Dressing for Career Fairs and Jobs Interviews

When preparing for a career fair or job interview, keep in mind the quote “dress for the job you want, not the job you have". Potential employers want to see you dressed as you would be for your first day at the office. This first visual impression is an important one, so make it easy for them to picture you "fitting in" at their office. Since college attire often consists of sweat pants and flip-flops, here are some pointers for entering the business realm:

1. Do some research into the dress code of your desired workplace with the help of your college career center, online research, or possibly through current employees. Then, take it up a notch – you’re aiming to dress the way they would for an important meeting or presentation. This may be an opportunity where you want to ask your parents to go shopping with you, for their advice and (fingers-crossed) financial help.

2. After you get the clothes, take care of them by ironing or dry cleaning, if necessary.  If you nail the style, but have a wrinkled shirt or runs in your stockings, you won't give off a polished, professional first impression.

3. Success can be in the subtle details. Cover up tattoos, remove distracting piercings, and appropriately style your hair. Women should wear minimal make-up and nude stockings with skirts. And, or course, always wear a smile.

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Italian Market Festival, May 19 – 20: Celebrate at the Market

The whole family can have fun at the Italian Market Festival, a weekend full of food, fun, and entertainment taking place in the country's oldest outdoor market. This annual celebration features concert stages holding live performances, a Family Fun Zone where kids can make crafts and play games, and a Procession of Saints led by the St. Paul Parish. There will also be a number of artisan vendors selling jewelry, photography, and crafts. Don't forget the food that will be available, either. You'll find lots of items here to fill up on, from delicious little snacks to larger, meal-sized treats for people arriving with their appetite. The Italian Market Festival is like a huge block party, bustling with activity and full of revelry. Rain or shine, it's a great place to be.

Italian Market Festival
Saturday, May 19, 2012 2:00 p.m. – Sunday, May 20, 2012 5:00 p.m.
900 S. 9th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
http://www.yelp.com/events/philadelphia-italian-market-festival-2

Stop By the Axis Pizza Cafe & Salad Bar!

Don't forget to stop by the Axis Pizza Cafe & Salad Bar, conveniently open from 11 a.m.-3 a.m. daily.

For a full menu and to order online, visit their website at: http://www.axispizza.com/

Tips for Creating a First Resume

As you progress through your college career, undoubtedly, at some point you'll need to create a resume. In order to help you craft the very best resume possible that accurately reflects your unique skill set, we've compile some useful tips.

Seek guidance
The first place to check is your college career center. The counselors there are adept at creating concise, successful resumes and can tell you what you should and should not include – a counselor may be even willing to write a first draft with you! If this service isn't offered on your campus, visit job search engines, such as Monster, that provide templates and occasionally offer free feedback on submitted resumes. Keep in mind, there isn’t one perfect template out there, so don’t get too hung up on those details. The goal is create something eye-catching without it getting too busy.  Bullet points work well since you have to condense your employment history and skills on to one page, and make sure to start each description with an action verb, like ‘created,’ ‘led,’ or ‘ran’.

Tailor your resume
Employers prefer one-page resumes that specifically outline skills and experience related to their company's job posting.  If you’re applying to jobs in different industries, you will have to make a resume for each – such as “My Education Experience”, “Food Service Resume", etc. You can further personalize these resumes by adding ‘an objective’ related to the company that ties your experience into the specific job you are seeking.

Edit and re-read
Triple check your resume before sending it out – you don’t want a typo to cost you a job! Additionally, typing programs may spontaneously change formatting and alter your résumé’s appearance – so beyond spelling, make sure your formatting is as you wish too.  It's essential to include (and double check) your contact information and keep it up-to-date, and make sure your email address does not contain unprofessional words or phrases.

Tips for Searching for a Post-College Job

The economy may not be on your side right now, but you can do some things to tip the scales in your favor and win over as many professionals as possible while you're hunting for that elusive first job.

1. Use your college’s career center

Many students overlook the career center, but college is a rare time when people are on your side in the job hunt.  Talk to a counselor, tell them what you’re looking for, and look through whatever books and resources they have available. They often have access to resources that you cannot find in straight-forward online searches.

2. Resume, Cover Letter, etc.

Career centers can also help you get your resume and cover letter in order, train for interviews, and answer any other questions you may have as you begin your job hunt. Start compiling some ideas for your resume before you visit the career center, so you have something to work with when you speak with them.

3. Talk to alumni and other professionals

Ask the career counselor about your college’s alumni network and reach out to alums with similar careers to your goals or individuals who live in the area where you’re looking.  Talk to your parents, family, relatives- anyone who may have an “in” at a company you’re interested in.

4. Check company websites

Before hitting up search engines and getting overwhelmed with results, check specific, desired companies’ websites for job listings. Even if they don’t have the right opportunity for you at the moment, write a professional inquiry and ask to have your resume kept on file.

5. Follow up

After submitting your resume in person or online, always follow up to make sure it was received. Calling HR or the proper department is best, as e-mails are easy to ignore. Have any needed information immediately available and be flexible with setting up interviews.

Are You Excited for these March Events in Philadelphia?

If you’re looking for an adventure this year as winter fades into spring, why not check out one of these upcoming events in Philadelphia? Philly and its surrounding areas present a plethora of wonderful March events and activities for people of all ages. Here are some of the most exciting March offerings, so be sure to mark your calendars:
 
The Philadelphia Flower Show, March 4 -11
This is a don’t-miss Philly event every year, widely celebrated as one of the oldest and largest indoor flower shows in the world. Whether you’re a flower aficionado or just someone looking to admire some beautiful blooms, you’ll love exploring the vast showcase of traditional and exotic flowers. 
 
St. Patrick’s Day Parade, March 11
Philly takes great pride in its spectacular St. Patrick’s Day parade, a high-spirited city tradition since 1771. Elaborate floats, traditional Irish music and dance, bagpipe music, and green everywhere – a perfect way to celebrate Irish culture in a city with a long history of ties to the people of Ireland.
 
Philadelphia CineFest, March 22 – April 1
This eleven-day film festival extravaganza showcases some of the best works in independent and foreign cinema in theatres throughout the city. There are movies for every taste, including shorts, features, and documentary films, exciting special guests, and a series of fun festival-hosted social events around Philly.
 
Philadelphia Invitational Furniture Show, March 23 – March 25
This nationally renowned event presents a dazzling exhibit of one-of-a-kind home furnishings. The show features some of the most cutting-edge design innovations side by side with more traditional furniture pieces – something for every taste. 
 
15th Annual Philly Fur Ball, March 31 – April 1
This wonderful event, which raises money for the Morris Animal Refuge, is a perfect outing for pet lovers. Attendees enjoy a delicious dinner, music and dance, a silent auction, an open bar, and a beer tasting menu, among several other fun activities throughout the night. 
 
 

Unleash Your Inner Fashionista: Four Essential Fashion Websites

Interested in style? These four websites will help you keep up with the world of fashion:

Pinterest – Pinterest is a virtual bulletin board that allows you to “pin,” group, and share any image found on the web. The site covers a lot more than fashion, but there is a large and vital community on the site that centers around just that. Best of all, you can browse other people’s pinboards for inspiration.

Polyvore – Polyvore features a large user-created database of hot looks from around the web. Users can combine these items into outfits and then share them however they choose. If you see something you like, want, or need, you can click on it to purchase.

The Sartorialist – This active blog features up to the minute photos of designer collections, street fashion, and vintage fashion photos. The Sartorialist, while it also features women’s fashion, has a strong emphasis on designs for men.

Frugal Fashionista – This site’s intrepid staff searches out the thriftiest ways to recreate celebrity looks, breaking them down piece by piece and then finding low-cost versions at popular retailers.

Try Not To Eat This During Restaurant Week…

Try not to eat the bacon donuts during Restaurant Week.  The worst part is that deep inside you know you want to try it.

Philadelphia 76ers: Poised For Greatness

With three playoff berths in the last four seasons, the Philadelphia 76ers have had solid showings recently, and they're ready to carry that success further into the postseason. Last year's arrival of Doug Collins as head coach gave the team a much needed boost. His leadership helped add another fourteen wins to the previous season. Collins has a team of new and veteran talents to nurture. Jrue Holiday enters his third season as one of the most exciting players on the roster. Louis Williams, Thad Young, and Andre Igoudala also promise to keep up the team's high-octane attack. Philadelphia also still has one of the top power forwards in Elton Brand. This is a team ready to capitalize on the consistent promise shown in previous years. They want more than just a first round playoff exit. This season might be their breakout year.

Find Sixers schedules, tickets, merchandise, and more at http://www.nba.com/sixers.

Idiosyncrasies of Life…

Peculiar…


 

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