Author Archives: mooremar

About mooremar

Marian Moore, Career Development Coordinator/Career Counselor in Career Services at OSU is passionate about empowering others holistically to find meaningful and sustainable career paths that promote lifestyle optimization. Her accomplishments include: facilitating the coaching process to help others design purposeful career and lifestyle plans; providing practical strategies to guide others to achieve work-life balance; assisting linguistically and culturally diverse clients and students with defining their purpose; and planning and delivering professional development training to stimulate lifelong learning and career development.

Using Your Academic Success and Personal Achievements to Enhance Your Resume

Posted on by | Leave a reply

Education

Education is one of the key components of your resume and if you’re a college student, education would highlight your achievement during your time at a university or any college institution. To draw attention to your education, make sure that you have these key components:

  • Specify what degree you are pursuing (PhD, MA/MS, BS/BA) followed by a concentration
  • Month /year of graduation, whether the degree is expected or received
  • List any minors or special academic certificates that you may have
  • GPA can be listed if it is above 3.0, otherwise it is optional, depending on employer requests
  • Academic achievement such as magna cum laude and summa cum laude can also be listed
  • Thesis and dissertation titles can be listed here as well

Study Abroad Experience

Study Abroad is a way to showcase your intercultural competency skills of which can be very appealing to potential employers. While aboard, you are able to experience and learn about different cultures and immerse yourself in a diverse environment. While abroad, consider the following:

  • What personal achievements did I attain abroad?
  • How can I apply my new language skills?
  • What challenges did I face abroad and how was I able to surpass with my personal strengths?
  • Did I contribute to any projects, philanthropy or volunteer work while studying aboard?
  • How did this experience shape my views of working and living with people from diverse backgrounds?

Think of how this experience will benefit you when you can list on your resume that you have lived and studied abroad.

Internship Experience

When it comes to internship experience, make sure to be specific in describing your accomplishments with a particular organization/company. Provide the reader with ample information that is relevant, precise and significant to the positions that you will be applying. Major details such as projects that you worked on, a budget proposal that you crafted or any developmental plans that you initiated that made an impact should be listed here. Some internship tips for resumes are:

  • Highlight your achievement(s)
  • What new skills or knowledge did you gain from being an intern?
  • Is your internship relevant to the position(s) for which you applying?

Language Experience

Speaking another language or multiple languages can be a bonus to your resume. As there is a demand for speaking more than one language, language proficiency can be crucial if you are applying for a job that calls for it. Here are some of the ways that you can list your proficiency:

  • Native: Specify this in your resume if you grew up and living in the country/household that primarily uses this language on a daily basis, considering this as bilingual
  • Fluent: If you are capable of holding a conversation at dinner parties, able to converse eloquently and answer questions asked, ability to use figure of speech, idioms or creative language
  • Proficient: Capable of forming complex sentences, although your vocabulary may be limited, but you can rephrase sentences that match the situation or questions asked
  • Conversational: “An elevator conversation” or “I can order food in another language conversation” is classified as conversational. At this stage you are limited to asking questions with regards to the weather, how one’s doing or simple sentences, but cannot withhold a complex conversation

These are some key components that can help you improve your resume appeal. Don’t forget to consult with Career Services if you have any questions about enhancing your resume.

Good luck!

 

 

 

Beavers Beyond OSU

Posted on by | Leave a reply

Beavers Beyond OSU is an opportunity for students and alumni to share a successful internship, career related experience, project or study abroad opportunity. Perhaps you’ve discovered a new passion or created a start-up. Or you’ve had a meaningful experience that can inspire and educate others on ways to find intentional careers. If you have a story to share, we’d love to hear from you.

To share your story, please submit your interest below.

Name: Leah Anderson

Majors: Merchandising Management and Fine Arts

Year: Senior

What are your plans after graduation? I secured a full-time job at Kohl’s Department Store.

Congratulations!

When will you start? Two days after graduation

What will be your title? Management-in-Training (MIT), which would prepare me for an assistant management position at the conclusion of the summer

How did you hear about your job opportunity? At Career Services Career Fair

What did you do to prepare for your job search? Before attending the career fair, I researched which companies were planning on attending the fair and targeted those who met my career goals. My goal was to work for a large retail company who could offer me corporate advancement opportunities. Then, I worked on customizing my resume to the company’s needs (as found on their website) and even ordered myself some flashy new business cards (courtesy of Vistaprint). I also invested time to pick out a business outfit and was ready to network.

Tell us about your experience networking with the recruiters/employers. I connected with three of the four representatives –one of them was my former sorority sister (score!). They were very easy to talk to, very informed about the opportunities available, and super enthusiastic about me (and those business cards).

What was the result of networking with the recruiters/employers? I was invited for an on-campus interview a few days later.

How did you prepare for the on-campus interview? Preparing for the interview was much more work. I read almost every page on Kohl’s website –about their philanthropic work, their celebrity endorsed brands, their high/low pricing strategy –everything. I wanted to know as much as possible, both to ensure I was impressive at the interview and to make sure this was in fact a company I wanted to work for. I also scheduled a mock interview at Career Services. This turned out to be incredibly helpful. They helped me organize my thoughts and experiences into answers that would help me market my skills and talents to the employer.

What happened after your on-campus interview? I was selected for a second interview. I credit my over-preparedness for my first successful interview. I totally would have cracked under the pressure if I hadn’t practiced my answers several times before hand.

Tell us about your second interview. What happened? Kohl’s offered me the MIT position during my second interview.

What skills and knowledge do you hope to learn while working at Kohl’s? I am definitely very excited about this opportunity. I would like to learn how to successfully merchandise store products, create sales projections and employee schedules, and explore the realms of Human Resources. I want to use these experiences to help me determine whether I want to manage a store, become a recruiter, work my way up the corporate ladder, etc. I am excited to apply my degrees to such a vast field. With so many retail-oriented jobs to choose from, this MIT program will bring me one step closer to finding my dream job.

How did your education/experiences help to prepare you for this type of job? My classes, volunteer and work experiences prepared me for this opportunity.

What information can you share with your peers who are preparing for the job search? I would definitely recommend having a mock interview to anyone who is serious about landing a particular job and to attend the career fairs.

Marian Moore, Career Development Coordinator/Career Counselor in Career Services at OSU is passionate about empowering others holistically to find meaningful and sustainable careers that promote lifestyle optimization. Interests: Career Coaching, Talent and Human Capital Management, Curriculum Design and Development, International Education, Personal Branding, Organizational Development, Entrepreneurship, Global Economic Development, Human Rights and Immigrant and Refugee advocacy.

Too Much To Do in a Day? Tips on Managing Your Time Better

Posted on by | Leave a reply

Being a college student as well as an employee, I know firsthand how stressful life can become when it seems like there is never enough time in a day to accomplish the things you want or need to accomplish. However, there are many ways to manage your time and to cope with this type of stress you may endure throughout your life.

Of course there are your priorities such as school and work but making sure you take a little bit of time out of each and every day to yourself is extremely important.  When I say taking time for yourself, there are so many things you can do. For example, this could mean go workout for an hour, sit down and talk with your best friends, read a book of your choice, and so on. Just because your day seems overwhelming, you don’t have to let it be that way.

A lot of people, including myself, get stressed out because they look at their schedule many days in advance and see all of the things they have to do that week. The best piece of advice I have ever received that I would like to pass on is to take it one day at a time. With that being said, the best thing I have ever done for myself was purchasing a daily planner. Almost every student I come across on campus owns one. If you would have asked me in high school if I would use a day planner in college, the answer would have been no, now it’s my life saver.

I highly recommend keeping track of the things you need to do each day in either a daily planner or on some sort of calendar. Doing this will eliminate the extra stress that comes along with the questions, “was I supposed to do that today, or what time is that event?” Sounds silly now, but once you find yourself asking those questions every single day it will get old and you will find yourself wishing you had it in a planner or calendar.

With a busy schedule and never enough time in a day to do all of the things you had planned, just remember to take it one step or day at a time. Finish the assignment or work task that needs to get done first and then worry about the rest as they come. Take time for yourself, write everything down in a planner, and as a benefit, become less stressed out.

 

Work and Working Out

Posted on by | 2 Replies

Finding time to fit in a good workout with all the stresses of life can be extremely difficult at times. Some people workout at 5 in the morning, others ride their bikes to work, while some do not do anything at all. We at Oregon State University are pretty lucky because we have Dixon Rec Center, McAlexander Fieldhouse, the Covered Bridge loop, Bald Hill and so many outdoor recreational areas surrounding Corvallis. Unfortunately, someday (hopefully) we are going to graduate, and possibly (hopefully again) get real jobs, maybe even in an office. If you think finding time to workout now is difficult, just imagine how it will be when you have a job and a life to workout around.

Working out is good for your body, reducing stress, your looks, reducing the chance of certain diseases and helping you age well. It can even boost your mood, improve your sleep and give you more energy, which could possibly help you with your work.

Before you even leave the house you can start your workout. Try waking up just 30 minutes earlier to go for a walk, or perform chores at a faster pace to increase your heart rate. Instead of sitting while you watch TV be active on a stationary bike or try using weights. Every little effort you take will make a difference.

Now instead of driving to work try riding your bike, but if that is not for you park your car further away from the door, to make you walk further, then take the stairs. Already you have started your day off right. Here is a list of exercises you can do walking around the office, waiting for the printer or sitting at your desk:

  • Calf raises
  • Walking around
  • Chair dips
  • Desk or wall pushups
  • Knee lifts/leg lifts
  • Stretching
  • Sitting on an exercise ball
  • Muscle clenches
  • Good posture
  • Weights
  • Deep breathing
  • Elastic band/hand gripper

You can even try talking to your employer about how they can help you stay active while at work, because a happy employee is a more productive employee. Finding a workout buddy at work can help by keeping each other moving, and maybe then you can start a lunch walking group, or even find time together after work to be active.

 

May Day – What does it mean?

Posted on by | Leave a reply

A Little Piece of Worker’s History

By: Casey Anderson

Many students hear the phrase “Happy May Day” and it triggers nothing more in their minds then “one more month and I’ll be free,” meaning summer is almost here.  May Day however, also called Labor Day, Loyalty Day, or International Worker’s Day, is a mark of the strength and spirit of trade and labor organizations and is celebrated in more than 80 countries.

The Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions brought forth the proposal for a Labor Day celebration and worker’s rights exhibition in April of 1886.  May 1st of that year was to be the first demonstration with strikes and marches, but American business owners refused to comply and police were called to break up the demonstration.  Later named the Haymarket Massacre, it began while a peaceful rally was taking place in support of workers striking for an eight-hour day.  An unknown individual threw a bomb at police as they were acting to disperse the public meeting.  The police opened fire and at least 12 individuals were killed, with many others wounded.  For many years, May Day has commemorated the individuals who lost their lives at this horrifying event.

Although the majority of the world still celebrates International Worker’s Day on May 1st, President Cleveland moved the day to September because he feared it would be associated with the craziness of the anarchists who were leading many of the strikes.  Oregon was actually the first state to make it a holiday in 1887.  Go Oregon!

The history of the significant holidays and important days in the history of the American workforce are common small-talk topics at holiday parties, networking events, and during office tours when you begin your new job.  It is a good idea to research these events so you can impress your future employees and maybe even discover some additional reasons to celebrate.

 

Humor at Work:To Laugh or Not To Laugh

Posted on by | Leave a reply

Hulali Kaapana

I’ll keep this short and simple. Humor surrounds our everyday lives, some love it and others not so much, but the question is when is it okay and is it okay to use it in a professional setting. Some people are born natural comedians and others well, some may lack humor but when is it okay to make things funny.

Humor can have much positive effect on your work place such as:

  • Boosting morale, motivating and engaging employees
  • Reducing stress and conflict
  • Increasing sales or customer reaction and numbers
  • Strengthening teamwork
  • Building trust and communication
  • Keeping people AWAKE during meetings
  • Improving chances of personal success

The negatives of humor is:

  • If it is a personal joke it could hurt others
  • It can cause tension between employees
  • It can be too sexual, making the work environment awkward
  • It could not be funny at all (yikes)

According to Chris Robert, assistant professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia’s, Robert J. Trulaske Sr. College of Business “humor: it’s not just clowning around and having fun; it has meaningful impact on cohesiveness in the workplace and communication quality among workers. The ability to appreciate humor, the ability to laugh and make other people laugh actually has physiological effects on the body that cause people to become more bonded”.

With that being said, have a few laughs at work, make it an enjoyable place to work, but know when to play and when to work. Never lose your companies mission. Smile and enjoy life.

HAPPY HUMOR MONTH!

PS: Here is a great website to check out about more “humor” at your workplace

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/nov2007/sb2007115_185030.htm

Giving Your Resume Visual Appeal

Posted on by | Leave a reply

As someone who has seen hundreds of resumes during my time at the Career Services Center, I can definitely say that the typical resume is a snore to look at. I’ve seen enough of the ol’ Times New Roman standby to last a lifetime. This trend is understandable. Certain fields like accounting and business actually prefer the traditional over the aesthetically pleasing. And with only a few templates and examples to choose from, how creative can anyone really get with these things?

Lucky for you I have taken it upon myself to clear the air. There are several things you can do to help your resume stand out from your competition. I’ll start with the most basic of techniques: the line. Adding a few divisionary lines between the sections of your resume makes it visually easier to approach. Subconsciously, readers will think the resume will actually take less time to look over –since you’ve already divided the information into concise sections. At the very least –put one under your heading. It will automatically make your name and contact information stand out tenfold.

While this example does utilize color –something that would not be appropriate for those more conservative jobs- it also displays the line division I was talking about. Everything looks clear and concise. I would have recommended to Andre that he use bullet points to further organize his information –but hey, there is always room for improvement.

 

Another thing I wish more people would do –is create a personal logo. No one does this anymore (probably out of lack of know-how) –but it really is much less complicated than it seems. The key is simplicity. You want it to compliment your resume, not overpower it.

As you can see in this example, Carol simply played with a font she liked and the first letter of her last name. Simple and effective. Yes, the purple was probably a step too far –I think black ink would have been a better choice (since it is always a safer bet to err on the conservative side with colors). However I think her design is fantastic, aka not a snooze fest. She could also easily use the logo on business cards as well. If you haven’t already, check out VistaPrint.com to take advantage of their free business card offer. Nothing looks better than a snazzy business card attached to a polished resume.

Another easy change to make is the paper you are printing these bad-boys on. Anyone can use the standard printer paper –not everyone takes the time to use the higher quality (aka better looking) resume paper. One reason for this is that this stuff is pricey. I’ve seen it as high as $15 for 50 sheets (yikes!). But don’t despair –several colleges on campus are secretly giving away these gems to students who ask for it. Also keep in mind that one box of resume paper can last you as long as a couple years. Looking at it as a long-term investment can help take the sting out of spending so much on paper.

Obviously this is not your run-of-the-mill resume paper. This would definitely not be appropriate for those conservative office jobs I’ve been mentioning –but if you’re entering a more creative field, this could be a fun way to help your resume catch your interviewer’s eye.

 

 

The moral of the story is get creative! Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. With the hiring process getting more and more competitive –standing out is the name of the game. If nothing else –please don’t use Times New Roman. For my sake. J

Beavers Beyond OSU

Posted on by | Leave a reply

Beavers Beyond OSU is an opportunity for students and alumni to share a successful internship, career related experience, project or study abroad opportunity. Perhaps you’ve discovered a new passion or created a start-up. Or you’ve had a meaningful experience that can inspire and educate others on ways to find intentional careers. If you have a story to share, we’d love to hear from you.

To share your story, please submit your interest below.

Name: Emily Berkey

Major: Double major in Sociology: Criminology and Penology & Human Development and Family Sciences

Year: Senior

Tell us about your national exchange experience? I attended Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, through the National Student Exchange Program. There, I was able to network with music industry booking agents and event coordinators and interview them about their careers. Additionally, I was able to link up with over 50 students from around the country, including the CEO of Royal Fam Entertainment in New Orleans, Louisiana.

What was your title? West Coast Director of Promotions for Royal Fam Entertainment

What did you do? I spread awareness and stimulated interest about Royal Fam amongst college aged students. I also gained more insight into the music industry. As a result of working promotions in Baton Rouge, I became the West Coast Director of Promotions for Royal Fam Entertainment.

How did you hear about this opportunity? Through a recommendation from a friend, followed by my own networking.

What did you gain personally and professionally from this experience? I gained a lot of lifelong friendships and connections, as well as insight into the music industry. Specifically, I solidified myself as a successful public relations assistant.

What did you learn about yourself? I learned that I am skilled in promotions and networking, and am able to translate ideas into action.  I also learned that I’m a successful communicator with all groups of people and represented the message of the organization successfully.

What skills did you develop or learn? I learned the importance of networking and advocating for myself. Additionally, I was able to practice representing myself and others in a positive way, sharing my creativity to inspire others, as well as communicating ideas and strategies in a clear manner.

How did your education/experiences help to prepare you for this type of opportunity? I volunteered at the Pride Center on campus, currently work at the Writing Center, and volunteer at KBVR. My varied experiences have exposed me to very diverse groups of people. This, along with my sociology and human development and family sciences majors, has prepared me with both educational and real life experiences for working and communicating with diverse groups of people.

What information can you share with your peers or others interested in this field? Although National Student Exchange no longer exists at Oregon State, I suggest that students look for internships out of state in any field they’re interested in. By leaving your comfort zone and a town that you’re used to, you are really able to grow personally and professionally.

Marian Moore, Career Development Coordinator/Career Counselor in Career Services at OSU is passionate about empowering others holistically to find meaningful and sustainable careers that promote lifestyle optimization. Interests: Career Coaching, Talent and Human Capital Management, Curriculum Design and Development, International Education, Personal Branding, Organizational Development, Entrepreneurship, Global Economic Development, Human Rights and Immigrant and Refugee advocacy.

Health Professions Career Fair

Posted on by | Leave a reply

The Health Professions Career Fair will be held on Tuesday, April 24th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the LaSells Stewart Center on the Oregon State University campus.  Nearly 50 health professions schools from across the country will be attending to provide useful information for those preparing for a career in the health field.

There will be a great deal of information for students no matter where they are in their academic career.  First and second year students can explore health profession school options, start building networks for the future and get valuable advice and tips.  For juniors, seniors and alumni there is the opportunity to learn about specific programs, collect application and financial aid information as well as get advice on the application process.

To learn more about the Health Professions Career Fair, contact the College of Science at 541-737-4811 or science@oregonstate.edu Please visit the website to learn what schools will be represented and to learn tips that will help you get the most out of the fair.

Managing Job Search Stress

Posted on by | 1 Reply

Looking for a full-time job can be a full-time job. For most people, the process can be quite stressful. While some stress is a standard part of life, excessive stress can negatively impact your physical and emotional health. The key to reducing stress is to manage it. By dedicating time to improve yourself, you can manage your job search stress.

What can you do to manage your job search stress?

Know Yourself

Take a moment to know yourself. Knowing yourself means knowing your purpose, interests, skills, strengths, values and characteristics of your personality. Also, having awareness of your salary expectations, environment and location will help you better understand aspects about your lifestyle preferences. The more you find out about yourself, the more meaning you will have in your search and career decision.

Create a Job Search Plan

The next step is to create a job search plan. A focused job search produces the best results. Prioritizing your planned job search activities can help you manage your stress level.

To start, have your resumes, cover letters, personal statements, portfolios and other supporting materials ready.  I have found it most helpful to create a comprehensive master resume, and then create a one page resume where you can copy and paste relevant information.  This way you can tailor your resume for each position. Customized letters gain more attention from employers and shows initiative.

Consider making a list or excel spreadsheet of positions you qualify for, when you sent your resume or application, and when you plan on following up with the employer.  Target specific employers, occupations, and industries that are of interest to you, even if they don’t have jobs posted online.

Develop your network. Compile a list of networks that you can use in your job search. You can begin with parents, relatives, friends, faculty, social networking groups and alumni.

Have you updated your LinkedIn and Facebook accounts lately? Make sure that you have a professional online presence. It creates brand recognition and allows you to control your image. Also, make sure that you have a professional email address and voicemail message on your phone.  Conveying a positive image is important in this current economy.

Don’t forget your apparel. Have an interviewing suit available. Dressing professionally will make a great first impression. Make sure that you wear attire that is appropriate for your industry.  If you are uncertain about what to wear, check here.

Manage Your Time

Don’t add more stress by overwhelming yourself with nonessential tasks. Manage your time by creating a schedule that is realistic and allows you to prioritize important tasks first. Prioritizing your activities can help you accomplish more and give your more control of your job search.  More importantly, having a schedule helps you to quantify your time and plan for much needed breaks. Be productive.

Maintain a Positive Attitude

Having a positive attitude is one of the best things to have when job searching. It may be difficult, but it can be done. One way of maintaining a positive attitude is to incorporate positive language in your conversations. This tone will be reflected in your interactions and relationships with others. Another way stay positive is to associate with positive people. Having a positive network can help you become more resilient when facing stress.

Relax

Continue to find ways to clear your mind of distractions. Engage in a fun activity that relaxes you. Whether it is meditating, cooking, jogging, gardening, painting or reading, take a break to relax and enjoy yourself.

If you still find yourself being overwhelmed by stress, consider joining a support group, exercise and seek help.  We have a variety of resources on campus to assist you.  Remember you are not alone.

Best of luck with your job search and practice managing your stress!