All posts by Bethany Greenley

Creating and Maintaining Your Personal Brand

Two people exchanging business cards; soft skills

There is quite a lot of unfavorable news coverage happening right now about people we are familiar with whether they are athletes, actors or politicians. Through their actions or bad choices, they have damaged their image, or in St. Petersburg College’s Career Services, what we call their personal brand.

So, what is this personal brand thing?

Your personal brand consists of things we can see and things we cannot see: your reputation, morals, values, your job, resume, elevator pitch, leadership roles, how you dress, your network, and social media profiles. Those things are all a part of how you project yourself, showing others who you are, what you stand for, and how you see yourself.

We are all in charge of our choices and actions, and in your profession, your most important job is to manage yourself.

Crafting your personal brand

Photo of a fingerprint representing personal brandingThe old saying holds true: “You become like those with whom you associate with”.  Surround yourself with positive people and those you can learn from.

Be very mindful of social media; it is never a good idea to use that as a platform to vent anger or frustration.   A posted comment can be misunderstood or inappropriate and people have lost their jobs for that.  A text message that leaves your phone, becomes the property of the recipient!

Your image should remain strong and consistent to define who you are and set yourself apart from others. To craft your brand, begin by determining your unique value – your skills, strengths, passions and goals. Define your goals and be able to describe yourself up in a few sentences.  If you need help, ask some people in your inner circle how they would describe you.

Your brand will continue to develop and change over time as you progress through your education, mature, and as you experience new things.  Remain open to opportunities that will help you grow out of your comfort zone and help you reach your goals.

Every individual is unique and who you are will leave your fingerprint behind!

Student Career Preparedness Leadership Project at Tarpon Springs

Speaker at the Student Career Preparedness Leadership Project

The Student Career Preparedness Leadership Project at the St. Petersburg College Tarpon Springs Campus is aimed at helping student participants expand their knowledge, job outlook, skills, and career development opportunities.

The SPC Foundation awarded the campus the $3,500 Innovation Grant, made possible by the generosity of donors to help advance the mission and goals of the college.

Tarpon Springs career staff Steve Ford and Bethany Greenley have coordinated and executed SCPLP activities that have helped current students achieve hands-on employer visits and enhance their employability skills.

Student Career Preparedness Leadership Project Student Career Preparedness Leadership Project

A group of 15 dedicated students from a variety of SPC programs were chosen to have the opportunity to visit five local employers in the area. These employers were strategically chosen to highlight different career pathways programs, internship opportunities, and student interest to show how they are all connected to our community. Students are attending these events ready to discuss employment – all received SPC shirts, portfolios, and business cards to help them network with employers.

In the past month, three visits have been completed so far. The first visit was to the City of Tarpon Springs to see the Reverse Osmosis Plant to learn about local water processes and how/who they employ.  The second visit to Cops ‘n Kids, a local non-profit organization that offers afterschool care and career exploration for children ages 7 to 17.  The third visit was to Vology, a local technology company, where students learned about the wide variety of careers and their progressive workspace.

Student Career Preparedness Leadership Project

The next visits will be to a law firm, Florin and Roebig, and to Nielsen Media Research.  A final activity will be a closing ceremony in conjunction with an etiquette lunch.  The employers we visited be also be invited to attend and will sit with the students so they understand proper etiquette under a business social setting.

Looking for a job? Attend an SPC job fair this fall

photo of student at a healthcare job fair

Four St. Petersburg College locations will host a job fair this fall with full-time, part-time and seasonal job opportunities available in a wide range of fields. All of these are events are open to the college’s students as well as to the community.

Get ready for the Clearwater Campus Job Fair on Oct. 20

Come dressed to impress and be prepared for on-the-spot interviews at the Clearwater Campus Job Fair. The event will be held in ES 104 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

For the event:

  • Bring your resume
  • Meet local employers
  • Apply for full-time, part-time and seasonal job opportunities

For more information, contact Career Specialist Marci Martinez at 727-791-5951 or martinez.marcia@spcollege.edu.

SPC Downtown hosts job fair on Oct. 26

The SPC Downtown Job Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 26, will offer opportunities for part-time, seasonal and full-time positions. Join us from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the center’s Student Lounge.

Please dress in professional business attire, bring your resume and have your elevator speech ready to make an amazing impression! If you are unsure of which career to pursue, this is also a great time to talk to representatives from various career fields and explore your options.

If you need any assistance preparing your resume prior to the job fair, please contact Michael Jean-Felix at JeanFelix.Michael@spcollege.edu.

To see the employers who are coming and more about the Job Fair follow our Facebook Event page.

Seminole Campus Job Fair on Nov. 9

The SPC Seminole Campus will host their annual Job Fair on Wednesday, Nov. 9,  from 1-4 p.m. in the lobby of the University Partnership Center Building (UP).

The  job fair will offer a wide range of employment opportunities. Various companies from the Tampa Bay area will be on hand to promote full-time and part- time positions as well as internship opportunities.

If you have an SPC student ID number,  you will have access to the Ready Room at the fair.  This is a one-stop shop for job fair preparation and should be students’ first stop before entering the event.

For more information, call Jacob Wortock at 727-394-6041 or wortock.jacob@spcollege.edu.

Tarpon Springs Campus Veterans Resource and Career Fair on Nov. 10

The Tarpon Springs Campus will host its second Veterans Resource and Career Fair on Thursday, Nov. 10, from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.  Various organizations and local employers who are hiring will be attending to offer support to Veterans.

We look forward to hosting Quantum Leap Farm, K-9 Paws for Patriots, Veterans Administration, Veterans Alternative and many more!  U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis is scheduled to speak at the event.

In addition, the “Remembering Our Fallen” Memorial Wall will be on display in the campus’ Fine Arts Building. This mobile exhibit includes photos of service members who have died in The War on Terror since Sept. 11, 2001, and who called Florida home. More information about the “Remembering Our Fallen” exhibit is available on the memorial’s website.

Have more questions?

Career Services at St. Petersburg College can be found online at www.spcollege.edu/careerservices.

SPC transfer fairs set for mid-October

A young woman with a graduation cap drawn over her head.

St. Petersburg College will hold two transfer fairs this month, the first at the Tarpon Springs Campus on Oct. 12 and the next at the St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus on Oct. 13.

What are transfer fairs?

Transfer fairs are designed to help students understand the process of transferring to another college or a university and to introduce them to a variety of institutions that might meet their educational goals.

During a transfer fair, representatives from many colleges and universities are present to answer questions about:

  • their programs
  • what life is like on their campuses
  • admission requirements
  • policies pertaining specifically to transfer students
Why should you go?

A transfer fair is an important event to attend for those students who are planning on continuing their education beyond a two-year degree.  With many degree options, this is the perfect opportunity to speak directly to university academic advisors, recruiters and admissions coordinators who provide program-specific information in addition to various educational opportunities.

You’ll have the opportunity to meet with representatives from both public and private colleges and universities in Florida, including 60 degree programs through SPC’s University Partnership Center, and ask questions to determine which schools would be a good fit. For instance, what programs does each university offer? Are there additional requirements for admittance into the program (prerequisites, GPA, etc.)? What is life like on campus?

Come learn about the future educational opportunities available to you.

Tarpon Springs Campus Transfer Fair

Students have the opportunity to meet representatives from Universities and Colleges at the Tarpon Springs Campus Transfer Fair Wednesday, Oct. 12, from 11 am – 2 pm.  In addition to SPC’s baccalaureate programs, representatives will be on site from SPC’s University Partnership Schools, as well as the University of South Florida’s campuses – Sarasota-Manatee, St. Petersburg, and Tampa.  Many other universities will be attending as well.

Students also have the chance to meet with SPC’s Alumni Association and find out about the wonderful benefits of becoming an alumni after graduation. There may be the chance to receive SPC swag from the Alumni Association!

Transfer Fair at the St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus

The St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus is hosting a transfer fair on Thursday, Oct. 13, from 12 pm – 2 pm in the SS Lobby. There will be representatives from:

Barry University

Florida State University

University of Florida

USF Sarasota/Manatee

Florida A&M University

University of Tampa

University of Miami

Florida Gulf Coast University

Jacksonville University

SPC Career Services

SPC Orthotics and Prosthetics

New College of Florida

SPC Financial Aid

 

SPC Technology Development and Management

SPC College of Policy, Ethics and Legal Studies

SPC Public Policy

University of South Florida – St. Petersburg

University of North Florida

University Central Florida

University West Florida

University of South Florida – Tampa

University of South Florida – Tampa – College of Education

SPC Mobile Advising

SPC Alumni

 

 

Food will be provided

Need more information?

Get more details and updates about both events on the college’s Facebook events page.

Tarpon Springs campus transfer fair a success!

booths at transfer fair

The Tarpon Springs campus hosted a transfer fair on Wednesday, April 27th.   At the fair students had the opportunity to meet representatives from a variety of universities and colleges in Florida.

Some of the schools that were represented included:

  • University of North Florida
  • University of Tampa
  • Eckerd College
  • Florida Atlantic University
  • Florida International University
  • Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
  • St. Leo University
  • University of South Florida’s campuses (Sarasota-Manatee, St. Petersburg and Tampa)  as well as SPC’s University Partnership schools.

As students signed in at the event, they were given cards to have initialed as they met with representatives from the universities of their choice. They could then take their cards to the career and transfer hub to meet with SPC’s Alumni Association and find out about the wonderful benefits of becoming an alumni after graduation! Not only did they receive swag from the alumni association, like SPC sunglasses or key chains, their cards were good to trade in for a Chick Fil A lunch (which was generously provided by our Student Government Association)!

tarpontransfer2016-2

The Transfer Fair was an important event to attend for those students who are planning on continuing their education beyond a two year degree. With the many degree options, this was the perfect opportunity to speak directly to university academic advisors, recruiters, and admissions coordinators who provided program specific information in addition to various educational opportunities.

tarpontransfer2016-3

Those in attendance said this was one of the best Transfer Fairs they had been to and they are looking forward to returning late next fall. The career staff are already looking ahead to plan the next one, and expect to set a date sometime in November for our students who will be looking forward to graduation next year!  In the meantime, for those students who are not sure what your next step will be, make sure you visit with a career services professional on your campus for guidance.

As always, visit Career Services for more events and follow us on Twitter at #careerspc and #spcintern.

Tarpon Springs Campus 2016 Career Fair a success

Photo of student at booth at a career fair

The St. Petersburg College Tarpon Springs Campus hosted their 2016 Career Fair in collaboration with Congressman Gus Bilirakis last month.

The Feb. 17 fair was well-attended and offered job seekers the chance to learn more about a wide range of  employment opportunities. Fifty employers from the Tampa Bay area were on hand to promote full-time and part-time jobs along with internships.  Career openings spanned all academic disciplines.

Employers in attendance included:

  • Baycare Medical
  • Tech Data
  • Bright House Networks
  • Chick-Fil-A
  • Nielsen Media Research
  • Pinellas County Sherriff’s Office
  • BB&T Bank
  • Pinellas County Utilities and more

Panel of Experts

In addition to the opportunity to network with local employers, attendees could participate in a Q&A session called the “Panel of Experts.”  The session consisted of representatives from multiple industries who spoke with job candidates about the types of qualifications they look for in a potential employee.  Audience members were able to ask questions. Attendees gathered valuable tips  and best practices to enhance their job search.

The fair also included workshops on resume writing and interviewing for candidates wanting to learn more about being prepared with the best  job search strategies.

Still need career help?

The Tarpon Springs Career Fair may have come and gone, but any student who would like assistance with resume writing, interviewing tips and more, should stop in the Tarpon Campus Career and Transfer Hub located in NU460 or visit any SPC campus location.  The SPC Career Services team is ready to assist and better prepare students to be successful in the work world.

For information about upcoming SPC campus job fairs and events, visit Career Services online.  Also be sure to get the latest career news by following us on Twitter at #careerspc.

Get hired SPC Titans!

Highway-style sign with the words New Job Just Ahead

Fifty employers from the Tampa Bay area will be on hand at the St. Petersburg College Tarpon Springs Campus Feb. 17 for its 2016 Career Fair.

SPC is collaborating with U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis’ office to provide students with a wide range of employment opportunities. Employers at the fair are promoting full-time and part-time jobs as well as internship opportunities available to all academic disciplines.

The career fair runs from 3-6 p.m. at the campus’ Fine Arts Building.

Succeed at the career fair

Whether this is your first career fair or you have been around the block a few times, it can be challenging to approach employers and strike up a conversation. The college can help prepare you to succeed.

  • Students who would like assistance before the event  to brush up on networking or interviewing skills can visit the Career and Transfer Hub in NU460.
  • During the event, there will be several opportunities to attend workshops on resume writing or interviewing skills with a SPC career representative. Learn new tips on how to stand apart from your competition and make a lasting impression. Door prizes will be given away at these workshops.
  • Also, don’t miss the opportunity to attend a session and hear our panel of experts speak on what they look for in a potential employee!  Representatives from multiple industries will answer questions from audience members.

For more information, call Tarpon Springs Campus Career Outreach Specialist Bethany Greenley at (727) 302-6487 or email greenley.bethany@spcollege.edu.

Learn more about  Career Services at SPC online at spcollege.edu/careerservices.

Follow #careerspc on Twitter for all the latest news, events and tips on getting hired!

https://twitter.com/R_Miglino/status/697506897981743104

Mock Interviews with Early College Students

Photo of mock interview

During the week of October 26th, the Early College students on the Tarpon Springs Campus of St. Petersburg College participated in mock interviews. These students are working toward polishing their career ready skills and preparing for their next step of transferring to a University. The career activities they are participating in will help them towards a future career, and the mock interview session is one out of multiple career sessions. They have already had resume updating workshops, and look forward to personal branding and networking sessions.

Advice and insight was provided in order to prepare the Early College students prior to the interviews. The students were given the opportunity to interview with at least two individuals. They were interviewed either through a traditional one on one format, or through a Skype interview. The questions were real-world questions one would expect to experience in an actual job interview. Individually, the students were given feedback on their interviews. Once all of the students completed their rounds of interviews, they were called together as a group. Dr. Jenice Armstead provided an additional experience for our students by conducting post-interview feedback through Skype from her office in a different location, and debriefed the students after their session. The students learned some methods about how to answer questions, along with some possible scenarios on how to compose an appropriate answer under pressure.

A huge thanks to the individuals who assisted them in this practice using the technology in our new Career & Transfer Hub (NU 460):

Mr. Steve Ford, Employment & Internship Coordinator

Ms. Claudia Faiola, Career Outreach Specialist

Mrs. Bethany Greenley, Career Outreach Specialist

Dr. Jenice Armstead, College of Business, Academic Department Chair

Mr. Clayton Snare, Coordinator – Early College/Dual Enrollment/Early Admissions

Mrs. Alice Hall, Academic Counselor, Early College Program

For any students looking for assistance on gaining some interview tips, resume help, or career planning, please visit the Career staff on your campus!

By Alice Hall with Bethany Greenley