Section I

1. Section I Career Development Responsibility to Self Click Once

2. One of the reasons you are seeking your degree, and one of the benefits of membership in Alpha Sigma Phi, is to prepare yourself for a career. The career orientation process is a long and complicated one, and a process that you cannot start too soon. By utilizing the various resources on campus and networking, members can get a head start on their careers. Brothers should also keep in mind that their career choice will often change as skills and interests develop. The following are some of the more important tips you should thoroughly investigate: The existing system is the game of business…anyone who wants to join the game must subscribe to the standard rules of play. - Betty Lehan Harragan Visit Your Career Center Early Although too few students do it, you should begin your job search the day you set foot on campus. By getting a jumpstart on this process, you can begin to map out your career path, develop your academic plan, and review internship programs. Here are some important services that most career centers offer: ______________________________ Click Once Click Once Click Once

3. Computer databases that list current job opportunities • Career exploration tools that help link your interests with a particular career field • Resume writing workshops • Tips on writing cover letters • Tips on interviewing • Networking opportunities with university or college alumni who are currently working in your career field • Identifying both summer and semester internship opportunities • Tips for Success • Visit your career center early • Network with alumni Brothers • Develop a resume • Research professional & graduate school programs • Locate job opportunities • Prepare for the interview Click Once Click Once There may be a possibility that you are unsure about what career is best for you. Many career centers can assist you in identifying career areas that match your interests through the use of various self-exploration instruments (some of which are computerized). These instruments give you a clear picture of the strengths, limitations, and skill-sets you possess. This information can then be used to form your career plan. Click Once

4. Network with Alumni Brothers Many alumni members of Alpha Sigma Phi who complete their journey through college go on to be successful in their chosen career. These Brothers have used their fraternity experience to advance professionally, using all of those skills developed as an involved undergraduate member. Alumni can be a valuable resource in serving as mentors to current and alumni members in identifying career choices. ___________________________ Click Once Click Once • 10 Tips for Effective Networking • Know who will be there and what business they represent. • Decide what you want to gain from this event and go for it. • Decide the number of contracts you want to make. Go for quality of contracts rather than numbers. • Prepare a 14-second commercial about what you do. People will remember you better • Place your nametag on the right shoulder. As you shake hands, the eye automatically goes there. • Enter the room with confidence, observe the climate and find someone you want to meet. • When you arrive, smile. It’s the one signal understood by everyone • Never think male or female. Think professional • Never offer a cold, wet handshake. Keep your drink your left hand • Be discriminating in handing out your business cards. Employers seek to hire individuals who have diverse experience from both an academic and practical perspective. Click Once Click Once

5. _________________ Develop a Resume A student should also develop a “resume in progress” once they arrive on campus. Creating a resume assists you in better identifying the academic and work experience that employers are looking for in potential employees or interns. Click Once Click Once In the ever-changing community we live in, employers seek to hire individuals who have diverse experience from both an academic and practical perspective. As such, you should seek to complement your academic program with internships, community service initiatives, and leadership development opportunities in student and community organizations. Click Once Whoever you are and wherever you are, to all you meet, you are a representative of Alpha Sigma Phi Courtesy and good manners are not things to be put on like a coat and tie and only for special occasions; and, then, tossed away when the event has passed You cannot attract quality men or demonstrate that you are a successful Brotherhood without a genuine atmosphere of honest hospitality and friendliness Click Once

6. ____________________________________________ Research Professional/Graduate School Programs Many students today are deciding to further their education by pursing a professional or graduate degree in order to have that competitive edge in the job market. According to Levine and Cureton, there has been an increase in those students who see the Masters Degree as the “entry level credential” for professional jobs. When beginning the application process for graduate or professional programs one should first explore whether an advanced degree is necessary for their particular field. In some cases companies may provide release time and financial assistance in order to seek an advanced degree. If you choose to pursue your program full-time you should look into Graduate Assistantships and Fellowships to help defer the cost of your education. Click Once Click Once Click Once Students need to take the necessary time to research the different graduate school programs, and talk with current students, faculty, and future employers. This will help to reinforce whether a particular graduate school is right for you. Click Once

7. _______________________ Locate Job Opportunities Again, take advantage of the services provided by the career center on campus. Typically these centers and academic departments will host job fairs, plan recruitment sessions for employers, and post employer information in their office or on a web site. Most campuses have a formalized process for interviewing and students should begin to research this process early in their college career. Click Once Click Once Prepare for the Interview Taking advantage of information sessions is important during the interviewing process. Some employers will come to campus and invite students to these sessions. During your interview, it is equally important that you, in turn, also interview, it is equally important that you, in turn, also interview the company as well, in order to determine whether this company is as good a fit for you as it is for them. Take the time to do research about companies of interest. ______________________ Click Once Click Once