EBSTC Career Connection Reaches Out to Students

by Patrick Lufkin
Patrick is a member of the EBSTC College/Career Connection and Membership Manager of the STC Management SIG.

On October 4, May McKoon, Janet Gray, and I represented the EBSTC College/Career Connection as it launched its first major college outreach event by participating in the annual career day at St. Mary’s College. The three of us manned a table and answered student question about STC, handed out flyers and brochures, and promoted technical communication as a possible career choice. Among the handouts were an article about Money Magazine naming technical writer one of America’s most desirable jobs, a flyer based on Joy Montgomery’s book on writing résumés, and a bookmark which can also serve as a half-off coupon for the cost of a chapter meeting.

Tucked into the beautiful hills just east of Moraga, St. Mary’s is a Catholic liberal arts college offering a number of programs for adults seeking to advance their careers. The school did a handsome job of organizing the day, providing shuttle bus transportation, refreshments, and even a box lunch for the presenters. I didn’t count the tables, but I would estimate that fifty to seventy-five organizations were represented including employers looking to hire, graduate schools offering professional degrees in law, business and other specialties, and the various branches of the US military, looking for recruits.

The College/Career Connection committee was the brainchild of former EBSTC President Linda Schaltz. Her idea was to establish communication with local colleges to encourage students to seek careers in technical communication. The outreach effort would also have chapter building potential as students joined STC and used chapter contacts and resources to support their careers. Beyond the usual benefits of chapter membership, students would get a chance to meet with working professionals in a congenial atmosphere free from the stresses of job interviews.

Chaired by Gwaltney Mountford, the committee spent the first year developing the mission, goals, structure, process and printed material for the effort. Members of the committee began contacting colleges in late 2005 and this spring May McKoon got us invited to participate in the St Mary's career day.

During the summer Patrick Lufkin signed on, as did our new chapter president Joe Humbert. The current members of the committee are Gwaltney Mountford, Joe Humbert, Patrick Lufkin, Janet Gray, May McKoon, Joy Montgomery, and Roz Rogoff. During the summer the group also changed its name from the College Liaison Committee to the EBSTC College/Career Connection, as it was thought that this would better communicate with the students and faculty we hoped to reach.

The committee plans to continue to build a strong relationship with St. Mary’s college, and then reach out to other colleges once our presentation is perfected. In addition to manning tables at career days, we would like to be able to man in-class panels, give presentations on career related subjects, and work with college placement personnel in whatever ways they deem most helpful.

In order to expand our reach, we need additional people who are knowledgeable and willing to help. Given the usual college schedule, participants should be able to participate during week days. We want
to organize those who can help into a speakers bureau.

If you are interested, please join our Speakers Bureau by completing
the Speaker Information Form (http://www.ebstc.org/ChapterResources/SpeakerInfoForm2.doc) and email
it to: janetd.gray@sbcglobal.net.