Thanksgiving Break!

At long last... An entire week off! A whole week to just hang around, not worry about school or work, maybe shop a little...

Wait a minute.

The LAST thing you want to do over Thanksgiving is ignore your career goals. Use this time wisely and these kinds of breaks can be effective for you. Many students come to us near the end of the semester saying 'I should have come in here earlier, but I was busy'. Next week is a great opportunity for some self-directed career research.

Here are a few actionable tips to get you started:

• Research companies and industries: Take the time to surf the web and learn about careers and professions in different industries you might be interested in. Think about your hobbies - what companies are associated with those activities? It's easier than you think, and EVERY organization has a business component of one kind or another. Maybe you like to watch sports - Lots of opportunities there (don't forget about the league office as well!). Perhaps you hunt - Consider working for a firearms maker or clothing company. Fashion your thing? There are lots of opportunities in the design houses and retail outlets...
  
• Check out Vault and WetFeet: These are two great services that (as a College of Business student) you have access to! Check them out at http://placement.cba.siu.edu/resources.html.
• Network, network, network: Let your family, your extended family, your friends, THEIR families know what's going on with you and what you are looking to do. When your Uncle asks how school is going don't just say 'OK, I guess... Pass the turkey', but consider 'It's going well - my main focus now is actually an internship for next summer - Do you know of any companies I should apply to?'
• Update your eRecruiting profile: Your profile on eRecruiting gets used when potential employers search for certain parameters, such as GPA, career orientation, skills, etc... Go to http://siucba.experience.com and get this updated next week!
• Make plans to visit the Business Placement Center: We're here for you. After break come by Rehn 113 and introduce yourself!