Weekly Grad Star: Mary Keller

Name: Mary Keller
School: Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala.
Major: Integrated Communications (PR/Advertising)
Job desired: I would like to work in the field of hospitality or customer service for a hotel, resort or cruise line. I would also be open to event planning or coordinating for a company or organization. I am looking for a career that will challenge my creativity, persistence and organizational skills in a environment that also encourages employee growth within the company or organization.
Graduation date: May 2010
Contact info: marydkeller@gmail.com

Why should you be hired?
Every graduate has high hopes after graduation. After my graduation in May 2010, I moved to Orange Beach, Ala. which is famous for their tourism during the summers, however now they are more famous for oil washing up on their beaches. Within a week of graduating I had found a respectable 40 hour a week job for a small dolphin tour company doing PR and online marketing as well as assisting the owner with scheduling trips and communicating with potential clients. However, like most living near the gulf, my job came to an abrupt end and losing my job due to the oil. Since losing my job, I have filled out countless employment applications, and sent resumes out. By no means would I consider myself lazy. But to be truly honest there is a hiring freeze here because the oil has created an uncertainty for business owners. Perhaps it was not the best idea to move down here after graduation, but I have learned a lot and I have seen first hand what an oil disaster has done to this communities. I'm ready to move on and I am willing to move across the country. I have a strong work ethic and would like to work for a company that challenges my creativity, persistent, and organizational skills.

Bio
Hello, my name is Mary. During my time in college, I held an internship in the Communications Department at the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce working on their member magazine called the "Business View". I then interned at my colleges alumni relationship office in which I helped with the upcoming Alumni Reunion titled "Homecoming on the Hill". This allowed me to hold my own event called the "Student -Alumni Networking Event" which I created, organized and promoted the event by myself. It was so successful that it will become a regular event for students and alumni during this particular weekend.

Currently, I am interning at the Gulf Shores Chamber of Commerce. They play a crucial part in dispensing information about the ongoing oil spill as well as put on a yearly "Annual National Shrimp Festival" in which I will help with. Skills that I have possessed from college are as followed Microsoft Word Office, SPSS, Raiser’s Edge and Adobe InDesign. I would like to pursue a career in hospitality for a resort. I enjoy event planning and coordinating so ultimately I would like to work for resort doing the event coordinating for large events.

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Financial Tips for New Grads in the Recession

Simple ways to stay financially afloat as a college grad

Whether you just graduated and have a job or not, finance is something you must deal with as it will affect your future. Check out this great video to learn some useful tips on how to stay financially afloat in this economy!





http://www2.wnct.com/news/2010/jun/15/college-grads-can-use-financial-tips-get-through-t-ar-222099/

Weekly Poll: Is the current job market better compared to 6 months ago?

We read a lot of news articles everyday - some saying the job market has indeed improved, while others saying it's just getting worse. Sometimes you have to put the news headlines aside and just look around you to see what's happening in the job market.

So what do you think? Is the job market better today? Vote below, and don't forget to comment!

Last Week's Poll Results

Last week we asked "How long does your online job search take in a given day?"

After 176 votes, here are the results:

1/2 hour 5%
1 hour 18%
2 hours 32%
3 or more hours 46%

So what is your job search routine like? Do you check emails, then apply online? Do you check out networking events posted, or do anything else? Comment below!

Weekly Recap

For those of you that were a little too busy this week to read all of New Grad Life's content, here's a nice recap of everything that was published.

News

• Last Week's Poll Results

• Weekly Poll: How long does your online job search take in a given day?

• Campus Career Centers Struggling
• Weekly Grad Star: Anne Lawver
• To all the Universities - Thank You!
• Grads, you're not victims

Job Hunting

• 10 Online Personal Branding Tips
• 8 New Techniques to Land a Job
• How Volunteering Can Boost Your Career
• Ten Mistakes that Can Sabotage Your Job Search

Resumes

• 5 Tips for Crafting an Entry-Level Resume
• "Do I Put My GPA on My Resume?"
• 7 Words That Make Your Resume Irresistible

Interviews

• Job Interview Questions: "Tell Me About Yourself"

Networking

• Job Networking Tips Every Job Seeker Should Know (video)

10 Online Personal Branding Tips

How to be remembered as a job seeker

Branding when done well projects your “personal DNA” it can help those hiring not just find you (that is personal marketing) but decide are you a “good fit” to my team, my department, my company. It helps the decision maker decide “do I want to recruit you” or should I do business with you (if you go self employed). (Wikipedia's definition)

When incorporated into a job seeker or career mover’s marketing communications it can help them “stand out from the competition” which in the current climate is critical. Share of voice is the name of the game, getting attention is key, BUT you want the right type of attention from the right recruiter/company.

There are many different views, techniques and approaches that can help you build a structure to help you build your personal brand. I have “attempted to reduce these to 10 key questions and answers that can help define and guide you toward an “authentic personal brand”.

1. Define what your Personal Vision is and Purpose 

Round pegs and square hole, a cliché I know but be honest look at “your bigger picture” where do you want to fit in and then think about how the “world” can help you fulfill your vision.

2. “My Values and Passions”? 

Tough one, but you need to know “you”. What you want, need and can or want to do. You must be honest, will that highly paid job really will be a good fit for you. Motivation is based on beliefs and if not meet then the passion won’t be there and chances are you and an employer won’t be satisfied or happy.

3. Define your Key Goals for the next 5 Years

You need a plan and once you have that plan the focus and purpose it will give helps you “project” your brand with clarity and honestly. “This is want I want, and here is how I will get there; then here’s is where I want to be and how I intend to get their. A propelling story for any recruiter.

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Grads, you're not victims

College graduates being given wrong advice?

This article has been reprinted with permission from The Ventura County (Calif.) Star



Commencement speeches are part lip service and part lip biting. You feel you should tell the graduates how great they are and how the future is full of bright sunny days. But you know that what you really should tell them is to carry an umbrella.

Whether matriculating from high school or college, graduates don’t need to hear about how they’re going to take the world by storm. They need to be told that failures and disappointments are part of life. In fact, these things can be among the most valuable parts. If people get everything they want in life and mostly experience smooth sailing, chances are they’re not setting their goals high enough.

When individuals fall short at something or suffer a personal or professional setback, what matters is how they respond. Of course, they shouldn’t give up. Perseverance is essential to success.

But more than that, they also shouldn’t point fingers, make excuses or duck responsibility for their actions. It’s wasted energy, the kind that only sets the stage for more failure.

That’s the message President Barack Obama recently brought to Kalamazoo Central High School in Michigan. He addressed graduates after the school was chosen as one of six finalists in the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge. The contest intends to highlight schools that promote academic excellence, teach personal responsibility and prepare students for college and careers. Part of this preparation, Obama told the graduates, is accepting that the “responsibility for your success is squarely on your shoulders.” He contrasted that with how things work in Washington, where “everybody is always pointing a finger at somebody else” and making excuses for what doesn’t get done.

Granted, this message could be much more persuasive if it wasn’t coming from a president who, whenever he gets in a tight spot, can’t wait to make excuses and point his finger at the news media, Republicans in Congress, or the Bush administration. But however imperfect the messenger, the message is exactly the right one.

If that sounds like what your grandparents used to call good common sense, it is. The trouble is that, these days, good sense isn’t so common. Not when the national motto is: “Hey, it’s not my fault.”

We try to make sense of setbacks by cursing the heavens and depicting ourselves at the mercy of forces beyond our control. When we don’t get what we want, the first thing many of us do is search out someone to blame.

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"Do I Put My GPA on My Resume?"

The age old question about your resume

This post was written by Julie O'Malley, a Content Writer and Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) at PongoResume.com.



When you're in high school, and even more so in college, your grade point average (GPA) can seem like the one-and-only measure of your success. But how important is your GPA after graduation? Should you put it on your resume? Do employers really care if you had a 2.8 or a 3.0? Can a low score ruin your chances of getting hired? The answers may surprise you.

Just so we're all clear, GPA is a cumulative average of all the grades you've earned in your four (or so) years of classes. In most cases, a perfect score is 4.0. The average score is around 2.8 (depending on variables such as grade inflation).

Yes or No?
Before I go any further, this advice is only for new grads. Once you have a few years of professional experience, your undergraduate schooling diminishes in importance. If you're still bragging about your GPA when you're 40, it might seem a little odd.

So what are the general rules of thumb?

1. Only put your GPA on your resume if it was 3.0 or higher.
2. If your total GPA was under 3.0, but the GPA in your major was higher, put THAT on your resume.
3. Relevant summer jobs or internships will strengthen your resume more than just a high GPA, so don't laser-focus on grades.

Don't forget, employers can ask for copies of your transcripts, so it’s important to be truthful about your GPA, if asked.

Do Employers Really Care?
Just how important is your GPA in the real world? A recent Harris poll conducted on behalf of CareerBuilder asked 3,147 hiring managers and human resource professionals about this topic, and you may either be heartened or disappointed to learn:

62% require no minimum GPA;
31% require a 3.0 or above; and
11% require a 3.5 or above.

Need Resume Help? Professional help is a click away… Learn More
(get 5% off by using the coupon "newgrad5off")

I think that's actually good news for grads on both ends of the GPA spectrum. Those who worked super-hard and got a super GPA will find employers that demand nothing less. And those whose excellence manifested itself in areas other than academics can still find plenty of employers to value their contributions.

Bottom line: A high GPA is remarkable and should be emphasized on your resume. An average GPA isn't necessarily bad, it's just not particularly noteworthy. Since your resume is all about summarizing your most noteworthy accomplishments, leave out that 2.7 and focus on your other qualifications. And relax... by the time you're about five years out of college, GPA will be a non-issue.

Was this article useful to you? If so, subscribe to the free New Grad Life Newsletter to get more great articles!

Weekly Grad Star: Anne Lawver

Name: Anne Lawver
School: University of Wisconsin La Crosse
Major: BA English - rhetoric and writing, with a minor in persuasion and public communications
Job desired: Entry level public relations position, including internships.
Graduation date: 2010
Contact info: a.m.lawver@gmail.com

Why should you be hired?
I believe I should be hired because of my work ethic. I have held a job since I was 16, entirely throughout college, and at every job I've held I worked hard to be promoted. It is because I am reliable, consistent and thorough. I am committed to the company or organization I work for, and devote all of my efforts into what I am working on. I have the initiative to suggest new projects and work on multiple tasks at once. I absolutely thrive under pressure and deadlines. My best work comes from pushing myself and I bring this to every project I work on.

Bio
I am a recent graduate who is looking for a position in public relations. I have interned over the last year with two nonprofits, the La Crosse Public Education Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the 7 Rivers Region. I also was a senior writer for my student newspaper for two years in the Spotlight section, where I highlighted upcoming on and off campus events. In my experiences I have planned fund raising events, copy edited materials for publication, designed advertising on multiple platforms, created and maintained social media, as well as wrote social media tutorials for future interns and staff.

My true passion is in writing, and I am currently creating a blog about life after college with a liberal studies degree. I am also an avid reader, from blogs on social media to novels and short stories by Kurt Vonnegut; tastes as diverse as my talents. I aspire to one day to work in corporate PR, but right now I want to experience all areas since I’ve already dipped a toe into the nonprofit sector. I am eager to learn even more about an industry I am passionate about and to start a career.

Want to be a featured Grad Star? Click here!

Last Week's Poll Results

Last week we asked "Do you think it's ever OK to lie on your resume?"

After 300 votes, here are the results:

Yes 13%
No 87%

How do you feel about this issue? Comment below!

Why use professional resume writing services?

How resume writing help can make a huge difference in your job search success

By Ci Ci Fan, ResumeTarget.com



Money doesn’t grow on trees, especially not in this economy. So why are people spending their hard-earned cash on professional resume writers?

One word: results.

There are many things to consider in deciding whether you need professional resume-writing help. If your resume does not seem to be working for you or you have been told that your resume needs work, New Grad Life/ResumeTarget's professional eye can improve your chances of getting interviewed and hired. If you are facing a change in your situation, such as from one career to another, their resume experts can help you effectively position yourself for the change that you seek. As well, if you have issues in your job history, such as employment gaps, their specialists know strategies of dealing with these situations.

Our resume writers are essentially marketing specialists of your professional profile and develop a compelling message that gets you hired.

The process starts with a personal telephone call between yourself and your resume specialist to extract your critical information and identify your core strengths and career highlights. Then, your resume writer will create your custom resume and cover letter, specially designed to help you make a connection with any hiring authority, from scratch. You will collaborate with your resume writer to tweak and change every last detail to suit your specific needs.

While New Grad Life/ResumeTarget can’t promise you a job, we do guarantee you a fantastic-looking resume that will increase your job opportunities.

The difference between a professionally-written resume and an amateur effort is the difference between getting hired and not even getting an interview.

Invest in your future. Click here to learn more about our professional resume writing services!


ResumeTarget.com is a professional resume writing service that helps jobseekers reach their career objectives. Online since 2002, it is dedicated to providing a one-stop shop for jobseekers with a comprehensive selection of customized, user-friendly and industry-leading services including resume writing, distribution, and interviewing and networking coaching.

ResumeTarget.com is an affiliate of New Grad Life

Weekly Recap

For those of you that were a little too busy this week to read all of New Grad Life's content, here's a nice recap of everything that was published.

News

• Last Week's Poll Results

• Weekly Poll: Do you think it's ever OK to lie on your resume?

• College grads sharing job search advice
• Weekly Grad Star: Jennifer Quitter
• 4 Great Careers for a Masters in Health Care Management
• "Related Experience" = Key for Landing a Job for New Grads

Job Hunting

• 5 Common Job Fair Mistakes Recent Graduates Make
• Job Hunting With Social Media 101
• Top 100 Niche Job Sites
• 10 LinkedIn Mistakes You Shouldn't Make

Resumes

• Top 5 Reasons Why Your Resume Sucks

Interviews

• 9 Ways to Ruin a Job Interview

Finance

• Student Loan Problems and Solutions

Weekly Grad Star: Jennifer Quitter

Name: Jennifer Quitter
School: Academy of Art University
Major: BFA 2D/3D Character Animator
Job desired: Animation, Character Design, Storyboarding
Graduation date: May 2010
Contact info: jennifer@notaquitter.net
                         http://notaquitter.net/

Why should you be hired?
Yes, my name is Quitter, and living with that stigma my entire life has driven me to success. My motto "Don't Quit!" has fostered my work ethic and creative problem solving skills.

I have been working with WackyandZany Productions for the past 3 years designing characters and storyboarding. I have also lent my design expertise in my employ at Down Etc designing advertisements and catalogs, updating the Down Etc website, and drawing product diagrams for manufacturers.

In my educational experience, I have encouraged cooperation in the many collaborative projects I have participated in. As a part of a collaborative team, I have animated 3D character performances for the San Francisco Giant's youth baseball television promo. Another project I have collaborated on is "Prelude", where I have inbetweened 2D animation. Independently, my short film “Dive In” was presented in AAU's 2009 Fall Festival.

Bio
I grew up in the small world of Kentucky dreaming of being an animator. The first film I saw in theaters was "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" and I remember watching, amazed at this live action/animated universe. I could tell there was a difference between the cartoons and real people and I asked my mom what it was. When she told me that people DREW these cartoons frame by frame, I was mesmerized by this magic and knew instantly this was my calling.

Since then, every move I have made has drawn me towards my goal. In my 2 years in the University of Cincinnati's prestigious DAAP Digital Design program I was included in the Dean's List, and in my 1 year of fine art training at Northern Kentucky University I was honored on the Dean's List and Presidential Honor list.

The big move out to California was very difficult. My family was always very close. I can remember family dinners and vacations and enjoying animated family films together when I was young. I have seen how a classic film can bring families together, and this has become my focus. I feel many cartoons nowadays cater specifically to demographics, and alienate people. My dream is to create films that appeal to all audiences and bring people together.

I graduate May 2010 from the Academy of Art University with a BFA with emphasis in 2D/3D Character Animation and an energetic optimism that even in this economy, dreams can come true.

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Student Loan Problems & Solutions

Student loan advice for difficult times

Dealing With Debt Collectors

My husband and I have debt that is three to five years old. The debt includes back taxes and student loans. I made a deal with the IRS for monthly payments. I just recently made a deal with one of the collection agencies a couple of days before the court date for the lawsuit. I have spoken with a couple of credit counseling agencies, and they cannot help with student loans and tell me my other debts are too old. The agencies also tell me not to worry about charge offs. I have tried to work with the collection agency holding my student loans. I offered them $50 a month. They refused the offer and told me that I have to pay $300 a month. The original amount due was $8,000, but the interest has brought it to $11,500. I refinanced the student loan four years ago. I cannot afford to pay everyone at once. However, I would like to make an effort. I don't want to wait around for another company to file a lawsuit. Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
A.

Track Your Spending

I started out with $116,000 in law school student loan debt. I have payments of $690 a month. Although I am a lawyer, I do not make much money working for the government. The money software Quicken saved my life. I kept all my receipts for several months and then inserted everything into Quicken, which told me where I was spending all my money. Through Quicken, I was able to come up with a budget and figure out which areas in my life I could spend less money or do without. I have always made my payments on time and am saving 20% of my income. I also strongly believe in saving all your change. As a single person I saved $130 in change in one year, which I then used toward groceries. Think of what you could save in change with your husband.
Randi

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Last Week's Poll Results

Last week we asked "After an interview, do you follow up with a thank you note?"

After 270 votes, here are the results:

Always 73%
Sometimes 16%
Never 11%

How exactly do you follow up? A hand-written note? An e-mail? Perhaps a polite phone call? Comment below!

Weekly Recap

For those of you that were a little too busy this week to read all of New Grad Life's content, here's a nice recap of everything that was published.

News

• Last Week's Poll Results

• Weekly Poll: After an interview, do you follow up with a thank you note?

• Survey: Grads likelier to get jobs now
• College Grads Guide to Buying a Car
• Weekly Grad Star: Sasha Resende

Job Hunting

• 10 Common Facebook Job Search Mistakes
• The Best Ways to Make Contact with an Employer (Video)
• 22 Tips for landing a job on LinkedIn
• 3 False Beliefs College Grads Have

Resumes

• Ten things your resume shouldn't have

Interviews

• Top 10 Hardest Interview Questions

• 7 Phone Interview Tips That'll Make You Shine

Networking

• 20 Ways to improve your job networking

Health
• New Grads Make Sure You're "Covered"

Recent Grads - 3 Job Hunt Tips to Remember

Experts advise students to seek out recruiters and job opportunities through networking

As the economy slowly continues to improve since its bottom fell out in 2008, college graduates are being forced to learn new ways to find—and apply for—available positions in a limited market.

“Seventy to 75 percent of jobs are in the ‘hidden job market,’ which are jobs that are obtained through word of mouth, referrals and other similar things,” said Roger Young, director of career services at Southwestern University in Georgetown. “We have to teach students how to get into the job market now more than ever.”

Students entering the workforce in 2010 have a slight advantage over 2009’s graduates. According to the Job Outlook 2010 Fall Preview report released in April by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, companies project a 5.3 percent increase in college hiring this year. The same NACE study conducted in fall 2008 projected a 22 percent decrease in college hiring due to the slumping economy.

Stressed budgets at companies across the country have placed a strain on recruitment efforts. Fewer businesses can afford sending recruiters to colleges and career fairs. Instead, they are shifting toward inexpensive approaches. NACE reported that, in 2010, out of 219 employers surveyed for the report:

28 percent plan to attend fewer career fairs,
24 percent plan to incorporate more social networking into recruiting efforts,
20 percent plan to focus more attention on local hires and
19 percent plan to make more contact with student organizations and faculty.
Young said this trend is reflected in the decrease of job opening advertisements placed on traditional job search websites, such as Yahoo’s Hot Jobs and CareerBuilder.com.

“You can still go to the big job boards or the newspaper, but you’re not going to see nearly as many jobs,” he said. “Only about 25 percent of jobs are available that way.”

The trend is forcing soon-to-be graduates not only to re-evaluate how they apply for a job, but also how they prepare themselves to win the right position. With fewer recruiters on the prowl, graduates need to be more aggressive in pursuing leads and landing work.

“It’s a new game, to a certain degree,” Young said.

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College Grads Guide to Buying a Car

Car shopping tips for new grads

Reprinted with permission of FayObserver.com



College graduates will need a new car to start their lives off campus. A dismal job market could make financing such a big-ticket purchase a challenge. Here are tips to help navigate the perils of car shopping.

Check credit: Buying an affordable car that is paid off on time is an excellent way to build credit. That will help down the road with buying a house, a more expensive car, starting a business or anything else that requires borrowing. Before going to the dealership, it's a good idea to check your credit history, which gives you the same information lenders use when they decide on a car loan. Each of the credit agencies, Experian, TransUnion and Equifax, allows one free credit report per year through their websites. Recent grads should be prepared to pay higher interest or a bigger down payment to satisfy nervous lenders because of a short credit history. A parent may have to co-sign.

Budget: First-time buyers will want to come up with a firm budget before setting foot in a dealership, where sales staff are likely to try to sell unnecessary options. Young car owners should plan to spend no more than 15 percent of their monthly income for car payments, says Greg McBride of Bankrate.com. Several websites feature calculators to figure out what payments will be. Start with Cars.com or Autofinancing101.org.

Buy or lease? For grads, buying is the way to go in most cases. Buying lets you put equity into something you'll eventually own, and most cars built today will last well beyond the life of a loan. Leasing can be dicey for recent grads because, while payments may be cheaper, most arrangements charge a fee for breaking the lease early. In a difficult job market, that's not an appealing prospect. A good option is to buy a dependable, late-model used car. Payments will be smaller than a new car, and someone else will have taken the initial depreciation cost. But one benefit of leasing is it's usually cheaper and doesn't require a down payment - good for a grad who doesn't have cash on hand.

Be choosy: Shop around for financing. Karl Brauer, editor in chief of Edmunds.com, suggests going to a bank or credit union first. Explain which car you're looking to buy and get an offer for a loan. Take that offer to several dealerships and negotiate. First-time buyers who find the haggling intimidating can do the bulk of their shopping online. Most dealership websites allow shoppers to correspond with sales staff via e-mail. In addition, keep an eye out for incentives aimed at college grads, most of which are good for up to two years after graduation.

If you enjoyed reading this article, subscribe to our free newsletter to get more great content!

Weekly Grad Star: Sasha Resende

Name: Sasha Resende
School: University of Michigan
Major: Political Science
Job desired: Currently looking at publishing, publicity, and legal services. Ideal job titles include publicity assistant, editorial assistant, production assistant, assistant account executive, paralegal, legal assistant, program assistant, junior market researcher, analyst. I plan to move to the New York, NY area and I am seeking a job in either Manhattan or Brooklyn.
Graduation date: May 2010
Contact info: sresende@gmail.com

Why should you be hired?
I recently graduated from an elite academic program at the University of Michigan. I maintained a high degree of academic excellence throughout my time at Michigan and I graduated with a 3.573 cumulative GPA. Through my studies of political institutions and legal issues, I have developed my ability to effectively conduct research, organize data, and clearly communicate my findings in a concise manner. Apart from my academic pursuits, I also have nearly two years of professional experience in research, editorial, and administrative fields. By working in a diverse range of office settings, I learned to adapt to particular industries, while also developing my communication, prioritizing, and organizational skills. I firmly believe that my past experiences, coupled with my strong work ethic, creative outlook, and interpersonal skills, would allow me to thrive in a demanding work environment.

Bio
I recently graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in political science and I will relocate to the New York, NY area in mid-May 2010. I spent a semester studying abroad at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, where I took intensive Spanish courses for four months and became functionally fluent in the language. I am also a native Portuguese speaker and a duel U.S.-Brazilian citizen with extensive international experience. While attending Michigan, I pursued several extracurricular activities that honed my communication, organization, and time-management skills. I have been a staff writer for The Michigan Daily since 2007, where I have accumulated over 50 bylines. Apart from this publication, my work has also been published on PEOPLE.com, Tiny Mix Tapes, and UWire. I also served as an Editorial Board member at my campus’ chapter of the Roosevelt Institute, where I developed my editing skills. I spent the summer of 2009 interning at PEOPLE magazine’s editorial department. During this internship, I balanced several projects within a fast-paced environment while maintain a high degree of professionalism. I also developed my administrative skills during this internship by serving as a secondary assistant to Martha Nelson, who is a senior editor at Time Inc. Additionally, I have over 18 months of both administrative and research experience at two part-time jobs I’ve held while attending classes at Michigan. I would like to apply my skills in the publishing, publicity, or legal services industries in the New York, NY area.

Want to be a featured Grad Star? Click here!

10 Common Facebook Job Search Mistakes

Common mistakes among facebook job hunters...are you one of them?

While LinkedIn is the daddy of social networking sites for business, its trendier cousin Facebook has been known to go business casual. But before you go crazy using Facebook for your business networking, be sure to read up on some do’s and don’ts to make sure your online activities don’t lose you a job.

Here are the top 10 Facebook mistakes during your job search, and some excellent resources to learn more:

1. Posting furiously all day. Yes, your activity is time stamped. And if you’re spending more time on Facebook than preparing for interviews, you’re not sending the right message. Even when you’re not employed, if an employer sees you’re on Facebook all day recruiting for your zombie army, they’ll question your dedication to your career.

2. Using alcohol, smoking, or any other “substance” in your profile picture. Not all employers will judge, but many will. Don’t take the risk. Keep your profile photo — and all of your photos — clean and professional.

3. Not knowing how to keep your friends from seeing things you don’t want them to. There is a way to make sure that no matter what embarrassing pictures people post, your Facebook friends will never see them. Really. Learn about Facebook privacy settings to keep your Facebook presence under control.

4. Not including information about your professional life. If you want to make professional connections through Facebook, then people need to know what you do professionally. Occasionally share links that relate to your industry, mention your job search, and reach out for help with your networking in a professional way. On the other hand, don’t be all business. Think about balance in your Facebook profile.

5. Missing opportunities to connect with people elsewhere. The more places you connect with someone, the more likely you are to remain on their radar — you never know where people spend the most time, or the most attention. Linking your Facebook profile to your LinkedIn profile is one way to help move connections from one arena to another. Think about where you want to connect with people, and how to bridge the gaps.

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Survey: Grads likelier to get jobs now

Though prospects may be improving, counselors still advise networking and persistence

Graduating seniors are facing an improving job market as the June 14 commencement ceremony approaches.

More employers are posting job offers and hiring compared to last year, which is good news for seniors graduating this spring.

Employers expect to hire 5 percent more graduates from the class of 2010 than the class of 2009, according to a survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

Meanwhile, according to a survey from Career Builder, 44 percent of employers intend to hire recent college graduates. In 2009, the survey projected 43 percent of employers hiring college graduates; however, Career Builder noted that before the recession hit the economy, 79 percent of employers in 2007 expected to hire recent college graduates.

Career Builder’s survey also projected that 16 percent of employers will also offer higher starting salaries than in 2009.

At the University, the number of employers attending the Spring Career Fair increased compared to last year. This spring, about 75 employers attended; in 2009, there were 50.

The number of job postings on the University’s Career Center’s Web site and in general increased this year compared with last year.

“It’s nice to see there are more postings out there,” Lundquist College of Business Director of Career Services James Chang said. “It’s just one way for college students to get out there.”

The job postings might have increased, but not all students have a job lined up for after graduation. According to the NACE survey, almost one third of graduates from some state colleges are still looking for a job.

University career counselors said if University graduates do not have a job after graduation, they can continue searching and expanding their network. There are other opportunities out there that might not be a student’s dream career but jobs that are practical steps toward a bigger long-term picture. Internships, entry-level positions and programs like AmeriCorps are other opportunities.

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Last Week's Poll Results

Last week we asked "Which do you need the most help on? (resumes, interviews, networking)"

After 116 votes, here are the results:

Your resume 21%
Your interview skills 29%
Your networking skills 50%

What do you think? Comment below!

Weekly Recap

For those of you that were a little too busy this week to read all of New Grad Life's content, here's a nice recap of everything that was published.

News

• Last Week's Poll Results

• Weekly Poll: Which do you need the most help on? (resumes, interviews, networking)

• For fashion grads, the future may be in retail
• College grads get optimistic new job outlook
• Weekly Grad Star: Braden Pivirotto

Job Hunting

• What Employers Are Looking for in a Recent Graduate
• 10 Things college has taught grads about life
• 22 Tips for landing a job on LinkedIn

Resumes

• Ten things your resume shouldn't have

Interviews

• 6 Signs your job interview went well

• That all-important informational interview

Networking

• Common job networking myths - don't believe them!
• 9 Steps to LinkedIn networking for a job

Finance
• How to new grads pay off loans?