Annual Education and Career Guide
African-Americans advised to
work hard for success
OXFORD, Ohio (AP) ? Ask Bill
Madison how blacks can succeed in busi
ness, and he has an almost distractingly
simple answer. Work hard. ~
Madison was a role model for blacks
even before that term entered mainstream
language. After graduating from college
in 1961 he soldiered on into the corporate
world, even though opportunities for
blacks were extremely limited then. He
eventually became an executive with
Kroger Co., then after he retired he came
to the Miami University campus, where
he is a management instructor.
He has practical advice for blacks
trying to make it in a white world. For
starters, iie says, put ill "tong hours. "You
can talk about talent and compctencc. but
fundamentally students need to leam to
work hard."
Blacks should understand that many
business decisions are made in social set
tings, so those who won't socialize with
whites are putting themselves at a disad
vantage, he says. Leam to recognize key
social obligations. "And you need to be at
your very best"
He has some blunt words for men:
"The African-American male still has to
understand that certain behaviors that he
may regard as cool, manly or assertive
are perceived by others as arrogance, and
in some cases, as physically threatening."
Making adjustments to get ahead
Tips for savvy job hunters
? The right approach, the right resume
? Do Your Homework
Employers want to know if you
know their language, especially when
you're describing functional qualifications
you believe a company is looking for. If
your resume specifies a career goal it
should indeed be Specific about your tar- ?
get position and include any longer-range
objective you have within the company.
Meaningless generalizations about "a
challenging position with room for
growth" or wanting to help an employer
"achieve corporate goals" is a tip-off that
you haven't done your homework.
? Be Honest!
An inflated or greatly exaggerated
claim of your responsibilities is bound to
come back to haunt you in an interviews,
so do not exaggerate your duties or level
of responsibility. Employers realize that
most recent graduates will not have vast
job experience. Your resume should accu
rately express your level of experience,
employment maturity, and career direc
tion in a confident, controlled style.
? Emphasize Your Skills - Not Your Ego
Emphasize duties that reveal the
underlying story of your values, skills,
leadership, etc. ? even if they were those
of a minimal-level job. Avoid self-inflat
ing and meaningless terms like "excel
lent" and "successfully" or "widely
acclaimed." Instead, use facts and figures
to quantify your achievements, such as -
number of people supervised, production
levels reached, dollars and cents saved.
You should also avoid using the first per
son pronoun. Try to use a "voice" that
gives the reader a feeling that your cre
dentials are quietly ? but very convinc
ingly ? speaking for themselves.
? Choose References Carefully
Unless you have a reference who is
very well known in the field you want to
enter, it is not customary to list references
on your resume. Simply stating that refer
ences are available on request us usually
sufficient But you must have them ready.
Type them up separately and keep them
handy to present to a prospective supervi
sor or personnel department if requested
during an interview. It is important to
choose references who know your back
ground adequately and whose level of
credibility is likely to improve your
chances of getting a job. Keep in mind
that it's better to have a credible, if not
world famous, reference speak highly of
you than to have some celebrity you bare
ly know give you lukewarm support.
? Get Help with Your Resuml
When you are satisfied with your
first version, show it to helpful associates,
such as your placement counselor, or
friends and relatives you may have in the
field. Compare it with other resumes. Get
as much feedback as you can and rewrite
if necessary. You might also consider
choosing an alternate format and compar
ing the two styles to see which you think
is most effective.
? Make a Sleek Presentation
Before you produce your resume,
proofread it thoroughly for errors. Then
proof it again. Typographical mistakes
and misspellings on your resume (or
cover letter) can negate your job-hunting
efforts in a hurry. Make sure your layout
is centered and graphically pleasing. If
you are typing it yourself use a good
typewriter and a fresh ribbon for uniform
darkness and quality reproduction. A
word processed resume lets you cus
tomize and reproduce very easily. Use
only good 8 1/2" x 1 1", bond paper for all
reproductions. Simple offset printing of a
hundred or so resumes provides good
quality and should cost less than $15.
Trying to attract attention with odd-sized
or colored stock is an obvious ploy unless
you are applying in art-or design-related
fields where your modifications may be
considered an indication of appropriate
talents for the job.
Please see page 1 1
doesn't mean selling out, lie says. Blacks
can display jfafeil caiime in many ways ?
from office furnishings to an appropriate
"fade" haircut
"You maintain your heritage in your
home, church and with your friends, and
when you can identify people who are
open to understanding more about
African- American culture, you discuss it.
and explain."
Black students have far wider
options now, and Madison counsels them
to look seriously at the technological,
marketing, advertising and financial
fields.
"In my generation, black students
were traditionally steered into personnel.
but today there are more choices."
And to white students, he points to
projections that indicate that by 2020, the
minorities of today will be a majority in
the schools.
The first thing 1 suggest is that if the
predictions are true, what does that do to
you as an individual? It means that your
life will be different from what it was like
for your father or mother," he says.
White students shouldn't feel threat
ened by this demographic change but
rather look at it as an opportunity to
enrich their experience, he says.
WHO CARES?
Adult students have special needs. Flexible scheduling that includes day and evening
classes. Being able to meet with an adviser after hours. Financial assistance. Low-cost
family housing. A diversity of degree programs thai can all be completed at night.
Evening registration and office hours. An Adult Transitions course that helps new or
returning students adjust to college life.
At Guilford College, we offer you all of this and more. Our Continuing Education
program is the oldest in the Triad. We've spent the last 40 years caring about the needs
of adult students. Callus to see what we can do for you?
Summer School begins Monday, May 18
CENTER FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION
5800 West Friendly Avenue ? Greensboro ? 316-2163
Guilford
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