7 great reasons to volunteer

Participating in community service can benefit those in need, as well as help your career development. Volunteering will enable you to:

1. Help Others: Make a difference in the lives of people in your community. Make volunteering a meaningful experience bydedicating your time and energy to a cause that is important to you.

2. Gain Experience:Volunteering gives you a chance to get experience in a field you would like to work in and is absolutely something you can mention on your resume.

3. Develop Skills: Develop many of the skills employers look for: communication, organizational, time management, and teamwork.Volunteering is also a great way to break into a field if you are considering a career change.

4. Experience Diversity: Meet new people on campus and in the community. Learn to interact with those who are different from you.

5. Clarify Career Interests: Test out potential career choices before committing to a full-time position in that field.

6. Improve Job Prospects: Enhance your future employment prospects and enable employers to see that you have developed the skills needed to succeed in your field. Volunteer work is valuable EXPERIENCE for your resume!

7. Network: Make connections with people in the community and in career fields of interest to you. Remember: networking is the #1 most effective job search method.

Use these resources to find volunteer opportunities in your field of interest. If you need any assistance, contact the Career Services office.

• GMC Campus Ministry www.gmc.edu/students/campusministry/mercyworks.php
• Infolink PA http://www.infolinkpa.org/
• Idealist http://www.idealist.org/
• College Central www.collegecentral.com/gmc
• Volunteer Match http://www.volunteermatch.org/

STAR Interviewing Technique

During an interview, employers often ask behavior-based questions to get a sense of how you acted in the past to predict how you will act as their employee.  Behavioral questions come in many forms such as: Tell me about a time when you took the initiative on a project, handled tough criticism, played a leadership role, etc.

Using something called the STAR technique can help you brainstorm real-life examples ahead of time, and keeps your answers on track during the actual interview.

S ituation:   Briefly set the stage. What was going on?

T ask:  What needed to be done?

A ction:  What did you do to make the situation better? Be specific here.

R esults:  What came of your hard work? What did you learn about yourself? How will you apply these lessons to future situations?

Check out STAR in action:

Question:  Tell me about a time when you had to deal with an irate customer.

Answer using STAR technique:  For the past 3 years I have worked at Target where I’ve been promoted from cashier to customer service representative.  I patiently resolve customer service concerns on a daily basis. One time in particular I was helping an upset customer (briefly explained the issue).  

I needed to (find her the right product in another store, return the defective item...).  In order to resolve her concerns I (asked a manager for help, gave her crying children a lollipop, called several stores, remained calm and listened, etc.).  In the end, I was able to (state what you got done) and learned that the key to good customer service is (state the lesson).  The customer even pulled my manager aside to tell her what a great job I did…

Why this works:  This answer touches on all the components of STAR and demonstrates a clear understanding of the importance of customer service using an example from real-life. This example also shows the employer that the candidate is someone who is patient, understanding, and gets the job done.

For help with interviewing, contact Career Services. We are here all summer long!

215-646-7300 x230

careerservices@gmc.edu

4-Steps for your job search

Job searching can seem exhausting, confusing, and frustrating. However, if you break down the process into specific steps it will seem more manageable and your chances of success will rise.

Here is a basic 4-step strategy for your job or internship search.

1) VIP Documents: resume, cover letter, references and portfolio

2) Explore: companies, industry, career information

3) Networking: contacts, informational interviews, alumni, etc…

4) The Search: search engines, specific company websites, etc…

Try your best to complete the steps in order and don’t skip ahead. This will help keep you on track.

Get FOCUSed

Career Services is offering a new method for narrowing down your interests and strengths and deciding which direction you would like to move in professionally. FOCUS is a tool that helps you plan your academic progress and creates an organized way to assess your strengths, abilities and interests. Once the assessment is completed, students will have access to majors and careers that match their results.

Upon completion of the assessment, it is important to remember to make an appointment with a person in Career Services to discuss the results. A career counselor can take you step by step and work with you to analyze the meaning of the results and talk about viable options to consider. In addition, Career Services can help you utilize the results to arrive at possible internship, volunteer, or full time employment opportunities.

Visit our website to learn more about FOCUS and to take the assessment. For more help and to discuss the results, contact Career Services.

Do You Have Any Questions for Us?

You have done everything you can think of to prepare for the interview that will lead you to your dream job. You have perfected your resume, bought a sharp suit, and practiced what your responses to their questions will be. You have this one in the bag, right? Well, not so fast. Even if you are prepared for everything you can imagine the employer will ask you, you can’t forget about the one question that is so important. When the employer asks “Do you have any questions for us?” you must be prepared to answer in an intelligent and professional manner.

This question is important because your answer can convey so much to the potential employer. If you ask engaging and inquisitive questions, you are showing the employer that you are interested in the job and in the company. It shows that you have researched the company and have thought critically about how you will fit in there. It also shows the employer that you are well prepared. Have 5-7 questions typed and ready to go when you are going on an interview.

Remember, the interview process is a 2-way street. You are also interviewing them to see if they would be a good fit for you. Asking questions is a great way to gain more insight into the position and to show the employer you have a serious interest in the job.

For more help in preparing for an interview, visit Career Services.