Home > Newsletter > Volume 5, Issue 2 (March 2005)

Volume 5, Issue 2 (March 2005)

Brave Opportunities
Where Today's Braves Look to the Future
Volume 5, Issue 2
March 2005

In This Issue...
Career of the Month: Airport Manager
From the Director’s Desk
Cool Jobs Listings
UNCP Alumni Talk Jobs With Students
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

What’s Your Meta Message?

Your job search could be in deep trouble ... and you may not even know it. All because you're sending a negative meta message.

A what, you ask?

The term "meta message" is a marketing concept referring to the overall impression you give when communicating with others. It's the "vibe" that extends beyond (meta) what you say (your message).

Here's an example.

You're sitting across from a prospective employer during a job interview. You say: "I'm really eager to be a part of your company, Mr. Jones. My five years of experience and training give me the tools to succeed as a Sales Rep for you." At first glance, that sounds like a convincing message.

But if you're saying this with spinach in your teeth and wearing socks that don't match, here's your META MESSAGE: "I'm not really that eager to join your company because I couldn't find time to brush my teeth or dress properly. If you let me anywhere near your clients, you'll be making a big mistake."

That's just one example of how a botched meta message can ruin an otherwise favorable impression. To avoid this and keep your career on track, it's crucial that you carefully analyze all parts of your job search campaign.

Here's a list of areas to focus on, based on my experience helping nearly 2,000 clients since 1996.

Resume

Make sure yours is concise, clear and convincing. Use high-quality stationery to present the best possible meta message here. I recommend laser printing your resume on ivory-colored paper.

E-mail address

The address you use on your resume must look professional. If your current handle is "iluvbeer@party-time.com," consider changing it to "SMJohnson@hotmail.com," or something similar.

Answering machine

Make sure your outgoing message is brief and to the point. That means no laughing, loud music or dogs barking in the background. (I'm sure you've heard sillier things.)

Personal grooming

Comb your hair neatly every day, to prepare for that one day when it has to be perfect. Clean and press your clothes, too. And never eat spinach salad before a job interview…

Your meta message speaks volumes about you. Make sure yours says: "Hire me. You won't be sorry."

Best of luck to you!

Article by Kevin Donlin of Guaranteed Résumés, a Minneapolis-based résumé service. Since 1995, Guaranteed Résumés has provided résumés, Internet résumés, cover letters and job searches for clients in 44 states and 23 countries. For more information, point your browser to http://www.gresumes.com.

From the Director’s Desk

The Teacher Education Fair is not just for education majors! On March 23rd the Career Center and the School of Education will co-sponsor UNCP’s annual spring Teacher Education Fair at 11:00 a.m. in the UC Lounge. Representatives from approximately 30 school systems from around the southeast will be on campus to discuss specific job openings and to talk with students and alumni interested in teaching.

If you are thinking about majoring in education, or are interested in teaching lateral entry, this is the perfect opportunity for you to get all of the information you need to plan for a teaching career. Recruiters will be available to talk about specific job openings that are currently available in their schools and school systems, but they will also be more than happy to talk with you about careers in teaching, and future opportunities as well.

Before the Teacher Education Fair, you will be able to hear about teaching in North Carolina from one of the people who know about it best, Ms. Lizbeth Alfaro, 2004 North Carolina Teacher of the Year. She will be presenting in Room 222/223 of the Education Building at 10:00 a.m. that morning before the fair begins at 11:00 a.m. Please plan to join us if you would like to hear her words of wisdom!

If you have any questions about the 2005 Spring Teacher Education Fair, or anything else related to your career planning, please do not hesitate to let us know.

Dr. Denisha Sanders

Career of the Month: Airport Manager

Airport managers direct the operations and employees of an airport. They usually report either to the private owners of the airport or to the local government authorities. Airport managers must comply with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. They may make and enforce airport rules and regulations. Airport managers are involved in making executive decisions about the security, maintenance, operations, and service of the airport, which must all conform to federal, state, and local laws. They plan and supervise maintenance and safety programs. They manage provisions for aircraft maintenance and fuel as well as maintenance for the condition and safety of runways and other facilities. Managers are also responsible for training and supervising employees.

Airport managers negotiate leases with airport tenants, such as airlines, and check the rental of shops in the airport terminal. They are responsible for public relations, keeping personnel records, and setting up the airport budget. Airport managers assess the future needs of the airport and make recommendations. An important part of an airport manager's job is promoting the use of the airport and making people aware of the services that the airport provides.

Airport managers in airports that provide airline service are generally required to have a college degree in airport management, business administration, or aeronautical or civil engineering. A background in public relations, air transportation, business management, engineering, and personnel administration is important. Many employers also require several years of experience as an assistant manager.

Managers of small airports may qualify in some cases with a high school diploma, but are usually required to have a pilot certificate and three to five years of work experience related to airport services, such as fixed base operator, superintendent of maintenance, or assistant to the airport manager.

Some Airport Managers may like:
the prestige and respect of their positions
good pay
a lot of variety in their work
the opportunity to travel

Some Airport Managers may dislike:
having to deal with emergency situations
being on call for emergency situations
working under stress

Salary:
The Economic Research Institute reported the following:
Starting Salary: $61,500 ($29.50/hr)
Average salary: $76,000 ($36.50 /hr)
Salary w/ experience: $88,00 ($42.25/hr)

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

Alumni Spotlight: UNCP Alumni Talk Jobs With Students

“I interview a lot of people for jobs, and I always ask them what their strengths and weaknesses are,” said Darrell Campbell, who manages WFS Financial, a financial services company with 40 employees. “Then I ask applicants what they have done in the past 90 days to improve on their weaknesses.”

Campbell, a 1986 graduate of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, returned to campus February 23 to talk with students during Career Day. He was joined in an afternoon seminar by Tony Spaulding ’93, a U.S. Department of Labor compliance officer and Jamie Cousin ’92, a special agent for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“I have to confess, I never utilized the Office of Career Services when I was an undergraduate,” Cousin said. “That probably delayed my career progress.”

The trio, who are part of the Alumni Career Connection program, offered advice on making the most of college.

“Build on your strengths,” Spaulding said. “If I had it to do over again, I would have taken a foreign language that would have expanded my career options twofold.”

“Everyone you encounter should be treated as a contact for potential employment,” Cousin said. “Network!”

“College is a time for enjoyment, but there is a time to get focused too,” Campbell said. “In your career, there is no time to delay, no do-overs.”

“It’s never too early to start your career search,” Cousin said. “The first semester is for finding yourself, but the process begins in the second semester.”

Cousin and Campbell were student-athletes at UNCP, and Spaulding recommended that students engage in many forms of team activities.

“Gain exposure to a variety of things while you are here,” Spaulding said. “Involvement in clubs, fraternities, sororities and other groups is how you learn teamwork, which is important on the job.”

If there is not a club for you, “start your own club,” Campbell said. “Try different things, and you will find the thing you are really good at.”

Cousin offered some fundamental wisdom for all undergraduates.

“Get advice,” he said. “See your advisor. Mentors are a good thing too.”

In concluding, Spaulding offered the advice that then-Chancellor Joseph B. Oxendine gave him at graduation day: “Seek influence over money.”

“At the time, I had no idea what he was talking about,” Spaulding said. “Now I understand that wisdom.”

More than 30 employers from giant insurer AIG to Walt Disney set up shop in the James B. Chavis University Center for Career Day, said Lori Bumgarner, assistant director of Career Services.

“A student and member of our Career Council commented that this year’s fair had the most diverse group of companies and recruiters he had ever seen. He was especially impressed with what the US Census Bureau and Johnson & Johnson had to offer prospective candidates. This year’s career fair offered a variety of opportunities for students in almost every major.”

Scott Bigelow, Associate Director of University and Community Relations

This Month’s Cool Jobs Listing

Wilderness Trek and Expedition Leader. For a 1-2 wk residential camp serving campers 9-14 yrs of age. Lincoln, MA

Personal Trainers. Assist with adult aerobics, aqua exercise, and children’s group exercise classes. New York, NY

Bike Tour Coordinator. PT, thru 05/05, and FT 05/05-09/05. For an NYC org that advocates for bicycling, walking and sensible transportation. Prep the bike tour route, work w/ city agencies, coordinate logistics. New York, NY

2005 Summer Science Internship. Internships avail in materials science, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, conservation science, mechanics or related fields. Suitland, MD

Scenic Painter. Paint backdrops, murals, pictorials and faux finishes, sculpture inanimate and life sculptures. Orlando, FL

Counselor-in-Training Directors. Live w/ 8-10 HS juniors and seniors and coordinate/supervise all aspects of the CIT program. Cedar Mountain, NC

Aquarium Husbandry Interns. Maintain diverse collection of fish, invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, and plants for public display and learn the ops of major salt and freshwater aquarium systems. Manteo, NC

Weekend Sports Anchor. Anchor and produce the weekend sportscasts, report and shoot for the wkly sportscast, co-host the wkly “SportsZone” program. Sioux Falls, SD.

Registered Veterinary Technician. Work with a variety of avian, herptile and mammalian species. San Diego, CA

News Writer. Write stories and news teases, prep news broadcasts. Required commercial TV writing exp. Seattle, WA

Web Design Intern. Unpaid position. Develop 2nd tier level web pages and e-mail templates to be mailed to opt-in subscribers, maintain the website. San Francisco, CA

Catering Intern. PT/FT. Assist the Kitchen Manager and the Catering Steward in filling and delivering food product catering orders. Denver, CO

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 had her grandmother call the recruiter to recommend her for the job and explain how much she (the candidate) wanted the position.

Dear Zelda,
I am a non-traditional aged student and have a lot of past work experience. Do I need to list every job I’ve ever had on my resume?
Overworked

Dear Overworked,
No, you do not need to include every job you’ve ever held. You only need to include the jobs that are directly related to the job for which you are applying. Also, you don’t need to go back more than seven to ten years in your work experience. Remember, you want to keep your resume to just one to two full pages.
Zelda
Got a career or job search question? Ask Zelda at cs@uncp.edu

This Month’s Job Search Tip
While it’s strongly recommended to have only a one to two page resume, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a longer “master” resume on hand from which to pick and choose items that support your objective on your one-page resume.

Little Known Facts
On-campus recruiters develop impressions of you before they even interview you. They pay close attention to your facial expressions during their information sessions. While they are presenting their company’s information, they can tell by looking at you whether or not you’re genuinely interested in interviewing with them.

CSC Career Unscripted Workshop Guide
Spring 2005
(every Wednesday @ 3:30 pm in the Career Services Library, UC Ste. 210, unless otherwise noted)

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 Extreme Resume Makeover
3/25 Spring Teacher Education Fair
3/30 CSI: Career Search Investigation (The Helping Professions)
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

Spring Teacher Education Fair
March 23, 11:00 a.m.
James B. Chavis University Center Lounge

Style & Grace Etiquette Dinner
April 6, 5:00 p.m., UC Lounge
(Reservations required - contact Career Services for more information)

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