Tagged: master’s degree

Hire Ed, Part 2

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American will change jobs 10-15 times over the course of their working life. That’s a new job, every 5 years. In part 1 of this post, we offer 3 important steps to help you you take the next step in your career. In this post, we share more tips to help you make a change for the better. For part 1, click here.

It’s not about you. There was a time when a job seeker had 1 resume which he or she sent to every prospective employer. These days, however, it is not only possible for you to customize your resume to meet the requirements of each job, it is imperative. Employers are not looking to see how impressive you are; they want to know if you can do the job. And don’t forget to give your cover letter the same custom treatment. A cover letter can set you apart and tell your story in a way a resume or social media profile cannot.

Get professional help. There is an old saying “sometimes, you have to spend money to make money.” That is, to make yourself more marketable, you may need to consider investing in additional education or professional services like resume-writing assistance and a professional headshot. But, if you want to do better than the 3 percent raise the average worker receives, you may need to spend some money up front. But, with the right skills and credentials as well as the proper job search strategies in place, it will be worth it.

Looking for more help and ideas on how to advance your career? Join us on June 20, from 5:00-8:00 pm, for Hire Ed, an education and career even. Learn how you can get the skills and knowledge you need to make a change for the better. For more information, contact an Admissions Counselor at 617-989-4300. Or register here: wit.edu/hire-ed

Hire Ed

Ready to advance your career? We can help (part 1)

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American will change jobs 10-15 times over the course of their working life. That’s a new job, every 5 years.

There are a number of reasons why people change jobs but, more often than not, the reason a worker changes jobs, or even careers, is to advance to something better – whether it’s more pay, a higher position, or a career that is a better “fit” for their skills and interests.

Whatever the reason, frequent job changes demand that workers not only have up-to-date skills and knowledge, but they also need to know how to conduct an effective job search and market themselves appropriately.  Here are 3 things you can do to make a change for the better in your career. Continue reading →

Success: Do you have what it takes?

Some advice from one generation of leaders to the next

by Phil Hammond

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

You get up in the morning. Get in your car, call Uber, hop on the T or settle yourself in a home office. How do you do it? How do you motivate yourself to be successful in your chosen field? How do construction managers, facility directors and project managers operate effectively, successfully and cooperatively within project teams?

It is estimated that by 2020, 46 percent of the workforce in the US will be between the ages of 24 and 39. For baby boomers, like me, that means preparing to hand over leadership in the workplace to members of the millennial generation. For some, including some millennials, this raises an important question: are millennials ready to lead?  Josh Bersin, in Forbes Magazine, argues they are not.  Pointing to a recent study which showed 30 percent of millennials themselves felt they were not prepared for the responsibilities of leadership due to a lack of confidence managing employees and resolving conflicts, Bersin notes, “this generation isn’t developed for leadership now” (Bersin, 2013 ). Continue reading →

bird by bird: how to thrive, not merely survive, in the new academic year

black and white birds on a wire
Photo by Ridham Nagralawala on Unsplash
by Kelly Jenkins Lin

Author and speaker, Anne Lamott, tells the story of her ten-year-old brother who was trying to write a report on birds. Despite having nearly 3 months to work on it, he had put it off until the night before it was due. Close to tears, he sat at the family’s kitchen table surrounded by books and pencils and clean paper, overwhelmed by the enormity of the task. Then Lamott’s father sat down beside her brother, put his arm around his shoulders and said, “Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird” (Lamott, 1994).

For many adults, returning to school can feel like trying to write a report the night before it is due. On the threshold of a new academic year, surrounded by stacks of books and pencils and clean paper they feel overwhelmed by the enormity of what lies ahead and wonder how they will ever make it through. Below are five steps that will not only help students to survive, but to thrive, in the new academic year. Continue reading →

Haylee Bacik

The Future of Construction: Haylee Bacik (MSCM ’18) shares her insights

Part I of Haylee Bacik’s story can be found here: Hardhat and Mortarboard

Haylee Bacik has been called the “future of construction,” and a role model for young women who want to get into the industry. She recently received a Master of Science in Construction Management from Wentworth Institute of Technology and is currently employed by Gilbane Building Company as the lead project engineer on a $12 million expansion project in western Massachusetts.

Phil Hammond, Director of Graduate Programs in the College of Professional and Continuing Education at Wentworth Institute of Technology recently asked Bacik for her thoughts on the past, present and future of construction, particularly for young women. Continue reading →

Haylee Bacik

Hard hat, mortarboard, softball cap: Haylee Bacik shares how she balances work, school, family and fun

To hear many of Haylee Bacik’s professors and colleagues talk, she is something of a superstar. A 2014 graduate of Wentworth Institute of Technology, Bacik earned her Master of Science in Construction Management in 2018, while working full-time and keeping up with a busy social life. Along the way, she received numerous awards and accolades, including this year’s Dean’s Award from the College of Professional and Continuing Education.

But, like so many part-time learners, Bacik wears a lot of hats—full-time employee, student, family member, teammate. And she has faced her share of challenges. Still, she has managed to find time for the things she enjoys—softball, volunteering, and a cat named Bandit.

Below are excerpts from a recent interview with Bacik.

L/L: Tell us about yourself.

Bacik: I grew up in Lowell Massachusetts and attended Greater Lowell Technical High School where I fell in love with carpentry. I first came to Wentworth as an undergraduate because it offered the perfect blend of hands-on learning and real-world application that I wanted. Now, I am a Project Engineer at Gilbane Building Company. Being in the field and solving problems is something that I enjoy doing and that stems from my carpentry shop roots.

[Outside of work and school] I enjoy playing softball. When I was an undergraduate [at Wentworth] I was captain of the team and received the Sweeney Award. Currently, I play in a summer co-ed softball league. I also enjoy knitting, sewing, and all sorts of crafts. And I have traveled to some incredible places—Mexico, Jamaica, Ecuador, and Ireland—but would love to visit France, Africa, and Greece sometime.

And I have a cat named, Bandit.

L/L: When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Bacik: When I was younger…I wanted to be a veterinarian. However, in high school, I fell in love with the carpentry trade [which] led me to my current path. In my spare time, I volunteer for the Lowell Humane Society where I help plan events and care for the animals in the shelter.

L/L: What was a typical day like for you while you were going to school?

Bacik: Balancing school and work is no easy task, but it can absolutely be done with good time management. Often, I would wake up very early in the morning, go to the gym, go to work all day, and then stay at work through the early evening until my homework was finished. Every week I planned what I would work on for homework each day based on the weekly deliverables. Chipping away at the work day by day is key, as weekends are never as free as you plan them to be.

L/L: What was the biggest challenge you faced? How did you solve it?

Bacik: The biggest challenge completing school while you are working full time is balance. The balance between work, school, your social life, family, and friends can be a real struggle. For me, it was making plans way ahead of time and fitting those planned events into my weekly schedule. There are going to be events and gatherings that you just won’t be able to attend. Knowing your limits and not stretching yourself too thin is so important, because making too many commitments is going to burn you out.

L/L: If you had to do it over again, what 3 things could you absolutely not do without?

Bacik: 1. A good, reliable laptop with a strong internet connection. (My classes were online)
2. A weekly/monthly planner. I used Outlook often to keep track of both work and school.
3. The support of my family, company, co-workers, and friends.

L/L: What is next for you?

Bacik: Post-graduation I have continued to work as a Project Engineer for Gilbane Building Company on a $12 million freezer/cooler expansion project in western Massachusetts. This is a great opportunity for me to learn about ground improvements, foundations, steel, and refrigeration systems as well as cost management. I look forward to gaining more field experience to further develop my career in project management.

L/L: Finally, If you were only allowed to post one Tweet what would it say?

Bacik: Be Kind. Be Driven. Be Humble.

a man and woman kneel next to a car with the Lowell Humane Society logo men and women pose on a softball field 

Check back for Part II of our interview with Haylee Bacik as she shares her thoughts on a career in construction management and the past, present and future of construction.

a few things (and people) facility managers should know!

Do you know what the top security threats for facility managers are? Would you like to reduce your energy operating costs? Are you wondering about ways to advance your education and your career in facility management?

Then come to the NORTHEAST BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES MANAGEMENT SHOW AND CONFERENCE, June 13-14, 2018 at the Boston Exhibition and Convention Center.

The Northeast Buildings & Facilities Management Show & Conference, now in its 13th year, features over 250 exhibitors displaying products and services necessary for the operation, management, maintenance and renovation of buildings and facilities in the greater New England region. Running concurrently with the trade show will be an educational conference featuring 22 individual one-hour talks covering a wide range of topics including: LEED, Green, Sustainability, Energy, Building Commissioning, Facility Maintenance, Construction and Renovation Planning.

For the third year in a row, the College of Professional and Continuing Education from Wentworth Institute of Technology will be among the exhibitors. This fall, Wentworth will launch (2) new degree programs: a Bachelor of Science in Facility Management (BSFM); and a Master of Science in Project Management (MSPM). The Bachelor of Science in Facility Management (BSFM) offers instruction which reflects the integrated nature of today’s FM environment and is designed to prepare students for professional careers in facility management for  in a wide spectrum of organizations. The new Master of Science in Project Management (MSPM) will help working FM professionals elevate their business acumen, strategic thinking and interpersonal skills, all within the context of an increasingly complex and strategically critical technical world.

There will also be a networking event on Wednesday, from 4:00pm – 5:00. Attendees & Exhibitors are invited to join all the Show Sponsors for drinks and hors d’oeuvre

The Northeast Buildings & Facilities Management Show & Conference brings together a wide range of trade associations including;

  • Association of Energy Engineers New England
  • Association for Facilities Engineering Region 8 New England
  • Building Commissioning Association – Northeast Chapter
  • Associated Subcontractors of Massachusetts
  • BOMA Boston
  • Boston Society of Architects
  • Community Associations Institute – New England Chapter
  • IREM of Boston
  • National Fire Protection Association
  • USGBC – MA Chapter

With a mission to educate and inform, Northeast Buildings & Facilities Management Show & Conference serves varied markets and professions, for example;

  • Schools & Universities
  • Hospitals & Healthcare Facilities
  • Municipal & Government Buildings
  • Commercial Buildings
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Shopping Malls
  • Manufacturing Facilities
  • Multi-Housing Complexes
  • Major Sports Facilities
  • Warehouses
  • Airports & Seaports
  • Worship Facilities

Whether you are exploring Smart Energy Tips for Facility Managers and Practical Action Steps to Reduce Your Energy Operating Costs; or are concerned about the Top Security Threats for Facility Managers;     or you want to learn about the basics of Commissioning Control Systems, the Northeast Buildings & Facilities Management Show & Conference is the place to be! Mark your calendars for June 13-14 and register at  http://proexpos.com/NEBFM.