Working Beyond Expectations!
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
April 25, 2007 Vol. 1, Number 6
During the Sumer Months (June, July, & August, the newsletter will be distributed once a month.)
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...
Quotes of the Week
"All our dreams can come true--if we have the courage to pursue them."
- Walt Disney
"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door."
- Milton Berle
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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
Seniors ~ Having trouble with the job search process? Not sure where to begin? Career Services can provide you with the necessary tools to make the most of your job search experience!
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It is nearing graduation, which means most of you will be (or have been) looking for a full-time job. Did you know that Career Services has two databases with a wealth of information on companies, positions, career and occupational fields, and more?
Vault.com is an online career library which enables users to browse industry profiles on 40 top industries, download occupational guides, research the job outlook for over 50 careers, discover what people in various occupations say about "A Day in the Life," get job search guidance, or visit the Electronic Water Cooler to trade information and advice with job seekers and professionals in their field of interest.
ReferenceUSA is a database of more than 14 million businesses from across the U.S. It is searchable on a number of factors, including company name, Yellow Pages heading, zip code/city and state, or company size. Searches yield company information such as address, phone number, web site, and contact name(s) so job-seekers can direct correspondence to a specific person within an organization.
To access either Vault.com or ReferenceUSA, visit www.iup.edu/career and click on the link ‘ReferenceUSA and Vault access.’
If you have any questions about these databases, please contact the Office of Career Services at 724-357-2235 or visit us in 302 Pratt Hall.
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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 (for a classroom assignment)from the Office of Career Services 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. Students who choose to have a mock interview conducted on their own may purchase a packet as long as there are slots available to schedule a mock interview.
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IUP Featured Alumnus
Katie Motycki - '04
Student Affairs in Higher Education (Graduate Program)
Why did you choose Student Affairs as a graduate program?
I knew I wanted to be a Student Affairs professional before I knew what a
Student Affairs professional was! During my undergraduate years at Penn State, I was an active member of the campus community, involved in several student groups including La Vie, the Penn State Yearbook, The University Choir and THON. It was during my junior year as I served as the Editor in Chief of the yearbook that I realized that I was having the time of my life affecting the lives of the students around me. A light bulb went off when someone told me that I could do this -- positively affect students -- for the rest of my life! I knew that I had found my career path and subsequently enrolled in IUP’s Student Affairs in Higher Education Program.
How has this program benefited you?
As a graduate student at IUP, I had a fantastic experience both in and out of the classroom! As a graduate student, I learned from seasoned professionals in the field who are now members of the IUP faculty. Almost daily in my career I reflect on an example given in class to help guide my professional decisions. If I am not able to pull from my classroom or practical experiences in graduate school, I know that my professors are just a phone call or email away! My classmates were also a huge part of my SAHE experience. Not only were we able to create a strong network of friendships, but we also created a network of professional connections. To this day, they remain a steady resource for me in my professional life! As is common in the SAHE program, I was placed in a graduate assistantship position. During my SAHE tenure I worked in the Housing and Dining office at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. The best part of the SAHE program is that I received invaluable experiences both in and out of the classroom! I worked at CMU for two years and upon graduation was hired as the Assistant Director of College Activities at La Roche College in Pittsburgh.
What makes your job worthwhile?
One of the biggest challenges that I’ve found in my current job as the Assistant Director of College Activities is finding a balance between my personal life and my work life. (I was warned about this in graduate school!) In Activities, there are long hours -- but the biggest rewards of the job are often found in those long hours, long after the other administration has gone home for the day. The interactions that I have with students on a daily basis are simply what make the job worthwhile. I know that in my work I have a positive affect on each and every member of the campus during his or her time at college. The rewards come when you see a student realize his potential, or celebrate with him when he’s planned a successful program for his fellow students, or even provide a shoulder to cry on when life isn’t going his way.
The daily interactions with students make my job worthwhile. My childhood dream was to become a teacher and I can truly say that my SAHE degree has allowed me to fulfill that dream, but in a way I never thought possible!
I would definitely recommend a career in Student Affairs to any student who has had a great extracurricular undergraduate experience and wants to ensure that those positive experiences happen for future college students!
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FR/SO/JR/SR Tip
by: Kate Cook, Graduate Assistant, Office of Career Services
Freshman Tip:
Find at least one or two students in each class to study with. Studies show that students who study with someone routinely make better grades. You will probably find yourself more motivated if you know someone else cares about what you are doing in the class. Teaching a concept or new idea to someone else is a sure way for you to understand it. Studying in a group or with a partner can sometimes become too social. It is important to stay focused.
Sophomore Tip:
Set clear goals for each class. Decide what you want out of each specific class. Is this a subject you are eager to learn? Do you want to target this teacher for a letter of recommendation? Is this a required class you must take but which does not otherwise interest you?
Junior Tip:
Get involved! Enhance your lifestyle and the lives of others by volunteering at a local non-profit agency. The rewards of giving back to your community are enormous. Visit www.iup.edu/servicelearning for a complete list of available volunteer opportunities. For an added bonus—volunteerism looks excellent on your resume!
Senior Tip:
Take some time for yourself. As you enter into your phase of “moving on,” keep in mind that you must need a balance of school and work. Finals and job searches can become stressful, so remember to schedule time off to enjoy life and relax.
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Let's Hear What Your Colleagues Are Doing!
James Amato - M '07
Student Affairs in Higher Education
(Graduate Program)
Why Did You Choose Student Affairs in Higher Education as a Major?
My interest in Student Affairs stems from my experiences as an undergraduate student. Very early in my first year I struggled to adjust to college life. I was a student athlete but beyond this I was not involved on campus and found it difficult to connect with my peers. My resident assistant changed that for me and through him I realized the impact that I could potentially have on my fellow students. In my second year I applied for a resident assistant position and the rest is history. Since, I have held several student affairs positions including: Hall Director and Summer Conference and Events Coordinator, both as an undergraduate student. I currently serve the Office of Career Services at IUP as a graduate assistant and since coming to graduate school have interned in Financial Aid and Catholic Campus Ministry. I am motivated by the pursuit of assisting college students in making sense of who they are and achieving their life goals. I am set to graduate in May from the Student Affairs in Higher Education program at IUP. Perhaps in the end, the world will be a brighter place on account of the work that I have done. Time will tell.
What would be my one piece of advice?
The best way to get the inside scoop about a career in Student Affairs is to become involved on campus. Campus involvement generally will connect you with student affairs professionals. Connections are key in any field but especially so in Student Affairs.
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Did You Ever Consider a Career In...
...Student Affairs in Higher Education?
For anyone interested in a career in education/human services, Student Affairs deserves your attention. Student Affairs is an exciting career field that can best be defined as focusing on the learning and development of college students. Student affairs professionals perform some of the most integral and groundbreaking duties on college campuses which affect the way college students learn and make sense of their college education. Student Affairs professionals are not faculty members. Rather than teaching academic courses, Student Affairs professionals conduct educational outreach in out-of-class settings. This defines Student Affairs as being a co-curricular enterprise. Successful Student Affairs operations are those that aim to complement in-class initiatives by assisting students to achieve their goals and other developmental tasks necessary for becoming productive members of society.
A career in Student Affairs offers individuals the opportunity to work in exciting, stimulating, and pleasant environments according to Dr. Ronald Lunardini, the chairperson of the Student Affairs in Higher Education program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Students having a variety of undergraduate degrees will find that skills developed as a part of any major are transferable to student affairs practice.
A career in Student Affairs enables individuals to work in a plethora of stimulating “functional areas” on college campuses. These areas include (but are not limited to): Housing and Residence Life, Advising and Testing, Career Development, Alumni Relations, Judicial Affairs, Alumni Affairs, Campus Events, Student Activities, Campus Ministry, Financial Aid, Greek Affairs, and International Affairs.
Anyone interested in learning more about a career in Student Affairs is encouraged to contact Dr. Ronald Lunardini, Chairperson, Department of Student Affairs in Higher Education at 724-357-1251 or via e-mail at lunar@iup.edu.
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