Topic : Part 1: Create UMGC CareerQuest account.

Discussion Week three contains two parts.

In your initial response to the topic you have to complete the assignment in both part of the discussion.

Part 1: Create UMGC CareerQuest account.

UMGC CareerQuest is a free resource available to all UMGC students and alumni.  

• Go to:  https://careerquest.umuc.edu
• If you already have a CareerQuest account, login using your UMGC sign-on and password.
• If you do not have a CareerQuest account, click on “Join Community!”
• Fill out the required information.  
• Take a screenshot of your login page and upload the screenshot to this assignment.  
• This assignment takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. 

If you have questions, email careerservices@umuc.edu or call 240-684-2720 for assistance.

Part 2: Job Search Strategies  

Watch the job search videos in CandidCareers. You can access these  through CareerQuest. Take notes! (No submission is required). Start with  these videos, then browse the rest in the job searching category:

• Job Searching 101
• Getting Connected
• Treat Your Job Search like a Job
• Be Flexible at First
• Investigate the Company and Industry
• Keep an Open Mind
• Business Analyst

Watch some of the following videos. There are much more… View whatever is of your interest.

For this part of the discussion you will answer the questions below the list of videos. Please scroll down!

https://www.candidcareer.com/video-commercial+banker,b77c72c6a493a5fc4a0c

https://www.candidcareer.com/video-investment+banker,5593a190e8e9c8d7ece8

https://www.candidcareer.com/video-bank+manager,d6f41a657c3d7caa5c70

https://www.candidcareer.com/video-risk+management,e4b911fb1c78cb7e753e

https://www.candidcareer.com/video-financial+risk+manager,e3b1ff847c26ac94c604

https://www.candidcareer.com/video-financial+controller,503e1fba9c90574ecbdb

https://www.candidcareer.com/video-wealth+advisor,19be62c86ff039528e16

https://www.candidcareer.com/video-financial+advisor,277d7f6c6d6ba8a0ed67

https://www.candidcareer.com/video-financial+advisor,ef7f38a3e95fc98c2a66

https://www.candidcareer.com/video-financial+advisor,9e265ff6d78ff6e8985a

https://www.candidcareer.com/video-financial+advisor,64d4ff8dac4cce46ff8a

https://www.candidcareer.com/video-financial+advisor,9821e100d3d24303d774

https://www.candidcareer.com/video-financial+advisor,53cac48e3dc628a49da5

https://www.candidcareer.com/video-financial+advisor,731fbf8ee0ad3521002a

https://www.candidcareer.com/video-financial+planner,3f0e10c557d9e7cd1878

Discussion post: In a minimum of 150 words, answer the following questions:

• Explain what surprised you the most about the readings and videos from this week. Why do you think you were surprised?
• How would you describe your personal job search strategies?
• Discuss what you feel you need to do to prepare for your future career?
• Reflection – the students also should include a paragraph in the initial response  in their own words reflecting on specifically what they learned from  the assignment and how they think they could apply what they learned in  the workplace.

You are expected to make your own contribution in a main topic  (parts 1 and 2) as well as respond with value added comments to the  questions in part 2 to at least two of your classmates as well as to  your instructor.

You must start a thread before you can read and reply to other threads  

Reply to Dillion

What surprised me most this week was the video “Account  Director-ESPN, Special Olympics”. This video was pretty much telling us  viewers to keep an open mind and how you can learn something valuable  from any job. It surprised me because of the number of people that get  let down because they are under the impression, they will get a good job  coming straight out of college. Many of us has to work at baseline job  before we can go a supervisor position. I describe my personal job  strategies as “Progression”. I have got better but i’m still not exactly  where I need to be yet. I feel like I need to practice on more  interviews because I do tend to get nervous and try to score an  internship with a company. 

Reflection:

What I like and learned the most about this week’s discussion was  that I got to hear about the different positions in finance and their  approach on how they get things done. From the readings and videos, I  been watching I’m stuck between investment banker and financial advisor  but I won’t really know till I’m actually doing the job. That’s why I’m  pushing really hard to get this internship so it can lead me in the  right direction. This videos are the biggest help.

Reply to Keith

• Explain what surprised you the most about the readings and videos from this week. Why do you think you were surprised?

I think one of the most surprising or interesting topics covered this  week was how broad the field of finance can be for career choices. The  choices almost seem endless for anyone getting into the field. From what  I researched they also pay very well and have benefits for guiding  personal and professional decisions. I think this was most surprising  because I thought finance was cut and dry, you either have money or need  money. However, each one of the videos we watched above show  possibilities beyond crunching numbers. Being able to offer advice based  on the information gained seems to be just as important as using the  right ratio or equation.

• How would you describe your personal job search strategies?

Luckily, I have been with my current organization for a little over  12 years and have not job searched in some time. Most of the jobs I have  applied for or been referenced to in the past have come from word of  mouth, including the current position I hold. If I were to go job  searching now, I would work on creating a LinkedIn profile, and use  sites like career builder. Allowing me to upload a resume and search for  jobs in my field of interest seems a lot more efficient then when I  would wake up early and go apply in person.

• Discuss what you feel you need to do to prepare for your future career?

To prepare for my future career, I need to finish my bachelor’s  degree in business and most likely continue to my master’s in business.  Getting certifications related to my field would also help set me apart  from other candidates. Building a portfolio and utilizing sites such as  LinkedIn and Career Quest will also be beneficial in furthering my  career.

• Reflection – the students also should include a paragraph in the initial response  in their own words reflecting on specifically what they learned from  the assignment and how they think they could apply what they learned in  the workplace.

Understanding how important building your image is to furthering  career potential has been an eye opener this week. As I browsed through  Career Quest, I noticed so many services they offer to polish an  employee’s image. They have a feature that allows you to practice  interviews as well as breaking down your resume and show you what can be  improved. They highlight keywords and phrases that employers may be  looking for. These are great tools for anyone on a job hunt and allow a  potential employee the freedom to update their image at any time.