Between all the competition, application processes and networking, job searching is tough. There’s tons of advice out there about what you should include in your resume, what to say in your cover letter and how to act in an interview, but it can be hard to know what recruiters are really looking for in a candidate. Check out these tips for what to focus on when seeking out your dream career. Pay Attention to Detail Some details on your resume may seem insignificant, but they can make all the difference to a hiring manager. For example, if your current job title doesn’t relate to the position you’re applying for, it’s a red flag. "If you’re switching career fields, your previous experience is important, but you want to make sure the most relevant information is toward the top of your resume," says Jesika Jorgenson, director of career services for Globe University. This can include your education, an internship or any related volunteer experience in the industry. Jorgenson also recommends that you tailor your resume to each position. If you’re applying for many different jobs, be careful to change all related information in your resume and cover letter, including job title, company name and the person to whom they are addressed. Jorgenson says this is a common mistake that can be detrimental. "Have someone else read your documents to make sure there are no errors," she says. "It’s hard to remove yourself when you’ve been looking at them for hours, so it doesn’t hurt to have another set of eyes look them over." Make a Good First Impression At the interview, your first impression is crucial. Recruiters will notice if you’re punctual, dressed appropriately and eager to be there. Jorgenson says this starts even before you sit down with the interviewer. "Your first impression starts as soon as you walk in the door," she explains. "How you interact with the person at the front desk or others who walk by you while you wait is all taken into account." Your eye contact and handshake are also little things that can affect what the interviewer thinks of you. "If you’re in the room before the interviewer, stand up, look them in the eye and shake their hand when they enter," Jorgenson says. Your attitude makes a big impact, too. "Enthusiasm is really important," Jorgenson says. "You have to show interest in the position you’re interviewing for, even if you’re months into your job search. If you don’t seem really invested, it can hurt you." Follow Up Following up after an interview is vital, but Jorgenson says it can be hard to know how, because there are no set rules. One thing you must do, however, is thank the hiring manager for their time. "You’d be surprised to know how many candidates don’t send a thank-you note," Jorgenson says. "The vast majority don’t, so be sure to send one after the interview to make yourself stand out, even if it’s just a quick email." Waiting to hear back from a company after an interview can seem like torture, and although you should follow up, Jorgenson warns about being too pushy. "To put you at ease right away, ask about the hiring timeline at the end of the interview," she suggests. "If you’ve sent a thank-you and still haven’t heard anything after that date passes, I would say it’s okay to then follow up again." It’s hard to know what recruiters are really looking for in a job candidate. If you pay attention to the details, make a good first impression and follow up appropriately, you’ll have a better chance at landing the position. To learn more about Globe University and career support services visit www.globeuniversity.edu/about-us/career-services.

Justin Schaar, a Globe University architectural drafting and design student inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, was selected as the Star Student of the Month due to his dedication, excellent work ethic and passion for his program. Justin chose the architectural drafting and design program because it incorporated multiple skills and interests he has in drawing, designing, building and thinking. He is able to utilize his artistic eye in his drawings, for which he has won awards and numerous ribbons. Justin even thought about a career in tattooing due to artistic side! "I realized my favorite thing to draw were plans and blueprints of my ideas," Justin said. "I enjoy designing and building just about anything I can think of. I wanted to find something that would tie my skills and interests together, and that is when I started down the path of architectural drafting and design. It all seemed to come together." Justin’s advice to other students is the expression: "Nothing worth having comes easy." "We all face difficult challenges and detours along the way, but it’s the hope of being able to look back and know that you wouldn’t want to do it differently," Justin said. John Hartmann, chair of the architectural drafting and design program, called Justin "a very determined and talented student." "I love teaching students like Justin who have the passion and talent to become successful within this career field," John said. Congrats Justin on being the Star Student of the Month!

Although it may seem like it, Financial Aid Manager Bill Vache does not live at Globe University.  He does, however, put in some long hours with students to assist them with their financial aid needs. This dedication and hard work has landed Bill the title of Staff Member of the Quarter.  "Bill is well respected and well-liked by both students and staff which is very impressive," said Regional Director Rocky Klitzke. "He really cares about every single student and helping them make their dreams a reality." Bill received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Millikin University in Decatur, IL. He says, "I started as a History major, changed to Economics, changed to Education, then back to History. Eventually I stopped changing because I needed to graduate sometime. I loved that the liberal arts taught me to think and I found the discipline interesting. You can never know everything." Bill started working for Globe University in March 2009 at the Madison West campus in financial aid and has been working with both the Madison East and West campuses ever since. "Before Globe, I worked for another college in admissions, then found my niche in financial aid.  Before that I worked for a couple of years for a benefits administration company. I learned a lot about health insurance, 401K’s and pensions. I’ve always been interested in personal finance and I think that’s a main reason why I enjoy FA so much." What Bill Likes about Working at Globe "I really enjoy the relationships in the Globe community," Bill shares. "It’s small and personal. It’s easy to work with good people where you genuinely see students grow and make change in their lives. Sometimes they change the path of their family’s future and that’s powerful."

Our very own Business Program Chair, Tom Hakko, shared his expertise on Black Friday on the television show, My29’s On the Fly, a local entertainment show that focuses on pop culture, Hollywood news and hot regional events. According to Hakko, the deals on Black Friday are not the best deals. Black Friday deals are much more of an illusion. He refers to US News and World Report article that found up to 50 percent of rebates are not mailed in, and rebates are one of the best ways to save money. He concluded the interview by telling consumers to pay attention when they are shopping. The store experience is only half the experience of saving money. "Do the rebates, finish up when you go home. There are deals out there on Black Friday, but you have to be selective," said Hakko. On his television experience: "My experience with television was wonderful, it was fun and exciting. The My 29’s On The Fly show was looking for a subject matter expert and I was asked to be the expert." "The show hosts Kelsey Soby and Tony Fly were incredible. They took time to explain what to do, what camera to look at and how long to make my answers. They really made the experience lots of fun. They were very relaxed and professional and make a very welcoming experience." Professional Background: Hakko has his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) with an extensive background in sales, advertising and business. He has worked in upper management positions for organizations as large as 2,200 as well as small business groups for over two decades. "Tom is a motivated professional who is always thinking outside the box in order to teach his students in the most effective way possible," said Denise Radcliffe, dean of faculty at Globe University-Woodbury. "This interview is a prime example of Tom’s knowledge in diverse aspects of business." Hakko has been involved in higher education since 2002. He has instructed undergraduate as well as graduate level business students.

Faculty and staff at Second Harvest Foodbank Did you know that one hour of your time can help thousands of hungry people in need of food? Or that just one dollar (four quarters or 100 pennies) can produce three meals for hungry families in southern Wisconsin? Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, southwestern Wisconsin’s largest hunger relief organization, does just that! The non-profit organization is committed to ending hunger in 16 southwestern Wisconsin counties, serving nearly 141,000 people each year; 43% of whom are children. Faculty and staff from Globe University-Madison West took it upon themselves to spread the "We Care" mission outside the campus walls and into the Madison community. They sorted potatoes that were donated from a local farm into five pound bags so they could be easily distributed at the food pantries and shelters. For the four hours they volunteered, they were able to package 3,400 pounds worth of potatoes that could be shipped off to the various locations. What an accomplishment! Sorting potatoes for the various food pantries and shelters Some of our volunteered shared their thoughts on the experience: "Volunteering at Second Harvest was a great way to provide service and show that ‘We Care’ not only for our students but for our community as well. It was also fun to work with my coworkers in a setting outside of work." -Alex Hall, academic and online coordinator "Our staff is amazing to work with. It is always nice when we get to work side by side off campus. We take our ‘We Care’ mission everywhere we go with joyful hearts and giving hands. It was a great day!" -Laurie Anne Caamal, admissions representative "It was wonderful to see so many institutions come together to make a difference in our community.  Starting from the farmers who donated the potatoes, the Globe Team helping to package them, and Second Harvest helping ship them to an organization in need, it showed that all these groups share Globe’s Mission of ‘We Care’ It takes a network of people to make a positive impact; and the Globe family is happy to be a part of it." -Brennan Porter, administrative assistant Interested in volunteering or learning more on how to end hunger in Wisconsin? Contact Pam Higham, volunteer services coordinator, at volunteerservices@shfbmadison.org or visit the Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin website.

On a cold Saturday morning, several veterinary technology students set out for the Berg Dairy Farm in Barre Mills, excited to watch robotic milking firsthand and assist with various duties.  The first, and one of the favorite activities, was feeding calves. "We started by bottle feeding calves, then moved on to robotic milking," Shania Webb, veterinary technology student, said. "We helped to singe the hair on the udders of the cows. It helps with cleanliness of the whole system." Students also trimmed the cows’ tails, de-horned calves and cleaned out pens, but the focus of the day was on robotic milking. "Robotic milking is helpful for farmers because it tests the milk every time. Studies have shown that it helps increase milk production and gives the farmer a little more time to do other chores. It also checks the cow’s weight and food intake, among other things," Shania said.Vet tech students pose after volunteering "This form of milking keeps track of everything for the farmers, such as how the cow is processing food and the amount of milk they are letting down," Sacha Hansen, veterinary technology student, said. The students noted the importance of being familiar with techniques like robotic milking for their future careers. "For us vet techs, this experience was beneficial because we may run into a robotic milker while in the field," Shania said. "It’s important to know what they do and the information they collect." Robotic milking is not used on all dairy farms, but is bound to be used more frequently. "I remember when [robotic milking] was starting to be talked about, so seeing it in person was awesome," Sacha said.  Justine Hickey, another vet tech student volunteer, agreed. "It was cool to learn about how the farming industry is growing and using more technology." Fellow student Taylor Hoekstra also appreciated the opportunity to volunteer at the Berg farm. "Learning about robotic milking was helpful because it was a new and interesting thing to learn about and was very neat to watch," she said. "The best part was being around all the animals and taking care of them." Though farming is difficult and dirty work, all of the students enjoyed helping out and gaining experience. "The best part for me was just being on a farm and helping out. I was able to get my hands in there and get dirty," Sacha said. "The worst part was having to leave. I wish we could have stayed and done more."

Lavage. What is that? It may sound like a fancy French word, but don’t be fooled. Lavage is simply a medical term that means to wash a hollow organ with repeated injections of water, which is exactly what Globe University-La Crosse medical assistant program students practiced in a CMA review course. "An ear lavage is another name for ear irrigation or ear wash," Stacy Tibbitts, a medical assistant student, said. "This can help the patient by removing impacted cerumen, (ear wax) relieve inflammation and remove foreign bodies from the ear canal." Fellow student, Mindy Revels explained the process of ear lavage. "Ear lavage is using room temperature water to gently flush ear wax or debris from the ear canal. It should be done when wax is built up and obstructing hearing."Student Stacy Tibbitts practices ear lavage In addition to flushing the ears, Ann Schmit also noted that lavage "provides relief from earaches, ringing in the ears, or temporary hearing loss." Students also practiced skills needed when giving injections, such as informed consent and giving a patient a vaccination information sheet. They also demonstrated the seven rights of medication administration: the right patient, drug, dose, technique, time, route and documentation. The students performed different types of injections. Stacy Tibbitts described the types, saying, "An intradermal injection would be a tuberculosis test done on the inner surface of the lower arm. A subcutaneous injection is used when a patient gives themselves insulin; they can do this in the fatty tissue on the outer upper arm." A final type of injection the students practiced was intramuscular injections. An example of an intramuscular injection is the flu shot. "Intramuscular injections are used for viscous medication and can be given in the deltoid muscle," Stacy said. "We used 1 ml of solution, injected a ninety degree angle," Samantha Jones, medical assistant student, said. Samantha noted the importance of becoming familiar with the proper techniques. "While completing these skills, we practice them just as they would be done during an externship and out in the field," she said. "Practicing skills like this will really prepare me for an externship." Stacy agreed, saying, "As a medical assistant I will have to give a lot of injections to patients of all ages. By practicing these skills, it will help my confidence when I start my externship and future job."

The economic recovery is well underway, and demand for skilled employees is creating an extremely competitive job market. Employers are struggling to find available talent with the skillset needed to immediately fill job openings, and the competitive marketplace has made it equally as difficult for employers to retain top-tier talent. For more than 130 years, Globe University has been bridging the skills gap, preparing tens of thousands of career-focused graduates by partnering with businesses through our industry-relevant workforce development and cooperative training programs. Continuing this decades-long commitment to producing real-world ready graduates, Globe University is proud to announce a newly-formed partnership with Minnesota-based Schneiderman’s Furniture. The Schneiderman’s Business and Sales Cooperative Training program, developed by Globe University, provides the training and education necessary for the business to retain, develop and grow a competitive workforce. "Schneiderman’s is committed to investing in the growth of their employees and has an immediate need to fill positions," says Jeff Myhre, chief executive officer for Globe University. "Through this cooperative training program, we will develop exceptional employees who are committed and equipped with the necessary skills to ensure continued success for their business." The Schneiderman’s Business and Sales Cooperative Training program was developed to help the business attract motivated sales consultants, as well as strengthen the skills of existing employees; giving them the foundation for career growth through academic and hands-on training. "This is a very exciting time for our business," says Larry Schneiderman, president of Schneiderman’s furniture. "We’re growing, and through this program we will hire employees who want to grow with us, and obtain skills based on our core principals of value, respect and quality." As part of the Schneiderman’s Business and Sales Cooperative Training program, the student/employee enrolls in the Globe University business courses, at no cost to the student. The cooperative training program provides students with the essential business and sales skills required to meet the specific business needs of Schneiderman’s Furniture.  Students take one course per quarter and work as full-time sales consultants at one of the four Twin Cities or Rochester Schneiderman’s Furniture locations for the duration of the two-year program. The student/employees receive college level credit for successfully completed coursework and full-time compensation. "As a career-focused college, we develop training and academic opportunities that are aimed at helping students obtain the professional skills and credentials required to meet immediate business needs," says Myhre. "The Schneiderman’s Sales and Cooperative Training program focuses on getting individuals into the workforce sooner and closing the gap between employer expectations and the educated labor supply." To learn more about the Schneiderman’s Business and Sales Cooperative Training program or how Globe University can create customized training and educational opportunities to help maintain and grow your workforce, visit http://www.globeuniversity.edu/about-us/workforce-development-training-programs.

Taylor Tuinstra, veterinary technology student, listens to the cow’s stomach to help confirm that the cow has a displaced abomasum. So much has happened at the Globe University-Eau Claire campus in the past year!   Below, we’ve compiled so some of the amazing stories, pictures and videos from our campus in 2014. Applied Learning  Providing students with hands-on, real world training that gives them a clear advantage in the marketplace. Globe University is known for applied learning. It is what we do. Each of our programs embraces applied learning and offers students the opportunity to utilize their skills and training both inside and outside the classroom. Here are a couple of applied learning stories that highlight this innovative form of learning: Rubber Boots Required: Vet Tech Students Head to the Farm Challenge Accepted: Students Apply Their Skills to Help Save Lives   Staff members work with the kids to plant flowers behind the Boys and Girls Club. Community Service Giving back to Eau Claire and the surrounding communities. As a member of the community, it is important to give back. Here at Globe, we donated hundreds of hours to our community partners, as well as participated in numerous fundraisers, donation drives and other volunteer endeavors.   This is how some of our students and staff gave back over the past year: 2014 Day of Caring: Globe University Volunteers for the United Way Finding Time to Give Back: Globe University Volunteers at Boys and Girls Club Accounting Students Volunteer Their Expertise to Habitat for Humanity       Graduation  Let’s celebrate the hard work of our students! By far one of the most exciting events each quarter is graduation. As an instructor, graduation is a great opportunity for me to share in student success. This is how one graduating class celebrated its successes: From Student to Graduate: Globe University-Eau Claire Celebrates 28 Milestones And how did our students make it from orientation to graduation? Through hard work and good study habits. Check out these tips from our students on how to be successful:  5 Tips for Success in the Classroom and Making the Grade     Job Placement Students turn their education into a career.Staff from All Lab Tests Fast along with members from the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce at their grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony. (Photo Courtesy of Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce) When it comes to job placement and career opportunities for our students, Globe University-Eau Claire is leading the way. As a campus over the past year (those graduating from July of 2013 to June 2014), 72 percent of students found employment in their field of study. This is a tremendous accomplishment and we are proud to share in the successes of our graduates.  One particular story that comes to mind in 2014 was that of Dawn Barylski, medical assistant graduate. Dawn went from a student in the program to helping launch a new business here in Eau Claire. I had the pleasure of having Dawn as a student and seeing her transition into the medical field. I am proud of all Dawn accomplished and the hard work she put forth, both in the classroom and during her externship.  Here is her story: New Business, New Career, New Opportunities - Globe University Graduate Gets in on the Ground Floor Criminal justice graduates also found new and exciting careers in the areas of law enforcement, security and probation and parole. This is how Christina leveraged her education and experience into her dream job as a probation and parole Agent: Graduate Spotlight: Criminal Justice Grad Is Now a Probation and Parole Agent Why Globe University? When deciding on where to go for your education there are many factors to consider. Over the past year we have offered our students the opportunity to advance their education and earn the degree that will help them in their future careers. Here are some inspirational words of advice from students in 2014 about why they chose to earn their degree here at Globe University-Eau Claire. Andrew: Massage therapy Samantha: Veterinary technology

Not all instructors started out their careers knowing they would one day end up teaching, but for some, that shift was a natural transition. Take Globe University-La Crosse adjunct instructor, Andy Jandt, for example. "Teaching for me is life changing," he said. From the first day of a class until his students leave with their diplomas, Andy enjoys the teaching experience. Andy teaches courses from programming to mobile development in the information technology program. "I started out teaching Operating Systems and Programming 2, but I have taught Mobile Software Development as well as Intro to Decision Systems," he said. Adjunct Instructor, Andy Jandt Regardless of the course, Andy knows the value of first-hand experience and encourages his students to take advantage of any possible training opportunities. "I think the best thing a student wanting to get into the IT field can do is get an internship," Andy said. "Even if it is not a paid internship, the experience the student will gain is priceless." In his work as a web developer for Saint Mary’s Press, a non-profit publishing company, Andy can see the rewards of internships. "I have worked with individuals who have had internships and individuals who have not had internships, and the difference is staggering," he said. "There is only so much that the classroom can teach and getting as much of the real world experience is so important." In addition to his professional life, Andy enjoys spending time with his family. "I grew up in the West Salem area and am married with two children: a daughter who is in high school, and a son in elementary school," Andy said. "My son is really into comics and building robots, so I spend a lot of time at the comic book shop and researching robots online with him. My daughter is really into photography so we drive around taking pictures all over the area." Andy’s life is certainly full, and seeing his students complete the program adds to his sense of fulfillment. "Seeing a student I taught walk across the stage and get their IT degree, then go on to get a job in the field is my favorite part of teaching," Andy said.