Hello from Homer City, PA!

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Permalink Reply by Pam Wilkinson on April 2, 2009 at 2:40pm

I am a current online masters student at IUP.
I agree, IUP is a well respected safety program with absolutely top-notch instructors.

I too am transitioning into safety from other areas. I'm lucky in that safety was always a big part of other jobs.

Have you done any internships? They are a great way to get your feet wet, and look wonderful on a resume.
I also suggest you have the career center help revamp your resume. You might be surprised what skills can transfer to safety - B2B skills (training), athletics (ergonomic areas).

Otherwise you are in a tough location to find a safety job. I know - it's one of the areas I'm looking in. Pittsburgh, or Johnstown occasionally have some. Talk to your advisor to find out your best options besides interships.

Good luck, and don't hesitate to contact me,
Pam

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Permalink Reply by Brian W. Fulmer on April 2, 2009 at 4:26pm

Hey Pam,

Just wanted to let you know that I'm still on and have viewed this, but I have a class to attend about an hour away. I will try to get back to this later this evening, as you hit on some interesting areas I would like to discuss..ttyl

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Permalink Reply by Pam Wilkinson on April 2, 2009 at 5:20pm

Not a problem. Email me, and I'll give you my phone number.

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Permalink Reply by Brian W. Fulmer on April 2, 2009 at 9:53pm

Just wondering Pam - what do you think of that Masters program so far? See, when I first started thinking about Safety, I consulted with a couple profs in the department, and basically had them tell me that I'd have to go through the formal application process, but that my acceptance into the M.S. program was just a formality. BUT - they all advised against it. Their sentiments on the matter were that the B.S. was better for a couple reasons - a) it's in-class, direct instruction, and b) the B.S. was just more comprehensive..

What are your thoughts on the matter? I used that as consideration, but ultimately decided they may be right based on other reasons. Having experience in the employment industry - I felt like the master's program would leave me with an M.S. and with no safety experience. In an industry that seems to have a very high percentage of employees continuing their education beyond the bach. degree, I thought I would find myself in a position where my competition for jobs would be people ALSO graduating with their M.S. AND 2, 3, sometimes 4 years of experience, whereas I would have none.

At that time, I couldn't forsee the economy tanking as it has, which could change the equation completely...

I'm still in a spot where I could probably change my track at IUP from B.S. to M.S. after this semester, which....I probably WON'T do, as I think I want the in-class experience, especially when it comes to the more hands-on technical stuff upcoming. If I were to do something like that, I would probably consider trying to transfer into another program, perhaps WVUs, that offers that kind of environment.

As for your discussion posting - I read that you are having trouble finding intern positions for masters level students. I, myself, have found several posting that indicate a need for juniors, seniors, and graduate level students. My advice to you - if that's what you want to do - apply for them anyway..even if it only indicates juniors/seniors! Case and point - I know this is a bit of a different situation - but, I have a cousin that just graduated from IUPs program in May (B.S.). He applied for 1 job, and that job had asked for someone with a C.S.P. and 8-10 yrs experience. As it turned out, the posting had long expired and they weren't able to find anyone to fit the req. He went in killed the interview and landed the job at a salary he was very, very happy with.

Also, keep up on IUPs postings: http://www.hhs.iup.edu/sa/jobs/view.aspx. Additionally, register an account with collegecentral.com, then login to the studentcentral.com section of that site...there are 7 openings in Safety listed on that page..

As for me? I'm probably going to search out some opportunities at the beginning of the summer. If I can find an employer willing to hire and train, I would strongly consider transitioning into a more internet-based M.S. program. If I can't find that, more than likely, I'll stick in the classroom at IUP..

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Permalink Reply by Pam Wilkinson on April 3, 2009 at 8:21am

Brian,

I actually really like the Masters program. When I applied, 1) I had been out of college for almost 25 year;, 2) I had a job where I was unofficially doing safety, that I thought was going to transition into a permanent safety position; 3) at the time needed the flexibility of an online program; 4) had peripheral safety experience from other jobs; and 5) had already taken the OSHA 10 and 30 hour general industry courses.

Given that though, I think either staying in the Bachelors program or trying to get into WVU's Masters program may be better for you. The main reason is that both programs are BCSP certified. IUP's bachelors program is BCSP, but not their Masters. WVU is one of only two Masters programs that are a BCPS qualified academic program. What this gives you is the ability to fast track to a CSP certification. As soon as you graduate, you would hold a GSP certification (like an ASP without having to take the fundamentals test). That certification will get your further, faster than a Masters in safety would at IUP.

As far as Internships, have you talked to either Dominion Power or the Homer City Power Plant about the concept of an unpaid part-time internship? You might be able to talk them into "job shadowing" for part of the day during the summer. There are a couple of insurance companies in the area too. That could be put on a resume. Call them. Dr. Rhodes may be able to give you some ideas. I will email you with a couple more thoughts.

Another option is to get onto LinkedIn, and set up a profile. There are 2 fairly active IUP alumni groups. You might be able to network something through there. There are a number of networking groups in Pittsburgh both in LinkedIn and in general. Have you gotten active in the student ASSE program? Contact some of the Western PA ASSE people to see what you can network into for the summer.

Anyway, I'll finish this line of thought in an email.

I have been hearing that companies are becoming more willing to hire outside of the posted requirements. I have begun to apply to more of those jobs.

Pam

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Permalink Reply by Vicki Johnson on April 2, 2009 at 10:06pm

Hey Brian,
I just wanted to say kudos to you for your choice in career paths. Remember that work experience is more powerful than education in some circles. Do you have work experience in safety, yet? Check out the demographic in Safety and you will see that a huge emphasis is placed on how you manage the small stuff before you climb the ladder, so to speak.
(Former recruiter, sorry.)


Good luck, and let's chat!
~V

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Permalink Reply by Brian W. Fulmer on April 2, 2009 at 10:23pm

"(Former recruiter, sorry.)" haha...that would make two of us then!!

No, I do not have experience in Safety yet. I am required by my program to do one, but can't do one 'for-credit' until I have all my core-reqs completed, which will be nxt May (if I stick with the B.S., of course; maybe a semester longer if I change to the Masters). I have searched violently for an internship as of late, and have something going with an energy company here in Western PA, but I'm not hangin my hat on it till it's locked-down (still hitting the boards hard!!). I need to do "something" over the summer, so...if you know of companies that may have a need, I'm willing to consider any location..

This experience for the summer is completely optional as it relates to IUPs program, but I need and want the experience. It will help me out greatly next summer when it's time to complete the required one.

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Permalink Reply by Brian W. Fulmer on April 2, 2009 at 11:18pm

Colin -

Nice to meet you. I actually had a lab today after I checked your post with Laura Rhodes, told her about this site, and she was pretty pumped up about it too. Said before something like this, there really wasn't a place where you could go and ask questions or get a variety of different perspectives on how to handle a specific problem. I mentioned that you were on here, and she was like "Colin Brown - yea, I know Colin Brown. He's a pretty crafty guy. I wonder if he started that site!?" hah.

I also agree that IUPs program can do a prospective safety pro well. I think you'd probably be a good person to speak to, as I assume that you were probably in a similar situation when you changed majors as I am now - about 2 years to complete all your Safety classes. I had some requisite Natty Sci classes to go back and take - which, I wasn't required to do the first time around, but other than that..for the most part, you were probably where I was at 9 months ago when you changed degrees.

I think the next year will give me the "guts" of the program, if you will. The only complaint I have is that it's a bit rigid, a bit sequential. I wish I would have had the opportunity to get into the more hands-on, specialized stuff this first year getting back into school. A lot of what companies seem to be looking for when seeking intern/job applicants are those skills that maybe a lot 4-yr safety students by the end of their junior years, whereas someone like me won't see any of that until the final year of the two-year sequence. I don't want to sound like I've learned NOTHING - cause I have - but, I think a lot of what I've learned could have been obtained on my own..just a persective..

Anyway, thanks for the insight...feel free to offer more anytime.

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