For résumé assistance and advice on how to market you skills and abilities to employers, contact career services in the Center for Experiential Learning at career@keuka.edu or (315) 279-5274.

Career services and the Field Period program will produce a monthly newsletter to address the career development needs of Keuka students. Writers are needed to address such topics as the meaning of life’s work, provide tips on a successful job/internship searches, explain how to evaluate job offers, and much more. If you are interested in writing a brief column in the monthly newsletter, contact Haajira Lansana, assistant director of career services at hlansana@keuka.edu or (315) 279-5274.

Do you—and/or a friend, family member, or colleague— have gently used interview/professional attire (clothes, dress shoes, accessories) sitting in your closet that Keuka students (women and men) would be interested in wearing? If so, consider donating these items to the Women’s Center’s help students dress for success. Dress for Success Closet. Donated items will be worn by students attending campus-wide events, professional conferences, career/job fairs, participating in work-study jobs, job shadow and internship experiences, and job interviews. Items may be dropped off at Office of Alumni and Family Relations, Ball Hall 122.

Don’t Belay: Apply Now!
Job opportunities as a TeamWorks! Facilitator 1 are currently available for on-campus and off-campus constituents.

Students / Faculty / Staff

For all on-campus residents interested in applying for the TeamWorks! Facilitator 1 position, the deadline for applications is Sunday, March 20^th.

To apply: enroll to the Moodle site listed as “TeamWorks! Program and General Interest” under the category of Experiential Learning and complete the application in the last section.  This year’s training dates are August 15^th-21^st

Any application received after the date of March 20^th will not be eligible for August 2011 training, but they will be considered for the following scheduled training in August 2012.  Please direct any questions to: teamworks@keuka.edu.

Off Campus / Non-Students

For all off-campus and non-student persons interested in applying for the TeamWorks! Facilitator 1 position, the deadline is Wednesday, June 30^th.  This application deadline also applies to any incoming freshmen that are interested, and it will not interfere with Transition week activities.

To apply, email your request to: teamworks@keuka.edu.

The training dates are August 15^th-21^st.

Looking for resources to jump-start your career or land an internship? Although StormTracker is a great place to search for work-study jobs, internships/Field Periods, and employment; there are some other sites on the web that are worth taking a look at.

Internships.com
This attractive, accessible site is very informative and helpful when trying to place an internship. It has numerous resources that help you with every step during the internship process. From searching for the perfect internship to preparing for the interview to actually being in the workplace, this site has tips, videos, and blogs to offer assistance throughout your journey. This site also provides resources to help you complete your paperwork you may need—
resumes, cover letters, thank you notes, and reference lists. Interships.com is very easy to navigate and is very college student friendly with applications to access and share information through Facebook and Twitter.

CareerBuilder.com
This site provides several resources to both students and employers. Resumes, cover letters, references—you name it! You can search for jobs, look for different career fair events, and so much more. My personal favorite part of the entire website is the international section. There are several different sites from foreign countries where you can look for jobs in those countries. This is perfect for those who want to travel and experience different cultures and lifestyles!

These sites are just two of the many resources out there that people may not know about. They’re very helpful and best of all—they’re FREE!

There are many questions that students tend to have about Storm Tracker and navigating the information on it. Here are some of the frequently asked questions and responses that may help you in the future:

What if I can’t find my resume?

When you log into Storm Tracker, you will find a link that says My Account and then you can place your pointer on it and scroll down to find where it says my documents. Once you find My Documents you are going to click on it and then you are able to see your resume at the bottom of the screen.

Should I keep a copy of my resume?

Absolutely! It is important to keep your resume in more than one place. Another positive of having copies of your resume is that you may need to frequently add information on it such as new field experiences, volunteer experiences, and/or work experiences.

How do I find a job?

If you are interested in finding a job you are going to search through Storm Tracker. Storm Tracker is a great source when looking for work study, part time, and full time job positions. When signed into Storm Tracker, you are going to click on the link Position Opening. From there you will be able to choose if you want to search for work study positions or to search for jobs out in the community.

How do I know if I am active in the system?

Once you edit your profile and/or summit your resume, a staff member in the Center for Experiential Learning will review your information and send you an email if there are any changes that are needed to be made. If you are not active, on the main page of your Storm Tracker account it will state Attention! at the top of the screen letting you know that there are changes to be made before continuing to search for jobs online. Once you are active, you will not see any statement at the top of your home page on your Storm Tracker account. Once active, you will be allowed to search for jobs on and off campus.

Where do I get my Storm Tracker emails?

Once you have an active profile on Storm Tracker, you will receive Storm Tracker emails through your webmail. If you do not see any Storm Tracker e-mail, try looking in your Span folder just in case.

Why do I have to keep my profile and resume updated?

Each year when you have to complete a Field Period, it is important to have an updated resume just in case an employer asks to see it. Throughout your experience at Keuka College you will have different work experiences, volunteer experiences, and field experiences that you will need to add to your resume.

Why do I need to list Field Periods on my resume?

Keuka College is the national leader in experiential, hands-on learning and a national leader in career identification and exploration. During your time at Keuka College, you are required to complete 4 Field Periods which tend to be related to your field of study. When applying for jobs and Field Periods, employers are going to want to know about the different types of experiences that you have had in the field that you are interested in and what types of activities were you involved in with at the site.

How do I get a work study supervisor to look at my resume?
In the Center for Experiential Learning Office located in Hegeman 107, there are 3 Career Peer Assistants that would be glad to meet with any student on campus to work with him/her one on one on their resume. The Career Peer Assistants have office hours along with hours that they are willing to meet with students outside of the office. If you have any questions or are interested in meeting with a Career Peer Assistant, just come to the Center for Experiential Learning Office and come in and make an appointment.

If you have any other questions about Storm Tracker, feel free to stop by The Center for Experiential Learning Office and we will be glad to assist you!

To begin, you should draft what you want to say in your thank you note.  It doesn’t have to be long by any means, but it does need to be genuine.  Make sure to mention in your note a few things you learned from that individual, or things you really appreciated during the Field Period experience. Overall, let them know how you have benefited from the experience.

Next, you should either type up your letter in business block format (the same format of your Field Period cover letter) or hand write it in a nice Thank You card.   If you hand write you note just make sure it is legible!

Finally, you should devise a plan to ensure your supervisor, and anyone else you connected with through your Field Period stays an engaged member of your growing professional network.  You can connect with them through LinkedIn or Twitter to get started and maintain a line of communication with them should email addresses change, etc…  Here are a couple ideas to stay in touch with your contacts:

- Throughout the remainder of your college career send them a quick e-mail or call them if you have a question on a project you are working on for a class you think they can help with, or if you have referenced an experience you had during that Field Period in one of your classes. Letting them know that you benefited from your experience there and respect their expertise is always flattering.

- During your senior year, send out a final thank you letter to your past Field Period supervisors, thanking them for hosting you and helping prepare you for the world of work after graduation. Include your résumé and ask that they keep you in mind should they hear of any job openings that may be of interest to you.

So what does that have to do with Twitter?  In today’s market recruiters and hiring managers are utilizing every source available to them to source and research candidates for internships and full-time jobs (both of which you will be seeking!).  One of those main sources is the internet and social media.  Lets face it, they are going to Google you for sure!  You have a Facebook account right?  Hopefully you are on LinkedIn…  Both are locations recruiters are going to head to in order to check you out.  They may also head to Twitter.  The key to all of these sites is that not only do you want to delete and refrain from posting non-flattering information (pictures of you doing a keg stand should be deleted!), but you also want to build up suitable/credible information.  When someone researches you on the internet you want them to find you as a professional, intelligent individual.  The information you display through your Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter accounts should support your qualifications and reflect well upon you, showing you are a well rounded individual who would be an asset to their organization and not a liability.

So again, what does this all have to do with Twitter?  Twitter is a great way to build credibility, grow a broad network, and generate job leads.  Here are some tips to get you started on Twitter and hopefully maximizing the potential of social media in your career development:

1. Build your Profile:  It is important to create a profile that will draw in followers.  State your actual location, upload a professional picture, use your real name, and write a bio that is targeted and includes keywords based on the career you are pursuing.
2. Show your Value:  Begin tweeting links to interesting articles/information, answer questions others are posing about your particular industry, share information on things you are doing to advance yourself professionally.
3. Assemble your Network: Search for people talking about your industry, find people in your area, follow recruiters and major players in your industry… and then turn those connections into real relationships.  Attend networking events coordinated through Twitter (Tweetups).  Participate in Twitter Chats, webinars, and conferences.
4. Optimize Applications:  Applications like hootsuite.com can assist you in managing your social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn; helping you coordinate your posts to each of them from one site.  Such a time saver!

Some great resources to get you started utilizing Twitter and social media in your career development:

Brand-Yourself.com

Student Branding Blog

25 Twitter Tips for College Students

College Students Guide to Twitter

Employers Recruiting on Twitter

Looking to start building your network?  Follow me (Sally Ann Swartley) on Twitter @saswartley and follow the Center for Experiential Learning @KC_ExpLearn

Join in the celebration and do something special with your work-study students during the week of April 11.  If you are looking for ideas to recognize your work-study students here are just a few low cost ideas:

1. Treat Day – full-time staff bring in treats/lunch for work-study student workers.
2. Treat Week – each day bring something different – cookies, popcorn, candy, etc.
3. Take pictures – post work-study student pictures and list what wonderful things they do
4. Buy low cost, blank certificates and make up silly awards for your work-study students: best telephone voice, best web-surfer, etc.
5. Friendship Plants – take cuttings from a plant in the office and give to each student as a live “connection” to the office.
6. Bright Ideas – spray paint a light bulb gold, screw into a jar of play-dough and make a label around the jar naming who is receiving the “Bright Idea” award.
7. Good Egg Award – buy plastic Easter Eggs, fill with goodies and give out with “Good Egg” certificates.  List what the student did to deserve this award.
8. Cookies, Cookies, Cookies – Students love treats
9. Snack Goodie Bag- Fill with small packs of crackers, cookies, candy and chips
10. Popcorn – Fill a bowl or individual mini bowls daily, inexpensive yet tasty.
11. Gift cards – fast food, subway, pizza hut etc.
12. Movie tickets
13. Certificates of Appreciation – Make up certificates and have them framed. (you can find decent frames at the dollar store or office depot)
14. Cyber Cards – Send your students a free Cyber Card stating your appreciation.

If you are looking for some ideas that are FREE, try one of these:

1. Pat on the Back – Draw an outline of your hand on a piece of paper.  Photocopy enough copies for all students in your office.  On each hand write a note that tells the student why they deserve a “Pat on the Back”.
2. Use this week as an opportunity to start an award recognition program.  Look around the office or at home for a white elephant item.  Name the item for the award (Employee of the Month/Week, Great Idea Award, Gotcha Award – catch someone in the act of doing something good) and then make the first presentation of it during National Student Employment Week.
3. Make a banner to hang for the whole week in your office.
4. Decorate an office bulletin board or the office door for the week in recognition of your students.
5. Invite to your home for dinner – There is nothing better than a home cooked meal for a student.

The most important thing we can say is “THANK YOU” to our student employees who truly impact our campus in regards to work.  Schedules are filling up…plan now to honor your student employees!!

Also during National Student Employment Week, Keuka College will recognize the nine work-study students nominated by their supervisors and the three work-study supervisors nominated by their student employees at the Student Employment Awards Luncheon sponsored by President Joseph G. Burke and the Center for Experiential Learning.  At that time, the Keuka College Student Employee of the Year and Work-Study Supervisor Awards for 2010 will be announced.

The work-study student nominees are:

Matthew Connell – Division of Education – nominated by Paulette Willemsen
Holly Fultz – Sodexo Catering Services – nominated by Rachel Micciche
Jennifer Graham – Office of the Webmaster – nominated by Pete Bekisz
Jennifer Heinrich – Admissions – nominated by Lindsay Cohen
Junelle King – Sodexo Food Service – nominated by Joe Smith
Ashley Lent – Student Activities – nominated by Jennifer Furner
Alicia Stubbs – Interlibrary Loan Department, Lightner Library – nominated by Kimberly Fenton
Ashley Valentine – Campus Recreation/Intramurals – nominated by Jonathan Accardi
Kendall Wolven – Yates ARC D.R.I.V.E. Program – nominated by Heather Bond

The work-study supervisor nominees are:

Carol Sackett – nominated by Hannah Smith, Student Circulation Desk/Lab Assistant
Jeff Snow – nominated by Matthew Connell, Student Instructional Technology Assistant
Paulette Willemsen – nominated by Emily Eichhorn, Education Office Assistant

Please congratulate each of all of the nominees for this special recognition – both students and supervisors!

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me via e-mail at sdaggett@mail.keuka.edu or call me at 1-315-279-5274.

Student Employment…An Investment that Works!

Davidson during her 2009 Field Period at Midstate Veterinary Services.

One of the reasons Janelle Davidson was attracted to Keuka College was Field Period, the required internship program. The Cortland native experienced the benefits of an internship while in high school.

“I was in an internship program in high school at the vet clinic where we took our pets,” she explained. “It worked out well, and within two months, I was involved with preparing syringes with medicine, and animals for surgery.”

What Davidson learned in her high school internship prepared her for her summer 2009 Field Period at Midstate Veterinary Services in Cortland.

“I was responsible for checking in animals, both for surgeries and daily appointments,” she said. “I was able to observe appointments, and learn how a vet approaches both the animal and the person. I asked questions, helped prepare animals for surgeries, filled prescriptions, stocked supplies, and cleaned. I was even able to ride with a large animal vet, which was something new for me.”

Davidson also credits her Keuka classes for preparing her for her Field Period.

“My anatomy and biology classes helped me with indentifying body parts of different animals,” she said, “and I am learning more about viruses and bacteria. It is nice to have these courses now because they are something I will have to know before vet school.”

By the same token, the knowledge she gained out-of-the-classroom has helped her in the classroom, especially in her animal diversity class.

“I believe I am more able to contribute to class discussions and ask more intelligent questions,” she said. “A perk of Keuka College is that it has small class sizes, and the teachers actually know me and what I have done.”

Though comfortable working at the vet’s office, Davidson faced a new experience at her Field Period site.

“My biggest challenge was getting scrubbed and prepared to watch a surgery,” Davidson said. “I had never been in the operating room with the vet before. I was not used to having to wear the surgical mask and was unable to make it through the entire surgery.”

While disappointed, Davidson said the veterinarians were supportive.

“They told me it was something they had to get used to as well,” she said. “It was a good opportunity for me to see how hard performing surgeries are before I enter vet school.”

Though Davidson has two years before she enters vet school, she is already considering Cornell and Purdue, two of the top veterinary schools in the country.

To land the internship you want you need to put forth some effort.  Listed below are a few tips and links to articles with great additional tips and information.

• Get on Storm Tracker, search position postings, the employer director, and alumni mentors
• Participate in the upcoming Virtual Career & Internship Fair on Storm Tracker, it will be April 19th – 25th
• Get on LinkedIn.com and begin networking
• Use social networking to your advantage, companies have Facebook Fanpages specifically for their internship programs, companies and internship coordinators like myself also post opportunities on twitter and facebook all the time
• Come meet with me in the Center for Experiential Learning…I can help you brainstorm ideas, contact the Center for Experiential Learning at x5274 for an appointment

Check out these articles as well for ideas on landing a great internship!

Forbes.com: Land The Internship You Want

6 Best Ways to Get a Summer Internship

The Importance of Keywords in Your Internship Search

That moment helped shape my future as a career counselor.  I didn’t realize that my majors were giving me the crucial, lifelong skills employers seek like writing and critical thinking and research.  The skills you are learning at Keuka are invaluable.  So if you aren’t sure how to explain your major to others, this article may help.  Or stop in to visit me in Career Services – I promise I’ll give you some options!

http://liberalartsadvantage.wordpress.com/2010/03/12/what-to-tell-mom-and-dad/