It wasn’t like the question was unexpected; I saw it coming from a mile away. I wondered if it would be my father or mother who would make the first attempt, but it really didn’t matter who verbalized it, it had to be asked. Rather than wait for the rest of the awkward silence to fill up the already quiet dining room table, I decided I would be the first to speak. “No. I haven’t decided what kind of job I want to pursue.”

I could visualize the thoughts that were running in circles through my mother’s mind. Benefits, bills, possibilities, disappointment, future happiness, dissatisfaction. How could I have gone through almost four and a half years of college and still not know where my Communications degree would lead me? The creases in her forehead calmed, and her attempt at a smile brought some comfort. “It’s time to decide.”

Picking a career and deciding all with one simple decision the rest of your life is terrifying, especially when the idea of the life you want to be living is hazy and unclear. I couldn’t for the life of me get a picture of actually being a “real person” in the real world. Did I want to be in a cubicle for the rest of my life surrounded by people who hated their job just as much as I did? The only thing I could see in front of me was the image of the character in Office Space asking me if I took his stapler. I shouldn’t, couldn’t, WOULDN’T be miserable the rest of my life. But what do I do?

 “If you could pick any job in the whole world, what would it be?” The question made my body freeze, and all the sudden I was unable to move. What kind of job would I get? Where did the time I had to decide that go?

 “I don’t know.” I said simply. And those were the last words that came out of my mouth. They tried to pull in ideas: work for a magazine, write for a newspaper, go into publishing, I just politely shook my head no. Nothing really triggered any feeling of confidence. The job descriptions seemed so broad, yet so constricted.

Discovering FocusCareer2.Com has opened my eyes to the possibility of an attempt to figure out what my future will include. Not only does it allow you to create a career profile to be on your way for success, it includes different assessment tests that can give a clear view of what is out there for you specifically.

Signing up is easy, and there are ways to show you what you are academically strong in, leading to the future career you may not even know you want. The questions that are asked seem simple, but the specifics allow me to fill in details of my strengths and weaknesses that I never knew I had. The limited time lets you answer certain questions on instinct alone, and without thinking too much is the sure way to discover the truth.

Finalizing your college career is as terrifying as the monsters that used to live under your bed, but FocusCareer2.Com is there to lift the covers for you, showing you there is nothing to be scared of.

New York State Teacher Certification

With all you have on your plate right now, thinking about becoming NYS certified to teach is probably not at the forefront.  It does, however, need to be.

The following are the things that you need to do to become certified, in addition to completing your degree at SUNY Cortland:

Child Abuse Recognition Workshop (CAR): dates can be found at http://www2.cortland.edu/centers/cee/students/course_child_abuse.dot.

Safe Schools Against Violence Workshop (SAVE): dates can be found at http://www2.cortland.edu/centers/cee/students/save.dot.

File the “Teacher Certification Recommendations Authorization Form” with the appropriate office (Registrar for undergraduate students, Graduate Studies Office for graduate students).  You can get the form from Career Services or through “myRedDragon.”

Teaching Exams: Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST), Content Specialty Test (CST) and the Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W) Test.  Contact us for specific information about your testing requirements, as it varies by major.  Information about registering for the NYS Teacher Certification Exams can be found at www.nystce.nesinc.com.

Fingerprinting: Career Services is now doing digital fingerprinting.  An appointment is required.

Applying on-line at TEACH for your Teacher Certification.  Once you have applied for graduation, you will find instructions on “myRed Dragon” for applying for your teacher certification.

For additional information or questions, please contact Career Services.

This information is current as of 10/1/2009

Post contributed by Louie Larson

The question Juniors and mostly Seniors ask about this time of year is? To go or NOT to go to Grad School or should I wait? And as important is: What should I get my degree in!

For some it’s easy and you know what you want to get your degree in or it’s required. But for many it’s a real dilemma. If you don’t know what you want to get your degree in—–DON”T go to graduate school and waste time and money. Don’t go to GS until you know what you want to get the degree in. Work has a nice way of helping that process along.

A few things to consider:

-There are deadline dates. Check them out.

-Do I want a part-time or full-time program. There are benefits to both.

-How do I pay for a master’s degree. Many colleges offer assistantships to help with college tuition and fees.

-Do you have a research interest that a faculty member might have in the department

-How does size and location play in your search for a grad school

-Do I meet the requirements of the program I am interested in: GPA, test scores, letters of recommendation

For further information about Graduate Schools go to the Graduate School page on the Career Services web site.  Great information awaits you. Good Luck!

The heavy bass from the loud music startles you, spilling your drink slightly below your neck to your off-white sweater. Disappointment quickly turns into a nonchalant hand wave; cranberry juice will come out in the wash, right? A night of fun is well deserved after all those applications you sent out this week, and this Friday night couldn’t look any better. Dancing and good friends, the night is young and so are we, not a worry in the world. 

       Smile big…

               Flash. 

Going out with friends is innocent enough when you are in control and playing it safe, but pictures don’t lie. The internet has become a large piece of society’s socialization and our generation in particular has become obsessed with quickly taking as many digital pictures as possible, and posting them online even faster. We have slowly become our own paparazzi, posting unflattering pictures for anyone to see, especially potential future employers.

Would you hire someone who posed in a picture with a large pink stain on her shirt, sweaty with dance moves? Or the party hero who could do a keg stand for more than thirty seconds? Employers everywhere are more interested in who you really are online as opposed to who you say you are on an application.

Brand-Yourself.Com is a website made for the potential future employee, before they apply for a job. It helps build up a good name for yourself and show who you really are. Instead of being “that person” on Saturday night everyone just needed to take a picture of, Brand Yourself gives you the opportunity for positivity on the internet. According to the website, 83% of employers today will Google their applicant’s names. 43% of employers will base their decision on what they find.

Signing up is free, giving you your own online profile and helping you establish a professional existence on the internet. Although Facebook and MySpace are entertaining social networks, when it comes time to being serious, how do you want to be seen?

Say goodbye to campus wide e-mails. Starting October 15, 2009 students and facility will no longer receive e-mails regarding campus events from many prominent campus listservs.

Before rejoicing at the fact that in boxes will no longer be flooded, keep in mind that those e-mails were the most efficient way to spread campus wide messages. After October 15, all of the messages that would have been sent via e-mail will be posted under the Student life online tab on myRedDragon.

Organizations that will be most dramatically effected by this change are Rec. Sports, Career Services, SGA, Student Affairs, Judicial Affairs, Multicultural Life, and Health Services. For students this means, it will be necessary to check the student life tab periodically to stay up to date with events held on campus.

Post by: Andrew DeBardelaben, Student Intern

Like studying for an exam or writing a paper, interviewing is something else in your life that requires preparation. This blog will share with you tips to help you prepare and hopefully calm your nerves.
Tip 1 – Do Your Homework. – Research the company or school district you will be meeting with. Visit their website. Read their mission statement. Know the companies needs and be able to reflect your experiences that may meet those needs. Bring extra resumes with you.
Tip 2 – Role Play. – “Rehearse” your lines. Practice general interviewing questions and think about how you will answer them. Ask a friend or relative to practice with you. Avoid saying “like” and “um”. Remember – you are selling yourself.
Tip 3 – Eye Contact. – When you practice interviewing, practice looking at the person, not away. This shows that you have interest in the job.
Tip 4 – Prepare questions. – Not only are they interviewing you, but you are interviewing them. Write down some questions that you plan to ask the interviewer.
Tip 5 – Dress the Part. – Dress professionally and conservatively. First impressions are important.
Tip 6 – Schedule Time to Get to the Interviewer. – Do Not Be Late!! Arrive 15 minutes early.
Tip 7 – Follow-Up. – Send a thank you note to the interviewer within 24 hours.
With the proper preparation, there is less of a margin of error. Less chance of looking rattled and more opportunity to look polished. Remember that Career Services is here to help you through the interviewing process, so stop and see us in Van Hoesen Hall.

45% of employers are using social media sites to research potential job candidates according to a recent CareerBuilder survey. (reference)

What they find out about you can make or break your job search.  When you do a Google search of yourself, what comes up?  Would the information make an employer want to hire you or send your resume to the shredder?

Your online identity will have an impact on your job search, and the latest Career Services workshop will help ensure a positive impact.

Monday October 5th at 7 p.m.  Syracuse University student entrepreneurs and founders of Brand-Yourself.com will be in the Fireplace Lounge, Corey Union to help you on your quest for the perfect job.  See you there.

So you are not sure what to do with your life?? That’s okay. College is the place to explore your options and figure that out. The Career Services Office staff is available to help.

Are you undecided and not comfortable picking a major? Or unsure about the major you have picked?  We have counselors who are here to help.

Not sure the profession you have chosen is right for you?  We can help you find an internship in your field.

Not sure how to become certified to teach?  We can walk you through the Certification process. 

Not sure if you want to go on to Grad School before looking for employment?  We can guide you through the many options of graduate study. 

Not sure how to look for a job?  We have the resources available to create first-rate resumes and cover letters. 

Nervous about going to a job interview?  We can prep you on interview questions and go through a mock interview with you.  We also host interviewing dinners, each semester, to prepare you for real world interviews. 

Stop by and see what we can do for you!

Ever think about working for Disney World, the FBI or MTV? How about getting credit for working with the National Park Service or securing a high-powered finance internship with the Bank of Tokyo?
Internships allow you to gain valuable hands-on experience while testing possible career options. Additional experience will help you get hired after college. Recent research from NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) indicates that employers look for internship experience when screening potential hires; more than 80% of college graduates this year will have participated in at least one internship during the year – have you?

Internships are available throughout the year in Cortland, across the country and around the world. You can earn up to 16 credit hours toward graduation through internships as long as you are in good academic standing and have completed at least 12 credit hours at Cortland. For more details about the process, please visit the Career Services website or call Career Services today at 607.75.4715 to explore options.

The staff at SUNY Cortland Career Services is dedicated to providing high quality career counseling assistance to students, alumni, and community members with an emphasis on the development of lifetime skills that lead to successful career and educational choices

Our comprehensive services include:

-          Counseling and testing services
-          Career resource library
-          Workshops
-          Job search tools
-          Student employment services
-          Internship/volunteer services
-          Credential file services
-          Recruitment/career exploration events
-          Annual graduate survey
-          Consulting and workshop services
-          Career technology

Stop by our office at B-5 Van Hoesen for more information on these services.  We look forward to seeing you!