written by: Cosme Lozano

Well folks, it has been one heck of a ride over the last year and a half here at the Career Success Center. I have had the privilege to experience so many new opportunities and meet so many fascinating people during my time here. Unfortunately, it is time for me to move on to the next chapter in my life.

I am eager to continue my education and I look forward to the upcoming challenges life will likely have in store for me. I feel better prepared and more confident to face them though. This is in part due to the work and training I have received here at the Career Center.

The work that is done by Maribeth and how she interacts with the students is truly admirable and special. Additionally, I cannot forget the work that is done by Evera and Betty. Both of them are crucial to the centers success, and they will do whatever they can to make sure the students needs are taken care of. Last but certainly not least, thank you to the other student workers here at the center. Specifically, Codi, Aryka, Jerryl and Emma. You guys made the work not feel like work and you were always easy to work with. You are all bright people, who will no doubt be great leaders in the workforce.

I am proud of what I have accomplished and I look forward to seeing how this blog continues to grow in its next iteration. Apart from the blog, I am also excited to see how our center’s podcast (Straight Up Success) will continue to grow. The podcast is a great way for students and business professionals to share their personal struggles, in order to reflect and give advice to people who are in similar circumstances. I highly suggest you to listen to the episodes we have out!

Regardless of that, the time that was spent here was not a waste. I have thoroughly enjoyed the people I have worked with, the people I have met, and the work I have done. I strongly believe that the Career Success Center, here at the University of St. Francis, will continue to be a beacon for students seeking career assistance. Whether it be the people in this office or the work that is done, it all matters. I have no doubt in my mind that the center will continue to grow and maintain its level excellence.

Thank you reader for checking in and reading my content. It has been my absolute pleasure to write for you.

I will now leave you with one final quote, “There are no goodbyes for us. Wherever you are, you will always be in my heart” – Mahatma Gandhi

Till we meet again,

-CL

With things rapidly winding down, I want to take a moment and give a big thank you to everyone who was involved in this years student employment luncheon!

I want to give a big round of applause and thank you to all the students who were nominated for the award, and to the faculty members who voted or shared their insights! Without you guys, this event would not be possible.

As the Career Success Center, we are overjoyed to share and honor our student employees, supervisors and the program as a whole.

Thank you to Maribeth Hearn, Evera Ivy and Betty Kohl for organizing and setting up the event. All of this would not have been possible without you.

We look forward to celebrating next years student employment luncheon and honoring all the great work that is done by our students and faculty!

Concluding this school year, we want to give a big THANK YOU to everyone who was involved in Coffee and Careers! Coffee & Careers was a brand new event we created for the students here at USF. In the eight months that we have been conducting it, we have hosted countless employers and seen countless students make connections.

It is with great joy that I can say we will be conducting Coffee & Careers next semester! Coffee & Careers will be undergoing some changes, but it will mostly be the event you know and love. Additionally, we are excited to bring you new employers for next year, in addition to our familiar favorites.

Speaking of familiar favorites, I want to take the time to thank employers who attended Coffee & Careers this year. This list includes businesses like EcoShield, Joliet Bank and Trust, FedEx, Chicago Police Department, Forest Park Police Department, Palatine Park District, Little Learners Academy, Bethshan, Camp Bow Wow, ISAC, DCFS, IKEA, Chick Fil-A, Illinois State Police, Lutheran Life Villages, Dayton Freight, Walmart and more.

Without employers like the ones listed above, we would not be able to host events like Coffee & Careers. Thank you to all employees who took time out of their busy work schedules, to help students network and connect with business professionals.

Last but certainly not least, thank you students! Coffee & Careers was created as a tool for USF students, who are looking to find employment or make meaningful connections. To the students that attended our events, sincerely, thank you.

As the year winds down, we are thankful and excited looking toward the future here in the Career Success Center! We hope you can join us next year. Until then, stay busy and always remember that job opportunities are out there. If you want it, go out there and get it.

As we wind down for the school year, we still have opportunities for you to attend Coffee and Careers! In the past weeks, we have featured guests for our criminal justice or business majors. For all our education majors, this week is for you!

Little Learner Children’s Academy was founded in June 2009 by Melissa and Zarvan, as an in home group daycare out of their home. After gaining experience of over 18 years and education in the child care field and parents themselves of 3 children, they found many flaws with the way in which the centers were operated, and the enormous cost parents were paying for below average childcare. Their goal is to create a safe, loving and nurturing environment that makes parents feel comfortable while they are at work, while ensuring their children are educated and prepared for the future. They also want to make sure this could be done for the working families of the Channahon/Minooka Community and the surrounding area.

For anyone that is looking for a job in the education field, this is a Coffee and Careers you wont want to miss!

Little Learner is looking for applicants, like a director, assistant director, teachers (full time and assistants), and other roles.

Applicants who apply and get the job will receive health and dental benefits.

We hope as many of you can attend this special event! We are nearing the end of the school year and Coffee and Careers, so this might be your last chance to help network with real-world professionals. Little Learner’s is a great organization to help you get started in a future career in education. For students who attend, there will be complimentary pastries, coffee and drinks. We hope to see you there!

For this week’s Coffee and Careers, we welcome Scribe America! Scribe America was established in 2003, while the concept of medical scribe utilization in the industry has been anecdotally reported since the 1970’s, ScribeAmerica transformed this cottage operation into a national industry. In 2006, they were the first company to demonstrate that the synergy of the Scribe/MD/EMR model could overcome productivity losses experienced by unassisted physicians using EMR.

Licensed medical providers are struggling in an attempt to provide efficient quality care at the patient’s bedside due to annual increases in documentation demands into electronic health records (EHRs), which have exposed the documenting inefficiencies of the unassisted medical provider. Inherent to EHRs is a computer interface that distances physicians from patients, introducing a new troubling barrier to the physician-patient encounter. With services from Scribe America, they are helping make doctors lives easier and keeping records as up to date as possible.

For anyone that is looking for a career in the medical field, this is a great opportunity to get in! Scribe America will be at Coffee and Careers this Wednesday, April 13th, from 10-11:30 am. For students who attend, free pastries and drinks will be provided. Do not miss this opportunity to jumpstart you career!

Hurry! The police are coming!

It is with great delight that I can announce our newest guest for Coffee and Careers – The Forest Park Police Department!

Forest Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, United States. The Forest Park Police help protect the local community of 14,339 residents.

For those who would like to attend the event, or are deciding if they want to become a police officer or not, please refer to Forest Parks eligibility requirements..

The Forest Park Board of Fire and Police Commissioners are charged with the appointment of all Police Officers. To be considered for employment, candidates must meet the following requirements:
• Be a United States citizen;
• Must possess a minimum of 60 semester college credit hours from an accredited college or university at time of application;
• Possess a valid driver’s license, which will be used for identification at all phases of testing;
• Have a valid social security number;
• Be 21 years of age, and shall be under 35 years of age;
• Attend orientation and all phases of testing;
• Possess good moral character;
• Pass a polygraph test;
• Pass a thorough background investigation;
• Pass a medical examination including a psychological assessment and a functional physical evaluation;
• Meet all requirements of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners and the State of Illinois.

We strongly encourage all students to attend, especially those who are pursuing careers in criminal justice. This event is a great opportunity to meet with recruiters and to potentially take the first step in entering a career in law enforcement. As always, we will have FREE complementary pastries and deserts, as well as coffee and other refreshments. We hope to see as many of you out there as possible!

And keep an eye out for our next guest the following week, Scribe America.