UC Alumni Advice Part 2

With UC's Commencement ceremonies beginning today, here are some more pieces of advice for new UC Grads!

Ken Keilholz Cincinnati, Ohio
BBA, Information Systems / Entreprenuership, Lindner College of Business, Class of 1999
Don't be afraid to pursue a niche, but make sure you can always see the big picture. Those that can integrate technology to solve business problems or boost productivity are of exceptional value - making them difficult to replace/outsource.

Greg Frazier Detroit, Ohio
MS, Quantitive Analysis, Lindner College of Business
Thank all of the people that helped you. Take your degree, set it aside for a little while. Do something that you enjoy that is also a benefit to your community. In other words, chill for a moment to reflect on where you want to go in life. Try out a few new experiences and when (if) the opportunity presents itself, apply what you have learned. If the opportunity doesn't, learn from that experience.

John Drennan Cincinnati, Ohio
BBA, Operations Management & Entrepreneurship, Lindner College of Business
Get out and network. Make time to meet new people in different industries and learn from their experiences. This is a great way to stumble across a new opportunity, continue learning, and give back to your community. Volunteer your time and meet some new people. Plus you can add it to your resume and it gives you something to talk about during an interview!

Drew McKenzie Cincinnati, Ohio
BBA, Marketing, Management, Lindner College of Business
Be flexible and open to doing things that might not have been part of your planned path, you might find that you really love doing something other than what you planned.

Also be sure to check out Alumnus Justin Gibson's latest blog entry, "Pomp and Extreme Circumstance..."  He offers further advice to new UC grads on how to apply their college experience to the real world's job markets.

Thanks to all who offered such brilliant advice! Check out the UC Alumni Association's Career Services section for additional resources.

Are You a New UC Grad Looking for Advice? We've Got It!

The University of Cincinnati is preparing to graduate UC's Class of 2011 this weekend, sending them into the rough and tough world of career building. On the UC Alumni Association's Linkedin group, we recently asked our seasoned alumni to offer up their best advice for new college grads. And boy, did they deliver!

Below is just a sampling of a few of our favorites, and later this week we'll feature another round of advice from the discussion. If you have any tidbits of your own you'd like to share, please feel free to comment below, or better yet, join in on the actual discussion on Linkedin!

Jacquelyn Baker Cincinnati, Ohio
BBA,Marketing & International Business, Lindner College of Business, Class of 2002
"Network, network, network! Use the summer (and great weather) as an opportunity to take people for coffee. Ask them about their careers, advice they have, etc. In this world, it's all about who you know. You never know when a casual lunch or coffee conversation will turn into a career idea or a connection they can make for you. The UC Alumni network is vast. Use them! These people offer a wide array of knowledge and connections for you, as well as a deep love for UC. They want to help you out. It makes people feel important when you reach out to them for advice. Tap into these networks every chance you get."

Gregory Hoodin Cincinnati, Ohio
AS, Accounting, Lindner College of Business, Class of 1987
"You will hear the word no, but often a no leads to a yes somewhere else." 

Michael Prucha Sarasota, Florida
BS, Mechanical Engineering, UC College of Engineering, Class of 1996
"My best advice to new entrants into the workforce is to find ways to differentiate yourself. While everyone needs a buck, if there's a way to 'volunteer your time' at a company you want to work for, you stand the best chance of meeting the people you need to build relationships with and distinguish yourself. Companies are certainly looking for low cost, low risk investments in resourcing. Definitely stay positive, as well. You never know when you'll be standing next to someone who works at your next employer and you want support for your job pursuit. Finally - find ways to keep busy in a constructive manner. Companies will appreciate it if you've found ways to give back to the community. You'll find it rewarding while building out your network and developing key relationships."

Jan Polk Cincinnati, Ohio
AS, Administrative Management, Business, UC Evening College, Class of 1980 
"Good Manners are Powerful! Don't leave home without them. When all things are equal, employers will hire the person who is honorable, trustworthy and respectful to others. Technology does not trump behaving respectfully to each other."

E-Media Alum Shares LA Career Experience

Lisa Ripley Becker, an Electronic Media alum from UC's College-Conservatory of Music ('96), credits her UC education for helping her get started in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, California. She currently works as a Production Coordinator on the popular Fox TV series "Bones."

As a recipient of the Paramount Pictures Media Award, Lisa was able to intern and ultimately start her career in film and TV work in Los Angeles.

Lisa has a reputation as one of the best production coordinators in the business and also stays well-connected to UC in LA, having planned a recent CCM E-Media alumni gathering. Lisa is definitely Proudly Cincinnati! 

Lisa overlooking the Jeffersonian Lab where all the research
takes place on the Fox TV series "Bones."

Lisa sitting at Dr. Temperance Brennan’s desk at the Jeffersonian office set.

Lisa with TJ Thyne, who plays Dr. Hodgins on "Bones."

We want to hear about your cool job and how you got to be where you are today. Tell us about it below and we'll feature you next!

Dress to Impress To Land That Dream Job

Luccioni is a certified etiquette expert
and one of less than 100 certified image
professionals in the U.S.
(photo courtesy of uc.edu)

We all know you should never wear jeans and a ratty t-shirt to an interview. That's a given. But did you know, even if you think you look really nice and professional, the earrings you wear, or even certain colors you wear to a job interview can actually make or break your chances of being considered for the job? 

LisaMarie Luccioni, Communications professor in UC’s McMicken College of Arts & Sciences and Certified Image Professional, offers some quick and easy tips to help you dress to impress!

1.    Never underestimate the value and strategy of business clothing.
Lisa says: “There is a cost affiliated with your experience and degree, and you want to broadcast that with your appearance.”

2.    Buy fewer, better pieces
Lisa says: “I'd recommend spending more money on one or two good suits (or bottoms and coordinating jackets) than more garments of cheaper, inferior quality.  Not only do cheap garments visibly appear less impressive, they fall apart after several periods of dry cleaning.” On that note, consider using a clothing steamer instead of always dry cleaning.  Continual dry cleaning can wear material quicker.  Also, consider dry cleaning suit items together, so the colors remain consistent throughout wardrobe rotation.

3.    Dress for your industry
Lisa says: “My business students would have the expectation to dress in more conservative attire than perhaps a DAAP (design) student.  That said, even in business environments, there's flexibility in expectation.  An accounting/finance major is expected to cut a more conservative, trustworthy appearance (they deal with people's money and should communicate responsibility).  However, a marketing student in that same college has more flexibility in clothing choices.”

4.    Go with the basics
Lisa says: “Research shows that white and light blue shirts trump other colors in terms of credibility and professionalism.  Moreover, white goes with every color and is beautifully complimented by any color tie.  Women have more options on a job interview.  White and cream work, but pale yellow, peach, light blue, sage green, or even pale pink can work.”

5. Always inquire about dress expectation.
Lisa says: “If they say "business casual is appropriate," I'd follow up with a clarifying question of what that actually means.  Never fear asking questions.”

6.    Make sure you have a nice winter overcoat.
Lisa says: “Consider these investment pieces.  If you cannot afford one, perhaps ask for one as a holiday or birthday gift.”

7.    Shoes and accessories matter
Lisa says: “If you wear an elegant suit, but have scuffed shoes, you're not presenting visual consistency.  Women sometimes wear distractive jewelry (earrings, for example), that twirl and move as they talk.  Don’t. People DO notice shoes, watches and jewelry.  I'd invest in a nice leather or stainless steel watch rather than using a cell phone to tell time.  It's a nonverbal indication of punctuality.”

8.    Tailor your suits
Lisa says: “Very few people fit exactly into off-the-rack clothing.  Invest in a tailor who will make necessary adjustments so your clothes actually fit.”

9.    Invest in a leather portfolio and/or briefcase
Lisa says: “I’m partial to the leather portfolios from office supply stores that have retractable handles.  Not only do you now have visual representation of your work (resume, references, letters of recommendation, etc.), you look utterly streamlined with your polished suit and accompanying portfolio.”

Finally, Lisa offers some quick etiquette tips once you’re in the interview:

1.    Wait for a seat to be offered before you sit. 
The interviewer should send you signals:  "Please have a seat," to which you then respond, "Thank you." 

2.    Interviewers will often engage in small talk to establish rapport. 
Polish your conversational skills so you're perceived as a smooth, engaging conversationalist. If they ask you, "How were the directions?” Respond in a positive manner.  I don't care if you ended up in Idaho and the directions were actually confusing.  You want the interview to begin, progress, and end on a positive note.  Complaining about directions seems petty and gets the interview off to a bad start.

Do you have career search experience?  What are some good tactics you've used in the past?

Happy job hunting!