Career Guide | April 2018

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April 2018

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April 2018

Pitt-Bradford offering multiple career resources for students

By Jenna Giordano

Special to the Career Guide Entering college is a chance to become independent and prepare for a future career.

For some, this transition is easy, but for some it may seem daunting.

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford is working with students to make growing into a career less daunting, with multiple services available for students, and the following information can be found on the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford website.

The campus offers career counseling and career coaching which helps students to have individual attention on what their interests, abilities and values are when it comes to career opportunities.

The Panther Career Action Plan, for example, is used for “discovery and self-assessment,” and is full of resources helping students move from their first year until they are ready to graduate.

FOCUS is a self-assessment planning tool for helping students at a self-paced speed.

“Students at all levels of the career development process, from undeclared students to seniors as well as alumni considering the next step in their career, will benefit from this comprehensive program,” stated the Pitt Bradford website.

Career-related websites are offered, as well as websites specifically by major, in order to provide quick access to offerings in specific fields.

Pitt-Bradford also works to provide internships for students in order to gain work experience.

“An internship is a planned and monitored work experience that meets specific learning goals related to an academic field of study,” stated the website. “There should be a relationship between the practical experience gained in an internship and the

academic work done in the classroom.”

To be approved for an internship, students must complete at least 60 credits; be in good academic standing (2.0 or higher GPA); have completed the Academic Internship Proposal; received approval from the faculty intern supervisor, your advisor, the division chair, the vice president and dean of academic affairs and also have added the internship to your course schedule no later than the add/drop deadline for the term.

With an internship or job, typically comes the need for a resume.

Pitt Bradford’s website has a resume builder which contains step-by-step video tutorials, sample resumes and then the builder to ensure that every student has a resume.

Job fairs are also an important service provided to students, as they offer face-toface meetings with employers where students are able to apply with their resume.

For those interested, on the website there is a video for job fair success, as well as one showing the importance of these job fairs.

Students may ask the question, “So what am I supposed to do with my major?”

There happens to be a section on the Pitt-Bradford website for this, offering insight on where to go from the point when this question is asked.

Majors and pre-professional programs are listed, giving pages of information on the major and program, as well as what students can do from here on with what they are interested in for their future career.

Career Services in the Frame-Westerberg Commons is also available between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., or at 362-7657 and 362-7651.

So, whether students feel as though they have everything under control or that they need a push in the right direction, Pitt-Bradford offers multiple resources for students who are wondering where to go from here.

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CareerLink offers help with job re-entry

By Joellen Wankel

Special to the Career Guide Re-entering the workforce after a layoff or an extended period of unemployment can be challenging. However, local resources are available to cover any potential concern and help local residents re-enter the workforce with confidence and the right support.

The first stop for anything related to finding a job would be the Bradford office for CareerLink, located at 40 Davis St. This office is actually the location for five different state and federal agencies, providing access to any number of potential resources for finding a new job, finding a better job or accessing the education you need to develop new skills to acquire either a new or a better career.

Terry Cole, site administrator for Bradford’s CareerLink, explained that the services available can be utilized by anyone, including youth, disabled youth, adults with disabilities, adults looking for a different job who are employed, those who are currently unemployed and veterans.

“If people are willing to commit time, the cost is covered,” Cole noted. “If they have time to commit, we can help them obtain another job — hopefully a better one — or training to get a better job. It is a time commitment.”

Cole explained that the office handles between 700 and 1,000 visits per month.

These are not unique visitors, but oftentimes this includes repeat visits from individuals who are getting the help they need to get a job.

For those who aren’t regular visitors to the CareerLink office, the resources available there begin when you self-identify, or share with office staff your specific interest in opting to walk through the door.

From that step, the visit can move forward in any number of directions. Each visit is tailored to the individual’s needs.

“It varies with the people coming in,” Cole said. “We can partner with them, we can provide tools, or we can amp it up and provide case management services and walk them through the process.”

For those seeking employment, seeking different employment or simply considering what options are out there, the office utilizes a unified common operating system. According to Cole, all jobs are posted to the system, and visitors enroll online to use the system.

There is assistance available for those who need a bit of guidance.

Other options and programs include training where the state would subsidize half of the person’s weekly wages, shortterm training to help individuals with certain talents to take the next step and programs for youth workers under the age of 25 to overcome barriers.

For instance, the office works with a program where employers can receive funds to give an individual employment on a test basis and have the program handle the individual’s wages. There are also programs where employers can receive incentives to hire people and handle their training.

For veterans, not only are there various resources for job seeking efforts, but the office also assists with other concerns.

“We give vets priority of service for jobs and training. We link them with other veterans services,” Cole said. “Also, the veteran service officer comes in once a week, and we refer people to the county Director of Veterans Affairs.”

For adult workers who lost their job due to a layoff or other factor out of their control, an orientation can be scheduled and assessments done to determine the individual’s skills. Meanwhile, education for several levels can be accessed by visiting the CareerLink office.

“Vocational rehab services are wonderful here as well, we can help anyone who consider themselves a person with disability,” Cole explained.

There are adult education classes available. Remedial education is offered for adults who want to go on to school or adults who have never obtained their high school equivalency. For those who are ready to commit, CareerLink has a teacher on site at no cost to help them with those classes. There are workshops, job train-

Photo by Kate Day Sager YWCA Bradford executive director Vanessa Castano and the Rev. Rob Klouw of First Presbyterian Church in Bradford look through professional clothing that will be provided free to individuals at the YWCA Bradford Professional Clothes Closet.

ing and on-the-job training programs for youth workers as well.

For those who are laid off when a company downsizes a department or closes completely because of foreign imports, the government provides a number of training programs where the worker receives the training at no cost and can receive up to two years of unemployment to help them financially while they are training for a new job.

The office also has a courtesy telephone that connects to the Employment Compensation Bureau, who can answer questions and help file unemployment claims.

“We are trying to make it simple.

People come in and we are really working hard, we work through teams. Staff from different agencies come together as a team to serve the client. Just tell us what you need and we’ll steer you in the right way,” Cole said.

The YWCA, meanwhile, is the place

to go for help with appropriate attire for a job interview or reinforcement of the concepts learned during a visit to CareerLink.

“The YWCA offers a Professional Clothes Closet, available to any individual starting a new job who needs work-appropriate clothing or to any individual who has an interview and needs appropriate clothing. We have various sizes for both men and women available,” said Vanessa Castano, executive director of the YWCA. “Individuals or organizations with referrals can call the YWCA. “For participants seeking reentry into the workforce, we refer to the CareerLink office. The CareerLink office is the expert in what they do, and they do a great job.

We do reinforce the concepts and principles CareerLink teaches.”

Castano noted this means helping reinforce the importance of a well-written cover letter to send with a resume, a wellwritten resume and questions to ask at an interview.

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Career and technical schools prepare students for careers

By Fran De Lancey

Special to the Career Guide PORT ALLEGANY — Career and technical schools are not the vocational schools of the past. They offer a wide range of options for all types of students, from specialized courses in engineering, health sciences, information technology to technical programs in construction, digital media, manufacturing and culinary arts, to name some.

CTE is no longer just about teaching students a narrow set of skills sufficient for entry-level jobs; it is about preparing students for careers.

As defined by the American Institute for Research, “career and technical education is an educational strategy for providing young people with the academic, technical and employability skills and knowledge to pursue postsecondary training or higher education and enter a career field prepared for ongoing learning.”

The evolution of CTE has resulted in making it a more popular and viable option for students of all abilities.

The Seneca Highlands Area Vocational-Technical School, located in Port Allegany and administered by the Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit 9, opened its doors in 1979 with five participating school districts: Austin, Oswayo Valley, Otto-Eldred, Northern Potter and Potter County. The original course offerings were heavy equipment maintenance and mechanics, building trades maintenance, cosmetology, metal working occupations, health assistant, advanced office practice and automobile mechanics.

Within the last five years, the school has been known as the Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center, and the number of participating districts has grown to ten. In additional to the original five, Cameron County, Coudersport, Galeton, Smethport and Kane are now

participating districts.

As nation’s labor force has changed, so have the CTC courses. The programs of study are aligned to high priority occupations, incorporate elements of secondary and postsecondary education, include rigorous content aligned with academic standards and relevant CTE content.

Programs are designed to provide students with the recommended academic and technical courses required by employers in a Pennsylvania High Priority Occupation.

Students in grades 10-12 from those districts now have the choices to study automotive mechanics, building construction, culinary arts, early childhood education, health assistant, heavy equipment maintenance, network systems technology and welding.

On March 19, the IU9 directors approved curtailing the metalworking program beginning in the 2018-19 school year, reflecting a decision of the superintendents of the ten districts. This will be replaced by engineering technology, also to begin next school year.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, “Engineering technicians use the principles and theories in science, engineering and mathematics to solve technical problems in research and development, manufacturing, sales, construction, inspection and maintenance.

Their work is more narrowly focused and application oriented than that of scientists and engineers.”

Many engineering technicians assist engineers and scientists, especially in research and development. Others work in quality control, inspecting products and processes, conducting tests and collecting data. In manufacturing, they may assist in product design, development or production.

The three-year curriculum in engineering technologies will train students to obtain employment in the manufacturing,

a vital sector of the state’s economy. In manufacturing, it’s not the jobs that are missing, it’s skilled workers.

CTC Director James Young said, “Our programs facilitate students learning transferable skills, such as working as a team, problem solving, time management and following the chain of command, in addition to the competency task list specific to each program. Our students learn to take pride in their work beyond just a grade on their report card.”

Not only is CTE coursework aligned to rigorous academic standards and postsecondary expectations and to address the skills needed in specific careers, but it also uses applied learning to help students to realize the relevance of the subject matter

and its connection to career opportunities and goals.

“All our programs are aligned with the High Priority Occupations list,” Young said.

HPOs, as described by the Pennsylvania Center for Workforce Information and Analysis, are one component of Pennsylvania’s industry-driven approach to workforce development. The purpose of the HPO lists is to align workforce training and education investments with occupations that are demand by employers, have higher skill needs and are most likely to provide family sustaining wages. Combining statistical data with regional expert input allows for a complete picture of the actual workforce of the state.

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CA BOCES stays flexible with changing job market, industry standards

By Tom Dinki

Special to the Career Guide As the job market fluctuates and industry standards change, Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES adapts accordingly.

A manual machining program has transformed into a computer-aided machining program, the early childhood education program focuses more on elementary school education to reflect the state’s teacher shortage, and a cybersecurity program will launch this fall to address the global shortfall of cybersecurity professionals and growing number of cyberattacks.

CA BOCES officials said they’re constantly examining and revamping their 19 Career and Technical Education programs, which across three CTE campus centers prepare nearly 1,200 local high school students for careers and higher education in fields like health care, manufacturing and criminal justice.

“If we’re not current with industry standards, we shouldn’t be offering a program,” said CA-BOCES Superintendent Lynda Quick.

“So it is about trying to keep all our programs current.”

While the New York State Education Department must approve all 37 BOCES centers’ CTE programs, it does not mandate which CTE programs they must offer. That means the determination of which programs to add — and which to drop — falls on the individual BOCES centers.

Quick said she does not believe any programs have been dropped in the last five years, as CA BOCES’ process is “more about revamping programs, not necessarily closing programs.”

A manual machining program was dropped almost 20 years ago, but manual machining training then simply became part of the CNC-heavy product design and manufacturing program, Quick added.

Program decisions are made with the help of CA BOCES’ 22 component school districts, as well as a host of local employers.

All CTE programs have a mandatory advisory committee made up of local employers, who make sure programs are keeping up with the latest industry standards. The employers

not only offer time and expertise to administrators, but sometimes even internships to students, noted Tracie Preston, CA BOCES assistant superintendent for CTE programs.

The advisory committees for CA BOCES’ automotive technology and collision repair programs have been particularly helpful due to the ever-changing nature of the auto industry.

“We don’t fix cars like we used to. They’re all computerized,” Quick said. “It’s not about going in and changing the spark plugs anymore.

It’s about seeing what’s really going on in the car, and so our students need to be trained very differently.”

CA BOCES officials noted creating a well-trained, qualified workforce is particularly important in the health care field, especially for rural areas like Cattaraugus and Allegany counties.

Rural areas in the U.S. have just 40 primary doctors and 28 nurse practitioners per 100,000 people, compared with 53 doctors and 36 nurses per 100,000 people in urban areas, according to a 2016 study by the National Rural Health Association. There were only 30 health care specialists per 100,000 people in rural areas compared to 263 per 100,000 people in urban areas.

CA BOCES’ New Visions-Health Professions program allows students to study health care occupations and even observe health care professionals at local hospitals, doctor’s offices and nursing homes. The competitive program, which provides 17 college credits through Jamestown Community College, selects 30 seniors a year to participate.

“It’s a great opportunity for students to actually be immersed in health care settings throughout the region and to really be exposed to involvement with current health care,” Quick said.

There’s also an urgency to address manufacturing needs, as Quick noted numerous projections state there will be a “major turnover of a very veteran manufacturing workforce” over the next five years. CA BOCES offers programs in welding and metal fabrication, power equipment technology, pre-engineering and CADD, continued on next page

Courtesy of Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES Students in Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES’ New Visions-Health Professions program get to study health care occupations and even observe health care professionals at local hospitals, doctor’s offices and nursing homes.

Courtesy of Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES A student in Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES’ product design and manufacturing program operates equipment.

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Courtesy of Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES in Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES’ automotive technology program work on a vehicle.

Students

April 2018

and product design and manufacturing.

With an expected global shortage of two million cybersecurity professionals by 2019, CA BOCES will for the first time offer a cybersecurity and networking program this fall. The program, to be held at the Belmont CTE center, will teach students to detect and debunk computer viruses and use encryption, and could lead to careers as field service technicians, network administrators and computer programmers.

CA BOCES officials only expect the program to expand, especially in light of Alfred State College’s cybersecurity program and St. Bonaventure University opening its Western New York Cybersecurity Research Center in April.

“We’ve been meeting with St. Bonaventure and Alfred State because we also view ourselves as feeder programs into them,” Preston said.

While CA BOCES officials certainly stay cognizant of the job market, Quick said they don’t steer students in any particular direction.

“We give them the option to explore

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programs and then they chose what they want,” she said. “Some of its student interest, some of its parental influence, some of its job influence, but mostly it’s student interest and what they want to do while they’re in high school.”

More than 89 percent of CA BOCES’ CTE graduates are either employed or continuing their education, according to state Education Department data from 2015. Quick said approximately 70 percent of CA BOCES’ CTE graduates go on to some form of higher education, whether it be a twoyear, four-year or technical college.

CA BOCES officials feel the misconception that BOCES is for students less academically inclined than their peers is starting to erode.

“The environment we provide is just a different learning environment and some students learn differently,” Preston said. “Some of them rise in a nontraditional setting versus being in a classroom in the district. It doesn’t mean that either is right or wrong — it just meets the needs of that learner better.”

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Bona alumni, students can get free career help at Career and Professional Readiness Center

By Christian Gravius

Special to the Career Guide ST. BONAVENTURE — From their offices located on the second floor of St. Bonaventure University’s Reilly Center, a small team works to prepare and assist the next generation of professionals in the workplace.

According to its director, Connie Whitcomb, St. Bonaventure’s Career and Professional Readiness Center, more commonly known as the CPRC, is an office of the university designed to provide career preparation and guidance to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as university alumni.

From resume and cover letter building, to interview training and job searching, the CPRC works with students every step of the way towards professional readiness.

“It’s an understanding that a college degree doesn’t guarantee you a job,” said Whitcomb. “That’s why we focus much of our attention towards developing the presentation and communication skills needed to succeed in the professional world.”

In today’s job market, a college diploma is only one part of the necessary qualifications needed for a professional career.

“Collaboratively with our academic schools, we enhance the skills of our students. In the classroom students learn critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which is the purview of the academic realm,” said Whitcomb.

“I’m not sure though, how much is practiced in the classroom in terms of how to interview effectively and understanding the impact of your non-verbal communication. Over 80% of the impression you make is not based on the words that come out of your mouth but by the way you carry yourself,” added Whitcomb.

Because of the ever-present need for these soft-skills, the CPRC staff developed their signature program, The EDGE. Ac-

cording to the university’s website, The EDGE provides participating sophomores, juniors and seniors the opportunity to develop professional skills sought by employers and graduate schools.

With a one-year completion timeline, students participate in a diverse series of 6 one-hour seminars.

With topics ranging from professional communication to workplace dynamics, The Edge program looks to bridge the gap between content knowledge learned in the classroom and professional skills needed to gain the competitive edge and win over employers.

The CPRC also works to connect St. Bonaventure’s alumni network of over 25,000 graduates worldwide with students in hopes of cultivating professional relationships that may lead to employment.

“We work diligently to provide opportunities for students and employers, especially alumni, to meet,” said Whitcomb.

With a strong focus and commitment on internship development and alumni networking, last year alone the CPRC

brought forward 400 internship opportunities to student— many of the which had some sort of alumni connection.

According to Whitcomb, the alumni connection is significantly important to St. Bonaventure. “(The university’s) students come from all over— just as our internship opportunities and alumni networks do,” said Whitcomb.

While Whitcomb says it’s hard to pinpoint exactly where students would like to end up after graduation, she says the alumni network makes it easier.

By looking at local alumni chapters and groups in different job markets and regions of the country, the CPRC staff can more effectively connect students with alumni and prospective employers.

The center does this through a number of ways, one being by hosting events like BONNIES4BONNIES, an annual professional networking event that connects over 30 university alumni with students. Over the last three years, alumni present at the event have come from some

of the nation’s biggest-name companies such as Audi of America, Oracle and Nestle Waters North America just to name a few.

While it may seem this way, the CPRC’s services are not strictly reserved for St. Bonaventure undergraduate and graduate students. According to Whitcomb, the center has assisted graduates looking for additional professional guidance, as well as prospective students who may be unsure of the academic/professional path they’d like to take.

With a main goal of developing skills needed to bypass the competition when entering the workforce, Whitcomb says the CPRC’s main focus is developing students into marketable professionals during their time at St. Bonaventure.

While each student’s college experience and professional development will be different, Whitcomb believes if a student is able to market themselves well and land an internship or two, they position themselves so much better for post-graduation success.

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Use these sleep tips to stay safe and productive at work (BPT) — It’s time for America’s workforce to wake up. If you are one of the tens of millions of adults sleeping fewer than seven hours each night - the amount recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) - you are likely jeopardizing performance, increasing accident risks and putting everyone in danger during commutes. Getting enough sleep every night is key to improving productivity, safety and quality of life.

Here are some tips to make sleep work for you.

Don’t burn the midnight oil Working late nights might impress your boss, but restricting your sleep can lead to trouble making decisions, solving problems, controlling emotions and more, severely affecting your productivity at work. The National Safety Council reports that workers who sleep fewer than six hours per night cost employers six days a year in productivity.

Sleep for safety Workers who sleep less than six hours

per night are also at higher risk for injury, according to the Sleep Research Society.

Cognitive and motor performance impairments caused by sleep deprivation can be comparable to drinking alcohol. If you make it a daily priority to recognize the signs of fatigue before, during and after work, and refuse to drive drowsy, you can reduce the risk of serious injury for yourself and others. This may be especially true if you work a job that involves manual labor or heavy machinery.

CDC reports that serious long-term health problems are a concern, too.

However, there are ways for shift workers to combat this problematic sleep schedule.

Tips for ‘wake time’ • Avoid exposure to sunlight if you need to sleep during the day, and wear sunglasses if you must go outside.

Strategies for non-traditional work hours

• Use moderate amounts of caffeine in the early part of your shift.

Some of the more high-risk professions involve working irregular hours. Shift workers - who can be nurses, law enforcement officers, emergency responders, transportation operators and more - work overnight or early morning hours with irregular or rotating shifts, causing upheaval in the body’s circadian rhythm and natural sleep/wake cycle. According to the AASM, shift workers may sleep up to four fewer hours per night than those working traditional hours, increasing the risk for injuries, accidents and drowsy driving. The

• Use public transportation, rideshare or take a cab, or arrange rides from friends or family after a work shift.

• Take a 20- to 30-minute nap during a work break or before a night shift.

• Get help from a sleep specialist to reinforce your body clock with strategically timed bright light therapy.

Tips for ‘sleep time’ • Avoid caffeine and alcohol in the hours before you go to bed.

• Plan for any major changes in your shift schedule by altering your sleep time a few days in advance.

• Try to keep the same schedule on workdays and days off and create an effective “wind down” routine before going to bed.

• Keep your bedroom at a cool temperature, turn off all electronics and only do relaxing activities like reading or journaling.

Use the National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project’s bedtime calculator, which helps you find your ideal bedtime based on when you need to wake up for work - even if that’s in the middle of the night.

Getting at least seven hours of sleep isn’t just a matter of feeling alert for productivity and safety on the job; it’s a necessary component of good health and well-being. If you’re having trouble sleeping, you should talk to your doctor, who may refer you to a board-certified sleep medicine physician at an accredited sleep center for help. For more information go to www.sleepeducation.org.

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5 Tips for Today’s Freelance Entrepreneur (BPT) — From millennials who have been grinding away in the workplace for a few years to Gen Xers looking to move out of their cube, many have been intrigued by the possibility of freelancing.

It means the freedom to set your own hours, to work closely with clients, to be your own boss and have greater control over your career.

According to Forbes, there are 53 million freelancers in America today, and by 2020, it’s estimated that half of the workforce will be doing freelance work, whether full time, as a part-time gig or as their side hustle.

Unlike a traditional job, where you generally don’t need to bring more than a packed lunch to work, freelancing requires a few essential tricks and tools to succeed.

Whether you’re looking to start out or refresh your personal brand, homeworking experts cite five important tips to help you succeed at the freelance game.

1. Manage your time. One of the best parts, and the most challenging parts, of freelancing is that you get to make your own schedule. Many find that they need some sort of structure in their day, and for this reason it’s important to have the right time management software. This will notify you of calls, deadlines, track how long you work on a project and more.

2. Get the right laptop. A laptop is your office, your meeting room, your library, your entertainment source and so much more, making it one of the most essential freelancing tools.

It’s the lifeline between your business and your clients, so it’s critical to be sure you have the right one. A great option is the remarkably thin and light LG gram. This computing powerhouse comes in 13-, 14- and 15-inch screen options and packs a battery that lasts over 16 hours. Each

model weighs about two pounds and for small businesses looking for extra connectivity, LG’s commercial-grade model comes equipped with the Windows 10 Pro operating system. It’s fast, mobile and able to keep up with the daily demands and surprises of the freelancing life.

expenses and make sure you’re getting paid, you also have to keep taxes in mind. That can be a lot of numbers to juggle. The right accounting software can greatly simplify this process and save you innumerable headaches.

3. Use professional email and social media accounts. For all work-related correspondence and interactions, be sure to use a dedicated email account. This will make you appear more professional to prospective clients. You should also set up work-related social media accounts where you can post examples of work and professional insights and network.

5. Find the right space. While freelancing is largely a digital game, and requires the right laptop loaded up with the tools you need to manage your business, you still need to find the right place to work. Some work in a coffee shop and others require a dedicated home office. You might work best in a shared office space.

The point is, it’s vital to figure out where you do your best work.

4. Keep track of finances. For a lot of freelancers who are on the creative side of things, keeping track of finances can be a real challenge. Not only do you have to manage invoices,

The right software, running on the right computer, and a place you can work are the cornerstones of a successful freelance gig. From there, all that’s needed is your talent and determination!

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4 ways established professionals can improve their resumes Changing jobs can be a difficult decision to make, especially later in one’s career. In many ways, landing a new job is more challenging than ever thanks to the technology-driven society in which people live. Information is shared faster than ever, and applying for jobs isn’t the same as it might have been as recently as a decade ago.

One thing that has evolved is the résumé. Although creating a powerful résumé has always been a challenge, writing — or modifying one — for today’s digital world requires some insider tips.

Adapting a résumé as one ages and has gained experience can be advantageous. A well-crafted résumé is one way for professionals to demonstrate how their skill set is current and adaptable to today’s business climate.

The following tips can help improve a résumé when the time comes to move on to a new job.

1. Focus on your accomplishments Rather than focusing on job responsibilities at each job you held, gear the résumé around what you achieved in each position. This will help identify how you performed in the position, instead of just a general retelling of what you did. It can be challenging to achieve this for jobs that don’t naturally lend themselves to numerically quantitative results (i.e., increased department sales by 15 percent), but it’s still possible to use a résumé to illustrate your achievements.

Rather than state that you were responsible for providing customer service, explain that you built your reputation on conveying difficult technical terms to the layperson, serving as the go-to employee for translating job jargon for outside correspondence.

If you have quantitative proof of how you accomplished something, certainly add it. This can include

measures of profit growth, reduction of debt or increase in customer base.

2. Aim for the future Rather than emphasize what you did, highlight what you plan to do.

This means giving greater weight to the expertise that will translate into your new position. Chances are you can find skills that you honed in one or more jobs that translate into credentials that can be used on another. All of the skills mentioned should be relevant to your career objective and not just added to pad the résumé. Therefore, unless your brief stint waiting tables exemplifies how you developed customer service skills, eliminate it.

3. Choose the right keywords It’s important to optimize a résumé for digital scanning, which has become a major component of the employment sector. This includes using the correct keywords and phrasing so that your résumé will get “flagged.”

Take your cue from the job advertisements themselves and mimic the verbiage used. Replace the lingo accordingly, tailoring it to each job you apply for. Also, consult the “about us” area of a prospective employer’s website. This area may offer clues about buzz words for the industry.

4. Set yourself apart Engage in activities that can improve your marketability. Be sure to list training, coursework, degree, or volunteer efforts that pertain directly to the skills needed for the job to which you’re applying. These additions can tip the scales in your favor over another applicant.

Résumés continue to evolve, and it is crucial for applicants — especially established workers — to familiarize themselves with the changes and market themselves accordingly

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Advice for a successful career change Individuals change jobs for many reasons, including greater professional satisfaction, money or a change of location. The financial experts at The Balance say that people change jobs more frequently than many people may think, noting today’s average worker changes jobs 12 times during his or her career.

It is not uncommon for workers to change careers several times in a lifetime.

The notion that the job a person starts out in directly after graduation is the one that he or she will have for the rest of his or her life — or at the very least, several years — is no longer the norm. Many younger workers migrate between jobs for greater compensation and fulfillment.

Older workers, too, are faced with career stagnation. A survey from the University of Phoenix School of Business found 59 percent of working adults say they’re interested in taking the leap of a midlife career change.

Once the idea for a career change has been planted in a person’s mind, he or she may be anxious to jump right in.

However, career coaches and other experts say that it is better to take the transition slowly and confirm that changing careers is truly the path to take. Finding the right time for the transition is equally important. These steps can help professionals as they decide if the time is right to change careers.

• Research the job market. Look into the industries for the field you are considering. Is it the right time for

success in this field? Industries tend to ebb and flow. Do not leave a job only to find the next career has few, if any, openings. Job growth projections are available through resources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• Assess your likes and dislikes. Another area of consideration is what you like to do. Leaving a job may be based around finding a career that caters to your interests. Make a list of the types of careers you find appealing. To get help, take a career assessment quiz online.

• Don’t choose a career based on salary alone. Monster.com says that being financially strategic when choosing a new career is important, but shouldn’t be the only factor.

Your personal values, experience and other factors such as family should weigh heavily into your decision as well.

• Use your network. The notion that “it’s not what you know, but who you know” has some truth to it.

Successful job-seekers continually expand their professional contacts.

This is achieved by going to informational interviews, attending trade association meetings and reviewing trade publications. Target people who work at the companies where you see yourself, so you can get the inside track about job openings.

• Get new skills. Learn which skills you have that are transferrable to a new career and which ones you may need to acquire. Take a course or two or sign up for training seminars.

Don’t immediately assume you need to return to school before investigating other, less costly avenues.

Changing jobs and careers takes effort, but the results can be worth it in the long run.

Bradford Publishing Co.

April 2018

15

Productive ways to spend the summer after graduation Graduation is a momentous day in the lives of college students. After years of schooling that dates all the way back to preschool or kindergarten, newly minted college graduates are finally ready to begin their professional lives.

That can be a scary prospect for some students, especially those who graduate without jobs lined up. The summer after graduating from college can be a time like no other in the lives of new graduates. It can be easy to grow dejected as weeks or months go by without receiving a job offer. But spending the summer after graduation as productively as possible can help graduates overcome any dejection they might feel and increase their chances of landing a job.

• Contact career services offices at your alma mater. Career services offices can help recent graduates as they look for their first jobs out of college. Such offices may have access to job and internship opportunities that grads do not. In addition, they may coach grads on interviewing techniques

and on ways to stand out in crowded job markets.

• Seek internships. If part- or full-time employment is proving elusive, don’t be afraid to seek and ultimately accept internships, which can provide a way for grads to get their foot in the doors in certain industries. Summer internships may already be filled, so scour job boards for fall or winter internships.

• Start networking. Students who interned can get in touch with their past supervisors or mentors and find out if the company is hiring. Such people may be more inclined to bring someone with direct experience onboard — even if that experience was brief and unpaid. In addition, grads can connect with adjunct professors who work in their desired fields.

• When job hunting, don’t get pigeon-holed by your major. Just because a student graduates with a particular degree does not mean he or she needs to look for work

in that field. In fact, many companies may prefer entry-level applicants with degrees that are not specific to their industries so their new hires are blank slates who can be easily trained.

• Attend job fairs. While other graduates may be taking the summer off, enterprising grads looking for work should attend as many job fairs as possible. Graduates likely won’t leave job fairs with employment offers in hand, but job fairs are a great way for grads to meet hiring managers and submit their résumés to potential employers.

• Customize a résumé for every job. Be sure the curriculum vitae is not static. Write and refine résumés for each job you apply for, mildly tweaking the wording or accomplishments to address the key phrases used in the job listing.

It can be tempting for recent college grads to spend the summers after graduation relaxing, but those who spend that time productively may lands jobs more quickly than those who do not.

Career ADVANTAGE sunyjcc.edu/careeradvantage

A program designed for busy adults.

To learn more about Career Advantage, call 800.388.8557 x1001 or 716.338.1001

Complete your Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in two years attending classes one night per week. Choose from three areas of study: • • •

Business: Business Administration Early Childhood Education Human Services

The Career Advantage program is ideal if you have work and/or family commitments and may not otherwise be able to complete a traditional degree program. In the Career Advantage program, you have the convenience of an in-person class one night per week combined with the flexibility of online learning. You can earn your degree in two years while balancing your work and life responsibilities.

Information Sessions: Thursday | May 17, 2018 | 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday | June 12, 2018 | 5:30 p.m.

Information sessions are offered at all three JCC locations: • Jamestown Campus, Carnahan Center, Room 123 • Cattaraugus County Campus, Manufacturing Technology Institute, Room 206 • North County Extension Center, North County Training Center, Room 115

RSVP at sunyjcc.edu/careeradvantage (walk-ins welcome)