5 tips for better networking at events

This advice goes against the grain...

from Jun Loayza in Personal Branding Blog

How great is our advising? It's AMAZING . . . and other words!

Here's a Wordle create from our advising comments at our AU Career Center exit kiosk this academic year. Out came our names and titles, and in came the compliments!

And you can create your own by visiting http://www.wordle.net/.

Employers turning to Co-ops/Internships?

Chris Pratt kindly sent this out on our CEIA listserve, referencing a NY Times piece, Recession Could Boost Co-Op Education which says

The recession could give new life to co-operative education," as
"cautious employers 'increasingly see that hiring a co-op graduate is a good strategy, since they know they are getting someone with experience,'" according to Paul Stonely, president of the National Commission for Cooperative Education (NCCE). . . According to NCCE data, "Nationally, 95 percent of co-op students that participate in co-operative education have a job when they graduate," and "more than 60 percent accept permanent jobs from the employers for whom they worked while in school." Companies, meanwhile, also benefit monetarily "because co-op employees do not receive health insurance or other benefits.

Structured internship programs may be similar. Stay tuned.

Photo by madebytess

Young and Old Are Facing Off for Jobs

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — This city has become a front line in a generational battle for jobs, as older workers increasingly compete against applicants in their 20s for positions at supermarkets, McDonald’s and dozens of other places. And older workers seem to be winning.

Full New York Times article here

Demystifying the Federal Job Search

BRAVO to our very own Travis Sheffler and THANK YOU for your fabulous overview of the federal government search and application process! If you missed it, here's his presentation that he tailored for us, with a link here to his presentation for students.

Electronic Portfolios: a Path to the Future of Learning

If we truly want to advance from a focus on teaching to a focus on student learning, then a strategy involving something like electronic student portfolios, or ePortfolios, is essential.

From the Chronicle of Higher Education

Faculty Speed Dating

For all of their big ideas, sometimes faculty are a bit like wallflowers at a high school dance; they need a little push to make the first move. So it’s perhaps no surprise that the University of Southern California is using “speed dating” techniques to encourage professors to work together across disciplines.

From insidehighered.com

Stimulus bars hiring of some foreign workers

From the Philadelphia Inquirer

An extraordinarily difficult job market has darkened further for foreign business students looking to get into the American banking industry...

...Patricia Rose, director of career services at the University of Pennsylvania, said the school knew of two students who saw job offers rescinded as a result of the provision.

Full Story Here

Non-profit retail sales plummet

Non-Profit Times, March 16, 2009

Nonprofit-Related Sales Plummet

By Michele Donohue

Consumers might have just had enough of buying coffee, wristbands and anything else from
nonprofit organizations - in stores, on the Web or anywhere else.

In a national survey by The NonProfit Times conducted during January, only 23 percent of
survey respondents made a purchase from a charitable organization, a 43 percent nosedive
from when the same question was asked during the same time period three years ago.

The surveying was conducted for The NonProfit Times both times by Opinion Research Corporation. The question was identical and polling was performed during the same time frame.

And for those who blame the economy for the decline in nonprofit sales -- retail sales
overall decreased only 6.4 percent from January 2006 to December 2008.

All retail sales for January 2006 were nearly $326.2 billion, compared to December 2008 at
nearly $305.4 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Retail sales for January 2009 were not available before publication. When they are buying it tends to be at a consumer
location, rather than directly from the charity. In the survey completed this past January, 13
percent said they bought something at a consumer retail location compared to 8 percent at the
charity's retail location.

Women were slightly more inclined in 2009 to make the purchases, at 26 percent, compared to men, at 20 percent, across all buying locations. Women also made double the purchases men did online at the consumer retail Web site (6 percent to 3 percent) and the charity's Web site (2 percent to 1 percent) in 2009.

Those in the middle of the age categories seemed more likely to make a charitable purchase in the new study. Ages 35 to 44 had the highest response (29 percent), followed by ages 55 to 64 (22 percent) and ages 45 to 55 (25 percent). The 18 to 34-year-old demographic reached 21 percent, beating out the 65 and older demographic at 17 percent.

The conventional wisdom that those with greater household incomes would be more prone to make charitable purchases did not hold up in the 2009 survey. Household income from $75,000 to $100,000 had the best number at 33 percent, followed closely by those with household incomes of $35,000 to $50,000 at 29 percent, which beat the $50,000 to $75,000 (21 percent) and $100,000 or more (24 percent). Household incomes from $35,000
and less came in at 18 percent.

Between 2006 and 2009, the largest decrease for charity purchases in age demographic came from the 65 plus group with 46 percent, followed by ages 18 to 34 at nearly 45 percent and ages 45 to 54 by nearly 44 percent.

The West saw the largest decrease from 2006 to 2009 in purchases, nearly 50 percent, followed by North Central area with 44 percent and the Metro area with nearly 44 percent.

Purchases at special events decreased more than 63 percent from 2006, followed by consumer retail, down nearly 57 percent. Retail overall decreased 44 percent.

Online faired better than in-person purchases, with only a 21 percent overall decrease, but only 6 percent of the respondents bought something online.

Regarding household income, those with less than $35,000 showed a 55 percent decrease in
charitable purchases, followed by those making $50,000 to $75,000 with a 50 percent drop. Those making more than $75,000 decreased only 18 percent.

While the sluggish economy in 2008 and the start of 2009 certainly plays a role in all purchasing, not just cause marketing, another reason for some of the cause marketing slowdown could be part of the "ribbon-ization of America," according to Carol Cone, chairman and founder of Boston-based Cone.

Awareness pieces, like magnetic car ribbons, are not effective enough to stand on their own
according to Cone, who described the trend as"passé. It's over. It's DOA."

She said, "Anybody can add a ribbon onto anything. The question is whether it will be
effective. And why are you doing it? If you are doing it just to join the bandwagon, that wagon
is long gone."

Several charitable trends have also peaked and now fallen since the 2006 survey, which could contribute to the declines, according to Paul Schervish, director of the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy at Boston College. The Lance Armstrong Foundation launched the LIVESTRONG bracelets in 2004 and by 2005 sold more than 55 million, and on the wrists of everyone from Oprah to the neighborhood deli owner.

Other charities tried to capitalize on the LIVESTRONG success without producing the same
results -- people only have so much room on their wrists. "So, some of us don't wear them and one thing is just the phenomenon of saturating, or satisfying, the market," said Schervish.
"Some retailers are moving away from selling custom items that benefit charities and are doing more in terms of soliciting contributions at checkout," said David Hessekiel, founder and
president of Cause Marketing Forum. He explained that programs where donations come directly from the consumer cuts down on specialty goods that might not sell.

Hessekiel said the economy might also affect what nonprofits potential partner companies will most likely seek out. "Because of the economic crisis, I believe many companies will shift their cause focus toward groups helping people with basic needs such as hunger, clothing, housing and medical care," he said. "I think you'll see more nonprofits positioning their work to emphasize how they are helping people get through these difficult times."

According to Karen White, director of corporate relations for Susan G. Komen For The Cure, "As the economy goes, so does our business in cause marketing in terms of the industries that are really experiencing declines right now. That translates directly in the cause marketing realm."

Instead of cutting cause marketing, nonprofits want to amp up the cause marketing game by
strengthening the quality and quantity of company partnerships. Cause marketing programs are mirroring the economy. Fashion, auto and luxury cause marketing programs seem to be down, according to White, while other programs are thriving.

Susan G. Komen hit the 10-year mark with partner Yoplait - and hit it hard. For the Save Lids to
Save Lives program, Yoplait promised to give 10 cents to the Dallas-headquartered nonprofit for every specially-branded yogurt lid sent in, up to $1.5 million. The 2008 campaign received more than 16.3 million lids, more than the anticipated goal.

"I think the key to fundraising is multiplying yourself through others. Our partnerships give us
multiple points of contact with consumers, from checking out at registers to reading banner ads donated by our online partners. This enables us to get in front of a large audience with our
message," said David McKee, interim CEO and acting COO of St. Jude's Children's Hospital
fundraising arm American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities, Inc. (ALSAC).

St. Jude's held its fifth Thanks and Giving campaign from Thanksgiving to New Years through
corporate partners such as Target and CVS/pharmacy. The campaign included cashiers
asking customers to donate $1 when they checked out. The campaign saw roughly double-digit growth from some partners, according to McKee. St. Jude's partnership with restaurant chain Chili's had a similar formula for the Create-A-Pepper campaign, which asked customers to purchase a chili picture to color for $1.

"Because retail was facing such a bad year, I think St. Jude became a positive part of the
holiday for the more than 50 partners that participate in our annual Thanks and Giving
campaign," said McKee. "I think they worked very, very hard for us to raise money that helps St.
Jude continue to find cures and save children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases."

The Thanks and Giving campaign raised more than $120 million during the past five years for St. Jude's. Chili's has a $50 million commitment to St. Jude's across 10 years and had raised $18.7 million for the organization by 2008, including the pepper coloring and designating a day to donate 100 percent of participating restaurant sales.

Corporate partner Hickory Farms asked consumers to add $1 to purchases for Share Our Strength during the holidays and received more than $100,000 for the hunger organization. The campaign was integrated through Hickory Farms' Web site, mall kiosks and catalogues, which made the branding "seamless," according to Chuck Scofield, chief development
officer at Washington, D.C.-based Share Our Strength.

"I think asking the consumer to donate is a great way to get people involved in a difficult
economy. You give a dollar and those dollars add up pretty quickly," said Scofield.

He explained that the organization was posed to increase some cause marketing campaigns and launch several more throughout the year. Scofield said that the organization has historically worked with the culinary industry but wanted to grow "at every different angle," especially since childhood hunger is a growing issue with the economy.

***

This article is from NPT Weekly, a publication of The NonProfit Times

Despite poor economy, employers willing to pay more for media-savvy hires

From Employee Benefit News

By Kathleen Koster

March 9, 2009

The vast majority of employers are willing to pay higher salaries to new hires skilled in new media, according to a Ball State University study.

The Indiana university found that of the 229 firms interviewed, 67% were inclined to add 1% to 4% to these new hires' pay, and an additional 23% were willing to ante up 5% to 8% more

The Gen Y Guide to Effective Job Search Networking

Listen to this free web interview on Wednesday, March 11:

During this lively and fun teleseminar, participants will discover how to:

• Get on a recruiter's radar screen
• Build relationships after the first contact
• Follow up without being a pest
• Avoid some of the pet peeves that recruiters and employers have about Gen Y networking technique

If you miss it live, you can access the mp3 recording up to 30 days afterward.

From Center for Media Research
Monday, March 9, 2009

Web Users Shaping Consumer Opinion

According to a new study from Netpop Research:

• 105 million Americans contribute to social media
• Social networking has grown 93% since 2006
• 7 million Americans are "heavy" social media contributors (6+ activities) who connect with 248 people on a ‘one to many' basis in a typical week
• 54% of micro-bloggers post or "tweet" daily
• 72% of micro-bloggers under age 18 post or "tweet" daily

Global Recession Is Not All Bad News for International Educators

Worldwide, economies are grinding to a halt. Property values are plummeting. And stock markets are in the tank. Bad news, you might think, for American colleges searching abroad for students.

Not necessarily. At a meeting Tuesday of senior international-education administrators, several participants said that the declining world economy, combined with ever-increasing demand for higher education, may actually lead to international-enrollment increases at American colleges. And anecdotally, at least, several universities reported that applications are up for the fall.

Full Story Here

(This is the conference for which I helped find volunteers last year when it took place in Washington.--John)

Recycle Responsibly with Gazelle.com

Get Cash For Your Gadgets at gazelle.com!

Not only does this seem to be a way for us to be green, at home and inthe AUCC, but maybe we could even raise money by partnering with them. Here's what they say they do . . .

Gazelle wants to change the world – one cell phone, one laptop, one iPod at a time.

It is our purpose – and our promise – to provide a practical, rewarding way for people to finally rid themselves of all those old cell phones, digital cameras, and gaming systems that they no longer use, but can’t seem to find a way to let go of.

Too often when people think of recycling, they rush straight to smashing things into bits for parts. We believe that reuse should always come first. If your GPS unit still works, why not keep it in circulation AND get paid for it? If reusing isn’t in the cards, then let us recycle that vintage camcorder. We think of it as ReCommerce.

Yeah, we’re green.Green for you with dollars in your pocket. Green for the environment with fewer electronics being trashed.

It’s good to Gazelle. That’s our promise.

Volunteer your way into a new job

The current recession has turned almost all of us into career counselors for our family, friends, and even the person sitting next to us on the train as we go to work.

...volunteering some of your time to a favorite non-profit or even a small business is a great way to find a new job.

Full Story Here

Naomi Baron: Her Media Mentions

We are so fortunate to have Dr. Baron join our advisor meeting on 4/16. We're already emailing back and forth some of the coverage she's received in the media. Here's a selection . . .

1. The Washington Post: 6,473 Texts a Month, But at What Cost?
2. Joint Winner of the 2008 Duke of Edinburgh ESU English Language Book Award
3. Science Daily: Being 'Always On' Impacts Personal Relationships More Than It Impacts The Written Language
4. Los Angeles Times: Killing the written word by snippets
5. The Seattle Times: OMG! Teens' lives being taken over by texting
6. WUSA9: STD E-Cards Provide Anonymity
   
   

Short Study-Abroad Trips Can Have Lasting Effect, Research Suggests

The length of time students study overseas has no significant impact on whether they become globally engaged later in life, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, a conclusion that is sure to add fuel to the already fiery debate over the efficacy of increasingly popular short-term study-abroad programs.

The findings of the Study Abroad for Global Engagement project, presented here on Thursday at the annual conference of the Forum on Education Abroad, suggest that students who go overseas for a short period of time, four weeks or less, are just as likely as those who study abroad for several months or even a year to be globally engaged.

Full Story Here

It's 2009: Do You Know Where Your Web Site Is?

Campus PR officers have been slow to exploit the potential of the Internet

The struggles of print media to adapt to the Internet age have been well documented. The implications of the Web for campus public-relations officers, in contrast, have received scant attention. But our day of reckoning has come.

We have two main issues to consider: Our Web sites represent a potent delivery system for disseminating stories about our institutions. Conversely, the gradual demise of daily newspapers means that we have fewer traditional opportunities to publicize our work.

Full Story Here

Agencies kick off recruiting surge

By STEPHEN LOSEY

February 08, 2009

Across the nation, the job picture is gloomier by the day. Not so at the State Department. Or the FBI. Or the Border Patrol. Or many other federal agencies.

The government is hiring thousands of employees — to replace retiring feds, to supplement undersized staffs, and to take up new government priorities. Among the hot sectors: veterans’ health, border security, acquisition, diplomacy, law enforcement and intelligence. And the stimulus package before Congress, once passed, will certainly fuel more hiring.

Full Story Here

Job hunting for introverts

If networking drives you nuts and you tend to think a while before you respond to interviewers' questions, you may find a job search especially difficult. Here's what to do.