University of Nebraska Kearney - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Kearney, NE)

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Moke it. . CAREER PLANNING HELPS STUDENTS PREPARE THEM- SELVES FOR THE JOB MAR- KET AS EARLY AS THEIR FRESHMAN YEAR. The most common mis- take college gradu- ates make in job searching, is not seri- ously looking for a job,” said Dr. Wanda Enns, KSC director of career planning. “They expect the job to come to them, without making any search whatsoever. “One of the first things college stu- dents should know when searching for a job is to be aware of the preparation over a number of years needed.” Enns said, “Planning doesn’t start when a graduate U A resume can be a door opener, but it needs to be precise and to the point ” — Rosenloi is is handed a diploma.” Graduates need to know about themselves, their abilities, special skills, and what employers are looking for, said Jackie Rosenlof, KSC director of place- ment. “Career planning is an integrated component of the educational process, a function that compliments and supplements the curricular program in the fulfillment of the educational objec- tives at KSC,” Enns said. “Career plan- ning should ideally start when a student is a freshman.” Many aspects of seeking a career are important to help students prepare themselves for what possibly will be their first serious job search. To help students through this process, several seminars are offered each semester through the KCS Placement Center. Some titles of sessions for career planning included: “Discovering Your Interests,” “Exploring Your Options,” “Selecting a Major” and “Choosing a Ca- reer.” Special workshops for juniors and seniors included: “The Resume”, “The Interview”, “Letter Writing,” “Dress for Success” and “Corporate Etiquette.” Sessions and workshops are open to all KSC students, usually free of charge. Students who graduate from college get a quick taste of the job market. Many jobs are available, however hundreds of applications may be turned in for one po- sition. the other workshops for KSC career-ori- ented students. Although resumes can be profes- sionally written or standard forms can be used, Rosenlof said, “If you have some- one else write your resume then it’s someone elses. The resume has to say something to get you acquainted with that person on paper.” The earliest resumes included gen- eral information about the person such as physical characteristics and marital Wanda Enns, director of Career Planning (right), helps students plan for the future “A resume is a poster or word pic- ture of oneself,” said Rosenlof. “Resumes need to be well organized, attract the readers attention, plus give the reader an impression of a well-round- ed individual.” Rosenlof said, “Resumes are almost as necessary as a driver’s li- cense.” What should or should not be in- cluded in a resume? How long should it be? Should it be professionally written? Rosenlof tackled these and other ques- tions during the resume workshop, taught twice each semester along with status. This is now taboo, according to Rosenlof. There have been many changes in the resume and it is appar- ently still changing. Every employer sees something dif- ferent in a resume. There is no way to predict exactly what will catch an em- ployer’s eye. There is always a gamble. You must write the resume to please yourself. However, the resume must also be organized effectively. Rosenlof said, “Resumes are almost as much a necessity as a driver’s license,” 12

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-Attractive job applicants are more likely to get hired and be paid more. -Tall men score better in the job market than short men. -Just half of 2,000 people surveyed were extremely or quite satisfied with their looks. Only a few were extremely dissatisfied. -Most of the women surveyed like broad-shouldered men with small hips. Most men preferred women with large breasts, medium-to-small hips and me- dium legs. Although these are general state- ments evidence has been shown to prove them true. “There is evidence, for exam- ple that in a traditionally male domain, physical attractiveness can work against a woman applying for a job,” said Frank Saal, a Kansas State University psycho- logist and author of a 1985 study on male and female sexual interaction. However, Saal also said, “In pink collar fields where women dominate the workforce, attractiveness is good for getting hired and for getting paid well.” In classrooms, the same system applies. Saal said, “In a mechanical engi- neering class, beauty often is going to work against a woman. She’ll be seen as a dizzy dame, out of her league. In home economics, looks will work to her advan- tage.” Looks are helpful in some areas for success, but what about dress? Do clothes really make the person? “Clothes make not the man but the image of man ...said Anne Hollander in the book, “Seeing through Clothes.” Clothes are something we spend most of There is evidence, for ex- -L ample, that in a tradition- ally male domain, physical attrac- tiveness can work against a wom- an applying for a job. ” — Saal our money and time looking for. We either want to look stylish and be with the crowd or rebel against the crowd. By now all of us in college know how to dress for style, but do we dress for success? After reading several articles on how to “Dress for Success” I am beginning to think it’s not what you know, or whom you know, it’s what you wear! You want to project an image of strength, compe- tence and authority. Dr. Sarah J. Sweat, author of “Female Appearance Styles,” said, “It is important to recognize that distinct styles of appearance convey relatively consistent and predictable impres- sions. This symbolic repre- sentation can con- sciously be used to influ- ence reactions from others with whom one inter- acts. Most things are judged by their jackets.” Quality rather than quantity should be remembered when buying a wardrobe for success. Clothes should look expensive but do not have to be expensive. Grooming is also very impor tant. The most important ingredients may be found within yourself. Whatever path you choose in life be it business, art, teaching, just to name a few, to be suc- cessful you must be happy with the life you lead, and the path you have trav- eled. That, in any defini- tion, is success. As Leslie McConnell said, “You must be satisfied with the way you look, and have a positive men- tal attitude in life and you can go as far as you want.” Michelle Thompson BE3G Steve St romp, Spalding, is shopping for clothes at Maurices for an im- portant job in- terview! Working hard at Brass Buckle, Brad Powers, Cairo; dresses stylish for his job! 11

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‘‘Resumes are more effective if they are not alone,” Enns said. “A supple- ment such as a cover letter greatly adds to a resume.” As with the resume, no one can write a cover letter for you. “Cover letters let individuals ad- dress or tailor themselves to a job,” Ro- senlof said. “A resume can be a door opener, but it needs to be precise and to the point. A resume needs to be able to be read through quickly and with ease as employers are looking through applica- tions. The cover letter may be more in depth.” Rosenlof suggested writing the let- ter just as if you were talking to the em- ployer. She said, “This is your chance to use sentences and paragraphs to say something about your- self.” Another opportuni- ty to impress your pro- spective employer will come from the image you convey upon your first meeting with the interviewer. “One important eti- quette item is the hand- shake, something that tells a lot about some- one,” Rosenlof said. When presenting yourself for the inter- view, have a neat, well- groomed, uncluttered look. Do not overdress for the area which you are applying. Look around and notice what people in the area are wearing. When buying a business suit buy con- servatively. Also, buy quality. A business suit can last up to five years because styles rarely change. The appearance of the suit can also be changed with the use of accessories. Nev- er let a salesclerk talk you into a suit you do not like. “A navy blue or dark grey suit and a white, oxford blue, or cream shirt are good interview combinations,” Rosenlof said. The money spent to look good will pay off in the long run. Rosenlof said, “Job searchers don’t always realize that a small amount of money is necessary to search for a job, whether it be purchasing an interview suit or a fee for an etiquette seminar.” Beside looking good, an applicant should know as much about the prospec- tive employer’s business as is known of the interview subject’s own skills and abilities. “One of the best ways to find out about a particular career is to conduct a career interview with a person who has the particular job in which one is interested,” Enns said. “Ask them questions and find out more about the actual job.” “Companies may ask questions about their compa- ny. Someone who is searching for a job, and will have an in- terview with a com- pany, should find out information about that company through the Vacan- cy Library,” Rosen- loff said. The Vacancy Library, located across the hall from the Counseling and Advising Center, lists the actual job Placement Center seminars offered at KSC each semester: - Discovering Your Interests - Exploring Your Options - Selecting a Major - Choosing a Career Special workshops offered for juniors and seniors: - The Resume - The Interview - Letter Writing - Dress for Success - Corporate Etiquette Jackie Rosenlof, director of placement vacancy in teaching, information on companies, federal government job in- formation and internships. In the Career Planning and Place- ment Office is located the Career Plan- ning Library. This library contains infor- mation on graduate school material and choosing a career. “Someone who is searching for a job also needs to remember, the first job is the time to make it or lose it. For most it is the first job without experience, in which one needs to be depenable and re- sponsible,” Enns said. .. . the first job is the time to make it or lose it. ” — Enns College should prepare you in as many ways possible for life after gradua- tion. However, there is a certain amount of work required to become a success that college can not dictate to students. In certain areas the college can only ad- vise, this is what the Counseling and Ad- vising Center was created for. Charles McGraw Jana Walz BE36 13