Career Services Update - week of November 4, 2002!
 
And the winner is... Ron Dexter!  Ron will receive two free Papa John's pizzas for his entry in the October Career Services contest.  Ron's winning entry in the 'What NOT to say in a job interview' contest was this: 
 
"No matter how obvious you may think it appears - Never, and I do mean NEVER, ask a woman when the baby is due!  She might not be pregnant...  it's a shoe better left uneaten!" 
 
Congratulations, Ron!  Also, check out the Top Ten List we put together from the favorite entries.  It is also time to check out our November contest, sponsored by Mr. Paperback
 
*The National Association of College and Employers (NACE) has provided us with interesting results from recently polled employers.  They asked employers where they go to find new hires.  We've listed their findings as follows:
 
Top 10 Places Employers Find New Hires
 
1.    Internship program                     6.    Through faculty contacts
2.    Co-op program                            7.    Internet job postings (own company web site)
3.    On-campus interviews                 8.    Job postings to career offices (printed)
4.    Employee referrals                     9.    Student organizations/clubs
5.    Career/job fairs                        10.   Internet job postings (campus web site)
 
Another survey revealed the Top Qualities/Skills Employers Seek:
 
1.     Communication skills (verbal & written)             11.    Detail oriented
2.    Honesty/integrity                                             12.    Leadership skills
3.    Teamwork skills (works well with others)          13.    Self-confidence
4.    Interpersonal Skills (relates well to others)      14.    Friendly/outgoing personality
5.    Motivation/initiative                                         15.    Tactfulness
6.    Strong work ethic                                             16.    Well-mannered/polite
7.    Analytical skills                                                17.    GPA (3.0 or better)
8.    Flexibility/adaptability                                    18.    Creativity
9.    Computer skills                                                 19.    Entrepreneurial skills/risk-taker
10.   Organizational skills                                        20.    Sense of humor
 
* INTERNSHIPS.  We know that employers use them as their number one hiring tool.  We also require that you have completed one to qualify for the Guaranteed Job Placement Program.  What is an internship?  How do you learn about them?  The Career Services Office has scheduled an informal internship discussion to be held in the auditorium on November 13 from 1:30 - 2:30.  Please plan on attending this meeting!
 
* Graduate School/Brown Bag Lunch Series - Seniors, what will you do when you finish your program at Thomas College?  If you are thinking about applying to graduate school, please attend our luncheon on Thursday, November 7, in the board room.  Tom Edwards, Pat Karush, and Karen Wagner will discuss the process of applying to grad school. 
 
* Congratulations!   The Putnam Investments Management Team states that they were "very impressed with the promptness and professionalism of the candidates during the interview process."  Congratulations to the students who recently joined Putnam:
 
Nicholas Adams, Amanda Atcheson, Nicholas Blais, Kimberly Colwell,
Lindsay Fairbanks, Jeffrey Fargo, Eric French, Neill Grant, Melissa Johnson,
Deserae Levesque, Corey McDonald, David Stewart, and Josh Strassburg.
 
* The MESDA Computer Technology Job Fair is an opportunity to meet Maine's leading technology companies. Find out more about current and upcoming opportunities. Be sure to post your resume on the MESDA Job board - all exhibiting companies will receive a CD of the resumes in this database.  Be prepared and bring a supply of resumes to hand out as well. This is a FREE event for Job Seekers and Students. (Thank you to Chris Rhoda for submitting this info to the Career Services office)
 
Career Services humor...
 
A young executive was leaving the office at 6 p.m. when he found the CEO standing in front of a shredder with a piece of paper in hand.
 
"Listen," said the CEO, "this is important, and my secretary has left.  Can you make this thing work?"
 
"Certainly," said the young executive.  he turned the machine on, inserted the paper, and pressed the start button.
 
"Excellent, excellent!" said the CEO as his paper disappeared inside the machine.  "I just need one copy."
 
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That's it for this week!  Be sure to e-mail or call if you have any additions for our weekly update.  Have a great week!
 
Career Services
Thomas College
Waterville, Maine
(207) 859-1106 - phone
(207) 859-1114 - fax