Career Services Update

Career Services Update - week of December 2, 2002!

* November Contest Winners! It was a tie! Joel Vail and Stephanie Stade will each receive a Mr. Paperback gift certificate for their entries in our November contest. Congratulations! Because the fall semester ends mid-month, we will not hold another contest until January. Look for upcoming details.

* Maine Department of Labor - Good news! The Maine annual average wage for 2001 increased by 4.2%. This increase was tenth among the 50 states. Maine's average annual wage in 2001 was $28,815. Additionally, Maine's unemployment rate of 4.1 % is down from 4.3% reported last year at this time. For more information, visit the Maine Department of Labor's website.

* Career Fair - Clear Channel Radio and JobsinME.com are holding a career fair at the Augusta Civic Center, Tuesday, Dec. 3, from 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. Be prepared and bring your resume!

* Group Interviews - "One-on-one interviews are rapidly being replaced by the group interview. Although this scenario is more stressful than the one-on-one interview, good interviewing techniques are still key:

Listen carefully to introductions. Knowing how each person functions in the organization will give you clues to their areas of interest in your background.
Be aware of your body language. Do not turn your back on any member of the hiring committee.
Maintain good eye contact with all the interviewers. Use the name of the individual you are addressing. Smile appropriately.
Questions will often have to do with reliability, handling stress, and being able to perform multiple tasks. Be prepared with positive examples from your past work history.
Be sure you have researched the company. If they have a Mission Statement, let the interviewing team know you are familiar with it.
A thank you note after the interview is always appropriate! Address your letter to the most senior member of the interviewing team. In the body of the letter mention the other interviewers by name and express your appreciation for their time and courtesy."

(reprinted with permission from The Employment Times)

* Choosing Among Job Offers - "Lucky you! You have the fortunate problem of having to decide which job offer to accept. Many students would love to be in your shoes. Nevertheless, you may be in a bit of a quandary about how to determine which offer is best for you...." Click here to read about how to make the right choice for you.

*One last note...

Three men: a project manager, a software engineer, and a hardware engineer are in Miami beach for a two-week period helping out on a project. About midweek they decide to walk up and down the beach during their lunch hour. Halfway up the beach, they stumbled upon a lamp.

As they rub the lamp a genie appears and says "Normally I would grant you three wishes, but since there are 3 of you, I will grant you each one wish."

The hardware engineer went first. "I would like to spend the rest of my life living in a huge house in St. Thomas, with no money worries and surrounded by beautiful women who worship me." The genie granted him his wish and sent him on off to St. Thomas.

The software engineer went next. "I would like to spend the rest of my life living on a huge yacht cruising the Mediterranean, with no money worries and surrounded by beautiful women who worship me." The genie granted him his wish and sent him off to the Mediterranean.

Last, but not least, it was the project manager's turn. "And what would your wish be?" asked the genie. "I want them both back after lunch" replied the project manager.

Have a great week!

Career Services

Thomas College

Waterville, ME

(207) 859-1106 - phone

(207) 859-1114 - fax