Jill Boatright

Seniors: Stay Connected with the Career Development Center After Graduation!

May 9, 2013 by Jill Boatright

With graduation just a few days away, the Career Development Center would like to remind you that alumni are still eligible for CDC services.  Below are a few examples of the services young alumni utilize the most.

  1. One-on-one appointments- Call and schedule an appointment with a career coach to edit your resume, craft strategic cover letters, develop a job search strategy/plan, conduct a mock interview, or discuss networking for employment.  We offer these appointments in the Career Development Center as well as over the phone for alums living outside of the city.
  2. Employola– Even after graduation, Loyola alumni can access and apply for the job opportunities listed in our database.
  3. CareerShift- If you haven’t already, access CareerShift from the Career Development Center homepage.  CareerShift is a national job hunting and career management tool that will instantly streamline your job search. Even as an alum, CareerShift remains FREE for you to use.
  4. Social Media- Follow the Career Development Center on Twitter (@EMPLOYOLA_Surge) and like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/EMPLOYOLA). The Career Development Center uses its social media platforms to advertise hot job opportunities and to provide students and alumni with useful career and job search tips and strategies.

To schedule an appointment with a career counselor, call the Career Development Center (504-865-3860).

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Kelly Fleenor

What’s Your Investment?

May 8, 2013 by Kelly Fleenor

A recent article in the Chronicle called, “How to Assess the Real Payoff of a College Degree” begs the question: Is Return on Investment really the right way to judge the value of a college education?  Whatever your opinion on the subject, I offer my suggestion in the following video blog.  I urge you to, at the very least, re-frame your ideas of what you are investing and what your returns might be.

As I mention, take the summer to think about your ROI and then let us know your thoughts on the matter.  Visit the Career Development Center on the second floor of the Danna Student Center, email us, or stop by our drop in hours once you return to campus.

Good luck on finals! Have a wonderful summer! Start investing now!

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DawnChae Jiles

Loyola Students: Google Wants You!

April 24, 2013 by DawnChae Jiles

Did you know?
Seniors Alex Hillis and Michael Carney accepted full-time post-graduation jobs with Google after participating in the 2012-2013 Community Leaders Program, sponsored by Google.

The Community Leaders Program (CLP) is a year- long internship dedicated to working with students from universities across the city to improve the web literacy of New Orleans small business owners and community organizations.  Currently in its second year of implementation, Loyola University New Orleans had six students who were selected to participate in the 2012-2013 program.  Ethan Rosenberg, a rising junior majoring in Music Industry Studies, will return for a second year and serve as a group team leader.  Read on to learn more about how the experience impacted Alex Hillis’s career.

Q&A with Economics senior, Alex Hillis:
 
As a Community Leader, do you feel like you made an impact within the New Orleans community?

I know we have made an impact within the NOLA business community. Tech illiteracy is a huge problem inNew Orleans. Getting small business owners and community organizations online and removing any fears they have about the internet is a huge step towards alleviating the illiteracy problem while keeping New Orleans relevant in an increasingly online and rapid economy.

Do you believe that participating in the Community Leaders Program had a direct impact on you landing a job with Google?

Yes. Everything I learned with the CLP ties into my current position with Google and I couldn’t have landed this job without the help of the program directors for the CLP who were extremely helpful in coaching me and preparing for interviews. I owe a lot to them.

Any advice for the 2013- 2014 Loyola CLP applicants? 
 
As with any experience, you get out of it what you put in. The more time you spend thinking about new solutions forNew Orleansand moving forward on CLP initiatives, the more you will learn and develop. Showing that you are dedicated and care about your work is a great way to meet new people and get awesome recommendations.

Sam Bowler, Director ofthe Community Leaders Program, believes the CLP is making a positive impact on the community, while providing students with ‘real world’ experiences, in two ways. First,  interns work in diverse teams, with other students from Xavier University, Tulane University, Loyola University, Dillard University, and the University of New Orleans, which presents diverse experiences and perspectives that the students can pass on to community members. Secondly, the program presents participants with the chance to sit down with people who help to build this city and create meaningful change.

Sam’s advice to current applicants:
“If you believe in the power of strong relationships and committed, deliberate, educative action to strengthen neighborhoods, then you are in the right place. Be honest with that belief or the lack thereof and you will most definitely find yourself in the exact place you were meant to be.”

The deadline to apply to the Community Leaders Program is May 1.Apply Here!

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Kate Duncan

Making a Career and Life in Your Own Voice

April 17, 2013 by Kate Duncan

                 Jazz music. You either like it, or you hate it. Most people who hate it claim that they can’t make sense of the random, “squawking” notes they hear, but this could not be farther from the truth! A closer listen would reveal that there is nothing random about jazz and that each musical line, however disjointed it may sound at first, is one long, carefully crafted expression based on years of training, listening skills and artistry.  Jazz musicians hear chords as a landscape that they are asked to navigate with a well-crafted, improvised melody line.  They use their training to listen to the chords; the ones they just left behind and the chords which have yet to be, and they react accordingly to make a melody line that is all their own. That’s improv.

                The same can be said about a student freshly thrown into the job market. At first it all feels like random stabs in the dark; applying for what seems like a million positions, writing a million cover letters, and a million thank you notes, but we eventually learn to listen to the job landscape, pursue our talents, use them in new ways and begin crafting a career path which will hopefully look something like a beautiful melody line we spent our lives creating.

                As a jazz student, I learned to memorize traditional chord progressions and scales so that I could combine these all in a new creative, improvisatory way. At first I was completely flummoxed, thinking that I was grasping at musical straws, but I eventually learned that successful improv sections are far from random and often contain favorite scales and pieces of familiar musical phrases. I doubt he remembers it, but one of my favorite improvisation teachers said the following phrase, which changed my life as a musician and a business person: “There are only twelve notes in a scale. You can’t reinvent that wheel, but you can rearrange those notes to make a melody in your own voice.” Now I find myself every day listening and anticipating the chords and needs in my music and at work, and creating my own “musical line” through both. As students, you’ve studied “typical” framework of your classes and their core concepts, but once you graduate, I challenge you to go beyond this and find new and creative ways to pool your talents to craft your work career, whatever it may be, in your own voice.

                Part of what makes jazz so enjoyable is the suspense created when a true master stretches a melody line so far out from where it began that it seems like the ear will never come back, but in the next breath effortlessly bridges us back to the comfort of what our ears know. The world’s most successful people, regardless of industry, have ALWAYS stretched boundaries of society’s traditions and concepts to forge bold new pathways in their voice and to meet the needs of the problems that they see. How do they do this? They know their skills. They know their language. And they know how to “listen” to what has happened before and look ahead to “hear” and anticipate the growing holes in the market, adapting their skills to these needs.

                What chords will you hear and what needs will you answer? How far out will you stretch your gifts and skills? The world of work and careers is full of sounds that seem like jazz “squawks,” but take the time to hear the chords of skills you’ve learned here at Loyola and listen for what’s coming next and you’ll undoubtedly hear a landscape that will embrace your skills and navigate you through a rich career path. If you want to learn more about all of the possibilities and doors your skill set can open, please visit the Career Development Center website or visit us on the 2nd Floor of the Danna Center.

 

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Jill Boatright

Quick Interview Tips

April 8, 2013 by Jill Boatright

Do you have a job or internship interview coming up? Are you unsure how to prepare or what to expect? The Career Development Center is here to help.  Review our five quick tips for interview preparation below and then schedule an appointment with a career coach to discuss specifics or to conduct a mock interview.

 

  1. Research the Company! It’s absolutely essential that you are knowledgeable about the company/organization you are interviewing with.  Run a Google Search.  Look up the organization on LinkedIn. Follow its other social media sites. Visit their website and review their mission statement.  Learn as much as you can before your interview.
  2. Get Your Outfit Ready. If you don’t already have one, get a suit as it’s a safe bet for most interviews.  Make sure your interview outfit is pressed and ready to go the night before your interview.  You don’t need one more thing to stress about on interview day.
  3. Prepare Your Materials. Print off several copies of your resume and reference list.  Organize a portfolio of your work (if necessary). 
  4. Rehearse Beforehand. Practice common interview questions.  You know they are coming so have strong answers and examples prepared. “Tell me a little bit about yourself.”  “What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?”  “Why did you apply to this position?” “Why are you interested in working for this company?” “Why should we hire you for this position?
  5. Plan Your Route and Arrive Early. Know how to get to your interview site and plan to arrive 15 minutes early. Always bring contact information for the company in case of an emergency.
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Roberta Kaskel

Job Scam Alert

April 4, 2013 by Roberta Kaskel

A number of fraudulent emails have been sent to Loyola University New Orleans students under the guise of offering some form of employment.   Although the majority of job listings are legitimate, you may encounter scams, falsified information, or situations that can be physically or financially risky.

The Career Development Center at Loyola University New Orleans encourages you to be cautious in all of your interactions with potential employers, whether or not you learned about them through the Career Development Center.  If you receive a suspicious email, please contact the Career Development Center and we will be happy to help.

Some tips to keep in mind:

  • Do not provide anyone with your social security number, personal checking or banking information. This information is not needed for any step of the job search process.
  • Beware of ads that make outrageous claims, don’t specify job duties and don’t require that you send a résumé. Legitimate employers are seeking candidates with specific skills, knowledge and education. Watch for ads, even for entry-level jobs, that use the phrase ‘no experience necessary,’ especially when there is a promise of big money.
  • ‘Work from home’ is not a job title. If it appears in the ad header, there’s a good chance it’s a come on. Scammers can rarely resist including it in the header — it’s the bait of their ‘hook’ as they fish for people to reel in.
  • Do not give out personal information online or over the phone. Personal information such as height, eye color, ethnicity, etc. does not pertain to the job search.
  • Be sure the e-mail address to which you are sending information has the same domain name as the organization. For example, if applying to “Organization X,” the e-mail address should have “@Organizations X” somewhere in the address. Be wary of sites/organizations where much of the information is “under construction.”
  • Research the organization to be sure that it is legitimate.
  • Be especially cautious when dealing with organizations outside of your own country.
  • Always use good judgment in ALL of your interactions with employers.  The Career Development Center suggests that students request business references for unknown organizations before interviewing with them off campus.
  • Be cautious when posting your resume online. Research the site to learn if it is legitimate. If you are unsure, limit your contact information on the resume and use generic job titles if yours are unique.

Remember: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

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DawnChae Jiles

Good Manners can be Hard to Find

March 22, 2013 by DawnChae Jiles

“Good manners are just a way of showing other people that we have respect for them.” – Bill Kelly

I believe that good manners not only show respect, but also show that whatever it is you do, you are capable of doing it well.

I had the pleasure of learning from the best: Virginia Edwards, a nationally renowned etiquette coach, presented professional dining and networking skills at the SophoMORE Etiquette Dinner. She taught me many valuable lessons about fine dining that I am happy to pass along!

First Things First: Appearance Matters.

  • When RSVPing to an event, it’s more than okay to ask what attire is recommended.

  • Dress like others in your career field. A person who works at an advertising agency will dress differently from a person that works on Wall Street

  • If you’re still unsure about what you should wear:
  1.  Men:a suit is your best option, and your jacket and pants should match.
  2. Women:a suit is also your best option, and your jacket and skirt should match, along with pantyhose.

Making an Entrance:

When you walk into an event, be aware that others are watching you.  Make your presence known.                                                                                               

  • When you first walk into the room, take a moment to stop at the front of the room to look around. Look for the host and others that you would like to speak with

  • Don’t flock to people you know and sit with them all night. Events are meant to enhance your list of connections.

  • Posture, posture, posture.

Table Manners:  

Remember, manners matter!.

  • When you arrive at your table, do not sit until the host (or any other head of the table) sits, then you may follow.
  1. Every other action will also follow the host: removing the napkin from the table, breaking of the bread, eating, etc.
  • If you’re confused about which bread plate or drink is yours, here’s a fun trick (that shall be done under the table, only) :
  1. Touch your index finger and thumb together. Your left hand will form a B, while your right hand forms a D. This reminds you that your bread plate is on the left, while your drink is on the right.

  • Utensil basics:move from the outside in.

  • While eating your bread, break off small pieces and butter each piece individually.

  • Don’t talk with food in your mouth and chew with your mouth closed.

Food to order:

  • Don’t order anything that will be difficult to eat. This typically means stay away from food with bones.

  • Don’t order large portions,; remember you are being watched!

Farewell:

  • Thank your host and all others that you spoke with.

  • If you made a connection with someone, feel free to give them a business card.
  1. Yes, it’s important to have business cards; welcome to the real world!

Possessing good manners can open up an array of new opportunities for you. Tune into what others are doing at events and follow their lead. More importantly though, use every chance you get to make valuable connections. You never know when they will come in handy.

Visit Virginia Edwards website, www.BeyondManners.com, to receive more tips.

 

 

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Kelly Fleenor

Props and Chops from Billy Joel

March 14, 2013 by Kelly Fleenor

In preparation for Porter Gale’s opening keynote address at this Saturday’s Employ the Pack conference, she has asked attendees to watch this video.

As you watch, you will see a student just like you putting himself out there, taking a risk, and in the words of Billy Joel, “showing his chops.”  Do you have chops?

As you watch this incredible interaction take place, ask yourself, “Self, would I do something like this? Do I believe in my abilities?  Am I confident enough to join the national stage with a legend in my field?”  Here’s some of my thoughts play-by-play:

0:10 – Even raising your hand to ask a question in a full auditorium can be intimidating.  But, what you have to say is just as important as any other question in that room.  So, raise that hand!

0:30 – After Michael asks his question, there is a moment of pause when the audience is waiting for Billy Joel’s response.  What do you think is going through Michael’s head at this moment?  And then, after the response, there is no turning back for Michael.  That’s what you have to keep in mind: once you take a risk, you are all in.  You’ve just invested in your chops.

1:00 – Here, Michael basically has a “mentor moment” with Billy Joel.  What would you give to have a moment like this?

1:35 – And then, he begins to play.  And you realize that Michael had nothing to worry about at all.  He is good, and his talent speaks for itself.  I bet your strengths speak for themselves, too.

4:45 – Here’s where those “chops” come in and where I actually get goose bumps.  Michael surprises Billy Joel.  He takes full advantage of this opportunity.  He has fun!

So, come to the Employ the Pack conference on Saturday and discover from Porter Gale how you can take full advantage of opportunities like this.  Learn how you can develop your confidence and grow some chops.  If Billy Joel likes chops, your future employers and networks will too.

 

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Kelly Fleenor

Wise Words from Wiz Khalifa: Work Hard, Play Hard

March 11, 2013 by Kelly Fleenor

Wiz Khalifa was born in North Dakota and grew up in a variety of cities that seem to be polar opposites of New Orleans, but he seems to understand our philosophy and way of life pretty well.  He encourages fans to “work hard, play hard,” and whether or not you follow his music, I think he’s pretty spot-on with this viewpoint.

We are so lucky that we live in a city that has a variety of social offerings practically every weekend of the year.  For goodness sake, we just had winter holidays, the Superbowl and Mardi Gras all back to back! I for one feel like I am just catching my breath.  So, when planning events here in the Career Development Center, we continually compete with the city no matter the weekend.

Our approaching Employ the Pack conference is gearing up to be a fantastically informative half-day for attendees.  We are aware, though, that the Irish Channel Walking Parade is happening on the same day as the conference.  I’d like to point out the fact that the conference will be finished by 1:30pm, just about when the parade is scheduled to begin, and you can most likely catch all of it at a “second-half” spot.  Plus, the actual St. Patrick’s Day is Sunday, with two parades to celebrate.  However obvious the option is to me, I would still like to help you in making sure you get the most bang for your buck on Saturday, March 16th. 

Priority #1: Surround yourself with green.

Irish Channel Parade: You will wear green.  You will catch cheap plastic green beads.  You may or may not drink green beverages.  Green vegetables will fly dangerously close to your three-year-old cousin’s head, who is also wearing green.

Employ the Pack conference: You will hear a wealth of knowledge from seasoned professionals who have found a way to make some green while still following their passions.  Discover yourself as a professional, a networker, an agent of change.  Whatever your passion, you will learn how to fulfill it both practically and financially.

Priority #2: Experience new things.

Irish Channel Parade:  Perhaps kissing lots of older men on the cheek in exchange for faux foliage is not something you have experienced before.  Fair enough.  But don’t say you haven’t seen a New Orleans parade, unless you’ve just transferred to Loyola in the past three weeks.

Employ the Pack conference: The Employ the Pack conference has been planned with graduating seniors and recent alumni in mind.  Therefore, the chosen workshops and keynote speakers will present to you knowledge that is on a bigger picture scale.   This isn’t your standard come-to-campus-on-a-Saturday-to-learn conference.  You’ll be exposed to novel and important ideas.  You’ll be able to explore options and feel supported in making a sound decision for your future.

Priority #3: Work hard.

Irish Channel Parade:  Some of those cabbages are heavy, and you may have to fight over them with a parade neighbor.  Also, some of the walkers are stingy with their flower giveaways, and they may really make you work for them.

Employ the Pack conference: I have no doubt that Loyola students are pros at “playing hard.” But, is “working hard” just as much a priority for you?  Have you put in four grueling years to Loyola University, and could potentially have cabbages to show for it? As cliché as it may be, let’s think about your future!

So, where are your priorities?

I will see you all on Saturday, March 16th.  You may be wearing a green suede suit and carrying a briefcase full of potatoes, but at the end of the day, we decided to take a gamble that job seeking students and local alumni would find the networking opportunity and skill development at the conference more valuable than the parade.

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Jill Boatright

Spotlight on Porter Gale – Employ the Pack Conference Keynote Speaker

March 10, 2013 by Jill Boatright

Let the countdown begin! Employ the Pack: A Conference for Emerging Professional is just a few days away.  Happening Saturday (March 16th), this half day conference will feature breakout workshops and keynote speakers all aimed at providing seniors, graduate students, and young alumni the knowledge they need to confidently tackle the job search process.

We are excited to have Porter Gale serving as our opening keynote speaker.  Named a Digital Passionista by The Huffington Post, Porter is a social media expert and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in marketing, advertising, and independent filmmaking.  From 2007-2011, Porter Gale served as the Vice President of Marketing for Virgin America. She held the post of General Manager at Kirshenbaum Bond + Partners where she worked with clients like Vegas.com, Coach, and Snapple Natural Beverages.  Porter has received numerous accolades for her work in the communications field.  She was awarded the Changing The Game Award, by The Advertising Women of New York (AWNY) and was on AdAge’s Digital Hotlist, iMedia Top 25-Digital Marketers.

Porter Gale is also an independent filmmaker.  Ms. Gale has produced or directed documentaries that have aired on Lifetime, PBS, Channel 4/England and in film festivals around the globe. Porter’s film work has been honored by the Directors Guild of America, The Academy of Motion Pictures & Sciences and Filmmaker Magazine.

Porter’s first book, Your Network Is Your Net Worth will be published by Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster in 2013.  Her opening keynote address will address this same topic and will also be entitled; Your Network is Your Net Worth.  Come learn how to network yourself into employment from this knowledgeable expert.

Employ the Pack: A Conference for Emerging Professionals will be held in the Danna Student Center on Saturday, March 16th, 9 am – 1:30 pm.  Breakfast and lunch will be provided.  RSVP required!  To RSVP, click here or email lis@loyno.edu.  If you have any questions, please call the Career Development Center (504-865-3860).

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