ACU After College University Magazine

Fall 2008

After College/University The magazine for Education in the Second Millennium

M aga zine

Reality or Myth: College graduates over a lifetime make 1 to 1.5 million dollars more than high school dropouts

Life After College:

Graduation is only the beginning

Keeping Current: The importance of staying abreast of advancements in your career field

Plus: A Salute to Educators ACU

Changing of the Guard Why a bilingual education is a “must�

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Cont e n t s Features:

Life After College: Your future is not secure simply because you’ve completed college. Graduation does not mark the end of the pursuit of excellence, but the mere beginning.

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Departments: Education Reality

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Education: Is It Worth It? No one ever told us that the road to success would have so many curves or dead ends. But a college education is the key to success.

Education Process

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Different Approaches of an Educator

Educators are constantly adapting to new approaches and techniques that are geared toward making a difference as to how children learn in society.

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Racism In Colleges & Universities

Is their ever the right time or place to use the “N” word in a multi-racial society?

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Education Future

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Does Bilingual Education Still Have a Place in Today’s American Diverse Society?

Today in the United States the Latino community is the fastest growing minority group. In a global economy where four hundred million people speak Spanish, Yes Bilingual education is needed

Special Section:

Job Search 101 20 J S S ob

earch

marts

Steps to take to secure a job and jumpstart your career

P 22 20 B

ointers to a

etter Interview

Every Issue: 6

Contributors & Staff

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Publisher’s Message

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Staff Bio.

Education Business

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Skill-Building Training Classes Can Make a Huge Difference In today’s fast-paced world, continuous professional development opportunities and training are essential for creating success-minded teams of people in the workplace.

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Publisher’s Message

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came to me in a cloud of dreams.

It started with a dream approximately eight years ago. I was inspired with a notion that there were many students who were struggling to find their “niche” in society. I was once in the same position, after completing a rigorous education.

I wanted to do something about it and I dreamt away! I did not let it stop with the dreams. Instead, I formed a group of four individuals who shared the same vision, need, and dedication to create ACU.

My goal for ACU is to bring together educators, business leaders and

My goal for ACU is to bring together educators, business leaders and professionals working in the disciplines of law, medicine, law/enforcement, politics, computer science, engineering, and many others. The thrust of the magazine would be two fold. One prong is geared towards graduate schools based on the best available programs in their fields.

The second prong would provide information on career opportunities that are geared towards the benefit and interest of college graduates.

profession- ACU will feature articles from success-

ful professionals in the above-mentioned fields. The emphasis would be on the ing in the need for setting objectives, serious studying, and the maximum effort to achieve disciplines their goals.

ACU Staff

Publisher & Chief Executive Officer......................................... Letitia Bowry President & Chairman............................................................ John Augustin Vice President & Chief Financial Officer.......................................Lisa Taylor Treasurer......................................................................................Lisa Taylor Secretary.............................................................Lisa Taylor & Letitia Bowry

Editorial

Executive Editor................................................................. Bernie Callender Executive Editor Assistant.............................................Obinna Onawumere Senior Editor................................................................... Shonda Prince-Hall Assistant Editor.................................................................. Bosede Opetubo Executive Art Director............................................................. Fran Sherman Director of Design............................................. Fran Sherman, Lisa Taylor & Letitia Bowry

Advertising

Director of Advertising Production...................................... Bernie Callender Advertising Manager........................................................Tasha Mills-Foster

Administration

General Counsel.................................................................... Afua Fullwood Director of Human Resources............................................ Bernie Callender Director of Finance & Computer Information....................Tasha Mills-Foster Executive Production Director................................................. Roger Barrett

Circulation

Director of Circulation............................................................. John Augustin

IT

Director of Technology.........................................................Brett A. Scudder

als work-

of law,

Finally, the inspiration has come to fruimedicine, tion. The magazine has a United States law/en- patent and a website. Educators and business leaders have committed to conforcement, tributing articles. At this point, I realized politics, that what I needed from any prestigious institution was the finishing touch that computer most publishers might desire - a master’s science, en- degree that will enhance the success and bring the magazine to its full potential gineering, and purpose.

and many

Letitia Bowry,

others. Publisher

After College/University Board of Directors

CHAIRPERSON ................................................................... John Augustin VICE CHAIR . ......................................................Letitia Bowry &Lisa Taylor TREASURER ..............................................................................Lisa Taylor SECRETARY-......................................................Letitia Bowry & Lisa Taylor

Members

Bernie Callender Brett A. Scudder Obinna Onwumere Yvonne Mosquitto UK Afua Fullwood Shonda Prince-Hall www.aftercollege.org • www.aftercollegeuniversity.com After College/University Magazine 1215 Woodycrest Ave. Suite # 16 Bronx, NY 10452 718-538-3438

Designer

Cassie Couture E

n t e r p r i s e s

Specializing in Elegant Ladies Hats, Accessories and Shawls cassicouture@comcast.net

• 1-856-625-8944

Educ a ti o n R e a l it y Education: Is It Worth It? he importance of education and success in today’s society cannot be overstated. Some of us started learning in the womb, unbeknownst to us then, as we were talked to, read to, and so on. Our parents wanted to instill in us a spirit to learn. As we grew, the zeal to learn continued to be nurtured--with hopes for harvestation in the near future.

In school, we are counseled on the best choices for us after graduation. We are told that if we go to college, we can get a great job that yields a great salary, as well as achieve other goals. And these goals are what we know true success to be based upon. No one ever told us that the road to success would have so many curves or dead ends -- that is not always a straight road. Just know that it takes faith and perseverance to make it.

After we leave college, we are faced with the challenge of finding a job. For some, this task comes easy; for others, it

By Tasha Mills-Foster

is not always the case. Many make it to their “final destination” while others are still on standby, waiting to be called.

Finally, when you get that call, you get reasons riddled with holes telling you why they didn’t hire you. can be a struggle. Although some graduates are able to find a job immediately in their chosen field, it is possible to find many recent graduates employed in fields that have nothing to do with their major in college. Those of you who were fortunate to have an internship or embraced the concept of networking, the door of opportunity had already opened. Others may have to work a bit harder to get what they want. Sometimes, a college education is not enough.

Once we have completed our master’s or graduate degree, we go into the job market with the hopes of fulfilling a dream. As we hit the profession pavement, we believe the credentials we obtained would be the ticket to our success. That

The question, “Is education worth it?” becomes your mantra. Of course, the answer is a resounding, “Yes.” You are disappointed that you didn’t get that job but you persevere because you were taught education unlocks the door to your future; it is the key. However, when it doesn’t work out, don’t beat yourself up. Take that as a lesson, find out what you did right and where you could improve yourself; view your struggle as a stepping stone, and not as a step back. Booker T. Washington said, “Success is not measured by the position you reach in life; it’s measured by the obstacles you overcome.” As you go out in the world of work, it is good to always keep this in mind.

“I am still learning”- Michelangelo

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E du c a ti o n P ro c e s s Different Approaches of an Educator ursuing a career in education requires different approaches. This career many rewards as well as challenges. A positive and optimistic attitude is needed as the educator embarks upon new and different programs, navigates plans of action, and determines what will work to ensure success for all students. Most educators approach the realm of education with passion and building relationships with children or students.

Passion is an essential approach to education. It is needed for a thriving career.

Passion for children and the learning process are priorities; therefore, educators should focus on identifying and enhancing the potential skills of children, thereby instilling a sense of belief in the children.

While these tasks are seemingly challenging, they are equally rewarding in the long-run.

Building relationships and interacting with the students

connects the educator to the entire aspect of the student, including their personal challenges and concerns. When the right connection is made, the educator is able to motivate the students and help them realize and actualize their goals.

Once motivated, the students would continuously strive for success. In this connection, educators would be satisfied that they have strived to produce productive citizens.

By Lamisa Landers Assistant Principal / Tyler ISD

Educators are constantly adapting to new approaches and techniques that are geared towards making a difference as to how children learn in society.

Educators are constantly adapting to new approaches and techniques that are geared towards making a difference as to how children learn in society. The educator who engages in researched-based techniques, shares best practices, and learns new techniques, is on the cutting edge of his/her profession. Change is inevitable and flexibility is mandatory. It takes extreme patience, determination, and commitment to attain these goals and objectives.

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In Colleges & Universities

W

hy is it that many of the young, white, undergraduates at Tufts seem to think its okay for them to use the “N” word whether in my presence or not. I get it: You’re a liberal, slightly bi-sexual beatnik from San Francisco, but that doesn’t change the main aspect of my incredulity.

Granted, I’m well aware these crazy kids have grown up in this post-Dave Chappelle world where the word, “nigger” “nigga” “niggah” or any of its other hilarious forms can be nonchalantly thrown around humorously and is never considered hurtful, disrespectful or inappropriate.

But, guess what? I find Dave Chappelle offensive, too.

And he’s black!

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By Bosede Opetubo

Generally, I don’t care for it when black people or people of color use the “N” word. Honestly, I hate the word in itself. I hate the time, the meaning, and the aspects of African American life that it represents. But if you feel empowered by referring to your best friend using a word used to degredate my mother, and grandmother and great-grandmother, etc., for hundreds of years, who am I to protest? After all, you’ve embraced this word of bondage and made it a part of the Negro vernacular. Well, excuse me, but aren’t black people well aware of what happens when “we” assimilate something as a part of our culture? Somehow, it becomes inexplicably popular among young teeny boppers.

I love my friends. The white one,

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the Mexican one and that international guy we all think is gay, but if you disrespect me ONE MORE TIME by using this word in my presence, I’m going to… cry.

It’s true; I’ve never said anything out loud. I’ve never asked my friends to sit in a circle in our common room and discuss the negative aspects of stereotypes, racism and “hate speech.” But, should I have to? I’ve had less black friends in eighteen years than I can count on my hands, but the hundreds of white people I knew in high school would never come out of their face - would never disregard the possibility that I would be offended - and use this word in my presence, and hopefully, at all.

I just don’t get it. Don’t people understand that I’m black? I rep-

resent myself as a Nigerian, sure, but an entire half of me has lived on this country for innumerable decades. I would sit at the dining room with my great grandmother and listen to her horror stories of oppression and threats of violence against her and her family in the south in the 1930s. I quietly wept as she told me about the fear that forced her to move away from her many siblings and last surviving relatives for fear of the murder of her husband and innocent daughter. I don’t wear her tales on my chest, but by looking at me you should be well aware of the possibility that this is a part of my past. However, I have no intention of allowing it to be in my future.

I understand how fun it is to be politically incorrect. We all make

What’s important is that we don’t judge people based on what we see only on the outside.

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fun of the Jewish guy, the tall one, the fat girl and our gay sidekick. Do we have the right to do that? I ungrit my teeth and answer ever so slightly offensive questions about my hair or the Bronx without injury. Taking life and its injustices too seriously is no way to spend our youth. Yet the words: kike, dykes and chinks never enter my vocabulary. I make the effort of not referring to gay people as “faggots,” nor do I allow those around me to use the word in my presence because I’m aware of the hurt it may arise in one person. I’m not gay, but I don’t have to be. I’m a human being. I have feelings and I, at least, make the effort to take those of others in account as well. Why the hell don’t I deserve the same respect? Maybe, just maybe, I should demand it!

Let’s all be honest here, when you look at me, you see color, when I look at other people, I see color as well. That’s fine, because we’re all different.

What’s important is that we don’t judge people based on what we see only on the outside. In the back of my head, I’m thinking, “Is this chick Chinese or what?” but despite whatever goes on inside my mind, I try as hard as one can not to label others.

What’s the moral of this story? I don’t know. Will this change anything? I doubt it. But, please, do me a favor: stop singing that goddamn Kanye West song around me.

If you want to go home and scream “broke niggas” at the top of your lungs, feel free, but refrain when in my presence. Just don’t say anything for the last two seconds of the verse. It’s awkward, yeah, but you’ll get over it. Stop quoting NWA, DMX, or any other rap artist you happen to come across when cruising your roommate’s iTUNES. Finally, stop discussing the appropriate enunciation or spelling of this word because it’s not appropriate at all, in any form, ever.

I’m not a bitch and I’m not weird or sensitive and I’m not the only one who feels this way. Whether it’s purposely meant to be hurtful or not, hearing some words trigger people and it’s not fair that they suffer in silence. I highly doubt that the quality of your life is going to decline significantly because I’m asking you to refrain from using this word in my presence. And although I also doubt it will improve my quality of life, it will certainly make things a lot less uncomfortable the next time someone suggests a singalong of “Fuck the Police.”

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E du c a ti o n F u t u r e Does Bilingual Education Still have a Place in Today’s American Diverse Society?

By Zaida David-Velez

ilingual education was a by product of the civilrights movement, of the 1960’s, when Latino activists began to protest the circumstances that were contributing to unacceptably high dropout rates among Spanish-speaking children attending school. Using the strategies of the civil-rights movement, Latino leaders called for legislation to address the needs of Spanish-speaking children, i.e., Cubans in Florida, Mexicans along the southern border and Puerto Ricans in the Northeast. Their efforts resulted in Congress approving the Bilingual Education Act in 1968. The initial purpose of the Act was to help poor Mexican-American children learn English. The eventual goal is to make the target population fully literate in English. It was not intended to keep any specific language alive or create areas throughout the country with different languages.

Bilingual education was supposed to be a special effort to

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help immigrant children learn English so that they could do regular schoolwork with their English-speaking classmates and receive equal educational opportunities.

Bilingual education has helped to heighten the awareness of the needs of immigrant, migrant and refugee children.

These should still be the same goals today. Many still agree that these children are entitled to special help. It must be acknowledged that the economic wellbeing of our society depends on maintaining a literate population with the capacity for higher education and the ability to fill positions for skilled jobs.

Parents of bilingual children often function as classroom aides which are another positive result of bilingual education in the hiring and training of paraprofessionals. Bilingual

education has resulted in the creation of career programs that pay for college tuition for these paraprofessionals so they qualify as teachers. This, in turn, has led to attracting more teachers from immigrant communities. There are also many large school districts that have bilingual professionals on their staff of psychologists, speech therapists, social workers, and other specialists.

ing children that participate in the program, and a greater understanding of their families.

Today, teachers and school administrators make an effort to communicate with parents who have a limited command of English by sending letters and school information in their native languages and employing interpreters when necessary for parent-teacher conferences.

It is for all these reasons that bilingual education is still necessary to help and assist the ever growing numbers of persons from around the world who are still coming to the United States to enjoy freedom and democracy.

Finally, bilingual education has helped to promote parental understanding of American schools and has encouraged parental involvement in school activities. Also, as a result of bilingual education funding, educators have received training on the historical and cultural backgrounds of the growing and varied ethnic communities in their districts.

This training has resulted in a greater understanding of and respect for non-English-speak-

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Life after College Congratulations! You have decided to

By Liesel D. Benjamin

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further your education. You have the world of possibilities ahead of you. Your parents, teachers, and guidance counselors said you could be anything you want to be to and the options are vast. They are right, but there are a few things you should be mindful of before you start pursuing your baccalaureate degree. Let me give you an inside look of what happens after you finish four or five years of college and get into the real world. Sometimes we do not live up to our dreams. It has been my experience and I want to give some advice that would be meaningful to your future.

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You are in your last semester in college and graduation is looming.

You prepare your résumé and send them to jobs that you think would be a great fit for you. You have been through four years of higher education and you feel you deserve to be compensated fairly.

For example, you have a Bachelor of Science in Biology and you are applying to laboratories and hospitals in your chosen state.

You know you are going to get a call for an interview because you

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have a decent GPA (grade point average) and you are young and educated! You go on one or two interviews, but no success. Graduation day is here and you celebrate with family and friends and enjoy your moment. June approaches and you move back home in your parent’s basement or in your room that you occupied before you left.

It is now four months since graduation and you are unemployed.

You are still hopeful because you received a few call backs but no

follow up interviews.

One morning you receive a call from a recruiter that received your résumé from a job search website.

She tells you that there is a receptionist position at an institution that does research on blood typing and she feels it will be a great fit for you. Finally! A job! So you meet the recruiter and you interview directly with the company.

Your interview went well and you are hopeful. You receive a call stating that you have the position.

However, there is a probationary period of six weeks, after which they will make a final decision about retaining your services. They offer you $17 per hour - not what you were expecting, but you will have money in your pocket.

You start the position and you get along well with the people on the job. Six weeks are up and the recruiter, from what you now know is a temp agency, calls you to set up another job. The company decided not to keep you although

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No matter where you live or what your major in col-

lege, jobs are

scarce in to-

day’s market.

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you came to work on time, dressed neatly and carried yourself professionally.

You are off to another administrative assistant position and here begins a cycle.

You come home one evening form one of your temp positions and there is a message on the answering machine from your student loan company stating that your grace period is up and the monthly payments will be $450.00 a month.

She wants to know if you would like to make a recurring payment on your debit card to save 1% on your interest rate.

You are petrified because you can’t even afford your current living expenses. How in the world will you pay your student loans? So, you put them into forbearance thinking within the next six months you will get your dream job.

One year passes by and you are now working for a medical business company as a receptionist. Not a bad job and it pays enough to cover your current bills, (excluding your student loans that you put into forbearance again) but not your expectations of what you thought would happen. You start feeling discouraged when your parents and family ask you

about the promising career you were pursuing in medical research. As you start living as an adult and going to work day to day, you realize you didn’t want a career in medical research. You wanted to have a career in engineering but because your father said medical research could lead to a career in medicine, you set out on that course. Now, you start to research engineering programs in your area and with two more years in a private college, you could pursue it. You start asking yourself, how will you pay for school? How will you take care of yourself ? Will it all be worth it in the end?

Well, I am here to tell you that this is the story for many college graduates. No matter where you live or what your major in college, jobs are scarce in today’s market. More and more people are being laid off and companies are not hiring at a fast pace. I encourage young people to research other careers than what I call the parent silencers. Yes, many young people choose fields because their parents want them to follow those career paths.

Make your own path. You will exceed everyone’s expectations, as high as they are, if you follow your own path and do something that you love. Upon entering college, take time to make your decision. Once you have decided, be confident in your decision. If you know you want to be in healthcare but not necessarily a doctor then research other professions. If you mother is a lawyer and she wants you to follow her path and that is not necessarily what you want to do, sit down and explain this to her. It will save a lot of heartache and pain and money in the future.

Now, this may sound confusing based on what I said above about taking your time to select a major. Don’t wait until you are almost ready to graduate to choose a major! Choosing your major in a timely fashion will also ensure you graduate in four years, unless you are in a five-year master’s program.

When I began college, I was told that choosing a major was not absolutely necessary until your junior year – wrong! The longer you wait, the more likely you will be spending that 5th year in college and waving goodbye to all the good friends you made while you were there.

Your will be facing another $20-$40K in loans because you did not make a timely decision.

Another trap young adults fall into is the ambiguous major, the major that can lead to a career but cannot get you a job in that field. There is a difference. If you do not intend on following up your bachelor’s degree in psychology with a Ph.D., you need to choose something that will lead to a career path that you will enjoy.

Now do not get me wrong, choosing your life’s career is not easy and neither is it something that can be rushed or taken lightly. Ensure a productive future for yourself, follow YOUR dreams, do research, ask your teachers questions and talk to professionals about their lifestyles and the occupation in which you are interested and finally, attend conferences where information is disseminated about various careers. You must do these things as soon as you enter high school so you could research the colleges that offer your field of interest.

It will save a lot of heart ache and make it easier to choose a school that fits you.

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L

isa Taylor CFO for ACU is a graduate of American International College with a BS in Management Information Systems. Since working for a major corporation for several years, I am confident that my educational skills, combined with my vast corporation experiences, will transform the knowledge into assisting students through ACU. While bringing forth advice and showing potential as to how this magazine would assist students, I hope this would extend to others as a whole. I was fortunate to have met Susan L Taylor, Editorial Director of Essence Magazine, who encouraged me to obtain a degree in publishing. I sincerely thank her for that fruitful advice.

I am dedicated and determined to let others know how important it would be to read this upcoming magazine.

Remember education is essential, but knowledge is power.

Sincerely, Lisa Taylor CFO/VP

Bio.

Staff

By Lisa Taylor

I am confident that my educational skills, combined with my vast corporation experiences, will transform the knowledge into assisting students through

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ACU.

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Educ a ti o n B u s i n e s s Skill-Building Training Classes Can Make a Huge Difference or a school district to develop a vision, performance objectives and formulate strategies that will impact the organization to achieve its core value and core purpose. The planning process involves the organization’s key stakeholders and will produce a strategic plan as a guide for continuous improvement.

n today’s fast-paced professional world, all organizations need continuous professional development opportunities and training to create success-minded teams of people in the workplace.

We all want our staff members to understand the organization’s vision, performance goals and priorities, then, work consistently as a team to achieve those goals to ensure that positive things happen. Yet, staff members are not provided with the essential tools needed to meet these expectations.

We all want our staff members to understand the organization’s

vision, perfor-

mance goals and priorities, then,

work consis-

tently as a team to achieve those goals to ensure that positive things happen.

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Cobbin & Associates On-Site Training Sessions include topics most organizations and schools are interested in with a comprehensive list of training opportunities and formats available for a variety of audiences. We can even customize the course content to accommodate your organization’s unique needs. Our trainers are experienced staff developers with backgrounds in corporate management, curriculum and instruction, as well as, education leadership. Many of the trainers have led successful organizations and schools.

Here are some of the powerful

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Effective Time Management and Organizational Skills: Learn how to save time and work smarter not harder.

Explore strategies to ensure that deadlines are met. Develop sharpened analytical skills and abilities to move seamlessly through strategic plans to completed projects, successfully.

Engaging In a Strategic Planning Process: Strategic planning guides an organization

Effective Documentation Techniques: Re-visit the various types of personnel contracts understand the principles of documentation, and increase skills in writing memoranda, professional letters, growth plans and performance evaluations using data based on a formal or informal documentation process. This is an excellent session for new administrators and managers.

Developing Aspiring and Potential Leaders for the Principal ship: Explore the skills required for a realistic view of the principal ship. Develop the capacity to be successful with instructional leadership, curriculum, assessment, and instruction alignment, organizational management, community partnerships and the political process in every district.

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By Dr. Jacqueline Cobbin

Classroom Management: Managing Student Behavior, Instructional Strategies, Time and Space Effective classroom management to ensure opportunity for learning is the leading concern for most public school educators. This session will demonstrate the most essential, time-saving tips to improve long-term performance and sustain a learning community for everyone. Learn how to establish classroom norms and procedures use effective disciplinary interventions and

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build positive student-teacher relationships with a shared sense of purpose.

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Receive resources to assist in creating powerful learning communities.

Dr. Jacqueline Cobbin is an award-winning motivational speaker and writer. In one of her chapters from the book, Preparing for Reflective Teaching, she describes the need to be “genuine and creative as a classroom teacher” in order to breathing life into social studies and language arts. Over the span of her career, Dr. Cobbin has inspired and energized several thousand participants at school assemblies, professional development sessions and educational conferences throughout the United States and abroad. Dr. Cobbin is a proven leader of a successful middle school and highly recognized for her K-12 curriculum expertise and her university work in educational leadership.

She is frequently featured in Who’s Who in Texas Public Schools, local newspapers, as well as, state and national publications. She presently serves as adjunct professor at two (2) major universities in the Houston area, University of St. Thomas and University of Houston-Clear Lake. Described as a dynamic and powerful motivational speaker, Dr. Cobbin is passionate about academic achievement, public school leadership, and teacher effectiveness.

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Special Section:

Job Search

By Chaz Kyser

t would be terrific if every degree came along with a job we loved, but then we wouldn’t be living in the “real world.” In the real world a great job is a prized possession, and what’s more, it’s something that the average college graduate has to work hard to get. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly 1.5 million bachelor’s degrees are conferred every year in America. Roughly all college graduates look for some type of employment upon graduation, which means you will have some pretty tough competition.

You should take calculated steps to secure a job and jumpstart your career. Once you’ve decided on the career you want, your goal should be to seek out those companies or organizations that offer jobs relative to your career aspirations.

JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES While many people rely on the more formal methods of job searching, such as through newspapers and employment agencies, the best way to secure a job is by using both formal and informal strategies. Informal strategies, which include job searching through networking and contacting employers directly, will take more time on your behalf but are worth the effort. Studies have shown that approximately two-thirds of jobs are found and secured by using informal search strategies, while only around one-third of jobs are obtained through formal methods.

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J o b S e a r c h 101

Smarts Formal Job Search Strategies Newspaper Ads: Studies show that as few as five percent of jobs are ever advertised in a newspaper, so don’t rely solely on newspapers to find a job. When you do find a listing that interests you, apply for the position immediately.

Employment/Staffing Agencies: Many employment agencies get paid by companies to find employees, so they can be extremely helpful in finding you a position that interests you, or to at least get you working somewhere while you’re still job searching. Some employment agencies are very industryspecific, only dealing with techies or business professionals, for example. Look for an agency that specializes in placing people within your field before you go with one that works on a broader scale.

Internet Ads: You can search sites like Monster.com that have listings for nearly every field in every city, city-specific sites like those for city government jobs, and field-specific sites like ones for counselors. If you find a great listing that doesn’t show the date it was posted, call the company to see if they are still hiring for the position and if they have any other positions open that fit your interests.

Job Fairs: Job fairs offer a convenient way for you to market yourself and learn more about companies hiring for positions

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you might be interested in.

Always dress like you are going to an interview, and bring plenty of resumes and business cards.

Informal Job Search Strategies Direct Mail Campaigns: This is a “wait and see” strategy.

After identifying companies that offer (but may not be hiring for) positions in your field, you mail the hiring manager a customized cover letter and resume and hope you get a response. To make the most of this approach you’ll need to be quick about following up on all the mail you send out.

Alumni Associations: Check with your alma mater to see if they offer placement services for their graduates. If the alumni association provides a list of alumni and the fields they work in, take the initiative to call those working in your field for job leads.

Your Personal Network: Tell all your friends and relatives about the type of jobs you are searching for so they can also be on the lookout for you. If you have certain relatives or friends that have a knack for networking, give them a couple of copies of your resume—you never know who they’ll meet.

Cold Calling: If you learn of a company that seems interesting, but don’t know if they are hiring, there’s nothing wrong with calling the hiring manager to find out.

Just make sure you talk to the manager. Never listen to anyone who doesn’t have the ability to

hire you when they tell you there are no current job openings.

Unannounced Visits: You’re harder for managers to brush off if you’re in their face trying to get a job. The downside is you could also be annoying. Before making an unannounced visit, do a little investigating to find out when the person you’ll need to see will be in. Dress like you’re expecting an interview and bring more than one resume.

Professional Organizations: Joining an organization relative to your career is a great way to network with people who can give you leads on job openings within your field. Many organizations provide members with lists on who’s hiring or have companies constantly recruiting people specifically within their organization.

Volunteerism: Volunteering is an excellent way to network with people working in different fields. The people you meet may open you up to job opportunities you never considered.

Chaz Kyser is the author of Embracing the Real World: The Black Woman’s Guide to Life After College.

For more information on the book, visit www.embracingtherealworld.com

Date of publication: February 2007 Publisher: Seshet Press City of publication: Langston University ISBN: 0978818806 Number of pages: 320

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20Y

Special Section:

Pointers Better Interview to a

By Chaz Kyser

ou only get one chance to convince an employer to hire you.

Avoid playing the “woulda, coulda, shoulda” game by following these 20 interviewing rules on all of your interviews.

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Arrive Ahead of Time: Get good directions and plan to arrive at t he place you’re being interviewed at least 20 minutes early so you won’t be 20 minutes late.

Give Your Appearance a Double Check: Take time to straighten yourself up before greeting the interviewer. Check your clothes, hair, make-up, breath and odor.

Be Cordial to Everyone You Meet at the Company: Briefly greet and be nice to everyone at the company because you never know just who has a say in your hiring.

Make a Good First Impression: Consider it Showtime when employers first spot you. From that very moment they are sizing you up. Try to feel their vibe so you can make them feel at ease with you before the interview begins.

Be Respectful of the Employer: Don’t forget whom you’re talking to. Greet the people interviewing you with their last name until they tell you otherwise. Leave the slang at home and turn the cell phone or pager off—not on vibrate.

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Watch Your Body Language: Your demeanor should exude confidence and enthusiasm, which can be shown in various ways, including a firm handshake, eye-to-eye contact, good posture, and a sincere smile. Definite don’ts include excessive note-taking, watching the clock, fiddling your hands or feet, and looking at everything else in the room but the interviewer while talking.

Have Extra Copies of Your Resume: You may be required to interview with more than one person. Being able to hand them a crisp resume demonstrates your professionalism and thoughtfulness.

Listen Thoughtfully to All Questions and Think Before You Speak: Always make sure you understand a question before you go about answering it.

People can tell when you’re running off at the mouth while trying to remember what you were asked. Ask for clarification if you don’t completely understand a question.

Answer Questions Completely: Try not to give simple yes or no answers.

One of your goals is to show how well you communicate with others.

ACU

J o b S e a r c h 101

10 11 12 13 14 ACU

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Stress the Skills You Can Offer the Company: Know the exact skills an employer is looking for and stress that you have these skills and enjoy using them. Also talk about any other skills you have that are not required for your position, but that you feel will make you more attractive to an employer.

Stress Your Ability To Learn New Skills Fast: If there’s a skill you lack that an employer asks about then stress your ability to quickly learn that skill, possibly giving examples of how you’ve learned fast in other situations.

Stress Your Positive Personality: Communicate with the interviewer how easy you are to work with, how positive you are, and how you’re so very flexible, ect. The employer is looking for someone who current employees will get along with.

Talk With Pride About Your Accomplishments: Most employers believe that past performance is the best indicator of future performance. Make them realize how valuable you are by talking about accomplishments you’re proud of.

Be Prepared for Tough Questions: While most interview questions are to be expected, some interviewers may surprise you with a curve ball. An employer knows when they’ve asked a hard question and probably just wants to see how you’ll react.

Impress them. When asked a question that makes you say “hmmmm,” stay calm, take time to think of a good response, and try your best to answer the question as if it didn’t faze you.

ell Them Why You Want The Job: Don’t let the interview come to an end without telling the person interviewing you why you want the job and what it is that you like so much about the position. This further demonstrates your enthusiasm and that you aren’t just applying for the paycheck.

Have Any Work Samples Ready To Show: Be ready to whip out work samples you’ve brought for the employer to review. Don’t let the interview end without showing the employer your work samples, even if he or she didn’t ask to see them.

Give Examples of How You’ve Handled Tough or Sticky Situations: Show the employer that you can handle any job and how resourceful you are by relating stories of how you’ve handled sticky situations very well.

Don’t Undermine Yourself: Never talk negatively about yourself or talk about what you can’t or won’t do, no matter how insignificant you think what you’re saying is.

Don’t Badmouth Anyone: Never badmouth a past employer or your former co-workers no matter how comfortable you feel while talking to someone interviewing you.

Leave a Great Lasting Impression: No matter how good or bad you think the interview went, the show isn’t over until you’re out of the employer’s sight. Be as cordial and enthusiastic at the end of the interview as you were at the beginning.

Communicate with the employer that you are genuinely interested in the position and that you’d very much like to work for the company. Make sure you shake the hand of everyone you’ve interviewed with. Take time to tell them how much you appreciate being interviewed, to find out when you should hear from them, and to wish them a great day.

Chaz Kyser is the author of Embracing the Real World: The Black Woman’s Guide to Life After College.

For more information on the book, visit www.embracingtherealworld.com

Date of publication: February 2007 Publisher: Seshet Press City of publication: Langston University ISBN: 0978818806 Number of pages: 320

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