Career Guide 2016 by The Cougar

Career Wednesday, March 23, 2016

GUIDE

2 | Wednesday, March 23, 2016

EDITOR'S NOTE

Jobs are a challenge, but you have plenty of help SEAN ALDER

CREATIVE DIRECTOR @ SEAN_W_ALDER

Finding a job is tough. But finding the perfect job is an even harder task. That’s why The Cougar has published the Career Guide. Whether you’re a graduating senior or a easily impressionable freshman, the Career Guide is built to give you a leg up in the hunt for a job. My first summer job was doing data entry for a corporate apparel SEAN company. In ALDER no way was entering order forms for eight hours a day my idea of an awesome summer job, but everyone has to start somewhere. I went from data entry to a total of five years in retail jobs, telling people why these specific clothes were better than the rest. Thankfully I haven’t had to work in the food industry, but I bet it is just as much of a beast as retail.

The University Career Services office is located in the Student Service Center 1. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

The point that I’m trying to make is that everyone will work a job they don’t like, but everyone will also find one they do enjoy eventually. I now work for The Cougar and intern with The

Houston Chronicle, and I can safely say that both have provided me with more skills and experiences than any of my previous jobs combined. Having experience in the jour-

nalism field throughout college puts me ahead of a handful of students who just go to school for the degree, but I know that I will still need to do more to get to where I want to be. By keeping

my sights set on my end goal of becoming a professional journalist, I have been able to take advantage of what’s around me here at UH. But most college students get lost in the hunt for the career of their dreams, however, and they lose sight of what they need to do to get the job done. There is a lot more work than just applying when it comes to giving yourself the best opportunity to land the job you are looking for. The Career Guide has a solid assortment of tips and information that will help move any application to the top of your future employers’ stack. Even if this is your last semester as a Cougar, you still have plenty of things you can be doing to get good footing in your field. Start by looking for the connections and networking opportunities with students and professors you have had classes with for the recent past, and get out to test the waters. You won’t know what the career world has in store for you unless you put yourself out there.

Discoveries anD innovations that improve Lives Departments at Baylor College of Medicine rank in the top 20 in research funding from NIH, including a #1 raNkINg IN geNetICs, which has held this position since 2011.

ExplorE opportunitiEs at bcm.edu/careers

GC71171

Baylor College of Medicine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Equal Access Employer.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016 | 3 SPONSORED CONTENT

The skills to pay the bills What makes you stand out to employers LAUREN BERRYHILL

experience, group projects, or electing to take a public Each year, the National speaking course. Association of Colleges and Problem solving, teamEmployees (NACE) releases a work, organization, and list of the top skills employers ability to analyze information look for in are other potential skills employcandidates. ers deem These 10 important. A skills, listed resume is an below, are opportunity great to focus to provide on when details on building a how these resume and skills have Lauren Berryhill, been used preparing for Career Counselor in jobs, a job interview. internships, According student to NACE, verbal communication organizations, and volunteer takes the top spot in 2016 as the opportunities. most important skill to employInstead of just listing ers. Whether a job requires these buzzwords under a presentations to clients or “Skills” section, it is most weekly meetings with a supervi- effective to provide concrete sor, strong and effective verbal examples of how these skills communication is important in have been utilized, as well as many career paths. the outcome of the specific Communication can 23 Mortgage experience. 10596-Cougar skills News March Ad Half Page-final.pdf 1 be polished through internship CAREER COUNSELOR

"...strong and effective verbal communication is important in many career paths."

Top 10 Things

EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR IN A JOB CANDIDATE 1

Ability to verbally communicate with persons inside and outside the organization

Abillity to work in a team structure

Ability to make decisions and solve problems

Ability to obtain and process information

Abililty to plan, organize, and prioritize work

The Career Guide

The Career Guide is part of a series of special sections published by The Cougar. These sections are intended to give recognition and focus to aspects of student life that can often be overlooked. EDITOR Sean Alder

ADVERTISING TEAM Jose Salazar

COPY EDITOR Emily Burleson

MARKETING Ilse Hernandez Jordyn Chaffold Nina Nino Antonio Sustaita

WRITERS Emily Burleson CLOSING EDITORS Mónica Rojas Glissette Santana

Ayodeji Owolabi PRODUCTION Jennifer Garcia Courtney Williams

Contact The Cougar thedailycougar.com ABOUT THE COVER Graphic design by Courtney Williams

Ability to analyze quantatative data

Technical knowledge related to the job

Proficiency with computer software programs

Abillity to create and/or edits written reports

10 3/22/16

Abillity to sell or influence others 12:43 PM

Source: 2016 Job Outlook

NEWSROOM 713-743-5360

Glissette Santana

EDITOR IN CHIEF

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4 | Wednesday, March 23, 2016 SPONSORED CONTENT

Student spotlights: Cougars in the workforce the Disney College Program for fall of 2016.

Why did I want this role?

EDUARDO ARIZPE

THEATRE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY SOPHOMORE

What was I looking for, and how did UCS help? I visited University Career Services at the University of Houston in hopes that I could have a career counselor help me strengthen my interview performances. I met with Zach Wortzel because I had a phone interview for the Disney College Program coming up and I needed preparation for the interview that was to come. Mr. Wortzel guided me through the interview process and offered a mock interview in order to be ready. Thanks to Mr. Wortzelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s help and preparation, I successfully secured an internship with

I want to work for Disney because it holds a special place in my life and has helped to mold me into the man I am today. Growing up, Disney films and theme parks are what gave me inspiration and happiness. Disney has given me the courage to pursue my dreams, even in adversity, and to never give up. Working for the Disney brand would literally be a dream come to life. To be able to be a part of something that creates magic, creativity, inspiration, brings happiness and memorable experiences for others is important to me.

What will I be doing for my internship, and what do I hope to get out of my experience? My specific role within the Disney College Program internship is Costuming Operations. Through having the opportunity to be immersed in the Disney theme parks on a daily basis, I will be given the inspiration and fire

UPCOMING CAREEER FAIRS & EVENTS

as a designer to one day become the Imagineer I want to be. I would also hope to obtain some valuable connections and insight from current Disney Imagineers and members from their Creative Entertainment department. This opportunity will help me gain the knowledge needed to be able to pursue a career in Disney. It will also be beneficial to my continued education by providing me with on-the-job experiences.

SOPHIE WROBEL

ANTHROPOLOGY SENIOR

huge help when I was working on applying for an internship. I did not really know where to start, so he helped give me some pointers on how and where to look for internships. He also gave me information that helped me put together a cover letter and revised it and my resume (several times) until it was perfected. Then he helped me prepare once I got an interview. He gave me tips on how to present myself and what to say and do. We even did a mock interview the morning of my actual interview to clarify any finishing touches. All his help really made the whole process so much easier and smoother than it would have been otherwise and it made me feel much more confident going into the interview. With his help I got the position. I have been interning for the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston for the last three months.

What was I looking for, and how did UCS help?

Why did I want this role?

University Career Services, and specifically Zach Wortzel, was a

I wanted to have some internship experience under my belt

before I graduated college and the mission of the World Affairs Council called to me. I am truly interested in international issues and their impacts on us and our daily lives. It is so important for us to be aware of what is going on in the world around us. The World Affairs Council provides opportunities to learn about these issues.

What am I doing for my internship, and what do I hope to get out of my experience? I am an education intern, which means that I help put together educational programs including workshops and student events. I research relevant news articles and events, as well as put together workbooks. I wanted to intern somewhere for experience, but I wanted it to be something that truly interested me and might lead me to other similar opportunities after I graduate.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016 | 5 SPONSORED CONTENT

A professional's keys to dressing for success How professional attire can affect your personal brand in the workplace LAUREN BERRYHILL

secured.

Dress for Success Houston:

CAREER COUNSELOR

Dress for Success Houston promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support, and career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Since 1998, Dress for Success Houston has provided business attire to more than 30,000 women in the Houston community. For more information about Dress for Success Houston, please email Lauren Berryhill at llberryhill@uh.edu.

How you dress is one of the many components that create your personal brand. When preparing for a job interview or a new job, appropriate and professional attire can help you make a positive impression on the employer. Below are tips and resources to help ensure you are dressed for success.

Tips: 1. When in doubt, overdress for the occasion: When preparing your attire for a job interview or the first day of work, it is better to be overdressed than underdressed. First impressions are important, so appropriate professional attire demonstrates professionalism and preparedness. Unless specifically stated, business professional attire should be worn to an interview. 2. Make sure you feel comfortable: Try on your outfit ahead of time by walking around and sitting down in it to double check the fit and comfort of the clothing.

Career Gear: What you wear to an interview can be a make or break decision in your career success. | Photo Illustration by Sean Alder

Wearing something uncomfortable can distract you from focusing on securing the job. 3. The iron is your best friend: Even if you are wearing a nice suit, wrinkled clothing can show a lack of attention to detail. 4. Proper fit is key: Wearing baggy pants or a tight shirt can convey a sense of unprofessional-

ism. 5. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wear anything distracting: Simplicity is best, especially with jewelry and makeup. The focus of an interview should be on your skills, experiences, and accomplishments, not on what you are wearing. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to be remembered solely for what you wore.

If finances are prohibiting you from purchasing business professional attire, University Career Services partners with two organizations in the Houston area. These organizations provide free professional attire to students that do not have the funds to purchase professional clothing for interviews, career fairs, and once a job is

Career Gear provides professional clothing, mentoring, and life-skills to men that are in the job search process. The organization offers services to low-income, job ready men of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. Since 2004, Career Gear has helped over 7,000 men-inneed build better lives. For more information on Career Gear, please email Zach Wortzel at zwortzel@central.uh.edu.

6 | Wednesday, March 23, 2016 SPONSORED CONTENT

University Career Services Recipe: This is What Success Looks Like MONICA THOMPSON

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UCS @ HIREUHTALENT

Last year was my inaugural year to serve as the executive director of University Career Services, and I was excited to share my plan to lead the efforts to carry out our mission, which was captured in the 2015 Career Guide article, titled, “Director hopes to create a recipe for success” -page 9. Below is a follow up to the 2015 Career Guide article Our mission statement reflects a MONICA fundamental THOMPSON belief that EXECUTIVE all students DIRECTOR OF UCS should have the opportunity to engage in the job search process for internships and full-time employment, both through our office and with the help of various resources made available on campus and in college based career centers. The mission statement also acknowledges the very real benefits of quality relationships and the necessary collective impact which includes faculty and campus partners. The reality is, students should take advantage of career programs to help secure gainful employment upon graduation. At the start of my first year, I visualized UCS’s mission to create my vision or “recipe for success” as titled in the 2015 Career Guide. The three part recipe mentioned in the above article became the "catalysts" to advance University Career Services:

1) Career education and programs to engage students early 2) Student and employer engagement opportunities 3) Launch of Cougar Pathway to better serve employers and students A year plus later, I'd like to share how the University Career Services team collectively moved this vision forward in the 2015-16 academic year. Below are the highlights from new initiatives that were executed during my first year.

Career Course and Professional Development Training The UCS team created innovative programs including employer

sponsored etiquette dinners, community service projects with students and employers, and interactive career prep events where students felt at ease to connect with employers while learning more about career options for their major. Results: UCS worked with faculty to integrate UCS into existing career courses. This includes providing Myers-Briggs Personality and Strength Quest Assessments in the HRM Practicum I and II career courses. We also delivered a pilot career course and workshop series for CLASS students. Why it matters: Through the classroom experiences and professional development sessions, students gained new approaches to assist in their career paths and receive career-related advice specific to their field of study. The additional programming seeks to make employers more relatable by creating informal networking opportunities with the goal of forming strong connections.

“I really appreciated how this [CLASS Career] course took all the skills and resources offered through the seminars at University Career Services and condensed all the information and put it into one curriculum that helped develop me and my skills to use in the real world.” Nnenna Umelloh, Sophomore Marketing and Liberal Studies Major

Employer Engagement and More Career Fairs UCS launched a comprehensive marketing and outreach plan and a new employer brand campaign, “Connect with Houston Talent”, which increased visibility with on and off campus employers and the Houston community. In addition, UCS developed employer engagement opportunities which have become our signature career programs including Professional Discovery Week, Etiquette Dining and Networking, and STEM Careers Week. We also added new career fairs, such as the STEM Career Fair, Non-Profit

and Governmental Career Fair, Cougar 100, and the Graduating Seniors and Alumni Networking Reception. Results: Each semester the signature engagement opportunities bring 45+ employers to campus to network with students and expose them to various career options. Over 350 new employers such as Apple, Amazon, and Lockheed Martin were brought to campus for the additional career fairs. Why it matters: More employers are looking to recruit UH students! Through our niche career fairs and events, students are able to engage with employers specific to their

career focus. Several employers conduct “on the spot” interviews at the career fair where students receive immediate feedback and were notified if they advanced to the next interview immediately following the career fair.

Cougar Pathway: A Career Management System for all UH students Cougar Pathway allows students to connect with career counselors and employers through an easy to use appoint-

PLAN FOR SUCCESS

Continues on next page

Wednesday, March 23, 2016 | 7

PLAN FOR SUCCESS

390+

Continued from previous page

“We were extremely happy with the first UH Career Services - STEM Career Fair. We had no idea it would be that popular...I've never seen it better on campus.”

EMPLOYERS to UH Career Fairs

2630

Part-time/seasonal jobs

842

College work study

Joe Melenric, Class of 1983, Lockheed Martin Program Director

9567

Full-time jobs

1662

ment scheduler, resume database, Internships on-campus recruiting system, and a job database. Additionally, on and off campus student employment jobs can be found on of career services. However, with Cougar Pathway. UCS also serves this increase, we are still seeing as the point of contact for the more juniors and seniors than posting of all college work-study freshman and sophomores. UCS positions. strives to engage and empower Results: The new system allows students early on in their college for sophisticated reporting and career. Please see University tracking, promotes specific jobs Career Services’ Four Year Action to students. Cougar Pathway Plan below. streamlines the recruiting proUCS is committed to building cess, which allows for employers upon the climate of success as we to recruit all majors and post jobs continue to develop new campus with college based career centers partnerships including those in at UH. Cougar Pathway is powacademic colleges to promote ered by Symplicity, and five of the Cougar Pathway. Our goal is to six college based career centers become a career focused campus use Symplicity. across all academic colleges, To date, there have been over and we encourage students to 11,000 job postings in Cougar take advantage of career services Pathway including on and off beginning their first year on campus, internships, and full time campus. jobs posted on Cougar Pathway. Ultimately, success is realized We also have over 7500 employwhen employers continue to ers in our database representing return to the Powerhouse to hire a variety of talented industries. Coogs; and Why it these new matters: By alum are creating alerts engaged in and tracking life and are interview empowered requests, to be fulfilled, students can responsible organize citizens their recruitwho make ing activity. a profound, We can see positive which jobs impact on students are this world. applying to so What an that we can awesome collaborate role UniverFeedback from UCS Cougar Pathway with employsity Career ers that are Services plays relevant to in the lives of students. Cougar Pathway is UH students. a great resource for students looking for student employment, Advice from Monica internships and full time jobs. New to Cougar Pathway? Log on to Cougar Pathway via AccesWhat’s Next? sUH to complete your profile and We celebrate that our new apply for jobs. On any given day, initiatives and relationships with there are over 1,000 on and off faculty and campus partners, campus jobs, internships and full resulted in an increase of 40% time employment. more students taking advantage

“We posted the position at a few schools and were very pleased with the quality. One of the UH students was a top candidate. He was prepared for the interview process, which was very nice.”

Source: Cougar Pathway

University Career Services' mission – provides quality of services to our constituencies through leadership and quality relationships built on a foundation of integrity. UCS constituencies include students, faculty, staff, alumni and employers. For more information, visit www.uh.edu/ucs

8 | Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Although it's something that has become of a way of life for most college students, the world of social media needs to be tread carefully as employers will likely look at your activity. | Courtesy of Bigstock

SPONSORED CONTENT

How to make money between your classes

Opportunities for student employment LAUREN BERRYHILL

CAREER COUNSELOR

Rm. N221 University Center 713-743-5350 uh.edu/csm fb.com/uhstudentmedia twitter.com/uh_csm

NOW HIRING

MEDIA SALES REPS EMAIL YOUR RESUME TO CSMADVERTISING@UH.EDU

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Paid training! Develop real world client experience and potentially earn $1000+ and commissions.

On-campus employment might just seem like an easy way to make money between classes, but there are many additional benefits of being employed through UH. Student employees acquire work experiences that are transferable to many industries, become familiar with campus resources and procedures, gain time management skills, and are more likely to persist in their studies. Since on-campus employment is appealing to many students, these jobs can be competitive to obtain. University Career Services (UCS) is the primary source for on-campus employment and is the hub for college work-study positions. A list of open positions can be

For more information about on-campus employment, visit: www.uh.edu/ucs or sign on to Cougar Pathway in AccessUH.

found through Cougar Pathway, which is UCS’s career management site. Students must complete their profiles and upload a resume for approval prior to applying for a job. UCS also hosts “Campus Jobs for Coogs” which is a job fair for on-campus positions that occurs in early August each year. This is an opportunity for students and on-campus departments to connect and talk about the available positions. Lastly, Student Employment

Week celebrates on-campus employment, as well as provides programming to enhance professional development strategies. Below is the list of workshops and events happening the week of April 11 to April 14. Make sure to check out the Professional Photo Walk-In session is a free event where students can receive a professional headshot, perfect for students looking to update their LinkedIn profiles. For more information about on-campus employment, visit www.uh.edu/ucs.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016 | 11 VOLUNTEERING

Spending your free time is worth more than just experience What volunteering can do for your resume, how it helps you stand out with employers EMILY BURLESON

COPY CHIEF

All the mandatory tasks of being a college student seem so overwhelming that choosing to spend precious free time doing extra work without compensation might sound ridiculous. But the students who choose to volunteer aren’t just helping the community – they’re investing in their own futures in a different way. Metropolitan Volunteer Program director Chris Pinto said that when businesses are hiring, they look for more than just a degree. “Nowadays, it is about being a well-rounded individual,” said Pinto, who is a mathematics senior. “This includes a very important component that some people often forget: the ability to work with a group of people to accomplish a task.” And according to Pinto, volunteering is an easy way to demonstrate that skill, but volunteers often come away with unique perspectives that give them a competitive edge in job interviews. “We have had several volun-

teers send us thank you emails because their experience with volunteering with low income schools, community clean ups or work at the food bank set them apart from other competitors,” Pinto said. “They were knowledgeable about certain issues and had tangible ideas as to ways people can improve those issues.” Volunteering effectively requires “simple things,” like administrative tasks, interacting with strangers and finding innovative ways to finish tasks more efficiently. “Have you ever sat in an interview where they ask you to provide examples of a time you did something?” Pinto asked. “Volunteering can be a great way to put a personal touch on such questions.” Students who want to go deeper than just giving back at shelters and community events can try service learning, which ties together learning to be an effective public servant and meaningful, often prolonged community service projects. “While there is a lot one can do in a single day, or even in a

Students volunteered over spring break as part of the Center for Student Involvement's Community Action Break. | File Photo/The Cougar

few days spread over a semester, it’s nearly impossible to make a permanent change in someone’s life that way,” said Andrew Hamilton, founding director of Bonner Leaders, a service learning organization housed in the Honors College. “And it’s hard to do anything in a few days that would develop one’s skills in planning, team building, research, assessment and evaluation — the things one must do to make a real

difference.” Employers might not value the service itself when deciding who to hire, but Hamilton said they do value students who can run teams, do research and identify challenges. “They also show a lot of interest in students who have blazed a trail—come up with a good, original, interesting idea and see it through,” Hamilton said. The Bonner program is only

in its third year, so none of the students have hit the job market yet, but students have earned “all kinds of opportunities” from their service, Hamilton said. When it comes to job interviews, though, Pinto said employers are impressed that college students volunteer at all. And maybe this should be a surprise: according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, adults between 20 and 24 years old volunteered the least of any age group in 2015, with 18.4 percent reporting they volunteered that year. “Regardless of what I was interviewing for, several of the employers were impressed that such opportunities existed for students,” Pinto said about his experience finding summer internships. “Others were impressed by the fact that I was able to collaboratively work with a group of people that I had never met before. The last group of interviewers were more in shock that millennials aren’t as selfish as media portrays us to be, and they were not afraid to admit that.”

Great summer internship opportunity! Come learn with us. We’ll help hone your analytical and marketing skills in an insurance environment. And we’ll have summer fun along the way! Check us out at www.ufgins.com/careers

Wednesday, March 23, 2016 | 12 CAREER GUIDE

A bit of career advice from fellow Cougars

Jarret Garber

Kyle Kiser

Geophysics

Architecture

Don't be tied down to your major, and be open to other options. — Photo by Justin Cross

Business classes help in the real world. Arch students don't normally get that info.

10596-Cougar News March 23 Brand Ad Half Page-final.pdf

3/22/16

— Photo by Sean Alder

Megan Marshall

Evan Manuel

Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences

Chemical Engineering

Ask questions during job interviews, learn about what the company wants. 12:44 PM

— Photo by Sean Alder

Get involved, contribute to an org. The extra step makes the difference.

— Photo by Sean Alder

Jennifer Pena Business

People should focus on their appearance, it means everything for a first impression.

— Photo by Sean Alder