WSU Online - Career Development HQ

WSU Alumni Career Support

2012-02-08T08:54:00.000-08:00

The WSU Alumni website has a section dedicated to career support for all WSU students and alumni. There are several different resources available, whether you are looking to network with WSU Alumni, looking for a job, or preparing for graduate school. Since the average job search takes about 5 months and graduate school admissions deadlines are usually around this time of year, you will want to start your search now. If you have any questions about these resources, then you can send me an email at cmiller66@wsu.edu. Have a great day.

Take care,
Chris

Potential Salaries of Homemakers

2012-01-18T11:43:00.000-08:00

This is a great article from Yahoo about the average pay for the types of work that homemakers do for their families for free. I think this is so interesting, and it really makes you think of the value of the help we have received throughout our lives from our families.

Many resume professionals are used to seeing homemaking listed in a creative way on resumes, like Human Resource Manager, Zookeeper, and CEO. This article provides more validity to the idea that homemaking can be expressed in a very professional, career-oriented way on a resume.

Take care,
Chris

Happy Holidays

2011-12-08T11:03:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season. If you have any career development questions, then please contact me at cmiller66@wsu.edu. If you are interested in learning more about WSU Online, check out our website at online.wsu.edu and request information about specific academic programs. Happy Holidays!

Take care,
Chris

Internships

2011-11-09T09:02:00.000-08:00

I often receive internship listings from the World Affairs Council in Seattle. You can find information about these opportunities here.

They offer five different kinds of internships. If you are interested in international affairs, then there may be a good fit for you.

Also, the official internship listing tool for WSU student is CougLink. You can find this and other internship resources at the WSU Center for Advising and Career Development website.

Take care,
Chris

Green Careers

2011-10-04T16:01:00.000-07:00

Kermit the Frog said, "it's not that easy being green," but maybe he was wrong. The US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics website has released an informative career guide on Green Careers. Check it out here: Green Careers.

This also seems like a good time to plug the website www.idealist.org for those interested in non-profit careers.

Take care,
Chris

Jobs for WSU Students

2011-09-02T11:13:00.000-07:00

Where do WSU students go to look for jobs? WSU CougLink. It's the job and internship posting board for WSU students. Check it out:

http://students.cacd.wsu.edu/CougLink

I recommend starting by exploring the "jobs & internships" tab toward the top of the page, then you can work on developing your account and posting your resume.

Take care,
Chris

Part-Time Opportunity with Coca Cola

2011-07-06T13:30:00.000-07:00

Coca Cola is Hiring!

Market Survey Specialist Part-Time: Responsible for conducting Right Execution Daily (RED) survey tracking in the outlets pre-defined for their respective area. Surveys outlets with a 'Consumer Point of View', collecting data as seen in the market at the time of the survey. Enters survey data into a Tablet PC or Smartphone device.

Acts as the 'eyes and ears' of the Salesforce to identify key opportunities in each surveyed outlet. Interacts with and maintains good personal relations with Customer Store personnel. Follows a prescribed route plan to conduct multiple customer surveys in a day/week. Follows other related daily Routines provided by the Sales Capability Manager. Completes an average of 10 to 15 survey audits per day (approx 200 to 300 surveys per month).

Efficiently organizes a Route Plan in order to maximize number of surveys conducts/outlets visited in a day. Completes surveying of In-Outlet Execution based upon the prescribed LOS and in-outlet merchandising standards, including pictures at each outlet. Enters surveyed data into a Tablet PC or Smartphone device. Raises issues or LOS clarification immediately to MU Sales Capability Manager.

Please complete an online application at www.enjoycareers.com to be considered immediately. Search Tacoma, Washington jobs for “Market Survey Specialist PT – South Sound.”

Informational Interviews

2011-05-17T09:24:00.000-07:00

Have I made my annual mentioning of the importance of networking? Well, here it is again. Networking is absolutely the most important piece of job searching today, and informational interviewing is a tool for expanding your network.

Informational interviews are conversations that you arrange with persons who have knowledge and experience in professions you wish to investigate. This strategy is useful throughout one's career. It is used by experienced professionals to research advancement opportunities in their careers as well as workers seeking first careers or career changes.

There are many reasons to do informational interviewing:

•Gain insights and information from personal accounts of the work setting, knowledge and skill requirements, and current trends in the field;
•Develop your networking skills and "introduce" yourself to people in the profession;
•Help you identify how to prepare yourself and work toward a particular career goal;
•Increase motivation in working toward goals;
•Build confidence and experience in interacting with professionals.
To achieve the potential learning outcomes and networking benefits that can come from informational interviewing, it is important for you to plan ahead in using this strategy. We have prepared the following guidelines to assist you in arranging and conducting informational interviews. We hope you will practice this strategy and apply it to understanding more about yourself and your career opportunities.
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CONSIDERATIONS
•Remember that informational interviews are different from job interviews and employers will appreciate your awareness of this. Do not try to "misrepresent" a request for an informational interview and turn it into a back-door approach for job search.
•"First impressions count!" still applies here as with a job interview. Follow guidelines for appropriate dress, behavior, and language. You do not need to be as formal as with a job interview, but you still want to be seen in a positive light and as a possible future applicant for a position.
•While we are discussing planned arrangements for interviewing, we know that sometimes a surprise opportunity arises to talk with a person knowledgeable about career information. Even in this case, the more you have prepared the better it will go.

ARRANGING AN INTERVIEW
Where To Find People
Think about which occupations you are considering in your career planning. Who does this type of work? Where are they located geographically? What types of organizations/firms hire these people? While direct in-person interviewing is best of all, this may not always be possible in the field you are investigating. You may want to go beyond your local community to make contacts by telephone or Internet. Ask friends, family, neighbors, teachers, (literally sometimes someone in your own backyard!) etc about individuals to interview. Don't forget organizational contacts such as with Chambers of Commerce or professional organizations. If at all possible ask if for a personal referral to the person you wish to interview.

Be Prepared
Being prepared means doing homework ahead of time -- knowing what kind of information you are seeking, learning as much as you can ahead of time about the career field as well as the organization and the work role of the person you are interviewing.

You should think through what you want to say about yourself, be ready to answer questions about your areas of interests, previous experiences and future plans. If you are unsure about your future career goals, it is all right to say you are exploring your options, but you should be able to identify some general, tentative goals.

Be sure to keep contact names accurate both in spelling and pronunciation. This includes secretarial and support staff who assist you with arrangements. Keep records not only of the content of your interview, but also names, dates, comments, and referrals.

You may have a resume ready in case it is requested, but it is suggested you may want to send it to person after the interview, perhaps along with the thank-you note. Often you learn something during the course of the interview where you want to change aspects of your resume. After all, this is not a job interview (yet!).

Plan ahead for convenient time scheduling; many businesses easily need a week or longer advance notice for requests such as these. Be considerate of work cycles.

Scheduling An Interview
State the purpose of your call such as introducing yourself as a college student who is investigating career fields in this person's professional area. Explain how you got the person's name. Be respectful of the person's work setting and request a convenient time, perhaps about twenty minutes is a good start. Express appreciation for their helpfulness and if now is not a good time to discuss an appointment, would there be a better time for you to call back? (And then make sure you do!)

Plan Questions Ahead
Think about the information you are seeking. Consider the range of possible topics as well as which information is most important to you. While we present you below with some sample questions, it is wise to customize the questions for your approach and what you need.

Prepare a notebook with your most important questions highlighted to yourself. It is considered professional to have a notebook with you with some prepared questions and for notes during the interview.

Know yourself and what is it that you want to communicate about yourself as a potential worker in this field. Are there points about your current or future preparation that you want to leave with the person you are interviewing? You may want to make note of this in your notebook.

DURING THE INTERVIEW
Be On Time
If something unforeseen does cause you to be late, be sure to call and ask if it is better to reschedule. If you are going to new location, check it out ahead of time or ask directions.

Methods Of Interviewing
Follow general principles of good interviewing. After introductions, be sure to ask about the time available for the interview. Do not go past half an hour unless the interviewee says it is all right. Try to emphasize open-ended questions that involve more than a "yes or no" response. Learn to take notes from your conversation without it interfering with the discussion. You may want to review your highlighted questions at the end of the interview to make sure you've addressed them. Avoid inappropriate or too personal questions (some sensitive areas are obvious - personal salary level, marital status, religious background, etc.)

SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Questions Focused On The Person You Are Interviewing
•How did you get started? What is your educational background?
•Is your job what you expected?
•What are your major responsibilities?
•What do you have to know to be good at your job? What skills are most important?
•What are your greatest challenges?
•What is your daily routine?
•How would you describe your co-workers?
•What is most rewarding, most stressful?
•What are your future goals, aspirations?
Questions Focused On The Occupation/Organization
•What is important for people entering this field to know? What are educational requirements?
•What is a typical salary range for persons in this area?
•What is most important to know about your profession?
•What kind of work experience would employers in your field want? Do internships play a role?
•What are some suggestions for gaining experience?
•Is the work in this field changing? What are the future trends?
•How do people advance through the profession?
•What advice would you have for someone entering this profession?
•What are some related occupations?

COMPLETING THE INTERVIEW & FOLLOW UP
"Adios & Gracias"
"Last impressions" are just as important as first impressions. Be sure to express appreciation. You may want to inquire if the interviewee would suggest other employers/professionals to interview. If yes, could you use the person's name as a referral?

Future Contacts
It is appropriate to ask if you have questions in the future could you call back; also you may suggest as you make progress through your studies, you would like to keep in touch.

REFLECTIONS & FOLLOW UP
Thank You Notes
Be sure to send a note soon after your interview. It should reiterate some of the major points you learned from your interview. Of course it should be well-written, free of misspellings. It is not typical to submit your resume with this unless it was requested.

Write A Summary
Although during the interview you are sure you will remember everything, don't count on it! Writing a summary not only will help you in the learning process, but will provide a valuable record for future activities. Put your notes into the sequence of the interview and complete the thoughts you didn't get to write down.

Reflect, Reflect, Reflect!
What surprised you about what you learned? If you had to do it over what might you ask? What were your feelings during the interview process? What were your strongest impressions from the experience?

Remember, an interview is a sample of one - no matter whether the person loved or hated his/her job, be cautious about generalizing to the whole occupation or profession. You may have caught the person on a particularly unusual day. It is recommended to interview more than one person, especially in different settings, if it is a profession of strong interest to you.

Application to Career Planning: Questions to Ask Yourself
One of the main reasons to do informational interviewing is to increase your knowledge about yourself and work opportunities. A major aspect of career planning is self-assessment - recognition of your interests, skills/abilities, and values. What did you learn about your personal priorities from this experience? Did you discover qualities about yourself? Clarify your interests? Identify what is meaningful to you? Even though you were exploring information about opportunities, these experiences also teach us about ourselves as well.

For example:

•Overall were you pleased/disappointed with what you discovered?
•Is there something you could have done to improve the interview?
•What aspects of the job would you like? Dislike?
•What is your reaction to the work setting? Location, routine, type of environment?
•How would you handle the responsibilities, stresses, deadlines, workload, challenges?
•What is your reaction to the amount of (or lack of) freedom the worker has on the job?
•Do you think you would like working with the kind of people that work in this field?
Why or why not?
•Which of the skills, knowledge, personal characteristics necessary for this job do you possess now? Do you want to acquire them?
•Is the work meaningful to you? In what way?
•Can you meet the educational and experiential requirements for entry into this field? How could you acquire them?
•Are there alternatives to this work setting you would prefer?
Which ones and why?

Note: these guidelines were developed from a number of sources.

Richard Bolles. 1996. What Color Is Your Parachute? Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press.

Hecklinger, Fred J. & Black, Bernadette M. 1994. Training for Life, 5th. Edition, Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt.

Washington State University, Career Services. Packet for Career Planning course, University 100.

Washington State University Alumni Relations & Washington State University Career Services, Mentor Training.

Career Assessment Resources

2011-04-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

Check out these free career assessment resources from Career Key:

"Choosing a College Major Based on Your Personality: What does the research say?" This PDF e-book can be accessed here.

"Foundation Skills" PDF.

"Choose a Career Cluster or Pathway" article.

Coca Cola Job Opportunities - South Sound

2011-03-21T10:39:00.000-07:00

Two Career Opportunities with Coca Cola in the South Puget Sound area:

Application deadline for both positions is this Saturday, March 26th.

Account Manager:
Meet sales, delivery, merchandising and stock rotation standards for all company products at each account. Responsible for developing existing accounts to maintain, improve and grow market position and also for evaluating sales opportunities to maximize sales productivity. Identify needs for equipment and shelf space, displays, temporary and permanent point of sale material. Sell all company programs and promotion. College degree preferred. Minimum 2 years consumer product sales and formal training. Beverage industry, route sales or grocery management experience a plus.
Pay: $38,000-$40,000 base salary DOE, full-time with incentive program and benefits.

Please complete an online application at www.enjoycareers.com to be considered immediately. Search Washington jobs for “Account Manager – Tacoma/Olympia.” Deadline to apply is Saturday, March 26, 2011.

APPLICANTS MUST PASS A DRUG SCREEN AND BACKGROUND CHECK PRIOR TO EMPLOYMENT
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Sales Associate:
• Receive and answer incoming telephone calls and communications from customers in order to solve customer problems/requests.
• Confirm your understanding of customers business needs, issues faced and opportunities with various customer buyers in order to develop viable solutions.
• Meet with senior level buyers in order to build relationships and gain their support and commitment to various initiatives/programs.
• Build business plan/solution and contingency plan in collaboration with the customer using information collected during the account discovery process (e.g., Identify & Understand Customer Needs, Identifying Opportunities, in-outlet visits) to ensure plan meets customer needs.
• Solve issues that arise during execution in order to eliminate barriers.
• Develop customer call strategies to interact with buyers (coaches, gatekeepers) in order to gain access to senior level buyers.
• Coordinate implementation of agreed upon activities (e.g., mechanical service, installation, business building initiatives, distribution activities) within geographical responsibility in order to execute plan.
• Identify opportunities consistent with the objectives, priorities and strategies of assigned customers through discovery (e.g., in outlet observation, analysis of customer data, marketplace sales data, conversations with customer) in order to prioritize potential focus area(s).
• Review with the customer how the recommended solutions are linked to customer's business needs to highlight The Coca-Cola Company's commitment to their business and gain written or verbal agreement on business plan.
• Participate in contract negotiations/re-negotiations with customer and Coca-Cola System in order to formalize the agreement.
• Gather and analyze customer beverage sales data (e.g., brand package, cup set, package mix, pricing) in order to determine beverage category needs, facilitate marketplace analysis and determine operational needs.
• Conduct regular business reviews with customers in order to monitor relationship, re-affirm strategies linked to needs and steward the business, operational and/or personal value created for the customer by The Coca-Cola Company.
• Manage quality, cost and speed commitment in order to ensure successful completion of projects.
• Review various customer opportunities uncovered during the 'Identifying Opportunities' stage in order to identify additional opportunities for the customer.
• Analyze potential competitive activities and responses to alternative solutions (e.g., pricing decisions, equipment and marketing programs) in order to refine best alternative solutions and develop contingency plans.
• Review competitive activities (e.g., new equipment, valves and technology) in order to highlight the features and benefits of Coca-Cola's technology versus the competitor for customers.
• Facilitate or attend various training seminars and courses (e.g., Connecting with Customers, Brand Positioning and Coca-Cola Connection) in order to build capabilities and develop customer account management skills.
• Consult with customer on brand/package/price strategies, efficient assortment and/or space management in order to assure all customer opportunities are being explored.
• Develop an account acquisition business plan (e.g., new outlets, competitive outlets) by collecting information from internal sources (CCNA Field Sales, Bottlers, wholesalers) and external sources (customers, vendors, trade shows, phone surveys) in order to increase Coca-Cola system wide profit, volume and share in a geographic territory.
• Develop a list of alternative solutions using existing resources (e.g., sales centers of excellence, suppliers, bottlers, alliances, consultants) that create strategic, operating and personal value for customers in a specific geography or portfolio in order to advance the customer relationship and position Coca-Cola as a long-term partner.

Pay: $38,0000-$42,000 DOE, full-time with benefits.

Please complete an online application at www.enjoycareers.com to be considered immediately. Search Washington jobs for “Sales Associate – South Sound.” Apply by March 26, 2011.

APPLICANTS MUST PASS A DRUG SCREEN AND BACKGROUND CHECK PRIOR TO EMPLOYMENT

Animal Welfare Online Degree

2011-03-07T14:42:00.000-08:00

WSU Online degrees are my personal favorite, but I wanted to highlight an online degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh because it's an area close to my heart. Duquesne is now offering an online degree in Humane Leadership for those interested in animal careers. It's designed for individuals currently working or interested in shelter management, animal control, or animal advocacy. The program combines a foundation in nonprofit management with the history, philosophies, and issues related to animal welfare. More information at www.duq.edu/leadership/humane

Take care,
Chris

Online Career Support Videos

2011-02-25T10:03:00.000-08:00

The Washington State University Alumni Association has posted a new link that provides nine career webinars by a variety of professionals. The videos focus on a variety of topics for job hunters to utilize. From resume building, to using social media, to cracking the job market, and even keeping your job once you get it - these videos will give you crucial tips to help you succeed!
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WSUAA Career Support Services

Below is a link containing career videos by a variety of professionals. The videos supply multiple expert resources for you to utilize while job hunting, as well as keeping your job once you get it.

Visit the link to explore the insight by these nine career professionals. All you have to do is fill out a quick registration form, and enjoy the benefits!

Career Videos

Internship Opportunity in Seattle

2011-02-09T15:44:00.001-08:00

The World Affairs Council creates events and forums for discussion on international issues in the Puget Sound region. The Council works with community members, international visitors, teachers, students and groups in dialogues on world affairs. The Council is a membership-based, non‐partisan organization founded in 1951. The Council arranges social and professional meetings for over 1,000 prominent visiting professionals from over 120 nations. In addition, the Council sponsors over 80 community programs each year and promotes international education in local classrooms. The networking and learning opportunities that are gained through this internship are endless! Join the Council team and broaden your international knowledge!

Application deadline: March 10, 2011

Requirements
• Commitment of 12‐15 hours per week during normal office hours
• Interest in world affairs
• Good phone presence in English
• Excellent organizational skills
• Professional attire
• 3 month commitment, 6‐9 months preferred

The World Affairs Council is seeking Spring Interns for:
• Membership
• Development
• International Visitor Program
• Community Programs
• Communications
• Global Classroom
• Administration

www.world-affairs.org/aboutus_internships.html

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For more information about the WAC, details about the programs, or to apply online, visit our website at: www.world-affaris.org

Please send all application materials to:

Margaret Tyson
Phone (206) 441‐5910 • Fax (206) 441‐5908
mtyson@world‐affairs.org

WSU Career Fair

2011-01-25T15:20:00.000-08:00

The Washington State University 2011 Spring Career Expo will take place on Tuesday, February 8th. If you are looking for a job now or will be searching after your upcoming graduation, then you will want to check out the employers that will be visiting. Even if you aren't able to visit campus for the career fair, you may still be able to interview with employers via phone or video conference. Check out the WSU Center for Advising and Career Development website for more info: http://cacd.wsu.edu/

Take care,
Chris

Career Opportunities with Hertz

2011-01-20T09:24:00.001-08:00

Here are some career opportunities with Hertz. These are Sales & Customer Service roles and are ideal for any Business majors, however they do consider students regardless of academic major.

In 2010, Hertz hired a total of 7 graduates from WSU, and they are looking to hire more.

https://usjobs-hertz.icims.com/jobs/27994/job
https://usjobs-hertz.icims.com/jobs/28294/job
https://usjobs-hertz.icims.com/jobs/28297/job
https://usjobs-hertz.icims.com/jobs/28413/job
https://usjobs-hertz.icims.com/jobs/26803/job
https://usjobs-hertz.icims.com/jobs/27423/job

Take care,
Chris

Self-Assessment for Career Decision-Making

2011-01-06T12:23:00.000-08:00

The goal of the Career Decision-making Difficulties Questionnaire is to facilitate the career counseling process by providing counselors with feedback about the focuses of their clients' difficulties. The CDDQ is a self-administered questionnaire provided free of charge, that can be completed in eight minutes. It was developed and cross-culturally tested by Itamar Gati, Ph.D. and Samuel Osipow, Ph.D.; the theoretical rationale, supporting research, and the professional manual can be found in the Experts Section of the site.

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If you are interested, then you can find the assessment here.

How To Get Seen By Employers Hiring WSU Students

2010-10-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

NEW - Resume Books: We have created resume books in COUGlink! Employers seeking students & alumni for internships & jobs can search the books at their convenience. Don't miss this great opportunity to have your resume seen by employers! Login into your COUGlink account and go to Resumes & Documents and then Opt-In Resume books. Choose your resume and then the books you want your resume included in - as many books as are appropriate to your situation. It takes just a minute, so do it today! Login at: http://students.careers.wsu.edu/default.asp?PageID=1628

Great Article About Changing Careers & The Survival Job

2010-08-23T12:03:00.000-07:00

Changing Careers After 40: Real Stories, New Callings
By Terry Pile and David Lingle

Over the past eighteen months we interviewed 50+ individuals, over the age of 40, who had successful careers and left them to start over. We identified experiences these successful career changers had in common.

In phase two of our research, we analyzed the career changers’ strategies for change and found these prevailing themes:

•Creating a portfolio of careers
•Turning a hobby into a paycheck
•Developing collaborative relationships
•Transferring dependable strengths
•Taking advantage of community resources
More...
Case Study: Harvey – From Survival Job to Career

After 25 years working in the family meat packing business, Harvey Nagle decided to venture out on his own. He sold his share of the business and purchased a popular restaurant franchise. It was the early 1970s and he was 42.

The first five years in business were prosperous which inspired Harvey to build a second restaurant. He broke ground the same time the country was sinking in to a major recession. High inflation forced the Federal Reserve to slow the growth of the money supply and increase interest rates which at one point reached 20%. Caught off guard by crippling overhead, increased competition and poor management decisions, Harvey was in a free fall. At the age of 58, the once successful restaurateur had lost his business, home and savings.

Harvey was facing unemployment without a financial safety net. He didn’t have the luxury to grieve his job loss or anguish over his career path. He was open to any job that would pay the bills. Through the classified ads, he found a job as a courier delivering mail in the Chicago area, often arriving home at mid-night. After a few months, he obtained a job as a fence salesman for Sears. Even though he wasn’t a fast talker, he found he enjoyed sales and excelled at it. He was a good listener and could easily gain peoples’ trust. He wasn’t daunted by rejection. His success at Sears gave him the confidence to look for more lucrative work in sales, an area he felt played to his strengths.

Through networking, Harvey eventually landed a job with Temple Box Company selling custom boxes and paper products business to business. His boss had extensive industry experience and a reputation for being a tyrant. In spite of the boss’s boot camp style, Harvey realized he was getting an invaluable education. His enthusiasm for the “box business” grew as did his aptitude for sales. He had a supportive family, grateful customers and a promising future.

By age 65, Harvey had been in the paper goods industry for six years and loved his work. He moved to Hero Container Company as a paper goods broker with much broader inventory. With over 100 accounts he was making an excellent income. He even began getting calls from headhunters.

Today Harvey is 82. He is financially secure and has slowed down a bit. He no longer drives the grueling 60 mile commute to Hero. Never the less, he still writes off his home office as a business expense and receives modest commission checks in the mail from loyal accounts he continues to nurture. He laughs and calls these checks his “pin money,” but each deposit, no matter how small, is a reminder to Harvey that if you are open to possibilities and willing to take a little risk, the perfect career is out there.

The Survival Job

Survival jobs help bridge the gap between careers. Career counselors may want to encourage financially strapped clients to consider a survival job, while in career transition. It relieves some of the financial stress and allows the client to make rational decisions based on research, not desperation. Survival jobs have many advantages and can be a strategic next step to building a new career.

The Advantages of a Survival Job

In addition to earning a modest income and healthcare benefits, a survival job allowed Harvey to learn new skills and refine old ones. Ultimately, being successful in a survival job helped restore his confidence in his ability to be a contributing member of the workforce. It also helped him clarify his career goals.

The Down-side to Survival Jobs

The disadvantage of a survival job while preparing for a new career is that it limits the time you can devote to making a career transition if your energy is directed to making a living wage. As a courier, Harvey started out early in the morning and worked late into the night to earn enough money to make ends meet. There wasn’t enough time to look for more meaningful work, and he was generally too tired to focus on his career. He also found the courier job demoralizing. This was clearly a dead end job; nothing he would have considered if he hadn’t needed the money. Working with an abusive boss at Temple Box & Paper was also an assault to Harvey’s ego, yet he was willing to accept short-term discomfort for the long-term gain.

Advice for Career Changers

•Select a survival job to learn a new skill or enhance a skill that may be needed in a future career. For example, if you take on a clerical job, look for opportunities to learn new software and databases.

•Apply for survival jobs that relate to an interest or hobby. If you have an interest in fashion, working retail may give you an opportunity to share your flare for style with less talented clients.

•Don’t take on a survival job that will zap your energy. Look for jobs that have weekend and evening shifts. This will allow you to return to school, participate in an internship or build business connections during the weekdays.

•Make sure your resume is a good fit for the survival jobs you are applying for. If the job requires a high school diploma or some college, you may need to remove your master’s degree.

•Keep up your spirits. Look for anything positive you can take away from the job. Are you saving gas on a short commute? Making new friends? Remind yourself that the survival job is temporary, a place holder in the workforce as you prepare for a new career.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Terry Pile, MS, GCDF
Career Consultant and Coach
terryp@careeradvisorsonline.com
Terry has a private practice, Career Advisors, and is president of Restart Enterprises, the resource for mid-life career changers. Terry has a master’s degree in education from Indiana University and a certificate in career development from the University of Washington. She is certified by the Center for Credentialing and Education as a Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF). In addition, to consulting and training, Terry writes occasional feature articles on career issues for newspapers and e-zines. She has published five electronic books on career topics through Get to the Point Books, www.gettothepointbooks.com.

David Lingle,MA, MS, MBA
lingle@gmail.com
David has had several careers: soldier, educator, software developer. He is currently, CEO of Restart Enterprises, a resource for mid-life career changers. A former IT executive, David has contributed to the success of large companies such as Hewlett-Packard as well as several technology start-ups including Isilon, Appliant and Adaptis. David received a Bachelors and a Masters degree in Mathematics from Southern Illinois University and a second Masters Degree in Computer Science from The State University of New York at Stony Brook. In 2004, David received an MBA from the University of Washington's Executive MBA program.

Youth Development Internship

2010-07-27T09:35:00.000-07:00

The Youth Extension Service (YES) was created in response to the growing needs of military families for youth development programming. This initiative is designed to expand and enrich the efforts of the United States Department of Defense through Joint Family Support Assistance Program (JFSAP) and Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program (YRRP). The National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U. S. Department of Defense support this initiative.

YES interns provide youth development programming for military youth while their parents and/or guardians are participating in pre- and/or post-deployment processing. This goal is accomplished through a cohort of 25 to 30 students who serve as YES interns for one year while continuing their university studies. YES interns are recruited from universities across the nation, and are interested in pursuing careers in Extension, community-based organizations, non-profits and/or military family-related support. Typically, YES interns are rising juniors or seniors in college. They are selected through a national search, application and interview process. More...
After their selection as YES interns, they receive high-level training in leadership development, facilitation skills, youth development and curriculum. As a result of the training and experience, YES interns become highly skilled youth development leaders and facilitators. YES interns are equipped with cutting-edge technology and support to ensure their success. Each YES staff intern is required to select a related research project to complete during his/her year of service. YES interns will work with a professional who will serve as a mentor throughout their yearlong service. The topic is approved by the YES program director and efforts will be made to assist YES interns so that they may receive college credit for their projects. YES interns are prime candidates for future employment in the public sector.

Throughout their year of service, YES interns are deployed in teams to different states to provide youth development programming and support for military children and youth. This need is especially critical during adult-focused events and activities for military personnel, spouses, significant others and other appropriate family members. YES intern teams are scheduled for a location for two to three days (usually a weekend) depending upon the programming needs and audience size at that particular location. The youth development programs offered at the site are based on the ages, interests and duration of the program for the youth participants.

YES interns receive a stipend and the program covers all expenditures incurred related to the YES initiative. This national program is housed at NC State University in the Department of 4-H Youth Development and Family & Consumer Sciences. If you have questions regarding this program, please feel free to contact Dr. Marshall Stewart at marshall_stewart@ncsu.edu.

Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension office. This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U. S. Department of Defense under Award No. 2009-48667-05833. Developed in partnership with [lead university] and [other universities, alphabetically listed]. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Application information - https://jobs.ncsu.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1280248605344

Resume Red Flags

2010-07-20T14:05:00.000-07:00

Here is a great article by Hillary Chura from CBS MoneyWatch.com entitled, "What Not to Do: 7 Ways to Ruin Your Resume"

In the time it takes you to read this paragraph, the average recruiter will have plowed through six resumes. (We know; we timed one.) Want to increase the chances of your resume making it to the next round? Then don’t do any of these seven things, which recruiters say — more than anything — make them want to push the “shred” button. More...
1. Apply for a job for which you are not remotely qualified
Many candidates believe the job hunt is a numbers game — drop enough resumes, and you’re bound to land something. But shotguns are for hunting pheasant, not finding jobs. The reality is that recruiters hate wasting time on resumes from unqualified candidates. Morgan Miller, an executive recruiter at StaffMark, recalls the security guard who applied to be a financial risk manager (maybe Lehman should have hired him), while Scott Ragusa at Winter, Wyman talks of the aerial photographer who sought out a position as a tax specialist.

“Sorting through unqualified resumes is frustrating, unproductive and puts an extra burden on staff,” says Katherine Swift, Senior Account Director at KCSA Strategic Communications in Natick, Mass. “It also makes it much more challenging to find the right candidate.” So the next time you’re thinking of blasting out resumes to all 60 of the job listings on Monster.com that have the word “finance” in them , save your time (and that of the recruiters) and only apply for ones for which you’re qualified.

2. Include a lofty mission statement
More than ever, today’s savage job market is about the company, not the candidate. As such, mission or objective statements — particularly ones with an applicant’s hopes, dreams, and health insurance aspirations — will dispatch otherwise fine resumes to the circular file. Employers don’t care about how they can solve your problems — certainly not before they’ve met you and possibly not even after they’ve hired you. Instead, write an “objectives” statement that explains specifically how your skills and experience will help the company you’re applying to, not the other way around. And be very clear about what kind of job you’re seeking.

3. Use one generic resume for every job listing
To stand out amongst the sea of resumes that recruiters receive, yours must speak to each and every specific position, even recycling some of the language from the job description itself. Make it obvious that you will start solving problems even before you’ve recorded your outgoing voicemail message. Your CV or query letter should include a just touch of industry lingo — sufficient to prove you know your stuff but not so much that you sound like a robot. And it should speak to individual company issues and industry challenges, with specifics on how you have personally improved customer loyalty, efficiency, and profitability at past jobs, says workplace and performance consultant Jay Forte. Plus, each morsel should be on point.

“Think hard about how to best leverage each piece of information to your job search advantage,” says Wendy Enelow, a career consultant and trainer in Virginia. “Nothing in your resume should be arbitrary, from what you include in your job descriptions and achievement statements, to whether your education or experience comes first [recent grads may want to put education first] to how you format your contact information.”

4. Make recruiters or hiring managers guess how exactly you can help their client
Sourcing experts want to know — immediately — what someone can offer, and they won’t spend time noodling someone’s credentials. “Animal, vegetable or mineral? Doctor, lawyer or Indian chief?That’s what I’m wondering every time I open a resume. If it takes me more than a split second to figure this out, I feel frustrated,” says Mary O’Gorman, a veteran recruiter based in Brooklyn.

5. Don’t explain how past experience translates to a new position
Though candidates should avoid jobs where they have no experience, they absolutely should pursue new areas and positions if they can position their experience effectively. A high school English teacher applying for new jobs, for example, can cite expertise in human resource management, people skills, record keeping, writing, and training, says Anthony Pensabene, a professional writer who works with executives.

“Titles are just semantics; candidates need to relate their ‘actual’ skills and experiences to the job they’re applying for in their resume,” Pensabene says. An applicant who cannot be bothered to identify the parallels between the two likely won’t be bothered with interviews, either.

6. Don’t include a cover letter with your resume
A cover letter should always accompany a resume — even if it’s going to your best friend. And that doesn’t mean a lazy “I’m _____ and I’m looking for a job in New York; please see my attached resume.” Says Lindsay Olson, a partner at Manhattan’s Paradigm Staffing: “I’d like to know why you are contacting me (a particular position, referral, etc.), a short background about yourself, and a career highlight or two. It’s important to attempt to set yourself apart from the competition.”

7. Be careless with details
Reckless job hunters rarely make for conscientious workers. As such, even promising resumes must abide by age-old dictums: typo-free, proper organization, and no embellishment. Susan Whitcomb, author of Resume Magic: Trade Secrets of a Professional Resume Writer, says that almost 80 percent of HR managers she surveyed said they would dismiss otherwise qualified candidates who break these rules. She tells the story of one would-be employer who, when looking for an assistant, decided not to hire anyone because every resume she received contained typos.

“With a 6-to-1 ratio of jobseekers-to-jobs in the current marketplace, you can’t afford to make mistakes with your resume,” Whitcomb says.

AARP Resources for Job Searchers over 50

2010-06-18T15:33:00.000-07:00

There are several challenges for job searchers over the age of 50. Edwin (Ed) A. Redfern, Jr. is a Senior Program Manager for AARP Education & Outreach focusing on Workforce Issues in Washington, DC. Here is his article "Aid for Older Job Seekers" from the National Career Development Association's website: More...
The Challenges Older Workers Face

As the recession continues, unemployed people over the age of 50 continue to face steeper job hunting challenges than their younger counterparts. People over 50 search for new jobs for an average of 36 weeks or longer, compared to 27 weeks for younger workers. And while the overall unemployment rate has held steady, the rate for those over 55 actually rose from 6.8% to 7.1% accounting for more than 2 million people in that age group out of work.

Even when the economic situation improves, employers tell us they plan to do more with less, and may not be hiring in the same numbers they were laying off. In fact, according to a Manpower Q1 hiring projections survey, only about 12% of mostly large companies actually plan on hiring staff in 2010, leaving the remaining 88% holding their staffing at the same levels or even eliminating more positions.

This creates more challenges for older job seekers. Older job seekers are still making strategic career moves, looking to do something different, and/or have to return to work out of economic necessity as a result of the losses their retirement portfolios took during the recession. However, many have not had to look for a job in quite some time and have no idea where to begin their job searches. The job search process today is very different from when they first started their careers. Gone are the days when you could send a resume to HR, who would then route it internally for hiring managers to indicate their interest, and help determine where you could fit in an organization. Now jobseekers have all the responsibility to package their relevant skills and experience in a way that makes them stand out in employer's eyes and from the others that are looking for work. In addition, technology plays an ever increasing important role in the job search process - used by employers and savvy job seekers alike.

Lengthy job searches trigger other issues in job seekers' lives that contribute to their inability to find work. Many experience a loss of self-esteem, frustration and desperation, emotions that can be challenging to manage during job interviews. Emotional distress, combined with a highly competitive job market, can be daunting when added to the financial stress that unemployment often brings. As a result, we have found that job seekers over the age of 50 need assistance beyond what is typically offered by traditional employment resources.

Solutions by AARP

AARP for the past three years has been running career fairs at its national and regional events, and has developed a career fair model that helps meet jobseekers over age 50 where they are in their job search process. Our model includes providing a wide range of resources that are critical to helping jobseekers get their careers back on track. AARP provides job seekers with career counselors to discuss job search strategy, an Internet Café to learn how to use social media in a job search, unique information to help older job seekers better position their skills and years of experience, and connection to employers that are hiring.

In 2010, in order to reach a broader number of job seekers age 50+, AARP is working with The Employment Guide's Wiserworker.com in a campaign that will span 19 states with the highest unemployment, and include 48 career fair events. The events, which were kicked off in Atlanta on March 24, will have specific resources for job seekers age 50+, including employers that are hiring - some from AARP's National Employer Team- a workshop, titled Promoting Yourself at Age 50+, career coaches from local community colleges and local chapters of the National Career Development Association, and information specifically for job seekers age 50+ from AARP. We are particularly emphasizing the role of the career coaches as we have found the many older jobseekers cannot or do not want to return their previous careers, or have to return to work for economic necessity and really need help with transferring their skills to new careers. Thus, the career coaches are playing a critical role in this campaign.

The Helping Experience Work@50+ campaign is one of many resources AARP has developed to help jobseekers age 50+ in these tough economic times. Some of the resources include downloadable job tips, a job board, Webinars, the National Employer Team program, and career fair events around the country including our annual national event, this year in Orlando. For more information on our job search resources, visit www.AARP.org/realrelief. AARP's resources can help you as you work with older clients looking for work in this challenging economic environment.

NCDA Story Link

AARP Job Link

The Occupational Outlook Handbook - A Sample Search

2010-05-19T11:38:00.000-07:00

When I'm working with clients on career development issues, I will almost undoubtedly mention how much I value the Occupational Outlook Handbook. I will share with you my experience of how I would utilize this tool if I were researching careers. There are two ways that I would approach this tool: I would either just start searching the A-Z index, which organizes career information alphabetically by job title/cluster, or I would take a career assessment, such as the Strong Interest Inventory, which would provide me with a list of possible job title matches. The latter approach is a more focused and less timely approach, but both will garner the same results; that being detailed career information. Here is a sample search for the career area of Social Worker. More...
Let's say I'm interested in becoming a Social Worker. I've heard some things about this career, but I don't know anyone personally who holds this occupation, so I want to gain some more information about what it entails. I would first use the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) to research the position, and then would setup an informational interview with an actual Social Worker if the research proved interesting to me. You will see a lot of information when you visit the OOH homepage. It actually lists the different ways you may want to use it, and I usually choose option 3, the A-Z index. After clicking on the A-Z index link, you will see the job title listing, organized alphabetically. So, I will click on "S" for Social Work. As I scroll through the "S" titles, I see a few relevant titles (10 beginning with the word "Social"), but there is one that seems most appealing to me - "Social Workers." The first section is Significant Points, and this is basically the abstract for the job title, touching on the highlights of the position. The next section is the Nature of the Work, which explains typical responsibilities and tasks for this occupation along with certain occupational specialties. For Social Workers, it lists these specialties: Child/Family/School, Medical/Public Health, and Mental Health/Substance Abuse.

Then I read on about Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement. I find out a Bachelor's degree is needed to get started in Social Work, but for the type of position that interests me most, I would need a Master's in Social Work. There is also information about licensure, certification, and advancement. I also see Employment Stats and the Job Outlook, which shows employment for Social Workers is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2018. Not a bad career to be interested in with that kind of outlook. The Earnings section shows me how much money Social Workers are making in different settings. That's great information for someone researching careers. There are also sections with helpful resources (professional organizations, regional information, etc.) and relevant positions. The Related Occupations section can be extremely helpful for someone who researches a career of interest but finds that the job doesn't pay enough money or there is a significant amount of education required. Perhaps one of the Related Occupations requires less education or pays better.

This is just a brief exploration into the information on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website. I recommend that you spend some time with the OOH and the BLS website to find its full potential for your career research.

Take care,
Chris

Working with Networking Anxiety

2010-04-29T11:02:00.000-07:00

Career Coach and Mentor Deborah Brown-Volkman recently published an article on JobsJournal.com titled, "Afraid to Network?" Here is the great advice she offers:

"Most people I speak with know the value of networking. All the experts, including myself, say it's the best pathway to your next great job or opportunity. But what happens if you don't like to network? Or more specifically, you are afraid of it?

In today's interconnected world, you have many ways to reach out to people. For example, you can use email or the telephone. You can use social networking for its speed and ability to meet people you may have not met otherwise. Live interactions with people are important too because they build connections and long term relationships.

So How Do You Embrace Networking As An Important Business Tool And Not Let Your Fear Hold You Back? Follow These 5 Steps Below. More...

1. Accept Your Networking Fears.
It's ok to be afraid. And until you can accept your fear for what it is, fear, then it won't go away. Sometimes when we are afraid, we tell ourselves that we are not. We try to talk our way out of our fear and pretend it isn't real or it shouldn't be there. Fear acceptance does not work this way. You let yourself feel your fear and you don't criticize or judge your feelings. You remind yourself that fear is just as normal as your other emotions. You wouldn't give yourself a hard time for being happy, so give the same courtesy to your fears.

2. Identify Your Networking Fears.
What are you actually afraid of? Is it every aspect of networking or just characteristics? Break your fears into pieces. For example, are you afraid of walking into a room by yourself? Are you uncomfortable introducing yourself? Are you nervous about feeling rejected once you make your request or ask for help? Once you know exactly what gives you butterflies in your stomach, then you can learn how to overcome it.

3. Choose To Let Your Networking Fears Go.
There is a choice to make here. Some people hold onto their fears because they serve a purpose. For example, as long as you don't ask for help, you don't have to feel weak or judged. As long as people believe you are fine, then you don't have to face how bad you feel about your situation. Choose to let go of your fears so they don't have power over you any longer. Once your fears are out in the open, they can't hurt you anymore.

4. Create Your Networking Plan.
Some people fear networking because they don't have a plan. If they go to a networking meeting, they don't know who they want to meet or what they want to say. Or, they haven't created a list of networking meetings to go to. Others go onto social networking sites, and don't know why they are there. Some make plans with friends and former colleagues and don't create an agenda, thus the meetings don't go anywhere. Every networking situation or opportunity needs thought, attention, and a focus before you go. If you write down your plan with the steps for achievement, networking with be much easier for you.

5. Have Fun Networking.
Meeting new people can be fun. Catching up with former colleagues can be satisfying. Before you needed help, you may have been a person who kept to yourself. Your career and life was busy, but maybe something was missing. The missing piece was connections with others. No matter how far you go in the world, you'll enjoy it more with great people you can count on and talk to."

Summer Internships in Western Washington

2010-04-01T16:13:00.000-07:00

I've had a few internship opportunities for WSU Online students come across my desk today. Please let me know if you're interested by emailing me at cmiller66@wsu.edu. One is a governmental affairs lobbying internship (Tacoma), another is a financial services internship (Seattle), and there is also a communications non-profit internship (Everett). Some of the internships are paid positions. Here is one of the interesting experiential learning opportunities:
More...
JOB DESCRIPTION
Internship – Asset Management Marketing

Summit Capital is a boutique financial services firm focused on providing clients with a common sense approach to active asset management. Founded in 1996, Summit Capital’s core investment philosophy is an opportunistic, value-oriented approach centered on preservation of capital, providing solid risk adjusted returns in all market environments.

Summit Capital is currently seeking candidates interested in a full time asset management marketing internship in our corporate office in Seattle financial district. The position is available beginning May 2010.

Internship Information:
This is a five day week of 40 hours/week paid internship opportunity
**Housing is not provided for this position Intern must live in the Seattle, WA area**

Eligibility:
You must be a currently enrolled college student in good academic standing; authorized to work in the United States for any company; available for employment within 12 months of the internship. Graduation date of December 2010 or June 2011 preferred.

Description:
The position reports to the Communications Director, assists in the creation and distribution of newsletters, invitations, HTML email templates, news articles, presentations, and other marketing collateral.

Preferred Requirements:
• Motivated learners possess a professional attitude
• Strong written and verbal communications skills
• Detail oriented
• Ability to manage several projects simultaneously
• Strong customer service orientation and timely follow-up
• Ability and desire to be pro-active and work independently
• Assist with improving basic office organization projects & tasks
• Proficient in Microsoft Office -Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet search
• Data analysis and customization

Summit Capital is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Our goal is to create an inclusive workplace for all. Apply Now.

Please contact Juliana Chung via e-mail Juliana@summitcapital.com for more information or to express interest.

It Pays To Go With WSU

2010-03-23T13:59:00.000-07:00

Washington State University just ranked in the Top 10 Best Western Colleges By Salary Potential (Excluding California) from PayScale. PayScale is a great resource for job seekers. You can use PayScale to research salary statistics for career research or salary negotiations.

PayScale is a market leader in global online compensation data. With the world's largest database of individual employee compensation profiles, PayScale provides an immediate and precise snapshot of the job market. The real-time profiling system indexes custom employee attributes (such as industry-specific certifications) and specific job titles for every industry. Check it out!

Career Advising for WSU Online Students in the Spokane Area

2010-03-09T13:14:00.001-08:00

This Thursday, March 11th, WSU Online (DDP) students who live in the Spokane area will have a chance to meet face-to-face with their Academic Advisor, receive career and financial aid counseling, and mingle with fellow WSU Online students. This event will take place at the WSU Spokane Academic Center (SAC Building) from 9 AM to Noon. If you plan to meet with your Academic Advisor, then be sure to check out the website and schedule a session. You can meet with me for career counseling on a drop-in basis or email me at cmiller66@wsu.edu if you would like to setup a specific time to meet. I hope to see you there.

Take care,
Chris

Career Fair at WSU Vancouver for Students and Alumni

2010-02-16T12:26:00.000-08:00

WSU Vancouver is hosting a Career Fair next week, Tuesday and Wednesday 2/23 & 2/24. You can register and find out which employers will be attending by visiting the WSU Vancouver Career Services website at http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/ss/career

Some companies are recruiting for all majors, so there will be opportunities for all DDP students. I hope you can attend!

Take care,
Chris

Summer 2010 Internship Opportunity in D.C.

2010-01-22T12:29:00.000-08:00

Institute on Philanthropy and Voluntary Service

June 6 – July 31, 2010

Georgetown University, Washington, DC

www.DCinternships.org/IPVS

*** Priority APPLICATION DEADLINE – February 5***

****SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING AVAILABLE****

Scholarship applications are now being accepted for the Summer 2010 Institute on Philanthropy and Voluntary Service. Sponsored by The Fund for American Studies in partnership with Georgetown University, the Institute is a summer academic internship program held in Washington, D.C. for undergraduate students interested in volunteerism and careers in the nonprofit sector.

The Institute combines substantive professional experience for 30 hours a week with a challenging academic experience. This fast-paced, eight-week residential program provides students from around the world with the opportunity to gain an edge in today’s competitive job market and graduate school admissions, and experience the excitement of Washington first-hand. More...

Internships – Competitive placements with leading nonprofit organizations
Classes – Up to 9 transferable credits in ethics and philanthropy from Georgetown University
Housing – Roommate matching and furnished on-campus apartments in the heart of D.C.
Service – A variety of hands-on community projects
Guest Lectures – With Washington’s top nonprofit executives and scholars
Leadership & Professional Development – Leadership, mentoring and career building activities
Networking – With seasoned nonprofit professionals and top student leaders from around the world
Scholarships – Over half of all students receive full or partial funding based on merit and financial need

The Institute will be held June 6 – July 31, 2010. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until March 5, 2010. Students who complete their application by the priority deadline of February 5, 2010 will receive priority internship placement and scholarship consideration.

For more information or to start an online application, please visit the website at www.DCinternships.org/IPVS.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Emily Hill, IPVS Program Manager, at IPVS@tfas.org or 800-741-6964.

______________________________________

Emily E. Hill
Manager, Institute on Philanthropy and Voluntary Service
The Fund for American Studies
1621 New Hampshire Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20009
(phone) 202.986.0384
(fax) 202.318.0441
www.DCinternships.org/IPVS

In tough job market, her WSU degree makes a big difference

2010-01-21T09:19:00.000-08:00

“Education that Changes Lives,” says the tagline on the new Distance Degree Programs brochure. For the woman on the cover, the words were prescient.
The photo of Melanie Bott, with her children, Kaycee, 4, and Kayden, 1, was taken during spring 2009 graduation. Melanie earned her human development degree through DDP at the same time her husband, Isaac, graduated from WSU’s Veterinary Medicine Program.
Isaac quickly found a job in Payson, Utah. It was harder for Melanie. “For every job I had applied for, there were hundreds of applicants,” she said. More...She had an advantage, though: her degree from WSU. In December 2009, she was offered the position of Early Head Start family educator in Orem, Utah. “The degree definitely helped me get the job,” she said. “It gave me the knowledge of how to work with families in need.”
Now it’s Melanie’s turn to change lives. “I will be going into the homes of the low income, poverty stricken, homeless – the neediest of needy – teaching parents how to teach their children,” she said.
Melanie’s family is happy about the job – and excited that she’s on the DDP brochure.
“Kaycee and Kayden absolutely love the fact that they are on the cover with mom,” Melanie said. “My mom and sisters also think it is pretty amazing and exciting.”
Melanie said she felt honored. “Thank you so much for the opportunity to represent WSU. I loved being a part of such a great university and program.”

Internship Opportunity in the Insurance Industry

2010-01-15T08:53:00.000-08:00

State Farm Insurance and Financial Services is ranked 31st on the Fortune 500 and offers one of the top internship programs in the nation. If you’re looking for a professional internship experience, which includes a business challenge project, apply immediately for this exceptional opportunity. Interviews are in progress, so apply quickly; selections will be made in March 2010.

State Farm will consider students who graduate in 2011, and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students must have demonstrated leadership in school, community, and/or work, and have a strong interest in pursuing leadership opportunities in their career. The selected candidates will have demonstrated excellent communication and interpersonal skills, decision making, integrity, and a passion for providing exceptional customer service. Students studying business, psychology, sociology, communication, liberal arts or other related fields are often interested in this opportunity. The attached brochure provides information about our business, culture, and an overview of the internship.

Apply online at www.statefarm.com/careers. Use the posting numbers listed below to apply to all locations for which you are able to find housing for the summer. The interns are paid a competitive wage and are responsible for their own relocation and housing expenses. More...

Languages: Fluent bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply to all locations.

Posting #: Location

#19182: 7 openings in DuPont, WA (near Olympia), located in the PACNW Zone Operations Center with 1300 employees.

#19210: 2 openings in Salem, OR, located in a Claims Operation center with approximately 130 employees (prefer fluent bilingual Spanish).

#20107: 1 opening in Boise, ID located in a Claims Operation center with approximately 75 employees (prefer fluent bilingual Spanish).

#20105: 1 opening in Billings, MT located in a Claims Operation center with approximately 60 employees.

#20106: 1 opening in South Seattle (Tukwila), WA, located in a Claims Operation center.

Happy Holidays

2009-12-21T13:19:00.000-08:00

If you have any questions about Bachelor's degrees you can earn with WSU Online or about career possibilities, then please email me at cmiller66@wsu.edu. I hope you all have a great holiday season.

Merry Christmas,

Chris

Internship Opportunity for WSU DDP Students

2009-12-08T12:03:00.000-08:00

Summer 2010 White House Internship

Greetings from the White House Internship Program! We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. As the holiday season quickly approaches, we would like to encourage your students to apply for a summer internship with the White House. The application for the summer 2010 program will be posted December 14, 2009. A complete submission will include an application (with several short answer questions, two essay questions of 300-500 words each, and a one-page resume) and three letters of recommendation. The final application deadline is February 7, 2009.

- Visit the White House Internship website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/internships

- Apply to the White House Internship program: http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/internships/apply

- Learn more about the selection process: http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/internships/selection

A White House Internship provides a unique opportunity to gain valuable professional experience and build leadership skills. This hands-on program is designed to mentor and cultivate today’s young leaders, strengthen their understanding of the Executive Office and prepare them for future public service opportunities.

Our mission is to make the "People’s House" accessible to future leaders all around the nation and cultivate and prepare those devoted to public service for future leadership opportunities. Encourage your students to take advantage of this incredible opportunity!

Sincerely,

The White House Internship Team

Employers looking to hire WSU students

2009-11-19T12:51:00.000-08:00

If you are a WSU DDP student and looking for work, then I highly recommend registering with WSU CareerLink. More... This tool will allow you to see which companies are visiting campus, and you will be able to submit your resume and application material through WSU CareerLink. If you are selected to interview, then you and the employer will either connect with a phone interview or via videoconference. Check it out!

Take care,
Chris

Tool for Researching Job Market Supply/Demand

2009-11-13T12:56:00.000-08:00

Georgia State University and the U.S. Department of Labor have teamed up to create the Occupational Supply Demand System, which "provides information and resources that will assist with the analysis and discussion of supply and demand issues relevant to today's labor market." This tool can help you research wage trends, fastest growing occupations, and the jobs with the most openings in your state and nationwide. The Occupational Supply Demand System is located here - More... http://www.occsupplydemand.org/

Also, the New York Times produced an article recently that explores job searching issues for people who don't have a Bachelor's degree when a degree is required. There are some interesting points and tips about how to handle this situation. That article is located here - http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/jobs/08search.html?_r=1&hpw

Take care,
Chris

Face-To-Face DDP Career Counseling

2009-09-17T12:26:00.000-07:00

I'm visiting a city near you! Well, maybe. If you live in Washington State, then chances are likely that I'm visiting a city near you!! DDP Advisors and Seminars are hitting the road in October to put on DDP: Face-to-Face events (previously known as Open Houses). This is a chance to meet with me, with your Academic Advisor, and to attend an Academic Seminar (which you need to sign up for via your Academic Advisor). Here are the dates and locations: More...
10/13 - Moses Lake - Big Bend Community College
10/14 - Yakima - Hilton Garden Inn
10/20 - Mt Vernon - WSU Mt Vernon Research Center
10/22 - Everett - Everett Community College
10/27 - Aberdeen - Grays Harbor College
10/29 - Spokane - WSU Spokane

Exact times and locations are found on our website at: http://online.wsu.edu/current_students/ev_current_events.aspx

If you want to setup a time to meet with me, then send me an email at cmiller66@wsu.edu. If you want to setup a time with your Advisor, then contact them directly. We will be holding appointments from 8 AM to 5 PM on those days, and the Academic Seminars will be held from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. I look forward to meeting some more WSU Online students.

Take care,
Chris

Advice from Jobfox.com

2009-08-25T11:33:00.000-07:00

Jobfox.com is a job searching website that helps you build a job searching profile, matches you to employers based on your experience, and introduces you to those employers. After you sign up and build a profile, you can also receive job hunting tips from Rob McGovern, the Founder and CEO of Jobfox.com. Here is his most recent advice on producing a quality cover letter: More...
Many job seekers have asked me for advice on cover letters. Should I send one? Formal or informal? Email or printed? The same way that "semi-casual" sends partygoers into a tizzy, the new rules of cover letters are confusing almost everyone. In this email I'll attempt to demystify the topic and give you some contemporary pointers.

If job seekers had a choice, they'd kill this relic of the job searching process. The origins of cover letters dates back to the prehistoric time before online job sites. Back then you submitted your resume blindly to companies (since you didn't know whether they were hiring), and the cover letter was designed to introduce you. Today, employers still find them valuable so job seekers have no choice but to submit them.

Here are five contemporary pointers for your next cover letter:

Remember clear, concise and coherent. Don't forget a cover letter will be seen as a writing sample. In today's world of texting, instant messaging and email, many people have skirted by without being able to command the written word. Many employers have told me that they view a well written cover letter as a sign that a candidate knows how to communicate in a professional manner. This means your cover letter must be perfect in format, grammar, and structure.

Keep it short. Brevity is the new normal. It used to be that cover letters were four or five paragraphs. Now two or three paragraphs are the new norm. Don't forget that most cover letters are viewed in email form, and no one likes to read long email messages.

Make sure it is email friendly. Email has become the preferred submission method. Some people are still sending printed cover letters on parchment paper, which frankly makes the candidate look dated. The only exception is for more traditional industries (e.g. law, medical).

Get to the point. Be sure to tell the reader:

Which job you're applying to?
How you learned about the job?
How you can contribute to the organization?
How they can reach you?

Point #1 is very important. If the recruiter is working on five or six different openings, chances are that your resume will be mixed in with job applicants for other jobs within the recruiters inbox. The recruiter needs a few bread crumbs to understand where you belong. The font should be Arial or Times Roman, no background wallpaper, no "bolds", underlines, or italics.

Use formal salutations. Lately we've been seeing email cover letters that start with "Hi Kim," or just "Kim," and end with "Thanks," or "Best,". This is far too informal for my taste. Remember, this is a test of your formal business communication skills, so you need to show your stuff. "Dear Ms. Clark" and "Sincerely," are the salutations of choice.

Assistantships Help Pay for Grad School

2009-08-13T14:12:00.000-07:00

I wish I knew about assistantships before I started graduate school. Technically, I did hear about assistantships about a week before classes started, but that wasn’t enough time for me to go about securing one. If I would have obtained an assistantship, I would have saved myself thousands of tuition dollars. What are assistantships? More...
There are generally 3 types of assistantships: Teaching, Research, and Graduate (though, all 3 are usually for graduate students only). Teaching and Research Assistantships are pretty straight forward; you teach a class to undergrads in the academic concentration of your graduate work, or you help with the research efforts of your department (or a similar academic department). A Graduate Assistantship could mean a variety of things, depending upon the department. It could be an administrative assistant type of position, it could be a program development position, or it could be something like an advising position for undergraduates.

What are the benefits? Of course these vary from school-to-school, but often the case is this: you work part-time as a graduate assistant and attend school full-time, and the school will waive most or all of your tuition, sometimes pay for health insurance, and occasionally will cover textbooks also. On top of getting your tuition waived, you still get paid to work those hours, so that helps with housing, bills, meals, etc.

As I stated earlier, I missed out on a graduate assistantship my first year of grad school due to lack of information, and I couldn’t get one my second year due to internship commitments. That was the case for me, but for many of my colleagues, they attended graduate school without taking out any student loans. Not every college or university offers assistantships, so it’s important to ask before applying. If you have any questions about assistantships, then send me an email at cmiller66@wsu.edu.

Take care,
Chris

Applying to Graduate School? Here's My Story.

2009-06-23T15:29:00.000-07:00

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about applying to graduate school lately, so I think a good way to address this topic is to share my experience. It all began with the decision to go to grad school. I originally chose Psychology as my undergrad focus because I was fascinated by the classes, I enjoyed studying the material, and I knew that I wanted to work with people one-on-one. In order for me to have real client experience, I knew I would have to go to graduate school. The search began with More... a Peterson’s Guide (http://www.petersons.com/) that I purchased at bookstore (available at most public libraries also). I used this guide to research different graduate programs in Psychology, such as School Counseling, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Psychopathology, School Psychology, Mental Health Counseling, etc. The Peterson’s Guide also helped me prepare for the application process by alerting me to the requirements for each individual program, but now it is imperative to get online and check the requirements for each program at their website and contact them to verify you have all the correct information too.

Of course there were many conversations that occurred with family, friends, and coworkers about going to grad school, and also there are important factors like finances and relocation. I was a little unsure of which program to go into, but I knew I didn’t really want to move too far away from home and also wanted to select a program that would give me several career options. I chose to apply to the School Counseling program at WSU (I probably should have applied to a couple other places but knew I really only wanted to go to WSU). School Counseling was a good fit for me at the time because it allowed me the flexibility to work with a diverse client field with constantly changing issues (academic, personal, career). Also, in Washington State, I would be able to go into Community Counseling careers if I went for the School Counseling degree and chose not to work in schools, whereas, a Community Counseling degree would not allow me to work in schools if I chose to change my focus. Hope I didn’t confuse you with that point.

Application preparation was surprisingly exciting, and I’m not really exactly sure why. I guess it was just the feeling of accomplishment that comes with putting something like a portfolio together. My application required these items: the actual paper application, a personal statement, 3 letters of recommendation, official transcripts, GRE test scores, and a resume. Often there are interviews done too, but I wasn’t applying for a research-based degree or a PhD, which often require interviews because the faculty wants grad students who are interested in their research.

I was concerned about gathering letters of recommendation, especially from a professor, because I wasn’t really the most vocal student; I made sure I had something to say for class each day, but I didn’t go out of my way to foster conversations between classmates. I approached one of my favorite Psych professors for the recommendation, and he was happy to help me out and was glad I was extending my education. He told me that most professors are more than willing to write recommendations for students who do well in their courses, even if they don’t verbally participate as much as others. This knowledge is something that I often share with WSU Online students who are concerned about asking a professor for a recommendation because they have never met them face-to-face. My 2 other letters of recommendation were from my employer and another from my best friend’s mother, who had been a School Counselor in the past, which enhanced the letter as more than just a personal recommendation. So, I had one personal, one work, and one educational letter of recommendation.

I turned in the application material around mid January, which is when most grad schools’ deadlines are, giving the schools/programs enough time to work everything out and offer spots to prospective students for the start of school in the fall. I found out I was accepted after about 3 or 4 months, which was very exciting, but there was a lot of paperwork and planning that followed. I had to officially accept the offer, had to fill out program paperwork, was contacted by a student mentor, had to tell work that I was officially leaving, family celebrations, and one of the most time consuming activities was finding housing. Luckily, I lived in Spokane, WA, which is only an hour and fifteen minute drive from Pullman, but I made several visits to view apartments, and eventually sign more paperwork. When it comes to finding work while attending graduate school, here is my recommendation, and this is very important: Be sure to look for graduate assistantships at your graduate school! What is an assistantship? Well, that is what I will be addressing in my next blog.

Take care,
Chris

Updating a Resume

2009-04-03T18:57:00.000-07:00

I can’t think of anything less fun than updating my resume, but truthfully, it is a very important task to carry out. I update my resume about once a year because it’s very easy to forget about all the little things we’ve done at work during the previous year. One thing that I recommend doing is keeping a work log for the sole purpose of keeping your resume up-to-date. At the end of every month you can jot down every thing you’ve done at work that could be considered resume appropriate in your work log. You could write down presentations you developed and led, workshops you attended, projects you were involved in that yielded specific outcomes (write down the numbers/data/evidence), conferences you attended, etc.
More...

Another important thing to consider when updating your resume is the format. Some questions to think about when choosing a format: Does my resume have a theme? Does it need one? Is a chronological resume the best for me? Would a functional resume work better? The answers to these depend upon your previous experience, future goals, and employers you may work with down the line. Some good examples of these resume formats can be found at www.careers.wsu.edu.

The last essential part of resume updating is in the little details. Make sure your personal information and contact information are accurate. Also, if you have an objective statement on your resume, it probably needs updating since you have most likely progressed in your current position. If you don’t have an objective but do have a skill section, then make sure that skill section is up-to-date. When it comes to updating your current position on your resume, be sure to revise your duties, skills, responsibilities, accomplishments, dates of employment, and any new licensure or certifications. Other important sections to update would be education, volunteer work, professional organizations, and references. Reevaluate your references and make sure their information is correct and also make sure that they are still appropriate references for your goals. With the current market instability we face today, it’s imperative to be prepared for the unknown as best as we can.

Take care,

Chris

To call or not to call?

2009-02-19T00:31:00.000-08:00

Hi Chris,
So cool you’re making yourself available to the whole wide world. So, here’s my question.

Q. After I send in my job application, should I really follow up with a phone call? Won’t I be bothering the busy support staff?

A. It is a very, very good idea to follow up with a phone call. There are good ways to do this and bad ways to do this. This is the art part of the job search. You don’t want to call too much for obvious reasons, but you do want to follow up.When it is a situation where you assume the employer will get hundreds of applications, then you want to call only to make sure everything was received. If you assume the application load will be smaller, then call and ask about the status of the hiring process, express interest to the appropriate party, and make contacts with anyone relevant to the job.
Hot tip: One of the best resources for exploring careers is the Occupational Outlook Handbook, created by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Check it out at http://www.bls.gov/oco/. It will help you research growing industries, hot jobs, and what it takes to get started in the careers that interest you.

Welcome

2009-02-18T22:15:00.000-08:00

With uncertainty being the only thing certain about the economy, I'd like to help in any way possible. This blog is designed to answer your questions about careers, whether you're considering a new job, seeking promotion in your current job, or thinking about how a university degree will better position you in the marketplace. We welcome your questions and comments.