All posts by Kellie Ziemak

SPC Student turned Restaurant Manager! Find out his tips to success – with SPC and beyond!

Employment Preparation, Student Stories

We sat down Aaron- Wendyswith Aaron Ozier, SPC Student and Wendy’s Restaurant Manager, to find out how St. Petersburg College has helped with his success and where he plans to go.

 

How did SPC prepare you for the shift manager position at Wendy’s?

My classes at SPC have helped prepare me for my current job as shift manager. Real world job skills such as leadership and management were reinforced in my classes during group assignments.  My professors have also helped to reinforce valuable skills such as time management and a good work ethic which I have applied outside of the classroom as well.

SPC has also helped to prepare me for the shift manager position by offering an abundance of resources to assist me with refining my skills and preparing for my next job. The career center in particular has a wealth of knowledge and information that I used when looking into employment opportunities.

 

How has your experience been working for Wendy’s been so far?

My experience working at Wendy’s has been wonderful so far! The management team does a great job of ensuring you have the proper orientation and training to get started in the company. The Wendy’s team goes above and beyond to make sure you have the resources and information you need to get started and grow in your job. There are also many opportunities for professional development and advancement within the organization which I am looking forward to.

 

What advice would you have for students seeking employment at Wendy’s?

I would encourage students seeking employment at Wendy’s to do their research on the company, practice interviewing with a friend, and review their resume. It’s also beneficial to network as much as possible. There may be some great job opportunities that someone knows about and that can provide a reference for you.

SPC has a great career center and really helpful career staff that can assist students with resume writing, career opportunities and interests, and interview preparation.

                                          

Do you intend to stay long term with Wendy’s and how will your SPC education help you grow with this company?

Yes, I am planning on pursuing the leadership path through Wendy’s while continuing my education at SPC. I am looking forward to finishing my degree at SPC and expanding my knowledge and skills to utilize in my current job and to help guide me to the next level in my career.

 

Stay tuned to the blog! Coming Soon: Aaron offers his Top 13 Tips to Success in the Workplace!

Wildly Successful CCIT Career Exploration Event

Career Exploration, Events,

Blog

Over 250 students attended the Computer and Information Technology Career Exploration event. This is the second time this event was held on the SP/Gibbs Campus. The field of technology is rapidly gaining solid footing in the Tampa Bay area and the students know it! CEO’s, CIO’s and recruiters from over ten companies participated in a career exploration event to talk about hiring trends and new technologies. For more information go to the CCIT Blog.

Tarpon Springs “It All Starts with a Handshake” Event

Events

Handshake eventOn Thursday April 16, the Tarpon Springs Career Services staff hosted an event called, “It All Starts with a Handshake” in the courtyard next to the Student Life and Leadership building.  A tent was set up with 3 tables, each as a different station.  Students were given an event card and had to visit three stations to get their card stamped. The first station was how to tie a tie, the second was to practice giving a brief introduction, and the third was to practice a proper business handshake.  After receiving all 3 stamps, the student returned to the sign in table to be given a coupon from Chick-fil-A for a free milkshake.

Students had a lot of fun, and even had an attendee from the community who happened to be on campus at the library and she mentioned she has never been instructed on a proper handshake!

Top ten examples of bad business handshakes:

10.  The Sweaty Palm – self-explanatory, usually shows nervousness

9.  The Lobster Claw – pinching your fingers between their thumb and fingertips

8.  The Fist Bump – never acceptable in business

7.  The Wrestler – extending the hand forward with the palm down exercises control

6.  The Phantom – too quick as if too busy to shake hands

5.  The Lingerer – an awkward handshake that is more than two small shakes

4.  The Decliner – self-explanatory, but could be due to injury or fragility

3.  The Tickler – fingers awkwardly touch the other palm

2.  The Vice – a crushing grip

1.  The Dead Fish – lacks strength

Source: http://www.business.gov.au/handshakes

Join us for the Career Services Podcast on Networking

Employment Preparation, Events

Podcase

•Please plan to join us for a FREE live webinar Thursday, April 30th at 12:15pm.

•CONVERSATION: Enhance your methods of making connections with professionals in your field.

•The presentation will be informative but is designed to fit your busy schedule and should conclude by 12:30 pm.

•For fastest sign-in option, join as a Guest!

This is an event that will be hosted in an entirely electronic format and is much like a short classroom presentation but via your computer or smartphone. If you have a smartphone, laptop, or desktop computer, you have all you need.

This podcast will be a presentation on ways to effectively network in your field so you can enhance your professional network and bring you another step closer to career success!

Use this link to dial in on April 30th!

If you have questions before the webinar, please contact Jamie in Career Advising at Fryer.Jamie@spcollege.edu.

Starbucks employees offered plan to cover all 4 years of college/McDs offers new robust 401k savings plan!

Career News, Industry News

In recefinancial-aidnt months, some of our largest retailers have been protested for their low wages and lack of benefits for employers. Some of these employers are beginning to answer.

Starbucks has expanded their college coverage plan. Starbucks is now covering 4 years’ worth of classes through Arizona State University’s (ASU) online program completely free of charge to employees. ASU covers 42% of the tuition, students are then encouraged to apply for financial aid. Any tuition not covered by financial aid is reimbursed by Starbucks. Some say that this change is coming in light of other companies raising their wages, but others think this is just the next step in Starbucks CEO’s, Howard Schultz’s, initiative to address pressing political and social issues. This new initiative coincides with Shultz’s declaration to hire 10,000 youth who are unemployed and under educated.

McDonalds is also making big moves in terms of offering benefits to employees. They’ve recently implemented a program where employees contributing between 1-4% of their paycheck to a 401K will not only have their contributions matched, but tripled by McDonalds. The next 4% (up to 8%) will be matched dollar for dollar. McDonald’s says the initiative is in an attempt to attract (and keep!) qualified workers.

More Information:

Starbucks: http://www.seattletimes.com/business/starbucks/starbucks-expands-college-plan-says-it-may-cost-250m/

McDonald’s: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/planning-to-retire/2009/01/07/mcdonalds-supersized-401k-match

Would benefits like these make you more interested in working for a company? Which of these do you see as a larger benefit?

Follow career news at SPC on Twitter at #careerspc

SP/Gibbs Meeting Tampa Bay Employer Needs

Events

The 2015 SP/Gibbs Job Fair attracted over 250 students and community members. There were 41 employers representing 12 career Blog 1clusters.

Employers reported that they met a number of qualified candidates and one student exited the event stating, “I got an interview for tomorrow!”

Opportunities included everything from part-time seasonal work to full-time in field of study work. Employers that attended this year included:

  • WTOG
  • St. Petersburg Police
  • FIS
  • Tech Data
  • HSN
  • Wendy’s
  • Chik-fil-a

Follow career news at SPC on Twitter at #careerspc

Business Plan and Elevator Pitch competition finalists

Events

SPC’s 5th annBusiness Pitchual Business Plan and Elevator Pitch competition gives SPC students enrolled in a degree or certificate program a chance to compete to win cash prizes totaling more than $10,000  to launch their business idea!

Winners will be announced on Thursday, April 30, 6 p.m., SPC Seminole Campus Digitorium. RSVP for event.

Finalists for this year’s competition are:

BUSINESS PLAN LEVEL FINALISTS:

  • Brett Berner
  • Nykko Ford
  • Benjamin Woods

ELEVATOR PITCH LEVEL FINALISTS

  • Michael Ganote
  • Rebecca Rodriquez
  • David Thut

ALTERNATE:  Kathleen Loney

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS:

  • Carmen Cruz
  • Quentin Cummings
  • Kira Gilson
  • Kathleen Loney
  • Luz Perry

Follow career news at SPC on Twitter at #careerspc

Exclusive screen of “The Wrecking Crew” for SPC Students

Events

MIRA

“The Wrecking Crew” were popular studio musicians in the 1960’s involved who supported artists such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis, The Beach Boys, The Monkees, and more. Denny Tedesco was the son of Wrecking Crew member, Tommy Tedesco, who helped initiate the project in 1995 while he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

This Friday April 24th, at 6:15pm, SPC MIRA cordially invites SPC students and employees to an exclusive screening of Denny Tedesco’s film “The Wrecking Crew” at Sundial Muvico followed by an exclusive Q&A mixer at our very own Palladium Theatre from 9-10pm. This event is free with a $10 suggested donation.

Tickets will be first come, first serve. Make sure to arrive early to ensure a seat.

For more information, please view SPC event page link

Fall Internship Season is here for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers!

Internships,

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The NFL draft may not be until later this month, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are currently seeking to draft qualified candidates for their fall 2015 internship program. They are offering full time, fall internships to highly motivated and committed students wishing to build upon their college education with practical professional experience in the fast-paced, results-driven world of the National Football League.

The positions are based upon supervised work experiences in departments throughout the organization, including:

  • Community Relations
  • Corporate Partnerships
  • Digital & Social Media
  • Graphic Design
  • Public Relations – Position Filled
  • Purchasing
  • Sales/Guest & Member Relations
  • Events & Entertainment
  • Team Operations – Position Filled
  • Video Production

The 2015 Buccaneers Internship Program will begin in July and end after the last 2015 home football game. Interns are paid hourly in the program and work 40 business hours per week during their internship period. Interns are also expected to commit to the full term of the internship. Applicants must be able to work flexible and some unusual hours including nights and weekends for Buccaneers home games and other team-related events.

How to Apply:

All applicants must submit a complete application and cover letter via Teamwork Online. Applicants may select up to two (2) departments of interest for placement. A selection does not guarantee a position within that department.

Internship Requirements:

  • Four-year college degree or graduate degree
  • Housing and transportation in the Tampa Bay area
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
  • Excellent organizational and oral/written communication skills
  • Proven ability to work independently and take ownership of projects
  • Strong professional demeanor
  • Experience in the sports industry preferred

Jump to this link for more information about the internship and to apply.

As always, follow the Career Services team at SPC using #careerspc & #spcintern

Additional training classes in Supply Chain Management starting in May!

Events

LINCS Program Info Session - April 23To help boost the local workforce, SPC has launched its LINCS Supply Chain Management training program.  The LINCS Program is a great way to earn entry to mid-level industry certifications that will enable individuals to enter and advance in their supply chain careers. Additional training classes will be starting in May! The training is being offered through a $1.5 million federal grant.  St. Petersburg College is pleased to collaborate with CareerEdge Funders Collaborative in promoting and funding tuition for the new training program.

Marta Przyborowski, LINCS Grant Program Manager, recently wrote a blog explaining the new program. Click here to read more.

Attend the upcoming LINCS Program Information Session to learn more!

Follow career news at SPC on Twitter at #careerspc