Home > Newsletter > Volume 1, Issue 3 (March 2003)

Volume 4, Issue 2 (October 2004)

Brave Opportunities
Career Services Center
Where Today’s Braves Look to the Future

Volume 4, Issue 2
October 2004 ~ Halloween

Inside this issue:
Career of the Month: Embalmer
From the Director’s Desk
Cool Jobs Listings
Alumni Spotlight: William Flagler
In Every Issue: Career Bloopers, Job Search Tips, Ask Zelda, Little Known Facts, & Upcoming Events

Career Center Info:
Location
University Center, Suite. 210, 521-6270, cs@uncp.edu, www.uncp.edu/cs
Hours
M-F, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Appointments may be made for Career Consulting, DISCOVER, Resume Critiques, Mock Interviews, etc.
Staff
Dr. Denisha Sanders, Director
Lori Bumgarner, M.Ed., Assistant Director
Brenda C. Jacobs, Student Services Assistant
Tylee Hanson, Graduate Assistant

Stairway to a Successful Job Search

There’s more to a job search than just sending out 100 resumes and then sitting back and waiting for the phone to ring. The job search is a very proactive process and can feel like a job itself. The following steps will help you manage your job search so you can be successful without losing your sanity.

Step 1. Always begin your job search by first researching yourself, the industry, the company, and the position. You need to know your own interests, skills, and criteria for a job so you can target the jobs that are a good fit for you, and so you can answer those tough interview questions such as “tell me about yourself” and “what are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?” You need to know about the field, company, and position so you can answer the question, “what do you know about us?”

Step 2. Exhaust all job leads. Search newspaper ads and Internet listings, network with everyone you know, attend career fairs, send out targeted mailings, etc. Contact the Career Center for a list of 50 job leads.

Step 3. Create a resume that will stand out among the competition. Begin by attending a resume workshop and using the helpful handouts from the Career Center. Once you have a rough draft, make an appointment to have your resume critiqued. When it’s ready to be sent out, you can post it on our web site for employers to view.

Step 4. Prepare for the interview. The research you conduct is the best preparation for a job interview. The information you gather will help you with answering interview questions and with getting your own questions answered. It’s important to have questions of your own prepared so the employer knows you’re genuinely interested in the job, and so you can determine if it’s a job you want. Also, decide what you’re going to wear and lay it out the night before. You can learn what to wear and how to answer questions in the Career Center’s interviewing workshops.

Step 5. Stay organized. Develop a system to organize your research information, correspondence, dates/appointments, etc. for each job for which you are applying. This will prevent embarrassing mistakes such as sending an interview thank you letter to the wrong employer.

You should plan to spend around 20 hours per week on your job search. Use the time after an interview to continue searching and interviewing for other jobs until you have accepted an offer. For more information on networking, interview questions and more, attend our weekly workshops and download the Career Planning Guidebook from the Career Center’s web site.

Lori Bumgarner

Career Development Week

On Friday, October 29th, the “Six Feet Over” Halloween Open House (sponsored by Student Activities, and Career Services) will kick off Career Development Week. The Halloween Open House will include food, prizes, palm reading, games, movies, and more!

Career Development Week begins Monday, November 1st with Career Exploration Day. Workshops on cool jobs and choosing a major will be held. Tuesday is Resume Day which will feature a Resume Bar in the UC where you can have your resume critiqued on the spot. Our “Extreme Resume Makeover” workshop will also be held. Interview Day is Wednesday and includes an interviewing workshop, a business etiquette workshop, and the Teacher Education Fair. A variety of topics will be covered during Job Search Day on Thursday, such as networking and professional portfolios. If you’d like to sit down with a Career Consultant one-on-one to discuss any of your career-related questions, appointments will be available on Friday.

We hope to see you in your most outrageous costumes on Friday, October 29th and back with us for Career Development Week, November 1st-5th.

Lori Bumgarner

From the Director’s Desk

One of the most important things you can do before you graduate to prepare yourself for your career is to complete an internship or give back to your community through community service. Either type of experience can be invaluable to you in developing your skills, clarifying your interests, and in making your resume stand out in the pile on an employer’s desk. In fact, an article in the Journal of Employment Counseling reported that students who complete internships have higher GPA’s and gain full-time employment sooner than students who did not complete an internship during college.

To help you identify opportunities for internships and volunteer positions, the Career Center and the Leadership & Service Opportunities Program will co-sponsor the UNCP Volunteer & Internship Fair on Wednesday, October 6th at 10:00 a.m. During this fair, representatives from more than 50 employers will be in the UC Lounge to talk with you about their organizations and the types of positions they currently have available. You can also use this as an opportunity to do some career research by talking with the representatives about their career paths. Plan to ask a lot of questions! The employers that are planning to attend represent a wide variety of career fields including non-profit organizations, schools, businesses, government agencies, and many others. To view a list of the organizations that will be here for the Volunteer & Internship Fair, visit our web site at www.uncp.edu/cs and click on “Sponsored Events.”

Be sure to put the Volunteer & Internship Fair on your calendar and plan to join us to learn more about how internships and community service can help you plan for your future! See you on October 6th!

Denisha Sanders

Career of the Month: Embalmer

Embalmers prepare bodies by washing the body with germicidal soap and then begin the embalming process by removing body fluids and other matter. They replace body fluids with embalming fluid, and pack cavities with cotton saturated with embalming fluid. Embalmers reconstruct disfigured features or maimed bodies, using materials such as clay, cotton, plaster of Paris, and wax. They apply cosmetics to give a natural appearance, dress the body, and place the body in the casket chosen by the family. Embalmers maintain records such as embalming reports, and itemized lists of clothing or valuables delivered with the body. State laws usually require that the remains be refrigerated or embalmed if more than 24 hours elapse between death and interment. Embalmers are instrumental in preventing the spread of contagious diseases. The risk of infection is minimal because embalmers must maintain strict sanitary conditions in accordance with standards set by the State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers.

Embalmers work indoors in isolated, clinically clean areas that must meet standards set by the State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. The few who work in county coroners' departments may, on occasions, work outdoors, sometimes for long periods and in all kinds of weather.

Embalmers must be licensed in all states, and some states issue a single license for both embalmers and funeral directors. Licensing laws vary from state to state, but most require applicants to be 21 years old, attend mortuary school, serve a 1 to 3-year apprenticeship, and pass a qualifying examination. Persons interested in a career in this field should contact their state licensing board for specific requirements.

College programs in mortuary science usually last from 2 to 4 years. A few community and junior colleges offer two-year programs; and a few colleges and universities offer both 2- and 4-year programs. Mortuary science programs include courses in anatomy, physiology, pathology, embalming techniques, restorative art, business management, and client services.

Apprenticeships provide practical experience in all facets of the funeral service from embalming to transporting remains. Depending on state regulations, apprenticeship programs last from 1 to 3 years and may be served before, during, or after mortuary school.

Other Related Occupations:
Embalmer Apprentice
Funeral Director
Manicurist
Wig Dresser
Cosmetologist

Salary:
The Economic Research Institute reported the following:
Starting Salary: $27,500 ($13.25/hr)
Average Salary: $35,000 ($16.75/hr)
Salary w/experience: $41,500 ($20.00/hr)

For more information about becoming an Embalmer you may contact:
National Funeral Directors Association
13625 Bishops Drive
Brookfield, WI 53005-6600
http://www.nfda.org/

Selected Independent Funeral Homes
500 Lake Cook Road, Suite 205
Deerfield, IL 60015
http://www.nsm.org/

Source: DISCOVER Online. To learn about thousands of other occupations, you can access DISCOVER via our website.

Alumni Spotlight: William N. Flagler Jr., B.A., M.P.A.

With the help of Career Services, William N. Flagler Jr. successfully secured a job in public administration. He is currently working in Virginia for the County Administrator. He serves as a legislative liaison for the board of supervisors and is responsible for web-page maintenance and budget issues.

While attending UNCP he utilized many services at the Career Center, such as e-Recruiting, resume critiques, career consulting and interview skills. When asked what services were most helpful, Flagler responded, “resume development and the evaluation services.” He stated that the evaluation of his resume by Dr. Sanders was crucial in his job search. His resume is currently on display, as a sample, in the Career Services Career Planning Guidebook. He invites you to take a look at it!

Flagler maintained a 3.7 GPA in graduate school while pursuing different careers and stated that sending out information in a timely manner and actually writing interest letters that fit each job ad was very difficult. The professionals at the Career Center were there to help with all of these tasks.

When asked what was the most helpful in landing a job, Flagler answered “research!” He stated that doing as much research as possible about an organization proved to be very effective. Flagler said, “bringing up things about the organization and how it relates to you is very impressive during an interview.” He said it shows you went the extra mile to prepare for the interview. Flagler said, “I did a great deal of research and had no problem telling my organization about their history without being asked.”

Flagler offered advice for those searching for future jobs. He feels that with all of the competition among college students today, one should do his/her best to stand out by being on time, researching the specific organization and creating a unique resume and cover letter. He maintains that politeness is also essential because you never know who is doing the actual hiring. “Take the advice of the Career Center staff. They are there to help you in any way they can!”

Tylee Hanson

This Month’s Cool Jobs Listing
Executive Assistant. Provide admin support, and back-up receptionist support. Required computer skills incl. MS Office. Prefer fundraising exp. and public speaking skills. San Diego, CA

Tiger Trainer. Working with animals in and around 5 ft water depth. Zoology related experience required. Jackson, NJ

Crime/Court Reporter. Cover police, fire and rescue services, assist with general assignment duties. Hudson, NY

Aquarium Curator. Care for the animals and aquatic exhibits, supervise technical staff, maintain related records. Stuart, FL

Planner. Entry-level position responsible for planning activities and project management. Montgomery, IL

Sports Editor. Oversee the sports section, supervise staff, edit copy, write columns. Valparaiso, IN

Girls’ Basketball Coach. For a middle school. Coach the team, run tryouts and practices. Need Experience working w/ children, strong knowledge of the fundamentals of basketball. New York, NY

Museum Interpreters. Provide tours of the historic house, care for the collections, assist with light gardening and cataloguing tasks. Salem, MA

Archives Assistant. Assist with the use of the archives collection, manage the archives budget, help finding aides, supervise staff. Selinsgrove, PA

Contact the Career Center to access full job descriptions and application procedures.

Brave Ideas

“I can’t believe you did that!” and Other Career Mishaps
One candidate made himself comfy—feet up on the couch– and fell asleep in the lobby while waiting for the interview.

Dear Zelda,
I know I need to have a list of references with my resume, but I don’t know who I should I list or how many references I should have. Can you help me?
Qualified Candidate

Dear Qualified Candidate,
When it comes to references, you want to make sure you choose someone who you know will give you not just a good reference, but a glowing reference, and that doesn’t include your mom. Always choose professional references such as your professors, advisors, supervisors, coworkers, etc. Be sure it is someone who knows your work well.

You can keep a master list of as many references as you would like, and then pick and choose from that list which three to five you want to include for each resume you send out. If the job ad requests that you send three references, only send three. Sending any more than three will give the impression that you can’t follow directions. For more information on references, contact the Career Center or attend a resume workshop.
Zelda
Got a career or job search question? Ask Zelda at cs@uncp.edu

This Month’s Job Search Tip:
Each year, students obtain interesting, substantive, and career-related summer jobs and internships. The keys to their success: preparation and an early start in the summer job search process. Your search for an internship or summer job should be conducted in the same manner.

Little Known Facts
Experts recommend that you begin an active job search six to nine months in advance of your target employment date. You can begin the process by visiting the Career Center early (for students, nine months to a year before graduation).

CSC Career Unscripted Workshop Guide
Fall 2004
(every Wednesday @ 3:30 pm in the Career Services Library, UC Ste. 210)
9/1 CSI: Career Search Investigation
9/8 Career and the City (Job Search)
9/15 Career as Folk (Networking)
9/22 Extreme Resume Makeover (Resume writing skills)
9/29 The Apprentice & What Not to Wear (Interviewing)
10/6 Fear is Not a Factor (Getting Into Graduate School)
10/13 Career Eye for the Late Guy (Late Job Search)
10/22 Trading Spaces: From Classroom to Office (School to Work Transition)
10/27 Ask Dr. Deal (Career Q & A)
10/29 “SIX FEET OVER” HALLOWEEN OPEN HOUSE
11/1-11/5 CAREER DEVELOPMENT WEEK (check website for times):
11/1 The OC (Outrageous Careers)
11/1 CSI
11/2 Extreme Resume Makeover
11/2 Resume Bar
11/3 Fall Teacher Education Fair
11/3 The Apprentice & What Not to Wear
11/3 Style & Grace (Business Etiquette)
11/4 Career and the City
11/4 Career as Folk
11/4 My Big Fat Portfolio (Portfolio Development & Presentation)
11/5 Individual Appointments
11/10 Career Eye for the Late Guy
11/17 Extreme Resume Makeover
12/1 Trading Spaces

Upcoming Events
Volunteer & Internship Fair
Wednesday, 10/6, 10 am, UC Lounge

Graduate & Professional School Day
Wednesday, 10/20, 10 am, UC Lounge

“Six Feet Over” Halloween Open House
Friday, 10/29, all day, UC 2nd Floor

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