Home > Newsletter > Volume 1, Issue 1 (January 2003)

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 (JANUARY 2003)

Name Our Newsletter!
Volume 1, Issue 1
January 2003

In This Issue...
Contest: Win Free Pizza for the Semester!!
Coffee Talk: Come "Talk Amongst Yourselves" With Linda Richman and Career Consultants in Bert's
Career of the Month: CSI/Crime Lab Analyst
From the Desk of the Director
Internships
Service Review: Resume Critiques
Brave Ideas: Career Bloopers & Mishaps, Job Search Tips, Ask Zelda, Little Known Facts, & Upcoming Events

Career Center Info:
Location: University Center, Ste. 210, 521-6270, cs@uncp.edu, www.uncp.edu/cs
Hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., M-F (Tues. 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.) Appointments may be made for Career Consulting, DISCOVER, Resume Critiques, Mock Interviews, etc.)
Staff: Dr. Denisha Sanders, Director; Lori Bumgarner, M.Ed., Assistant Director; Debbie Jacobs, Student Services Assistant

Contest: Win FREE Pizza for the Semester!!
by Lori Bumgarner

The Career Services Center is very excited to present the inaugural edition of our new online Career Newsletter. However, we can't decide what to call it! So we're going to leave it up to you, the students. If you come up with the most unique name that represents the purpose of our newsletter, we'll give you one free pizza every month for the rest of the Spring 2003 semester We'll also feature you in the next issue!

Our newsletter is designed to not only let you know about our upcoming career fairs and workshops, but to also give you information about a variety of careers including salary, job outlook, and required skills. You'll receive information about topics such as internships, job search tips, resume writing, and preparing for interviews.

You will also have the opportunity to get your career-related questions answered by Zelda, The Career Specialist. She is the Dear Abby of the Career Services Center. She will provide advice on any question you have regarding deciding on a major, choosing a career, writing a resume, interviewing for jobs, networking with employers, and other career-related issues.

So when you think you have come up with a cool name for our newsletter, submit your entry to Lori Bumgarner, Career Services Center, Suite 210 University Center, lori.bumgarner@uncp.edu by January 17th. Please include your email address or a phone number so we can contact you if your newsletter title is chosen.
The Career Services Center staff will judge all entries and make a decision by January 21st. Find out who the lucky winner is in next month's issue!!


Coffee Talk: Come "Talk Amongst Yourselves" With Linda Richman and Career Consultants in Bert's
by Lori Bumgarner

The Career Services Center invites you to have coffee with Linda Richman from Saturday Night Live! On Tuesday, January 14 at 5:00 pm we will be hosting a special "Coffee Talk" in Bert's to kick off our new evening schedule.

Join us for a relaxed evening of discussion. We will "talk amongst ourselves" about topics such as choosing a major, what not to say in a job interview, how to create a professional portfolio, how to win over recruiters, how to network, etc.
For more information, contact the Career Services Center at 521-6270.

From the Desk of the Director
Happy New Year! The Career Services Center is starting 2003 off with a bang by publishing our first online newsletter! This monthly newsletter will bring you a wide variety of information to help with your career planning. We will have several monthly features including career profiles, schedules for employers that will be visiting campus, information about our services, and a calendar of events. In another of our regular features, you will have an opportunity to submit a career-related question to be answered by Zelda, The Career Specialist, in her "Ask Zelda" column.

This newsletter will also feature articles and information on specific careers and other career-related topics each month. If you have suggestions for articles or topics that you would like to see covered in the newsletter, please do not hesitate to let me know. Feel free to send an e-mail to me at denisha.sanders@uncp.edu, or to give me a call at 521-6270.

Be sure to enter the contest to name this new online newsletter. The student who submits the winning name will receive one free large pizza per month for the rest of the Spring 2003 semester, courtesy of the Pizza Hut in Pembroke. (You will find further details on the contest in this issue of the newsletter.)

I hope you find the information in this newsletter useful. Please let me know what you think! Have a great semester!
Denisha Sanders

Career of the Month: CSI/Crime Lab Analyst

Crime lab analysts apply scientific principles to examine and identify physical evidence to reconstruct a crime scene. They hunt for, gather, photograph, and preserve evidence. Physical evidence can be a weapon, a bloodstain, a piece of clothing, drugs, or even a vapor in the air. Crime lab analysts use physical evidence to provide a link between the suspect and the victim, such as the transfer of clothing or hair fibers from a suspect to the victim. Other evidence can be fingerprints, bullets, or shoe impressions.

Physical evidence is usually collected from the crime scene by crime scene investigators, who then pass it on to crime lab analysts; however, crime lab analysts often collect physical evidence at crime scenes. Proper collection of evidence is important to prevent contamination and to ensure the characteristics of the evidence. Once they receive the evidence, crime lab analysts perform certain tests depending on the type of evidence. Crime lab analysts usually specialize in one or more types of testing, including serology, trace evidence, firearms/tool marks, impression evidence, and drug identification.

Crime lab analysts must interpret the results of analyses in order to determine their significance to the case. They are often called upon to provide expert testimony in a court of law about their methods and findings.

Quick Facts:
Crime lab analysts work for: state laboratories, the FBI, the Secret Service, the Armed Forces.
Related Majors: Biochemistry, Biophysics, Chemistry
Salary & Employment Outlook: The Economic Research Institute reported that the average starting salary was $31,500 ($15.25 per hour) in 2001 for a Crime Lab Analyst. The average salary was $43,000 ($20.75 per hour) for all workers in this field and $51,000 ($24.75 per hour) for those with experience. This occupation is expected to grow by 13% through the year 2008 because of changes in legislation regarding the collection, analysis, and presentation of evidence in court.

For more information about a Crime Lab Analyst, you may write to the following:
American Academy of Forensic Sciences
PO Box 669
410 N 21st Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80901-0669
http://www.aafs.org

Source: DISCOVER
Check in with us next month as we profile the career of a Radio/TV Announcer!
To learn about thousands of other occupations, come by the Career Services Center to search our library or to or to use the DISCOVER program.

Internship News
by Lori Bumgarner

"How Do I Find an Internship?"
Start early! If you are looking for a summer internship, it makes sense to start this process in the fall semester. Attend information workshops, create a resume, and begin to gather information on careers of interest.

Narrow your choices. Learn a little more about careers, jobs, or organizations that may offer internship opportunities. The CSC has information about internships and the Internet is a great resource, as well. Check out our website for starting points.

Do research on your interests. Review any available information. Talk with alumni, friends, acquaintances, and others who may have helpful information. Gather specific information on targeted organizations from websites, news reports, and guides available in the Career Services Center.

Network. This is an important tool for any jobseeker, whether you are looking for internships or full-time jobs.

Identify opportunities and deadlines. Identify specific opportunities, gather applications, and make sure you are aware of deadlines. Keep in mind that these deadlines can be months earlier than the internship start date.

Apply for positions. While some internship sites may request an application, virtually all will want to see your resume. Make sure your resume is polished to perfection-remember, you only have one chance to make a first impression.

"What if I Don't See Anything I am Interested In?" Continue to talk with the CSC staff and your academic advisor. Consult the Career Services Center library for additional resources. Consider creating your own internship. Network with friends and family about careers that interest you, and see if they have any ideas about how you might secure an internship.

"When are the Deadlines for Application?" They vary from program to program. There is no universal deadline! Some internships have deadlines as early as November. Others are as late as April.

"Can I Get Paid for my Internship?"
It depends on what the sponsor offers. Some internships do not pay because they are with non-profit organizations, or because they have so many applicants that payment is not necessary to attract qualified interns.

This month's top internship listings:
Walt Disney World College Program
Environmental Internships @ the Center for a New American Dream
Museum Exhibitions & Archives Management Internships @ the National Speed Skating Museum and Hall of Fame
Outdoor Adventure Interns
Draft Horse Team Interns, Colorado
Ridgerunner Interns

The "Hush-n-Tell It" Service Review: Resume Critiques
by Debbie Jacobs
So you think your resume is flawless, well…has it been critiqued by Career Services Center staff? If not, don't lick those stamps just yet. The old adage "practice makes perfect" certainly holds true when writing a resume. It might look good to you, but it is best to let the experts make that call. That is what we are here for.

Be prepared to do three or more revisions before you send your resume out to prospective employers. You should consider your resume to always be a work in progress, one that will require many updates throughout your working life. The Career Services Center has a wealth of resume writing information including handouts and books to assist you before you even begin the task of writing your first draft. You should start by following our resume guide and putting your thoughts down on paper. Be sure to heed the tips on the handouts, which will save a lot of time and work for everyone involved. This means making good use of spell check and grammar check.

Ask a friend to look over what you have done while noting any typos you may have missed. After all, two heads are better than one. Once you are comfortable with your resume, drop it off at our office for the Director or Assistant Director to critique. If we feel an appointment is necessary, we will let you know. If you are dissatisfied with what you have come up with and want to go over specific items about your resume, ask to schedule an appointment so you can clear up anything you are unsure about. Make all recommended corrections before bringing your resume in for a follow-up critique.

Remember, your resume is a picture of you on paper; first impressions count! Once you are pleased with the final product, it is ready for the entire world to see. When the final draft is approved by the Career Services Center, you have the option of registering with our online recruitment system to upload and publish your resume for prospective employers to view. Our online job search service, eRecruiting, will be covered in another issue, so stay tuned!

Brave Ideas

"I can't believe you did that!" and Other Career Mishaps
A candidate had a pizza delivered to the interview site because he didn't have time to stop for lunch.

Upcoming Events
Choosing A Major Workshop, Jan. 29th, 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., Career Services Center
Resume Writing Workshops, Feb. 5th, 10 a.m. & 2 p.m., Career Services Center
Career Fair Workshop, Feb. 12th, 10 a.m. & 2 p.m., Career Services Center
Career Fair, Feb. 19th, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, University Center Lounge
Teacher Education Fair, March 12th, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, University Center Lounge

This Week's Job Search Tip:
Provide your references with a copy of your resume. They will find it helpful to have your information at their fingertips when an employer calls to check your work performance.

Little Known Facts:
More than half of all job openings go unadvertised. This phenomenon is known as the "hidden job market" and is discovered through a network of contacts. Eighty percent of employed people found their jobs through networking.


Dear Zelda,
Is it okay for me to use an MS Word resume template instead of creating my own resume format?
Too Busy
Dear Too Busy,
I strongly discourage the use of MS Word resume templates for several reasons. First, so many people use these templates that all resumes start to look alike. This can cause your resume to get lost in the shuffle. Second, the templates do not allow for many adjustments to the format. This can lead to more frustration than if you just create your own format. Finally, the use of a template may indicate to the reader that you either have a habit of cutting corners, or you lack the creativity and individuality to develop something original.
Zelda
Got a question about your job search? Ask Zelda at cs@uncp.edu.

Win a Semester of Free Pizza!!
Enter the "Name Our Newsletter" contest and be eligible to win a free large pizza every month for the Spring 2003 semester (February-April), compliments of Pizza Hut of Pembroke. See page 1 for details.

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