Interviewing with Security Benefit

I decided it would be good practice to participate in Mock Interview day at Washburn because as December nears I still do not have a job. There is a marketing position open at Security Benefit that I have had my eye on and applied for back in July, but Security Benefit has not contacted me for an interview. I spoke with someone in human resources and she suggested I re-apply for the position. After doing so two weeks ago, I still have not heard anything. (For those of you who don't know, I currently work for se2 - Security Benefit's child company). I saw that Security Benefit was going to be at Mock Interview day so I decided if they were not going to call me for an interview, I would call them.

In the Mock Interview I met with Jennifer Purvis, the VP of Human Resources for Security Benefit. The ladies on my team at se2 work frequently with Jennifer and my direct report Anne mentioned Jennifer was a bit intimidating so I was not sure what to expect in the interview.

When I went in to the interview I explained how I work with the instructional design team and she said she was familiar with some of the work I have put together. Having a lot of common ground with Jennifer really helped me set the stage for my interview. She explained she might stop and coach me throughout the interview, but we got through all of the questions and she said I did a great job and all of my answers were spot on with what she was looking for. She told me she would check in to the status of my application for the marketing position and would follow up with me.

Overall, I thought Mock Interview day was a valuable experience but I thought the questions were kind of easy. Two weeks ago I had a mock interview with Career Services and they asked me the same questions, so I was pretty well prepared for everything Jennifer asked me. I also think I did well because I know a great deal about Security Benefit after having worked within the company for a year. 

Example of a poorly written article

Is it just me or is this article awful and terrible to follow?

http://m.ktre.com/ktre/pm_/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=od:k9QJ2kby

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KTRE

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Naked jogging couple leaves 1-year-old alone on beach

Johnathan Manning

Sep 22, 2015 01:10 PM

CAMERON PARISH, LA (KPLC) - A 20-month-old girl was found alone on Holly Beach Tuesday morning (alive or dead?), Cameron Parish Sheriff Ron Johnson said. The parents were located hours later jogging naked down the beach (what?)

The Cameron Parish Sheriff's Office received a report of the 20-month-old child alone on the beach at 10:16 a.m., Johnson said. When deputies arrived at the beach at 10:33 a.m., they found the baby two miles from a Ford Explorer, which was running (how is the Ford Explorer connected to the girl or her parents? What is the significance here?) 

The parents, Cody and Monique Bourgeois, were located nearly two hours later down the beach, Johnson said. Both were arrested and charged with child desertion and obscenity.

Johnson said drug abuse is suspected.

Child protective services has been called to investigate.

Copyright 2015 KPLC. All rights reserved.

Washburn Career Fair

I went to the Washburn Career Fair for my third year in a row last Wednesday. Honestly, I have never been totally impressed with our career fair. When I was an underclassman I felt as if people at the booths would not give me the time of day because I was not actively seeking a job. Now that I am actively seeking a job I felt as if there were not any opportunities in the mass media/Public Relations field. I could definitely tell a difference in the interest employers would take in me once they realized I was looking for a job. The only bad thing was that I was not interested because they were not offering what I was looking for.
Overall, I would say the career fair is good practice to talk to people and make connections. It never hurts to see what else is out there.

Attending TechWeek

After talking to Olivia about TechWeek in Kansas City I decided it might be worthwhile to travel to Kansas City to go to their hiring fair Thursday night. While their hiring fair was really small, and Cerner wasn't even there, I had a good time. More companies seemed interested in getting my resume than at the Washburn Career Fair. I got to talk to Garmin! I really would love to work at Garmin because I would love to live in Olathe. But then who wouldn't want to work at Garmin? They took my resume and I got the recruiter's email. I should probably touch base with her, but I have been really, really busy. I haven't even unpacked my goodie bag. 

I also talked to a guy from a company called Valorem, which is a consulting firm. They do have copywriting positions! The recruiter was really friendly and vibrant! I got his card and we connected on LinkedIn. I sent him a follow up message on Friday because he mentioned something about coming to visit their office when I talked to him in person, but I have yet to receive a response... But it was Friday when I messaged him. 

I also talked to a tech company called DST, they were very nice and took my resume. They said they have some jobs related to the instructional design work I do at se2, but they do not have copywriting positions. I was impressed by their friendliness (as you may know not all recruiters are friendly). 

I talked to National Insurance Association (or something like that) and they told me they have some internships open. I am working two internships and a part-time job now... no more internships for me thanks. 

Career Fair Experience

On Wednesday I attended for the career fair for the first time since my sophomore year at Washburn. I was anxious to go because I didn't know what to expect or what exactly I should say to the employers. I spoke with Westar Energy, Payless and Hill's Pet Nutrition. I made a great connection with the recruiters at Payless and they actually invited me to come for an interview on Thursday! The interview went extremely well and I am expecting to be in contact with them regarding the next steps in the hiring process. Needless to say, the experience was very beneficial and I'm so glad I went!

Career Fair

Today I went to the Career Fair for the first time, as moral support for Hef Woods. I was actually impressed on how many people there I had known. I talked to individuals at Advisors Excel, BNSF, Bankers, Payless and many others. I was shocked when I realized how many people who were representing these companies from my previous job at Walgreens and my current job at CoreFirst bank. I received a lot of information on Internships, since I will be actively looking for one following graduation in May. I explored many different types of business and internship possibilities.

Overall, I enjoyed going and wish I had attended in the past.

David

Career fair

Today I attended the career fair. This was the first time in the two years at Washburn that I have attended. I was a little nervous and didn't know what to expect. I was amazed with all of the business's that I already have been scoping out on their website's for job listings. I enjoyed walking through and talking to some of the vendors. I made a few contacts and hope to hear back from them. I am glad that I finally attended the career fair.