CAREER CENTER
SPECIAL ISSUES
Job Market Support
Every candidate's situation is unique. Your venture into the job market is
your personal campaign. And, while every candidate is likely to encounter
certain difficulties and challenges, some candidates may discover that,
due to their particular circumstance, the task may be especially
challenging. If you are a member of a marginalized or under-represented
group, you may be entering the job market with some degree of trepidation.
Perhaps you may have experienced discrimination in the past. Or perhaps
you simply were unable to locate any resources for your particular
situation. Candidates may be especially nervous about the job market and
workplace if they are, for example, recent college graduates,
international students, liberal arts students, LGBTQ students, disabled,
pregnant, or former military.
Recent Graduates
Job Market Trends and Realities
21st Century Career Success
Reality Checks for Career Planning
Millennials in the Workplace
Alumni Notes
for Recent Grads
What is a Career?
How to Find
Your Passion
Paradigm Shift: Job Search vs. Career Management
Career
Planning Guide: A to Z
Myths About Choosing a Career
Accessing
the Hidden Job Market
Excellent Career Advice
Career Planning for Today's College Students
Competitive Job Market Strategies
What Can I Do
With This Major?
How Successful People Think
How to Feel Satisfied in Your Career
How Prepared are Today's
College Graduates?
What Do Employers
Really Want?
What Should I Do With My
Life?
International Students
Career Planning Tools and Strategies
International students can offer employers a wide range of skills and abilities,
including a US education, knowledge of business practices in another country,
and multiple language skills.
Start
the process early. It takes perseverance and motivation for international
students to find employers who are interested in your skills and attributes
regardless of your visa status.
Be
aware that some US companies do not sponsor or hire international students or
individuals who are not US citizens. Looking for a job is not easy for any
student. For you, the international student, the job search process can be more
difficult because of employment limitations and restrictions for international
students. Additional information about the employment process and related topics
can be found through Career Services and on the Internet. It is important when
researching internship and full time opportunities to obtain information on each
employer’s policy regarding international hires.
Tips and Advice
Utilize the Career Services Office and take advantage of the resources, tools,
information, services and activities they offer. Participate in Internships and
Field-Based Programs to gain experience and network. Conduct Informational
Interviews. Reach out to personal and academic contacts. Meet with a Career
Counselor for help with your career planning and career exploration needs. Meet
with a Career Counselor for help with your Résumé Writing, Interview Prep and
Job Search Strategies. Attend Career Workshops for practical training in Job
Search Strategies, Interview Prep, Résumé Writing, and Grad School Prep. Attend
Career Events, including Career Fairs, Grad School Expos, and Information
Sessions.
Get
advice from other international students who have successfully found internships
and employment in this country. Learn more about Employment Authorization and
obtain up-to-date information on how to apply for CPT and OPT. Learn more about
F-1 International Student Employment Authorization. Visit an International
Student Advisor if you plan on pursing work opportunities in the US to review
employment authorization procedures.
Hiring International Students
Association for International Practical Training
Grad
Siren: OPT and CPT Opportunities
Council on
International Cultural Exchange
InterExchange
UniWorld Publications
US
Dept of Labor Empl and Training Admin Foreign Labor Data Certification Center
Going Global
Communication Skills
If
you're an international student in search of a U.S. internship, you need to
realistically assess your qualifications for working in America. Keep in mind
that in most cases you will be competing with U.S. students for internship
positions. Companies need to know what is unique about your background and why
they should hire you instead of your U.S. counterpart.
A
visa or work permit is required, unless you're lucky enough to have dual
citizenship. Fluency in English and strong written English skills are generally
a must. A clearly defined area of study and related previous work experience
will help show your commitment to the job and potential as a long-term employee.
Your native language may also be a valuable asset if a company has dealings with
your home country.
Strong communications skills are key. You can help the employer make an
informed hiring decision if you: Provide a well-prepared resume that includes
desirable skills and relevant employment experiences. Clearly convey your
interests and ability to do the job in an interview. Understand English when
spoken to you and can effectively express your thoughts in English.
It’s
important to be able to positively promote yourself and talk with confidence
about your education, relevant skills and related experiences. Self-promotion is
rarely easy for anyone. But, it can be especially difficult for individuals from
cultures where talking about yourself in an assertive manner is considered
inappropriate. When interviewing in the United States, however, you are expected
to be able to explain your credentials and why you are suitable for the
position.
Be
sensitive to the interviewer’s verbal and nonverbal cues. Some international
students may not realize when their accent is causing them to be misunderstood.
Interviewers are sometimes too embarrassed or impatient to ask for
clarification, so be on the lookout for nonverbal clues, such as follow-up
questions that don’t match your responses or sudden disinterest on the part of
the interviewer. Also, make sure you express proper nonverbal communication;
always look directly at the employer in order to portray confidence and honesty.
If your English language skills need some work, get involved with campus and
community activities. These events will allow you to practice speaking English.
The more you use the language, the more proficient you will become.
Hiring International Students
Association for International Practical Training
Grad
Siren: OPT and CPT Opportunities
Council on
International Cultural Exchange
InterExchange
UniWorld Publications
US
Dept of Labor Empl and Training Admin Foreign Labor Data Certification Center
Going Global
LGBTQ Students
Out in the Workplace
We all grow up imagining the exciting careers we will have
as adults. We find our interests, focusing on our happiness and paths to
success. Often, our career choices require us to work for a certain
company and sometimes we end up there out of necessity.
We become so focused on our careers and making a living
that we often don't anticipate discrimination towards gays in the
workplace. We are suddenly faced with the difficult decision of coming out
at work or revealing our sexual orientation to co-workers. We ponder over
many questions: Should I come out? How will I be treated by my peers? Will
I get passed up for a promotion because I am gay? Does my partner qualify
for my benefits? Is there a gay organization at work?
LGBTQ Job Market|Workplace
Yale’s GALA Class Reunion Music Video
College
Toolkit: Choosing an LGBTQ-Affirming College
Things Queer
Students Should Know Before Going to College
Campus Pride: 15 LGBTQ-Friendly College Campuses
Research Paper: LGBTQ Issues in Higher Education
Campus Pride: Making Campuses Safer
and More Welcoming for LGBTQ Students
LGBTQ Friendly Companies
Choosing the right company to work for is a good start in
finding an affirming and inclusive environment. Conduct good research
about prospective companies. LGBTQ-friendly companies typically have a
written non-discrimination policy covering sexual orientation in their
employee handbook or manual. LGBTQ-friendly companies typically have a
written non-discrimination policy covering gender identity and/or
expression in their employee handbook or manual. LGBTQ-friendly
companies typically offer health insurance coverage to employees' same-sex
domestic partners. LGBTQ-friendly companies typically support a gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender employee resource group; or would
support employees' forming a LGBTQ employee resource group if some
expressed interest by providing space and other resources; or have a
firm-wide diversity council or working group whose mission specifically
includes LGBTQ diversity. LGBTQ-friendly companies typically offer
diversity training that includes sexual orientation and/or gender identity
and expression in the workplace. LGBTQ-friendly companies typically
engage in respectful and appropriate marketing to the gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender community and/or provide support through their
corporate foundation or otherwise to LGBTQ or HIV/AIDS-related
organizations or events. And LGBTQ-friendly companies typically do not
engage in corporate action that would undermine the goal of equal rights
for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
LGBTQ Job Market|Workplace
Advice on Being Gay
in College
List of LGBTQ and LGBTQ Friendly Fraternities & Sororities
Top LGBT Friendly College Campuses
Campus Pride Index
State of the Workplace
While corporate America has demonstrated leadership in
providing fair and equal treatment for LGBTQ employees, there is still
significant work that is yet to be done.
Despite overwhelming public support for employment
non-discrimination for LGBTQ employees (87% in a recent Gallup poll),
there is still no federal law mandating the basic standard of
non-discrimination on the basis of either sexual orientation or gender
identity and expression. In the absence of national, legal protections for
LGBTQ employees, LGBTQ employees are forced to rely on an incomplete
patchwork of state and local laws for protection from workplace
discrimination. Workers in 34 states could be fired because of their
sexual orientation or gender identity and expression at any time.
By enacting non-discrimination policies that explicitly
protect LGBTQ employees on the job, some companies have attempted to fill
the void left by this legislative inaction. An increasing number of
companies have realized that providing equal benefits and protections for
LGBTQ employees in the workplace is not only a sound business practice,
but a requirement to recruit and retain the best employees possible.
Smart businesses also recognize LGBTQ consumers’ $600
billion in buying power and their high degree of brand loyalty to
companies that treat their LGBTQ employees equally. In today’s business
environment, diversity is considered a competitive advantage. Put simply,
employer policies that are LGBTQ-inclusive are a smart business practice.
LGBTQ Job Market|Workplace
Human Rights Campaign
National Gay & Lesbian Task Force
Queer Cafe: LGBTQ Information Network
Out & Equal Workplace Advocates
Pro Gay Jobs
Out For Work
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Liberal Arts
Students
Marketing Your Broad Based Education
“It is not
always true that a person’s major determines the types of jobs he or she
is qualified for. A major does not equate with a job or set of jobs. And
no one major guarantees that a person will obtain a job. Employers judge
candidates according to the skills they possess and their ability to
perform functions associated with the job. Today’s liberal arts majors
need to learn to think and speak with a skills vocabulary. The burden of
proving that you are qualified for employment rests on you, not on the
title of your major.”
-BURTON
JAY NADLER / Liberal Arts Power
“In
industry, leaders respond with a strong endorsement of the liberal arts
education as a prelude to many employment opportunities. Well-rounded
candidates with evidence of creativity and leadership are most valuable in
the job market.”
-O’NEAL &
WALLACE / Journal of College Placement
“I seek
candidates who possess a liberal arts literacy. I seek people with a
broader vision. I seek individuals who have a sense of history and
perspectives from literature and art.”
-MICHAEL
THOMAS / Investment Banker and Businessman
“Liberal
arts graduates have the qualifications employers seek, and, whether they
know it or not, they have the capacity to market those qualifications
successfully.”
-BURTON
JAY NADLER / Liberal Arts Jobs
“A
liberal arts degree is more valuable today than ever before. And you are
more prepared for the job market than you realize. In response to the
shifting landscape of a global marketplace, companies now require
employees who are generalists rather than specialists. No one is better
equipped in today’s world than liberal arts majors, whose scope is the big
picture and whose sweep of study has trained them to think critically. You
are uniquely qualified for the changes taking shape.”
-GREGORY
GIANGRANDE / Liberal Arts Advantage
Liberal Arts Advantage
Major and Career Profiles
How to Set Goals
What Do
Employers Really Want?
Unconventional|Alternative Careers
Finding Your Career Passion
What is a Liberal Education?
Career Guide for Liberal Arts Students
Career Success for Liberal Arts Majors
What Can I Do With my Liberal Arts Degree?
Marketing Your Liberal Arts Degree
Disabilities
in the Workplace
Career Tips for Disabled
Persons
Do you have a disability? Under the ADA ,
you have a disability if you have a physical or mental impairment that
substantially limits a major life activity. ... An employer cannot refuse
to hire you because your disability prevents you from performing duties
that are not essential to the job. What Medical Conditions Are Listed?
--musculoskeletal problems, such as back injuries
--cardiovascular conditions, such as heart failure or coronary artery
disease
--senses and speech issues, such as vision and hearing loss
--respiratory illnesses, such as COPD or asthma
--neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy,
Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy
--mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, autism, or
retardation
--immune system disorders, such as HIV/AIDS, lupus, and rheumatoid
arthritis
--various syndromes, such as Sjogren's Syndrome and Marfan Syndrome
--skin disorders, such as dermatitis
--digestive tract problems, such as liver
disease or IBD
--kidney disease and genitourinary problems, and
--cancer
--hematological disorders, such as hemolytic anemias and disorders of bone
marrow failure
NOD: National
Organization on Disability
EEOC: Disability
Discrimination
New York Times: Disabilities as Assets in the Workplace
USA Today: More Businesses Opening Up to People With Disabilities
Monster: Tips for Job Hunting With a Disability
Huff Post: Enabling People With Disabilities to Get Jobs
Ladders: How to Talk About Your Disability During a Job Search
Amazon: Job Search Handbook for People With Disabilities
Forbes: Benefits of Disability in the Workplace
Pregnant Job
Hunters
Career Tips for Expectant
Moms
Should you tell a
potential employer that you are pregnant? Job hunting while pregnant can
be a difficult situation to negotiate. Lots of tactful maneuvering and
good timing may be required.
First, the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 made it unnecessary for pregnant women to divulge their
condition and illegal for potential employers to ask. If a woman is not
showing her pregnancy yet, then none of that initially matters. But if she
is showing, then that can lead to a very uncomfortable situation.
But, even though
Federal law forbids discrimination based on pregnancy, it would be hard to
prove definitively that the company chose not to hire you because of your
pregnancy. The law may be clear, but the hiring process and job
negotiations can be dicey. Most experts recommend that you do not
disclose your pregnancy in an initial stage of the conversation, because
it shouldn’t be relevant to the employer’s decision.
An employer that
is willing to take on a pregnant employee will have to find a way to
accommodate the initial physical challenges of the pregnancy and then
sustain the employee’s position while she is out on maternity leave. If
the employee is qualified for the position and can be an asset to the
company, then those few months of inconvenience are well worth the years
of productive service the employee can offer.
If a woman is
showing her pregnancy at an interview, then it is probably a good idea to
bring the subject up since the interviewer probably noticed. At that
point, the interviewer can decide if the pregnancy is an issue or not. If
the woman is not showing, then she should go through the interview process
and see if it brings about a written job offer.
Once the written
job offer is made, then the female candidate can start negotiating from a
position of confidence. A company cannot rescind a job offer due to a
pregnancy.
If you’re
being offered your dream job, and you really want things to go well, after
you get it, you might be inclined to say, “I am pregnant and I’ll be
taking some time off” relatively early in the process. Ideally, working
out the details becomes a way to ensure both sides of the negotiation are
aligned for the long term.
The main issue to
negotiate is the terms of the leave of absence for the pregnancy. The
Families and Medical Leave act allows for 12 weeks of recovery time for a
pregnancy. It is at the discretion of the company as to whether that is
paid or not. But as a new hire, that rule does not apply.
If you are
planning to go right back to work after a brief maternity leave, that will
make your negotiations easier. If you require a long absence, that might
make things more difficult.
You have to have
a few months in with a company before you can lean on the FMLA rules. The
pregnant female candidate and the company will have to negotiate terms of
her leave to make sure that the company is treated fairly and the
candidate does not lose her job. Once those terms are reached, then the
employment can begin.
Unofficial Rules of Job Hunting While Pregnant
Legal Advice for Pregnant Job Hunters
When to Tell a Prospective Employer That You are Pregnant
Job Interviewing While Pregnant
Former
Military
Career Tips for Veterans
Transitioning From Military Service
Transition Difficulties for Vets
Tips for Successful Military Career Transition
Tips for Service Members Entering Civilian Job Market
Translating Military Experience to Civilian Terms
Translating Military Experience to Civilian Employment
Military Job
to Civilian Skill Translator
Army Military Occupation Specialties
MOS Code Translator
Job Loss
Outplacement Advice
No matter what
you may call it… laid off, terminated, dismissed, outplaced, fired… the
experience is a hurtful one. It is not unusual that you may feel discouraged,
frustrated, isolated, fearful and depressed. You may feel overwhelmed and
disoriented. You may feel worthless. You may feel like a failure. You may
feel like someone has pulled the rug out from underneath you. After losing your
job, you may experience any or all of the typical emotions associated with any
kind of major loss, including the initial shock, the immediate anger, the
subsequent grief, and finally an acceptance of your situation.
Among a variety of
life-altering events, such as death in the family, divorce, and serious illness,
losing your job ranks among the highest in stress-causing situations. Job loss
can have a profound effect on your emotional well being. Being separated from
one's job is extremely difficult. Many of us closely identify ourselves by what
we do for a living. When the job is taken away, we can lose track of who we are
and even why we are. Emotional issues aside, a number of practical issues must
be addressed. We must determine how long our financial resources will sustain
us. We must also decide if a career change is in order. Then we must begin to
plan for the future.
Outplacement: Job Loss Resources
About Career
Planning: Coping With Job Loss
Professionals in Transition
Love To Know:
Stress Management and Managing Job Loss
Help Guide: Job Loss and Unemployment Stress
Improving My Life: How to Deal With Losing Your Job
Career Transition
New Directions
For professionals in transition, the
issues and concerns regarding career change can be critical. For mature,
experienced workers considering a mid-life career transition,
many important factors must be addressed. Are there new directions you want to
explore? Is it time to try new things? Are you seeking a new challenge? Are
you seeking more freedom and independence?
Changing Course
Successful Career Change
Making the Most of Your Mid-Life Career Transition
Unconventional Mid-Life Career Change Tips
What Makes a Successful Mid-Life Career Transition?
Making a Mid-Life Career Change
Simple Steps to Mid-Life Career Change Success
Professionals in Transition
Job Loss|Outplacement
CAREER CENTER
Birmingham-Southern College
Box 549010 | Norton Campus Center,
Suite 214
Office 205-226-4719 | Appointments
205-226-4717
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