2006 Profiles of Recent Graduates
Laura Allenbaugh, '03 - Electronic Media Production/Journalism
Jessica Baker, '02 - Sport Communications/Electronic Media Production
Deanna Brooks, '04 - Accounting and Finance
Julie Herman, '00 - Education Administration (MEd)
Karrie Miller, '00 - Geology/Environmental Science
Matthew R. Rainsberg, '01- Chemistry
Charly Sommers, '96 - Music Education (K-12)
Laura Vernon, '04 - Health Education (K-12)
Return to 2007 Profiles of Recent Graduates
AU Major: Electronic Media Production/Journalism
Hometown: Lebanon, OH
| Current Employer: | NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams |
Job Title: |
Researcher/Production Associate |
| Location: | New York City, NY |
First Position
| Employer: | NBC |
| Job Title: | NBC Page |
| Location: | New York City, NY |
| Starting Salary: | $10 an hour |
| When did you start your job search? | December (but started making contacts during summer internship) |
| How long did it take you to secure this specific position? | 5 months (2 interviews) |
| How did you find this job? | Through an internship at Dateline. My intern supervisor recommended me for the Page Program. |
| Did you do an internship? | Yes, at Wendy's Int. Inc. Audio/Visual Dept. in Summer 2001 and at NBC Dateline, New York in Summer 2002 |
| What Career Development Center services did you use? | They helped me with my resume, cover letter, and interviewing. To get into the Page program I had to do a panel interview and the CDC set up an mock panel interview for me. |
| What do you wish you would have done different when internship/job searching? | More informational interviews. It's a great way to make contacts and to learn more about the industry. You can never do too many informational interviews. |
| Words of wisdom to current college students: | Ask questions! You'll be surprised how many people in the work force will take the time to talk to you. Also get a lot of people to look at your resume. |
| Job search tips: | Keep your options open. Apply for anything you're interested in. You don't have to stay in your first position forever. Just get your foot in the door and keep moving up from there. |
| Additional comments: | Take advantage of the Career Development Center and make them work for you. I always went in with specific unusual requests and I was never turned away. I also encourage students to visit Dailynightly.msnbc.com. It is the behind the scenes blog that everyone, including myself, makes posts about our jobs regularly. |
Students are welcome to contact Laura Allenbaugh about her career.
E-mail address: Laura.Allenbaugh@nbc.com
AU Major: Sport Communications/Electronic Media Production
Hometown: Waterville, OH
| Current Employer: | CBS 47/Fox 30 |
| Job Title: | Weekday 6pm Producer |
| Location: | Jacksonville, FL |
First Position
| Employer: | CBS 47/Fox 30 |
| Job Title: | Weekend/Associate Producer |
| Location: | Jacksonville, FL |
| Starting Salary: | $25,000 |
| When did you start your job search? | Six months before graduation. |
| How did you find this job? | I was ready to give up, so I decided to spend the summer with family in Florida. One day after I got to Florida, the News Director at CBS 47/Fox 30 in Jacksonville called. Four days later I interviewed in Jacksonville and accepted the job. |
| Did you do an internship? | I did 2 internships: Summer '01 with WPIX-TV: Community Affairs and News in New York City and Summer '00 with WNWO-TV: News Dept. in Toledo. |
| What Career Development Center services did you use? | They helped me set up and revise my resume. |
| What do you wish you would have done different when internship/job searching? | I wouldn't have done anything differently, but my advice is this: you have to be willing to move if you really want "THE" job. I never would have been offered the job in Jacksonville if I wouldn't have been in Florida. |
| Words of wisdom to current college students: | I wouldn't be where I am without the facilities at TV2 & WRDL-FM! I didn't do it just to get credits; I lived there, learned there, and I built my resume (not just the one on paper, tv news directors want your tape!) I remember asking during my Jacksonville interview why the boss chose my tape. He said, "It looked like someone was trying." I was! Also, pick the brains of your professors; they are there to help...they want to help. |
| Job search tips: | Get your name out. Invest in nice paper, envelopes, labels, and use online services. After an interview, send a follow up letter even if you don't get the job. Go into everything with an open mind. |
Students are welcome to contact Jessica Baker about her career.
E-mail address: jbaker@ccjax.com
AU Major: Accounting/Finance
Hometown: Tiffin, OH
| Current Employer: | The J. M. Smucker Company |
| Job Title: | Tax Analyst |
| Location: | Orrville, OH |
First Position
| Employer: | The J. M. Smucker Company |
| Job Title: | Financial Analyst in Financial Reporting Department |
| Location: | Orrville, OH |
| Graduate Degree: | Master of Business Administration in Accounting |
| When did you start your job search? | October 2003 |
| How long did it take you to secure this specific position? | 2-3 months |
| How did you find this job? | The Career Development Center informed me that Smucker's was going to be doing on-campus interviews. I interviewed and then Smucker's asked me to come to Orrville for a second interview. |
| Did you do an internship? | No, I didn't do a formal internship but I did get a summer job in the accounting field. |
| What Career Development Center services did you use? | Mock interviews, resume building, and job searching. |
| What do you wish you would have done different when internship/job searching? | I wish I would have interviewed with more than two companies, so as to give myself more options. Since I began interviewing so early though, it was a little more difficult for me to do that. |
| Words of wisdom to current college students: | Make the most of your college years by getting involved both in and outside of the classroom. You may find that the experience you gain through organizations and internships is of even greater value than that gained from the classroom alone. |
| Job search tips: | Start your search early - companies (employers) that want the best of the best will be searching early as well, and the interview experience doesn't hurt! |
Students are welcome to contact Deanna Brooks about her career.
E-mail address: deanna.brooks@jmsmucker.com
AU Major: Education Administration (MEd)
Hometown: Canal Fulton, OH
| Current Employer: | Canton City Schools |
| Job Title: | Intervention Specialist |
| Location: | Canton, Ohio |
First Position
| Employer: | Canton City Schools |
| Job Title: | Intervention Specialist (Primary K-4) |
| Location: | Canton, OH |
| When did you start your job search? | May 1996 |
| How long did it take you to secure this specific position? | 3 months |
| How did you find this job? | I applied for the position when I heard about it from a former teacher. |
| Did you do an internship? | No |
| What do you wish you would have done different when internship/job searching? | I wish I would have had more interview experiences. |
| Words of wisdom to current college students: | Never underestimate the impossible. Never give up! Dreams are not hard to achieve! |
| Job search tips: | Do not limit yourself where and when a position is available. Always take a chance. |
AU Major: Geology/Environmental Science
Hometown: Walnut Creek, OH
| Current Employer: | ExxonMobil |
| Job Title: |
Geologist |
| Location: | Houston, TX |
First Position
| Employer: | ExxonMobil |
| Job Title: | Geologist |
| Location: | Houston, TX |
| Graduate School: | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| Degree: | Master of Science in Geological Sciences |
| When did you start your job search? | During my last year of graduate school. |
| How long did it take you to secure this specific position? | 5 months |
| How did you find this job? | ExxonMobil did on-campus recruiting in the Geological Sciences department at the University of North Carolina. I first interviewed with ExxonMobil on campus and then continued through their entire interview process (2 additional interviews). |
| Did you do an internship? | Yes, with Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Summer 2001 |
| What Career Development Center services did you use? | The AU Career Development Center assisted me in the graduate school application process. |
| What do you wish you would have done different when internship/job searching? | I am very happy with the results of the job search, but if I had to do something differently I would have tried to obtain a second internship with a different company to gain a little more experience in the petroleum industry before accepting a permanent position. This would have also helped me gain more of an understanding of how much the work environment and culture of a company can vary between different companies (especially large vs. small companies). |
| Words of wisdom to current college students: | If you have any desire to do a study abroad program take advantage of that opportunity while in college. Also, if you have any desire to travel for an extended time try to do that before starting work. Once working, there usually is very limited vacation time when starting out. |
| Job search tips: | Internships are a good way to try out a certain field within your area of study without committing to a permanent position. |
AU Major: Chemistry
Hometown: Dennison, OH
| Current Employer: | Drug Enforcement Administration |
| Job Title: | Forensic Chemist |
| Location: | San Francisco, CA |
First Position
| Employer: | Drug Enforcement Administration |
| Job Title: | Forensic Chemist |
| Location: | San Francisco, CA |
| Starting Salary: | $47,257 a year |
| Graduate School: | Ohio University |
| Degree: | Master of Science in Analytical Chemistry |
| When did you start your job search? | November 2003 |
| How long did it take you to secure this specific position? | 12 months |
| How did you find this job? | www.usajobs.gov a website for all federal job postings |
| Did you do an internship? | Yes, NASA-Glenn Research Center, Summers of 2000 and 2001 |
| What Career Development Center services did you use? | Resume critiquing, mock interview, etiquette dinner. |
| What do you wish you would have done different when internship/job searching? | Spent more time researching duties/projects/daily activities of various internship positions to more accurately match my career. |
| Words of wisdom to current college students: | Make sure to utilize all the programs and services AU has to offer. |
| Job search tips: | Shoot high! Apply for every job you think might be for you. Take as many interviews as possible, think of it as sharpening your skills. Some of the best advice: "What's the worst they (the employers) can say...and the answer is simply no." So why not take your shot? |
Students are welcome to contact Matthew Rainsberg about his career.
E-mail address: Matthew.R.Rainsberg@usdoj.gov
AU Major: Music Education (K-12)
Hometown: Ashland, OH
| Current Employer: | The Navigators |
| Job Title: | Navigator Representative, Missionary to College Students |
| Location: | Cincinnati, OH University of Cincinnati & Xavier University |
First Position
| Employer: | The Navigators |
| Job Title: | Missionary to College Students |
| Location: | Kalamazoo, MI, Western Michigan University |
| Graduate School: | Ashland Theological Seminary |
| Degree: | Master of Divinity |
| When did you start your job search? | After I received my Masters. |
| How long did it take you to secure this specific position? | 1 week |
| Did you do an internship? | Student Teaching at Ashland High School, Middle School, Crestview Elementary, and Mansfield Senior High |
| What do you wish you would have done different when internship/job searching? | Nothing |
| Words of wisdom to current college students: | 1) Relax 2) Be sure that you're pursuing an education and career that will not only provide for your needs but one that enriches your life, builds into the future, and stirs your passions and your heart. A great question to reflect on is: On my current path, what kind of legacy will I leave behind? |
Students are welcome to contact Charly Sommers about his career.
E-mail address: sommers@campusnavs.org
AU Major: Health Education (K-12)
Hometown: Hamburg, NY
| Current Employer: | Ashland University |
| Job Title: | Admissions Representative |
| Location: | Ashland, OH |
First Position
| Employer: | Barberton Health District |
| Job Title: | Health Educator |
| Location: | Barberton, OH |
| Graduate Degree: | Kent State University Master of Education in Health Education & Promotion |
| When did you start your job search? | 3-4 months beforehand |
| How long did it take you to secure this specific position? | 2 months and 2 interviews |
| How did you find this job? | Through an email listserv during graduate school. |
| Did you do an internship? | Yes, I completed an internship at Ashland University through the American Red Cross and student teaching as an education major. |
| What Career Development Center services did you use? | Yes, I utilized the CDC and still do. I utilized the resources for job searches, graduate school resources, job fairs, mock interviewing, and consultation. The CDC at AU is excellent and all staff members are truly driven to help students. |
| What do you wish you would have done different when internship/job searching? | I wish I would have studied abroad while the opportunity was available. I try to encourage students to take advantage of this opportunity. |
| Words of wisdom to current college students: | Study Abroad. Follow your passion and explore possibilities...there are tremendous opportunities to take advantage of everywhere. Also, get to know the people around you. Learn from them and their experiences. |
| Job search tips: | Networking is the best thing you could do. People are more likely to hire/recruit you when they know you. Sometimes you may not know when an opportunity may present itself - usually it is when you least expect it. Go to conferences, interact with other professionals in your field, and keep your mind open to new opportunities. |
Students are welcome to contact Laura Vernon about her career.
E-mail address: Vernon_Laura@yahoo.com