Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

"Is My Facebook Page Appropriate for Potential Employers To View?"



Looking for a job? You may also want to re-examine your Facebook page.
Don't be fooled...employers are prowling social network sites — such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter — to check on potential new hires.
“It can be a legitimate way to see if someone is a good fit for your company culture,” said Carol Barnett, a labor attorney with Polsinelli Shugart in St. Joseph.
Companies find the searches especially helpful for their open positions “It’s certainly less expensive, but it may not be the most reliable source for you,” Ms. Barnett said. H.R. surveys have found that 20% of respondents had researched a candidate on a social network and of those, about 20% had disqualified a candidate.
Some employers have actually fired workers over information that was posted on their social networks or personal blogs. Although employees have sued, claiming discrimination or violation of free speech, Ms. Barnett said most court rulings favor employers.
Career Services Advisors agree that social networks are becoming essential tools, especially since about 50% of adults have either a Facebook or MySpace account.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

VOLUNTEER WORK CAN SOMETIMES LEAD TO A JOB!


Yes, volunteer work could lead to job opportunities!
Organizations often look to pools of qualified volunteers when job openings become available. If you spend time volunteering with an organization, the folks there get to know you and your work ethic. Volunteering gives you the chance to showcase your skills and show your motivation.
Companies often look for people who are philanthropic minded. Dedicated volunteers who help others often transfer those traits to the workplace and are helpful to others there. We need more volunteers in this world, and the career pluses are a great benefit.

"SHOULD I WRITE A THANK YOU NOTE AFTER AN INTERVIEW?"


Writing a thank you letter after an interview is a must!

Plan to send out your thank you letters as soon as possible (preferably within twenty-four hours) after your interview.

Customize Your Thank You Letters

Writing a thank you note, it is best to keep your audience in mind. How about creating a “leave behind” thank you note?
Some surveys suggest than hiring managers like hand written thank notes. When you're not sure what to write, review sample of thank you letters on the internet to get ideas.
In addition to thanking the person you talked with, the thank you letter reinforces the fact that you want the job. Note: Even if you do not want the job, write a thank you letter respectfully withdrawing your application-- you never know what the future holds so don’t burn your bridges? Think of your thank you letters as follow-up "sales" letters. You can restate why you want the job, what your qualifications and skills are, how you might make contributions, and so on. This thank you letter is also the perfect opportunity to discuss anything of importance that the interviewer forgot to ask or that you neglected to answer as well, as you would have liked.

Please, Please, Please Don’t Forget to Proofread!

You must check spelling, grammar, typos, etc. Please have one or two people proofread your thank you letter, too. If in doubt about the correct names, spellings or titles of your interviewers, call the office to double-check. Your efforts will be worth it!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

WELCOME AiDallas Students!




Your career goals come into focus with the first job in your field after graduation.
The Career Services staff works with you to make that happen. The Career Services Department helps lay the foundation for your career search. A unique benefit of graduating from The Art Institute of Dallas is the graduate is afforded access to Career Services for up to six months after graduation. Most importantly, we provide graduates with the know how to conduct a successful job search: a skill you will use for a lifetime.

What we offer:

  • Experienced advisors to provide instruction on key job search skills; résume writing, interviewing, portfolio presentation and networking.
  • Job search assistance for students seeking part-time employment while completing his or her program of study.
  • One-on-one job search assistance for full-time employment in each graduates’ field of interest.
  • Career workshops, job fairs and on-campus recruiting to provide a forum for students and employers to interact.
  • Quarterly Portfolio Shows where employers meet new graduates and view their work.
  • Employer presentations and panel discussions, bringing up-to-date information on trends to The Art Institute community.
  • Alumni services, including online résume database and advanced-level job listings on the Alumni website.

Launching Your Career
A Career Services advisor is assigned to each program and is committed to knowing the industry and establishing relationships with a wide range of employers. Employers look to the Career Services advisors as a resource - by referring graduates who are a good match in skills and abilities to the employer's needs. This connection with employers and ability to match employer needs with graduate skills is only part of how the Career Services staff assists our students and graduates.

Career Services advisors connect with students through:

  • Career Development classes
  • mid-program review
  • classroom presentation
  • Career Service workshops
  • campus events

Another very important factor is the active role students/graduates take in their own job search. In both coursework and meetings with Career Services, students learn how to network, how to research a company, the importance of joining student clubs and organizations, how to write effective cover letters and résumes, and how to come out on top in job interviews.


Although The Art Institute offers no guarantee of employment, considerable effort is put forth to make sure every graduate has the opportunity to successfully begin their career in the field.