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Sometimes the best networking happens when you least expect it. Saturday morning I was at a coffee shop in Gig Harbor looking for a spot to set up my laptop. Though not crowded, all of the “good” spots were taken – the comfy armchairs with the side tables to hold your coffee, away from the sun’s glare that renders the screen unreadable. The only spots left were at the bar facing the window that looked out on the street. Even with the sun was obscured by cloud cover it was still too bright to read. Feeling defeated, I was thinking about leaving to find a dark, dank Starbucks.

A woman sitting at a small table in the corner saw me waffling and offered me a spot at her table saying she would be leaving soon anyway. I sat down gratefully and while setting up my techie gear we chatted. It turned out she was just laid off from her job the day before. She asked me what I do, and I enjoyed telling her, “I help people find jobs.” I explained my role here at Puget Sound working with college students.  After being surprised by the absolute serendipity of our meeting, she asked me a million questions about things that were burning in her mind.

Her first question was pretty typical: did I know of any jobs in her field? I didn’t, of course – I work with students looking for entry-level positions, and she was at a senior career level. But she didn’t end our conversation there, as most people would have. She continued to ask questions about things someone in my role might know. What was going on in the job market? How had job search techniques changed? What advice did I have for someone looking for work in this economy?  I couldn’t point her to specific openings, unfortunately, but I was able to help her with all of her other questions and our conversation ended on a very positive note. We exchanged cards, and even though I may not know of positions in her field, if I do hear of something, I will certainly contact her. After all – she gave me a seat at her table.

There were three things this woman did that made me want to help her:

• She showed genuine interest in me and the conversation was natural
• She didn’t stop the conversation when I didn’t have an answer to her first question
• She asked for the opportunity to stay connected by asking for my card 

Students: keep this in mind as you go about your daily lives. There are times to be very deliberate about networking, say at an event like ASK Night, but more often than not, opportunities just present themselves at random moments. Networking happens every day, and an opportunity can crop up anywhere to make a new connection. You never know who you’re going to meet!

Throughout this semester, my main focus has been to discover a career path that might spark a passion—and I ended up singling out non-profits. After all, I’ve always taken an interest in community relations, marketing, and helping the greater good; non-profits sounded like the perfect fit. But I was thrown off course last month when I unexpectedly connected with recruiters from an organization far from what I was exploring. Three days after meeting them, I found myself drinking a chai latte with two charismatic women during an informational interview that ended with an incredible internship offer!

While anticipating a disinterest in what the organization might have to offer, I found the meeting to be an amazing opportunity to share my story and personalize my experiences and skills. Not only did I discover more about job positions I never knew existed, I was challenged with questions that allowed me to practice articulating who I am and what I have to offer.

One question threw me, though. As we were nearing the end of our allotted time, I was asked why I took such an interest in non-profits. This seems like an easy question and yet I found myself scrambling for the appropriate reasoning. That’s when I realized I needed to practice articulating my interests and goals OUT LOUD. As much as I reasoned about non-profits in my head, I never verbally articulated it. I was not as prepared as I thought I was to respond to such a straightforward question. How exactly did I land on non-profits anyway? In the end, even though I stumbled my way through that question, I walked out confident, with a new-found interest in organizations outside of the non-profit world.

Since that first informational interview, I’ve decided to keep going and find more people to chat with; I guess you can say I have been on a networking high. For the past couple of weeks, I have been connecting with our own Puget Sound alumni from the ASK network, including Shannon Hughes, the chair of the Alumni Council CES Committee. After chatting with an advisor in my office, it seemed like Shannon and I shared some common career interests. Surprisingly, with no hindrance on our conversation, our particular career interests did not quite match up. But it turns out that my conversation with Shannon was helpful in an unexpected way!

While we were swapping stories over the phone, Shannon asked me to consider what different interactions and conversations in the past have excited me the most. I paused. Despite my talkativeness and desire to fill in the silence, I couldn’t formulate a response. It was then that Shannon and I discussed how helpful networking can be, especially when you gauge your level of excitement over certain topics; it really helps narrow in on your passions.

By stepping outside of my interests and connecting with people of different fields, I broadened my scope of careers to consider for the future. Not only did I learn that I should practice articulating my skills and interests out loud, I also learned to evaluate my energy level during conversations in order to learn what excites me the most. Long story short, there is no such thing as bad networking. People know people who know other people, so you never know who will be your most helpful resource!

Visit the CES Job Search Tools page for tips about Informational Interviews.

Forget the images of librarians as quiet book lovers. Of course librarians love books, but the work of a librarian extends beyond cataloging and shelving library books. Today’s librarian is a master of information management with jobs ranging from public service and reference, to technology and web development, as well as working with rare books and archives. Librarians may be employed at your local municipal library but librarians are also employed at large corporations (like Microsoft, Nissan, and Boeing), law firms, museums & historical societies, and many other environments including the University of Puget Sound!

Jane Carlin, director of Collins Memorial Library, oversees the management of the Library including personnel, budget, services, and collections (including print and electronic resources along with new media). Jane and her team constantly assess services and consider ways to promote the library and its resources and bring new patrons to Collins Memorial Library. You may have noticed exhibits featuring local artists working in book design and printing arts, or displays of library materials including Puget Sound archives, events such as Banned Books Tea, Edible Books Day and author talks.

I recently sat down with Jane to learn a bit about her career path:
Alana: How did you end up in this career field?
Jane: As an undergraduate I was an anthropology major with a minor in art history – as a junior and into my senior year, I began to seriously contemplate a career path. I knew I loved to study, work in an educational environment, and was passionate about art. It was during a “senior seminar” in art history that I went to meet with the art librarian to learn about special methods in art history research. I was amazed about all the interesting work that she did from research, to purchasing unique materials, to teaching classes. I was sold – academic librarianship seemed like a perfect fit – it provides the opportunity to build on a liberal arts background, contribute to higher education, provides a service to students and faculty, and allowed me to continue to pursue interest in the arts! My graduate program at Indiana University was designed so I could focus on fine arts librarianship.

Alana: What advice do you have for students pursuing this field?
Jane: Get as much practical experience as you can either through paid employment as a student library employee or by volunteering in a local library. Also – keep an electronic portfolio or at the very least a record of your research papers, presentations, etc.

Alana: What skills/competencies are valued in this field?
Jane: Database and technology skills, media communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, research skills, interpersonal skills, and community engagement. Most of the professional positions in the library require a Master’s degree.

I spent about 20 minutes with Jane and learned a lot about careers in library science. If you’re interested in learning about career options, consider meeting with professionals working in fields of interest to you. Access the ASK Network (a database of Puget Sound alumni interested in talking with students about their careers) in Cascade to get started.

Recommended Resources:
American Library Association
Association of College & Research Librarians
Best Careers 2009: Librarian
Occupational Outlook Handbook: Librarian Careers
Library Jobs
Special Libraries Association

Not sure if you’re ready to attend ASK Night? You are! Here are some typical students we encourage to come to the event and some tips for success:

Which type sounds more like you?

I-Don’t-Have-A-Clue: This could be a first year student or a graduating senior, and they worry that they have to have made some clear decisions about their career path in order to start networking with people. But networking is a great tool for discovering what you want to do with your life, and what better place to start than with a group of people whose sole mission for the evening is to talk to students about the kind of work they do. A great opening line for these students? “I’m still gathering information about different career paths – what did you do to learn about different options?”

I-Can’t-Make-Up-My-Mind: This student has done some exploring and has some areas of interest, but can’t pick between them. That’s quite all right – many alumni can definitely relate! A great question for these students to ask? “I’m debating between a few different directions – how did you decide the right path for you?”

I’m-Scared-To-Talk-To-People: For these students an event like ASK Night is the perfect place to start. Consider it networking with training wheels. This is the only kind of networking event where the entire room of professionals is there simply to help students. Because they are alumni there is an automatic connection. Plus, CES staff will be on hand to help make introductions. A great tip for these students? Research beforehand and know who you’d like to meet, and then ask a CES staff member to help you approach them.

I’m-Ready! Let-Me-At-’Em: These students certainly know what they want! But often we see these same eager students walk away disappointed. Why? “There was nobody there representing my field/my target professional didn’t make it to the event.” We remind these students that networking is about making connections with a broad group of people because it’s not necessarily about what these folks do, but who they know.

Each person has a personal network of contacts and every interaction is an opportunity to tap into that group. For example, the Computer Science student who ends up talking to a Religion major might be surprised to find out that her husband’s sister works for a technology company. Also, all alumni have been in the same spot current students are – they can share their stories of navigating a job search. A great suggestion for these students? Talk to everybody, show sincere interest in them as people, and let them know what your goals are.

Actually, all of these tactics are useful no matter where you are in your career search. Whether you’re still trying to figure out what your options are, or you are actively engaged in a job search, you can get something of value from ASK Night. We hope to see you there!

What is networking? The basic definition, in a professional context, explains networking as any interaction that connects you with others.  It is the most important tool in your professional toolbox, and developing connections has the best return on investment of any career-related activity. Despite that, many people resist networking because they feel uncomfortable asking people for help. To combat this discomfort, the best strategy is to develop your network before you need it:

Networking is not something you do when you need a new job or promotion or new client. It is not something you can’t buy, beg, borrow, or steal when you need it. It must be part of your life and activities as an ambitious, success-oriented young person. You can’t build strong relationships overnight.
~Lindsey Pollak, Getting From College To Career

There are three key parts of networking:

1.  Making connections:  You can network anywhere and there are opportunities at every turn to meet people who might be helpful for your career. There are many ways to find these people, such as attending events on campus where alumni are present (ASK Night, Health Professions Night, etcetera) or using tools like LinkedIn and other social networking sites.

2. Building relationships: The next step in networking is to deepen a relationship by connecting with professionals in person on a one-on-one level. Informational interviews are an excellent way to accomplish this goal.

3. Maintaining relationships: Take this beyond merely sending a thank you card after an informational interview, but also work on maintaining that connection over time. This is where the give and take of the relationship comes in, and is what will transform someone from a casual acquaintance to someone who is a reliable part of your network.

Watch for future posts where we’ll break down each part of networking into easy steps.

I recently had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Phil Gardner, an expert on the job market for college students, give an informative lecture about the current economic realities greeting us young adults after college and how to present ourselves in the market.

Anxious to be as prepared as possible for my transition from college to career, I furiously scribbled down facts about the job market and economy throughout his presentation until 1) my caffeine fuel died and 2) I realized that this factual knowledge wasn’t what was going to give me the edge I needed. Instead I found myself particularly drawn in by his more philosophical advice…dwelling on the surprising fact that one-third of our Gen Y population looks for opportunities in non-profits and another one-third in sustainability.

Why? What does this have to do with anything?

Then Dr. Gardner quoted National Geographic photographer DeWitt Jones to offer another perspective on viewing the world; it was at this point that it all came together for me.  As stated by Jones, Dr. Gardner asked us to consider shifting from “being the best in the world” to “being the best for the world” thus establishing a resilient persona motivated by faith instead of fear.

After being conditioned to be competitive in all of my endeavors throughout my scholastic life, I realized that I have been spending my energy on competing — fearful of losing ground — instead of using that passion, dedication, and energy on other things. Even though we “face-off” when applying for schools, jobs, and winning nationals in sports tournaments, it does not mean that we need to be in a state of constant competition with people. I discovered that I’d rather compete to be the best for the world, not in the world.

Now, as I reconsider my perspectives and move forward on my journey to the so-called “real world” (as if we’re not already in it) I find that I am more willing to embrace change and think outside the box. In order to be the best for the world, I get to figure out a way to best capitalize on my skills and dedicate myself to something that excites me…not something somebody expects of me. The pressure is off. Now I can focus on my mission to figure out just how I fit in, unclouded by expectation and drive for approval.

To rephrase, I’ve undergone a paradigm shift in which striving to be the best for the world will generate a different kind of approval. I can see the people in my life as opportunities to learn, admiring them instead of seeing them as the competition.

Evidently Dr. Gardner triggered something inside of me with this concept; in fact, by the end of the talk I was already feeling amazingly refreshed and relaxed about the future…it was as if all this pressure to be a certain person in a certain job was lifted. I finally got the affirmation I needed — we absolutely have the right to explore and find our fit…and Dr. Gardner just happened to provide me with that unspoken permission.

Dr. Phil Gardner of the Collegiate Employment Research Institute recently visited campus and I hosted him during four days of meetings with students, faculty, alumni, staff, and career service professionals from the Seattle area. Dr. Gardner is the national expert on the job market for college graduates, and while it’s hard to summarize everything he said, there are a few key points I’d like to pass along to Puget Sound students:

• If you’re waiting for the recession to pass and for the job market to get back to “normal,” that’s not going to happen. We’re forging new territory: employers are recruiting in new ways, entry-level jobs require more advanced skills, technology will play an increasing role in the workplace… And liberal arts graduates are well positioned to succeed because of the skills they develop as part of their education.

• Small to medium-sized employers (fewer than 250 employees) will be the employers most likely to hire.

• The majority of positions will not be advertised in traditional ways like online job boards. Networking will be absolutely imperative.

• Entry-level positions require new and more advanced skills that involve analytical thinking, working in teams, developing creative solutions, leveraging technology, and leadership (among others). Check out this list of competencies employers seek in college grads from Michigan State University (where Dr. Gardner works).

• Work to build experiences outside of the classroom; it will be essential for success. Develop the skills and competencies employers seek through career-related experiences such as internships, part-time jobs, volunteer opportunities, entrepreneurial ventures, and others.

• Thinking about riding out the recession by going to graduate school? You might want to think again unless it was already in your career plans or a graduate degree is required for entry-level work in your field of interest. Career expert Alexandra Levit agrees.

• Be resilient! Engage in optimistic realism. The reality is, this is a tough time to be searching for a job. But, as a liberal arts graduate, you have built a strong foundation that will help you succeed. Learn to tell your story, develop and maintain your networks, and be an active job seeker. Take responsibility for your job or internship search and use the resources available to you (CES – hint, hint) to map out a plan. It’s up to you.

Now I don’t know how many of you use planners to stay organized, but I have personally found my planner to be my prized possession. With school, work and extracurricular activities, procrastination and forgetfulness always seem to be lingering, waiting to destroy my life. So this year, in order to avoid those catastrophic subtleties of being a student, I have decided to take on my assignments and activities in a more realistic manner…avoiding the overnight overload. That way, I can manage my time in a way that will leave plenty of time for searching and preparing for a full-time job. With that in mind, the real question is — where do I start in my job search?

Well, excitingly enough, I spent my past semester studying abroad in Granada, Spain. While I was abroad I got to explore foreign cities with different languages apart from my parents. Freedom! In addition to sipping wine in a beautiful plaza alive with gypsies, I lived with a single mother who viewed the world in an original way, completely influencing my perspective of the world. Clearly, as I enjoyed this independent life I really learned more about myself- my values, hopes, and interests. By the time I returned this summer I was in serious need of re-evaluating my plans for the future. So where do I start? The answer is – the very beginning. Square one.

To reiterate, I am starting at the beginning of the job search here. Whether you are a first-year student or a senior about to graduate, I think you’ll be able to find something beneficial in my blog entries that will help you, no matter what stage of the job search you might be. It’s never too early or too late. Like author Lindsay Pollak offered in her upbeat, youthful book “Getting from College to Career,” the best place to start a job search is to “start wherever you are.”

So…where are you?

 About Me:

My name is Lizzy and I am the CES Peer Advisor. My role is to collaborate with the CES advisors to develop ways to reach out to fellow students and share the resources available in our office. I get to show my face and fight my sweet tooth at the weekly CES table scattered with candy that appears every Wednesday, help students with resumes and cover letters, and visit groups on campus to promote CES resources or career workshops (we are flexible and can cater towards the needs of any group…hint hint).

As great as that all sounds, captivating the attention of already-busy college students is not the easiest task; especially when searching for jobs can seem so daunting. AND I still have my own job search to consider…I’m on the verge! As I track my full-time job search I invite you to follow along in hopes that you might learn as I am learning.

There are many ways to search for positions. Career fairs are one highly visible way… but they are, by no means, the only way. The old cliché is true when it comes to job searching: Don’t put all your eggs into one basket.

If you came out to the Career Fair and connected with employers, here are a few things to do that will help you stand out from other candidates:
• Send a thank you note: you’ll look good and it will help you reiterate your interest in the position.
• Follow-up: If you said you’d send your resume, send it.
• Continue to research the organization in case you get called for an interview.

If you missed the Career Fair and want to connect with some of the employers:
• Send a letter and resume stating that you were unable to attend the Career Fair and are interested in their position, etc.
• Check out the ASK Network (available on Cascade). See if Puget Sound alumni work for the organization and contact them as well.

Didn’t see the employer of your dreams at the Career Fair?
That’s not a big surprise. Employers who participate in career fairs tend to be larger, local employers (because they can spare a staff member to attend the event). Here are some tips to connect with employers who didn’t attend the Career Fair:
• Check out the ASK Network (available on Cascade). See if Puget Sound alumni work for the organization and contact them.
• Use social media. Many employers have Facebook fan pages, Twitter about job opportunities, and manage LinkedIn pages.
• Visit the websites of employers you’re interested in. Most have a “careers” or “employment” section on their homepage. Sometimes positions are listed on the website and nowhere else.
• See if there are professional associations related to your career field of interest (we have a directory in CES that can help you find them). Many have career information for students, and post jobs/internships.
• Looking for a specific geographic region? Search the ASK Network by state and try local business journals or Chambers of Commerce for leads.
• Network! Network! Network! Who do you know who might know somebody who knows somebody? Tell everyone you know what you’re looking for. Be prepared to explain who you are and what you want to do at any moment. Wondering how to be prepared? Check out the “Connect & Impress in 15 Seconds or Less” blog post.

Your job search is an on-going work-in-progress. Take active steps to develop the relationships you made with recruiters at the Career Fair and beyond, identify other methods for connecting with opportunities, and remember that CES can help you at any step along the way.

Attending the Career Fair on September 30? You should! Yes, all Puget Sound students should… whether you have no idea what you’re seeking or are excited to meet with one particular employer, there’s something for everyone at the Career Fair.

Many students tell us that they don’t attend the Career Fair because they don’t feel “prepared.” They are missing out! The Career Fair provides an opportunity for students to meet face to face with employers.  Whether you are learning about the employers who are there, seeking a specific job, or just practicing your networking skills, employers want to meet you. Still, you may be wondering:

What can I expect at the Career Fair?

Employers: You’ll see recruiters (and often Puget Sound alumni) promoting their organizations and opportunities they have available for full-time, part-time, and internship positions.

Job postings: Employers will have a variety of positions available. Don’t make assumptions. For example, retail employers are likely hiring for positions other than sales. Large corporations may have many positions available beyond what you might expect.

Career exploration opportunities: Still figuring out what you want to do? Great! The Career Fair is an excellent way to learn about possibilities. Employers enjoy talking about what they do so feel free to ask them questions about their organization or job.

CES staff members: If you have questions while you’re at the Career Fair, look for the CES table.  CES staff members will be available to answer questions about approaching and following-up with employers.

What might give me an edge in today’s competitive market?

Being prepared: Review employer participants ahead of time.  Knowledge of the organization and why you would be interested in working for them will help you stand out.

Dress appropriately: You don’t have to wear a suit, but it’s not a bad idea to do so. Dress slacks or a skirt with a button down shirt (and tie for men) is appropriate. Visit the CES Guide to Professional Style for tips.

Bring your resume: Developing a resume that clearly showcases your skills and experience will help you connect with opportunities. Drop by CES M-F from 2-4 p.m. for a quick resume critique.

Be ready with a memorable introduction (aka: elevator speech): When you approach an employer, make eye contact and shake their hand as you say hello. Let the employer know a bit about you and why you are interested in their organization.

Follow-up: Collect business cards from recruiters at employers that interest you and send them a thank you note. This common courtesy will help you stand out and provides you an extra opportunity to reiterate your interest in the position/organization.

The reality is… there’s something for everyone at the Career Fair. We look forward to seeing you there!