Welcome to the Career Development Center's 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.
Quote of the Week
Career News
Did you ever consider a major in...
Alumnus Spotlight
Current Student Spotlight
FR/SO/JR/SR Tips
A Distinguished Alumni Profile - Click on Current Issue of Oak Leaves and Scroll down to Distinguished Alumni
Great Tips For Seniors Preparing to Enter the Workforce
Quote of the Week
"No person can succeed in a line of endeavor which he does not like."
~ Napoleon Hill
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Career News
by: Mallory Bower, Graduate Assitant, Career Development Center
It's a scary time for seniors who are quickly approaching graduation. Some say that the job market is looking pretty grim, but that shouldn't stop you from getting ahead! Some of you may have jobs lined up already-- congratulations!
If you are having trouble finding full-time employment, why not try a post-graduate internship? The thought of it may make you shudder, and you may be thinking, "I already spent four years in college, why would I want to do another internship?" I am going to give you a few reasons why internships are a good idea:
1) You can build your skills in a new area
2) You can meet new people and create professional relationships
3) You can avoid time gaps in your resume
4) You are sharpening your skills and practicing
5) You can be job searching at the same time!
These are just a few good reasons to do an additional internship. Check out the Career Development Center website to register for the College Central Network (CCN) job search database. Internships and full-time employment opportunities are continually updated here. Search for jobs or post your resume so employers can search for you. Best of all, it’s free! Good luck with your search!
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Job Search Tips
Review the top 20 job search tips that are essential during these challenging economic times. This listing was prepared by the career services professionals of the 14 Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities
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College Central Netowrk (CCN)
College Central Network provides web access to entry-level job listings, internship opportunities, and seasonal employment; includes a resume referral service, on campus recruiting and job fair announcements. Register on the website and upload your resume to maximize your exposure to employers. CCN is the largest entry-level job listing site in the U.S.
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RoadTrip IUP
Four students... three cities... six alumni... and one video you’ve got to see! During Spring Break 2009, four undergraduate students traveled to New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., to film interviews with six IUP alumni about their experiences in college and in their professional and personal lives. The result is RoadTrip IUP, a video inspired by the PBS documentary and series RoadTrip Nation.
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Night for Networking!
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 graduates get a great education, so what they really need are the right connections. The Pittsburgh Alumni host committee, along with the IUP Alumni Association and the Career Development Center, invite you to a Night for Networking.
Two events are scheduled: one in Arlington, VA., on Wednesday, May 6, and one in Baltimore, MD, on Thursday, May 7.
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Virtual Teacher Recruiting Fair
The Virtual Education Fair began Monday, April 20, 2009, 12:00 a.m., and will continue through Friday, August 28, 2009.
The Western Pennsylvania Virtual Education Job Fair is an opportunity for seniors, graduate students, and alumni from five western PASSHE institutions (California, Clarion, Edinboro, Indiana, and Slippery Rock) to search for job opportunities and submit resumes on line to school districts seeking candidates in the education field throughout the Virtual Education Fair.
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Consider a Major or Minor in Philosophy!
by: Dave Tiscione, Graduate Student, Student Employment Center/Service Learning
Do you like to think about BIG IDEAS? Does God exist? Do human beings have free will? What makes for a good life? How should society be organized? What’s the difference between right and wrong, and how do we know? What is the nature of thought and consciousness? If you’re the kind of person who likes to think seriously and critically about some of the most difficult and interesting questions we’re capable of asking ourselves, then Philosophy is for you!
The Philosophy Department
The IUP Philosophy Department consists of a dedicated group of scholar-teachers, all of whom hold the highest degree (Ph.D.) in their area of expertise. The research and teaching interests of our faculty span virtually every area of Philosophy: Ethics, Metaphysics, History of Philosophy, Logic, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Art, Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Language, and Theory of Knowledge.
What Can You Do With a Philosophy Major or Minor?
The short answer: anything you want! While some of our graduates go on to pursue an M.A. or Ph.D. in Philosophy, some decide to go to law school (we have pre-law track designed for such students), and others find jobs in the private sector or go to work for a non-profit. You certainly needn’t be interested in pursuing a career in Philosophy in order for the addition of a major or minor in Philosophy to be of value to you. Philosophy can increase your “marketability” regardless of what you ultimately decide to do, for it helps to develop critical reasoning skills, problem solving skills, and analytical writing skills that are demanded by employers in a variety of fields. These “job transferable” skills are increasingly important in today’s economy, where (according to the Dept. of Labor) people in their 20s and 30s change jobs an average of 10 times, and people change careers an average of five times in their lifetime.
That Philosophy helps to develop these transferable skills is demonstrated by the extraordinary performance of Philosophy majors on standardized tests for graduate, law, and business school. On two of the three sections of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)—the Analytical Writing and Verbal sections—Philosophy majors score higher than students in every other field of study, including all of the humanities, social sciences, life sciences, physical sciences, and engineering fields. The mean Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) scores of Philosophy majors is the highest among the 11 most popular pre-law majors, and second highest overall. On the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), Philosophy majors score fourth overall, outperforming majors in Accounting, Finance, and Business.
Adding a major or minor in Philosophy can aid you in your pursuit of graduate or professional study, provide you with transferable skills that are demanded by employers, and most importantly, enrich your life and transform your view of the world. Please visit our website and email Dr. Brad Rives (rives@iup.edu) if you have any questions.
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Alumnus Spotlight
Name: Howie Z. Fitzgerald
Degree(s)/Year(s): B.A. Philosophy, '97 – Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pennsylvania
M.A. Philosophy, '00 – Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California
Share your undergraduate and/or graduate experience
Looking back on my years at IUP, I strongly feel that the University provided me with a ‘soft landing’ into adulthood and all its rewards. I was certainly challenged, but the experience allowed me to explore different schools of thought before settling on philosophy. I definitely look back on those years fondly, and am so happy I chose to attend IUP.
Did you work while you were a student?
Yes. I held a few different jobs on campus and off, including pizza delivery, catering, and art model. I was also in a few different bands, but I can’t remember if we were ever actually paid to perform.
What are you doing now?
I am a development officer for California State University, Long Beach. I focus on securing gifts of $100,000 to $1 million from alumni and other sources and represent 23 departments for the College of Liberal Arts. Philanthropy is a big part of who I am, and I consider it to be a natural extension of my studies as a philosopher.
In addition to this responsibility, I sit on the Board of Trustees for the United States Adaptive Recreation Center (USARC) in Big Bear, California. USARC provides recreational activities for people with mental and physical disabilities. Our bread and butter is quadriplegic and blind skiing, but we also host long distance bicycle rides through California, surf and ocean kayak camps on the shore, and other activities. It is inspiring to see how these events touch people and a great way to enjoy the outdoors among friends.
Last but certainly not least, I am learning to be a parent; we just had our son Aabid in May 2008.
How did your experiences (both academic and/or work related) assist you in deciding what to do post graduation?
Generally speaking, my undergraduate degree provided excellent training for my graduate work in California. I was afforded close contact with my faculty, and they played a huge role in my decision to move to the west coast and pursue an additional degree. Also, my undergraduate work taught me two very important things that I am grateful for to this day; the ability to think clearly and communicate effectively. I can directly trace my current success back to the education I received at IUP.
Specifically, I found the study of philosophy to be an excellent foundation for my current work as a development officer. We are required to think quickly, analyze conversations as we go, know a great deal about many things, and ultimately turn our donor’s wishes into a tangible and profound reality through their generous gifts. The formal study of philosophy definitely hones the mind in these areas. Of course, personal integrity is critical to any kind of long-term success as a fundraiser, and I always look back to my study of ethics to provide guidance during the difficult periods of my work.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Oh, it’s hard to tell. I feel like I can pursue quite a few avenues at this point in my life. I will most likely stay in the fundraising business, and I will probably be near or at the Vice President level in 5 years. I hope to pick up an additional graduate degree at some point, and I hope to at least start on that journey within five years as well.
Advice?
It is very difficult to see too far ahead as an undergraduate student. The pressures to make important decisions are myriad and often driven by conflicting emotional factors. So, my advice when confronted with a difficult decision is to choose that which will provide the most positive options. This is usually a more difficult path, but I’ve found that taking it makes the hard decisions much easier in the long run. Also, stay interested in life!
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Current Student Spotlight
Meet: Kathleen (Katie) Ruckdeschel
Philosophy Pre-Law ('11)
How would you describe yourself?
I would describe myself as motivated, hard working, dependable, and always up for a challenge.
At what point did you choose your career and why did you choose this career?
Picking my degree was easy. I love philosophy, focally logic. The hard part is the career, which I have not decided on entirely. I have always found law interesting and declared to my parents at a young age that I would become a lawyer. Although I do plan to go to law school, several of my professors have encouraged me to look into becoming a professor myself. So I may end up right back where I started trying to get students as enthusiastic about law and philosophy as I am.
What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?
My future. For the most part, the greatest that we can become is determined by the effort we put into ourselves. If I am not happy with myself then the only one to blame is me. I work hard now, so that I can look back and be proud of who I was and know that I deserve my future.
What are your standards of success in school?
Putting forth my best effort and making sure that I accomplish what I set out to do. I go into my classes wanting to excel and knowing that it will not necessarily happen in every class. As long as, at the end of the semester, I can look back and say that I did my best and that it was good enough for me then I can be happy
In addition to my academic course load, what activities, memberships, jobs, etc. do I maintain?
The activity that takes up most of my time and energy is the IUP Dance Theater. This is a professional dance company run by the IUP Center for Performing Arts. It takes up my evenings from Monday to Thursday with occasional practices and performances that span the weekend. I have always loved dance and I enjoy keeping myself active with the company. It has taught me preparation, time management, organization, and to be optimistic. For example, tech week involves practices Monday to Friday from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. plus practice and performance on the weekend. I barley have time to recuperate let alone get class work done. I had to begin working on papers and assignments early so that they did not pile up on me now. I have to stay focused and not get bitter or the company and the performance will begin to reflect that attitude.
My other main activity is Phi eta Sigma, a freshman Honors Society. I am an active member and will be running for office in May. This keeps me involved in both the academic and local communities. I just participated in Bowl for Kids Sake organized by Big Hearts Little Hands, and I will also be involved in blood drives, dog-walking, adopt-a-highway, and the relay for life here on campus within the next two months.
In addition to completing the academic courses required for my major, I participate in other outside-of-the classroom activities that exemplify working beyond expectations. They are...
My favorite job is tutoring a local 3rd grader. It puts a lot of my education into perspective and it reminds me that even though she is younger than me she teaches me a lot.
I also enjoy working with animals and spend a lot of my time focused on my pets. I try and help out at the local animal shelter and plan to become a foster parent some time soon.
What are your plans after graduation?
I have two hopes, at the current moment my dream is to go to graduate school for law and qualify for the joint J.D/MBA degree. My other is that at some point, I will be able to teach students what I learned and become a college professor.
What advice would you give to an IUP student in order to have a successful experience at IUP?
Enjoy yourself but not too much. College is probably one of the hardest times we face. It is, for the most part, the first time we are expected to be self sufficient, self motivated, and completely responsible. Many are not ready for the task and many will waste this time doing things that will not benefit their future. Remember that this is only a small part of your life and although there are a lot of hard times they will make you stronger, smarter and more capable of handling your future. So have fun but remember, the real reason you are here is for your education.
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FR/SO/JR/SR Tips
by: Jason Lee, Graduate Assistant, Career Development Center/University Testing Services
Freshmen: With summer just around the corner, take some time to stop in and visit the Career Development Center to learn about summer employment and internship opportunities. Now is the time to start building your résumé. Don’t wait until it is too late!
Sophomores: Your career may seem like a long way off, but it is much closer than you think! Come into the Career Development Center to schedule a mock interview. The mock interview experience can equip you with the skills necessary to land that summer job or internship that you covet.
Juniors: Begin looking into the job markets your degree will prepare you for, and begin looking into the graduate programs you may be interested in. You will need to make a decision soon as to whether or not you’ll be entering the workforce or continuing your education. The Career Development Center can help you with either of those two paths.
Seniors: If you haven’t already, you NEED to come to the Career Development Center to have your résumé reviewed. Time is running out! Check out College Central Network to search for jobs!
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Great Tips for Seniors Preparing to Enter the Workforce
By Malaika M. Turner, Assistant Director for Employer Development and Relations
ABC News correspondent Jackie Hyland aired an interview on Friday, April 17th titled, “What College Seniors Can Do to Kick Start Their Career During the Recession”. I couldn’t help but share this information with students and faculty, who might have regular contact with students, who are on their way to entering the workforce. Hyland interviewed Jordan Goldman of Unigo.com and he provided valuable information to seniors with tips on topics like networking and ways to prepare for employment while in college.
When the interviewer asked Goldman where seniors should begin their job search process, he stated that students should take advantage of the valuable resources in their career centers. Not only would they find a list of available jobs, but most career centers network with alumni and can share information about jobs/internships that are offered in their companies. He also made it clear that while job fairs are valuable, most job fairs do not produce instant results. It would benefit the student to use job fairs as a place to learn about the industries and specific companies of interest.
As we all know, networking is important. Goldman stated that statistics show that 25% of placement is through direct referrals. Students should build relationships and learn about opportunities that are available through cites like meetup.com, professional organizations, etc. And since we’re in the age of technology, students miss the idea that they are under the microscope and easily accessible through search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Facebook.
One of the new ways students can help their job search process is by Googling themselves. By doing this, a student would view any adverse information that might be posted on line. The idea is that if something unfavorable is displayed on Google, the student should contact that particular website and ask that the information be taken down. Also, students should consider starting a blog, where they would share intelligent thoughts about the industry of their interest, using their personal name several times throughout the blog. As a result, when an employer Googles their name, the information from the blog would be displayed.
Again, I found the interview to be valuable in providing information that students can use in their quest for employment. And we’re in a time where students are hungry for ways to increase their opportunities for job placement. While in the midst of a recession, there’s still hope for graduating seniors and this information will provide tools for their success.
The interview aired on April 17, 2009, at 10:01 p.m. on ABC NEWS.
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