Career Services
SPRING 2015
STUDENT
NEWSLETTER
Improve Your Job Searc h Results
Four Ways You Benefit
from an Internship

Apply classroom learning.

Discover what you like.

Network with people in
your field.

Get the experience that
employers want.
If you’re not satisfied with the
results of long hours spent on
your job search, it’s time to take
a closer look at what you’re
doing.
Take another look at your
resume. It needs to reflect your
skills and qualifications related
to the jobs you want. Show your
accomplishments and the contributions you’ve made to your
past employers. Next, take a
quick 15 second look at it.
That’s what an employer will
do. You may need to edit some
information to make it immediately noticeable.
Focus your efforts to be
more visible. Huge job boards
like Monster or CareerBuilder
have a low effectiveness rate
because of the high number of
Inside this issue:
Why Complete Your
LinkedIn Profile?
2
Finding Jobs on College
Central Network
2
Job Hunter’s Guide
2
Clear Clutter from Your
Resume
3
Online Resume Help
with Optimal Resume
3
Managing References
3
Whether online or on paper,
how you fill out an application
is as important as how you
complete your resume.
4
Read the instructions and take
your time filling in the applica-
Calendar of Events
resumes posted. Job boards like
our College Central Network
are limited to students and
alumni of NCC and have a higher effectiveness rate because
employers are targeting our
students and alumni.
The most effective way is to
build your network through
LinkedIn, live networking
events, volunteer work, and
internships. It does take time,
but you are gaining experience
and developing connections.
And knowing someone in a
company who will introduce
your resume to hiring managers
is the most effective way to be
more visible.
Research your online presence. Over 85% of employers
will enter your name into a
search engine in an attempt to
learn more about you. If you
have a LinkedIn account, be sure
it’s completed and has a professional photo. Check what is
visible on your Facebook page,
your Twitter account, and any
other social media accounts and
blogs where you may appear.
Minimize any negative content
by increasing the amount of
professional and positive content
you post.
For an effective job search, start
by updating your resume, then
plan a strategy for using your
time effectively when searching
for positions, and make sure to
represent yourself well online.
Are You Filling Out Job Applicat ions Incor rectly?
At some point in your job
search, you may be asked to fill
out a job application.
tion completely. Never write
“See resume” to avoid filling out
information. Treat the application as if it were the only document the employer reads.
Check carefully for spelling and
grammatical errors. Use black
ink and print clearly.
List your skills and accomplish-
ments in the appropriate spaces.
Be sure the employment dates
on your application match the
dates on your resume.
Have a copy of your resume
nearby so all your information
is easily available.
Be accurate and careful to show
the employer you want the job.
CAREER SERVICES
Why Complete Your LinkedIn Profile?
If you created a LinkedIn profile
and haven’t included anything
but your name and college, you
may be hurting your job search.
Your profile can be ready when
you begin your job search if you
keep it updated regularly. New
job? Include it within the first
few weeks of starting. New
projects or portfolio? Make
them part of your profile as soon
as they are ready to post.
Take time to include a summary
section. Add activities and clubs
to your profile. Include some
classes in your education section
that relate to your intended job
field. Adding information fills
in details for employers and
helps them determine if you are
a viable candidate.
Employers are using LinkedIn to
find candidates or to gain more
information about them. With
an incomplete profile, you may
not be noticed for your skills
and experience. Or worse, you
may look like you lack the abil-
ity to follow through on tasks.
Including your work history,
your educational institutions,
internships, and volunteer work
will also make it easier to connect with people who have
common interests.
Create a headline that defines
you and will catch an employer’s attention. “Accounting
major and aspiring financial
analyst” tells employers where
you are now—and where
you’re headed.
Finding Jobs on College Central Network
“Whether you need a
part time position to
help with expenses
while studying at NCC
or a full time position
after you graduate,
CCN is a good place to
begin your search.”
College Central Network
(CCN) is a job database where
students and alumni can create
an account, post a resume, and
search for jobs posted for NCC
students and alumni.
After creating an account, you
can immediately begin to search
for jobs. Click on the link that
says “Search Jobs Posted to My
School”.
A variety of part time and full
time jobs and internships are
accessible any time you are
ready. Whether you need a part
time position to help with expenses while studying at NCC
or a full time position after you
graduate, CCN is a good place
to begin your search.
If you choose to submit your
resume for posting on CCN, it
will need to be electronically
approved by Career Services.
We may offer a few suggestions
to strengthen it before approval.
Tip: The first few times you
search, don’t limit yourself to
jobs only in your major. Use the
default settings (any major, any
degree, any job target) to make
sure you view all the jobs that
might be of interest to you.
Job Hunter’s Guide
Career Services has gathered
much of the information you
need for a job search into a
booklet called The Job Hunter’s
Guide.
PAGE 2
A section on developing an
effective resume provides help
with what to include and how to
write in a clear, concise manner.
Samples are provided to use as a
guide.
Instructions on how to post your
resume online or submit it electronically are included.
try. Guidelines and web sites for
this research are included as
resources.
An interview section will provide help on preparing your
responses, dressing professionally, and following up after an
interview.
Since social media can have a big
impact on your job search, how
to present a professional online
image is covered.
Before your interview, you’ll
need to research employers and
check out salaries for the indus-
Stop by the Career Services
Office to pick up a copy of the
Job Hunter’s Guide or find it
online at http://bit.ly/1t2Pvh6
SPRING 2015
Clear the Clutter from Your Resume
As we begin a new year, many
of us may be getting rid of
clutter. This is a good time to
declutter your resume, too.
can omit your high school education. List activities and volunteer work you are involved
with from this point on.
A resume must have accurate
information, but it doesn’t need
to include your entire work
history. Employers want to
know what relevant skills and
experience you bring to the
position they need to fill.
Phrases like “duties include” or
“responsible for” use valuable
space. Delete them and begin
with action verbs. Include your
accomplishments at past jobs,
not simply tasks completed.
So, what can you omit?
Once you begin college, you
References are not included on
your resume. Keep them on a
separate page and submit only
at an employer’s request. The
line “References available upon
request.” is not necessary and
takes up additional space.
Personal information is omitted
from your resume. Eliminate
information on hobbies and
political views. A resume
should represent the professional you. Anything personal is
more likely to eliminate you
rather than assist you in the
application process.
Online Resume Help with Optimal Resume
Need some help getting started
on your resume?
Optimal Resume is a software
platform provided by Career
Services to help you create and
customize your resume, based
on your career field and goals.
Resumes can be generated in
several formats, such as rich
text, plain text, PDF, and
HTML to provide options that
meet employer requirements.
Reference the O*Net occupational database from Optimal
Resume to create a targeted
resume for specific occupations.
From O*Net, you can search
careers by job family or high
growth industry.View key information like required tasks,
knowledge and education needed, and salary.
A resume stylist is included so
you can choose from up to one
million styles to create a resume that is unique, but professional.
You can store numerous
resumes in Optimal Resume
and they can be edited, downloaded, cloned, or deleted.
“Optimal Resume is
a software platform
that will help you
create your resume
based on your
career goals.”
To begin your resume, go to
http://bit.ly/1wqBB3i.
Manag ing Your References
References are one of the most
important tools of the job
search. They have the power to
bring you success or extend
your job search. And yet most
job seekers put almost no effort
into choosing references or
managing them.
tively about you when asked.
Coworkers and supervisors are
in a position to know you as a
professional. Instructors are
familiar with your classroom
work and your skill level. People you have volunteered with
can also provide valuable input.
Choose references that know
your work and can speak posi-
Before using someone as a reference, get their permission.
Ask them how they prefer to be
contacted.
Provide them with a copy of
your resume. Keep them informed of employers that may
call them. Give them information about the positions you
are interested in. A prepared
reference is more likely to sell
you to an employer.
PAGE 3
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Career Fairs
Lehigh Valley Collegiate
Career Expo, Wed, Feb 25, 12
PM to 4 PM. Holiday Inn,
Fogelsville. www.lvcce.org
Health Careers Job Fair, Mon,
March 16, Laub Lounge, College
Center, Bethlehem Campus, 10
AM—2 PM
http://bit.ly/1xAWsWC
Spring Career Fair, Monroe
Campus, April 8, 10 AM to 2 PM,
Pocono Hall 108
http://bit.ly/17fWzgG
Technology & Manufacturing
Job Fair, Bethlehem Campus,
Tues, April 14 11 AM to 3 PM,
Alumni Hall
http://bit.ly/17g4fzq
Career Planning
Workshops—Deciding
on a Major
A two hour workshop for students
who are undecided about which major
or career to choose.
Bethlehem Campus
Thurs, Feb 19, 5 PM to 7 PM, Penn
Hall 106.
Wed, Mar 18, 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM,
College Center 383.
Thurs, April 16, 3:30 PM to 5:30
PM, College Center 383.
Monroe Campus
Tues, March 3, 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM,
Keystone Hall 150.
Wed, March 25, 5:30 PM to 7:30
PM, Keystone Hall 150.
Spring Career Fair, Bethlehem
Campus, Thurs, April 16, 10 AM
to 3 PM, Laub Lounge
http://bit.ly/1BEgIWH
Contact Us
Bethlehem Campus—College Center, 348
610-861-5344
Monroe Campus—Keystone Hall, 109
570-369-1871
Online—www.northampton.edu/careers
careers@northampton.edu
Karen Veres, Director
Jennifer Napierkowski, Assistant Director
Janice Kenyatta, Internship Manager
Nina Rehrig, Career Development Specialist
Rosaan Barker, Perkins Placement Support Specialist
Lynn Fischer, Office Manager
Fran Maiatico, Secretary
Career Fair Prep
Workshops
Tues, Feb 10, 11 AM to 12 PM, College Center 290.
Wed, Feb 11, 11 AM to 12 PM, College Center 290.
Thurs, Feb 19, 11 AM to 12 PM,
College Center 290.
PROFESSIONAL LEADERS
SEMINARS, Student Life Zone,
College Center, Bethlehem Campus
Marketing Your Skill Sets,
Thurs, March 5, 11 AM to 12:15
What You Don’t Know About
Interviewing for a Job,
Thurs, March 19, 11 AM to 12:15
Resume to LinkedIn, Thurs,
March 26, 11 AM to 12:15 PM
Panel & Networking Event,
Thurs, April 2, 11 AM to 12:15 PM
Be Prepared for Job Fairs
Networking with employers is the most important reason
to attend a job fair. Employers want to hire people they
would enjoy working with, so be polite and professional—
and be prepared.
A list of registered employers is usually available before the
fair. Research the companies that interest you and plan to
talk with their representatives.
Prepare to ask questions based on your research. Never ask
“What does your company do?” or “What jobs are available?” Your research should answer those questions. Instead,
ask follow up questions based on something you’ve learned.
Prepare a short summary of why you want to work for the
company. Include information about your education and
what you have to offer the company.
Identify experiences in which you have demonstrated your
skills. Be ready to talk about them. Bring copies of your
resume printed on good quality resume paper. Being prepared will increase your chances of getting an interview.