Gonzaga University Career Center Blog

Meeting people face-to-face.

We all sit in classes where professors attempt to shed some “real-world” light onto our undergraduate lives. Sometimes we internalize it and other times we brush it off because all we’re really focused on is staying awake in class. We need advice straight from the horse’s mouth! And this time it’s coming to us from Microsoft Project Manager and Gonzaga Alum, Markus Weickenmeier. Next week’s A.S.K. event will give GU students of all majors a chance to hear internship and career advice from Mr. Weickenmeier, and eat a little free food in the process. Mark it in your calendars to make it a point to attend this event. No excuses!

Wednesday, October 14^th, 2009

7:00pm – 9:00pm

Red Lion Hotel, Shoreline Ballroom, 700 North Division St.

To RSVP, e-mail GAMP office at gamp@gonzaga.edu.

Written by Courtney Jacobsen, Class of 2011.

Tags: A.S.K., Alumni, ASK, Event, GAMP, Networkin

Have you actively created your Linkedin Profile yet?  There are currently 9,500 Zags listed in Linkedin that are possible professional networking connections. Although you may have a Facebook profile, here are five top reasons you need to get active on Linkedin today.

1. Build a professional online presence: No more quizzes or college photos, just professional accomplishments and future goals.

2. Connect in a meaningful way with alumni and other “warm” contacts: Here is your “pre” established network:

• Fellow Alumni
• Gonzaga Staff & Faculty
• Parents and other relatives
• Friends (Peers and a few years older)
• Internship managers and colleagues
• Connections from volunteering

3.Research companies and career paths:  Linkedin allows you to gain a creative edge when hunting for opportunities at dream companies.   Alums from your college are now working at companies around the world, look

them up and make a connection.

4. Find opportunities with organizations that don’t recruit on campus: By using the search function, you can meet fellow Zags in companies and then request introductions.

5. Learn lifelong networking skills: From follow through to developing well written e-mails and thank-you’s, Linkedin allows for recent grads to hone lifelong skills in a dynamic real-time method.

For tips and tricks for recent graduates on making the most of Linkedin, check out their site at: http://grads.linkedin.com

Once your account is created, make sure to join the Career Center’s Group as well as the Alumni Association’s Group!

Tags: Alumni, Helpful Links, Job Search, Networking, Social Media, Success in Economy, Tech Savvy

Are you a social media wizard?  Can you Tweet and Facebook with the very best of them? Are you a recent GU grad hanging out in Spokane just waiting for an opportunity to knock on your door?  Well, consider this your knock on the door.

The Purple Turtle ,  a Spokane firm specializing in marketing, branding as well as special events, is looking for an intern for 20 hours per week. The Intern will primarily focus on social media marketing campaigns, event planning, various client and internal projects and assistance to other staff as needed.  They are looking for Business (Marketing/Advertising) or Public Relations/Communication graduates.

There is possibility of the internship developing into a full-time position, if the fit is there.

Interested?  Zap your resume and coverletter to Erin at erin@tptglobal.com.

Deadline for submission is July 3rd.

Note: There are mulitple internship openings at this time.

Tags: Advertising, Alumni, Class of 2009, Hot Internship Lead, Hot Lead, internship, Marketing, Social Media, Spokane, Tech Savvy

This piece of advice came to me via Linkedin  through the Gonzaga University group where I posted information regarding our new Facebook group.  (Have you joined yet? If not, check it out here.) In my discussion post I asked fellow alumni to consider what advice or tips they would give to current students and recent grads in light of our current economic conditions.  

This was Matt’s reply:

I am a GU alumnist, class of 2006. My biggest advise for recent college grads is too exaust all outlets. What I mean by this, is too post your resumes on the Monster.com, careerbuilder.com kind of sites. Find local recruiters around your area that can help set up interviews for you. 

My biggest advise is too go on as many interviews as possible. Even though you may know the job is not for you going into the interview, the experience itself is worth the time. The more interviews you go on, the better in the long run. 

Thanks, 

Matt Fergen, Account Specialist at Guy Carpenter

 

Any other alumni out there who would like to share some advice or tips for current GU students or recent grads? I’d love to hear from you!  Comment here or e-mail me directly at bobko@gonzaga.edu.  

Thanks in advance for connecting with fellow Zags!

Tags: Advice, Alumni, Alumni Advice, Alumni Tips, Career Development, Helpful Links

We had this PAID internship come our way for a Summer Marketing Internship in Bellevue.   Anyone in that area (yes, even recent graduates) looking for a Summer gig, this could be a great opportunity.

Netstar Communications, Inc., located in Bellevue, WA, is a telecom audit, cost-reduction and management company which helps companies reduce telecom and wireless costs and eliminate the stress of day-to-day telecom management. 

What’s In It For You

• A Paid internship, $10-$14/hr depending on experience
• Real world experience
  • Beginning of June – end of August
  • Work hours 9AM – 4PM M-F
  • Extended hours during one trade show – dates & times TBD
• A learning laboratory – because Netstar is a small business you will have opportunities to learn about different areas of a quickly growing business
• A final work product you can add to your portfolio
• Flexibility – we will accommodate up to 1 week of unpaid vacation time during the internship

What You Will Do

• The main objective of this position is to increase Netstar’s brand recognition and generate leads for prospective clients
• The marketing intern will work on a variety of tasks and projects, depending on Netstar’s needs
• Projects and tasks may include, but are not limited to:
  • Developing a plan for online social networking and digital media.  This includes creating guidelines & standards and training Netstar team members on how to use this medium effectively
  • Assisting in the development of trade show booths, marketing tactics, and research about how to target specific audiences
  • Participating in trade shows and interacting with potential clients
  • Researching different marketing and advertising activities
  • Writing and evaluating cost benefit analyses to recommend whether or not to take action on certain projects
  • Creating unique and creative marketing strategies that either increase brand recognition or generate leads
  • Developing metrics for how we measure & track marketing initiatives
  • Modifying the current style guide to incorporate new marketing initiatives
  • Writing content and publishing our “Customer Newsletter” through ConstantContact
  • Collaborating with outside vendors to complete projects

What It Takes to Succeed

• An interest in marketing and an understanding of how it impacts the entire business
• A belief that marketing’s function is to support the sales team and generate awareness about the company
• Attention to detail
• Ability to learn quickly
• Initiative
• Resourcefulness
• Common sense
• Creativity
• Dedication
• Self-confidence and being comfortable making recommendations and communicating with upper-management
• Ability to work independently, as required
• Self-motivated and results oriented
• Ability to self-manage and strive for the best
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office
• Preferred, but not required:
  • Marketing experience with other companies
  • Knowledge of social media/networking
  • Sales or customer service
  • Business, marketing, entrepreneurship and communications majors.

How to Apply

Send the following items to annie.cheng@netstarinc.com:

1. Cover letter
2. Resume
3. Either: a letter of reference from a professor OR a writing sample.

You may also fax them to 425.865.0159.  In the cover letter, tell us why you are the best candidate for the job, and what you’re looking for in an internship experience.  Sell yourself!

Netstar Communications, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Only those authorized to work in the US need apply.

 Check www.netstarinc.com for more opportunities and details.

Tags: Advertising, Alumni, Class of 2009, College of Arts and Science, Communication, Hot Lead, internship, Marketing, Summer

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

Are you a NEW Gonzaga Alumni looking for something great to put on your resume but you are torn to also spend time doing service while networking with fellow Zags?  I may have found the answer. 

 
This fall, September 20-25 to be exact, you can join fellow Zags on a trip to New Orleans for a week long Rebuilding Together Project.

WHAT : Rebuilding Together- New Orleans 2009 

WHO : All Gonzaga family and friends are invited to participate, either through your local chapter (bring a group!) or independently. ALL ARE WELCOME. 
Join the Zags as we travel to the Big Easy this fall for a one-week rebuilding effort to help bring a city that has suffered so much back to life. 

This is an amazing opportunity to help a community while working with fellow Zags for a common cause.   Meeting new people….building relationships all while helping others, what more do you need?

For more information and all of the details, click here.

Tags: Alumni, Alumni Service, Rebuilding Together, Volunteering