While things have slowed down here at Fox and in Speakman and those who have visited or tried to visit the building will understand that is REALLY has slowed down (In anticipation of Alter Hall, we are under a lot of construction) we are definitely gearing up for the Fall Semester here in the CSPD!

Some dates to remember and things to look out for!!!

Senior Reception- September 18, 2008
This event is strictly for seniors graduating in December 2008 or May 2009.  Currently we have 40 employers registered with many many more to come!  The event will be set up similarly to the Spring Connection so get your best business suit and resume ready and start networking and landing some interviews.  Remember all attendees must be CSPD’d to attend.

On Campus Recruitment
For graduating seniors it is so important that you realize that OCR is starting and its starting soon.  We currently have employers scheduled for on campus interviews starting right after the Senior Reception.  Once the semester starts make sure you are checking FoxNet on a daily basis to see what opportunities are available for you.  There are LOTS of them!!!

Accounting Students- internships
To keep up with the industry and wishes of the Accounting firms, any students that will be interested in Winter 2008 and Summer 2009 interviews will need to begin interviewing in the fall.  This is a change from past years but will really grant all Fox Students the opportunity to get into the interviewing process early on and will afford for more openings.  This will definitely be discussed with you in greater detail as you begin classes and information will be coming from CSPD….so just be on the lookout for more info!

Mock Interviews and Industry Resume Critiques
As with past years, the Fox School really attracts some wonderful, top notch, employers to the school.  This year is no exception.  We have a great list of employers giving their time to our students to ensure that you will all be prepared for your job search.  Employers will be on campus doing resume critiques and mock interviews.  Remember!!! This is the PERFECT opportunity to get your face in front of an employer that you might have an interest in working for.  This is a way to start your networking.

Extreme Makeover: Career Edition
We will be offering two lucky students the opportunity to gain some great exposure to everything JOB SEARCH including a new suit with image consultation, professional hair makeover and resume portfolio.  More information to come….

PodCamp Philadelphia
 The Spirit of PodCamp is about people willingly coming together to share, teach, learn and grow, becoming better at what we do and sharing it with the world.   For anyone interested in blogging, podcasting, new media, search engine optimization and the list goes on and on….there will be many with vast knowledge that you can learn from.

This just gives you a glimpse into all that CSPD is preparing for the start of the 2008-2009 school year!! 

I found an article on MSN Careers that explains Who’s more successful: High School Geek, Jock, or Class Clown?  While it is pretty interesting, please take it for what it is worth.  I know all of us have thought back to high school and all of the different types of people we ran into everyday.  There were those that seemed to be involved in everything, knew everyone, and raised their hand to answer any question they could.  Than there were those who sat in the back of the room and tried to slink away in the chair and go unnoticed.  I know I always wondered how that class clown from my 9th Grade Chemistry class is doing, and if he ever learned how to answer a question without a followup whitty comment or joke.  I guess thats what Class Reunions are for.

Well to summarize the article…your school status will affect your chosen career.

“CareerBuilder.com asked more than 6,000 full-time workers to categorize their high school personas in one of the following groups: student government, athlete, geek, honor society, cheerleader, drama club, teacher’s pet or class clown. These personalities were then compared to job level, salary, industry and job satisfaction.

Cheerleader: 
More likely to hold a vice president role than any other persona
Large number reported going into the travel and insurance industries
76% are happy in their jobs

Teachers Pet:
24% serve in director/manger/team lead positions
Ranked as one of the highest groups in construction and the manufacturing industry
37% reported earning less than $35,000 annually
81% are happy with their jobs

Student Governement Members:
24% serve in director/manager/team lead positions
Large number now serve jobs in Education
12% are paid more than $100,000
49% earn $50,000 annually

Honor Society Members: 
59% hold professional and technical services positions
Seem to have a lot of workers drawn to the Health Care Field
10% earn a six figure salary
 47% earn more than $50,000

Athletes: 
55% hold professional and technical services positions
7% earn a six figure salary

Geeks:
52% hold professional and technical services positions
Many reported holding jobs in engineering and retail
7% earn a six figure salary

Drama Club: 
Seem to have a lot of workers drawn to the health care community
Ranked as one of the highest among personalities in public administration/government

Now please remember that this is hardly information written in stone but it is interesting to realize that everything you do in life affects you sometime, even if years down the road!

Podcamp Philly is coming to Temple, brought to you by the Fox School of Business and Computer Services at Temple!  Please take a look at the information.  Whether you currently utilize new media, i.e. blogs, podcasts, twitter, social networking sites, or would be interested in finding out more, please join us on September 6th and 7th for this exciting event!  You will have the opportunity to build and develop relationships with others in the field and gain from their vast experience and expertise!  Please click on the podcamp header for more information or to register and if you have any questions please contact Jena at jbandini@temple.edu.

FAQs

What is Podcamp?

A PodCamp is a BarCamp-style community UnConference for podcasters and listeners, bloggers and readers, as well as anyone interested in New Media. First held in Boston, Massachusetts, Podcamp has spread across the United States and the world to bring people of all backgrounds and abilities together to teach and learn from each other. Recent events have included Pittsburgh, Toronto, New York City, Munich, Atlanta, San Antonio and Stockholm.

The purpose of PodCamp is to:

• Share information.
• Build & develop relationships
• Grow the new media community

You do NOT need to be a podcaster to attend a PodCamp. If you’re interested in podcasting, blogging, podsafe music, educational applications or just curious then please join us — and bring a friend or colleague.

What’s an “unConference?”

An unConference means that the participants are also the experts. We’re audio and video podcasters, enthusiasts, businesspeople, hobbyists, musicians, promoters, marketers, and people who generally want to understand more about the new media space. The power of an unConference is you get open access to ideas, thoughts, best practices, and the true “wisdom of crowds” simply by registering and attending.

This also means that we want to hear from YOU. This is not a “top-down” conference model where you get a glossy brochure and nod in agreement while listening to key notes and featured speakers. We encourage interactivity, Q&A’s and sessions that are dialogues versus monologues. The sessions are respectful of course, but be aware that participants value transparency, candor and value versus “pitch” talks that serve as thinly veiled PR babble.

So anyone can speak?

Yes. Just sign up to speak and as space allows, you’re in. The organizers will decide who speaks when and where, but any topic you want to talk about is valid as long as it’s got some focus on new media.

Can I volunteer to help?

Yes! Please contact us and we’ll get you set up to help in an area you’re interested in.

Why Are You Charging a Registration Fee?

PodCamp’s goal is not to make money, but to share information, build relationships and cultivate the new media community. After 35 PodCamp events, we’ve found that a large number of “no shows” place a strain on our ability to deliver the type of high quality events and programming that our attendees deserve. Therefore, PodCamp Philly has decided to charge a $20 registration fee to discourage those that register for the event when their attendance is unlikely.

You’ll be happy to know that all proceeds from the Registration Fee will be donated to charity

When I was trying to decide what I wanted to write about today….I came across some, how do I say it…interesting looking cover letters sent in on FoxNet.  Now this does not mean, at all, that the content was bad, but that the formatting was wayyyy off.  Cover letters are much like any formal business letter, resume, or other business document in that the formatting is just as important as the message.  A sloppily formatted cover letter gives an employer the impression that you decided not to take the 10 minutes it would take to perfect, polish and proofread that document and I know that is not the impression you want to give, furthermore not the person you are.  So we are going back to basics here…

If you want to stand out from the crowd, your cover letter should cover two important points:

• What you can do for the company
• How you can fill the company’s needs.

Send your letter to an individual, not a company. Take the time to determine the name and title of the addressee. Do not guess gender when addressing a letter. Dear Sir or Madam or Dear Hiring Manager, are not acceptable salutations.

Be sure to include a return address and telephone number. Include your street address, city, state, zip code, and telephone number. Omit your e-mail address if you do not check e-mail daily.

Address your letter to a person who can hire you: Contact the company and obtain the name and title of the person to whom to address your letter. This shows initiative and resourcefulness. It may also impress the reader with the fact that you reached them directly.

Never use all caps and do not justify the right margin. Presentation is as important an element as content and organization. Strive at all times for a professional appearance.

Use the KISS theory. Keep it short, simple, and no longer than one page. Each of the three paragraphs should have four or fewer sentences. Vary the sentence length and try to avoid either a stream of short sentences or very long sentences.

Send original letters only. A vague letter that could be sent to any employer by merely replacing the company name is called a broadcast letter. It doesn’t fool anyone.

Please remember that not every position on FoxNet requires a cover letter.  You must only send one when the job description specifically asks for one.  When you are applying to a job or internship in ANY other manner: hand delivery, other internet job search sites (e.g. monster, wetfeet.com, etc.), or company websites, it behooves you to submit a cover letter.  Just a little insider information….most hiring managers will look at your cover letter AFTER looking at your resume, not before.  So keep that in mind, if they like what they see on your resume, they may take a look at that cover letter and see if it strengthens your case for an interview.  If you suspect that there will be any question about something on your resume, including gaps in employment and lack of experience, use your cover letter to explain it.  You are selling yourself, so make sure to write that way.  If you have any questions on how to write a cover letter, please stop in the CSPD office! 

Here is a Sample Cover Letter to take a look at!!!  Remember before you submit a cover letter, please make sure it looks like the one above and includes all the information that it should!!! The few extra minutes of work will help you ten-fold in the long run.

If anyone has had the opportunity to attend an Etiquette Dinner, hosted by the CSPD and Career Development Services, STHM, or even some of the SPO’s on campus, than you probably have met and listened to the great advice given by Lisa Richey. She was featured on Fox Business News and gave some great insight in the Three things that can make or break your job interview. Click on the picture to hear what she has to say!

To read an article about how employers are using social networking sites to conduct background checks… click here!

Everyone says since I’m a business major, I should be “networking.”  Sounds great, but I don’t have a clue how to get started.  Any advice????

- Bob R.

Hey Everyone!  I got this question sent over to me through email and I thought it would be helpful for everyone to get some more information on NETWORKING!  I know a lot of students think the whole concept is overwhelming and scary but it really doesn’t have to be.  It is as simple as letting people around you know, you are looking for a job!

Too often students rely on the “mass-email my resume to 1,000 employers” approach and then get discouraged when they only hear from 1 or 2 employers.  There are many success stories of individuals who came across great positions on Monster.com and landed their dream job, but there are far more success stories of individuals who put themselves out there and met the right people, and landed their job that way.  In the most recent surveys, 86% of people have reportedly received their positions through their networking efforts.  Now, your lucky, the Fox School and CSPD have bridged a lot of the gaps for you with employers and many of them are right here on campus many times a year.  You must take advantage of them.  Listed below are the top 10 ways to network!

1. Friends and Family and Family and Friends
   This old cliche of talk to everyone you know couldn’t be more accurate.  You would be amazed at how many business contacts you can come up with if you just take the time to ask your friends, parents, 3rd cousins, and distant uncles who they might know that could help you.  These relationships need to be cultivated and regular updates on your job search are important.
2. Mock Interviews and Industry Resume Critiques
   For weeks on end, every year, the CSPD has employers come into the office for no reason other than to assist our students with perfecting their all too important resume and interviewing skills.  Whether you feel you need your resume critiqued again or not, this is a great way for you to have personal time with an company bigwig or hiring manager.  Use the opportunity to start building a relationship that may pan out to a great contact down the road.  Mock interviews are also a great way to let the employers tell you what they want to hear during an interview.  If your dream job would be to land a position with JPMorgan and you see that they will be here on campus for a few different occasions, make sure you are there!
3. Professional Associations/Organizations
   There are numerous professional associations in the Philadelphia area that focus their meetings on networking and business card exchanges.  Print up a few makeshift business cards and get yourself out there.  The Chamber of Commerce is a good place to start but do some research.  There is a Womens Referral Network  that has a lot of great networking opportunities.  The Young Professionals Network of Philadelphia is a great association to be involved in.  There are also a ton of industry specific organizations to look into!
4. Professors, Faculty, and Alumni
   Talk to your professors.  Many of them have spent years in the field and years maintaining great relationships with others in their industry.  See if they can refer you to anyone to speak to, see if they know of any companies hiring, and let them know of your goals.  Many will be compelled to assist you reach those goals!
5. Informational Interviews
   An informational interview, though underutilized, can be one of the most effective tools in building your network and landing a job.  Find a job you are interested in, find someone who currently holds that job, reach out to them and ask them if they would be willing to give you about 30 minutes of their time, either on the phone or in person.  When you do speak with them, have well thought out and prepared questions such as: How did you get into the field?, what challenges did you face?, What classes would be especially important for me to have on my resume?, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, Do you know anyone else I should speak to that may be able to give me some more information on the field?.  This is how you build your network. After meeting with them be sure to followup with a thank you and keep following up on a regular basis to let them know you are still looking for a job.
6. Target Employers
   Create a list of target employers and identify current contacts affiliated with these companies.  Reach out to each insider offering something to attract their attention- not about asking them for a job!  Make your communication about them, not you!  Let them know you came across an interesting article they might like to read and send over the link, tell them about a good event you attended, etc.
7. Promote your web presence
   As mentioned in a previous blog, publishing and promoting a blog, establishing a web portfolio, joining and interacting on email lists or chats, producing a podcast, publishing an ebook, etc. can be really helpful.  Periodically update these and inform your network contacts about your new developments.
8. Volunteer
   Volunteer for community education programs, school events, sporting activities, etc. where you can meet people and demonstrate your initiative and work ethic.
9. Career Fairs
   In addition to the 2 career fairs through the CSPD, there are numerous other career fairs in the area.  CSPD’s blackboard organization actually has a list of those we have come across in one section.  Use these as a good opportunity to get your name out there and meet some people in a professional setting.  Even if none of the companies particularly interest you, it is a great time to collect some business cards, practice your 30 second elevator speech, and get comfortable speaking with employers about yourself.
10. Send a letter of interest
    Up to 80% of jobs remain unadvertised and hidden.  It is up to you to find this hidden job market.  Just because a company doesn’t have a position posted, doesn’t mean they are not hiring.  Send a letter of interest, much like a cover letter, detailing what type of position you are interested in and ask them to please keep your resume on file for any positions that may open up.  Followup with these employers and try and find someone in your network who knows someone in the company.

These are just 10 ways to broaden your network.  When I was in college, I remember hearing that it normally takes about 25 contacts with people to land an interview.  This is a large number but can come easily if you get out there and network!

Take a moment to google yourself…Go ahead…. What comes up when you search your name on the internet?  Your Myspace page?  An old paper you wrote freshmen year?  A newspaper article documenting your latest volunteer service or an article on your arrest from high school?  Now imagine an employer doing this…would they get the RIGHT impression of you? 

 This whole topic of managing your online image has become increasingly important in this connected world.  It is extremely important to realize that your “E-portfolio” can have a very strong impact on your hireability.  Hiring managers agree that having a professional online presence has become more crucial.  Getting a job may rely on your online footprint and the management of your personal brand. 

Here are some statistics:

44% of hiring managers use google, myspace, and facebook to do online background checks on candidates. 
Nearly 1/3 of these background checks lead to rejection of a candidate!!  Thats huge!!

The E-Portfolio is the newest career tool in this era of job hunting!  Take advantage of it.  The E-Portfolio will give you a competitive edge and will give you a positive online image if an employer were to search for you online.  I will be giving you all the details on how to create your very own E-Portfolio or online image!

So what exactly is an online image or E-Portfolio? 
It gives you an opportunity to communicate with a large audience and be part of a large social audience that you may not have had the opportunity to reach with traditional methods.

Some Tips on creating your own online image:

1. Join Linkedin.com.  This is a great site that will allow you to create a professional social networking “resume” and allows you the chance to connect to a lot of great contacts.  Your linkedin.com profile will also show up when you google your name.  Use this to your advantage and list all of your strengths, education, and experience using well written short descriptions. 
2. Start a blog.  Starting a blog is not just for people with uncommon niche interests.  Find a topic you find interesting and is relevent to your professional life and write in it often.  Read other blogs on industry news and comment.  All of these small things will help to create a good social presence for your on the internet. 
3. Check your myspace and facebook profiles.  If there is anything that would give an employer the wrong impression of you, take it down!  Pictures should be professional.  You can stand out from the pack if you use your myspace or facebook page as another tool in your job search strategy.  Not everyone has the attitude of “its just a social profile.”  Make sure all privacy settings are enabled so only close friends can see things about you.
4. For those more web saavy people, start a website or create an online resume.  These can be great additions to your paper resume and you can certainly include a link to your online resume on your paper resume and in any footings or signatures of any emails you send to employers regarding your job search.   You can detail more experiences, share some volunteer experiences and even include pictures, showcase some examples of your work.  Be careful with this though….professionalism is of utmost importance.

Utilizing these simple steps will allow some really interesting information to pop up when a potential employer runs their background check on you.  If they google you and find your linkedin page, a really interesting comment on a professional blog related to your industry, and a sample of your marketing collateral created in a class, you one step closer to that new job! 

Congratulations to the MAY 2008 Fox School of Business Graduates!!!

…And to the rest of the students who WISH they were graduating…a BIG congrats to you too for making it one step closer to that big day!  Some good news on the job front…Yahoo Education has just published this article on 8 Sure-Fire Hires: Degrees that Could Make Your Career Search A Snap.  Despite the article’s long title and the current economy….the article offers a lot of great news on the job market for many of our Fox School majors including Finance, Accounting, MIS, and Marketing. 

 Please enjoy the summer but keep in mind that this is a perfect time for you to be doing some work on your professional development.  Read a book on leadership (always great reading for the beach!), join a networking organization, spend a few hours a week gaining great experience on an internship, or work on a career competency.  There are so many small things that a student or recent graduate can do that will really open up the doors in regards to the job search.  Also, remember to keep looking on FoxNet regularly because employers are still posting positions for recent graduates and summer interns.  Have a great summer!

For your entertainment….
We know none of the Fox School students would have a resume THIS bad…This video is pretty funny but it points out an important lesson you should keep in mind when writing your resume.  If you are not qualified for a position…DONT LIE (or even exaggerate)!  There have been many people,  high powered execs even, who have gotten caught up with embellishing their resume and it has come back to bite them. 

• Former Notre Dame football coach, George O’Leary, was forced to resign his $1.2 million salary in 2001 when it came to light that he had grossly overstated his past accomplishments.
• Dave Edmonson, the former Chief Exec of RadioShack resigned after questions about the accuracy of his resume.  He had claimed to two degrees which he did not have.

Now these are extreme examples, but click here to see Forbes.com list of most common resume lies.  Often times, they may be small exaggerations and may not even get caught before someone is hired.  There has been an increase in more intensive HR background checks to mitigate that problem.  As many as 40% of HR professionals have explained that they have increased their time conducting new hire background checks.

Just make sure when you are writing your resume, things are on the up and up.  All job titles, dates, and responsibilities should be completely accurate.  If there is a position that you are interested in, for which you are not qualified, do not lie, just explain in your cover letter or meeting with the employer that you personally do not have one of the skills for which they are looking, however you would be excited about the opportunity to dedicate time to obtaining this skill.  This will give the employer insight into your integrity.