12 Holiday Mingle & Jingle Helpful Hints

Presented by Maxim Healthcare Services

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – the holiday season! With a much needed break for relaxation from studying, one thing you should not put the brakes on is NETWORKING! Your holiday break is the best time for you to get your name out there with your personal brand! Tis’ the season for giving, so Maxim Healthcare Services would love to spread the holiday cheer by offering these “12 Holiday Mingle & Jingle Helpful Tips:”



1st tip – Get to know your university’s career center and their resources! The career center is there to help you start the ball rolling with networking and job seeking opportunities! Chances are there will be holiday events the center will know about.

2nd tip – Seek out networking/mingling opportunities:
• Holiday family functions
• Social gatherings with friends
• Sporting events
• Volunteer
• Seasonal employment

3rd tip – Practice making conversation easy:
• Talk to family members you do not see all the time (e.g. aunt/uncle) and get their feedback about how the conversation went and did it flow well
• Talk to servers/hosts at restaurants
• While checking out at a store talk with the cashier
• Go inside your bank so that you have to speak with a banker face to face
• While shopping for gifts over the holidays talk to the floor sales reps

4th tip – Ease yourself into conversation by introducing yourself and elaborating on your rhethorical question to show your interest.
• “Hi, how are you? ~ or ~ Hi, how’s it going?
• “My name is Jeff. Are you enjoying the event and what brings you here?”

5th tip – When conversing ask questions the right way so that you exchange information.
• Limit the number of close-ended questions. If you are hearing too many “yes” or “no” responses then rephrase.
• Ask open-ended questions where one can elaborate – “Please tell me about ________?” “Will you explain to me a little more about ______?“
• If you get stuck with what to ask then mirror the question the person just asked you after you have answered their question.

6th tip – Have a couple fall back questions:
• How long have you been with the company?
• Where did you get your degree and what is it?
• What are your likes and dislikes about the company?
• Could you see yourself staying with the company for a while or even retiring from
it?

7th tip - Have a 60 second infomercial about yourself:
• Know your resume
• Know your goals
• Be flexible when talking to an employer so that you are keeping your options
open

8th tip - Dress to impress and always err on the side of being overdressed! If you arrive and feel overdressed you can always:
• Take a tie/scarf off
• Take your suit coat/jacket off
• Unbutton the top button on your shirt
• Be sure to iron your clean clothes, fix your hair, shave or trim facial hair, shine
your shoes – practice good personal hygiene

9th tip - Have something to talk about:
• Stay informed of current events/issues
• If an employer will be at the event research their company and find interesting
facts
• Talk about a project you’re currently working on and what the inspiration is

10th tip – Avoid off color humor. You could easily offend someone without knowing you have done it! Also avoid hot button topics like politics or religion.

11th tip - If you attend a networking event where employers will be, they want you to approach them. Don’t hesitate – Be confident – Smile – Give a reassuring handshake – Know yourself – Have a clear voice – Be persistent - Be professional – Enjoy the experience!

12th tip -Approach networking like your job search and make it your full time job over the holiday! It will keep you on track and forward focused!

Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Keep Calm and Ace Your Finals: Tips for Surviving the Week We All Dread

Written By Lauren Lind

It’s almost that time of year when the stress levels shoot through the roof and emotional breakdowns are in full swing. This week and next week, the library will be packed at all hours of the day, while you struggle to find an open power outlet to charge computer and caffeine will have become one of your BFFs. Some of us deal with the stress by eating copious amounts of junk food and some of us handle it by exercising excessively in order to remain with at least an ounce of sanity. 

Whatever you do to deal with your stress, realize that you are not alone and that everything is going to be okay. School is important, but so is your wellbeing; so as you tough it out, also realize that your self worth is not solely dependent on a grade. That’s not to say you shouldn’t give it your all, but why have an emotional breakdown when it’s not necessary? Here are some tips for surviving finals week that I have found to be helpful in the past: 

1. Breathe. As simple as this sounds, many times when people are stressed they forget to take deep breaths. Inhale three deep breaths and exhale for a count of 5. Yoga can also be a good release by getting you to breath and your mind and body to center. 

1. Plan for success. Write down out your plan and approximate time needed to study for each subject before finals week starts. Also find out which if your finals are cumulative and plan accordingly. This will help set you off in the right direction by not leaving things until the last minute. 

1. Take Breaks. Allowing yourself to take breaks will actually help you to study more actively. Giving yourself something to look forward to while you study can increase your productivity. You could watch a TV show, or go for a walk, or meet up with a friend for dinner.

1. Sleep. I know all too well about pulling all-nighters; however sleep will help you do better on your tests. If you do have to stay up late, try and get at least three hours of sleep in order to retain the information that you have just crammed into your brain. Or go to bed and get up early to review the information. Either way, get some rest. 

1. Take care of yourself. Drink a ton of water and make sure you are consuming good brain foods. Avoid eating a ton of foods that are high in sugar and fat because they will make you crash. This is easier said than done, so allow yourself a treat after you accomplish a certain amount of studying. 

1. Change up your study environment. Studies have shown that people retain more information when they switch up where they study as opposed to spending all their time in one place, so avoid locking yourself in your room or living in the library. 

7. Get in at least 30-45 minutes of exercise a day. I have often been tempted to skip my workout during finals because I feel that I don’t have anytime to squeeze in a workout. Instead I’ll find myself distracted on Twitter wasting time away that could have been used to help me de-stress. Exercise improves blood flow to the brain and has been shown to improve students’ academic performance. 

Keep calm and do the best that you can on your finals because ultimately that’s all you can do. Hopefully these tips will help you stay breakdown free and congratulations to the December 2013 Graduates!!! 

Hat tip: Stefanie Weisman with colllegecountdown.com and dosomething.org

Breaking out of the Boulder Bubble: Why it is important to keep up with current events

Written By: Lauren Lind 

Over this past break I realized that I am far removed from current world events, living in the Boulder bubble. When my family would bring up certain issues, I had to pull out my cell phone and look up what it was that they were discussing. This made me feel out of the loop and I think it is important for myself and other college students to stay up to date with what is going on in the world. I know that many students do stay current which is awesome and here are 7 good reasons according to Kelly Marcus, blogger from allwomenstalk.com, as to why it is important to keep up with current events:

1.  It is easy. Social media and the Internet make the excuse that it’s too hard to stay up-to-date with the news, completely invalid. Follow newspapers and outlets on Twitter and subscribe to news outlets on Facebook.

2.  It makes the world smaller. The news allows us to get a glimpse into the lives of people in different places and realize they are not so different from us. It is such a wonderful thing that we can be allowed updates by the minute of things happening across the globe.

3.  It is eye opening. Some people like to live in their own little bubble and worry about themselves. Keeping up with current events pops that bubble. Not everything is as perfect as we think it is in America. Hearing about the stories is such an eye opening experience. It really makes you appreciate all that you have.

4.  It makes you cultured. News stories teach you what is acceptable in some cultures and what is not. They also teach you how different daily life in other cultures can be.

5.  It is a good conversation starter. You can end awkward silences by bringing up interesting news stories that you have read about and you can impress others with your knowledge of current events.

6.  It is relevant. You may think that a story about the Chinese economy is completely irrelevant to you, but in the current world where everything is connected, it has a lot to do with you. Something in one country can impact something completely different in another country. Keeping up with current events will help you see the connections across the entire globe.

7.  You will learn a lot. Learning something new is one of the best reasons to keep up with current events. The news is there to teach and inform you. Take advantage of that source of information. I’m sure you will learn something new and interesting with every different story you read.

If you weren’t convinced already with why it is important to stay up to date with current issues, I hope that Kelly’s reasons will have some sway and make you want to be a well-informed member of society.

Hat tip: Kelly Marcus

Stay Active: Workouts for the Office

Written by Lauren Lind

Sitting at a desk eight hours out of the day can lead to increased strain on your back, wrists, eyes and neck, and can result in a general loss of muscle tone. There is also much weight gain that can occur because office spaces are set up to require little movement. While recovering from the damage done during Thanksgiving, I gathered some exercises that you can do at the office to help keep you active and combat the holiday weight gain. Fitting in a little exercise each day improves concentration and actually makes you more productive. Here is a great office workout from military.com:

Stretching regularly - walk around the office for about 3-5 minutes. Get some water, go to the bathroom, etc. Take a few minutes to get up and get away from your desk.

Five Key Stretches
(do stretches for 15-30 seconds) 


1) Neck Stretches - Slowly tilt your head toward your shoulder and hold for ten seconds each side. Keep this one slow and easy, the neck is very easy to injure. 



2) Arm/Shoulders - Pull your arm across your chest, hook your other arm around it to pull the tension out of your upper back and rear shoulders. 



3) Back / Legs - Lean forward at the waist either from the standing position or sitting and bring your chest toward your thighs. Slowly try to straighten your legs by stretching your hamstrings. 



4) Thigh Stretch - Sit on left edge of your chair or stand. Grab your left ankle and pull it upward toward your buttocks. Switch sides. 



5) Calf Stretches - Stand and lean into your desk with your heels on the floor. Bend your knees slightly to stretch your Achilles tendons. 



Five Key Exercises



1)   Leg Squats - Stand in front of your chair and repeat sitting down and standing up 10 times three times a day. 


 2)   
Shoulder Shrugs - Just pull your shoulders as high as you can and roll them forward ten times and backward ten times throughout the day. 


 3)   
Dumbbell Curls - While on the phone, you can grab a dumbbell and do bicep curls for 20 repetitions three times a day. Straighten your arms by your side and bring your hand (dumbbell) to your shoulder. Keep your palms up. Do one at a time if on the phone. 


 4)   
Bench Dips - Using your chair or sturdy table, place your hands on the edge of the object and bend your arms to slowly lower yourself about six inches lower than the seat. Raise yourself by straightening your arms. Repeat this three times a day for 10 repetitions. 



5)   Assisted Push-up - In the office, lean up against your desk and push yourself away from the desk while in a leaning position. Repeat this three times a day for 10 repetitions.

For more great office workouts check out 10 Office Exercises You Can Do Secretly, A workout at work?, and Exercise at Your Desk.  Also be sure to check out this 15-Minute Desk Workout video specifically designed for the office!

Hat tip: Stew Smith with Military.com, Jodie Schneider with Discovery Fit &Health,  Christian Torres with The Washington Post , Jean Lawrence with WebMD, and Nicole Nichols with SparkPeople Videos. 

Be Thankful For These Job Search Resources

Written by Lauren Lind 

While you are searching for a job, you might feel hopeless at times. Don’t fret! Here are a few things to be thankful for when job searching:  

• The unemployment rate in the US has decreased almost 3% in the past 3 years.

• There are a lot more job opportunities out there than you thought possible! There were 3.6 million job openings at the end of 2012. About 80% of available jobs are never advertised (Forbes.com).

• Keep in mind that there are so many opportunities that you are not aware of yet, but somewhere someone is looking for exactly what you have to offer.

• Job opportunities are rapidly growing in healthcare, personal care, and community/social services industries.

• 56% of employers reported that a candidate rejected their job offer in 2012, which leaves room for you to apply for positions that may not be filled yet.

• Social media can be used to your advantage when job searching (read more here).

• There is always someone who is worse off than you. Be grateful for what you do have and be proactive in your job search. Help others and volunteer to help you gain perspective on your situation.

• There are a variety of different websites to help you find a job! Check them out:

1. Builtincolorado.com - Startups

2. http://www.boulderstartups.org/jobs/ - Startups

3.http://www.startuphire.com/lc/Boulder-startup-jobs?s=CO  - Startups

4. humanresourcesjobs.com - HR

5. AndrewHudsonsjoblist.com - Variety of industries

6. www.coloradononprofits.org/‎ - Nonprofit

7. http://www.aiacolorado.org/default.aspx - Architecture

8. Indeed.com – Variety of industries

9. http://www.connectingcolorado.com/# - Variety of industries

10. http://agency.governmentjobs.com/Colorado/default.cfm - State of Colorado

Job searching can be stressful to say the least. However, there are many opportunities available and you will find the right place for you. Remember that gratitude can be found through hard times as well as the good.

Hat tip: Bureau of Labor Statistics , Jacquelyn Smith with Forbes.com