Students, are you looking for a way to give back, network or gain experience before you graduate? If so, consider volunteering. Volunteering can do this and so much more.
Volunteering helps you make a difference by helping others or a business in need. Volunteering can help you gain confidence in your skills that you learned throughout your program and can help provide proof (prove-it statements) that you can use during your upcoming interviews.
Volunteering can also help you advance in your career. Shawn Anchor of Goodthink Inc. researched the impact of Positive Psychology. Shawn Anchor’s research noted that people that reach out and help others are more likely to be engaged at work or get a promotion. Giving back to others can promote happiness and goodwill, and help you throughout your career.
Volunteering also provides an ability to network with individuals with interests similar to you. This can be a great way to showcase your skills and meet others in your career field or interests.
If you are interested in learning more about volunteering activities available in our community, please connect with Anne Lemke, Student Community Impact Coordinator at Moraine Park. Visit the Community Impact webpage at https://www.morainepark.edu/community-impact/.
Your Moraine Park Careers Instructors can help you enhance your resume with the outcomes from your volunteer experience. Connect with us and schedule an appointment for a resume review. We are here to help you! Visit the Career Center webpage at http://morainepark.edu/Careers.
Fond du Lac | 920-924-3244 | Lisa Ferguson | lferguson@morainepark.edu
West Bend | 262-335-5773 | Rhonda Roehrig | rroehrig2@morainepark.edu
Hot Jobs in Wisconsin are predicted and chances are you are in training now for one of them. In a Wisconsin State & Regional Economic Trends presentation, Scott Hodek, Section Chief – DWD Office of Economic Advisors shared the top 10 Hot Jobs in Wisconsin. These jobs represent higher than average numbers projected annually and higher than median salary.
Truck Drivers
Sales Representatives
Maintenance & Repair workers
Registered Nurse
General & Operations Managers
First-Line Supervisors of Production & Operating workers
Elementary School Teachers
Accountants & Auditors
Carpenters
Farmers, Ranchers, & other Agricultural Managers
Prepare yourself for the job market. Have your résumé and cover letter reviewed. Participate in a mock interview. You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.
The year 2020 was a time of the big paradigm shift. What is a paradigm shift anyway? We learn from Merriam-Webster that it is . . . “a view or way in which we look at things. The way we use to look at the world has changed. What use to be, is no more.”
For example, the way we used to look at work and home life. Wake up, get the kids ready for school, pick up a coffee from Kwik trip or McDonald’s as you drive to work, start at 9 a.m., drive to a local restaurant for lunch, finish up the day and by 5pm you are on your way back home. After a quick supper, get the kids to piano lessons, softball or football practice, maybe head to your bowling or trap shooting league.
Perhaps your scenario is a bit different now. Maybe the kids are home, you double as school teacher, and log in to zoom meetings. Maybe you have no job to go to (either by your choice or forced upon you). A shift in what use to be.
What now?
Time to reflect on what’s next. Ask yourself – Where do I see myself moving forward? A new way to look at your home and work life – a paradigm shift for sure. Take a look from a fresh perspective. Sarah Young, in her devotional book, encourages us to move forward. “Don’t let recent disappointments and failures define you or dampen your expectations. This is the time to make a fresh start!”
A Fresh Start
You have an opportunity to start new. A chance to re-invent yourself. Not sure where to start? Give a call to one of the Careers Instructors at Moraine Park Technical College. Take a “free” Career Assessment. Create a personal growth plan. We are here to listen, encourage, and support you.
Internships are valuable program experiences, and students should consider participating in an internship before graduation. Here are a few of the top reasons why.
Gain experience in your career field.
Have a better understanding of your role, tasks, and industry.
Have the opportunity to watch and learn.
Build confidence in yourself.
Improve your communication skills.
Students are invited to join the NEW Manufacturing Alliance and NEW ERA for a unique internship fair, Internship Draft Day, which will be broadcasted live from Lambeau Field on Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
This opportunity will allow students to showcase talents, curiosity, hustle and career interests while networking with a variety of employers.
Employers from Northeast Wisconsin will be interviewing for over 200 paid internships from the convenience of a phone or computer.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to watch speakers on several topics such as resume and interview tips, draft board scoring updates and spotlighted companies. Additionally, they will be competing with other attendees for gift certificates, scholarships, and to be the #1 draft pick of the event!
Moraine Park Technical College is one of five Wisconsin Technical College System colleges to receive a five-year, $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to continue its Student Support Services (SSS) program.
The SSS program, also known as EDGE at Moraine Park, seeks to help students who are low-income, first-generation to college and/or have a learning disability, with a purpose to help students meet their goals and graduate from college. The EDGE program offers many services to help students stay on track, including academic advising, financial aid, and scholarship resources, cultural events, skills development, and tutoring. All services are provided to eligible students at no cost. This is the third consecutive grant received for Moraine Park’s EDGE program.
Since the program began in 2010, it has served over 430 students. Currently, the program serves 140 active students at the College and has proven to be a gateway to success for eligible students.
“First-generation to college, low income, and disabled students face unique challenges to completing college degrees, and SSS TRIO programs like EDGE help students overcome those obstacles to be successful,” Kristina Buchanan, director of EDGE at Moraine Park, said. “I am honored to be able to help our students each year – their stories of courageous persistence and success in the face of incredible odds is inspiring.”
In the 2018-19 academic year, EDGE students achieved a 94% persistence rate, 91% good academic standing rate, 54% degree completion rate, and 20% of students transferred on to higher education opportunities after earning their degree.
“When I first joined EDGE, I had no idea how amazing this program would be,” Jessica Reinke, Moraine Park student, said. “College is hard, but EDGE has made my college experience more attainable, achievable, and less worrisome. I’m going to school for nursing and have many classes to study for. I wish everyone could have and know the value of this program that MPTC offers. It is truly amazing.”
For more information on the Edge program, visit morainepark.edu/trio.
In July, Moraine Park’s libraries will be staffed for appointments with students and staff to return and pick up materials or other tasks, such as purchasing a GED voucher or taking a typing test. Appointments are to take care of quick library business only, and at this time, the facilities remain closed to the public. Please see the limitations here.
Beaver Dam
Staffing will be limited due to construction.
Library staff will be available from 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on the following days:
Wednesday, July 1
Monday, July 6
Wednesday, July 15
Monday, July 20
Wednesday, July 29
West Bend and Fond du Lac
Starting July 6, both libraries will be staffed from 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
To schedule your library appointment, contact your preferred library location directly at the number below:
What do we do when we meet someone new? We shake hands. In the American culture of the professional world, handshakes are how we greet each other at the start of interviews, meetings, conferences, and networking events. When closing a deal, we “shake on it.”
In the COVID-19 pandemic world, the CDC guidelines recommend that we avoid close contact with others to prevent the spread of the virus. We are able to swap out appointments and meetings with Zoom or other virtual formats. We have options for “contactless” food pick up or delivery.
So what are our alternatives for a handshake-free future? You may consider a little wave or elbow bump. Perhaps a polite nod or a small bow. Making deliberate eye contact while addressing the person you are meeting can make a connection. There will be a lot of different approaches as we get back to the face-to-face world.
How do you know the best way to greet someone? Ask them! Follow their lead and make it work with what you are comfortable with in that situation. Learning how to interact with others is key to personal and professional success. Working through this new way of doing business will show your willingness to learn and adapt – great qualities we can all agree on.
Want to learn more? Contact a Careers Instructor today. Yes, we can meet with you virtually!
Picking a program can be as simple as A, B, C. Steve Maraboli is quoted as saying “Life is simple, it’s just not easy”. The same can be said of deciding on a career path. You put a lot of thought into it. You asked a parent, best buddy, relative, and maybe even the family dog – “what career should I chose?” But. . . how do you really know which career is right for you? The MPTC Careers Instructors are here to help you find an answer to that questions. Just follow your A, B, C’s. . .
Assess.
Take career assessments to figure out who you really are. What do you like? What are you good at? What is truly important to you? What problems of the world would you like to solve? What are your natural gifts? Answers to these questions can get you on the road to identifying and utilizing your true gifts. We all have unique gifts. Take the time find out what they are. A great investment in YOU.
Brainstorm careers.
Once you have an idea of “who you are”, now it’s time to brainstorm career options. What careers are out there in the world anyway? Unprecedented times will bring unprecedented opportunities.
Clarify fit.
Now that you know what’s out there, it’s time to clarify what fit’s YOU. Is salary important to you? How about location? Are you looking for a career with short training requirements? Whatever your “hot points”, clarify before jumping into a career. It could save you the frustration of a never-ending cycle of unsatisfying jobs.
If you are interested in checking out career opportunities that might be out there for YOU, contact one of the MPTC Careers Instructors. We would be happy to walk this journey with you. It’s as simple as A, B, C.
With a shift of more Americans working remotely during COVID-19, companies are using virtual platforms to interview job candidates. Want to get prepared for a virtual interview? Contact a Careers Instructor today!
Moraine Park’s Career Centers have virtual interviewing practice available using InterviewStream software. InterviewStream mock interviews provide students with knowledge and confidence to excel at job interviews in a virtual setting. This format provides flexibility to practice interviewing anytime and anywhere. Interview preparation helps students perfect their pitch to employers.
InterviewStream
Here are some useful tips to increase your virtual interviewing success (adapted from InterviewStream Best Practices)
Create a Video-Friendly Environment
It is important to have everything in place before you begin. You want to limit distractions so the focus is on you, not what’s in your background. Follow these simple guidelines below to create the ideal background environment:
Position your webcam at eye-level.
Adjust your lighting for high-quality video,
Turn on any available lights in the room and check to make sure there is no glare on your monitor. Never use your monitor as your light source.
Be mindful of your background.
Position yourself in front of a wall with neutral colors; avoid patterns, wallpaper, and mirrors.
Be sure your recording area is clean and organized. A tidy workspace conveys professionalism and organization to your potential employer.
Turn off all appliances or devices that may create ambient noise or disrupt your interview.
Make your recording space quiet and comfortable.
Eliminate all possible distractions and interruptions – turn off your cell phone and if you’re at home, make sure people in the house know you are taking an interview.
2. Prepare for your Interview
Mental preparation for your interview is just as important as the physical setup. You should prepare for your pre-recorded video interview with the same tenacity and focus as if you were walking into your potential employer’s office.
Practice, Practice, Practice – before you even turn your webcam on, try practicing by looking into the camera as if you were having a conversation with someone sitting in front of you.
In a traditional interview, eye contact is of the utmost importance, so make sure you look directly into the camera to answer the questions posed to you.
Do not look at the computer screen when answering questions – this places your line of sight below the webcam and you will appear to be looking down from the interviewer’s point of view.
It may seem awkward at first, but the more you rehearse looking at the webcam and not the person on the screen, the more comfortable you will feel during your interview.
Research the organization and be prepared to answer company-specific questions.
Familiarize yourself with the company’s mission statement, history, product and service offerings, management, and information about the company culture.
Polish your answers – nothing destroys your credibility faster than a constant stream of filler words such as “um”, “like”, and “you know”.
Dress for success; communicate professionalism with your attire.
Men: Navy, black, or dark pants, long sleeve dress shirt, conservative tie, professional, clean-cut hairstyle, clean-shaven.
Women: Navy, black, or dark grey pants or skirt, coordinated blouse, limited jewelry, professional hairstyle, and light make-up.
In general, you should look as if you put considerable time and effort into your personal appearance. Your clothing should be a complement, not a distraction.
3. Complete the Interview
The most important step in this process is answering the pre-recorded interview questions. Our video interviewing experts have provided some suggestions below:
Speak clearly and enunciate.
You don’t want your brilliant answers to be lost because you were mumbling.
Practice answering questions and time yourself to make sure you are answering effectively in the allotted time.
Listen to each question, contemplate your response, and answer concisely.
Make sure you answer the question being asked.
If you are given the opportunity to retry your answer, attempt to nail down your response sooner rather than later. We have found that more tries may begin to dilute a clear message, so your first or second answer will likely be your best.
Take a deep breath, relax, and let your personality shine through.
At the end of the day, employers hire human beings, not just the name at the top of a resume.
Smile and have fun – remember, if you are adequately prepared, you will be successful.
4. Contact a Moraine Park Technical College Careers Instructor for additional practice and feedback!
Careers Instructors are available to support you remotely.Take advantage of online resources through Canvas, Zoom and/or phone appointments.
We are here to help and can provide guidance specific to your goals. With the uncertain economic state, it is important that you use this time to maximize your career readiness and make yourself as marketable as possible.
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