Here, the sales account managers and recruiters discuss the deals and opportunities they will be working on and what the best strategies are for closing these deals.

“We work diligently all day to get those action items accomplished,” Gonzales said.

The atmosphere at Bluewolf is fun and diverse. The workspace is wide open and the management and CEO are personable and encouraging.

“We are a highly motivated and diverse group that helps each other achieve goals, and it feels like a family,” Gonzales said.

As a fast-growing company with branches in places such as D.C., San Francisco and Philadelphia, the mentality is that if a company is not growing, it’s shrinking; everyone knows what is expected of them. When the company meets its goals, they take the team on an all-expenses paid vacation to places like Cancun.

“We are a loud bunch who work hard and play hard,” Gonzales said.

For Gonzales, this experience has been a positive one and she is living her dreams each day.

“I know that I am where I am supposed to be right now and again that I outgrew Virginia at this point in my life, so I take everyday as part of a fun adventure,” she said.

By Desirae Vivian Stevens

Contact: desiraevivian@gmail.com

Helpful tips to make the best impression in a Skype interview

Many employers are turning to tools, like Skype, to conduct interviews. Before you sit down in your actual interview, here are some helpful tips to ensure that you'll make a great impression from Time.com.

• create depth and warmth in the background
• wear flattering but professional clothing
• try to practice talking on Skype beforehand
• pretend that you are talking to a friend to make the conversation more natural
• frame yourself on camera beforehand in a comfortable but professional manner

To watch the full video and for more information, visit: http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,46937715001_1933401,00.html?iid=redirect-skype_interview

Roadtrips to the Real World!

Make the most of your winter break through ROAD TRIPS TO THE REAL WORLD - January 3 to January 13, 2012!

Learn about careers & internships, make connections and network and meet other college students from the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Region through employer visits!

ALL MAJORS & CLASS YEARS WELCOME to explore careers in:
... Publishing, Non-Profits, Broadcast Media, Retail, Pharmacy and Healthcare, Insurance, Finance, Accounting, and much more!

Cost is $10 per site & registration begins at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, November 14th and ends Friday, December 2nd.

https://m360.eace.org/event.aspx?eventID=32601

The updated Recruit-A-Duke tutorial is finally here!

Students, make sure you view the newly updated Recruit-A-Duke tutorial for access to Mock Interviews and On-Campus Recruiting!

To view the updated tutorial, click here: http://www.jmu.edu/cap/interviewing/students/radworkshop/RAD%20Tutorial_TOC.htm

Check out the Sillicon Alley Talent Fair

The Silicon Alley Talent Fair & After Party: NYC's largest recruiting event for emerging companies!

Date: NOVEMBER 11, 2011

Time: 12:00pm - 7:00pm

Location: THE ALTMAN BUILDING, NYC (Chelsea/Flatiron)

Companies include:

• TowerData
• InfoTech Solutions for Business
• Arete Inc.
• Livestream
• AxialMarket
• Knewton
• Jibe
• MLB Advanced Media
• Merchant Exchange
• StreetEast
• and many more!

At the after party, join the employees of all hiring startups, talented candidates and influential members of the NYC Startup scene.

For more information: http://www.gosatf.com/

To register: http://satftalent2.eventbrite.com/

Tips for landing a job using social media!

Nowadays, it seems like everyone is constantly connected using social media, but many fail to realize how useful sites like Twitter and Facebook can be. In an interview with Amy Laskowski, Joshua Waldman talks about how social media helped him land a job and provides insight to how it can help YOU!

Some of Waldman's tips include:

• Market yourself online in the way you want to be seen
• Make web-friendly résumés using video and LinkedIn
• Use social media sites as a way to get your foot in the door-don't just rely on them solely
• Make sure your "Google resume" is appropriate since most employers will conduct a quick Google search about you
• Update your resume constantly
• Use professional tools, like Linkedin, to connect with employers
• Try to have as many recommendations as possible on Linkedin that reflect your skills and abilities or past experiences-he recommends about 10 for a graduating senior

In many industries, networking is key! It is important to exercise all your resources and options!

For more information, check out: http://www.bu.edu/today/2011/how-to-use-social-media-to-find-a-job/

The 10 Worst Mistakes of First-Time Job Hunters

With December graduation quickly approaching (and May graduation closer than you think), finding a job is like taking on another class! These are 10 common mistakes that first-time job hunters make.

1. Waiting to look for a job
2. Not networking
3. Lacking experience through a job or internship
4. Not getting involved in career-related extracurricular activities
5. Only applying to a few jobs
6. Lacking professionalism
7. Not figuring out your career goals
8. Skipping a visit to the career center
9. Not keeping track of your achievements
10. Lacking job-related skills

It's easy to become overwhelmed and to ignore the job search, but preparation can go along way in landing a career after graduation.

To continue reading this article and to learn how to avoid these common mistakes, visit: http://www.fins.com/Finance/Articles/SBB0001424052970204226204576601420036627098/The-10-Worst-Mistakes-of-First-Time-Job-Hunters

Original article written by Kelly Eggers

Mock Interviews, they're not as scary as you think!

This past week, I participated in a Mock Interview with the Virginia Department of Labor & Industry. Initially, I was very nervous and not sure how to prepare for it. After talking to different people at the Career & Academic Planning Office and reviewing tips on the jmu.edu/cap website, I was feeling more confident.

The night before, I looked up some information about the Department on the Internet, gathered some work samples to show them, prepared a few questions to ask at the end of the interview, and rehearsed answers to typical questions like, "What is your greatest strength/weakness?" in the mirror!

On the day of the interview, I arrived 15 minutes early. When it was finally time for my interview, we sat down and the interviewer gave me a brief overview of the process, I asked a few questions and then we got started!

The interview ran very smoothly; all that preparation definitely helped the night before and as soon as we started, my nerves ran right out the door!

The questions, as I suspected, were based on behaviors and past experiences, so I felt very comfortable answering them.

At the end of the interview, I was given very insightful and constructive feedback about how I did, ways to improve for future interviews, and questions to ask future interviewers.

The overall process was very helpful and I would highly recommend that every student completes at least one Mock Interview before graduation. It gave me a chance to get out all my nerves before an interview that counts! I felt extremely comfortable after the process and was able to ask any questions that I wanted and make any mistakes without any repercussions.

For more information and to sign-up for a Mock Interview, log in to Recruit-A-Duke and complete the online tutorial to access On-Campus Recruiting and Mock Interviews.

By Desirae Vivian Stevens
Contact: desiraevivian@gmail.com

Five things to know about an informational interview and how to land one

An informational interview can be a key step to securing a position in "the real world" after your internship and can give helpful insight into the industry! Her Campus' Amber Rambharose shares some helpful steps to setting up these important meetings that you should never leave any internship without!

1. Know what an informational interview is
2. Know how to ask
3. Know that flattery will get you everywhere
4. Know that a “no” isn’t the end of the world
5. Know how to rock an informational interview

For more information, please visit: http://www.hercampus.com/intern-diaries/intern-diaries-informational-interviews

Are you using Recruit-A-Duke?

Thinking about what to do next summer or after graduation? Now is the perfect time to jump start your job or internship search! One of the most powerful tools you have as a JMU student is the online Recruit-A-Duke system. If you have never accessed your account, or have not enabled your On-Campus Recruiting rights, don't delay any longer! Below are a few easy steps to getting started on the system. If you already have access to the system, skip to Step 4.

STEP 1: Log on to Recruit-A-Duke and get started!
Click here to log in to the Recruit-A-Duke system. Enter your JAC Card number for your username and if you don't remember your password click on Need a Password? and your password will be sent to your JMU email account.

STEP 2: Update your profile and click on the Authorization Statement
After logging in, click on the Profile tab to verify and update your academic and personal profile information. In your profile, you must also click on the Privacy tab to read and agree to the Authorization Statement.

STEP 3: Get your resume reviewed and upload it onto Recruit-A-Duke
You can upload your resume to Recruit-A-Duke by logging in and selecting the Resumes and Other Documents tab. Don't miss these great opportunities to have your resume reviewed before you submit it to employers.

STEP 4: Become eligible to submit your resume to On-Campus Recruiting (OCR) opportunities
To be eligible to interview with employers on campus and to participate in the Mock Interview program, you must complete the 15 minute Recruit-A-Duke Online Tutorial. Once you have completed the tutorial, you will be granted On-Campus Recruiting access within 24 business hours.

After you have completed these steps you will be well on your way to participating in mock interviews, applying for on-campus recruiting jobs and internships and so much more! If you have any questions please contact the Recruiting Services Team at recruitaduke@jmu.edu. Thank you and have a great day!

Acing a phone interview

Acing a phone interview may sound like a daunting task, but with preparation and these tips from Her Campus, a successful phone interview isn't out of your reach! Make sure to:

• Confirm the time zone
• Eliminate background noises and distractions
• Dress as you would for an in-person interview
• Use the bathroom beforehand
• Have a glass of water nearby

If you can't find a quiet place off-campus, make a reservation at Sonner Hall! Email us at recruitaduke@jmu.edu

To access the other Career & Academic Planning services, check it out here: http://www.jmu.edu/cap/

To learn more, please visit: http://www.hercampus.com/career/how-ace-phone-interview

Accounting, Finance and CIS Majors: Don't Miss Meet the Firms!

Beta Alpha Psi Presents...

Meet the Firms Night

Location: Festival Ballroom
Date: Wednesday, September 14
Time: 6pm - 8pm
Dress: Business Professional

Meet with companies in the accounting, computer information systems and finance areas about opportunities for you! Don't forget to bring resumes!

Sign Up for a Mock Interview!

Need experience for the job interviewing process?

Worried about what is involved?

Do you know how to answer behavioral interview questions?

If any of these situations apply to you, JMU's Mock Interview Program can help you gain valuable experience interviewing with actual company representatives without leaving campus!

Mock Interviews, sponsored by Career and Academic Planning, are an opportunity for you to practice interviewing with an employer. The employer will offer you professional feedback on your performance. All Mock Interviews are held in the Sonner Hall Interview Center, on the lower level.

Mock Interviews are by appointment only and you must first participate in the online Recruit-A-Duke workshop to sign up for Mock Interviews.

Check the Career and Academic Planning Calendar for upcoming Mock Interview dates.

What do the students have to say about participating in mock interviews?

• 97% of students who participated gained valuable experience from their mock interview
• "The recruiter provided a lot of great input that I will carry with in future interviews. It was a great experience."
• "It was prompt and timely, offered a meaningful learning experience. I definitely advise other students to use this resource."
• "This was my first professional interview. I think that it was very helpful and than you for giving me the opportunity! I plan to sign up for more in the future."

How do I sign up for a Mock Interview?

• Make sure that you've viewed the Recruit-A-Duke online workshop first, in order to be an authorized user of the system. See link above.
• Go to the Recruit-A-Duke Student Log-in page. Enter your username and password.
• Click Job Opportunities > On Campus Recruiting.
• Type in "Mock" under the keyword search.
• Sort list by clicking on Deadline heading. Deadlines are always 2 days prior to the event- so if you want to interview on September 15th, look for September 13th deadlines.
• Click on the name of a company to sign up for an interview. You do not need to be interested in that organization to interview with them.

Many Mock Interviews include BEHAVIORAL interview questions. These questions are open-ended and ask you about past work or life experiences. Learn more about behavioral interviewing, so you'll know what to expect.

For more information, peruse the Interviewing portion of our website.

Don't Miss Resume Roundup on September 12th!

Welcome back to JMU! As you ease into the fall semester and start thinking about your future, consider having your resume reviewed before Meet the Firms or the Career Fair at Resume Roundup.

Resume Roundup is right around the corner! This is an event you won’t want to miss.

Resume Roundup, sponsored by Career and Academic Planning, provides an opportunity for you to have your resume reviewed by employers in a relaxed environment. The event will take place on Monday, September 12, 2011 from 12-3:30 pm in the Festival Ballroom.

Arrive with a copy of your resume and you will be seen on a first-come first-served basis. This is a great opportunity to meet with an employer and gain valuable insight and perspective on your resume in preparation for the Fall Career Fair! CAP staff will also be on-hand for resume reviews.

Participating employers include:

Johnson Lambert & Co
MicroLink
Deloitte
Protiviti
Horace Mann
Peace Corps
City Year
Target
Rackspace
American Woodmark
CGI Federal
Teach for America
Harris Corporation

RSVPs are encouraged. To RSVP follow this link: https://jmu-csm.symplicity.com/students/index.php?mode=form&id=ff43de6cc7aa706b075c4447ed7edb5d&s=event&ss=ws and log into Recruit-A-Duke, then click on RSVP.