Vera Teller - Check It Off!: Pave Your Way through College to Career

Check It Off!

Check It Off!

Pave Your Way through
College to Career

Vera Teller, Ph.D.

ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD

Lanham Boulder New York London

Published by Rowman & Littlefield
A wholly owned subsidiary of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, Maryland 20706
www.rowman.com

Unit A, Whitacre Mews, 26-34 Stannary Street, London SE11 4AB

Copyright 2016 by Vera Teller

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

ISBN 978-1-4758-2954-9 (cloth : alk. paper)
ISBN 978-1-4758-2955-6 (paperback : alk. paper)
ISBN 978-1-4758-2958-7 (electronic)

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.

Printed in the United States of America

To my grandchildren, Dominic and Vincent:
Barriers are limitations in the mind. Pursue your dreams
and be happy. You are loved for who you are!

Foreword

I have been teaching at a state university level for 42 years. Over that time, I have prided myself in my ability and interest in working with my students with the overall goal of gaining the career that they desire. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesnt. However, when it works, it is because the student is motivated and willing to do anything to succeed from the beginning. This book is about you getting the career you want and learning how to start toward that goal from day one at college. My experiences with more than 20,000 students over my career tell me that the students who start this way are the ones who meet their goal.

Too often I talk to senior students and ask them what they want to do when they graduate, and I hear, Im not really sure. I figure I will apply for some jobs and see what comes up. That is not a very good plan and often it fails.

Allow me to tell you about how one student of mine approached it differently. Sienna was a sophomore and a student in my class. When I talked about my research she seemed to be the most attentive student in the class and asked quite insightful questions for a 19-year-old. I mentioned our lab and she asked if she could join. I told her what I tell all students: come see me when you are starting your junior year and we will talk. Sienna was insistent and we compromised by me letting her sit in on a lab meeting. She never left and she is now completing her PhD and is certain to get a good job.

Dr. Tellers book is not one of those self-help books full of cute quizzes asking about what animal you most resemble or what cartoon character is most like you. It is full of valuable information set in a clear, orderly timetable where you build your skills and your persona across your four college years. You will learn about the value of finding a mentor (something dear to my heart) as well as how and why to keep a portfolio of your work starting at day one. You will hear about the value of public speaking, which, I believe, is the most important skill you will learn in school. We make our students present at many conferences and practice in front of us numerous times until they are comfortable and clear.

Dr. Teller will also tell you about the absolute importance of networking and even talk to you about how to communicate with those with whom you might want to work. She will tell you that college is more than coursework. It is a place to gather experiences and interests, and plan for your future.

Most importantly, she will tell you why your pursuit is nonlinear. When I entered college I was going to be a professor of mathematics. I had my entire coursework planned out and knew exactly what was going to happen each year. That worked fine until I realized that I did not want to teach math to college students who, for the most part, were not interested. My nonlinear meanderings took me to several other disciplines that used math but were more interesting both to me and to my future students. I settled on psychology and never looked back.

Heed Dr. Tellers advice throughout this book. Start reading it before you go to your first day of college. Gain knowledge and gain experience. Visualize yourself being successful in four years and follow her plan to that success. But be open to the possibility that life might change.

You might not take the straight path you envisioned upon entering college. Your career goals may meander here and there but if you stay on task and follow her plan you will find a career that fits you and excites you. Mine has taken bizarre twists and turns even after I became a professor and now 42 years later I am still having the time of my life. I love my job, my colleagues, and my students, and this year I published my seventh book. I never thought I would publish a book but that is the path that opened up for me. Stay open and Check It Off! and you, too, will pave the way to a career that makes you happy and successful.

Dr. Larry D. Rosen
Professor Emeritus, Keynote Speaker, Research Consultant
California State University, Dominguez Hills
George Marsh Applied Cognition Laboratory

Preface

Begin at the beginning, the King said, very gravely, and go on till you come to the end: then stop.

Lewis Carroll, Alices Adventures in Wonderland

Janet excelled in high school, was accepted to a top national college, and after graduation fell into a deep depression because she had no plans or direction for the future. It took a lot of time, resources, and doctors to get her back on her feet (literally) and on a path toward a career.

Once she felt better, she was able to start the career planning process. While at an informal gathering she was introduced to a woman who worked for an educational center similar to the Kaplan centers. Janet applied to the center upon hearing of a job opportunity. This was a perfect fit for her, because although the focus was on education, other aspects of the job would provide valuable experience. It provided an opportunity to gain experience in various areas: marketing, accounting, and business management. Also, part of the position was to discuss alternative approaches to educating special needs children to parents.

Within two years of working with children, Janet decided to pursue a masters degree in educational policy. After interning at the Department of Education in educational policy while attending school, she was offered a position at the department immediately after graduating.

Many books on the market advise college students on how to get a good job after college. How to Find Fulfilling Work, The Worriers Guide To Life, Homework for Grown-ups, A Short Guide to a Happy Life, Gods Promises for Graduates, What Do I Do If?, How to Change the World, The Path, Damn Good Advice, I Just Graduated Now What?, Paddle against the Flow, You are Not Special, and Be Amazing are a few books published at graduation time in 2015. None of these books discuss the career process during college.

Check It Off! Pave Your Way through College to Career