Career Services & Cooperative Education A unit of The Office for Undergraduate Studies A Pathway to Intentional Learning for Undergraduate Students NEXT WEEK... February 17-21: TICKETS ARE ON SALE FOR NEXT WEEKS PROFESSIONAL ETIQUETTE DINNER! DEADLINE EXTENDED UNTIL 5PM, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17! This event in the UC Grand Room is intended to teach students the rules of proper dining and conversation in a professional interview or work-related setting over a meal. Topics addressed will help to prepare students for interviews conducted over a meal or in a reception-type atmosphere. The attire is business casual. This event is $20.00 per person. Cash, check, declining balance, or CatCash is accepted. Registration will be open 8 a.m. January 27 and continue until 5 p.m. February 17. To reserve a seat, please visit Career Services in 205 Killian Annex. https://wcu.experience/stu/cf_details?fhnd=6288 DEADLINE EXTENDED TO FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21! NOMINATE A STUDENT TO SHADOW AN ALUMNUS! In an effort to offer a unique opportunity for students to integrate curricular and career experiences, observe and develop workplace skills, and network, the offices of Career Services and Alumni Affairs are partnering with alumni for the fourth year in a row. We will repeat a highly-successful Catamount Spotlight Shadow Initiative first made possible in 2011 by a QEP grant, during which current WCU students will shadow WCU alumni for a whole day on the job. In 2013 and again this year, we will expand the program to include the Asheville area. On April 1, 2014, we will bus students to Atlanta while also in April students will travel to Asheville and the surrounding area to shadow alumni. To apply, students must first be nominated by faculty or staff. Students must have earned at least 30 hours of course credit prior to January 2014 and meet the high standards described on the attached form. To nominate a student, please complete the separate, attached nomination form and submit it electronically to [email protected], saved as a word document and titled, “Nomination for [name of student].” We cannot promise to match every student, but your nomination itself will be an honor and an acknowledgement of merit. Nominations have been extended to 5PM, February 21. We are still developing our placement opportunities for this year. In the past, Alumni Hosts were available in the fields of Business Management (both small and Fortune 500), Accounting, Finance, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Construction Management, Broadcasting, Law, Physical Therapy, Social Services, Law Enforcement, Forensics, Private and Public School Administration, Marketing and Sales, Arts and Graphic Design, Nonprofit, Medical Research, Health Care, Government, and Computer Science. Here is an article describing the inaugural program: magazine.wcu.edu/2011/06/bright-lights-big-opportunity/ And here is a summary and some assessment data from our pilot program in 2011: wcu.edu/12288.asp Thank you for supporting this program by nominating a student who stands out in your college, program, or classroom as one who will most benefit from the opportunity. Please contact me with any questions. REPORT SHOWCASES IMPORTANCE OF PREPARING FOR CAREERS DURING COLLEGE The Pew Research Center just published some enlightening data on The Rising Costs of NOT Going to College -- please read this report to see what outcomes and efforts might deserve more of our energy: pewsocialtrends.org/files/2014/02/SDT-higher-education-FINAL-02-11-2014.pdf Here is one table from the report, underscoring the importance of all things experiential (internships, co-ops, service learning, and Catamount Externships): PEER CAREER MENTORS! Our Peer Career Mentors offer students on-location guidance and support from their Mobile Mentoring Station at locations across campus. They can critique resumes or help a student begin one, teach students how to search for jobs, showcase resources like Perfect Interview and Focus 2, and help research careers. Please look for their yellow table, and refer students to the PCMs for help with any of these tasks. Next week, the PCMs will be in the main lobby of Stillwell from 11:30AM-3:00PM, Monday-Thursday! Their schedule for the semester is here: wcu.edu/WebFiles/Spring2014PCMTableLocations.pdf CATAMOUNT EXTERNSHIPS: AN INNOVATIVE WAY FOR STUDENTS TO EXPLORE CAREERS, NETWORK, BUILD COMPETENCIES, AND GAIN EXPERIENCE IN THE EXTRACURRICULAR! Students at any point between their first college semester and graduation may now take advantage of a certificate-earning shadow experience designed to help them achieve a variety of career development outcomes. By completing 8-20 hours of purposeful shadowing in any workplace and submitting a competencies-observed and career-planning-based reflection form, students can explore areas of interest, meet professionals on-the-job, gain pre-internship workplace experience, and even support resumes and applications for certain graduate school applications. Like service learning, this could be a great class assignment for transition courses, new majors, or even Capstone classes or senior seminars. Go here to see how they may proceed: wcu.edu/academics/campus-academic-resources/career-services-and-cooperative-education/catamount-externships/index.asp More services and resources can be found on our website: wcu.edu/academics/campus-academic-resources/career-services-and-cooperative-education/index.asp Please contact us if we can offer any other information, service, or collaboration. Sincerely, Michael -- J. Michael Despeaux, Associate Director of Career Services Western Carolina University; Office of Career Services & Cooperative Education [email protected], 828-227-7133, careers.wcu.edu 205 Killian Annex (upstairs from the One Stop!) Find us on Facebook by searching “WCU Career Services!” A unit of The Office for Undergraduate Studies A Pathway to Intentional Learning for Undergraduate Students at Western Carolina University Previous but still useful weekly highlights: SUPPORTING THE FINISH IN FOUR CAMPAIGN On November 6, a Reporter article detailed how Career services and allied offices and programs will collaborate with each other and faculty across the curriculum to support the initiative titled “Finish in Four” set that will begin next year and will intensify Western Carolina University’s emphasis on and support for helping students graduate in four years. Here is the article: thereporter.wcu.edu/2013/11/finish-in-four-campaign-to-launch-in-fall-2014/ CATAMOUNT EXTERNSHIPS, INTERNSHIPS, AND OTHER CAREER SKILL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES – A CRITICAL STEP! According to business leaders and hiring managers, soft skills like work ethic, communication, and team work remain most important in hiring decisions, but so are industry-specific skills. This should be a reminder for students to seek opportunities to gain co-curricular and extracurricular experience through Catamount Externships, internships, co-ops, and service learning! insidehighered/news/2014/01/29/debate-over-student-preparedness-work-and-whos-blame-when-its-lacking#.UvjbS2zZ-X0.facebook NEW CAREER JOURNAL PUBLISHED! Go here to download the October 2013 edition of our online newsletter, the Career Journal (wcu.edu/WebFiles/2013-October-Career-Journal.pdf): This edition of the Career Journal includes the following articles or topics: Announcing Catamount Externships Using JobCat to Find Part- and Full-time Jobs Network: Mentorship and Camaraderie to Springboard a Career Developmental Approach Enables Real-World Adaptation Introducing: 2013-2014 Peer Career Mentors SHOWCASING: FOCUS 2 FOCUS-2 is an online, interactive system that combines self-assessment, major and career exploration, and career decision making. If a student needs help better understanding how his or her interests, values, and abilities may help identify a major or career path, taking the five assessments in FOCUS-2 is a great place to start. Referring the student to Career Services for additional help interpreting the results is always a good idea. FOCUS-2 may also be used to research salaries, job duties, related study, and job outlook for any career. Faculty and staff may also register for and access FOCUS-2. Log into FOCUS-2 here: wcu.edu/6742.asp ANNOUNCING A NEW SERVICE! ONLINE CAREER SUPPORT Off-campus students, graduate students or any student at Biltmore Park, distance learners, alumni, or students at home between sessions can still access all of our services, not just on the website but online in real-time. Students may meet with a career counselor online using GoToMeeting! GoToMeeting allows you to view our screen, talk and see video, follow our pointer to different resources, and even review their resumes. To schedule a GoToMeeting event, they will call 828-227-7133. Students will be given a meeting time and directions and will receive an email at that time directing them how to join the meeting. To access online career support, go here: wcu.edu/academics/campus-academic-resources/career-services-and-cooperative-education/onlinecareersupport.asp
Posted on: Fri, 14 Feb 2014 17:28:05 +0000