So, as the days are getting cooler (okay, cold), it’s time to start doing some planning and preparation for next year (for some of you next semester, others on the job market). As students, you are presented with numerous opportunities to make connections with professionals to help with career preparation and even that first job. You also have opportunities to volunteer and make connections as well.
Because we want you to make full use of resources on and off campus to succeed and get your prepared for the world of work, below is a wide variety of opportunities for you to get … “fill in the blank.” Make the most of your time here, choose wisely. Note #4 includes some excellent tips for cool classes and special topics for spring 2009 in the COM department.
1. Get Involved: Dr. Gloria Galanes has a volunteer opportunity for anyone who’s interested and lives in or near Greene County. Morey Mechlin is managing the campaign for a nonpartisan court plan for Greene County (re: the appointment of judges, etc.). She needs volunteers to work 2-3-hour shifts on election day, Tuesday, Nov 4. Here’s the relevant information from her email:
“We need students who can provide their own transportation to a voting precinct for 2-3 hour shifts on Tuesday, November 4. They will be outside passing out "Vote Yes" cards. They have their choice to work morning (6-9 a.m.), noon (10:30 - 1:30 p.m.) or evening (4-7 p.m.) shifts. We will have a training session on Sunday, November 2 at 4:00 p.m. so that they are familiar with the issue and understand the laws about working at a precinct.”
If anyone is interested, please email Dr. Galanes that you are interested by Wednesday noon if possible and she’ll give Morey the list of names: GloriaGalanes@MissouriState.edu 417.836.4983
2. Get Interviewed: The Career Center will host a Mock Interview Day for students on November 12, 9am-4pm in the PSU Ballroom West. This event gives students experience interviewing with employers so those students will become more comfortable and knowledgeable with how to interview when they are seeking a job or internship.
The employers will interview each student for 10-15 minutes and then provide 10-15 minutes of feedback for the student. Many different types of employers are participating in this event, including Missouri State University Graduate Programs, Cerner, Liberty Mutual, St. John’s Health System, Missouri Parole & Probation, Unifirst, Associated Electric, City Utilities, Jack Henry, and Joplin School District. This diversity of employers doing the mock interviews should enable students to interview with a company/organization in their future career field.
Students may sign up for this event and find the full list of employers on the Career Center website: www.careercenter.missouristate.edu. Please contact the Career Center (Carrington 309 or Glass 103; 836-5536; CareerCenter@missouristate.edu) if you have any questions.
3. Get Networked: Mentoring 101
From Rachel Bachus, 2007 alum: “I wanted to share with you about the “Magic of Mentoring”, AWC-Women in Communication Event (the Magic of Mentoring.pdf flyer explains and has registration details). The event is on Wed. November 12 and the guest speaker is Dr. Nancy O’Reilly who will discuss the importance of mentoring at any age and give tips on how to be a mentor, find a mentor, etc.
I am a current member of AWC and it is a great networking opportunity for any communication/public relation majors at MSU…a way to learn about communication related jobs in the community. This would be an excellent event for any MSU students and/or professors to attend.
Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks so much and hope to see you soon!”
Rachel L. Bachus Advancement Coordinator
1212 Lombard, Springfield, MO 65806
Direct:417.864.3974 Fax:417.869.0276
Rachel.Bachus@bgtm.org
4. Get Registered: Next week begins pre-registration for the spring 2009 semester.
As you plan your schedule, take note of a few special sections, cool topics, and additions/changes.
• COM 397: January Intersession: Randy K. Dillon
TOPIC: SEMIOTICS: COMMUNICATION OF SIGNS AND SYMBOLS 01/05/2009 to 01/09/2009, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm MTWRF
• COM 436: Communication and Leadership, special section taught by Dr. Gloria Galanes with local leaders as guest speakers and lecturers. T R 12:30 pm to 1:45 pm
• COM 315: Special Section on Public Speaking in the Legal Environment by Joe Passanise, local attorney and COM alum
Section 301 6:30 pm to 9:20 pm Thursday
• COM 505: Health Communication with Dr. Heather Carmack
Section 301 5:00 pm to 6:15 pm Mondays and Wednesdays
• COM 300: Careers in Communication
1st block course, 01/12/2009 to 03/05/2009, MW 2-2:50.
• Need a flexible course to meet your needs as a busy student?
How about COM 328: Online section of Persuasion—how convenient is that?
Online COM 512: Communication and Diversity in the workplace—TWO sections
Online COM 511: Communication and Conflict.
• COM 326: previously MWF at 9:00, now offered MWF at 10:00am
That's it for now,
Kelly
Last month, during the week of Sept 15-19 we hosted our annual COM Week activities. For about six years now, the department has offered this week of events for students to get experiences outside of the normal classroom through what we call “master classes,” to learn directly from alums and professionals working in good jobs. And as a culminating activity, we host a networking luncheon to connect students and alums. This is something we believe is inherently valuable to students and it also provides alums with connections back to the department and MSU generally. “It’s good thing,“ as Martha Stewart would say, that we give you real life examples of “what do you do with a COM major.”
It’s a good thing that may need to be rethought. Over the years, attendance at the events has been solid, but sporadic. This year, master classes were not well attended…in fact, it was dismal. Instead of blaming students (you) for not coming to these free and extremely useful activities, I started thinking about why students didn’t come in larger numbers as in the past. I’m still a bit perplexed about this. If students are busy, what are you busy doing? Were the scheduled event times inconvenient? If so, why? Did we not give you enough advance notice? Were the topics too vague for you to want to register? For those students who did register, why didn’t they show up? Ultimately, I’m left with more questions than answers. We want to serve you and provide useful programs and opportunities, and we do our best to tailor events to your needs (surveys, information given in classes, input, student involvement in planning). At some point, it’s up to you to attend (or not). So, where do we go from here?
Having said that, the networking luncheon on Friday was a huge success. We had very strong numbers of students who registered AND attended. The feedback during and after the luncheon was extremely positive (from both students and alums). Perhaps these types of networking activities are more of what you need? Instead of learning about how to write a good resume or use the newest techniques for posting your resume, perhaps you just want to meet people who can help you get jobs (and get fed at the same time J). I’d like to hear from you about this so that next year we can plan appropriate and exciting activities that you will clamor to attend.
In a future InCommon, I’ll post some of the great tips that the alums shared during COM Week.
MORE THINGS TO CONSIDER…
I get requests from fellow students to post items in the blog and I’m happy to do, here’s one:
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FROM: Andrew Meyer (COM Major)Missouri State SIFE is partnering with Drury SIFE to host project WISE (Women Inspiring Student Entrepreneurs).This project will help female students make business connections, meet women in their future career field, and network to find possible internship/career opportunities. Students who sign up will be matched with an entrepreneur. They will then be invited to attend an opening banquet, held on Monday, October 27, where students will meet their business counterpart, arrange a date to shadow them, and hear from a keynote speaker. The project will conclude with a closing banquet to be held on Thursday, November 20, where you will have a chance to reflect on your experience and provide project feedback. WISE is a project specifically designed by Drury SIFE to provide a unique networking and learning opportunity for college women. To apply for project WISE, please visit, http://www.drury.edu/multinl/story.cfm?ID=22586&NLID=288To be considered for participation, students must submit an application no later than Wednesday, October 8, 2008.Questions? Contact Project Leader, Caitlin Pierce, at CPierce02@drury.edu (417) 873-7378.Andy Meyer, President, Missouri State SIFE (Missouristatesife@gmail.com) (417) 773-2415.
Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) is a global, non-profit organization. For more information about Missouri State SIFE or Drury SIFE, please visit,Missouri State SIFE Drury SIFE
Kelly McNeilis