Reporter•TV Executive•Art Director•Career Coaching•Corporate Training•Marketing•Digital Media•Sales VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3
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january, 2014
The CPTIME Team
Distribution Locations
Publisher & Editorial
Crowley ISD
Director
Eagle Mountain – Saginaw ISD
Shinita V. Hishaw Assistant Editors Debby Duke
Everman ISD Fort Worth ISD
LaTanya Franklin
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD
Daris Frencha
Keller ISD
Jillian Hishaw
Uplift Education Charter Schools
Melanie Hishaw Jarred Howard Anika Williams Contributing Writers Archuleta Chisolm Martha Deller
Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Worth selected churches and community organizations
Lavina Randle Loureva Slade Columnists Martha Deller Jennifer Walton Creative Design Hector Martinez Printing Services Midway Press, Dallas TX
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With
The PUBLISHER
Shinita V. Hishaw, Publisher, CPTIME Magazine
Happy New Year! Let’s talk about that…Happy – what makes you happy? That’s what I encourage you to focus on. The things that bring you joy are the things which deserve your attention. New – what’s new for you? Is there something new you want to do or learn or see or someplace new you want to go in 2014? Figure it out because that’s what keeps life exciting. New is so much better than old! New thoughts, new ideas, new beginnings, new experiences, new friends…new is IN!!! Do something NEW that makes you HAPPY all YEAR! And that will make for a very happy year from January to December. This edition has career stories as well as information in “Clues You Can Use” for Black History Month. Please take a look and be sure to do something that broadens your knowledge of Black History beyond what you learn in school. It would be a great idea to enter the Contest Corner with a Black History poem. Take a look at it – and enter today! The next edition will come after Spring Break!! It will feature the first cartoon with our new CPTIME Magazine Mascot, Career Coaching Girl! Checkout the winner on pages 1617 of this edition! Congrats to Sha Rosline England from Meadowbrook Middle School!!
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Careers In This Edition
A Creative Career:
Finding Your Place By Jennifer Walton Are you creative? Like to perform in front of people? If so you may want to search for a career in the Arts. Let’s say you want to become a recording artist, a singer or rapper. Songs tend to tell stories right? Some tell of
heartbreak or friendship. Did you know that song lyrics can come from poems or short stories (Literary Arts)? So you write a poem and you think, hmmm, this would sound good with music. How do you do that? You can consult with the band or music teacher at school. You may need a vocal coach to help you get the right harmonies and melodies (Education and Training). Once you have the song put together, then you can begin to think about performing in front
of an audience via dancing or acting like in a video (Performing Arts). Shooting a video is a great idea for making your song something to remember (Audio/Video Technology). You have this awesome song and no one has heard it but your friends. You are so proud you now want the world to hear it. Having a show would be a good idea to showcase your work. You can hire someone to call the local radio stations, newspapers and magazines to let them know about your show so they can spread the word (Communications and Marketing). They will also contact local venues to present your show. Tickets will need to be sold to help keep track of how many people are coming and to also help pay for the costs (Sales and Service). Being a part of this process whether you are the performer or the one selling tickets is essential for a successful show. We all have a place, you just need to find yours.
Moments In Volume 1, Issue 3 January 2014
Well Versed In Hollywood Pg. 6
CPTIME The Fabric Poem Pg. 22
Stay Ahead Of The Game Pg. 10
CLIMBING THE CORPORATE LADDER Pg. 24
To Be Or Not To Be An Artistic Director Pg. 12
COACH NIELSON, CAREER COACH THAT IS Pg. 26
Story Teller By Nature Pg. 14 Contest WinnerSha Rosline England Pg. 16 Teaching On A Corporate Level Pg. 20
less Moments
Contest Corner Pg. 8
Clues U Can Use Pg. 9 JustEnough SoUSucceed Pg. 19
NOB4UGO Pg. 28
CPTIME is published bi-monthly and is a Career Planning Time, LLC publication. CPTIME is a free publication located in Tarrant County, Texas. We reserve the right not to publish ads that are deemed objectionable by management. For advertising rates or editorial comments and s足 uggestions please visit www.cptime.net. CPTIME assumes no responsibility for unsolicited m 足 aterials and r足 eserves the right to edit and modify all materials. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of CPTIME. Contributors of CPTIME acknowledge that their submission becomes the property of CPTIME and may be used in all media, as they see fit. All rights reserved.
A/V Technology & Communications
Well Versed In Hollywood Entertainment
Imagine working in a career where no two days are the same. Depending on the day, you may read and provide notes on scripts, view cuts of shows before they air, seek out new writers and directors, or attend film festivals and press junkets. Imagine being part of the development of the hottest shows on television i.e. The Game, Let’s Stay Together, and BEING MARY JANE (starring Gabrielle Union). Now imagine earning $70-300k per year while doing it. For Tamara Gregory, Senior Director of Original Programming at BET Networks, that’s exactly what her job entails. Every day, Gregory combines her love of reading and storytelling to find new and innovative programming that make BET’s scripted television the huge success that it is. Gregory obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism/ Political Science from the University of Southern California. While in college, she interned at the Walt Disney Company and was fortunate to be part of one of the few short-lived programs created to help African American executives get a foot in Hollywood’s door. After college, Gregory continued to gain entertainment experience, working for Hollywood Pictures, Magic Johnson Enterprises, and StrangeFruit Media. When BET announced 6
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A/V Technology & Communications
they were branching out to scripted television, Gregory’s experience in film transferred seamlessly to television and she jumped at the opportunity to be a part of history. Her experience, industry contacts, passion for all things entertainment related and confidence are what landed her the position. For Gregory, the most rewarding part of her job is hiring talented minorities. On the flip side, the most difficult part is dashing the dreams of people who think they’re more talented than they are. Gregory’s advice to those interested in a career in
tamara gregory will be available to answer
questions on tue- feb11
@ 6:30pm CALL-IN NUMBER
712.432.3066 CONFERENCE CODE:538938
television is to be prepared when opportunity strikes. Make sure you are well versed in the hottest music and television shows. Gregory suggests going to movies, reading trade magazines, and Googling entertainment headliners. You should be able to speak about all things entertainment, because you never know what may come up in an interview. Once in the business, it is important to make strong connections with peers and upper-level management. Don’t limit your connections to only those who look like you. Finally, when you first start out, expect to spend long hours and some weekends in the office. Your pay may not initially be notable, but if you hang in there, your hard work will pay off. Tamara Gregory
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Answers on page 29
Marketing, Sales & Service
Stay Ahead of The Game By Shinita Hishaw
The Internet is an important part of life from businesses to school studies to researching almost ANYTHING. It is one of the most prominent forms of communication, especially in the use of social media. Andra Dunn, owner of Convertible Communications Consulting, provides digital communication services via website design, graphic design and Internet marketing. Internet marketing is making a company’s website interactive and search-friendly, with useful content, graphics and links to social media and other web content. Dunn had a personal interest in web design and taught herself to build websites. In her early work experience, she created newsletters which eventually turned into the use of digital technology. Blogging can be a digital form of creating a newsletter, which provides information on one or more subjects through daily, weekly or monthly updates. Dunn also offers social media services to clients by creating user IDs on various sites and communicating with the company’s 10
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current and potential customers. Some clients hire Dunn to coach their employees on how to manage social media on their own after she begins the process. The projects Dunn handles for her clients take between two weeks to two months, and some have taken up to six months to complete. Convertible Communications was started in 2012, after working full time for other companies and taking freelance projects on the side. Freelance is another term for independent. It means the worker is not committed to any specific employer and can accept or deny assignments as they are presented. Freelancing is a way to gain experience, however many times when someone has a job available, they are seeking an independent contractor who has previous experience and can prove their skills. Dunn advises, “Stay ahead of the game. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Don’t wait to be taught by a teacher; explore on your own and teach yourself. Start freelancing and volunteering for a non-profit or church to build your portfolio.” Although she was a public relations
Marketing, Sales & Service
major and marketing minor in college, she has used her marketing knowledge to grow her career and her business. An average starting salary for marketing graduates is around $35,000 per year, however a vice president of marketing can
make between $130-150,000 a year. If you desire to figure out ways to sell a product or service to a consumer, or thrive on the use of social media, a marketing career may be ideal for you.
Stay ahead of the game. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Don’t wait to be taught... ANDRA DUNN will be available
to answer questions on
mon- mar3 @ 6:30pm
712.432.3066 CONFERENCE CODE:538938
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ARTS
To Be or Not to Be
An Artistic Director By Lavina Randle
“To be or not to be, that is the question” according to William Shakespeare a famous 16th century poet and playwright. Theatre has e v o l v e d tremendously since the 16th century; there are many components that go into producing a great stage play. One of the key roles in any theatre company today is the artistic director. Tre Garrett, award winning artistic director at The 12
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Jubilee Theatre in Ft. Worth, TX, has what it takes to produce a hit stage play and can be considered a modern day Shakespeare. The artistic director of a theatre company is the individual with the overarching artistic control of the theatre’s production choices, directorial choices, and overall artistic vision. Mr. Garrett feels that he has the important role of bridging a community together through artistic expression. Graduating from the prestigious High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, earning a BFA in Directing from the University Of North Carolina School
ARTS
of the Arts (Conservatory) and an MFA in Directing from the Academy of Art University, Mr. Garrett has invested a great deal of his life in the theatre and has earned tremendous commendations at a young age. Drama club, glee club, debate and forensics (if you desire a career in theatre), are some of the organizations to be affiliated with in school. There is no age limit on creative arts, as there are infants in commercials daily. There are also options when seeing stage plays and movies starting at an early age. Check out The Jubilee Theatre in Ft. Worth and see one of its upcoming productions directed by Tre Garrett. In his career, Mr. Garrett has earned recognition, directed theatre, opera and short films. He has traveled from Broadway to Hollywood and has even experienced the World of Disney in Orlando, FL. Though he has reached high esteem, Mr. Garrett states that in its early stages, a career in the theatre promises a very low salary. Often
times working for free is required in order to build one’s resume. However, if this is truly a passion, with hard work major recognition can be earned such as Best in Theatre
awards, Best Director awards by the Star-Telegram, National Foundation of the Arts awards and NAACP Act-so awards like Tre has earned. At the accomplished stages, an e n d l e s s salary range well into the millions can Tre Garrett be reached.
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HEALTH A/V Technology SCIENCE & Communications
A Storyteller By Nature Anchorwoman Cy Sharp is a storyteller by nature. As a youth Sharp was extremely expressive and loved to be the center of attention. She obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees in Communications from La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she was born and raised. While in college, Sharp interned at a radio station and it wasn’t long before she became an on-air personality herself. She enjoyed radio, but her true desire was to be in front of the camera. In 2010 Sharp was offered a job as a news reporter in Erie, Pennsylvania. She was apprehensive about packing up her family and relocating to Erie, 14
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but she knew that this opportunity could change her life. She took a leap of faith and made the move. Sharp’s first story in Erie was about a beekeeper. Although it wasn’t breaking news, she gave it her all. Sharp worked diligently to prove herself and eventually went from doing a half story a day to being on air 2-3 times a day reporting both breaking news and community news stories. Sharp’s assignments varied from day to day. She was assigned stories by the news director but had to find other dramatic stories to report as well. She spent a great deal of time researching topics, interviewing people, and on location getting stories. Once
A/V Technology & Communications
she obtained necessary footage, Sharp had to be back in the office by 4pm to write and edit the pieces she would report on the air at 5pm. Initially one of Sharp’s biggest challenges was being the only female minority on the network. However once she realized how much of an inspiration she was to other young minorities, she embraced this distinction. Success in broadcasting requires strong writing abilities, confidence, a positive work ethic, and a great deal of creativity. Sharp’s advice to those interested in a broadcasting career is to “always, always, always look for ways to improve” and be open to the advice and guidance of those who are already successful in the business. Networking, cultivating relationships, watching newscasters in different markets, interning, and conducting informal interviews are all steps to take if you are serious about a career in broadcast journalism. She joked that you may start out eating Ramen Noodles and earning a little more than minimum wage, but if you are flexible, willing to move, and persistent, you will be rewarded both professionally and financially.
Cy Sharp
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JUST ENOUGH SO YOU SUCCEED - A TIME FOR INSPIRATION
You Are Special By Jennifer Walton
Did you know that no one else in the world has your fingerprint? Take a look at your fingers. Those little lines, the way they move and swirl are unique to only you. Isn’t that amazing? That in itself makes you very special and different from everyone else in the world. Just as your fingerprints are unique to only you, so are your ideas and creativity. No one can tell the story like you do, no one can sing that song with the expression quite like you do. No one has your great imagination. Your idea about something may be similar to someone else’s, but they can’t fulfill it like you will. There is something deep down inside you that sets you apart. You are special. Believe that every day. When it comes time to start your job search, there are going to be a lot of people with your same educational accomplishments, athletic activities and community service. What makes you different from those people? What is the company or organization going to see in you that is shining brighter than everyone else? You don’t know? Well it’s time to figure it out. Begin to ask your family, friends and teachers what they feel is unique, different and special about you and the way you do things. Ask yourself that same question and write those things down. Pay attention and also speak highly about yourself, even in your own thoughts. You are capable, you are unique, and Success Tomorrow Starts TODAY! 19 you are special.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Training and Development is the branch of Human Resources that focuses on “improving the productivity of an organization’s employees.” By assessing organizational needs and then training and developing employees to meet those needs, a company proactively works to ensure its success and the success of its employees. Ameerah Salaam, SPHR, MBA is the Senior Training and Development Partner for a company that creates the technology that enables iPhones, Bluetooths, Blu-rays, and cable modems to perform. As the Senior Training and Development Partner, Salaam facilitates classroom and online training for employees and managers, develops projects and tools to enhance employees’ skills, conducts employee development and engagement surveys, and conducts individual competencies and general training. She trains internal staff to make sure they are skilled and knowledgeable enough to facilitate training and trains managers on how to conduct behavioral interviews, resolve performance issues, and write and develop performance reviews. After training sessions have been delivered, Salaam conducts follow-up evaluations to see how training
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EDUCATION & TRAINING
was received and makes adjustments as necessary. Facilitating a training session demands preparation. It sometimes requires that Salaam work long hours to ensure that everything— including rooms, trainer’s/training manuals, learning materials, snacks, etc.—is in place for upcoming sessions. She also has to make sure that her presentation is engaging, allows for group participation, fits within time constraints, and considers the needs of her trainees. For Salaam, the most rewarding aspect of her career is seeing others rise to the top of their careers and being part of their development. Salaam obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (Management/Marketing) from Missouri State University and a Master of Business Administration from Webster University. She also has Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certifications as well. Success in Training and Development is all about work ethic, organizational skills, and the ability to partner and build relationships with people. Salaam recommends getting involved in management and leadership roles even in high school. She stresses the importance of staying focused on education, as it is essential for a career in Human Resources. She strongly recommends getting work experience through internships while in college and finding a mentor who can coach you along your career path. According to Salaam, “Education gets you to the table but experience propels you.”
AMEERAH SALAAM
will be available
to answer questions on
wed- feb19 @ 6:30pm
712.432.3066 CONFERENCE CODE:538938
Ameerah Salaam Success Tomorrow Starts TODAY!
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t he fabric
By Archuleta A. Chisolm
On the grains of a parched land, engraved footprints speak to us.
Of orange skies that glimmered into river banks, and the beat of African drums. Of hands that sewed dreams into the open sky, of chains that weaved pain into the night and a sun that faded hopes and dreams. Of feet that walked foreign lands and tongues that sang spirituals.
Of the paths that acacia leaves led to freedom and the beads of honor that formed our history.
In the height of this mountain, the Serengeti’s clouds prepare for warm rain. The heat is quiet. Our hands are raised to God. Our ancestors stitched their strength into the book of life, so that we would be free. It is the fabric that professes our story. the fabric of our lives.
It is
Archuleta A. Chisolm is a poet, publisher, and author of two books. Her third collection of poetry, Life Falls Sweet, is scheduled to release February 2014. She has shared her poetry and spoken word at a host of events in various cities. Archuleta is available for spoken word engagements and workshops. Contact her at www.archuletachisolm.com 22
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MARKETING, SALES & SERVICE
Climbing the Corporate Ladder By Lavina Randle
The world of telecommunications began with Alexander Graham Bell’s invention of the telephone in 1875. Since then it has evolved from stationary corded boxes and receivers to hand held mobile devices that are used anywhere. For the past six years, Georgina Jones has been hard at work as a Client Support Specialist for corporate accounts at AT&T and has had a hand in the expansion of the telecommunications industry. Georgina started her career in telecommunications over 20 years ago. Starting as a data entry representative, she quickly climbed her way up the corporate ladder based on her performance. The entry level data entry position where she signed new customers up for phone service opened the door for a call center customer service position. She quickly excelled in this role and moved into sales. Georgina exceeded monthly sales quotas as a customer service
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MARKETING, SALES & SERVICE
representative for Quest communications which led to her being recruited by MCI for a Project Management role. As a Corporate Accounts Manager, Georgina has the responsibility of managing the telecommunications needs for major corporations. She meets with the companies assigned to her, discusses with them their telecommunications needs as far as landline phone service, wireless phone service, DSL and broadband services and prepares the best package rate to meet their needs. Once this is in place, she monitors the corporate account to ensure their services are properly working at all times and that the client remains happy with the service she is providing to them. In this role, Ms. Jones is not only in constant contact with her clients, she also has to stay closely connected with her account team. With her current client base, she is responsible for managing a revenue base of $69 million. It is her duty to hire, train and mentor her team to do what it takes to meet their clients’ expectations. Although Ms. Jones started in the telecommunications field with no formal college education, she is actively working on earning a degree. According to her, someone looking to start out in her field will need a degree in Business or Project Management. In the role of a Corporate Accounts Manager you can enjoy the luxury of working from home and can expect a starting salary of $40,000 to $87,000, which doesn’t include bonus potential.
GEORGINA JONES will be available
to answer questions on
thur- feb27 @ 6:30pm
712.432.3066 CONFERENCE CODE:538938
Georgina Jones
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BE YOUR OWN BOSS
COACH NIELSON
CAREER COACH THAT IS By Martha Deller
Carl Nielson didn’t set out to be a career coach. He’s not sure there even was such a profession when he started college 40 years ago. Puzzled by aptitude tests that directed him to ministry or mentoring careers, the Houston high school graduate instead chose premed at Texas A & M University. At a counselor’s suggestion to balance science with electives, Nielson enrolled in industrial psychology _ a course he said led to his 35-year career helping people match talents to jobs. For an assignment on machinehuman interaction, Nielson did hands-on research on a new computerized cash register at his grocery cashier job. “I found it fascinating. It took productivity to a whole new level,” he said. “I just wanted to understand how people performed and help them find their success.”
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Students interested in that career today likely would earn bachelor’s and possibly master’s degrees in
human resource management, Nielson said. Certifications in various specialties often are required as well, he said. But Nielson said those degrees weren’t offered then and he didn’t want to pursue a master’s degree, so he entered the work world with his B.S. in psychology. After rejecting several jobs that didn’t fit his career path, he landed a human resources job in an oil and gas firm now part of Honeywell. For 18 years, Nielson perfected his skills hiring employees, managing
BE YOUR OWN BOSS
their performance and developing leaders at Honeywell and other businesses. “Without my real understanding of coaching, I was taking a coaching approach to working with them,” he said. In 1998, Nielson started the Nielson Group, a consulting firm that offers job matching, career transition, executive coaching, leadership development and other services he once provided as a corporate employee. “I want to help people identify true talents and align them with career options they’ll be successful with,” he said. After some of Nielson’s
CARl nielson will be available
to answer questions on thur- feb13 @ 6:30pm
712.432.3066 CONFERENCE CODE:538938
clients asked him to offer career coaching to their college-aged children, he learned that student assessments hadn’t changed much since he was a teen. “Corporations are still getting candidates who drifted into their careers,” he said. So Nielson added Career Coaching for Students, an online assessment with one-on-one coaching sessions, to help students clarify career goals and prevent multiple changes in majors. Nielson advises would-be career coaches to get some business experience first. “Even if you’re certified, no one will take you seriously at 21,” he said. “I had to learn organization stuff first _ how companies pay people, how they reward performance.” Carl Nielson
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( You Go ) NOB4UGO Just Enough So U Succeed - A Time For Inspiration
Know Before
College and Career Helpful Hints Critical Skills for Every Field By Shinita V. Hishaw
There are some skills that all employees and students need in order to succeed, regardless of your career choice. Those skills are commonly referred to as “soft skills”. Soft skills (also called interpersonal skills and life skills) are qualities that enhance a person’s ability to get along with others and use mental reasoning to function in a workplace setting. Soft skills can be learned, but they are not the skills that determine whether someone knows how to perform the day-to-day duties and tasks associated with a specific job. A few common soft skills are communication, problem solving, teamwork, decision making, initiative and planning/organizing. These skills are very important and being able to demonstrate that you have them is a key ability during a job interview. Career Planning Time will be offering FREE Life Skills Seminars each month starting in February. Although they are now being taught in schools, additional knowledge always provides you with an advantage. The seminars will include exercises to enhance the skills, as well as sample ways to demonstrate them in an interview. For more information on upcoming sessions, log on to www.cptime.net and click on Ads & Services.
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UPCOMING EDITIONS
PREVIOUS: September 25, 2013 Architecture & Construction/STEM/Manufacturing/ Transportation, Distribution & Logistics PREVIOUS: November 27, 2013 Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources/Government & Public Admin/Human Services/Health Science CURRENT: January 31, 2014 Arts, AV Tech & Communications/Education & Training/Marketing, Sales & Service NEXT: March 26, 2014 Hospitality & Tourism/Public Safety, Corrections & Security/Information Technology May 28, 2014 Business, Management & Admin/Finance/Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics/Graduate Edition
July 30, 2014 Readers’ Choice
yourE
VOT
counts
WHAT CA R EERS WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ ABOUT? We are gearing up for the upcoming July 2014 issue and we want your input.
So visit www.cptime.net and leave us a comment telling us what career or careers you would like to read about.
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