All posts by Wanda Kimsey

Attend the Feb. 13 Clearwater Campus Transfer Fair

January 23, 2018EventsCareer Services, InternshipsWanda Kimsey

Join the St. Petersburg College Clearwater Career Services team and representatives from various state universities in Florida at our Feb. 13 Clearwater Campus Transfer Fair, and learn more about the additional educational opportunities that are available to you.

Clearwater Career Services is hosting the fair from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. in the Ethics and Social Sciences (ES) Building, Room 104. This is a great opportunity to speak to advisors/representatives from major universities in Florida and ask questions about transferring, admissions, and degree options.

SPC partners with more than 15 Florida universities including the University of South Florida, Saint Leo University, and the University of Tampa. Representatives from these universities will be attending this year’s transfer fair.
Learn more about the types of bachelor’s degree programs offered at SPC including in: Business, Information Technology, Education, Health Sciences, Science and Environmental Technology, Nursing, Orthotics and Prosthetics, Public Policy and Administration, Paralegal Studies, Public Safety, and Veterinary Technology.
You can also earn your bachelor degree through the University Partnership Center. UPC offers more than 100 bachelor’s and graduate degree programs and certificates through a variety of fully accredited colleges and universities.
Check out the Transfer Evaluation Tool! This tool compares SPC course credits with those from other colleges and universities. This tool is reviewed and updated continually.
Learn more about the Associate in Arts Degree (A.A.) – General Studies to Bachelor’s Degree Program. An associate in arts degree is designed to transfer to a bachelor’s degree at SPC or to a state university. You can find the requirements for approximately 250 university majors and track your progress toward completion through the A.A. transfer evaluation tool on the FloridaShines website.

All SPC students, alumni, and the public are welcome to attend the Clearwater Campus Transfer Fair! Whatever your interest is, stop by the fair, and learn more about the variety of educational opportunities available to you.

Get Tips and Expert Resume Review at the Nov. 13 Workshop

November 7, 2017EventsCareer Services, InternshipsWanda Kimsey

Are you having difficulties on how to create a resume or would you like a professional resume review?

The Clearwater Career Services will host a Resume Revolution Workshop on Nov. 13 from 12:30-2 p.m. in the ES Building, Room 125, at the Clearwater Campus. Career Services will provide you with a better understanding on how to improve your resume by:

Keeping your resume to one page
Including your previous and current academic and career achievements
Developing a resume style that is appropriate to the job you are seeking
Using proper vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation
Choosing the best resume style and format

Career Services invites you to bring your resume. Or, if you have not created a resume, we can help you create one at our Resume Revolution Workshop.

One-on-one resume review

In our workshop, you will have one-on-one interaction with a professional who will offer you additional feedback on how to improve your resume. Career Services will show you how to use great resources, such as Optimal Resume and O*NET.ONLINE to find and incorporate suitable language into your resume for the position you are interested in seeking.

If you are applying for a specific position in an organization, make sure to do your research on the requirements the employer is looking for pertaining to that position before you write your first draft resume. When writing your resume, remember to include relevant information and appropriate action verbs regarding the profession or career you are seeking. Employers usually only spend one minute reviewing resumes and look for key words to determine if someone is qualified for the position.

Career Services is here to help you create a resume that is targeted to the profession you are seeking. Mark your calendar for Nov. 13 event!

Learn about public service careers on Nov. 7

October 25, 2017EventsCareer Services, InternshipsWanda Kimsey

Connect with local government agencies and learn more about the wide variety of positions and job opportunities available in the public service fields at the Second Annual Government Forum on Nov. 7.

Florida has 2,050 local governments, and Pinellas County has 24 municipalities in addition to Pinellas County Government. Students in every major have opportunities to find a career in local government.

SPC Clearwater Career Services is hosting the forum from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Clearwater Campus in the ES Building in Room 104. The event is open to all, but seats are limited.

Please pre-register online at stpe.co/governmentforum117.

Forum panelists

Guest panelists will include:

Jeffery Kronschnabl – Keynote Speaker
Seminole City Manager Ann Toney-Deal
Pinellas Park City Manager Douglas Lewis
Safety Harbor City Manager Matt Spoor
Professor Roy Slater – Moderator

Panelists will share their insight and experiences about the benefits of working in public service. Learn why these city managers chose their career paths in public service. Additionally the forum presents opportunities for discussion and questions between the audience and panelists.

Workforce challenges

Local governments face the ongoing challenge of implementing successful succession plans due to the changing workforce within their organizations as significant numbers of employees are retiring.

Government agencies must maintain a resilient and dependable workforce. Agencies are earnestly seeking to hire and retain qualified personnel who will be able to work in the public sector serving citizens’ needs.

Public service opportunities

Local government agencies offer rewarding careers with competitive salaries and benefits. Learn more about the variety of available positions in the government workforce.

Are you interested in accounting or finance, communications, computer science, criminology, engineering, management, public administration, risk management, or leisure studies? If so, mark your calendar to attend the Second Annual Government Forum on Nov. 7, starting at 11 a.m. You will be amazed at what you will learn and the opportunities available to you!

LinkedIn Workshop: Branding the Professional YOU

October 5, 2017EventsCareer Services, InternshipsWanda Kimsey

St. Petersburg College students can find out how to get ahead in their job searches with the upcoming Career Services LinkedIn Workshop. Learn about a great way to connect with employers and experts in your chosen field.

Attend this workshop at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 25, in AD 115 at the Clearwater Campus.

Stand out in today’s competitive job market.
Learn to build your personal brand.
Learn how to use your professional photo on your LinkedIn profile.

Today’s job market is constantly changing, and LinkedIn is the best way to keep up-to-date and informed. They are the premier professional network, featuring more than 4 million employers. This workshop will help get your job hunt off on the right foot.

This workshop will walk you through the basics, starting with opening a free account. LinkedIn is a service for professionals, and opens doors that are different than Facebook and Twitter. Learn about prospects and network with employers and professional colleagues. Get the latest news in your industry, and learn from experts in your field.

We are looking forward to seeing you there, and helping you build your brand on LinkedIn. Discover new opportunities and learn about branding the professional you!

Clearwater and Seminole Campus Job Fairs

September 5, 2017Employment Preparation, Events, Hot JobsCareer Services, InternshipsWanda Kimsey

St. Petersburg College Clearwater Campus and the Seminole Campus are hosting Job Fairs. This is a great opportunity to meet with more than 30 local employers at each campus.

SPC Job Fairs:

Oct. 17, 2017 from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Clearwater Campus, ES 104
Oct. 19, 2017 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Seminole Campus, UP/Digitorium

Free admission! Free parking! No pre-registration required! Open to the public!

Looking for a new job? How about a new career? Prepare for success:

Wear proper business attire – first impressions count!
Bring copies of your resume.
Arrive with a positive attitude.

This is a great opportunity to look at ways to further develop your skills for the jobs of today and review the bright career prospects of tomorrow. Expand your skill set, even learn a whole new career, network with local employers, have face-to-face interviews, and have an engaging conversation with a potential employer.

Everyone is invited to our job fairs where you can:

Meet local employers.
Have on-the-spot interviews.
Find out about full-time jobs and internship opportunities.

Before you go to the job fair make sure to stop by Clearwater Career Services in AD 115, if you need any assistance preparing your resume or cover letters. Remember you can practice your interview skills in Optimal Resume located in MyCourses. You will also want to prepare for interviews by developing an elevator pitch that will highlight key strengths that you can offer to the organization and use this at the beginning of your interview. Also, you will want to have some questions ready to ask the interviewer, such as “What have you enjoyed most about working here?” and “What is the next step in the process?” You will also want to develop a strategy for the job fair by surveying the layout of the fair once you arrive and determine the order of which employers you will want to speak with.

Engineering Technology at SPC Clearwater

June 23, 2017Career ExplorationCareer Services, InternshipsWanda Kimsey

Did you know SPC Clearwater Campus is home to the Engineering Technology A.S Degree program?

SPC’s engineering technology A.S program is recognized as a model for associate in science programs around the country. Our programs give you hands-on technical skills backed up by scientific and engineering principles. With our training, you will learn:

Industrial processes and materials
How to generate and interpret computer-aided drawings
Electronics and electricity
Quality assurance methods
Mechanical measurements and instrumentation
Technical competency
Skills and theory to support engineering design, processes, production, testing, and product quality.

Engineering Technology A.S Degree offers sub-plans in:

Biomedical Systems
Medical Quality Systems
Electronics
Quality
Digital Design and Modeling

Our core classes for all sub-plans align with the national Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) Portable Production Technician Certification. If you have already earned the MSSC-CPT, you can receive 15 articulated credit hours toward this Engineering Technology degree. This comprehensive degree program was developed in part by the Florida Advanced Technological Education (FLATE) Center to provide manufacturers and technology industries qualified, highly skilled employees. It is a model for colleges in Florida and throughout the country.

Pinellas County ranks second in the state for manufacturing employment and third in the state for the number of manufacturing firms. To work in today’s technology manufacturing operations, employees need to have advanced technology skills and knowledge. According to recent news reports, employers have a hard time finding qualified employees on both locally and nationally scales. Students with an Engineering Technology A.S degree qualify for many positions such as: Civil/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering technicians, electronics assembly and testing, CAD designer, CAD drafter, Mechanical part designer, Industrial designer, Quality assurance technician/manger, Quality control inspector, Lean/Six Sigma leader, Biomedical device repair, Biomedical device technician. With manufacturing firms returning to Florida, there is a tremendous need for skilled technicians who can maintain and repair the sophisticated medical machines that take care of us.

Link: http://www.spcollege.edu/degrees-training/engineering-manufacturing-and-building-arts

Clearwater Career Services – My Learning Plan (MLP)

June 6, 2017Career Exploration, EventsCareer Services, InternshipsWanda Kimsey

Clearwater Career Services will be hosting several My Learning Plan (MLP) Workshops for students during the month of June, in the Administration Building, room AD115.

Wednesday June 7, 10:00am – 12:00pm & 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Wednesday June 21, 10:00am – 12:00pm & 3:00pm – 5:00pm

June is a great time to take advantage of these workshops to get a jump start on your Learning Plan for your classes. Join us at these important MLP workshops so we can further assist you with planning the courses you will need to take for your degree, and outline which term you should take your classes. You can also become familiar with the function, application, and benefits of your MLP. My Learning Plan is a great tool for helping students keep on track with their classes. Think about the times you wanted to take a specific class, and wished you had placed it in your shopping cart, but forgot. By utilizing MLP, your classes will already be assigned in your Learning Plan. When enrollment starts, all you have to do is go to your MLP for the appropriate semester and enroll in the classes. This way you can avoid worrying about searching for the right classes at the last minute.

Career Services is here to help you succeed at achieving your goals. We can help you to identify your career paths that match your personality, interests, skills, and values. The Career Services office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30am – 7:00pm, and on Friday from 8:30am – 12:00pm. We are located in the Administration Building, room AD115

We are looking forward to seeing you at one of our workshops!

Discover Career Launch

May 2, 2017Career Exploration, Employment Preparation, InternshipsCareer Services, InternshipsWanda Kimsey

Formerly known as “Burning Glass,” Career Launch is a great tool for exploring careers, and internships.

Some of the many opportunities offered by Career Launch include:

Explore careers by St. Petersburg College programs of study
Research a program of study, job, employer or skill
Explore my career and internship options
See where my experience can take me

Once you click on the jobs/internship search tab you will be able to see job results for your program of study, jobs for which you have been encouraged to apply for, and jobs you have recently viewed. You can start a new search by clicking on “Search for jobs” tab on the right hand side that will take you to a new page. The search job postings page allows you to search for jobs or internships by different criteria such as state/city search, ZIP Code radius search, job posting date, occupation, program of study or resume matching. You will need to upload a resume in order to be able to apply for a job. Career Launch allows you to create or upload a resume. If you do not have a resume, Optimal Resume is another great resource for creating a resume, which can also be found under “My Courses.” Click on a job posting you are interested in, and you will be able to see general information about the position including the job title, company information, location, salary, job description, job requirements, and job qualifications. On the top of the page you will see a “How to apply for this job” link that will redirect you to information about the application process. In addition, a “BOOKMARK THIS INFO” link is available for you allowing you to go back and review the job information later.

Once you log in under student login, go to “My Courses,” scroll to the bottom to the right side of the page, and under “Additional Resources” there is a hyperlink to Career Launch!

Who You Know vs. What You Know

April 26, 2017Career Exploration, Employment Preparation, Industry NewsCareer Services, InternshipsWanda Kimsey

Of course it’s about who you know, as Dr. Kohrs emphasized in his
presentation at SPC Clearwater Campus on April 20, 2017. Dr. Kohrs, a SPC Clearwater Alumni, explained the importance of Social Networking for a successful future. He shared with the audience his experience from his high school years all the way to today, with a fast paced technology evolvement, making Social Networking a main ingredient for creating a successful future in any career. Dr. Kohrs was not an “A” student during his high school years. He was actually absent 1 year and 1 day from high school, choosing to go to libraries and museums instead of class. Later, in college all the way to obtaining his PhD, he maintained a 4.0 GPA. He shared with the audience four proven, effective ways to increase your GPA in addition to studying hard.

Introduce yourself to the professor after the first class. Let the professor know that it will be a great class, and you will enjoy their class.
Ask a question. Raise your hand and ask a question about something that you have already read from the course material.
Keep in touch. Professors spend many hours in their offices when they are not teaching classes. Use those office hours, to stop by and get connected with your professor.
Join a Club. Creating relationships and allies with different departments such as the writing studio, student clubs, the library, and career services is an important key for doing better.

Dr. Kohrs also mentioned Small World Theory / Six degrees of Separation, which is the amount of degrees you are away from knowing someone. Small World Theory expresses that we have friends who have friends and so on, proving we have unlimited connections available to us. On average each one of us has about 100 – 150 connections.

Career Launch- A Career Exploration Tool

April 5, 2017Career Exploration, Employment Preparation, InternshipsCareer Services, InternshipsWanda Kimsey

Formerly known as “Burning Glass,” Career Launch is a great tool for exploring careers, and internships. Some of the many opportunities offered by Career Launch include:

Explore careers by St. Petersburg College programs of study
Research a program of study, job, employer or skill
Explore my career and internship options
See where my experience can take me

You will need to upload a resume in order to be able to apply for a job. Career Launch allows you to create or upload a resume. If you do not have a resume, Optimal Resume is another great resource for creating a resume, which can also be found under “My Courses.” Click on a job posting you are interested in, and you will be able to see general information about the position including the job title, company information, location, salary, job description, job requirements, and job qualifications. On the top of the page you will see a “How to apply for this job” link that will redirect you to information about the application process. In addition, a “BOOKMARK THIS INFO” link is available for you allowing you to go back and review the job information later.