On the Record — Denton Jobs

ON THE

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y 2011

Homeless and Jobless Looking for Work While Living on the Streets

DAILY.COM

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Our Picks for Denton’s Top Job Spots

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Best Places to Work

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Denton Jobs

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IN A COTTAGE

NOW LEASING!

RESORT-STYLE POOL

PLASMA TVS

COMPUTER LAB

TANNING BEDS

IPOD DOCKING STATIONS

MOVIE THEATRE

MUSIC STUDIO

FITNESS CENTER

BASKETBALL COURTS

FOOSBALL AND POOL TABLES

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What’s

Explore Best Jobs

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Career Center

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Odd Jobs

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Check out the Editorial Board’s picks for the city’s top jobs UNT helps students get a head start on their futures Examine Denton’s unconventional ways to make money

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News Unemployment

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Denton rates have risen to 6.4% in 2011, up from 6.3% in 2010

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Health

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Creating Jobs

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Putting the job first can have medical consequences The A-Train has new occupations rolling into town

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Cover Story Homeless, Jobless

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A look at struggles of finding work with nowhere to live

Features Roden

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Denton’s newest politician discusses ties to UNT and future plans for the city

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Freedom House

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Night Shift

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Group provides second chances through spirituality

Local employees stay on the job while Denton sleeps

Spinners

Find out the strategy behind the art of sign twirling

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Inside...

Features (Cont.)

Art Six

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The story of six UNT graduates pursuing coffee-filled career

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Experience Campus Chat

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Denton residents speak on their first gig and dream job

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Résumé

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How to sell yourself to employers through a piece of paper

Garage Sale

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Gain a buck by giving away your unwanted goods

Behind The Scenes

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The Daily goes for a ride with a Denton police officer

Trade Schools

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Specialty schools prepare students for a variety of careers

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Professionalism 101 34 How to deal with others in the workroom

Helping Others

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Learn about the best paycheck-free jobs in Denton

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Stadium

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People have scored jobs from UNT’s new football venue

Information Campus Jobs

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Check out the long list of UNT on-campus occupations

By The Numbers

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A breakdown of jobs in Denton

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Coming Aug.12!

Denton: Then and Now Discover Denton’s past, present and future in the next issue of On The Record Cover Photo by: Ashley-Crystal Firstley/Senior Staff Writer

1!!

1 0 2 L L A F R O F G IN S A E L NOW

CL OSE T O SCHOOL . CL OSE T O F RIENDS . CL OSE T O PERF EC T.

905 Cleveland St. Denton, TX 940.385.7500 www.midtownstudentapartments.com/denton At the corner of Eagle and Carroll. Text MIDTOWN to 47464 for more info.

Editor’s Letter: There are few people today who haven’t been affected or don’t know someone whose life was shattered by the economic recession.

Denton has been lucky enough to steer close to a happy-go-lucky feeling, sliding in at only 6.4 percent unemployment rate in May — far below the national average of 9.1.

Top of the Triangle Skeptics may say this number, although seemingly low, may have a great deal to do with the fact Denton has never been known as a booming metropolis for career-type occupations.

Little D has always lived in the shadow of its two older brothers just 40 miles southeast and southwest.

However, for a commuter-college city with 119,400 residents, it’s smack dab in one of the fastest growing areas in the state and doing quite well for itself.

The city is home to two large universities that offer thousands of jobs to people in the area while also bringing in academic knowledge and culture.

Many larger employers also call Denton home.

Although maybe it’s not the corporate capital of the South, it’s still filled with worker bees that will continue to build the town up one business at a time.

My First Job...

When I was 16, I walked across the street from my house to the Cici’s Pizza that I’d been to many times as a kid. They gave me a job as a salad girl and I was only allowed to greet the customers with “Hi! Welcome to Cici’s!” and “Bye! Thank you!”

There was a bell on the door to hear customer traffic and I remember feeling trained like a dog by the end of working there. Needless to say, I was “let go” for telling them that.

Workin’ Hard We at On The Record wanted to devote this edition to the hard-working people who have held our economic standard high.

These folks strive to keep Denton in motion, in almost every industry.

Whether it’s retail or railroads, nighttime workers or nude models — we’ve tried to capture it all for you in a small snapshot of Denton Jobs.

In this edition, you’ll find people who love their jobs and work the typical 9 to 5, but also a story on the health risks that come with working that schedule.

We’ve also included stories of people who are under pressure to make ends meet. This is shown through our pieces on finding work while being homeless and in the article on the struggles of undocumented workers.

Through developing these stories, we were harshly reminded of the job market impact and how difficult it’s been for many people to pick up the pieces.

On the brighter side, we’ve selected our ranking for the Best Places to Work in Denton (small, midsize and large).

These companies were awarded these spots based on excellence in service, worker benefits/perks and overall impact in the community.

Help Wanted Although a good portion of this maga-

zine mostly features Denton residents working different jobs, we also wanted to give those work-seeking readers the chance to see who’s hiring and at the same time, offer alternative ways to accumulate a few extra bucks.

Make sure to visit www.NTDaily. com for more stories on Denton occupations.

Now, you’re on the clock so start reading and get to work!

Shaina Zucker Editor-in-Chief

Jobs I’ve Worked In Denton Editor-in-Chief On the Record, Summer 2011 Editor-in-Chief NT Daily, Spring 2010 Tanning Specialist at Tan it All Hostess/Waitress at Shogun Steakhouse Teaching Assistant at University of North Texas Sales Associate James Avery in Denton County

Meet the Staff Sean Gorman Managing Editor

“I started my career at a little breakfast joint called Andrew’s. It was more about smoke breaks and gossip than serving its customers.”

Senior Staff Writers Ashley-Crystal Firstley Corrisa Jackson Isaac Wright

Senior Staff Photographers James Coreas Chelsea Stratso

Senior Staff Designer Samantha Guzman

Sara Jones

Staff Writers

“My first job was working at Old Navy. It was beyond stressful, but it taught me how to work hard and balance work with school.”

Pablo Arauz Nicole Balderas Bliss Coulter Alex Macon Matthew Malone Brett Medeiros Will Sheets Ann Smajstrla Alicia Warren Austin Wells Alex Young

Visuals Editor

Contributing Photographer Sydnie Summers Design Editor

“My first job was as a hostess at Chili’s. It was OK, but I like the jobs I have now much better.”

Drew Gaines

Staff Photographers Justin Curtin Jun Ma Brian Maschino

Copy Editor Nicole Landry

PHOTOS BY JAMES COREAS/SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Best Places to Work Out of the many businesses in Denton, the Editorial Board awarded nine companies with the title of Best Places to Work. These companies were selected based on excellence in service, worker benefits/perks and overall impact in the community. —Compiled by the Editorial Board and Isaac Wright, Senior Staff Writer

Small Businesses: Beth Marie’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Business: Ice cream parlor Founded: 1998 Ownership: Private Employees: 38 Headquarters: 117 W. Hickory St. Phone: 940-384-1818 Website: www.bethmaries.com Why work here?:

Mid-Size Businesses: Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton

Large Businesses: University of North Texas

Business: Hospital Founded: 1987 Ownership: Private Employees: 900 Headquarters:

Business: State university Founded: 1890 Ownership: Public Employees: 9,144 Headquarters:

“I see my employees as family— nobody ever leaves this job without giving me a hug. Most of them even end up crying,” –owner Margaret Rich Popular perks : “It’s a great summer job because I can stay cool in here,” – Carlyn Anderson Now hiring?: Yes

3000 N. Interstate 35 Phone: 940-898-7000 Website: www.texashealth.org Fun Fact: Physicians at Texas Health Presbyterian Denton are trained in over 43 specialties, and the hospital offers a multitude of ser v ices, i nclud i ng a weig ht loss surger y prog ra m designated a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence.

Now hiring?: Yes

1501 Chestnut St. Phone: 940-565-2000 Website: www.unt.edu Why work here?: “It’s a great place to work. It’s fun to be around students all the time. It’s an enjoyable place to be. It feels like we’re doing something important by furthering the education of our students.”

- Buddy Price, News Promotion Manager Now Hiring?: Yes

Other Winners: Recycled Books and Old West Café

Other Winners: Josten’s, Sally’s Beauty Holdings Inc.

Other Winners: Denton County and Texas Woman’s University

For more information on the other winners, visit NTDaily.com.

Career Center offers advice The UNT Career Center offers occupational opportunities and programs for students wanting to kick-start their careers or graduates who want to advance them.

Located on campus in Chestnut Hall 103, the center helps students settle career-related issues with mock interviews, résumé reviewing and help with job searching.

Career advisers help students and alumni prepare for the jobs they want and provide suggestions for careers in their field of study.

“We also have on-campus interviews, which is probably the best inter view situation to find a job,” said Rachel Smith, a career development specialist. “Employers come to

us, and students can sign up to interview with employers they are interested in.”

T he i nter v iews a re conducted in the center’s interview area complete with a lobby and 18 total interview rooms.

Locker rooms are available for those who have an interview but don’t have time to go home and change.

In addition, the center has other offices pertaining to the different parts of job searching.

Student Employment Coordinator Shaun Stoehr, who is responsible for posting on-campus jobs on the Career Center’s website, said t he center provides assistance to students i n t he appl icat ion process a nd

teaches them how to navigate the website to search for jobs.

The center has 15 people on staff and offers positions to students.

Juniors and seniors can apply as career peer advisers who help fellow students prepare for their future.

Scheduling Coordinator Megan Kolb said working with different people is the best part about working at the Career Center.

“I get to interact with both employers and students,” she said. “So I’m seeing how the students are preparing and what the employers are looking for, and being able to make that connection to match them together.”

- Austin Wells, Staff Writer

UNT Career Center Address:

103 Chestnut St. inside Chestnut Hall

Hours:

Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Website:

careercenter.unt.edu PHOTOS BY CHELSEA STRATSO/SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

10 Explore

ntdaily.com

On The Record

Photo by Ashley-CrystAl Firstley/senior stAFF Writer

Career Made By Music Paired with the Denton music community’s continuing growth are stories of its musicians eager for a career in their competitive craft. In a cutthroat field, a pair of Denton musicians takes every opportunity they can find to do what they love.

Being a Part of the Scene Daniel Folmer has been involved in the Denton music scene for about eight years since he moved from his East Texas hometown of Marshall. He studied creative writing at UNT for seven years while performing in several independent bands.

He also works as a clerk at Mad World Records on the Square, a job he obtained through his connections in the Denton music scene.

Folmer said he understands the difficulty of achieving a career with his major and sees music as a more viable option than a career with his degree.

“If we were able to tour all the time, we would do okay,” Folmer said. “It’s fun and I could do this for a little while, and it’s totally worth it.”

Folmer recently returned from a tour in Canada and has written for, played with or On The Record

participated in five albums to be released by 2012.

Folmer said he understands working with the bands won’t always be enough to pay the bills.

“You can’t make money off of record sales, only touring and publishing,” he said.

“It’s not something you can bank on.”

A Variety of Musical Options Geography senior Elliot Edmonds minors in music with a concentration in bass guitar. He said money is not the primary motivator as a musician.

“Deep down, I think that making music is more important than making money off of music,” he said.

While Edmonds said only 5 percent of student musicians have successful music careers, there are still other opportunities available, particularly in music education.

He said studying music opens up opportunities in instrument manufacturing or music production.

As for Denton’s thriving music scene, Edmonds said it opens the scope for student musicians considering a career in the field. ntdaily.com

“The Denton area has been put on the spotlight and this is good,” he said. “It’s a great community for up and coming musicians, and it’s interesting to note the diversity.”

- Pablo Arauz, Staff Writer

Mad World Records Address: 115 W. Hickory St.

Hours: Sunday - Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Phone: 940-591-3001 Mad World Records is also on Facebook and Twitter

Explore 11

PHOTO BY JUSTIN CURTIN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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For anyone looking to take in the summer heat while making money, Denton offers some of the best summerrelated jobs around. There are summer gigs in the city offering reasonable pay, fun work environments and valuable experience.

at the Civic Center Pool.

The job is open to anyone 16 years of age and older, so teens can join the fun too.

It is an excellent option for anyone who loves to spend the summer swimming and getting paid.

Lifeguard

Denton’s Pa rk s a nd Recreat ion Depa r t ment hosts summer camps every year, and anyone who loves working with kids can play a part by applying as a camp counselor. Counselors plan, organize and take part in various activities for children ages 3 to 15. The planning and organization skills are great to add to a résumé while experiencing a fun and exciting work environment.

Anyone 18 years of age and older with a Class C driver’s license can apply.

Working as a lifeguard at Denton’s Water Park, Natatorium or Civic Center Pool is the easiest way to make money while staying close to the pool. Lifeguards make $8 to $10 an hour while helping people in the water stay safe.

Employees are taught CPR training and other safety tactics with lifelong value.

Swimming Instructor Swim instructors can show off their knowledge and teach people of various ages and swimming skills all summer long for $8 to $10 an hour

Camp Counselor

- Austin Wells, Staff Writer

Photo by James Coreas/senior staff PhotograPher

Breaking Bank in the Buff Some jobs require workers to be proficient in Excel or have the ability to type 90 words a minute, but one UNT gig has a different list of qualifications.

According to Denton resident Will Frenkel, posing nude for a classroom full of figure drawing students requires patience, poise and confidence.

At $15 an hour, models must hold positions for as short as five seconds and up to an hour and a half.

“Most of the time, the teacher will tell us, ‘Today we’re going to do two 40-minute poses, and an hour and a half pose,” Frenkel said. “Usually, the teacher will tell me the amount of time, whether it’s a gesture or dramatic pose and whether or not to lie down.”

Gesture poses are short so students draw quick sketches, while dramatic poses allow detail to be captured.

“Sometimes you will have a more dramatic pose which will be harder for me,” he said. “Sometimes I’ll stretch depending on the pose, but sometimes I’ll just take a nap or even read a book.”

Models enter the room wearing a robe and remove it before the drawing begins.

“It’s funny because before I had done it, I thought I’d be a little more nervous than I was,” he said. “Walking in with the robe on I felt more nervous than when I had taken it off.”

On The Record

Frenkel said he feared walking into the wrong classroom and was uncertain whether to disrobe before entering.

“When I went in and saw that it was really professional and just students making art, I didn’t feel so odd doing it,” he said.

Russell Sams, a sociology senior and student in the class, said he agrees there is more to the class.

“When you’re in there and everybody is drawing you, either suck it up or get out of there.

”

- Russell Sams, sociology senior

“When you’re in there and everybody is drawing, you either suck it up or get out of there,” he said.

The class, Beginning Figure Drawing, may not have textbooks, but it incorporates other learning materials, Sams said. ntdaily.com

“Every new topic, he gives us a slide show and talks about it and gives a quick demonstration,” Sams said.

As the drawers sketch, music is played in the background to aid creativity.

“The music has a huge effect on my perception of time,” Frenkel said. “Say, if we’re listening to the Beatles or classical music or something I love, I’m loving every second of it. But there’s a lot of times where the student or teacher will put on music that might not be my thing.”

Despite being nude in front of total strangers, models must remain very still.

“If it’s a long pose, I’ll keep my eyes open and stare at a point on the wall or the floor,” he said. “I try to imagine a planet in space or a star light-years away from where I am and focus on that.”

For Frenkel, the old nightmare where you show up to school naked is a reality, but he’s getting paid for it.

“I’m aware that I’m naked, but that’s not really what I’m thinking about,” he said. “Sometimes I listen to the teacher and I feel like I’m there with [the students], but sometimes I’m in my own world meditating.”

-Nicole Balderas, Staff Writer Explore 13

Mixing Work and Play As popularity in video games continues to grow, several video game creation companies have sprung up in North Texas.

In an industry worth about $48.9 billion, Halo hooligans and FIFA Soccer fans depend on video game programmers to help them beat the next great game.

Photo by Jun

Ma/Staff P

Designer Q&A Fort Worth-based video game desig ner Ca rl Shedd’s job i s creating the environments that game enthusiasts spend endless hours playing in. Shedd has been in the gaming industry for almost 10 years. He has designed games such as Borderlands, Brothers in Arms and R AGE, which will be released in October and won the Electronic Entertainment Expo’s Best in Show in 2010. Here are Shedd’s t houghts on what lies beh i nd t he job of developi ng video games.

Q: A:

Can you sum up level designing in 50 words?

My job is creating the environments.

My superior sends me a layout of what t he level should look like. He could say a barren wasteland desert-like map and it’s then my job to make that happen by adding details in the environment that make it feel like a real place to the player.

14 Explore

her

hotograP

The Art of Programming

Ian Parberry is the chair of the computer science and technology department at UNT Discovery Park. He has taught future video game programmers at UNT since 1993. He said he is trained as an academic, not as a programmer, so his expertise focuses on aspects of game development.

“It’s grown a whole lot and the industry has changed,” he said. “A lot of companies have come and gone.”

Parberry said to go into the industry, one must be dedicated and motivated.

Only about 20 of 30 students pass the graphics and game development class he teaches. He said the CSE school has a very difficult program, and only the best three to six students can secure a full time job in the industry.

“You’ve got to be an uber geek, not just a geek,” he said “You want to learn new things throughout your whole life, you’ve got to love programming and love games. This is serious stuff —you’ve got to work hard and play hard, you’ve got to be good.”

For Parberry, the significance of video games goes beyond entertainment.

“Everyone wants entertainment and to have fun and live in a virtual world, and games provide all of those things,” he said. “If your life sucks, you can be whatever you want.”

Working in the Industry Brian Roycew icz, a designer for Gearbox Soft ware, an established video game developer based in Plano, moved from California and has worked in the video game industry for more than three years. He said working ntdaily.com

in the business is a comfortable and entertaining occupation.

“The perks and incentives are definitely head-turners to those who first hear about video game development,” he said “There aren’t any cons.”

Roycewicz said he enjoys a f lexible schedule with his job, but deadline crunches are a norm in the business.

“Sometimes I’ll focus on my work until four in the morning and sleep in until I’m comfortable to work the next day,” he said.

While the industry requires heav y experience in technology, Roycewicz said one does not have to be a college graduate to get a job in the industry.

He and some of his fellow employees taug ht t hemselves t he computer programming, design and other skills.

He said there are methods for learning independently such as programs and Internet forums.

“A n i nd i v idu a l’s p a s s ion f or creativity and commitment is key,” he said.

-Pablo Arauz and Alex Young, Staff Writers

Check ‘em out...

Keith’s Comics Address: 103 W. Hickory St.

Phone: 940-387-5893

Madness Comics & Games Address: 111 E. University Drive, Suite 112

Phone: 940-565-2275 On The Record

Texas’ Unemployment Rate Remains Constant Denton’s Rate Sustains Over Last Year politics, and technology.

-Ashley-Crystal Firstley, Senior Staff Writer

Metropolitan Statistics Area Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington

Numbers measure changes from May 2010 to May2011.

The terms “added” and “subtracted” refer to NET gains or losses.

Includes counties: Wise, Denton, Collin, Hunt, Delta, Parker, Tarrant, Dallas, Rockwall, Kaufman, Johnson and Ellis

d

subtr acted

26,400 professional and business services jobs for a 6.3 percent increase.

8,500 financial activities jobs for a 3.7 percent increase.

d de ad

d

d

10,400 tradetransportation-utility jobs for a 5,000 informa1.8 percent tion jobs for a 6.3 increase. percent decrease.

The MSA added 5,500 local government jobs, a 1.8 percent increase.

de

de

The MSA subtracted The MSA 11,100 federal added 400 jobs, a 19.8 percent decrease. state jobs, a 0.8 percent increase.

ed

su

ad

ad

ed ct

ra bt

The Dallas MSA’s government jobs shrank by 5,200 jobs for a decline of 1.3 percent.

add

In the serviceproviding areas, 54,900 jobs were added for a 2.2 percent increase.

2,100 6,100 manufacturing mining, logging and jobs for a 0.8 percent construction decrease. jobs for an increase of 3.9 percent over the year

Why more private sector jobs than total jobs added?

The MSA added 64,100 private sector jobs, an over-the-eyar change of 2.6 percent.

The MSA added a total of 58,900 nonfarm jobs, an over-the-year change of 2.1 percent.

subtracted

added

In total, the goods-producting industries added 4,000 jobs for a 1.0 percent annual increase.

adde

On The Record

years if given a four-and-a-half-year online tax exemption, according to investmentwatchblog.com, a website covering breaking news in business,

added

Texas’ unemployment rate plateaued in May at 8 percent, slightly decreasing from last year’s average of 8.1 percent and staying below the national rate of 9.1, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.

Denton’s unemployment rates have also stayed consistent, rising slightly to 6.4 percent in May from 6.3 the year prior.

Eight thousand non-agricultural jobs were added in May, equaling to 205,400 jobs from a year ago and ranking Texas fourth nationally.

Texas has created more than a third of the country’s new jobs since the end of the recession in 2009, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Although 985,656 people are without work in Texas, 92,300 jobs have been added this year, said Ronny Congleton, TWC Commissioner representing labor, in a press release.

“We’re experiencing what everyone else is experiencing, [but] just a little less,” Givens said.

Texas professional and business services grew by 4,300 jobs in May, totaling to 53,700 service posit ions added over the year.

Mining and logging employment ta l l ied to 32,700 a s it i ncrea sed by 3,000 jobs a nd ma inta ined a n annual growth rate of 15.9 percent this year.

Nineteen hundred jobs were added to t he ma nufacturing indust r y in May for a total of 10,900 jobs since last year.

Amazon.com is negotiating a deal with Texas officials where it promises to bring more than 5,000 jobs to Texas and $300 million in capital i nvest ment s over t he nex t t h ree

2,900 leisure and hospitality jobs for a 1.0 percent increase.

16,500 educational and health services jobs for a 4.7 percent increase.

Graphic by ashley-crystal Firstley/senior staFF Writer

ntdaily.com

News 15

Saving for the Future As baby boomers begin to retire and Social Security becomes strained, the problems of current retirees have forced the next generation to begin financial planning early.

Many Americans hoping to retire find their savings are not enough to retire on and have begun to rely solely on Social Security, said Randall Guttery, the associate dean for the College of Business.

“Over 50 percent of all Americans who retire, if they didn’t have Social Security, would be below the poverty line,” Guttery said. “What started in the 1930s as an additional retirement plan to supplement your employer’s plan has become the sole plan for many Americans.”

to defined contribution plans, where the company provides about half the employee’s contribution.

50 percent “ofOver all Americans

who retire, if they didn’t have Social Security, would be below the poverty line.

”

- Randall Guttery, Associate Dean for the College of Business

Retirement Woes Guttery said many retirees experience problems because they didn’t give themselves time to save for retirement.

“If you don’t start a retirement plan until you’re in your 50s, you just don’t have the benefit of time,” Guttery said.

He said companies have switched from fully providing for employee pension plans

Preparing for Retirement The first step for any college graduate entering the workplace is to get out of debt created by student loans, Guttery said. At the same time, he said students must begin saving as soon as possible.

“You know you have money in your budget for your student loans, for food, for housing, for gasoline,” he said. “Even if it’s just $25 a week, you treat that $25 like an electric bill.”

The next step, Guttery said, is to build an emergency fund of three to six months of a person’s annual salary.

Finally, if employers provide a defined contribution retirement plan, they need to max out their own contribution because the amount they put aside for retirement, and the percent the employer matches, are not taxed as part of a person’s total income.

Thomas Mote, a finance senior, said he is going to start saving for retirement as soon as he begins his career.

“It’s not so much that people think about retirement and think it’s too far down the road, I think it just doesn’t occur to people,” Mote said. “Once you get to the point when you’re not living paycheck to paycheck, it’s important to start saving.”

-Isaac Wright, Senior Staff Writer

Dissecting Divorce 1 in 12

couples head for divorce after 24 months.

30%

less marriages since 1970

7.2

years is the median duration of a marriage.

40%

more divorces since 1970

Jobs that require extensive traveling, physical contact with others, long/odd hours and high stress own the high divorce rates. Some that remain fairly low are secretaries, mathematicians, journalists, urban planners, librarians, dietitians and fitness instructors.

Source: usattorneylegalservices.com.

Check out NTDaily.com to see our full story on divorce.

GRAPHIC BY ASHLEY-CRYSTAL FIRSTLEY/SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Work Smarter, Not Harder Workers in the U.S. have no problem spending extra hours in the office, but it’s important to treat your body right to avoid serious health risks.

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost 15 million Americans work full time on an evening shift, night shift, rotating shifts or other irregular schedules.

“If you want to remain status quo, you work 40 hours a week,” said Joan Hubbard of the UNT management faculty. “The really successful people, the entrepreneurs, the ones who provide jobs — they work more than 40 hours a week.”

Here are some examples of what those workaholics may face if they don’t cut their hours back.

workplace health problems, but combating it takes some practice.

“You have to set some priorities,” Hubbard said. “You have to schedule leisure time — you kind of have to make an appointment

Tension Taming

with yourself.”

Organization can create a relaxed mood a nd ca n ma ke task s more manageable, Hubbard said.

“I ’m a l i s t maker,” she said.

“I tr y to do the

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that people who work 11 or more hours a day are at far greater risk of heart trouble than those who spend less time on the job.

Stress is one of the main culprits for

... If I can get this “out of the way then my stress level can go down significantly.

”

-Joan Hubbard, UNT Management Department

Working Overtime

most challenging, the most distasteful thing on my list first, because if I can get this out of the way then my stress level can go down significantly.”

Healthy Living Finding the time for a balanced meal at the workplace can be a challenge as well.

Caffeine, a common afternoon pick-meup, can leave its drinkers jittery and unable to focus. A simple alternative is a handful of almonds which can lower the risk of heart attack by 50 percent for those who consume nuts five times a week, according to Loma Linda School of Public Health.

According to Hubbard, there’s nothing wrong with a little stress.

“Some stress is good,” Hubbard said. “It energizes you, it makes you more productive. You have to have some stress in your life or you would be a couch potato.”

-Nicole Balderas. Staff Writer

Don’t want to miss class or fun in the sun?

Then visit the Student Health and Wellness Center during the summer!

Summer services include: Primary care

X-rays

Lab testing

Full-service pharmacy Immunizations Hours M-Th 8am-5pm Friday 9am-5pm (940)-565-2333 healthcenter.unt.edu Graphic by ashley-crystal Firstley/senior staFF Writer

Allergy injections

Photo by James Coreas/senior staff PhotograPher

A-Train Sparks Growth, Jobs The Denton County Transportation Authority A-Train began carrying passengers between Denton and Dallas June 20, an event Denton leaders and business owners expect to ignite growth and jobs in downtown Denton.

The A-Train’s downtown Denton station sits on the edge of a growing arts and entertainment district along East Hickory and Industrial streets.

According to the UNT Center for Economic Development and Research, the commuter rail service is expected to generate more than $413 million in economic activity by 2012.

“It’s going to play a big role,” said Linda Ratliff, the director of economic development for the city of Denton. “It’s a catalyst for growth in the downtown, Hickory Street area.”

Downtown Growth An increase in economic activity downtown is a trend that took hold before the A-Train rolled onto the track.

Denton Mayor Mark Burroughs said the city has focused on creating a strong, distinguishable arts and entertainment district along Hickory Street.

With the A-Train now in service, Burroughs said the plan is to bring interest to restaurants and other businesses downtown to more jobs and growth.

“People come here to be employed, but 18 News

they come for entertainment purposes also,” Burroughs said. “We are trying whatever we can do as a city to make destinations that people from the cities below us want to come to. That creates jobs, that builds upon itself.”

A-Train Jobs DCTA has hired workers to drive and maintain the trains and the railway.

Dee Leggett, the vice president of communications and planning for DCTA, said the company hired employees through a contractor, the North Texas Rail Group.

Leggett said DCTA hired engineers, conductors and mechanics to keep the A-Train running smoothly. The NTRG also awarded 20 percent of the A-Train project’s $193 million contract to small businesses.

Leggett said the biggest impact the A-Train will have is through development of the areas surrounding the railway’s five stations.

“One of the biggest trends you see when coming into an urban area is private sector development around the station,” Leggett said. “Denton’s already seeing that with what’s going on in Industrial Street … We hope that, in the next five to 10 years, the A-Train really has a transformative effect on the properties around it.”

-Isaac Wright, Senior Staff Writer ntdaily.com

Equal Opportunity a Rising Issue • Under the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, it’s illegal for employers to discriminate against a job applicant because of the person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability or genetics.

• Ninety nine thousand, nine hundred and twenty two individual charges have been filed in 2010, making it the largest number reported in the last 13 years.

• Race seems to be the number one factor played in discriminatory hiring at 35.9 percent (35,890).

• The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), which took effect in November 2009, restricts employers from using genetic information in the hiring process.

-Ashley-Crystal Firstley, Senior Staff Writer On The Record

Photo by James Coreas/senior staff PhotograPher

Pursuit of Happiness

Options Limited for Undocumented Workers As the number of illegal immigrants in Texas continues to grow, their role in Denton’s job market also expands.

The Pew Hispanic Center estimated that in 2009, about 1.6 million illegal immigrants resided in Texas, accounting for 8.7 percent of the state’s labor force.

The center is a nonpartisan research organization that chronicles the Hispanic population’s growing impact on the U.S. Nicolas Chavez, an attorney specializing in immigration and naturalization law in North Texas, said most illegal immigrants work as gardeners, cooks and construction workers.

“They’re fulfilling a void,” Chavez said.

“Filling a void of work that is laborious or otherwise unappealing.”

According to the Texas Higher Education Board, 304 students enrolled at UNT in fall 2009 benefited from this law, including illegal immigrant students and other nonpermanent residents.

However, illegal immigrant graduates are usually unable to find gainful employment because of laws restricting employers from hiring undocumented workers, Chavez said.

“They go up the ladder, they get their degree,” Chavez said. “The question is, what do they do with it?”

He said graduates could seek selfOn The Record

employment or obtain fake documents but more often than not were unable to do anything.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas recently made news by announcing that he was an illegal immigrant.

Chavez said many illegal immigrants had come to the U.S. with their parents at a young age when they were unable to make decisions, and were being punished for it.

Without the passage of the DREAM Act, a bill trying to give some illegal immigrants permanent residency, illegal immigrants will likely continue to be limited to manual labor jobs.

Pedro, 31, who requested that his last name not be used because of his immigration status, has lived in Texas for nine years, working as a cook and a day laborer all over North Texas, Chavez said.

Pedro said he came to the U.S. from Mexico because there were more jobs and he wanted to provide for his family.

“I just want my kids to have good lives,” he said.

Pedro said he regularly sends money to family in Mexico and has two children born in the U.S. He said he is happy his children are U.S. citizens.

A study done by the Texas Comptrollers’ Office in 2006 found the state earned more ntdaily.com

in taxes and economic output from illegal immigrants than government expenses on providing services for them.

-Alex Macon, Staff Writer

Law Allows Enrollment In 2001, Texas passed a law allowing illegal immigrants to enroll in its state colleges. The law does not specifically identify illegal immigrant students, but establishes that students must: • Reside in Texas with a parent while attending high school in Texas.

• Graduate from high school in the state.

• Live in Texas for three years prior to graduation.

• Provide colleges and universities with a signed document promising the student will seek permanent resident status as soon as possible.

News 19

Homeless without a job: A harsh reality It’s 2:30 p.m. on a hot June day and D.J.* is on the bus to the Social Security Administration Office.

He needs a new Social Security card if he hopes to get a job. Two days before he received a state issued I.D., so he’s on the right track.

D.J. is one of hundreds of homeless people in Denton, trying to turn their circumstances around and become self-sufficient.

“I’m 33 and I should have my life together, but I don’t,” he said.

D.J. said he sometimes he lives with a friend in an apartment, and other times, he sleeps on the street.

Ted Stark can relate. He is an assistant chef at Our Daily Bread, a community soup kitchen located in St. Andrew Presbyterian Church on Oak Street.

“This isn’t just a job for me, I had a choice,” Stark said. “At one point in my life I was homeless, [and] I like to give back.”

Pursuing the Path of Partying D.J. grew up near Plano in an upper-middle class family, he said.

Frustrated by his parents’ divorce and family tensions, a young D.J. drifted into drugs and partying, he said.

That lifestyle and frequent jail terms placed D.J. in his current situation.

“A lot of this is self-inflicted,” he said. “I’m not looking for a pity party.”

His last offense, a DWI last spring, cost him his

driver’s license, job and apartment within 40 days, he said.

“I guess it’s part of the punishment, but what do they expect you to do?” he asked. “For somebody who’s really trying, the system is not set up to help you. Once you’re on paper, you’re on a leash.”

Without easy access to standard amenities, such as showers and a place to sleep, job hunting is more difficult, D.J. said.

“It’s hard to find work when you don’t smell the best,” he said.

Homeless in Denton Even though the resources for homeless people are helpful, it’s difficult to find a job in Denton, D.J. said.

Despite that, he said he prefers trying to get back on his feet here instead of Dallas, where there are more job prospects.

“I’ve been homeless in Dallas before — it’s horrible,” he said. “You have to sleep on top of your belongings or you’ll end up with your shoes stolen. I’ve been to the shelters there, and I’d rather sleep on the streets here.”

Brenda Jackson, the program coordinator at the Salvation Army, said with the down economy, there has been an increase in the number of people asking for assistance.

Denton needs a long-term shelter, and the public needs to know about the other needs of homeless people, Jackson said.

“They don’t just need money,” she said. “They need support, education, to build skills of self-sufficiency.”

Changing Perceptions Jackson said she wants people to challenge the stereotypes they have of homeless people.

“They’re human beings first,” she said. “We have to treat them with respect.”

Stark said employers and the public shouldn’t hold a person’s homelessness against him or her.

“Most homeless people are humble, and given the opportunity they’ll work just as hard if not harder than people who have a lot,” he said Jackson said with the economy and employers being choosy about applicants, the number of homeless people will increase.

Homeless not Hopeless Despite the steep odds, D.J. said he still has hope for turning his life around and getting back on his feet for good.

In a year, D.J. said he sees himself living in his own place with a good-paying job and a motorcycle.

“Even in the Bible it says the righteous man falls seven times and he still gets up,” he said. “And I believe that.”

-Corrisa Jackson, Senior Staff Writer

*Name changed to protect identity

PHOTOS BY DREW GAINES/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Top Left: Three homeless men seek shelter in an abandoned building.

Top Middle: Our Daily Bread, located in St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, serves hundreds of homeless everyday.

Top Right: Our Daily Bread hands out prepackaged meals on the weekends when the food service is closed.

Above: A man lays his head down on a table at Our Daily Bread inside St. Andrew Presbyterian Church.

PHOTO BY JUN MA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Roden’s Road to City Council UNT Graduate Finds Passion for Civics

While Kevin Roden may be a new face on the Denton City Council after winning the District 1 election in May, his reputation as an active figure in the community precedes him.

Also the assistant director of student life for the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science at UNT, Roden was a prominent member of the Denton community long before his name was ever printed on a ballot.

He grew up in Ohio, and in 1992, he made the trip down to Denton to major in jazz studies at UNT’s College of Music. After a year and a half, he said the competitive job market musicians face wasn’t for him, and he changed his major to political science.

Roden said his road to the city council began after the real estate company United Equities purchased the historical buildings along Fry Street only to demolish them.

“I think it caused a lot of folks about my age, who were coming into their own in the city, to say these things are precious, and they are vulnerable unless people in the community start getting involved,” he said. “Out of the ashes of the destruction of Fry Street really resulted in something beautiful.”

22 Feature

Roden said he is still learning the ins and outs of the city council, but has already identified areas he thinks the city should focus on. One challenge he said he faces is that his district has historically been occupied by a large minority population.

“That becomes a trick for me now,” Roden said. “To develop relationships from here on out to make sure that folks in the community that are demographically different than me feel like I’m part of helping them fight for interests that are interesting to them.”

Roden’s fondness for history prompted him to become a member of Denton’s Historic Landmark Commission and serve as the organization’s chairman before the city council elections earlier this year.

In 2001, Roden introduced a cultural contribution to Denton in the form of Drink and Think.

The event consists of Roden inviting Denton residents into his home for discussions of all kinds — a venue he said sometimes attracts about 80 people and is the perfect setting for philosophic dialogues.

“This is something the city could really take advantage of,” he said. “This is the future of Denton, and I had a sense that ntdaily.com

the city didn’t have a good ear to that part of the community.”

He said he started frequently attending city council meetings to learn more about the city’s issues before deciding to run for the office.

“I was going to all the city council meetings and all sorts of things, trying to cover these issues,” he said. “More and more, I was getting frustrated that these are important issues that aren’t being addressed by the city.”

- Isaac Wright, Senior Staff Writer

Denton City Council Meetings Where: City Hall 215 E. McKinney St.

When: The first and third Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m.

On The Record

PHOTO BY CORRISA JACKSON/SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Denton Freedom House Program Gives Men Faith, Second Chances

Off North Loop 288 in Aubrey sits a nearly 20-acre stretch of land, home to a place where men find purpose, faith and second chances.

The Denton Freedom House helps men get back on their feet and introduces them to Christianity.

“We’re not just a social service,” said founder Corey Adams. “It’s a Christian men’s home that ministers to those that have suffered from substance abuse, have been homeless and those being released from jail or prison.”

After staying in the home for 180 calendar days and working for 180 hours, the men are eligible for an internship set up by the house. Adams also owns and operates Zera Coffee Company and furniture store The Back Porch, and sets up entry jobs for the men in the program. The men are eligible to move up in the business over time. If desired, those in the program can choose to work somewhere else.

Previously a drug addict, Adams said he became a Christian in 1991 and turned his life around.

Adams owned a construction business that he closed to begin his ministry in 2004.

He said hundreds of men have been On The Record

through the program since it began.

“I don’t know if I’ve seen a man come through our program who wasn’t able to find a job relatively quickly,” said Brian Buttrick, a staff member and manager at

“ I don’t know if

I’ve ever seen a man come through our program who wasn’t able to find a job relatively quickly.

”

- Brian Buttrick, staff member of Denton Freedom House and manager at Zera Coffee Company

Zera Coffee Company.

Men from all walks of life find their way to the Denton Freedom House, he said.

“Some guys have never had a job, and we have doctors out there,” he said. “It’s a diverse cross-section.”

The men in the house are taught about Christianity and how to be rid of their ntdaily.com

old habits in the program’s first phase, and begin finding a permanent career in phase two.

Mason Willner, 20, is in Phase One of the undergraduate program at the house.

Willner’s parents told him about the program while he was in prison. He said he came to Freedom House the same day he left prison.

Willner said being a part of the house taught him a lot about Christianity and put him on a new track.

“A lot has changed,” he said. “I got a new life ahead of me.”

Financial responsibility is a focal point in the program, Buttrick said.

“Once they get a job, they have to account for every penny they spend,” he said.

Willner said he’s learned about money management and isn’t worried about his future career.

Buttrick said there is good fellowship and a close-knit community at Denton Freedom House.

“I can’t imagine doing anything else,” he said. “It’s been a joy and blessing for me to work with the other men.”

-Corrisa Jackson, Senior Staff Writer Feature 23

The Graveyard Shift While the rest of the world sleeps, Natalie Marie Harrison and Stephen Laster are hard at work. Harrison works as a delivery driver for Jimmy John’s on Fry Street, while Laster mans the night shift at 7-Eleven on West Oak Street.

Harrison, an undeclared junior at UNT, said she has worked the graveyard shift for two and a half years because it fits her school schedule.

“I am a night person, so it works for me,” she said. “I deliver from 10 until 3:15, and then closing takes a few more hours. After that I go to my 8 a.m. classes and I’m more awake than I would be if I slept all night.”

For Harrison, the excitement of working the late nights comes after 2 a.m. when all of Fry Street’s bars close.

“After last call, everyone comes into Jimmy’s,” she said. “It’s funny serving drunk people, but you wouldn’t believe how often we have to call the cops.”

For Laster, working the graveyard shift wasn’t a choice.

“Honestly, it was just the position I was hired for,” Laster said. “They put

me on the night shift and I’ve been doing it for the past four years.”

Laster said he has seen his fair share of action and the dangers of working late hours first hand.

“You get a lot of crazy people in late — drunks, shoplifters, homeless people,” Laster said. “Last year, I was even robbed at gunpoint.”

Outside of work, Laster is a parttime student at NCTC and parkour enthusiast.

Parkour is an activity that involves treating urban areas like obstacle courses, running through them while simultaneously performing gymnastic maneuvers. Laster’s parkour team is sponsored by Take Flight Apparel, the first clothing company dedicated to parkour apparel.

“Working overnights is tough. The pay is better but it affects every part of your life,” he said. “It’s hard to find time to train with people since I sleep during the day — it throws your whole schedule off. I’ve even fallen asleep during class a few times.”

Photos by Chelsea stratso/senior staff PhotograPher

- Matt Malone, Staff Writer

After Hours Balancing school and late night work can be stressful and difficult.

Here are some ways to excel while working in the a.m.

• Manage free time well by committing it to studying or resting up for work.

• Eating healthy and exercising can provide the energy needed to work hard late into the night.

• Take at least a few hours a week to relax and avoid getting overwhelmed.

Check out NTDaily.com to see more stories on the service industry.

24 Feature

ntdaily.com

On The Record

New Signs of Advertising In recent years, many businesses have replaced immobile 50-foot billboards with frantic teenagers flipping 3-foot-wide signs as a new means of marketing.

Raising the eyebrows of countless Denton drivers, these employees are found in front of companies throwing signs in the air, dancing with the sign in hand or anything else to get noticed.

Sign spinning is a form of “guerilla marketing,” a term coined by ad agency executive Jay Conrad Levinson, and acts as an unconventional way of promoting a business.

According to guerilla marketing franchise AArrow Advertising, this tactic focuses on energy, imagination and targeting people in unexpected places.

Guerilla marketing is used to lure in customers during tax season, said Curtis Lucky, a six-year employee of Liberty Tax Service on Fort Worth Drive.

“Liberty Tax hires four people during the

months of January through April to stand outside in a Statue of Liberty costume and do whatever they have to do to get people’s attention without being indecent,” Lucky said.

A spinner’s typical workday is four to eight hours during the most heavily trafficked times. The position pays $9 an hour, and some businesses pay up to $20 an hour if the spinners secure people’s attention.

Sign spinning originated in San Diego, Calif., with entrepreneur Max Durovic, who began to draw attention from residents after playing with the sign he was supposed to hold in front of a local sandwich shop.

In 2008, more than 500 businesses in the U.S. used sign spinners, and the tactic is now being used around the world, according to AArrow Advertising.

Sign spinning has become an extreme sport with the AArrow Sign Spinning World Championships, where spinners perform choreographed routines to music and

display their skills.

For more information on this growing form of guerilla marketing, visit www. aarrowads.com.

-Alicia Warren, Staff Writer

Some Spinners Little Caesars: 717 S. Interstate 35, Suite 122

State Farm: 2442 Lillian Miller Parkway, Suite 115

Verizon Wireless: 1805 S. Loop 288

UNT is more than just classes and exams?

Nuts…no money to eat out.

http://getconnnected.unt.edu Putting the green back in your wallet. http://moneymanagement.unt.edu Chestnut Hall 313 (940) 369-7761

Photo by James Coreas/senior staff PhotograPher

Brewing the American Dream Six UNT Alumni Create Coffee Career

What began as an idea cultivated by six friends for an artist-friendly space seven years ago is now one of Denton’s most popular coffee shops and art venues.

Tommy Rose and Olivia Emile are the only remaining founders of Art Six still working at the shop.

The six founders knew each other from studying in UNT’s theatre department.

They gathered on Sunday mornings on Rose’s front porch to eat donuts, drink coffee and look through newspaper job listings.

One morning, they came up with the idea of starting a coffee shop that would serve Denton’s art community.

“We did that for a couple weeks, and then we got to talking. ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if…,’ ‘Wouldn’t it be fun if…,’” Rose said. “And we just figured, you know, we’re young, we have time. And if we’re gonna fail, let’s fail now while we’re young.”

Each of the six took on a different aspect of getting the shop started. Rose was in charge of finding a location for the coffee shop.

“I took part in setting up our s-corp, acquiring all the paperwork, renovating the space and setting up shop,” Emile said.

Rose said asking questions was integral 26 Feature

to opening the shop.

“When we started out, I went to the city of Denton saying, ‘I know there’s 1,000 steps to getting a business open,’” he said. “‘I just need steps one through five right now. I’ll come back to you and I’ll ask for steps six through 10.’”

He said he learned firsthand several aspects of running a business despite failing to receive proper training in business or finance classes.

“When we first started, we didn’t expect it to be open longer than two years,” he said.

“It’s really hard to say where I’ll be in two years, five years, because I never thought I’d be here.”

Rose and Emile said different aspects of their theatre degrees helped them keep Art Six up and running.

“Technical theater skills translated to the renovations, directing and stage management translated to getting a lot of things done,” Emile said. “Even acting requires research, discipline, commitment and other things that are also needed to run a business.”

The other four founders have gone their separate ways. Some are now married with children. One moved to California to pursue an acting career. ntdaily.com

Rose and Emile encourage people thinking of starting their own businesses to do so, even if the person has a degree that would not be associated with running a business.

“Anyone willing to work hard can live the American dream, no matter how small the scale,” Emile said.

-Ann Smajstrla, Staff Writer

All About Art Six Address: 424 Bryan St.

Hours: Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Saturday 12 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Sunday 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Phone: 940- 484-2786

On The Record

Melissa McGuire Director of orientation and transition programs A1: As a kid, I wanted to be an FBI agent.

A2: At a marketing firm as a account coordinator.

Scott Ivy

Here’s what our Twitter followers had to say about their first jobs:

Counseling graduate student

KevinRoden @ntdaily my first try at a Denton job failed when I couldn’t get hired at a telemarketing job in town. Failed the vocab test...

A1: A fireman.

LeslieWimmer @ntdaily My first job was being a roller skating kangaroo at a skating rink. I also served nachos. #Memories

A2: Teaching history at a high school in Irving.

ryan_vance

Josh Brine Radio, television and film junior

Veronica Tucker

@ntdaily My first job was at a paintball range in Mansfield, TX. I was 15 and got paid $35 a day. It was miserable. #Ontherecord #UNTNews

Biology sophomore

-Corrisa Jackson, Senior Staff Writer

Campus Chat Q1: What did you want to be when you were little?

A1: I guess I could say a ninja.

A1: I wanted to be a veterinarian as a kid.

A2: Washing cars for my dad’s dealership.

A2: Working at a kid’s club in a gym.

Ashuni Perez Radio, television and film junior A1: I wanted to be a rock star.

A2: A student worker for the College of Arts and Sciences.

Q2: What was your first job?

Joseph Lamb Hospitality management senior

A1: At first a race car driver, then an engineer.

A2: I was an usher at Cinemark in Grapevine.

Leon Meadows Trade book coordinator at UNT bookstore

A1: I wanted to be a lawyer.

A2: Working at the UNT bookstore.

Interview Wear Opinion Presentation is important when going to an interview. The first impression made on an employer can be made by what is worn, so here are some basic tips.

Tips for Women Stick with conservative colors for an outfit and accessories. Any jewelry worn should be simple and not flashy. This means no feather earrings, door-knockers or other kinds of costume jewelry. It’s okay to play it safe and forego jewelry altogether.

Blazers with slacks or a knee-length skirt are acceptable.

It’s not impossible to incorporate some color into a professional outfit — a vibrant blouse is an option — but don’t dress over the top.

slacks, wear dark socks.

Accessories like watches are acceptable as long as they are not distracting.

When it comes to the interview, don’t fear being overdressed. Remember, “dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”

After nailing the interview and scoring the job, it’s still important to keep up a professional appearance.

No Fear Fridays On work days, be sure to keep clothes ironed and neat-looking.

For casual Fridays, no need to stress.

The outfit just needs to be presentable.

The most important thing to remember when dressing for a professional environment is clothes should reflect a worker who’s competent and qualified.

-Corrisa Jackson, Senior Staff Writer

Don’t Forget

Tips for Men Depending on the job, wearing a button-down shirt with a tie and slacks or a suit will be appropriate. When in doubt, go for the dressier option. If going with the suit, shoot for black, navy or dark gray. Along with the suit pants or

• • • • •

Polish shoes Keep clothes ironed Limit the perfume or cologne Keep nails neat and trimmed Wear hair in a neat style

What to Bring • • • • •

Checklist Pen/Pencil Paper (for notes) Social Security card Government-issued identification (driver’s license) • Resumes (at least three, printed on resume paper) and application • References (employers typically require three) • Transcripts

Numbers to Know

2

Days to wait before sending a thank you note

10

Minutes early employers like applicants to arrive

15 to 20

Length (in minutes) of an average job interview

60

Seconds (on average) employers spend reading a résumé

13.9

Million unemployed Americans currently in the job hunt

SOURCE: WWW.DBA/ORACLE.COM

28 Experience

GRAPHIC BY SARA JONES/VISUALS EDITOR

ntdaily.com

On The Record

Ways to Prepare a Portfolio Résumés Can Make or Break Applying

Opinion

so don’t write it in paragraphs.

Length First impressions are important, especially when looking for a job. However, the first impression made on a corporate recruiter usually isn’t when they meet applicants.

It’s during the four or five seconds they spend looking at résumés sent to them.

There are many do’s and don’ts when it comes to writing a professional résumé, and most mistakes are easy to avoid.

Formatting Use a résumé template only as a reference. Where there is one lazy person, there are many lazy people, and when stacks of résumés are formatted the exact same way, it’s likely they will all share the same disappointing fate.

Display past work experience, education and other relevant information in bulleted lists. A résumé isn’t an essay,

Sizes of résumés are important, and in this case the shorter the better. No one wants to spend 10 minutes looking over a six-page résumé. A concise, clear résumé is simply an easier read.

Consider t hat some people do nothing but look at résumés. Keep it within one to two full pages.

Pictures, Fonts, Graphics When choosing a font, stick with something that is easy to read. Times New Roman and Arial are some of the more obvious choices, but Tahoma is also acceptable.

Displaying the Résumé Working hard on the résumé might not be worth it if enough people aren’t seeing t he document. Creating a personal website with a résumé, profile

and any other information deemed important makes it easy for people to see what potential employees have to offer and gives the résumé a permanent place to stay.

References This list should not be included on a résumé, as it merely adds to its perceived length. Instead, print it out separately and bring it to interviews.

That way, if asked for a list of references, one will be on hand.

Career Center The Ca reer Center, located on Chestnut Street by the Pohl Recreation Center, has a variety of services available to students who want to prepare for the professional world. Helping students write their résumés is among them.

-Will Sheets, Staff Writer

Getting Ready for Real World Opinion Preparing for the real world is tough for any college student, as most aren’t sure how to go about getting ready for the rest of their lives. Here are some things they can do to get ready for the post graduation grind.

Be Multi-Talented These days, employers are becoming more interested in people that can specialize in many different fields.

While students’ majors are the field

On The Record

they want to enter, having a minor that correlates to that major is equally important. For instance, majoring in sports medicine and having a minor in engineering wouldn’t better someone’s chances in getting a job with the Texas Rangers.

Look at the different atmospheres in the work force and adapt to their different working environments. Be someone the employer wouldn’t hesitate to hire.

Be Smart with Cash The easiest way to go from the top

ntdaily.com

to the bottom is blowing through a hard-earned paycheck without saving for future expenses or emergencies. Take a money matters course in college or attend sessions by people like Dave Ramsey, a successful public speaker on money saving. Learn how the stock market works by visiting the new Business Building next semester. Be careful, because money can be made in stocks but lost just as fast in a questionable business decision.

-Brett Medeiros. Staff Writer

Experience 29

Photos by Chelsea stratso/senior staff PhotograPher

Nail The Sale

Get Rid of Junk at This Stay-at-Home Job Round ‘Em Up

Sometimes making money can be done less than five feet outside residents’ garages. For those interested in losing unwanted goods and gaining quick cash, hosting a garage sale is a great option. Here are some tips on how to make the sale a success.

Depending on how much junk there is, gather items that will be sold a week to a month in advance and put them aside in boxes. This is the time to test out that old video camera and make sure all the video cassettes are in their cases. This is also a good chance to start putting price stickers on items.

Save the Date Garage sales work best when people know about them in advance. It may sound like common sense, but planning ahead will do wonders for the number of the sale’s customers. A week prior to the sale, put some advertisements in a local newspaper’s classified section. Every city does it differently, so go on the city’s website and find out how much it costs to place an ad.

People who are serious about “garage sailing” will look at this. Another easy way to advertise is through Craigslist.

Must-Haves

Picture This Listing specifics on big-ticket items and adding pictures will make people more aware that the sale is well organized.

Instead of just writing “TV,” write 30 Experience

“24 in. Toshiba plasma screen TV.” If people k now more about t he products, they will want to buy. ntdaily.com

A day or two before the sale, get some construction paper or pre-made garage sales signs and write down the information. Include the location of the sale, start time to end time and which days the sale will be held.

Make sure signs are readable from a distance. If people can’t see it from their car, they will probably ignore it.

Buy long stakes to stick signs in the ground and pick a brightly colored sign to stick in front of the sale location. Hang up signs the day before — getting up early is a big part of starting the sale, so it’s important to plan ahead.

- Nicole Balderas, Staff Writer On The Record

Patrolling the Streets Although Denton is home to two major universities, Denton police officers say most crime in the city rarely comes from students.

The Denton Police Department’s group of about 160 sworn officers patrols 12 districts within the city to counter crime.

Uniformed officers are split into four shifts, with each one assigned to a district.

Photo by Isaac WrIght/senIor staff WrIter

Paying the Price A behind-the-scenes look at what happened to two girls who were found shoplifting by local police officers at the Denton Macy’s.

Rigdon’s Regulations Officer Ryan Rigdon, one of the newest members of the DPD, is assigned to District 12. The district consists of the Loop 288 area, the MedPark Station, Denton Regional Hospital and the surrounding offices and apartment complexes.

Rigdon said officers generally work one district for about a year before they bid on their next post. He said this allows every officer to have a better understanding of the city so they can back up fellow officers more effectively. Once assigned to a district, Rigdon said it’s critical to forge ties with residents.

“I spend a lot of time down here just getting to know the people,” he said as he rolls through the Providence Village apartments next to the MedPark Station, an area that has experienced a number of breakins recently. “You’ve got the few who are criminals that aren’t going to like you, no matter what. You just have to show people that you’re there for them.”

Rigdon said he doesn’t always write tickets for traffic violations, using the chance to pull people over and introduce himself to the residents.

“That’s really what traffic laws are meant to do,” he said. “They’re to give you that probable cause to pull someone over and talk to them. I could follow any car out of this subdivision, and within five minutes they would do something that would allow me to pull them over.”

Denton Crimes June 26 was a slow night in District 12.

Rigdon said sometimes weekends are quiet On The Record

and dispatch is flooded with calls during the week.

“You can’t pinpoint it at all,” he said.

“Sometimes, the weekends will be your slow days. I’d say it all goes along with the moon.”

Yet, even when the lunar cycle fuels the underbelly of Denton, he said students are not a large concern most of the time.

He said college students sometimes get tickets for driving while intoxicated and starting fights when they’ve had too much to drink.

Rigdon said it was far more common to see violent crimes or severe D.W.I. violations from the city’s non-student population.

“We see a lot of drunk drivers,” he said.

“But, real hard core crimes? You really see that more from adults and not college kids.

I mean, you don’t have too many students getting involved in domestics.”

Rigdon said Denton is like any other city — home to the same kinds of crime that happen in places where the law-abiding rarely tread. Drugs, theft and violence are all problems officers are forced to tackle at some point or another.

In spite of those dangers, Rigdon said the two most dangerous situations for an officer are a domestic disturbance call or a routine traffic stop.

“You’re going in blind,” Rigdon said.

“You don’t know anything about it and tempers are high. The person could be an axe murderer, but you don’t know that.”

7 p.m.

Officers meet in squad room for briefing at shift change. Sergeant Paul Willenbrock gives details about calls that came in during the day and reads alerts sent from law enforcement agencies.

8:30 p.m.

Dispatch call reports shoplifters at Macy’s. Items stolen are under $50 and suspects are juveniles.

8:56 p.m.

Two 14-year-old girls caught shoplifting at Macy’s are detained and taken to patrol car for transport downtown.

9 p.m.

Officers bring the suspects to station for processing.

9:10 p.m.

Officer Ryan Rigdon begins paperwork — Juvenile Detention Report, suspects’ information and officer’s narrative. Rigdon gets in touch with one of the girls’ parents.

10:30 p.m.

Juveniles are released to their parents.

-Isaac Wright, Senior Staff Writer

-Isaac Wright, Senior Staff Writer ntdaily.com

Experience 31

PHOTO BY CORRISA JACKSON/SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Fighting Fire

Denton Department Keeps Residents Safe At Fire Station 3 on McCormick Street, Brian Orosco reclines in a chair and watches “The Punisher” while drinking a Coke.

He can only enjoy this moment of relaxation for so long before a call from the dispatcher alerts him and his other team members of a medical emergency.

A day in the life of a firefighter consists of 24 hours of excitement and down time, as they dedicate their lives to helping others.

Stan Pruett, the station’s usual driver, said working as a firefighter and paramedic is the best job in the world.

“Even though it might be a corny answer, it’s still true,” Pruett said. “I get paid for helping people.”

Constant education and skill improvement is a part of firefighting and medical emergency training the public is unaware of, he said.

Some of the training includes education on hazardous materials and working with fire victims, said Bert Witherspoon.

Life as a Firefighter

“The public doesn’t see beyond the red truck and siren,” Waggoner said.

Orosco said a key to the medical part of their jobs is knowing how to reach the person in need of help.

Kevin Hewell said fighting structure fires is the most exciting part of the job.

The most challenging aspect, he said, is trying to stay calm with patients who are aggressive.

Beyond the Fire Truck Jimmy Waggoner said he has been a firefighter for 31 and a half years.

32 Experience

The public “ doesn’t see beyond the red truck and siren.

”

- Jimmy Waggoner, Denton firefighter

In Action When the firefighters receive a dispatch call to help with an emergency, the team splits and loads into the fire truck and ambulance. ntdaily.com

The response methods are either Code One or Code Three, Waggoner said.

C o de O ne me a n s t he s it u ation isn’t life-threatening and the driver must obey traffic laws, and Code T h ree sig na ls a da ngerous situation where the driver can disregard traffic lights.

Rewards Witherspoon said one of his favorite parts of being a f iref ighter is t he schedule.

Firefighters work one 24-hour shift and then are off for the next two days, he said.

“Every day when I come to work is Friday,” he said.

Another feature of the job is getting to the know residents by repeat visits, Orosco said.

“Frequent f lyers” is a n a f fectionate term the team members use when en route to a residence they’ve been to several times before, Pruett said.

“I have no idea what I’d be doing if I didn’t have this job,” he said.

- Corrisa Jackson, Senior Staff Writer On The Record

Photo by James Coreas/senior staff PhotograPher

Vocational Schools

Denton Offers Specialized Career Training Vocational and technical schools in Denton provide specialized career training and certification in careers ranging from cosmetology to private investigation.

The International Training Services Academy of Beauty on University Drive, open for the last 23 years, provides handson training and licensing in cosmetology and hairstyling.

Tuition is $18,000 for an 11-month day course, where students must complete 1,500 hours of training to receive a Texas cosmetology license. This license must be renewed every two years for a cosmetologist to legally operate in the state of Texas.

“It’s constantly continuing education,” said Melissa Kinion, a student at the I.T.S. Academy. “You have to stay up with current trends.”

Pilot School The US Aviation Academy, based out of Denton Airport since 2002, offers professional pilot training. Most airlines require pilots to have pilots’ licenses and 200 to 400 hours of flight time experience — both are provided by US Aviation. The professional pilot training program takes five to eight months, and the school regularly hires On The Record

graduates as flight instructors.

The school’s January news release said there were more than 200 students enrolled in the pilot training program.

State of Vocational Schools The 20th century saw the emergence of vocational education as an alternative or supplement to a more traditional college education, providing the specialized training needed to work in newer fields like computer science and medical services.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics shows that 49 percent of all students are seeking an associate’s degree in a vocational field.

The Sarah and Troy LaGrone Advanced Technology Complex gives high school juniors and seniors in the Denton Independent School District the opportunity to earn college credits or get a license in technical fields. Some of these fields are health science, computer engineering and manufacturing.

Dealing with Debt For-profit trade schools like ITT Technical Institute have drawn criticism for leaving students with crippling debt from loans and ntdaily.com

little guarantee of gainful employment.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, students at for-profit schools comprise 12 percent of all higher education students but account for 46 percent of student loans.

The New York Times reported in March 2010 that for-profit vocational schools have seen a significant increase in enrollment since the recession and subsequent cuts to federal education spending.

In June, the Department of Education announced new regulations for for-profit vocational schools.

A for-profit vocational school can lose all federal funding if: -Graduates’ loan payments are more than 12 percent of his or her total income -Graduates’ loan payments exceed 30 percent of his or her discretionary income -Sixty-five percent of graduates could not repay their loans Kinion said she wasn’t sure what the future held for her after she graduated from the I.T.S. Academy of Beauty, but she hopes to find employment at a salon.

-Alex Macon, Staff Writer Experience 33

Working Well With Others One challenge often overlooked in the office is maintaining the relationships within them. Keep these tips in mind to develop positive connections with work peers.

-Austin Wells, Staff Writer

Subordinates DO:

• Keep employees up to date on what is expected of them.

• Make deadlines for assignments perfectly clear.

• Listen to any concerns or frustrations.

DON’T:

• Only give negative feedback about an employee’s work • Set unrealistic goals or deadlines.

• Give preferential treatment to some employees while ignoring others.

Co-Workers DO:

• Be a team player.

• Help other co-workers be successful with their duties.

• Learn to trust co-workers.

DON’T:

• Blame other co-workers for mistakes.

• Take credit for someone else’s achievements.

• Take problems with another co-worker to the supervisor before trying to resolve the dispute first.

Opinion

Higher-Ups DO:

• Remain in constant communication with your supervisor so he or she is up to speed.

• Learn from your supervisor’s constructive criticism.

• Be honest and up front.

DON’T:

• Yell at your supervisor.

• Hide problems with your work.

• Make excuses for missing deadlines or not doing what is expected of you.

• Ignore emails or phone calls from your supervisor.

• Continuously put down other co-workers’ ideas at meetings.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN CURTIN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Impacting The Community Jobs Provide More Than Payment

Some of the most rewarding jobs are those that come without a paycheck. For people interested in making a difference around Denton, here are some volunteer jobs that are more about providing than payment.

-Matt Malone, Staff Writer

Keep Denton Beautiful This local affiliate of the litter prevention initiative Keep Texas Beautiful has tried to make Denton a better place to live since 1987.

Volunteers can participate in KDB’s three annual events — Tree Giveaway, Great American Clean-Up and Redbud Festival — litter pick-ups or help out with office work. Anyone looking to help the cause can also support programs like “Adopt-a-Spot” or the “Yard of The Month.” To learn more about KDB, go to www.kdb.org.

Denton Animal Control Center Adopting a stray cat or dog is a great way to help out a furry friend in need, but for those without that option, the Denton Animal Control Center is always looking for volunteers to help walk dogs, and clean and feed neglected animals.

The center hosts volunteer orientations on the third Saturday of every month. For more information, call 940-349-7594.

On The Record

ntdaily.com

Denton State Supported Living Center When families find themselves unable to care for their loved ones with severe mental retardation, the Texas State Schools can be a temporary or permanent solution.

The Denton State Supported Living Center, 200 wooded acres off State School Road in South Denton is the largest out of 12 in the state. It is home to more than 580 mentally challenged people who need constant, round the clock care, according to the website.

The website also states the DSSLC is one of the largest employers in Denton county, with 1,753 full-time employees as of 2010.

The school is always in need for volunteers.

To apply, go to www.dads.state.tx.us and go to the “links” tab. Click on “Volunteer with DADS” at the bottom of the page, then click on “Living Center Volunteers.”

There is information regarding state supported living centers and an application to volunteer on the page.

Experience 35

Photo by Chelsea stratso/senior staff PhotograPher

Stadium To Create Careers UNT’s Newest Addition Brings Business

W hen the new stadium officially opens in the fall, the number of available jobs in Denton will increase.

The $78 million structure will help bring in jobs on a variety of fronts.

The hundreds of construction jobs created from assembling the Mean Green Stadium is a sign of things to come, said Eric Capper, the UNT media associate athletic director for media relations.

“Those workers come here every day working feverishly to meet their deadlines so everything is finished on time,” he said. “All of those people are in Denton on a daily basis, buying gas and food even if they aren’t actually a resident, so it’s definitely good

for Denton.”

Other than construction, a plethora of other jobs will be available once the stadium is open, Capper said.

The new structure will have a full kitchen and an official UNT team store.

Capper said the new kitchen will c reate oppor t u n it ie s i n Denton including work for chefs and other food-related jobs.

Meanwhile, the new team store will create an opportunity for students to work du r i ng t he Mea n Green games.

Because the new stadium is larger than Fouts Field, the number of concession stands will also increase.

Occupations in the security field will also blossom.

There will be a need for security guards, ushers and customer service employees at the stadium, Capper said.

Business junior Patrick Simmons said the presence of the stadium will also create marketing jobs.

“It certainly can’t be discounted the amount of sponsors and companies who will use this new stadium as a marketing point,” Simmons said. “I am excited to see it in action and see what changes it will bring to Denton in the future.”

-Alex Young, Staff Writer

Mean Green Fall Football Schedule Thurs. Sept. 1 vs. FIU Sat. Sept. 10 vs. Houston* Sat. Sept. 17 vs. Alabama Sat. Sept. 24 vs. Indiana* Sat. Oct. 1 vs. Tulsa

Sat. Oct. 8 vs. Florida Atlantic* Sat. Oct. 15 vs. Louisiana Lafayette Sat. Oct. 22 vs. ULM* Sat. Oct. 29 vs. Arkansas State Sat. Nov. 12 vs. Troy

Sat. Nov. 19 vs. Western Kentucky* Sat. Dec. 3 vs. Middle Tennessee*

* Indicates Home Games sourCe: MeangreensPorts.CoM

36 Experience

ntdaily.com

On The Record

On-Campus Jobs University of North Texas offers a variety of job opportunities for residents. It is the largest employers in Denton with more than 9,000 employees. Here are some of the oncampus job openings currently listed on the Career Center website.

Center for Learning Enhancement, Assessment and Redesign:

Libraries:

AV Assistant Blackboard Vista Faculty Helpdesk Support Instructional Technology Trainer Turning Technologies Campus Intern Web Designer

Computer Technician Cybercafe Barista Data Entry Student Assistant Discovery Park Library Research Assistant Security Guard Supervisor Student Assistant

Department of Athletics:

Orientation & Transition Programs:

Academic Coaches Tutor Athletics IT Student Worker Concessions Event Staff Marketing and Promotions Student Worker Student Assistant for athletic ticket office Student Equipment Manager (football) MeanGreenSports.com Student Video Camera Operator Video Journalist

Eagle Camp Student Coordinator Transfer Ambassador/Student Assistant

Police, Parking & Transportation:

Department of Advancement:

Recreational Sports:

Data Entry Clerk Graduate Assistant Receptionist Student House Manager

Department of Biological Sciences: Business Services College Work Study Student Hourly Student Work Regular Student Assistant Stockroom Clerk Student Lab Assistant

Hourly Community Services Officer Parking Customer Service Representative Student Driver

Equipment Checker Group Exercise Instructor/Personal Trainer Gym Supervisor ID Checker Lifeguard, Weight Room Supervisor Marketing Assistant Yoga Exercise Instructor

Student Financial Aid & Scholarships: Customer Service Graduate Assistant Student Assistant

Union Administration: Dining Services: Secretaries Server/Dishwashers Verde Catering Attendant

Housing and Resident Life: Desk Clerk Landscaper/Grounds Special Assistant for Business Operations Special Assistant for Residence Life

Assistant Building Manager Cashier, Maintenance Graphic Designer

University Program Council: Current Events Coordinator President Publicity Assistant Receptionist VP of Films VP of Public Relations Source: UNT Career Center

On The Record

ntdaily.com

Information 37

Denton Jobs

By The Num13ers

$35,422

Median Household Income

6.4 %

24.7 Minutes

Average Commute Time

Unemployment Rate in Denton

Lower than the 7.9% Texas average.

9,000

9,144

Employees at Denton Businesses

8,000

3 • • •

7,000

6,000

Major Business Headquarters in Denton

Peterbilt Motors Company Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. Jostens

Sources:

5,000

4,000

• • •

3,113

3,000

1,753

2,000

1,5861,523

1,000

1,500

800

750

600

Presbyterian Hospital of Denton

Jostens

0 University Denton of Independent North School Texas District

Denton State School

Denton Texas Woman’s County University

Peterbilt Motors

Denton Regional Medical Center

600

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics City of Denton Texas Workforce Commission

572

355

Sally Thermadyne/ Flowers Beauty Victor Baking International Equipment/ Company Headquarters Tweco

Numbers provided by Alex Macon, Staff Writer. Graph by Ashley-Crystal Firstley, Senior Staff Writer 38 Information

ntdaily.com

On The Record

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