Welcome Cassandra Bracht to the CPDC

The CPDC is pleased to announce Cassandra Bracht has joined our team as a graduate assistant in our department! Cassie is currently in graduate school at IPFW where she is also a graduate assistant in their career center. Cassie is available to work with students regarding self-assessment and job search strategies. Please drop by to welcome her to Indiana Tech and to learn more about how she can assist you on your career path!

Welcome, Cassie!

Applying Your Major to a Non-Traditional Career

Indiana Intern's monthly newsletter is out and I thought you might enjoy an interesting article on applying your major to a non-traditional career. Have you thought about using your degree in a new way? If so, we'd like to hear from you! To view the complete newsletter, go to http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe9411727363027d74&m=feed11787c670d&ls=fdec1676746d017b76137976&l=fe9b15757062077d75&s=fe2c16717d62077c701677&ju=fe5b17787164007f721c

An accounting graduate gets a job as a passport specialist with the federal government. A music major and an art history major both find their niche in public relations. A sociology graduate ends up working for a major non-profit organization as a speakers bureau coordinator.

These are all true stories and proof positive that you can secure a job in a field outside the scope of your college major. The following tips can help your path to a non-traditional career become another success story:

• Get experience - You may think you've got the wrong degree for the career you want to pursue. But you can make up for that - and then some - through hands-on experience. Internships are critical in helping you gain experience in areas that are not directly related to your major.
• Identify transferable skills - Many skills you've gained in college are transferable, meaning they fit a wide range of occupations and careers regardless of your major. Talk to people in your field of interest to pinpoint the three to five skills that seem to be the most sought after. Then, you can determine which you already possess or can quickly learn. The key is to articulate what attracted you to your major and how you apply related skills to a potential job.
• Be visible - Talk to everyone you can who is already working in your desired field. At this point, these individuals may only be willing to meet with you for informational interviews, but this will help you build your network. Having a strong network of contacts will help you when it comes to obtaining that next internship or full-time job.

Job Interview Tactics

Maybe you just got fired. Maybe you just graduated from college. NPR's personal finance contributor, Michelle Singletary, discusses what interviewees should keep in mind when heading off to a job interview. Click on the link below to hear her thoughts on negotiating job interviews.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91841250&sc=emaf

What Should You Look for in a Good Mentor?

By Krystal Forbes, Indiana INTERNnet spring intern

As a young professional, it is essential to be aware of those who have come before you to serve as great examples of how to get where you desire to be. These individuals can serve as mentors. They may offer guidance and advice in achieving your personal and professional goals, provide a source of motivation and encouragement, and even lend an ear when all you need is someone to listen.
A good mentor will embody the following qualities:

• Motivate others by setting a good example. Observing mentors in their own environments is a great way to see how they handle themselves in various situations (at a work-related event) or circumstances (when under stress).
• Know your strengths and weaknesses. A good mentor will challenge you to go beyond what you think you are capable of.
• Want you to succeed. Mentors are there to help you attain whatever accomplishment you are working toward.
• Create opportunities. It is easy to be unaware of your opportunities as a young professional. A good mentor will bridge that gap for you.
• Want to see you become independent. Mentors should not serve as a crutch. Rather, they should enable you to eventually become independent in your personal and professional aspirations through their guidance.
  

New and Emerging Occupations from NACE

In my inbox this morning was the latest e-newsletter from NACE, the National Association of Colleges and Employers. NACE is the leading source of information on the employment of the college educated. NACE forecasts trends in the job market; tracks legal issues in employment, the job search, and hiring practices; and provides college and employer professionals with benchmarks for their work. In this newsletter, I found a very interesting article on the rapid pace of change in the job market and many new emerging occupations. Many of these occupations are tied to majors we have here at Indiana Tech. Below is the link to the complete article which I think you'll find interesting. I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments!

Happy reading!

Cindy

http://www.jobweb.com/studentarticles.aspx?id=1781

Navigate Company Social Events

Summer is a great time for companies to sponsor the traditional "company picnic". Whether you're a new hire or long time employee, Monster.com has some great advice for navigating company social events.

To view the article go to http://career-advice.monster.com/business-etiquette/Navigate-Company-Events/home.aspx

Enjoy!

Cindy

Welcome to Summer in the CPDC

Welcome to Summer in the CPDC! While you're out of class, this is a great time to pick up some great career tips, work on the skills employers are looking for, and to learn more about how you can be successful in the work place.

Feel free to ask questions, send comments, or tell us what you're up to (did you find a great internship or summer job?). We hope to hear from all our Indiana Tech students!