The Career Center wants you to be ready for all aspects of your job search, so get ahead of the curve by participating in these upcoming events and offerings.

These are for both undergraduate and graduate students in English.

Wednesday and Thursday, February 4 and 5

Résumania

  • 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Art and Journalism Building Atrium
  • Come have your résumé reviewed by employers and Career Coaches to ensure that you have the very best document you can put forward for an internship or job.

Wednesday, February 11

Cardinal Job Fair

  • 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  • Worthen Arena
  • The event brings to campus a wide range of employers that want to connect with students and alumni for internships and full-time employment.
  • Here’s the Employer Guidebook. Check it out!

Cardinal Connect Visiting Practitioners

This is a great opportunity for students of all majors to meet and greet alumni, learn from their experiences, and see how their insight might assist in future success. There is something for everyone in these sessions.

Monday, February 9

Tyler Wealth Management, Jason Armburst (’10)

  • Lunch forum with faculty & staff: Noon – 1:45 p.m. at The Retreat, Noyer Centre
  • One-on-one student sessions* (30 min. slots): 2 – 4 p.m. in Whitinger Building 138
  • Student breakout sessions*: 4 – 5 p.m. in Whitinger Building 138

Monday, February 16

Pandora, Ryan Dumoulin (’08)

  • Welcome at Alumni Center: Noon – 12:30 p.m.
  • Lunch forum with faculty & staff: 12:45 – 1:45 p.m. in The Retreat, Noyer Centre
  • Roundtable discussions with students*: 2 – 3 p.m. in Whitinger Building 138
  • One-on-one’s with students (30 min. slots)*: 3 – 5 p.m. in Whitinger Building 138

Tuesday, February 24

Merck & Company, Inc., Mike Hayes

  • Forum with faculty & staff: 1:45 – 2:45 p.m. in Whitinger Building 200
  • Student breakout sessions*: 3 – 4 p.m. in Whitinger Building 200

One-on-one student sessions* (30 min. slots): 4 – 5:30 p.m. in Whitinger Building 151

Wednesday, March 11

Angie’s List, Jennifer Weinmann (’08)

  • Breakfast forum with faculty & staff
    • 8 – 9:45 a.m. in The Retreat, Noyer Centre
  • Student breakout sessions*
    • 10 – 11 a.m. in Whitinger Building 139
  • One-on-one student sessions* (30 min. slots)
    • 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in Whitinger Building 153

*Students must sign up in advance via Cardinal Career Link; refreshments will be served.

Relax!

Both the breakout sessions and the one-on-one sessions are relaxed and informal opportunities for students to ask questions and gather helpful insight and feedback from the visiting employers.

  • Industry (current trends, technologies, methods, etc.)
  • Company (history, type, products, atmosphere/culture)
  • Current openings (Internship program, job openings, training)
  • Their role and daily duties within the company
  • How to prepare for the internship/job search; networking; interview skills, etc.

The speakers are recent Ball State alums.

This is not an interview, so students will not be expected to dress in business attire (casual event).

You don’t have to be a “business” major to appreciate what they’ll have to say.

Employer Information and Outreach Sessions

Tuesday, February 10

North Star Camp for Boys

  • 2 – 6 p.m.
  • Student Center Tally

Wednesday, February 11

Peace Corps

  • 6 – 7 p.m.
  • Student Center 302

Thursday, February 12

Bridgton Sports Camp

  • 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Art and Journalism Building Atrium

Wednesday, February 25

FBI

  • 4 – 5 p.m.
  • Whitinger Building 142

Upcoming Programs

If you feel like you’re not quite ready to talk to employers and want to brush up on your skills, these programs are just for you.

Thursday, February 19

Workplace Problem Solving

  • 5 – 6 p.m.
  • Bracken Library 104

Professional Image and Etiquette

  • 6 – 7 p.m.
  • Bracken Library 104

Tuesday, February 24

How Social Media Impacts the Job Search

  • Noon – 1 p.m.
  • Art and Journalism Building Atrium

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

The Guidebook or job descriptions might not say, “We want English majors,” but don’t be discouraged!  You can try for jobs in:

  • advertising and marketing
  • public relations
  • communications
  • non-profits
  • social services
  • publishing
  • media
  • telecommunications

A few years ago, we went to the Job Fair and talked to recruiters. One said that his company could teach “hard skills” (the kind of thing you learn in a pre-professional major), but what they REALLY needed were people with soft skills, such as teamwork, communication, and flexibility–the kind of skills you have in abundance. So tell them that.

ENG 999 How to Get a Job

The English Department recently added the Practice Interview Program to its capstone class, ENG 444 Senior Seminar. All English majors will now work on their resume and do a practice interview with a real employer before graduating.

English isn’t a pre-professional career. We don’t offer a class on How to Get a Job.

But there is a place where you can take that class:

Ball State University Career Center
Lucina Hall 220
765-285-1522
www.bsu.edu/careers
twitter.com/CareerCTRatBSU
facebook.com/bsucareercenter
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