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Jump Start Your Job Search February 19, 2005!

Senior START (Students Taking All the Right Turns) is a one-day event to expose students to all the resources needed to get the job search off to a great start.  This fun and informative event is open to all WTAMU seniors, graduate students, and alumni.

The day’s schedule includes:

Cost is $10 for students already registered with Career & Counseling Services, or $15 for those not yet registered.

Deadline to register is February 15, 2005, and participation is limited to the first 35 paid registrants.  To register or for more information, contact Career & Counseling Services at 651-2345 or stop by Suite 210 of the Activities Center.

Comments from Past Senior START Participants:

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SPRING CAREER FAIRS

What:  Career EXPO/Student Connection
This is a general job fair for students seeking employment after graduation as well as those seeking summer jobs and/or internships.

When:  Thursday, March 3, 2005
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Where:  VHAC Ballroom (Activities Center)

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What:  Educator’s EXPO 2005
Job Fair for students interested in the teaching profession!

When:  Wednesday, April 27, 2005
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Where:  WT Event Center

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Visit our website for a complete list of who is attending, FAQs and tips for success at the fair.

http://wtcareer.wtamu.edu/cs/student/jobfair.htm

Learn How to Make the EXPOs Work for You!!!

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The Vinnie Barbarino Guide to Summer Internships

Welcome Back Kotter’s Vinnie Barbarino:  "What?"

Summer internships are a great way to gain relevant experience, network, and learn more about your career field.  Employers looking to fill full-time positions give preference to students who already have experience in the field.

Vinnie:  "When?"

If you are interested, now is the time to start looking for a summer internship.  Many employers hire summer interns in January, February, and early March.

Vinnie:  "Who?"

A summer internship is a good idea for all college students, but especially for those between their junior and senior years.  Employers are interested in these students because they want good interns to transition into a full-time position with their company.

Vinnie:  "Where?"

There are a lot of places to find a summer internship.  Here are some ideas to get you started:

• WTAMU Career Services - You can browse through our internship guides or get involved in the Co-op & Internship Program, plus we can brainstorm with you for ideas on people or organizations you may want to contact.
• Family, friends, professors, and classmates.  Let everyone know you are looking for an internship.  Ask them… You’ll be amazed at what a small world we live in.
• Summer Camp Fair – On Feb. 1, there will be a summer camp fair in the JBK Commons from 10:00 – 2:00.  Talk with everyone and check out the opportunities.  The perfect internship for you might be at one of these camps.
• Web sites – there is a ton of information on the web.  Here are a couple of sites to get you started:
  • www.eco.org - environmental internships
  • www.dcinternship.org - internships in Washington, DC
  • www.twc.org - internships in Washington, DC
  • www.washingtoninternship.com - internships in Washington, DC
  • www.tvjobs.com/intern - internships with major broadcasters
  • www.nassembly.org/nassembly/html/search.html - directory of internships in youth development agencies around the country
  • www.inroads.org - prepares talented minority students to become professionals in business and industry
  • www.idealist.org - internships with non-profit agencies.

Vinnie:  "If you don’t’ think internships are a good idea for your career and future, then up your nose with a rubber hose."

Our thoughts exactly.

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Perfectionism vs. Success

Perfectionism is not a healthy pursuit of excellence. There are big differences between perfectionists and healthy achievers. Perfectionists believe that mistakes must never be made and that the highest standards of performance must always be achieved.

Those who strive for excellence in a healthy way take genuine pleasure in trying to meet high standards. Perfectionists, on the other hand, are full of self-doubts and fears of disapproval, ridicule and rejection. The healthy striver has drive, while the perfectionist is driven.

Perfectionism is like a double-edged sword--it cuts both ways.  Perfectionists often don't realize they are hurting themselves by their own actions. Perfectionism is a duel with oneself, the ultimate "no-win" situation.

Perfectionists tell themselves that their determination to be perfect will win success, acceptance, love and fulfillment, yet the opposite more often occurs. Even when perfectionists do achieve, the methods they use can deprive them of the very love and acceptance they want so badly to gain.

If you would like to look at more information on perfectionism, go to this web site: http://www.utexas.edu/student/cmhc/booklets/perfection/perfect.html

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Generational Differences at Work

Workplace diversity is a reality in virtually every field.  While racial diversity and gender diversity are frequently discussed areas, age diversity in the workplace is developing into an issue employees should be aware of.

Employees today are working longer and longer.  As a result, your place of employment can have four distinct generations working side by side.  The generations can be identified as: the "Matures," the "Baby Boomers," the "Generation X’ers," and the "Generation Y’s."

The Matures were born between 1922 and 1946.  They are also known as veterans, seniors, or traditionalists.  Matures comprise approximately 25% of the work population.  Baby Boomers were born between 1946 and 1964 and are 72 million strong.  Generation X’ers were born between 1964 and 1980 and are a small generation, coming in with just 17 million individuals.  Finally, there were 68 million children born between 1980 and 2000, making up Generation Y.

Each generation is shaped by events unique to their experience.  Matures dealt with World War II and the Depression.  As a result, Matures’ core values are dedication, conformity, respect for authority and delayed reward.  On the job, assets the Matures bring are their stability, their thoroughness, and their loyalty.  Liabilities include their reluctance to "buck the system," and this generation can be quite uncomfortable with change.

Baby Boomers came of age during Vietnam, the Civil Rights Movement, and the space race.  Generally, Boomers are optimistic and believe in civic involvement.  Boomers are often service oriented, good team players, and driven to achieve.  Liabilities on the job can be a judgmental attitude towards those who see things differently, yet Boomers are also sensitive to feedback.

Generation X’ers were shaped by Watergate and the Challenger Disaster.  Many were latchkey kids.  Computers were developed and began changing the world during this age.  Because of their experiences, Generation X’ers developed self-reliance and are pragmatic in their approach to life and to work.  They have a global attitude.  On the job, Generation X’ers are adaptable, techno-literate, and are not intimidated by authority.  A liability for Generation X’ers might be their poor people skills.  While promoting self-reliance, latchkey kids were less exposed to working in teams.

Generation Y experienced the Clinton scandals, TV talk shows, and schoolyard violence.  Their core values include achievement, civic duty and diversity.  Some assets on the job for Generation Y are tenacity and their multitasking capabilities.  Generation Y, however, also need supervision and structure.  Their inexperience in handling different people issues is also a liability.

So what’s a job seeker or new employee to do?  How can you successfully navigate a workplace with such a variety of needs, beliefs, and attitudes?

It will help to know your own strengths and weaknesses and how you can add value to a company, all the while showing respect for the individual characteristics of other generations.  You can use the “ACORN” approach –

Accommodate employee differences;
Create workplace choices;
Operate from a sophisticated management style;
Respect competence and initiative; and
Nourish retention.

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Spotlight on Career & Counseling Services’ Resources

Career & Counseling Services has resources in our library to assist you in your job search.  You are welcome to stop in at your leisure to explore our audiocassettes, videos, and books.

Get That Job:  How to Succeed in a Job Search
Developed by Thomas M. Camden
Audiocassette tapes and workbook

Placement professionals contend that the average job search takes about one week of looking – full time - for every thousand dollars of yearly salary sought.  This means that for a $30,000-a-year job, you should expect to have to look for at least 30 weeks! The author contends that if you follow and apply the principles within his audiocassettes and workbook in an intelligent, confident manner, the time you expend should be half this estimate.

Camden provides in-depth discussion about his five-step job search strategy.  These five steps are:

• Developing a strategy
• Developing a functional résumé
• Generating interviews
• Succeeding in the competitive employment interview
• Choosing the best offer

BOOK:  How to Get Any Job with Any Major

Alan Greenspan was a music major, Lisa Kudrow was a biology major, and Albert Einstein was a high school dropout.  Does the major you choose dictate your career?  Donald Asher, a premiere career consultant, may surprise you with his answer.

In his book, How to Get Any Job with any Major, Asher proposes the idea that the major you choose isn’t as related to your career (and earnings) as you might think.  For example, he asks, "What do these five college graduates have in common?"

* Bank officer
* Stock market analyst
* Music therapist
* Director of senior citizens center
* Field archaeologist

Answer:  They were all French majors at the same college.

Asher will take you through some excellent career exercises that will help anyone gain a better understanding of themselves and what they want in a career.  This is an important step that most of us overlook.

He then offers creative ways to explore careers that match your values, personality, and interests.  His ideas on networking and evaluation internships are excellent.  He provides many examples of students who networked and got jobs matching their career interests, but not necessarily their major.

The strongest part of the book is his ideas on conducting the job search.  He fully explains the following areas: 

* The hidden job market
* Three secrets of a job search
* The fastest way to get a job
* How to troubleshoot your job search

I would recommend taking a look at a copy of this book in the WTAMU Career & Counseling Services office or purchasing your own copy at any major bookstore.  It is an outstanding resource to help you make a successful transition to the world of work.

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Career Services Calendar of Events

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