Download - CCC Career Planning Newsletter
Career Planning Newsletter For Traditional students, SAGE students, and Alumni
Issue 3 April 24, 2012
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
“From Classroom to ?”… 1
What to Look for in a First Job… 2
What Employers Want… 3
Guest Writer: Natalia Martinez… 4
10-Step Plan to Career Change… 5
Playing Fair As a Job Seeker… 6
From Classroom to Question Mark What to Do if You Don’t Have a Job At
Graduation
Graduation is only a few weeks away, and it is overwhelming by itself. On top of that, you don’t have a job yet. You took the right steps, it’s not due to a lack of trying, things just have not gone your way. But just because they haven’t does not mean they won’t. If you don’t have a job at graduation, follow these three rules:
1. Enjoy graduation — You’ve worked hard to get to this point.
Take in this special experience and enjoy it. You’ve earned it. But
realize that when the dust settles, it’s time to get right back to your
job search.
2. Don’t panic — Panicking would only take away from the focus
you need to find employment. Remain cool and stay positive. Don’t
think about the job-search negatives you may have experienced;
keep moving forward.
3. Keep trying — Don’t hit the “reset” button and start your job
search anew. Keep in contact with the Career Planning Center and key faculty with whom you’ve developed relationships for leads and information. Research employers you would like to work for and stay on top of the news in their industries. And keep working your network.
For the full article, visit bit.ly/ClassroomtoQuestion
Nearing The End... Don’t Fear It! Congrats to the Class of 2012!
“Stay positive. Be active. Don’t just
sit at home in front of the computer.”
Finding a job can be a difficult
task—but you can do it.
Career Planning Newsletter Page 2
What to Look for in a First Job Already have a job lined up to start after
graduation? If yes, congratulations! If this
is your first foray into the professional
world, think about these four food-for-
thought questions.
1. Where Else Could It Lead? Your first job will likely be an important stepping
stone in your career. So, you want to make sure that
it can lead to more—and greater opportunities in the
future.
Does the company you have your eye on offer a clear-
cut career path for employees to advance inter-
nally? As you’re interviewing, ask questions about how project assignments are determined and ways that
you’ll be able to gain more responsibility once you’re there.
2. Will it Make Me More Marketable? If you know that you want to be in a certain industry or functional area, but you haven’t settled on a specific
role, look for positions that allow you to build transferable skills.
For example, you may not want to work with databases long-term, but taking a role where you learn
about different software packages, methodologies, and data mining can make you an excellent candidate for
any future job that will require number-crunching and technical savvy.
3. Will it Make Me Well-Rounded? The best way to build transferable skills is to be involved in different types of pro-
jects. It’s a great way to gain insight into roles you may not have otherwise hap-
pened upon, and at the same time gather brilliant experience and the ability to tell
future potential employers “been there, done that!” So, look for positions that allow
you to work with different functional areas and take projects that might be out of
your comfort zone.
4. Who Will I Learn From? You won’t know everything when you first start your career, and that’s okay. Your
first job is supposed to be a learning experience—so look for a company that encour-
ages the more seasoned employees to mentor and train newbies. Ask about opportu-
nities to meet with other members of the organization, especially women who are a
few levels above your current position (those are the brains you want to pick!).
Finding your first gig is a thrilling and nerve-wracking time. Hey, we know it’s
overwhelming! But with these helpful hints, you’ll be well on your way to a great
career.
For the full article, visit: bit.ly/dailymuse-firstjob
CAREER PLANNING NEWSLETTER
CREATED BY: Samantha Makey ‘12 Stephanie Weisel ‘13
EDITED BY: Danielle Ortiz
Published by the Career Planning Center.
Comments & suggestions are welcome. Please contact the Career Planning Center at 610.606.4648 or by email at [email protected].
Career Planning Newsletter Page 3
What Employers Want:
The Perfect Candidate What do employers want in their new employees?
The job description will tell you what qualifications that employer is requiring, but there is an-
other list of “abilities, qualities, attributes, and ‘soft’ skills that they also seek in their new
hires.”
Source: Job Outlook 2011, National Association of Colleges and Employers
Top Jobs in Your Major Business Majors
Financial/Treasury Analysis
Sales
Consulting
Accounting (Private & Public)
Management Trainee
Computer Science Majors Software Design &
Development
Computer Programming
Consulting
Healthcare Majors Registered Nurse
Management Trainee
(Entry-Level Mgmt.)
Research (Technical/Scientific)
Humanities/Liberal Arts Majors Teaching
Sales
Social Science Majors Teaching
Sales
Law Enforcement
Social Work
Sciences Majors Research (Technical/Scientific)
Consulting
Actuarial
Teaching
Source: Summer 2011 Salary Survey, National Association of Colleges and Employers. Data job categories most often reported
as offered to bachelor's degree level graduates.
Verbal communication skills
A strong work ethic
Teamwork skills
Analytical skills
Initiative
Problem-solving skills
Written communication skills
Interpersonal skills
Flexibility and adaptability
Detail-oriented
Relevant work experience
(through an internship or
co-op assignment)
Career Planning Newsletter Page 4
Guest Writer: Natalia De Jesus Martinez-Colon Natalia writes about her experience at two Career Planning sponsored events
Career Week / Women in Business Panel
There are many times we hear that women are success-
ful in their careers, but one thing I will tell you seeing
is believing. For their third event in the Career Week
Series, held on March 21st 2012 Career Planning
brought to our CCC campus the Women in Business
Panel. Panelists included Audra J. Kahr, Chief Finan-
cial Officer at Cedar Crest College, Krista Benkovic,
Project Director-Customer Process at D&B, and Jess
Dominiczak, Clinical Studies Designer at Thermo
Fisher Scientific. It made for an interesting panel as
they each represented different stages of their careers.
Jess is a recent 2008 CCC graduate, Audra has reached
the peak of her career with her position at Cedar Crest
College and Krista is still looking for more ways to
continue growing after being in the workforce for 10
years. Even though it was a business panel, other ma-
jors where also represented such as Nursing, Commu-
nications, and New Media. These Women offered a
look into the biggest fear of graduating college, not
knowing what to do next. Not all of these women knew
exactly what their goal was when they graduated, they
just let life take its course and followed their passions.
When asked what advice they would give the students
these where their top three:
Prove people wrong; put your mind to some-
thing and you will achieve it.
Don't let yourself fall short of your goals
Find a mentor; have a support group.
And last but not least, write things down, so you
never forget your ideas.
With that the speakers provided their final remarks, and
the raffle of an $100 Macy's card began; somebody was
going to be a lucky student, and that was Solinah “Rae”
who said she was going to use it towards the cutest
shoes for her business attire! Everyone was inspired by
seeing and understanding that if they stayed focused,
they could also succeed in life.
Etiquette Dinner
Most interviews today take place
in a public environment, in which
case business etiquette becomes
important. In the effort of prepar-
ing our students for these situa-
tions, the Career Planning Center
hosted an etiquette dinner event
on March 28, 2012. The Blaney
Hall Lobby was the venue for this
amazing experience. To teach us about these key skills
we had the pleasure of having Kerri Gardi, Director of
the Career Planning Center at Kutztown University, to
indulge us in a crash course on good business etiquette.
Over the stretch of a four-course meal provided by
Parkhurst, Ms. Gardi spoke about things that to some of
us might have been common sense. For example, pass-
ing the water pitcher with the handle in the direction of
the person who is receiving it, we all knew that right?
Other things, such as the issue with bread surprised
many people in attendance. Usually when we go out to
eat and get bread, we slice it in half, spread the butter
and then it is ready to go isn’t it? Wrong! In a business
setting you are supposed to tear the bread in pieces, and
spread the butter individually as you eat it! This fact
almost broke my heart. To this comment Ms. Gardi re-
sponded “if you think about it, it’s better, because it
lasts you longer.” My first thought was she could not
have said it better!
Other new found discoveries:
Folding the napkin in half and then a one inch fold
[to blot away food around your mouth]
Pitcher is grabbed by whoever is sitting in front of
it and passed around the table counter-clockwise
No switching of utensils while you eat
Overall it was an eye opening experience, about how
job searching is evolving and students need to keep up
to date on the skills they will have to acquire in order to
be able to land their dream job. Today the job market is
not about just your resume, but based on what you can
bring to the table.
The Career Planning Center is now on Tumblr! careeratccc.tumblr.com
Career Planning Newsletter Page 5
The 10-Step Plan to Career Change How does it happen? Perhaps you just begin to lose
interest. Perhaps you find something that interests you
more. Perhaps your company is downsizing. These are
just some of the numerous reasons people find them-
selves on that precipitous cliff looking back on their
career just as the dirt begins to crumble beneath them.
Take it slowly and make sure what you really want to
do is change careers. Then use this 10-step plan, and
you will be on much more sure footing -- and on a path
toward career change success.
Step 1: Assessment of Likes and Dislikes Are you changing careers because you dislike your cur-
rent job? What excites you and energizes you? What's
your passion? Consider taking a self assessment to
rediscover yourself.
Step 2: Researching New Careers Once you've discovered (or rediscovered) your passion,
spend some time researching the types of careers that
center around your passions. Check out the Career
Planning Center’s list of career exploration tools.
Step 3: Transferable Skills Leverage some of your current skills and experiences
to your new career. There are many skills (such as
communications, leadership, planning, and others) that
are transferable and applicable to what you want to do
in your new career.
Step 4: Training and Education You may find it necessary to update your skills and
broaden your knowledge. Take it slowly. If the skill
you need to learn is one you could use in your current
job, see if your current employer would be willing to
pick up the tab.
Step 5: Networking People in your network may be able to give you job
leads, offer you advice and information about a particu-
lar company or industry, and introduce you to others so
that you can expand your network.
Summer Hours
The Career Planning Center is open all
summer!
Call, email or fill out an appointment request
form to set up an appointment.
Office Hours: 8:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Evening appointments available upon request.
Phone: 610-606-4648
Email: [email protected]
Appt request form: bit.ly/cpcappt
Note: The College will be closed on Fridays in July.
Step 6: Gaining Experience Obtaining a part-time job or volunteering in your new
career field not only can solidify your decision, but
give you much needed experience in your new career.
Step 7: Find a Mentor Find a mentor who can help you through the rough
patches. Your mentor may also be able to help you by
taking advantage of his or her network.
Step 8: Changing In or Out Some people change careers, but never change employ-
ers. It's more than likely that you will need to switch
employers to change fields, but don't overlook your
current employer.
Step 9: Job-Hunting Basics If it's been a while since you've had to use your job-
hunting tools and skills, now is the time for a refresher
course.
Step 10: Be Flexible You'll need to be flexible about nearly everything -
from your employment status to relocation and salary.
Set positive goals for yourself, but expect setbacks and
change - and don't let these things get you down.
For the full article, visit: bit.ly/quaint-careerchange
Career Planning Newsletter Page 6
Playing Fair:
Your Rights & Responsibilities As a Job Seeker
1. Confidentiality. The Career Planning Center’s staff
are expected to maintain the confidentiality of student
information.
2. Freedom of choice. No biases will be put into
YOUR decision.
3. Access to all services and events. We have flyers
and information posted all around campus.
4. Access to career information. Check out our
resources on our website!
5. Testing information. Staff can inform you of avail-
able tests, purpose, location, and policies.
1. Confidentiality. Employers shouldn’t disclose information about you without your written per-mission. 2. Accurate information about what is expected of you and their employment opportunities. 3. Freedom from undue pressure. It is improper for employers to pressure you to revoke your accep-tance of another job offer. 4. Timely communication. Employers are expected to inform you of your status in the hiring process. 5. Fair treatment. If an employer has to change the conditions of your job, you are entitled to know. 6. Testing information. Employers should inform you in advance of any necessary assessments. 7. Nondiscrimination. Equal opportunity and af-firmative action principles. For the full article, visit: bit.ly/jobchoices-playingfair
What you can expect from the
Career Planning Center
What you can expect from
employers
What’s your part in this?
1. Provide accurate information about your academic
work and records, including courses taken, grades,
positions held, and duties performed.
2. Be honest. Do not lie or stretch the truth on your
resume or applications, or during any part of the
interview process.
3. Interview genuinely. Interview only with employers
you’re sincerely interested in working for and whose
eligibility requirements you meet.
4. Adhere to schedules. Appear for all interviews, on
campus and elsewhere, unless unforeseeable events
prevent you from doing so.
5. Don’t keep employers hanging. Communicate your
acceptance or refusal of a job offer to employers as
promptly as possible.
6. Accept a job offer in good faith. When you accept
an offer, you should have every intention of honoring
that commitment.
7. Withdraw from recruiting when your job search is
completed.