Career Connections Newsletter • May 2009
Career Topic of the Month: Transitions
Career Resource of the Month: Advice for Moving Home for the Summer
Spotlight on Success: SNC Alumni Profile
Career Tip of the Month: Transitioning into the Workforce
Financial Literacy Tip of the Month: Needs vs. Wants
Internship of the Month
Upcoming Events
Career Topic of the Month: Transitions
Think you haven’t experienced any transitions, think again! Positive or negative, everyone experiences transitions. As we approach the end of another academic year, all students will soon be experiencing a transition.
The definition of a transition is “any event, or non-event, that results in changed relationships, routines, assumptions, and roles”. There are three types of transitions that a person experiences:
1.
Anticipated Transitions: these occur predictably.
a. Graduating from college
b. Moving back home for the summer
2.
Unanticipated Transitions: these are not predicted or scheduled.
a. Breaking up with a significant other
b. Death in the family
3.
Nonevents: transitions that are expected but do not occur.
a. Not getting admitted to the school of choice
b. Not getting an expected promotion
How a person makes meaning of an experienced transition depends on the type (as stated above), the context (the person’s relationship to the transition and the setting it takes place), and the impact of the transition (how it affects the person’s daily life). Making meaning of a transition will vary for each person. Transitions provide individuals with an opportunity for growth; however there is also the chance of decline for individuals who get stuck in transition. Effective coping includes four S’s as well as the resources available in these four areas:
- Situation: eight factors are taken into consideration when looking at person’s situation.
- Trigger – What prompted the transition?
- Timing – On time, off time? Good or bad timing?
- Control – Is the transition or the person’s reaction within their control?
- Role Change – Role change occurring? Is it perceived as a gain or a loss?
- Duration – Is the transition permanent, temporary or uncertain?
- Previous experience with similar transition – Effective previous coping skills?
- Concurrent stress – Are other sources of stress present?
- Assessment – Who/What is seen as responsible for the transition? Is the person’s behavior affected by this perception?
- Self: characteristics affecting how the individual views life.
- Personal Characteristics
- Demographic Characteristics
- Support: looked at in terms of social support; broken down into three facets.
- 4 Types of support – intimate relationships, family units, network of friends, institutions/communities.
- 4 Functions of support – affect, affirmation, aid, and honest feedback
- Measurement of support – stable supports vs. supports that are likely to change
- Strategies: the coping responses of the individual experiencing the transition.
An individual experiencing a transition can cope effectively by using flexibility in the strategies they utilize to work through a transition. An effecting coping process includes moving into transition, moving through transition, and then lastly moving out of transition.
(Schlossberg, N.K., Waters, E. B., & Goodman, J., 1995)
Please contact
Career Services for further assistance in preparing for or coping with transitions.
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Career Resource of the Month: Advice for Moving Home for the Summer
Transitioning back home for the summer? With the end of the semester coming, many of you are probably considering moving back home for the summer. While the thought of moving back in with your parents may not sound all that pleasing, think about the benefits of living at home and remember to compromise. For some students moving home means:
- Home-cooked meals
- Free use of a washer and dryer (if not free laundry service!)
- Lessoned financial burden
- Catching up with old friends
On the other hand, after living completely on your own at college, moving back home is a transition and that means there is a readjustment period involved. Remember that your parents still think of you as their child and so may go back to treating you the same as they did when you were high school even though you have grown while you were away at college. Here are some things to keep in mind in order to live in harmony with your parents this summer:
- Include your family in your new life: Be willing to share your experiences with your family; this will help to bridge the gap that may have been created while you were away at college. Remember, your parents are used to being a part of your life; don’t cut them out.
- Be willing to compromise with your parents: Think about your life at school and your life at home and find a balance in between. Your parents may want to give you a curfew even though you are now used to coming home whenever you want. Sit down and have a conversation with your parents and come to an agreement on some updated rules that you both are happy with.
- Find a summer job: Working through the summer will show your parents that you are independent, responsible, and mature. If they see this, they may give you more leeway during your summer stay. Also, the money you earn will allow you to have more fun and freedom, instead of always having to ask mom or dad for extra cash.
- Communicate with your parents: Let your parents know of any summer plans ahead of time in order to avoid any confusion and conflict over dates. Be honest with your parents about the freedom you enjoyed at school so that they are aware of your adjustment period.
Most of all, remember to have fun while you are at home with your family. If they are making an effort to arrange their plans around your schedule, you should try to do the same for them. Even though in the end you may be thinking that you are old enough to make your own decisions without your parents, remember that you are also old enough that your parents are not required to give you a place to live for the summer.
Please contact Career Services to help you get started on your search for a summer job.
Click below for more information on moving back home.
How to Survive Moving Back in With Your Parents
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Spotlight on Success: SNC Alumni Profile
Nickolaus Barbian, Business Administration, 2008
Music Management/Stage Manager, Fox Cities PAC, Appleton, WI
Click here to learn about the work experience and career path of this successful SNC alum.
Check out our growing list of Alumni Profiles to learn more about their career paths, experience and to envision what you can do with a degree from St. Norbert College.
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Career Tip of the Month: Transitioning into the Workforce
Transitioning into the workforce? Get off on the right foot in building your basic professional wardrobe after graduation. Once you have the basic professional wardrobe, you can continue to build around your foundation pieces. It’s important to keep in mind Outlet Malls and Discount Stores like Marshalls and TJ Max when your first starting out so that you don’t break the bank!
Guys, don’t know where to start when buying suits or even business casual clothes?
Here’s a helpful website to get you started.
Ladies, this website will help you navigate the multiple choices in buying professional clothes. Not sure if you should buy a dress, pants, a suit, or maybe you want it all but don’t know where to start.
This website will help you set the tone with a few pieces for the rest of your wardrobe!
Here are a few additional helpful websites to take a look at when purchasing items for a professional wardrobe.
Look the Part: Building a Professional Wardrobe
How to Develop a Professional Wardrobe
Business Wardrobe Basics
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Financial Literacy Tip of the Month: Needs vs. Wants
Transitioning into a tough economy? To save money and live on a budget, it helps to really understand the difference between needs and wants. And you probably do understand that, say, food is a need and a latte is a want. But some mornings, after cramming all night for a test or working late, a latte is sure to feel like a need. Maybe coffee is a need but gourmet coffee drinks are a want.
Click on the link below to find more information on deciphering between needs and wants and how to more effectively live on a budget.
http://www.cashcourse.org/snc/Article.aspx?5
For more information on Financial Literacy, please visit: http://www.snc.edu/career/planning/finlit/
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Internship of the Month: Research Assistant Intern
Why intern? Internships are a great opportunity to apply classroom theory to real life work and to acquire experience to make yourself more marketable for future employment. It can also be one way to "test" your chosen career area to determine if it is a good fit for you.
New North Inc. , Research Assistant Intern, De Pere, WI
- Position Description: The internship is regarding support work to the Research Manager for the New North, Inc. Primary research in survey design and implementation along with significant secondary research project assignments are ongoing and focused on one or more of six strategic initiatives.
Must be articulate and have the ability to accurately and neatly record findings on spreadsheets. The intern is expected to not only capture data points, but to also provide analysis of the data/discovery process and to subsequently make recommendations to the Research Manager regarding outcomes, next steps.
- Qualifications:
- Current enrollment in bachelor’s degree program and completing senior-level course work; or recently graduated or completing graduate-level course-work.
- Successful or completion of courses in business administration, public relations, communications and media studies, political science, marketing, English, community planning, or related course work preferred.
- Demonstrated organizational, research and report-writing skills.
- Demonstrated communication skills, including working with the public, along with the ability to establish rapport and maintain credibility with business, political and community leaders.
- Valid Wisconsin driver’s license and good driving record; ability to pass background check and drug testing.
- Considerable skill in communicating effectively, both orally and in writing. Interactions with broad range of individuals in situations requiring persuasion and negotiation, often in situations where selling concepts and abstract ideas is important.
- Outstanding customer service skills.
- Ability to effectively use appropriate communication channels and technologies.
- Ability to follow-up with individuals and to be persistent, polite, and treat people with respect.
- Ability to exercise considerable initiative and judgment; may need be creative, and often in areas where methods and practices are not fully established.
- Ability to work with and be a team participant.
- Ability to multi-task and have basic work habits; complete assigned tasks in an accurately, neatly and timely manner.
- Demonstrated organizational skills, including proficiency with computer applications in research, file maintenance, and client contact systems.
- Proficient in the use of all Microsoft Office applications.
- Contact: If you are interested in this unique internship opportunity, e-mail Christine Kaup, Market Research and Development Manager, your cover letter, resume (including major course, GPA, career goals, knowledge, skills and abilities) and the contact information for 3 references (not relatives).
For more information on this internship and to search for additional internships, please login to Career Connections.
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Upcoming Events
Congratulations Seniors!
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