Welcome to the Career Services electronic newsletter: Working Beyond Expectations! We hope that you find this newsletter both informative and useful as you prepare for the next level of your life.
A Note from the Director, Mr. Mark Anthony: "You came to college to get a good education that leads to a good job or admission to graduate school. But, there are no guarantees. The Office of Career Services can help you prepare by obtaining the skills, abilities, opportunities, experiences, and tools to achieve your goals. This newsletter will keep you informed of how we can help you."
Quote of the Week
Editor's Note
Career News
IUP Featured Alumnus
FR/SO/JR/SR Tip
Let's Hear What Your Colleagues Are Doing!
Did You Ever Consider a Career In...
Quote of the Week
“Don't underestimate the importance of understanding your test's format and scoring - this is key information that will help you strategize to maximize your score. High scores often go to students who simply know how to take the test!” – Asma Nafee
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Editor's Note
Editor: Tracy VanHorn-Juart, Office of Career Services
Working Beyond Expectations is a bi-weekly publication provided by the Office of Career Services. Its intent is to inform readers of the events that are available through the office. These events are designed specifically to enhance the educational experience and to prepare the student for their next level of achievement. Whether the next level be freshman to sophomore, classroom to internship, undergraduate studies to graduate studies, or student to full-time employee, the Career Services Office offers to assist you in making a smooth and prepared transition.
If you have any questions , or, if you have recommendations for enhancing this resource, please contact me via email at tracyvan@iup.edu.
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Career News
by: Emily Tamosauskas, Graduate Assistant
University Testing Center/Career Services
ATTENTION ALL SENIORS!
Graduation is right around the corner. Those of you who need to take standardized tests should think about scheduling as soon as possible. You can schedule over the phone with a valid credit card. It’s that easy!
To give you a better idea of why you should schedule now, here is a little bit of information that you probably did not know- The University Testing Center at IUP has 4 computers available to test candidates simultaneously! This means you should not wait until the end of the semester to schedule your exam. You may be told that all spaces are full, which could potentially impact your future plans. Think ahead and call the University Testing Center to schedule your exam. You will be thankful you did…
IUP University Testing Center
311 Pratt Hall
724-357-4994
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JOB FAIRS
WANT TO MAKE CONTACTS WITH LOTS OF EMPLOYERS IN ONE PLACE, ON ONE DAY? Check out these job fair opportunities!
WestPACS - March 22, 10 am - 4 pm at the ExpoMart in Monroeville. The premier job fair in western Pennsylvania features over 100 employers seeking to fill full-time, internship and co-op positions in business, government, social services, health care, and more. Pre-registration is free but you must register on-line at www.westpacs.org by March 16. If you need transportation, please call Career Services at 724-357-2235 by March 16.
PERC - The Pittsburgh Educational Recruiting Consortium will hold its annual job fair for teachers on Thursday, March 29 at the Expo-Mart in Monroeville. School districts from across the U.S. will participate to fill positions for the 2007-2008 academic year. Pre-registration is encouraged; the fee is $5.00 (cash or money order only) with a deadline of March 20. On-site registration fee is $25 (cash only) at the ExpoMart. Call Career Services for more information or to request a registration form.
IUP Teacher Recruiting Fair - Scheduled for Tuesday, April 17 from 1 - 5 pm at the Memorial Field House. There is no pre-registration and no fee for candidates; however, IUP students and alumni are encouraged to register and post their resumes on CollegeCentral Network so school districts can review resumes before the job fair. A list of participating school districts is available at www.iup.edu/career/TeacherFair and the list will be updated weekly as new districts register.
WestPACS Arts Career Day - March 28, 3:30 - 7:30 pm at Grove City College, Grove City, PA. This career conference and networking event will include panel presentations in the fields of Advertising/Public Relations, Applied/Fine Arts, Broadcast/Film/Television, Performing Arts/Arts Management, and Writing/Publishing, and a reception where students and panelists can interact informally. Pre-registration is $5 by March 23, and on-site registration is $10 at the door (cash only). For more information, contact Career Services, or visit the WestPACS web site at www.westpacs.org.
@pgh.café 2007: Not Your Typical Job Fair
Meet a roomful of entry-level job candidates at @pgh.café, the premiere technology job and internship fair in the region. This informal and interactive event -- complete with refreshments, music and prizes -- allows you to network with approximately 300 job seekers across a wide range of career interests and disciplines. Whether you are looking to fill a position, secure an intern or build your résumé bank, this is one job fair you can't afford to miss. Sponsored by PNC. Presented in partnership with the Regional Internship Center.
www.pghtech.org/networks/education/events/.asp Visit the Office of Career Service's website to register: www.iup.edu/career.
Night For Networking - March 13 & 14, 2007
There's no denying that when it comes to job hunting, WHOM you know is AS important as WHAT you know, right? And we are all aware that IUP grads get a great education, so what they really need are the right connections.
The Office of Alumni Relations and the Office of Career Services in conjunction with the Harrisburg and Philadelphia Area Alumni Chapters invite you to two Nights for Networking. The purpose of this event is to make connections!
The Harrisburg event will be held on March 13 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Dixon Center. The Philadelphia event will be on March 14 from 6-8 p.m. at Dave & Buster's in Penn's Landing.
Please join the Alumni Host Committees for these important nights of networking and help make connections that could lead to internships or job opportunities. Business Casual is appropriate (no jeans). Bring plenty of resumes!
Visit the Office of Career Service's website to register: www.iup.edu/career. Registrations must be submitted by Friday, March 9, 2007.
Mock Interviews
This program is designed to allow you to practice interviewing in a simulated setting, one-on-one with a trained mock interviewer. Immediate feedback is offered on your performance. Mock interview packets must be purchased in the Career Development Center before interviews can be scheduled.
The last day to purchase a Mock Interview Packet from the Career Development Center will be Friday, April 13, 2007. Please purchase your packets well in advance so that you might be able to prepare for what we hope will be a great experience.
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IUP Featured Alumnus
Deanna Matty Gay ‘04
Undergraduate: BS in Elementary Education with a minor in Educational School Psychology
Share your Undergraduate Experience
I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Educational School Psychology. My experience here at IUP was a memorable one. I had a lot of wonderful professors in the Education department that taught me what to expect in the classroom setting. I also had the opportunity to join Kappa Delta Pi, which is a national honor’s society.
During my student teaching experiences, I was able to apply what I had learned during my time at IUP. This is when everything came together and I used my knowledge from my educational experience to help teach children and aid them in their educational growth.
I decided during my undergraduate studies that I wanted a minor in Educational School Psychology. These courses provided me valuable information that can be applied to teaching and dealing with children, as well as, other situations that may be encountered.
Did you work while you were a student?
During the four years that I attended IUP, I worked on campus in the Office of Human Resources as a student worker. It was a wonderful experience and I established a lot of lasting relationships. I learned a lot from the people that I worked for, including how to be a professional. I would recommend a work study job to any student furthering their education. Working on campus allows you to work around your class schedule, learn office skills, and helps you to learn how to balance a job along with a class work load.
What are you doing now?
I am currently working temporarily at IUP in the Admissions office, as a clerical employee. Prior to this position, I worked as a temporary laborer on the Grounds Crew. I spent two years before this working as a day-to-day substitute teacher in various school districts in Cambria and Indiana counties. I have also held three long term substitute teaching positions during this time. I have gained much experience through these opportunities, even though some of them have not been in my field.
How did your experiences at IUP (both academic and/or work experience) assist you in deciding what to do post undergraduate graduation?
After graduating from IUP I was offered various positions in Maryland and Virginia. But I decided I wanted to stay in Pennsylvania. So I began day-to-day substitute teaching. After doing this for two years and working in various temporary positions at IUP, I have decided to work towards achieving my Master’s in Literacy. I found that I enjoy working with children in the different aspects of reading. I like working with small groups and monitoring the needs and successes of a child learning to read. I am hoping to use the education of my Master’s to be a reading teacher in a school setting. I also will be able to use this skill as a regular classroom teacher should I be offered a position as an elementary teacher. So once I graduate with my Master’s, I will have more options from which to choose!
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
In five years I hope to be teaching reading in a school district in Pennsylvania.
What would be my one piece of advice?
I would advise students to really look into what sort of jobs their major offers. For instance, with my Elementary Education degree I do not have as many job opportunities as other majors may have. With other majors there can be more options that may allow for more job opportunities. So really be aware of what your degree is going to offer you.
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FR/SO/JR/SR Tip
by: Kate Cook, Graduate Assistant, Office of Career Services
Freshman Tip:
Unsure about what type of career you would like to pursue, or would be good at? Take a career test to find out. They are simple and you can usually take them right on campus. Just keep in mind, career tests are just a stepping stone. Once you narrow down your career choices, you should continue to do research about those careers. Visit the Advising and Testing Center in 214 Pratt Hall to schedule your test today!
Sophomore Tip:
When it comes to online universities there is a wide range of what you can study. There are art courses, business courses, computer courses, and even medical courses to name just a few. The internet can be a great source in finding out what online courses are available to you. So start looking you might be surprised by the high number of courses you can take. More details can be found at http://old.www.iup.edu/distance/
Junior Tip:
Most colleges and universities give large corporations the opportunity to find people like you. Take advantage! Begin by visiting Career Services to draft your resume, practice interview techniques, and find out what companies have scheduled on-campus recruiting events. Make a great first impression...this could be the one!
Senior Tip:
You can post your resume on websites such as monster.com, careers,org, etc. There may also be some resume posting websites specific to your city or state. In Pennsylvania, you can access www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us/ which is a website created by the governor’s office to help PA job seekers. If you are interested in a specific company, check its website. There may be a place where you can apply online or submit your resume.
Adopted from http://college.lifetips.com/
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Let's Hear What Your Colleagues Are Doing!
Chris Lantz
Graduate School: Educational Psychology - '07
Doctoral Program: School Psychology Certification - '09 with anticipated completion date of '13
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Why Did You Choose School Psychology as a Major?
My original interest in school psychology stemmed from my experiences working with low-income, at-risk youth as a camp counselor. I have been interested in psychology for some time, but was unsure which facet to pursue at the graduate level. I knew that I wanted to work in a setting in which I could make an impact with as many children as possible and school psychology seemed to be a good match. I am interested in researching issues related to inclusion, resilience, and family interventions. By bridging the gap between psychology and education, I hope to continually improve my leadership skills while helping educate others about the importance of collaboration and interventions. Through the program’s philosophy, the strength of the faculty, and the supportive student environment at IUP, I will have the opportunity to improve upon my knowledge and gain experiences through internship and continuing research.
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Did You Ever Consider a Career In...
by: James Amato, Graduate Assistant, Office of Career Services
...School Psychology?
Do you enjoy working with children? Do you value education? Would you like to help those who struggle with learning to read, doing math, or studying for tests? If you are wondering what to do with that undergraduate degree in psychology, sociology, education, or child development, and don’t want to wait until you have a doctoral degree to begin your career, perhaps you should think about school psychology.
School psychologists work with students, preschool to college age, who are having problems learning. They carry out assessments to determine the reasons for the difficulty and design interventions to help. They work directly with students, but also with teachers, school administrators, and parents. Most school psychologists are employed by public schools, but may also work in private schools, hospitals, universities, or mental health agencies.
Consider the case of Monica, age 11. Monica is a bright little girl who has always done well in school. However, at the beginning of this year she had some trouble with math and failed two tests. Although she understands the math better now, she still gets very nervous each time she has a math test. Even if she knows the material, she feels dizzy and jittery and thinks over and over that she will fail the test. The school psychologist has taught Monica relaxation techniques and some positive self statements she can use before the test. Lately, her test grades have been much better. And, there is six year old Juan who has been having trouble learning to read. His teacher was concerned that he might have a learning disability. However, the school psychologist’s evaluation showed that Juan’s mistakes in reading were not uncommon for a child whose first language was not English. Once the correct reading intervention was implemented, Juan’s reading improved. Then, there were the students who saw the man with a gun on the playground. They were very frightened and met with several school psychologists to discuss their fears and to learn about what the school was doing to protect them. These are some of the typical issues a school psychologist might address.
There currently is a national shortage of school psychologists. Jobs are more plentiful in some areas of the country than others. But, because schools are required to offer many of the services school psychologists provide, positions are readily available. Salaries vary depending on the location of the school district and its resources. It is not unusual for large urban districts to offer starting salaries of $60-$70,000. Small, rural districts usually offer less.
To enter the field of school psychology one must attend graduate school for three years. The first two years are spent in coursework and the third is spent in the schools as a school psychology intern. Courses taken are in child development, learning theory, counseling, assessment, academic interventions, and education of children with special needs. The school psychology program at IUP will consider some students whose BA degrees are in an unrelated field, if they appear to be good candidates for the program. Those who are already practicing school psychologists can earn a doctoral degree during summer sessions. To find out more about school psychology or to learn more about the school psychology program at IUP, contact Dr. Victoria B. Damiani at VDamiani@iup.edu or at 724-357-3783. The National Association of School Psychologists has a great website that describes the role of the school psychologist in detail and lists training programs across the nation. Visit them at www.nasponline.org.
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