Congratulations Graduates!

As we prepare to hold our Commencement ceremony this Sunday, we wanted to share these wonderful words from Tom Brokaw:

You are educated. Your certification is in your degree. You may think of it as the ticket to the good life. Let me ask you to think of an alternative. Think of it as your ticket to change the world.

We wish all of our graduates only the best, and we’re excited to see how YOU chance the world!

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“Optimism is th…

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” Helen Keller

Today is Reading Day on our campus- an opportunity for students to focus solely on preparing for finals.  The library will be packed, the dorms will be quiet, and the lines for coffee will be long. We want to wish our students the best as they take on their final exams, papers, and presentations! You’re going to do amazing, just study hard and believe in yourself!

For some students (ahem, seniors!) this will be their last Reading Day.  We will miss this class; they have been great to work with and have big plans and wonderful lives ahead of them! CONGRATULATIONS to our Seniors as they get ready to turn those tassles!

I like this quote by Helen Keller because it’s quietly encouraging, and it fits everyone whether this is their first Reading Day or their last.  Stay positive, students.  Believe in yourself and your dreams!

Salad and Bread Crumbs and Etiquette, Oh My!

Every week, our good friends at the Culture and Manners Institute send us an email with an etiquette tip.  This week, it was especially appropriate since we’re launching our promotions for Bring Your Own Briefcase, an event for seniors to network, get tips on professional clothing, and take part in an etiquette dinner.  Lo and behold, the etiquette tip revolved around food falling off the plate at dinner!  Read their insight, below, to feel better prepared for your next meal with an employer or at a networking event. If you’d like more tips from the Culture and Manners Institute, check them out at http://www.cultureandmanners.com/. 

 

“When I give a dining tutorial, a frequent question is, “What if something falls off my plate?” This is usually asked during a salad course.  Because salads are tricky.  They are made up of items of wacky shapes and textures that don’t fit together like Legos.  Cherry tomatoes roll.  Croutons bounce.  Leaf lettuce flaps this way and that. Dressing just greases the skids. Of course, it’s piled high onto a tiny plate.

If a piece of lettuce lands on the table, leave it (no pun intended.)  When you are finished with your salad, put the leaf back on the plate before the plate is removed.

Do you ever feel self-conscious about bread crumbs left behind?  It’s probably because you are imagining everyone else at the table looking at your crumbs on the dark table cloth and thinking, “Did any of the bread make it into his/her mouth?”  Don’t sweat the bread crumbs. Into all our lives a few crumbs must fall.  In some fine dining venues, a wait person will come to your rescue by scooping up the crumbs with a magic wand called a crumber.”

 

Albright Seniors, don’t forget to pre-register for Bring Your Own Briefcase by April 20- the event is April 30^th at 6pm in the South Lounge.

Job Fair? We’ve Got Tips for That

Job Fairs can be overwhelming. We get that. But they can also be a great way to meet a lot of employers in a couple of hours. It can be especially nerve-wracking for students because many times, they have never been to a job fair before. Here are some tips to help calm your nerves.

1. Remember, it’s almost a guarantee that no other student has done this either. They’re just as nervous as you are. Take some deep breaths to help you relax, and smile!
2. Most, if not all, job fairs will post which employers will in attendance and positions for which they are recruiting. You can plan and save time by knowing who you want to see.
3. Even if an employer is listed as only having positions in certain fields open, don’t completely eliminate them. If there is a company you know you want to work for or that you know usually has openings that are a better fit for you, you can still talk with the employer and give them your resume for their future reference.
4. Make a check list before you go. Have resumes ready, business cards, admission fee (if needed), professional clothing that is stain and wrinkle free, and a pen. Many students also like to bring a padfolio so they can take notes as they talk with employers, plus it has a pocket to keep resumes flat.
5. Write, and practice, your elevator speech ahead of time. This is your 20-30 second speech, all about you, that you tell to employers as you shake their hand. Use that time to give your name, major, the job you’re interested in with them, and some relevant skills and experiences you have. On that note, practice your hand shaking too! Don’t squeeze too hard or too softly, and only hold for 2 or 3 pumps.
6. Remember to get business cards from the employers, and follow up with them. Send them an email the next day thanking them for taking the time to come to the job fair and talking with you. Then, send them a hand-written card. And then, call them the next week to see if they have any questions or need any other information from you.
7. Last but certainly not least, don’t forget your career center is here to help you, as well! Contact us if you need help with your resume or working on your elevator speech.