Monday, September 20, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 5
Careers
KU graduates offer tips to smooth out job search
By Derek Prater
writer@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Jobs. Good Jobs.
Someday you will want one, and these three recent KU grads have them. Here, they offer a little advice.
- Ryan Friesen.
Friesen graduated in 1996 with a degree in biology. He now lives in
Olathe and works for Janssen Pharmaceutica as a Professional CNS Specialty Representative. In plain English, Friesen pitches drugs to psychiatrists. He has worked with Janssen since September 1996, about four months after he graduated. Friesen had advice on many facets of the job search:
Illustration by Kyle Ramsey / KANSAN
Friesen stressed the importance of doing your homework. He said that researching companies you are applying to is mandatory.
On getting started — "Start early," Friesen said. "Before you graduate, you should start getting your resume out there."
"Having a lot of knowledge about the company and the job itself is
important," Friesen said.
On interviewing — "Be confi dent and enthusiastic," he said. "You just need to sell yourself."
Allison Arbuckle. Arbuckle graduated in 1998 with a degree in business communications. She now lives in Tulsa, Okla., and works at SBC Communications as a manager in the Billing Inquiry Department. SBC Communications is the parent company for Southwestern Bell. She is in the SBC management training program and supervises 14 people. If you want to be in charge, this is what Arbuckle has to say:
On looking for that first job "Be aggressive yet open-minded." Arbuckle said. "Don't limit yourself to what you think you want."
She said that she ended up using her degree in ways she never had imagined. Although Arbuckle was in the School of Journalism, she registered with the School of Business Career Services Center, which helped her get her job.
On interviewing — "Take every opportunity you have to go practice interviewing." Arbuckle said.
She said that she went on interviews for jobs that she didn't want, so she could get practice.
Being clear and concise is important and be prepared so that you can sell yourself, Arbuckle said.
Aaron Kirby. Kirby graduated in 1997 with a degree in business. He now lives in Kansas City and works as a sale representative for Andrews and McMee Universal in the new media division. Andrews and McMeel has a division that syndicates among other things, columnists and cartoons such as Dr. Laura and Garfield. It's Kirby's job to sell that content to Internet companies like America Online. Here's Kirby's take:
On finding that first job "Don't worry about it," Kirry said. "You will be surprised how much will come available to you."
Kirby said that it's important to network at all times. He found out about Andrews and McMeel from a guy with whom he played basketball.
Also of importance — persistence. Kirby said that he interviewed for three positions before he landed a spot at Andrews and McMeel.
Favorite major may not take students down career path
On interviewing — "Be yourself and go in there relaxed," Kirby said. "Know the job. Do the research. Sell yourself."
Students usually go to college so they'll find a job when they graduate.
As a freshman, they are told to go with what they love
but sometimes doing just that will land them in a temporary agency.
The bottom line is: some majors are more practical than others.
David Hixson, Lawrence graduate student, found that out the hard way. As an undergraduate majoring in history, he thought he wanted to be a high school teacher or a professor. However, upon graduation in 1995, he changed his mind.
"I applied for a couple of business positions at banks, but I didn't have any luck," he said. "When I very first came to KU, I was a business major, but I got really wrapped up in liberal arts and really into history."
After taking a job at Superior School and Office, an office supply store that is no longer in business, Hixson decided to look for something else.
Now he's working on his MBA. Hixson said he thought students should major in something they love, but he also recommended they pick up a second major or return to graduate school if their favorite major was not practical.
“It’s so hard. You tell people to do something practical, but then when you get into the whole academia thing, it can change so fast,” Hixson said. “I think, and I hate to say it, but it really is tough to get a job with just a liberal arts
degree — or at least a job that pays anything."
Libby Burgess, Wichita sophomore, said that she already had chosen her major, basing it on the kind of job she hoped to get after college. Although art history and international studies are her passions, her primary major is business communications with a concentration in international studies. She said she chose not to major in art history because she didn't think she would be able to find work outside of museums or the classroom when she graduated.
"I don't want to be a museum curator," Burgess said. "I wouldn't major in art history because I'm so scared I wouldn't get a job. International studies is my baby. I love it because it's so much fun. There are so many opportunities with it and so many more in the future."
Edited by Mike Loader
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