Common Job Networking Mistakes

Not Properly Introducing Yourself
It is really hard to introduce yourself, especially these days when a lot of people are unemployed. Draw attention to your interest and skills in order to take the conversation further. Engage your contact with questions, making the most of their time. Don't ask for a job at this point, you may scare them off. Also if they are in no position to give you a job, they can offer advice and their experience.

You Don't Know How to Work a Room or a Contact
Circulate among people, ask them a few questions. Get a card and don't feel embarrassed about moving on to the next person.

Criticizing Previous Employers
Think about what you are about to saying about your previous employer. It might sound different to someone who does not know your nightmare ex-boss. Stay positive and ready for work. Otherwise you may come off desperate.

Forgetting to say Thank You
Sometimes manners are overlooked when it comes to networking, but try to remember to thank them for their time and keep in touch.

A.N.

VOLUNTEER!

Do you have nothing but free time on your hands over reading week? Why not VOLUNTEER!

Visit http://www.viq.ca/ today for a list of volunteer opportunities. You can search by organizations name, type of work involved, length of commitment required and so much more.

AM

Salary Negotiation

Salary negotiations may be the most uncomfortable discussion, but can make the difference in your satisfaction with the position and the needs of the hiring organization. Successful negotiating required planning and strategy, presentation and patience.

1. Dress and act the part – much of your negotiation is already non-verbally conducted by your image and manner.

2. Be patient – wait until after the job has been offered to begin any pay negotiating.

3. Research the normal salary range for this type of position – you can find out what other companies are paying individuals with your skills and education by checking out third party research.

4. Don’t be the first to give a definitive figure – as for the pay range for this position before offering any figure you have in mind.

5. Keep your full attention on the person you are negotiating with – Listen and watch for all verbal and behavioral cues that will give you a better idea of the real needs, values and aspirations of the other person.

6. Be comfortable with silence – The person who has the least tolerance of silence will fill the void by speaking, often with a concession.

7. Don’t sell yourself short – Never downplay your strengths of over-emphasize your weaknesses.

8. Give yourself time – If they say the offer is final, say that you’ll need a day or so to think about it.

9. Negotiate for the future as well as the present – if you’re told the salary isn’t flexible, perhaps another area is, such as: vacation time, stock options, club membership or commissions.

10. Be sure – Never say “no” until you are absolutely certain you must do so.

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Summer Jobs

Hey guys,

We're almost half way through the semester with reading week around the corner. Now more than ever is the best time to start looking for summer employment or better yet full time employment.

Make sure to revamp your resume and coverletter before sending it out! Come into the Career Center and make an appointment or better yet send it to us electronically.

Use reading week to check out our blog for part time, full time and summer time employment opportunities. Now is the time to start checking it out!

Good luck,
Your Peer Employment Advisor, Leah Smolders

Facebook Etiquette Tips

Facebook is no longer a college networking site; with more than 350 million active users, more than two-thirds of these users are outside the college age group. According to Facebook, the fastest growing age group is people 35 years of age and older. This means that there is a large chance that your boss, potential employer, clients and co-workers are active users on this site.

Should you be mixing your personal and professional life? Below are a few tips to consider:

1. Don’t be offended if someone does not respond to your friend request. The majority of people limit their Facebook friends to either suit personal, educational or professional life.

2. Customize your privacy setting. You can tailor your privacy settings for a group of people or individuals. If you don’t want your boss to see your pictures or just anyone seeing your tagged photos you can change your settings to reflect this.

3. Be careful what you post on Facebook. Avoid posting rants about your boss or racy photos of yourself.

4. Remove a friend as a last resort to avoid offending people. Try increasing your privacy settings instead.

5. People will form their opinions and judgments about you from the information on your profile.

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Making the Most of First Impressions

Seven seconds is the average length of time you have to make a great first impression. A positive first impression can turn a chance encounter into a long term association.

1. Learn what people use to form their first opinion
Meeting someone face-to-face 93% of how you are judge is based on nonverbal data -- your appearance and your body language. Only 7% is influenced by the words you speak. When your initial encounter is over the phone, 70% of how you are perceived is based on your tone of voice and 30% on your words.

2. Choose your first twelve words carefully
Express some form of thank you when you meet a potential connection.

3. Use the other person’s name immediately
There is nothing sweeter than the sound of your own name. Use a person’s name in conversation within your first 12 words and the first 7 seconds. Nothing gets other people’s attention as effectively as calling them by name and giving them your full attention.

4. Pay attention to your grooming
Others notice your hair and face first. Putting off that much-needed haircut or color job may cost you the relationship. Very few people want to do business with someone who is unkempt or whose hairstyle does not look professional.

5. Keep your shoes in mint condition
If your shoes aren’t well maintained, others will question whether you pay attention to detail. Shoes should be polished as well as appropriate for the business environment.

6. Walk fast
People who walk 10 - 20% faster than others are viewed as important and energetic -- the kind of person others want to do business with.

7. Fine tune your handshake
The first move you should make when meeting someone is to put our your hand. There isn’t a businessperson anywhere who can’t tell you that the good business handshake should be a firm one. Once you’ve connected, close your thumb over the back of the hand and give a slight squeeze.

8. Never go out without your business card
Your business card and how you handle them contribute to your total image. Have a good supply of them with you at all times since you never know when and where you will encounter a potential client or employer.

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The Seven Habits of Highly Successful Networkers

No matter what career field you are in, all business people are networkers. Every time you meet someone, you are networking. Every time you greet someone, you are networking. Every time you pick up the phone, you are networking. Every time you engage someone in conversation, you are networking.

To become more effective at connecting with people consider the following seven habits:

1. Knowing what networking is
You can’t be successful at networking if you don’t understand what it is. Networking is about who you know. The more people you know and the greater the diversity there is in your contact base, the more successful you will be. An effective networking should create a broad base of people with whom you are connected and your relationship with your network should benefit you and those whom you can help.

2. Developing a networking strategy
Before attending any event or engage consider the basics. Why are they networking? What do they hope to accomplish? Who will they be exposed to? How can they help those whom they will meet and how will the relationships they develop be mutually beneficial?

3. Finding the right venue
Consider the date, time and place of venue. If you are not a morning person, breakfast groups are not for you. If you don’t like mixing of mingling at cocktail parties, find another event. Keep in mind all networking does not have to be work-related.

4. Preparing for and working events
If there is an even to attend, why is it being held? Who will be there? What will people most likely want to talk about? What is the attire? Showing up in inappropriate attire can make a person stand out from the crowd for all the wrong reasons.

5. Mastering the art of conversation
Showing up at events is a waste of time if you can’t make small talk with people once you arrive. Prepare at least three topics that you can talk about when no one knows what to say. Keep in mind 80% of conversation is listening and 20% is talking.

6. Following up and following through
Follow up turns people you have met into people you know. Think of ways to stay connected such as writing a note, inviting them to join you for coffee or possibly meet you for lunch. The Golden Rule of networking is to do what you say you will.

7. Practicing exceptional business etiquette skills from start to finish
The magic of successful networking is to make others feel valued by focusing attention on them, listen to what is being said and respond. When the time comes to move on, the polite networker has graceful exit lines already prepared. A good closure is, “I have enjoyed our conversation. I hate to end it but I feel that I have monopolized your time. I know that there are other people here whom you’d like to talk to.”

AM

Top Twelve E-mail Mistakes That Can Sabotage Your Career

Lydia Ramsey suggests your mail is as much a part of your professional image as the clothes you wear, the greeting on your voicemail and the handshake you offer. To build positive business relationships, pay attention to your e-mail and steer clear of these top twelve e-mail mistakes:

1. Omitting the subject line
2. Not making your subject line meaningful
3. Failing to change the header to correspond with the subject
4. Not personalizing your message to the recipient
5. Not accounting for tone
6. Forgetting to check for spelling and grammar
7. Writing a novel
8. Forwarding e-mail without permission
9. Thinking that no one else will ever see your e-mail
10. Leaving off your signature
11. Expecting an instant response
12. Completing the “To” line first

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AustraLearn- Australia and New Zealand Internship

Australearn

Various opportunties available in Australia and New Zealand

- We have scholarships for all our programs
- Austalearn is the best internship program to Australia and New Zealand for you
- Our internships are flexible
- Guaranteed housing options
- Low program fees
- Volunteer Opportunities
- On going 24 hour student support

Semester Abroad or Year Abroad Programs -Study in Australia, New Zealand, or Fiji!
In addition to a quality education from a respected institution, students are immersed in the varied and fascinating cultures and histories of these South Pacific nations. Our semester abroad programs offer some of the most unique experiences available to college students.

Complete an Internship Abroad for College Credit
Internships expand upon classroom learning by providing hands-on experience and valuable work skills.

January or Summer Study Abroad Programs Available
These allow students to obtain the advantages of spending a semester abroad in the region, but on a shorter timeframe. Students can complete a few weeks of study in Australia or New Zealand.

Degree Programs
Earning a degree in Australia or New Zealand not only provides students with a highly transferable diploma from an internationally recognized institution, it also supplies an experience that cannot be replicated in the U.S. or Canada. Studying and living in another country gives you firsthand international experience which sets you apart from other job candidates.

Teacher Education Programs
Australia and New Zealand are considered a gold standard for teacher education. This region has cutting edge programs for students seeking a teacher practicum or working towards certification.

Bridging Cultures Program
You will participate in a three-day orientation which includes a variety of sessions focused on providing you with information relating to the country and culture in which you will be living as well as the opportunity to explore some specific aspects of Australia or New Zealand through excursions and group discussions.

Visit www.australearn.org and find out more!

The Importance of Business Cards

Business cards today play a crucial role in the marketing process. Besides having traditional information such as name, phone number and address, today’s competitive industry required that business cards do much more than relay the basics.
Business cards are inexpensive, yet indispensable tools in introducing yourself and what you do to prospective clients and potential employers. They serve as miniature resumes that can be dispensed to anyone, anywhere at any time.

Traditional styles of business cards have transformed! Some companies are moving beyond the standard 3 ½ by 2 size.

Tips to make your business card stand out:
- Publish your business card on slightly larger paper.
- Print vertically, rather than horizontally.
- Varieties of card stocks are available and the option for using recycled materials is very appealing to some.
- The fold-over card. The front and back are similar to a traditional card, but the inside contains additional information.

Keep in mind when designing a business card:
- Use slogan or graphics.
- For companies, use a map of the intersection of your location as the graphic. - include phone number, fax number, email address and web site (if applicable).
- Font sizes, styles and colors are visually appealing, yet easy to read.

Distributing your business cards:
- Hand them out- often and to everyone, especially professional looking strangers and in any situation that requires leaving a gratuity.
- Pass your business card out on elevators (with a well developed elevator speech), in taxicabs, on airplanes, standing in line, or any other situation that required waiting or uncomfortable silences.
-Doing good deeds and leaving your business card behind as the evidence. Pay for someone’s parking, toll, or cocktail and leave your card behind or with the attendant.

Keep your business card everywhere. A full supply should be accessible in your purse, wallet, planner, briefcase, shirt pocket, car, office and home. Refill them daily and be sure to hand them out to individuals during every meeting, greeting, introduction, service you receive and function you attend.

Lastly, always hand your card out with confidence.


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Portfolio Help

PORTFOLIOS

The Importance of a Portfolio
· Sets you apart from other applicants
· Allows you to be more personal and creative
· A method of confidence-building
· Showcases your personality, accomplishments, goals and aspirations
· Provides tangible proof of your skills and abilities

Different Types of Portfolios
· Student – demonstrates knowledge attained throughout your school career.Very helpful for continuing your education.
· Project Portfolio – useful in professional or academic setting. Shows the efforts or steps taken to complete a specific task or project.
· Professional – demonstrates your skills, background, accomplishments and experiences. This is versatile and can be rearranged for a specific position.
· Online – useful in profession or academic setting. Enables your credentials to be more easily accessible. This should not take place of a hard copy portfolio. Very useful in the technology field.
· Personal – simply for personal use. A scrapbook of things that interest you.

What to include in your portfolio
· Letters of reference
· Resume
· Accomplishments
· Samples of work
· Transcripts
· Licenses or Certifications
· Evidence of specific skills

Presentation of a Portfolio
· Introductory Title Page
· Table of Contents
· Work samples
- Be sure to provide a reflection statement for each

Consider the following:
· Place items in a loose-leaf binder
· Use sheet protectors
· Use copies of your work and keep a master copy
· Organize your pages by index tabs
· Be consistent with headings and placement of items
· Avoid page numbers

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Teach in Korea

Teach in Korea

One Year Contract - Free housing and Airfare

Apply Online at www.canconx.com

Salary?

The current salary range for public school positions is 1,800,000-2,400,000 Korean Won per month. For private institutes you can expect a monthly salary between 2,000,000 and 2,800,000 KRW. This range varies depending on location, teaching hours, and qualifications. (currency converter)

Eligibility?
The minimum requirement to apply for an E2 working visa is a COMPLETED 3 year university degree.

Teach in Korea is a competitive opportunity with an interview process and unreal rewards for accepted applicants.

Check out their website to find out more details.

World Teach

Where in the world do you want to teach?
WorldTeach provides opportunities for volunteers to teach in developing countries, making a meaningful contribution to schools and communities that are in great need of teachers. Most volunteers teach English, and students range in age depending on the placement. In some countries, volunteers may also teach math, science, computer skills, or HIV/AIDS awareness.
Volunteers work as full-time teachers, as employees of their host school or sponsoring institution in their placement country. Most volunteers live with a host family or on the school campus, and participate fully in the life of their host community. WorldTeach year programs are 10-12 months in length, and the summer programs are about two months in length.

Who can be a WorldTeach Volunteer?
For year-long programs, volunteers must have a bachelor's degree. Summer program volunteers do not need to have a college degree, but must be at least 18 years of age. WorldTeach programs are open to native speakers of English; volunteers do not have to be US citizens. WorldTeach does not have any specific professional requirements for our programs. However, we seek applicants who show a commitment to teaching, international development, public service and cultural understanding.

How much does it cost to be a WorldTeach volunteer?
Because WorldTeach receives no government or significant outside funding, we must ask volunteers themselves to cover most of the expenses associated with their placement, travel, training and support. The reality is that the cost of traveling abroad is very expensive, and thus we discourage people from thinking of the program cost as "paying to volunteer," but rather "paying to live abroad." If you research other possible ways to volunteer internationally, you will realize that our comprehensive program cost is actually a bargain for the extensive support services we provide.

Volunteer for summer of year-long programs in…
Latin America: Chile/ Colombia/ Costa Rica/ Ecuador
Africa: Nambia/ Rwanda/ South Africa
Asia: Bangladesh/ China/ Thailand
Pacific: American Samoa/ Marshall Islands/ Micronesia
Europe: Bulgaria/ Poland

Apply Now! www.worldteach.org

Go Abroad

Experience another culture like never before while making a real difference in people’s lives. If you’re looking for a meaningful and exciting summer vacation alternative, a unique way to gain work experience, or an opportunity to share perspectives with local people by working side by side with them, this is the opportunity you’ve been searching for!

· Brazil
· China
· Costa Rica
· Ghana
· Guatemala
· India
· Morocco
· Peru
· Russia
· South Africa
· Tanzania
· Thailand

Volunteer Abroad or Intern Abroad for the experience of a life time
Choose from 12 countries, lengths of stay from 1- 12 weeks, and start dates year- round. Wherever you go, our in-country staff will welcome you to the CCS Home-Base and ensure that all your needs are met, from safety and lodging to perspectives and insight about the local culture!


Contact us today! Cross-Culture Solutions

www.crossculturalsolutions.org/verge
infocanada@crossculturalsolutions.org/verge - 1-800- 380- 4777

Internships in Ghana

IKANDO
Internships in Ghana, West Africa

Ikando facilitates internships with high-profile organizations in Ghana, West-Africa.
International Internships enable students to further develop their skills and gain the invaluable experience that will set them apart from their peers. We will provide you with any documentation required by your university for academic credit or work experience.

Life In Ghana

Accommodations

Students will stay in the Ikando Accommodation in the center of the capital Accra. The house has a spacious communal living area, dining area and kitchen, a balcony, a study area and bedrooms with two bathrooms.
The second accommodation is a large terrace and roof top. It has two large bedrooms and two bathrooms with a large kitchen and living area.

Safety

Ghana is generally a very peaceful and stable country. All students will have a named in-country coordinator and named host, both of whom will be contactable 24 hours a day.
English is the official national language. Ghana is not an expensive Country to live in, but amenities such as water and imported commodities are expensive.

General Information

· Flights must be arranged by yourself.
· Pricing, an eight-week placement will cost $1,700
· Not included: food, flight & visa, vaccinations and insurance

Check out the website and apply online! http://www.ikando.org/.

A Working Holiday (SWAP)

SWAP (Student Work Abroad Program)

Have the experience of a lifetime overseas or anywhere in the United States, you choose!
Swap is a program that allows full time post-secondary students the opportunity to travel with the helping hand of professionals.

SWAP provides you with the legal documentation that permits you to work anywhere in the US and overseas. Your visa applications are mailed to you as well as a checklist of all the documentation you will need.

Best of all, if you’ve chosen to go overseas, the Hosting Center is there to assist you in your job search, your apartment search with access to phone, internet and a fax.

Eligibility: Full-time post-secondary students in 2010. Minimum age 18

The opportunities are endless, check out www.swap.ca and Apply Now

Nurse Attire Tips:

1) Should be clean, neat and in a good state of repair; reflecting high professional standards.
2) Skirt must be no shorter than the middle of the knee and or longer than 4" below the knee
3) White Hosiery must be worn, and white socks are acceptable for pant style uniforms
4) All jewelry is highly discouraged.
5) Clean, white shoes
6) Scrub Pants, with a white shirt or blouse

A.N.

Chef Attire Tips:

1) Where a double button Chef coat
2) Apron, Have a towel handy so you do not wipe your hands on your apron.
3) Black, non slip shoes
4) Hair Net & Hat
5) Comfortable checker pants are traditional, but black pants are also accepted.
6) Stay clean and professional. Clip on ties are great for presentation.

A.N

We Can Help!

"Doing nothing is very hard to do...you never know when you are finished"
~ Leslie Nielsen

Take advantage of the Career Centre Services, and you will be on the right track to getting a job.

Services Provided
- Resume, Cover Letter and Interview Assistance
- On-Line Job Board
- Career Fair (February 11, 2010)
- Drop

"The trouble with unemployment is that the minute you wake up in the morning your on the job"
~ Slappy White

A.N.

An Architects Dress Code

Top 3 Basic Tips

1) Black and Professional

2) Classy and not afraid to add a little boldness

3) Sophistication