Health and Human Services Professional Development

WHAT YEAR SHOULD I ATTEND MY FIRST JOB FAIR? It is never too early to attend your first job fair. Although you may not be on the job market as a freshman or sophomore in college, attending a job fair could give you an idea of the types of organizations that exist in your field, or the types of jobs that you can get. Make sure you go to job fairs prepared regardless of what stage of career planning you are in. You never know who you will meet or what kind of opportunities the career fair can bring. Therefore, dress appropriately (see  Making the Most of a Job Fair ), and if you ARE on the job market, bring a few copies of your resume (make sure your resume proofed by a mentor or career services counselor).  Written by: Jill Bowers Additional resources for attending job fairs: How to Prepare for a Job/Career Fair [Virgina Tech website] Top Ten Tips for Students Attending Career or Job Fairs [Quintessential Careers] Job Fair 101; What to Wear Bring, and Ask [Men’s Life Today] ...

Doing Professionalism Author: Jill Bowers Video of professionals on, “What is professionalism?” https://youtu.be/O3BG_47ZV8E According to these professionals, being a professional means having an understanding of what is expected of you in your field and having the skills, competencies or qualities that allow you to meet or exceed expectations of those who you are working for or with. We interviewed a few professionals in various fields and asked them to define professionalism and their advice for acting the part. Here are 15 tips that summarize professionals’ responses: • Be able to demonstrate your knowledge and articulate it • Know how to dress and use the language you are supposed to use for the industry you are applying or will be working in; be able to look like you belong in that industry • Follow through; do what you say you will • Know and understand the expectations for formality (how you address professors, employers, colleagues, or those...

How to Build a Great Relationship with Your Employer by   Tami Duzan   on   July 2, 2013   Have you ever noticed how some students always seem to connect with their instructors…or how some employees seem to always please their boss?  Here are 3 insider tips on how to build a great relationship with your boss! 1) RESPECT!   Aretha Franklin tells it like it is in her 1967 R&B hit RESPECT.  “R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me.”  Find out what RESPECT means to your boss and then show it…but KEEP IT REAL!  There’s nothing worse than an employee who is “kissing up” to the boss all of the time.  You’ll not only ruin your relationship with your boss but your co-workers won’t think very highly of you either. 2) INITIATIVE!   Employers appreciate employees who show initiative.  A good place to start is by exhibiting a good work ethic.  Show up for work a few minutes early and/or stay a few minutes late. ...

What is a Mentor and How do I Find One? by   Mikki Sherwood   on   July 4, 2013 Most of us have heard of the importance of mentoring. However, do we really know what that means? I know I really struggled with the concept of mentoring when I was a student. The whole idea was intimidating to me. A mentor is someone that guides or advises on a regular basis. A mentor is honest, but supportive, and has the time to spend with you. According to  WiseGeek.com   “Mentors share their body of experience, relating what they have learned in ways that will connect with the newcomer.” Please note that a mentor should want to get to know you and be willing to form a mutual relationship. A mentor does not just teach, but will collaborate with you in a supportive manner. According to  Forbes.com  “Mentoring is a responsibility; a commitment that requires valuable time and focused attention to assure the mentee’s goals are progressing forward.” Finding, ...

Tips on How to Network from Berkeley by   Jill Bowers   on   July 6, 2013   The Berkeley Career Services Center offers a few good tips for successfully networking. My personal favorites are those that discuss how and why you should consistently keep in contact with your mentors (as opposed to only contacting them when you need them or out of desperation).  A true mentor relationship, or one you will get the most out of, is ongoing. It is also best that your mentor consistently knows about your progress or what you are working on, so they can speak on your behalf (if they are listed on your reference list) or forward you relevant jobs, opportunities, or information that is relevant to your career as they come across it. Along these lines, it is also important to ask your mentors if you can put them on your reference list and notify them when you have applied for a specific job.   *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission gran...

Successfully Using Online Networking by   Jill Bowers   on   July 6, 2013   Online networks, such as   Linked In   may be great resources for connecting with potential employers or mentors. You can use online networking as a means of making yourself visible, highlighting your accomplishments and skills. You could also use online networks to do your own research on companies you are interested in working for (e.g., what they are about, what their employers do or say). At the same time, many employers use these online profiles to do their research on you. Thus, you should make sure your profile or information about you is updated, free of typos or grammatical errors, and accurately depicts your interests, goals, and strengths. You should make sure the information on your resume and social networking profile are consistent; if it is not, potential employers may assume you are lying or stretching the truth on your resume. Further, you may want to edit you...

Why YOU Should Get Involved in Professional Organizations and Where to Start by   Kimi Crossman   on   July 9, 2013   Many students are unsure of the purpose of professional organizations or why to get involved.  The large number of organizations and many hard-to-remember acronyms don’t help make the process of getting involved any easier either.  However, there are many benefits for joining professional organizations as a student or even while working in pursuit of a different position for the future.  For example,  getting involved in professional organizations can help you to meet people in your field, provide opportunities for you to volunteer for agencies or organizations in your field. For more on benefits to joining professional organizations, see  5 Reasons College Students Should be Involved in Professional Organizations – Mashable . When you decide to start getting involved, you really will want to maximize the time and ener...