Gonzaga University Career Center Blog

The following job leads were forwarded to the Career Center and we wanted to forward them along to job hunting Zags out there!

• The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is hiring a community outreach specialist in Portland. Experience with social media is helpful, but not required. Annual salary is approximately $44,000 – $77,000, depending upon education and experience. Submit resume by August 31 to “COS Hiring Manager” via mail: PO Box 709, Portland, OR 97207; Email: applicants.portland@ic.fbi.gov; or fax:(503) 552-5465.
• Metro is seeking an associate public affairs specialist in communications in Portland. Annual salary is $49,329 – $66,056. Application deadline September 1.
• The Oregon Sustainability Center is hiring a fundraising director in Portland. Salary is negotiable. Screening begins September 1. Please submit resume and cover letter electronically to Liz Hopkins atlhopkins@pdxinstitute.org., or via the mail to P+OSI C/O Liz Hopkins, 1600 SW 4th Ave, Suite 800, Portland, OR 97201.
• Gateway to College National Network is hiring a program manager in Portland. The salary range is $50,000 – $80,000 per year, including a comprehensive benefits package. Starting salary is typically in the first quartile of the range. Position closes September 11.
• Oregon Voice is hiring an executive director in Portland. Competitive salary and benefits, commensurate with experience. Apply by October 13.
• Defend Oregon is hiring an outreach organizer in Portland. Salary is commensurate with experience. Position is open until filled. E-mail resume and cover letter to liz@ouroregon.org
• OHSU Foundation is hiring a director of development in the School of Medicine, Diabetes and Endocrinology in Portland. Salary is commensurate with experience. Position is open until filled. Please forward a resume, cover letter, and salary expectations to: ohsufhr@ohsu.edu

From PR Jobs online:

• • Vice President, Communications & Public Affairs, North Carolina State Ports Authority
  • Senior Manager, External Relations, Ohio University
  • Communications Associate, U.S. Green Building Council
  • Public Relations Manager, Aloysius Butler & Clark
  • Vice President Global Corporate Communications, Philips Healthcare
  • Senior Account Executive, Stanton Communications
  • Public Affairs Coordinator, Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC

Tags: Advertising, Communications, Hot Lead, Job Hunting, Job Search, Marketing, Oregon, Portland, Success in Economy

The following job leads were forwarded to the Career Center and we wanted to forward them along to job hunting Zags out there!

US Dept of Energy: Techinal/Public Relations & Communications Strategist in Richland, WA
See the job posting at http://jobs.pnl.gov/ and apply online. Under “Find Jobs,” click on “browse a list of our current job openings.” Then in the “Basic Job Search” box, enter 117808 as the key word.

From Mac’s List:

1) Legislative Administration is hiring a chief information officer in Salem. Duties include management of the IT department with responsibility for development and management of IT systems including applications, infrastructure, personal computing, and a/v services. Monthly salary is $6,481 – $10,026 plus excellent benefits. Position closes August 17.

2) The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is hiring a marketing manager in Portland. Salary is commensurate with experience. Position is open until filled.

3) The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is hiring a community outreach specialist in Portland. Experience with social media is helpful, but not required. Annual salary is approximately $44,000 – $77,000, depending upon education and experience. Submit resume by August 31 to “COS Hiring Manager” via mail: PO Box 709, Portland, OR 97207; Email: applicants.portland@ic.fbi.gov; or fax:(503) 552-5465

4) The Oregon Food Bank is seeking a communications specialist in Portland. Annual salary is $32,582. Position closes August 16.
5) The World Forest Institute in Portland is hiring a program manager for the International Fellowship Program. Responsibilities focus around meeting educational training needs of international natural resources researchers during their one year fellowship. Salary is 38,000-42,000 + benefits. Closing date is August 15.

6) The University of Oregon is hiring a director of state relations in public and government affairs in Eugene. Position is open until filled. To insure full consideration, all materials should arrive by August 16.

7) 1000 Friends of Oregon is hiring an executive director in Portland. Salary is competitive and includes holiday, vacation, parental leave, and sabbatical package. Position is open until filled.

From PR News Online:

• • Marketing Manager, Widmeyer Communications
  • Communications Manager, Aetna
  • Manager, Online Marketing, Shiseido Americas Corporation
  • Manager of Public Communication, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
  • Director of Corporate Communications & Public Relations, MedStar Health
  • Public Relations Manager, Microsoft
  • Senior Account Executive, Confidential

Tags: Advertising, Communication, Hot Lead, Job Search, Marketing, Non-Profit, Portland, Public Relations

Today, MSN.com posted a great article highlighting 15 companies that are  actually hiring for the month of August.  Some of these companies are repeats from the list that was released in July, but it is always good to see who is hiring and for what. Although some of the postions are regional, many are in fact national and could be great opportunities for any job hunters.

Here are the companies listed in the article:

Acosta
Industry: Sales and marketing
Number of positions: 100

Adecco Group North America*
Industry: Various (including IT, engineering, finance and accounting, office and administrative, legal, medical and science, government)
Number of positions: 3,000

Aflac
Industry: Insurance
Number of positions: 1,000

Aldi
Industry: Grocery
Number of positions: 100

Archer Daniels Midland
Industry: Agriculture/manufacturing
Number of positions: 80

AutoZone
Industry: Automotive retail
Number of positions:1,400

Cengage Learning
Industry: Publishing
Number of positions: 100

Central Payment Corporation
Industry: Credit card processing
Number of positions: 600

Idearc Media
Industry: Advertising/Media
Number of positions: 80

Kool Smiles
Industry: Health care
Number of positions: 100

Manpower International, Manpower Professional, Manpower Staffing
Industry: Recruiting/staffing
Number of positions: 50

Medical Services of America
Industry: Home healthcare services
Number of positions: 80

Oceaneering International Inc.
Industry: Engineering
Number of positions: 200

Quintiles Transnational
Industry: Pharmaceutical
Number of positions: 190

Ross Education
Industry: Post secondary allied health education
Number of positions: 50

Tags: Job Search, Success in Economy

CareerBuilder launched a study recently that caught my eye and could be consider “blog” worthy.  The idea of the study was highlight the highly competitive job market that the Class of 2009 faces.  Now you don’t need to have a Harvard Economics degree to find truth in that statement, but what is helpful are the areas of awareness for recent grads to consider when job hunting according to the survey.

1. Presenting Experience:

For recent graduates, one of the most challenging components of a job hunt is proving they have the relevant experience employers want in candidates.  Your resume should not only highlight tactical and tangible accomplishments like group projects, relevant course work or internships but also “soft” skill set.

Here are the top ten qualities and skills employers are looking for in new hires:

• Communication Skills
• Honesty/Integrity
• Ability to Work in a Team
• Strong Work Ethic
• Flexibility
• Adaptability
• Interpersonal Skills
• Motivation/Initiative
• Computer Skills
• Detail Oriented

The majority of Gonzaga grads have a wealth of experience with many of these qualities and skills, the problem is how do you sell it.  If you have leadership experience in a club or organization that highlights one or more of these qualities, expand it on your resume.  This is not an economy to be humble about accomplishments.

2. Interview setbacks

The survey mentioned that 63%  of employers believed that the biggest interview mistake  recent graduates make is acting bored or cocky. How can you prevent that?

• Once trick is to take notes during the interview (but no doodling!) and refer to them later when you have the chance to respond.
• Listen for key words such as:  goals, accomplishments, objectives, visions, outline, overall, etc.  These words are indicators that the interviewer is mentioning a pivotal piece of information.  Perk up!

Other interview pitfalls included:

• Lack of preparation.  (Yes, this keeps coming up over and over again.  Research really is that important.)
• Professional dress and etiquette: Iron the shirt and pants, comb your hair and turn off your cell phone.   (All the way to silent please!)  Also 12% cited that forgetting to mail a thank you card can damage a successful interview.

All of this information shouldn’t be a suprise, but I guess when it comes to advice sometimes ithas more weight from a HR recruiter.  Keep it in mind job hunters!

Tags: Career Development, Class of 2009, Coaching, Interviewing, Job Search, Resume, Success in Economy

We all know that times are tough in this job market.  Positions are being filled quickly and with a highly qualified pool of candidates.   Recruiters are seeing more applications than ever in the thousands.  How does a job hunter set themselves apart from other seekers?  This can be an intimidating concept for recent or new college graduates  especially those who have never had a job hunt in a good economy.

Recently CareerBuilder launched the results of a survey highlighting interesting tactics job seekers have tried in order to gain attention of recruiters.  These are some pretty non-traditional methods of job hunting (to say the very least).

Some of the examples listed in the survey….

• • Candidate sent a shoe with a resume to “get my foot in the door.”
  • Candidate staged a sit-in in the lobby to get a meeting with a director.
  • Candidate washed cars in the parking lot.
  • Candidate sent a resume wrapped as a present and said his skills were a “gift to the company.”
  • Candidate handed out resumes at stoplights.
  • Candidate sent a cake designed as a business card with the candidate’s picture.
  • Candidate went to the same barber as the Chairman of the Board and had the barber speak on his behalf.
  • Candidate handed out personalized coffee cups.
  • Candidate came dressed in a bunny suit because it was near Easter.
  • Candidate told the receptionist he had an interview with the manager. When he met the manager, he confessed that he was driving by and decided to stop in on a chance.

Do I recommend any of these in catching the eye of hiring managers?  Probably not.

In the survey, one recruiter was quoted as saying, “While unusual job search antics may attract the attention of hiring managers, they need to be done with care and professionalism so that candidates are remembered for the right reasons.”

What then do I recommend for job seekers in this tight economy?  Think like the Boy Scouts. Always be prepared. When you step out of your house to the post office, bank or an interview be ready to potentially meet someone who can help you in your job hunt.  In other words, leave those sweatpants at home! (Along with your pink bunny suit.) I am not telling you wear a three piece suit, but clean and presentable outfits are always a minimal.  You never know who you will run into at the grocery store.

Tags: Career Development, Coaching, Helpful Links, Job Search, News Articles, Success in Economy

Don’t look away from the screen like I’m not talking to you. Yes you, reader whose face is slightly blue from the screen reflecting from your radiant skin. It’s time to admit that you have a problem along with the rest of the Northwest.

Diagnosis: Caffeine Junkie.

Addiction: Mass amounts of No-Fat Caramel Lattes, and Extra Espresso Shots fed scolding hot directly into your buccal cavity.

I know this may seem like a way to wake yourself up, but a recent article in the Wall Street Journal (click here for the full article) has recently linked coffee, along with several others, as hindrances of your regular sleep patterns. Here are few questions for you.

Do you find yourself sleepy after a long nights rest? This is probably because even though you slept you did not receive adequate REM or deep sleep in the night because you were too busy thinking of that paper due tomorrow, or that assignment at work.

Or, can you find that you can sleep anywhere at anytime? No, you are not just a very talented individual, you are sleep deprived. This can not only make you yawn endlessly throughout the day, leaving your mouth open to catch flies and airborne pathogens along with other things, but sleep deprivation has been proven to decrease college student GPA, your level of work performance, and make you hungrier and feel less full.

So what can you do to help get a better deeper sleep?

1. Reduce noise, light, and disruptive behaviors before bed. That way there’s nothing disturbing you before bed.

2. Have a “power down” hour before bed, removing things like your cell phone, blackberry, e-mail and Internet before bed. This stops your brain and slows it down before bed.

3. Create a “worry Journal” and when you can’t get to sleep write everything that you are stressed about at the time. This way all of your problems are on that paper, and not in your head.

4. Read a book. If you are really trying to get to bed, read a non-exhilarating book, say Fluid Mechanics or Anna Karenina, and it’ll put you right to bed.

So before you pick up that next coffee, think about your sleep and maybe go for a decaf. You’ll think about the wonderful sleep you had, before you started balding or going through menopause because your deep sleep only goes downhill as you get older.

Written by Marvin Dumas, Class of 2011

Tags: Coaching, Helpful Links, News Articles

Sometimes I can’t help but link my life to Harry Potter. I don’t know how many of you have a similar problem, but there are so many Dementors, Voldemorts, and riddle spitting mythical creatures in my life that I am about to just drop out of Hogwarts. Psh, like my parents would ever let me do that.

However, after perusing the internet I have found at least one partronus that can help us all tackle one particularly bad Dementor: The Tough Interview Question. Who would think that your employer would ever ask you, “What sea creature defines you the best, and why?” or the ever popular, “Why should we hire you for the job?”

Well I, along with the help of Yahoo!hotjobs, have the answer for these questions so next time you won’t faint and need to be rushed to the nearest candy shop for a large piece of chocolate.

The “Why Question” or “Why Should we Hire YOU?”

Firstly KNOW the fine line between boastful and confident and DO NOT cross it. You are here to sell yourself, but do not come across as if you already have the job. Remember to highlight the specific aspects of your experience that pertain to this job.

The “Future Question” or “Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?”

Remember not to get too detailed, and tell them what is important to you professionally and how you plan to achieve your goals.

The “Salary Question” or “How Much Do You Plan To Make?”

First, try and gently deflect the question and ask them what about the salary for this job, but if they pressure you for an answer give them your range. Know that this question can and will be asked, and be prepared to offer a well thought out answer so you seem knowledgeable of the field and it’s typical pay.

The “Silly Question” aka “Which Country in the UN Describes You and Why”

First things first, DO NOT blow this question off. The employer uses this question to see how you react under pressure, and you should not take too long to think this over, but make sure you pick a creature or country that fits you well. For instance, take an animal like a ferret, and say how you always look for BRIGHT SHINY new ways to push yourself to new boundaries, and you get along great in a “business of ferrets” always helping your entire business to succeed.

So there you have it, a lovely business of ferret patroni to help you conquer your next job interview.

Written by Marvin Dumas, Class of 2011

Tags: Helpful Links, Interviewing, Job Search

Have you given up on that great summer internship for 2009? My advice: Don’t throw in the towel quite yet.  Below are just a handful of the open internships ranging in geographical areas as well as fields of study.  Does one catch your eye?  Log in to ZagTrax.net today for the full position list as well as how to apply.  Remember, GU Alumni are also encouraged to create profiles on ZagTrax.net as well as current students.  Need help logging into the system?  Contact Cassandra at marrs@gonzaga.edu and she will get you all set.  

Happy hunting!

Business Development Unpaid Intern, ID #3101 Spokane, WA 8/31

• This internship will give a very broad view of marketing, advertising, community outreach, event planning and management.
• Tasks include: Assisting Business Development team with productivity, occupancy, presentation and operation of the Specialty Leasing Program; coordinating licensee set-up and tear down; working with mall team and general manager to prepare and send out information to prospective retailers; canvassing area to find and develop new retail concepts for our centers; and other tasks as directed.

Editorial Intern, ID #681  Internship Filled

• We don’t pay, but we offer the hectic pace of gathering information and writing for an alternative newsweekly – and references afterwards.
• Compile information, fact-check, do Web research, write occasional short articles.
• We write on local and regional politics and the environment; books, theater, film, visual art, dance, food; classical, jazz, indie, emo, folk, reggae and salsa. We also have contests over who can insert words like “antepenultimate” and “postprandial” into their stories each week in a fiendishly apropos way.

Graphic Design Intern, ID# 659, Spokane,WA

• Between our special events, bimonthly magazine, and marketing outreach, we need fliers, postcards, advertisements, and sometimes other fun stuff.
• Under the guidance of our marketing director and special events director, create eye-catching designs while still saving enough room for all the text we need to get across.
• Figure out creative uses of color that don’t cost an arm and a leg. Play with fonts!

Financial Services Internship, ID #637   Internship Filled

• Assisting in client services, which include developing business and communication skills, researching target markets, scheduling appointments, creating informational databases, and learning the corporate culture.

Internship In Real Estate, ID# 2759

• Busy real estate agent (current Gonzaga MBA student and undergrad alum) is open for internship opportunities in local real estate office.
• Activities include marketing, website development, press releases, conducting surveys, writing copy and customer service delivery.

Journalism Internship, ID# 2730, Spokane, WA

• College student who is majoring in journalism, English, or communications to serve as an intern for a Spokane-area magazine for summer or fall term in exchange for credit.
• Successful candidates should be creative thinkers, sharp writers, self starters, and detail oriented people.
• Duties: Help plan stories and photographs, conduct interviews, write articles, and proofread.

Marketing & Business Development Internship, ID #3078  Internship Closed

• Developing press release talking points
• Writing and editing case studies and project profiles
• Coordinating with marketing and business groups
• Supporting client and association database development and management
• Researching market trends
• Supporting business development

Podcasting Internship, ID #675

• Learn the process for creating podcasts, share SPR audio on a worldwide basis.
• Fix audio broadcast for volume and compression rate.
• Add podcasting introduction file to the beginning of audio files.
• Write and edit identification tags for audio, including content description and keywords *
• Create RSS feed (XML file). SPR uses Feeder for Macintosh. Each feed takes between 20 minutes to one hour to process, depending on where you are in the learning curve.

Public Relations/Fundraising Internship, ID #1350, Spokane, WA Closes 7/16

• Assist with maintaining and updating fundraising database.
• Assist with all activities related to special events fund raising, including, but not limited to marketing, promotion, organization and planning of event(s), volunteer oversight, etc.
• Research and document prospective funding sources including foundations, potential sponsors, grants, and other potential donors of cash, materials, and/or services.
• Assist with fundraising and publicity campaigns: solicitations, sponsor relations, press releases, public service announcements, follow-up calls, preparation of solicitation and press packets, etc.

Electrical Engineering Summer Internship, ID #832, Tacoma, WA

• Looking for real-world electrical engineering experience?
• From day one, the electrical engineering students and graduates who intern at the utility are immersed in utility projects under the guidance of the utility’s experienced electrical engineers.

Tags: Career Center Service, Hot Lead, internship, Summer, Zagtrax, Zagtrax Posting

The class of 2009 will face the most competitive job market in years, as companies continue to proceed with caution amid economic uncertainty, according to CareerBuilder’s newly released annual college job forecast.The percentage of employers planning to hire recent college grads is roughly half of what it was just two years ago. Only 43 percent of employers plan to hire recent college graduates in 2009, down from 56 percent in 2008 and 79 percent in 2007.

2009 Salaries

Along with the economy, entry-level salaries have taken a bit of a dive. Among those employers planning to hire recent college graduates, more than one in five (21 percent) said they will decrease starting salaries for recent college graduates in 2009 as compared to 2008. But there’s hope! A whopping 68 percent of employers plan to keep initial salary offers the same as last year, and 11 percent will increase them.

• Thirty-three percent of employers plan to offer recent college graduates starting salaries ranging between $30,000 and $40,000.
• An additional 17 percent will offer between $40,000 and $50,000
• Fourteen percent will offer more than $50,000
• Thirty-six percent will offer less than $30,000

“While recent college graduates are facing a highly competitive job market right now, there are still opportunities out there,” said Brent Rasmussen, President of CareerBuilder North America.

“The biggest challenge is showing relevant experience, which employers say is one of the most important factors they look for in applications from recent college graduates. This isn’t limited to professional work experience, so don’t get discouraged. Class work, school activities and volunteering also qualify as relevant experience and can be included in your resume as well.”

So how can new graduates differentiate themselves in the current job market, and what are the absolute faux pas that today’s candidates need to be aware of — and steer clear of? Employers who participated in the survey weighed in below.

Relevant work experience?

I’m pretty sure grads (and candidates in general) should leave that week-long stint with a cult or the Britney Fan Club honorary board member award off their credentials. But with that said, what activities qualify as pertinent work experience for recent college grads to include on their resumes?

• Internships
• Part-time jobs in another area or field
• Volunteer work
• Involvement in school organizations
• Class work
• Involvement in managing activities for sororities and fraternities
• Participation in sports

Hey new grads, don’t do this:

Employers also shared their opinions on the biggest mistakes new grads make when applying and interviewing. Wearers of Spandex unitards and lovers of keg stand Facebook profile pictures, take note:

• Acting bored or cocky - 63 percent
• Not dressing appropriately - 61 percent
• Coming to the interview with no knowledge of the company - 58 percent
• Not turning off cell phones or electronic devices - 50 percent
• Not asking good questions during the interview - 49 percent
• Asking what the pay is before the company considered them for the job - 38 percent
• Spamming employers with the same resume and/or cover letter - 21 percent
• Failure to remove unprofessional photos/content on social media such as social networking pages, Web pages, blogs - 19 percent
• Not sending a thank you note after the interview - 12 percent
  

CareerBuilder’s Annual College Job Forecast was conducted from February 20 to March 11, 2009 among 2,543 hiring managers and Human Resource professionals. Get the full press release here.

Tags: Class of 2009, Graduation, Helpful Links, Job Search, Job Trends, News Articles

Again, many congrats to the Class of 2009.  The weekend was filled was so many wonderful friends and family descending onto Spokane to celebrate graduate’s recent success!  Now that is official, you may be asking yourself, “Now what?”  Maybe, just maybe, relocating to where the opportunities, cheap(er) apartments and variety of young professionals is your next step.

MSN Careers launched this story today entitled, “Top 10 Cities for New Grads“.  The article lists the top ten cities based on the ranking of the top U.S. cities with the highest concentration of young adults (age 20 - 24) from the U.S. Census Bureau (2006), inventory of jobs requiring less than one year of experience from CBcampus.com (2009) and the average cost of rent for a one bedroom apartment from Apartments.com (2009).

1.  Indianapolis 
Average rent:* $625

Popular entry-level categories:** sales, customer service, health care

2.  Philadelphia                
Average rent: $1,034
Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, management

3.  Baltimore      
Average rent: $1,130
Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, health care

4.  Cincinnati      
Average rent: $691
Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, health care

5.  Cleveland
Average rent: $686

Popular entry-level categories: sales, marketing, customer service

6.  New York      
Average rent: $1,548
Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, admin-clerical

7.  Phoenix         
Average rent: $747
Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, marketing

8.  Denver           
Average rent: $877
Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, health care

9.  Chicago          
Average rent: $1,133
Popular entry-level categories: sales, marketing, customer service

10.  San Antonio               
Average rent: $696
Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, management

Of this list Gonzaga has chapters in a handful of these top ten cities: Phoenix, Indiana, Chicago, New York, Denver.   If you consider relocating to these or any new city, make sure to contact the Alumni Association…they can help you connect to fellow Zags in the area. 

Kate Lorenz is the editor for CareerBuilder.com and its job-seeker blog, www.TheWorkBuzz.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow her on Twitter www.twitter.com/katelorenz.

*Average rent of one bedroom apartment

**Using search term “entry level” in that city

Tags: Alumni, Career Development, Class of 2009, Graduation, Helpful Links, Job Search, News Articles