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WC Career Journal
February 2007, Vol. 4 Issue. 3 Published by the Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education
Lots of Action at: IN THIS ISSUE
http://careers.wcu.edu/ Career Services is
“Where It’s At!” Page 1
Most job-seekers get lured to the internet Career Services is
by the media and modern culture. But, the
internet is a big place, and searchers can "Where It's At!" Transferability: Career Cross-
training Page 1, 3
easily get frustrated. As the student web-
master for career services, I have good Career Report: Direct Experience
news for Western students and alumni! of a Cooperative/Internship
Over time and on an ongoing basis, we Page 3
have built a site that can serve as your Services Offered Page 2
By Jacob L. Hackamack Numerous opportunities exist for
starting point and main resource when Career Services Webmaster WCU students through Career
searching for jobs or internships, learning Services and Co-op Education.
about different majors, and preparing for
your career. Spring Calendar of Events
Page 4
Last month, we enjoyed the highest num- meeting with one of our career
ber of visits to our site since we began counselors, attending a career
tracking data. Over 7,300 people came to event, or even getting an on-
the Career Services web page and its campus interview!
links. Since we first started tracking, we
have served nearly 50,000 visitors. We Twenty years from now you will be
have had visitors from Athens, Greece and more disappointed by the things
Kumhair, India to French Camp, Califor- you didn't do than by the ones you
nia. The word is getting out that Western did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail
Carolina University is a truly multi- tons of information and support for those away from the safe harbor. Catch
who go there. Hopefully, users will fol- the trade winds in your sails
national institution. Explore. Dream. Discover.
low-up their visit to the website by — Mark Twain
The biggest pages on Career Services are
our job boards (local & non-work study) Transferability: cross-training for your career
as well as Career Links, JobCat, our
By Glennie Fitzgerald Sewell
Cooperative Education page, and the
Career Services Graduate Assistant
"What Can I Do with this Major" page.
Other resources on our page include the Based on circumstance, geographic limitations, and even opportunity, students
ever-expanding archive of WC Career sometimes need to identify alternative career choices. It can be realistic for stu-
Journal volumes, offering a host of ca- dents seeking to enter the working world to consider more than one viable ca-
reer development topics. Our web-based reer path: one as the main interest, and others as viable fall-back interests. One
event calendar is complete with example of this practice could be an English education major transferring his or
registration information and growing her strong communication skills to be a successful food service or seasonal res-
lists of employers participating in each taurant manager (the hospitality industry), during the summertime.
job fair or on-campus event. You can
link to, call, and e-mail any member of Granted, this is but one example of many paths. Students may also wish to take
our professional staff, straight from the courses that develop useful technical or conventional business skills, such as
site, and we hope to hear from any stu- web-design, internet sales, management, accounting, or marketing. Often, career
dent, employer, or alumnus/a in need of choices can require different training or practice; however, would-be applicants
assistance. may wish to look carefully at how a secondary career choice may relate to and
benefit from the knowledge and experience developed for the primary job
We know that our website will provide
See Transferability, page 3
-1-
Career Services programs for success
Students and Alumni: take advantage of our many services offered.
√ JobCat and MonsterTRAK are internet - √ Resume Critiquing Service - Email your
based recruiting systems on our website that resume (cover letter too!) to mdespeaux or
include jobs as well as opportunities to post a mashe@wcu.edu, or bring it in for an ap-
resume and sign up for interviews. pointment.
√ Career Counseling - If you have a career √ Student Employment - Need some cash?
concern that you would like to discuss, call The student employment office can help you
for an appointment with a career counselor. find a part-time job. We offer listings for on-
campus as well as off-campus employment.
√ Career Testing - If you are having diffi- See them at http://careers.wcu.edu.
culty making a decision about a major or a
career, we offer career testing and interpreta- √ Career Library - Our Career Library offers
tion. books, directories, and videos to aid in your
career decision, including DISCOVER, a
√ Cooperative Education - Co-op is a pro- computer-aided guidance program. Also
gram that allows you to work in your career / available at http://careers.wcu.edu.
major field and receive directly related ex-
perience and credit WHILE you are still in √ Interviewing Skills Assistance - You can
school . participate in a mock interview and improve
your interview skills.
√ Career Days and Recruitment Events - Career Services offers between 10 and 11 recruit-
ment events every year including Corporate, Public Service and Government Career Expo, Allied
Health and Nurses’ Career Day, Summer Jobs & Internships Fair, Criminal Justice Career Day,
Education Recruitment Day and multiple etiquette development events.
Career Services Information:
Telephone: 828-227-7133
Website: http://careers.wcu.edu/
Ashe, Mardy - Director and Career Counselor Want to get on the career path?
Use JobCat.
E-mail: mashe@wcu.edu
Despeaux, Michael - Coordinator / Career Counselor
E-mail: mdespeaux@wcu.edu
Ferrara, Donna - Secretary and Office Manager
E-mail: ferrara@wcu.edu
1. Log into JobCat at careers.wcu.edu
Sewell, Glennie - Graduate Assistant 2. Complete a personal profile
E-mail: gsewell@wcu.edu
3. Upload a resume
Wilson, Steven, Career Resource Specialist / On-Campus Employment 4. Submit your online application by the
E-mail: wilsons@wcu.edu
deadline.
Woodruff, Jill, Special Events Coordinator
E-mail: jwoodruff@wcu.edu
JobCat is updated with new jobs
WC Career Journal is a publication of the Office of Career Ser- almost every day, so check for
vices and Cooperative Education at Western Carolina University. updates regularly!
Publisher: Michael Despeaux
Editor: Glennie F. Sewell
-2-
Career Services / Cooperative Education
Transferability from page 1
Since employers will be recruiting for all kinds of jobs
choice. and opportunities, students should have a completed re-
sume, dress appropriately for the occasion, and show up
Consider the liberal arts or education major with a sum- with an open mind. Even students with highly sought-
mer (or evening job) working in amusement park res- after skills might find it prudent to develop a useful sec-
taurant management. Writing and speaking clearly is a ondary skill set or occupation, starting with a summer job
must in running any business. The ability to openly and or co-op. Getting more experience and broadening skills
positively communicate with employees, guests, and will make job seekers more marketable and job holders
customers is essential in the smooth operation of any more effective.
successful business, not to mention a satisfying and
warm communication between those who serve and Career Report:
those being served. For any major, these communica- Direct Experiences of a Co-opEd/Internship:
tion skills are an important necessity for the job. An Interview with Liz Goettee, a December , 2006 alumnus
education major preparing for a teaching position but and former Cooperative/Internship student: She earned a
wishing to keep other options open might consider a BFA degree, with a concentration in photography:
summer position or co-op in public service, an educa-
tion-related non-profit, or government agency. Ulti- What caused you to consider having a Co-opEd/
mately, this student may use the secondary job as a Internship experience?
workable fall-back option, but it could lead beyond I wanted to actually have experience with photography
employment flexibility and offer a desirable alternative outside of my major, so I would have a better feel of
career path. what life would be like in the real world.
Similarly, students in business or technical majors can What were your preconceived notions going into the
increase their options and employability by seeking Co-opEd/Internship?
classes or opportunities in which they learn and prac- I knew that I would be given grunt work , that would
tice additional communication and analytical skills. have to overcome that and realize and realize that what I
Courses in the humanities or liberal arts not only hone was learning and experiencing was much more benefi-
these skills but prepare a colleague to converse about cial, and paid off in the end.
many topics, a networking advantage. By writing for a
newsletter, assuming leadership roles in campus or- Would you give us a brief description of your on-the-
ganizations, or pursuing a co-op, students can engage job duties?
with their community and develop skills that make Not only was I trained to work as a photographer’s assis-
them better job applicants. tant, but I also learned a lot about other aspects of the
photography business, including marketing, pricing and
Western students can consider pursuing a possible life- client relations, amongst other things, were frequent top-
changing secondary experience or vocation by attend- ics during the internship. Prior to working at TBS Inc., I
ing the Summer Jobs and Internships Fair on Tuesday, had very little experience in studio photography.
March 13, from 11am to 2pm, in the U.C. Grandroom.
Does your Co-opEd/Internship experience meet your
2006 Alumnus, Liz Goettee: BFA & Photography current expectations towards your assigned job?
Oh yes!
What would you like to do with your cooperative/
internship experience, once you are through with it?
Is there anything you would like to enhance or accen-
tuate about your chosen life work, as a result of your
Co-opEd/Internship?
Before I go into the mainstream of the workplace, I
would like to participate in one or two more internships.
This internship has motivated me to explore others as-
pects of photography, that way I can make sure exactly
what area I want to find a job in for the future.
-3-
MA
R1 MA
3th R. 1
5th
Spring Career Criminal Justice Career Day
Etiquette Reception Thur, March 15 , 1:00—4:00 pm, UC
Tues, March 13, 6:00PM - 7:30PM in the UC Grandroom :
Construction Management Fair, Multipurpose Room Students wishing to meet with
Feb 7, 2007—Ramsey Center Students are welcome to participate in employers in the field of Criminal
this special reception where you can Justice are welcome in the U.C.
MA
meet potential employers! This event is Grandroom.
R. 2
FEB
intended to teach students proper eti-
quette during a reception. If you are inter- Mathematics and Computer 1st
. 20t ested in participating, please contact Science Career Day
Physical Therapy & h Career Services at 828.227.7133. Wed, March 21, 2:30 pm—4:00 pm,
Sillwell 425:
Speech Language Pa-
MA Hear a panel of experts talk about
thology Career Fair
Corporate, R1 careers using a mathematics, math
Tues, February 20, UC Grandroom
4:00PM - 6:00PM Government & 4h education, or computer science de-
gree.
The Physical Therapy Career Fair is a great Non-Profits Career MA
opportunity for students and alumni seeking
Expo R. 2
employment in these fields. See JobCat
Wed, March 14, 1:00—4:00 pm, Education 7th
For more information, see http://careers.wcu.edu
CALENDAR OF EVENTS —
for a list of employers who will be coming to UC Grandroom
this event. Recruitment Day
Employers represented for corporate Tuesday, March 27, 9:00am-
type positions will be mainly in the busi-
MA ness, marketing, management, account-
12:00pm Ramsey Education Recruit-
Summer Jobs and R1 3 ing, computer programming, engineer-
ment Day is a great opportunity for
students, alumni and general public
Internships Fair
Tuesday, March 13, 11:00am -
th ing, engineering technology & finance
fields. Organizations seeking public
interested in opportunities within
2:00PM on the U.C. Grandroom schools and school systems.
service and government positions will Business attire is required. Students
Not graduating until August and/or also be invited. Please join us at this
looking for summer employment on or near and alumni are encouraged to bring
career fair to meet with experts in these several copies of your latest resume
the WCU campus? This is the event for you! fields to receive timely information on
Businesses and University departments set to distribute. We also suggest upload-
careers, occupational trends, openings. ing a resume into JobCat. If you need
up booths to recruit summer jobs and in- You do not have to have hiring qualifica-
ternship. Students are not required to sign assistance with developing a resume,
tions and advice on jobs or pre-register please visit the Career Resource
up for this event, but are encouraged to to attend the Expo. Interviews may be
bring copies of their resumes. Center (2nd floor of Killian Annex) or
available with some attending organiza- schedule an appointment with a
tions and students can sign up in ad- career counselor – 828.227.7133.
If you need assistance with developing a vance through JobCat. Deadline to be
resume, please visit the Career Resource pre-selected for interviews is Thursday,
Center (2nd floor of Killian Annex) or sched- March 8. Some open interview sched-
ule an appointment with a career counselor ules may be available and open for sign
– 828.227.7133. up until March 12. Please check in Job-
Cat for upcoming on-campus interviews
for March 14 & 15.
*** For all Expos, Fairs and Career Days: ***
Business casual to professional attire is required. Students and alumni are encouraged
to bring several copies of their latest resume. Career Services also suggests that appli-
cations be uploaded into JobCat. Students in need of assistance in developing a re-
sume, please visit the Career Resource Center (2nd floor of Killian Annex) or sched-
ule and appointment with a career counselor: 227-7133.
Lists of attending organizations will be available at http://careers.wcu.edu and on
-4- JobCat. Lists will be updated as registration is received.
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