Gonzaga University Career Center Blog

Finally I get to be sharing some good news to our recent graduates as well as any job hunter who is looking for the first “real” job.  (The lemonade stand in the 3rd grade just doesn’t count guys.)  Earlier this week, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) released a press statement that highlighted that overall starting salary offer has stayed fairly on par despite the tough economy.

NACE’s Summer 2009 Salary Survey report shows that the average starting salary offer for new college graduates now stands at $49,307. That’s off less than 1 percent from the average $49,693 that 2008 graduates posted last year at this time.

The statement goes to even break down data by school and major:

• Engineering graduates enjoyed the highest salary increase with an average offer to engineering graduates rose 3.7 percent to $59,254.
• Accounting majors also did better than the average, and posted a 1.9 percent increase for an average offer of $48,993.
• The average offer to finance graduates rose 2.9 percent to $49,940, while marketing graduates posted a 3 percent increase for an average of $43,325.
• For all those liberal arts grads, starting offers barely changed.  Their overall average offer fell less than 1 percent from $36,419 last year to $36,175.
• Economics graduates also saw a decrease to their average salary offer, which fell by 1.3 percent to $49,829.

Although we all know the old saying, “Money doesn’t grow on trees.”  But is nice to know that the branches are not being pruned back to heavily for all those job seekers out there.

Tags: Class of 2009, Coaching, Helpful Links, Job Search, NACE, Salary, 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

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

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

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

Recently the Career Center staff ordered new books to be used as resources for both students as well as staff.  One title, From B.A. to  Payday highlighted the Ten Commandments of college grads moving back home with their parents.  

For those members of the Class of 2009 who are faced with the dilemma of moving back with the parents, here are some guidelines that will help your time at home.

1. Remember, it may be your home, but’s not your house—so help out.
2. Ask your parents if you can move in.  Tell them when you’re moving out.  Have a financial goal to meet.
3. Thou shalt not freeload.
4. Living at home is a luxury.  Treat it as such; it won’t last forever.
5. Keep your parents in the loop about what you are doing to find a job; it reduces the nag factor.
6. Watch out for go–nowhere jobs that provide money but no skills for advancement.
7. Help out expenses where you can.  It costs money to have you back home.
8. Set weekly job search goals.  (IE: mail five resumes, set up one interview).
9. Don’t be invisible.  Spend a little time with your parents; it’s the least you can do.
10. Remember how lucky you are to be welcomed back.  Not everyone is.

I know all of the parents of soon to be grads would agree with me that these are pretty good rules (or Commandments rather) for new/returning tenants to follow!

For more information on the book click here. 

Hayden. D.A., and Michael Wilder.  From B.A. to Payday: Launching your Career After College.  New York: HNA, 2008.

Tags: Career Development, Class of 2009, Graduation, Job Search, Summer

When you arrived at Gonzaga’s campus those four years ago, you never thought this weekend would get here.  It seemed like a far off goal in the way…way…distance.  Your time here as a bulldog has been filled with memories ranging from your Freshman Orientation to Basketball games, amazing faculty and staff, living both on and off campus, traveling abroad…just to name a few.  As a fellow Zag (Class of ‘04) I want to encourage each member of the graduating class to ENJOY this time you have here at Gonzaga.  Do not become stressed with family in town, especially pesty siblings.   On graduation day, take a step back to remember that moment…walking across the stage to receive your diploma in hand.  That memory is worth all the work and stress it took to get you there!  It will zip by in a flash and before you know it, your time at Gonzaga as an undergrad is completed.

Over the next coming weeks you will attend graduation parties in your honor where you will smile and be asked the million dollar question, “So, what are you going to next?”  

I want to tell any and all graduates this one piece of advice: It is okay if you don’t have a perfect plan.  Do not feel pressured to create a life plan coming right out of college. Audit who you are and what you want before making the next move.  Still feeling stressed from your last final or from writing your thesis and need to take a bit of a break?  That’s okay, just set a deadline for when you will return to “work”.

When you get to the point when resumes, interviews and cover letters become a daily lingo for you then consider contact us here at the Career Center.  Yes, we will work with you post graduation.  In fact we are more than happy to!  We can help with your resume over the phone or via e-mail.  We can set you up with an alumni mentor or send you job postings that could be of interest to you.  

The Career Center & GAMP office is here for you after May 10th and beyond. 

Congratulations Class of 2009 and Welcome to the Alumni Family!  Enjoy your weekend of commencement events, you have earned them.  

Tags: Career Center Service, Class of 2009, Graduation, Summer