Baylor Business Sell-Off

Do you have what it takes to succeed in professional sales?  The Baylor Business Sell-Off is coming up.  According to the website for the Hankamer School of Business,

“The Baylor Business Sell-Off competition is designed to allow students to engage in a realistic sales situation, providing students an opportunity to demonstrate and improve their selling abilities.

An individual-level competition, Business Sell-Off students engage in a live role play with a business executive. All role plays are viewed by business executives from around the country, offering students a chance to gain valuable feedback and prospective job offers.”

Visit the website for details on the event and how to register to compete.

Forensic Science Minor

Inspired by television shows such as CSI and Bones, students often come to us with interests in forensic science.  Baylor offers a minor in forensic science for students with serious aspirations in this area.

Students are required to complete the following courses:

  • FORS 1390: Suvey of Forensic
  • FORS 2357: Crime Scene Investigation

The minor is rounded out with a student’s selection of FORS classes to fulfill the minimum number of hours, including advanced hours, for the minor.  Students can view the details of the minor on page 74 of the 2011-12 Undergraduate Catalog.  Possible courses a student could choose from are:

  • Human Osteology
  • Forensic DNA Analysis
  • Death, Injury, and Physical Remains

Baylor’s Department of Anthropology, Forensic Science, and Archaeology (which houses the minor) emphasizes that the minor is only appropriate for those with a hard science background.  The department’s website states the following:

“It is suggested that students consider a BS major in Biology, Chemistry, Anthropology or Psychology.”

Click here for information from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences about pursuing a career as a forensic scientist.

Still interested in bringing criminals to justice, but not strong in the hard sciences?  Perhaps the criminal justice minor is for you.

What Do Engineers Do?

Many students report that they are interested in the field of engineering because they are attracted to the good salaries and job growth projections.  Obviously, those are two major selling points, but what does an engineer actually do?

The Occupational Outlook Handbook states:

“Engineers apply the principles of science and mathematics to develop economical solutions to technical problems. Their work is the link between scientific discoveries and the commercial applications that meet societal and consumer needs.”

Try watching a few videos to get a better sense of the day-to-day work of engineers:

Baylor students can choose a major in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Engineering with a Biomedical or Flexible option.  Excellent mathematical ability is a priority for students considering a career in engineering, as evidenced by the seven math/statistics classes required for the majors.  If a student is not eligible to begin with calculus, even more mathematical preparation would be necessary.

Would you like to learn more?  Listen to our podcast interview with Assistant Dean Fry from Baylor’s School of Engineering and Computer Science.

What Can I Do with a Major in Psychology?

The above question is one that I certainly raised as an undergraduate, despite my confidence that I would enjoy my major.  Family and strangers also felt compelled to ask where I thought my psychology major would lead me in life.  Now, more than ever, I believe that psychology can provide an excellent foundation for many careers.

First, I encourage you to evaluate if the major is a good fit for you.  Consider that psychology is a science.  As such, you will be required to complete courses in neuroscience, statistics, and research methods.  Also, keep in mind that many of the career options directly related to the study of psychology require education beyond a Bachelor’s degree.  Graduate programs typically have rigorous admissions standards and are quite competitive.

Let’s say that you have already confirmed that psychology is the major for you.  Baylor’s Department of Psychology and Neuroscience has information on their website regarding a multitude of relevant career possibilities.  The site includes recommendations of specific psychology courses that could be most useful for students on various career tracks.  There is also a section dedicated to careers for students who do not continue their education beyond the undergraduate degree.

Some additional sources of ideas are:

How to Find Someone to Job Shadow

Career counselors often recommend that students do some job shadowing to verify a selected career path or to compare options.  Following around a professional in the real world sounds like fun, right?  Recognizing the value of job shadowing is a no-brainer.  Identifying someone to shadow might take a bit more effort.

Start by considering anyone you might already know or know of in an occupation that interests you:

  • Family members
  • Friends’ parents
  • Parents’ friends
  • Church members
  • A guest speaker from one of your classes or a student organization meeting

What if you rack your brain, and you still cannot think of anyone you know in a career that interests you?  First, try to determine if your focus is too narrow.  Do you know anyone in a related career?  Second, start asking around.  Talk to some of the people from the list above about your career interests, and ask if they know of someone who might be open to being interviewed or shadowed.  When you hear the term “networking,” this is what they are talking about!

For some of you, you might need to talk to faculty in your area of study for leads.  As a last resort, you might find it necessary to contact someone without having an existing connection.  Professional organizations and the chamber of commerce for a city are good places to start.  If you know typical employers of a certain kind of professionals, you know where to begin your search.  The Baylor Alumni Directory and LinkedIn can help you in identifying any Baylor connnections at an employer that interests you.

A key thing to remember is that once you identify someone to contact, you want all communications with that person to be professional and courteous.  If you are cold calling, identify yourself as a Baylor University student and explain why you think a shadowing opportunity or information could be helpful to you.  Be clear that you are not calling to beg for a job or try to get an internship.  Even when you are polite, the answer might still be “no” on occasion.”  Don’t take it personally.  It could be that the person is too busy or their employer does not allow shadowing.  For those of you who are successful in lining up an opportunity, remember that you are only there to observe and learn, not to contribute to the work.  Last, but not least, always send a note of thanks to follow up!

If you try all of the strategies above and still can’t identify someone to contact, leave us a comment.  We are here to help!

Grad School Workshop Tonight!

Are you bound for grad school?  Do you want to increase your odds of getting in?  The Career Services office is presenting a workshop TONIGHT, October 24, for those students who would like to learn more about graduate school admissions.

Dos and Don’ts:  Getting into Graduate/Professional School will be from 5-6 p.m. in the Baylor Sciences Building, Room E125.  Learn how to succeed in the grad school application process, review the graduate school admissions process, and get some application tips.  Maria Pate, Manager with Kaplan, will be the presenter.  RSVP in your HireABear account.