Home > Newsletter > Volume 1, Issue 5 (May 2003)

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5 (MAY 2003)

Brave Opportunities: Where Today's Braves Look to the Future

Volume 1, Issue 5
May 2003

In This Issue...
Career of the Month: Homeland Security, Customs Inspector
From the Director's Desk
Cool Jobs Listing
Service Review: Alumni Services
In Every Issue: Career Bloopers, Job Search Tips, Ask Zelda, & Little Known Facts

Career Center Info:
Location
University Center, Ste. 210, 521-6270, cs@uncp.edu, www.uncp.edu/cs

Hours
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 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

From Backpack to Briefcase: Welcome to the Jungle by Lori Bumgarner

While many May grads are excited about completing their degrees, they are also a little nervous about entering into the world of full-time work. Knowing what to expect and being aware of some of the differences between college life and the work world can help smooth the transition for graduates.

The following is a list of differences between college and the first year of work, written by Elwood F. Holton III (Source: The Senior Year: A Beginning, Not an End; John N. Gardner and Gretchen Van der Veer; Jossey Bass Publishers, San Francisco, California).

College
Frequent, quick and concrete feedback (grades, etc)
Highly structured curriculum and program with lots of direction
Personally supportive environment
Few significant changes
Flexible schedule
Frequent breaks and time off
Personal control over time, classes, interests
Intellectual challenge
Choose your performance level (A, B, etc)
Focus on your development and growth
Create and explore knowledge
Individual effort
"Right" answers
Independence of ideas and thinking
Professors
Less initiative required

First Year of Work
Infrequent and less precise feedback
Highly structured environment and tasks with few directions
Less personal support
Frequent and unexpected changes
Structured schedule
Limited time off
Responding to others' directions and interests
Organizational and people challenges
"A" level work required all the time
Focus on getting results for the organization
Get results with your knowledge
Team effort
Few "right" answers
Do it the company's way
Bosses
Lots of initiative required

Alumni News by Lorna McNeill, Director, Office of Alumni Relations

You did it! You spent four years at UNCP. Now, you're a college grad with bright ideas and hopes for an even brighter future. The UNCP Office of Alumni Relations is here for you! If you have an idea of how you'd like to commemorate your years spent on campus, challenge yourself to leave a positive mark on campus. Perhaps you'd like to join an existing alumni chapter, or establish a chapter in your region. Other exciting opportunities to volunteer with Alumni Relations include Homecoming, Soccer Tailgate, Holiday Open House, or the annual phone-a-thon calling campaign to raise unrestricted funds for the university.

For those destined to begin a career path immediately after graduation, you could mentor students on their majors. Do you remember what it was like to find yourself needing to choose a major, or career path? Wouldn't it have been helpful to have someone to talk with who was working or studying in the career fields you were considering?

The Alumni Career Connection is designed to give students the opportunity to talk with UNCP alumni who have first-hand knowledge about various careers and fields of study. By sharing information about your academic and world-of-work experiences, you will help students as they gather the information they need to choose a major, to formulate a career plan, or to begin a job search. Your participation is invaluable!

Regardless of where your path leads, let us hear from you. We couldn't bear losing track of one of our most important assets - you! Don't forget to update your contact information with us so we can send campus updates, and the UNCP Today alumni magazine. For more information, visit www.uncp.edu/alumni/, e-mail alumni@uncp.edu, or call 800-949-UNCP (8627) or 910-521-6533.

From the Director's Desk by Denisha Sanders

Another academic year is almost over and the summer is nearly here! Don't let opportunities to continue your career planning pass you by during the summer months. This is the perfect opportunity to do some volunteer work in your community to develop leadership and teamwork skills or to complete an internship to put what you have learned in the classroom thus far to use in the "real world." The summer can also be a great time to do informational interviews with people in fields that you are considering or to spend some time in the career library researching different career options for your major. You could even begin working on your resume and have that checked off your list by the time classes begin in the fall.
My point is this - I want you to have a fun, relaxing summer, but don't forget that your career planning is an on-going process! Take advantage of all of the opportunities that are available to you over the summer. And, don't forget to contact the Career Center and let us know how we can help. We have handouts on informational interviewing and other topics and a library full of career and job search information. You can reach us via e-mail or phone if you are away from campus, or you can drop by. We will be here 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the summer.
Have a great summer!

Career of the Month:
Homeland Security Customs Inspector

Customs inspectors enforce laws, regulations, policies, and procedures concerning imports and exports. Customs inspectors are stationed in the United States and overseas at airports, seaports, and border crossing points. They examine, count, weigh, gauge, measure, and sample commercial and noncommercial cargo entering and leaving the United States to determine admissibility and the amount of duties that must be paid. Customs inspectors make sure that all cargo is properly described on accompanying importers' declarations to determine the proper duty. They ensure that people, ships, planes, and anything used to import or export cargo, comply with all the appropriate entrance and clearance requirements. They also seize illegal items (or contraband).

Customs inspectors must have at least 3 years of progressively responsible experience in administration, law enforcement, or other work that demonstrates the ability to deal with people and to learn and interpret facts. A bachelor's degree may be substituted for experience. Inspectors are trained in the applicable laws of inspection procedures through a combination of classroom and on-the-job training.
Customs inspectors must be qualified in the use of firearms and must demonstrate firearms proficiency within 6 months after initial appointment. They must also be United States citizens.

QUICK FACTS:
Customs inspectors indicate that they like their good salaries and benefits, working with people, and protecting the safety of US citizens. However, they say the drawbacks of the job include possible threat of danger from people carrying illegal goods, working long and irregular hours, working weekends and holidays, dealing with difficult people, and heavy lifting of luggage and crates.

Related Majors: Criminal Justice, Foreign Languages

Salary: The Economic Research Institute reported that the average starting salary was $48,500 ($23.25 per hour) in 2001 for a customs inspector. The average salary was $70,000 ($33.75 per hour) for all workers in this field and $87,500 ($42.00 per hour) for those with experience.

According to the US Department of Labor, median earnings for customs inspectors were $68,000 per year or $32.75 per hour in 2001-02. This occupation is expected to grow by 16% through the year 2008 keeping in pace with the number of regulatory and compliance programs, growth in the aviation industry, foreign travel, and the need for stricter control of smuggling and illegal border crossings.

For more information about a customs inspector, you may write to the following:
Personnel Branch, US Customs Service
1301 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20229
www.customs.ustreas.gov

Source: DISCOVER
To learn about thousands of other occupations, come by Career Services to use the DISCOVER program.

Coming Next Fall
A CSC Original Series: Career T-n-A (Topics & Advice)
Workshop Name: Workshop Topic:
Oz Choosing a Major/Career
Career and the City The Job Search
Career as Folk Networking
A Resume Makeover Story Resume Writing Skills
Show Your Enthusiasm Interview Skills
My Big Fat Portfolio Portfolio Development & Presentation
What Not To Wear Career Fashion Faux Pas
Where Are They Now? Alumni Guest Speakers
Recruiter Confessions Employer Information Sessions
Six Months Behind Tips for Last Minute Job Seekers
Trading Spaces Trading College Life for the Real World
Style & Grace Business Etiquette
Fear Is Not a Factor
(in Grad School) Graduate School Workshop
Ask Dr. Deal Career Q & A
While You Were Out Make-up Workshop (Get info from the workshops you may have missed)

Check our website for dates, times and locations.

The "Hush-n-Tell It" Service Review: Alumni Services by Debbie Jacobs

As an alumna of UNC Pembroke, I am grateful to have the Career Services Center staff at my disposal when I need them to assist me with updating my resume, conducting a mock interview, or searching for graduate schools. I knew before I even started working in this office in March 1994 that it is a resource all students and alumni should take advantage of. Alumni can use our services free of charge when going through a career or job change. Also, alumni can use our employer services at a discounted rate when looking to hire new graduates for their companies.

Many resources exist now that were not available in the past and some services have changed a little. For example, Career Services no longer houses credentials files which included a resume, three recommendation forms/letters, transcript(s) of all college/university credit, and an authorization for release of credentials form. Everything can now be kept on-line. eRecruiting is a web-based resume referral service which can be accessed by students, alumni, and employers via the Career Services Center website. Students and alumni can post resumes, search for jobs, and schedule an on-campus interview. Employers can post jobs and view resumes. NC ReferenceFile is another service which can be accessed via the Career Center website that allows students to post their credentials or portfolio on the web.

Employer services for alumni include discounted rates for tables at our career fairs, free job postings and resume searches on eRecruiting, on-campus recruiting, etc. Alumni are also welcome to come back to campus at any time to serve as guest speakers to classes and student groups or as mentors to individual students.

To become a mentor either locally or via long distance, contact us at cs@uncp.edu to request a mentor form.

Brave Ideas

"I can't believe you did that!" and Other Career Mishaps
One candidate explained that he had been fired from his last job for stalking a co-worker, then described exactly how he stalked his co-worker.

This Month's Cool Jobs Listing
Archery Instructor
Female Historic Interpreter
Equestrian Director
Court Reporter
Grassroots Organizer
Sea Kayak Naturalist
Sports Reporter
Worship Ministry Intern
Woman's Advocate
Rock Climbing Technician/Coordinator
Full job descriptions and application procedures are listed exclusively in the Career Services Center Library.

Dear Zelda,
I will be getting out of the military soon. How can I market the skills I gained in the military to civilian employers?
Signed: Honorably Discharged
Dear Honorably Discharged,
You can market the numerous transferable skills you gained in the military (I.e. leadership skills, supervisory skills, problem-solving skills, teamwork, time management, etc.) in a functional or combination resume. Use civilian terms to describe your duties that demonstrate your skills. Be sure you avoid the use of military jargon when writing your resume.
Zelda
Got a question about your job search? Ask Zelda at cs@uncp.edu.

This Month's Job Search Tip:
Juniors: Spend your summer creating/updating a resume, getting related work experience to add to your resume, conducting research on your chosen career field and the job market, and preparing for job interviews. Handouts on all topics are available at the Career Services Center.

Little Known Facts:
Only 50% of college graduates go into jobs directly related to their majors. Subsequent jobs are even less likely to be related to the major. Also, on average, people change careers 5-7 times in their lifetime.

Congratulations to the Class of 2003!
Good luck and best wishes from the Career Services Center Staff.

The Brave Opportunities newsletter will return next fall. Have a great summer!

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