Cori’s Career Corner
Get connected to the marketplace
Spring is high time for job seekers and overall, the market is a good one. Web sites, newspapers, professional associations, and postings within your present organization are all good sources of information about new opportunities. Referrals and networking are especially helpful. I find that many people are shocked when I tell them that networking is still the most effective tool in your job search tool kit. The fact is, almost 60 percent of all jobs are filled by people who knew someone who knew someone. That means you have to stay connected with people in your personal and professional circles. It’s not so much about asking them for a job as it is about asking for information and advice.
If you are making a subtle (or not-so-subtle) change in the direction of your career, networking becomes even more important. When talking to people you know and the people they know, you can emphasize your transferable skills, highlight your related background, and demonstrate your personal characteristics. The Alumnae Association’s online networking program, LifeNet, can be a great link in this process. Have you registered yet? If not, get connected now! Be sure to conduct searches for fellow alumnae in your current or desired field as well the geographical area in which you’re interested. You’ll also want to check out our new online career discussion group where you can “chat” with alums about shared career areas of interest.
I recently read an article on CareerJournal.com which I want to bring to your attention if you are using the Internet for posting your resume. Creative identity theft thieves are using job boards to extract personal information, and according to the author, cases of online job scams are emerging. To be careful, you may want to consider using job boards that provide a screen to “hide” your personal information. In addition, some job scammers have been known to post job ads for positions, representing themselves as companies. In this case, having a special e-mail for responses may be a prudent approach and provide some level of security.
An update on my activities: On March 3, the Career Development Center, in cooperation with the Alumnae Association, sponsored a full day of interview practice for students. A wonderful group of alumnae and corporate friends joined us for a day of panels and practice interviewing in small groups. It was a great day of activity and we hope to have more of these events in the upcoming year. In April I took a short trip to Raleigh and spent a day with alumnae, focusing on career transitions. It was 85 degrees there, 25 degrees in South Hadley, and what a wonderful trip it was! On April 27 and 28 I will be in California conducting workshops on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and on career process. In early May, I’m offering a half-day of one-on-one appointments for alumnae in the Hartford area. I will also be teaching at Reunion I and II—and sharing beer and pizza with alums networking on both reunion Friday evenings. Hope to see you there!
