Capella Connections

November is National Career Development Month!  The Capella University Career Center invites you to take charge of your career management and explore the following resources:

• Explore the expanded Connecting with Others section, including the new Online Social Networking resources.
• Register for an Online Career Seminar.
• Practice your responses to typical interview questions using your webcam and InterviewStream.
• If you are re-entering civilian life from the Armed Forces, check out the Military to Civilian Career Transition.
• If you are seeking work and are 40 years or older, make use of the Job Search for the Mature Worker resources.
• If you have limited experience, but an advanced degree, read our new Career Doctor article.

We wish you the best in your professional and academic pursuits.

This summer, Suze Orman,  a 2-time Emmy Award-winning television host, delivered the keynote speech at Capella’s PhD colloquium in Jacksonville, Florida. Orman, who is also a New York Times best-selling author and one of TIME Magazine’s TIME 100, The World’s Most Influential People, shared her thoughts and advice on many topics, including:

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There is a lot going on with the Capella community—new events, new graduates joining the alumni community, and new awards and accreditations, just to name a few. Stay on top of Capella advances and share your accomplishments with us. READ MORE

PBS program features Capella graduate, faculty, and “the invisible wounded”

Beginning in September, PBS stations around the country are airing a 30-minute special, The Next Mission, on the crisis in mental health among our returning combat veterans and the response needed from the mental health care community, and from all of us.

From a keynote address by General Colin Powell to virtual crime scenes to key leadership insights, there’s plenty happening at the new School of Public Service Leadership.

One of the goals of the new school is to unite three closely-related fields: Public Safety, Health Care, and Public Administration under one common umbrella.

Because the public service world is changing and evolving before our eyes, it’s great to see our learners, faculty, and alumni taking advantage of the multidisciplinary approach offered at the new school. Here’s a small taste of what’s been happening: READ MORE

This may be a question you hear from your boss, colleagues, or family and friends. Now, you have the chance to show them that you’re getting a career-relevant education at Capella. Every course at Capella is designed with the end result—that is to say, the learning and program outcomes—in mind. These outcomes are based on the best academic and professional knowledge about what it takes to lead in each profession. READ MORE

The Career Center is now offering free access for learners and alumni to InterviewStream, an innovative service that allows you to practice your interview skills anytime using your computer and webcam. After recording yourself responding to a set of interview questions, you will be able to review the video and complete a self-assessment. You will also have the option to send the interview to a trusted colleague for feedback.

• "I didn’t realize how often I say "um" when responding to questions"
• "My answers weren’t as focused as I thought they would be, I definitely would need to practice more if I had an interview coming up"
• "It was valuable to see my facial expressions when answering a question, although it is kind of weird watching myself on screen!"

"There is no such thing as good writing. There is only good rewriting." Harry Shaw, Errors in English and Ways to Correct Them.

Whether you just want to check on how a paper is flowing or really feel unsure on how to organize your thoughts, consider using the free Smarthinking service, a professional assistance group with which Capella has a business arrangement.

Smarthinking offers two ways of getting help: online chats and feedback. The chats, available Sundays through Thursdays 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. ET, are for short questions. The feedback is for papers, which will get a thorough analysis within 24 to 48 hours. (Smarthinking also provides subject-matter tutoring.)
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With unemployment climbing over 8%, today’s job market is drastically different than a couple of years ago. Consequently, some recent Capella graduates find they’re entering a different world than when they started their programs. It’s important to recognize the reality of the economy without getting discouraged. Here are some specific ways you can do that, courtesy of the Capella Career Center. READ MORE

No doubt about it—networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Gather are hot. They’re a great way to reconnect with old friends and colleagues and meet people with common interests.  You also have a chance to let people know the real story of Capella and your experience here. 

While these sites initially attracted a young crowd, the fastest-growing demographic for Facebook is the 25 and up segment. More than 150 million people are now registered on Facebook. READ MORE

Even for experienced writers, composing academic papers can be daunting. You need to take a stand, systematically build evidence for your position, and make sure each and every detail can stand up to critical review. A clever turn of phrase won’t sell your argument to a faculty member or journal editor. Instead, you need to master a well-established set of rules that govern scholarly writing.

Fortunately, Capella has developed the Writing Feedback Tool to cover the major requirements for creating a strong academic paper. Created by faculty members from each Capella school, this tool covers issues relevant to all fields. If you’re a learner, this tool can save you a lot of time and effort by showing you the essentials of academic writing. If you’re a graduate, it can be a great help in writing for academic publication. READ MORE

After 9/11, Kathy Redmond—like countless other Americans—fell victim to the struggling economy and was laid off from her position at a leading office furnishings manufacturer. A few years ago she was re-hired and now, in difficult economic times, the company is again facing the need to let people go. This time, Kathy sees herself in a much stronger position as a strategic, essential contributor to the business. READ MORE

A warm, beautiful August weekend in Minneapolis was the setting for the most recent Capella commencement. Graduates from 45 states and five countries attended the ceremonies, along with their families and friends. Here are some scenes from those memorable days. READ MORE

Q:  How do I get a job for which I have the required education but not all of the work experience the employer prefers?

A:  Employers look for a combination of education, experience, skills, and attributes in a job candidate.  While your education is important and adds a lot of value, organizations also want candidates to have experiences related to the job. If your work history does not precisely fit the specified requirements, you may still be qualified to successfully perform the job. Here are some suggestions to show that’s the case: READ MORE

Ever have someone in a group project for a Capella course who didn’t seem to get it? He’d post late and ignore your emails for days. You had to explain the project’s scope over and over again until finally he did his share of the work. At the time, you might have wanted to throttle him, but in the long run he did you a huge favor. READ MORE