Learn About Recruit-A-Duke: JMU's Own Job Search Site

What Is Recruit-A-Duke?

Recruit-A-Duke is James Madison University’s online On-Campus Recruiting and job posting system for JMU students and alumni. Through Recruit-A-Duke, you are able to participate in the Recruiting Services program.  This means that employers sign-up to come to campus to interview JMU students for open positions they have.  They post their positions on Recruit-A-Duke and you, as a JMU student, can log-in to the system and apply for these jobs!  Once you have applied for these positions by uploading your resume on the system and applying for the ones that interest you, you will be notified if you are selected to interview with the employer.  If you are selected for an interview, you can sign-up through Recruit-A-Duke.  After you sign-up for an interview, come to the Sonner Hall Interview Center (on the lower level) to participate in your interview at your scheduled date and time. 

The first step to participate in this program is to watch the online Recruit-A-Duke tutorial and take the short quiz at the end.  Please allow 24 business hours after you complete the tutorial for your account to be updated.  Once you have received your confirmation email, you will have access to On-Campus Recruiting, including the following:

• Access to over 500 job postings just for JMU students! (these include both on-campus recruiting (ocr) positions and non-ocr positions)
• View the companies scheduled to recruit at JMU.
• Submit a resume online to employers to be considered for internships and full-time positions.
• Select and confirm interview times with companies who have selected you.
• Participate in a Mock Interview to practice your interviewing skills.
• Research companies attending the Spring Career, Internship and Service Fair
• To view companies attending a Career Fair, log into Recruit-A-Duke and click on the “Fairs, Info Sessions, Workshops” tab at the top of the page. From there click on the Career Fair you are interested in to view a list of the employers, their positions and the majors they are recruiting. You can also do an advanced search by clicking the “Advanced Search” tab to see which are specifically looking for your major.
• View and RSVP for upcoming Information Sessions held by employers on-campus and workshops hosted by Career & Academic Planning.
• With an updated resume on the system, employers will be able to view your resume through the Resume Book Program (which you can choose to opt in or out of) and contact you if they have a position that would be a good fit for you.
• Sign up to receive targeted emails with job listings that meet your criteria through the Job Search Agent.
  
  

*Important Note* - If you forget your password and click the “Need A Password?” link on the Recruit-A-Duke log-in page, be sure to check your JMU email account Junk Mail folder for your new password, as with any type of emails, sometimes they accidentally end up in this folder.

Any Questions About Recruit-A-Duke?
Email us at recruitaduke@jmu.edu.

No Responses? What to Do When You Don't Get a Call Back

We all know how easy it is to electronically send a resume.  With the click of a button, we feel like we have accomplished something, and put our name out to help our job search process.


In reality, many applicants send their information often with no response back.  While we think we're doing all that we can, an article by Dave Ellis tells us there is a alot more that you can do to improve your chance of landing an interview.


He stresses the importance of professional critiquing, expanding your geographic options, and of course, networking.  The article goes into more depth on how these will help you improve your resume and gain more contacts. 

Check it out!

Live from New York: A JMU Alum Question & Answer

WHO:        Kristen Malzone

JOB:         Social Media Analyst

WHERE:   HENRY SCHEIN, Melville, NY
                  www.henryschein.com

TWEET:   @kzone7

1.     Can you describe what your role and responsibilities are as a Social Media Analyst?

The Social Media Analyst position at Henry Schein is brand new, therefore, my roles and responsibilities change frequently to adapt to the needs of each department. I work for the corporate office and I am responsible for implementing social media strategy into our marketing and communications plans. As the internal social media expert, I am also responsible for training TSMs (Team Schein Members) who are incorporating social media into their own jobs. This channel of communication is unchartered territory for many businesses today, especially business to business corporations like us, and it is my job to navigate.

2.     How did your academics and experiences at JMU prepare you for your   current role?

As a COB graduate, I am able to apply the knowledge I obtained at JMU to my current job responsibilities. For example, it is important to continually perform “SWOT” analyses, identifying opportunities on the social web and monitoring our competitors’ activity on Facebook and Twitter. I learned about social media specifically after taking an Internet Marketing course during my senior year. The professor covered social media briefly, and that was the first time I learned about Twitter. It opened my eyes to the social media revolution and inspired me to explore opportunities these platforms presented to businesses of all scales. As an undergrad, I was actively involved in 1787 Orientation and SafeRides. My relationships with both organizations presented me with the opportunity to communicate with the student body via social media on a larger scale. I did not realize it at the time, but those experiences provided me with the knowledge and understanding to break into the social media industry post-graduation.

3.     Social media plays a large part in both the personal and professional lives of students.  What recommendations do you have for students using social media in the job search process and also in their personal lives?

Do you have a secret, hidden profile on Facebook? Think again. There are multiple ways that recruiters can find you on Facebook. Searching for your name is just one of the ways. Did you suspend your Facebook account in order to save face during your job search? Bad idea. You would be hard pressed to find a college student in the United States who has never maintained a profile on Facebook. If a recruiter cannot find you on Facebook, they might assume you are hiding something. My advice is put yourself out there, but be an active filter. Here are some tips:

1.     Think twice before you post a status update. Is this something you would want a recruiter to read? If you hesitate at all, just do not post it.

2.     Go through your photo albums and tagged photos. Delete/untag photos that might hurt your professional image. Facebook now gives you the option to download all of your information (photos and videos included) to your computer. Do this before you start deleting/untagging, so that you have those precious college memories saved somewhere more secure.

3.     Create secret groups on Facebook for friends and family. Groups are more secure than your wall and you can easily control who sees what; whether it’s a photo from last night’s beer pong tournament or 10 reasons why you hate Aunt Sally’s new boyfriend.

4.     After taking these measures, open up your profile a little bit under your privacy settings. Use your Facebook profile as a personal resume. When a company hires you, they are not hiring your resume; they are hiring YOU! Facebook shows them who you really are.

4.     What social media tools would you recommend to students for networking?

If you are looking for a job, GET ON TWITTER! It is the most powerful networking tool ever created. In a nutshell, Twitter breaks down communication barriers that other channels have yet to hurdle; even Facebook. I landed my first job after graduation from JMU because of Twitter. It’s a long story, but it involves a great non-profit (www.DoSomething.org), a celebrity (Ashton Kutcher), and a CEO (my former boss). Tweet me (@kzone7) if you want to learn more! Without Twitter, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Reach out to CEOs, celebrities, recruiters, industry leaders, bloggers...anyone! You never know which connection might lead to your dream job.

5.     What are your recommendations to students who wish to pursue a career in the field of social media?

Social media is changing every day and keeping up is a full-time job, in itself. Follow the blogs (Mashable, TechCrunch, All Facebook, etc.) and comment on topics of interest. Follow your favorite brands, celebrities, and musicians and engage in their communities. Start a blog focused around a few of your interests. I recommend Tumblr. It’s simple and growing rapidly. Also, get some experience. If you can’t find a social media internship, volunteer to help a local charity set up a Facebook Page or a Twitter account. This will help you start building a social media portfolio. It is a fast-paced industry to get into, but as college students, you have the upper-hand. Facebook, in the earlier days, was made for you. College students just “get it.” Social media expertise is an extremely valuable skill in today’s job market. If you dedicate yourself to it, you will succeed.

What's That Mean? A Quick Vocab Quiz in Job Search Terms

Navigating the job search waters can be a tricky and confusing process. As you search for a job or internship you may come across some terms with which you are not familiar. But do not fear! Take a look at the terms and definitions below to take some of the mystery out of the job search process.

1. On Campus Recruiting (OCR) – OCR is a service offering on-campus interviews for students with employers seeking to hire for their job opportunities. At JMU specifically, OCR is located in Employer Relations and Recruiting Services (as part of Career & Academic Planning), Sonner Hall, first floor. Students apply for positions on Recruit-A-Duke and employers review those applications and then decide who they would like to interview on-campus. Employers come to the Sonner Hall Interview Center to interview the students they are interested in for their positions. In order to participate in On-Campus Recruiting at JMU, you must watch the 15 minute online Recruit-A-Duke tutorial and take the short quiz at the end.
2. Recruiter – This is a Human Resources representative at a company in charge of hiring operations. Often, they come to campus to speak with students about their company, positions in which they are hiring, and are likely the person you will liaise with most when going through the interviewing process.
3. Hiring/Project Manager – This is the person in which the job directly reports. It is important to understand this early on, so when one gets to a point of meeting the Hiring or Project Manager, asking questions with this person would likely give you the most accurate picture of the job.
4. Management Trainee Programs - Management Training Programs provide trainees with the skills and confidence required to make sound decisions. Management training programs help corporations groom the next generation of leaders for their company. These programs often have a rotational component where the trainee gets exposure to all the different jobs at the company. Trainees generally receive a salary, benefits and in some cases are included in their departments' bonus structure.
5. Verbal Offers, Written Offers, & Contingent Offers - Verbal offers are those in which the company makes an offer that is not in written form with details of your employment, but they have yet to put anything on paper, typically to give you some time to think about whether you want the job (already knowing the details). Unlike a Verbal Offer, a written offer is more secure as the details of your position in the organization are more clearly defined on paper, and is usually drawn up after you have verbally accepted the job. Contingent offers are written and it clearly states getting the job depends upon the results of a background check, credit check, security clearance, etc.) These are becoming more and more common, as background checks are getting longer.
6. EEOC - The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is an independent federal law enforcement agency that enforces laws against workplace discrimination. This can range from age, disability, race/color, pregnancy, sexual harassment.
7. Benefits – Many employers will offer benefits to employees. When you first join a company these can be confusing, but make sure to examine the benefits and differences between the types of plans employers offer very carefully to determine which will be the best one for you in the long-term. Benefits generally include at least health insurance, vacation and sick leave and a retirement plan (for example a 401K).
8. Project-based Position - This position will exist only as long as the project does, a good example would be a government project. A person working on a government project who is not a government employee is known as a “contractor,” and is employed by another company.
9. Professional Services – Individuals who provide a company with specialized services, including but not restricted to lawyers, accountants, information technology, and management consultants. Professional attire, verbal and presentation skills are an absolute must in this type of role, as it generally requires client-facing responsibilities.

Speed Networking is Back: You in 60 Seconds!

Don’t Miss Practice Speed Networking With Employers!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011, 4:00-6:30PM, Festival Ballroom, East Campus

Employers Who Are Excited To Speak With You:

·         Protiviti

·         Aramark

·         Shenandoah County Public Schools

·         Peace Corps

·         TEKSystems

·         Revolution Cycles

Back By Popular Demand!

Practice Speed Networking was created to assist students in perfecting their "30 second elevator speech," using this approach while networking with contacts in many different settings.

·         Six to eight participants will be seated at 10 round tables with employer facilitators from organizations.

·         Students will share their "30 second elevator speech" in a round-robin approach, receive feedback, and then rotate to a new table.

·         Depending on the number of participants, there will be four rotations.

·         There will be an opportunity to network, with refreshments provided in the middle of the rotations.

·         Professional attire is highly recommended.

RSVP is mandatory and is limited on a first come, first serve basis.

The deadline to RSVP is February 5th at 5:00pm using Recruit-A-Duke

Click on the Career Fair/Info Session/Workshop tab and then Workshops to RSVP.

This event is a collaboration of Career & Academic Planning and Ignite Speed Networking!

Are You Afraid of the Real World Becomes Make Your Next Move

Readers,

Just an FYI, my blog is not changing, but just in the look and title.

Instead of "Are you afraid of the real world?" the blog has now become apart of JMU's Career and Academic Planning department.  The blog will feature the same content, and will eventually become an outlet for our past student newsletter.  We are currently working on uploading PDF's of past months to incorporate everything into the interactive site.

Keep reading!

Planning On Staying Married? Not With These Jobs!

We all know that the career path in which we chose will shape our future quality of the life.  Professions can affect a person's social status, income, family, location, and more.  But there is one long term affect we may forget: marriage.  It is quite obvious that some jobs can put a high strain on your love life.  After all, jobs with odd hours and high stress levels can cause relationships to deteriorate.

In the world of a 50% divorce rate, it is beneficial to try to avoid this costly and heartbreaking fate which half of our public endures.  Career Overview published a recent blog post that listed the 10 Careers With Incredibly High Divorce Rates.  While some occupations seem a bit strange, for example Fish and Game wardens, they are worth noting.  Other obvious careers included bartenders, dancers, and massage therapists.

One consistency throughout the list was the non-traditional work schedule, for example working nights, and the lack of higher education in the career.  Most of the jobs do not require a college degree.  While we should not stereotype these jobs as being less desirable, there could be a link between the life path chosen and the affect on a relationship. 

On the flip side, a Washington Post article found dancers and massage therapists with the highest divorce rates.  The lower end of the divorce rates included three different kind of engineers, a career that require a high level of intellect and schooling. 

Does this mean only marry the bookworms?  Not necessarily, as each individual case clearly can bear different circumstance.  But with the way society works, keeping to one marriage can be a difficult thing to manage.  Good luck with love!