Job Search Journal - Campus Publications, Inc.

Transcription

S OUTHERN D IVERSIT Y S CHOOLS
Job Search Journal
Spring 2013
Quick Link to Websites
Index Of Advertisers
SERVICE & RETAIL
Ameren Corp.......................................................................................9
Atotech................................................................................................9
AutoZone, Inc......................................................................................6
Baltimore Life Insurance Company..................................................26
Blue Bunny........................................................................................28
Bridgestone / Firestone . ...................................................................15
Broward Health.................................................................................34
Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta . .............................................18
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.......................................................23
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas........................................................23
Forest Laboratories............................................................................14
Jack Henry & Associates...................................................................22
Jasper Engines...................................................................................30
Maria Parham Medical Center...........................................................34
Memorial Hospital at Gulfort............................................................34
Peace Corps.........................................................................................8
Philadelphia Gas Works.....................................................................10
Rappahanock Electric Coop..............................................................32
Rex Healthcare..................................................................................34
St. Jude Childern’s Research Hospital..............................................13
State Employees Credit Union - NC.................................................23
Sunburst Hospitality Corporation......................................................30
SYSCO Atlanta, LLC........................................................................28
SYSCO Nashville, LLC....................................................................31
USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service.....................................19
VCU Health System..........................................................................34
Veyance Technologies.......................................................................29
Weatherford International..................................... Outside Back Cover
AutoZone, Inc................................................... www.autozone.com/careers
Blue Bunny..................................................... www.bluebunny.com/careers
USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service..........www.foodsafetyjobs.gov
Peace Corps.......................................................................... Peacecorps.gov
Sunburst Hospitality Corporation................................. www.snbhotels.com
SYSCO Atlanta, LLC...............................................www.syscoatlanta.com
SYSCO Nashville, LLC........................................ www.robertorrsysco.com
BANKING & INSURANCE
Baltimore Life Insurance..................................................www.baltlife.com
Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta.................................www.fhlbatl.com
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.................................... www.bostonfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas..........................www.dallasfed.org/careers
Jack Henry & Associates..............................................www.jackhenry.com
State Employees’ Credit Union - NC..................................www.ncsecu.org
ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
Ameren Corp........................................................ www.ameren.com/careers
Atotech USA, Inc..............................................................www.atotech.com
Bridgestone - Firestone.............................. www.bridgestone-firestone.com
Forest Laboratories..................................................................www.frx.jobs
Jasper Engines........................................................ www.jasperengines.com
Philadelphia Gas Works..................................... www.pgworks.com/careers
Rappahannock Electric Coop............................................ www.myrec.coop
Veyance Technologies................................... www.goodyearep.com/careers
Weatherford International......................................... www.weatherford.jobs
HEALTHCARE
Broward Health.........................................www.BrowardHealthCareers.org
Maria Parham Medical Center................................ www.mariaparham.com
Memorial Hospital at Gulfport......................... www.gulfportmemorial.com
Rex Healthcare.............................................................. www.rexhealth.com
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital......................... www.stjude.org/jobs
VCU Health System........................................................www.VCUHS.jobs
SCHOOL BOARDS
Beaufort County School District - SC....................www.beaufort.k12.sc.us
Blount County Schools - TN..........................................www.blountk12.org
Brunswick County Schools - NC....................................... www.bcswan.net
Clark County School District - NV................................. www.ccsd.net/jobs
Frederick County Public Schools - VA................. www.frederick.k12.va.us
Halifax County Public Schools - VA.........................www.halifax.k12.va.us
Harris County Department of Education - TX..............www.hcde-texas.org
Hillsborough County Schools - FL................................ www.sdhc.k12.fl.us
Horry County Schools - SC............................www.horrycountyschools.net
Howard County Public School System - MD.......................www.hcpss.org
Jefferson County Public Schools - KY................................ www.jcpsky.net
Johnston County Schools - NC.............................. www.johnston.k12.nc.us
Meriwether County Schools - GA...................................... www.mcssga.org
New Hanover County Schools - NC.......................................www.nhcs.net
Onslow County Schools - NC.................................. www.onslow.k12.nc.us
Pinellas County Schools - FL................................................. www.pcsb.org
Pulaski County Public Schools - VA........................................ www.pcva.us
Quincy CUSD #172 - Adams County - IL............................... www.qps.org
Tipton County Schools - TN...................................www.tipton-county.com
Wake County Public School System - NC........................... www.wcpss.net
Warren County Schools - TN................................ www.warrenschools.com
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Southern Methodist University Graduate Studies....www.smu.edu/graduate
University of Arkansas Graduate School.......................http://grad.uark.edu
SCHOOL BOARDS
Beaufort County School District - SC...............................................39
Blount County Schools - TN.............................................................39
Brunswick County Schools - NC......................................................37
Clark County School Disrict - NV....................................................38
Frederick County Public Schools - VA..............................................40
Halifax County Public Schools - VA.................................................40
Harris County Department of Education - TX.................................40
Hillsborough county Schools - FL ...................................................38
Horry County Schools - SC...............................................................40
Howard County Public School System - MD....................................39
Jefferson County Public Schools - KY . .........................................39
Johnston County Schools - NC.........................................................41
Meriwether County Schools - GA ....................................................41
New Hanover County Schools - NC.................................................41
Onslow County Schools - NC...........................................................40
Pinellas County Schools - FL............................................................40
Pulaski County Public Schools - VA.................................................41
Quincy CUSD #172 - Adams County - IL.......................................41
Tipton County Schools - TN.............................................................41
Wake County Public School System - NC........................................38
Warren County Schools - TN............................................................41
GRADUATE SCHOOLS
Southern Methodist University Graduate Studies.............................42
University of Arkansas Graduate School..........................................43
Campus Publications
Southern Diversity Schools Job Search Journal
Welcome!
W
e, the staff at Campus Publications,
Inc., along with your Career Placement Center, and the many excellent
companies featured in this publication, know the
journey toward finding a satisfying place in the
world for yourself is a hard one. But the fact that
you are where you are right now demonstrates
that you have the qualities for success.
Whether your choice is graduate school or
forging ahead into a career, you are in charge
and in the driver’s seat! We hope you’ll view the
Journal as a road map that will keep you going
with helpful directions on selecting a career as
well as selecting a graduate school. An excellent
way to charge your batteries for the trip is to examine the many recruitment messages contained
throughout the Journal. Within these, you’ll
find detailed contact information for companies,
organizations, and graduate schools that would
like very much to hear from you (convenient
fuel right at your fingertips).
The Southern Diversity Schools / Job Search
Journal describes in detail the steps you can
begin to take now to shape your future. We tell
you how to:
•
•
•
•
•
•
fashion a resume into a dynamic
document that will open doors for you,
tailor a cover letter that personalizes your contact with a company,
find a company that will suit your style and background,
interview with confidence,
negotiate a fair starting salary and strong benefits package,
move ahead in your career, and much more!
So relax, hang onto your hat and this copy
of the Southern Diversity Schools / Job Search
Journal. Enjoy the ride!
Wishing you the best in all of your
endeavors—
Very Sincerely,
The Staff of Campus Publications, Inc.
Expressions of appreciation are due to all
of the career placement directors whose participation in the Journal has made it possible
for this career information to reach you. Most
certainly, we would like to also acknowledge the
generosity of the companies whose interest and
involvement in the Southern Diversity Schools /
Job Search Journal have made this Spring 2013
edition possible.
Campus Publications
Feature Articles
Quick Link to Websites
2 and cover letter
Note: the names and addresses used in resumes
examples are fictitious.
Index of Advertisers
2
Welcome
3
Southern Diversity Schools
4
Diversity: Getting It Right
6
Start Your Job Search
7
Career Center Job Fairs
7
Working in the Public Sector
8
Thinking Small Can Be Smart
9
Engineering: (Career Choices in Engineering)
Where are You in Your Job Search
Networking Can Multiply Your Opportunities
Researching Companies
Questions You Should Find Answers To:
The Internet
Resumes
Resume Examples
The Cover Letter
Cover Letter Examples
How To Complete A Job Application
Interviewing
Job Offer - Take It Or Leave It
Moving Up in Your Career
Nurses Rule
Career Focus : Biology / Microbiology
Make The Difference - Be A Teacher
The Power of Professional Learning Communities
Statistics - a great career for those with analytical and personal skills
Set Your Sights On Grad School
10
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24
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27
31
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35
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42
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Copyright(c) 2013, by Campus Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
Southern Diversity Schools / Job Search Journal
is published by:
Campus Publications, Inc.
2975 Bee Ridge Rd. Suite D
Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 926-8590 • Toll-free: (888) 499-8488
Fax: (941) 926-2778
Website: www.campuspublicationsinc.com
E-mail: [email protected]
3
Contact List
Alabama A & M University
Ms. Brenda Davis
Career Development Services
P.O. Box 997
Normal, AL 35762
256-372-8182
Alabama State University
Ms. Kathryn Williams
Career Planning & Placement
915 South Jackson
Montgomery, AL 36101-0271
334-229-4156
ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY
Ms. Gloria Williams
Career Services Office
504 College Drive
Albany, GA 31705
229-430-4654
ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY
Adrienne Willis
Placement Services Office
1000 ASU Drive, 540
Alcorn State, MS 39096
601-877-6324
ALLEN UNIVERSITY
Ms.Brenda Mitchell
1530 Harden Street
Columbia, SC 29204
803-376-5706
BENEDICT COLLEGE
Ms. Karen Rutherford
1600 Harden Street, MSC 100
Columbia, SC 29204
803-705-4671
BETHUNE-COOKMAN COLLEGE
Ms. Davita Bonner
Career Placement Office
640 Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd.
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
386-481-2143
CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY
Ms. Carolyn R. Snell
Career Development Services
700 College Avenue
Orangeburg, SC 29115
803-535-53358
4
CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY
Ms. Ernita Hemmitt
223 James P. Brawley Drive
Atlanta, GA 30314
404-880-6701
DILLARD UNIVERSITY
Ms. Dewain Lee
Office of Career Services
2601 Gentilly Boulevard
New Orleans. LA 70122
504-595-2358
ELIZABETH CITY STATE
UNIVERSITY
Mr. Brutus Jackson
Campus Box 804, Weeksville Road
Elizabeth City, NC 27909
252-335-3287
FAYETTEVILLE STATE
UNIVERSITY
Ms. Helene Cameron
Career Services Center
1200 Murchison Road, SBE Suite 230
Fayetteville, NC 28301-4298
910-672-1098
FORT VALLEY STATE
UNIVERSITY
Ms. Romelda Simmons
Career Development Center
1005 State University Drive
Ft. Valley, GA 31030
478-825-6202/6350
GRAMBLING STATE
UNIVERSITY
Ms. Adrienne Willis
GSU Box 4264
Grambling, LA 71245
318-274-2346
HAMPTON UNIVERSITY
Ms. Vivian Wren-David
Career Center
114 Wigwam Bldg.
Hampton, VA 23668
757-727-5331
JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY
Ms. Lashanda Jordan
Career Counseling & Placement
P.O. Box 17280
Jackson, MS 39217-0218
601-979-2477
FISK UNIVERSITY
LE MOYNE - OWEN COLLEGE
FLORIDA A & M UNIVERSITY
MILES COLLEGE
Mr. Echelle Eady
1000 17th Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37208-3051
615-329-8894
Ms. Delores Dean
Career Center
100 Student Union Plaza
M. L. King Blvd.
Tallahassee, FL 32307
850-599-3700
FLORIDA MEMORIAL
UNIVERSITY
Ms. Athena Jackson
15800 N.W. 42nd Avenue
Miami Gardens, FL 33054
305-626-3782
Dr. Denita Hedgeman
807 Walker Avenue
Memphis, TN 38126
901-435-1728
Ms. Glenda Brown-Wade
5500 Myron Massey Blvd.
Birmingham, AL 35064
205-929-1404
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE
UNIVERSITY
Ms. Tiffany Wallace
Career Services Center
14000 Highway 82, West, Box 7225
Itta Bena, MS 38941-1400
662-254-3441
Campus Publications
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE
Mr. Douglas Cooper
830 Westview Drive, S.W.
Atlanta, GA 30314 - 3773
404-215-2644
MORRIS BROWN COLLEGE
Ms. Terronce Estelle
Admissions & Recruitment
643 Martin Luther King Dr.
Atlanta, GA 30314
404-739-1560
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY
Mr. Nash Montgomery
Career Services - 700 Park Avenue
Mills Godwin Student Center, Suite 306
Norfolk, VA 23504
757-823-8462
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL
UNIVERSITY
Ms. Donna Hembrick
Office of University Career Services
Box 19585 - Jones Building
Durham, NC 27707
919-530-6337
PHILANDER SMITH COLLEGE
Dr. Juliana Mosley-Anderson
Office of Student Affairs
812 West 13th Street
Little Rock, AR 72202
501-370-5295
PRAIRIE VIEW A & M
UNIVERSITY
Ms. Glenda Jones
L W Minor Street, Evans Hall Rm 217
Prairie View, TX 77446-0066
936-857-2120
RUST COLLEGE
Mr. John F. Peaches
Career Development Office
150 Rust Avenue
Holly Springs, MS 38635
662-252-8000, ext. 4085
SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY
Mr. Shaunce Riley
Student Leadership & Development
P.O. Box 20524
Savannah, GA 31404
912-353-3049
Campus Publications
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE
UNIVERSITY
Mr. Joseph Thomas
P.O. Box 7068
Orangeburg, SC 29117
803-536-7033
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
Mr. Al Barrone
P.O. Box 9246, Branch Post Office
Baton Rouge, LA 70813
225-771-2200
SPELMAN COLLEGE
Ms. Toni Ireland
Career Planning & Development
440 Westview Drive
Atlanta, GA 30314
404-270-5270
TALLADEGA COLLEGE
Ms. Monique Nixon
Career Planning & Placement Office
627 West Battle Street
Talladega, AL 35160
256-761-6246
TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY
Dr. William Giffens
Career Center
3500 John Merritt Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37209
615-963-5981
TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Antoinette Roberson
Cooperative Education & Placement
3100 Cleburne Street
Fairchild Building, Room 150
Houston, TX 77004
713-313-7346
TOUGALOO COLLEGE
Ms. Gladys Jones
500 West County Line Road
Tougaloo, MS 39174
601-977-7821
TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY
Ms. Sarah Stringer
Career Development & Placement
Carnegie Hall, 3rd Floor
Tuskegee, AL 36088
334-727-8294
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
AT PINE BLUFF
Ms. Mary Jones
1200 N. University Drive
Caldwell Hall, Suite 202
Pine Bluff, AR 71601
870-575-8462
VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY
Mr. Lewis Newbill
Career Services
P.O. Box 9410
Petersburg, VA 23806
804-524-5211
VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY
Ms. Mildred Maree Britt
Career Services
1500 N. Lombardy Street
Richmond, VA 23220
804-257-5656
VOORHEES COLLEGE
Mr. Gerald DeVaughn
29 Academic Circle, Wilkinson Bldg.
Denmark, SC 29042
803-780-1265
WINSTON-SALEM STATE
UNIVERSITY
Ms.Lamonica Singleton
Campus Box 19294
Winston Salem, NC 27110
336-750-3240
XAVIER UNIVERSITY
Ms. Carolyn Thomas
1 Drexel Drive
New Orleans, LA 70125
504-520-5055
5
Diversity: Getting It Right
T
oday, diversity efforts at mid-size and large
companies are firmly in place and in many cases,
have been so for a decade or more. Many of these
companies have allocated at least one person to specifically
manage diversity efforts. In fact, diversity departments are not
uncommon. Increasingly, managerial compensation is linked to
achieving diversity goals. While smaller companies may not have
the capacity to designate a single individual exclusively to such
duties, someone in human resources is likely to be responsible for
being proactive in regards to diversity issues and recruiting.
Why is this? Because diversity in the workplace is an
inevitable wave of change that is washing over American
businesses due to the changing demographics of the labor pool.
More women and minorities have entered the workforce and will
continue to do so. Common sense dictates that the way in which a
company’s internal and external diversity efforts are implemented
will have an outcome on worker satisfaction and productivity,
important ingredients for overall business profitability. Also at
stake are a company’s image and the potential market share that
minorities represent.
achievements when groups focused on collective goals, learning,
and stabilizing customer relationships. Training in group processes
and career development skills can also enhance diversity outcomes,
according to other studies.
Corporate America is trying harder to make diversity work
at all levels. Fortune magazine, in its annual review of diversity
efforts at major corporations, reports that minority representation
rose in nearly every category it evaluated. The report can be found at
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/bestcompainies/2010/
minorities/. It includes a list of fifty companies ranked as best for
minorities. Your copy of Southern Diversity Schools / Job Search
Journal is also an excellent resource for finding companies seeking
to develop diversity among their ranks.
The diversity of our culture is ever more reflected in our
workplaces. Findings from new research on diversity should lead
to closer attention by corporations as to what is effective training
for diversity programs. In addition, greater access to upwardly
mobile career paths by minorities will ensure opportunities for
economic innovation and leadership in the American workplace
for all workers.
Although executives at many large companies thought
they were leaders in providing equal opportunity, in reality, their
employees felt differently. So much so that these companies
ended up with huge legal costs due to class-action suits brought
by minorities and women.
So what went wrong? Well, for one thing, achieving harmony
in the workplace is hard enough even if the workers are seemingly
homogenous. People, after all, are individuals, and unique ones
at that. So even when the workplace finally begins to truly look
like a melting pot, making diversity work will continue to be a
challenge.
According to a five-year study directed by Thomas A. Kochan
at MIT’s Sloan School of Management, diversity efforts have not
been based on any scientific evidence as to what really works.
Companies have been reluctant to conduct rigorous internal
analysis of their diversity programs because of the legal and
cultural issues involved. But companies are realizing that just
having diversity programs in place doesn’t mean the programs
are necessarily effective in terms of business outcomes. Indeed,
higher turnover and greater conflict in the workplace can result
if diversity efforts are poorly managed, according to Kochan. He
believes companies should do more hard metric analysis of their
diversity programs so that with better data, the companies can
improve their training in this area.
A��
study
done by Harvard Business School (Ely and
Thomas) has found that diversity has a positive impact on business
6
Campus Publications
Start Your Job Search at
Your Campus Career Center
are they updated? Are there any online resources maintained by
the center? Some career centers have created Web sites with
direct online recruiting links to the human resource departments
of numerous companies, many of which will accept resumes
electronically. Other career centers may offer electronic job fairs
or links to them.
Once you begin your job search in earnest, most career
counselors are more than willing to give your resume a final critique
or role-play an interview with you. Thanks to your career center’s
participation in the Southern Diversity Schools / Job Search
Journal, you have a portable career handbook which contains not
only helpful job search information but also valuable recruitment
messages from companies who definitely want to hear from you.
Career Center Job Fairs
I
deally, your campus career center should be a place
you become familiar with well before you
graduate. As a sophomore or junior, even as a freshman,
you should talk with a campus career counselor. Not only
could this help you make better career-planning decisions,
but also the information you gain from such a discussion
could influence what college courses you take. Your school’s
career center is where you may possibly find information
on job co-op or internship opportunities which can provide
you with a “trial run” of what a particular career may hold
in store for you.
As a senior looking toward the future, you will
definitely want to visit your campus career center as
soon as possible. By making an appointment to meet
with the director of placement or a career counselor, you
convey professionalism. Your interest in seeking career
information also reflects initiative, a trait the career
counselor will probably appreciate and mentally make note
of. This favorable impression could later lead to a positive
recommendation of you as a candidate for a job opening
that may come through the career center.
During your meeting with a counselor, you will want
to find out what career-related services and resources are
available to you. Will there be any upcoming career or job
fairs offered through the center? If so, be sure to confirm
the date and get the details of how to participate. Also, find
out specifically what career reference guides to jobs and
careers the center may have on hand that you can use.
Does the center receive job listings from local and
regional companies? Where are they posted and how often
Campus Publications
Many campuses offer on-campus recruiting events at some
point during the year. Because demand for college graduates is
high, many companies, from Fortune 500 ones to regional or
even local ones, are finding these events to be an important and
efficient way to discover well-qualified job candidates.
For you, participating in these events can have real payoff
value in terms of career information, networking opportunities,
interview experience, and perhaps even a great job. Your career
center counselor can provide you with the details such as
what companies will be present, what interview attire will be
appropriate, and what steps are necessary in terms of getting an
interview.
Be sure to ask; don’t just show up because many events
are centered around interview appointments which must be
scheduled in advance through your career center. Find out as early
in the year as possible since the competition for interviews with
certain companies may be intense - and only a certain number of
interviews can be granted.
Encourage your friends to go, too, so you’ll see some familiar
faces. That can help calm any pre-interview butterflies you may
experience. Also, you may be able compare notes with friends
on the various recruiters’ interviewing styles or questions before
going into an interview; this could give you a better idea of what
responses a recruiter may be looking for from a candidate. By
going to interviews and becoming comfortable with talking about
yourself with recruiters, you’ll not only gain a sense of what to say,
but you’ll also learn how to say it, succinctly and confidently.
Don’t forget to highlight the date of your campus career fair
on your calendar and plan on getting a good night’s sleep the night
before. Then rise, and go shine!
7
Working in the Public Sector
I
f the idea of public service appeals to you, there are many
career opportunities in your local, state and federal
governments. Although paperwork and hiring procedures may
be more cumbersome, the choice of careers in the public sector is as
wide-ranging as in the private sector.
State and Local Opportunities
Some of the largest employers in the country are state and local
governments with local government employing more than twice as
many workers as State Government. According to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, www.bls.gov if you exclude publicly operated hospitals
and educational organizations, 7.9 million workers are employed
by these entities placing them among the largest employers in the
economy. Local government jobs can be found in county and municipal
governments, school districts, and special districts, with occupations
found in nearly every industry in the economy. State government
payrolls are growing due to an increasing population and because
many programs once under the control of the federal government have
reverted back to states which have been given more administrative
responsibilities for the programs.
In terms of employee benefits, such as health and life insurance
and pension or retirement plans, these are more likely to be offered
by state and local governments than by the private sector. State and
local jobs can be located by contacting your local and state government
employment offices. Many Internet career sites have government job
links. The U.S. Department of Labor Web site, www.dol.gov also has
links to state and local government job listings. Information on many
occupations commonly employed by State and local governments may
be found in the Occupational Outlook Handbook found at www.bls.
gov/oco/cg/cgs042.htm.
Federal Government
The largest employer in the country is the federal government
hiring 2 percent of the nations civilian workforce. Uncle Sam
employs 2.7 million workers and hires an average of 300,000 new
employees each year to replace workers that transfer to other federal
or private jobs, retire or stop working for other reasons. Nearly
half of the jobs at the federal level are classified as managerial or
professional. And you don’t have to move to Washington, D.C. to
get a job because only 16% of all federal employees work in the
Washington area.
Federal jobs span the three branches of government: judicial,
legislative, and executive. The executive branch is by far the largest
of the branches employing 96% of all federal civilian employees.
It includes the 14 cabinet departments and has the broadest range
of responsibilities. Employee benefits are generous as compared to
many jobs in the private sector. The federal government serves as a
model for all employers in abiding by equal employment opportunity
legislation, therefore all government hiring is based on performance
and qualifications regardless of your sex, rase, color, creed, religion,
disability, or national origin. Where else can you apply for a
high paying entry-level job that
offers employment at thousands of
locations internationally, excellent
career advancement opportunities,
plus careers in hundreds of
occupations? Workers employed by
the Federal Government play a vital
role in many facest of American life
and job security is usually greater
than in the private sector.
The Office of Personnel
Management (OPM) handles the
hiring of federal employees. Look
in your local phone directory under
U.S. Government for an federal
employment information number.
The OPM Web site is http://www.
opm.gov. The Congressional
Quarterly’s Washington Information
Directory, available at many
libraries, is also an excellent source
of information regarding federal
employment.
8
Campus Publications
Thinking Small Can Be Smart
A
s you begin your job search, don’t be afraid to think
small, i.e., as in small companies. Why? Because
small businesses play an enormously important role in the
overall labor market in terms of employment opportunities and new
job creation. In fact, according to the Small Business Administration’s
Office of Advocacy, more than 99% of all employers are small businesses and two-thirds to three-quarters of net new jobs are created
by small businesses. For research purposes, the SBA defines a small
business as a business having fewer than 500 employees.
Historically, the number of job opportunities during an economic
slowdown have been greater at small firms rather than at large firms,
not only because there are so many more small firms in existence but
because small firms are often more able to nimbly continue to expand
their businesses even during recessions. Over the past decade, in the
face of global competitive pressures, many large companies have
had to reduce their labor costs by downsizing their staffs. This means
competition for jobs at large firms will remain extremely challenging.
In contrast, jobs at small companies may be easier to find and hiring
more rapid since small companies are eventually forced to hire more
employees if they want to continue to grow.
Many small companies are willing to hire someone who may not
have all of the qualifications they are seeking if the candidate seems
to possess solid skills in a few areas and an ability to work fluidly
with diverse groups of people in a variety of situations. Excellent
communication skills, which includes being able to listen as well as
talk and ask intelligent questions will definitely help get your foot in
the door at small companies.
And while there are many career benefits to working for a small
company, actual benefits such as health insurance may be scarce
because of the high costs such insurance imposes on a small business. So if health insurance is important to you, be sure to clarify
what benefits are available or consider how you might acquire
them by other means if you get a job offer at a small company.
In other areas, such as flexible schedules, small businesses may
be more accommodating than large companies, and then again,
maybe not. So be prepared to ask questions before accepting an
offer - but keep in mind, it is not considered good interviewing
etiquette to inquire about benefits until you receive an actual offer.
Remember, too, that a small company’s atmosphere is usually very dynamic because the entrepreneurial spirit of the small
business’s founder will be reflected in the day-to-day operations.
It’s likely things will move at a faster pace because decisions don’t
have to go through very many channels. So, just as you would for a
large company, you will want to try to get a sense of the atmosphere
of the business by observing others in the workplace during your
visits to a company. Do workers seem friendly and energized or
withdrawn and disinterested? Don’t just accept the business at face
value because the rate of failure for small businesses is high.
Plan on thoroughly investigating a company’s history and financial
state before deciding to go with a small company. See our article, “Researching Companies,” for advice. Once you do find some small companies whose numbers and reputations seem bright, then by all means
give them your serious consideration. Your career may thank you!
Small Is Fine With Many CEOs
At small companies, many executives are more likely to have time
to mentor others since it will help the company build a more skilled
staff and hence, a more successful company. For less-experienced
workers, this can mean invaluable opportunities. Not only may you
get more exposure and mentoring from seasoned pros, but you may
be given the chance to work in many different areas of the business.
Thus you may move up the career ladder much more rapidly at a
small company.
Campus Publications
9
Engineering:
(Career Choices in Engineering)
By: Lawrence Russell
Staff Engineer
Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW)
D
o you love math and science? Are you excited to discover
how things work? Or do you just want to improve the
world around you? Engineering has many projects for
you. There are so many career paths one can take as an engineer
– that’s the beauty of it. A mechanical engineer can design HVAC
(Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning), fire protection,
water systems, industrial piping, pharmaceutical, utilities, energy,
residential or commercial projects. Other Mechanical Engineers
join construction companies where they will oversee contractors,
estimate construction costs and coordinate projects with design
firms. As an engineer, there will always be opportunities to try
something different.
As students close in on getting their bachelor’s degrees, many
will wonder what sort of job in engineering they should pursue. I
asked 15 colleagues in various engineering fields how they made
their decisions. Many decided to study engineering their freshman
year, then choose their discipline by junior year. They consulted
college advisors, professional mentors and did some research on
their own. Years later, none regretted his or her choice. They all
loved how their career impacts and adds to society.
What kind of Company should I pursue? One thing to remember No matter where you begin, there is always time to try something
else. I started out working for a private engineering firm. Now I
work for a natural gas utility company. Both positions had benefits
and challenges. At Philadelphia Gas Works, I relish the opportunity
to perform so many different tasks. Because there is so much you
can do. You can design pipelines, natural gas plants, commercial
facilities, work with our vehicle department distribution department
(underground pipelines all over the city), and field services (working solving problems in customer’s properties). Jobs with utility
companies are also very stable because what we do is essential to
everyday life. Each day, you use some type of energy supplied by
a utility company. As our population continues to grow, there will
an even greater need to use natural gas and other energy sources.
Natural gas is the future. Are you familiar with shale gas? In
short, it is natural gas trapped at least 5,000 feet below the earth surface. Many companies are now drilling, collecting and distributing
this huge source. Shale gas will lead to the growth of the natural gas
industry over the next few decades. New jobs will be available and
engineers will be in high demand. New engineers might strongly
consider getting into the Natural gas industry now.
10
Campus Publications
Where are You in Your
Job Search? - A Self-Administered
Job Search Readiness Checklist
T
his checklist is designed to help you find where you may
be off-target in your job search. The way you answer the
following questions may yield some important clues about
where you are in your job search readiness. Answer each question
with “Yes” or “No.” Then tally your “Yes” answers at the end of
the checklist.
I. What You Know About Yourself and
Your Preferences
___1. Can you clearly state your career goal?
___2. Can you explain why you chose your major?
___3. Can you name your greatest strength?
___4. Can you name your greatest weakness?
___5. Can you name work activities you do best and most enjoy?
___6. Can you list at least 5 job skills and document how you’ve used them?
___7. For each of your most important job-related experiences,
can you list:
___a. five things you did?
___b. five things you learned?
___c. the contribution you made and things you
accomplished?
___8. Have you clearly identified your geographical preferences and limitations?
II. What You Know About Employers
___9. Can you name at least 3 fields of employment into which you might fit?
___10. Can you name at least 10 kinds of employers that might hire a person with your background?
___11. Can you list at least 10 position titles that fit you?
___12. Do you know 4 or 5 resources that would help you find answers to 9, 10 and 11?
___13. Can you name at least 4 sources of information that could help you discover potential employers in a particular
geographic area?
___14. Have you talked to at least 3 people who are employed in your field of interest for the purpose of learning more about what they do?
___15. Can you name at least 5 employers to whom you have
applied for work in the past month?
___16. Have any of these employers (see #15) become interested in how your skills could help their organization or
department?
Campus Publications
III. Your Job-seeking Contacts to
Employers
___17. Do you rely on advertised job vacancy listings as your major source of leads?
___18. Have you prepared a polished resume with which you
are satisfied?
___19. Have you asked anyone for feedback on your resume?
___20. When you apply for a position, do you send your resume only to HR offices?
___21. Are you familiar with the organizational structure,
services and programs of the employers to whom you
are applying?
___22. Do you know the questions employers are likely to ask in the interview?
___23. Can you clearly state why you are interested in working for each employer to whom you apply?
___24. Have you used any of the following methods to prepare for an interview.
___a. role-playing with friend or relative?
___b.writing out answers to common interview
questions?
___c. role-playing by yourself?
___d. reading interview technique books?
___e. watching interview strategy videotapes?
NOW ADD UP YOUR SCORE!
Add up your “yes” answers for each section
and enter the number below.
I
II
III
Yourself Employers Contacts
TOTAL
____
____
____
____
Total Score
27-32
On the right track. Keep up the good work! You know
enough to conduct a job search.
Total Score
11-26
Close, but you need to do more work on your job search
techniques
Total Score
0-10
Don’t wait! Begin working on finding the answers and resources to the above questions…your job search success
depends on it!!
11
Networking Can Multiply
Your Opportunities
N
etwork is a rallying cry for many career center
counselors. They will also insist that as a job hunting
activity, networking is as important as writing a resume.
And they’re right. You may or may not have had a counselor go
into detail about networking but keep reading and you’ll be able to
network with the best.
If you learn to network well, you will be opening up many
career opportunities that you wouldn’t uncover any other way.
Networking is talking to people, asking for information but not for
a job (at least not at first). The goal of networking is to discover
information about job openings that match your skills, interests and
education. You want to track down the people who would know
about these jobs, and then ultimately you want to connect with
the persons who can make the hiring decisions for the jobs you
are interested in. The jobs you uncover through networking may
or may not be advertised and often are higher level, better paying
positions.
Grow Your Own Grapevine
The phrase “I heard it through the grapevine” comes rather close
to describing the networking process, but in the case of networking
you have to grow the grapevine yourself. In other words, you have to
actively seek out the information that can be found through networking.
Networking, as with any skill, improves with practice. So you may
want to do some warm-up role playing with friends or family before
actually making your first cold call.
Think of career questions that will help you clarify what you
want to do and make a list of the ones that you would like to discuss
with persons in fields that interest you. Don’t neglect doing research
first, however; you don’t want to waste people’s time with questions
that you can find answers to yourself by doing some preliminary
reading about the types of jobs that seem appealing to you.
Introduce Yourself
There are some rules to networking etiquette. You will want to
introduce yourself immediately, say what your major is, and then
mention the name of the person who referred you to the current
contact. If you are networking by phone, ask if it is convenient for
the person to speak to you briefly about some career questions you
have. If the person is too busy, find out if you can schedule a more
convenient time to call back.
Remember, you are seeking information; so never ask, “Do
you have any jobs available?” Instead, verbalize your information
request along these lines, “Hi, I’m Charlie Smith; I am going to
graduated with a B.S. in business from Howard University and I’m
interested in finding out more about ... ”You can mention a specific
job opening if you happen to know about it and are interested in it but
also ask for the name of the person who would be in charge of hiring
for that position. You could ask that person for more information
regarding the position by interviewing him about the types of tasks,
skills, and educational requirements associated with the position
12
or career. You could also ask what other types of positions support
the department. But don’t talk too long; be brief, especially if the
person sounds impatient. Whether you get to have a discussion with
this person or not, ask if he knows of anyone else you should talk
to. And be sure to thank him for his time and consideration.
If, after your conversation with someone, you obtain information
about a job you would like to apply for, you could comment that
it sounds interesting; then try to find out when or for how long the
position will be open. Clarify who will be in charge of hiring for
the position, and be sure to get that person’s name and title if at all
possible so you will be able to send your resume directly to that
person. Later, to accompany your resume, you will want to compose
a strong cover letter that, based on the information you gathered
about the position’s requirements, which explains why you would
be qualified for the position.
Network First with Familiar Faces
To begin the process of networking, you don’t necessarily have
to start with strangers. There can be several levels in your network.
To establish the first level, begin by compiling a contact list of family
members, friends of family members, your friends and their families,
acquaintances from various organizations with whom you may
have or have had some connection, former employers, co-workers,
classmates, teachers, coaches, and professors.
You want to let them know you are looking for employment and that
you would appreciate any information they can pass on to you regarding
job opportunities. Ask if they know of any persons that you should talk
to about job opportunities. But don’t stop there. Brainstorm a bit. Think
about the careers these people may have or have had. Try to get them to
talk about their career if it seems interesting. Ask if they can tell you
more about the company they work for. The information you receive
may not match any of your career aspirations but the idea initially
is to start a flow of information from which you can pick the pieces
that look most promising.
You can enhance your network very easily by looking at the
recruitment messages contained in this issue of Southern Diversity
Schools / Job Search Journal. These companies would like you
to contact them for more information about job opportunities that
interest you. If you don’t see a specific contact name in a recruitment
message, check with the company’s human resources department or
ask for the department that is likely to represent the area of your career
interest. Then ask for the name of that department head or someone
with a title that would reflect a career path of interest to you. Make
a request to speak with that person; again, be sure to remember your
networking etiquette. If you haven’t been referred to this person by
another person whose name you can mention, indicate that you saw
the company’s recruitment message in this publication. Your helpful
feedback regarding the company’s recruitment advertising will be
appreciated and this will open your conversation on a positive note.
Building up a third level of your network will take more time.
To find more people to talk to, check local, regional, and national
business or industry publications in the library or via the Internet for
articles that could contain the names of persons whose work parallels
your career interests. Note any other identifying information, such
as where the person works, so that you can try to reach the person
Campus Publications
by phone or e-mail. Your career center or some of your professors
may also have names of alumni or contacts at companies who would
be willing to answer career questions and possibly give you other
names to contact. If you e-mail someone, make your letter brief
and proof it carefully before sending it.
Another strategy you can take is to go to events that persons in
the career areas of interest to you would likely attend. These could
be on-campus seminars or meetings conducted by businesses or
other professional organizations. You may find notices regarding
these activities posted on the bulletin boards at school, on the
Internet, or in professional or trade periodicals. If you decide to go
to such a meeting, dress professionally, i.e., wear a conservatively
tailored suit or dress.
Make It Short and Sweet
Consider having some business cards printed for yourself that
briefly describe your education and skills. It’s easily done with a
personal computer, printer, and some special business supply stock
purchased at the local office supply store. Then you will have
something you can give to the people you meet at these meetings
that will enable them to contact you later. Your goal should be to
introduce yourself to as many people as possible; offer your card
and try to strike up a brief conversation that will lead to additional
contact names.
Campus Publications
Always begin your conversation by asking a question about the
other person; try to talk about events related to the person’s work
or industry. Another icebreaker is to try to find out what you may
have in common - is the person an alumni of your school; what
was his major? Don’t conduct a monologue about yourself; try to
keep your initial contacts brief since you will meet more people
that way. If someone you meet seems interested in talking with you
at length, ask if you could call or set up a meeting to discuss the
person’s career path in more detail. Be sure to jot down a reminder
regarding this so you’ll remember to follow up appropriately.
Let people know you enjoyed talking with them. And
remember to thank them for any information they pass on to you.
In some cases, you may want to follow up with written thank-you
notes to the contacts who were especially generous with their time
and advice. Always review the business cards you collect. Make
some brief notes on each card or elsewhere to help you recall where
and from whom you received the card; include any other facts
regarding your contacts that may be useful later if you decide to
network further with those persons.
Begin “growing your grapevine” as early as possible in your
college career. The more labor you invest in networking, the greater
and sweeter will be your harvest in terms of job opportunities.
13
Researching Companies
Investigate Yourself First
A
s you have learned in school, doing research on a
topic you’re studying can help you gain a more indepth view of that subject. But when the subject is as
broad as “where should I look for a job,” you could quickly feel
overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the potential jobs and
companies about which you could seek information. There is an
excellent way to narrow this subject down, however. Before looking
outward, look inward at yourself. By conducting some research on
yourself, you can get a stronger sense of what your likes and dislikes
are when it comes to careers and work. With this self-knowledge,
you will then be able to eliminate many superfluous steps in your job
search because you will be able to better identify which companies
are likely to be good candidates in terms of your own job and career
preferences.
There are several areas of your experience that you can explore.
Try to identify the type of tasks you’ve enjoyed in the past; also do
an inventory of your interests. Consider your personality-do you lean
toward being an extrovert or an introvert? Look at your interpersonal
style of relating to others-do you like working as a team, or do you
prefer more independence-these are the type of questions you should
ask yourself to build your own personal profile. By gaining insight
14
Internet search
engines to try:
altavista.com • ask.com
dogpile.com • google.com
yahoo.com
about yourself, you will be able to look at career options on the
basis of how well the jobs within those careers match your talents
and interests.
An excellent source of information on careers is the government
publication, the Occupational Outlook Handbook, which is
published by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor
Statistics division. You may access this guide online at www.bls.
gov. To compare salaries for various occupations among different
industries, check out the National Industry-Specific Occupational
Employment and Wage Estimates site at http://stats.bls.gov/oes.
What Color Is Your Parachute is a classic among the many
thousands of job-search books that have been published. It has very
helpful suggestions relating to discovering what your interests and
talents are as well as tips on how to research companies. Your career
center counselors will probably be able to provide you with titles of
similar books or may even have copies of such books that you can
Campus Publications
borrow. There are also many self-assessment tests you can take that
will match your personality, interests, and skills with careers or job
titles. Check with your career center to see if it offers such testing.
Once you have been able to narrow down your potential career
path through self-examination, then you will want to focus on finding
companies that have the jobs you want. Research will not only help
you identify companies with jobs that would suit you, but it can
also help you find companies whose culture will suit you, too. By
doing research on companies, you will also be able to identify the
strongest companies and the strongest industries in our economy.
This, in turn, will allow you to know which companies offer the best
career potential.
Your having knowledge about the companies that you send
your resume will pay off, too, if you are called for an interview.
Having such background knowledge lets you go into the interview
in a position of strength. You will be able to intelligently discuss
a company’s products, its competitors, and its industry by having
done research in advance. You’ll also know what questions to ask
during an interview, and you can fill in gaps in your research of a
particular company during this time as well.
Consult A Variety of Sources
These reports can be retrieved electronically through EDGAR, the
SEC’s online database, located at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.
Because businesses, both public and private, with more than one
employee are required to get an Employer Identification Number
(EIN), they are assigned a NAICS (pronounced Nakes) code
(North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) when
they are issued an EIN. The NAICS codes have replaced the SIC
(Standard Industrial Classification) codes that have been used in
the past by government statistical agencies to classify businesses
which allows the agencies to gather economic and employment
statistics in a standardized fashion.
While the names of specific businesses are not included in the
data because such data must be kept confidential by the government
agencies charged with collecting that data, there is a very useful
report from the Census Department that allows you to determine the
types of industries and businesses that are found within individual
counties all across the United States. By examining this data,
you can determine where the industries that have your preferred
occupations are located. Information and a link to the County
Business Patterns database is available online at www.census.gov/
econ/cbp/index.html; in addition to searching by county, you can
search the database by state, zip code, and metropolitan areas.
The sources of information on companies are numerous, so much
so that figuring out which sources are the best to use can sometimes
lead to confusion. A good way to approach your research is to first
identify what information you are looking for. If you are trying to
get information on industries, a good overview of the prospects
for different careers in various industries is the Career Guide to
Industries, another publication from the U.S. Department of Labor’s
Bureau of Labor Statistics. This guide is also available on line
at www.bls.gov. Most libraries have copies of this guide in their
reference departments. Your career center may also have a copy.
In fact, your career center should be the first place you visit as
you begin your company research. Find out from counselors what
companies are scheduled to appear at career fairs that may be
taking place on your campus. The companies that are going to have
representatives on your campus are the ones you should investigate
first since the career fair provides you with a wonderful opportunity
to discuss job prospects with someone from those companies.
Your career center may have printed materials such as product
literature, annual reports, and news clippings about the companies
that participate in your campus’s job fairs. Your career center
counselors may also have names of alumni who are willing to provide
information on the company where they are employed. Talking with
these alumni can give you valuable insight into company cultures.
Another key fact to find out right away is whether a company
is publicly or privately owned. A publicly owned company means
the company has sold shares of stock to the public. If a publicly
held company has assets of $10 million or more, it must file certain
financial reports about itself with the federal agency that oversees
publicly owned companies, the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC). These reports can give you much information regarding the
current financial state of a company and who its key personnel are.
Campus Publications
15
To find out the specific names of companies in those areas that
you identify as places where you would be willing to live, you
can try several methods to obtain company names. Local county
governments gather statistics also and usually have economic
information pertaining to businesses located within their county.
This information may be available through the county’s economic
development office; if it is not compiled, the county should have
a list of occupational licenses it has issued and you may be able to
obtain this list since it is considered public information. Chambers
of Commerce are also good sources of information. There is a
huge amount of information on companies available online; with
some patience, use of search engines, and perhaps keyword search
suggestions from a business reference librarian, you can narrow
down the most productive sites. (See our related article for more
information on using the Internet for your job search.)
Make the Most of Printed Matter
Of course, you may find it more efficient to use a printed directory
for reference information on companies, especially if the company
is private, small, regional, or foreign-owned. There are many
publications which contain profiles on both public and private
companies. Ask for assistance from a reference librarian; he or she
may be able to suggest some specialized directories not included
in this article. Some better-known publications include Standard &
Poor’s Register of Corporations, Directors and Executives, Moody’s
Manuals, Thomas’ Register of American Manufacturers and Ward’s
Business Directory.
It is also important to check for any recent news that may have
been released regarding a company. Business periodicals such
as the Wall Street Journal, Investor’s Business Daily, Barron’s,
Forbes, Fortune, and Business Week cover large as well as emerging
companies. Other publications such as Inc. and Entrepreneur focus
on new or fast-growing companies. Of course, if you are interested
in working for a government agency or non-profit organization,
there are specialized guides for these entities as well.
As you will discover during your research, there are many
excellent sources of information although no single source exists
that covers all industries and all companies. You can’t, of course,
find out everything about every company because if a firm is
privately held, it doesn’t have to reveal as much public information
about itself as its publicly held counterparts would. But chances are
you can find out some things about most companies you wish to
consider and some knowledge is better than none. Also, by doing
research on similar publicly held companies, you can become
knowledgeable about that industry as a whole.
Try to be consistent as you gather your company information;
in other words, if you expect to be able to compare companies,
you have to gather comparable information about them. Below are
some questions that you can use to guide your fact-finding. Whether
you are a freshman or a senior, you should try to include time in
your schedule on a regular basis for career and company research.
By making such research an ongoing project, you’ll have time to
unearth valuable discoveries that you can use in your favor once
you do begin to explore the world beyond college.
16
Good Connections Help
Sites that have abundant student-oriented content links are:
Questions You Should Try
To Find Answers To:
What type of company/organization is it?
A publicly held corporation?
A privately held company?
A foreign-owned company?
A non-profit, non-government organization?
A federal, state, or local government agency?
What are the company/organization’s products
and/or services?
Are there different divisions?
What are the channels of distribution - wholesale, retail?
How is it using the Internet?
Who is the competition?
What is the company/organization’s history?
How and when was the company/organization
founded? By whom?
What is the current role of the founders?
What is the company/organization’s market share?
What have been the trends in its sales, profits or
funding revenues, debt?
How has the company/organization managed to grow?
How has the company dealt with downturns - by
selling assets, by downsizing the employee base?
Who are the key executives in charge?
What experience and educational backgrounds do
the executives possess?
If the company’s shares are traded by the public,
what amount of stock do company executives hold?
What is the average tenure of the executives?
Have there been many recent departures of top
managers lately?
What compensation packages are offered to top
executives?
What are the working conditions for other employees?
Are promotions based on seniority?
Is the workforce unionized?
Has the company/organization received recognition
for innovative management practices?
What are average salaries for different positions?
What comprises the benefits package? Are tuition
reimbursements
for training and education offered?
What is the safety record of the company/
organization?
In what geographic areas does the company/
organization do business?
What type of facilities/offices does the company/
organization have? What is their condition?
How accessible are workplaces in terms of
commuting time?
Where are the company’s offices located?
Campus Publications
The Internet:
Extra Propulsion for Your Job Search
A
s a candidate in search of a future career, your timing
couldn’t be better. Thanks to the phenomenal increase
in the number of Internet job boards and career sites, the
likelihood of your finding a job that really matches your skills and
career preferences has been greatly enhanced. A wealth of information
regarding careers is easily available at any hour and truly at your
fingertips via the World Wide Web.
Although the Internet has not replaced traditional job search
methods, it can certainly help you speed up the process of conducting
a successful job search. In fact, trying to decide which online career
resources to use can be mind-boggling, once you discover just how
much job-related information is on the Web. Besides being a place
where you can post your resume, career and job sites strive to keep
you coming back by offering career advice, helpful how-to articles
pertaining to writing resumes and cover letters, company profiles,
and links for researching companies as well as direct links to the
companies.
Who Gets Your Data?
There are some things to keep in mind, however, if you want
to make the most of Internet job search resources but at the same
time protect your privacy. Check out a site’s privacy policy before
posting any personal information about yourself. Usually, you’ll
find a link to a site’s privacy policy at the bottom of the site’s home
page. At many sites, you can either post your existing resume or
fill in a blank form that asks you to provide details about your
work history and contact information. This data then goes into
a database and remains there for a certain length of time. Most
sites do not charge for these postings.
Be sure, however, to clarify if any fees are charged, for instance,
for updating the information, or for referrals from interested
companies. You should also find out how long your personal data
will remain in the database. It is also wise to determine how and by
whom your resume information can be accessed. If you are already
employed, you’ll sleep better at night by finding out beforehand what
safeguards a site has in place to prevent your resume from landing
in your boss’s hands. Keeping some notes on where and when you
have posted resumes will help you take the appropriate follow-up
action in a timely fashion.
Of course, career and job board sites also exist to serve seekers
of job seekers, i.e., headhunters, recruiters and other HR (human
resources) types. Sites usually charge these recruiters a fee for access
to the site’s candidate databases. That is to be expected and it is a
legitimate commercial use of the data a site has collected. What may
not be acceptable to you is a site selling its data for purposes other
than connecting job seekers with companies and individuals who have
genuine hiring needs. If a site is selling its data to third-party vendors,
Campus Publications
such as marketing firms for use in direct mail campaigns, for instance,
the site’s privacy clause should reveal this to you and give you the option
of not allowing the release of your data to such parties.
Use Lots of Key Words
When you do decide to post your resume at a site, you need
to review the format requirements to make sure your resume is
submitted correctly. Also, take a look at how you have described
your skills and experience. Since it is highly likely that any resume
you submit electronically will be scanned at some point by software,
your resume needs to contain certain key words that the software
can recognize as matching the requirements of job openings for
which you are applying. (See our article on resumes for additional
details on scannable resume preparation.)
One of the first career sites you may want to visit is the U.S.
Department of Labor site www.dol.gov. It contains many career
exploration links which can be helpful in terms of narrowing
down actual job titles that might match your skills, interests, and
educational background. For some self-assessment tools, head
to www.RileyGuide.com. Another site that has a lot to offer new
graduates is www.CollegeGrad.com. The site has numerous links
pertaining to the job search process for students looking for that
first “real” job.
Don’t Overdo It
One word of caution, however. Internet career sites are
wonderful places to visit but because the sites are so rich you can be
tempted to remain online for hours, clicking away for one more bit of
information. If this is the case, set some limits on the time you spend
online. Also, consider going online at night after regular working
hours. For one thing, if you’re surfing using the same phone line
that represents the phone number shown on your resume, then you
may be preventing recruiters from reaching you. Strive for balance.
Make sure you use other methods to find out about jobs, by attending
job fairs on campus and elsewhere, by posting your resume with
your campus career center, and by networking with family, friends,
acquaintances, and others (see our related networking article).
Remember the old saying, “A bird in the hand is worth two in
the bush?” With this thought in mind, why not start your Internet
job search by going to www.CampusPublicationsInc.com and
linking to the compainis with recruitment messages in this edition
of the Southern Diversity Schools / Job Search Journal? We have
provided a web page titled Job Seekers with quick links to websites
arranged by industry to assist you in your search. Participating
companies include large national and international corporations as
well as regional firms and they really want to hear from you.
One click can open corporate doors just about anywhere. And
once you’re in there, it’s definitely worth your while to mouse
around. Good luck and happy clicking.
17
Resumes
T
o say that preparing your resume is an important
part of your job search is a cliche. But no matter
how often you may have heard this, it isn’t any less true. Your
resume is one of your life’s most important documents, up there with
your report cards, your Social Security card, even your will. But, as with
writing a will, actually getting around to writing a resume seems to be
a challenge for many. Yet you must get started on it as soon as possible.
You can do an excellent job of writing it if you budget sufficient time
for it. It is imperative that you work hard at it and be prepared to rewrite
and revise. You must devote as much or more effort to perfecting your
resume as you ever devoted to any other subject. It is that important. So
what are you waiting for?
Records and References
Begin first by gathering records regarding your work and school
history so you can have all of your personal information in one convenient
spot. A file folder or large envelope will help keep things organized. Use
the checklists below to guide your search for the material which will
comprise the content of your resume.
Education Records
1) Names and addresses of colleges you’ve attended; include relevant special training, technical courses, or seminars
2) Dates of higher education enrollment/graduation
3) Campus leadership/volunteer activities that could reflect skills and experience that would be useful to an employer
4) Your academic record: courses taken, grades, any honors/special
awards received that relate to your academic achievements
resume as needed. Depending on the skill requirements of a position,
you may want to tailor the content of your resume. You can choose
which of your skills and what in your background would most closely
match the needs of the employer. Then by giving these elements
more emphasis in your resume, you can make your qualifications as a
candidate more appealing.
Contact information is always placed at the top of a resume. This is
your name, address, and phone number(s). Refer to the box for pointers
on whether to include your e-mail address and/or your Web site address.
How you position this contact information visually depends on your
preferences. Generally, you can arrange your contact text blocks (1) in
the top left corner of the page, (2) at the top center of the page, or (3)
if you include both home and school addresses, top-center your name
and align your addresses in the top left and right corners.
The main headings you’ll be using in your resume are:
“Education” and “Work Experience.” “Employment History” and
“Internships” are others. Additional headings to consider could be
“Objective”, “Honors”, “Extracurricular Activities”, and “Awards”.
Should you mention grades on your resume? If you were a high
academic achiever and had a consistent, overall 3.0 - 4.0 GPA, then
including grade information under “Education” would be a plus. If
your overall GPA wasn’t particularly strong, you could include only
the GPA for the courses associated with your major if that GPA was
3.0 or above.
Work Records
1) Names, addresses, and phone numbers of companies/or persons for
whom you’ve worked (those you would like to include under work
experience)
2) Dates of your employment
3) The names of supervisors and pay records (note: you will not
include this in your resume, but you may need to have it handy for job
applications that may have to be completed later as part of the hiring
process)
4) Job titles, accomplishments and responsibilities, including any special
recognition you may have received for your work efforts
You will also need to select your references; these should be
three or four people who can speak favorably of you in terms of your
past work experience, volunteer activities, or academic efforts. Check
your references’ addresses and phone numbers to make sure that the
information is current; don’t assume you know how to spell your
references’ names if you’ve never seen their names in print; always
check on the spelling of names.
Content
Once you have assembled the details of your school and work
experiences, you are ready to insert this content into a master resume
document. From it, you will be able to create custom versions of your
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Campus Publications
Many students who have some work history wonder which
heading to put first, “Education” or “Work Experience.” If your
former or current employer represents a high-powered firm with lots
of prestige associated with its name, then listing your work experience
first may be more beneficial. On the other hand, if the school you
have attended has a certain cachet attached to its name or if you are
graduating with honors, then by placing “Education” as your first
heading, your resume may get more attention.
Opinions vary on whether you should include an “Objective”
statement in your resume. If you do include an “Objective,” and you
know what position you wish to apply for, specifically mention it in
your objective. If you don’t have a particular job title in mind, then a
brief description of your work goals is sufficient for your objective.
Some career advisors feel including an “Objective” in your resume is
unnecessary.
The inclusion of “References” as a heading on your resume is
optional. If you choose to show this as a heading, then also include
a line, “available upon request” next to it. You should not place your
references’ names directly on your resume. List them on a separate sheet
because you don’t want your references contacted unless an employer
has requested reference information as a result of an interview with
you. Another way to make use of favorable references is to obtain
some reference letters in advance. But don’t enclose the letters with
every resume you send out. Reserve them for use only with very choice
positions which you’ve ranked at the top on your job search list.
After you have pulled together the content for your resume, your
next decisions relate to the way you will present that content. The three
components that will shape your resume are:
• the style in which you organize your content
• the language you use to describe yourself,
• the way you physically arrange the text on paper
Whether you chose a chronological or functional style for your resume,
just remember you can always change it.
The key to a good resume is the savvy use of key words.Today
more and more large companies are scanning resumes using software
that searches for key words which describe skills; these key words are
nouns or adjectives - examples are “multilingual,” “word processing,”
“spreadsheets,” or they could also be brand-specific key words,
such as “Microsoft Word,” “WordPerfect,” or “Microsoft Office.”
To assure the scanner picks up enough key words, you could cluster
your skills under key word topics, such as “Languages.” Under that,
you could list Spanish, Russian, etc. Don’t use a traditionally written
resume - one that has verb phrases because scanning software isn’t
programmed to find verb-based skill descriptions. Only if you know
for certain that your resume will not be scanned should you use
action verbs to describe your skills. If possible, before sending your
resume, find out from the company’s human resources department if
your resume will be scanned or screened by software. (See box for
key word examples.)
The formatting of your resume can make a difference in how easily
and quickly it can be read. Whoever is looking at your resume is likely
to have quite a few other resumes to review besides yours. By having
a pleasing balance of white space and text blocks, you are helping the
reader skim your information quickly yet come away with a good grasp
of your skills and experience. Review “Formatting Tips” for specific
suggestions regarding formatting your resume.
Once you’ve shaped your resume’s content, wording, and format
into a document, then you’re ready to print a copy for proofing. In
fact, print several copies and pass them around to friends and family for
feedback and extra error checking.
Be sure to examine the following:
• spelling, verb tenses, consistency of language/grammar structure;
• accuracy and organization of the information; and
• its layout: is it easy to read; does it lead with your strengths?
Then print it out again and if time permits, ask a campus career
counselor to review your resume. For better proofing, try to allow a day
or two to pass before you proof a final time. Your eyes will be fooled into
seeing it as a new document, and you will thus be more alert to errors.
Take another final look. Are you satisfied with the quality of your
resume? If you are, then relax a bit. If not, relax a bit and then get back
to work. A final polishing never hurts. When you have completed this
process, congratulate yourself on a job well done. Relax briefly again
if you like, but not for long. If you have also done your research on
companies and know the positions you want to target, your job search
is ready for blast-off. Stay organized and follow up appropriately. Try
to establish a routine for your search. Rest assured, however, with the
potent mixture of your excellent resume and tailored cover letters, you
have powerful fuel that will take you far. Hang on and enjoy the ride.
Campus Publications
19
Chronological resume
VIRGINIA BROWN
Current Address:
319 Fountain Street
904-555-1401
[email protected]
Permanent Address:
2206 Taylor Lane
Jacksonville, FL 32211
904-555-4457
OBJECTIVE:
A position involving e-commerce development.
EDUCATION:
B.S. - Computer Science 2013
Bethune-Cookman College
Computer program skills in:
C/C++, Visual Basic, Microsoft Office, Oracle,
HTML, SQL, Linux,Microsoft Front Page
Activities:
President, Young Women in Business Club
Computer lab assistant, on-campus computer lab
Provided technical assistance in computer lab;
Oriented students to lab facilities
Awards:
Dean’s List (2009-2013)
WORK Software Solutions, Inc., 2346 Winner’s Circle, Daytona Beach, FL 32115
EXPERIENCE: Assistant Manager, Client Services
2012-present
Designed data-entry fields for client Oracle databases
Advised clients regarding database creation
Presented database software solutions to prospective clients
Coordinated training for e-commerce clients
Summer 2009-2011 WebCity, Inc., 338 Peilican Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32201
Assistant Internet Coordinator
Updated business content for client websites
Edited content and converted into HTML format
Assisted with online forums with clients’ customers
REFERENCES:
20
Available upon request
Campus Publications
Functional resume
JAMES SMITH
Current address:
32 College Drive
Tuskegee, AL 36088
334-555-2121
Permanent address:
69 Mahler Street
Birmingham, AL 35293
205-555-3367
OBJECTIVE:
A geriatric nursing administration position
EDUCATION:
Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36088
B.S., Nursing, 2013
Clinical Experience:
Provided total nursing care to acute geriatric patients
Monitered medications, IV’s, and administered other assigned care
Coordinated rehabilitative treatments for patients
Experienced in cardiac resuscitation
Assessed for outpatient nursing and home health care needs
Leadership and Organization:
Served as president of Student Nurses Association
Assisted in development of nursing school’s community health screening project
Planned care schedules for homebound frail elderly patients
Coordinated details of engagement of nationally-recognized speakers for geriatric healthcare forum
Communications:
Edited nursing school’s monthly newsletter
Contributed articles regarding geriatic care tips for publication in local Chicago paper
Assisted with organization of semi-annual geriatric healthcare issues forum
Spoke to local senior organizations on topics relating to elderly care for Alzheimer patients
Computer Literacy:
Knowledge of Microsoft Office / Windows xp / Windows Vista
Experienced in generating patient supplies via computer program
Work History:
Auburn Medical Center, Geriatric Care Unit, Auburn, AL
Birmingham Rehabilitation Services, Inc., Birmingham, AL Campus Publications
2011-2013
2009-2011
21
Cover Letters:
Get Personal on Purpose
W
hile a recruiter can form a quick mental image of
your skills and education from reading your
resume, sending your resume by itself to a recruiter without
a cover letter is like asking a recruiter to watch you on TV with the
sound turned off. He or she can “see” you in your resume, but without
a cover letter that reveals your unique “voice,” the recruiter can’t
really get the “full story” on you. An effective cover letter lets you
“turn up the volume” and communicate personally with someone
who has to perform the rather impersonal task of weeding through
a stack of resumes.
Avoid “To Whom It May Concern
Ideally, you should address your letter to a specific person. Although
some recruitment messages may include a specific name of a recruiter
or individual to whom resumes and cover letters can be sent, in many
cases, only the identity of the company department or division and
an address is given. But generally, you can call the company and ask
for that department, and then, once you are connected, you can obtain
a specific person’s name and title to whom you can send your cover
letter and resume. If you are not applying for a particular position
but are interested in working for that department, you would want
to find out the name of the person in charge of that department and
the title they hold.
The format of your letter will include a block for your address
(you can leave your name out of it because you will have your name
typed out in the signature line). Skip a line and add the date of your
letter. How you arrange the blocks of text in your letter will depend
on whether you choose to use a “block” style or “modified block”
letter style. (See our cover letter examples.)
Skip another line or two and add the addressee information,
placing this block of text flush left. Skip another line and then
begin the salutation, and punctuate it with a colon, unless you’ve
talked to the person at some length. In that case, a comma would be
acceptable.
In your first paragraph, you state why you are writing - if you
are applying for a particular position that was advertised, then refer
to the specific position and where you saw it mentioned. If you just
desire to work for this company and have a definite reason for it or
an objective in mind, then express this in the opening paragraph.
Your second paragraph is where you need to give examples of why
your skills and education would be a good match for the position and/or
the company. Use strong action verbs and aim an “active” rather than
“passive” voice whenever possible. (Review examples in a grammar
book for details if you are unsure of your sentence style.) This is where
you really must “pitch” positively for yourself. No negative information
You don’t need to get into details regarding your qualifications
other than to convey that you would like to apply for a position within
that department. Be sure to ask for the correct spelling of the name
you are given before hanging up. It does take time to track down this
information, but by having a person’s name on the letter, it increases
the chances of your being “heard,” and your resume being “seen.”
So what is it you want your cover letter to do? Do you have a
specific position in mind - was this position actually advertised as
open? Or do you just want to get your foot in the door and are willing
to consider an entry-level position with the company? Why do you
want to work for this company? Before ever sending your letter, you
should have researched the company well enough to know something
about where it stands in its industry and what its company culture is
like. From this information, you should be able to convey in your letter
some positive points about the company and what your motivation is
for wanting to work for them in terms of how you could be of help
to them.
Stick With Good Structure
Now, to get down to the actual writing of the letter - it needs
to be one page only and it needs to sell “you.” Selling “you” means
describing point by point how your skills and education either match
the skill and education requirements of a particular position or how
you would be able to assist the company with your particular skill
set and educational background. Your writing style should be clear,
concise, and error-free.
22
Campus Publications
about
yourself should be mentioned (anything negative can be discussed
in an interview) nor should you voice any complaints about previous
employers in your letter.
Your third paragraph needs to wrap things up with a compliment
about the company (its achievements, people or its products) and convey
your desire for an interview opportunity. Provide information on how
you can be reached and then give a date on which you will follow up
regarding your interview request should you not hear from anyone before
then. Mention also that your resume is enclosed.
Close with “Sincerely,” and then skip four lines before typing your
full name. Two or three lines down, you can add the word “Enclosure”
since you are including your resume with the letter. Use a 9" x 12"
envelope so you won’t have to fold your letter (or your resume). Both
will look nicer and be easier to handle without creases. The manner
in which you prepare this letter should be the same as your resume in
terms of paper, ink, font size and style, and printer. (See our advice
on these points in our resume article.) Don’t forget to proof at least
three times! Ask someone else to take a look at your cover letter so
you can get some feedback on your writing’s effectiveness as well as
some help checking for errors.
Sound Sincere, Skip the Slang
Keep your language simple but slang-free and don’t use words
whose meaning isn’t totally clear to you. Looking at other cover letters
can help you but don’t fall prey to the temptation to just copy a letter
- it usually doesn’t work very well and may “sound” inauthentic. You
can definitely do a better job as it will truly be “you” speaking. Just
allow yourself plenty of time to tailor your letter to reflect how you can
meet the specific needs of the job or potential job with the particular
company at which you are seeking employment.
Place a copy of the letter in a file that is easily accessible and note
on your calendar when you should follow up. Remember, practice
makes perfect - the first one or two letters may seem hard to write but
once you have gone through the process several times, it will get easier
to talk about yourself in a way that will make a reviewer pay heed,
and before you know it, you’ll have a paycheck and the satisfaction
of concluding a successful job search.
Campus Publications
23
Block-style format
726 Edisto Avenue
Columbia, SC 29205
June 5, 2013
Ms. Deborah Brown
Vice President, Store Management Division
Upscale Department Stores, Inc.
333 Eagle Avenue
Houston, TX 77002
Dear Ms. Brown,
I recently graduated from Prairie View A & M University with a B.B.A. in marketing
management and would like an opportunity to discuss what career openings may be available
within your organization. I minored in computer science and have been intrigued by your
company’s reputation as an innovator in the use of technology.
During my past four summers, as a full-time assistant floor manager at a major retail
department store in Columbia, S.C., I handled credit approvals, authorization of refunds, floor
associate scheduling and quarterly inventory reports for the store. Additionally, I supervised
merchandise display areas and worked with our marketing department to plan special
promotional events for the store.
While in school, I served as secretary treasurer of our student government during my senior
year. Within the business school, as a volunteer, I assisted with the engagement of special
business-school seminar speakers. I am comfortable with public speaking and served as our
campus debate club president for two years.
I believe my education and past work experience would allow me to contribute productively
to your achievements as a company. My resume is enclosed for your review. I will contact you
within the next several days to determine when, at your earliest convenience, I could arrange
an interview to discuss my qualifications further with you.
Sincerely,
John Smith
Enclosure
24
Campus Publications
Modified block-style format
Mr. Frederick Jones
Vice President, Human Resources
XYZ Securities, Inc.
200 Wall Street,
New York, NY 10005
2298 Morgan Street
Jacksonville, FL 32209
April 21, 2013
Dear Mr. Jones,
I would like to be considered for the Investment Analyst position you recently advertised in
the Fall 2012 edition of the Southern Diversity Schools / Job Search Journal. On
May 21, 2013, I will graduate magna cum laude from Florida A&M University with a
B.S. degree in economics and a minor in accounting.
While attending school, I have worked part-time as an assistant analyst in the research
division of a local financial institution’s trust department (full-time in the summer). During this
time, from my coursework and from my work experience, I have gained considerable understanding of how to use financial and economic data to predict market trends. As an analyst
assistant, I reviewed corporate financial statements, annual reports and SEC filings along with
economic reports pertinent to the stock market.
In addition to tracking stock activity related to customer portfolios, I worked with the research department staff to compile data on individual stocks as well as broader market trends.
I also assisted in writing reports interpreting our technical findings. These were distributed for
use by the trust administration department staff. I appreciated project contributions made by
my fellow coworkers and learned to value what team effort can accomplish. I also learned to
work well under pressure since we had tight deadlines for completion of these reports.
Your company’s emphasis on research seems to have paid off since I recently read in
Barron’s an article which recognized the accuracy of your stock and market analysis. I believe
I could contribute to the continuation of your excellence in research. Because I would like to
work for a company of your caliber, I am willing to relocate to New York and would appreciate
greatly the opportunity to discuss in person my qualifications for the above position. I will follow up with a phone call to you next week if I have not heard further from you. You may reach
me at 904-555-2237. My resume is enclosed.
Sincerely,
Rhonda Williams
Enclosure
Campus Publications
25
How to Complete
A Job Application
A
great resume and successful interviews will not,
in most cases, eliminate a basic job search task:
filling out a job application. This document is a company’s
way of officially retrieving data on you with your permission; it is
also a way that they can legally hold you accountable for presenting
true information about yourself. So you will want to make sure what
you put down on an application is accurate.
As part of writing your resume, you had to pull together
information regarding your past employment and education. Although
you didn’t include the names and titles of supervisors or employers’
phone numbers, most applications request this information. Jot this
extra information down on a copy of your resume to take with you
so you won’t have to spend time remembering all of these details.
You should have your Social Security card with you in case
you are asked to present it. Including your Social Security number
on job applications is usually required. Most job applications ask
you to provide reference information so be prepared to supply the
full names, titles, complete addresses and phone numbers of your
references.
It is okay to use abbreviations when filling out applications
because of space limitations. Don’t forget to include the period to
punctuate your abbreviation correctly. States’ abbreviations don’t
require periods. Filling out a job application can be one of the most
tedious task in your job search if you are not prepared. Planning
ahead can make this job so smoothly. If you are unsure of what
might be asked of you, generic job applications are available for
purchase at the office supply store. It’s not a bad idea to purchase
an application and fill it out ahead of time. Have it with you when
you go and relax, you’re ready.
Below are some helpful tips on how to best
complete a job application so that it helps
instead of hinders your chances of getting
the job you want.
1. Before you fill out an application, read all of it.
2.
If possible, request another copy of the application or make a copy yourself. This lets you complete a first
draft without worrying about penmanship mistakes
or memory mishaps. Referring to your draft, you can
write a final, neater copy.
3. Pay attention to the directions and make sure you
follow them exactly.
4.
Use a ballpoint ink pen, preferably black - not a pencil.
A piece of paper under the application can prevent
you from punching a hole in it with your pen; the
extra sheet of paper can also alleviate ink seepage
onto the back of the application.
5. Unless the application directs you to write in cursive,
print neatly and stay within the lines provided.
6. If your last name is to be written first, use a comma to separate it from your first name. Elements of your
address may also need to be separated by a comma if
written on the same line. Example: Smith, John
3347 Bentley St., Sarasota, FL 34239
7. Include street numbers, suite or apartment numbers
and zip codes with addresses; include area codes with phone numbers.
8.
Look carefully at the sequence in which some
questions are asked. Fill in all blanks or boxes; if
a question does not apply to you, it is acceptable
to use NA for Not Applicable if the format allows
this. In some cases, you may see boxes to check
instead. Look closely at all of these to see if they
must be checked so you don’t inappropriately
leave one blank by mistake.
9. Where your signature is requested, you should use
cursive and definitely not print in this area. You
usually must put a date by your signature as well.
10. Proof your application slowly and thoroughly a final
time to make sure you haven’t overlooked anything.
11. Make or request a copy of the completed
application for your records.
26
Campus Publications
Interviewing
T
he most challenging part of your job search will be
handling interviews. You have to sell yourself to another
person, who, in all likelihood, has never laid eyes on you.
Although interviews aren’t exactly anyone’s idea of fun, there are
many steps you can take to make an interview go in your favor.
Good “Prep” Work Will Pay Off
Research companies in advance of sending your resume. That
way, when you are called for an interview, you will eliminate a last
minute scramble for company information. It can’t be emphasized
enough that being informed about a company can make a huge
difference in your interview success. Not only will your knowledge
of the company demonstrate your intellectual curiosity to the
interviewer, but it will also show that you had the foresight and
initiative to prepare yourself for the interview. Knowing that you
can make a good impression by being well versed about a company
can give your confidence a boost, which in turn should improve your
overall interview performance.
Once you have researched companies and jobs, it’s a good idea
to try to send out resumes to as many job positions that interest you as
you can. This will assure you of more interviews and more potential
offers within a shorter timeframe. When you do begin receiving
responses to your resume, schedule interviews fairly close together.
You will get better at interviewing that way and, again, you will
generate more choices in terms of job offers.
Before your interviews, consider how best to talk about your
skills and education so that you can convince your interviewer that
your qualifications for a position are in line with the needs of the
company. Review your resume so that you don’t overlook anything
when you are asked to talk about yourself. You should also be able to
talk about both your strengths and weaknesses in a positive manner.
Practice summarizing your resume information out loud so that you
will be able to present the contents concisely and confidently. You
want to answer questions without rambling. Think also of questions
that you can ask. This will help you determine if the company is right
for you. Have your questions handy so that you can refer to them
when the appropriate opportunity arises during the interview.
Ideally, you should run through several mock interviews. Imitate
all the steps that you would face in a real interview: entering the room,
shaking hands, being seated, responding to interview questions, and
finally, departing. If you can videotape your practice interviews,
you can have instant visual feedback on your performance, but even
reviewing an audiotape of your responses can be helpful. Have your
“interviewer” run through typical and tough questions that might be
asked. With practice, not only will the answers improve but your
delivery of those answers will improve as well.
Campus Publications
Interviews: What You Must Do
First interviews: You must arrive on time. Your grooming,
your poise and your basic communication skills must pass
muster. You must convince the interviewer that you have
the qualifications to do the job. Your attitude must convey
enthusiasm and sincere interest.
Second interviews: You must arrive on time. Your grooming
must be impeccable; you will be more closely scrutinized
since you will probably talk with several people in addition
to your main interviewer. Questions will be more probing
so your poise and communication skills must rise to the
challenge. You must persuade all who talk with you that
you have the qualifications to handle the job.
You must give specific examples of how you have employed
your skills in the past, of how you have solved problems, and
explain how your experience can be applied to the position
you are seeking. Your attitude must convey enthusiasm and
sincere interest. You must seem at ease in the company
environment.
Types of Interviews:
The group interview tests your poise before groups. Have
several friends or family members conduct a mock group
interview. Try to view a group as a cluster of friendly
individuals; think positively of yourself. After all, you were
invited back.
The behavioral interview appraises your problem-solving
abilities based on examples of your past behaviors which
you must provide Be honest and specific with your details;
try to conclude with an outcome that provides a positive
image of your problem-solving skills.
The meal interview examines your table manners and your
abilities to conduct business in a social setting.Decline
alcoholic drinks. Order only easy-to-eat food; avoid spicy
or breath-damaging choices. Don’t get boisterous; maintain
your reserve. If you have any doubts beforehand about
dining formalities, consult a recent edition of an etiquette
book. Remember to thank your host for his hospitality.
27
If you can, try to find out beforehand who is interviewing you.
Knowing something about your interviewer in advance can help you
in several ways. The person’s background may influence the focus
of the interview; and by being familiar with the interviewer’s work
history, you may gain insight about what the interviewer is looking for
in a candidate. This may also help you anticipate potential roadblocks
that may occur during the interview.
First Impressions Do Count
Don’t stint on your personal appearance. No matter how well
you answer questions, if your apparel and grooming are anything but
impeccable, you could be doing yourself a grave injustice. You should
select attire that is a little more conservative and formal than what may
be the norm at the company. This applies even for those companies
that tout their informality.
Men should wear a suit that shows no signs of wear and one
that is quietly conservative in color, cut, and fabric. Belted suit pants
should break just slightly over the shoe top. Belts and shoes need
to match; black or brown leather is the best material. Belt buckles
should be unremarkable. Acceptable shoe styles are wingtip lace-ups
or dressier, tasseled slip-ons in plain leather: no suede, patent leather,
or saddle shoes. Make sure shoes are well polished and that the soles
and heels are in good shape. The safest bets for socks are opaque,
non-bulky dark ones that are long enough to prevent gaps of bare leg.
Men’s shirts should be white or very pale in color, of pinpoint oxford
cloth or broadcloth and professionally ironed and starched. Ties should
preferably be silk, with a tastefully modest print that provides a pleasing
but conservative contrast to suit and shirt.
For women, while conservative is still the watchword, choices are
a bit broader. A nicely tailored suit still works well for interview attire.
However, a conservatively cut dress with a jacket is another look that
is also very appropriate. Color schemes should be low-key. Although
hemlines vary so much these days, for interviews hem height should
definitely be no more than two inches above the knee. Steer clear of
slit skirts. Choose closed, low-heeled shoes of leather and wear plain,
nontextured hose. A purse is okay but it needs to be unobtrusive.
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Fingernails should be short, clean and well manicured. Hair
should look freshly trimmed or styled and be clean. For men, a
traditional-style watch is okay as is a wedding band but pass up
other adornments. Women can wear a modest amount of jewelry
and perhaps a scarf as an accessory, but flashy choices should be
avoided. Makeup and nail polish, if worn, should be subtle.
Another accessory that is acceptable is a plain leather briefcase
or portfolio; either will do for carrying extra resumes as well as a pad
for note taking. Women should try to avoid carrying both a purse and
a briefcase or portfolio. Bringing along an umbrella and an overcoat
may also be advisable if forecasts suggest inclement weather. Men
should carry a handkerchief inside their jackets; women should
tuck away tissues, lipstick, a compact and even an extra pair of
panty hose in their purses. Several ink pens for note taking are also
a good idea. Make sure you have suitable backup clothing pressed
and ready to wear should you need a quick change.
Use Poise With a Positive Attitude
You know you look your best. Now you need to follow proper
interviewing etiquette which will help you demonstrate your social
poise to the interviewer. First and foremost, be on time. If you are in
an unfamiliar location, try to do a test run of your route in advance
and factor in some extra time for any traffic or parking delays. But
don’t get there too early - ten minutes or so before your appointment
is the soonest you should appear in the office where your interview
is scheduled.
Greet the secretary or receptionist courteously, introduce
yourself, and then explain why you are there. Wait until you are told
where to be seated; then try to choose a chair that won’t cause you
to slouch. A spot where you can watch office comings and goings
will let you observe more people and can help you discover a lot
about the mood of the workplace. Just make sure you’re not in the
way of incoming traffic. As you wait, don’t chew gum and it is best
not to bring in a a beverage durring the interview. If offered water
it is okay to accept but don’t let it become a distraction.
Campus Publications
If you feel nervous, a few discreet deep breaths can help calm
you. Try to think positively about how your interview will go;
this will help you project enthusiasm, a trait interviewers like and
look for. When you finally meet your interviewer, wait until he
or she offers a hand and then shake it firmly for a few seconds.
(practice your handshake beforehand so it’s not too firm or too
limp.) Maintain good eye contact with your interviewer and smile
pleasantly when you are greeted. Once you enter the interviewer’s
office, again wait until you are offered a seat. Then if you have a
choice, select a nearby seat that will allow you to sit erectly as you talk.
Expect a little bit of small talk to build rapport. If your interviewer
seems nervous or inexperienced, try to find something to talk about:
either something you might each have in common or an object or
picture in the interviewer’s office. While you want to relax, you don’t
want to act overly familiar. You should not call your interviewer by
his or her first name unless you are told to.
Stress Your Qualifications Often
What you want to try to do as soon as possible in the interview
is to have the interviewer discuss the requirements of the position.
Having this information upfront will allow you to tailor your
responses in a way to better convince your interviewer that you have
what it takes to handle the job. Answer questions completely but
briefly. If a question puzzles you, you can respond with a question
to clarify what the interviewer is really trying to find out. Be honest;
if you have had a negative experience that must be discussed, do so
in a positive fashion to demonstrate that you have learned from it.
Notice your interviewer’s body language and pay attention to
your own. Maintain good posture. If you lean forward slightly as you
answer, you will convey enthusiasm. It’s okay to gesture with your
hands as you speak - just make sure you don’t get too expansive with
your hands or arms. Do not jingle change or fidget with your hair.
If your interviewer’s face expresses disinterest, then maybe you’re
rambling. Shorten your answers. Try to renew your interviewer’s
interest by asking his opinion or advice about the current matter under
discussion. But avoid changing the subject or interrupting the flow of
the interview.
At the close of the interview, if you don’t feel you have enough
information to gauge the suitability of the work environment, you
may certainly try to gain a sense of the company culture by asking
additional questions. But if the interviewer seems to be signaling the
interview is coming to a close, save your questions. You will likely
have another opportunity for inquiry should you be called back for a
second interview.
If you have concluded that the company is a place where
you’d like to work and you want the position, then again stress your
qualifications for the position and be direct. Let the interviewer know
that you would like the job if he seems noncommittal. You really have
nothing to lose and your assertiveness may change the interviewer’s
mind about you as a candidate. If the interviewer has not given you
any idea when a decision regarding the position will be made, then
ask him about it. Make sure you have the interviewer’s title and his
name with its correct spelling so that you can send him a follow-up
note.
Regardless of the outcome of your interview, maintain a positive
demeanor. Thank your interviewer and shake hands again before
you leave. Be sure you have all of your personal belongings before
departing. Also offer a friendly farewell to the person that sees you
out of the office.
Ask Good Questions
You can reveal your interest in the company to the interviewer
by asking questions. Initially limit them to those that can reveal your
knowledge of the issues relating to the company or its industry as a
whole (stay away from anything controversial). Since your interviewer
may be on a schedule, don’t ask too many. And be forewarned: never
bring up questions about salary, vacation times, or benefit packages
on your own. Sometimes these subjects are not discussed by the
interviewer since often a first interview is for screening purposes only.
If your interviewer tries to ask you about your salary requirements, try
to shift the giving of an answer back over to him by asking him to give
you an idea of the salary range. Although you should have some inkling
from your research of what the position might pay, it is preferable to
have the interviewer provide you with salary information.
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After the First Interview
Begin by looking at any notes you took and make sure
they are legible so you can refer back to them later if necessary.
Review your interview performance and think of how you could
have improved it. Then write a brief note to your interviewer,
thanking him for the interview opportunity and again reiterate
your qualifications for the job if it is one you want.
If you were given a date for a decision about the job and the
date comes and goes without your having heard anything, then
don’t hesitate to make a call to inquire regarding the status of the
position. Companies often have a bureaucratic process that can
slow down decisions so you have every right to determine your
standing as a candidate, especially if you have other offers to
consider.
A Second Interview is Your Encore
If you are asked back for a second interview, then be
encouraged. You are now being viewed as a qualified candidate.
In a second interview, you can anticipate that the questions will be
more probing.The interviewer is now trying to determine if you
will fit into the company’s culture and if you have characteristics
that would allow you to problem-solve. Take your time with the
questions - your pausing before answering will not be viewed as a
negative, but instead will show that you think before you speak.
Your interviewer may begin to give you information
concerning compensation: salary, vacation time and other
benefits, such as health insurance. Listen carefully and take notes
if you aren’t offered any printed information. Such notes will be
invaluable for comparing total compensation should you find
yourself with multiple offers to consider. Nevertheless, even at
the end of a second interview, you may not yet receive an offer.
You should, however, be given some idea of when a final decision
30
will be made. And if not, ask. If you were interviewed by a second
person, be sure to get his title and name (correctly spelled) because
you will also want to send this person a follow up note.
After the Interview
Maintain a record of your interviews: note the name of the
company, the interview date, the title and name of all persons you
spoke with, and any details of what you discussed that you can
recall. This will assure that you handle your follow up activities
in a timely manner. Keep your spirits high by reminding yourself
that you do have unique abilities and talents. Realize that although
your interview skills aren’t perfect, with practice you will improve.
Always display an enthusiastic attitude throughout your interviews
- it in itself is powerfully persuasive. A match between your career
needs and an employer’s needs is bound to occur. And if you
continue to steadily send out resumes and go to interviews, your
career match will happen sooner instead of later.
Campus Publications
The Job Offer Take It or Leave It?
“We’d like to offer you the position.”
S
hould you say yes? Or no? What should you do? Getting a
job offer can be a pretty exciting moment in a new college
graduate’s life. But it can also be a bit overwhelming in terms
of the decisions you have to make.
Uncertainty Is Okay
You may feel uncertain about whether you should take a job or not,
especially if you still have several other interviews coming up shortly.
Realistically, you shouldn’t have to say yes right away. However, you do
want to immediately respond in an enthusiastic, positive way to indicate
that you’re very happy to receive the offer. You can then explain that
since this is a big decision, you’d be grateful for more time to consider
the offer. If you ask, most company recruiters are usually willing to
grant you anywhere from 24 to 72 more hours.
At this stage, your offer should have a salary amount associated
with it. Normally, salary or benefits aren’t topics you should bring up.
On the other hand, if you haven’t been given at least a salary range with
the offer, then you need to arrange an appointment to discuss salary.
If another of your interviews goes well and you have more interest
in the subsequent position, you could let that interviewer know of your
strong desire to be considered but point out that you have some time
constraints because of a pending offer (you’re not obliged to identify
the other company). Then ask how soon he could let you know regarding
his decision so you can determine how long you might have to weigh
a subsequent offer from him.
How should you evaluate an offer? By allotting time for research
well before you begin interviewing, you can gain insight into what
various positions in certain fields pay. This will help you determine what
the salary range should be for the different jobs you may be applying
for. But a note of caution: the salaries you may be finding during your
research often are actually average salaries; the figures don’t necessarily
reflect what the entry-level base pay is for a worker with no experience.
Nevertheless, in fields where demand is high and the pool of candidates
is low, starting salaries could approach average salary figures.
any final decisions. And you will want to examine cost-of-living data
when comparing job offers. Many career sites have links to cost-of-living
calculators that can simplify this analysis for you.
If, upon reflection, you decide you would like to accept an offer
apart from the fact that the salary seems a bit low, then it would be worth
it to try to negotiate a higher starting figure. Arrange an appointment
to discuss the offer; do not attempt to settle it over the phone.
Negotiate In Good Faith
Salary negotiations may seem a little intimidating for someone new
to the job market. But generally, there is often some leeway in what can
be offered in the way of salary during the hiring process. Since what
you accept in the present will affect what your pay will be in the future,
it is worthwhile to try to negotiate a better salary if it seems low. But
don’t be greedy. A large jump upward from an initial offer may not be
realistic because many entry-level jobs have fairly fixed starting salaries.
However, a modest increase may not be unreasonable, especially if you
have strong work experience or skills that are in demand.
You must always be very calm and very positive in your manner
when you begin any salary discussions. If you know you want the job
but the initial offer seems inadequate (based on your research), express
your pleasure but remain noncommittal. Explain that while you are really
looking forward to joining the company, you would like to discuss the
salary offer. Then you must provide convincing examples of why your
skills and experience are worth more than what was originally offered.
Conclude by stating a figure (that is on the upper end of the salary range)
which you believe is more satisfactory and which you have determined
is competitive for the industry.
If you have another pending offer at a higher salary for a similar
position, then you could share this with the interviewer and let him know
that you would prefer to work for his company, yet you feel the other salary
offer is closer to your expectations. Despite your efforts, however, your
request may be refused. Remain pleasant and if you really want the job,
then respond with a cheerful, cordial acceptance.
Once you indicate that you will accept an offer, then you must do so
in good faith. Your acceptance has ethical as well as legal ramifications.
Courtesy requires that you notify other companies with whom you have
interviewed that you are withdrawing from further consideration. Then,
relax and congratulate yourself. You’re off to a great start!
“Bread” Alone Does Not Make a Meal
There are many other factors to bear in mind when you analyze an
offer. Your research should also include looking at company profiles.
(See our article on researching companies for helpful advice regarding
this task.) Any information that you can find which might reveal the
culture or working atmosphere of a company will be especially helpful.
This can clue you in on whether or not the environment is one where
you would thrive.
A major part of any salary offer is the benefits package. You should
certainly also have information on this portion of your offer before making
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Moving Up in Your Career
W
ith much anticipation, you have started your new
job. Now what? How should you “grow” your
career? There are many common sense strategies that can
help you gain job satisfaction and the recognition that will lead you to
the next level of your career.
First of all, be courteous and friendly. Don’t be overly familiar with
co-workers you’ve just met but do make it a goal to try to really get to know
other employees. This can be done by mingling at company-sponsored
social events, break times, and lunch periods. Just don’t socialize at the
wrong times: i.e., when people are trying to accomplish tasks or when you
need to get your work completed. Remember the basics, too - arrive on
time, dress properly, and stick to your allotted lunch and break periods.
Avoid dating persons in your immediate circle of co-workers. Meet your
work deadlines while pursuing the highest quality output possible.
Listen with Your Eyes and Your Ears
An essential factor in work-place success is communication. Everyone
communicates differently - notice the ways in which the people in your
office interact, in both group settings and one-on-one encounters. Does your
co-worker prefer not to talk when deadlines are tight? How about your boss?
Does she prefer end-of-the-day briefings or does she want you to check in
more frequently? Pay attention to body language exhibited during speech,
your own and that of others. It can tell you a lot. Good listening skills are
important, too. Restate what the other person has said if you feel unclear
about his meaning. The advice “think before you speak,” is still sound.
Pause to consider what the purpose of your message is and how you want
to deliver it. Often a brief memo is more effective than an oral statement.
Nevertheless, even if you do a good job with your assigned duties,
you can take additional steps to optimize your career. It is extremely
important to help your boss do well. Never make critical remarks about
him or about other workers. Keep your superior up-to-date on your
progress with projects for which you are responsible. Make sure you
understand what is expected of you in terms of work. If you have any
doubts, confer with your boss. Ask for more specific details on what
your boss would like to see accomplished for any projects that seem
vague. Be sure to document your work so that you can refer to your
achievements when your performance evaluation comes up.
Team Up
Higher visibility within your company can be achieved several ways.
Show enthusiasm for the assignments you are given and make quality
a noticeable feature of your work products. Look for tasks that you can
take on outside of your regular responsibilities. Volunteer for projects that
would give you the chance to work with others in different departments.
This shows initiative and demonstrates your ability to work in a team
setting. Seek to enhance your knowledge and skills through training or
additional education; then offer to share what you’ve learned through a
presentation. Be fastidious about your personal appearance and hygiene.
Your attire should emulate the apparel worn by your superiors.
Although you may have many creative ideas, as a newcomer
you must first demonstrate your ability to complete work following
existing procedures and through cooperative teamwork with your fellow
employees. This will help you “fit in” and will establish your reputation
as someone who can be trusted to “get the job done.” Once you have built
rapport with others, then you can begin to make suggestions that reflect
your ideas on how a project or problem should be handled. Remember
to put your ideas forth in a manner that doesn’t try to make others look
bad. Don’t go above people’s heads to seek approval of your ideas.
Study the behaviors of employees who have already done well
within the organization as well as others whose stars seem to be rising.
Try to analyze what personal traits or skills have led to their success;
then try to incorporate similar strategies in your own workplace
behaviors. Seek out a more experienced mentor within the company
whose judgment you trust. This person can provide valuable feedback
to you regarding your performance as well as suggestions on how to
move ahead. Just don’t overdo your consultations; respect your mentor’s
schedule and be sure to make an appointment so your mentor won’t
feel imposed upon.
Become knowledgeable of your company’s structure and
organizational charts. Also stay attuned to the politics of your
organization. Although you don’t want to be seen as engaging in petty
gossip, keeping your ears open can give you an idea of the alliances
and animosities that may exist within your company. By being aware of
personal rivalries, you can better anticipate potential obstacles that may
arise as a result of personality conflicts. Keep up with press coverage
about your company. Follow industry trends so that you can make more
intelligent decisions. Get involved in community events, too, always
remembering to be loyal to your company by being a good steward
for it. By visibly demonstrating your commitment to your company’s
goals, you will be building the foundations for your own success.
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Campus Publications
Nurses Rule
W
ith so many professions getting so little respect from
the public these days, nursing is the outstanding
exception. Since 1999, when the Gallup Organization
first began including the nursing profession in their public opinion
poll that ranks professionals for professional honesty and ethical
standards, nurses have been ranked at the top. Yet in terms of a
profession chosen for a career, nursing has not been a popular
field. The number of persons choosing to go into nursing training
programs has been steadily declining until just recently. Thus the
output of new nurses to replace retiring nurses and newly created
RN positions has continued to fall short of what is needed to fill
these jobs.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Servies predicts
a registered nurse (RN) shortage of 808,416 by 2020 based on a
study done by the National Center for Workforce Analysis. According to figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than a
million registered nurses will be needed by the
year 2012 if new and replacement nursing
jobs are to be adequately filled.
Although nursing program
enrollments have increased in recent
years, the nursing shortage is likely
to continue because of a population
increase in the elderly that will continue
for years to come on a worldwide basis.
Demand for nurses with baccalaureate degrees (B.S.N.s) or higher
in terms of education will be
greatest as well
as for nurses
with experience
in critical care,
emergency and
operating room
care, labor and
delivery as well
as neonatal care
according to
predictions of
several organizations representing nursing professionals.
Campus Publications
Because of the increasing shortage of
nurses, health care or-
ganizations have worked to make nursing careers more attractive
in terms of salary, benefits, and work schedules. Public relations
campaigns that emphasize the status and importance of nurses in
terms of achieving quality health care delivery and outcomes has
also helped attract a more diverse pool of applicants, including
more men and minorities, to the nursing profession. According to
the Bureau of Labor Statistics, median annual earnings of registered nurses were $52,330 in 2004; the median 50 percent earned
between $43,370 and $63,360.
Today, more than ever, the field of nursing is full of opportunities for persons who are willing to commit themselves to an
educational program that will include a certain amount of sciencerelated coursework, liberal arts courses, and specialized nursing
instruction within academic classrooms as well as supervised
clinical settings. The time it takes to complete the specialized
training to become a registered nurse varies, depending on the
program you choose. Completion will qualify you to take a final
national licensing exam which you must pass in order to gain a
nursing license which is required for working as an RN.
RN training programs include hospital diploma programs,
associate degree in nursing (A.D.N.) programs and bachelor of
science degree (B.S.N.) programs. Diploma and A.D.N training can
be completed more quickly, in 2 to 3 years; B.S.N. programs take
longer, generally 4 to 5 years. In the long run, the extra educational
hours of B.S.N programs pay off since advancement opportunities for B.S.N.s are greater as skill and experience is gained. For
those who already have a degree, there are accelerated programs
for the B.S.N as well as masters of nursing programs.
Additional sources of information on the nursing profession
can be found in the Occupational Outlook Handbook, (look for
“Registered Nurses”) which can be found in libraries’ reference
departments or on the Internet at the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
www.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm. Their Internet site includes links
to the National League for Nursing www.nln.org, the American
Association of Colleges of Nursing www.aacn.nche.edu, and
the American Nurses Association www.nursingworld.org. Other
Internet information sources are the Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow site www.nursesource.org and National Student Nurse’s
Association www.nsna.org.
Compassion and a love of learning (a certain amount of continuing education is required for nursing licenses to remain valid)
are traits that persons considering nursing should have or cultivate.
For the future, you can be assured that the field of nursing will be
an extremely exciting and rewarding place to be, a place you may
want to be as well.
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Campus Publications
Career Focus: Biology/
Microbiology Majors
F
or college students who have majored in
m i c r o b i o l o g y o r b i o l o g y, t h e r e a r e m a n y
areas of opportunity in the field of microbiology. From
helping to combat bioterrorism or food-borne illnesses to
constructing new drug therapies for medical problems, the range
of career choices is extremely broad.
If the world of the invisible microbe fascinates you, you may
want to consider specializing in a particular branch of microbiology.
According to the American Society for Microbiology (ASM),
research-oriented career possibilities include bacteriologist,
virologist, mycologist, or epidemiologist. But these are just a few;
there are many others. To qualify for specialist positions, however,
usually means you will need to pursue graduate studies in these
specific sub-fields of microbiology. For students who are eager to do
so and who have demonstrated graduate school abilities, the ASM
has a fellowship program for minority students that helps prepare
students for graduate-level studies in microbiology. For additional
information on this fellowship, visit the ASM website, www.asm.
org. Another good website to visit for career information is that
of the Society for Industrial Microbiologists at www.simhq.org.
If you aren’t sure about graduate school but would still like
to find a career that uses your microbiology-related education and
skill set, don’t despair. There are many positions in government
and non-profit health and environmental agencies as well as in the
health, food, and drug industries for students with bachelor
degrees in microbiology or biology.
currently seeking. To stay abreast of evolving developments,
review publications that cover the field of biotechnology.
Online magazines or sites such as www.sciencemag.org are
excellent sources of information on jobs and careers in this area.
Essential to career success in microbiology are communication
skills and the ability to work with others as a team. Any experiences
that you have had that will demonstrate your abilities in these
areas need to be included in your resume and mentioned in
your interviews. Having good computer skills and business or
entrepreneurial abilities is also extremely important. Take courses
and work to develop your abilities in these areas if you wish to be
a strong candidate.
Many career forum advisors strongly suggest that college
majors with life science degrees such as microbiology get early
work experience through summer job placements or intern
programs. Even if you are about to graduate, don’t overlook these
types of opportunities to gain work experience. Check early in the
school year with your campus career counselor to determine if any
local upcoming job fairs will have companies or organizations
seeking candidates with your background.
And, of course, be sure to check out organizations featured
in the current edition of Southern Diversity Schools / Job Search
Journal. A close look at our pages may reveal opportunities that
are literally right under your nose. But hey, who are we to tell you
that—after all, close up is what you’re good at, right?
While you will not necessarily find a
research-level position, you can expect to find
entry-level openings in the areas of technical
support, research assistance, quality assurance,
and disease control at these organizations.
Competition may be keen because of current
economic conditions so be sure to research the
organizations well and expect to network to give
yourself a competitive edge as a candidate. The
Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook
Handbook provides an excellent overview of career
possibilities and requirements, under “Biological and
Medical Scientists” at www.bls.gov/oco/ocos047.htm.
Because biotechnology is an emerging trend, you
can expect rapid changes in the types of personnel being
recruited by industries and institutions that are attempting to
achieve commercial success using cutting-edge biotechnology
methodologies. Visiting the websites of such organizations can
give you insight as to what skill sets these organizations are
Campus Publications
35
Make The Difference:
Be A Teacher
W
ant to work in a profession where you can pursue a
passion for learning? Be creative? Have an impact on
young peoples’ lives and contribute to the quality of
life in your local community? Then give
serious consideration to becoming a
teacher. Now, more than ever, minority
students need qualified teachers who
can help them overcome challenging
school environments and achieve
academic and personal success. HBCUs
graduate more minority teachers than
any other source and teachers are from
these schools are being sought eagerly.
Increasingly, the teaching profession is
facing a shortage of qualified teachers
all across the nation. Job opportunities
for teachers is reported by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics as expected to grow by 17
percent from 2010 to 2020. While due to
many reasons, the outcome is the same: the
number of teachers retiring or leaving the
profession is far greater than the number
of new teachers entering the field. As the
opportunities in other professions have
increased for minorities, the number of
minority teachers has declined at an even
greater rate. Yet minority students will
likely outnumber white students in the
next decade or two. This lack of minority
teachers is hurting minority students who benefit from teachers
with similar backgrounds.
In a report published by the Center for American Progress in 2011
minority students make up more than 40 percent of the national
public school population while only 17 percent of the country’s
teachers are minorities. In a second report, the CAP notes that in
more than 40 percent of the nation’s public schools there are no
minority teachers at all. This means that minority students are not
getting the experience of being taught by a minority adult figure and
thus are missing potentially significant opportunities to serve as role
models for students, “giving them a clear and concrete sense of what
diversity in education - and in our society - looks like.” According
to this report this large discrepancy between minority teachers and
minority students can be attributable to low graduation rates in high
school (slightly over half) among minority groups.
So what’s in it for you?. Teacher pay is and has been trending upward
over the past several years . The median annual earnings of kindergarten, elementary, middle and secondary school teachers ranged
from $48,800 to $51,660 in 2010 according to the Bureau of Labor
36
Statistics. The estimated average salary of all public elementary and
secondary school teachers was $51,380. Many teachers boost their
salary by coaching sports or working with students in extracurricular
activities. Most teachers work the traditional 10-month school year
with a 2-month vacation during the summer. During the vacation
break those on the 10-month schedule may teach in summer sessions,
take other jobs, travel, or pursue personal interests. Many enroll in
college courses or workshops to continue
their education.
But teaching is, of course, not about
financial gain. The intangible rewards of
teaching are greater than any monetary
value that could be assigned to the task of
teaching. Teaching is about giving back to
society, seeing the excitement and hope
that new learning instills, and feeling the
satisfaction of sharing knowledge and
values that will shape the future quality
of life for individuals and, ultimately,
the greater community outside of your
classroom.
Many States are eager to assist minority
college students in becoming teachers and
have special recruiting and educational
assistance programs available for the purpose of increasing the number of minority
teachers. All 50 States and the District of
Columbia require public school teachers
to be licensed. The State Board of Education or a licensure advisory committee
usually grants licenses. Most States now
offer alternative routes to teacher certification in addition to traditional teacher training programs. Areas
of study in greatest need of teachers include math, science, special
education and bi-lingual education.
An excellent site to visit for information about becoming a teacher
is www.nbpts.org. It has an excellent search engine that will allow
you to link to every State’s Department of Education so that you
can determine the certification requirements for a particular State.
Information regarding financial aid and scholarships for minority
teacher candidates is also available at this site. In addition, there are
direct links to teacher recruitment job banks. Another good source
to consult regarding a career as a teacher is the Bureau of Labor’s
Occupational Outlook Handbook and its Career Guide to Industries,
both of which are available online at www.bls.gov .
So if you’re not sure about becoming a captain of industry, consider being “captain” of a classroom: show your “passengers” new
“sights” and new “lands” while providing a safe place for them to
advance through another year of their lives. It’s highly possible
that you’ll find yourself enjoying the adventure as much as your
“passengers.”
Campus Publications
The Power of Professional
Learning
Communities
By: Jessica B. Swencki
Director of Quality Assurance and Community Engagement
Brunswick County Schools
A
s individuals preparing to enter the field of education, have you considered
what questions you will ask prospective employers to ensure the practices
of the school and system align with your expectations? Job satisfaction and
success are largely dependent on whether your personal philosophy
��
of education
matches the assignment. Every state has some form of standardized measurement for
the public to gauge the effectiveness of its schools. Unfortunately, those reports can
only provide a glimpse into culture and daily operations, leaving individuals guessing
about what life is really like in the organization. To help make informed employment
decisions, candidates must utilize the interview process to ascertain if the vision,
purpose, and actions of the school are a good personal match.
As individuals preparing
��
to enter the field of education, have you considered
what questions you will ask prospective employers to ensure the practices of the school
and system align with your expectations? Job satisfaction and success are largely
dependent on whether your personal philosophy of education matches the assignment.
Every state has some form of standardized measurement for the public to gauge the
effectiveness of its schools. Unfortunately, those reports can only provide a glimpse
into culture and daily operations, leaving individuals guessing about what life is really
like in the organization. To help make informed employment decisions, candidates
must utilize the interview process to ascertain if the vision, purpose, and actions of
the school are a good personal match.
So, ��
what should candidates look and listen for during the interview process?
Some of the strongest indicators of a healthy school environment are: how teachers
and administrators interact and collaborate, stated beliefs and evidence of action to
support the idea that all students can and will learn, and frequent monitoring of student performance data in order to respond to needs quickly and appropriately. When
combined, these indicators are the foundation for what is commonly referred to as
a professional learning community or PLC. Where there are effective professional
learning communities, there are successful schools.
The book Learning By Doing: A Handbook for Professional Learning Communities at Work provides guidance to schools as they engage in this journey of professional
interdependence and shared accountability. In this model the school operates as the
professional learning community and is divided into smaller subject area and/or grade
specific collaborative teams. Specifically, collaborative teams meet regularly (at least
once per week) are tasked with responding to four critical questions:
1. What do we want our students to learn? (essential, guaranteed & viable curriculum)
2. How will we know they are learning? (administer frequent, team-developed common, formative assessments)
3. How will we respond when they don’t learn? (timely, directive, systematic intervention)
4. How will we respond when they do learn? (timely enrichment/extension) (DuFour, DuFour, Eaker, & Many. 2006)
The four questions continuously guide the work of collaborative subject area
and/or grade level teams within a school. In order to maximize time for instructional
collaboration, administrative procedures are streamlined to address other operational
business of the school.
Successful collaborative teams establish norms governing expectations and
behavior including how to address team members who do not adhere to the norms.
Collaborative teams follow the same pacing guide and plan together while still preserving the individual creativity of each team member to deliver lessons. Collaborative
planning allows for the comprehensive development of common formative assessments
that teachers use to measure student understanding throughout the learning process.
The results of these common formative assessments are brought back and discussed
as a team. Interdependence among the team guides the re-teaching of concepts missed
and acceleration for those students who are ready to move forward.
As new or recent graduates from college seeking careers in education it is critical
for you to envision yourself as part of a true professional learning community. Ask
potential employers to describe how professional learning communities operate in
their schools. The idea of teaching in isolation with the hope of achieving successful
student outcomes is simply that, hope. There is true power in professional learning
communities.
DuFour, DuFour, Eaker, & Many. 2006. Learning By Doing: A Handbook for Professional Learning Communities at Work. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree
Campus Publications
37
38
Campus Publications
Campus Publications
39
40
Campus Publications
Campus Publications
41
Statistics – a great career for those
with analytical and personal skills
Question: What has Hal Varian, chief economist at Google, predicted will
be the “sexy” job of the next decade?
Answer: STATISTICIAN 1
A Booming Job Market - The explosion of data from devices such as sensors, cell
phones, and medical instruments, as well as from business processes, surveys, and social
media has created an accelerating demand for specialists who are trained in data collection
and analysis. As a result, the field of statistics will be increasingly more fundamental to
academia, business, and government in order to accommodate the escalating dependence
on data-driven decisions. Therefore, even in the current overall downturn in the job
market, statisticians are highly sought-after. Consider the following:
•
A 2011 report by a private consulting firm projected a necessary increase
of nearly 200,000 professional statisticians (a 50% increase) by 2018. 2
•
A recent salary survey found that the middle fifty percent of masters’ statisticians
have annualized salaries between $95,000 and $155,000. 3
•
IBM has created a Business Analytics and Optimization Services Group in
order to capitalize on the need to analyze large quantities of data. There were
200 in this group in 2009, and reports are that IBM plans to “retrain or hire”
4,000 more such analysts. 4
A Wide Variety of Career Options - An attractive aspect of the statistics profession is the
wide variety of problems that can be addressed. Statistical decisions are fundamental
to current research in nearly all academic disciplines. Government agencies, such as the
42
Census Bureau and Food and Drug Administration, recruit statisticians. Many statisticians work at banks and insurance companies to assist in modeling financial data.
There is a large demand for biostatisticians, statistical specialists typically employed at
medical schools or research hospitals, who work with researchers in designing studies
along with collecting and analyzing data related to biology- or health-related problems.
The following is a brief list of contemporary research problems requiring increasingly
sophisticated statistical analyses – and statisticians to develop creative solutions.
•
Analyzing brain image data in order to detect regions of healthy or impaired brain activation. (Medicine)
•
Determining fair ways to evaluate teacher effectiveness using their students’
scores on standardized exams. (Education)
•
Developing methods for collecting data to identify the health, educational,
and transportation needs of local communities. (Government)
•
Quantifying the wants and needs of customers using data from field
experiments, focus groups, point of sale information, or
sample surveys.(Marketing)
A statistician need never be bored! Every new problem provides a chance to work with
and learn from people who are experts in their fields and to make important contributions to their work.
So, what’s required to enter a graduate program in statistics? - An interest in and
basic knowledge of mathematics are essential for success in statistics. Most graduate
programs require as prerequisites a basic sequence in calculus and a course in linear
algebra. A course in Statistics is ideal but typically not required. Masters’ programs in
Applied Statistics prepare graduates to work as data managers and analysts in a wide
variety of fields. Ph.D. programs in Statistics prepare students for research careers in
academia, business, industry, government, and medical research.
1 www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Hal_Varian_on_how_the_Web_challenges_managers_2286
2 www.mckinsey.com/insights/mgi/research/technology_and_innovation/big_data_the_next_frontier_for_innovation
3 2011 Salary Survey of Business, Industry and Government Statisticians, Biostatistics Consulting Center, Georgia Health Sciences University
4 Steve Lohr, “For Today’s Graduate, Just One Word: Statistics,” New York Times, August 5, 2009
Campus Publications
Should You Set Your Sights
on Graduate School?
P
ound the pavements? Or stay in school? As a graduateto-be or as a newly minted bachelor’s degree-holder,
perhaps you feel life is looming before you and you’re not sure
what you want to do next. But think about it: uncertainty about the future
and what it holds is something you’ll always have to deal with. So rather
than worry, try to relax. For graduates with four years of college under
their belt, the future is still bright.
Nevertheless, if you liked studying and your passion for pursuing
additional knowledge in a particular field is still burning brightly,
maybe you should consider graduate school. If you’re leaning towards
a profession where postgraduate studies or an advanced degree is
required, then it’s never too soon to start the application process to
assure that you get accepted within the time frame you have in mind.
Before You Go, Why Not Work?
But you could also work a while before going to graduate school.
Testing the waters of work can be beneficial in many ways, even if you
take a job that isn’t your dream career choice. The time you spend in the
workforce can teach you many things if you pay attention to how the
world of work actually gets stuff done. In fact, many graduate schools
of business prefer applicants who have worked a while.
Working for a while also makes a lot of sense especially if you
don’t have a lot of money with which to pay for graduate school.
By being thrifty, you could manage to accumulate some funds
to put towards your future studies. Many schools offer part-time
programs to accommodate persons who cannot attend a program
full-time. Distance-learning graduate degree programs are now an
option to consider as well. In addition, many employers offer tuition
reimbursement for employees so if you know you would like to take
graduate level courses, pay attention to benefit packages discussed
during your job interviews; if an employer doesn’t mention tuition
reimbursement, don’t assume it isn’t available - ask about it to be sure.
Or Just Get Going, But Where?
However, if you feel very certain about a career that requires
a graduate degree and just want to get your graduate studies
completed as soon as possible, then your job is to figure out where
to go for that degree. Even if you’re just not sure yet career-wise
but know you want to continue your studies, it is worthwhile to
do some delving into which graduate school will be best for you.
What schools are strongest in the areas of your interests? What
are entrance requirements and the costs of tuition? Most graduate
schools require entrance exam testing so inquire early about test dates
so the schools receive your scores in time to meet entrance application
deadlines. If you need financial aid, you’ll need to check with the schools
you are considering as soon as possible to find out application deadlines
for scholarships and other types of financial assistance that might be
available.
Campus Publications
43
There are several publications that you can refer to for information
on graduate schools, including distance-learning offerings. One is
Peterson’s Graduate and Professional Programs, an Overview. Many
libraries have a copy of this. The online version, www.petersons.com,
is quite comprehensive and is very convenient to use. The site allows
you to conduct searches for schools by institutional name, by location,
by academic area, by professional degree, and by computer science
degrees and/or certification.
U.S. News & World Report publishes an annual quality ranking
of graduate schools; www.usnews.com will let you find the report
online. You should note, however, that many educators and
others are critical of this and other rankings of college
programs. For a list of articles which discuss the pros and
cons of rankings, see the “College Rankings Bibliography”
at www.library.uiuc.edu/edx/rankings.htm, a link created
by the staff at the Education and Social Science Library at
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign which can give
you additional insight on the validity of rankings.
Ask Others Who’ve Gone
Before You
Be sure to ask professors at your college
for their viewpoints and ask if they can suggest
other people you should talk to. If you know
professionals who are working in the
career(s) that interest you, talk with them
about their educational backgrounds and
training. Find out what they thought of
the programs when they were graduate
students and if they would recommend
them or suggest alternative programs.
Even if initially you don’t know of any
professionals, you may be able to track some
down by scanning articles for the names of persons being interviewed
in professional journals related to the fields you’re interested in. With
a little directory assistance checking, it’s likely you’ll be able to get
phone numbers for some of the persons featured. Then, take a chance
and give them a call; ask if they would be willing to talk to you a few
minutes about their career, but make sure you follow good interview
etiquette. (See our tips for this in our article on networking.)
Financial Aid Resources
To increase your chances of receiving financial assistance for
your graduate school studies, begin your investigations as soon
as possible regarding aid qualifications. Many graduate schools
offer fellowships or assistantships but the number of these is
limited so be sure to check deadlines and apply as early as
possible.
Many professional associations offer scholarships;
begin by checking to find if there are any local
branches of the associations you could
contact and then follow up with the
national chapers as well. The National
Association of Student Financial
Aid Administrators (NASFAA) has
a Website, www.nasfaa.org, with
specific content for students and
parents. In addition to the two sites
mentioned above, www.usnews.
com and www. petersons.com,
and the other sites shown in this
article, you can browse the Internet
and turn up many additional sites
providing financial aid information for
graduate school by using one or more search
engines.
Is Graduate School Worth It?
Graduate School Testing Information
Does going to graduate school pay off in terms of increased earnings
potential? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, it does. For both male
and female workers, those with advanced degrees averaged more in
salary than workers without the higher degrees.
For more information on school testing:
Bachelor’s
Male
Female
$49,982
$35,408
Master’s
$60,168
$42,002
Professional Doctorate
$90,653
$55,460
$69,188
$52,167
Median earnings of full-time, year-round workers, age 25 and over. Source: u.S. Census Bureau
For additional facts and figures on occupational and salary comparisons based
on levels of educations, visit the following link found at the U.S. Census website:
GRE (Graduate Record Examination) General Test and Subject Tests
1-800-473-2255 • http://www.gre.org
GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test)
1-800-462-8669 • http://www.gmat.org
LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
215-968-1001 • http://www.lsac.org
MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) 319-337-1357
• http://www.aamc.org/stuapps/admiss/mcat
http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/p70-72.pdf
44
Campus Publications
Notes, Appointments, Interviews
Notes:
Appointments:
Interviews:
45
Notes:
Appointments:
Interviews:
46
Notes:
Appointments:
Interviews:
47

Job Search Journal - Campus Publications, Inc.

Transcription

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