Providing career and professional development opportunities and resources to job-bound and graduate/professional school-bound ACES students.

News

Have You Ever Considered Job Shadowing?

The ACES Job Shadow Program provides students with the opportunity to learn about professional opportunities within their discipline. Students will be introduced to potential career paths and observe a "day-in-the-life" of a professional in the field. The ACES Job Shadow Program is open to all students within the college; however, freshmen and sophomores are especially encouraged to apply.

Job shadowing experiences are provided by employers that regularly hire ACES graduates for intern and full-time positions and ACES alumni choosing to be part of the program. The date of the experience will likely be during winter break. The data will either be listed in the job shadow posting or will be mutually agreed upon by the student and the host. Some postings listed on NACElink right now are:

• Accounting and Finance Job Shadow in St. Louis with Monsanto
• Food Scientist Job Shadow in Chicago with Newly Weds Foods
• Research and Development Job Shadow in Glenview with Kraft Foods
• Merchandising Job Shadow in Omaha with Gavilon, LLC

Sound interesting? Check out more information here. Also, log on to NACElink and search job shadow postings now. The deadline for resume submissions is November 15! Students will be notified of their match in early December.

How Would You Rate Your Level of Professionalism?

According to a recent survey, human resources professionals and business leaders commonly find a lack of professionalism among new college graduate hires.  There is a gap between employer expectations and student realities, mostly due to generational differences. The study found "the concern about opportunities for advancement" as the most prevalent quality among new hires, where as employers are more concerned with "accepting personal responsibility, acting independently and having a clear sense of direction and purpose." What are some reasons for this disconnect?

Employers think an increased sense of entitlement, new cultural values and a changed work ethic are characteristics that accompany new hires into the workplace, and these differences can cause a rift in company culture. So what can new hires to do combat the negative perception of their professionalism?

Employers value soft skills, such as attitude, demeanor and respect, so the more these traits are showcased in the workplace, the more positive you will be perceived. Also, new hires should pay attention to company culture and what is valued in the organization. Is more importance placed on using technology or building relationships?  Picking up on these subtle differences can make or break someone in the workplace.

For more information, check out the article here. Also, consider reading They Don't Teach Corporate in College for fantastic tips and insight on how to transition from a college campus to Corporate America.

So You're Thinking About Graduate School?

Are you considering receiving additional education and training before entering the workforce? Are you looking for more information on graduate school? There are many details to consider: What is your reason for pursuing a graduate degree? Are you prepared? What are you looking for in a program? The Career Center can be helpful in answering some of these questions - find more information here and here.

The next step is preparing for the application process, which can include an application, application fee, interview, transcripts, standardized tests, letters of recommendation, a personal statement and more. You can find more information here. 

Some useful links to begin your search are:
The Career Center
Petersons.com
GraduateGuide.com
PrincetonReview.com
GraduateSchools.com
AllAboutGradSchool.com

Also, stop by and visit us in the ACES Library Room 115 to talk more about your options!

Job and Internship Leads

Postings from the Illini NACElink Network:

• GeoPage, Inc is seeking a Marketing Intern
• The Hershey Company is seeking a Nutrition Intern
• Agua Acres is seeking a Farm Market Manager
• AgPerspective Inc. is seeking a Commodities Broker
• National Pork Producers Council is seeking a Communications Intern, Environmental Law & Policy Intern, and an International Trade Intern

*Note: There are over 450 internships on NACElink, over 40 of which have been posted in the last 10 days! Also, there are over 880 entry-level full time positions on NACElink, 60 of which have been posted within the last week! 

Postings from simplyhired.com:

• Monsanto is seeking a Soy Entomology Intern
• Lakeside Community Center is seeking a Development Intern

Postings from indeed.com:

• ConAgra Foods is seeking a Chemical Food and Safety & Toxicology Intern
• Career Solutions is seeking a Seed Specialist

Important Dates

Exploring Graduate School Options
Wednesday, October 28 at 5 pm
The Career Center Conference Room

The Anatomy of a Successful Pre-Health Student
Thursday, October 29 at 4:30 pm
The Career Center Conference Room

Understanding Non-Profit Organizations
Tuesday, November 3 at 7pm
The Career Center Conference Room

The Art & Science of Job Offer Negotiation
Wednesday, November 4, 1-2:30 pm
407 Illini Union

Job Search Strategies
Wednesday, November 4, 5-6 pm
Education Building, Room 2

Internship Essentials
Wednesday, November 4 at 7 pm
The Career Center Conference Room

Personal Statement Workshop
Tuesday, November 10 at 4 pm
Room 257 Undergraduate Library

Career Paths: Making the Next Step
Thursday, November 12 at 7 pm
The Career Center Conference Room

Job Shadow Submission Deadline
November 15