by Laura Merrill, Editor-in-Chief of Career Connection

In a recent comment to the article What You Wear Can Get You Somewhere… or Nowhere, a reader voiced concerns about affording the clothing you need to dress professionally for an interview. We have good news, though: Dressing for success does not have to distress!

Here’s why not: While you can easily spend a lot of money on a designer suit at a department store, you can get great bargains if you shop consignment, at a discount retailer, or at the Goodwill. Here are the facts:

At Margaret’s Consignments on Frankfort Avenue, you can get a men’s or women’s suit for $20 - $120. I personally shop at Margaret’s and am thrilled to death when my colleagues rave over my designer dresses and suits–something that happens regularly. I’ve paid no more than $30 on any of my purchases there.

At the Goodwill, men can find for suits for $10, ties for a buck, and sports coats for $5. Women fare even better: Two-three-piece suits run $6 and blouses go for a mere $2.50. Dry-cleaning these items is affordable too. You can launder men’s and women’s jackets for around five bucks and suits in the range of $10 - $11. Again, I have purchased many clothing items from the Goodwill. My friend buys nearly all of her attorney husband’s suits and dress shirts there, and he is far from looking shabby. You’ll have especially good luck shopping at the Goodwill stores in Middletown and at Holiday Manor Shopping Plaza.

Kohl’s is another option, if you have a little more money to spend. Our weekend shopper found men’s suits on sale for $200, women’s jackets for $40, and women’s pants for around $28.

These aren’t all of your options. You can also check out Valu-City and other discount retailers, as well as eBay. There’s even a program for disadvantaged women called Dress for Success that provides professional attire to assist women in their job placement endeavors.

You are certain to find something affordable… you just have to think outside the pricey-department-store box.

by Laura Merrill, Editor-in-Chief of Career Connection

You’ve successfully landed a job in a salary range you’re comfortable with, and you’re ready to start work in your new office. You’ve even chosen art work to hang on the walls.

Wake up, newbie! You’re not getting an office with a door; you’re getting a cubicle, along with a lot of the working population. Especially given that you’re new to the workforce, you can pretty much count on residing in a cube for awhile. It’s the new business configuration.
What follows are some tips on how you can make pod life a pleasant experience for you and your fellow cube-dwellers.

Leave the Prairie Dogs in the Prairie
Everyone likes a little privacy when they’re working, so be sure to respect that of your co-workers. You can do so in many ways. For example, don’t “prairie-dog” over the tops of cubes. This is annoying and an invasion of privacy. Likewise, don’t peek into every cubicle as you walk down the corridor towards the copy machine. Instead, avoid making eye contact unless you wish to address someone.

Knock Three Times…
Pretend there’s an office door and knock gently on the cube wall if you need to speak to someone. A lot of cube inhabitants situate their workstation so they’re facing away from the door, so you’ll need to be aware of that when seeking their attention. In other words, don’t sneak up on someone. Announce you’re there by greeting the person quietly.

You Stink!
Do you enjoy Kung Pao chicken from Double Dragon? Well, Susie next door is completely nauseated by Chinese food. Be respectful by eating hot meals in the lounge. If no lounge is available, at least be sure to empty your trash immediately so smells don’t linger for long. Also, be careful not to overdo it on the perfume or aftershave. Your cube mates may be allergic. Sounds simple enough, but keep your shoes on. You don’t want to offend your neighbors with stinky feet or other body odors!

Quiet Please
You’re not talking to your hard-of-hearing Grandpa, so make sure you use your “library voice” to ensure your cube mates can concentrate. You can also help out by turning off your cell phone, by not using speaker phone while you check your voice mail, and by reserving a private room for conference calls. Likewise, use a headset to listen to iTunes™, and mute your PC to avoid auditory distractions.

Do you really want your co-workers to hear about your weekend of partying or your fight with your spouse? It’s hard for your colleagues not to eavesdrop or gossip when you’re providing all the fodder they need by talking about private matters in your pod. Keep such calls to a minimum or, better still, go to the lobby or outside and use your cell phone.

Decorate with Professionalism
Foliage in your pod may help reduce noise levels, so you may wish to invest in a plant or two. But don’t go overboard, allowing the plants to creep into your cube-mate’s workspace. Similarly, don’t offend the eyes of passersby with tasteless and politically incorrect “artwork.” Ensure you choose art that is classy and professional.

Help Yourself
Hopefully, after reading this article you’re informed about pod etiquette. Unfortunately, your co-workers may not be. To avoid distractions and stay focused on your work, keep your back to the entrance to your cube. This will help you avoid eye contact with others as they pass your office space. Too, improve productivity by setting different times for lunch breaks. This will give you and those closest to your workspace a window of time without distractions. If even the slightest noises are too distracting to you, invest a dollar or two in a pair of foam ear plugs. You’ll be able to concentrate without being unrealistic about your expectations for quiet.

Because pod farms are so commonplace, professional etiquette must be held to a higher standard. Demonstrate your professionalism and courtesy by keeping these guidelines in mind.

by Scott Bridges, Executive Team Leader for Human Resources, Target Stores


When it comes to earning potential, most people don’t think of working at Target Stores. But they’d be surprised: New hires in the Executive Leadership Program start out at $42,000. Likewise, it may surprise you to learn that Target offers an excellent leadership training program—one that is unmatched in the retail industry. And you don’t have to be a management major to participate. Let’s take a closer look at the opportunities that await U of L College of Business Target interns.

Everyone knows the name “Target.” When you think of Target, you think of an upscale discounter with high-quality, on-trend merchandise guests want, plus the everyday basics all families need—all at affordable prices. But you might not know that for a multitude of reasons, Target attracts excellent team members. So where do you start in a career path at Target? How about with a paid internship?

The objective of the executive internship is to give the intern an overview of Target Stores’ operation and company programs while strengthening leadership skills to enable you to be an effective leader and strategic business partner for the company’s pyramid. Store executive interns receive support from all leadership areas within the store as they rotate through each executive position. Ultimately, the goal is to turn interns into full-time Target executives upon graduation.

During the ten-week internship program, you review the Target brand strategy and discover what it takes to lead a team. Here are some specific learning areas:
• Learn to merchandise, focusing on guest services and inventory management to maximize sales
• Discover how the human resources position impacts staffing, development, retention, and brand management
• Learn about the product supply chain and work through inventory management and productivity issues
• Be trained on how to discourage theft and fraud while maintaining store safety through the assets protection role
• Have the opportunity to choose an area of interest and complete a hands-on project that requires you to implement the knowledge you acquire as an intern in order to enhance your leadership skills

What skills do we look for in potential Target interns? We like candidates who desire to pursue a career in business management, have great leadership and strong decision-making skills, are assertive and demonstrate initiative, are team-oriented in their thinking, have the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, and possess strong organizational skills with the ability to multi-task. In return, the intern gets leadership training, learns how a store operates, and has the potential to interview for an executive team lead position upon degree completion.

A lot of students have reaped these benefits as Target executive interns. One student is Jaclyn Milburn, who did her internship in summer 2006 and graduated in December 2006.

“I gained experience in the areas of human resources, logistics, and sales floor management,” she said. “These skills are transferable to any profession. Upon completing the internship I was offered an Executive position with Target in the area of human resources. I had a great experience with the internship program and was ecstatic at the opportunity to pursue a career with the fastest growing retailer in the country. The combination of company culture, benefits, advancement opportunities, and career development make it a joy to be part of the Target team.”

Milburn’s is just one success story. There are many, many more! Being a team leader at Target requires a dynamic combination of business and people skills. Your commitment to innovative leadership will help drive sales, return on investment, guest goodwill, and team member satisfaction. Will you be the next executive intern? Come on—hit the bulls eye with Target!

For more information about the Target Executive Intern Program, contact Ashley Terrell in the Ulmer Center at 852-7756.

by Courtney Hisey, Career Counselor


Making the transition from the classroom to the workplace can be challenging and intimidating. In your first professional job, it can be difficult to know what your employer expects from you on a day-to-day basis. There’s a certain code of behavior that’s expected by most employers, and your adherence is key to being a successful employee for your company.

It starts with something that was drilled into your head as a child: Use your “pleases” and “thank yous.” These basic courtesies are still appreciated. As simple as this may sound, they can do wonders for your professional image.

In addition, maintain a positive attitude, follow through on things in a timely manner, communicate openly and honestly, and display a high level of ethical standards. These are among the most highly valued qualities within organizations today.

Making personal phone calls while at work is sometimes necessary, but keep them to a minimum. Some companies prohibit it altogether. If at all possible, conduct personal business during your break. Whether you’re making a call to a friend or scheduling an appointment, it’s essential that you do not disturb others around you. In other words, make those calls out of eye and ear distance of customers and co-workers.

Most companies offer vacation, personal, and sick time. The process by which you can take these days off varies by company, so it’s essential that you learn about this process within your first few days on the job. Whatever that process may be, most employers appreciate—and some even require—that you give a certain amount of notice before taking vacation or personal time. Doing so helps your employer ensure there’s adequate coverage during your absence.

It’s sometimes hard to see the impact of your efforts when you’re in an entry-level position. But no matter what you do for an organization, it’s a fact that someone, somewhere is depending on you to do your work so they can do theirs. If you can’t make it to work because of illness or an emergency, your manager needs to know. If you’re going to be late or need to leave early, be sure to notify the appropriate person within a timely manner. It’s essential that you be on time to work every day to show your company that you’re dedicated and responsible.

Most employers allow 30-minutes for lunch, although some will give you an entire hour. It’s important to schedule your lunch during a time that doesn’t leave your company’s staff shorthanded. Your supervisor will help you determine the best times for you to take a lunch break—and will appreciate a wave as you walk out the door each day. .

The same applies to your start and departure times. Some organizations have set hours and expect you to work those hours, and sometimes more. Some have more flexibility in the workplace: You can come to work, do what needs to be done that day, and leave. That could be seven hours or 12. Salaried employees typically do not get overtime for working more than eight hours, so don’t expect extra compensation if you have to work late one day.

Your appearance is also an important factor in your success in your first professional position. Many employers require either “business professional” or “business casual” dress. Business professional usually means a suit and tie for men and a skirt or pant suit for women. Business casual is typically a step down from a suit and tie. For women, dress pants and a nice blouse are suitable. For men, dress pants and a collared shirt or button-down shirt are acceptable. In addition to a dress code, some companies have hair policies. For example, for men, some do not allow any type of facial hair; others require hair to be above the ears. For additional information, check out the article “What You Wear Can Get You Somewhere or Nowhere,” here.

It’s important to review your company’s policies on all of these issues, and don’t be afraid to ask your supervisor or human resources representative if something isn’t clear to you. Making the transition into the workplace can be difficult at first, but when you adhere to these common rules and are knowledgeable about your company’s expectations, professionalism in the workplace can become second nature.

by Laura Merrill, Editor-in-Chief of Career Connection

The University of Louisville College of Business was good to Martha Tyler (’00), who graduated with a degree in Accounting and a minor in Finance (she was just three credit hours shy of a double-major). As a full-time college student raising a daughter, , Tyler needed all of the support she could get. Professors Bill Stout and Julia Karcher stepped in to mentor Martha and encourage her in her studies. “I was the faculty advisor for Beta Alpha Psi when Martha was president, and I came to admire her attitude and enthusiasm,” recalled Karcher.

Not only was Tyler a very good student, she also was actively involved in three student organizations: president of Beta Alpha Psi, vice-president of the Finance Club, and member of the Student Council.

Still, one of the things that Tyler felt she needed to do was participate in an internship. “It gave me the chance to learn first-hand about a field I had learned about in class and really wanted to go into,” she said. Tyler did two internships—one at Arthur Andersen, where she served as a tax intern, and another at Integrity Life Insurance Company, working as a finance intern.

The circumstances surrounding her internship at Integrity Life were unconventional. At the time, the company had just declared bankruptcy and many employees were leaving to find employment elsewhere. So why would an intern want to start working there? The answer came quickly when Tyler found she was going to work directly under the assistant controller, who allowed her to take on tasks that she might not have had the opportunity to work on under normal circumstances. Tyler didn’t waste the opportunity. When supervisors at Ernst & Young (the accounting firm handling the bankruptcy) witnessed her exceptional work ethic, they offered her a position as tax compliance associate just before she graduated from U of L.

Climbing from intern to full-time employee was step one. Next came Tyler’s steady progression from tax compliance associate at Ernst & Young, to advanced staff accountant at Strothman & Co., and to senior operations specialist at Bank of America in Chicago. While at Bank of America, Tyler earned her Six Sigma green belt. (Six Sigma is a disciplined methodology for eliminating defects in any process.) Karcher said, “When Martha told me she had the opportunity to get involved with her company’s Six Sigma training, I encouraged her. This training gave her a transportable skill and also increased her value within the organization, all at no cost to her.”

Tyler’s focused work ethic paid off again. While working for Bank of America in Chicago, she needed to return home to Louisville for family obligations. Bank of America didn’t want to lose Tyler, but they were sympathetic to her situation. They permitted her to work remotely from Louisville on Mondays and Tuesdays, and then return to Chicago to work Wednesday through Friday—while she looked for employment in Louisville.

Back in Louisville, Tyler gave her resume to recruiters. Also, at the urging of one of her mentors, she also contacted College of Business Dean, Charlie Moyer, who referred her to Frank McKinney, director of the Ulmer Center. McKinney contacted several companies on her behalf, including Fifth Third Bank, where Tyler now works as loan review manager. According to McKinney, “Working with Martha is such a pleasure. Not only does she have exceptional skills—which makes it easy to create a lot of interest in her—but she’s also a great person.”

While Tyler has made several career moves since her graduation, she gained financially with each change. She also steadily improved her work-life balance—something that’s very important to her as a single mom. Fifth Third Bank has been especially flexible in that regard. Kay Ray, corporate recruiter for Fifth Third, said, “The bank offers flexible work arrangements to help employees manage work and life responsibilities. Work arrangements can be combined to get the schedule that works best for the employee and the bank.”

Some graduates may take their degree and never look back at the university that helped launch their professional career. Not Tyler. She chose to pay back the support and guidance first by establishing a co-op program at the Bank of America in Chicago, next serving as manager of U of L co-op students for Fifth Third Bank, and finally offering to participate in the College of Business’ new Mentoring Program. (For more information about this program, contact Courtney Hisey in the Ulmer Center at 852-6769.)

U of L was good to Tyler, but McKinney is adamant that Tyler has been good to U of L as well. “She is a good ambassador for the College of Business and its students.”

by Laura Merrill, Editor-in-Chief of Career Connection

As you learned in “What’s Up with Co-op?” there are many advantages to participating in co-op. Here are a few students who have reaped the benefits.

Robert Heavrin, a marketing student who graduated in 2005, is now a Licensing Coordinator for IMC Licensing. Tyler Ison, who is slated to graduate in spring 2007, has been offered a full-time position at Morgan Keegan, the investment firm where he did his internship. Chad Rimpsey (’06), a CIS major and starting football player, completed a year-long co-op at Colgate Palmolive in summer ’06 and was offered a full-time job upon graduation. These students agree that the co-op experience is essential for preparing you for the work world.

While co-op isn’t required for marketing students, Heavrin says he would have pursued a co-op whether he could get credit for it or not. “Getting credit is even better,” he said. More importantly, it prepared him for his work at IMC Licensing, where he participates in product development, coordinates with licensing and the manufacturer, and does some graphic design work. As Heavrin explained, IMC Licensing “takes a product like Life Savers® and comes up with other products that use that brand, like Life Savers® brand popsicles.”

One co-op wasn’t enough for Heavrin, who also landed co-ops at the United Way, Bisig Impact Group, and GE. Co-oping with these organizations helped prepare Heavrin for his job, but it also provided opportunities for networking and getting references from his co-op supervisors.

Co-op offers participating students the opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom to a real-world work situation. Ison, a finance major, was able to do just that. He applied what he learned in his honors CIS 300 course to his co-op job at Morgan Keegan. Ison created an Excel spreadsheet to streamline the work in his office, enabling staff to complete a project in two hours when it previously took a week to do the same thing.

Ison even found a class outside of his major helpful on the job. Marketing 301 taught Ison about the financial services industry, demographics, and how to dress for different clients. All in all, he says, co-op is just a good way to go. “You learn how to behave and how to dress, and you have role models who help you conduct yourself and talk professionally.” He added, “It’s difficult when you’re young to learn where you need to go and how you get there, but co-op has helped me find the steps needed to know how to get where I want to be.”

Majoring in CIS and playing football are difficult enough to do separately, but combine them, as Rimpsey did, and you’ve got a real challenge. But he rose to the occasion: While a starting defensive end for the Cardinal football team, he co-oped for Colgate Palmolive during his senior year. Rimpsey was offered a full-time position when he graduated from U of L. Although he chose not to move when the company relocated, he believes he learned valuable lessons on the job.

So, what would these students say to someone who’s debating about participating in co-op? Just do it! “Go into it wanting to learn—not with the mindset that it’s a requirement and that you have to get paid,” says Rimpsey. ]]> http://ulmercenter.wordpress.com/2007/03/01/heavrin-ison-and-rimpsey-shine/feed/ http://ulmercenter.wordpress.com/2007/03/01/onders-and-shipp-excel/ http://ulmercenter.wordpress.com/2007/03/01/onders-and-shipp-excel/#comments Thu, 01 Mar 2007 18:22:23 +0000 ulmercenter http://ulmercenter.wordpress.com/2007/03/01/onders-and-shipp-excel/

by Laura Merrill, Editor-in-Chief of Career Connection

A co-op offers many benefits, as you can see in the accompanying article, “What’s Up with Co-op?” located here. In addition, here are two students whose co-op experiences have prepared them for work after graduation.

Johanna Onders, a marketing major scheduled to graduate this May, has participated in two co-ops—one at NarrowCast Group in the summer of 2006 and the other at City on a Hill Productions during the current semester. Both experiences have been very helpful, sometimes in not-so-obvious ways. Of course, you expect to learn hands-on what working in the given field will be like. But Onders’ co-ops also have helped her in networking efforts, an invaluable asset as graduation approaches.

“Through my co-op experiences, I have come in contact with a number of business professionals who I feel certain would be willing to help me out in the future,” said Onders. “One person I worked with at NarrowCast told me that if I ever needed anything—a reference, recommendation, etc.—to give him a call. Also, my supervisor told me that they would like to have me back at NarrowCast. At City on a Hill, I have had the opportunity to meet business leaders from all over Louisville; I’ve also been invited back to work for the summer.”

Course work in the College of Business helped Onders prepare for her positions, but the co-ops themselves have been “just as important as what I’ve learned in the classroom.” Onders says, “Everything I did had a connection to what we’d talked about in class. It was just a matter of applying what I’d learned.

Johnna Shipp, an accounting major who also will graduate in May, found her co-op through the Ulmer Center accountancy interview sessions in September and October 2006. Shipp interviewed with seven accounting firms: BKD, Chilton & Medley, Cotton & Allen, Crowe Chizek, DMLO, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Four of the firms invited her back for second interviews and three offered her a position! The BKD internship position she chose included the option of full-time placement upon graduation. BKD also provides health, dental, and vision insurance, 401k, life insurance, and flexible spending benefits. Not bad for someone who’s still in school!

by Laura Merrill, Editor-in-Chief of Career Connection

You hear a lot about cooperative education in the College of Business, but you may not know what it’s all about. Here are some FAQs that may provide some answers.

What’s the History of Cooperative Education?
Cooperative education was founded in 1906 by Herman Schneider at the University of Cincinnati. The original model was in the engineering school, and students rotated working one quarter and taking classes the other quarter. At the University of Louisville, co-op originated in the Speed School of Engineering. Today, at the College of Business, co-op remains an opportunity to take what you learned in the classroom and apply it to real-world work.

What’s the difference between a co-op and an internship?
Traditionally, internships take place during the summer when the student is not taking classes. This means you don’t have the academic situation to contend with. Co-ops, on the other hand, are during the academic year. In the College of Business, we use the terms interchangeably.

How do I know if I’m eligible to do a co-op?
You can find out if you’re eligible to participate in co-op by going to http://business.louisville.edu/careers and navigating to the co-op forms section. Each major has different requirements and they are listed in the form entitled Pre-requisites. All majors must have a minimum 2.5 GPA, although some employers require 3.0 or higher.

Do you get paid to do a co-op?
Often, but not always. The average weekly rate for U of L College of Business co-ops in the 2005-2006 school year was $420.40. At 30 hours per week for a 15-week co-op, the weekly rate translates to $14.01 per hour. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), the national average pay per hour for non-technical majors was $14.80, and for technical majors it was $17.29. For business majors as a whole, the national average hourly rate was $15.12. But don’t make the mistake of judging a co-op opportunity strictly by whether or not it pays. The best learning experiences may come without compensation.

What are the advantages of co-op?
1. You earn course credit for working in a professional setting.
2. You have the opportunity to gain real-world work experience in your chosen field of study.
3. There is ample opportunity to network with professionals in your field.
4. Many companies choose their full-time hires from the co-op pool. NACE reports that the conversion rate, or the rate of co-op jobs converting to full-time placement, was 72.6% in 2006.
5. Co-op gives you the chance to see if you do, in fact, want to pursue a career in your chosen field. Alan Attaway, acting dean of the College of Business from January 2003 to December 2004, thought he wanted to be a chemical engineer—until he completed 12 months of co-op work at Ashland Oil. He ended up switching majors to Industrial Management and earned his BSIM.
6. You’ll be able to strengthen your resume with real work experience.
7. Seasoned professionals will train you.
8. You can take classroom knowledge and concepts and apply them to a real work situation.
9. You can apply knowledge from your job to your coursework. In other words, you will better understand your course work as a result of first-hand knowledge in the field.
10. Last but not least, you can earn money!

Where do I go to learn about co-op?
The Ulmer Career Management Center is the place to go for information about co-op. Contact Ashley Terrell by calling 852-7756 or sending an email to ulmer@louisville.edu. You can also go to http://business.louisville.edu/careers, navigate to the forms section, and grab a copy of our FAQs. Seriously consider co-op. You won’t regret it!

The College of Business has established co-op programs with several companies. Among them:

• YUM! Brands
• United Parcel Service
• Humana
• General Electric
• Fifth Third Bank
• E.ON US
• Kindred Healthcare
• Churchill Downs
• Ernst & Young
• PricewaterhouseCoopers
• KPMG
• Deloitte & Touche

Several smaller local companies also host co-ops. For more information, check the job postings and upcoming events in Symplicity or come by the Ulmer Career Management Center. We’re happy to assist you in your search for that perfect co-op.

by Virginia Jones (’06), marketing major

Upon entering college, faculty and staff at the College of Business drill into your head the need to get involved in student organizations on campus. The reason is simple – get involved and it will help you develop in your future career. Peer networking was very important to me during college. I worked full time in offices on campus and I joined every marketing-related student organization that I could. While doing that I got to know the entire marketing faculty as well as many other faculty in the College of Business.

Most students who graduate with a marketing degree end up with a career in sales. When thinking about my graduation in May, I knew one thing for sure – I wanted a career that had nothing to do with sales. I set my sights on a career in marketing research. I already had posted my resume on CareerBuilder, an online job searcher, and waited for that perfect job to be emailed to me. I had two months until graduation and the responses I received were overwhelming. However, the emails were positions that weren’t in my field or positions I didn’t qualify for.

I visited with Eileen Davis, the Assistant Director of Career Planning in the Ulmer Career Management Center, only two days after graduation to get help with my resume so I could begin pushing it out the door and into the hands of my future employer. I had already visited Ms. Davis in the middle of my last semester, so few changes had to be made to my resume. However, she suggested that since I was very involved in clubs and organizations in college, I should seek out professional organizations with which to network.

I began researching marketing clubs and associations in the area, as well as other professional associations that would help in my job search. A few of the organizations I researched were the American Marketing Association, the Marketing Research Association, and the Young Professionals Association of Louisville (YPAL).

As a result of my research into these professional organizations, I learned about Greater Louisville Works through YPAL and applied for a few jobs posted on their website. One was a position with Advanced Solutions, Inc., as Marketing Administrator. Advanced Solutions is a value-added reseller of Autodesk products. While involved in the marketing student organizations on campus, I learned a great deal about event planning and about monitoring and measuring the success of marketing initiatives. I felt this job was a close fit for me, since I was well qualified to do all the job responsibilities. I applied for the position and felt I did extremely well in the first interview. I was asked back for a second interview, which was with the chief operating officer of the company. However, I was so nervous during this interview that while he reviewed my resume and asked questions, I didn’t provide him with very well thought out answers.

Luckily, he contacted the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Advising in the College of Business, Allie Goatley, who was one of the references I listed on my resume. I had worked in Ms. Goatley’s office, providing administrative support. I am not sure what questions the employer asked Ms. Goatley or what her responses were, but I know that if it wasn’t for her support and my networking on campus I wouldn’t have received an offer on this job.

Working on campus and getting involved in organizations within the College of Business provided me with the best networking experiences I could have found. Through these networks, I was fortunate to be offered a position in just a couple of months after I graduated.

by Laura Merrill, Manager of Cooperative Education

networking is “the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business.”

When you’re looking for that perfect job, reading the classifieds isn’t the only job-search strategy you should employ. Networking is vital. Let’s look at the things you should do as you build your network of contacts.

First of all, when you think of contacts, it’s important to think of them as long-term relationships, not short-term interactions. Plan to interact with the people in your network regularly, instead of just talking to them when you’re looking for a job.

Next, think of your job-search as a personal marketing campaign. How would you market a product or service? Use similar techniques to market yourself and the positive attributes you have to offer a potential employer. To hone your marketing campaign, keep the following marketing rules in mind:

1. Define your market or potential customers. Exactly whom do you want/need to reach and impress?
2. Understand what your customers (potential employers) want, need, and expect. Find out who are they hiring, and why.
3. Know your “product or service” and what benefits it will provide for your customers. Focus on what do you do best, and explain how will it help the company succeed.
4. Create the tools that generate maximum exposure to your market. Letters, business cards, resume, work samples, letters of recommendation, case studies of your success stories, etc.

Networking can help with all of these areas. As you talk to more and more people, you’ll be able to refine your market and better understand your customers’ needs. This knowledge will guide you as you make new contacts.

Once you’ve put together your marketing campaign, you can begin networking. Start by thinking about who is currently in your network and what you want and need from these people. Also consider what these people know about you. You want to be prepared with an answer when contacts say, “Tell me something about yourself.”

Commit to memory a 90-second introduction—or “elevator speech”—that tells your contacts who you are, what you want to do in your next job, and what you’ve done in the past that makes you qualified to do just that. What is your employment objective? Build employment objectives through research and by talking with others. In what industries and companies are you interested in working? Who has the information you seek?

Now that you have your marketing and networking plans in place, here are some tips to keep in mind.

The Six Golden Rules of Networking:
1. Meet people and make friends when you don’t need them.
2. Seek advice, not help. Know what kind of advice you’re seeking. Is it resume assistance, advice regarding your marketing strategy?
3. Give before getting. You may think this is impossible since you’re “only” a college student. However, you may know of a student organization that would like to have a guest speaker from your network. Or, perhaps, your contact will want to beta-test a product, service, or strategy, and your campus organization can serve as the focus group. Maybe your current network contacts can be helpful to others.
4. Follow up. Invest time. Show sincere interest in others’ work.
5. Be very involved in your professional community.
6. Lastly, ALWAYS thank the people who provide you information, introductions, referrals or any other resources. A phone call or e-mail is good, but a short, handwritten thank-you note is so much better.