Twenty-eight alumni share career advice with current students at 2008 Career Connections BBQ
Career Services thanks the 28 alumni who participated in the 2008 Career Connections BBQ on April 18.  During the BBQ, alumni had a chance to have lunch with a faculty guest whom they nominated to attend, followed by up to four short meetings with individual students or small groups of students, during which time alumni shared advice about how to pursue careers including medicine, law, pharmaceutical research and sales, firefighting, human resources, investing and finance, consulting, theatre, marketing, publishing, toxicology, entrepreneurship, engineering, and writing.  Many thanks to David Bauman ‘99, Matt Beck ‘01, David Bryant ‘95, Alex Casiano ‘06, Danielle Cohen ‘07, Holly Martin Davis ‘03, Michael DeGuzman ‘93, Emily Latour DeGuzman ‘04, Alicia Schweter Dixon ‘97, Kenda Jameson Evans ‘92, Mike Frontz ‘91, Natalie Goodnow ‘07, Russel Hanselman ‘01, Mike Henry ‘85, Carrie Stewart Leonard ‘97, Laura Ann Lindholm ‘95, James Morrison ‘87, Kaulen Taylor Pickell ‘97, Mark Pickell ‘98, John Pinion ‘94, Greg Plourde ‘96, Lacy Klosterman Rohre ‘04, David Sajovich ‘06, Sandra Gould Samoska ‘02, Katie Seawell ‘00, Lesley Sparrow ‘04, Ernest Valdez ‘06 and Evelyn Ward ‘06.

Is your job recession-proof?
Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com Writer
Though it's difficult to predict exactly how the year will pan out, weak job growth, a slowing economy and troubled housing markets all point to signs of an economic recession. The good news for job seekers is that employers are still hiring and certain industries will survive (even thrive) during hard times.

Thirty-two percent of employers plan to add full-time, permanent employees in 2008, according to a CareerBuilder.com survey. Most employers are cautious, but expect a slower, yet steady hiring environment.

"Many job seekers make the mistake of attempting a career change during downturns," says John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a global outplacement consultancy. "This can be a career-crippling move. It is much better to focus on transferring your current occupation's skills to industries that remain healthy."

While some industries, including retail, manufacturing, finance and technology, are vulnerable during recessions, Challenger says there are always industries that seem "recession-resistant," based on different trends at the time of the slowdown.

"Do not make the mistake of thinking that only those with industry-specific skills will be in demand. Hospitals not only need nurses and physical therapists, they need administrators and information technology workers," Challenger says. "Firms specializing in information security need accountants and marketing professionals in addition to computer programmers. There should be a wide variety of opportunities in the industries that remain strong through the slowdown."

Are you working in a recession-proof business? Here is a list of industries expected to offer the best opportunities for job seekers during the predicted slump, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

Industry No. 1: Education
With more teachers retiring and an increasing number of students enrolling in grades K-12, the demand for skilled teachers is rising. The National Center for Education Statistics predicts that in the next eight years, 2.8 million teachers must join the existing 3.2 million teachers because of retirements, higher enrollment and teacher turnover.

Other thriving jobs in education: administrators, independent consultants and sales executives to supply text books and other learning materials.

Industry No. 2: Energy
The oil industry faces 80 percent of its work force reaching retirement age in the next decade, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas. As a result, jobs related to oil and gas, alternative and renewable energy, and even nuclear energy are likely to see job growth at a steady pace.

Other thriving jobs in energy: geoscientists, nuclear power reactor operators and engineers.

Industry No. 3: Environmental sector

The environmental industry created 5.3 million jobs in 2005, according to a United Nations report. As concerns about global warming swell, more and more companies are "going green" and will hire engineers and scientists to develop "green" technology. They'll also need guidance for becoming more eco-friendly.

Other thriving jobs in the environmental sector: environmental consultants, program managers and attorneys.

Industry No. 4: Health care
Nearly half of the 30 fastest growing jobs are in health services, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some of these jobs include medical assistants, physical therapists and home health aides.

Employers in California entice nurses with $7,500 signing bonuses for hard-to-fill jobs and $3,500 for traditional positions, according to the California Jobs Journal. They're also providing $3,000 annually for continuing education and relocation reimbursement, as well as time off to pursue professional interests, overtime pay and the option to work 12-hour shifts with four days off per week.

Other thriving jobs in health care: physican assistants, medical records and health information technicians, and personal and home care aides.

Industry No. 5: Security
There will always be a need for security, whether it's in airports, at U.S. borders or in a company protecting vital information. The Defense and Homeland Security departments need to fill an estimated 83,000 jobs over the next two years, according to a 2007 report by the Partnership for Public Service.

Other thriving jobs in security: transportation security, information security managers and computer programmers.

Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

News Archive

Fastest growing occupations for prospective career changers
NACE Spotlight, March 5, 2008
During the decade from 2006-2016, healthcare occupations are expected to make up seven of the 20 fastest growing occupations, the largest proportion of any occupational group, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

These seven healthcare occupations, in addition to exhibiting high growth rates, will add nearly 750,000 new jobs between 2006 and 2016, BLS notes. Other occupational groups that have more than one occupation in the 20 fastest growing are computer, personal care and service, community and social services and business and financial operations.

BLS adds that high growth rates among occupations in the top 20 fastest growing occupations reflect projected rapid growth in the health care and social assistance industries and the professional, scientific and technical services industries.

The 20 fastest growing occupations covered in the 2008-2009 Occupational Outlook Handbook, showing employment change in percent from 2006-2016, are:

1. Network systems and data communications   53.4
2. Personal and home care aides    50.6
3. Home health aides     48.7
4. Computer software engineers, applications   44.6
5. Veterinary technologists and technicians   41.0
6. Personal financial advisors    41.0
7. Makeup artists, theatrical and performance   39.8
8. Medical assistants      35.4
9. Veterinarians      35.0
10. Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors 34.3
11. Skin care specialists      34.3
12. Financial analysts      33.8
13. Social and human service assistants    33.6
14. Gaming surveillance officers and gaming investigators  33.6
15. Physical therapist assistants     32.4
16. Pharmacy technicians      32.0
17. Forensic science technicians     30.7
18. Dental hygienists      30.1
19. Mental health counselors     30.0
20. Mental health and substance abuse social workers  29.9

Red McCombs, San Antonio-area alumni host student job shadowers
On Wednesday, January 9, 15 San Antonio-area alumni, including Dr. Red McCombs ‘49 and Dr. Charline McCombs ‘50, hosted 15 current students for a day of career mentoring and job shadowing.  Beginning with a mingling session, a presentation by Dr. McCombs and a luncheon at The Argyle, the day concluded with each alumnus/alumna and a student “match” spending the afternoon together to discuss shared career interests, tour workplaces and meet with colleagues. 

Senior Jeffrey Marks, who met with Sherena Shawrieh ‘88, attorney for Valero Engergy Corporation, summarized his experience: “My experience with SU Connections was absolutely amazing. The Argyle in San Antonio was a wonderful setting for the event, and I was fortunate enough to get to sit next to Red McCombs, which will be something that I will not forget for years to come. Afterwards, I was able to go to Valero and speak to a multitude of lawyers with  diverse backgrounds and jobs (from media and law to litigation). These conversations gave me a great insight about what I want to do, and I would absolutely recommend this program to anyone.”

Many thanks to Red and Charline McCombs, Craig Cates ‘80, Adam Claiborne ‘98, Stephen Fontenot ‘00, Mike Frontz ‘91, Bart Koontz ‘78, Anne Moses ‘90, Lea Ream ‘87, Mark Sessions ‘78, Sherena Shawrieh ‘88, Wendy Smith ‘88, Chip Thompson ‘95, Tim Trevino ‘93, Kay Wiemers ‘83 and friend of Southwestern Mike Hehman for sharing their insight and time with students.

Seeking Central-Texas alumni for spring career networking BBQ
Each April Career Services hosts the Career Connections BBQ, where 25 to 30 alumni from around Texas come to campus to feast on a BBQ lunch and sit down one-on-one with students to talk about shared career interests.  Alumni also get a chance to spend some time networking with one another and even get to invite a favorite faculty member with whom to share lunch.  This year’s event takes place Friday, April 18.  If you would be interested in joining us or would like more information, please contact Roger Young, Director of Career Services, at youngr@southwestern.edu or 512.863.1346.  Alumni from any occupational areas are welcome.

Southwestern student Caitlin Cooper wins national internship award
For the second time in three years a Southwestern University student has earned the Academic Internship Student Achievement Award from the Cooperative Education and Internship Association (CEIA).  More than 700 members of the organization across the country were eligible to nominate their student interns for this award, so Cooper’s recognition is quite an achievement.  The junior communication studies major from Austin earned the award based on her work as a two-time intern at National Instruments in Austin.

Cooper was first hired by National Instruments after her first year - an achievement in and of itself for a firm that typically hires older, more experienced student interns.  During her second internship, Cooper worked in the Direct Marketing department, where her initiative to expand and maintain the direct marketing intranet site improved communication between the company’s corporate headquarters and its global offices.

Cooper hopes to join National Instruments full-time upon graduation, following the footsteps of a number of other Southwestern alumni, such as Emily Taylor ‘07, who worked with Cooper in Director Marketing.

Need a job?  Need to hire someone?  Use our Job Leads Email List!
Whether you are a recent or more seasoned graduate, Career Services offers a way for alumni to help each other though our job leads email list. 

For those seeking a job, new and veteran alumni can choose to receive emailed job postings from Career Services simply by contacting us with an up-to-date email address.  Send your request to sign up for the list to career.services@southwestern.edu.

If you are aware of anyone hiring or your organization is hiring and you can send us a job lead, we will send it out via the email list to other alumni. (Note:  Only for-profit employers’ job leads go out via the email list.  Non-profit, education and government positions are posted on MonsterTRAK, which all alumni are eligible to access and search at their convenience.  For more information about MonsterTRAK, click here.)

Considering federal government employment?
Southwestern University alumni interested in federal government employent have a great opportunity to meet with representatives from 12 different federal agencies to explore career options on Wednesday, October 23, 2007.  The federal goverment foresees a great need in coming years for new employees, but understanding the federal hiring process is challenging.  Make helpful connections and get advice about the myriad career options in public service by  attending a mini government career fair from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in the Bishops Lounge or taking part in a panel discussion featuring all 12 agencies from 3-4 p.m. in the Lynda McCombs Ballroom (sign-up required).  Participating agencies include:  Department of State, Department of Commerce, FBI, Securities and Exchange Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Social Security Administration, NASA, FDIC, Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs, National Security Agency and Drug Enforcement Agency.  Representatives include doctors, lawyers, accountants, an ambassador and many more.   For more information and to sign up, please contact Career Services at 512.863.1346 or email career.services@southwestern.edu.

Fall career events abound - how can you take part?
This fall Career Services once again offers students a wide array of events to teach them to write a resume targeted to a particular goal, interview for that dream internship, job or scholarship, identify appropriate interview attire and feel comfortable in a formal business dining environment, explore career fields including writing, federal government employment, accounting, parks and wildlife and more and take entrance exams and apply for graduate and professional school.  Employers, including alumni, can help teach students these lifelong career management skills and give students the opportunity to delve into particular career fields to learn more.   If you would like to share your expertise with students via one of this fall’s events, or if you have ideas for topics you’d like to help with in the spring.  Please contact us at career.services@southwestern.edu or 512.863.1346.  For a complete list of fall events, please visit our calendar online.

CareerBuilder.com’s seven major job trends for 2007
Thinking of spreading your wings in pursuit of new career opportunities?  CareerBuilder.com’s CEO, Matt Ferguson, recently reported that US Department of Labor data shows that a “moderated, yet stable, job market is expected to carry over into 2007 with gains that will remain strong enough to keep the unemployment rate in check.”  Ferguson also pointed out that employers are expected to become more competitive in their recruitment and retention efforts in 2007 as the pool of skilled labor shrinks and productivity growth plateaus.  For job seekers, these facts translate into seven trends:

• Bigger paychecks - both for existing employees and new hires
• Diversity recruitment - demand for Hispanic/Latino/a workers and Spanish/English bilingual employees, especially
• More flexible work arrangements
• Rehiring retirees
• More promotions
• Better training - transferable skills are a must, but employers may offer to retrain new hires in specific skills in high demand
• Hiring oversees

For more information, see http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/careerbytes/CBArticle.aspx ?articleID=610 

Metroplex alumni host, share expertise with students
Eighteen alumni hosted students on Friday, January 9, 2007, for an afternoon of job shadowing, networking and career exploration.  After a luncheon at Dallas’ The Crescent Club and presentation by alumna Cynthia Brink ‘90 about cross-cultural communication, alumni and the one to three students with whom they were matched were free to spend the afternoon in conversation and touring worksites.  Students reported the activities, including a tour of the Federal Reserve Bank and a lesson on conducting an echocardiogram on a rat, were very informative and helpful.   Many thanks to the alumni who made this event such a success:  David Bauman ‘99, John Beitter ‘84, Rick Burkhardt ‘96, Karen Cangas ‘92, Alex Casiano ‘06, Steve Cotton ‘77, Eric Drew ‘95, Lisa Gildon ‘92, Don Goldston ‘75, Scott Hanson ‘91, Elaine Johnson ‘96, Amy Martin ‘97, Paige McDaniel ‘83, Mandy Moore ‘00, Cara Foos Pierce ‘99, Whitney Randolph ‘03, Scott Smith ‘92, Joe Widner ‘93, and Tara Wisdom ‘01.  Special thanks to David Jacobs ‘73, who hosted the gathering at The Crescent Club.

Seeking Central-Texas alumni for spring career networking BBQ
Each April Career Services hosts the Career Connections BBQ, where 25 to 30 alumni from around Texas come to campus to feast on a BBQ lunch and sit down one-on-one with students to talk about shared career interests.  Alumni also get a chance to spend some time networking with one another and even get to invite a favorite faculty member with whom to share lunch.  This year’s event takes place Friday, April 20.  If you would be interested in joining us or would like more information, please contact Roger Young, Director of Career Services, at youngr@southwestern.edu or 512.863.1346.  Alumni from any occupational areas are welcome.

Spring Internship Connections Fair seeks employers: 
Would you like to hire an SU intern?
Need a talented student to fill an intern roll in your organization?  On Tuesday, February 27, 2007, Career Services’ Internship Development staff hosts Internship Connections Fair, held on campus and featuring employers from industry, government and non-profit sectors.  To reserve your spot for this recruiting opportunity (and a chance to visit your alma mater and former faculty) or for more information, please contact Maria Kruger or Megan Hardin, Internship Development, at 512.863.1671 or email internships@southwestern.edu

If you’ve never considered an intern for your organization, Maria can also help you assess how an intern could fit your needs.

Interview attire: You are what you wear
Maybe it’s been a while since you’ve been interviewed.  Maybe attire common to your organization’s culture is different from a new field to which you want to transition.  Maybe you just want an excuse to go shopping. 

Louis Deering of Execstyle.com notes that “personal presentation can have a huge impact upon success in a job interview. Employers have very little time to make many difficult evaluations about a candidate, and first impressions often unconsciously guide their decision making process. Unfortunately, with today’s diverse and rapidly evolving business dress culture, many job seekers are unsure what constitutes appropriate interview attire.”

Consequently, the professional image consultants at Execstyle.com have created an online reference guide on interview dress etiquette to respond to this need. The guide, an illustrated PDF, helps interviewees research an employer’s dress culture, explains how to create a professional appearance, in both business formal and business casual settings, and provides simple rules for making a great first impression during interviews. It also provides tips on buying the right interview suit, from fitting to styling to fabric. It is well illustrated with examples and includes links to ask-an-expert service for answers to specific questions. This free resource can be downloaded and viewed at www.execstyle.com/dressforaninterview.asp

Seeking a new job or career change?
SU Career Services continues to provide help to alumni after graduation, including job leads through our email job leads list (by subscription) and one-on-one in-person or phone career advising to help with resume development, job search strategies, graduate school application and more.  Just contact us at 512.863.1346 or via email at career.services@southwestern.edu to see how we may be of help.

Big tips for small talk
Whether you are searching for a job now or are comfortably employed, you will face numerous work and personal situations that require you to meet new people, make good first impressions and cultivate relationships for future contacts.  Real Simple’s Jennifer Tung suggested several tips for making “small talk” big and powerful.

Do your homework:  Before attending a function, think of two or three things to talk about in case of conversation lulls.  Read news headlines, movie and book reviews, listen to talk radio, etc.

Use a firm handshake as a safe, neutral greeting, especially in work settings.

Remember names!:  Repeat a name once or twice after hearing it.  Slow down when introducing yourself.  Make graceful introductions by announcing names and offering a piece of information about each person to facilitiate conversation.

Ask questions and be a great listener:  People like to talk about themselves.  Draw the other person out with questions about your environment (e.g. “What’s your favorite painting [at this exhibition]?” or ask about what they do professionally and recreationally.  When in doubt, discuss the setting.  Comment on music, food, or how you know the host.

Don’t forget your closing: Before moving away from a conversation partner, close your meeting, such as by mentioning something from your discussion that meant something to you.  For example “I’ve enjoyed talking with you about your vacation, and I hope we get to talk again.  Lead in with an “I need...” phrase (e.g. “I need to catch up with my spouse/get some food/meet the speaker, etc.”)

Considering a return to grad school?
Many SU students tell us they intend to pursue advanced degrees after working for a few years.  If you’re ready to go back to school, Career Services can help you navigate the application process.  In particular, you may need to take or retake the Graduate Record Exam, the entrance exam required for most graduate school program admissions (medical,  law and other professional schools use other exams).

Beginning in Fall 2007, a revised GRE General Test, representing the most significant changes and enhancements ever made in its 55-year history, will go into effect.  The new version is designed to better measure the complex reasoning skills required of graduate students and provide graduate schools with better data about applicants' performance on the test.  The revised General Test will be just over four hours in length, longer than the current two-and-a-half hour exam. It also will be offered on approximately 30 fixed administration dates in which every examinee taking the test will take the same exam on the same date, instead of the current year-round schedule.  Major content changes include:

• Greater emphasis on higher cognitive skills and less dependence on vocabulary
• More text-based materials, such as reading passages, and a broader selection of reading passages
• More quantitative questions involving real-life scenarios and data interpretation and fewer geometry questions
• On-screen, four-function calculator with a square root function

Alumni considering applying to graduate school in the near future need to decide whether to take the current version of the GRE or wait for the revised version.  Each could have pros and cons:  Which type of content knowledge can you best demonstrate (e.g. reading comprehension vs. vocabulary memorization, geometry vs. data interpretation?   How long will you need to prepare?  The timing of the availability of test preparation materials for the new version may be a factor.  The changes in scoring and a lengthier wait for score reporting could also affect applicants, at least when the revised version is first being used.  Professional test preparers like Kaplan and Princeton Review may be able to offer you more insight into the decision of which version to take.  Career Services is also available for all your basic graduate school application questions.

Forgot to pay a bill?  It could cost you your job.
You’ve probably heard how important a good credit record is when you need a loan, want to apply for a credit card with better terms or even when securing car insurance.  But did you know that some employers are now checking credit scores of potential hires?  At a recent meeting of Career Services’ Employer Advisory Board, local employers who hire SU graduates confirmed statements in a recent article by the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, which said that managing credit responsibly has far-reaching implications.  Employers figure if you struggle to manage your own finances, you may also do so with company resources. 

Dust off that old resume!
Career Services can help you edit and tailor resumes as you consider changing careers or seeking a new position.  First, consider using our online resources (arranged by topic area).  Second, realize you will need to retarget your resume for a new career field.  How you choose to order and phrase things should be determined by what, in your set of experiences, is most relevant to the reader of your resume.  Ideally, an employer would like to hire someone who’s already done the job for which s/he is hiring.  So you must paint a picture of yourself that most closely resembles that position.  Using category headings like “Relevant Experience” and “Other Experience” lets you move those experiences that are more meaningful to the reader higher up on the page, regardless of their chronological order.  A functional, or skills-based, resume is sometimes a good strategy for a career changer.  For more information on resumes, see our Resume Writing Guide or contact a career advisor at career.services@southwestern.edu or 512.863.1346.  For more information about what services are available to alumni, please click the “Alumni Services” button on menu to the left of the screen.

Need a job?  Need to hire someone?  Use our Job Leads Email List!
Whether you are a recent or more seasoned graduate, Career Services offers a way for alumni to help each other though our job leads email list. 

For those seeking a job, new and veteran alumni can choose to receive emailed job postings from Career Services simply by contacting us with an up-to-date email address.  Send your request to sign up for the list to career.services@southwestern.edu.

If you are aware of anyone hiring or your organization is hiring and you can send us a job lead, we will send it out via the email list to other alumni. (Note:  Only for-profit employers’ job leads go out via the email list.  Non-profit, education and government positions are posted on MonsterTRAK, which all alumni are eligible to access and search at their convenience.  For more information about MonsterTRAK, click here.)

© 2008 Southwestern University