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.

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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.

Heart-Healthy Tips for American Heart Month

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Every day, more than 2,200 Americans die of heart disease (Center for Disease Control). This statistic is staggering, and it emphasizes the need for education about the importance of heart health. The good news is that small lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of heart disease by as much as 80 percent.

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Photo of HR Solutions Center staff on National Wear Red Day.

Since February is American Heart Month, we have compiled a list of tips to help you improve your heart health and reduce your risk for heart disease. These simple changes can have a huge impact on your overall health.

  1. Stay active. Be sure to get in at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day.
  2. Watch your cholesterol levels. You can manage your cholesterol by exercising and eating a variety of nutritious foods including fruits, vegetables and whole grain breads.
  3. Eat healthy. The American Heart Association recommends eating fruits and vegetables, eating fish twice a week and cutting back on sugars and saturated fats.
  4. Manage your blood pressure. This can be done by avoiding alcohol, exercising regularly, managing stress and reducing sodium in your diet.
  5. Reduce your blood sugar. You can accomplish this by moderating your consumption of soda, candy, sugary deserts and other foods that contain simple sugars

Hopefully these tips help you to start thinking about ways to improve your heart health! If you want more information, be sure to check out the American Heart Association’s website or Go Red for Women.

The Dr. William G. Anderson Lecture Series: Slavery to Freedom

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In honor of Black History Month, we are featuring The Dr. William G. Anderson Lecture Series: Slavery to Freedom, an award-winning series that highlights living icons of the American Civil Rights Movement. This series is presented by the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine and sponsored by several other MSU units.

The first presenter, Dr. Mae Jemison, is a doctor, dancer, chemical engineer and the first African American woman to travel to space. She already spoke on February 2, 2017. Whether you were able to make it to this first presentation or not, be sure to mark your calendars for the other two.Project 60.50.circle WITH msu wordmark CMYK

The remaining two presentations both take place at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, and they are free to attend.

The second presenter, Jonathan Capehart, is a journalist, MSNBC contributor and an opinion writer, as well as an editorial board member, for the Washington Post. He will speak on Thursday, February 9, 2017 at 5 p.m.

The final presenter, Johnny Ford, is the first African American mayor of Tuskegee Alabama. He will speak on Thursday, February 23, 2017 at 5 p.m.

If you have any questions or want more information, see the event flyer or the College of Osteopathic Medicine’s website.

Job of the Week 2/3/17

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This week we are highlighting an Operations Supervisor (posting #4858) with Residential & Hospitality Services. This position will coordinate and oversee the operations of the Spartan Spirit Shop at 1855 Place in order to maintain quality control and quality products, assist in developing and implementing policies and procedures, and forecast retail needs and order supplies to maintain proper inventory levels. This position will also work with customers to provide expertise of retail operations and merchandise, and interview, hire, train, schedule and evaluate assigned support staff and part-time team members.

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.

Events Round-Up February 2017

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Here are some events happening over the next month that may be of interest to MSU faculty and staff. Please visit the links for more information. Many events require registration.

Community Events

Wednesday, February 1 – Thursday, February 2

Winter Clearance Sale, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., MSU Union

Wednesday, February 1- Tuesday, February 28

Student Art Exhibit, hours of operation, MSUFCU headquarters

Wednesday, February 1

Pop-up Ice Skating Rink, all day, Valley Court Park

Open through February, weather dependent

Friday, February 3 – Sunday, February 5

Mid-Michigan Women’s Expo, Lansing Center

Saturday, February 4

Cross Country Skiing Class, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Harris Nature Center

Snowshoeing Class, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., Harris Nature Center

Tuesday, February 7

Sweetheart Ball, 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., East Lansing Hannah Community Center

Thursday, February 9

Chocolate Walk, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Old Town

Sunday, February 26

MSU Museum Chocolate Party Benefit, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center

Development, Training and Wellness

Wednesday, February 8

Recipe for Health Cooking Series, 12:10 p.m. – 12:50 p.m., Brody Square Demonstration Kitchen

Wednesday, February 15

Boost Your Career, 8:30 a.m. – noon, 10 Nisbet

Introduction to Qualtrics, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., RHS Information Services Building

Everything DISC: Behavior Styles at Work, 8:30 a.m. – noon, 10 Nisbet

Monday, February 20

Rest with Music, 12:10 p.m. – 12:50 p.m., Abrams Planetarium