Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Search Engines for Internships




It's the end of the fall semester and we know most of you are relaxing and having some much needed fun and rest!  We understand, but before you block out your schedule to catch up on your DVR and Netflix, we have a list of internship search engines that will motivate you to really focus on your professional and career development and utilize career-related online resources over winter break.
 
If you’re looking for some internship opportunities to take advantage of during the winter break you should begin with the Office of Career Development’s website. Go to the C102 home page at http://www.kbcc.cuny.edu/career  to access available internships for your professional development.

  1. Scroll over “QUICK LINKS” at the top of the page and click on “Career Services, Transfer, Scholarships & New Start” from the drop down menu.
  2. On the left hand side of the page scroll over “Careers” in the blue box and click on “Experiential Learning” from the menu and select “internships”.
  3. On the right hand side of the page you will see the following message:

Students, click here for our Internship Database to find out about current internship opportunities.
 
Available internships will be listed.  Click on the organization for a description of the internship.
 
Remember to consistently check online for internships in addition to the opportunities offered at the college. Below are just some additional online resources you can take advantage of:











Monday, December 28, 2015

Are You Ready for the World of Work?


The National Association of Colleges and Employers recently provided a definition of career readiness as "the attainment and demonstration of requisite competencies that broadly prepare college graduates for a successful transition into the workplace."


These competencies are:

  • Critical Thinking/Problem Solving: Exercise sound reasoning to analyze issues, make decisions, and overcome problems. The individual is able to obtain, interpret, and use knowledge, facts, and data in this process, and may demonstrate originality and inventiveness.
  • Oral/Written Communications: Articulate thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively in written and oral forms to persons inside and outside of the organization. The individual has public speaking skills; is able to express ideas to others; and can write/edit memos, letters, and complex technical reports clearly and effectively.
  • Teamwork/Collaboration: Build collaborative relationships with colleagues and customers representing diverse cultures, races, ages, genders, religions, lifestyles, and viewpoints. The individual is able to work within a team structure, and can negotiate and manage conflict.
  • Information Technology Application: Select and use appropriate technology to accomplish a given task. The individual is also able to apply computing skills to solve problems.
  • Leadership: Leverage the strengths of others to achieve common goals, and use interpersonal skills to coach and develop others. The individual is able to assess and manage his/her emotions and those of others; use empathetic skills to guide and motivate; and organize, prioritize, and delegate work.
  • Professionalism/Work Ethic: Demonstrate personal accountability and effective work habits, e.g., punctuality, working productively with others, and time workload management, and understand the impact of non-verbal communication on professional work image. The individual demonstrates integrity and ethical behavior, acts responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind, and is able to learn from his/her mistakes.
  • Career Management: Identify and articulate one's skills, strengths, knowledge, and experiences relevant to the position desired and career goals, and identify areas necessary for professional growth. The individual is able to navigate and explore job options, understands and can take the steps necessary to pursue opportunities, and understands how to self-advocate for opportunities in the workplace.
To be successful in the workforce, you need to develop in all of the above areas.  Here are some tips on how you can prepare:
  • Meet with a Career Advisor in C-102 to discuss your career goals.
  • Attend a Workplace Etiquette workshop
  • Join the National Society of Leadership and Success to develop your leadership skills
  • Take a speech class to develop your oral communication skills
  • Schedule a mock interview
These are just a few of many steps you can take to market yourself to employers.  Stop by C-102 today to get started!

http://www.naceweb.org/


NACE is the leading source of information on the employment of the college educated, and forecasts hiring and trends in the job market; tracks starting salaries, recruiting and hiring practices, and student attitudes and outcomes; and identifies best practices and benchmarks.

NACE provides its members with high-quality resources and research; networking and professional development opportunities; and standards, ethics, advocacy, and guidance on key issues.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

How Many Words Per Minute Do You Type?


Setting: Career Advisement Office

             

Advisor: How fast can you type?

                         Student:  I text very fast.
                                          

Advisor: I am sure you do, but I am actually talking about typing on a keyboard.


Student: Oh! I can type pretty fast, I’m sure.

Advisor: Well how about we find out?
Student: How?


Advisor: It’s very easy. Google WPM Quiz which stands for Word per Minute Quiz. A text will be shown. You will start the clock and start typing what you see in the empty box. When you are done, the amount of time it took you to type will be displayed. You want to aim for 55 and higher. So, if your words per minute are less than that, I recommend you keep on practicing. This is a new skillset that you can work on and, therefore, add to your resume. It will definitely give your resume a boost. This will be considered as a technical skill and that will give you an edge in the competition.


Student: Cool. I didn’t know that. Thank you!

Advisor: You are welcome. Now that you know…Use it!

Source
 

Monday, December 21, 2015

Develop Yourself

America Needs You (ANY) is a two-year career development program that pairs CUNY students who are the first in their family to attend college, with accomplished professionals in a variety of industries. Fellows and their Mentor Coaches work one-on-one on resumes, elevator pitches, mock interviews and much more.
 
http://www.newyorkneedsyou.org/
 

Fellows Program Benefits:
  • Earn up to $2,000 professional development grant
  • Access 2 summer internships at prestigious companies and organizations
  • Receive individualized support from a Mentor Coach
  • Obtain in-kind services and products such as free business attire, transfer support, and subsidized test preparation
  • Network with leading industry professionals
Eligibility:
  • I am a first-generation college student (neither of my parents have a bachelor’s degree)
  • I am a college student who has earned no more than 45 credits (by March 1, 2016)
  • I am considered low-income by HUD standards
  • I am eligible to work in the U.S.
  • I am available to attend regular Saturday workshops (workshops occur bi-weekly in Year 1 starting in June 2016; monthly in Year 2)
Schedule an appointment in C-102 or M-101 to meet with an Internship Advisor regarding ANY.
 
 
 


 
 
 




 


Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Searching for Jobs Online



When looking for a job you may notice there are many different job search engines. It can be an overwhelming process!  Job search engines include job postings, and can make the job search process much easier. The websites below are helpful in providing information for jobs that are currently available.

·       CareerWave – This website is exclusive to Kingsborough Community College students and alumni. It includes postings for jobs, internships, and volunteer experiences. There is a registration that is required to access this site. Before your resume becomes accessible to employers they are reviewed by Career Advisor from Kingsborough Community College to ensure a smoother job search.

  • Indeed – This is one of the easiest sites to use. When using this searching by location, keyword or both is helpful. Indeed gets 180 million visitors a month—that's the majority of Internet-based job search traffic in the United States.

  • Simply Hired – This website goes beyond the simplicity of Indeed allowing for various types of add-ons that do things like connect you to social media, allow for various forms of sharing.

  • LinkedIn – This site takes on more of a social media platform approach. It allows prospective candidates to network, post resumes and other content as well as search for jobs.

  • Glassdoor – This website has many different offerings but one of the items that set Glassdoor apart is its focus on the rating of prospective employers. Past and present employees are able to share and rate their experience, benefits offered, salary possible interview questions, and so on in efforts of letting future candidates know what to expect from a specific role or company.

  • Monster –   Monster was launched almost 20 years ago and is internationally known. The website lists hourly, part-time, and full-time jobs in practically every career field. It's more than just a search site; Monster also provides tons of articles with advice for getting the most out of your job search, your résumé, interviews, and your career.
Sources:
As you search for jobs online, please keep in mind that not all postings are legitimate.  While the sites above can be considered reliable, it is always important to take precautions when applying for jobs.  Here are a few job search tips:

  1. Do not give your personal bank account, PayPal account, or credit card numbers to a new employer.
  2. Do not agree to have funds or paychecks direct deposited into any of your accounts by a new employer you should know them first. (Most employers give the option of direct deposit or a paycheck, and make these arrangements during your first day or week of actual employment, on site – not before.)
  3. Do not forward, transfer, send by courier (EX: FedEX, UPS) , or "wire" any money to any employer, for any employer, using your personal accounts(s).
  4. Do not transfer money and retain a portion for payment.
  5. Do not respond to suspicious and/or too good to be true” unsolicited job emails.
  6. In general, applicants do not pay a fee to obtain a job (but there are some rare exceptions so be careful, and consult with a professional at KBCC Career Center first).

Monday, December 14, 2015

Fastest Growing Occupations 2014-24

Stay informed about growing occupations!

This video posted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shares the fastest growing occupations from 2014-2024.  It also highlights employment projections the fastest-growing occupations that require a bachelor's degree and which only require some postsecondary education, like an associate degree or certificate program.






For more information, visit www.bls.gov.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

So You've Got the Interview...

Now what?

Source
As you prepare for your interview, take a look at these commonly asked interview questions and the tips for how to answer them!

Tell me about yourself.

v  TIP:  talk about yourself as a professional: goals, interests, why you studied what you did.

What are your strengths?

v  TIP:  discuss a skill that can be used in the job you are seeking (transferable skill such as problem solving).

What are your weaknesses?

v  TIP:  talk about areas that you have improved in or something positive (i.e. getting so involved that you lose track of time); do NOT talk about major character flaws.

Walk me through your resume.

v  TIP:  sell your education and experience in a positive light.

What can you bring to this company/position?

v  TIP:  sell your strengths, skills, experience and talents.

Describe for me a typical day.

v  TIP:  demonstrate good use of time and goal setting.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

v  TIP:  sell yourself as a professional who is moving upward, not as a student.

Why do you want this position?

v  TIP:  display your knowledge of the company/organization, field, and position.

What sets you apart from the rest of your graduating class?

v  TIP:  talk about a selling point that is unique to you; discuss skills and accomplishments; do NOT mention GPA.

Do you have any questions for me?

v  TIP:  ask about job responsibilities, opportunities for growth, and questions specific to the industry/field/company.


ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS YOU MAY BE ASKED DURING AND INTERVIEW:


Related to job qualifications:

v  How has your past experience prepared you for this job?

v  Do you know what the duties and responsibilities of this job are?

v  Why should I hire you?

v  What do you know about this type of work?


Related to attitude and values:

v  What have you felt proud of in your life?

v  What do you want for yourself from this job?

v  What accomplishments have given you the greatest satisfaction?

v  How well do you work under pressure or in a crisis?


Source

For help with preparing for your interview, schedule an interview with a Career Advisor in Room C-102 or call 718-368-5115.

Monday, December 7, 2015

Learn the rules of : Professional Etiquette



Etiquette is the behavior accepted as gracious and polite and it can represent the difference between success and failure in many aspects of life. Etiquette varies widely from culture to culture and setting to setting. Professional etiquette is the code of conduct regarding the interactions among the members of a business setting. The basic rules of professional etiquette are arrive on time, dress appropriately, never interrupt a conversation, praise others for a good job, never take credit for other people’s work and many others. But there are situations where the etiquette rules need to be applied: for instance, very often in the workplace, it’s required to complete tasks together with a team. There are also some rules of etiquette when it comes to teamwork, which include take initiative, share your thoughts and consider others’, be prepared, fully engaged in discussions, and especially, be adaptable and flexible. When sending an email, do not use all caps, always include a subject, address your contact with the appropriate level of formality and make the habit of composing the emails from a computer and not from a phone. It is also very important to be concise, reply within 48 hours and set a default signature with your contact information.

The way you use your personal cellphone at work can negatively impact how you’re viewed. There are some simple rules that need to be followed in order to maintain your professionalism: do not answer while meeting with someone (it’s better to turn it off or at least put in on vibrate). If you’re expecting an important call, inform the others prior to any meeting.


I hope that following these simple rules will help you adopt the best behavior not only in school or at work, but in all interpersonal environments. For any questions or advice, you’re welcome to come at C-102, we will be happy to help you!

-Gerardo Battiante




Sources: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/313703930266233728/