How To Get A Job In Criminal Justice

Transcription

1 MAJOR DECISIONS Graduation is May 14th! Congratulations Grads! April/May 2015 Mastering the Job Interview By: Susan Gordon, Career Planning Specialist Remember the 6 Ps of Interviewing: Preparation Punctuality Proper Dress Positive Attitude and Answers Professional Behavior Place Value and Credibility in your skills Preparation: A. Find out information about the company or organization. For Example: 1. When was the company/organization established. Exactly what services and/or products do they provide? 2. What is the company s/organization s mission statement? B. Get Ready the night before. 1. Lay out clothing, Prepare a notebook or valise with pencils, pens, certificates & awards and any other related documents. 2. Have a map quest ready/along with the phone number to the company. 3. Study and know what skills the company is looking for. Practice answering potential questions. (continued on page 2) Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy. Norman Vincent Peale In This Issue Mastering the interview (p.1& 2) Mastering the Interview cont. (p. 2) 2015 Spring Job Fair a Hit! (p.3) Major Decision Criminal Justice (p. 3) & 4) 10 WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR SUMMER ( p. 5) CLASSIFIEDS (p. 6) April/May Calendars (p.7 & 8) CONTACT US (p. 8) 1

2 DRESS FOR SUCCESS! Watch your body language-have a positive attitude! Mastering the Interview (cont.) 2. PUNCTUALITY- Be on time! You want to arrive at least 15 to 30 minutes early; you may need to complete an application or other required paperwork. Being late is a bad first impression,. 3. PROPER DRESS- Do not wear: Jeans, kitchy attire (huge earrings, heavy make-up, colorful clothing, cover the tattoos, remove face and tongue jewelry, no bright colored nail polish, sneakers, platform shoes or spiked heels, low-cut blouses), and please do not bring a backpack. Men should not wear all black, flashy suits, have painted nails, t-shirts, jeans, etc. Please do not over-do the cologne or perfume, some people may have allergies or cannot tolerate strong overwhelming odors. Ladies should wear a nice pantsuit or busi ness suit ( dark blue/black or solid colors) Men should wear a (preferably white) shirt with a conservative tie and jacket. 4. POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND ANSWERS- Shake hands and introduce yourself (smile and show confidence). Don t slump, speak clearly, act interested, please don t chew gum, don t bring friends or family, and please turn off your cellphone. Don t use slang or profane language, ask personal questions, give out personal information such as your age, religion, sexual preferences. Never discuss religion or political views. Never bring up personal conflict you may have had with previous co-workers or bosses. Keep your answers positive and professional. Try to keep answers to questions succinct and knowledgeable about the job duties. Don t ramble on and on. 5. PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR Be respectful and honest with your answers. If you don t know how to use a certain software, let the interviewer know how fast you learned a certain program that was tough. Take notes and write down the names of the person (s) who interviews you. Ask for a business card. If you don t understand a question, ask the interviewer to repeat the question. 6. PLACE VALUE AND CREDIBILITY IN YOUR SKILLS-If you know about certain technologies, use language and terms that apply to that technology. If you have great customer service skills, give the interviewer some examples of how you handle customers. Be sure and end the interview with that 20 second speech as to why you are the best person for the job. DISCRIMINATION IS AGAINST THE LAW! What constitutes discrimination? Bias with regard to an individual s race, color, age religion, sex disability or sexual orientation. Reporting discrimination: Go to the EEOC Website (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission). At to obtain the following: EEOC Complaint forms, EEOC Processing, EEOC Locations, EEOC Guidelines and EEOC Attorneys. 2

3 2015 Spring Career Fair A Success! On April 2nd Career Services hosted a Spring Job Fair with more than 25 Companies participating. Our Sponsors this year were The Cracker Barrel and Primerica. The Cracker Barrel hired three people while at the job fair! It was not surprising to learn from our employers about how professional many of the attendees were. Many students and public participants came with their resumes in hand and were able to talk about their great skills and college goals. All of the employers said they would like to come to Cedar Valley College again! We had a drawing for a gift basket with more than $75.00 worth of goodies. A subway gift card, an i- tunes gift card, sports bottles, loads of snacks and candies. Over 25 Employers attended the 2015 Spring Job Fair! Lady Justice April/May Major Decision- Criminal Justice Article referenced from: Criminal Justice Degree programs aim to prepare students for a number of careers. An associate degree in criminal justice can provide you with the basic knowledge on subjects such as causes of crime and their control policies. A bachelor s degree program can familiarize you with the processes in the criminal justice system. It places a lot of emphasis on security methods and law enforcement techniques applied in the legal system. A master s degree in criminal justice can help students acquire expertise in specialized areas such as law enforcement or corrections. Online programs in criminal justice can greatly help working professionals to expand their knowledge and appear more attractive to the current and potential employers. In order to give students a sound understanding of criminal justice, the following courses are offered in graduate and undergraduate degree programs: Criminology Police and Society Criminal Law Social Policy Penology Criminal Justice Administration of Criminal Justice Civil Liberties Politics of Law History of American Legal System What Can I do with my Criminal Justice Degree? Careers with criminal justice degree are mainly dependent on your education level, specialization area, and the accreditation of your institute. The associate and bachelor level degrees lead to various entry-level positions, while master level degrees are likely to provide better career prospects due to their advanced curriculum and concentrations. Some of the best opportunities in terms of Criminal justice degree jobs can be found in FBI, CIA, ATF, and Department of Homeland Security. Salary and benefits gained by criminal justice graduates depend upon the sector and the location of employer. Pay increases and promotion prospects are higher for those with more experience and relevant skills. (Cont. on page 4) 3

4 April/May Major Decision-Criminal Justice (continued) Take a look at some of the top Criminal Justice Careers: Paralegal Median Annual Salary in 2012 (BLS): $46,990 Paralegals are also known as legal assistants. Their main responsibility is to reduce the workload of lawyers. Paralegals generally perform tasks such as research, drafting legal documents, and carrying out day-to-day administrative tasks that exist in a legal setting. Employers also offer on-the-job training to paralegals to provide specific skills and enhance their performance. Education: High school diploma or GED, Associate or Certificate in Paralegal Studies, Bachelors degree Forensic Analyst Median Annual Salary in 2012 (BLS): $52,840 The responsibility of forensic analysts is to analyze, categorize and identify evidence that may relate to a certain crime. You will find forensic analysts working in laboratories, where they analyze DNA and other evidence with the help of specialized equipment. They may also be required to give testimonies in certain cases. Education: Bachelor s degree plus supervised training Police Officer Median Annual Salary in 2012 (BLS): $56,980 Police officers are known for protecting general public and enforcing local and federal laws. They are required to patrol their assigned areas, respond to emergency calls, and apprehend law violators. They also play an important role in enforcing local traffic laws.education: High school diploma or some college education Judges and Lawyers Median Annual Salary in 2012 (BLS): $113,530 lawyers, $115,760 judges Judges and lawyers fall under the category of some of the most common jobs in criminal justice. Lawyers represent individuals, businesses, and government agencies on legal issues. Once lawyers have gained expertise in the field, they may be appointed as judge or magistrates.education: Bachelor s degree, law degree, and clear the Bar Exam Parole Officer Median Annual Salary in 2012 (BLS): $48,190 A parole officer keeps an eye on parolees. Parolees are people who have been released from prison, prior to the completion of their sentence, generally due to good conduct and behavior. An important part of a parole officer s job is to help the parolee adjust into the society. Parole officers help them find employment and schooling. They also make sure that parolees follow the conditions of their parole.education: Bachelor s degree Correctional Officer Median Annual Salary in 2012 (BLS): $48,190 The major responsibility of a correctional officer is to maintain discipline in a correctional facility and ensure that inmates follow the rules. They supervise and search cells for illegal substances and dangerous objects. Correctional officers also have to report on the conduct of the detainees.education: High School diploma FBI Agent Median Annual Salary in 2012 (BLS): $56,980 An FBI agent s job falls under the category of the most sought after in the field of criminal justice. These agents work under the directive of Federal Bureau of Investigation to carry out investigation, solve crimes at federal level, and work on special assignments. Apart from the salary, FBI agents also receive other benefits such as regular health checkups, bonuses, housing allowance, and vehicle allowance.education: Four year Bachelor s degree Coroner Median Annual Salary in 2012 (O*Net): $62,020 Coroners are also known as medical examiners. They carry out autopsies and other tests to find out the cause of death. Coroners generally work for the government, whether it is local, state or federal. They provide reports to local police departments and other law enforcement agencies. They are also required to stay updated with the latest medical information to effectively determine the cause of death. Education: Doctor of Medicine Criminal Profiler Median Annual Salary in 2012 (BLS): $69,280 Criminal profilers are responsible to help police departments identify the real culprits. They create a general profile of a potential criminal to help police departments with tricky investigations. They have the option to work with federal agencies or for private organizations. Education: Bachelor s degrees, Psychology and Criminal justice Emergency Dispatcher Median Annual Salary in 2012 (BLS): $36,300 When you contact police in an emergency situation, your first contact is with the emergency dispatcher. The main responsibility of an emergency or 911 dispatcher includes using a computer based dispatch system, to quickly take calls and send for help. Emergency dispatchers assign appropriate emergency service, according to the nature of the caller s emergency. Education: High School Diploma Fish and Game Warden Median Annual Salary in 2012 (BLS): $49,400 Fish and game wardens are officers of the law whose responsibilities include protecting marine and wild life. Fish and game wardens can arrest and fine individuals who violate the law in their assigned patrol areas. It is an ideal career for individuals 4 who love nature and the outdoors. Education: Associate s degree

5 Update or create your resume Frist impressions mean so much! An employer may read your resume before meeting you. Make sure it s a good one. Stop by Career Services D102 and we can help you create or update your resume. We also offer resume writing tips and tools on our Career Services web page, just click on the link below FutureStudents/StudentServices/ CareerCenter/Lists/WebPages/ DispForm2.aspx?List=ba2d2384-cb87-47b aa971cd4a&ID=4 10 WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR SUMMER BY: LATHERA ADDISON Take Classes Registration for summer classes starts 4/27/15 (TODAY) and there are 2 Sessions offered. Review the course offerings and see if taking summer courses is a good fit for you! Get a job, complete an internship or volunteer Maybe you need the money, or perhaps you want to get experience in your desired career field. Don t miss out on opportunities to learn and network with other professionals. Come check our job board in Career Services D102 Clean out your closet Does your wardrobe need a reboot? Determine what clothing items you should keep, toss or donate to an organization. There could be hidden cash in your closet. Many consignment shops will pay for gently worn, trendy clothing items. Find out more by googling Plato s Closet. There is even a local business that consigns high end sneakers, Trap Boutique. Shopping at consignment or thrift stores can also be a great way to build your professional wardrobe on a college student friendly budget. Get organized An organized space is both aesthetically pleasing and mentally calming! Determine what you need, or actually using and get rid of what you don t. Develop an organization system over the summer so by the time classes start in the fall you will have formed a habit. 5

6 ATTENTION: 2015 MAY GRADUATES-CAREER SERVICES IS HERE TO HELP YOU MOVE FOR- WARD. WE CAN SHOW YOU HOW TO LAND A NEW JOB THAT GOES WITH YOUR NEWLY, HARD EARNED DIPLOMA-CALL US AND LET US HELP. CAMPUS CLASSIFIEDS Lancaster Outreach Center Lancaster Library Lancaster Rec Center Summerfield Summer Camp-needs; Jr. Camp Counselor, Camp Counselor, Sr. Camp Counselor, Camp Coach/ Teacher, Camp Leader-Located at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church X5207 Lancaster Animal Shelter Notice Career Services will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the Summer Months-thru May 18th, June, July and the end the day of August 20th, 2015 Our job board is usually updated every week and we receive many summer job opportunities. Please feel free to stop by Career Services this Summer and see what s new! We will not be sending out Newsletters this Summer. Summer & Part Time Job Fair 2015-Thursday, April 30th, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.-dal2 Atrium- Bring lots of Resumes, Dress Professionally. For more information, contact Arthur Lumzy, or Athur.lumzy@untdallas.edu HAVE A GREAT SUMMER! 6

7 ON-CAMPUS UNIVERSITY/JOB RECRUITMENT ALSO: CAREER SERVICES EVENTS Occasionally Universities and Companies request to come on campus and recruit. University Recruiters are here to help students who want to transfer to a major university after they graduate from Cedar Valley College. Most recruiters are here from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Upper D Building Lounge. END OF APRIL DATES APRIL 29TH-ASIAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL-COURTYARD: 12:30 P.M. APRIL 30TH-TARLETON UNIVERSITY RECRUITING-4:00 P.M. TO 8:00 May 2015 MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT CINCO DE MAYO- 12:30- COURT- YARD 6 7 STRAYER UNIV-12-2p Fashion Institute Design & Merchandising 11am -2 p.m. Granduation Cookout- 12:30-Courtyard FINALS 12 FINALS 13 FINALS 14 FINALS/ GRADUATION-IBOC- 7P.M

8 Like us on Facebook! Cedar Valley College Career Services CHECK OUT OUR WEB PAGE! CareerCenter/default.aspx Features of our Website: Virtual Career Services with youtubes/online resources on resumes, interviewing and dressing for success. Back issues of Major Decisions newsletter College Career Fair Schedules/Employment and Internship Opportunities and Contact Us Give us a call for more information about our services and resources. CVC Career Services Room 102 D-Building (972) or (972) Visit us on the web at Hours: Mon-Thurs: 8 am to 7 pm. Fri: 8 am to 4:30 pm Career Services would love to help our Veterans by offering the following: For an appointment for Resume Assistance please call us at Resume Assistance-We can assist with resumes for Military to Civilian Transition. Job Hunting Resources Transitioning from Military to Civilian pamphlets and resources to assist you with cover letter writing, interviewing and so much more. Who s Who in Career Services: Lathera Addison, Coordinator of Career Svcs laddison@dcccd.edu Susan Gordon, Career Planning Specialist sgordon@dcccd.edu Juan Rebollar, Editor, Data Entry and Student Assistant 8