LinkedIn SigEp Group Achieves 15,000 members

The LinkedIn group "Sigma Phi Epsilon (Official)" has reached the 15 thousand member mark. Started in 2007 by alumni volunteers Eric Chan and Bryce Giesler, the group has provided a networking and discussion opportunity for SigEps and friends of SigEp who use LinkedIn for professional interaction. In addition to member discussions the group also receives articles and posts from Headquarters and the S&P blog.

The group has grown steadily since its inception and is currently the second largest social fraternity/sorority oriented LinkedIn group. Earlier this year SigEp Headquarters agreed to partner with the independently started group and added the "Official" label to the title.

Are you on LinkedIn.com? If so, check out the "Sigma Phi Epsilon (Official)" group. You'll be glad you did.

Write Less, Say More: The Power of Brevity

Are you graduating and still looking for a job? Or looking for a job. period? Read this article before you write your next cover letter, presentation, or re-tweak your resume (again). 

Write Less, Say More: The Power of Brevity:

When it comes to great writing, less is more. But even if you're familiar with the mantra to "omit needless words," tightening your writing is harder than it looks. Which words should you omit? How can you write more clearly? Danny Rubin, a national news consultant and former television news reporter, demonstrates—with examples—the power of brevity.

There is a common misconception when it comes to writing that is professional in nature that a person must write in a verbose manner to come across as intelligent.

I am sorry. Let me do that again.

People often make a mistake in thinking that writing long-winded sentences with big words makes them appear smart.

Actually, let me try this one more time.

You don't need to write a lot or use big words to sound smart.

Now, that's better.

Too often, people write sentences like the one at the top when they should choose version #3. The main culprit, in my view, is the loathsome college essay. Only in college are we forced to write a paper a certain length. We develop strategies that balloon our paragraphs so we can fill out eight, 10 or 12 pages and pick up our gold stars on the way out.

In the real world, most people don't enjoy reading cover letters, resumes and presentations. It's extra work and burdensome. Worst of all, trying to write beyond our skill level screams ‘I'm in over my head.'

The rest of the article...

'via Blog this'

New website launched to hire sorority and fraternity members

Another channel into the process of getting a "real job" after graduation.

HireGreeks.com launches new website to hire sorority and fraternity members - Springfield Job Interview Skills | Examiner.com:

"If you belonged to a fraternity or sorority in college, you now have another opportunity to network your way into a job. HireGreeks.com is a new website that creates an easy way for Greek alumni and Greek undergraduates to communicate and network about job opportunities, based on the values they cherished in the Greek system in college."

'via Blog this'

SigEp pilots Life After College program

Something new from HQ---

Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity - SigEp pilots Life After College program:

"Sigma Phi Epsilon is now offering a new program called Life After College to help undergraduates prepare for the job market. This new program will be piloted three times this spring in California, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

The Fraternity is responding to undergraduates who have asked for programs focused on helping upperclassmen prepare for life personally and professionally after graduation. This one-day program will focus on preparing students to search for their first full-time job, have their first job interview, negotiate their first salary, begin life as a young professional, transition into adulthood, and adjust to life after college.

What's in it for participants?
• Expert resume and job search advice
• Opportunity to meet and network with successful alumni from the area
• Perspective from former CEOs and other top industry leaders
• A chance to win a $500 educational scholarship
• No registration fee"

'via Blog this'

Better check it out. The open slots are going fast.

10 Things to Never Put on Your Resume

For the most part I agree with this article's suggestions:

For job seekers, the resume may be the most important document they need. After all, what's on that simple piece of paper can mean the difference between landing an interview and landing in the circular file.

While most job seekers concentrate on what they should include on their resume, few pay attention to what they shouldn't include. This article explores 10 things you should never put on your resume.

However, there is one point I take qualified exception:

Achievements that aren’t achievements

Being nominated prom queen is not an achievement. Nor is belonging to a sorority or fraternity. And that award you won in a competitive eating contest? That's right--not an achievement. Stick to professional and community service awards only.

Maybe mere membership is not "special", but I would think leadership positions count for something. President, VP, or a job that involves managing people, resources, and money - like house manager - would have some cred. Certainly for the first jobs out of school. The trick, as with everything, is to show how that experience will help you to do the job you are seeking.

10 Things to Never Put on Your Resume

Update: A link to a PDF file of the points in the article. Suitable for a professional development presentation.

Opportunities After College

I follow the "brand yourself.com" blog because it has plenty of good information about personal branding for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and individuals. This entry speaks directly to undergrads and recent grads who are having a hard time moving into the "real world."

College grads are swimming in a sea of rejection letters. According to a recent survey by the Association of Colleges and Employers, a mere 20% of 2009 college graduates who applied for a job actually got one. So what are the options for the other 80%? Well, many are setting up shop back home for the time being, and as depressing as that may sound, it could actually be the best thing that ever happened to them.

That is because although opportunities after college seem very few and far between in this bleak job market, being young and unemployed actually opens up a staggering amount of opportunities, that is of course, if you’re willing to operate a little outside of the box.

Opportunities After College | Brand-Yourself.com Blog

...Then of course there is a contrarian view...

“I don’t want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don’t want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don’t want to do that.”

—Lloyd Dobler, Say Anything

Need a job? Got Skillz? - and a thick skin?

If I were a cynic, I might think HQ is getting desperate when they send S&P a position description and ask us to post it. But I gave up cynicism for lent, so let's just applaud the breadth of the search. We all want our next Executive Director to be the best and the brightest, selected from the deepest pool of talent. So please, if you know of someone who can do the job let the search team know. Don't assume "somebody" has or will tell them about the "obvious" best man.

SigEp Executive Director Search

Position and Candidate Specification

SigEp needs your recommendations of candidates, or expressions of personal interest, to serve as the next Executive Director of The National Fraternity, based in Richmond, Virginia. Candidates should be SigEp members with 10-15 years of general management experience in a similarly sized operation and should have had direct profit & loss responsibility in the private, public, or nonprofit sectors. Experience in strategic planning, working with volunteers and/or boards of directors, and providing direction to young professionals are additional key considerations. Candidates must be willing to relocate to Richmond, Virginia and should embody the Balanced Man Ideal. For more information please review the full position specification. Please submit your resume and a summary of your qualifications, as well as all recommendations, to SigEp@spencerstuart.com.

____________________________________________________________

Aaron Granger | Director of Marketing Communications

SigEp | Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity

310 S. Boulevard | Richmond, VA 23220 | www.sigep.org
Main: 804.353.1901| Office: 804.612.1424 | Fax: 804.359.8160

Conclave | August 12-16, 2009 | Orlando
Plan your trip now at www.sigepconclave.com

Resume Basics - Style Choices

To get a good job after college you need to get your resume read, not tossed. It also has to look professional, and a dash of class helps too. Here are some tips to help your resume "Dress for Success."

• Condense lines as much as possible and put as much stuff on one line as possible without them being crammed together.
  -For example: address, phone number and e-mail address can all go on one line. You can use dots to help separate information as needed (1234 Wee Sing Lane Any City, USA, 817.777.7575. j-doe@gmail.com)
• Use lines to separate your name and contact info from the rest of the resume.
  -This helps your resume look like it’s been printed on professional stationery/letterhead.
• Consider using a font other than Times New Roman. But again, nothing too fancy.
  -Stick to something that is similar to Times New Roman but maybe with more typographic subtleties that can help your resume stand out just a tad bit more. Try Georgia.

More tips, and links to more resume writing ideas are at: Resume Basics - Style Choices | EmploymentDigest.net

How is the Resume Looking? Use SigEp and work experience.

Brother Chuck Eberly (OGH) has passed this along:

Dear Brothers,

I know you are in college and for many of you graduation seems like it is some distance away. The challenge is that getting a job AFTER graduation depends directly on what you do now to "stand out from the crowd" and make yourself the most likely job candidate.

What employers are looking for these days are people who show personal initiative, organizational leadership, and yes, solid GPAs. What student organizations do you belong to? Are you an officer? What jobs are you working at the same time you are a student? Are you keeping your student loans as low as possible? What work are you doing during the summer? Do you have a summer internship in the field of your major? What is your GPA? For most companies, men with anything below a 3.0 is just not even considered for employment. What can you do NOW to plan ahead?

Each person has different, individual, specific issues that support him to achieve. Let me support your efforts. Ask me and I will do my best.

Grads Face 'One of the Worst Job Environments in Years'
It wasn't long ago that universities were busy juggling visits from corporate recruiters and coaching students on how to weigh competing job offers. But in today's rough economy, schools are reporting fewer recruiter visits and openings, and less negotiating room.