Month: October 2013

What’s Your Career Costume?

Image courtesy of hin255 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Today is a day traditionally celebrated by children donning costumes and visiting houses with a familiar greeting of “trick or treat”.  I was thinking about that idea of dressing up and the frequent question we ask children, “What will you be for Halloween?”  This question leads us to answers that include the child’s favorite super hero, fairy tale princess or animal.  We find out what the child is interested in and what things they may aspire to be.

In the same way, when we ask ourselves what career field we might want to go into, it can be akin to trying on that costume.  What clothes do I want to wear to work?  What kind of environment do I want to work in?  From wearing a powersuit and working in a skyscraper in a large city to wearing your comfiest sweats and working from your own home computer, the sky is the limit as to career settings that are available today.  Think about what suits you best.  Would you like to work in a high energy world filled with lots of people interaction or are you more interested in a calm, peaceful setting where you can work more independently?  The answers to these questions can help guide your direction and if you are unsure about what might be the best fit, I encourage you to make an appointment with our Career Exploration team.  One of the assessments we use is a personality inventory that will help you understand yourself and your natural personality preferences better.  This self-understanding can be a valuable tool to guide you in the career direction that will work well for you.  Let us know how we can help and have a safe and happy Halloween!

Connecting Short-Term Mission Trips to Career Goals

Obtaining real-life experience in a career field can be a significant help in the career decision-making process.  Many students state that they want their work to make a meaningful contribution in society.  A discipline-specific mission trip can be an excellent way to discover how different kinds of professionals can make an impact for God’s Kingdom.  Click here to learn more about Baylor mission trips that focus on childhood development, the medical field, programming/community development, education/wellness, outdoor recreation, engineering, music, accounting, hunger, business, sports ministry, and women’s leadership.

A Handwritten Thank You Note

Image courtesy of nuchylee at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

As you journey through life, the handwritten thank you note is always a valuable tool to have in your back pocket.  Whether reaching out to someone following a networking introduction or connecting after an interview, a thoughtful, well-written thank you can speak volumes to those who receive it.  Here are a few links with tips for writing a thank-you note following an interview:

http://www.levo.com/articles/skills/negotiating-table-the-interview-thank-you-note

http://www.prepary.com/what-to-write-in-a-thank-you-note-after-an-interview/

You may find opportunities to customize these templates for other situations as well.

Career Spotlight: Human Resources

Human resources is a business field that focuses on the employees of an organization.  Human resources specialists and human resources managers can serve in many capacities.  Examples include recruitment and hiring, benefits administration, staff development and training, conflict mediation, policy development, and disciplinary actions and termination.

Baylor offers a major in Human Resource Management, though some human resources specialists and managers have degrees in social sciences or other business fields.

For more information about careers in human resources, visit the Society for Human Resource Management website.

Happy Homecoming!

This weekend is a special one for the Baylor family.  It is a time when all those who have walked these hallowed halls before return to celebrate and remember their time at Baylor.  The activities from Freshman Mass Meeting to the football game and everything in between fill us with remembrances of the past and great hope for the future.  As you meet new faces and greet familiar ones during this special weekend, be sure and take time to listen to the stories of alumni you encounter.  They have a rich wealth of knowledge and hearing about their journey at Baylor and beyond may give you some knew insight as you are selecting your major and/or career path.  Enjoy this special Baylor experience.  Before you know it, you will be returning to campus and sharing your story with the current campus community.  Happy Homecoming!

Career Exploration Walk-In Hours

Are you feeling confused about your major or career goals?  Are you wondering if the career exploration process is right for you?  Do you want to use our online resources to research careers and majors but feel overwhelmed?

Our Career Information Assistants can help you during our walk-in hours to learn more about the career exploration resources that we offer.  They can explain the career exploration process step-by-step and show you how to navigate the many tools available on our website.  These peer assistants have been trained in how to connect students to the best campus resources to suit their needs.

Drop in during the following times with your questions:

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

11:15 a.m to 1:15 p.m.

Sid Richardson 132

Tuesday and Thursday

11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Sid Richardson Lobby

2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Sid Richardson 132

Happy Fall Break!

Image courtesy of Arvind Balaraman at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I hope you all enjoy your extra long weekend!  Take time to get some extra rest and maybe think ahead on homework, tests and assignments, so you’ll be prepared, but don’t forget to take advantage of networking opportunities that may arise as you find yourself out of your typical day to day routine.  If you are traveling to your hometown, take a minute to stop in and visit with a family friend who may be working in the same industry that interests you.  You may find a potential internship or job shadowing experience right in your back yard.  Wherever you find yourself during your extra time off, take a minute to think about where you envision yourself in the future, where you are now, and what your plan might be to get to the future you see.  Remember, you don’t have to go it alone!  We at Career and Professional Development are here to help you.  So if that path from where you are to where you want to be looks a little blurry, make an appointment online or stop in for a visit.  We’d love to work with you to help make your dream a reality!

University-Wide Majors Fair Today

Come one, come all to the University-Wide Majors Fair from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the second floor of the Bill Daniel Student Center today.  Whether you are looking for a new major or just trying to figure out what you can do with your current major, this event is for you.  Click here to view a list of departments and programs that will be represented.  Faculty will also be available to talk about academic minors and secondary majors.  Please join us for lively conversations and stick around for a Dr Pepper float (Dr Pepper Hour sponsored by Career and Professional Development from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.).  See you there!

What Does it Cost to Live?

Image courtesy of Michael Elliott at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Have you ever wondered how much it costs to live in the real world?  As you look at estimates of yearly salaries for different career paths you are considering, do you ever wonder how those numbers break down to paying the bills each month?  If these are some of the questions you are wrestling with as you explore career options, I have some valuable tools for you!

Several states offer “Reality Check” websites, which allow you to choose a specific location within the state and choose specific living expenses you might like to have once you are out on your own, so you can build a budget and get a clear idea of what kind of wages might be needed to live the life you want.  Once you finish the calculating, the website gives you a list of careers that make the salary that fits with your budget.  You might want to go through the budgeting process several times.  One time, you might want to focus on essentials, recognizing that entry level jobs may start at a lower rate than salaries once you have been in the workforce for a few years.

Here are links to the three states who offer reality checks:

Texas Reality Check

California Reality Check

Colorado Reality Check

It might even be helpful to see the differences in each state, especially if you plan to live in a state other than those three.  Remember, if your state is not listed, you can also look up specifics about the area you are interested in living in online, using some of the budget ideas the reality check uses as a guide.

If you would like more help with choosing a major or a career, please visit Career and Professional Development.  We’d be happy to help!

University-Wide Majors Fair in One Week!

Whether you started the semester undecided on a major or your current classes have you reconsidering your major, please join us for the University-Wide Majors Fair on Tuesday, October 8th.  The event will take place from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the second floor of the Bill Daniel Student Center.  We will have faculty representatives on hand to discuss academic programs at Baylor and what they can offer you.  We hope to see you there!