Undecided? Consider Safety Science

My name is Greg Schillo and I am currently in my final semester in the School of Public Health, majoring in Safety. Being a student at Indiana University has been the best experience of my life thus far and it has been a privilege to be associated with such a first-class institution.

For those students who are not sure about their respected career path yet, I highly encourage you to look into a career in Environmental Health and Safety. I make this recommendation because this field is in great demand. Huge corporations and businesses—whether the industry be in manufacturing, construction, insurance, or healthcare—design health and safety programs to protect their employees from injuries and other workplace illnesses. Companies are obligated to do this because government agencies such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implement and enforce laws so the workplace is safe for our population. In addition, keeping a company’s employees safe is important because they are the organization’s most valued asset, and having a below-average safety and health program can be extremely costly. Future safety and health management leaders are hired to regulate, implement, train and develop counter-measures for companies so they can provide a safe and healthy workplace and ultimately reduce costs. For individuals who like interacting with people frequently on a daily basis, helping people, and problem-solving, a career in Safety and Health might be a good route to explore.

Indiana University’s Safety and Health program has provided all the tools and resources I need to succeed. Along with a great staff, IU has an American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) student chapter on campus. This organization is well-known nationwide and helps individuals in my field to communicate and develop valuable professional relationships. Currently, I am the editor of the student chapter and holding this position has opened many doors for me career-wise. If you do choose to pursue a career in safety and health, joining ASSE is an absolute must. Organizations and companies use ASSE as a recruiting resource to hire young talent in my field and it worked for me. With over three months left in my tenure at IU, I can finally breathe easy because I have already accepted a full-time position with a $25 billion company that is one of the world’s largest building supply, paper and chemical manufacturers. How did I get this job one might ask? ASSE is the sole reason I got on this company’s radar. Additionally, not only have I accepted a great job, but I have gained many friends during my membership in ASSE. Communicating and building relationships is a huge benefit of staying involved with your campus.

If you enjoyed my story and you are intrigued, talk to your advisor about majoring in Safety Science. You will not regret it, I sure haven’t!

The Importance of an Informational Interview

Networking: the word is thrown out there an overwhelming amount by our professors and advisors. We know it is essential for the future; however, sometimes we tend to put it off and forget its importance in the job search process. Although it is tempting to procrastinate, it’s vital to get a jump-start on the networking process during college. One great way to network is through informational interviews. Informational interviews are an integral part of the networking and job search process to get you on the path to your dream job and an overall rewarding career. Many times they lead to actual job interviews or further opportunities.

Asking for an informational interview from someone in your desired profession, demonstrates your evident interest, drive, and determination to create a successful career path for yourself. It also highlights your outgoing personality. Putting yourself out there demonstrates a proactive approach that almost all employers are looking for in a young professional.

There are a few important steps to remember concerning informational interviews. The first key step to a successful informational interview is finding the right person to contact. This may seem like a daunting task, but this is where the professional website LinkedIn.com is extremely helpful. Creating and maintaining a LinkedIn profile proves to be extremely beneficial in networking with professionals in your field and keeping in contact with previous employers or colleagues. Even though you may not have a direct connection with someone on LinkedIn, you can join the same groups as an individual and still be able to send them a message via LinkedIn.

 

Utilizing LinkedIn has worked well for me in my job search. It allows me to seek out the most qualified people to speak with that matched my exact interests. Specifically, I joined groups such as “Linked In Chicago” and “Jobs & Careers in Golf” because those were some of my individual interests. Once I joined, I searched through the group members and viewing their current and past work experiences. Although they were not my direct or 2^nd connections, I was able to message people of interest requesting an informational interview. Of the three people I contacted, all three were able to answer my specific questions either over the phone or through e-mail communication. These conversations were surprisingly simple, and they provided me with new insights in my field of interest.

For instance, I searched in the “Jobs & Careers in Golf” group, and I found a person that is the Director of Communications at Bandon Dunes Golf Course in Oregon, which is a course that I researched earlier. I viewed his past work experience and saw that he worked for the Chicago Cubs as a member of the Media Relations staff, as well as worked for a golf sport marketing company that was based around Chicago. This person stuck out to me as a contact that would greatly help me in my personal job search process due to his present and past experiences. His expertise with media relations within the professional baseball and golf industries were exactly matching what I desire for my future career path. After requesting an informational interview through a LinkedIn message, I gained valuable information about my industries of interest as well as expert advice about the general job search process from someone who was extremely successful in my field of interest. He has stayed in contact with me since the interview and updates me regularly on open job positions within the golf industry.

Before you speak with anyone, it is important to prepare. Taking the time to look up some information on the company and mission will help guide your questions during the informational interview. Since this is considered a networking process, it is also important to research the professional background of the person you are interviewing. By acquiring background knowledge about the company and person you are speaking with, you can dive into deeper questions during the interview, which will enhance your experience. Also, background research shows a proactive approach and an active interest in bettering yourself by creating opportunities for the future. You will definitely remain memorable to the person you are interviewing if you know your stuff. Who knows, they might turn to you five years down the road when there is a job opening at their company!

One last thing to remember with an informational interview is sending a thank you e-mail or message on Linked In afterwards. Just like a regular job interview, sending a thank you shows that you appreciate their time and really enjoyed the conversation you had with them.

Although powerful, LinkedIn is not the only tool to seek out contacts for informational interviews. Indiana University maintains an Alumni Directory that all students have access to for free: (http://alumni.indiana.edu/together/directory/index.html). The directory allows you to search alumni using a vast array of filters and provides you with a means of contacting them directly through the alumni database system. Additionally, the “Human Resources” or “Staff Directory” pages on organization websites may also lead you to the right connections. Beyond searching online, you can obviously contact friends, family, or friends of your parents if they are at an organization or in a position that interests you.

 

No matter what approach you take, informational interviews are an imperative step in the job search process. Years later, one of these people may contact you, already knowing you are a proactive and outgoing individual, and tell you about an opening for your dream job! An informational e-mail or twenty-minute phone conversation could only benefit you in the long run. 

Melissa Gohde is a senior in the Sport Communication program at Indiana University. She has interned with IU Athletics in the Marketing Dept. for the last year. After graduation she aspires to work in the sport marketing industry in the areas of social media and event planning. 

Making the Most Out of Your College Experience

By Imani Scott-Smittick

There always seems to be pressure to become involved in extracurricular activities in school. In high school, a handful of extracurricular options and interest groups were readily available. There was often an academic incentive or extra credit for getting involved and attending school events. Teachers would advertise events in the classroom, pushing students to become involved with the school outside of a learning environment. The daily morning news provided the school with upcoming sports and performing arts events. Seniors experienced the pressure of college application deadlines and the pressing need to write a good résumé, filling it with any experience that’s available.

But the moment you step onto new, college turf, the pressure to become involved reaches a new level. The emphasis on school involvement, academic standing, volunteering, interning, etc. can be overwhelming. As a new (or returning) student, experience and networking is key to getting ahead of the game. Despite a sense of comradery and exciting, newly found adulthood, getting your name and image out there is important. But how does a 20-something-year-old first year college student begin? Whom do you want to connect with and where can you find the professionals that can help further your blossoming career? Step one: take a deep breath.

Step two: find activities. Despite the overwhelming obligation to use all the resources available to further your future, it’s best to pick just a few and start from there. Although Indiana University’s size may be intimidating, each specific school (such as the School of Public Health) offers broad and specific resources. One of these resources is the Office of Career Services, a resource specifically geared toward molding young professionals, leaders, and employees.

Step three: begin your career planning and development. Seek out resources and professionals that may be relevant to you. One specific resource is the panel events that are hosted by IUSPH, one or two occurring every month. These panels consist of various professionals in the health-related field and often end with a networking session. I never realized how important these particular events were until I became an intern at the School of Public Health. Ever since elementary school, we have always been introduced to these hip and successful professionals. They’d come in, tell us about how great and fulfilling their jobs were, and encourage us to follow our dreams. While it was nice to hear, it wasn’t exactly practical. Before and even during college, students learn the importance of taking their future into their own hands, so I attended a panel event that was being put on by the school. Three New York sports marketing and business managers (all three alumni) flew into town and served as a panel. They spoke of their success, hard lessons they learned, and answered questions provided by my peers. Although my major has nothing to do with sports, my direct experience taught me how to connect with people and the importance of keeping in contact. For those who aren’t confident in their networking skills, IUSPH also offers several workshops that provide information on a diverse number of topics. These topics range from dressing professionally, to learning successful interviewing tips, and learning how to communicate effectively with employers.

Although IU is large for some, a culture shock, or overwhelming for others it is important for students to dip their feet into the experimental waters of the professional world. Taking charge of your fate and how you get to your end goal is step four. Don’t be shy; reach out, ask for assistance, and remember you don’t have to do it alone. Reach out to those few professors who remember you, attend academic events, and gain experience in whatever way is convenient. Your confidence and understanding of how a school works will be extremely beneficial later on in the real world.

Creating Bonds Throughout Your Internship

By: Melissa Gohde

You made it through the tough part: getting the internship. Starting out is always exciting! An opportunity to network with professionals in the industry, learn all about the company you’re interning for, begin new projects, start to build your resume, and gain experience in a field you are passionate about. These are all vital to success in your internship. But what else can you gain from an internship experience?

As I wind down my third internship experience, I can say without hesitation that building strong bonds inside and outside of the workplace with your fellow interns is a key element of any successful internship experience. During my first two internships at sports training facilities in the Chicago area, I was the only intern for the entire summer. Although I gained valuable experience on what it takes to market and manage sports facilities, I was not able to form connections with other interns that will soon be professionals in the same field.

Currently, I am interning for the Indiana University Athletics Marketing Department. I started during the summer of 2012, and I will finish my internship officially in May of this year when I graduate. This was my first opportunity to intern alongside fellow students and create friendships throughout the year. Many of the same people that interned during the summer decided to continue the internship throughout the academic year as well. By working in the office for about six hours per week along with working various athletic events each month, I ended up spending countless hours with my fellow interns and creating bonds that will last well into the future.

During the internship with the IU Athletics Marketing Department, all interns were expected to attend office hours weekly to gather ideas on different marketing tactics for various athletic events, prepare promotions for game days, and maintain a strong, positive brand image for IU Athletics as a whole. Working with peers allowed us to feed off of each other and think of fresh, innovative ideas together. Beyond the office setting, we were expected to work at the marketing table at various athletic events as well as on the court or field for IU basketball and football games. This gave the interns a chance to apply what we worked on in the office and see firsthand what it takes to put on any Big Ten athletic event, such as Hoosier Hysteria or IU basketball ESPN College Game Day versus Michigan earlier this month. 

Even when we were not working together, the interns became very close. We planned one or two outings a month together outside of the office or athletic events. One of the best ideas we thought of was having a holiday dinner party to watch the IU Men’s Soccer Championship. We all dressed up in our “ugliest” holiday sweaters, ordered pizza, and made different desserts. We even organized a “Secret Santa” gift exchange, where everyone bought a small, hilarious gift to give to another intern. It was fun to get together outside of work, dress up in silly outfits, eat great food, and cheer on the IU Men’s soccer team together.

New friendships are not the only thing to gain from creating relationships with other interns. Most likely, many of these people have similar interests and career goals as you. They will be the professionals of tomorrow that will be essential to your future job searches and professional career moves. They might be that connection that gets your foot in the door at the job of your dreams down the road.

After an entire year together, I can honestly say this group of people became some of my close friends, and I will maintain relationships with them after the internship ends in May. We all bonded instantly because of our similar experiences and interests, and I am lucky to surround myself with such a great group of people. Although all of our futures are uncertain, I know we will be there to support each other professionally post-graduation whether that be in the form of a reference or potentially an internal referral for a possible job.  It is a great feeling having a group of peers in your field that are willing to help you succeed.

IU Athletics Marketing Intern Cohort of 2012-2013.

Melissa Gohde is a senior in the Sport Communication program at Indiana University. She has interned with IU Athletics in the Marketing Dept. for the last year. After graduation she aspires to work in the sport marketing industry in the areas of social media and event planning. 

Mark Your Calendar for the Careers in Public Health Panel Event

Attention Public Health students! Do not miss the Careers in Public Health Panel Event and Reception next Friday (February 22) at 3 p.m. Our panelists have made names for themselves in public health and are taking the time to give YOU some tips on your path to professionalism in public health. We really hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity to learn from and network with some of the best in the business! Take some time to meet our guests below.

 

Keynote Address

Joyce Irwin, President & CEO of Community Health Network Foundation

Joyce Irwin became Community Health Network Foundation’s new President and CEO on October 22, 2012.

Joyce was born and raised in Seymour, Indiana, where most or her family still lives.   At the age of eight, she contracted meningitis and was hospitalized at Riley Children’s Hospital and not expected to live.  From that experience, one of her brother’s became a minister and the other, a physician.  Joyce has always had a love of healthcare and a purpose of giving back; her role with Community Health Network Foundation is the fulfillment of two passions.

She declares herself a diehard Hoosier after being raised in Indiana and graduating from IU for both her undergraduate and graduate degrees.

With over 20 years of experience in healthcare ranging from managing physician practices owned by hospital systems to managed care management and regulatory experience in both pharmaceutical and diagnostics, Joyce has a wide range of experience.  Joyce enjoys the healthcare profession because of the compassionate, caring people with high integrity.  She is excited about the many challenges in the near future on how healthcare is financed and delivered.

Joyce’s husband, Marty, is the Director of the Purdue Center for Coal Technology Research and Energy Advisor to Governor Pence.  They have two shelties and two cats which are like their children. Joyce is very involved in the community on the Executive Leadership Team for the Go Red for Women, Board of Directors for Women in Government, and President of the Lugar Series for Public Service Series.  Having grown up in a very musical family and having studied voice at IU, she has had the opportunity to sing for several U.S. Presidents and at Governor inaugural ceremonies.  President George W. Bush presented her with the honor of “Outstanding Community Volunteer” and she is also a “Sagamore of the Wabash” recipient.  She has even experienced the excitement of landing on a carrier at sea.

Panelists

Kyle DeFur, President of St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital

In his role as president since 2007, Kyle DeFur is responsible for oversight of St.Vincent Indianapolis Hospital consisting of four inpatient facilities, comprising approximately 850 beds, and numerous outpatient facilities. The inpatient facilities include St.Vincent Indianapolis Hospital, St.Vincent Women’s Hospital, Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St.Vincent, Seton Specialty Hospital and St.Vincent Stress Center.  Kyle holds both a master’s degree in Hospital Administration and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Xavier University, Cincinnati, and a bachelor’s degree from Anderson University. He is board certified in Healthcare Management and a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.  Kyle serves on the boards of the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee, Indiana Youth Institute, Greater Indianapolis YMCA and Anderson University. Additionally, he was the Chair of the 2011 Heart of Gold Ball for the American Heart Association.

Kyle is married to Dana and has two children, Cameron and Clayton.

Joe Gibson, Director of Epidemiology, Marion County Public Health Department

Joe Gibson is the Director of Epidemiology at the Marion County Public Health Department, serving Indianapolis.  He chairs NACCHO’s informatics workgroups and represents ISDS on the BioSense 2.0 governance group.  He also works with the Regenstrief Institute to create public health informatics tools that leverage the Indiana Health Information Exchange.

Miranda Spitznagle, Director, Indiana Tobacco Prevention & Cessation Commission

Miranda H. Spitznagle, M.P.H. is the Director for the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Commission at the Indiana State Department of Health.  She previously served as the Director of Program Evaluation for the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Commission, formerly the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Agency.   She has over 10 years of experience in tobacco control program evaluation, public health policy, strategic planning, grant writing and program monitoring and evaluation. She is responsible for providing overall program management of the Indiana’s statewide comprehensive tobacco control program.  Prior to working in tobacco control, Miranda worked as a health policy analyst for Indiana’s Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning, focusing on data management and analysis, and previously worked in as a neuroscience research technician at the Indiana University School of Medicine.  Mrs. Spitznagle holds a Master of Public Health from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Purdue University. She and her husband live in Indianapolis with their two sons.

Cameron Troxell, Vice President of Operations at Wellfit, Inc.

Cameron Troxell is a native Hoosier. He completed both his undergraduate and graduate work at Indiana University – Bloomington. He began his career in corporate health and wellness working for Corporate Fitness Works on a contract for Humana. Following his time with Corporate Fitness Works, Cameron began work as a Contract Manager for WellFit, Inc. WellFit is a small, Indiana-based wellness company that provides strategic wellness programming solutions to organizations spanning several different industries. More recently, Cameron has assumed the role of Vice President of Operations for WellFit. In this role, he is responsible for a multitude of facets of the company including business growth/development, maintaining strong client relationships, operational efficiency and program enhancement for each of WellFit’s corporate partners.

Emily Brinegar, Prevention Coordinator, Community Health Positive Link, IU Health

Emily Brinegar is the Prevention Coordinator at Positive Link, a program of IU Health Bloomington Community Health.  She received her Master’s Degree in Social Work in 2003 and joined the hospital in 2005 as an HIV care coordinator.  Prior to her work with the hospital she spent one year as a hospice social worker and five years as an HIV care coordinator at Indianapolis’ Damien Center.  In 2006, she assumed the Prevention Coordinator position and has overseen significant growth in prevention programming within Positive Link.  Additionally, Emily is the Special Populations Support Specialist and provides harm reduction counseling to people living with HIV who have co-occurring substance abuse issues. She represents our region on a variety of state councils, including the HIV Community Planning Group and the State Community Action Group.  Locally she is active as the President of the Community AIDS Action Group and serves as co-chair of the hospital’s Mental Health Task Force.  Emily has presented on the effectiveness of PL interventions at the US Conference on AIDS and the Rural Conference on AIDS. Emily provides field instruction for the Bachelor and Master’s level Public Health students at Positive Link.

Upcoming Events and Programs To Jump Start Your Job Search!

When was the last time you attended a voluntary event relevant to your career search? There is an almost constant stream of wide-ranging events occurring within the School of Public Health, and there is no reason why you should not be taking advantage of them. Now is the time to do some networking, acquire some invaluable knowledge and advice, and take the next step along your path to your ultimate destination of professionalism.  Get out to some of these events coming up in SPH!

• Cover Letter Workshop – Wednesday, January 30^th, 12-2 p.m. in PH 125

In order to land an interview, and hopefully a job, you’ve got to make a good first impression via your résumé and cover letter. This workshop is concerned with supplying you with the most valuable knowledge on constructing a cover letter so that it exhibits your best qualities as a job candidate and conveys your interest in the position for which you are applying. Don’t miss this opportunity to put yourself at an advantage and get some FREE Jimmy Johns while you’re at it!

• East Asian Studies Center Special Lecture – Friday, February 1^st, 2:30-3:50 p.m. in Walnut Room of IMU

Join K. Peter Kuchinke, professor in the Department of Education Policy, Organization and Leadership for important insights into the changing nature of work and career that should inform student as they prepare to transition from school to work. This session will review recent research and encourage students to assess their own plans and strategies as they prepare to enter the workforce.

• Summer Camp Jobs Fair – Wednesday, February 6^th, 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. in PH 163

If you are looking to gain some extra experience, have a lot of fun, and get paid all at the same time this summer, this is where you need to be. There will be over 60 summer camps attending this event looking to hire IU students! Working at a camp is a great opportunity for IU students to enhance their transferable skills in communication, problem solving, leadership, and event planning!

• Frito Lay Information Session – Monday, February 11^th, 2-4 p.m. in PH 125

Frito Lay is looking to fill full-time sales associate positions. They will be on campus to discuss the position and to network with interested candidates. This is a fabulous opportunity for you to network your way into one of the most successful brands in the United States, Frito Lay! Come gain some insight into the world of marketing and sales from those who know it best!

• Communication Skills Graduate Seminar – Wednesday, February 20^th, 1-2 p.m. in PH 125

Have questions about what to say? How to say it? When to say it? Any questions you may have about effective communications will be answered at the Communication Skills Graduate Seminar.  This seminar will cover all aspects of effective communication in a professional setting from your handshake and attire to remembering names and reading body language. Training yourself to be a top-notch communicator starts right here. You won’t want to miss this!

What I Thought I Knew About Job Searching…

The best advice I can give a person on career related topics doesn’t come from job experience. I do not know enough about work to be of any help in that area. What I have had a little experience with is a career course. I have learned how to make a pretty good resume and tailor a cover letter to a specific company. Could I say that eight weeks ago, not a chance! That all changed when I walked into HPER-P301(Job Search Strategies in Kinesiology). I signed up for the job search strategies course assuming it would be something just to take. I thought that I didn’t really need to learn anything. “How hard is it to write a resume?” You just talk about the past experience you have had, what you did, and where you went to school. I spent the first 4 weeks of class thinking this. I came and left without really paying attention. Then I got my resume and cover letter assignment back. I received a 50% on the project. That’s when it all started to hit me, maybe I didn’t really know as much as I thought I did. I did think that maybe my teacher was just being abnormally critical of my work. So I took it to several of the brothers in my fraternity who had gone through internships and used resumes before. I wanted to get their feedback. They asked me how critical I wanted them to be, and I asked them to react the way they would if they were the employer looking to hire someone. All of them immediately threw my resume in the garbage can. That was the moment I really realized that I knew nothing about this.

I spent the next day or two getting more feedback from them. I wanted to know why it was so bad. Their feedback was extremely helpful, but I knew my P301 instructor was the one who really knew about job search materials, so I scheduled a meeting with her. She sat me down in her office, opened up my assignment and asked, “What do you want to know about?” I looked back and said, “Everything”. So we started at the beginning and worked through the whole thing. I thought writing a resume was only about putting down on a piece of paper what I had done in my past jobs. Instead, through class, I learned that people are looking for the skills I took away from past experiences rather than of a list of everywhere I have ever worked. They want to see what I did, why I did it and what resulted from my skills and actions. Basically, I needed to tell them exactly what I could bring to the job. Sure I talked to customers in my jobs, but I had to ask myself, what that accomplished?

The one thing I can tell people is that acting the way I did at the start of the class will not get you anywhere. I walked into the room thinking I had nothing to learn. I just wanted to get it over with. If I could tell someone who is going into that class what I wish someone would have told me, it would be that keeping an open mind is something you’re going to need to do not only in this class and the job search process, but in life. If you walk into a new job thinking you know everything there is to know about what you do, then you’re not going to be as good as you could be. If I had gone into HPER-P301 (Job Search Strategies in Kinesiology) looking at it the way I do now, there is no telling where I might be with my application materials.

The course will soon be over, but I know I have a lot more to learn. In a way the class helped me to prepare for more than just getting a job. It helped me learn what I need to do to keep that job. I have to be willing to pay attention, put in the extra work, and not be satisfied with what I know. Even though the assignment is done, I have continued to ask for help. Why should I be happy with what I have? You should always want to strive for something better.

Jordan Johnson is a Sophomore double majoring in Exercise Science and Health Fitness Specialist with a minor in business. He hopes to get a job in medical sales after graduating, but is still exploring graduate school options. He took Job Search Strategies in Kinesiology (HPER-P301) during the first eight week session of the Fall 2012 semester and recommends it to other students as a helpful step in the job hunt process.

Job Search Strategies in Kinesiology (HPER-P301) is a one credit, eight week course offered every eight weeks in which all aspects of the job search process are covered. Students learn how to:

-Successfully locate full-time and internship opportunities in their fields of interest
-Customize application materials (resume, cover letter, and references) to a specific position
-Convey their skills and prove their qualifications in an interview setting
-Evaluate and negotiate job offers
-Navigate the transition into graduate school, internships, or their first full-time positions

Students at all levels can benefit greatly from the course, but it is particularly helpful for Juniors and Seniors. For more information, please contact the instructor, Sarah Myers at shm@indiana.edu.