Career Success

I have been with Harrison as the first Director of Career Services for the online division of Harrison College (one of Indiana's Best Places to Work) since August 2006.  Prior to joining the team at Harrison, I worked in Purdue University's Center for Career Opportunities.  I have an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Management and Human Resources and a BA from Dartmouth College in English (so now you know what English majors do with their degrees.) 

I had considered different Human Resource Careers, but chose to work in career services after completing my MBA because I enjoy helping people move on to the next step in their careers.  I have a special interest in how social media/web 2.0 is changing how people look for jobs. 

Networking is a crucial part of job search and career development.  However, many people are stuck on how to get started.  In working with job seekers, I find that they get stuck on the word networking and have trouble breaking it down into smaller, actionable steps. 

One great way to get started networking is to join a professional association.  Professional associations bring together people who have a shared interest in a particular work function or industry.  There are others that are for professionals who live in the same geographic area.  Professional associations usually have meetings for members to attend and learn more about a relevant topic as well as to meet other members. 

Once you identify an organization of interest, commit to a time-based, actionable goal that you are likely to follow through on, such as attending two meetings by yourself in the next two months.  Attending by yourself makes it more likely that you will make an effort to talk to others at the meeting rather than sticking by the side of the person you came with.

Some good resources for identifying professional associations are the association directory on Weddles or doing a search for different positions on the Occupational Outlook Handbook on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (don't let the name scare you aware - it is a great job search resource).

Or you can check with others in your field.  For example, if you are interested in Human Resource Careers and were to talk with a human resources professional, that person would likely point you in the direction of the Society of Human Resource Management or SHRM.  Or, if you attend out Evansville college, you may be directed toward the Evansville Chamber of Commerce. 

Another option is to join an affinity group, such as an alumni association.  Harrison College's alumni association has over 400 members - if you are an alumni, please check out the Harrison College Alumni site for more information. . 

Harrison College was once again selected as one of Indiana's Best Places to Work.  As you may have read in previous posts, employees at each of the nominated companies were surveyed and their responses determined which companies were selected.

For job seekers, a list like this is a great way to build your target list of potential employers or to use in researching potential employers.  If a company in on a best places to work list (and there are a few different ones - there are others by city/state, profession or affinity group, such as best places to work for moms), check out the criteria as to how companies are selected.  If it is based on employee responses, such as the Indiana Best Places to Work list, you have good reason to believe that the organization treats their employees well.  And that is a great thing to know before you accept an offer!

Also, sharing that you saw the company on the list during an interview or in your cover letter, lets those involved in the hiring process know that you did your research and are interested in this company specifically.   Knowing that they are on your target list of potential employers and that you have done your research is impressive to any potential employer. 

So, if you are interviewing with Harrison College, whether the Fort Wayne College, Elkhart College, the Online Division, or any other campus, let your interviewer know that you saw us on the list of Best Places to Work in Indiana! 

Vist harrison.edu for current openings at Harrison College.

When you begin your program with Harrison, you should keep the end in mind - what do you want to do when you've finished your studies?  Is there a specific company that you've always dreamed of working for?  How will you move in the direction you are interested in? 

Today, the Internet offers a multitude of different tools that you can use to create your personal brand that will allow you to share your background and career interest with others.  For example, you could create a profile on LinkedIn that shares your plans to become a Medical Reimbursement Specialist or that you are pursuing an Online Business Finance Degree.  Or look for a blog that is written by someone who is interested in Human Resources Careers and add a comment to an entry that you find relevant to your own interests. 

Brainstorm on different websites that will help you to build the brand that you want to be know for.  Your goal is to make sure that whatever keywords an employer would use to look for someone with your background are associated with your name. That way, when an employer uses Google or another tool to search for job candidates, you are increasingly the possibility that she will find you. 

Do be careful that you Google (or use another search engine) your name on a regular basis so that you know what information is out there about you and are certain that it all reflects well on you and your capabilities.  If you know that there is negative information out there about you, you can take steps to remove or minimize it, which I will talk about in a future post.

Although creating an online brand can be useful, it isn't for everyone.  Be careful with the amount and type of information you share about yourself (never give anyone else your passwords or other personal information).  Only share as much information as you are comfortable sharing. 

If you are a current Harrison student and would like ideas on how to brand yourself online, contact the Career Services Staff at your campus.