Five Ways to Start a Resume (even if you don't know how)

Starting a professional resume can be tricky, especially when you have no clue where to begin. Even if you already have one, RESUMES ARE NOT STATIC DOCUMENTS, and they should be updated with every professional-oriented activity you take part in. If you’re like me, you made a resume for some class in high school, got a good grade on it, and tossed it aside. However, your resume is a walking, talking representation of yourself (okay, it doesn’t walk but it sure does tell a lot about you) and should never be put on the back burner. To find out how to create a professional resume that you can be proud of, read the tips below. Who knows, you may even land a new job!

Tip 1:

Start by writing down your accomplishments (awards, training, presentations, etc.), education, work/ intern experiences, volunteer work, military experiences, athletic abilities, interests, skills, and any other information that you feel adds value to your professional abilities. Remember, potential employers will see this document, so although you may be proud of winning the contest for most hot dogs eaten, it may not be something to include on your professional resume.   

Tip 2:

Now that you have a list of your achievements, organize the information in categories like: “Education” and “Extracurricular Activities.” Within these categories, list things so that your most recent achievements come first (for example, if I joined Student Council in 2012 but I joined another club in 2014, I would list the second club first because it is more recent). Organizing your information like this will make the writing process much easier.

Tip 3:

Begin a typed document with your name and personal information (address and contact info) at the top of the page. Placing your name at the top will allow your name to be the first thing the employer sees. Educational experience usually comes after your name and will be the first thing the employer judges. Remember to list in order of most recent- least recent.

Tip 4:

Continue to list your accomplishments in the way that you organized your info, and try to limit yourself to one page long. It’s not good to bog down the employer with lots of little information. Being concise and clear will prove to be more successful.

Tip 5:

If you get stuck or would like to see a template according to your program, feel free to check out our website. Just go to www.naz.edu à Quicklinks à Career Services à Services à Creating Resumes and Cover Letters. After you’ve created your resume, come to the Career Service office, located in GAC 111, and one of our career counselors can look over it with you and help you organize it even further to ensure you’ll get the job every time!

Help! I’m Undeclared! Five Tips For Finding Your Perfect Major

Undeclared? That’s ok, Naz has you covered!  Here’s five tips for starting your mission to find the right major:

1. Meet with a Career Counselor or Academic Advisement Counselor
    The counselors in these offices are great resources on campus that will help you to explore who you are and what you want to do at Nazareth.  These professionals will be able to tell you more about what each major on campus is like and direct you to other resources, like job search tools, including Nazareth’s HireAFlyer job database.  Or tell them about your favorite show and crazy hobbies and they just might be able to help you figure out your path that way, too.

2. Take a Test
    Taking a career guidance test can be the perfect way to see what jobs or fields you would enjoy most.  These aren’t your typical career tests, though. Stop by the Career Services Office in GAC 111 to take the Focus 2 or MBTI test.  Learn about each profession in depth and learn about your own skills, strengths and interests.  This may open your eyes to options you never even thought of before and show you the way to a great major.  

3. Take CDL 101
    Nazareth College offers a class for undeclared students, CDL 101: Exploring Self, Majors and Careers.  The class is broken into three sections, each of which allows you to come to a greater understanding of who you are, your skills, and what interests you as a major.  The class is taught by a counselor from Academic Advisement, making it easier to ask questions and learn about requirements for each major offered at Naz.  The class is a great way to give structure to your search throughout the semester.  Even if you haven’t declared by winter break, that’s ok, because you will probably have narrowed down your options.  Try exploring those majors in classes during your second semester to test the waters more!

4. Meet With Department Heads
Once you have chosen a few majors that you're interested in, it’s a good idea to meet with the department head to ask any questions you might have, learn about the classes they offer, and find out what other students in the major have done after graduation. One of the best things about going to a small school like Nazareth is that you can make appointments directly with department heads without jumping through all the hoops a big school might have. Not only is this a great way to get to know someone who could possibly be a future advisor or professor, this is the time to ask all of your questions and see if this major is the right fit for you.

5. Think About What YOU Want
    Even with all the tests, classes and consultations you can take at Naz, the most important thing is to make the best choice for you when you are ready.  Make sure you are happy with the choice you make- declaring a major should be exciting!  And if you end up not liking what you picked, there’s still time to change it later.

    Ready to declare? Great!  All you have to do is fill out a declaration form in the Academic Advisement office (Smyth 2) and have the department head of your major sign it. There are some majors that require students to be tested in to, but no worries, we know you’ve got what it takes!
 Follow these tips and you’ll have a major in no time at all!

Internships: Guest Blogger

This is our guest blogger, Meaghan. She is a senior psychology major, with minors in gerontology and religious studies!

 

I like to plan things, especially when my future is involved. That is how I decided that I needed to complete an internship in the field I hope to pursue a career in. In the spring semester of 2013, I interned at Highland Hospital. My experiences at Highland working with the Hospital Elder Life Program greatly increased my patience, assisted my communication skills, and helped me have a better understanding of some dimensions of the human services field. Knowing how helpful my internship at Highland was for my personal development, I knew that completing another internship in my future career area would only help me. My name is Meaghan Kanaley and I am a senior psychology major, with minors in gerontology and religious studies.

Around the same time I was at Highland, I began to study and fall in love with the psychological field of behaviorism, specifically applied behavior analysis (ABA). ABA implements the principles of behaviorism and, as an area of study, greatly values accurate behavioral plans and data collection. It has been proven to be quite effective with individuals with intellectual disabilities. Because I wanted to make sure that I really wanted to be in this field, I knew that I had to do another internship working with a behaviorist and individuals with intellectual disabilities. After researching internship possibilities at local organizations, I decided to complete an internship at Ontario ARC, working with the applied behavioral specialist at one of their day habilitation programs.

While there is a wide range of abilities and diagnoses at Eberhardt, I have spent most of my time working with adults who have autism, various intellectual disabilities, obsessive compulsive disorder, and/ or anxiety. I have been able to work hands on with the program’s participants, assist the room staff, create communication board (a useful tool for some people who are nonverbal), analyze monthly behavior data, and attend various meetings and trainings. I have also reached many of my goals for the semester, including learning basic functional sign language (words like food, drink, walk, toilet, etc). Similarly to my first internship, I have seen my communication skills, as well as my teamworking and problem solving skills, change drastically for the better. I have also learned how to advocate for the participants I work with and myself. Unlike my first internship, I have found myself asking to gain more responsibilities and experience new things, which is an important skill when transitioning to the “real world.”

After having two amazing internships at Nazareth College, I cannot recommend this opportunity to other students enough! I personally feel that all Nazareth students should try to complete an internship during their undergraduate career. Because of the first hand knowledge I received at my internship, I was able to impress a future employer during an interview. I have since been offered and have accepted a position as an ABA Instructor. Although I cannot say that I got a job solely because of my internship, I do know that my internships have made me more confident about the next few years of my life. I know that I understand this field more now than I did at the beginning of the semester. I know that I am leaving Naz to pursue a career path that I am passionate about and hope to follow for years to come!

How I feel About Graduating...

When you realize you are done with school…possibly forever:

 

  

Then realizing that every “entry-level” job requires 3-5 years experience:

When your friends start telling you that they have a job:

When people ask you “So what are your plans after graduation?” and “Do you have a job yet?”:

When one more person tells you how horrible the job market is:

Every time you look at your resume:

When people ask how you are handling all of it:

And a little bit of:

But then realizing that Career Services is here to calm your anxieties...even after you graduate:

Attending a Job Fair

Job fairs can be scary at first walking into a room of people you don't know that could be potential employers, but with a few tips it'll be a breeze!

What should I bring?

• Resume 
• Pen
• Your Smile and Personality!

What should I expect?

Typically, numerous employers sign up to come to the job fair and set up a table to talk to students. In my experience the tables are numbered and maps are provided to help you navigate your way around the room to tables of interest. Upon arriving you should sign in at the desk out front where they will provide you with a name tag and map of the floor plan. After checking in you are free to wander and talk to potential employers!

The employers at the booths are friendly and there to talk to YOU! So you should talk with them about their facility, available jobs, what they look for in an employee, etc. You're goal is to be personable and charming while portraying some of your best qualities!

Tips for Success:

Dress for Success: You should be dressed in business casual, looking professional and serious about talking to employers!

Be Early: Arrive early in order to be fully prepared and insure that you aren't waiting in line after the fair opens!

Take Initiative: Be firm and persistent speaking to employers and shaking their hand first. Show interest and professionalism by inquiring about their organization!

Be Enthusiastic: Show excitement to be there! This is one of the main characteristics employers look for in potential candidates. Smile! :)

Ask Questions: Prepare questions that are important to you or some areas that you may have inquiries about. Engaging potential employers makes you more memorable and they become more interested in you!

Practice talking about yourself: Sometimes it is difficult to talk yourself up to other people. In this case you should practice a short spiel about yourself to tell the employers at the job fair. In a few sentences brainstorm ideas and talents you want to make known and practice discussing those topics.    
  

Follow some of these helpful tips, smile, be yourself, and relax! Job fairs seem scary but if you follow these tips you'll be prepared and ready to conquer any fair!

FAQ: How Do I Set Up A Credential File?

As we dive into the Spring Semester, a lot of my friends have become extremely focused on their classes and on their job search after graduation. Many of my friends know that I work in Career Services and they frequently ask about letters of recommendation. Their questions include: Do I send out those letters? Does your office hold them for me? Are they expensive? Can I pay with a credit card?

Let us put your mind at ease ... it's simple, painless, and will provide you with a stress-free semester (in regards to job applications). Follow the steps listed below to create your very own credential file!

STEP 1: Come visit our office! We're located in GAC 111 and will be able to hand you a registration packet when you ask to set up a credential file.  

STEP 2: Simply fill out the registration packet with your information and return it to our office at your earliest convenience. 

STEP 3: Pay a small fee of $10 for your credential file with either cash or a check made payable to Nazareth College Career Services.


*IMPORTANT: We can't set up your credential file unless you pay for it! If you don't have cash or a check with you when you come into the office, we will hold the registration materials for you until you come back with the required $10. 


"What if I can't come into the office?" No worries! Visit our website: http://www.naz.edu/career-services and click on the link labeled "Credential Files" on the right hand side of the screen. From there, click on the link labeled, "How do I register?" located in the middle of the screen. Download the registration form, print and fill out the required information, include $10 cash or by check, and send it to our office via snail mail! If you have any further questions about credential files, feel free to check out our previous blog posts or stop by the office and ask! 

New Year, New Location!

Nazareth College has been in the process of remodeling its campus, and curriculum, over the past year. Career Services happens to be a part of that change this school year! Our office used to be located in the Shults Center ... however, since we are now in the division of Academic Affairs, we are located on the first floor of the Golisano Academic Center. Don't worry, it's not too difficult to find us! Our office is located on the same level as Linehan Chapel, and across from the offices that belong to the Center for Civic Engagement. Our new office number is GAC 111. 

One of the most convenient parts of our move is that we are located directly across from Emily Carpenter's office. Emily is the Director of Internships, and she works with our office on a frequent basis. It's very easy to make an appointment with her (just like our office)! So, if you have any questions about internships, don't be hesitant to ask Emily by phone call or appointment. (585-289-2571)

We still offer the same services as before, such as resume/cover letter help, job search, career counseling, and mock interviews. Even though we're in a new spot, don't be afraid to call our office. We're excited to help you with your new career goals!