Job of the Week 2/24/17

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This week we are highlighting an Administrative Associate (posting #5007) with Lear Corporation Career Services. This position will be responsible for positively impacting the rankings, reputation, and national recognition of Broad programs; overseeing the collection, compilation and analysis of graduate and undergraduate employment outcome data; effectively managing the unit facilities and budget, leading a team of career services professionals to achieve long and short-term goals; and providing career counseling and placement support for graduate and undergraduate students and alumni.

This position will also implement and evaluate career fairs, events, workshops and presentations as appropriate; and work collaboratively with colleagues and faculty to ensure industry needs and career development strategies are appropriately incorporated into graduate and undergraduate programs

For a complete description of this position, and to view all of our current postings, please go to www.jobs.msu.edu and select Support Staff under the Fast Jobs Search.

MSU Museum Chocolate Party Benefit Returns for 28th Year

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chocolate-benefit-party_pictureLooking for something unique and fun to get you out of the winter weekend slump? Look no further than MSU Museum’s 28th Annual Chocolate Party Benefit. The event will take place on Sunday, February 26, from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center. Proceeds from the annual Chocolate Party Benefit fund proper care of the Museum’s collections to ensure the preservation and access by future generations.

Competitors will be creating their edible, chocolate works of art inspired by the feature film The Secret Life of Pets. MSU Museum will also be featuring exhibits showcasing a number of artifacts and specimens from the science and culture collections. Attendees will get to view winning creations from the chocolate competition, sample chocolate confections from local bakeries, and vote for their favorite masterpiece for the People’s Choice Award.

General admission tickets are available at the MSU Museum store, at Bake N’ Cakes, or at the door. Try a taste of something new this February, all while helping preserve a piece of history. Visit the MSU Museum website for more information.

Faculty Performance Review Workshop

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The Academic Advancement Network is hosting an informal workshop for academic administrators on the topic of faculty performance reviews. During this session, participants will learn about evaluation of tenure track faculty from two perspectives – the annual performance review and consideration for merit and market raise recommendations.

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Photo courtesy of Communications and Brand Strategy.

In addition to the workshop, there are resources available online to help academic administrators conduct faculty performance reviews. On the HR website, there is information concerning what questions you should ask, how to format the review and how to write the review.

The workshop will be held Wednesday February 22, 2017, from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. in the Hannah Administration Building 4th floor board room. If you are interested in attending, you can register online through the AAN website.

Job of the Week 2/17/17

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This week we are highlighting an Associate Payroll Manager (posting #4955) with the Office of Controller. This position assists in managing the operational and personnel functions of the Payroll Operations Division within the Controller’s Office in order to coordinate activities and ensure compliance with University, Government, and Departmental policies, regulations and procedures.

This position works with MSU Payroll staff to ensure that each MSU employee is being paid in accordance with University policies and procedures; assists in making sure that the University is in compliance with the Federal, State, and Local government tax regulations for wages of both U.S citizens and international employees; assists with federal, state and local year-end tax reconciliation and filings; and assists with the coordination and processing of both regular and off-cycle payroll processes.

For a complete description of this position, and to view all of our current postings, please go to www.jobs.msu.edu and select Support Staff under the Fast Jobs Search.

Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities

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At MSU, there are endless opportunities to learn something new or further develop an existing skill, including Professional Development Services (PDS) of Human Resources. PDS helps staff and departments excel through instructor-led classes, online training, leadership development and departmental programs. This February and March, PDS has several great classes to help you continue your success at MSU.

Crucial Conversations will take place on Tuesday, February 21 and Wednesday, February 22, from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. in 10 Nisbet. This program will teach step-by-step tools for promoting open, honest dialogue around high-stakes, emotional, or risky topics at all levels of an organization.

Core Competencies for Supervisors will be held on Tuesday, March 7, from 8:30 a.m. – noon in 10 Nisbet. This program explores how the role of a supervisor adds value to an organization, how to successfully move from peer to supervisor, and how to build communication skills, motivate and give effective feedback.

Communicating and Influencing Up will take place on Tuesday, March 7, from 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. in 10 Nisbet. This class will cover the fundamentals of effective communication, specifically focusing on using communication skills to influence others.

Don’t miss out on any of these great professional development opportunities, and sign up for what could lead to the next step-up in your career! Visit Professional Development Services for more information.

Mental Health: putting it into perspective

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Mental health is a vital component of a person’s well being, but many may feel uncomfortable openly discussing mental illnesses. The Best Doctors Live Webinar Series will dive into the topic of mental health and provide education on this important topic.

Best Doctors Graphic
Be sure to register before the live webinar on February 23.

During the webinar, a panel of experts will discuss the topic of mental illness and debunk the thinking that it is different from other physical medical conditions or something that should be kept hidden. Additionally, the experts will also talk about what steps are taken to diagnose mental illness and what patients should expect during this process. After the presentation, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions.

“Mental Health: putting it into perspective” will be presented by Dr. John Oldham and Dr. David Harrison. Dr. Oldham is the Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff at the Menninger Clinic and oversees clinical cares at Baylor College of Medicine, and Dr. Harrison is the Best Doctors U.S. Medical Director.

This webinar is free and open to anyone who would like to attend! Mark your calendars for Thursday, February 23 from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. To register, visit this link.

Preparing for an Internal Interview

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If you’re looking for a different opportunity internally, you will need to prepare for the internal interview just like you would if you were an outside candidate. In many ways, it can be more difficult to prepare for an internal interview because you are working from a set of assumptions that you already know the culture and the work.

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Make sure to prepare for an internal interview as if you were an outside candidate.

Here are some tips to help you understand the hiring process and prepare for the interview.

  1. At MSU, applicants are screened based on the stated minimums. Units will then review candidates based on all of the job factors.
  2. Update your resume for each job.
    1. If your resume has an objective, replace it with a professional summary of skills.
    2. Include actual metrics in your resume. If you state you serve customers, include how many a week/month/year? You must show evidence of your accomplishments.
  3. Prepare early. Ask for advice and attend regular professional development opportunities to keep your skills up.
  4. Do your research. Seek out information on the department: what do they do, who are the key players, what is their role in the University, what research are they doing? A simple web search can yield enough information to ask intelligent questions.
  5. Have questions prepared for the interview. Be honest about what you need out of the job. What is the type of work you most like to do? What is the culture where you will most thrive? Dress professionally. The old adage “dress for the job you want” is a little different these days, but make sure that clothing that is clean, pressed and stain-free.
  6. Don’t assume being an internal candidate is a plus. Remember that many hiring managers are looking for fresh ideas and may want to implement changes. Address these issues through your answers as to why you are the best candidate to implement new ideas.
  7. If you know your interviewer well, do not short cut your answers. You should approach your interview with friendly formalness, but remember that the interviewing team cannot “fill in the blanks.” This is particularly true if there is a panel. You are being compared to other candidates.
  8. Let your boss know. Your supervisor’s support can be a key factor in helping you reach your goals.
  9. Be honest. It’s likely you have made mistakes in the past, who hasn’t? Know your reputation before you interview and address any issues head on with a candid approach. Demonstrate that you’ve learned from these missteps.
  10. Say thank you. Courteous and professional thank you notes are still appreciated. Make sure you have their names spelled correctly! Nothing says “lack of detail” like having a person’s name spelled wrong.

For more information on this topic, visit the MSU HR website.

Thank you MSU Bakers!

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Photo courtesy of MSU Bakers

Sometimes all you need after a long day is something sweet. MSU Bakers has been serving students, faculty and staff since 1971. MSU Bakers formed when bakers from the residence halls were consolidated into a single group, and operated out of a converted dining room for over 30 years until moving in 2007. Their staff is made of skilled bakers with over 150 years of combined experience, along with MSU students.

MSU Bakers create a bountiful bunch of tasty treats including cakes and cupcakes, cookies, brownies, breads and bagels fresh daily. Spartan Spirit goods are perfect for graduation and tailgate season. There are also specials made for each month. This month, MSU Bakers will be selling their Valentine’s Day cookies, brownies, cupcakes and much more. The Decorate your own Cookie Kit is the perfect team-building activity with a sweet treat to look forward to at the end. And don’t forget to get something nice for your special someone by the 14th.

Stop by their bakery on Service Rd., call, or place an order online. Thank you MSU Bakers for giving us “a little taste of home.”

Job of the Week 2/10/17

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This week we are highlighting an Intellectual Property Officer (posting #4902) with the MSU Innovation Center. This position will provide high quality licensing strategy development and execution, outreach to industry, entrepreneurs and others interested in commercializing University technology, and negotiation of business terms of license agreements. This position also manages copyright technologies, including software and other educational materials, as well as selected technologies with patent applications in fields such as physical sciences and life sciences.

For a complete description of this position, and to view all of our current postings, please go to www.jobs.msu.edu and select Support Staff under the Fast Jobs Search.

MSU Accepting Applications for Green Certification Program

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Building a more sustainable campus is a priority for students, faculty and staff. In support of this movement, MSU’s Sustainability department is looking for the Spartan community to examine the role they play in reducing resources used on campus through participation in the Spartan Green Certification program. The Spartan Green Certification is an online self-assessment program that educates, assists and recognizes units and offices taking steps towards energy efficiency and conservation, waste reduction and recycling, water conservation and sustainable purchasing practices.spartan-green

Spartan Green Certified Events will receive a certificate and seal so they can be marketed as green events, which will let event attendees know about the group’s commitment to sustainability.

The application period is now open, and departments have until Friday, March 3, 2017 to apply for certification. For full program details and instructions for applying, visit the Spartan Green Certification page.