eaglesNEST: Connect with ERAU Alumni and Start Building Your Network Today

7084d213-f715-474c-a331-ae8c4407ebdcOne of the most powerful tools for any job search and professional growth is networking.  Networking is a lifelong process by which you build strong connections with those around you.  Your connections can put you in contact with the right people to support your job search, career development and personal aspirations.  The Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University community is a great place to start networking, and you have a built-in group of connections in your fellow alumni.

Embry-Riddle offers you a way to meet alumni through the eaglesNEST online community. Graduates may network virtually through a directory that allows alumni to search for and connect with former classmates based on geographic location and employment/company.  The directory is available to alumni only via a password-protected portal. Embry-Riddle graduates must sign into their eaglesNEST account in order to view the directory.  (Creating an account is easy and free, click here to start.)

One of the most useful ways to leverage the directory is by using the “Advanced Search” method. For example, let’s say you are an aerospace engineer interested in securing a job at Boeing in Seattle, and you would like to get to know alumni who are already employed there. You can use the Advanced Search tool in the directory to search by company name, city and major (and a number of other search terms). Our directory search engine examines the eaglesNEST profiles of our alumni to generate the results. In this instance, nine alumni were identified using these criteria. Alumni with an envelope icon next to their names have an email address tied to their eaglesNEST profiles, so you can send them a note and introduce yourself. Those with a yellow “Post-It” icon next to their names haven’t made their email addresses available; however, you can still send them a message and it will remain in their eaglesNEST inbox until the next time they log into the community.

The eaglesNEST also offers numerous opportunities for alumni to network face-to-face at gatherings hosted across the country and world. Events are often hosted by the Embry-Riddle Alumni Association at tradeshows and air shows, in addition to being organized by alumni chapters, which function similarly to clubs but do not require membership dues. Event information is posted regularly on the eaglesNEST. With more than 20 networks hosting events year-round, you are sure to find an activity near you.

To ensure that you stay informed about events and make yourself available for networking opportunities, keep your contact information current on the eaglesNEST by creating a profile and updating it from time to time, such as when you relocate or accept a new job. This helps the Alumni Association stay in touch and keep you apprised of events happening near you.

As an Embry-Riddle alumnus/a, your potential networking pool is 100,000-plus strong.  Make the most of Embry-Riddle alumni resources such as eaglesNEST and the official alumni LinkedIn group to identify and connect with colleagues who are also Embry-Riddle Eagles.  If you work to build and maintain these relationships over time, lifelong partnerships will result. Happy networking!

Article from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Alumni Relations Department and Career Services

Alumni Career Spotlight: Benjamin Barrocas

Benjamin Barrocas began his career with Trans World Airlines (TWA) in 1987 with the Flight Operations Department as an Aircraft Router.  Ben later movedBen to TWA’s corporate headquarters in Manhattan and then to Mt. Kisco where he joined the Revenue Management Department managing TWA’s hub markets through 1990.  Ben joined United Airlines in July of 1993 to eventually become its Managing Director for Latin America in March of 2003. He held various positions during his 12 year tenure at United’s Latin America division which included the roles of Account Executive, Manager for General Sales Agents in Latin America, Manager for Business Development for Latin America, Regional Sales Manager for Latin America and the Managing Director for Latin America.  Ben is currently the Head of Aviation Solutions for the International Air Transport Association (IATA). He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Business Administration from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master’s in International Business Administration degree from Nova Southeastern University.

How did you get to where you are today?

Preparation was key. My journey began with a strong foundation that included a Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Business Administration from ERAU in 1987. Having an interest in continuous learning allowed me to obtain skills in various areas of airline operations, revenue management, distribution, sales, and product development. Continuing my studies and obtaining a Master’s degree in International Business, in addition to the industry experience, allowed me to run a region for United Airlines and later join the International Airline Transport Association (IATA) as its head of Aviation Solutions for the Americas.

What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

While at United Airlines and IATA, I was able to witness the growth of aviation in the Americas and watch how Aviation contributed to local economies through commerce.  Through connectivity and the movement of people and goods, aviation expanded the economies of the Americas.

What traits or skills do you most attribute to your career success?

Continuous learning, networking, and research.

What advice do you have for young professionals seeking business-related opportunities in the aviation industry?Ben with Boeing

The airline industry is continuously evolving and very competitive. Stay informed of trends in airline distribution and be aware of what indicators make an airline profitable. Build and maintain a network with stakeholders in the industry, alumni, and former colleagues.

CareerSpots Video Highlight: 7 Tips for Researching Companies

Embry-Riddle Career Services wants you to review CareerSpots videos, a series of visual resources to help with your internship/job search and career development.

Research is an important job search activity to complete before making career decisions, changing careers, applying for positions, interviewing or accepting jobs.  Hear several recruiters give their advice on researching employers.

WATCH 7 Tips for Researching Companies

Researching Companies

Success Story: Oswaldo “Oz” Maitas

Oswaldo “Oz” Maitas is a 2005 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University alum Oz at sunrisefrom the Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science program.  While at Embry-Riddle, he minored in Aviation Weather, was a member of Alpha Omicron Alpha (AOA) Aeronautical Honor Society and worked for the Career Services Office.  He has worked for Aerospotal Airlines since 2006.  Oz has a great success story to share, and he has provided us with details of his upgrade to Captain.

On February 26, 2013, I completed my upgrade to Captain with Aeropostal Airlines. I finished my 25 hours flight time of IOE training and got appointed to the checkride with the Venezuelan authorities of the INAC. I flew a 45 minute round trip leg from Maiquetia (SVMI) to Margarita (SVMG). After parking at the terminal and shutting down the engines, the check airman congratulated me and stated that my checkride was approved.

I felt very happy and could not avoid thinking about my first flight in a Cessna 172, as well as my entire ERAU class experience. I was thankful for my family, co-workers and God. After stepping out of the aircraft, I was greeted by my fellow Captains as they were waiting for my checkride to be done to give me the proper welcome. They immediately began tearing my uniform apart, cutting my hair and eyebrows off and pouring soda, coke and jet oil all over me. It is an old tradition, dating back to 1929, and it is customary to be done in the jet way along with the flight attendants, maintenance personnel and family.

Now, my life has changed. I am beginning a new moment in my career, as the responsibilities of all the flight are falling on my shoulders. Also, I began to pass my knowledge and experience to all of the First Officers with the hope that their journey to the left seat comes as easily and joyfully as mine.

Once again, I feel very thankful being able to attend a prestigious University such as Embry-Riddle. It definitely made a difference in my professional career and personal life.

This is a picture of me after the checkride along with my family and another one with my co-workers. The first picture is my first solo flight along with my First Officer during a sunrise climbing to FL350.

Oz with family

Oz with co-wokers

Alumni Career Spotlight: Jonathan Weisberg

Jonathan Weisberg received his Master of Business Administration (MBA) Jon W.degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in August 2011, and he completed his Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management at Arizona State University in 2007.  Jon is currently a Research and Technology Supplier Management Procurement Agent with The Boeing Company.  Before coming on board with Boeing, he completed internships with JetBlue and the Walt Disney Company, both in finance-oriented positions.  Jon also worked for Mesa Airlines, prior to coming to Embry-Riddle, in crew scheduling.

How did you land a job with The Boeing Company?

Obtaining a full time position at Boeing was not an easy task as Boeing receives hundreds or even thousands of applicants for one position.  For my position alone, there were 1,100 applicants for just 3 openings.  I learned this the hard way as I started applying for positions back in the fall of my last year at Embry-Riddle.  I was fortunate to meet lead Boeing recruiter Mark Lyden who went through the 7 steps to applying for jobs as well as encouraged me to apply to multiple jobs, as in 20+ jobs.  I assumed with having an MBA, 2 years of airline experience, and top notch internships with JetBlue and Disney that I would be a shoe-in for a job with Boeing.  However, this was not the case right away.  Besides applying for full time jobs at Boeing, I also applied to finance and revenue management jobs with major airlines.  By the spring of 2011, I had a few interviews with the airlines, and after applying to over 20 jobs at Boeing, I secured an interview as a Procurement Agent.  I ended up getting the job and started working as a Procurement Agent within Boeing Research and Technology in September of 2011.

What does your current position entail?

As a Procurement Agent within Boeing Research and Technology, I enjoy the daily challenges of solving logistic issues as well as interacting with suppliers and engineers.  In Supplier Management, we are the liaisons working between the Supplier and engineer to make sure the parts I order run on time and all the orders are correct.  I have a broad range of experience having purchased numerous commodities and services, leases, and loans and having negotiated contract terms and conditions.  My favorite parts of this job are: negotiating price to find a best value solution for Boeing as well as our suppliers and traveling to meet with our suppliers face to face.  Being able to work for a leader in the aerospace industry has been a great experience thus far, and I look forward to what lies ahead with Boeing.

While working on your MBA, you completed internships with JetBlue Airways and The Walt Disney Company. How did those experiences benefit you?

Having the opportunity to intern at two world class companies such as JetBlue Airways and the Walt Disney Company were incredible experiences that have helped me in my current role.  Even though both internships were in finance, I learned a lot about customer service as well as building my Microsoft Excel and presentation skills.  While at Walt Disney World, I was working in Financial Operations for the Water Parks and Miniature Golf Courses.  All finance interns were required to work on an individual project and present it to all the other interns as well as finance executives including the CFO of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.  My project was on weather-related studies and how weather during certain times of the year affects our operating income.  My project helped our operations team determine at what temperature the water parks should be closed to save Disney hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.

Do you have any advice for business students seeking a career in the aerospace industry?

My biggest advice for students who are sophomores or higher is to get as much work and leadership experience as possible.  The best way to get work experience is to complete summer internships in fields in which you are interested.  Even though you will learn basic theories and learn the aviation industry in school, you will not really understand it fully until you work there.  Plus a summer internship gives you insight into a company and is a 3 month interview that helps you secure a job with that company once completed.  My other recommendation is to network with leaders within the aerospace industry and find mentors.  Most business leaders within the aerospace industry love mentoring bright young minds, especially because they will be hiring these students, and someday these students will be running the company.

Congratulations, Graduates!

Congratulations to the spring class of 2013!

graduate

Dress Professionally for Interview Success

by Kristy Amburgey

You have researched the company with which you will be interviewing.  You Job-Interview-Dressing-for-Successhave practiced your answers to interview questions.  You have printed out your resume.  You have thank you cards for after the interview.  You are ready to conquer that interview!  But did you think about what you will wear during the interview process?  What you wear makes a distinct first impression, so you want to dress in the most professional and fitting attire for your interview situation.  For many of the career fields within aviation and aerospace, conservative attire is key.  For other career fields, you may find that less formal business dress is appropriate.

Suit

A business suit is the most appropriate attire for an interview.  For both men and women, a suit conveys authority, power and professionalism.  Suits should fit well and be altered or tailored as needed.  Ladies can wear either pant or skirt suits, but the skirt must hit at or below the knee.  Suit colors can vary, but the most conservative color palettes are navy, grey and soft black; dark colors are best when selecting a suit.

Shirt

The shirt you wear under your suit should also be subdued in color and fit.  Gentlemen should wear a long-sleeved, button down shirt.  Ladies can wear button down shirts as well; other choices include knit, rayon, silk or other smooth fabric shirts with a neckline appropriate for an office setting.  The recommended colors of the shirts are white, off white or light blue.  Other shirt colors can be considered, but it is best to be conservative in your choice.  Fit is just as important in a shirt as in a suit.  Ensure that the neckline, sleeves and length fit well and select shirts that do not pull or gap down the front.

Tie

Gentlemen should wear ties with their suits and long-sleeved shirts.  The tie should be in a restrained pattern or a solid that complements the colors of the shirt and suit.

Shoes and Socks/Stockings

Shoes are also an important piece of an interview outfit and can convey a distinct message about how you present yourself.  Always wear clean, polished, un-scuffed shoes that are for a professional work environment.  Gentlemen, wing-tips and lace-ups are common dress shoes and considered professional.  Ladies, closed-toe flats and heels are appropriate; keep the heel height to no more than two to three inches.  If wearing socks, the color should match your pants or shoes.  Ladies, it is recommended that you wear pantyhose when wearing a skirt suit.

Accessories

Gentlemen, a belt, braces, tie bar, cuff links, jewelry, a watch and other accessories can be appropriate.  Just limit the number of pieces you wear to avoid distracting the interviewers.  Ladies can also wear accessories like jewelry and a watch; ensure that the jewelry enhances your look without overwhelming you.

Grooming

Good hygiene and grooming are just as imperative as what you wear.  Pay attention to the small details that can make you look and feel ready for the interview. Ensure that your nails are clean and you are showered and fresh.  Ladies, get touch ups on any outgrown hair color or highlights and select hair styles that will prevent you from playing with strands during the interview.  Makeup should be muted but enhance your look, if you choose to wear it.  Gentlemen, trim facial hair if applicable and ensure your hair has been recently cut and is neat.

There are certain things to avoid when dressing for an interview.  Avoid wearing clothes that are too revealing or too ill-fitting.  Don’t wear pieces with stains, rips, missing buttons or other issues that convey you don’t care about your appearance.  Avoid strong colognes, perfumes and other smells that not everyone appreciates.  Fresh breath is always a benefit; avoid drinking strong beverages or smoking right before an interview.

For the ladies and gentlemen, there are some alternatives to interview dress.  Ladies, you can wear a dress and suit jacket combination.  Gentlemen, for certain industries, you can wear a pair of slacks with a navy blazer and button-down shirt with tie.  At times, certain career fields will find a pressed polo shirt and ironed khaki pants appropriate.

It is important to always research the industry, field and company to identify their standards for interview attire.  For an interview, it is best to dress above the standard of what your future employer would consider professional dress.

Please visit the Career Services Pinterest group and peruse the What to Wear – Men, What to Wear – Women and What Not to Wear – Men and Women boards for ideas on professional dress.

For both the Prescott, AZ  (October 3) and Daytona Beach, FL (October 9) Industry/Career Expos, professional dress is required.  Over the summer, plan your Expo event attire.

Kristy Amburgey is the Associate Director of Career Services – Daytona Beach campus and currently manages marketing and employer relations for the department.  She has been with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for approximately 10 years and with Career Services for nine years.

Alumni Career Spotlight: Christopher Higgs

Christopher Higgs graduated from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Chris HiggsBachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering program in May 2011.  During his tenure at Embry-Riddle, he completed three internships with Raydon Corporation, The Boeing Company and MWH Americas.  He was also actively involved on campus with the Student Government Association (SGA), the O-Team, Omicron Delta Kappa, Sigma Gamma Tau and Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity: Florida Mu Chapter, among others.  He is currently working for The Boeing Company, completing his rotations in the Engineering Career Foundation Program (ECFP).

Tell us about the Boeing Engineering Career Foundation Program.

The Boeing Engineering Career Foundation Program (ECFP) is a two year leadership development and rotational engineering assignment that consists of six different four month rotations that span the Commercial, Defense, Research & Testing components at Boeing, whilst exposing its participants to the various stages of the product lifecycle.

What has been your favorite rotation so far and why?

That’s a difficult question to answer. At the point of writing this, I have rotated through five different groups at Boeing, each one providing a fantastic and memorable experience. One of my first groups had me blowing stuff up (stuff being the technical term) with plastic explosives, which ridiculously enough, resulted in a patent application. Another group sent me on a wind tunnel test in Farnborough, England.

If I had to choose just one, I would say my favorite is my current rotation, Sales & Marketing for the North East Asia region. Now this may sound somewhat blasphemous from an engineer, but the Sales arena is truly a confluence of engineering, business and customer interaction, a complex relationship that I find fascinating.

In what ways have your internship experiences helped you to be successful up to this point in your career?

A career does not materialize from nothing; it builds incrementally over time, one block after another. A key cornerstone at the base of that structure is your degree, while another is your internship experience. The internships I undertook while in college were fundamental to my marketability upon graduating; I never would have landed my dream entry-level position in Boeing’s engineering rotation program if I was unable to leverage industry experience during my application. In fact, the Engineering Career Foundation Program only hires from the Boeing intern pool.

To continue my Jenga-esque metaphor, this position is yet another block on which I will continue to build my career…without key pieces, like internship experience, your career (or tower) is more susceptible to toppling over.

Do you have any advice for graduates who may want to consider participating in a rotational program such as the Boeing Engineering Career Foundation Program?

Jenga! Ahem…I will be continuing with this metaphor. Rotation programs are typically very competitive, and the successful job hunting graduate will have several blocks on which to build their application. Again, solid performance in one’s degree program is fundamental, as is participating in internships to build industry experience. A third block, one that I feel made the difference in my application, is nothing new or unheard of. In fact, the first time I heard it was day one of orientation, freshman year… and again every day since: GET INVOLVED!

Companies, like Boeing, look for well rounded individuals; technical expertise 747-8I First FlightK65204-04from your degree and internships is critical, but the differentiating factor tends to be proving leadership at a collegiate level. Whether that is being a part of the Student Government, on the executive board of a Fraternity or Sorority, a project leader for an honor society or some combination of the above, this experience shows that you can operate in a team environment and work with others towards a common goal. That and listen to Mark Lyden’s 7 Steps!

The New Social Media on the Block: Pinterest

By Amy Treutel

Pinning.  It’s a common word that has spread like wildfire thanks to the up andPinterest-Logo-Tag-Cloud1 coming social media sensation, Pinterest.  Pinterest is an image-based social media that centers around virtual pinboards.  Users create accounts to follow these online boards, “pin” graphics to their own boards and like and comment on others’ pins.  Pinterest is a great platform to begin visually building your personal brand.

Most people who are familiar with Pinterest know it as a way to pin their favorite quotes, dream homes, cute animals, party ideas and cleaning tips.  While Pinterest is, in fact, great for pinning all of the above items, let’s consider some options on how to use Pinterest professionally to attract employers and help build your brand.

  • Start by following Career Services on Pinterest!  There are a multitude of resources on the various boards we have pinned.  Go ahead and use some of these for inspiration to get yourself started.
  • Follow different companies in which you are interested.  See what they’ve pinned on their boards and comment on some of their individual pins that resonate with you.  Please keep in mind, however, that if you aspire to work at a company, keep your comments extremely professional in nature.
  • Pin your interests.  Pinterest gives potential employers more of a personal insight into your life, and while, yes, you do want to show them you are a capable professional, different hobbies and interests you have can show them you live a well-balanced life.  They might even find something they have in common with you.
  • Use the text boxes associated with each pin effectively.  If you’re going to pin a mirage of images, give an explanation as to why you found that image useful or how it inspired you.  Remember, people (and employers) looking at your boards cannot read your mind, so tell them why it is important you pinned what you did.
  • Follow career experts on Pinterest.  That is one of the easiest ways for you to keep up with hiring trends and learn useful information regarding the job search and interview process.  And as an added bonus, infographics are a great visual learning tool that many of these career experts use, so getting the information is quick and efficient.

One important thing to note about Pinterest, however, is it is vital to continuously update your boards to keep your brand fresh.  Repin others’ pins and like their boards to help keep yourself relevant.  When you find an interesting article while browsing the internet, take a couple of extra seconds and immediately pin it to your corresponding board.  That way if an employer is searching for you on social media, they will see you are up-to-date on current events and take an active role in keeping your brand fresh.

As with all social media, it is very important to protect your privacy.  Please view the Career Services Social Media Privacy Guide for some tips.

Amy Treutel has a Bachelor of Science in Air Traffic Management and a Master of Science degree in Aeronautics with a specialization in Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  She currently works as the Office Associate and has been part of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Career Services team for over five years.

Alumni Career Spotlight: Michael Raynard Mayberry

Michael Raynard Mayberry graduated from the Worldwide Campus of Embry-Michael MayberryRiddle Aeronautical University in March 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics and minors in Aviation Safety and Management. Michael then went on to pursue a Master of Aeronautical Science in the specialty fields of Aviation/Aerospace Safety Systems and Aviation/Aerospace Operations, graduating in May 2012.

Michael is a retired U.S. Navy Combat Veteran who served during Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism. In August 2007, Michael joined the civilian workforce at Flightstar Aircraft Services (FAS) as an Avionics Specialist. During his time at FAS, he continued his education path by completing his undergraduate and master degrees. He didn’t stop there. His focus was to use his military experience and college education to land a position in Safety, Quality, or Operations. With the help of Career Services resources, he was able to build a government resume that detailed each career field for which he wanted to apply. Within time, the interviews started coming forth. On August 30, 2010, Michael started work with the Federal Government, Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) as an Aircraft Quality Assurance Engineer.

Michael is an active leader in his community of Orange Park, FL. He’s a member of West Jacksonville Church of God in Christ where he’s a volunteer leader of ReSon to Care Male Mentoring Ministry (ages 6-16) and The Men of Distinction (MOD) Ministry.  Michael has been married to Michelle for 23 years, by whom he fathered two lovely daughters, RayNiesha and Deja.

Michael also serves as the Florida Federation/North Area Director of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. where he was awarded Upsilon Lambda Chapter New Brother of the Year Service Award in 2004 and Brother of the Year in 2005. He served as Chapter President in 2006 and 2007. Since then he has held numerous chapter executive positions.

With your background in aviation safety, avionics and quality engineering, what career advice do you have for people seeking employment in these areas?

Stay with what you know!! Most military personnel have multiple skills, and it’s quite okay to have multiple skillsets since it gives you more opportunities to land a job. The fields of Safety and Quality have similar backgrounds, so that made it much easier to build my government resume with keywords for the electronic resume systems. My undergraduate studies at Tennessee State University were Technical Aeronautics within Industrial Engineering. The ERAU Professional Aeronautics degree was definitely a refresher in up-to-date studies and programs to prepare me for the civilian sector. Advancing into a master’s program in Aeronautics and Aerospace gave me the opportunity to apply for mid-level career jobs. To sum it all up, the more education and experience you have, the more of an invaluable candidate you are for employment. If you find yourself facing challenges getting employed in one field, customize your resume for another field of study or experience you may have. Any certification courses (such as A&P, ASQ, Lean Six Sigma) that you completed while in the military or college are definitely a plus when seeking employment.

You successfully navigated the federal government application process. What tips do you have for application success?

The federal government resume should be at least five pages, and that can be very difficult for anyone just getting out of college. Prior military personnel can establish a lengthy resume by utilizing their military assignments. I suggest utilizing performance evaluations written in Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) as a key resource. College students should make every attempt to acquire an internship within the federal government. This will get you in the door and establish a federal record. It can take six months to a year to successfully get into the federal government system. It all starts with the resume. If you know someone who is already within the government system, ask that person or contact Human Resources to get a copy of the Job Skillset of your career path. You can also retrieve skillset information from the job descriptions that is within the job announcements on USAJobs. Take advantage of the resources offered by ERAU Career Services.

Networking has been a successful job search technique for you. How have you used networking to obtain employment? What did you do to market yourself to potential employers?

My technique of networking was to compile a list of people I knew within the companies that had my interest. I continued forwarding my resume to each of them with updates and suggestions that were given to me. Each time I received a name via the Industry/Career Expo, internet, telephone, or through referrals, I would add that person to the email when forwarding my resume. It’s good to enter your name into a company’s database so you will be readily available once an announcement posts. I still attend the ERAU Industry/Career Expo and other job fairs every opportunity I get. This is a good way to meet people within Human Resources or representatives from a targeted company. It’s also important to review and update your resume on a monthly basis.

How have your Embry-Riddle degrees opened doors for you?

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a well-known, respected university in the aviation industry.  Technical skills are in high demand in today’s economy, and a degree from ERAU is priority because of its technical educational studies. Let’s just say a degree from ERAU is priceless.

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