Working Beyond Expectations!
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
March 21, 2007 Vol. 1, Number 4
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
Coming Up! Join Us!
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
"...unless you do your homework, you will end up wasting your time at a job fair. Job fairs are the meat markets of the entry level job market, with employers sizing up candidates quickly, based on appearances and first impressions. Job fairs have a set of rules and protocols all their own. But if you understand how to effectively work within the system, you can easily double or triple your productivity and effectiveness." CollegeGrad.com
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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
WestPACS Job Fair is coming up on Thursday, March 22nd.
Are you prepared to show the employers that you are a valuable addition to their company? Read these pointers to help make the most of your job fair experience.
Prepare a Resume
- after you develop a rough draft, have it proof-read multiple times
- check grammar, spelling, punctuation
- focus on the layout, white space, and style
- try to use resume paper to appear more professional
Prepare a List of References
- contact those who you wish to be references to ask for his or her
approval
- gather the appropriate information such as: full name, title,
address, phone number, and e-mail
- develop the heading for the references in the same format as
the resume (ex. your name and contact information should be in
the same font, style, and size)
Research the Company
- look at the website, literature, and any brochures available
- know the mission and culture of the company
Prepare a "30 Second Commercial"
- be prepared to describe yourself, your goals, your strengths, and
how you would be an attribute to the particular company of interest
- 30 seconds seems like no time at all, but it is valuable time at a job
fair
- make a great first impression!
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Coming Up! Join Us!
Click here to view a flyer containing activities-at-a-glance for the office.
(no longer available)
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.
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
Jennifer Cunningham '93, M'94
Speech Language Pathology
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Share your Undergraduate Experience
In Speech-Language Pathology, the number of students obtaining their master's degree is small and the coursework difficult. As a result, my class was very close. Many of us lived together, studied together, and went out to relax together. We still keep in touch after 12 years. Again, because of the size of the classes, the professors are able to take a personal interest in each student. They are excited about the field of Speech-Language Pathology and take every action to assure you succeed. Even after you graduate, years into your job, they take the time to provide guidance if needed.
What are you doing now?
I have been working at Indiana Regional Medical Center (IRMC) here in Indiana, PA for 11 years as a contracted Speech-Language Pathologist. IRMC was voted "Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania" in 2006 so needless to say I love it here. At IRMC, we see both adults and kids for therapy and provide services in a variety of settings - acute care, acute rehab, outpatient, and radiology. An SLP in a hospital treats disorders of swallowing, language, cognition, speech, fluency, and voice. Every day is challenging and fulfilling. My schedule is somewhat flexible as a contractor which is wonderful since my husband and I have two young children.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
In 5 years I see my husband and I watching our kids grow and learn. I hope to still be working at IRMC developing new ideas and programs.
What would be my one piece of advice?
Be open to all aspects of your field. For example, in Speech-Language Pathology, you can work in schools, private practice, or a medical setting, with kids and/or adults. Don't tell yourself "I only want to work with kids" and ignore the information you are taught on adults. You'd be surprised where you might end up and what you might love doing!
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FR/SO/JR/SR Tip
by: Kate Cook, Graduate Assistant, Office of Career Services
Freshman Tip:
In the excitement of those first days of class, you might overlook the student handbook. Don't! It provides valuable information about various school policies (harassment, computer usage, dress codes, etc.), and everything else from tips on study techniques to important holidays to remember.
Sophomore Tip:
You will do much better in classes where you already have a strong interest or passion. Not only are you more likely to stay awake, but your interest will most likely make it easier for you to translate your skills (and yes, all classes will teach you, directly or indirectly, basic skills) into a career in the future.
Junior Tip:
The best time to start studying for your GRE is about six months prior to taking the test. It is good to brush up on your math skills, since many college graduates have not taken basic math in a while. Also learn those root-words so you can have a better vocabulary for the verbal portion. Finally, practice writing essays with cut off times.
Senior Tip:
Take advantage of study groups. The interaction allows you to share your knowledge with others and others to share their knowledge with you.
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Let's Hear What Your Colleagues Are Doing!
Mark Krizanik - '09
Sports Administration
Coaching Is My Passion
In addition to completing courses for my major, I participate in one major activity, coaching. I am currently a student-assistant with IUP's baseball team under Head Coach Jeff Ditch and Assistant Coach Anthony Rebyanski. I do whatever is needed at the time for coaching, whether it be conditioning, drilling infielders, outfielders and catchers, or supervising hitting . Coaching can't be
learned in one year, or two, so as much experience that I can get will be a much bigger help than most people might believe. Along with coaching, I plan on staying here at IUP over the summer to pursue recruiting with Coach Ditch. I have chosen to do this rather than return home to coach the Jr. Legion team that I have been with for two years. I believe it will look great on my resume and hopefully this will put me that much further ahead of any competition that I may face in the near future for a job spot!
I would describe myself as someone who is more mentally strong than physically. I have been through a lot of hardships in my life and very much pride myself on being who I am today after going through what I have, in a span of less than five years nonetheless.
I chose this career, coaching, because it is a passion of mine. I played sports since the day that I can remember, and I found baseball as a favorite. After being told that I was unable to perform in my senior year of high school baseball, I really had to weigh my options and open my eyes to realize there is more to life than just playing. At the time I was offered a coaching spot with a local Jr. Legion team back at home with one of my former coaches and with that I fell in love with coaching and decided this was a viable career option for me.
What motivates me the most is the fact that I want to make it in life; to be able to support a family and have a great support system with that. I feel that if I don’t succeed in the work life, I won’t succeed in being who I truly would like to be. I feel if I am not happy in the future, than to what purpose have I lived my life?
My favorite professor is Dr. Bob Kostelnik. He makes the classroom environment extremely fun to be in, while learning a great deal about what he has to teach. Dr. Kostelnik makes class something that you want to go to, rather than sleeping in or skipping it to do something less productive.
The standard of success I have in school is being all that you can be. It is unfair to be someone that you’re not, to others and especially yourself. It’s extremely important to find your place in school. I found out it’s not a bad thing not upholding a 4.0, although it helps, it isn’t as valuable as finding self-worth. If you like spending all of your time studying, that’s fine. I myself would probably go insane if all I did was study. Baseball and time with friends is a balance in my life, it keeps me normal. I spend as much time as I need to completing work and assignments in an orderly fashion, yet knowing when to take a break for myself is important.
After graduation, I plan on coaching somewhere. I don’t know where or if I will even have that opportunity. But my goal is to coach at the collegiate level. Graduation is still a couple years away for me. I have put thought into it and I believe I will be ready once the issue gets closer for me.
For any advice that I could give, I would say do what makes you happy, not what others see as making you happy. Being yourself is probably the most important part of life. I think that some students might lose sight of that by getting too caught up in the social aspects of college. Trying to please everyone in the world is wrong and unfair to yourself because there may come a time when you have to make a decision, the only people who matter are yourself and the ones who care about you. Finding your friends is a whole lot easier than letting your friends choose you. Because when you do that, you’ll know who your true friends are when something major happens in your life, knowing which ones care and which ones don’t when the time comes.
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Did You Ever Consider a Career In...
by: James Amato, Graduate Assistant, Office of Career Services
...Audiology or Speech-Language Pathology?
Think about your typical day. Now think of how that day would be if you were unable to communicate with the people around you. How would you feel if you couldn’t let others know about your needs, wants, or feelings? How would you feel if you couldn’t hear your loved ones talk to you, the birds sing around you, or the emergency vehicle approaching from your right? Nearly 46 million Americans live with some type of communication disorder. That is, millions of Americans live with hearing loss and/or the inability to communicate with others. If you enjoy being challenged, making a difference in people’s lives, working as a team member, and earning a good living, then a career in Audiology or Speech-Language Pathology may be for you.
Audiology is the study and treatment of hearing and balance disorders. An audiologist specializes in identification and assessment of hearing (auditory) and balance (vestibular) problems, prevention of hearing loss, and rehabilitation of hearing and balance problems. An audiologist also has the opportunity to perform such services as counseling, fitting hearing aids, teaching communication strategies (including speech reading), and determining an individual’s need for assistive listening devices. Audiologists work closely with many professionals, use technologically advanced equipment to evaluate and treat disorders, conduct research, teach, advocate for people with hearing impairment, and may even hold managerial or administrative positions.
Speech-Language Pathology is the study and treatment of human communication and its disorders. The Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) has the opportunity to treat and diagnose an individual’s speech, language, and swallowing disorders. Other opportunities include preparing future professionals in colleges and universities, engaging in research, developing new methods and equipment, and establishing effective treatments.
Both of these careers allow an individual to work with people of all ages (infants through geriatrics) in a variety of settings. Typical work settings include schools, hospitals, nursing homes, private practices, universities, research laboratories, and speech and hearing clinics. In addition, Audiologists can work in Otolaryngologists’ (Ear, Nose, and Throat physician) offices and in hearing aid and cochlear implant manufacturing.
If healthcare is an area that interests you, Audiologists and SLP’s have the opportunity to work and collaborate with doctors, nurses, and other professionals on a daily basis. Cutting-edge technologies used to evaluate and treat speech, language, and hearing disorders are at your fingertips. Healthcare based SLP’s have the opportunity to take their skills and knowledge into their client’s homes, or even start their own private practice. Audiologists practicing in hospital settings can perform intraoperative monitoring (IOM) during surgical procedures involving the ear. The range of possibilities in healthcare is endless for both professions.
Salaries depend on an audiologist’s or SLP’s educational background, experience, work setting, and geographical location. The median salary for audiologists with only 1-3 years of experience is approximately $45,000 per year (ASHA, 2006). Those with a doctoral degree could earn over $82,000 a year. Healthcare SLP’s salaries range from about $53,000 to $68,000. Those in administration may earn $72,900 to $80,000. The school-based SLP working a calendar year earns approximately $50,000 to $61,000.
To become an audiologist, a student needs to pursue a Bachelors degree, with course emphasis in speech-language pathology, audiology, and/or education of the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Once a Bachelors degree has been obtained, a student should apply for and be accepted into an AuD (Doctor of Audiology) program. There are over 100 AuD programs in universities throughout the United States. For more information on becoming an Audiology student and AuD programs, go to http://www.nafda.org/mc/page.do.
To become a Speech-Language Pathologist, a student needs to pursue a Bachelors degree with course emphasis in speech-language pathology, audiology, and/or education of the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Once a Bachelors degree has been obtained, a student should apply for and be accepted into a Master’s program in Speech-Language Pathology. For more information on becoming an SLP student and Masters programs, go to http://www.nsslha.org/nsslha/.
If you are an undergraduate preparing for graduate school in one of these professions, or an individual considering a career change, be sure to pick a graduate program accredited by the ASHA Council on Academic Accreditation. An online guide is available at www.asha.org/gradguide. For information pertaining to financial aid, visit www.asha.org/students/financial-aid.
If interested in learning more about the Speech Language Pathology program at IUP, the following web link may be helpful: http://old.www.iup.edu/special-ed/programs/slp.shtm. You can also contact the department directly at 724-357-2450.
If you are interested in learning more about Audiology and the Doctor of Audiology program at Bloomsburg University, please contact:
Cynthia McCormick Richburg, Ph.D., CCC-A
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Special Education and Clinical Services
Davis Hall 203
570 S. 11th Street
Indiana, PA 15705
(724) 357-5682
cynthia.richburg@iup.edu
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