All posts tagged LinkedIn

eaglesNEST: Connect with ERAU Alumni and Start Building Your Network Today

7084d213-f715-474c-a331-ae8c4407ebdcOne of the most powerful tools for any job search and professional growth is networking.  Networking is a lifelong process by which you build strong connections with those around you.  Your connections can put you in contact with the right people to support your job search, career development and personal aspirations.  The Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University community is a great place to start networking, and you have a built-in group of connections in your fellow alumni.

Embry-Riddle offers you a way to meet alumni through the eaglesNEST online community. Graduates may network virtually through a directory that allows alumni to search for and connect with former classmates based on geographic location and employment/company.  The directory is available to alumni only via a password-protected portal. Embry-Riddle graduates must sign into their eaglesNEST account in order to view the directory.  (Creating an account is easy and free, click here to start.)

One of the most useful ways to leverage the directory is by using the “Advanced Search” method. For example, let’s say you are an aerospace engineer interested in securing a job at Boeing in Seattle, and you would like to get to know alumni who are already employed there. You can use the Advanced Search tool in the directory to search by company name, city and major (and a number of other search terms). Our directory search engine examines the eaglesNEST profiles of our alumni to generate the results. In this instance, nine alumni were identified using these criteria. Alumni with an envelope icon next to their names have an email address tied to their eaglesNEST profiles, so you can send them a note and introduce yourself. Those with a yellow “Post-It” icon next to their names haven’t made their email addresses available; however, you can still send them a message and it will remain in their eaglesNEST inbox until the next time they log into the community.

The eaglesNEST also offers numerous opportunities for alumni to network face-to-face at gatherings hosted across the country and world. Events are often hosted by the Embry-Riddle Alumni Association at tradeshows and air shows, in addition to being organized by alumni chapters, which function similarly to clubs but do not require membership dues. Event information is posted regularly on the eaglesNEST. With more than 20 networks hosting events year-round, you are sure to find an activity near you.

To ensure that you stay informed about events and make yourself available for networking opportunities, keep your contact information current on the eaglesNEST by creating a profile and updating it from time to time, such as when you relocate or accept a new job. This helps the Alumni Association stay in touch and keep you apprised of events happening near you.

As an Embry-Riddle alumnus/a, your potential networking pool is 100,000-plus strong.  Make the most of Embry-Riddle alumni resources such as eaglesNEST and the official alumni LinkedIn group to identify and connect with colleagues who are also Embry-Riddle Eagles.  If you work to build and maintain these relationships over time, lifelong partnerships will result. Happy networking!

Article from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Alumni Relations Department and Career Services

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by eraucso on May 17, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Career Services Resources, General, Uncategorized
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Posted by eraucso on May 17, 2013

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Alumni Career Spotlight: Gino LeDonne

Gino LeDonne

Gino LeDonne, WW 2010

Gino LeDonne grew up in Port Orange, FL and began flying at the age of 14. He was given free lessons from a retired Army pilot who owned a Cessna 172. In exchange for yard maintenance and basic mechanics on the C-172, Gino was given free lessons up to his private pilot certificate. He then began working on his degree at ERAU while taking flying lessons at the Comair Aviation Academy, beginning with his Instrument Rating all the way to Certified Flight Instructor.

Gino began flight instructing and attending the Embry-Riddle Worldwide campus in Orlando at the age of 19. Shortly after he turned 21, Gino was offered a position as First Officer with the now defunct Comair Airlines. He flew as a First Officer on both the Embraer 120 and Canadair Regional Jet. After obtaining the several thousand hours of jet time, Gino upgraded to Captain on the CRJ at the age of 24.

He began to realize that the schedule that came with full-time line flying, in addition to a commute to New York, was not agreeing with his desired quality of life. After much deliberation and finishing his degree in Professional Aeronautics, he decided to focus on a major job search. This search eventually led to his current position as an Airbus A320 Instructor Pilot with JetBlue Airways in Orlando, FL. He has worked for JetBlue since 2010 and currently resides in Daytona Beach, FL.

How did you land your position as an Airbus A320 Instructor Pilot with JetBlue Airways?

I landed my position with JetBlue Airways by creating a profile on the company website and an account with LinkedIn. Approximately 3 months after creating a LinkedIn account, I was contacted by a JetBlue Airways recruiter and invited to apply for the position of Airbus A320 Instructor Pilot. I applied for the job and asked for a few recommendation letters; with a bit of luck I was interviewed within three weeks. A week later, I was offered the job via phone contact and email.

What does your role as a Airbus A320 Instructor Pilot entail?

My role of A320 Instructor Pilot entails training new and recurrent pilots to the standards of the company/FAA. We are required to teach ground school classes, as well as simulator events. A full time instructor may also fly line trips 2 days per month, so it is really the best of both worlds.

What three traits or skills have made you most successful in your career?

Three skills that have made me successful in my career would be: attention to detail, a humble attitude, and persistence. These three traits have allowed me to prevail, regardless of any setback that may have occurred along the way.

Do you have any advice for pilots looking to make a career change?

My advice to pilots looking for a career change would be to branch out and use every available resource. I received wonderful guidance via ERAU Career Services. I also was determined to get outside of my “comfort zone” to gain experience with such things as resume building, interviewing, and communicating with non-aviation employers. Ultimately, I was lucky enough to stay within my career field and obtain employment more conducive to my desired lifestyle.

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by eraucso on November 26, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Alumni Spotlight Series
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Posted by eraucso on November 26, 2012

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The Internet is Your Friend

by Kristy Amburgey

I don’t know about you, but I spend time researching things online before making decisions.  Want to find the best communications provider in your city?  Want to buy a reliable vehicle?  Want to ensure you get the best deal on a new pair of shoes?  The Internet is truly your best friend when it comes to tracking down information and researching almost any topic.  Just like I would peruse the Internet before making any major decision, I highly recommend that you thoroughly research the subject of career planning and your job search.  Really, it is a necessity to conduct research on career paths, job descriptions, companies, company expectations, salaries, geographical locations and any other topic that helps you make a career decision.

For your job search, Internet research is a main-stay for your career development and job search.  I am not just talking about searching for jobs; there are so many job search resources and information available that you need to conduct a search for all your job search activities.  Do you want to know about salary information at a specific company?  Check out salary calculators and Glassdoor.com.  Want to find out more information about a company?  Hit up their websites, LinkedIn and Facebook profiles, feedback from your online connections and more. Want to learn about the wildest interview questions?  Search for it!

In addition to the multitude of Internet resources on the job search, the Career Services website has a number of useful links available.  From sample job search documents to tips on interviewing, review the content before you engage others, so you can have an advantage: knowledge.  But don’t let this list be the end of your search; go beyond just the website and search for the thousands of websites available.  Research and knowledge is one of the most important tools you can use during your job search, so take charge and learn as much as possible, especially before you approach a person for further clarity and feedback.

Certainly, you can’t dispute the power of people and face-to-face interactions (hey, that is the entire premise of networking, which is the most powerful job search tool), but you should go armed with as much information as possible before you approach your network or fellow knowledge sharers.  This step allows you to ask better, more meaningfully questions, and it allows you to come across as knowledgeable in the subject, all important qualities to showcase while searching for a job.  Do your due diligence on any subject matter to also ensure you can wade through the many different opinions and feedback to develop your own perspective instead of relying on one point of view to base your decision.

The Internet brings a constant flow of information to you in pretty much any format you desire.  This flow of information can be wonderful and vexing all at the same time.  For your career development and job search, you must stay on top of the constant flow of information by using both Internet research and the power of your network to make good, well-thought out decisions about your future.  Use the Internet – it is your friend.

Kristy Amburgey is the Associate Director of Career Services – Daytona Beach campus and currently manages marketing and employer relations for the department.  She has been with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for approximately 10 years and with Career Services for nine years.

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by eraucso on November 7, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by eraucso on November 7, 2012

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Check Out The New and Improved ERAU Career Services Website

http://careers.erau.eduEmbry-Riddle Career Services has a new website! Please update your bookmarks and check us out at http://careers.erau.edu.

The new Embry-Riddle Career Services website is inclusive of all three campuses and includes information on everything you need to know to be successful in your job search, including, but not limited to:

  • Upcoming events, including the Industry/Career Expo
  • Career planning
  • In-person and social networking
  • Resume/CV tips and samples
  • Cover letter and references tips and samples
  • Interviewing preparation
  • Resources for special populations, including military transitioners, career changers, international job seekers, displaced professionals, disabled job seekers, and PhD candidates
  • How to access and utilize the EagleHire Network, Embry-Riddle’s online career management system
  • Co-op/Internship Program information
  • Interns in Action
  • Federal employment, civic service, and research opportunities
  • Useful links
  • Information on the services and resources available at each of the three ERAU campuses
  • How to recruit candidates for full-time and co-op/internship positions
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by eraucso on September 26, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by eraucso on September 26, 2012

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I Have A Business Degree – Where Do I Find My First Career Opportunity??

By Sandi Ohman

An education in business provides a broad knowledge base, which is helpful in transcending across many industries.  However, it can present a challenge – having so many opportunities that you don’t know where to start looking.

To start, here are some questions to consider:

  1. If you have had an internship during your education – did you like it? If so, check out the opportunities at that company or similar companies.
  2. If you didn’t fully enjoy the internship, what parts of the internship did you enjoy?  Try focusing your career search on those aspects.  For instance, you liked the social network & website duties – check into marketing opportunities.
  3. Not having had an internship doesn’t mean you can’t find a career-launching position – it just means you will need to know yourself or do some self-evaluation to figure out where to start.  What do you like to do?  Consider what you liked about other work experiences or the classes you took – what kind of careers include those elements?  This could involve more education specializing in those areas (certificates, graduate degree, another few classes), but that can be a small investment for the work you will do the rest of your life!

Completing your degree at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) doesn’t mean you can only find work in the aviation/aerospace industry.  Your education should have prepared you to experience a shorter learning curve in this industry, but you can definitely cross over to other markets.  ERAU alumni have found their careers leading them into a variety of industries, including the following non-aviation related areas:

Commercial Banking, Consulting, Global Business Environments, Government, Healthcare, Insurance, Military, Sports, Transportation, and Wall Street & Financial Markets

Once you have determined career areas you are interested in pursuing and research the companies in that industry, resume and interview specifics for that industry and start applying.  An internship after college is still an option for many recent graduates.  This is an excellent way to start in a new industry and let the employer evaluate performance before a full-time opportunity is offered.  We hear from employers from non-aviation/aerospace industries that didn’t know about ERAU previously but gave a graduate or student an opportunity and now want to recruit ERAU students/alumni because they are so impressed.  ERAU students and alumni can successfully cross into other industries!

Networking is so beneficial to the career search – before and after you have the job!  LinkedIn is an excellent resource for networking, along with professional organizations for that industry.  Check out the ERAU online Alumni directory eaglesNEST and ERAU alumni and Career Services LinkedIn groups to start the networking process.  There is also a list of aviation/aerospace professional organizations on the Career Services website.  There are just as many organizations for other industries as well.

Ultimately, your first career position might not start in the career/industry you were hoping for, but every experience offers learning opportunities (both personal and professional) and a chance to begin molding your experiences toward the career you are pursuing.  Often we tell students, “you get out of it what you put into it,” and this applies for the career search process and the experiences you obtain along the way.  If you are willing to learn new things, improve skills, grow personally and professionally, and continue pursuing your dreams, the likelihood of obtaining those dreams increase greatly!

Sandi Ohman is the Senior Program Manager in the Career Services Office at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  She has been with the university for over 9 years and has advised students in most all degree areas while in Career Services.  Sandi brings additional experience having worked in the finance industry for over 6 years in her previous career.  She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Florida, and her Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Central Florida. 

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by eraucso on April 27, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by eraucso on April 27, 2012

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6 Ways LinkedIn Can Help You Manage and Advance Your Career

By CareerBliss

CareerBliss is a leading online career community that offers salary information, job reviews, and advice articles to help users find career happiness.

So you’ve created a LinkedIn profile  – you listed your work and education experience, uploaded a photo, wrote a personal summary. That’s pretty much it, right?

Not so fast.

With some 65 million users in the U.S., LinkedIn can be a powerful tool to advance your career – but you have to be an active user to reap the benefits.

Consider these six ways of making the most of LinkedIn.

1. Be a Follower

Is there a particular company you want to work for? Chances are it’s on LinkedIn. Search for companies that you’re interested in and then opt to “follow” them. Being a follower is a great way to keep track of changes and developments in a company (and the more you know, the better you’ll do come interview time), scope out open positions, see who works for the company, and see who else follows it. You can also get yourself noticed by prospective employers by commenting on their posts.

2. Network Through Groups

Whether you’re interested in aerospace or zoology, there is a LinkedIn group for you. Groups are a great place to network with like-minded professionals and stay abreast of the latest trends in an industry.

And when you’re part of a group, you can contact other members directly, whether or not they are in your professional network – so groups are a great way to build new relationships and expand your professional network. Here’s a tip: Don’t join so many groups that you aren’t able to participate in each one a few times per week.

3. Be an Active Participant

LinkedIn is a great platform for getting noticed as either an authority in your field or an up-and-comer to keep an eye on. Contribute to industry discourse by commenting thoughtfully on other people’s (and company’s) posts and share relevant articles and blog posts with your network and groups. If you keep a personal or professional blog, use LinkedIn to drive more traffic to it.

4. Get Introduced

LinkedIn’s introduction feature can help you expand your network and connect with key contacts at companies. If you have a second or third degree connection, you can request that one of your first degree connections introduce you.

When you click on your connection of interest, there will be an option on the right of the screen to “get introduced through a connection.” Choose that option and follow the instructions. Using the introduction feature increases your odds of making the new connection.

5. Get Recommendations

Recognition from other colleagues speaks volumes. LinkedIn’s recommendation feature lets you reach out to connections and ask them to sing your praises (or at least say you did a solid job when you worked with them).

Go to the profile tab at the top of your LinkedIn page and choose “recommendations” from the dropdown menu. From there, you can send requests to connections to comment on specific positions you’ve held. Tip: It’s OK to recommend a connection in exchange for a recommendation, but if all of your recommendations are reciprocal, they will carry less weight.

6. Find a Job – or Get Found

Click the “jobs” tab at the top of a LinkedIn page, and you’ll get a list of open positions LinkedIn thinks you might be interested in based on your education, past jobs and profile information. You can also set up job alert emails. Recruiters and companies also use LinkedIn to find job candidates – so make sure to keep your profile updated and relevant.

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by eraucso on April 12, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by eraucso on April 12, 2012

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Conference and Event Preparation: A Student’s Perspective

by Krystel Parra

Going to a career-related conference can be intimidating at first. You are surrounded by the industry’s elite and many potential employers. So how do you act in this type of situation?

As a student, the first conference I attended was Women in Aviation. Before the conference, I made sure that I had the right attire with me and was dressed appropriately. I wore what I would wear for a job interview, which ultimately gave me confidence. I had business cards with me just in case.  When I arrived, I was shocked that there were so many people who loved aviation just like I do. Women in Aviation hosted seminars, receptions, banquets, and booths showcasing various aviation-related companies. Initially it was hard to decide where to go and when since everything was happening at the same time. I made a schedule of events by prioritizing which was of most importance to me; that way, I didn’t miss anything that was related to my career and passion.

Next I made my way along the booths and made sure I talked to every company. I introduced myself and told them what I was looking for: an internship or co-op in Aviation Safety. Normally, they would direct me to the right person and give me their business cards. I would then proceed to give them my business card just so they would remember me and put a face with my qualifications. After I left their booth, I wrote a short description of what we talked about on the back of the business card. I was able to email everyone and remind them who I was, what we talked about and thanked them for their time. I also asked if there were any positions available and to please let me know. Besides good etiquette, emailing potential employers allowed them to remember me after the conference was over.

Additionally, during the conference we had many dining events where we were seated with people we had never met. Because we were seated with strangers, it gave us the opportunity to network during the meals. For example, while attending the last banquet, I sat next to a recruiter who had worked for numerous companies. She said that she loved to help people get jobs by letting them know for what the companies were looking. Throughout the night she gave me a few tips on how to land my dream job. This was what she said to me:

  • Do not be intimidated by the recruiters. They are happy to help you because they are looking for people who are compatible for the job.
  • People in higher positions are normally more open to students because they themselves have reached success and are willing to help others.
  • Join LinkedIn and talk to people online who are in your career. You may one day meet them in person, and you already have previous discussions on which you can build to help you stand out.
  • Have an updated resume and business cards. The business card will allow the employer to remember you after you left. So as a student, make sure the business card provides your name, contact information, major, graduation date, and internship experience. Your business card should be like a mini-resume.
  • Join nationally recognized organizations that are related to your field of study, such as Women in Aviation.

At the end of the dinner, she had enjoyed our conversation so much that she promised to introduce me to Gulfstream, a company for which she recruits. Talking to the recruiter gave me insight into the perspective of recruiters and what they were looking for in candidates. I started to implement these techniques.  Already, my connections have broadened.

I realize that every conference is an opportunity to meet great people who share the same interest and have connections that may help me get started on my career; therefore, it is always best to put your best foot forward because, as the saying goes, “it’s not what you know, but who you know.”

Krystel Parra is a an undergraduate student in the Safety Science program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She works as a student assistant in the Career Services Office and is currently interning with Larsen Motorsports as a Safety Specialist Intern. Krystel also serves as an ambassador for the Embry-Riddle Women’s Ambassador Program.

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by eraucso on March 29, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by eraucso on March 29, 2012

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Why You Need LinkedIn

by Alicia Smyth

Last week, the Career Services Office  gave a presentation on Social Media and Your Job Search and only four students showed up. Since there is a very good chance you weren’t there, I’m going to share some of the important information you missed.

It’s vital for you to know that you need to start building your network before you actually need a favor from someone. While a few people may be more than happy to help a complete stranger who cold-called them wanting help getting into their company, the reception will be much warmer if it is someone you actually know and with which you have a rapport.

Lucky for you, the internet has made networking easy. A LinkedIn account is a must for any college student who has career aspirations…even ROTC students! Why? Because networking is not just about getting an inside track to landing a job. Your network (i.e., who you know) can help propel your career further even if you already have a position. Life takes many unexpected turns, so again, it is important to be ready in case you ever need help someday.

Below, you will find links for some amazing LinkedIn resources. They will help you to maximize LinkedIn to its full potential. There is even one that explains what LinkedIn is, in case you didn’t know.

Once you have a LinkedIn account, fully complete your profile and then start inviting people to connect with you. You can load your email distribution list to do this if you want. Connect with classmates (they are your future colleagues and partners out in industry), professors, Embry-Riddle staff, friends, your parents’ friends, current and former coaches, etc. And when you meet new people (including recruiters), connect with them too. Just be sure to include a personalized request, not the default message you see; let the individual know how they know you.

What’s more, there are over 26,000 Embry-Riddle alumni on LinkedIn. You can find them by completing the education information in your profile and then visiting http://www.linkedin.com/college.

When you have a complete profile and a few connections under your belt, you are ready to begin interacting on LinkedIn. You can do some pretty amazing things with LinkedIn that can help you in many ways. Examples include researching companies for work or for class projects, joining some of the many groups on LinkedIn that cater to aviation and aerospace, posting status updates that give people an idea of the things you are working on (related to your professional life, not your social life), getting recommendations from others on your personality and the quality of your work, and joining various discussions that are taking place within groups.

The more you interact on LinkedIn, the more you increase your reputation (aka personal brand). Then, when a prospective employer Googles you to find out who you really are, they will see all of the great things you are doing to move your career forward. And if you are doing everything right, there is a good chance that hiring manager might already be one of your first, second or third level connections.

For more information on how to best utilize LinkedIn, it is strongly recommended that you review all of the resources below…

Alicia Smyth has been with the Career Services Office at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University since 2000. In her time at Embry-Riddle, Alicia has worked primarily at the Daytona Beach campus but has also served in roles with Prescott and Worldwide. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Central Florida. Alicia currently serves as the director and information systems manager for Career Services and loves all things social media and technology. 

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by eraucso on November 18, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by eraucso on November 18, 2011

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Get LinkedIn with the EagleHire Network!

Starting today, when you log into your EagleHire Network account, you will be asked if you want to create a LinkedIn account. Agreeing will give you the option to connect an existing LinkedIn account with your EagleHire Network account as well.

At the end of the month, Experience (the company that brings you the EagleHire Network) will be associating professional connections with jobs and internships in the EagleHire Network. This should make it much easier and faster for you to “connect the dots” and utilize your connections to learn more about specific opportunities.

LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network, with over 120 million members and growing. Getting on LinkedIn is critical if you are seeking a job and are looking for a way to make connections, exchange ideas, seek advice, and learn about new opportunities. Once on LinkedIn, you are encouraged to join the Embry-Riddle Career Services and Alumni Relations groups (as well as other aviation and aerospace related groups on LinkedIn) to connect with members of the Embry-Riddle community to include alumni, employers, staff, faculty, and students.

It’s all who you know.

Resources:

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by eraucso on September 14, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by eraucso on September 14, 2011

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