June 2005

CareerPort Benefits

Alumni NetWorks is a great way to make valuable connections with other Michigan grads in your field, and it’s one of the most popular benefits offered by Alumni Association Career Services. Participants contact alumni who have volunteered to provide career advice, information and coaching. And, you can search by career field and specialty, city, state, degree, major and more. Get more details at our Web site.

On the Job

Summer is here, and to a lot of people that means one thing: vacation! While many Americans take vacations during the summer months, a national consumer survey by Beta One Research reveals that 96 percent of Americans check in with their offices multiple times during their time off. In order to make the most of your vacation and ensure that you return rested and focused, psychologist Robert Butterworth suggests these strategies:

• Remind co-workers on a weekly basis three weeks before you leave.
• Delegate specific tasks to specific co-workers.
• Choose a trusted person to handle crisis situations.
• Choose one primary staff contact in case of emergencies.
• Create auto-replies for your email, voicemail and pages explaining that you are on vacation, your return date and the name of a person who can be contacted in your absence.

Can’t get away this summer? It can be hard to focus on work when the weather is nice and all you want to do is lounge by the pool. CareerBuilder.com offers “6 Ways to Keep Focused on the Job in the Summer.” These tips will help you chase away the summer blues:

• Bring summer into your office. Change your screensaver to a beach scene, liven up the room with fresh flowers, play some summer-inspired music.
• Make the most of your lunch hour. Take your food outside for a business day picnic, or eat at an outdoor café and soak up some sun.
• Head outside with work. Check your company’s policy about occasionally working outside during the summer. You could use a laptop or set up a meeting outdoors.
• Consider flex time. Can you work longer hours Monday through Thursday so you can leave early Friday afternoon? Many companies are willing to be flexible.
• Don’t forget to exercise. Exercise will keep you energized and refreshed. Consider starting a lunchtime walking group or head to the pool before or after work.
• Give yourself a break. Try taking at least one long weekend during the summer. A break will help you recharge your batteries.

Featured Article

A recent article in USA Today reveals that, contrary to conventional wisdom, the way others perceive your job has a lot to do with job satisfaction. The more “prestigious” society considers your job, the more likely you are to be happy with it. Conversely, jobs that are considered less prestigious top the list with high turnover rates. So which occupations carry the most prestige? Scientists, doctors, firefighters and teachers, while accountants, journalists and real estate agents are at the bottom of the list. For the full story, visit USAToday.com.

Recent Postings

The Alumni CareerPort has almost 400 jobs listed right now. Below are some recently posted positions. If these aren’t right for you, search the job board and you may just find your next job.

Regional Medical Liaison at Amgen
This and other positions can be found in the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical category.

Financial Analyst at Microsoft
This and other positions can be found in the Financial Services category.

Management Associate at L’Oreal USA
This and other positions can be found in the Engineering category.

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