10 Chapter 1 ● prepare

Title: Creating Career Success 1/e Server: Short / Normal Publishing Services

Name: Thomas CainAssociate Degree: AAS in General StudiesField of Interest: Computer ScienceBachelor Degree: BS in Computer Science (currently enrolled)Internship/Co-op: UPS Information Services

Can you describe your position?I’m in a co-op program [a paid, year-round internship], and I work several days a week, mostly testing hardware and software, and contributing to projects. UPS has really helped me expand my skills. This is the first experience I’ve had in my career field. A lot of what I do involves making sure the devices that the drivers use are working properly. I’ve even had the chance to write some programs for automated testing. It’s a lot of fun.

Can you describe your career preparation and academic experience?I always thought I’d go to a four-year school, but when I gradu-ated high school, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I went to community college first, while working full-time for the Army and Air Force Exchange, a retail business serving military per-sonnel, for which I also served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan for six months. I actually considered three or four majors. I took several computer science classes, which I knew would count toward my degree. I liked them, but I realized how much I really liked programming after a more advanced pro-gramming class. When I transferred to a bachelor’s program it was a major step. I’m hoping I can do this forever. It feels like a career for me.

How did you find your current position?A friend from school referred me to UPS. We met in a calculus class, and he mentioned he was having a hard time. I ended up tutoring him, and we both did well in the class and became good friends. He was working at UPS, told me about the opportunity and recommended me. Now we share a cubicle. I believe that if you want help in the future, you have to help other people. It’s all give and take. Building a network is important in college so that you have people to talk with and to rely on.

❯❯Career prOFILe ● thomas cain, Information technology

From thomas’s employerName: Amy McGuiganTitle: Area HR Representative, UPS Information Services

What strengths made Thomas a strong contributor to your organization?In my conversations with Thomas, it’s clear that he has a passion for the career field that he has chosen, which is a coveted attribute in our corporate cul-ture. With passion comes innovation. Technology changes quickly, and we need people who can bring us their new ideas, who can recognize where we need to go, and who have the talent to take us there. We’ve been around for more than a century, and I think the reason for that is our people—people who recognize when change is necessary and in turn bring their ideas and experiences to the table to ensure we position ourselves for the next century.

What qualities and experience do you look for in your summer interns and co-op students?It’s always desirable for our interns to have some prior work ex-perience. The preference is for the work to be in IT; however, any work experience can be an indicator that the student has initiative. Although each department has a definite skill set that they’re seek-ing, we also look for students who have a diverse skill base that would help them to succeed in the current position as well as future opportunities throughout the organization. We have limitless opportunities available—at all levels—to those who want them and have the drive and determination to go after them. We look for individuals who want to be developed through training and job rotation so that we can prepare for the long-range vision of the organization.

What steps did Thomas take that helped him prepare for his career?

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What actions did Thomas take that helped him find and secure his current position?

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For additional questions, visit CourseMate.

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