Career Services Update - week of January 20!

* UMaine Career Fair - THURSDAY, January 30 will find the Career Services staff in Orono for the day and the office will be closed.  We would like to invite any interested students or alumni to join us!  As of today, 113 companies have registered to participate in the UMaine career fair.  Click here for the most up to date list of participants.  This is a wonderful opportunity to distribute your resume and meet people from companies that are looking to hire!  We have had several students sign up for the ride north - won't you join us?  Don't forget!  There are many other upcoming career fairs that you may attend.  A full list of other fairs can be found here.

* January Contest - So far we've only had one entry!  If you entered this contest right now, you would have a 50% of winning a gift certificate to Subway!  It is so easy to enter.  Just e-mail the Career Services with a New Year's Resolution that has a Career related spin and you could be on your way to being the next Jared!!  Remember...this resolution can be for you, a friend, or a celebrity.  Make sure you get your entry in no later than January 27!

* Brown Bag Series  - Thursday, February 13, Rick Whalen (class of '93) will be the guest speaker for the next Brown Bag Lunch.  This will be held in the Board Room from 12:15 - 1:15.  Bring your lunch from home or from the cafeteria and join us as Rick discusses personal finance.  Rick is an excellent speaker and will be glad to answer any questions after his presentation.  Rick is the branch manager for Wells Fargo in Bangor. 

* Job Hunting tips -  (Courtesy of The Employment Times)

Here are a few things every job seeker should do:

• GET AS MANY INTERVIEWS AS POSSIBLE.  The more people you speak with, the more chances you have of hearing about a job you would love.  If you limit the number of people you speak with, you are sure to limit your scope of possibilities.  Interviews do not have to be for bona fide open positions.  Take informational interviews, call everyone you know and tell them you are looking, ask everyone who else who you should speak with.  Job hunting is another form of marketing.  You need to get your message out!
• OBTAIN JOB OFFERS.  if you attend interviews with the attitude that you do not really want the job, then you will make a poor impression.  Approach every single meeting or conversation with the enthusiasm of someone who is excited about the prospects that are open to them.  If you show interest and enthusiasm, you help to get others interested in you.  Without that ingredient, you can go on literally hundreds of interviews and not receive job offers.
• SERIOUSLY CONSIDER EVERY OFFER.  One of the pitfalls of taking lots of interviews is that interviewers can oversell their position to you.  What seems to be a great opportunity can sometimes be a really difficult job, but the interviewer needs to hire someone - anyone.  Be sure to ask a lot of questions during the interview, and even ask for a second (or third) interview so you can fully understand the job, the company and the offer.  Once you have all the facts, you can give the offer careful consideration.
• MAKE THE DECISION.  Having a job offer puts you in control.  you can now accept the job or not.  Make certain that the job is really all it seems to be and then decide if it is right for you.  There is no shame in telling someone that you have decided to keep looking.  In fact, many interviewers would respect your decision not to accept a job you felt was not a good fit.

* On-Campus Recruiting - We have one on-campus recruiter scheduled this week.  Aerus is coming on campus tomorrow, January 21.  If you are interested in signing up for an interview, contact our office ASAP!

* The Employment Times - This is the little newspaper you often find in the second floor student lounge.  Well, we found a great article called "Do the Right Thing" in a recent addition and although it is too long to add to this update, we've received permission to post this article for you.  Please click here to read the unedited version to learn how to KEEP that job you worked so hard to get!

* Weekly humor - Signs That You Are Bored at Work

1. You've already read the entire Dilbert page-a-day calendar for 2003.

2. You discover that staring at your cubicle wall long enough produces images of Elvis. 

3. You've figured out a way to get Gilligan off the island.

4. People come into your office only to borrow pencils from your ceiling.

5. The 4th Division of Paper clips has overrun the Pushpin Infantry, and General White-Out has called for reinforcements.