CAREEROUTLOOK | JobMatch Career Outlook By Lango Deen CCG's TALENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM E


lisha Frazier, an electrical engineering junior at Jackson State University, had no idea what to expect when he signed up for JobMatch last fall.


Once he had uploaded his resume listing his courses and experience, he got an e-mail saying the service includes 20 hours of soft skill certification along with support for landing internships or full- time jobs.


Frazier, current president of Jackson State’s IEEE chapter, chose to do his certification hours at the upcoming 2016 BEYA STEM Conference.


At one of the workshops he attended was Wesley (Wes) G. Bush, a systems engineer and business executive, who serves as chairman, chief executive officer, and president of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC). Bush sparked Frazier’s interest when he talked about innovative company projects in unmanned systems, cyber, and logistics.


When the seminar ended, Frazier walked up to an NGC employee and introduced himself. The employee whisked him off to an NGC HR point person on site, which led to a one-on- one between Frazier and Bush.


“We had a really good conversation,” Frazier recalled. “He seemed willing to talk to me for a minute. I mentioned it was my first time at BEYA, my first time hearing of or being exposed to Northrop Grumman. It seemed like a great company,” he said.


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organization) offers annual conferences, where partner companies routinely recruit. Free soft skills training is available to those who attend the annual BEYA STEM Conference in February or the Women of Color STEM Conference, which comes up eight months later in the fall.


Career Communications Group (CCG) Talent Management Specialist Courtney Taborn says the courses are designed not just to give young adults specific skills but also to help students and professionals looking for careers with upward mobility interact productively.


“These folks are high achievers who want to make sure their early career choices will set them up for success down the road,” she adds. “Employers are looking for candidates with both the technical and soft skills needed to excel.” Taborn says that the matching process focuses on specific skills and prior experience.


JobMatch is open to everyone; however, they only offer placements in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.


What can you do to increase your odds of being placed in an internship or full-time position?


TABORN HAS THREE TIPS:


• Make sure e-mails from JobMatch don’t end up in your spam folder.


• Continue to update your resume as you progress in your studies/career.


• Keep an open dialogue with us to make sure we have your most current information.


Courtney Taborn Talent Management Specialist Career Communications Group, Inc.


The CEO was impressed too.


“Take my business card,” Bush said. “Go to our career booth, and tell them I sent you.”


JobMatch Soft Skills training includes courses in business etiquette, interpersonal skills, critical thinking, teamwork and team building, customer relationship management, and generation gaps. For those just beginning their career search, there are also courses on job search skills and interviewing.


Career Communications Group, Inc. (JobMatch’s parent 28 HISPANIC ENGINEER & Information Technology | FALL 2016


While Frazier doesn’t know which field of study he’ll focus on in his internship, he hopes to do well in NG’s Electronic Systems department.


“I know I can do the book things and the classes. I can complete the homework and the quizzes and the tests. I’m worried about the real- world problems, right? How can I respond to that? How can I grow in real-world companies?”


“Participating in the JobMatch program is a low energy way to expand your job search,” Taborn says. “While you are out looking for


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JobMatch training, which combines online and instructor-led group workshops, is guaranteed to give you a competitive edge with employers from Fortune 500 companies and exposure to recruiters and hiring managers. Not to mention the opportunity to network with industry professionals and CEOs.


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