GREENEVILLE – As part of Tusculum University’s preparation of students to be career-ready after graduation, the higher education institution recently hosted a presentation about government jobs and internships that provided valuable tips.
Breanna Etter, right, speaks with Jordon Harmon, a graduate assistant at Tusculum, in the Meen Center. Photo by student Zoey Seay
The talk focused on ensuring students create strong résumés and provided plenty of information about federal government positions. It drew a crowd of about 35 students and faculty members in person and on the Zoom virtual platform.
Breanna Etter, a labor relations specialist with the Transportation Security Administration, spoke with students about applying for and obtaining a job with the federal government. She narrated her own experiences with her job, as well as the benefits it provides to encourage students to apply.
“I believe in giving back, and now I get to do that every day,” Etter said.
Etter also shared advice with students about how to be successful in their careers.
“As a first-generation student, I struggled with imposter syndrome,” she said. “I had to teach myself that confidence is not the same as arrogance. Make sure you don’t ignore your skills and take time to learn how you take constructive criticism.”
Etter was joined by two of her colleagues, Marnia Thomas and Ciara Bond, on Zoom. Thomas shared a PowerPoint presentation about résumé-building and applying for government jobs. The presentation touched on ways to improve and solidify a résumé, as well as how to cater it toward the position a student seeks.
Thomas offered encouragement for students worried about life after college.
“The majority of us started out in internships unrelated to our major, but the foundation of your education can never be taken from you,” she said. “Make the most of the time you have in the industry you are interning in and be proactive. Just because you came into a certain slot does not mean that is all you can do while you are there.”
Students and faculty members listen to the presentation.
The presentations were followed by a short question-and-answer session, where Bond, Etter and Thomas answered a variety of questions from students and faculty. One such student was Patrick Coleman, a senior in the business administration program, who wanted to learn more about applying for a federal job as a veteran.
“I was in the military for five years, and since I’ve transitioned out, it’s been hard to find that comradery,” he said. “I learned a lot about the rules and formatting of a résumé today, and I will refer back to this presentation when constructing my own.”
Another student, Alishia Burrell, attended the seminar to learn more about the opportunities that might be available to her. Burrell is a freshman majoring in biology pre-medical, dental and veterinary and hopes to work for the federal government in some way after graduation.
“I am very interested in getting a federal job, as there are a lot of opportunities and benefits available,” she said. “This event has helped me understand what I need to do next to secure one of those opportunities. I am very glad that Tusculum hosted this event.”
Dr. Heather Henson-Ramsey, assistant vice president of academic affairs and coordinator of career services, said the event was a success.
“These federal employees dispensed excellent information that will help our students who have an interest in working full time or as an intern for the government,” Dr. Henson-Ramsey said. “Our academic programs give our students a strong foundation of knowledge that puts them in a position to succeed when they enter the job market. Having these presentations provides further details that will help our students navigate the application process.”
Further information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.