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Senior Series: Get Ready to Negotiate!

By career

Career Center C logo with international currency symbols

Receiving an offer of employment can be very exciting.  You’ve worked hard, interviewed well, and jumped through several hiring hoops to beat out the competition.  But what if the salary offer seems too low?

The first thing to remember is that there is much more to compensation than salary.  Some companies pride themselves on a robust benefits package, with things like health insurance, 401(k) matching funds, paid time off, holidays, etc., all of which add up to extra (and sometimes hidden) compensation beyond just the rate of pay.  Make sure you take the value of the entire compensation package into consideration when evaluating your job offer, and know that some companies may be more willing or able to negotiate benefits than salary.  This could be especially true in organizations with limited financial resources.  Something as simple as a flexible work schedule may be tremendously valuable to you – perhaps more so than extra money – and might cost the company nothing. Continue reading “Senior Series: Get Ready to Negotiate!”

Am I Multiculturally Competent?

By career

Painting of diverse people from behind their heads

Multicultural competence is not a box you can check- it is a journey that lasts throughout our lives to discover ways to engage with difference. Your gender, sexual orientation, background, heritage, or exposure to other cultures does not automatically make you competent.

So how do you become competent?

  1. Learn about yourself- Explore your own history, beliefs and value systems. This can help you see how you move in the world.
  2. Learn about different cultures- A great way to do this is to learn another language, travel, and connect with people that are different from you. There are huge amounts of resources that can help you learn more about people from different backgrounds.
  3. Interact with diverse groups- UVM has groups/organizations, events and presentations that will welcome you. In addition you can always volunteer or do an internship where you can work with people from different backgrounds.
  4. Attend diversity sessions offered at work or on campus

What are the challenges involved in striving toward multicultural competence?

Admitting your own prejudices can be difficult. When you have grown up surrounded by racism, sexism, homophobia, etc., you cannot escape it. Try to understand the roots of your biases. It is what we do with that knowledge and those feelings that are the keys to being a very effective in a global diverse community. Being multiculturally competent is a process not a destination.

~Kim

Navigating a Networking Event – Advice from Alumni

By career

Conversation bubbles filled with silhouettes of faces

Alumni are a rich source of career experience, stories, and advice. Each year, UVM alums gather in different cities to connect with and support students at networking nights. Below is a compilation of suggestions from our alumni networkers on how to prepare and best navigate an alumni networking event: Continue reading “Navigating a Networking Event – Advice from Alumni”

5 Ways to Stand Out After a Career Fair

By career

Road to success pointing upward toward the sky

The communication you have with your targeted employers after a career fair are equally important as the first impression you made with them during the career fair.  Here are 5 ways to pursue a career opportunity in a professional and timely manner: Continue reading “5 Ways to Stand Out After a Career Fair”

Switching Sides of the Interview Table

By career

Job seeker talking with employer at table

Have you ever wondered what it is like to sit on the other side of the interview? How about what it is like to be the person accepting resumes? If you haven’t thought about the flip side to recruiting, then maybe you should. After all, wouldn’t you like to know what the other side is looking for?

In the span of one year I went from having a student role to an employer role at the UVM Career Fair. What I have learned in both positions is that preparation is key. There are a few simple things that make for a good first impression: Continue reading “Switching Sides of the Interview Table”

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