Inspire, Summer 2011

Insider Advice You Need Seriously, this is good stuff. Jeff Reep ’79, M.Ed. Director, Certified Professional Career Coach reepj@cedarville.edu Ask Me About: • Matching your skills, interests, and values to job positions • Preparing your job search materials • Networking with individuals connected to Cedarville Do This: Talk to the right people. You walk by people every day who could help you make a valuable contact. Seek the Lord’s direction to guide you to those who could assist you. If you’re not praying and looking, you’ll miss them. Don’t Do This: Come across as entitled. Sell your skills, abilities, and training, but don’t be presumptuous. I once sat in on an interview with a candidate who crossed that line. One of the interviewers said afterward, “How can someone who has done so little be so arrogant?” Visit: cedarville.edu/career Cedarville’s career services staff are career-coaching and résumé-writing professionals. We are here to serve you. ü Laura (Jolly) Lintz ’03 Assistant Director, Certified Professional Résumé Writer ljlintz@cedarville.edu Ask Me About: • Coaching on majors and career choices • Composing and editing résumés and cover letters • Preparing for interviews and graduate school Do This: Consider closely related jobs. During this tough economic time, it may be difficult to find a job within your niche. Try exploring fields where you can apply your transferrable skills and talents. Be willing to pick up another course or special certification that will make you even more marketable. Don’t Do This: Try too hard to sound clever. A student who worked on the grounds crew insisted that humor would win the heart of an employer. His résumé stated one of his main responsibilities was to “remove excessive amounts of fluffy precipitation from the sidewalks.” He also included Superman-related phrases like “Keeper of the Kryptonite.” Visit: onetonline.org This is one of my favorite resources for researching closely related career options. Type in a keyword or skill set and begin exploring! ü Ken Rucker ’93 Associate Director krucker@cedarville.edu Ask Me About: • Exploring career options • Guiding you in your job search • Networking with recruiters and business professionals Do This: Be resilient. Sweeping floors is not such a bad job if it puts you closer to your dream. The Greek statesman Demosthenes said, “Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.” Don’t Do This: Ignore your instincts. I should have known to seek employment elsewhere after a certain interview. I met with the HR director and vice president who told me I’d need “thick skin” to work there. Having grown up in poverty in inner-city Philadelphia, I knew that would not be a problem. Moments later, a manager walked by wearing a collarless shirt. The vice president began yelling at him using all types of profanity. Despite being one of the craziest places I ever worked, the job did help build my character. Visit: lauriebethjones.com This best-selling author and speaker is passionate about helping people find their personal calling, mission, and vision for their work and life. Lindsay (Neal) Beals ’10 Office Manager lebeals@cedarville.edu Ask Me About: • Connecting with a staff member to discuss our available services • Participating in career fairs and talking to recruiters during on-campus interviews and information sessions Do This: Use any available networks. Even if they don’t lead to an immediate position, it’s a great way to put your interview skills to practice and gain exposure. Don’t Do This: Give up. After college, my lack of experience left me under- qualified for jobs I wanted, yet my education made me over-qualified for many others. It took nearly 20 interviews in six months to find the right fit. Visit: humanmetrics.com Select the first link, the Jung Typology Test, to learn more about how you’re wired and find recommendations for career fields that fit your personality. Career Services Staff, left to right: Lindsay (Neal) Beals ’10, Jeff Reep ’79, Laura (Jolly) Lintz ’03, Ken Rucker ’93 ü ü