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See Best Foot, Page 2

What the Fuss?

THON is ON!

For more info see Phake Phish Page 2

What would an issue about putting your best foot forward be without talking about the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon? Not too informative, we say, so here’s your THON rundown to get ready for the big event.

You’re probably aware that THON consists of over 15,000 student volunteers, 700

Show Yourself Off (In a Good Way!)

Putting your best foot forward doesn’t just mean rocking a killer pair of shoes. It’s also about getting it all together for the future. How you represent yourself in the digital world can

either be your best asset in this tough job market, or your worst enemy. It’s all in how you present yourself, both in person and online.

Learn with LyndaSo you’re diligently working on your e-Portfolio and jazzing up your witty cover letter, but when it comes time to work on your resume, you’re falling a little short on skills. It’s never a good idea to inflate your knowledge beyond what it actually is, but if you’re just on the edge of feeling like you’re able to list Adobe Photoshop as something at which you’re proficient, we can help!

Take advantage of the thousands of high-quality online video tutorials provided for you through Lynda.com while you’re still a student. These high-quality tutorials are taught by industry experts and available 24/7 for convenient, self-paced learning. All you need to do is visit the ITS Training Services Web site at http://its.psu.edu/training/.

Get it Before You GoYou’ve worked hard for 4 (maybe even 5 or 6!) years for your skills, and your computer is really showing signs of the abuse it has taken. Have you taken advantage of the academic discounts you have available to you before you graduate and move out to the workforce?

Nothing adds more to a professional presence than a brand new computer, and Penn State’s Computer

Store is just the place to get it. Take some time to stop down to either of their showrooms–one in 12

Willard Building, one in the HUB-Robeson Center–

Putting your

What does a phishing e-mail look like?Fraudulent e-mails, that appear to be coming from University locations such as administrator@psu.edu, webmail@psu.edu, and helpdesk@psu.edu continue to be sent to Penn State faculty, staff and students. These e-mails, which ask recipients to provide their individual user ID and password, are part of a variety of dangerous phishing scams, which have targeted all colleges and universities since 2008. The e-mail messages are NOT sent by administrative offices at Penn State–so never reply to them! For more information and how you can protect yourself, visit http://its.psu.edu/takecontrol/.

Has the download bandwidth limit in the Residence Halls increased?Starting in the 2010 spring semester the upload/download limit increased to 10GB a week, more than double the previous 4GB limit. However, the network usage under this new pilot program will continue to be evaluated. If these new limits cause unforeseen negative impacts to the University’s networks, the weekly limits may have to be revised.

Is there an easy way to check my printing information?It’s easy to check your printing information for participating Penn State computer labs from the ITS Secure Server. Visit https://www.work.psu.edu/ to look up your printing information, manage your PASS files, and change your Penn State Access Account password.

dancers, and has

raised more than $61 million benefiting The

Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. Back in

its infancy; however, those numbers were a bit different. In 1973, a small group of dedicated

Penn State students held the first Dance Marathon. That year, 34 dancers participated and raised $2,000. My,

how things have changed.

Information Technology at Penn State is proud to support this year-long effort that raises not only monetary funds, but awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer. Students from all across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, THON alumni from all over the world, and everyone involved in some way continue to make great strides towards finding a cure for all childhood cancers.

ON THE INTERWEBS

Landing a Job of the Future http://tinyurl.com/ClickSP10/

Best Foot Forward

Electronic portfolios (at Penn State, e-Portfolios) are dynamic spaces that allow you to showcase your skills and achievements to any prospective employee. These are becoming standard practice for academics, students, and

professionals. Since they’re published online, it makes it easy for you. Rather than put together 20 or 30 separate portfolios, now you can easily point any perspective employer to your online presence.

It may seem pretty intimidating, especially when you’re worrying about where to apply or what information to include in your resume, but Penn State

has made it easy for you to start your very own

e-Portfolio. We’ve put together a supply of hints and

suggestions to make sure you make it to the top of the heap. You

can find it all at http://portfolio.psu.edu/. In order to start working on your e-Portfolio, you’ll need to apply for Penn State Personal Web space at https://www.work.psu.edu/webspace/. As soon as you

successfully complete and submit the quiz application, you’ll have your

Web space!

its.psu.edu/click/Spring

10

Spring

10

CHECK IT

p.2

Dear Need $$$

Ahh the endless pursuit for career perfection! The spring semester means more than

just sunshine and flowers, it also means it’s the time to start thinking about life after

Penn State. Scary, right? Don’t worry about it! Here are some of my never-fail tips,

along with some help from Penn State Career Services, for writing a resume.

General TipsResumes are not one-size-fits-all. You should plan on writing yours with a specific

employer or position in mind. It’s always a good idea to target the job description when

you’re writing, and please remember to check for spelling and grammar errors! They’re

never a flattering addition.Make sure your contact information is correct - try the heading of your resume. Include

your complete address, phone information, and e-mail address. You want to know when

you land the right job right?Be honest about your experiences! Nothing will get you booted out of the interview faster

than when you’re outed as not actually being fluent in Cantonese. Seriously, saying you’ve

started a successful production company with only $5 - not good. They will find out.

Flattery Will Get You EverywhereBe interested in the organization, even if it’s only on paper. Let them know how your

education, experience, and personal traits make you the perfect candidate.

Be courteous! Express your gratitude in having the opportunity to apply for a position with their

organization. For an extra plus next to your name, follow-up post-interview with a personalized

thank you note to each member of the interview committee. References

Writing your resume and cover letter is half the battle. Don’t let it stress you out! Hopefully these

tips will help, but if you’re looking for more information, Penn State Career Services has an entire

Web site dedicated to furthering your resume skills, plus they also have an entire section dedicated

to interviewing and even searching for a job. You can find it all at

http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/career/students/.Don’t forget to get your digital identity in order BEFORE you start your search. Check out the

Take Control Web site, http://its.psu.edu/takecontrol/, to find out how to protect yourself!

This SquirrelCentral Campus Elm Trees • The Pennsylvania State University

Twitter: ThisSquirrel • Email: thissquirrel@psu.edu • Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ThisSquirrel/

Not sure what a phishing e-mail looks like? Here are some common traits to be on the look-out for:

They ask you for your password, bank information, or other personal data. You should never reply to these requests.

An unfamiliar sender asks you to download an attachment. In most cases, this is a trick that will allow them to gain access to your computer without your knowledge.

Your e-mail address is just one of 20 included in the recipient list. This is especially true if all the addresses are very similar in nature (xyz123@psu.edu, xyz124@psu.edu, xyz125@psu.edu).

Don’t get caught in a phishing net! Be informed and protect yourself.

Heads Up

PhakePhish!

its.psu.edu/click/

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...Best Foot from Page 1to check out deals and special offers. As a student,

you’re eligible for discounts on hardware and accessories that enhance the image you put out for others to see.

You can check out their entire inventory online at http://computerstore.psu.edu/, or stop at either showroom Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. to talk with any of their knowledgeable consultants.

Advice from the ProsIf there was ever one stop you should make before beginning your post-college life, it’s to the Career Services Web site. Consider this your mecca of tips on interviewing, writing a cover letter and resume, and even searching for a job. Nothing beats learning right from the professionals! Check it out at http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/career/students/.

It may seem scary and exciting all at once, but you’ve worked hard as a Penn State student. It’s time to leave the nest and begin a new chapter that’s uniquely your own. Don’t forget to come back and visit – there’s always a dish of Peachy Paterno waiting!

Link Wrap-Upe-Portfoliohttp://portfolio.psu.edu/

Training Serviceshttp://its.psu.edu/training/

Computer Storehttp://computerstore.psu.edu/

Career Serviceshttp://studentaffairs.psu.edu/ career/students/

New for Spring

TAKE A MOMENTA new IM/chat service is now available to the Penn State community. This new service allows members to use their Penn State Access Accounts to chat with people both inside and outside of the University.

All communications/chat sessions between individuals and group chats are fully encrypted for security. Details are available at the ITS Knowledge Base, http://kb.its.psu.edu/article/558/.

Everyone loves a good party, but one that lasts an entire year? Now that’s spectacular!This year marks the 20th anniversary of Penn State’s Computer Store, and they’re celebrating the milestone with a bang. They’ll be hosting a year-long celebration party–yes, all through 2010–with special deals, promotions, featured products, and giveaways. You could win new software suites, gift cards, or even a brand new computer! Check out their Web site, http://computerstore.psu.edu/, for a complete list of prizes and more information about the 20th anniversary celebration!

Penn State’s Computer Store Celebrates All Year Long!