Email Etiquette – 5 Guidelines for Interns and New Professionals

Workplace professionalism is oh so important and stretches beyond professional attire alone. As you begin internships and jobs across the country, consider these suggestions for professional communication via email.

• Remember email is not the only mode of office communication. There are times when it is simply more effective or courteous to deliver a message face-to-face or over the phone. Additionally, today’s workplace is multi-generational. Your colleagues and supervisors from the Veteran (born before 1946) and Baby Boomer (born 1946–64) generations may appreciate face-to-face communication more than you realize. Check out this article in Forbes for more tips on communicating across generations.

• Keep your message short and sweet.  Brief and to the point is the way to go, yet remember email is a form of business communication not a text message or tweet so make sure to approach it that way.

• Proper spelling, grammar and punctuation should always be used. Avoid using all capital letters which implies SHOUTING or all lowercase letters which suggests you are lazy. Use the spelling & grammar check.

• Include a signature with your contact info. This is especially important when you are new to an organization. A signature looks professional, takes just minutes to set up and lets people you haven’t met yet know your role.

• Keep in mind that email is not private. In fact, email is company property that can be used in a court of law. It can also be easily forwarded to an unintended audience which can be disastrous, just ask the University of Maryland’s Delta Gamma Chapter whose leaked email caught major media attention this last week. Play it safe and always keep it professional.

   

   

   

Explore Your Options

Did you ever picture yourself in the corporate world growing up? I did not, but this summer I will be interning at Kohl’s corporate offices in Menomonee Falls – I am so excited! I came into college with absolutely no idea what I wanted to do with my life (and sometimes I still feel that way). After quite a bit of introspection, help from counselors at the Career Services Center, and taking a wide variety of classes during my first two years at Marquette, I finally feel confident about what I am studying and my future.

As someone who is known to my friends and family as the girl that has changed her major a million times and still panics about the future at times, I have some advice to offer students at any point in their college career.

First, explore your options! I cannot tell you how many times I have wished I could go back in time to do more thorough research about different career paths. You do not have to make any definite decisions right way, but I definitely encourage doing some research and job shadowing during your freshman year. I speak from experience when I say you will never know if you truly enjoy something until you experience it firsthand.

Second, don’t be afraid to make a change! Like I said, I have changed my major quite a few times, and each time I felt a lot of pressure and anxiety to stay on the path I was on, but I also felt so much relief after I made the decision. Society tells us that we are supposed to enter college knowing what we want to do, study whatever fits that mold, and then pursue either a job or graduate degree in that field right away. The truth is that there are SO many people out there who do not know, but most of them are afraid to admit it. If there is one thing I have learned throughout my time at Marquette, it is that it is okay to not know and never too late to make a change (some people decide to go to medical school at the age of 50!). Just make sure you are always actively working toward figuring it out, and try not to fear the unknown.

Lastly, do what you love! I know people say this all the time and it is super cliché, but there is a lot of truth behind it. While you may not absolutely love your first job and probably won’t love your job every second of every day, I can almost guarantee that your life will be so much happier if you are doing something you truly enjoy. Ultimately, you are the only person who knows what is best for you – getting input from people close to you can definitely be beneficial, but you are the one who has to be content with your choice in the long-run.

I hope these tidbits have provided you with some helpful insight about what can often be a difficult and scary part of life. Do your best to keep in mind that it can also be fun and exciting and you don’t have to have all the answers. I truly believe everything happens for a reason – with a little bit of faith and a lot of hard work, everything will work out.

Molly James

Employer Relations Intern

April Resource Highlight: Going Global

Are you interested in working or having an internship abroad? Did you study aboard and are looking for a way to further that experience? Going Global is a

great resource for the international job search.

Going Global is an online resource, available through our website, that provides in depth information on working or interning abroad. It is the ultimate international job/internship seeker’s guide.

Going Global has three main ways to jump-start your international job search:

• Going Global Country Career Guides: This section provides insider information on job search strategies, resume writing, interviewing, visa regulation, and cultural advice for over 40 countries. It is important to know what the job search process is like in a specific country before you start the actual process.
• Going Global Job Postings and Internship Listings: Updated daily, this job board includes over 600,000 international job/internship postings. You can search jobs and internships by the countries in which you are interested in working.
• Going Global Employer Directory: This section will help you identify a target list of organizations that may employ someone with your specific skill set. This resource will provide you with a list of organizations within a specific country and/or industry of your choosing. The results will contain a mix of local (headquartered in the specific country) and multinational (multiple locations worldwide) employers. From there you can view the company’s mission, sales, revenues, and key contacts.

Follow this link to access Going Global:  Online Resource: Going Global

If you have any questions about the international job search or other career related topics, call (414)288-7423 or stop by Holthusen Hall (first floor) to set up an appointment with a career counselor! We look forward to helping you in the job search process!

Mejores Deseos! Meilleurs Vœux! Besten Wünsche! Bora Matakwa!

Best Wishes with your International Job Search!

–Meredith Reinhardt, Career Advisor

Featured Alumni: Tom Kelly

Name: Tom Kelly

Title: Volunteer/Missionary 

Organization: Salesian Lay Missioners / New Rochelle, NY & Juba, South Sudan

Email: thomas.r.kelly13@gmail.com

Bio: I graduated from Marquette  majoring in Accounting and Finance. During my senior year, while most of my peers were looking into jobs for their future, I was interested in volunteer programs. I realized that my college experience has been shaped as much by service as it has by the education I received.  Although I was a little nervous at first talking to faculty, mentors, and business professionals about volunteering, I was graciously surprised by the support and encouragement. The more I thought about it, the more comfortable I felt about it being the next step in my life. I began searching for programs through the Catholic Volunteer Network (a great resource), and among other programs found the Salesian Lay Missioners (SLM) program.  Upon doing some research on SLM and learning more about the ministry, I really loved the mission and program. The process began with an application and then a phone interview. After the interview, I was invited to a discernment weekend to mutually discern if I was the right fit for the program, and if the program was the right fit for me. I was then accepted into the program, and from there received my placement to Juba, South Sudan, which was a new site for the program. I attended orientation in New York from July-August, and left for South Sudan the beginning of September. Since arriving in South Sudan, I have been a teacher, summer camp leader, football player/coach/referee, and parish assistant.  The biggest challenge has been being away from family, friends, and all the comforts of my life in America. It takes time to adapt to a new culture and mesh with the community that becomes your new family. Each day has its challenges, but with those challenges come opportunities.  My biggest career success was being asked to be the Head of the Computer Department of the new Vocational Training Center (similar to a Technical College in the US) on our compound. Though I didn’t have any direct experience that qualified me for the position, my superiors determined it was the right place for me, and it has been a great experience so far.

 Q: What were the jobs or opportunities that you had that led to this one?

 A:  I was actively involved in several volunteer programs at Marquette, such as MARDI GRAS, MAP, and Midnight Run. Through these programs, I realized that service was an important and formative part of my life. My internships at a Hedge Fund and Accounting Firm also made me realize that although I really enjoyed the work I was doing, I could always have the opportunity to work in the business world, and volunteering internationally was a once in a lifetime experience. Really any jobs or opportunities can lead to volunteering in one way or another.

 Q: What specific content they were looking for in student’s applications and questions?

A: The great thing about volunteer programs is that there isn’t really any specific content that they look for in a student’s application. As long as an applicant demonstrates how their experiences relate to the question, wherever they come from, it is good content. Don’t exaggerate your experiences or stretch the truth because you think it makes you sound better. Be yourself in your application and it will show.

 Q: What career advice would you give to students entering your field?

A: If you are worried about what life might be like back at home or getting a job when returning, don’t be. It will hold you back. Dwelling on things that are out of your control will take you away from your work and experience. Also, know that there will be difficulties and challenges, but overcoming them makes your experience that much more rewarding. Keep an open mind and loving heart, and it will be the best time of your life.

 Q: What would make a student’s application more competitive than other applicants?

A: A student’s application would be more competitive than others if they demonstrate experience in volunteering, missionary work, or different cultures. The thoughts and experiences from these activities help the program see if you are a good fit. Volunteer programs want people who will represent their organization well and persevere through the challenges that they will likely face. Leadership experience is always helpful. Knowing the language in the area that you might serve in is a plus, and even sometimes a requirement (though not for my program).

 Q: What are the main things you look for in format of the initial phone/ Skype interview?

A: The initial interview is for getting to know the candidate, why you are interested in volunteering, and why are you interested in that specific program. You should be able to explain and articulate in detail what is on your resume/application. Some questions will be situational. You should be able to nail the initial interview because you have all the resources in front of you. Also, make sure you are prepared with questions of your own.

Interview Tips

As a senior graduating with a major in PR, I am always on the hunt for the do’s and don’ts of PR interviews. Today, PR Daily released an article titled, “7 things you never say in a PR agency job interview.”  It definitely offers some great advice.  Take a look if you an aspiring PR professional like myself!

-Sam

P.S. For more interview tips, check out our MUCSC interview fact sheet!

Begin Your Career Exploration with FOCUS 2

Deciding your major, career goals and career path can be difficult and frustrating! Not knowing where to start in the career planning process can further this frustration. The Career Services Center is one step ahead of you!

FOCUS 2 is an online, interactive program that can assist you in selecting the right major and plan your career based on your values, skills, personality, interests, and aspiration. This is a one-stop-shop for completing self-assessment, beginning career exploration, or even researching job titles.

FOCUS 2 has five different self-assessments that you can complete: work interests, personality, skills, values, and leisure interests. Based on your assessment results, you can explore career paths that match with your particular skills, values, personality, and interests! You can take this information one step further by researching occupations and comparing them side-by-side.

Don’t worry if this sounds really time-consuming! By setting up a FOCUS 2 Account you will be able to complete the assessments and explore career options on your own time. All of your results will be saved in your FOCUS 2 Portfolio, so you can access the information at any time!

I’ve taken the assessments and have my results, now what?

• Print off your assessment reports and/or your portfolio
• Set up an Appointment with a Career Counselor to discuss your results: (414)288-7423

 How Can I Access FOCUS 2?

Follow this link:  Career Services Center’s FOCUS 2 Webpage

This site will provide you with the following:

• Instructions on how to set up an account
• Suggestions on what assessments to complete
• Access to a PowerPoint presentation on FOCUS 2

We would love to talk with you about your career exploration and decisions in light of your FOCUS 2 results!

-Meredith Reinhardt

 Career Advisor

Featured Alumni: Jeffrey T. Nealon

Name:  Jeffrey T. Nealon

Job Title:  Liberal Arts Research Professor (English and Philosophy Departments)

Organization:  Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802

Email:  jxn8@psu.edu

Bio:  BA Marquette (English and Philosophy), PhD, Loyola University – Chicago (English).  I am the author of Double Reading:  Postmodernism after Deconstruction (Cornell, 1993), Alterity Politics:  Ethics and Performative Subjectivity (Duke, 1998), and The Theory Toolbox (with Susan Searls Giroux, Rowman & Littlefield, 2003), as well as co-editor of Rethinking the Frankfurt School (SUNY, 2002).  My latest books, both from Stanford University Press, are Foucault Beyond Foucault:  Power and Its Intensifications since 1984 (2008), and Post-Postmodernism; or, the Cultural Logic of Just-In-Time Capitalism (2012).

(Bio here:  http://english.la.psu.edu/faculty-staff/jxn8)

Q: What were the jobs that you had that led to this one?  

A:  I was a graduate student, then worked my way up the professorial ranks.

Q: What aspects of a career in this field do you consider particularly good? Particularly bad?

A:  The job is fantastic — I love teaching and researching.  The future of tenure-line jobs in the Humanities, however, is not very robust.

Q: What career advice would you give to students entering your field?

A:  Think twice, then think again — Higher Ed, especially at big state schools, has been reorganized after the 2008 crash, and there will be fewer and fewer tenure-track positions available going forward.

Q: Are there any specific courses a student might take that would be beneficial in this field?

A:  In English, take theory courses — John Boly was a great teacher for me, and is still at MU.  In Philosophy, don’t neglect the history of Philosophy courses.

Company Research Gone Social

Preparing for an interview can be stressful. Everyone including us, will tell you that research is the most important thing you can do when preparing. But where do you start? Company websites can only give you so much information. Pretty soon all of those marketing messages start to look the same and you feel like you don’t really know anything about the companies culture. Now, thanks to sites like glassdoor.com, researching a company has never been easier. Thanks to the growth in online social interaction, students, recent grads and those on the job hunt can get valuable first hand information and experiences from those who are actually behind all of those website marketing messages.

Besides an online job board, glassdoor.com is a resource for job seekers looking to gain a little more insight on the company they hope to work for. All you have to do is search the company and tons of valuable information is at your fingertips. The site lists salaries for various positions, detailed reviews on the pros and cons from current and past employees, even photos of the office.

But, one of the most valuable tools for someone researching before and interview is the ability to view sample
interview questions and real experiences from those who have interviewed and accepted positions with the company. Now, with all of this first hand advice and knowledge, you can walk into the interview knowing exactly what to expect. There is even the ability to connect with others who currently work for the company through social media

There is however some caution that should be used with sites like these. While they can be incredibly helpful, students should take all reviews with a grain of salt. With smaller companies especially, there is the probability that there will be a low response rate. Because of this, students should not let just one bad review from a disgruntled employee sway their opinion on the company as a whole. Additionally, caution is always the best policy when contributing to sites like these. While all are anonymous, you never want to burn bridges, so always type with caution when submitting your own opinion.

That being said, using sites like glassdoor.com are a great way to research potential employers and help to create a detailed list of your top companies. Also, there are plenty of other resources on the site including a list of the top companies to work for, and tons of other ranking and information about the current job market.

So what are you waiting for!? Start researching!

Dear LinkedIn, Please Help Me…

So you have followed the advice of career experts and developed a LinkedIn profile, made some connections,  and joined a few groups, but nobody is knocking down your door to offer you an internship or job because of it, are they?

Of course not! 

It is time to enter Phase Two: Using LinkedIn to achieve a specific result.

Check out this blog post, Five Rules for Asking Your LinkedIn Connections for Help, on The Daily Muse for tips on how to
communicate most effectively with your LinkedIn contacts to get connected with the people who have the job openings you seek.

See you on LinkedIn!

Courtney Hanson, Associate Director
MU Career Services Center

Featured Alumni: Tom Blooming

Name: Tom Blooming
Title: Data Center Engineer
Organization (name/location):
Google / Atlanta, Georgia

Bio:
Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering,
Marquette University, 1992
Master of Engineering, Electric Power Engineering,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1994 
Master of Business Administration,
Keller Graduate School of Management, 1998

Biggest challenge:

Building data centers quickly enough to satisfy our management–on time, under budget, meeting all performance requirements.

Biggest career success: Getting a number of my ideas incorporated into our data center designs.

Q: What were the jobs that you had that led to this one?
A: Multiple power engineering jobs, at two manufacturing firms and at a consulting firm, working as an application engineer and as a field engineer doing power system studies and troubleshooting.  I took the jobs because they allowed me to learn something new with each job–both from a technical and business standpoint.  I had no idea that I would end up where I am, but all my past experience helps in my present role.

Q: What aspects of a career in this field do you consider particularly good? Particularly bad?
A: Good: Extremely fast pace, fascinating projects, large global impact, freedom to ignore “the way we’ve always done it” approach.  Bad: Very busy, more work than you have time for, intense schedule pressure, easy to get distracted.

Q: What career advice would you give to students entering your field?
A: Don’t get pigeon-holed as a specialist, unless that’s what you really want.  If you want to get the really interesting jobs, in my experience, you can’t limit yourself to one narrow field.  You have to have enough fundamental general knowledge to be able to deal effectively with new technology, new solutions.  LISTEN to the various people you interact with–don’t make the mistake of thinking that just because you’re an engineer that the technician you’re working with can’t school you about a thing or two.  Get involved in professional societies (e.g. IEEE for electrical engineers) so you can network with other engineers, present technical papers, etc.

Q: Are there any specific courses a student might take that would be beneficial in this field?
A: In my particular field you would want to take all the power engineering courses that you can, but you also need to know about what you’re powering.  It helps to know about high voltage utility transmission systems all the way down to server power supplies (power electronics).  Learn a thing or two about project management and engineering economics.  You may have a great idea but if you can’t prove WHY it should be done it won’t get anywhere.  Need to be able to “sell” your idea, via total cost of ownership analysis, for example.  The hardest sale is the internal sale–tougher to convince your own company of the best course of action than it is to convince an external customer.