Brandy Fish, massage therapy program graduate  At Globe University-Appleton, we like to stay in touch with our graduates. Brandy Fish graduated with a diploma (September 2012) and an Associate of Applied Science degree (December 2013) in Massage Therapy. Recently, she told us about an amazing opportunity that came her way. Here’s her story, in her own words: Have you ever sifted through your email and found a piece of gold? Well, I did. I received an email from StageHands Massage Therapy who found me on the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) website. StageHands was looking for a massage therapist in the area to provide massages backstage for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in Green Bay. I will admit I was nervous as the day approached, but when it arrived, I was excited and happy to have the opportunity. I provided table and chair massages to all of the Orchestra players, their stagehands, and their manager. Every single one of them was so nice and really appreciated me being there. Not only was I was there to take care of them and help them relax, but they took care of me with meals. It was a big opportunity to be working backstage for the biggest orchestra group in the world. Personally, I believe that being a massage therapist is the greatest profession in the world. I love knowing that we can help our clients through the healing of touch. Our clients can be anyone from a stay-at-home mom to someone who sits behind a desk all day to a celebrity. You will never know the opportunities that could come your way as a massage therapist. I know I will never forget this opportunity and the doors it could open for me in my career. The post Alumni Spotlight: Massage Therapy Program Grad Brandy Fish appeared first on Globe University Blog.

Written by Jeryl Fleck, Globe University-Green Bay campus director As I was driving to campus one morning, I began wondering how I could help students understand just how important soft skills are, both at school and in the workplace. Then it dawned on me: what would be more powerful than for students to hear from local employers that have hired our graduates? I needed our employers to tell the story. Blaire Hill and Jodi Wendricks, Animal House So, that afternoon, I sent the following email to a variety of our employers: "Congratulations on your recent hire, a Globe University graduate. I hope you are highly satisfied with the service he/she is providing. As the campus director of Globe University-Green Bay, I would like your input in creating a campus bulletin board and a blog with a powerful message. Your input would support what local employers look for when hiring an employee. As a career college, our main goal is to prepare our students for the workforce based on local employer needs/wants. While many of the needs may include certain skills they need to master, the majority of employers in the past have mentioned that while many skills can be taught on the job, soft skills cannot. If willing, could you provide a statement that shares the top quality or attribute you look for when interviewing a candidate for an open position? Furthermore, if comfortable, could you share the reason you specifically selected one of our recent graduates?" Not only did our local employers respond, they provided students a chance to prepare for their next interview in a way that will set them apart from the rest. We have been provided the inner scoop. Student should read this, retain this, and practice every day for the next interview because one can never be too prepared. Top Qualities Employees Possess Blaire Hill, from the Animal House in De Pere, seeks the following characteristics:  energetic, personable, progressive, caring, dedicated, gregarious, confident, friendly, helpful and flexible. These characteristics help support the culture they strive to maintain at the Animal House. As Blaire pointed out, "We started with characteristics that our owner, Dr. Pat Warpinski, possesses and wanted our business to be founded on them. These characteristics are very important to this day!" Jenny Vandevelde from Countrycare shares similar feedback and also added that during the initial phone interview, Countrycare wants to hear that the candidate is "well spoken, with little to no slang." They also pay close attention to "attitude — are they just looking for a job or are they looking for how they can help the company as well." Furthermore, they work to determine the quality of the applicants’ listening skills and whether or not they possess confidence. If the candidate can get past these obstacles, the candidate moves on to an initial interview. During this interview, the employers watch for maturity level, confidence, eye contact, that the candidate is well-rounded, volunteerism, goals — "do they have goals other than to get a job?" They also look for intelligence, strong people and organizational skills, that the candidate is well spoken, and "do they fit with our clinic mission and staff?" All employees at Countrycare must feel the candidate represents these characteristics to be a good fit for their clinic if an offer is to be extended. Jodi Wendricks, Ashley Fitzgerald and Amber Harings, graduates of Globe University-Green Bay employed at the Animal House Symantha Ziolkowski, hospital administrator at the Green Bay Animal Emergency Center, also shared that "certain skills are mastered over time through experience and soft skills are much harder to learn." As a prior instructor at Globe University-Green Bay, Symantha understands that it is imperative that career colleges incorporate soft skills training into their curriculum because "students are significantly lacking basic interpersonal skills." Top qualities she seeks are "solid communication skills, emotional intelligence and critical thinking." Michael Hillmer, human resources manager at Dermatology Associates of Wisconsin and Forefront Dermatology, shares that the areas they look for are the "quality of their externship (duties, responsibilities), and the quality of the program that they are coming from.  Globe graduates have had a lot of success with our company. They are well prepared and integrate very easily into the workplace." While they each may have answered the initial question slightly differently from on another, it is safe to say that all of them are seeking individuals that show they have a vested interest in working for them. Candidates must show employers they are seeking a career, not a job.  Candidates must show they have researched the company they are interviewing with. They must have a general understanding of the company’s mission and vision prior to interviewing. Feedback from Employers on Graduates The Animal House:  As a recent graduate of Globe University, Jodi Wendricks found herself looking to start her career as a veterinary technician. She graduated in the top of her class, had farm experience, and completed a small animal externship with us. Yet, these were not primary reasons we hired her. We were not even in need of a technician at the time. We made room for Jodi because she was extremely energetic, personable, progressive, caring, dedicated, gregarious, confident, friendly, helpful and flexible. She was a ‘good fit’ with our business culture!" Green Bay Animal Emergency Center: Rachel is a bright, young woman that has previous professional work experience, combined with academic training at Globe University. This has developed her into a solid employee. We are happy to have her as a part of our team. And there it is. Thank you to all of our local employers for taking a moment to share the secret to securing a position within their companies. Thank you for supporting Globe’s goal in preparing our students for their future careers. Students, if you have not done so already, make sure you are regularly utilizing our career services. Mark Taggart, career services coordinator, is waiting to assist you in securing your future career. The post Local Employers Share Top Qualities They Seek in Employees appeared first on Globe University Blog.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. That axiom is certainly true in a literal sense, but the meaning behind it is more pronounced when put into a business context. We’re talking about your elevator speech (also often called an elevator pitch). A well-crafted elevator speech can be many things: a simple introduction, a compelling story, a persuasive monologue, a quick teaser or a commercial about you. Then there are the different types—depending on whether you’re talking about your company or yourself, and what you want to accomplish with your elevator speech. No matter what your aim is, an effective elevator speech takes time to formulate. And even after you have a sense of what you want to say, there’s the matter of tailoring it to your audience and getting better at your presentation. Here, we’ll run through seven things you should consider when you’re creating your elevator speech. 1. The basics As you begin to hone your elevator speech, start with the basics. One rule of thumb is to keep it short, usually about a minute. It’s called an elevator speech for a reason—you should be able complete it in the time it takes to ride from one floor to another. At its core, an elevator speech should be a high-level introduction, a way for you to present yourself (or your product or idea) in a bite-sized manner. You want to be conversational, refrain from jargon, buzzwords or smaller details, and hopefully start a conversation. Think about your objective and tweak your message to meet your audience’s needs. Hit on the major themes you want to convey in a simple, straightforward fashion. It’s a bit of a delicate balance, but in the end, you want your elevator speech to be persuasive without being pushy. John Torrens, an assistant professor at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management, has the following advice, via Business News Daily: "You want to stand out and generate excitement. Don’t regurgitate a memorized pitch that sounds like a pharmaceutical ad. When I hear a pitch, I don’t necessarily want to feel like I am being pitched. I would rather have it be more conversational. Start with the problem you are trying to solve, the way the current alternatives are lacking; then, briefly describe your solution." 2. Who are you? Before you begin creating your elevator speech, think about who you are and how it affects the main point of your pitch. A recent college grad’s elevator speech will be much different from business pro with a decade of experience. Keep this in mind as you prepare. Another tip for your elevator speech is to be your authentic self. Show some personality, be honest about your purpose and demonstrate that you know what you’re talking about. If it goes well, you’ll need to be able to answer follow-up questions and start a real conversation. By being upfront and honest about who you are and what you can do, you’ll be able to more easily transition into a discussion that benefits you and your audience. 3. What’s the point? Now that you have an idea of what perspective you’re elevator speech is coming from, you can move on to important stuff: What’s the point? Generally speaking, your pitch should include a few key elements—an introduction, accomplishments and goals, and a hook. You want to position yourself as a person who can solve a decision-maker’s problem, according to a post on INC. Try to address potential pain points, offer solutions and get them interested in you. For a new graduate, that could mean showing you can fill a role within a company. If you’re a company’s representative at a conference, it could mean demonstrating how your tactics meet a specific need. An elevator speech is often situational, and you’ll need to know your audience and illustrate your (or your company’s) worth. Give examples or scenarios. Mention past successes. Address potential issues. Ultimately, an elevator speech should be able to answer this question: "What can you do for me?" 4. It’s not a sales pitch This is what separates an average pitch from a great one. An elevator speech is not about closing the deal; it’s about getting your foot in the door and leaving your audience with a call to action. Sure, you’ll want to talk about yourself or your business and discuss what you can offer. But it’s not an overt sales pitch. Instead, a strong elevator speech is more about solving a hypothetical problem. Talk about how others have benefitted from you or your methods—be specific and think about how you could benefit this person. You want the listener to continue listening. Which brings us to our next point… 5. Tell a story When we talked about mentioning your value and accomplishments, we didn’t mean a regurgitation of your resume. Your elevator speech should be a mini story that outlines who you are and what you can do. "The story is the meaning factor and gets the listener to ask, ‘Tell me more,’" Chris Westfall, who actually won an elevator pitch competition in 2011, told U.S. News and World Report. Try to draw in your audience. Connect. It’s easier said than done, but by crafting a small story within your elevator speech, you’ll have a better chance of getting people excited about what you bring to the table. That can often mean leaving them with a bit of a cliffhanger, according to a post on Entrepreneur: "The secret sauce should be saved for later. All you’re required to do is be able to confidently broadcast that you know exactly what you’re doing." Saving your secrets can entice your audience and help further the dialogue. 6. A commercial about you We’ve now reached the crux of an effective elevator speech. In many respects, it’s a "commercial" about you. Whether your focus is on your company or yourself, you want to get your message across clearly and in a compelling way. And do it in a hurry—people have short attention spans and the quality of your opening line cannot be overstated. Consider the commercials that make you laugh or cry or think—what traits do they share? Incorporate those elements in your pitch. You want to differentiate yourself and get the listener interested in your "product." Scan back to some of the earlier points we discussed and keep these in mind as you craft your commercial. Be creative. Be succinct. Give them that wow factor. 7. Practice Once you have a sense of what you want your elevator speech to look like, it’s time to practice. (And continue your revisions along the way.) Get feedback from others; see which alternatives are most persuasive; have multiple versions ready for different situations. Even if you’re happy with the actual content of your pitch, there are other factors to consider. Remember: It’s not what you say but how you say it. A few things to focus on: Confidence Body language Tone of voice Eye contact Gestures Appearance Pitch yourself in the mirror or take a video of yourself. Make changes and get better. Practice makes perfect! Hopefully, we’ve given you some direction for an effective elevator speech. Not every encounter will go as you hope. Be OK with a "no." For that yes, however, one last note: Always have a business card handy. The post Guide to Creating an Effective Elevator Speech appeared first on Globe University Blog.

Globe University-Sioux Falls strives to make every student feel welcome and appreciated on campus. Our students are always our first priority, and we enjoy getting to know them during their time in school. Director of Admissions Charlie Buehler with massage therapy student Caroline Jorgenson Many students who attend Globe University feel connected to the staff and faculty members because we are a small school, which allows everyone on campus to feel more connected to one another. So when students need to reach out for help, they have a variety of services, resources and people available to them. Personal connections and student engagement also aid students on their academic journey. Recently, criminal justice student Scott Butler interviewed Admissions Representative Scott Ault for his Composition class. Butler learned about Ault’s pastimes, hobbies and more during the interview. After writing about Scott’s goals and why he chose to work for Globe University, he concluded his paper with: "Scott is truly a unique guy, and I had a great time interviewing him. He is a very outgoing and friendly individual, who I think by just talking to him, would do anything for anyone. Not only do I have someone here at Globe University that I can always talk to and not feel judged, I have a new friend with whom I have a lot in common." Director of Admissions Charlie Buehler has influenced almost every student on campus, whether during the admissions process or in his Global Citizenship course. Massage therapy student Caroline Jorgenson had this to say about Charlie: "Charlie doesn’t know this, but he saved my life. I didn’t know what I wanted to do in my life or where to go next. I came to Globe to talk to Charlie, and he encouraged me to follow my dreams. I was nervous about taking a math class again, but Charlie supported me and told me I could do it! He made me feel good about coming back to school, and I am so grateful to him." Another staff member who helps students every day is Financial Aid Manager Elizabeth Augustine. "Liz has gone leaps and bounds beyond any other financial aid manager I have worked with. She is always eager to help, which I appreciate. I applied for a scholarship this year, and she fought to have some of the money applied to this quarter’s tuition. I really enjoy working with her, and I’m so grateful for her hard work!" said veterinary technology student Rachael Turner. Finally, our administrative assistant, Karmin Jensen, has really made an impact on massage therapy student Carrie Palmlund: "Administrative assistants don’t always get enough credit for their jobs. Karmin helps everyone with any question they have and is skilled at pointing people in the right direction when she cannot answer their question. She is so upbeat and positive, and she has a good energy for anyone who walks through the door," said Carrie. We want all our students to feel like a part of the Globe University-Sioux Falls family while attending school and beyond. The post How Globe University-Sioux Falls Staff and Faculty Make an Impact appeared first on Globe University Blog.

It is my pleasure to introduce Michelle Watford, a graduate from the veterinary technology program. Shelly graduated from Globe University-Wausau in June 2013. She is currently working full time at VCA-Companion Care Animal Hospital in Wausau. Globe University-Wausau graduate Michelle Watford at VCA-Companion Care Animal Hospital Shelly has embraced the challenge of gaining experience in a variety of settings since she began her journey. While still studying vet tech at Globe University-Wausau, she was referred to a receptionist job at an animal emergency clinic in Kronenwetter, Wisconsin, by one of her instructors. "She rocks for referring me," Shelly said. "Emergency medicine was a great opportunity." Shelly welcomed the opportunity to experience a lot of different scenarios. She worked at the emergency clinic for more than two years and was eventually given the opportunity to be a veterinary assistant. Also while still in school, she was offered a position on a small dairy farm as a resident technician and milk hand. She accepted that job as well. She maintained both jobs and continued to attend school full time, even though the hours were exhausting. "My experience at the farm was awesome. I learned how to draw blood, give IV fluids, place feeding tubes, give vaccines to newborns, assist in artificial inseminations, provide hormone replacement schedules for cows and monitor their heat cycles, treat mastitis, trim hooves. Really, the list could go on and on. I was so lucky to learn so many things about large animals," Shelly said. "I did not enjoying getting up at 3:30 in the morning, though." Shelly has been with VCA-Companion Care Animal Hospital for three years. She began as a receptionist with the clinic, but is now working as certified veterinary technician. She enjoys working with the patients’ humans to understand the importance of preventative care. "I feel privileged to be able to help most pets live long healthy lives and help owners understand their pets better. In a way, I am helping not just animals, but people, too," Shelly said. Shelly encourages everyone to pursue a career they will find fulfilling. She said, "My experiences throughout school were amazing. I had never worked in a veterinary clinic or setting before starting school, but I just always knew that veterinary medicine was something I was interested in." She notes that the challenge of the vet tech program was well worth it in the end, though at times it was very difficult. "I never gave up," Shelly said with pride. "I continued to try. I always asked for help when I needed it. I worked hard, and it paid off. I truly love being an advocate for animals. We are so lucky to have these wonderful creatures in our lives." The post Where Are They Now: Vet Tech Grad Michelle Watford appeared first on Globe University Blog.

By Tom Stoltz, Globe University faculty A group of business and community leaders from Minneapolis gathered at Globe University-Minneapolis for dinner, networking and to discuss ways the business community can support the academic and professional goals of undergraduate and graduate students while also benefiting employers. Angie Norbeck, the business management program chair at Globe University-Minneapolis, provided the dinner presentation during which she outlined the numerous ways the business community delivers cooperative efforts to the campus. "There are so many ways our business partners can bring vital job training and employment opportunities for our students," said Norbeck.  "Business representatives offering mentorships, internships and volunteer opportunities open the doors for our students who will soon enter the job market." The community resource group also discussed how business representatives engage in Program Advisory Committees at Globe University-Minneapolis that are designed to review course curriculum ensuring that Globe’s students are learning skills that are important for today’s employment requirements. "Our business partners are tremendous resources for us as educators," said Globe University-Minneapolis Campus Director Jim Decker. "By unlocking community resources for our students, we make outstanding gains in providing skilled and capable employees for the region." This was the first Community Resources Networking Event at the downtown Minneapolis campus, and more are being planned throughout the coming year.   The post Globe University-Minneapolis Partners with Local Business and Community Leaders appeared first on Globe University Blog.

During 2014, Globe University-Online’s librarians, Elaine Settergren and Ally Addison, have worked hard to make researching faster and easier for everyone. Settergren and Addison have expanded library tutorials by creating two games called Robocite and Philosoraptor. These games are about APA citation and plagiarism. The APA Citation Guide has also been redesigned to make it easier to find citation examples by type. All of these great resources can be found within the Online Library. A few highlights from 2014 include: -          Honoring Research Award recipients -          Answering research and citation questions (see infographic) -          Creating tutorials and videos for assignments and library resources relevant to  courses We hope 2015 brings you success, knowledge, new skills and fun. Our librarians are happy to help you attain your academic goals. Happy researching! The post Connecting with the Online Librarians appeared first on Globe University Blog.

By Christine Storms, director of education Recently, Director of Education Christine Storms, instructor Adam Spees, and students from the Business Law class at Globe University- Minneapolis attended Hill Day at the Minnesota State Capitol along with other Minnesota career college students and faculty. Each year the Minnesota Career College Association (MCCA) invites member schools to participate in this event to ensure that, "elected officials know that our students come from the local community, and our graduates stay in our communities," according to the MCCA. Globe University students were able to meet and listen to members of the Senate Higher Education Committee including Representative Bud Nornes (R). Representative Nornes graduated from a career college and has long been a supporter of career college education. Students from Globe University-Minneapolis’ Business Law class were able to tour the Capitol and meet their representatives and senators. "Hill Day is an excellent opportunity for students to witness our state government at work, and to make their legislators aware of the issues important to today’s college students. It was a great opportunity for our students to hear our lawmakers and look at the process from a different point of view," Christine said. The post Globe University Students Participate in MCCA Hill Day appeared first on Globe University Blog.

December Downing, Globe University-La Crosse massage therapy alumna and first-time faculty member, is teaching Swedish Massage to the new massage therapy weekend cohort students. December hit the ground running in her first quarter of teaching by involving her students in a chair massage event. Globe University-La Crosse massage therapy weekend cohort volunteers at Studio 16 "The students get a chance to experience what it’s like to meet a new client from the public and perform the techniques we went over in class," December said. "It is also a great way for the people in the community to get to know more about Globe and the quality training our students receive." The Globe University-La Crosse massage therapy weekend cohort program consists of a group of ten students who are dedicated and hardworking, who balance heavy workloads, but are very committed to the massage program and the profession. The students went to Studio 16 in Onalaska. "We chose this location because one of the other instructors in the weekend program is affiliated with it," December said. "I thought it would provide many eager clients for us. Our clients were individuals from the workout classes and the instructors, and also patrons of the cafe located there as well." "I love that the Globe massage therapy program teaches a really great variety of hands-on techniques. It gives the students a broader base knowledge to expand from in their future careers. I also think that the importance of knowing all about anatomy, pathology and kinesiology is apparent in the curriculum to make for better, more knowledgeable therapists," December said. "Lastly, the emphasis on community involvement to help build a successful career really give the students a real-life idea of all the great and rewarding possibilities they have to choose from in their field." Globe University-La Crosse massage therapy weekend cohort students at chair massage event The students really enjoyed the experience of the chair massage event. It gave them a little more confidence and excitement about their future in the massage therapy field. "The chair massage event was a fun way to apply our classroom training to a real-life experience. It allowed us to try different techniques on several different people and really hone in on our personal flow," cohort student Amanda Meyer said. "It also gave us an actual taste of what working in the field of massage therapy will be like. It was a great experience!" "It was a great experience and opportunity to get out into the community and share what we are learning at Globe," G’Ann Boese, cohort student, said. We applaud our committed cohort program students and instructors for their commitment and willingness to give back to our community. The post Globe University’s Massage Therapy Weekend Cohort Program Gives Back appeared first on Globe University Blog.

Recent criminal justice program graduate Renee Scovill came back to celebrate her successful job search. She accepted and started her job as a Law Enforcement Dispatcher with the Capitol Police Department. Some of her work duties include transmitting, receiving and relaying information concerning public safety and law enforcement activities. She will respond to inquiries from other law enforcement agencies; make decisions that are critical to the outcome of emergency situations; assist police officers by providing information and direct line alarms that monitor security systems for state facilities. From Left to Right: Renee Scovill, Jordan Guevara, Tiffni Bickett, Wayne Strong, Jessica Davidson, Kyle Quinn, Brian Bond, Dedeanna Jones, Roman Bundy, Sidney Butler and Robin Ophime Renee said that the job search process was not easy, and oftentimes, discouraging. She had 36 applications out and just started drumming up interest after graduation. "You can’t underestimate the power of networking," said Erica Healey, Globe University-Madison West’s executive program chair in paralegal studies. In listening to Renee describe her interview process, it was clear that her connections to other Globe University graduates in the criminal justice field aided in her progress. Renee used her resources wisely. Early on in her job search, Renee was told that job searches are a team effort. One of the benefits of a small career college is that her team was just around the corner and could strategize about how best to make the candidate shine. Renee Scovill and Erica Healey, paralegal program chair Before graduation, Renee reached out to Erica and a mock panel interview was arranged. "I was more than willing to help out. Renee volunteered at our first Mock Trial, participates in the Paralegal and Criminal Justice Club, and has shown a great deal of perseverance. It doesn’t matter that she isn’t one of the paralegal or business students that I supervise; helping an individual in my network achieve success improves the strength of the network as a whole," Erica said. Renee continued to reach out for advice as the job process went on, and it was no surprise when she landed the job she wanted. "Thank you for joining me to celebrate my new adventure. I am so glad for the friends and support system I found at such a great school," Renee said. Congratulations, Renee! The post Alumni Spotlight: Criminal Justice Grad Shares Job Search Success appeared first on Globe University Blog.