Strengths and Weaknesses

If you've ever had a job interview, you know that there is one dreaded and awkward question: What are your strengths and weaknesses? The question can be awkward because it is sometimes hard to talk good about yourself. You may fear coming off as arrogant or pretentious. With weaknesses, you're not sure what they want to hear. You might fear what you say could affect the potential employer's decision about you. Fortunately, Alison Doyle of about.com has written a wonderful article detailing what the best answers to these questions are. It would be wise to read through this so you can be prepared to eliminate awkwardness in your next interview.

How to Avoid Damaging Your Work Reputation

So, you've been through the interviews and finally have that job. Something you need to pay attention to is how others view you as a colleague. Your reputation as a professional must be upheld. In the Careers section of U.S. News, Liz Wolgemuth has written a column on "9 Little-Known Ways to Damage Your Reputation at Work." If you follow this advice, you should feel confident that your coworkers hold you in high esteem.

Stand out!

Let's face it, when you go into a job interview, you know you're not the only candidate up for the position. Interviewing is a nerve-wracking process, but to make things easier for you it may be a good idea to figure out how to stand out from the rest of the crowd. You want your potential employers to remember you (positive things of course) so that you get that job offer. Alison Doyle has posted some tips on her blog that will help you stick out and not become just another resume in a stack of paper.

Become a Career Fair Survivor!

Because of the upcoming February 9 Career & Internship Fair, the Career Center wants to help students prepare. On Tuesday, February 1, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., we are holding Career Fair Survivor, an event that allows teams of 3 to compete for prizes. Based on a popular television show, the event will end with pizza and beverages and the opportunity to ask the Career Center staff and Career Fair recruiters any questions you may have.

So, if you are planning on attending the Career & Internship Fair, and are not sure what to expect, sign up for Survivor so you can be prepared before you walk in with your stack of resumes. If you want to learn how to prepare, you might as well have fun doing it!

Click here to find out how to sign up your team. Registration ends on January 31 at 5 p.m.

Social Media Background Checks

It's no secret anymore that employers are now searching sites like Facebook for information about potential employees. But these kinds of searches are going a bit deeper. Some companies are employing Social Media Background Checks that compiles information that you've released on the web--including Facebook and blog posts. Because these types of searches are becoming more common, it's necessary for job seekers to pay attention to what they are posting on the internet and realize whatever you do or say is in the public domain. To learn more about this, visit Alison Doyle's blog.

Information Interviews

Sometimes your interest in a career path may not lead you to learn the specifics about the job. In this case, it is a good idea to schedule an "information interview" which allows you to sit down with somebody in your desired career path and become familiar with what they do. About.com's Alison Doyle has a great article about how to do this successfully.

Temp jobs may lead to full time opportunities

As you know, the current state of the economy is making it hard for many people to find jobs. Graduating students may have a difficult time finding a full-time job. However, finding a temp position with a company has the possibility of turning into something more permanent. Alison Doyle writes about how to accomplish this in a recent article.