Capital Exchange Held to Help Student by Michelle Sutton Graduation; will that day ever get here? For some it is only a few months ahead, for others a few years, but it will be here. Once graduation ceremonies are over, it is time tc hit the pavement, job hunting. Whether it is engineering or humanities, public policy or business, the one question that everyone ponders is -- What does it take to succeed? This question was answered at the "Capital Exchange" program held on February 11 in the Gallery Lounge from 3 pm to 5 pm by the Pennsylvania State Harrisburg Alumni Association. The program opened with a panel consisting of six alumni. They were Yvonne Harhigh, 1983; Michele D. Madonna, 1985; Richard L. Zelko, 1974; Richard Laychock, 1976 and 1979; and Janice Archibald, 1974 and 1985. The purpose of the panel discussion was to give prospective graduates and undergraduates advice concerning the "real world" job situations and the obstacles they may have encountered. Madonna, now employed at Agnew and Corrigan Advertising as an account executive, said the most challenging hurdle she faced was the old "chicken or the egg" problem. How do you get experience, until you have a job to gain experience, she asked? She slipped into a marketing department job and eventually worked her way to her current position. Her advice to students looking for a future in the advertising profession is not to go the traditional communication route into journalism and then try for advertising. "Their perception is that it is of no help," said Madonna. Advice was also given at the Nationally Known Artist Visits by Laura Karinch Nationally known artist Richard Mayhew visited the Gallery Lounge on Monday, February 15, to speak with students about his work on display there as part of Black History Month. His exhibit, entitled "Landscapes of Space and Time," will be on display through February 26. Mayhew is a professor of art at University Park, .where he has taught painting for ten years. He is represented by Midtown Galleries in New York, and a review of his exhibit there can be found in the February 1988 issue of Art in America. Mayhew has always concentrated on painting landscapes, and has traveled across the country several Exchange for Engineers. According to Richard Laychock, database manager at Inergy Service Corporation, only a small portion of engineers actually do design work; most move to administration or computer work. His advice was "to keep your mind open and be flexible." Yvonne Harhigh, associate director of publications for the Office of the Chancellor of the State System for Higher Education, offered advice for Humanities majors. The first is to always keep working on your writing skills. "Keep them fine turned," said Yvonne. "Secondly, get loads of experience in all fields of media. It all becomes important when you want to move up." The topic arose of being active in campus activities and their importance. The panel agreed unanimously that campus organizations were part of the education process. Chris Barrett, the master of ceremonies for "Capital Exchange," said, "Ninety percent of a job is your ability to communicate with others, whether it be oral or written." He added, "Where else can you be active and flop?" Richard L. Zelko, Assistant Director of Residences and Programs at Wiley House, said when it came down to himself and another job applicant, who both had the same Social Science degree and G.P.A., he got the job because of his activity on campus. When asked whether this kind of information sharing would be done again, Nancy Coyne, 1977 graduate and President of the Alumni Association, said it would depend on the feelings of the Association because of the low turnout of only three students. The closing statement of the panel was to be confident with the skills you received at Harrisburg when you go out into the world of business. times to "soak up" the Ameriean landscape. During these trips he does no sketches and takes no photographs, preferring to "re-experience the senses on canvas" as opposed to painting straight from memory. Calling himself an American Impressionist, Mayhew considers painting a "constantly challenging adventure" in which his senses create mood landscapes through color and shape. Speaking on the diversity of the society in which we live, Mayhew believes Americans should become a part of each other's culture and take advantage of the great diversity that exists. Regional Job Fair Gives Seniors Opportunities By Kimberly Anastas For some Penn State Harrisburg job-hunters, February 18 was an exciting glimpse at the real world: for others it was a cattle call. In the north annex of the State Farm Show Complex students in blue and gray business suits lined up at employers' booths and in another area of the complex draft horses and mules crowded the auction block. One Capital College student questioned whether the events were separate. "It smells like cattle and we feel like cattle, the way we're getting herded around," said Jim Beyer, a senior electrical engineering technology major. Some students who ignored their senses of smell, found the first annual job fair sponsored by Central Pennsylvania Employment Consortium (CPEC) very opportunistic. "I think this [the job fair] is a great opportunity. It's my first chance to interview and I'm a nervous wreck," said Ronda Graby, a humanities/communication major. Joseph Reiner, a senior information systems major thought the job fair was a good idea. He said he wanted to know which jobs are available and what the companies are like. Jo Hull, a senior behavioral science major said the job fair was a good chance for her to get some of her resumes out to companies in which she is interested. Other students found the job fair to be less than they expected. "The drawback is that so many students are here and they [the, prospective employers] can only spend a few minutes with each person," said Hoa Q. Nguygnkhoa, a senior information systems major. Mark Coldren, a senior electrical engineering technology major, said, "It's nice to get to see all the companies but for my job interest, which isM power, hiring is on a freeze." Although discouraging, learning about a hiring freeze is a welcome to the reality of the job world. • Mort•thati 100 employers interviewed approximately 1000 seniors, graduate students and alumni from. 11 Pennsylvania schools, said Maria Lavorgna-Smith, career services specialist in the Capital College career services office. Lavorgna-Smith said about 300 Penn State Harrisburg students attended the job f*. Lavorgna-Smith said the purpose of the consortium is to bring employers and job-hunting students together "all in one place at one time." Participating firm.spaid up -to $l2O for space and the colleges each contributed $3OO seed money, Lavorgna-Smith said. Each job-hunter received a catalogue containing addresses and information on all the participating firms. The catalogue also outlined interview tips for the students, such as how to dress, how to be prepared and how to communicate well. Job-hunters also received Studying Abroad By Andrea Willard Driving up the rocky coastline of Northern England to Edinburgh Universtiy, the 15 American students marveled at the breathtaking scenery. "The water was so blue, the sky was filled with clouds, and everything was so green," said Mary Laycock, a graduate student and instructor in education at Capital College. "We got to a point where we would just look at each other and laugh because someone was always saying, ' It's so green, it's just so green', " she said. Laycock and her companions were studying the British educational system through the Pennsylvania State University's Education Abroad Program. Traveling throughout England, they visited every type of school from infant (pre-kindergarten), to Oxford and Cambridge University. "I guess the greatest value of studying the British educational system was comparing and contrasting our two systems. Then realizing that children are Capital Times, February 24, 1988, Page 3 complimentary pens and frisbees Can be Rewarding the same throughout the woild and that teachers have the same kinds of problems, and rejoice over their student's achievements in the same way," Laycock said. Students who have studied abroad agree that experiencing a different culture—studying in a different educational system, living in a foreign country and meeting the people-- is an educational adventure never to be forgotten. Joan Swetz, coordinator of Capital College's study abroad program, is currently offering undergraduate and graduate students just such an opportunity. Applications are now being accepted for admission into educational programs in various countries for the Spring 1989 semester. For example, business students may want to enroll in a 15 credit program in International Business See STUDY ABROAD, page 9
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