GRADUATE SCHOOL?

WHAT ABOUT

pg 5

pg 10

RESUME TIPS?

NEED

HOW CAN

CAREER SERVICES

ASSIST YOU?pg 12

Contents 4 Social Media & Graduate School

6 Cover Letters & Following up

8 Current Company Openings

10 Resume Tips & Sample Resumes

12 Career Services

14 Interview Tips

16 Portfolio Tips & Examples

18 December Graduates

20 Washburn Alumni

22 Washburn Tech

Contributors:

Executive Staff:

Adam Vlach

Brittany Rhoades

Chealsea Howe

Fatima Oubaid

Ryan Ogle

Cynthia Rose

Diego Morales

Kaity Martin

Megan Beck

Samantha Stanley

Adviser: Regina Cassell

A special Thank You to Kent McAnally for

his contributions.

3

The Bod Magazine is produced

by Washburn Student Media. It is

distributed twice a year.

Copyright November 2014.

The Do’s and Don’ts of social media Graduate School Social Media Adam VlachRyan Ogle

On average, students who

have a post-graduate

degree earn 22.3 percent

more right out of school

compared to those who

only have an undergraduate

degree in the same ield.

5

There are a lot of options to consider

after graduating with your irst degree. You could declare a double major and

go after a second bachelor’s, you could

try to ind a job in your ield, you could join the military, you could start your

own business, or you could you could

pursue a graduate degree. There are thousands of graduate programs across

the country.Anna Frantz is a Washburn alumna

who is now pursuing a Master’s in

Library and Information Science

degree at Emporia State University. She attended Washburn from 2009

to 2013. She majored in English, graduating summa cum laude with a

4.0 GPA and was the recipient of the Sibberson award, Washburn’s highest

academic award. She offered to pass along some tips to those graduating

from Washburn who are considering

going to graduate school.

Why did you go to graduate school?

I wanted to better my career

options. After graduating, my

options seemed to be slim, but I

obtained a three-pronged position

at a school. By far my favorite

responsibility was being a clerk at

the library.

I loved recommending

books to students, listening to the

librarians give book talks, and

creating book displays. In order to

be a librarian, you have to have a

Master’s of Library Science, so I

decided to return to school.

What did the process involve as far

as applying? What were the biggest

challenges in applying?

Fortunately, applying to

Emporia State was very simple.

I did not even have to take the

GRE. Probably the only hard

parts were making sure everything

on the checklist was completed

and having professors submit

recommendations on time.

Applying early is key, because

even though Emporia accepts

applications up until a month

before classes start, other grad

schools are not so lenient.

Do you think Washburn prepared

you adequately for grad school?

I do. A lot of the program

at Emporia so far has been

about writing papers, conducting

research, and making sure

references are properly cited.

I felt like I was one of few

people who did not struggle in

transitioning to writing graduate-

styled papers. I learned a lot

in my English classes about

compositions and organization of

information, so I’m very thankful

for that. The only thing I wish had

been different is learning more

about the usefulness of academic

and scholarly sources found on

databases and knowing how much

more beneicial this information is than simply searching for the

quickest, easiest answers on

Google.

What advice would you give those

thinking about grad school?

If you’re not sure grad school

is the option for you, go out into

the workforce irst. Earn some money, earn some experience,

igure out exactly what kind of career you think you’d be happiest

in most.

If you decide continuing

education will help you excel

in your career, then do it, no

matter how late it is in your life

or how pricy it can be. At least

half of the people in my class are

nontraditional students, so never

let age be an excuse in keeping

you from returning to school.

Beyond the bachelor’s Grad student’s advice

4

What sort of things are employers looking for when

checking out an applicant’s social media proiles What are

some of the biggest red lags? 

Employers are mostly checking for

inappropriate and illegal behavior. Inappropriate

behavior, though, can vary depending on the viewer

so it is better to be safe than sorry. If a potential

hire freely shares photos of partying or drug use, the

employer may be thinking about how the applicant

represents himself/herself online, and subsequently

how this individual may represent the company.

Having a beer with a friend at Blind Tiger is OK

to post, but stay away from the intoxicated photos.

In terms of Twitter, other red lags that employers look for are unethical, harmful, profane, or clearly

offensive tweets.

What are some ways that an applicant can use social

media to their advantage if they think a perspective

employer is going to check them out?

If you are job searching in a speciic industry, you can share photos, tips, quotes or articles on your

social platforms about the profession. You can show

a little of your personality this way too, adding what

you took away from this link or why you want to

share it with others. It shows employers that you are

interested and invested in your line of work, while

simultaneously expressing your unique character.

As social media has become a marketable skill, would you

recommend including personal Facebook/Twitter proile

on a resume or portfolio, or would it be a better idea to

create a page and use that to brand yourself?

If you are using your social media pages as

personal platforms to market yourself (as a writer,

musician, artist, etc), you could include the links. If it

is a page speciically for personal use, I would avoid including that on a resume or portfolio. It would be a

good idea to direct an employer to your website, if you

have a one [and you should], and include links there

to your social media proiles. It is up to the user whether to create a page to

brand herself/himself. Some people do, and then revert

back to just one proile because it is too much to keep up or is confusing for followers. The personal and

professional divide is also shrinking in terms of social

media. On the other hand, a separate page can be an

effective tool for a speciic business or if you share different types of information for different purposes on

different proiles.

Do you recommend trying to connect with a potential

employer via social media after the interview?

I would suggest writing a thank you email following

an interview. If you do not have the employers email,

you could send a thank you message via LinkedIn or

Twitter if appropriate, but not Facebook since that is

more in the personal realm. It would be best to follow/

like the company you are interested in before you

apply.

How an applicant presents themselves on

social media can be one of the biggest factors

that an employer looks at when deciding who

to hire. In essence, your Facebook proile and Twitter page has become an extension of who you are, not

only as a person, but as an employee. It goes without saying that questionable behavior

broadcast on social media won’t do you any favors. However, a professionally-minded online presence can

help brand you as a standout in your chosed industry.Author Kimberly Bowker, who taught Strategic

Social Media at Washburn, offers some advice on how

social media can hurt, or help, your chances at getting

hired.

• Use proper grammar• Interact with names

in your industry• Represent your (best)

self online• Update and interact

consistently

• Be authentic

• Post negative or ofensive commentary

• Post the hardcore party pictures

• Lie• Hide anything - if it

doesn’t seem right to you, delete it

DO DON’T

Ryan Ogle Ryan Ogle

alumniWe will be here for you long after the dust settles on your old exams

35% OFFAny 1 WU Imprinted Item*

*Not valid with other sales or o�ers

Expires 1/30/2015

Relax and enjoy being

Put away those books for a while

Congratulations!!

Washburn Tech & Washburn University

Graduates!

Following Up

Where a resume should be a short and

sweet delivery of the knowledge, skills

and abilities that you can bring to the

job, a cover letter is an opportunity to show why

you’re the right PERSON for the gig.

“They’ll use the cover letter to get a better sense

of your personality,” said Kent McAnally, director

of career services at Washburn. “The resume is just

a list of facts. You want your cover letter to read

more conversationally than the resume.”

Cover letters should also be unique to the job for

which you’re applying. This is where researching

the employer becomes important. Generic cover

letters rarely result in a phone call for an interview.

“Take the information that you’ve gleaned from

the job description and employer’s website and use

their verbiage,” said McAnally.

A cover letter should consist of three parts. The

irst part should clearly state the position you’re

after and why you are applying. This is also where

you want to hook the employer in with a strong,

attention-getting opening. Think of it like the lead

of a newspaper article. You want that irst sentence to be intriguing enough to keep them reading. A

strong opener goes a long way toward that irst interview.

The second, and perhaps most important section is

where you match what you’ve accomplished with

what you know the employer is looking for. Make

sure to complement and expand upon what you

list in your resume. This is where you can let your

personality shine.

The last paragraph is where you ask for an

interview. Make it easy for the employer to contact

you and thank them for their consideration.

A cover letter should be no longer than one page

and be written and presented in a professional

manner.

Cover Letters

Once the interview is

over, the waiting game

begins. This can be one

of the biggest stressors involved

with job hunting.

While the days following

the interview can be illed with anxiety and the urge to

check in and gauge how well-

received you were (or weren’t)

by the interviewer, no potential

employer has time to be pestered

by applicants.

However, there are a few simple

things you can do to keep your

name fresh in the employer’s

mind without crossing the ine line between enthusiastic and

overbearing.

Within 24 hours of your initial

interview, it’s a good idea to

send a brief, yet polite email

thanking the employer for their

time and reiterating your interest

in the position. This is also a

good opportunity to address any

follow-up information that was

requested during the interview.

A day or two later, sending a

handwritten note (or typed letter

if your handwriting is less than

desirable) that echoes your initial

email can add that personal touch

and show the employer that

you’ve taken an invested interest

in the company.

From there, it’s best to let

things take their natural course.

Companies typically interview

multiple candidates, which

means they’ll need time to

properly review all applicants

before making their decision.

If you haven’t heard back within

two weeks, try following up via

email irst, then with a phone call if necessary. Again, keep things

brief, professional and polite.

If more than two weeks have

passed without a solid answer,

it’s time to accept the fact

you didn’t get the job and

move on.

Be sure to handle

rejection with

professionalism.

You never know

when a new

position could

open up with

the company, so

you don’t want to

risk burning any

bridges.

Post-interview follow-ups can be tricky, yet necessary. But staying on a potential employer’s radar can help land you the job.

Selling yourself with cover letters So you nailed the interview. What now?

Just becuase you’ve graduated and moved on to start your journey through the real world, don’t skip the opportunity to follow up with Washburn’s Career Services department. Graduates can take advantage of everything Career Services has to ofer for up to six months ater graduation. If the job hunt isn’t going as well as you hoped, feel free to come back home for help. Phone: 785-670-1450 Email: career-services@washburn.edu

7

What do companies want from graduates?

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“Keep seeking out new opportunities

for challenging yourself intellectually

and acquiring new knowledge even after

graduation, not just for your career but to

enrich your life. Don’t think of learning

and knowledge as separate from your

professional career and limited to a

university campus. Your college classes

and professors have helped you to gain

and practice skills in research, critical

reading and writing – but now that you

have graduated, you are free to apply

those skills and explore your intellectual

interests further according to what

interests you the most.”

Vanessa Steinroetter,

Associate Professor, English

Graduate advice from

WU English professor

Want to stay up to date

about what

is going

on around

Washburn?

visit www.washburnreview.org

As college careers come to an end for December

graduates, the time to start looking for better job opportunities will be soon to follow. With competition always in the back of minds during interviews it is hard to know exactly what companies are looking for. Here are some tips to keep in mind during job searches.

he irst tip is skill. Companies want someone who is well-rounded and experienced. Companies are more likely to hire employees if they can perform in more than one area. By having multiple skills it will make a future employee a potential asset to a company. Ater all, with the economy in

a recession, companies hire one person to do a job as opposed to multiple people to do the same job. he best way to build multiple skills are internships and involvement throughout the community.

Another good skill to have is ambition. Companies want employees who will be dedicated to the future of their company. By showing employers that you did the research of their company and believe in their motto, mission statement, goals, future, etc. proves that you not only are dedicated to the job but also could potentially be valuable in future expansions with the company.

Leadership and problem solving are also valuable skills to have. Companies

want employees they can invest time into who can later on hold leadership positions. hey want employees who will solve problems by taking diferent angles and thinking outside the box to get the job done.

he main thing to remember when searching for a career is to know who you are applying for, have multiple valuable skills for the company and show that you are dedicated in the leadership future of the company. Don’t waste a company’s time if you are not invested in what they believe, have the skill they are searching for, or don’t see yourself being a part of the future of the company. Companies want employees who will help innovate their success as a whole.

By Fatima Oubaid

Ichabod Communicator bod@washburn.edu

5421 Bod Hill, Topeka, KS 66610

Home (785) 670-0000

Cell (785) 670-9999

Education

Bachelor of Arts, Communication, Expected May 20xx Washburn University, Topeka, KS

Dean’s List (7 semesters)

GPA: 3.54

Related course work: Communication in Service and Sales, Self-management and Self Motivation, Effective Business Communication, Motivation and Emotion, Persuasive Speaking, Conflict Resolution,

Problem-solving in Groups, and Interpersonal Communication in Organizations

Certification: First Aid, CPR

Relevant Experience

Sales Internship, January 20xx - May 20xx The Washburn Review, Washburn University, Topeka, KS

Promoted school newspaper to area businesses

Researched and identified potential client base

Created a five-minute sales presentation and made sales calls throughout the area

Increased advertising by 10% within one semester

Customer Service Associate, August 20xx - May 20xx Wal-Mart, Topeka, KS

Provided outstanding customer service in a national retail chain store

Recognized for service with Associate of the Month award

Focused on increasing sales through advanced knowledge of product information

Manager, WU Swim Team, August 20xx - August 20xx Washburn University, Topeka, KS

Motivated team members through effective team-building activities

Coordinated informal practice competitions

Worked within university to increase awareness of swim team activity

Activities

Chi Omatron Fraternity, August 20xx - May 20xx

Treasurer, 20xx: Kept accurate records of fraternity expenses and represented group at the

state level in two conferences

Actively recruited more than 10 new members to increase participation in group

Coordinated annual charity event raising more than $5,000 for cancer research

Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, elected by faculty August 20xx

10 11

Resumes Ryan Ogle Sample Resume

Too much personal information:

Employers don’t need to know things like age,

marital status or political/religious ailiations.

Too much emphasis on personal qualities:

People oten ill the ‘Skills’ section with things

like “I’m a hard worker,” “I’m punctual,” “I’m a

quick learner.” Employers are going to make those

determinations on their own. Your resume should

only outline your hard skills, experience and what

you gained from your education.

No relevant experience or not being able to translate

your experience into something relevant to the job:

Some applicants will see a job and think they would

be a good it, but can’t translate their experience

into something that the employer is looking for.

Internships, courses related to the job and projects

are good substitutes for those lacking in real world

experience.

Resume Killers

Conquering ATS

The Essentials

Your resume can make or break your chances

of landing that dream job, so it’s essential

that every aspect of that document be as

perfect as possible.

In a competitive job market, employers rarely have

more than 30 seconds to decide whether a resume is

worth revisiting or destined for the trash. Only those

that offer a clear and concise outline of an applicant’s

skills, qualiications and experiences will capture the employer’s attention long enough to consider reaching

out for an interview.

Kent McAnally of Washburn Career Services stresses

the importance of following the ‘Three Rs’ of resume

writing – Relevance, Recency and Results.

• Relevance“A resume is not an autobiography, so it doesn’t have

to include your life story,” said McAnally. “It does

have to include things that are relevant to a particular

employer for a particular job. That means that most of

us have multiple versions of our resume because every

employer’s language varies and we want to use the

employer’s language.”

• Recency“Recency is usually not a problem for a college

student or recent graduate,” said McAnally. He added

that experience gained during high school has no place in a professional resume, so focus only on recent

accomplishments. For non-traditional grads who

might have extensive work history, the last 10 years of experience is usually suficient.

• ResultsThe difference between an OK resume and an

outstanding resume is the person who can show results

from what they’ve done. Show that you’ve made a

difference in someway. Use tangible and quantiiable examples when possible. Be sure to avoid making any exaggerated claims when mentioning your accomplishments. This can lead to awkward moments

during the interview and guarantee you won’t be

called back.

Resumes for success Formatting your resume

Formatting and layout is a common struggle

when writing a resume. With the amount of

options out there, inding the appropriate format can be a bit tricky.

For someone in a creative ield [advertising, graphic design, etc.], a creative layout is often acceptable.

However, you should avoid going overboard as you

don’t want the layout to draw attention away from

the content. Others should stick with a more standard

layout, both in terms of order and look.

For help with creating your resume, Washburn Career

Services recommends Resumes for America, which

can help create an effective and professional resume.

The service is free for students and recent grads. The

link can be found at Washburn.Edu/Career.

• Contact InfoList your name (in large font), mailing address,

phone number and email. Make sure your email and

voicemail greeting are professional.

• EducationList your degree title (no abbreviations), month &

year of graduation and the name, city and state from

all universities from which you’ve received degrees.

Also include majors, minors and areas of emphasis.

• ExperienceWhen listing work experience, include the following:• Descriptive position title

• Employer name and location (city/state)

• Description of job duties and accomplishments.

These should be brief statements that begin

with an action verb and do not include personal

pronouns.

In order to streamline the application process, many

employers are now using Applicant Tracking Systems,

a database that stores resumes submitted online and

allows the employer to quickly weed out unqualiied applicants.

When it’s time to interview, an employer will go to

the ATS and will search for keywords from the job

description. Those experienced in online submissions know to include job-speciic terms and industry buzzwords. These applicants are most likely to get

called in for an interview.

The ATS will scan each resume and select those that

use terms relevant to the position. This is why it’s

critical to learn and use the employer’s language and

terminology.

Aside from the essentials listed above, your resume

can also include a number of optional elements. If

relevant to the job, list your GPA any computer skills,

honors or activities that might make you a strong can-

didate. Remember to keep it clear and concise!

Sample resume courtesy of Washburn Career Services

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Go to www.washburnreview.orgClick this link

hen order your yearbook.

CAREER SERVICESCareer Services offers many opportunities to help anyone increase their

chances of inding the perfect job or internship

BodJobs & Job search

assistance-Post your resume, search jobs and internships

Practice Interviews

(Mock Interviews)

Career Services also offers opportunities

for class and organization presentations

and networking tips

Resume AssistanceCareer Services

offers help

with resumes

including access to

programs such as Resumes for

America and BodJobs Resume

Creator, and other free

resume formatting programs.

Events that bring employers to talk to YOU

Get your career development started early. Don’t wait until you are a senior!

Follow us on Facebook (WUCareerServices), Twitter (@WUCareerService), and get your LinkedIn proile going!

Having trouble inding a contact? You can also contact Career Services at:

Phone: 785-670-1450

URL: washburn.edu/careerservices. See Career Services to ask about CareerShift

- available only at Morgan 137!

WASHBURN UNIVERSITY

Career Services

also offers days where students can have practice

interviews with

experts and get advice from professionals.

Calendar of Events

Resume Roadshow -Monday, February 16, 10 am to 2 pm

-Get a quick expert appraisal of your resume for the Career Fair.

Spring Career Fair -Wednesday, February 18, 2015 -Students, alumni and community can speak to local and national employers

Spring Education

Interview Day -Wednesday, March 11, 2015 -Teacher candidates interview for job with area schools

Career Fair

Above pictures are from the Career Fair where they speak to many companies that want to talk to students, alumni and staff about em-

ployment and internship opportunities.

BodJobs is constantly updated with opportunities for Ichabods across campus. To see listings: 1. Go to washburn.edu/career-services 2. Click on BodJobs link 3. Log in 4. Search for jobs

Interview Tips

by Pam Foster &

Regina Cassell

14 15

Always have an answer to “why

do you want this job?” It may

seem obvious to you because ater

all you did apply for the job, but

many prospective employers want

to hear a glowing report of their

company and how you will it with

their mission/vision.

Write a handwritten thank you on

the day of your interview and put

it in the mail the next day

Practice wearing your outit to

make sure you are not distracted

by wearing something new.

Make sure you can sit and stand

gracefully.

Remember that you are

interviewing the employer to

determine if you would be a good

it for the job. Research the

company/organization to learn

what their mission/vision espouse.

Review the website to gain as

much information as possible about

the company/organization.

Practice making good eye

contact. Sometimes it can feel

uncomfortable but it’s important

to look at people when speaking

Ask a trusted friend to ask you

questions and evaluate your

answers. Practice working key

information into your answers

Do a Google search and learn

as much as possible about the

company and industry. Work your

research into your answer

Carefully read the position

announcement and write

your cover letter and tie your

knowledge, skills and abilities

to the duties/expectations of the

position. Tell the screeners what

you can do for the company

that will fulill the requirements

of the job and advance the

company’s mission/vision.

Ensure that your resume and

cover letter are error free. A

good resume will be used

throughout your professional

career and you will simply add

credentials to it. Keep your

resume updated. You never

know when the perfect job will

present itself.

As petty as it seems, many

prospective employers evaluate

people on their appearance at

an interview. Dress for the job

you are applying for.

Be on time for the interview.

Practice interviewing. here

are some great websites that

give guidance on how to

answer interview questions.

Always have questions ready

for the interview team. For

example, where do you see

the company in the next ive

years? Does this job line ofer

the potential for promotion?

What do you perceive to be

the biggest challenge in this

position? If placed in this

position, how could I be most

Director of Student Media, Mass Media Lecturer

Equal OportunityDirector

It’s a tough job market out there and graduates

looking for a job in their ield need all the tools they can get. Having an online portfolio can help you move head and shoulders above the rest.

A Forbes article in 2013 said that 56 percent of all

hiring managers are more impressed by a job seeker’s online portfolio than any other type of personal branding and online presence.

An online portfolio can increase what is

distinguishable about you from the others in the pack. There is greater lexibility than what a resume gives you, and you get to add your own personal style. It can showcase your previous work experience and volunteer involvement. “The beneits of a portfolio can be reaped by any serious job applicant, regardless of the industry,” said Nicki Krawczyk, founder of FilthyRich.com.

Pictures speak a thousand words, and portfolios give you that advantage. Do you have a picture of yourself doing volunteer work? Have you done work on a social media campaign? Get pictures from your posts and tweets. Use the most interesting pictures to

draw people in so they want to learn more, but make sure your photos are relevant to your proile. Once you’ve gotten someone’s attention with

pictures, you can lead them to a paragraph that tells a story about what you did at a former place of employment or in your volunteering experiences. But keep it short and sweet--you don’t want to lose them.

Something to remember is that a prospective

employer is looking at you on all your social media platforms. You should Google yourself to ind out what a possible future employer will see besides

“It’s is a good thing to start connecting with people

you already know,” said McAnally. “Start with faculty, employees, classmates and your advisers from student organizations. It is not necessary to connect with only people in your own ield. The idea is to build a network. LinkedIn is valuable for college

students because of the ability to connect with alumni. Ichabods like to connect with Ichabods.”

When most people are searching for a job, they go online to the main job sites and apply but the return rate is very low on these sites. LinkedIn exists because the old adage holds a lot of truth in today’s job market: “It’s not what you know but who you know.”

Getting out into the workforce can be tough, but arming yourself with the best tools will allow you to have the better proile when future employers are looking to hire the most qualiied.

16 17

Creating your

online presence

Cindy Rose your portfolio or Linked in proile. If you want to seem credible, you need to be consistent across all of your social media platforms. As in all your online

sites, your portfolio should be updated and tweaked regularly.

That said about portfolios, a LinkedIn account is a must. Dimo Raychev, creative director for LoSasso advertising agency in Chicago said that if an applicant doesn’t have a LinkedIn account, he would not even consider a hopeful candidate.

“When employers Google you, LinkedIn shows up on top,” said Maria Stover, mass media professor at Washburn University. It’s a very good irst impression to make and a good one to click on, as opposed to Facebook, especially if you haven’t any privacy

settings on your Facebook account.”

Having a LinkedIn

account also “provides

you with a place to house your portfolio,” said Stover. “It also has a place

for you to add people for recommendations. Your

internship should be part of

your story.”Kent McAnally, director

of Career Services at WU said, “LinkedIn is a big thing because it is a way

to do virtual professional networking. It’s how people

get jobs. The basic concept of why it exists is to make connections with people in your ield, and they may be at a distance where it is not possible to meet face-to-

face.”Getting started on the connection process is easy

because LinkedIn walks you through it. One of the irst steps is to upload a picture of yourself.

“You need a good quality, professional looking photo with a good headshot,” said McAnally.

Screenshot courtesy of Kara Protasio.

Kara Protasio is a senior in the mass media program. She will be graduating in

Spring of 2015 with an emphasis in contemporary journalism. All Mass Media students begin working on their

portfolios as freshman in Mass Media Bootcamp.

Portfolio

3 things you should avoid• Typos

• Bland introduction

Be unique and showcase your skills.• Self-focus

Design your portfolio for a potential employer, not yourself.

Professors share wisdom with

“Go forth with the knowledge and skills you have

developed and make your communities a better

place. From your Washburn family we congratulate

you on your achievement and hope that you stay in

touch with us.”

—Linsey Moddelmog,

Political Science Professor

“Don’t use your credit card. Remember Washburn

University and come back often. We’ve enjoyed

having you.”

—Gary Baker,

Professor of Finance, School of Business

“Get your resume in order. It wouldn’t hurt to do

a mock interview to get an idea of what kind of

questions you will be asked. Career Service does

some of that, so give them a call. Get excited that

you’re done with school and ready to move on with

the next phase of your life.”

—Kathy Menzie,

Chair, Communications Studies

Chair, Associate Professor Mass Media

18

December grads Megan Beck and Kaity Martin

“I wish all graduates success and happiness as

they continue on with their next adventure and

hope that they all can share with others what it

means to be a part of the Washburn Tech family.”

—Opal Stone,

Recruitment Counselor

“Clear your mind and insert knowledge and

truth.”

—Michael Evenson,

Technical Instructor, Washburn Tech

“As you consider your time beyond Washburn think

through all the transferable skills you’ve developed

in your classes and outside of the classroom. Often

time employers and graduate schools greatly

value all skills you’ve developed through these

experiences.” —Michael Gleason,

Director Leadership Institutue

Lecturer, Leadership Institute

19

20

Ichabods excelling in the real world

Dan BillenDan Billen

graduated from Washburn in 2007 with a BFA and now serves as the art director for Jones Huyett Partners in Topeka.

Billen started at JHP as an intern during his inal year at Washburn and was soon hired on as a graphic designer

before working his way up the ladder. He initially came to Washburn ater tranferring from KU in the late ‘90s. He returned in 2005 ater leaving to tour with his band, he Billions. Ater leaving rock ‘n’ roll behind, Billen came home to Topeka and to Washburn to pursue a career in graphic design.

Shalyn MurphyShalyn Murphy, ba

2009, is communications and marketing director for Visit Topeka, where she has worked for the past ive years.

Murphy’s job allows her to focus on making Topeka a better place for everyone.

“I get to work on projects every day that bring people and visitors to our city, where they spend money and impacts the local economy,” said Murphy.

“I like that I get to support local businesses by doing my job.”

Faculty members in the mass media department awarded Murphy the Outstanding Student Award for her excellent work throughout her studies. She also served as the editor-in-chief of the 2008 Kaw Yearbook.

“he thing I got the most out of was Student Media. We took real life projects and decided how to cover the topics we wanted to print, and that’s what my current job is all about. And even though there was stress, it was a lot of fun.”

In her current job, Murphy inds herself in a position to hire students, and she has hired a few Ichabods. She says she is impressed when a candidate knows what he or she is seeking from the job because she thinks it will lead to greater job satisfaction.

Once she hires a new employee, she expects an employee to be able to sit down, get to work and inish the job. As a busy professional, she needs people who are able to connect the dots between what is needed and how to get there.

Cally Krallman graduated with a BFA in 1981. She is an artist and the owner of Prairie Sage Studio. his year Washburn honored her as an alumni Fellow, recognizing her as one among those who have distinguished themselves in their careers.

Krallman is a prominent artist who has also written over 500 songs and recorded ive albums. She also won the Kansas 150 Sesquicentennial Art Competition. Krallman went to work as a screen printer for 22 years ater graduating before becoming a full time artist, working in oils and acrylics.

“I enjoy painting ‘en plein aire,’” said Krallman.

Cally Krallman

WHO

WILL YOU

BECOME?

21

Top traits most desired by employers

Notice that the skills you learn in class, such as analyzing data, computer proiciency and writing reports are at the bottom of this list. What employers look for most are skills you learn by working with and around people. his is something you learn in college, but it isn’t taught in a class.

Working as a team and communicating with others is something you’ve been practicing your whole life. Virtually anything you do ater graduation will require you to work with other people. If you haven’t experienced it already, the saying “You don’t have to love each other but you have to get along” is undoubtedly going to become all too real, no matter where you go.

Technical job knowledge, computer and writing skills, and other similar elements will come to you the longer you are at a job. But from day one you will be interacting with people, and the truth is your ability to deal with them and work together will almost always be a make-or-break factor.

Your resume is the irst in-depth look into you an employer will get. Because you are not being verbally questioned, you have time to sit down and think as much as you need to compound all of the positive things about yourself and put them in writing as eloquently as possible.

While many qualities are important, employers deinitely value some attributes over others. he chart to the right lists how highly employers in general rank diferent skills. Be sure to cite as many examples of the more desired skills that you have displayed in the past, even if they are not the greatest accomplishment. You may not have been an assistant manager at a large company while in college, but if you held a leadership position in a student organization or on a sports team, that is a deinite plus!

It is also never a bad idea to ask your current or past employers what they think your strengths are. here is a good chance they notice positive qualities about you that you don’t give yourself credit for simply because you don’t notice them.

In the end, just take your time building your resume.

Adam Vlach

22 23

To give you an idea of how things

are going at Washburn Tech, ive times the expected number of

prospective students showed up to

Washburn Tech’s very irst signing day. Next Feb 19 is when it has

scheduled the next National Letter

of Intent Signing Day, modeled

after the NCAA practice and ready

for anyone looking to start there in

fall 2015. Of course, there’s plenty

of other great news that’s happened

between those two events.

For the unaware, Washburn

Tech offers classes with practical

applications of skill and tangible

results. A philosophy degree won’t

get your car running, but a Washburn

Tech graduate can, if they don’t

already have another of the many

skill sets offered by the institute and

needed by local organizations. From

businesses to hospitals, just about

every career program has positions

available in Northeast Kansas, so

g r a d u a t e s

d o n ’ t

have

t o

travel far.

Everything about Washburn Tech

is driven by practicality. They

launched a new website (witjobs.

net) to bring local employers

closer to students who can become

prospective employees. They began

planning the Advantage Center,

which is designed to connect

students with tutors, mentors, career

planners and other helpful igures. They received a grant to teach

inmates at the Topeka Correctional

Facility, which should translate to

more effective job placement upon

release, fewer chances of recidivism

and as Washburn University

President Jerry Farley said,

“offering all persons the chance

to learn is our core mission.” The

equal opportunity stance, which

began 150 years ago, is an essential

part of Washburn Tech as well.

Of course, few paths to success at

Washburn University are easier than

starting at Washburn Tech. Credit

transfer is a no-brainer, and it can be

a great way to advance the careers

that Washburn Tech helps enable,

like a CNA who is ready to move up

in their hospital. Or an automotive

service technician who also wants

a philosophy degree, since it pays

to diversify specializations. Either

way, the transition from Washburn

Tech to University is very smooth.

All these connections between

students, instructors, employers,

mentors, and career placement

experts, and guests all add up to a

thriving community, where everyone

has more education, experience,

and network ability. Washburn Tech

goes beyond even that to give back

to the greater local community.

They have corporate partnerships

in place to receive vehicles in poor

condition, which the Auto Collision

facility students have for hands-

on learning and restoration. These

vehicles are then donated to nearby

residents in need. This “Recycled

Rides” program institutionalizes

one of those rare situations in which

everybody involved beneits from the experience.

Overall, Washburn Tech provides

its students with an excellent

mix of practical knowledge and

valuable contacts in the academic,

professional and community

circles. As shown by even just its

irst signing day, things are only growing and improving.

The ultimate goal for every

person is succes, but there are many

different paths one can take that lead

to that same goal. Washburn Tech

is one path that will provide you

with countless advantages that you

can take with you on the journey to

success. Just come and ind out.

Chelsea Howe

Successful year points to even brighter futures

Visit Washburn Tech’s new jobs site

witjobs.netIf you’re looking for a job, this is the place to go.

• Advanced Manufacturing

• Business

• Computer & Networking Technology

• Construction

• Drafting & Design

• Health Care

• Hospitality & Human Services

• Transportation

Washburn Tech prepares you for rewarding careers and exciting occupations. You will not only learn

by listening, but learn by doing. Advanced technology, equipment labs and internships provide you

with real hands-on skills and experience. Whether you are a high school student, an adult learner

or a career changer, Washburn Tech offers an affordable and convenient way for you to prepare

for the career you need and the future you want. Check-out the list of ields you can enroll in below:

Washburn Institute of Technology

For more information visit

washburntech.edu/career-programs

Washburn Tech is one of the most afordable ways to get the quality training you need for the career you want.

Connect with a recruiter by calling (785) 228-6315 or

send an email to tech-info@washburn.edu You can

also apply online through washburntech.edu under

Admissions & Financial Aid

Washburn Institute of Technology

5724 SW Huntoon Topeka, Kansas 66604

785.273.7140 or Toll Free 877.588.7140

Washburn Tech can also be

found on these ine social media sites.

Leave a lasting IMPRESSION

he Brick Campaign for Morgan Hall

To order your brick today, visit GiveToWashburn.org/Bricks or call 1.844.424.2263.

8x8 logo paverwith 4-line message

$300

8x8 paverwith 6-line message

$300

4x8 brick with 3-line message $150

Order your personalized brick today to honor your legacy at

Washburn University. Leave a message with your name, or

honor a family member, friend or professor on the brick to be

placed in front of the new Welcome Center and Morgan Hall.