Online registration begins February 15 and ends February 26 at http://www.oswego.edu/TRD.  There is a $10 registration fee.  You must be registered to attend.  Due to the poor economy, there are fewer districts that will be in attendance, so there is a cap on registration.  Applications will not be accepted after February 26 and there is even a chance that registration could become full before February 26.  Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Okay. I know how addicting TheFaceBook.Com is. It’s so important that I even felt the need to add a respectful “the” in front of the address (it works if you try it.) It used to be a rite of passage, the day you finally signed up for Facebook, when you picked the college you would be attending after you graduated high school.

Almost as important as receiving your diploma, you finally received your college e-mail and signed up for Facebook immediately. Nowadays anyone can sign up, but it used to be strictly a college-based website, which is probably the reason so many newly college graduates are on it today. Facebook has become a true mirror or who you are for employers everywhere.

Facebook doesn’t have to be as harmful as it actually is. Changing your name could work, but keep in mind that posted pictures exactly that: posted. On the internet, for all to see. There’s nothing wrong with having a good time on a Saturday night, but do the pictures taken have to involve a beer bottle with its arm around all your friends?

Your page might be private, but keep in mind whoever else is in those pictures might not be private as well. Like my mother says: every picture tells a story. The next time you’re smiling in a picture, or not smiling, think of what kind of story you’re telling to your Facebook friends, or potential employers.

Post written by:  Hilary Rosen, SUNY Cortland Graduate

More and more young adults ages 16-24 are getting involved and helping others. In fact 8.2 million young adults were involved with volunteer activities in 2008 – an increase of roughly 500,000 people from the previous year (The Corporation for National and Community Service).

Each semester, students have the opportunity to meet with community agencies to secure service learning, volunteer positions or credit bearing internship positions at the “Volunteer/Civic Engagement Fair.” This semester’s event will be held Tuesday February 2, 4-5 PM in the Corey Union Exhibition Lounge. Past agency participants include Lime Hollow Center for Nature and the Environment, Family Counseling Services and the JM McDonald Sports Complex (to name just a few). Please mark your calendar and plan to join us!

For additional information, please visit the events page at SUNY Cortland.

       Smile big…

               Flash. 

Going out with friends is innocent enough when you are in control and playing it safe, but pictures don’t lie. The internet has become a large piece of society’s socialization and our generation in particular has become obsessed with quickly taking as many digital pictures as possible, and posting them online even faster. We have slowly become our own paparazzi, posting unflattering pictures for anyone to see, especially potential future employers.

Would you hire someone who posed in a picture with a large pink stain on her shirt, sweaty with dance moves? Or the party hero who could do a keg stand for more than thirty seconds? Employers everywhere are more interested in who you really are online as opposed to who you say you are on an application.

Brand-Yourself.Com is a website made for the potential future employee, before they apply for a job. It helps build up a good name for yourself and show who you really are. Instead of being “that person” on Saturday night everyone just needed to take a picture of, Brand Yourself gives you the opportunity for positivity on the internet. According to the website, 83% of employers today will Google their applicant’s names. 43% of employers will base their decision on what they find.

Signing up is free, giving you your own online profile and helping you establish a professional existence on the internet. Although Facebook and MySpace are entertaining social networks, when it comes time to being serious, how do you want to be seen?

Alumni video by Kevin Kliszczewicz

Just because your page is set to the highest privacy level does not mean employers can’t obtain access. CareerBuilder.com explains that more than twenty-two percent of employers admit to looking at the networking sites of their job applicants. Employers are not necessarily looking for inappropriate content either; sometimes they’re looking for a person’s sense of style and personality. For this reason, networking sites can actually help out an applicant if he or she has content that portrays positive qualities.

Photos are not the only target, though they can be a key focus. Having photos showing a fun personality is beneficial, as long as they don’t go too far, i.e.: depicting drinking, drugs, risqué clothing/behavior, or illegal activities. Posting photos of family and friends, volunteer work, or hobbies will help an employer see the life beyond the resume in a positive light.   

Groups and causes are equally as important. You may have forgotten what crazy groups you joined four years ago when you signed up, but this part of your profile can tell an employer a lot about who and what you want to be associated with. If you’re interested in environmental issues, join a sustainability group. If you like to play guitar, join a music lovers group. You can even create your own event page to raise money for a cause you feel passionate about. Being a member of a group like, “My BAC is higher than my GPA” will speak for itself.    

Use the site’s tools and applications to your advantage! Just because you’re on a site like Facebook.com doesn’t mean an employer will count you out (in most cases). Think of your content as a résumé, or even as an interview. Would someone get an accurate idea of who you are and want to hire you based on what he sees and reads? If the answer is no, you may want to make changes before you start applying for jobs. And remember, unless your friends list is private, anyone can gain access to it. The friends you associate with can leave a lasting impression on employers as well.

For more information check out “Social Networking Dos and Don’ts” by Mike Hargis of  www.careerbuilder.com .

Choose the right people.
Having a large pool of trustworthy references to choose from can make your life a little easier. Pick at least five people who know you from different settings, and who can talk about your character, abilities, and work ethic. For example, a professional reference could be someone who knows you from a work setting, like a boss or manager. An educational reference could be a teacher or coach. A personal reference could be a neighbor or family friend. Pay attention to job listings because many specifically request professional or educational references. Avoid listing family members. Many hirers will not consider them. After all, Mom might say anything to get you the job.

Give a heads up.
Some people will be more than happy to act as your reference. Others may not know enough about you to answer the questions an employer might ask. If you want a reference from someone you currently work with, like a manager, make sure that person is allowed to speak on your behalf; some companies have policies against giving references. It’s always best to ask the person politely if they feel comfortable speaking about you to an employer. Do not be offended if you are turned down; it’s better to find out before you list the person’s contact info!

A little prep goes a long way.
Inform your references! Let them know what type of job you are applying for ahead of time. If you are applying for a job with which you have little to no experience, then your reference may be able to talk about what a fast learner you are in the classroom, or maybe even discuss how your determination on the soccer field carries over into everything you do! Don’t let your references be taken by surprise, they may not be able to think fast when Sally from Pets-R-Us calls asking about your experience with parakeets.      

Follow up.
Always thank your references, especially if you find out they ultimately helped get you the job. Go the extra step and send a short note or card thanking them. You never know when you might need to ask for their help again, so let them know they are appreciated!

With great references to back you up, you are ready to go into the interview process with confidence. Stay tuned to the CS blog and check out how I fare in the mock interview later this semester. I hope this post was useful. Thanks for reading!

I found a lot of great info for this post here. Check it out!