Home > Newsletter > Volume 5, Issue 1 (Jan./Feb. 2005)

Volume 5, Issue 1 (Jan./Feb. 2005)

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

Volume 5, Issue 1
January/February

Inside this issue:
Not Just Another Day
Work It!
Career of the Month: Marine Biologist
Alumni Spotlight: Where Are They Now?
In Every Issue: Cool Jobs Listings, 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

Not Just Another Day
If you’re looking for a job, then Wednesday, February 23rd is the day for you. The Career Center will be sponsoring Career Day, which will include its annual Career Fair, but there will be much more for you to take advantage of that day.

This year, in addition to the fair, there will be information sessions and sit-down interviews with recruiters from the US Census Bureau, Walt Disney World, and the Sherwin-Williams Company.

The day will also feature an Alumni Panel where you can get advice from and network with some very successful UNCP graduates (see page 3 for details).

If you’re also interested in joining the Career Council, there will be a meeting at noon in the Faculty Lounge. For more information, contact the Career Center. We look forward to seeing you on Career Day!
Lori Bumgarner

Career Day Schedule:
10:00 a.m. Career Fair, UC Lounge (check our web site’s sponsored events listing for list of participants)
12:00 p.m. Career Council meeting, Faculty Lounge
1:00 p.m. Sherwin-Williams, UC Room 251
3:30 p.m. “Where Are They Now?” Alumni Panel, UC Room 210
4:00 p.m. US Census Bureau, UC Room 251
5:00 p.m. Walt Disney World College Program, UC Room 210
Everyone is invited!

Work It!
There’s more to a career fair than just showing up and picking up freebies at each table. If you want to make the most of it and find the most job opportunities, you’ve got to work it!

There are several things you can do to work a career fair to your advantage. For instance, it’s smart to dress the part. Come dressed professionally and leave the backpack at home. Instead, bring a portfolio or briefcase to carry the company literature you collect and copies of your resume to hand out.

Yes, you should have your resume on hand to give to employers, but only if it’s been critiqued and is free of errors.

Be realistic in your expectations of a career fair. Don’t expect to land a job on the spot. The career fair is just one of several steps in your job search. Its main purposes are to develop leads and contacts, expand your network, learn more about the job market, and receive invitations for interviews in the following weeks.

To learn more about how to work a career fair to your advantage, come to our workshop, “8 Simple Rules,” on Wednesday, February 16th at 10:00 a.m. and again at 3:30 p.m.
Lori Bumgarner

From the Director’s Desk
Many of the most frequently asked questions that we are asked in the Career Center relate to the current “hot jobs” for those graduating from college. Questions like, “What companies are hiring this semester?” or, “What majors are employers most interested in this year?” are very important questions to ask if you are trying to decide on a major or career, or if you are beginning a job search. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) recently published data that provide answers to these important questions for 2005 graduates.

According to NACE’s research, the majors currently listed as being “in demand” at the Bachelors level are: Accounting, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Business Administration/Management, Economics/Finance, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Marketing/Marketing Management, Chemical Engineering, and Information Sciences & Systems. For Masters degree candidates the most in demand areas of study are: Business Administration (MBA), Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, and Computer Engineering.

The types of businesses currently listed as actively recruiting and hiring are: accounting and accounting services, banking, food and beverage processing, building materials and construction, electrical engineering, computers/business equipment manufacturing, utilities, electrical/electronic machinery manufacturing, mechanical engineering, aerospace manufacturers, automotive & mechanical equipment, business administration/management, merchandising (retail/wholesale), insurance, economics/finance.

For more information, or for assistance with your job search, visit the Career Center!
Reprinted from Job Outlook 2005 - Student Version, with permission of the National Association of Colleges and Employers, copyright holder.
Dr. Denisha Sanders

Career of the Month: Marine Biologist
Marine Biologists study plants and animals living in salt water and their relationship to the environment. Most work in research or development. Some teach in college or university settings. Other marine biologists conduct basic research to gain knowledge about living organisms. Those in applied research use the knowledge provided by basic research to develop new products, such as medicines, or to improve the environment.

Marine biologists who conduct research usually work in laboratories. Some may work on experiments with salt-water organisms. Marine biologists collect and identify specimens from tide-pools on the shore and at sea. They record details and return samples to laboratories for further study. Marine biologists observe animals that live on shores and in the sea. They test them for various factors, such as radioactive contents, in order to monitor pollution fallout.

Some marine biologists work in management or administration. They may direct activities at an aquarium, for example. Some work as consultants for business firms or the government, while others write for technical publications or teach in colleges or universities.

Marine Biologists generally require a Ph.D. degree for college teaching, independent research, and for advancement to administrative positions. A master's degree is sufficient for some jobs in applied research. A bachelor's degree is adequate for some non-research jobs such as testing and inspection.
No special licensing or certification is required for marine biologists. However, teachers must be certified by the state in which they plan to teach.

Marine Biologists may like:
working on long-term research projects which are not usually affected by the economy
work that is interesting and challenging
good pay

Some Marine Biologists may dislike:
keen competition for highly sought-after basic research positions
the sometimes strenuous nature of field trips
underwater dangers, such as coral reefs

Salary:
Economic Research Institute reported the following:
Starting Salary: $31,500 ($15.25/hr)
Average Salary: $45,500 ($21.75/hr)
Salary w/experience: $54,500 ($26.25/hr)

For more information contact:
American Society of Limnology and Oceanography
ASLO Business Office
5400 Bosque Blvd, Suite 680
Waco, TX 76710-4446
http://www.aslo.org/
Marine Technology Society
5565 Sterrett Place
Suite 108
Columbia, MD 21044-2606
http://www.mtsociety.org/

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

Alumni Spotlight: Where Are They Now?
Have you ever wondered where you will be in the next five years or what will happen to you after you graduate? Do you want to know the real secrets to networking? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then mark your calendar now and plan to join us for the Where Are They Now? Alumni Panel on Wednesday, February 23rd at 3:30, in the Career Services Center. During the question and answer session you will learn the answers to these questions, and many more, from professionals who graduated from UNCP and are now working in their selected career field.

The Alumni Panel will include the following four professionals: Jamie Cousin, a 1992 graduate with a BS in Criminal Justice currently employed as a Secret Agent for the United States Secret Service. The next professional sitting on the panel is Wendy Jones. She is a 1999 Political Science graduate with a concentration is Public Administration. She presently works as a Corporate Relations Director for the American Heart Association and is enrolled in UNCP’s Master of Public Administration program. Winifred Winston, the next panelist, was featured in the November 2004 issue of Brave Opportunities. She is a 2003 graduate with a BA in Mass Communications: Broadcast Journalism with a minor in Marketing. She works as a Client Care Specialist/Account Manager for ATX Communications. The final panelist is Tony Spaulding, a 1993 graduate with a BA in political science and currently a compliance officer with the US Department of Labor.

The Alumni Panel is designed to give students an opportunity to talk and network with UNCP alumni who have first hand experience and knowledge about starting out in the “real world.” Jot down your own questions and join us on February 23rd to find out Where Are They Now?
Tylee Hanson

This Month’s
Cool Jobs Listing
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER. Organize the science content that comes through the mail and website for presentation on the ZOOM program, work with cast during rehearsals, develop print/web-based materials. Boston, MA
CURATOR. Coordinate the historic house interpretation and collections for 22 sites under the jurisdiction of NYC Parks and Rec. New York, NY
MEDIA BUYER. Negotiate all media plans including negotiation w/ local cable and broadcast TV/radio companies. Charlotte, NC
ONLINE WEB PRODUCER/PROJECT MANAGER. Responsible for the daily ops of the e-commerce books and music ops and website maintenance. Emmaus, PA
LEGAL PROGRAM ASSISTANT. Assist the legal staff w/ the production of briefs/legal filings, maintain financial info, provide general admin support. Boston, MA
CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH PROGRAM ASSISTANT. For an int’l non-profit organization that engages people in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. Coordinate educational programs and marketing, managing fundraising efforts. Maynard, MA
SHOREBIRD PRESERVE ASSISTANT. Manage the Goosewing Beach Preserve and other nearby sites, supervise volunteers, lead public walks, assist w/ facility maintenance. Providence, RI
EXHIBIT DESIGNER. For an exhibit design and fabrication firm specializing in natural history and unique fabrications. Req drafting/3D design exp. Rantoul, IL
HISTORIC PRESERVATION SPECIALIST. Prep Nat’l Register nominations, provide tech assistance concerning state/federal rules pertaining to historic preservation. Req historic preservation exp, grant writ skills, know of SD hist/geography, computer skills. Pierre, SD
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATE. For an activist labor org. Develop a strategic legislative agenda that supports CA’s union and members, lobby, research policies. Oakland, CA
GALLERY ASSISTANT. For an art gallery specializing in art from the 1960s to the present. Provide admin support, assist w/ exhibition promos, maintain the website. Los Angeles, CA
DVD CLEARANCE MANAGER. Responsible for clearance of certain Universal Studios Home Video products, including all added value material produced and/or licensed in connection with Universal Studios Home Video releases. Universal City, CA.
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. Assist the CEO of a major fashion manufacturing/apparel company. Santa Monica, CA
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 stated that if he were hired, he would demonstrate his loyalty by having the corporate logo tattooed on his forearm.

Dear Zelda,
Should I bring a copy of my resume with me to the Career Fair?
Job Searcher
Dear Job Searcher,
Most certainly! However, you must first have it critiqued by a staff member in the Career Center. They can help you get it polished and ready for the fair. You can get more tips on what to bring, what to expect, and how to dress for the fair by attending our workshop “8 Simple Rules: How to Work a Career Fair” the week before the fair.
Zelda
Got a career or job search question? Ask Zelda at cs@uncp.edu

This Month’s Job Search Tip
Always keep copies of letters sent because they may save later embarrassment. If correspondence is lost in the mail, showing potential employers the copy may save a job offer.

Little Known Facts
The job search process begins with an identification of your values, interests, skills, accomplishments, experience, and goals. How can you seek a position if you don't know what you want from a job and what you have to offer prospective employers? Self-assessment, though a time-consuming process, provides invaluable information to facilitate career decisions and to prepare you to market your background effectively.

CSC Career Unscripted Workshop Guide
Spring 2005
(every Wednesday @ 3:30 pm in the Career Services Library, UC Ste. 210, unless otherwise noted)
1/19 CSI: Career Search Investigation (Choosing a Major or Career)
1/26 Career & the City (Job Search)
2/2 The OC (Outrageous Careers)
2/9 Extreme Resume Makeover
2/16 8 Simple Rules (How to work a Career Fair), 10 & 3:30
2/23 Where Are They Now? (Alumni Career Panel)
3/2 Career and the City (Job Search), 10 am
3/2 Career as Folk (Networking), 2 pm
3/2 My Big Fat Portfolio (Portfolio Development)
3/16 The Apprentice and What Not to Wear
3/23 CSI: Career Search Investigation (The Helping Professions)
3/30 Extreme Resume Makeover
4/6 Style & Grace Business Etiquette Dinner, 5 pm, UC Lounge
4/13 Fear is Not a Factor (Graduate School Planning)
4/20 The Apprentice and What Not to Wear
4/27 Trading Spaces: From Classroom to Office, 10 am
4/27 Career Eye For The Late Guy (Last Minute Job Search Techniques)

Upcoming Events
CSC Unscripted Workshops, Every Wednesday, 3:30 pm, UC Suite 210
Wednesday, 2/9 Resume Bar, 11:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m. UC Mall (On the spot resume critiques)
UNCP Career Day (Career Fair, Alumni Panel, etc.) Wednesday, February 23rd

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