Career Center

Eastern Washington University

Are there jobs for Liberal Arts students at the STEM Career Fair?

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The Science & Technology Career Fair is geared towards students and alumni in STEM related majors, however it is open to ALL students. There are 10+ companies that are looking for students and alumni in the Social Sciences and Humanities. Here are just some of the opportunities open to these students:

  • Washington State Department of Ecology – Policy Analysts, Planners, Communications Consultant, Training Consultant, Forms & Records Analyst, Logistics Taskforce, Litter Prevention Coordinator, Public Outreach Specialist
  • S. Army Corps of Engineers (must be a U.S. citizen) – Park Ranger (college education in natural resources OR history, archeology, anthropology, park and recreation management, law enforcement/police science, social sciences, museum sciences, business administration, public administration, behavioral sciences, sociology, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources.) Student Trainee – Contracts (Political Science, Economics). Visual Information Specialist, Archeologist, Archeologist/Historian
  • COPE Health Solutions – Health Care Workforce Development Program Manager
  • Engie Impact – Instructional Design, Marketing
  • STRATA Inc. – Marketing Coordinator
  • Stay Alfred – Data Entry, Hospitality, Management, Product Owner, Reservation Agents. They are pretty flexible with student schedules and are enthusiastic about hiring more Social Science and humanities students.
  • Lamb Weston – Marketing
  • Atlas Staffing – Hiring a Recruiter in Spokane.
  • Chief Architect Software – Marketing/Sales Professional
  • Fast Enterprises – Training Coordinator, Technical Communicator, Travel Coordinator Intern, Technical Writer Intern, Proposal Development Intern.
  • Highjump Software – Marketing, Technical Writer, eLearning Specialist

To learn more about the Science & Technology Career Fair and to find the full list of employers, visit:

ewu.edu/stemfair

FUSE Career Fair – Registration OPEN

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Eastern Washington University, Gonzaga University, Washington State University Spokane and Whitworth University have partnered to provide employers with an opportunity to meet with over 700 students from more than 120 bachelors, masters and doctoral programs in one location. This one-of-a-kind opportunity provides access to a network of over 20,000 current students and alumni. By attending the Fuse Career Fair (formerly the Partnership in Employment Career Fair) you will gain access to well-rounded talent with competitive internships and real world experience.

Learn more at fusecareerfair.com

Register Here

Fall Drop-In Hours

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Career Squad Image with Superhero Saying you Can Get Peer Help

Get peer help from our Career Squad on all the basics:

  • Resumes
  • Job & internship search
  • Interview tips
  • Career resources

Fall Quarter Hours

Tuesdays: 3pm – 5pm
Thursdays: 3pm – 5pm

@ the Career Center (PUB 332)

 

People needing accommodation should contact the Career Center at 509.359.6365 or careers@ewu.edu three business days before.

Computer Science & Career Fairs

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We talked with employers in a Twitter Chat about how Computer Science students can be more competitive at Career Fairs and in the job market. We hope that this chat removed some of the mystery and confusion that first-time fair go'ers can sometimes experience.

View the Full Twitter Job Chat: https://storify.com/ewucareers/ewujobchat-computer-science-and-career-fairs 

Some take-aways: Computer Science and Career Fairs

  1. Emphasize programming/technical skills as well as projects and their outcomes on your resume. Include links to examples when possible.
  2. Research the companies you’re interested in before arriving at a career fair.
  3. Dress professionally. Visit our pinterest page for examples.
  4. Make eye contact, smile, and say hello. Shake their hand, and introduce yourself.
  5. Be engaged by asking questions about the company that aren’t readily available on their website and by offering information about your abilities and passion for the field.
  6. Employers not only look at technical skills, but also soft skills such as communication, stress management, confidence, and love of learning. Show them you’re the real deal by displaying these traits while talking to them and by providing examples when it seems appropriate.
  7. Ask for a business card so you can follow-up with them after the fair.

 

Special thanks to the following employers:

 

Using Social Media to Boost Your Career

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Using Social Media to Boost Your Career

This Twitter Job Chat was full of great tips about how to use social media and technology to help your career. You can view a recap of the twitter chat at bitly.com/ewujobchat-6-15.

Here are a few takeaways from this chat: Social Media Icons

  • Employers are searching for more info about you including anything that might look like you might not fit into the organization’s culture and values.
  • Set accounts that are for personal use to “private” in your settings. However, privacy settings are not a safety net.
  • You’re going to be found online. Make sure it’s positive.
  • Don’t post anything you wouldn’t want your grandma to see (depending on the grandma).
  • Do a google search for your name to see what comes up. Remove anything questionable.
  • LinkedIn is a vital tool for job searches, recruiting and networking.
  • If an organization you’ve applied to visits your linkedIn profile, they are looking for more than what could fit on your resumé, so give them more.
  • Research companies that contact you thoroughly and ask detailed questions to help rule out spam.
  • One of the worst things you can do online is sharing personal beliefs in a way that’s meant to ignite hostility.
  • Follow organizations on Facebook and twitter. They may post jobs there.
  • Use Instagram to learn more about a company’s culture.
  • Use social media to research a company before an interview.
  • Social media, blogs, and websites can be a good way to showcase your expertise to potential employers.

Using LinkedIn to it’s full potential

  • Joining “groups” in a field of interest. You can get up to 425% more profile views by joining groups. (source)
  • Complete your summary section and by focusing on your skills and what you’ve done with them.
  • Use a professional photo.
  • Ask for LinkedIn references and endorsements from previous employers and colleagues.
  • Post articles and updates on LinkedIn that show your knowledge in your field.
  • Put links to projects within your profile to make it more engaging and meaningful.

What are some other career-boosting online tools other than Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin?

  • Google Alerts – Set up email alerts such as when your name is used online or when a company you like posts a new job in your field.
  • IFTT – Stands for “If this then that”. Create “recipes” that do tasks for you, such as “If I post on my blog, then post it on Facebook”.
  • mindsumo.com – Mini internships for college students.
  • grammarly.com – Chrome browser extension that alerts you to grammar issues on anything you write online.
  • Glassdoor – Get insight about companies from people who have actually worked there. You can also get salary info, search for jobs, and leave your own review.
  • Aftercollege.com – Job search engine that connects college students and alumni with employers
  • WordPress – If you’re lacking experience in your field, consider starting a blog to prove your knowledge in the field and include links to specific projects. Put the link on your resumé and LinkedIn profile.

 

“Remember, there are humans on the other side of computer-mediated communication. Treat everyone with respect.”
Lance Kissler, Digital Marketing Manager at STCU and Quarterly Faculty in Communication Studies at EWU

 

Special thanks to the following participants:

  • Sam Buzby (@WordOfBuzby) – Web Communications Consultant, EWU Marketing and Communications
  • Lance Kissler (@lkissler) – Digital Marketing Manager at STCU and Quarterly Faculty in Communication Studies at EWU
  • Jenica Jett (@jenicajett) – Marketing Specialist, EWU Career Services
  • Stu Steiner (@StuSteiner) – Senior Lecturer in Computer Science, EWU

 

Take out the unoriginal and really compete with your resume

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What everybody is saying in their resumé’s Skills section.
And regrettably, we do mean EVERYBODY.

If you are using unoriginal, nonspecific information in your Skills section, then you are not setting yourself apart from other candidates and wasting valuable space on your resume. You are listing information that will just get skipped over because it doesn’t provide any information to evaluate you with.

If you are using some of the following content, then it’s time to revamp your resume writing know-how: Chess pieces

  • A quick learner with the ability to adapt to new challenges
  • Communicate well with a wide range of people
  • Flexible and adaptable
  • Effective communication skills and interpersonal skills
  • Work well independently and in team projects
  • Excellent customer service skills
  • Self-motivated
  • Great at multi-tasking
  • Attentive to detail
  • Innovative thinker

Likely you are falling into a mind trap of thinking “I need to put down the qualities of what employers say they want. These are keywords that a computer will be screening for.” The truth is that hiring managers want you to tell them HOW you have these skills by implying them through how you describe EXAMPLES from your experience and education. And don’t forget to tailor it! Tell them what you’ve done and choose details and actions that are relevant to the work you would be doing in the position you are seeking. Take a look at these stronger examples:

  • Estimated design projects and workflow for a small landscaping company
  • 5+ years of large crowd management
  • Over 7 years of organizing, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data
  • Planned meetings and developed schedules for room use
  • Recruitment – assisted with interviewing and provided training for new employees
  • Fluent in Spanish, written and spoken
  • Proficient in Adobe design programs: Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign

Written by Shannon Turner

Making a Great First Impression

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We survived our first Twitter Job Chat! For those of you that missed it, never fear. Here are some main points we took away from the chat:

First Impressions First impressions - two people meeting

  • Smile.
  • Make eye contact.
  • Present yourself with confidence.
  • Dress appropriately – when in doubt, go business professional.
  • Make every interaction count, including the phone call to schedule an interview.
  • Practice professional interaction with your peers so you feel more comfortable in a professional setting.
  • Show interest in the conversation through verbal and non-verbal communication.
  • Make interviews a conversation.
  • Always act professionally when meeting new people. You never know who you’re talking to. They could be your next co-worker, supervisor, or connection to your dream job!
  • Arrive early to interviews and to your first day on the job.
  • Informational interviews help you learn about a profession, show that you are willing to go above and beyond, and help an employer get to know you.
  • Send handwritten thank you notes.
  • Take initiative and introduce yourself.
  • Ask questions relevant to the job.

Click here to view the #ewujobchat recap on storify

Special thanks to our participating employers for their valuable insight:

Brittany Buna, Former Recruiter at Fast Enterprises
Daphne Williams, HR Professional at Kauffman & Associates
Kimberly Davis, Director of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action at EWU