January/February 2017 Vol. 1 Issue. 6

Office of Career Services Connecting Liberal Arts Students to Tech Careers

Liberal arts students can thrive in tech careers because of the strength of a liberal arts education and the profile of students who are drawn to it, says Alice Harra, associate dean of students and director of Reed College’s Center for Life Beyond Reed.

“[Liberal arts graduates] are curious and want to solve problems using a multi-disciplinary approach,” she explains. “In addition, the value of strong writers, good listeners, and clear presenters cannot be underestimated. These skills are in short supply today. A surprising number of tech firms—from Apple to Air B&B to Switchboard to Urban Airship to Puppet Labs—have liberal arts founders or early employees.”

Harra says tech companies are putting engineers on teams with social scientists and humanists—philosophers, designers, artists, sociologists, anthropologists, performers, and more—as a competitive advantage.

“The liberal arts students I know are very nimble,” she notes. “Prepared by an intellectually rigorous education and trained to think across disciplines, they can move between tech and non-tech roles at companies, allowing quicker talent movement and growth. When a liberal arts student has pursued a balanced academic life, there are few entry-level employees more powerful and valuable in the tech sector.”

- National Association of Colleges and Employers

Upcoming Events

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Employer Visit DayFebruary 2110 AM to 2 PM Tivoli Tavern

STEM Job FairFebruary 2211 AM to 3PM Tivoli 320s

Grad School Prep Workshop February 233 to 4:30 PM Tivoli 320s

Employer Visit DayFebruary 2810 AM to 2 PM Tivoli Tavern

Diversity Networking Event February 284 to 6:30 PM Tivoli 320s

Government Career DayMarch 0711 AM to 3 PM Tivoli 320s

Connections for Social Sciences and Arts Majors March 083 to 4:30 PM Tivoli 320s

Employer Visit Days March 14-1510 AM to 2 PM Tivoli Tavern

Contact InformationMSU Denver Office of Career Services Location: Tivoli 215Online: www.msudenver.edu/career Phone: 303.556.3664

Career Services for Students On-the-Go

Resume Cafe (Admin Building, 1st floor)1st Thursday of every month, 8:30-10:30

Walk-Ins (Tivoli 215)Mon 4-5, Tues 3-4, Wed 2-3, Thurs 11-12, Fri 9-10

Drop Ins @ SSB (SSB 170) Monday-Thursday, 2-4

Gradgrad school the next step orkshop is coming up soomissions at MSU Denver

e'll cover how to research plications, plan for financidents about this event. Rnver JobLink.

Career assis

School Prep Workshopfor some of your students? The Grad School Prep n to help students get ready for successful and other advanced degree programs.

programs, write effective admissions essays and al aid and prepare for interviews. Please tell your egistration and more details are available on MSU

Tuesday, February 233 to 4:30 PM

Tivoli 320

tance for undeclared and students changing majors.

January/February 2017 Vol. 1 Issue. 6

Office of Career Services

HOW DID YOU GET YOUR JOB?

Internships and practical experience! After interning at the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, I was hired on as a part-time temporary employee, where I focused on advancing diversity through the uses of technology. I was fortunate enough to be eventually hired on as a full-time employee.

WHAT JOB SEARCH ADVICE DO YOU HAVE?

While in school, do internships and practical experiences in the industry that you’re interested in or with people whom you respect in the field. You can build your network while learning about potential job opportunities.

Utilize campus resources. Don’t wait until it’s too late! As a student, if you’re facing a tough semester, you know enough to find a tutor to help you out. Use the same logic with your job search. You know you’ll be looking for a job, stop by Career Services and get help! Get your resume reviewed, ask for help with a cover letter, or attend a job fair. Finally, don’t be afraid to seek advice from your professors as well. Faculty and staff are terrific resources- they are there to help you.

Alumni Profile:

Jeremy VanHooserMajor: B.S. Human Services

Graduated: May 2011

Current Employment: Diversity CoordinatorOffice of Diversity and Inclusion MSU Denver

First Generation Students Are Seeking EmployersWhen it comes to the aspects that graduates are seeking in employers, first-generation students gave greater importance to an organization being located close to home and embracing diversity than did their classmates, according to a special report on first-generation college students who responded to NACE’s Class of 2016 Student Survey.

These results are not surprising as they tend to correlate to the demographics of first-generation students. With a larger population of first-generation students being older, the probability of having a family and the importance of being close to home is elevated. In addition, as there is greater racial diversity among first-generation students, a preference for a diverse work environment makes sense.

First-generation students also found higher importance in family-oriented benefits—including adoption leave, elder care, and family leave—and on-site daycare facilities than did non-first generation students.

Highlights from the Class of 2016 Student Survey are available at www.naceweb.org/surveys/student.aspx.

Did You Know?

14.3 Days is the average amount of time between a job offer and an acceptance/refusal.

-JobWeb 2015 Recruiting Benchmarks Survey