Home > Newsletter > Volume 2, Issue 2 (October 2003)

Volume 2, Issue 2 (October 2003)

Career Services Center
Brave Opportunities
Where Today’s Braves Look to the Future
Volume 2, Issue 2, October 2003

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
The Career Center Can Be a Scary Place…
Career Development Week, Nov. 3rd-7th
From the Director’s Desk
Career of the Month: Six Feet Under
Can YOU See the Resemblance?
Cool Jobs Listings
In Every Issue: Career Bloopers, Job Search Tips, Ask Zelda, Little Known Facts, & Upcoming Events
NEXT ISSUE: Check out pictures from the Halloween Open House

Career Center Info:
Location: University Center, Ste. 210, 521-6270, cs@uncp.edu, www.uncp.edu/cs
Hours: 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 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
Lisa Chavis, Student Services Assistant

The Career Center Can Be A SCARY Place...
...but not so scary that it’s not fun! This Halloween, Career Services, along with Student Activities, SGA, Counseling and Testing, and the UNCP Bookstore, will host our 1st Annual “Six Feet Over” Halloween Open House event with FREE FOOD, prizes, and games!
Come by that Friday and have some Witch’s Brew and Scooby Snacks while having your palm read and your career fortune told. Also, you’ll have a chance to Bob for Jobs and play for prizes in the Interview Fear Factor games. Or, just sit back and watch some scary movies. Got any requests for horror flicks? Let us know and we’ll try to have a showing of your pick.
You’ll also want to drop in to pick up your Trick-or-Treat Prize Bag. The Trick-or-Treat bag will include a card to register to win a DVD player. You must come by the Career Center to pick up your card and to find out more information about eligibility to win. You’ll be eligible to win additional prizes by participating in the “Six Feet Over” events.
The “Six Feet Over” Halloween Open House serves as the kick off for Career Development Week beginning on Monday, November 3rd and culminating on Friday, November 7th (see below for more details).
Lori Bumgarner

Career Development Week, Nov. 3rd-7th
Ok, after all the Halloween fun is done, it’s time to get serious about your major and career choices and your job search. Well, we’ll still have a little fun, but the job search is a job in and of itself. Many students don’t realize just how much work a job search takes until they’re in the middle of it and trying to compete with other candidates for the best job.
The Career Center is setting aside an entire week to help all students, from freshmen to seniors, with making career decisions and the job search a little less painless. By attending the Career Development Week events and applying the techniques and skills you’ll learn during this time, you will be able to put your best foot forward, whether you are applying for a full-time job or an internship.
Day One: Career Exploration Day, 11/3. This day includes a Majors Fair with representatives from UNCP departments to answer your questions about major requirements and what kind of job you can get with your specific degree. Also, if you’re still undecided about your major or your career choice, learn how to clarify your career goals by attending the “CSI: Career Search Investigation” workshop. This workshop will be held at 3:30 p.m. in UC 210. The majors fair will be in the UC Lounge from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., so stop by on your way to lunch!
Day Two: Resume Day, 11/4. On Tuesday, the Apple Corps Health Hut will be transformed into a Resume Bar in the UC where you can drop off a rough draft of your resume and have it critiqued right there between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Don’t already have a resume? Come to the “Resume Makeover Story” workshop at 10:00 a.m. in UC 210.
Day Three: Interview Day, 11/5. Learn “What Not To Wear” and how to “Show Your Enthusiasm” during the job interview. Ever wanted to know how to handle the really tough interview questions? Not sure whether to wear business or business casual during the interview? Get all your questions answered on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in UC 210. Then, practice your upcoming interviews with a mock interview with the Career Services staff. Don’t worry if you’re not wearing interview attire, just come as you are and we’ll give you feedback on such things as your responses, your body language, etc. Doing a mock interview will help ease your nervousness during an actual interview. Besides, it’s better to screw up in front of us first than to screw up in front of the person making the hiring decision! Individual mock interviews will be conducted every half hour from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Career Center. At the end of the day (5:00 p.m.), join us in the Faculty Dining Room to learn some “Style & Grace.” When you come into the cafeteria, just bring your dinner tray back to the Faculty Dining room. Sit back and enjoy your meal while listening to some useful information on business etiquette.
Job Search Day, 11/6. On Thursday, learn how to put the entire job search process together so you can be successful in finding a job. Is finding a job like finding love? Find out during the “Career and the City” job search workshop at 11:00 a.m. in UC 210. Also, learn how to network with the best of them at the “Career As Folk” networking workshop at 2:00 p.m. in UC 210. Finally, learn how to develop your own “Big Fat Portfolio” and how to show-n-tell about it in the job interview at 3:30 p.m. in UC 210.
Catch-up Day, 11/7. Just in case you missed anything, on Friday we will be giving a “While You Were Out” review of the week’s workshops. Or, if you prefer to speak with a Career Consultant one-on-one, we will be taking appointments all day.
Friday is also Prize Day!! At 5:00 p.m., we will draw the winner of the DVD player (the registration card for the drawing will be given out on October 31st at the Halloween Open House; see page 1). While you do not need to be present at the drawing to win, your participation in the Career Development Week events will increase you your chances of winning.
Lori Bumgarner

From the Director’s Desk
Still exploring careers and majors? We are having a day especially for you! On Monday, November 3rd, as part of UNCP’s Career Development Week, the Career Center will be sponsoring “Career Exploration Day.” This will be a day full of activities designed to help you make one of the most important decisions of your life – your career decision!
The day will begin with a Majors Fair at 11:00 a.m. in the University Center Lounge. During this fair you will be able to talk with faculty members, students, and maybe even alumni about the majors and programs offered by the individual academic departments at UNCP. Other offices that will be represented include the Office of Advising and Retention, the Career Center, and the Registrar’s Office.
At 3:30 p.m. that afternoon, the Career Center will be offering CSI: Career Search Investigation, a workshop on how to choose a major or career. During this workshop you will begin the career-planning process by developing a profile of your interests and work values and learning how to compare that profile to information on prospective careers and majors. This workshop will give you hands-on, practical information about charting a course for your future!
Also, plan to spend some time in our Career Library (UC 210) on Career Exploration Day. In the Career Library, you will find a wide variety of information on careers including salary ranges, job outlook, prospective employers, and related occupations. You can do research based on a specific career that you are interested in, or by individual majors. The library is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and no appointment is necessary.
You will find a lot of information about Career Development Week throughout this newsletter. Mark your calendar and make plans now to join us!
Dr. Denisha Sanders

Six Feet Under: Career of the Month - Funeral Directors
Funeral directors, also called morticians or undertakers, assist the family and friends of the deceased in making business and personal arrangements for funeral service and burial. They establish with the family the location, dates, and times of wakes, memorial services, and burials. Directors arrange for the deceased to be transported to the funeral home or mortuary and obtain the information needed for the death certificate. They arrange the details and handle the logistics of funerals. Directors prepare obituary notices and have them placed in newspapers. They arrange for pallbearers and clergy, and schedule with the cemetery the opening and closing of a grave. Directors decorate and prepare the sites of all services, and provide for the transportation of the remains, mourners, and flowers between sites. They also direct the preparation and shipment of remains for out-of-state burial. Most funeral directors are also trained, licensed, and practicing embalmers.
Funeral directors handle the paperwork involved with the person's death. They may help family members apply for veterans' burial benefits, notify the Social Security Administration of the death, and apply on behalf of survivors for the transfer of any pensions or annuities. Directors submit papers to state authorities so that a formal certificate of death may be issued and copies distributed to heirs. Funeral directors are responsible for the success and profitability of their businesses. They keep employee and financial records and attend to other paperwork as necessary. In addition, funeral directors make sure facilities and automobiles are maintained.
About one-third of funeral directors are self-employed. They work in funeral homes that have viewing rooms, embalming rooms, and chapels for religious services, throughout the country.
QUICK FACTS:
Funeral Directors indicate that they like helping people in their time of need, the variety of social and civic contacts, and an attractive work setting. However, they say the drawbacks of the job include the attention to the many little details involved in their work, the stress in dealing with a very emotional profession, and working with the deceased.
Related Majors: Business Administration and Management and Funeral Services and Mortuary Science.
Salary: The Economic Research Institute reported the following:
Starting Salary: $34,000 ($16.25/hr), Average Salary: $44,500 ($21.50/hr), Salary w/experience: $54,000, ($26/hr).
Required Traits/Skills: Composure, tact, courtesy, and understanding; the desire and ability to comfort people in their time of sorrow; ability to communicate easily with the public; sincerity and honesty.
Source: DISCOVER Online. To learn about thousands of other occupations, you can access DISCOVER via our website.

Can YOU See the Resemblance?
Well, they may not look like identical twins, but they are two smart guys with a lot of real life experience and advice to go along with it. We just happen to favor our own Dr. Roger Brown, UNCP’s Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, over Dr. Phil.
Brown will be visiting the Career Services Center on Wednesday, October 29th at 3:30 p.m. as a part of our Career Unscripted workshop series. He’ll be here to help answer your job search and career-related questions.
Brown’s experience includes working in a factory right after high school before going to the University of Tennessee to get his bachelor and master’s degrees in political science. In between undergrad and grad and school, he taught high school math. Brown also once held a job as a high school sports reporter for a Tampa newspaper while living in a Florida orange grove facility. Brown earned his Ph.D. from John Hopkins and has since worked at Iowa State and UNC Charlotte before coming to UNCP. Brown is a big believer in the benefits of study abroad, and has made visits to China, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Croatia, South Africa, and Europe.
Brown will celebrate is 5th wedding anniversary this month with his wife Dr. Carolyn Thompson, Director of the UNCP Honors College. The two have a dog named Madeline Albright.
Lori Bumgarner

This Month’s Cool Jobs Listing
Assistant to the President. For a nonprofit organization promoting vegetarian diets and alternatives to animal research. Washington, DC
Creative Writer. Write commercial scripts. Prefer written/voice work exp. Pittsburgh, PA
Caving Instructor: Lead cave trips for all ability levels, teach cave ecology, technical caving and rescue. Darnestown, MD
Architectural Historian. Perform architectural survey, assess sites for the Nat’l Register, manage projects, supervise support staff. Charleston, SC
Interviewer/Oral Historian. PT, for a non-profit org. Conduct oral history videotaped interviews of accomplished African Americans, write bios on each interview. Arlington, VA
Sports Anchor/Reporter. Anchor sportscasts, shoot/edit sports videos, interview. Lawton, OK
Translator/Producer. For a Spanish language newscast. Amarillo, TX
Full job descriptions and application procedures are listed exclusively in the Career Services Center Library.

Brave Ideas

“I can’t believe you did that!” and Other Career Mishaps
One candidate asked during the interview if he had to list “all” crimes on the application.

Dear Zelda,
HELP! I missed the “Career and the City” job search workshop in September. My roommate said it was really cool and had a lot of good information that I need to find a job. Is there any chance the Career Center will have it again?
Signed: Out-of-the-loop
Dear Out-of-the-Loop,
Yes, we will be “re-running” some of our workshops during Career Development Week (11/3-11/7). Since Career Development Week is a separate event from our regular CSC CareerUnscripted workshop series, the repeats will not be at their regularly scheduled time of Wednesdays at 3:30. Instead, check the calendar to the left for special dates and times. Not only will we be repeating some of our most popular workshops, but we will also be premiering some new ones such as “Style & Grace” and” My Big Fat Portfolio.” Plus, if you come to at least one event each day, you’ll be eligible to win a DVD player. Tell your roommate to come so you can double your chances of winning!!
Zelda
Got a career or job search question? Ask Zelda at cs@uncp.edu

This Month’s Job Search Tip:
ATTENTION MAY GRADUATES:
If you hope to have a job lined up by graduation in May, you should start your job search NO LATER THAN OCTOBER (no later than May for December 2004 grads)!

Little Known Facts
It takes the average person nine months to a year to find a job that’s the right fit, especially during a difficult economy/poor job market.

CSC Career Unscripted Workshop Guide
Fall 2003
(Every Wednesday @ 3:30 pm in the Career Services Library, UC Ste. 210)
9/3 CSI: Career Search Investigation
9/10 Career and the City (Job Search)
9/17 Career as Folk (Networking)
9/24 A Resume Makeover Story (Resume writing skills)
10/1 Show Your Enthusiasm & What Not to Wear (Interviewing)
10/8 Fear is Not a Factor (Getting Into Graduate School)
10/15 Six Months Behind (Late Job Search)
10/22 Trading Spaces (Making the Transition from Classroom to Office)
10/29 Ask Dr. Deal (Career Q & A)
10/31 HALLOWEEN OPEN HOUSE
11/3-11/7 CAREER DEVELOPMENT WEEK (check website for times):
11/3 Majors Fair
11/3 CSI
11/4 Resume Bar
11/4 A Resume Makeover Story
11/5 Show Your Enthusiasm & What Not to Wear
11/5 Mock Interviews
11/5 Style & Grace (Business Etiquette)
11/6 Career and the City
11/6 Career as Folk
11/6 My Big Fat Portfolio (Portfolio Development & Presentation)
11/7 While You Were Out (workshop review)
11/7 Individual Appointments
11/12 Six Months Behind
11/19 Trading Spaces

Upcoming Events
CSC Career Unscripted workshops
Every Wednesday, 3:30 pm, UC Suite 210

Volunteer & Internship Fair
Wednesday, 10/1, 10:00 a.m., UC Lounge

Graduate & Professional School Day
Wednesday, 10/22, 10:00 a.m., UC Lounge

“Six Feet Over” Halloween Open House
Friday, October 31st, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., UC 2nd Floor

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