Need something to read as you relax on the beach over Spring Break?

Check out How to Build Your Personal Brand and GET HIRED: advice from author and businessman, Bill Hobbs

Still looking for resources to use for assistance in the job search? Take some advice from Bill Hobbs and his book, The Work Book: How to Build Your Personal Brand and Get Hired!. This book shows readers how to plan for and choose the right career, teaches them how to create a strong personal brand, and offers keen insights on creating an effective resume, preparing for interviews, and negotiating with companies (including dealing with multiple job offers!). With its workbook structure, this book facilitates immediate process application through worksheets that readers can fill out while they read through the text. 

 Here's a little taste of the valuable information that is included in Hobbs's book:

An Excerpt from The WORK Book, How to Build Your Personal Brand and Get Hired!:

“It is important that you understand how to effectively connect with an interviewer. “Connecting” begins when two people truly understand each other’s view point.  It is the first step in building trust and eventually creates mutual understanding.  You have probably experienced what it’s like to connect at different points in your life. Maybe this happened in a conversation with a friend, or family member while trying to solve a problem.  The moment when you and the other person suddenly understood each other, you were connecting. 

Connecting is critically important during any conversation where you need to reach a decision point.  An interview is a place where you definitely need to connect with the interviewer so that you can understand what he or she is looking for and he or she can understand what you are looking for. 

The first step to connecting is to listen.  Let the other person talk, and be sure that you understand exactly what he or she is asking.  Don’t interrupt, but if you are unclear even a little, pause for a moment and then ask a clarifying question.  Asking questions shows the person that you are listening and genuinely interested in answering the question he or she asked.

The second step is providing adequate information.  After answering a question, look for signs that the interviewer is satisfied with the type of response you gave.  It is very possible that the phrasing of the question he or she asked meant one thing to the interviewer and a completely different thing to you.  When this happens, you and the interviewer move further from mutual understanding. The interviewer won’t get the information he or she is seeking, and you may miss an opportunity to demonstrate value.  If you are not sure about the read on his or her reaction, simply ask, “Does that answer the question?”  “Does that make sense?” By doing so you can be sure that the interviewer got the type of response he or he was looking for.  If not, it will give the interviewer an opportunity to rephrase the question. 

Step three, be interesting.  Step back from the canned answers, and give some context to who you really are.  Canned answers are boring and push you and the interviewer further from connecting.  Think about the interests you have, and relate them to the job you are applying for. If you like sports, music, or the outdoors, talk about why your experiences in those areas make you a stronger “fit” for the company For example, I played football in college.  If I were applying for a job where teamwork was important, I could reference a situation where through teamwork we were able to pull out a fourth quarter win.”

Rather than just “winning the job,” focus on connecting during the interview. 

Spend some time preparing and researching before the interview.  During the interview be sure to listen, provide adequate information, avoid canned answers, and try to enjoy the process.  Finding a new career should be a fun and exciting time in your life."    

Check out this book for quick and easy reading as well as some great advice and application.

For more information on The WORK Book: How to Build Your Personal Brand and Get Hired! by Bill Hobbs, check out www.bill-hobbs.com.  The book is available on Amazon, Kindle, and Nook.

About Bill Hobbs: "Bill didn't just read about it, he lived it! Bill's career in consultative selling began in 2001 just as the Dot Com bubble imploded. Since then, he has sold hundreds of millions of dollars in products and services, conducted thousands of sales calls, and managed several successful sales teams. Bill has won the top performance awards in two Fortune 500 companies, is a co-inventor with an active patent, and is an avid writer. From interviewing new employees to his experience as a P&L manager and a coach, Bill has unique insight into the challenges that business professionals face every day."

Written by Kelly Gooch

contact: goochke@jmu.edu

Two Full Days of Employment Opportunity, Coming Your Way!

It's that time again! The Spring Career, Internship and Service Fair is here!

Attention students! Don't miss this great opportunity to find a job, internship or volunteer experience! This year the spring fair will be taking place across two days, Tuesday February 19th and Wednesday February 20th! To see what employers will be coming and on which day, go to your account on Recruit-A-Duke, select "Career Events" from the top menu bar, then click "JMU Spring Career, Internship & Service Fair 2013". Take a look at the majors and the jobs positions each company has to offer as well!

If you have any questions, go to http://www.jmu.edu/cap/fairs/springfair.htm, or contact Emma Maynard at maynaref@jmu.edu or 540-568-3457.

We look forward to seeing you at the fair!



Make Service Your Career

Still pondering what you are going to do after graduation? Have you ever had an interest in serving the public and people of our country? 

If so, then you will not want to miss the upcoming interactive informational session with Teach for America (@JMUDukesTFA) and the Peace Corps (@PeaceCorps). The session will be held on Wednesday, February 13, 2013 from 5:30 - 6:30 PM in Festival Conference Room 4. 

The event is co-sponsored by JMU MORTAR Board and Phi Sigma Pi, and will include a panel of experts who work or have worked with TFA or the Peace Corps. Students will be allotted time and are encouraged to ask questions, network and much more!

Both Teach for America and the Peace Corps have a long history of recruiting JMU Dukes to work for them post-graduation. Molly Douglas, a Regional Recruiter for the Corps states, "35 JMU graduates are currently serving around the world as Peace Corps volunteers.  Last year, there were 42 and in 2011, there were 39.  Since the Peace Corps was established in 1961, 441 total JMU graduates have served as Peace Corps volunteers."

If you have any questions about the event, please feel free to message the appropriate person below:

CAP-related: recruitaduke@jmu.edu

MORTAR Board: Keith Zirkle (kwzirkle@gmail.com)

https://www.facebook.com/jmumortarboard

Phi Sigma Pi: Jitan Patel (jiten0116@gmail.com)

https://www.facebook.com/PhiSigmaPiBetaRho

Written by Melissa Peale

Contact: pealeml@dukes.jmu.edu 

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Career and Academic Planning is featured in The Breeze

Last Tuesday, January 22nd, JMU's student-run newspaper, The Breeze featured an article entitled "JMU resources key in snagging the job". This article, written by Bridget Condon included tips and testimonies on how to snag internships, the best ways to network, and what resources there are on campus to use with the job search. Featured in the article was Career and Academic Planning's own Emma Maynard, Recruiting Programs Coordinator and JMU alum. Maynard explains in the article how she regrets her lack of resource-use during her time at JMU. Says Maynard in the article, "The most important thing to remember is that the future will come faster than you think. You'll be thankful if you take the time now to properly prepare for when that chapter begins".

According to The Breeze and any of the staff in Career and Academic Planning, the resources available should be put to use by all students hoping to find a job, and they should be used before graduation. These resources include mock interviews, resume writing workshops, individual resume review appointments, company information sessions, career fairs and much, much more.

For more information on these resources, see our website at www.jmu.edu/cap. For the full article from The Breeze, go to http://www.breezejmu.org/life/article_d955e154-6443-11e2-8500-0019bb30f31a.html.



Written by Kelly Gooch
contact: goochke@jmu.edu

Inspiration, Advice for the Future

Need some inspiration? Having a stressful week? Take a break and check out this short video of the late Steve Job's commencement address to Stanford University in 2005.

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition."

Retrieved from: http://graduationwisdom.com/speeches/topten.htm

Alum Spotlight: Owen Highfill, Federal Housing Finance Agency

What's the key to occupational success?

Work (and think) outside the box!

 

      Most would never expect an English major to end up working for the federal government, but JMU alum Owen Highfill didn’t limit herself to what was “expected”. A 2006 JMU graduate, Highfill had plans of going for her doctorate in English literature to become a professor, but stumbled upon the opportunity to serve as an employee of the U.S. government.

       During her pursuit of a master’s degree at the University of Georgia, she attended a career services presentation about federal jobs, and was intrigued by what the presenter had to say. According to Highfill, “The presenter said, ‘Anything you want to do in the private or nonprofit sector, you can do in the federal government’, which was something I hadn’t considered in my job search up until that point. My main objective in finding a job after school was to find a career that allowed me to make a difference. During that presentation, I realized that being a civil servant would be a meaningful way to contribute to my country. So I applied to the Presidential Management Fellows program, which is how I began my federal career.”



Owen Highfill, Conservatorship Operations Specialist

           
      Since Highfill began her career with the Federal Housing Finance Agency (a merger of the former  Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, Federal Housing Finance Board and the mission office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development), she has taken part in tackling several important housing issues facing American citizens. Through this Highfill has been able to make a positive difference in the lives of others, which she had originally hoped to do through teaching.

      Of course, she attributes much of her success to her experiences and education at JMU. Says Highfill, “I continually see evidence that a solid liberal arts background is invaluable. I’ve learned that my ability to communicate effectively is the most important skill I have in the workplace. The ability to think critically, do research, and communicate clearly in writing and verbally are all skills I developed at James Madison University. It doesn’t matter how innovative and original an idea is if you can’t effectively communicate it.” 

      Highfill’s JMU experiences outside of the classroom are also extremely valuable to her. She recalls her first few hours on campus, spending time with her FrOG group, and meeting other students in her building. She says, “In that group, I met my future roommate and began some of the lasting friendships of my JMU family who have been an important part of my adult life.” She also remembers the challenges of college, such as completing her honors thesis. She recalls, “It was a culmination of multiple semesters of hard work, tears, and driving my thesis advisor and readers crazy with questions and rewrites. I was so relieved to have it finished but also so thankful for the experience of working with talented professors and learning about myself along the way.”

      Highfill encourages current students to keep an open mind when approaching the job market. In reflection she says, “If I had not kept an open mind about job opportunities and different career paths, I would have missed out on a unique opportunity to learn something new and work for the betterment of my country.”

If you have questions about working for the federal government, contact Owen Highfill at owen.highfill@fhfa.gov, or visit www.usajobs.gov. 

By Kelly Gooch

contact: goochke@jmu.edu 



Winter Break: Not Just for Hibernation

 With the holiday season rapidly approaching, students are hopeful that the end is in sight via something we all know as winter break. You've worked your butt off all semester, and nothing seems more appealing than sleeping late, playing video games, or hanging out with friends. While winter break should serve as an opportunity to relax and spend time with your family and friends, it is also a great time to think about the future and get a jump start on the job search while you don't have exams and papers to worry about. Career guide website wetfeet.com provides this "Winter Break Checklist" calendar to help you to get in gear:

December 20 Update Your Resume with your most recent experiences and achievements and search online templates for ways to make it pop. "When you are seeking a job, internship or volunteer opportunity, there is nothing more important than having an attractive, well-written resume," says White.

December 22 Build up your online profile. Take your freshly polished resume and post it on career search and networking websites, such as CareerBuilder, Monster, and LinkedIn

December 27 Make five new contacts. Ask family, friends, and professors for help expanding your professional network. "Begin gathering contact information [and] contact them by phone or e-mail," White says. Don't ask for a job, but request some of their time.

January 3 Get some counseling. January is actually a great time to meet with your career center as staff will likely have more time to spend with you, says Dr. Richard White, director of career services at Rutgers University-New Brunswick in New Jersey. "They can help you to develop a job search or graduate school action plan, provide employer contacts, and inform you of career-related events during the spring semester."

January 5 Attend a career fair. Think one-stop shopping. At a career fair, you can browse a variety of recruiters and employers in the same location. Become a hunter-gather: track down companies of interest, learn more about potential employers, and walk away with even more contacts.

January 7 Complete a career assessment. If you haven't zeroed in on what career path you want to take, an assessment can help with the decision-making process.

January 10 Apply for Internships. Once spring semester is in full swing, you'll probably be too focused on studies to give internship applications the attention they deserve. Start searching and applying now.

January 12 Let someone else do the bragging for you. Talk to your professors, academic advisers, or past employers and see if they're willing to write letters of recommendation or be contacted as a reference.

January 14 Send out applications for full-time jobs. Calling all seniors. Begin sending out resumes, line up a few interviews for spring and you might score a job before graduation day.



 Don't let this free time slip away! Winter break is your longest break before summer- use the free time to your advantage. You won't regret it come spring semester!

Original article from wetfeet.com by Megan Sullivan
*See full article at http://www.wetfeet.com/advice-tools/job-search/winter-break-checklist



Written by: Kelly Gooch
contact: goochke@jmu.edu

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