Share your research with kids

Think you know your research inside and out? Try presenting it to grade-schoolers! The Graduate School is looking for grad students to present their work in a fun, hands-on way to children in grades 2-6 at Adventures in Education on Saturday, April 19. This family-focused event at Jesse Hall is a part of our week-long celebration of Graduate Education Week April 14-19.

Please contact us at gradwebeditor@missouri.edu if you are interested in presenting or providing help with the event.

Showing your professional side - online

You probably have a Facebook or MySpace page. I've got both, and I love my online network. But if I were in the market for a job, these would not be the pages I would want my prospective employers to stumble across. (Although compared to many, they are quite tame.)

Enter Yahoo Kickstart. This is a free online network similar to Facebook and MySpace, but it is a place for you to put your professional side forward. Basically, it's a free online resume. Nice.

Tell prospective employers where you've worked and where you've gone to school. Then network with people and companies, and affiliate yourself with groups. You can view other MU profiles if you choose "Colleges" from the drop-down search menu, and then enter University of Missouri-Columbia.

These days, when you apply for a job, expect to get Googled. In preparation, Google yourself and see what you come across. Adjust the privacy settings of your Facebook and MySpace pages if they have the potential to reveal embarrassing drunken photos, etc. And try to get your name out on the Web in places that highlight your achievements, rather than telling the world how much fun you had on Saturday night. (Though I'm glad you had a good time.)

Jobby-Job Thoughts for Those About to Get Real Jobs

Seems like 4 out of 5 graduate students in my life are looking for a job. And I know from listening to them how hard it can be. Honestly, I'm really not listening that often. They sure do talk about it a lot, though. At least I think that's what they are talking about. So, in the interest of my job seeking friends, I present a few links that will make you feel like you are working on getting a job, even though you are just reading articles on the internet. And I'm pretty sure one of the things I've learned from my friends is that the important part is not actually looking for a job, but just feeling like you looked for a job. So, by simply reading this blog post, you've had a good day on that front. But first, a few interview questions to prepare for..

• What is your greatest stength/weakness?
• Tell me about a time you failed/did something creative/succeeded.
• If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
• Why are manhole covers round? (I actually go this one once)
• If they would have us believe that Han didn't shoot first, how did Greedo manage to miss?

And finally, a few semi-helpful links...

• What else can I do? (Non-academic jobs for PhDs)
• Finding an Academic Job
• Career Builder.com

Make a Life List

My dad recently finished a 500-mile bike race—an impressive feat, to say the least. In addition to being proud of his great accomplishment, this got me to thinking: what goals would I like to accomplish in my own life? Not broad goals, such as having a career I love and a family, but specific goals like completing a 500-mile bike race. What, I wondered, would I put on my own life list?

Having a life list inspires you to accomplish things you wouldn’t otherwise do—you may think snorkeling in the Great Barrier reef would be lovely given the chance, but if you put it on your life’s to do list, you’re more likely to take the action needed to realize that goal.

WebMD has a good article on setting attainable life goals and the benefits of doing so. Read this article from the New York Times to learn about the increasing popularity of “Life Lists” (and the impending movie about two cancer patients who set off to accomplish the goals on their own life lists).

After you’ve read a little about what life lists are and why you should have one, get to work on your own. I’m in the process of writing mine right now. I’ve also picked out which goal I’ll tackle first: running a marathon. So here’s to living life to to the fullest (and here’s to me completing that marathon next year)!

Photo courtesy of Flickr user wili_hybrid.

Career Fairs on Campus

I have a confession: I am a chronic career fair abuser. Not that I attend numerous career fairs, but I’ve discovered that I’ve been making some fatal errors at the fairs I do attend. For the serious job seeker, career fairs are not to be approached with a “let’s-just-see-what’s-here” approach. Doing research on the companies you’re interested in, as well as positions and programs at the company, is vital for getting useful information from a company representative. The point of a career fair is to make contact with your companies of interest, so in subsequent communications you can reference your contact from the fair. It essentially gives you an “in” when you go through the formal job application process later on. Learn about other ways to get the most out of a career fair here.

After you learn how to avoid the mistakes I’ve been making, attend some career fairs. Although most career fairs on campus are program-specific (meaning you can’t attend if you are not in that major), there are two big ones coming up that are open to all MU students. The Business Career Fair, held on September 21 at the Hearnes Center, is one of the largest on campus and has over 100 companies hiring for a wide variety of positions. The College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources also has a large fair, held on September 26 at the Student Rec Center. Register for the CAFNR fair and learn about program-specific career fairs at HireMizzouTigers.

Still not convinced a career fair is a time-worthy event? Read this article from Business Career Services on why you should attend a career fair.

4 Tips for Turning Yourself into a Brand

OK, so you may be gearing up for another school year and have nothing but classes on your mind, but it’s never too early to begin thinking about your career. Whether that career involves academia or the corporate world, you’ll be more successful in the job search if you know how to “brand” yourself. This article from the DesignersMind Blog outlines the process for turning yourself into a brand, which involves creating a professional profile (one little-known section of a resume that really gets potential employers' attention) and marketing yourself.

Of course, the idea of branding oneself does not just apply to the job hunt; you can also use the principle to land a graduate assistantship, internship or clients in a freelancing business. Best of luck as you gear up for the new school year and turn yourself into a successful brand!

How to Land an Assistantship or Fellowship

I see assistantships and fellowships as the ultimate windfall. Maybe it's because I love my own assistantship, but it's also nice to receive a tuition waiver and a stipend. It's the ideal situation. So how do you get in on the deal? I'll tell you—but first let me give you a little background.

Definition of Assistantships and Fellowships

Both assistantships and fellowships are appointments given to graduate students for the purpose of professional development and financial assistance. An appointment might consist of teaching, research, or assisting in an array of activities on campus. Students who work 10–20 hours per week (.25 and .50 full time employees, or FTE) at a qualifying assistantship or fellowship receive a tuition fee waiver, and students also receive a stipend for their work.

How to Land an Assistantship or Fellowship

Academic programs generally hand out assistantships to incoming students based on the students' qualifications and availability of positions. However, all is not lost if you're not offered a position upon entering grad school. HireMizzouGrads.com is a good place to search for available assistantships. Asking around is a good idea, too: let your career services, program office staff and faculty know you're looking for an appointment and they'll likely have you in mind if something comes up. I found my assistantship through a journalism alumni list serve (my undergraduate degree is from the J-School), so don't forget to put the word out in your professional networking groups as well.

How to Keep an Assistantship or Fellowship

Of course, it's not a matter of finding a position and cruising on through with a fee waiver until you graduate. There are requirements regarding minimum GPA, academic progress, and a maximum number of semesters you may receive a tuition waiver. Visit the Graduate School Catalog to learn about specific stipulations, as well as benefits, that apply to assistantships and fellowships.

So You Want to Work in Academia?

According to a Preparing Future Faculty Manual, approximately 50 percent of doctoral graduates pursue academic careers. However, many studies show that doctoral students could be better prepared to compete for and secure a job in academia. This is exactly why Preparing Future Faculty was created: to equip doctoral students with the tools they need to be superior faculty. PFF was established by the Council of Graduate Schools, the Association of American Colleges and Universities, the Pew Charitable Trust and the National Science Foundation in 1993, and a PFF initiative began on the Mizzou campus in 2001. The program helps doctoral students explore different faculty roles, improve their teaching skills and establish a network of professional colleagues, among other things.

So if you're a doctoral or post-doctoral student who has any interest in working in academia, why not get involved with PFF here at Mizzou? Designated PFF Fellows attend monthly seminar meetings during the course of one academic year, develop a portfolio, attend two or more career seminars per semester and visit two or more partner institutions. All of these activities help you develop professionally and give you the opportunity to explore different academic career options. Mizzou's Academic Job Searches Weg page also provides helpful links to articles, Web sites and books related to academic job searches. Or, you can read about the national PFF organization and explore some of their resources as well.

Think you don't have to worry about your intellectual property?

We've all heard the horror stories about faculty taking credit for graduate student work - okay, I have. Looks like some students at Carleton University in Ottawa are doing something about it. They've launched an initiative to educate grad students about how to safeguard their intellectual property while making sure they get credit for their work.

Probably not something on your radar right now, but with copyright issues becoming more common, frequent dissemination of research over the internet and the commercialization of research, maybe it should be...

Tips for Landing an Internship: Part II

Yes, this is Part II of the Landing an Internship posts, but this one will be short and sweet, I promise. First, I'm going to recommend that everyone read “What Color is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career Changers.” Although it is aimed primarily at job hunters, the advice is invaluable for internship and future job seekers alike--really. This book has been published since long before I was born (1970, in fact), is updated annually and was listed as one of the Library of Congress' Center for the Book “25 Books That Have Shaped Readers' Lives.” Like I said, a great place to start.

The author of Parachute, Dick Bolles, also maintains a Web site designed to supplement his book, Jobhuntersbible.com. In both his book and his Web site, Bolles notes that less than 10% of job-hunters obtain a job through the Internet--meaning in part that networking is not only more effective than Internet searches, but also a vital component of job and internship hunts. Here are what some MU students have to say about how they found their own internships:

Arielle Whitmer, a first-year Master of Business Administration student, landed an internship at MarketSphere Consulting in Kansas City for the coming summer.

“I found out about the MarketSphere internship through the College of Business' Career Fair last fall. I was able to talk quite a bit with their recruiter, Greg Davis, and he kept in touch with me all the way up until the regular interview process started. I had heard a little bit about MarketSphere before, but nothing more than it is a growing consulting agency.”

Lauren Spath, a graduate student in the Harry S. Truman School of Public Affairs, found an internship in the Environmental Protection Agency during the summer of 2006. Spath says she found her internship through contacts:

“I actually got this internship because the director in the office in which I worked is a Truman School alumn and came to the school looking for summer help…My advice would be to stay in touch with alumn, new and old, and use those contacts. Don't be afraid to reach out and ask for help.”

So hopefully by now you're getting an even clearer picture of the necessity of networking. Now that you are fully equipped to find a great internship, get out there and get at it! And, of course, let me know when you decide what color your parachute is.

Creating a Great Resume

Although it is probably safe to assume that everyone has at least a rough resume prepared at this point in life, it is also likely that everyone's resume could use some tweaking (if not a complete overhaul!). This week's post is not an advice column on writing a great resume; rather, it is a compilation of the best Internet resources for resume writing, creation and design. Enjoy!

Resume Advice

To get a broad idea of what to include and what to focus on in your resume, check out The Rockport Institute's “How to Write a Masterpiece of a Resume.” Though the amount of information in this article might seem overwhelming, it is full of essential advice that makes it worth your while to read through at least once. Quintessential Careers, a site for career and job-search advice, also offers several articles on resumes. The most useful includes ten easy tips for improving your resume.

Choosing a Resume Style

There are a variety of resume styles ranging from chronological, to functional, to a hybrid approach. To find out more about each, as well as their respective advantages and disadvantages, check out the Wall Street Journal's CareerJournal. Under the “How Can We Help You?” section and Resume tab, choose “Browse Resume Styles.” Vault.com also offers a list of sample resumes by occupation and industry which is quite helpful.

Resume Buzzwords

You may have heard that there are words that your resume must include to make it past the initial screening process. You may have also heard that certain words doom your resume to the “not interested” pile. While it is certainly possible to go overboard with worrying about using the right buzzwords and avoiding the wrong words, it is helpful to be aware of the issue. CNN.com has an article titled “25 Words That Hurt Your Resume” that gives some good advice on why you should avoid certain words.

Writing the Resume

Once you understand the basics of how to write a resume, you'll want to begin constructing (or updating) your own. In order to create a great resume, it is particularly important to keep a record of your accomplishments, achievements and involvement in activities as they occur. The Graduate Student Progress System is a valuable tool for keeping track of such events. After logging in for the first time, you are prompted to enter some basic information. Clicking on the home tab following that will awaken the other menu options, which include awards and honors, service acts, presentations and more. Once you input your information, you can generate resume from that data.

Another good resource for creating your resume is Emurse.com, which is a free online tool. This site allows you to create and update your resume online, as well as publish your resume to a personal site hosted by Emurse.com. You are also able to keep track of the job search by cataloging both your on- and offline activity. Emurse.com also informs you of when and where employers are viewing your resume, allows you to control access to your resume and notifies you of local job opportunities that are compatible with the information in your resume.

Designing Your Resume

There is some debate on whether the physical appearance of your resume is important, but there are some basics that merit consideration. For example, will your resume be online? If it is printed off, will it be easy to read? If an HR person prints your resume and information gets cut off, it is quite likely that he or she will toss your resume into the “not interested” pile. LifeClever, a blog that provides tips for design and life, has a good post on resume design issues. It may take you into unfamiliar territory as far as design goes, but does provide some excellent direction.

Now that you know how to write the greatest resume of all time, don't let your knowledge go to waste! Having an updated resume saves you time when an unexpected opportunity comes up and ensures that you don't forget to include any accomplishments. We hope these resources are helpful to you in the process of creating your outstanding resume!

Tips for Landing an Internship: Part I

Why Find an Internship?

For starters, some programs require students to complete an internship. If yours doesn't, however, you should consider an internship as a way of learning about opportunities in industries not directly related to your degree, as a way of trying out different geographical regions, or as a means of testing out a company before committing to a job.

Internships are way for a company to test you out as well; the National Association of Colleges and Employers says well-planned internship programs have a high return on investment by helping companies attract people who eventually become full-time employees. About 30 percent of college graduates were hired after completing an internship, according to a 2006 survey by the association.

Where to Look for an Internship

So now that we're in the heart of internship-seeking season, where are some good places to look for one? Of course, the Internet is always a good resource, and many job-search Web sites also run internship sites. Here are some of the best general internship sites:

• FastWeb and MonsterTrak are both owned by Monster, the leading job search Web site. FastWeb is known primarily as a college scholarship search site, although it also has internship postings. MonsterTrak markets itself toward toward college students and recent graduates looking for internships and entry-level jobs.
• MSNCareers also lets you search for internship postings—under “Advanced Search,” select “Intern” as your employment type.
• Intershipprograms.com is a service of WetFeet.com. It allows you to search internships by location, industry, or company name.
• eScholar lists educational opportunities (including internships) in Federal government departments and agencies, as well as partnering organizations. These internships cover a broad range of fields, ensuring that just about everyone can find an internship related to their program of study.

Although these sites are good places to search for an internship, it's important to note that these sites are free and may prompt you to sign up for multiple promotional offers. Also, know that employers who post on these sites are casting a broad net; there are certainly other positions out there and some of the most competitive internships don't post on sites such as these.

Research Companies by Industry

Another way to tackle the internship hunt is to make a list of companies you'd be interested in interning for and then researching internship opportunities at those places. This is a particularly good idea if you know you'd like to intern at a large company in your industry. Search for companies by industry at Hoover's.com, an information-gathering site that sells its data primarily to other businesses. If you're interested in working for a Fortune 500 company, you can download that list from Hoover's as well.

Study Abroad Internships

Mizzou also offers a number of study abroad internships. Rather than taking classes abroad, students work with foreign companies and thus are able to both study abroad and do an internship. The application process is different from a regular internship because students sign up to go abroad and automatically have an internship; there is no interview as there would be with a regular internship. Study abroad internship opportunities are available here. It is also useful to note that although some programs indicate they are only available to undergraduates, program coordinators may be willing to find advanced opportunities for graduate students. Studyabroad.com also provides a list of international internship opportunities at non-Mizzou programs.

Program-Specific Sites

In addition to the broad internship search sites, there are many sites tailored to specific industries. Check out these field-specific sites:

• Journalism
• Mizzou's Journalism site has a page that lists companies at which students have interned in the past, as well as names of alumni working at each company.
• Ed2010 is a site for students interested in magazine journalism. This site is particularly great because of its "Whisper Jobs" listings--employees and insiders anonymously post jobs and internships that are not even formally announced as vacant.
• Other schools with journalism programs, such as New York University, post internship opportunities on their sites and are great resources as well. Some sites do restrict access to career services to current students only, however.
• Engineering
• Tech-interns.com is a result of a partnership between the American Society for Engineering Education and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Its goal is to increase the awareness of opportunities in engineering and science to undergraduate and graduate students.
• Science
• Sciencecareers.org is maintained by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Indicate “Intern” or “Internship” as a keyword when searching for jobs.
• Business
• About.com offers its lists of the top 10 most prestigious MBA internship programs here
• The MU College of BusinessExperience Recruiting Network (e-recruiting) is available to students registered with Business Career Services
• Mizzou-Wide
• HireMizzouGrads is a site available to all MU students that allows students to search job postings, sign up for on-campus interviews and browse the employer directory.

Other Resources

The Internet is a good place to begin your internship search, but you'd be missing out if you failed to take advantage of other resources available to you. Your program's Career Services is a great source of information, to begin with; if you make it known that you are looking for a position, staff will alert you when they hear of positions that might interest you.

Internship searches are also a good time to make use of your networking skills. Now that you're in graduate school, you probably have several friends out in the working world—ask them for contacts in your industry or in a city where you might want to work. Family friends and fellow students are also good resources. The more people who know what you are looking for, the more likely you will get a valuable contact or tip from someone.

So thus concludes our short list of places to search for an internship. While this list is by no means exhaustive, we hope it's helpful to you on your search for summer employment and in your journey toward career fulfillment. Good luck and happy hunting!

New season, new format

Welcome to Praxis: a blog for Mizzou grad students, published by the Graduate School. We’ve decided to try something new with Praxis — instead of creating a new issue of the online newsletter once a semester, as we’ve done in the past, we are switching to a blog format that will enable us to create quicker posts more frequently. We hope you enjoy the new format. We’re excited to keep giving you news and tips that will help you navigate the grad school experience at Mizzou.