The Benefits of Volunteering

Meet new people. You can build friendships with people you wouldn’t have otherwise had a chance to meet and build onto your professional network.

Improve your communication skills. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to learn how to effectively work and communicate with a variety of different people and personalities.

Increase your self-confidence. When you know you’re doing something worthwhile and making a difference, it can give you a boost of confidence.  

Improves your physical health. Volunteering keeps you active, provides routine and is beneficial for your mental health.

Gain experience. Some careers are hard to break into without experience. Volunteering gives you experience and provides the opportunity to see if a certain career path is right for you.  

Build transferable skills. Volunteering helps build valuable skills such as teamwork, problem solving and time management.

I WANT THAT JOB! What Local Area Employers Are Seeking in New Recruits and the Process for Applying

Do You Want A Job? Find Out How You Can Get Hired!

The Quinte Human Resources Professionals Association presents "I WANT THAT JOB! What Local Area Employers Are Seeking in New Recruits and the Process for Applying" on Wednesday, February 26 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. in room 2L50

Presenters will inform you on their organization’s hiring preferences and processes. Find out what they're looking for in regards to character and evidence of commitment, and hear their tips for success.

Don't miss your chance to enhance your hiring chances!

Register for this event by emailing careers@loyalistc.on.ca

Please register before Feb. 24, 2014.

Pizza And refreshments will be provided.

Networking Mistakes to Avoid

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind in order to help avoid networking blunders.

It’s not all about you

Just because you are interested in finding a job, doesn’t mean networking is all about you. Remember that networking is a mutual thing; your goal is to both answer and ask questions.

Quantity vs. Quality

Yes, it’s important to have a large and diverse network, but you also need to know when to draw the line to ensure you’re making lasting and valuable relationships. 

Failure to follow up

At networking events, it’s hard to remember everyone’s name. That’s why leaving behind a business card is a good idea. It’s also a good idea to follow up using email, social media, or the phone, to make a memorable connection.

Networking at Career Fairs

The Career Centre is hosting the 17th Annual Loyalist College Career Fair this Thursday, February 6 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Here are some tips for how to effectively network at a Career Fair:

1.       Be presentable – wear clothes that you would wear to an interview; make sure they are clean and pressed.   

2.       Be prepared – bring lots of fresh copies of your most recent resume in a folder where they will stay crisp and clean.

3.       Be early – arriving early and mapping out which employers you want to talk to will help you make the most of your time.

4.       Ask questions – now is a great opportunity to ask questions about the general industry, the hiring process, what the company is looking for in potential candidates, and what kind of entry level positions they have available.  Have a short list of questions prepared ahead of time.

5.       Know your qualifications – employers will ask about your background, so be prepared to give a 30-60 second spiel about your qualifications, education and interests.

6.       Follow up – it’s a good idea to send a thank you e-mail to the employers that you made a connection with. Follow up within 24 hours of the career fair.

Networking Tips

Be genuine. With networking, you get as much as you give. Make genuine connections and stay in touch – even when you don’t need something.

Be credible. If you’re counting on somebody recommending you for a position or offering you a job, act accordingly. Prove that you’re reliable.

Build a diverse network. Try to build a network with people from different industries who have diverse interests. Your network is a great opportunity to learn about your community.

Get involved. Volunteering for a local organization is a great way to display your work ethic and meet new people.

Follow up. It’s important to maintain connections and keep up with the people in your network. A quick email or message through social media goes a long way.

What is Networking?

Your network is made up of people you have connected with along the way – family, friends, previous employers, coworkers, community members, etc.  Knowing someone connected to a company you’re interested in can do wonders for your job search.  Your network can help you learn about jobs that may not be posted publicly (or outside of the company), or even help you find a job that doesn’t exist yet.  When you make small talk with an old neighbor, connect with fellow alumni on LinkedIn, or attend a community event, you are networking.  The people you connect and form relationships with can be a valuable asset, so don’t be afraid to use them as resources during your job search. And remember to get involved in your community by volunteering and attending your local chamber of commerce’s networking events.

12 Things You Wish You’d Known Before You Took the Job: Infographic

To view the original blog post and infographic on LifeHacker, visit: http://lifehacker.com/5994285/12-steps-you-should-take-before-you-accept-the-job-offer

Evaluating Job Offers

Here are some things you should consider when a potential employer presents you with a job offer:

Location

·         How much will your commuting expenses be?

·         Are you willing to relocate (if necessary)?

 

Values

·         Does the job match your personal values?

·         Will you be working holidays, weekends and/or a lot of overtime?

·         Will you be travelling and/or spending a lot of time away from your family?           

Advancement

·         Is there a potential for job growth and promotion?

·         Are you looking for a temporary or permanent position?

Benefits

·         How important are benefits for you?

·         Does the company offer benefits?

·         How much will your contribution to employee benefits cost?

Salary

·         Is the base salary enough to comfortably live off of?

·         Does the proposed salary fit your budgetary needs?

·         Is there an opportunity for pay increases or bonuses?

Recovering From a Bad Interview

Almost everyone experiences a bad interview at some point in their career.  If you are lucky enough to realize the interview has gone south while still in the midst of it, you have the opportunity to recollect your thoughts and take control of the situation. However, not everybody realizes where they went wrong until the interview is already over. If this happens to you, here are a few tips:

·         Don’t Overanalyze

It’s normal (and easy) to replay every detail of the interview in your head, but don’t beat yourself up! Chances are, most of the things you are agonizing over went completely unnoticed by the interviewer. Overanalyzing will make you start to feel like the interview went a lot worse than it actually did, so try not to obsess over the little things.

·         Send A Thank You Note Anyway

If your interview went poorly, it’s even more reason for you to follow-up with a thank you note or letter. Just remember, pointing out all of the things you think went wrong during the interview won’t make the situation better. In fact, you could point out something the interviewer didn’t even notice and make things worse. When you write your thank you note, keep it professional and thank the interviewer the same way you would have if the interview had gone well.