In this issue: • Education Majors • Resource Library • Business Majors • Thank-You Letters • Bonus Feature: -Informational Interviews
WSU Career Services
Hire-a-Shocker
Building Shockers, Building Professionals
Issue 06 / 11 .4 .13
Hollywood Comes to the Potomac on Behalf of Veterans Keith Kelly, Assistant Secretary of Veterans’ Employment & Training Services
A buzz shot through the Washington offices of the Labor Department’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service late one September day when the staff learned that he was coming for a meet and greet.
Marine veteran - and movie star - R. Lee Ermey swaps military stories with VETS Assistant Secretary Keith Kelly.
“This will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.” -Elmer Davis, Director of the Office of War Information, World War II
The he was Marine veteran R. Lee Ermey – an iconic figure in military circles. Ermey served 11 years in the Marine Corps, including a stint as a drill instructor. Ermey arrived in Vietnam in 1968, spending 14 months attached to Marine Wing Support Group 17 and completing 2 tours in Okinawa. I could relate to him as I served with the Army’s 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam about that same time.
EMPLOYER DAY NOVEMBER 13 10 AM - 12 PM
GRACE WILKIE, 203 If his military record wasn’t impressive enough, Ermey portrayed tough drill instructor Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in “Full Metal Jacket,” Stanley Kubrick’s gripping 1987 drama about the Vietnam War. According to Ermey, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ARMY, SPONSORED BY NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINE CORPS he was only a technical adviser at first, but Kubrick put him in the film after CAREER AND NATIONAL GUARD WILL SET UP INFORMATION TABLES IN THE CAREER SERVICES LAB. TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN witnessing his extended hair-raising drill instructor tirade towards several ABOUT A CAREER IN THE MILITARY. soldier extras. Ermey’s performance won critical raves and he was nomiSTUDENT INVOLVEMENT nated for a Golden Globe Award as Best Supporting Actor. He has since appeared in a variety of films and television shows − including as the voice of plastic army men leader Sarge in the “Toy Story” films − and is the author of a soon-to-be-published fitness guide. Of course, Ermey hadn’t come just to meet with us! The real reason he had come to the Labor Department was to record several public service announcements that will be distributed to broadcast outlets nationwide to be played on and around Veterans Day. Two of the PSAs are designed to encourage employers to hire veterans as well as how to find help in doing so. In a PSA for veterans and transitioning service members, Ermey shares how American Job Centers can help with career counseling, writing a resume and finding a job. Ermey graciously posed for photos with each veteran in our office, making small talk and asking what branch they had served in. When he was getting ready to leave, I presented Ermey with a VETS pen and pencil set in appreciation of his work. I thanked him for his time and effort on behalf of all veterans. Ermey told me he recorded the PSAs pro bono because, “if veterans need my help, I’ll be there.” 316.978.3022
wichita.edu/involvement
getinvolved@wichita.edu
The Resource Library in
Education Career Fair
Hire a Shocker
November 8, 2013, 2:30-4:30 pm Hughes Metroplex (29th & Oliver)
Be the most prepared, professional, and successful Shocker graduate when it comes to job search! Think of the Resource Library as a one-stop online resource for job search. Log in to Hire-a-Shocker from your myWSU account. Access to the Resource Library is on the left side.
The Hire-a-Shocker Resource Library: Resumes and Interviews: Ace the Interview Starter Kit Freshman Resume Sample Resume Checklist Make Your Resume Stronger Career Fair: 30-Second Elevator Speech Before, During and After Dress to Impress Questions to Ask at a Career Fair Research the Companies Sample Business Card
Information for Education Majors: Education Interview Day Faculty Reference Form General Reference Form Sample Cover Page Sample Education Resume Sample Reference Page Self-Managed Credential File Guidelines Hire-a-Shocker Newsletters Hire-a-Shocker Student Guide Career Exploration: NEW Career Planning Timeline
Career Coffee Blog...By Jan Mead Our office was fortunate to tour Printing Inc. recently. The purpose of our tour was to learn more about the Leadership Development Program offered by Printing Inc.’s parent company, Consolidated Graphics. The tour was informative and even offered the opportunity to jump across, or through, rain puddles, but the best part for me was learning from Brad Haralson, President of Printing Inc. Brad’s three steps to success are straight to the point and pretty easy to work by: 1. Come in early. 2. Learn something new every day. 3. Connect with people. We also asked Brad what he looks for in candidates when he is hiring. The first words out of his mouth, with absolutely no hesitation, were “work ethic.” Work ethic as demonstrated by working hard, doing more than expected, doing more than the other person is willing to do. I think we can all learn from Brad Haralson. Come in early, learn something new every day, connect with people. And, don’t forget...work hard. Sounds like good advice to me. “And where I excel is ridiculous, sickening, work ethic. You know, while the other guy's sleeping? I'm working.” Go Shox! ~Will Smith
The Education Career Fair is an opportunity for education majors to learn about the programs, enrollment, and benefits of many school districts. Registered School Districts: • Andover USD 385 • Anthony Harper USD 361 • ANW Special Education Cooperative • Augusta USD 402 • Derby USD 260 • Diocese of Wichita Catholic School • Dodge City USD 443 • Emporia USD 253 • Gardner-Edgerton USD 231 • Haysville USD 261 • Independence USD 446 • Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools • Kingman-Norwich USD 331 • La Petite Academy • Lower Kuskokwim School District, Bethel Alaska • Newton USD 373 • Pratt USD 382 • Special Education Cooperative at Goddard • Topeka Public Schools • Tulsa Public Schools • Wichita USD 259 • Winfield USD 465
Employer On-the-Line...By Jeanne Hopkins Compass Aircraft Group
Interviewee: Pam Kanagy, Office Administrator Why do you want to hire Shockers? “WSU graduates have a great reputation for their hard work and ingenuity. We believe we can find the right person who has the drive to succeed in their job and career, thus making a great contribution to our company.” What majors should consider applying for jobs? “We would welcome any major as long as the student has the computer/website skills required to do our job. Additionally, an interest and/or knowledge of the aircraft industry would be extremely helpful.” Do you have a job search or resume tip to share? “Be open to many possibilities and talk to everyone you come in contact with about your job search. Be ready to articulate your skills and job target in a brief 30-60 seconds. The more contacts you make, the better chance you have of landing a job sooner than the average job seeker. Remember, most jobs are obtained through contacts and word-of-mouth rather than through advertisements.” What is unique about your organization? “We are a small organization and are able to offer an employee a broad range of experience and the opportunity to contribute in a big way to our success.”
Careers Center Stage:
Market Research Analyst Market research analysts study market conditions in local, regional, or national areas to examine potential sales of a product or service. They help companies understand what products people want, who will buy them, and at what price.
Basic Duties: • Monitor and forecast marketing and sales trends • Measure the effectiveness of marketing programs and strategies • Devise and evaluate methods of collecting data, such as surveys or opinion polls • Gather data about consumers, competitors, and market conditions • Analyze data using statistical software • Convert complex data and findings into understandable tables, graphs, and written reports
Important qualities: • Analytical skills • Communication skills • Critical-thinking skills • Detail oriented
Jobs currently posted to Hire-a-Shocker include: Job ID 18498 - Food Service Worker, Sodexo at Wesley Hospital, Wichita Job ID 18568 - Design Project Engineer, B/E Aerospace, Wichita Job ID 18809 - Physical Therapist, Via Christi Health, Wichita Job ID 18815 - Seasonal Team Member (multiple positions) (Holiday), Target, Wichita Job ID 17802 - Economic Analyst, Arkansas Best Corp, Fort Smith, AR
Management Trainee Positions on Hire-a-Shocker: Job ID 18870 - Technology Services Management Trainee, BNSF Railway, Topeka, KS Job ID 18785 - Operations Management Trainee, Fleet Management, TransAm Trucking, Inc, Olathe, KS
Job Outlook: Employment of market research analysts is expected to grow 41 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. Employment growth will be driven by an increased use of data and market research across all industries in order to understand the needs and wants of customers and measure the effectiveness of marketing and business strategies. Job prospects should be best for jobseekers with a master’s degree in market research, marketing, statistics, or business administration. Analysts may find more opportunities in consulting and market research firms, as companies without established marketing or research departments often find it easier to hire a person outside the organization to perform market research services.
Job ID 18916 - Management Trainee, Westway Feed Products, Tomball, TX, Various locations Job ID 18695 - Assistant Manager Trainee, Brown’s Shoe Fit Co., Various Kansas locations Job ID 18714 - Management Trainee, Nestle Purina PetCare Co., Various locations You never know what you’ll find on Hire-a-Shocker! Give it a try. Create a job agent and receive email messages about similar new listings. Questions? Stop by 203 Grace Wilkie Hall or give us a call, 316.978.3435
Hire-a-Shocker Similar occupations: economist, statistician, survey researcher, cost estimator, marketing manager Occupational Outlook Handbook / Bureau of Labor Statistics
If you’re looking for a job, you need to check out Hire-a-Shocker, our online recruitment system. Post your resume and search for part-time, full-time, degreed and nondegreed positions, including oncampus opportunities. Hire-a-Shocker also shows which employers are coming to career events and allows you to apply for on-campus interviews.
Informational Interviewing Matt Berndt, The Campus Career Coach, www.thecampuscareercoach.com In an informational interview, you are the interviewer. The person with whom you are meeting is the interviewee. As the interviewer it is your job to drive the conversation.
Why should you do informational interviews? There are four primary objectives: 1. To gather information about a job or career you are considering, so you can make a sound decision as to whether or not you wish to pursue that career path. 2. To seek advice regarding how you can best prepare to enter or advance in the field or profession. 3. To ask your interviewee for assistance entering or advancing in the field/profession. 4. To request referrals from the interviewee to others in the field/profession who might be valuable contacts for your career search. In order to accomplish any of these objectives you must build credibility with the person you are interviewing. You have to give the person a reason to help you.
There are three primary reasons people will be willing to help you: 1. They believe you deserve their assistance. 2. They genuinely want to see you succeed. 3. They are confident you will not make them look bad if they refer you to a friend or colleague.
There are two primary reasons people will not be willing to help you: 1. They do not know you or know enough about you to care if you succeed. 2. They are afraid you might make them look bad if they refer you and do not want their name or reputation connected to you or your candidacy. The bottom line: People will help you when you have earned their trust and respect and when they believe their assistance will not be wasted. They will not help you if they believe you are unprepared or do not know what you want.
How to schedule informational interviews You should conduct informational interviews with anyone who can offer you current and relevant advice about career paths or professions you are considering. Begin by creating a list of the types of jobs and careers you wish to explore. Use LinkedIn to identify potential interviewees. LinkedIn is effective for building professional relationships with current and potential colleagues. Do not treat your professional interactions on LinkedIn like your personal contacts on Facebook. LinkedIn is for professional communication.
Search LinkedIn groups for potential interviewees. Use LinkedIn to initiate contact. In addition to reaching out to people you already know, you should try to contact people doing the jobs you think you want to do. So, where do you find these people? You find them in industry directories, on professional association and other industry-specific websites, at professional association meetings, in trade journals, at conferences, in alumni directories, and on professional and social networking websites.
Bonus Feature Request no more than 30 minutes of their time. Do not turn an informational interview into a job interview! You are there for information. You are the interviewer. It is your job to ask the questions. You need to be prepared.
Here are good starting questions: • Would you tell me how you got into this profession/field? • What do you like most about working in this profession/field? • What do you find most frustrating about working in the profession/field? • What are the most important skills/characteristics one needs to be successful in this profession/field? • What do I need to know that they don’t teach in college? • Can you describe your career path? • What do you wish someone had told you while you were still in college? • What are the typical entry-level jobs in the industry? • What do you look for in an entry-level candidate? • How do you see your profession/field changing in the future? • How will these changes impact job opportunities? • What are the common mistakes you see young professionals making early in their careers? • What professional associations do you find most valuable? Why? Throughout the informational interview you will get to know the interviewee and he/she will get to know you, both by the questions you ask and by the way you answer questions. Throughout the interview you will be building credibility and rapport with your interviewee. He/she may ask for a copy of your resume. Be prepared to offer a polished resume.
Good finishing questions: • May I stay in contact with you periodically to get advice on my career? • I would like to stay in touch with you. Would you mind if I connected with you on LinkedIn? Send your interviewee a thank-you note to show your appreciation for the time he/she invested in you. Informational interviewing is an excellent opportunity to add a person to your professional network.
Sample thank-you letter A thank-you letter should be sent as soon as possible, no later than the day following your interview. 13579 E. Washington Wichita, KS 67222 November 1, 2013
Refer to the position for which you interviewed and to the name of the organization.
Jordan Sekelsky Supervisor, Secondary Research Group Lyra Research, Inc. 320 Nevada St. Newtonville, MA 02460 Dear Ms. Sekelsky: Thank you for the opportunity to talk with you and your staff on April 12 regarding the Research Assistant position. The interview and facility tour provided an excellent overview of a career at Lyra Research. I continue to be excited about the possibility of working as a member of your team. I was particularly impressed with your state-of-the-art computer systems and how they enhance the information available to customers. As Mr. Peters noted, my software experience would provide a solid foundation for learning and utilizing those systems. In addition, my research, writing and analytical skills are a strong match for the requirements we discussed. Thank you again for your hospitality during my visit and for all your efforts to arrange meetings with team members. You may contact me by telephone or email as listed above should you have additional questions. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely,
Mention any aspect of the organization which you found particularly interesting or appealing.
Re-emphasize how your qualifications would benefit the organization, with particular focus on key issues, problems or needs mentioned in the interview.
John A. Engel John A. Engel
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.� ~ Melody Beattie
Fall 2013 Events November 8 - Education Career Fair, 2:30-4:30pm, Hughes Metroplex (29th & Oliver) November 13 - US Military Employer Day, 10:00am-12:00pm, 203 GW December 4 - Hot Chocolate for Finals Frenzy, 11:00am, RSC North Entrance Spring 2014 Events January 16 - On-Campus Jobs Fair February 10 - Education Interview Day April 9 - Spring 2014 Job Fair April 11 - Physical Therapy Career Fair July 17 - On-Campus Jobs Fair
Express sincere appreciation for and interest in you.
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Notice of Nondiscrimination Wichita State University does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, status as a veteran, genetic information or disability. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies: Director, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, Wichita State University, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita KS 67260-0205; telephone (316) 978-6791.
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