Career Services
COMPASS

 Spring 2006

Volume 3, Number 2 

Career & Counseling Services
806-651-2345
VHAC 210
Email Career & Counseling Services

WTAMU Graduate Update

Katy Wieck is a December, 2005, graduate with a degree in accounting. She is employed with Grant Thornton, LLP, and based in Dallas, Texas.

Here are some comments about her job search.

What is your job title? I'm an Assurance Associate. Basically, that means I'm an auditor.

How did you find a job in Dallas, Texas? At a wedding! I guess the official term would be networking. I was at a family wedding this past summer and was visiting with some long lost cousins about what they were doing. One was working with Grant Thornton, and when he found out I was an accounting major, he suggested I forward my resume to him. About a month later I did a telephone interview with Grant Thornton, and then they invited me to Dallas for an interview. About a week after that interview, Grant Thornton offered me a position.

How is your job going so far? I'm enjoying my work. I think people have some misconceptions about what accounting is. Most people think it involves being good with numbers, but I think it is mainly the ability to think logically.

What services did you use at Career & Counseling Services? Probably everything they had to offer! I used the Resume Workshop and critique. I also did the PinPoint and career counseling. I did a mock interview with Denese and got help from Kim on how to do a telephone interview. My resume was posted in the database, and I got some interview invitations from that. Oh, and I watched the "Hidden Job Market" video about networking. It was very helpful.

Is there anything you would have done differently while at WT? I wish I had gotten an internship. I had a bookkeeping job while I was attending WT, and I learned a lot, but I think an internship would have been helpful because of the targeted things you can learn, such as specific computer programs to use, etc.

Do you have any advice for other students? Get your resume in the database and let everyone know you're looking for a job. Also, after an interview, be sure to send a hand-written thank you note. An employer specifically mentioned that the handwritten addressed envelopes are almost always opened. It is a small gesture that is really appreciated.

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Dealing with Rejection

by Meera Dattani

Rejection in your career is frustrating as it's often difficult understand why; be it an interview rejection, a declined pay rise or promotion or a negative response to your ideas. Here's how to make sense of your emotions, and to turn them around and use them to better your chances of future successes.

Does everything really happen for a reason?

Just think of Harry Potter author JK Rowling whose first book, Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone, was initially rejected by many major British publishers. It wasn't until it landed on the desks at Bloomsbury Children's Books who saw its potential and subsequently paid around £10,000 for the rights. JK Rowling is now one the UK's highest-earning women.

The University of Southern California rejected multi-award winning-film director Steven Spielberg because his C-grade average was considered unacceptable, but that didn't stop him!

We regret to tell you that on this occasion...

If you're job-hunting, the one thing more nerve-racking than going for interviews is getting the call or letter that tells you whether or not you've got the job. If you thought you'd nailed the job, accepting rejection can be particularly tough; the important thing to bear in mind is not to take it personally. If there were five people all perfectly suited to the job, only one person will get it and the company may have picked someone who had something slightly different to offer, perhaps more experience, or more knowledge specific to the job.

Always ask for feedback, reflect on it and most importantly, take on board any criticism in a positive manner, ensuring you avoid making the same mistakes again in the future.

It's crucial that you don't get disheartened and lose confidence. If the interview went well, you know that you are coming across positively, so focus on another possibility - send out another application so that your motivation levels stay high; the last thing you want is to attend another interview and not perform to your best ability.

Research the company beforehand and know your CV like the back of your hand. You should be able to provide several examples of success during your career in various scenarios, which will also give you an added lift.

When the boss says no

• To a pay rise. Asking for a pay rise can be nerve-racking to say the least, to then be rejected can make you feel you're not worth it. Remember however, that a negative response isn't always a reflection of your worth. The company has to take into account its budget for your department, whether your job has expanded enough to warrant a pay rise and how it could affect other employees. Plus there are external economic factors to consider such as inflation and the state of the economy which are out of the company's control.
   
• To a promotion. Asking for a promotion can also feel daunting. In an ideal world, you would be promoted regularly and given an appropriate pay rise. However, reality is often a little different. There may not be room in your department for a more senior role or one single promotion could upset the team structure. Business development director Jill Dann suggests a DIY approach to development: 'Really successful people invest in their own development even if their present company does not. If you can't afford a coach, then get some of the popular self-help books.'
   
• To your ideas. It's no surprise that criticism can be hurtful, as senior consultant psychologist Siobhan Hamilton-Phillips says, especially when it is badly delivered: 'For many, criticism is related to rejection because it's usually delivered by an authority figure. This triggers past uncomfortable emotions that may go back to childhood, raking up a subconscious memory of being told off, bullied, or humiliated, either at home or at school. The most important step for you to take is to separate your emotional feelings from the facts.'

Getting a grip and moving on

• Don't dwell on it. Becoming emotional at work can and does happen but if you can avoid it, do. It's understandable that you may feel frustrated, but keeping a lid on your emotions will stand you in better stead for a later time. Set yourself a new deadline when you will ask again about the promotion/pay rise and work towards that instead of dwelling on your current rejection.
   
• Find your strength anchor. Jill Dann suggests clearing your thoughts to help you: 'You can set yourself an anchor which reminds you of when you were strong and successful. You can also practise clearing your mind before a big interview or meeting with a manager by calling a friend beforehand and doing a 'dump' of all sensations and thoughts going through your body, and breathing deeply and calmly.'
   
• Shake it off! Some people become defensive and act 'precious' when they don't get the answer they want. Again, separating your emotions from the issue in question is vital. There could be another promotion coming up or an imminent pay rise so you could be shooting yourself in the foot. However, if you are constantly being overlooked, then you do need to re-assess matters and speak to your manager

The benefits of rejection

Rejection can be positive. It forces you to re-assess yourself and question where you're going wrong. If feedback indicates you're not going wrong but are just falling short of the mark, it should make you stronger knowing that sooner or later you will have your ideas accepted or get that dream job. Even being turned down for a promotion can often lead to a frank discussion about your job, so you can come away feeling recharged.

As Siobhan Hamilton-Phillips says: 'Successful people manage to take criticism in their stride; they separate out the useful learning points and see these as valuable to making good progress. They remain positive through planning ahead in a flexible rather than a fixed way. They identify their core strengths and skills, recognise where these would be most efficiently used, understand and plan when to implement their training needs and they learn to network effectively.'

Reacting emotionally to rejection really is normal, so don't worry if you feel bad. But do remember that you can learn from the experience and use it to your advantage in the future.

From Yahoo! Employment at http://uk.news.yahoo.com/051115/167/fwxkx.html.

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Company Spotlight:

The largest car rental company in North America, Enterprise was named one of the "Nation's Best Entry-Level Jobs for College Grads to Launch Their Careers." Enterprise plans to hire about 7,000 college graduates in 2006.

Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit and the desire to create your own personal enterprise right out of college? Enterprise Rent-A-Car invites you to come explore company and career opportunities.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car is the largest car rental company in North America. It is an $8.2 billion company with more than 818,000 vehicles in its rental and leasing fleet; 61,000 employees; and 6,500 locations throughout the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.

Enterprise started in 1957 as Executive Leasing in the basement of a St. Louis car dealership. Its founder, Jack Taylor, had a visionary idea—"take care of your customers and employees first and profits will follow." Taylor founded the company on that philosophy and the organization continues to live by it today.

"Enterprise is a great company with strong founding values," says Marie Artim, assistant vice president of recruiting. "Our history of honesty and integrity, shown in our leadership, says a lot for about who we are."

Whether it's being named a best entry-level job or being touted for exceptional customer service, Enterprise is a company that values and leadership make news.

There is no such thing as a "typical day" at Enterprise Rent-A-Car. In fact everyday is more like an M.B.A. crash course. Management track employees may touch upon customer relations, financial reports, marketing, operations, and logistics in the course of a day. What makes Enterprise truly unique is that employees are empowered to make decisions which not only affect the business but also the development of their career.

At Enterprise, a person can gain valuable and highly marketable skills in every aspect of business management from sales and marketing, to developing a staff, customer service, and accounting.

However, Enterprise is not about business all the time. The company is a tight knit culture where great people enjoy spending time with one another both inside and outside of work.

"The culture and environment at Enterprise are both professional and fun," says Artim. "We hire individuals who like to work in a team setting."

"We work hard. And we reward hard work."

Learning how to run a successful business from the ground up while delivering a high standard of service is hard work. It requires a personal commitment from every employee. But Enterprise is a meritocracy that rewards commitment personally, professionally and financially, by providing employees with ample opportunities for growth.

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Ask the Experts:
WHY should I have my resume critiqued?

Everyone knows how important it is that resumes be error-free before sending to an employer. However, that can be a tall order for most people. Writing a resume is a difficult process and one which takes time. As with other kinds of writing, the writer knows what he or she is trying to say – so when we do our own proofreading, we don't always see what is actually on the page.

The staff in CCS is trained to assist you in editing and proofing your employment application documents, from resumes to cover letters to reference sheets and beyond. We have encountered numerous 'funny' stories of students' saying one thing while meaning another. My favorite is the student who meant to say

• Works well independently or as a member of a team

But instead she wrote:

• Works well indecently or as a member of a team

Obviously, these are two very different things! Luckily for this student we saw it before it was sent to any employers. Other, more common, errors are misspelled words or word-choice errors or listing the wrong name for your degree. Did you know that possess has 2 s's at the end ... with one 's' it becomes the plural of posse!

Career & Counseling Services at West Texas A&M University is anxious to help you develop the perfect resume! Our staff critiques thousands of resumes each year and has a keen eye for resume details. As you know, we will automatically view your documents each time you upload them to eRecruiting. However, we are also available for in-person critiques every Tuesday and Wednesday from 1:00 – 3:00 PM in our office or you can email your documents to me at kmuller@mail.wtamu.edu.

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MEDICAL CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
IN THE US ARMY

Today, almost every newspaper's front page contains a story discussing the war on terrorism. Many of these stories focus on how the US Army is fighting in that war and putting forth their best efforts to protect our country. Medical Army personnel are also in the spotlight. Army medics help protect combat soldiers abroad and on home territory. For those considering a career in the medical field and who need assistance with college expenses, the US Army offers a solution.

There are many medical career options offered through the Army. By joining the Army it is possible to receive college credit for duty training or even to attend a college of your choice while enlisted. Health professionals can receive financial assistance and internship opportunities are available in return for specified periods of military services. A variety of programs reward medical professionals who have obtained various certifications, specialties, and years of service. While attending college in the medical profession you may be eligible for full pay, benefits, and extra allowances. You may also receive 30 days vacation, free housing, as well as tax-free supermarkets and department store shopping on the base.

The Army is competitive with its pay and the training it offers. Special pay for medical and dental personnel helps narrow the gap between Army and civilian salaries. The Army also provides optimal training experience. Once you have completed your degree and begin your training you will work with state-of-the-art equipment. Cutting-edge medical facilities, complete with droids, are utilized to offer medical workers realistic conditions to prepare them for real-world experiences.

The Army offers many opportunities for those who are up for the challenge. In the Army you will have the chance to gain or further your education with possible financial assistance, travel to new areas of the country or even overseas, and to work in top-notch training facilities. For more information please visit the US Army website at www.goarmy.com.

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Finding & Thriving in a Summer Internship

It's not too early to start thinking about a summer internship. Internships add relevant experience to your résumé, help you make contacts in your field, and are a good way to make some extra money.

The WTAMU Co-op & Internship Program can help you in your search. Learn more about our program at - http://wtcareer.wtamu.edu/coop/Co-op FAQS.htm. We would love to help you!

In addition, here is a link providing tips on finding an internship and a great online resource for exploring internship possibilities:

http://www.jobweb.com/resources/library/InternCoop_Programs/
Learn_and_Earn_278_1.htm
http://www.jobweb.com/experiential/jintern.htm

Once you have found an internship, it is important to make the most of the experience. To a large extent, internships are what you make of them. The following article will give you some ideas on getting the most "bang for your buck" in your internship- http://career.berkeley.edu/Article/040507a-st.stm

Make the most of your summer!

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BENEFITS OFFERED TO NEW COLLEGE GRADUATES

The National Association of College and Employers' report, Job Outlook 2006 shows that while hiring is on the upswing this year, the benefits packages employers are offering to the college Class of 2005-06 are similar to the ones offered to the previous class.

But that's not a bad thing. In fact, the report shows that employers continue to be in tune with what matters most to new college graduates in terms of benefits.

Students responding to NACE's annual Graduating Student & Alumni Survey consistently rate medical, dental, and life insurance as benefits that are highly important to them, and results of the Job Outlook survey show those are the benefits employers expect to offer.

Following is the percentage of employers offering benefits/policies to 2005-06 graduates and how students rank each benefit/policy:

Taken from the 1/6/2006 Spotlight Online. Copyright 2006 National Association of Colleges and Employers

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Keys for a Successful Transition
Into Life After College

In discussions with college seniors and recent graduates, eight issues arise as keys to making a successful transition from college to the real world. For a lesson in reality 101, consider these issues.

1. Time-Related Factors
Some new graduates struggle with the reality of going to work every day, five days a week, from as early as 6 or 7 in the morning to 6 or 7 in the evening. And the consequences for missing work are a lot heavier than missing class; show up late or miss too many times at work and you'll find yourself without a job.

Many new graduates also have a hard time with the amount of free time and vacation they have in the work world. It is very different from a college. Gone are the long weekends, the four week Christmas break, and three months off in the summer. As a new employee, you may get a week or two off your first year- but even with this time off, because you are one of the newest employees, you may not get to take it when you want.

Lastly, time management gets tougher when you start working full-time. "There is a huge difference in time management when you have to work 40+ hours and try to have a life on the side," a 2001 general business grad told us. "I find myself scheduling dinner with people for weeks in advance. College didn't teach me working 40 hours. College didn't teach me a bedtime... but those are all things you learn with necessity. I think if I had worked during my college career... I would have learned that."

Of course, some students who have worked their way through college may view a 40 hour a week job with no homework as a break. "I was very busy in college," said Anne Johnson, senior corporate relations coordinator for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, "so when I started working full-time, without homework and studying, I felt I had a lot of free time."

2. Professionalism in the Workplace
College is a time to explore new ideas, try different things, and maybe even be a little crazy. Unprofessional behavior in college might get you a bad grade or a lecture from an administrator, but unprofessional behavior in the workplace can get you fired.

Employers expect you be professional- dependable, a self-starter, and a good team member. In other words, someone people can count on.

Meeting deadlines at work are critical, much more so than in college. As a student, you could sometimes convince a professor to extend a deadline, but most busy employers won't be as understanding. Missing deadlines is simply unacceptable.

3. A Job or True Calling?
Your first job out of college may not be the perfect career fit for you. It isn't unusual for many recent graduates change jobs after a year in the workforce. It sometimes takes time to completely realize who you are and what you want to do with your life.

Also, remember that your major doesn't automatically dictate the type of job you can work. While there specialized jobs that require a specific degree (engineering, accounting, etc.), the majority of jobs simply require a college degree.

Statistics tell us that people change careers- not just jobs, but careers-, multiple times over the course of their life. If your first job isn't the perfect fit, don't worry, but do start making some plans to make a transition later down the road. You can find assistance in this process from WT's Career & Counseling Services office.

4. College Has Not Prepared You for Everything
Learning doesn't stop when you graduate from college. You'll need to be proactive to deal with areas most college grads tells us they were unprepared to handle. These include:

* The emphasis placed on teamwork skills
* The importance of dealing with all types of people and personalities
* Personal finance issues and budgeting
* Living on your own- or having to move back with your family
* Balancing work demands with family/friends/personal life
* Job-hunting skills, especially networking, interviewing, and salary negotiation

The WT Career & Counseling Services office has many resources to help with these issues.

5. Finding Employment Probably Won't Be Easy
Finding work is work. Most recent grads spend a lot of time and energy in the search for a job. When you consider that most job openings receive hundreds of resumes, it is no surprise that it could take some time before you get a job offer.

Experienced job seekers know you have to spend time every day looking for employment. Use all your available resources, track down job leads, and follow-up on all leads and interviews. The more quality work you put into the job search, the better your results will be.

Also, don't buy into the myth that you can conduct an effective job search by simply using the internet. Online job searching is a passive approach and should actually receive a small amount of your time. Focus the majority of your efforts on the traditional methods of networking- with family, friends, professors, and alumni. The WT Career & Counseling Services office has some great ideas and strategies to help you network.

6. Don't Be So Full of Yourself
A college degree doesn't entitle you to a job. In fact most employers will not be as impressed with your grades and education as you are. "As a cum laude graduate, I thought I was entitled to a great job right out of college," a 2000 marketing grad told us. "Well after two years, with five jobs in three cities, I THINK I've found the job that I was expecting to get after graduation!"

Focus less on why employers should be impressed with you and more on what you can offer to impact their bottom line. Employers want to know how you can help them achieve their goals.

7. College Grads Get Entry Level Jobs
First jobs for new college grads will probably be entry level- especially in bad job markets. These jobs consist of long hours, low pay and hard work.

Some turn their noses up at these jobs because they feel they are beneath them; perhaps the jobs require help stocking shelves, manning a front desk, or too much travel.

We're not saying you should settle for anything you can get- just be realistic in your expectations. Most employers want employees to see the business from the ground up-- with college grads on a career track toward faster advancement. Sometimes these hard entry-level jobs can turn into great careers. Make sure you do your research and understand the career potential before you dismiss a job as beneath you.

8. Be Prepared for Salary Negotiations and Job Offers
If you're lucky, you'll get more than one job offer. How do you decide which offer is the best? What criteria would you use? What is important to you? Salary? Prestige? Company car? Travel? Vacation? Benefits? Relocation? Company culture?

The key is having a clear sense of what you want before you have to make the decision.

One recent marketing grad was trying to decide between a sales position with a well-known company and an account representative position with a marketing communications agency. The sales job offered a great salary, a bonus system and a company car. However, there was a lot of travel, no clear career path, a company culture she wasn't completely comfortable with.

The communications agency offered a much lower salary, no bonuses, and no company car. But it did have a energetic work environment, a clear career path, and a company culture she enjoyed.

She had to choose between quick money or a longer-term career move. She chose the agency. Which would you choose?

Final Thoughts

Look for the best employment opportunities, but be realistic in your expectations. Learn from those you have gone before you and you'll be more satisfied with your job-search.

Adapted from "Time for a Reality Check" by Hansen & Hansen, EOE Journal, January 2006, pages 3-7.

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Business Professional
or
You never get a second chance
to make a good first impression!

So, how should you dress for an interview?

• What is business dress? Business casual?
• Do you know how to tie a tie?
• Do your shoes match your belt?
• What color socks do you wear?
• What about your hair?
• Are your fingernails clean?

Your primary goal for your interview attire is to portray professionalism and self-confidence. Choose separates in neutral colors that can be combined to create this impression. Consider purchasing separates that are versatile, in case you are invited back for a second and even third interview.

Make sure you have a suit, or combine a matching jacket and pants/skirt made out of the same fabric. Add separates to the suit jacket using complementary pairs of pants or skirts, shirts, ties, shoes, and/or belts that match.

Dress up for the interview, even if the dress code in the business appears relaxed. Remember that dressing up includes clean, neatly-groomed hair; clean, well-groomed fingernails; and no clothing wrinkles. Shine those shoes, too!

Consult with a friend or relative that is knowledgeable in the area of putting together a truly professional-looking wardrobe. Or, come by the Career Services office, and we'll help. Make sure you prepare ahead of time for your interview, and pay special attention to your appearance. Your interview is your chance to shine!

Check out the Career Services Interviewing Skills Workshop on our website at http://wtcareer.wtamu.edu. In addition, here are some other links that will be helpful:

Washington State University's Career Services'
"How to Dress to Impress a Recruiter"

www.tie-a-tie.com

MonsterTRAK's "Ten Fashion Blunders"

Lifewise's The Etiquette Ladies

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EMPLOYERS PREDICT A 14.5 PERCENT INCREASE
IN NEW COLLEGE GRAD HIRING FOR 2006

Are you excited about graduating soon? You should be! For the third year in a row, The National Association of Colleges and Employers reports that the job outlook is positive.

If you need more good news to brighten your mood, you should be excited about this news, too:

1. Employers plan to hire more new graduates from your class—the class of 2005-06—than they hired in 2004-05.
2. Many employers are offering higher starting salaries than were offered to last year's graduating class.

Ninety percent of the employers polled in a national survey, performed annually by NACE, describe this job market as good, very good, or excellent. Public accounting firms and consulting services firms reported the brightest outlook for new grads: engineering/surveying firms, building materials and construction firms, and financial services companies also predict that they'll be hiring.

In NACE's Job Outlook 2006 report, you'll find useful information for your job search such as the "in demand" bachelor's and master's degrees, along with the industries that hire the most of a particular major. Employers also ranked the qualities and skills they most want in their new hires as well as what benefits they offer to newbie's.

The Job Outlook 2006 report ends with advice from employers on what you can do to get the job you want: (1) do your homework (not the kind of homework you're thinking about); (2) get experience; and (3) be prepared.

Click here to view the entire report.

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Career Services Calendar of Events

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