Do you want to have a job when you graduate? Do you want to be successful in your job? Do you know what employers may be looking for in a resume? Have you ever prepared a resume? These were questions posed to juniors and seniors from the Patterson School of Business during their first career development seminar on October 8 and 9.
The sessions were presented by Trish Wilson and Melva Payne, who were owners in Digital Consulting & Software Services, Inc.
Trish and Melva encouraged students to look for profitable companies that believe in integrity, teamwork, the pursuit of excellence, and exceptional customer service as they begin their job search.
Students learned that resume development is an investment in their future. Handouts of resumes before and after the editing process were presented so the students could see how important the use of strong verbs, adverbs, and adjectives are in showcasing their work experience and qualifications. The students received worksheets and handouts with questions to help them think through and articulate their work experiences.
This seminar was the first in a series of seminars being taught to assist students in career preparation and success.
The November seminar will focus on ways to get their resume in front of hiring managers. This will include learning the basics of LinkedIn and establishing professional profiles as well as learning how to find job fairs in the area, posting resumes on job boards, and getting creative to get the interview. For this seminar, students will need to bring their laptops as well as a digital professional-looking photograph and their digital resume.
Trish and Melva bring their tremendous experience in the business world to these sessions. As a founder and chairman of DCSS/LabAnswer, a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise, Trish Wilson provided job opportunities and business mentorship to hundreds of young adults throughout the United States. While helping to grow the company from 6 to over 250 employees with annual sales of around $48M, she demonstrated that business success could be achieved when one was committed to hard work, integrity, teamwork and excellence.
Mrs. Wilson’s humanitarian efforts currently include serving on the Board of Directors for the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation of Kansas, and the Knox Area Rescue Ministries in Knoxville, TN. For Carolina University, she has served on the Board of Trustees (2007-2013), established the Robert L. Patterson Scholarship, as well as provided funding for Patterson Hall and the Patterson School of Business – named in memory of her late husband.
In 2018, Mrs. Wilson and her husband, Tony, founded Waterfront Ministries to provide rest and encouragement to ministry couples. They also speak at churches, conferences and marriage retreats.
Mrs. Wilson received her Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics Education from Delta State University, and her Master of Combined Sciences degree in Mathematics and Geology from the University of Mississippi. In 2019, Carolina University bestowed on Mrs. Wilson an Honorary Doctorate of Laws Degree, recognizing her achievements and philanthropic endeavors.
Melva Payne has a proven track record of coaching individuals to successfully position themselves to meet the needs of potential clients and employers. She has over 28 years’ experience as an executive managing hundreds of consultants and closing multi-million-dollar projects. She has worked with domestic and international organizations across many industries including: pharmaceutical, biotech, finance, information technology, communications, and petro-chemical.
Mrs. Payne passionately shares her expertise and knowledge with individuals who are looking to transition to a new company or industry, as well as those who are seeking their first professional employment.
With over 4 years’ experience teaching college mathematics, Melva has taught at the University of Kentucky, the University of Houston (Downtown Campus), and the University of the Cumberlands. Her energetic approach and ability to effectively communicate math concepts have garnered her high ratings among students and department chairpersons.
Mrs. Payne has a Master of Arts Degree in Mathematics from the University of Kentucky and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mathematics from Berea College, Berea, Kentucky.
