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Table of Contents ADVERTISERS INDEX ON PAGE 52
4 LinkedIn 6 Internships 8 GPA 14 Experience 18 Job Benefits 22 Style 24 Water cooler
26 Salary 28 Personality 32 Work/Life 34 Skills 38 McChesney 42 Advice
Standard staff Advertising staff Tyler Krtek sales Mark Phillips sales Hailey Gilbreath sales Tessa Phongsavath graphic design Michael Munsell bookkeeping/office
Editorial staff Alec McChesney editor-in-chief Emily Joshu managing editor Cortlynn Stark news editor Sarah Teague life editor Brenner Moore sports editor
Megan Burke photo editor Sarah Hollstrom copy editor Chloe Skaar copy editor/senior reporter Sarah Shepard copy editor
Reporters/ Photographers Matt Campanelli reporter Shelby Dowler reporter Hanna Flanagan reporter Mary Kay Gagnepain reporter Maddie Knapp reporter Katie Haynes columnist
Collin O’Connell photographer Jonathan Petesch columnist Ali Spies columnist Hanna Sumpter senior reporter Nina Todea reporter/photographer Cole Trumble reviewer Blaine Wheeler reporter Aly Weitkamp reporter Kaitlyn Stratman photographer
Professional staff Jack Dimond faculty adviser Sandy King advertising manager
HOUSING GUIDE 2018
is published by The Standard, Missouri State University’s student-produced newspaper. The university has not approved and is not responsible for its content, which is produced and edited by The Standard staff.
Cover design by Tessa Phongsavath
The Standard 901 S. National Avenue Springfield, MO 65897 417-836-5272 Standard@MissouriState.edu the-standard.org
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LinkedIn to your next big career VICTORIA DAVIDSON Staff Reporter @V__Davidson You have most likely heard, or come across, the name LinkedIn while searching for jobs. It is a commonly used website among businesses to find new and qualified employees. Building your resume is very important, and it can be a pain to send to each individual company, but LinkedIn allows you to post your resume and specialties for other companies to search for. According to LinkedIn, it is the world’s largest professional network for individuals to gain insight about other companies, discover career opportunities and build your own network. The website and mobile app gives opportunities to every individual to create a profile, reach out to companies and meet others with the same passions in hopes to find a career that fits best. If you don’t have a job lined up after your graduation from Missouri State, using LinkedIn, or a similar networking website or app, to reach out to businesses is a progressive start to finding your next step. It does take a little bit of effort to reach out to companies and network through LinkedIn’s page, but with dedication, this website may help in networking. LinkedIn has business plans and subscriptions that users can pay for, but these services are optional. LinkedIn allows individuals to create a strong profile, upload important files for businesses to view and invite those businesses to view your page or meet with you in person.
According to the LinkedIn page, their mission is to “connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful.” A 2016 post by CNET rated Shapr as their top rated app to use for career networking, saying it “is the Tinder of professional networking.” The article has LinkedIn rated as the second best app and Meetup the third. Meetup is used to contact other business men and women to meet and collaborate. The article says, “Job seekers should start with Career and Business, which can then be narrowed to Young Professionals or Business Intelligence.” Along with Huffington Post’s statement, the 2017 post also rates LinkedIn as the third best career app, following Glassdoor and Indeed, rated first and second respectively. Whether an individual is a college student looking for any job that will pay the bills or looking to find a job that will be a stepping stone to that career, all of these networking pages can attribute to that. LinkedIn is not the only option to networking with business professionals; Zappier.com suggests using the 1 Million Cups app to reach out to other entrepreneurs around a specific location and meet with them to collaborate ideas. Each app and website used will have its own rules and guidelines; make sure to find the one that fits the standards for specific jobs and surrounds the morals within a professional career. Different careers would be best found through apps that specify in those regions.
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Internships made easy HANNA SUMPTER Senior Reporter @hannasumpter As the population of traditional college-age people rises, so does the amount of people entering the workforce with bachelor's degrees. Internships can help set you apart from everyone else. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, the population of 18- to 24-year-olds rose from about 27.3 million to approximately 31.2 million from 2000 to 2015. The percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds enrolled in colleges and universities also increased from 2000 at 35.5 percent to 40.5 percent in 2015. As more students enter college and work toward graduating with higher education degrees it becomes harder to stand out to employers. However, an internship offers many educational and practical benefits while making you and your resume stand out. “Working with people and really getting that hands on experience is something that I just feel like is really invaluable,” Abigail Blaes, a senior studying public relations, said. According to Missouri State Univer-
sity’s career center internships offer students practical work experience as well as an opportunity to combine community service and academics. At Missouri State University some degrees require students to complete an internship, which forces students to obtain those experiences which can be unattainable in a classroom. Even popular job search sites Snagajob and Monster list benefits of having an internship including: resume building, networking opportunities, and the possibility of a segway into a fulltime position. However, many other degree programs which do not require internships are still helping students find them through the Career Center. Chalanda Johnson, an administrative specialist with the Career Center said many degree programs have listed possible internship opportunities on the Career Center’s JobTracks site. Johnson said marketing, computer sciences, psychology and art and design internships were among many listed on the site. Students can sign
in to the JobTracks site from the Career Center’s page on the university website to search and apply for jobs, upload a resume to your profile, research employers and mentors, review career fairs and sign up for interview opportunities. JobTracks currently has over 700 job postings for students to view and apply for. When searching for positions an advanced search option can help students narrow down the postings to a desired location, from a specific employer and a job category. Job opportunities listed on the site can be found in Springfield or all over the nation. Blaes recently began an internship with the university’s office of web and new media. She said she is working with other interns to revamp the university’s Instagram and Snapchat presence. “I feel like I’m learning a lot by just getting out and doing things,” Blaes said. “I definitely feel like already in the month and a half that I’ve had this internship, I’ve already grown as a professional woman. The Career Center u See INTERNSHIPS, page 8
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INTERNSHIPS Continued from page 6 also lists many tips on their website to help students looking for internships. The Career Center’s website said students should establish objectives, identify posted openings and potential employers, and prepare for interviews. Establishing objectives helps students better focus on what they hope to accomplish by completing
an internship. Identifying where to find openings and taking advantage of meeting with potential employers can help students find the right internship for their goals. The Career Center also said on its website that planning and preparing for interviews is necessary to ensure you find the position in time to meet personal and
academic deadlines. Students can visit the career center on campus during weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The career center has two locations, one in Carrington Hall, room 309, and in Glass Hall, room 276. Students can also call the career center at 417-836-5636 or toll free at 877-836JOBS(5627).
GPA: Can it keep you from starting your career? BRAD KELLY Staff Reporter @BradBradCole GPA — the ominous three-digit number that hangs over the heads of college students across the country. But do employers even care about GPA? Well, that depends, according to experts at the Missouri State University Career Center. “It really depends on the major,” Todd Euglow, a career resource specialist at the Career Center, said. “Some majors really do take a strong preference in what the GPA is.”
Euglow said, a GPA of 3.0 and above is usually considered an adequate GPA. However, that is not always the case. “Some majors are going to need to be higher,” Euglow said. “If you’re a nursing major and you’re wanting to go into a nursing program, a 3.0 probably isn’t going to cut it for most nursing programs. I think the student really has to know what is expected in the field they’re wanting to go into.” Kelly Rapp, the interim director at the MSU Career Center, said that in some
industries, such as the theater industry, GPA often doesn’t have as much of a bearing as other fields. This is because employers are often looking more at skills than academic achievement. However, it all comes down to the individual employer. Rapp said, regardless of the field, having a good GPA can’t hurt. “Getting decent grades is sometimes an indicator of work ethic, determination or persistence,” Rapp said. “So if something is really low it can raise a red flag. If they u See GPA, page 10
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GPA Continued from page 8 have a good resume and do a good job interview, I don’t think employers care much between a 3.25 and a 3.47.” Euglow said he encourages students to include their GPA on their resume if it is a 3.0 or above. If a student’s GPA is below that mark, they should consider using their major GPA or leaving GPA off the resume altogether. Shelby Morrison, a MSU health administration graduate student who works as an office coordinator at Mercy Hospital, said her GPA was never mentioned when applying at the hospital. “I didn’t even have it on my resume,” Morrison said. “They never brought it up or asked about it.” Morrison said the hospital focused questions mainly around classes she had taken, organizations she had been involved in and her work experience. “They wanted to know how I’d handle situations or how I’ve handled them in the past — not what grade I got in PLS 101,” Morrison said. MSU, the fifth largest employer in
Springfield according to the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce website, doesn’t necessarily have a GPA requirement for applicants either, according to Tammy Few, MSU’s director of Human Resources. Few said that she doesn’t recall posting full-time positions for the university with a GPA requirement. “We’re usually just confirming that the degree has been awarded,” she said. Lenetta Choate, a per-course instructor at MSU and former business owner, said that GPA isn’t the most important factor in scoring a job after graduation. For Choate, it all boils down to one thing — “grit.” “Grit,” Choate said, “is that intrinsic desire to keep succeeding, to keep picking yourself up and learning from failure — to keep going and to keep persevering. If you have that inner drive, that passion, to me that’s the most important thing.” Choate has had many experiences in the educational field at various grade levels and said, in some cases, a high GPA doesn’t always translate to the best teachers.
“Many times, people with high GPAs can’t understand students who don’t have high GPAs,” Choate said. The mistake many employers make, according to Choate, is hiring people that look good on paper rather than hiring people who have the character traits to be successful. Choate said that she always valued “grit” over factors such as GPA when hiring people for her flower business. However, Choate said that GPA is an important factor in furthering one’s education past the undergraduate level. Graduate schools often have a GPA requirement, so a lower GPA can prevent graduates from being accepted to their desired programs. This can lead to limited financial success. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income for people with a master’s degree is higher than the median income of those who only earned a bachelor’s degree. Euglow said that overall the emphasis of GPA really depends on the competitiveness of the field and individual employers.
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When experience is more valuable than your GPA MARY KAY GAGNEPAIN Staff Reporter @MKay4545 Ever studied for an exam for hours upon hours, aiming for that “A” only to forget everything the next week? That is the epitome of most students’ college careers. They allow their GPAs to dictate their worth — their grades are everything to them. Abigail Clark, junior communication major, spends hours in the library cramming for exams, stressing out about getting perfect grades and a flawless GPA. “I am going to be really honest, my grades are really important to me,” Clark said. “I take them very seriously. But a grade doesn’t always reflect what you know about the subject.” Yet, even a 4.0 studious student like Clark can admit that a grade in a class may not reflect a student’s potential. “I think that a classroom gives you a very small piece of what the real world is, but no class can combine everything
like experience does,” Clark said. Experience allows students to learn more about the industry they’re interested in, which can impress a potential employer and allow them to learn about their own strengths and weaknesses. “Since I am an Emerging Leaders facilitator, every Thursday night I talk to freshmen and sophomores about topics I really care about,” Clark said. “In my sociology class, I learn about diversity and poverty, and then in Emerging Leaders I get to lead exercises that relate to those topics. This experience is super valuable because I wouldn’t have known that I want to teach if it weren’t for the experience I have gained outside the classroom.” Clark found her passion, and it wasn’t sitting behind a desk in a lecture hall. Students should not confine themselves to the four walls of their classrooms. “Whenever I was working for another organization and we
were looking for interns, one student sent me their work and every single piece they sent me was a class project,” Erika Brame, web and new media specialist, said. “As a future employer, I just had a bad taste in my mouth that she didn't have any other experience besides what her teachers made her do. It was painfully obvious that all this person did was go to school.” “It showed to me that she didn't have much initiative to go out and try something different or on her own. In my field, something I look for is willingness to learn something on their own, instead of just trying to check the boxes.” Experience is more valuable because “everyone can take something different from an experience, for it is very personal and doesn’t involve a rubric,” Sara Jones, MSU graduate student and secondary education major, said. “For me, that was student teaching,” Jones said. “I have had wonderful professors at Missouri State u See EXPERIEMCE, page 16
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EXPERIENCE Continued from page 14
who gave me these great suggestions and tips, but at the end of the day when I was in the classroom in front of 25 students trying to teach them the slope of a line, I learned way more than I ever could have if someone would have told me them. I would have never learned about my environment, and more importantly about myself.” Experience allows students to truly understand what it is they want to do with their lives. “Even though I have a masters degree, I have learned more about myself and the industry in my current position at Missouri State then I ever would have by just sitting in a classroom and worrying about grades,” Brame said. “Actually doing something, seeing the results and getting feedback from an actual audience is totally different then your teacher giving you a grade and saying ‘yup, you did good’ or ‘no, you did bad.’”
And all of the classroom lectures in the world wouldn't supply students with enough experience to prepare them for the real world. “When you experience things yourself, it is a lot easier for things to resonate with you,” Jones said. “It is a lot easier to accept advice or reflect on weaknesses when it is happening directly to you verses someone giving you a good grade, because honestly what does that mean? To me, that has no meaning. By going through experiences, we give experiences, and that meaning is what we take away.” Unfortunately, according to Jones, students get so caught up in being perfect and the performance pressure, they forget how incredible learning really is. “I got to college and I started to take these math classes, and I started to realize that I didn't know math as well as I thought I did,” Jones said. “I was so worried
about a silly grade that I missed out on the beauty of math and the beauty of learning. So many times I just needed to fail in an experience where I was never given the opportunity to experience, I was only given the opportunity to be graded. That is when true learning occurs.” In addition to learning about their strengths and weaknesses, experiences can cement career decisions. Perhaps students will find their industry so boring that their internship will lead them to change their career plans. Although, it is better to learn that lesson during a onesemester internship than as a full-time employee. Ultimately, experience is invaluable and will prepare students for their careers more than any class or letter grade can. “In the real world, your boss won't be putting an A, B or C on your work,” Jones said.
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Job benefits that could make or break the deal SHELBY DOWLER Staff Reporter @ShelbyTheTall When the reality of graduating, getting a full time job and starting a career finally hits you, one thing you must consider as a job seeker is what benefits your employer will provide. Compensation packages provide benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans and vacation time for employees. Besides your salary or hourly wage, benefits can make the difference between enjoying your job or not. A job with lower pay and more benefits might be more beneficial to you than a job with higher pay and fewer benefits. Margie Stewart is the career resources specialist and employer relations manager for the Career Center at Missouri State. She said asking yourself what you value most can help determine which benefits and perks are the most important. Stewart said job seekers should do
research and explore potential employers’ websites to get an idea of what each employer offers. “That information is usually out there,” she said. “A lot of times, it’s really important for a job seeker to think about ‘what is it that I would like beyond my money?’” Mandatory Benefits There are benefits employers are required by law to provide. Social Security and Medicare are two of the mandatory benefits. This is a shared cost between the employer and employee. Workers’ Compensation covers employees when they become ill or injured on the job. Unemployment insurance covers people who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. This benefit provides payments until people until they find a new job. Health Insurance According to Blue Cross Blue Shield’s
website, healthcare spending in the United States is $3 trillion per year and is expected to increase. Health insurance is an optional benefit an employer may provide, but it is one of the most important because of rising healthcare costs. Stewart said employers can purchase insurance for much cheaper than what individuals can get on their own. There is a benefit to getting a group discount. Job seekers should also research the details, if the employer has a contract with a particular healthcare provider and if there is a deductible. “There’s lots of little things that, once you get into it, you want to know,” Stewart said. Job seekers should also research whether dental, vision or another specific area is covered in the health insurance plan. Retirement Plans As a twenty-something with a diploma in hand and a whole u See BENEFITS, page 20
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BENEFITS Continued from page 18 career ahead of you, retirement is probably one of the last things on your mind. However, the sooner you start investing and saving for retirement, the more money you will have by the time you retire. Employer’s sometimes have 401(k) savings plans where workers can invest part of their paycheck before their pay is taxed. Sometimes employers will match what you put in up to a certain percentage. This is free money, basically. Other than health insurance, this is another big perk to guarantee financial security when employees retire. Paid Time Off Except for a few careers like teaching, the days of month long winter holidays, spring breaks and summer vacations will only be a fond memory once you start a full time job. Stewart says two weeks of paid vacation is normal but
can grow the longer you are with a certain employer. You may not get any days off in the first three months or probationary period, Stewart said. The first year is hard because you’re accumulating vacation time. Other Benefits To Consider Tuition assistance- If you are thinking about getting a master’s degree, some employers offer tuition assistance to fully or partially cover your student bill. Onsite child careDaycares can get expensive. Having your child near or at your workplace can save time in your commute and be cheaper than daycare. Social gatheringsHoliday parties, company picnics and the like can boost employee morale and build relationships among workers. Commuter benefits- Travel compensation, company vehicles and mass
transit credits can be valuable if your job involves travel. The Career Center on the third floor of Carrington Hall can help students with making decisions on jobs and weighing the options. “It really does depend on the job seeker and what their values are,” Stewart said. Stewart also said while job seekers should certainly be aware of what an employer offers, benefits should not be the first topic of conversation. An employer could interpret that gesture as greedy or selfish. However, Stewart said employers can be a little more flexible on benefits as opposed to pay. Use your negotiating skills to see if you can improve your benefits package. The most important thing regarding job benefits is to understand what is most important to you and your values. Look at the whole package and what your employer has to offer.
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Stylish and Successful We know, we know — you’ve heard the “business casual” spiel before. But we just can’t talk about it enough. So why is it important to dress up? 1. A good first impression Your boss and coworkers, or potential employer, will appreciate your gumption. 2. Self-confidence Don’t lie, we know you feel good in that favorite suit of yours. 3. Professionalism Imagine walking into a conference room for your job interview and everyone is wearing muddy overalls ... Yeah, that would be rough.
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So what is interpersonal communication and how can mastering it help you? “So h ow weeke was your nd?”
n ’ve bee “Could better!”
“Oh me , Ross, up.” you cr
ack
Graphic by Madisyn Oglesby
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “interpersonal” as “being, related to, or involving relations between persons.” This form of communication basically emcompasses how we interact with others in our lives, whether that is professional one-on-one communication professionally, with friends, with family or romantically ... and so much more. Interpersonal communication is so important in workplace settings and within relationships, Missouri State has an interpersonal track under the communication department. So how can interpersonal communication help you? We all experience and participate within interpersonal relations daily, many times without realizing it. There are many aspects within this part of our lives, including how we speak to one another, how we act in front of others and how we use these skills to our advantage. Learning how to competently and professionally speak with those within your career will help you in the workplace. Mastering appropriate tone, eye contact, gestures, etc., will show you care about connecting and networking with those around you on a higher level. Visit https://communication.missouristate.edu/commstudies/interpersonaltrack.htm to learn more about interpersonal communication learning opportunities at Missouri State.
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Get the most bang for your buck
Research salary fluctuation MEG ALEXANDER Staff Reporter Most students don’t realize that certain states may pay more for their particular career than others. For example, Ellie Moxley with KSMU Ozarks Public Radio reported in January 2018 that Missouri teachers are making more than last year but are still falling short of the national average. Certain states, like Missouri, might pay less or more in certain career fields. According to The Accountant Path, the best paying states for accountants are New York, Washington D.C. and New Jersey, with the highest average accountant salary being $102,401 in New York. The article also said that accountants are normally paid more in the bigger cities of a state. For example, accountants will make more in Kansas City and Saint Louis than in Jefferson City or West Plains. Teachers’ salaries, however, will reflect the median income of the state. “Typically, teacher salaries reflect the level of salaries in the state for most occupations.” Emmett Sawyer, interim department head of Missouri State University’s Department of Education, said. “For example, a teacher in Mississippi is paid less than a teacher in New York. One would find the median incomes for each state different. New York’s median income is greater than $60,000 while Mississippi’s is less than $45,000.” According to Education Week, in Alaska and New York teachers get paid the most, and Mississippi and Arizona, teachers get paid the least. Although salary iswppealing and can sometimes be a deciding factor, a lot of times students will choose to stay in the state they grew up in, or where they went to college. Danielle Lillge, assistant professor in the English Department and director of English Education, explained that most students, in her experience, choose to stay in Missouri. “Most students have family ties or communities in Missouri, and, so, a lot of times that has a bigger pull than bigger salaries,” Lillge said. David Gonzales, sophomore secondary English education major, said that money is not as important to him as his community in Springfield and, although he could make more money as an educator by moving back to his hometown, Austin, Texas, he will most likely stay in Springfield with his close friends. “Money is more of a secondary thing for me,” Gonzales said. And though some might chose community over salary, other students are willing to move to a new state. “I am pretty willing to relocate for a better paying job if it meant not being in Springfield, even if it is farther away and in a bigger city or state,” senior marketing research major McKenzie Tennyson said. According to Marketing Week, marketing employees are paid most in the “fast moving consumer goods” industry as well as gaming and gam-
u See FLUCTUATION, page 36
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Get the right job for your personality KAITLYN STRATMAN Staff Reproter @kaitlynstratman For those who can’t stand kids, working at a daycare may not be the best option. With a work ethic driven by creativity, someone might want to avoid punching numbers for a living. Although that may seem obvious, finding a career to match a certain personality is more complicated than picking a trait and running with it. “We look at personality, interest (and) values as they relate to work, and have students evaluate their own skills in nine different areas,” Mike Wood, career resources specialist, said. Wood works at the Missouri State University Career Center, located in Carrington Hall, and uses the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to help students figure out which careers might be better for them. “It’s based on the idea that we all have natural preferences, and it looks at four different areas,” Wood said. One area the assessment looks at is introversion versus extroversion, however, Wood explained that not everyone is on the extreme sides of the scale and many people fall somewhere in between. “People that are pretty high on introversion usually need some type of quiet space where they can kind of reflect rather than working with a ton of people all the time,” Wood said. “So that would automatically, I guess, help
u See PERSONALITY, page 50
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Managing work and life CHIYIERRJA GRANT Staff Reporter @ChiyierrjaGrant
The thought of working while managing a college workload may seem daunting. Not to worry; there’s actually a way to balance work and the responsibilities of being a student. Not being able to manage time could throw a student off balance. The ability to manage time is a skill that impacts many college students’ ability to handle their workload. Graduate student Tiago Maciel said he currently desires to work but, due to time, didn’t think too much about it before. “I couldn’t (work) last semester because I was so swarmed with school. Now it’s lighter, I have no problem working for whoever will take me,” Maciel said. Searching for the perfect job that works around a student’s course load can be challenging. The trick is getting comfortable with the course load and other activities before taking on a job. Sophomore Emily Pena, an undecided major, takes classes in between working at Meyer Library. Pena said it is important to consider how many credit hours are being taken and the amount of hours willing to be spent at work. “Personally, I struggle with getting to class on time or eating a lot because I work in between classes or right after,” Pena said. It may take some time to set up a smooth schedule for assignments, classes, extracurricular activities and work, but it’s not impossible. For the expanded version, visit www.the-standard.org
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What skills do you need to succeed? Ferguson said that the skills she mentioned tie into one another for basic skills that are needed for any career. “I just think flexibility is As college students near their important because you work with entrance into the job field, many different people,” Ferguson said. should note the different skills that “It is hard to be a team player. are needed for their desired job. Sometimes you disagree. SomeSome skills that are needed for times you need to compromise, their specific job field may be difwhich goes with teamwork.” ferent than a different area. Although communication, For any job, there are some teamwork and flexibility are bareboned skills that are necesoverall skills, different job fields sary within the workforce. Suzann have different skills that are Ferguson, a career specialist from needed in order to enter a desired Missouri State University Career field. Center, talks about needed skills Freshman nursing major Mattie that could pertain to any job or Carver said that compassion is career. “Communication, teamwork and a skill, and trait, needed in the nursing field. flexibility,” said Ferguson. “You “Being nice and being a carhave to be able to communicate. ing person because you are in a Teamwork is major in order to get things done. You can’t just do your job that is caring for people (is necessary),”Carver said. thing; you have to work together.” For the expanded version, visit www.the-standard.org Zak Baldwin Staff Reporter @ZKBaldwin
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FLUCTUATION Continued from page 26
Marketers are paid the least in the charity and not-for-profit and education industries. U.S. News and World Report says the best salaries for marketers lie in San Jose, California and San Francisco, California with the highest average salary being $201,380. In the same way as accountants, marketers are often paid more in the bigger cities than in smaller cities. However, the medical field pays workers a little differently. When looking at the fluctuation in salaries for nurses, location does not always matter as much as skill, training and the type of work environment. For example, Soliant Health explains that “Nurses in clinics typically earn less than nurses working in hospitals, while nurse administrators, nurse practitioners, and specialists such as anesthetists make significantly more than general RNs.” It is also important to note that bigger states and cities might have higher salaries simply because there cost of living is much more than smaller communities. Although salary might not be the most important factor contributed to a future career, it is important for students to have an understanding as future employees and employers of the fluctuations in salaries across the United States.
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McChesney: When it comes to ALEC McCHESNEY Editor in chief @Alec_McChesney Let’s face it: unless you are President Donald Trump, having experience in the field you are hoping to enter has become more essential than ever. As we millennials grow up and begin looking for jobs, it seems employers want someone who is young enough to understand the everchanging world of technology but, at the same time, has five years of experience in
the field. How does that add up? Well, it doesn’t, but it’s the reality we are forced to live in. Fortunately, there is something you can do about it: Go out and get internships. And don’t stop at just one. If you play your cards right, you can work three or four different internships by the time you graduate college. I will graduate this summer from Missouri State, and, before taking a full-time job, I will work as an intern for the fourth time in the
last three years. Then, when I finish up the program, I will have the experience necessary to land a great job without having the “three to five years of full-time experience” employers are looking for. And these next few months are the prime opportunity for you to land your first — or more — internship. So, what’s the secret? For starters, let me preface this by saying, I don’t know everything about
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internships, just do it landing internships, and this may not apply perfectly to your field, but it certainly can’t hurt. First things first, narrow down what you want to do. If you want to be a lawyer, or at least work in a law firm, perfect. You are ahead of the game. If working in marketing is the dream, you know where you want to end up. That’s the hardest part. So, take some time to think over where you want to see your career go. If you aren’t sure on a
specific future, then narrow it down to a field and just begin. Set a goal of emailing or calling all of the businesses in your field in the area and introduce yourself. Let the bosses of companies know your name, your year in school and why you are contacting them. Keep it short and sweet: “Hello, my name is Alec McChesney, and I am a senior journalism student at Missouri State University. I am emailing you today because I will graduate in May of 2018
and am in search of an internship to further my learning and experience in the world of journalism. If your company happens to have an internship for the summer, I would love to send you my materials. Thanks again, and all the best.” By just doing that, you have already beat a third of your competition who wouldn’t ever send that email. You are now on the radar of someone who could be your future employer. u See INTERN, page 40
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INTERN Continued from page 39
Now, after you take care of sending emails or making calls to companies in Springfield, I urge you to do the same for all over the United States. I understand money can be difficult and that a lot of these internships won’t pay you enough, but the experience and contacts are the most important part of all this. Even if you don’t move to Portland, Oregon for the summer to work at a marketing firm, emailing the boss of the firm and connecting with them on a personal level will do wonders for your career down the road. Two years in the future, you will be able to email that same
boss — now a contact of yours — and have a better chance at landing a job. Once you are in the inboxes of your future employers, stay active with them. At the same time, don’t force it. If an employer seems interested and says “stay in touch,” do just that. Let them know how your semester is going and that you are still wanting an internship. And always, always, always — thank them for their time. Despite what some think, the generation before ours does want us to succeed and they will help you. All you have to do is reach out and ask.
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Best career advice What should students do “Follow your passion and connect the dots backward.” Alec McChesney, Editor in Chief “Do what you love.” Brenner Moore, Sports Editor “Make as many contacts as you can. You’ll be surprised how willing people are to offer you advice and even opportunities if you’re just outgoing and nice. ” Megan Burke, Photo Editor
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from editors to get jobs?
“Networking, networking, networking – start a LinkedIn profile and really use it. But networking won’t be all — you also have to have the skills to back yourself up.” Sarah Teague, Life Editor “Take risks.” Emily Joshu, Managing Editor “Watch Gary Vaynerchuk’s videos. As he says, ‘close your eyes until you’re 29.’“ Cortlynn Stark, News Editor
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PERSONALITY Continued from page 28
you to consider different careers in terms of, ‘Do I want a career where I’m interacting with people all day long?’ An introvert might find that type of interaction very draining and exhausting, whereas an extrovert would be totally energized by that and thrive on that.” Whether they take a personality test or not, it is important for people to be rational when thinking about future career options. “I think people need to be informed rather than delusional,” psychology professor Donald Fischer said. “That, if you’re thinking about doing ‘A’ and you’ve got a personality profile that is a reasonable fit, then that ought to make you feel more confident that you’re making a good choice. On the other hand, if you’re thinking about going into A and you’ve got a profile that is diametrically opposed, then that ought to make you think about this a little bit, and say, ‘Is this what I really want to do?’” When deciding what career to pursue, Wood believes that personality should be a stronger consideration than current abilities or knowledge. “You’re going to always be learning,” Wood said. “This is just the beginning when you leave Missouri State, you’ll continue learning throughout your life. You can always learn new skills and new knowledge, but your personality tends to be pretty stable.” If still unsure which route to take after looking at personality test results, Fischer recommends to “Engage in some exploratory kinds of activities.” For the expanded version, visit www.the-standard.org
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