Career Guide 2016 by AIM Media Indiana

CAREER Guide

GET THE SCOOP ON:

Choosing a career

Conducting a job search

Landing the job you want

Brought to you by The Republic Classifieds

2016

Local job opportunities

Contents

Career counseling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Explaining employment gaps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Job interview callbacks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Beware of multitasking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Finding workers, page 4

Advice for millennials, page 6

Mentors provide support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Jobs in electronic security. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Tips to change your career . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

How not to apply for a job, page 10

Questions for the interviewer, page 12

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A path to success

Counseling can help students find most appropriate careers By Jennifer Willhite

hoosing the career path that is best for you or switching careers can seem a bit intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Pursuing a career that offers a great salary and excellent benefits should not be the only determining factors when making your decision. Sure, nurses make great money, but if you can’t stand the sight of blood, nursing may not be the best path for you. Similarly, fields such as computer technology and engineering may sound appealing, but once again, if you aren’t too fond of math or computers, then you might want to reconsider. “For one thing, these majors can be difficult,” says Carol Kostrzewsky, associate director of career services at IUPUC. “You have to find a good match for your academic interests and strengths, as well as your goals for your future.” Neil Bagadiong, interim director of career development at Ivy Tech Community College, recommends taking an online career assessment before making your decision. Resources such as the Indiana Career Explorer and Focus2 are excellent places to start, and anyone can use them free of charge. “Do the assessment and then take what you’ve learned from the results and do research,” he says. “You really need to do research about what is around. Don’t worry about if you are feeling unsure; it is the natural part of change.” What online career assessments do is help put your strengths and passions at the forefront to find career fields that best suit your interests and goals. Most online assessments take about 30 minutes or so to complete, and it’s well worth the time.

If you already have work experience, use it to your advantage. Some colleges offer credit for life, career and military experience, Bagadiong says. “Look at what you are doing now in your current position,” he says. “There has to be some transferrable skills to your new career, like organization, communication and problem solving.” Additional tools to consider are networking and finding a mentor, either someone who is in the field or has retired from it. Networking can help you get a foot in the door of a new field, but you may have to volunteer or work part time to see if the job suits you, Bagadiong says. Kostrzewsky also recommends speaking with a career adviser prior to making a decision. “Visiting a career counselor is really important,” she says. “Anyone looking to switch careers can call a university they are

interested in and meet with a career counselor before they even apply.” If pursuing a college degree or an advanced degree for a new career path sounds appealing, check into sitting in on a class or two to get a feel for how the class and coursework are structured, Bagadiong recommends. Once you are enrolled in college courses, there’s always the try-it-before-you-buy-it option, such as internships, externships and job shadowing. “I think experiences that help you decide are excellent opportunities to find out if this job would match your interests, skills and talents,” Kostrzewsky says. “In most cases, an experiential education opportunity helps a student to see he does like an area or certain aspects of that area.” When looking to change careers, it is essential to calculate how the switch will affect you financially. Consider how much you will pay

for tuition versus how much you will earn in the new career field, Kostrzewsky says. This is where doing research before taking the leap comes into play. “Check with a financial aid adviser to see what loans and grants you qualify for,” Kostrzewsky says. “You might want to consider how much you could work while completing a degree.” Easing into college coursework is also a viable option should you decide to return to the classroom. Take one or two classes to determine whether you can continue with your current work schedule while attending school. Attending school full time while working full time may not be the best option for you, so start slowly. If you already hold a four-year degree, accelerated programs may be another viable option. The way these programs work is to give you another degree at a quicker pace, around 17 months once general coursework is completed. Also, a master’s degree may be a possibility since these programs are shorter and more specific, which can save time and money. Just because you hold a degree in one field does not mean you can’t pursue an advanced degree in another field that may or may not be related. For instance, you may have a liberal arts degree, but you could still pursue a master’s in business or law. Regardless of whether you are looking to change careers or start fresh, always maintain the established rapport you have with current and past employers, cautions Bagadiong. “I would certainly never ever burn bridges with your current employer,” he says. “Keep that door open in case you need to come back.” CAREER GUIDE 2016 3

Where are the workers?

Low unemployment rate brings challenges for businesses

By Barney Quick conversation with a local job recruiter presents a bracing picture of the local employment scene. Columbus is in many ways economically healthy and boasts one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation, but there are some underlying attitudinal and cultural truths that make certain kinds of positions hard to fill. Chris Berry, branch manager for Manpower’s Columbus office, says that the 2009 downturn in the national economy engendered a shift in how much of the populace viewed work. “From that point forward, it was very difficult to find people,” she says. “For a while, long-term unemployment was a factor, and then people started thinking in terms of doing short-term things or pooling resources with family or neighbors. We even saw this among those who had been used to long-term employment.” Much of the challenge lies in the shortage of what recruiters and economic development people call soft skills: an understanding of what regularly scheduled times for showing up entails and an inclination to be part of a team. Berry says people are less inclined to stay in one organization for several years now. While some manufacturing jobs require somewhat specialized skill sets, “it’s not just a skill mismatch,” she says. “That’s part of it, but I’d say it’s more foundational than that. Clients we work with have not changed their expectations from five years ago as to what kind of applicant they’ll see, and that kind of person is really rare now.” She speaks of “people who can’t remember how many places they’ve worked in the last six months.” Thus, the low unemployment rate is a snap4 CAREER GUIDE 2016

A worker checks voltage with a multimeter at Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing. | photo by April Knox

shot of who’s drawing a paycheck in the present moment, but there’s a musical chairs aspect to who is filling positions at any given time. She says that professional, top management, customer service and health care positions, particularly nursing, are much less susceptible to this trend and adds that those fields are going to continue to be growth areas in the local economy. “Still, Columbus is primarily industrial, and it’s the manufacturing jobs that we find hard to fill. Our manufacturing wages here aren’t the worst, but they aren’t spectacular. A rise in wages of a couple of dollars per hour doesn’t help with retention.”

She notes the efforts of the local educational community to convince students at all levels that there are manufacturing career paths beyond the shop floor. “That’s an encouraging development,” she says. She also notes the intention of the current city administration and economic development community to diversify the Columbus manufacturing base beyond an automotive emphasis but adds, “Any time we add another skill set, it’s going to take an adjustment and more training on the part of the workforce.” Some particulars about the 10-county southeast Indiana region make the overall cultural scenario even more challenging. Per the

website for EcO (Economic Opportunities through Education), 15 percent of employed people over 25 in the region have a bachelor’s degree, compared to averages of 22 percent and 26 percent for the state and nation respectively. The region has an approximate 30 percent high school dropout rate. Berry sees the portion of the local population that isn’t working as beset with the issues one sees in the transient working population, but even more so: “When our unemployment rate is 4 percent or below, that doesn’t mean that the remainder is available and viable as employees.”

Yes, you can explain employment gaps By Diane Stafford n The Kansas City Star (TNS)

he national job market is approaching what many economists consider “full employment.” Many company hirers say they are encountering the “warm body syndrome” in which they have to hire candidates who show up rather than good candidates they’d prefer. If you’ve been out of work for a stretch — say half a year or more — it’s just about past time for you to have returned to the job market. To be clear: This isn’t about returning to the pay or job quality of what you had before. That job may not be available. But it’s better to have some job, any job, on your resume than an idle gap. The Five O’Clock Club, a resource organization for job hunters, recently posted concise guidelines for getting

back into the employment ranks after a long break. Paraphrasing the tips: — Don’t assume you can sneak a long job gap past recruiters or interviewers. If possible, include a brief explanation — layoff, sabbatical, family care, attempt to start your own business, etc. — in a cover letter. Then prepare to go into further detail in an interview. — Be honest. The real reason you haven’t been working may be less hurtful than a lie, partly because a lie might be discovered in a background check. Honesty also reflects good character. You also may be able to work in some human interest stories that show how you’re a caring or reliable person; most employers want “people people” in their work environments.

— Be positive. It may be hard to put a good spin on the work gap if you’ve been lazy or unwilling to take a job you considered beneath you. But you need to try to shape opinion in your favor. To be sure, gaps such as raising children or caring for ill family members are easier to explain. — Tell how you continued to use your skills. Ideally, you can talk about volunteering, freelancing or educational advancement. Prospective employers will see those as indications of your energy or your commitment to your trade. — Explain that you stayed current. Employers want people to hit the job running, and they’re worried that you might have lost computer skills. It will help if you’ve kept active in a professional or trade asso-

ciation or if you can honestly talk about staying connected by reading industry periodicals or blogs. The bits of advice may be frustrating to job hunters who have done their best to regain employment and have still come up empty. It’s completely understandable for workers to prolong job searches because they’re not willing to settle for less than they had before. But sometimes reality intrudes. The job market of 2016, although much improved, isn’t the same as before. Despite statistical job market health, the full-time, benefits- and pension-provided employment of years past is far rarer these days. The ranks of self-employed people testify to that. But now is as good a time as any to attempt re-entry to payroll employment.

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Headhunter tells millennials how to land jobs and keep them By James F. Peltz n Los Angeles Times (TNS)

ames Citrin is a corporate headhunter at executive search firm Spencer Stuart, where he leads the firm’s work in finding chief executive candidates. But another Citrin passion is the struggle of the “millennial” generation — the 82 million people born between 1981 and 2000 — to find and keep jobs. Many millennials were unlucky to come of age when the recession hit in 2008, and they’re still dealing with a tough job market. Many also are saddled with college debt. Citrin, with three children in their 20s, wrote a book called “The Career Playbook” to help millennials — and anyone, for that matter — land jobs and keep them. We asked him to share some advice for job hunters. Here’s an excerpt:

It’s been suggested that millennials looking for work today have it easier than those who tried during the depths of the recession a few years ago. True?

The class of 2015 was facing the best millennial job market in a decade, and that’s great. But it’s a two-sided story, because they’re competing against people who have been out of work for the last two or four years and who might have experience in the field.

Q: A:

What do you mean by that?

If you are positive, if you’re bright, if you can have a mindset of helping others, it’s easier to get noticed than people might think.

If millennials are so at ease with technology, why isn’t their job search easier in a world where technology seems so prevalent?

A: to work on this or that” or “I started a T-shirt company on campus” or “I started a Web-based business.” You say I’ve got all these sets of experiences. It’s having the confidence and conviction and storytelling tools to weave your experiences together in a way to enable the hiring manager to see you can solve their problem.

Q: A:

How do you build that confidence?

Practice interviewing (for a job). Practice interviewing your story. The more you do it, the better you get.

If the new applicants don’t have that experience but need a job to get the experience, how do they get around that old paradox? When a company says you need two years of experience, they don’t really mean you need two years of experience. They just want something (in your background) for you to get off to a running start on the job. So you say, “I’ve used my summer vacations for the last two years

6 CAREER GUIDE 2016

But in your book you say employers fill most jobs with people they know or to whom they’re personally referred, correct? That’s right. It’s about making connections and relationships. Just because your parent isn’t the CEO of the company or you didn’t go to Princeton doesn’t mean you can’t build relationships to get great job opportunities. People are more connected than they think. When a hiring manager

gets a referral, those referrals typically tend to be referrals of referrals.

Millennials are known for being more Internet-savvy than their predecessors. Does that help make connections?

You are more connected today than ever. There’s a huge democratizing force at work with today’s social networks, like LinkedIn. The rate and scale at which we can leverage relationships with those networks is greater than ever. I view them as a massive force for good in the job market. You can plant that seed on the winds and let that go out. Personal recommendations from your network are what power all this.

You maintain that making connections, or networking, is one area where a millennial actually has some control in the job search, right?

Yes. The other thing they have a lot of control over is the attitude by which they go through the process.

There are more possibilities out there for energetic, creative, entrepreneurial people than ever. But their career paths are much less defined than before. Whether it’s consolidation, globalization, competition or new technologies, companies aren’t creating the career lanes — starting with general training programs — they had 20 years ago, or even 10 years ago. It’s much harder to get that first job because there are fewer structured programs in place.

Tech skills obviously are in demand. But what if you studied English or other liberal arts?

It’s incumbent on liberal arts students, or those who aren’t technically trained, to do two things: First, develop the skills where you add value and leadership, such as problem solving, communicating, analytical skills. Then a person should study some of the disciplines (related to) where the world is going. Today it might be (computer) coding or a part of the health care system. You can still be an art history major and balance that with at least one or two courses in these other disciplines. A lot of hiring managers love traditional liberal arts, but they need that little hook to hire you.

Interview callbacks are good, up to a point By Diane Stafford n The Kansas City Star (TNS)

he job market clearly has heated up. Job fair notices hit my desk daily. And then there are the frustrated emails from job candidates. It’s a different frustration from a few years ago when it was harder to nab a job interview than it is now to get through a day without hearing the word Trump. The new frustration is from job candidates who are getting interviews — more of them, in fact, than they’d like. I’m not talking about someone who is juggling multiple job offers. That’s a lovely situation, but not if it involves sending excellent candidates through a long series of interviews for a position. “I’m on round four,” complained one eager applicant. “I need a decision.”

ir h w o n

A recent essay in Workforce magazine and a newsletter from a professional recruiter hit on the problem. Good job candidates are being pulled back for four, five or more interviews, often at financial and emotional expense. Kris Dunn, a contributing editor at Workforce, wrote that it now

takes an average of 63 business days to fill a job, or 21 days longer than it did five years ago. He said that’s inefficient and doesn’t do a better job detecting “fit” for the job. Nick Corcodilos, a recruiter who blogs at “Ask The Headhunter,” said the problem with multiple interviews usually begins at the screening stage, where generalists are assigned to pare the candidate pool without having detailed knowledge about the nuances of the job. You can trace the explosion of multiple interviews to the 2008 recession and subsequent job market collapse. Employers nearly had stopped hiring. When they decided to fill a job, they could be very particular. They had a sea of downsized talent to choose from. And, in many cases, they were trying to save money, too,

so they weren’t in a rush to hire. When hundreds of applicants vied for a single opening, it’s not hard to understand why initial screenings were required. So phone screenings, online questionnaires and interviews with front-line human resource staff preceded contact with any line manager or bigger boss. The argument in favor of multiple interviews is that it gives more people a chance to gauge “cultural fit.” While that’s worked well for some group-interviewing companies (notably Southwest Airlines) it hasn’t proved to be very effective when multiple individual interviews are lined up like dominoes. The problem, Dunn observed, is that interviewers often don’t sit down with each other to compare perceptions, so it’s just a waste of time.

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Don’t emphasize multitasking skills in your resume

By Diane Stafford n The Kansas City Star (TNS)

ave you talked on your cellphone as you drove to work and later realized you had no clear memory of the traffic, of stoplights — which, of course, you stopped at — or other features of the drive? Of course you have. We’ve all been in situations where autopilot takes over when we’re absorbed in something else. There’s been a lot of research about how we’re not as capable at multitasking as we think. Sure, we might do two or more things at once, but the real thinking is applied to only one of the tasks. That’s why a Baylor University professor deserves attention for new advice about how this applies to your professional resumes. Anne

Grinols, an assistant dean in Baylor’s master of business administration program, says prospective employers may not look kindly on your claims of multitasking. In published research, Grinols debunks three “myths” of multitasking:

The belief that you can do two mental activities at once. “Conscious mental activity happens one activity at a time,” Grinols said. If you text during a meeting, your brain will assimilate what you’re texting. Even if you’re hearing what’s going on the meeting, that won’t get your full attention.

The belief that you can be in top form by flipping back and forth between mental activities. continued

Mentors help reduce employees’ stress and burnout By Joyce Gannon n Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS)

hen Lebena Varghese arrived at Northern Illinois University as a doctoral candidate in 2013, she received a message from her program director asking what she was looking for in an academic mentor. Male or female? Someone a year ahead of her in the psychology program? Or perhaps someone with more experience? Did she prefer a mentor in social psychology or one who shared her own specialty of industrial-organizational psychology? Now, Varghese herself is mentoring a student who recently transferred from clinical to the industrialorganizational side, and she finds her role is mainly providing reassurance 8 CAREER GUIDE 2016

that her mentee isn’t behind as a result of switching from one focus area to another. Such emotional support is a key to good mentoring and helps employees — or even graduate students with heavy research workloads — reduce stress and burnout, Varghese said. She and three colleagues at NIU conducted a study that found mentoring is especially effective for individuals vulnerable to severe stress because they don’t feel capable of handling some job tasks or feel overwhelmed in the job environment. For those people, whose personalities may include “trait neuroticism” characteristics such as powerlessness, anxiety and sadness, there’s a greater chance of job burnout, Varghese said. “When a mentor is present, that positive relationship gave those indicontinued

multitasking

“Efforts to multitask have had unfortunate results,” she said. In one experiment, she had students read material in class while they had full access to use their cellphones. The more text messages students sent or received during class, the worse they performed on a comprehension test about the material they read. The belief that you can monitor yourself to stay in top form. “I am reminded of the observation of a fourth-grade teacher who told her class, ‘Do not watch TV while you do your homework or you will find yourself doing TV while you watch your homework,’” Grinols said. In the workplace, the professor said, employers expect top-form accomplishment, and that won’t happen if your focus on the prime task is muddied by shared attention. On your resume, it’s better to

cite specific expertise in multiple areas than to simply claim an ability to multitask. Grinols shared a drawnfrom-the-real-world example from the workplace: You’re assigned to work with a team to develop a certain strategy. The work starts with a team meeting. You attend the meeting, but you’re completely engaged in thinking about the strategy that you propose. You’re hearing your team members talk, but you’re not really listening. You’re mentally forming what you intend to say or do. Been there, done that, right? No one wants you to sit like a sponge. You’re expected to participate in the give-and-take. Neither should you be so singularly task-minded that you’re antisocial. Just remember that your multitasking ability isn’t as good as you think it is.

Mentors viduals a boost,” she said. The study, conducted in spring 2014, included responses from 325 individuals who participated on MTurk, a crowdsourcing tool on Amazon.com. About 62 percent of those surveyed were male, 74 percent were white, and their ages ranged from 18 to 73. Stress and burnout in the workplace have been well documented so Varghese and her colleagues wanted to determine how mentoring might help alleviate those conditions. Mentorship, she said, “is basically having people there that guide you in the right path and are constantly there in your realm.” Formal mentoring programs can help employees at risk of stress and burnout obtain more confidence and feel more engaged in the organization, Varghese said. Such mentoring is common among Fortune 500 companies and usually involves matching employees based on career

aspirations or interests. Among the businesses that have made a big push for formal mentoring, she said, are financial institutions, including investment banker Goldman Sachs, which has a special mentoring program for women reentering the workforce. While much informal mentoring occurs spontaneously between employees or colleagues, that version is not as effective in lowering job burnout, the study found. That’s because informal interactions focus on social support and aren’t structured, scheduled meetings that focus on career development. One of the major benefits of mentoring programs is that they don’t cost much to implement, Varghese said. “It’s a very lean intervention. Sometimes a business may need a consultant to help put a program together, but they don’t need a lot of investment.”

CAREER GUIDE 2016 9

Tell employers what you can do for their companies

By Diane Stafford n The Kansas City Star (TNS) job hunter offered to come in for an interview because she was “needing a daytime job to fill my time.” She will not be hearing back. The applicant, a young adult, may well be reliable and honest, as she wrote in her email to a business owner. But there was nothing in her attached resume to indicate she was remotely experienced in or even interested in the owner’s particular business. Her well-meaning offer to “let me know if I can be of any use” is the kind of application that makes employers laugh or cry. At nearly every business gathering I attend, employers talk about their biggest challenge: hiring good people. This applicant, as presented, doesn’t hit the mark as “good people” according to most criteria. To be fair, the inept application isn’t totally her fault. The job hunter represents millions of young Americans whose education and career timelines were interrupted by the past recession. Countless millennials have been unable to pursue continued

No college? Consider electronic security industry By Diane Stafford n The Kansas City Star (TNS)

ne of the prominent legacies of the post-2008 employment slump was the loss of jobs that never returned when the economy improved. A segment of the workforce most affected by the changes were men in blue-collar jobs that didn’t require college degrees. Even as the job market has blossomed to what some economists call full employment, the new jobs often require more education or higher technology skills than the jobs that disappeared. That’s why a notice from the Electronic Security Association caught my eye. The industry, which deals with the installation of electronic security systems in homes, stores, offices, warehouses, religious sites, entertainment locations — frankly, just about anywhere — says its member companies need workers. That’s good news for the worker demographic noted above. The trade

10 CAREER GUIDE 2016

group says it’s looking for you. It’s also keen on hiring veterans who have transferable skills from the military. Women, too, are more than welcome. “Our industry may be unique from a technician perspective,” said Shannon Murphy, vice president of sales and marketing for the association, which represents about 2,500 companies. “You don’t need a college degree. You can come out of a technical high school or a tech training program, but you can mostly get on-the-job training.” That’s the theory, but I asked her how likely it was for someone without a degree or experience in the field to land a job. “There are about 21 million monitoring systems installed in the United States right now,” Murphy said. “There is about a 25 percent market penetration in the residential market, with a huge opportunity for growth. There are lots of new (company) entrants in the industry. We’re expecting to see market continued

tell employers degrees and get started in targeted careers because of the economy. It’s not uncommon for young adults — who at one time might have earned a degree, focused their job search and quickly landed — to still be grasping at employment straws. It’s not uncommon for resumes from applicants in their mid- to late 20s to list a succession of short-term, low-skill, entry-level jobs. The problem is that a resume listing previous jobs as a lifeguard, classroom assistant, medical note taker, dog walker and hotel maid doesn’t tell prospective employers anything about the candidate’s true skills and interests. And if the candidate still is pursuing a degree, hiring chances fade if the application is sent to a business unrelated to that field. It is undeniably tough to get one’s first professional job. Employers seek the “perfect” candidate, one

who will hit the job running and doesn’t need much training. Also, competition for openings is plentiful. Young people with no relevant experience often are up against applicants with degrees, internships or work experience that directly apply to the job at hand. That’s why the top rule for job hunting — using personal contacts — is always preferable to spraying the Internet with scattershot applications. If job hunters have someone who will recommend them to their employers, there’s a chance that hirers will look further into the applicants’ character, their will to work and long-term goals. Job hunters should always tell a prospective employer, as specifically as possible, what they can do for the organization. Job hunters shouldn’t simply offer themselves to “be of any use.” Most organizations aren’t going to take the time or interest to figure out what that use might be.

“You don’t need a college degree. You can come out of a technical high school or a tech training program, but you can mostly get on-the-job training.” — Shannon Murphy, vice president of sales and marketing for the Electronic Security Association No college?

penetration numbers rise to the 45 percent range in the next few years.” The growth, she said, isn’t because of an avalanche of homeowner fear about burglaries. Rather, more people are adopting sophisticated technology systems that allow them to remotely monitor and control their home energy, lighting and security systems. Then, too, she said, “I can see what my dog is doing while I’m at work.” Another growth trend lies in wireless technology systems, the kind that appeal to renters who couldn’t or wouldn’t install wired systems. Tech-savvy millennials,

Murphy said, are buying systems they can take with them when they move from apartment to apartment. In my opinion, here’s the biggest incentive for appropriate job hunters to look into the field: “An entrylevel technician can expect to make $30,000 to $50,000 to start, varying on the place and the job,” Murphy said. “And there are opportunities to rise in the companies.” Murphy added that there’s another strong job opportunity in the industry: sales. She said successful sales representatives in many security system companies are making six-figure incomes.

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he interviewer doesn’t get to ask all the questions. If and when you’ve nabbed a job interview, you’re going to be nervous. You’re going to practice your answers to “tell me about yourself ” and “tell me why we should hire you.” You’re going to dress nicely and mute your cellphone. But are you going to prepare questions to ask the employer? You should. Your answers to the interviewer’s queries aren’t the only way to show you’re a good fit for the job. The answers you get to your questions could help you decide if the job (or place) is right for you. Here are a few great suggestions that The Five O’Clock Club, a career transition service, shares with its clients, meshed with some of my thoughts. You should ask:

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Part & Full Time Positions Available!

APPLY ONLINE!

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS Monday-Friday from 8-3:00 2576 Norcross Dr., Columbus, IN Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/ Disability and Vet Employer 12 CAREER GUIDE 2016

800-875-9615 | www.LIFEDesignsinc.org Lifedesigns, Inc. is an EOE. We drug screen/e-verify

How long have you worked here? What do you like about working here? It’s a good way to level the power field by posing personal questions to the interviewer but in a human interest way. They indicate you have an interest in others, a good asset in “team-oriented” workplaces.

Could you describe your ideal candidate for this job? If the answer doesn’t sound like you, you need to adjust your pitch to convince the interviewer why you’re a strong applicant. If the answer doesn’t sound like you and you have no interest in being that person, it will help you walk out the door with your head high.

Is the job I’m interviewing for a new position? Do others do the same work here? Or did someone previously hold the job who’s not here anymore? The answers will help you determine whether standards already have been set for the position or if you’ll be plowing new ground.

Can you show me examples of the projects I’d work on? Presumably you have a clue already. And this question is best posed to a line manager, not a human resources generalist. But if you really don’t have a clear picture of what the job entails, now is the time to get it straight.

May I speak with someone else who does (or did) this job? If I’m a serious candidate for the job, I’d be concerned if the hiring system barred me from talking to other employees. “Best places” organizations often set up group interviews as another way to detect fit with co-workers and the workplace.

What is the corporate culture like here? Interviewers can and do blow smoke, but listen for canned or genuine responses. You could also ask how top management contributes to the culture. It’s good when you get an enthusiastic description of good vibes coming from the top down.

What would be my biggest challenges in the job? An honest answer might help you decide if you’re up to the challenge, whether it’s customer complaints, red tape, understaffing or inadequate technical support. If the answer you hear is, “I can’t think of any challenges,” you’re either talking to someone who doesn’t understand the job or someone doing a public relations act. Remember: A job interview is due diligence time for both sides.

LOOKING FOR A BETTER JOB? Express is working with top employers in your community to HIRE quality candidates! Our Employment Specialists understand the marketplace and can help with career advice or ﬁnding that new position! Call the professionals to learn about our open opportunities! · Machining Team Lead- $45-50K · Plant Engineer- $65-75K · Maintenance Mechanic- $20-25/hour · Machine Build/Assembler- $18-22/hour · Material Handlers- $13.50/hour · CDL A Driver- $18/hour · Production Operators- $11-14/hour · Administrative/Ofﬁce- $11-13/hour

You’re not just a number, you’re a valued member of our team at the BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office is a professional law enforcement agency, dedicated to providing unmatched protection and service. BCSO offers a wide variety of job opportunities in law enforcement, corrections and civilian support positions.

812-376-2425

3515 W. Two Mile House Rd., Columbus, IN 47201 ExpressColumbus.com Follow Us!

Accepting applications through May 31, 2016, for Merit Deputy Sheriff Competitive salary, excellent benefits, opportunity for advancement, variety of work challenges, challenging public service opportunities, and pride in being a member of a progressive law enforcement agency. http://www.bartholomew.in.gov/sheriff Contact: Lieutenant Todd Noblitt: (812)565-5944 Equal Opportunity Employer CAREER GUIDE 2016 13

3 tips to change your career, if you’re unhappy By Gina Horkey n GOBankingRates.com (TNS)

hat if the thing keeping you from a truly fulfilling life is your career? With the shaky start of the financial markets in 2016, it might seem that now isn’t the best time to switch careers. However, there really isn’t a wrong time to seek new opportunities in the job market. In fact, nearly 72 percent of employed adults said they remain aware of jobs in the marketplace regardless of whether they’re employed or not, a 2015 Indeed study found. So perhaps the question is not if 2016 is the year to change careers — but when. Keep these three tips in mind as you prepare to change careers this year.

RICHARDSON MOLDING INCORPORATED Richardson Molding Incorporated is a manufacturer of plastic injected and roto molded products. Currently, we are looking to direct hire for entry level Machine Operators, Mold/Tool Repair Technicians, Maintenance Technicians, and Injection Mold Processors. Entry Level Operators may apply in person at 2405 Norcross Drive (Columbus, IN) between the hours of 8:00 am and 3:00 pm. Skilled positions are welcome to submit a resume in person, mail a resume, or email a resume to:

2405 Norcross Drive Columbus, IN 47201 jenniferw@richardsonmolding.com All applicants must be willing to work in a team-oriented environment. RMI offers a competitive compensation package. Benefits include medical, prescription, and dental insurance; paid vacation, paid personal days, an employer matching 401K plan, and tuition reimbursement. We are an equal opportunity employer 14 CAREER GUIDE 2016

FIGURE OUT THE SOURCE OF YOUR UNHAPPINESS

If you’re unhappy with your job, it’s important that you determine the underlying reason why. Pamela Horack, a certified financial planner with Pathfinder Planning LLC, suggested asking yourself questions like, “Do I like the work, but have a bad boss? Do I hate the work, but have a fabulous boss? What do I really want to do?” Examine the answers to these questions so you can figure out where the real issue lies. “Maybe you find that you don’t need to change companies, but take on a new role,” said Horack. “And if the money and benefits are right, making a job shift might be the right call.”

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AEI is now HIRING for multiple positions!

DISCOVER YOUR PASSION

Most people entertain the idea of earning an income from something that they’re passionate about, but few take the steps to determine if it’s a viable career choice. Horack said this might stand in the way of many employees who are unhappy in their current situations. “If you are unhappy because you are not following your passion, you will need direction and support,” she said. “Talk to others who have made the same leap of faith and gather as much information as you can.” You might have to have start some tough conversations with your family to garner support for striking out on your own, taking on a service calling or moving far away. “Be sure you know what you are getting into and be smart about any big change,” added Horack.

FIND VALUE IN EVERY EXPERIENCE

Many people decide to change careers because a particular job or industry no longer presents a challenge. But there’s no such thing as a useless experience. Every job has value; you just have to find it. According to Horack, starter jobs like being a cashier or waiter teach you how to manage money and provide quality service. Data entry roles teach the importance of attention to detail. And working on logistics focuses on the value of teamwork and last-minute problem solving. All of these skills can help you find and secure the career you’re ultimately seeking.

GROWING AND EXPANDING

A leader in manufacturing quality custom wiring harnesses since 1996 Qualtronics is growing so we are looking for good people who want to join the team, grow with us, and be a part of the Q excitement. The Q offers a variety of wiring harness assembly positions, from wiring harness assembly to harness testing to operating specialized equipment. There are also career opportunities to grow from assembly apprentice to harness designer, trainer or manager. All of our employees are valued and appreciated. We offer all the usual benefits and other perks such as flextime, Sadie the shop dog, clean quiet environment, friendly atmosphere, use of head-phones, 2 raises in the first 60 days, no weekends, 1st shift only, and more.

2 RAISES THE FIRST 60 DAYS Come Join us!

812-375-8880 1400 Grand Ave., Columbus, IN

Analytical Engineering, Inc. (AEI) is seeking applicants for the following positions: • HVAC/Industrial Refrigeration Technician • Emissions Engineer • Instrumentation Technician (EET or Electronics) • Electronics Engineer • Diesel Test Cell Technician • Industrial Maintenance

Analytical Engineering, Inc. was founded in 1994 and is located in Columbus, Indiana. We are a family business with strong values. AEI has strategically built a strong supporting infrastructure that enables new development projects to be quickly launched and completed. The modern facility is equipped with quality test equipment and a highly knowledgeable staff of engineers and technicians. AEI has grown through the ability of its employees to understand the customer requirements and respond through the development of innovative products and services.

Benefits: • Paid Vacation and Holidays • Medical, Vision and Dental • 401K • Pay commensurate with experience and other benefits • Opportunity for growth

Candidates should submit resume and cover letter to: jobs@aei-tech.com; Please include salary requirements.

Lowe’s North Vernon Distribution Center is currently hiring for Night and Weekend shift Team Members. • Night shift hours are between Monday – Thursday 6:00 p.m. – 4:30 a.m. • Weekend shift positions will work Friday- Sunday 5:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Base rate: $12.00 per hour Night shift: $12.50 per hour (shift premium included) Weekend shift: $13.33 per hour (shift premium included) Requirements include: The ability to lift up to 70lbs; 18 years of age or older; a

stable work history; and the ability to successfully pass a drug screening and criminal background check. Forklift experience is preferred. Benefits after 90 days and 401K and Employee Stock Purchase Plan after 180 days

Leadership positions also available, pay will be commensurate with experience. Apply online at www.lowes.com/careers Select Category: Distribution, Select State: Indiana, Search and Apply Lowe’s is an Equal Opportunity Employer

CAREER GUIDE 2016 15

LLC are our people.