Inspire, Summer 2011

Career Assessment Pray. This may seem obvious, but the essential place to begin your job search is before God with a humble heart. Pray specifically: “Who do I need to talk to next?” We walk by people every day who could help us make a valuable contact. If we’re not praying and looking, we’ll miss them. Evaluate. Career Direct is an assessment tool that allows you to research unexpected occupations, explore jobs related to your experience, and better understand how your interests align with your career path. We offer Career Direct for students and alumni on campus for just $12 (an $80 value). If you can’t make it to campus, we can recommend similar online resources. Job Networking Contacts. There are two things that nearly everyone loves to do: talk about themselves and tell others what to do. When you meet people who work in a field that interests you, ask them for advice on essential skills you should develop and what resources they recommend. Most people will gladly refer you to other professionals who can provide additional information or opportunities. That helpful spirit is alive and thriving in our Cedarville family. We can help you get plugged in. CareerNet. This is a growing database of Cedarville alumni, parents, and friends who are additional eyes, ears, and feet on the ground — and they are looking out for you. CareerNet contacts are invested members of the Cedarville family who are willing to provide career advice to Cedarville students and grads. When they hear about job openings and internships, they funnel that information to us so we can make it available to you. Anyone can join! Navigational Tools Finding leads. Visit cedarville.edu/career for the following: • Explore specialized job banks for openings in engineering, education, sport management, government, nonprofit fields, and more. • Post your résumé on CareerVille and search jobs specifically posted at Cedarville. • Extend your search using NACE Link (National Association of Colleges and Employers) to view jobs posted at more than 700 other universities. Building your résumé. If you ask 10 people about proper résumé format, you will get 10 different opinions. Format your résumé in a way that will best sell you and your skills to your audience. If you match the language in your résumé to the job description, you Career Advice • A mid-career change is a great time to ask yourself if your education and skills are a good fit with your gifts and vocational calling. • A one-hour consultation with an independent career coach could cost as much as $300. Cedarville provides this service to students and alumni free of charge. • A great résumé won’t get you a job, but it will move you to the “let’s talk to this person” pile. • Job fair employers tell us that Cedarville students too often undersell their education and experience. Be confident and share your strengths! Starting the 4th Quarter As director of career services since 1996, Lew Gibbs has been strengthening Cedarville’s connections with parents, alumni, and employers. This spring, he announced his retirement. Following a 31-year career at IBM, Lew came with a vision to take career services to the next level. He began by visiting local colleges and universities and developing a network among peer institutions. With Lew, it’s all about the network. Lew understands the value of engaging alumni parents on students’ behalf. His corporate background gave him added perspective to more aggressively market Cedarville with businesses. As a result, international companies such as Caterpillar and Cummins, Inc., are more intentionally recruiting at Cedarville. Jeff Morgan, part of Lew’s network at Procter & Gamble, thinks this approach is paying off. “What P&G sees when we interact with Lew Gibbs is the inspirational face of Cedarville, always on a mission, delivering that personal touch of fellowship,” he said. Jeff Reep ’79, Lew’s successor as director of career services, agrees. “Lew’s enthusiasm, vision, and leadership positioned us as one of the top career offices in the country,” he said. In fact, a recent Noel-Levitz survey among college students nationwide listed Cedarville’s career services office in first place. Lew has launched a new business, 4th Quarter Consulting, to share his expertise in higher education organization and assessment. This allows him to stay in the game while controlling his calendar to spend more time with his family. Lew is excited about the next team of career services professionals. “The staff is so good at what they do,” he said. “They are the reason I could do what I love, getting Cedarville’s name and our students better known.” You may contact Lew at lwgbbs149@gmail.com . 12 SUMMER 2011