This document provides information about career center resources and services available to Michigan Tech students. It lists the career center staff and their roles, upcoming career fairs and employer participants, resume and interview preparation workshops, the online job posting system NACElink, co-op and internship opportunities, and encourages students to take advantage of career center services throughout their academic career.

1. Choose to Use Your Career Center Resources
Because…THE ADVICE IS RIGHT!

2. Career Center Staff
 Jim Turnquist, Director
 Jeff Kangas, Assistant Director
 Tina Giachino, Manager of Job
Development
 Julie Way, Career Advisor
 Gina Goudge, Coordinator of Career
Center Programs
 Matt McCormick, Analyst Programmer
 Rita Smith, Staff Assistant
 Adam Griffis, Office Assistant
 Laura Givens, Office Assistant

3. These Career Center Partners
generously support Michigan Tech
students!

4. These Career Center Partners
generously support Michigan Tech
students!

5. It’s All Good!

6. Great News…

7. The Job Market
What’s it look like out there?
 Economic Downturn? Job search will
be more challenging.
 Technical skills are in high demand
(outpacing supply)
 Computer skills a must
 As reported by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics: Of the 10 industries with the
largest wage and salary employment
growth, 2006-2016 , Scientific and
Technical Jobs rank #1

8. Future Job Market
Top 10 degrees in demand (bachelor’s
degree level):
1. Accounting
2. Mechanical Engineering
3. Electrical Engineering
4. Computer Science
5. Business Administration/Management
6. Economics/Finance (incl. banking)
7. Information Sciences & Systems
8. Marketing/Marketing Management
9. Computer Engineering
10. Management Information Systems/
Business Data Processing

9. Question #1
 When is the Career Fair?
 September 30
 October 7
 November 4
 October 31

10. How’ya Gonna Get There?

11. Your Career Development
Plan

12. F.A.S.T.
The Four-Year College Action Plan Michigan
Technological University Career Center
 First Year...
Goal: Awareness...Self Exploration and
Assessment
 Sophomore...
Goal: Career Exploration and Update your
academic and personal information on
NACElink
 Junior...
Goal: Preparation and Decision Making
 Senior...
Goal: Implementation and Job Search
Campaign

13. Go to School:
Nope, not math class – career
class
 Career Center Resources………………..September 9
 Extreme Makeover – Resume…………...September
10
 Extreme Makeover Facelift………September 10-
11, 15-16
 Extreme Makeover – Resume Renew….September
17-19
 Interview Idol………………………………September 17
 Benefits of a Co-op or Internship………..September
23
 Interview Skills Week…………………….September
22-26

14. Career Center Professionals
 Provide one on one help with all
your career development needs:
 Resume and cover letter writing
 Interview coaching and practicing
 Job Search Strategies including our
new on-line recruiting software -
NACElink
 On-campus interview scheduling
 Offer negotiation and benefits
evaluation
 Business etiquette advice

15. Question #2
 How many companies are
registered to participate in the
Career Fair?
 999
 275
 180
 56

16. Create a Bridge to Your
Future

17. NACElink

18. Connect with companies who want
YOU…
with YOUR new recruiting software
NACElink
This new software will help you manage and publish
your resume, search job postings, and connect with
hundreds of employers from around the world.
Upload your new or renewed resume to NACElink soon!
Go to www.career.mtu.edu

19. Question #3
 What on-line recruiting system
does the Career Center now use?
 I Need a Sweet Gig.com
 NACElink.com
 Job Hook-Up.com
 e-Recruiting.com

20. Write the “Right” Stuff

21. The Resume

22. Who are you and what do you
want?
 Do some introspective brainstorming
and ask yourself:
◦ What do I really want to do?
 Be as specific and detailed as possible
◦ What am I really good at?
 Identify your hard skills and soft skills
◦ What kind of company and job
environment do I really desire?
 Research and evaluate companies you
may
want to target for employment

23. Create an Outstanding and Effective
Resume
 The first and perhaps the most vital step in
preparing yourself for a successful job search
is to create a powerful resume that will open
doors and generate interviews.
 And you’ll want a powerfully effective and
attractive resume because:
“On average, most recruiters spend
about 30 seconds scanning a
resume and cover letter before
sending it to the “yes” or “no”
pile.”

24. What do employers want from
me?
Employers are looking for people with these Top 10
skills
and experiences:
 Co-op/internship experience
 Communication skills (both written and oral)
 Strong work ethic
 Teamwork and interpersonal skills
 Computer Skills & Technical skills
 Motivation & Initiative (can you think outside the box?)
 Problem solving/Analytical skills
 Flexibility/adaptability
 Accomplishments/Achievements
 Confidence
Your resume should provide evidence that you possess
many of these skills

25. Design Your Resume
To clearly communicate who you
are, what you can do, and how well you
do it.
 Clean: You want to make a strong visual impact on
your reader before the first word is read
 Clear: You want to write who you are in terms of
education and experience, what you can do, in
terms of action, and how well you can do it, in
terms of accomplishments and achievements
 Concise: You want to state your experience in
terms of accomplishments/skills/professional
behaviors, based on your target job, in the
shortest, but most understandable way.

26. Facebook – just not a good
idea
 Do a careful reading and observation of
your web presence.
 Ensure your public or social web space is
a positive reflection of you.
◦ What you think is cute and funny, may
be interpreted in a completely different
way by your audience.
 Or…seriously consider removing any
personal social networking websites at
this time.

27. Question #4
 Where is the Career Center
located?
 The Harold Meese Center
 The SDC
 The MUB
 The Administration Building

28. Let Me Ask You…

29. The Interview

30. “So…tell me about yourself”
 Is the first question an interviewer asks
in the vast majority of times.
 This is where you set the tone for the
interview. Make the next half hour a
pleasant one for your interviewer.
 Give a mix of your
academic, professional, and personal
background.
 Tell something unique to remember you
by.
 Be funny if you can.

31. The Behavioral Interview
Past Behavior = Future Behavior
 Interviewers want to know:
 How well you work with others – will you fit on their “team”
 How well or how tenacious you are at problem solving – do you think
outside the box?
 Do you take initiative, can you take the lead, will you take risks, are you
competitive
 What have you done – your accomplishments and achievements, have
you overcome challenges
 Interviewers will ask questions that can be answered in
short, detailed stories:
 Introduction - give the W, W, W, W, H
 Problem – what was the problem or challenge
 Action – what action did you take to solve the problem or overcome the
challenge
 The End – what were the results of your actions
 Interviewers insist that you know about their company and
how you can help them:
 So…do your research

32. Your Turn…
 Be sure to ask intelligent, informed
questions of your interviewer. This shows
you know their company and you’re making
an educated decision to work for them.
 Some Sample Questions:
 Ask about a specific project you know the company is working on.
 What is the company’s biggest challenge at this time.
 Where would the company like to be in 5 years?
 Ask your interviewer about his position and work history with the
company.
 Ask about professional development opportunities
 Ask about advancement opportunities
 Finally – Don’t forget to send an immediate THANK
YOU letter. This is appreciated and expected!

33. Question #5
 According to our Permanent Salary
Survey 2007 – 2008, the highest
salary reported was:
 72,000
 94,000
 62,500
 68,000

34. I Tried It…I Like It!

35. Co-op and Internship
Education
 Valuable real-world, hands-on
experience for students
 Important recruiting tool for employers
 About 85% of Co-op students usually
receive a full-time job offer from the
company they co-op for

36. What is Co-op?
 Co-op is a joint venture between the University, a
selected employer, and you.
 Work for an employer for just one semester, a
summer or alternate semesters.
 Get great, relevant work experience.
 Be paid for learning on the job.
 Receive academic credit. Students should check
with their advisors to determine if the credits will
count as free or technical electives.
 Get the inside track for a job when you
graduate, since employers look favorably upon
students with relevant work experience!

37. Co-op vs Internship
 Internships are similar to co-ops in that
the work could be applicable to the field
in which you will receive your degree.
 Most internships are worked in summer.
 You don't receive academic credits for an
internship.
 But…you receive some great work
experience.

38. Who is Eligible to Co-op?
 Undergraduate students must have
completed their first year at Tech.
 Transfer students must complete at least
one semester in residence at Tech.
 Must have a GPA of 2.20 or better and
be in good social standing.
 Must obtain authorization from the Office
of International Studies if they are
studying at Tech on an F1 visa.

39. Forget that burger flipping summer
job….
 Possible benefits from Co-op education:
◦ Earn a considerably higher wage than
minimum
◦ Housing assistance
◦ Transportation expenses
◦ Paid vacation
◦ Reimbursement for Co-op credits
◦ Signing bonus

40. Question #6
 What WON’T the Career Center help
you do?
 Write or renew your resume and help
you develop interview skills
 Post your resume to NACElink
 Decide what kind of career and/or field of
study is best suited for you
 Resister for a Co-op
 Choose a Christmas gift for your
grandmother

41. Come On Up – We’re Bringing
Them All Right To You!

42. Campus Career Fairs

43. Come to the Fair
No tilt-a whirl or cotton candy, but…exciting none the
less!
 The 2008 Michigan Tech Career Fair is October
7.
 Over 260 companies travel to the U.P. to
entice, meet, and interview you!
 They’ll all be in one place (ok, 3) – The
SDC, Gates Tennis Center and the Multi-
Purpose Room.
 They offer casual, informal pre and post Career
Fair informational sessions.
 Check out our website for who’s coming.

44. Prepare and Plan
 Identify 5 – 10 companies you’d really like to
talk to.
 Do your homework! Research the company
in order to determine what they’re doing and
how you’ll benefit them.
 Develop a 90 second “infomercial.”
 Let them SEE that you’re serious:
 Suit
 Tie
 Dress shirt
 Good shoes
 Impeccably groomed

45. Company Research
Websites
 LexisNexis.com
 Hoovers.com
 Dun & Bradstreet
 Wall Street Journal
 Occupational Outlook Handbook
 Business Weekly & Forbes
 Weddles Assoc. Directory
 Fortune 500

46. A Lot to Think About…
It’s never too early to start thinking about
and
planning for your future.
You’re not alone…we’re here to help you.
Choose to use your Career Center
Resources.

47. Don’t Lose Your Head!

48. Visit us at the Career Center
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8 am – 5 pm
Drop in or call ahead for an appointment 487-2313
Check out our website – www.career.mtu.edu

49. You Win!!!!