CSC295.02 2013S, Class 01: Getting Started

Overview:
* About the course
  * Background: The course web
  * Background: Why do we have this course?  
  * Background: Course structure
  * What do you want out of the course?
  * General expectations
  * Hosting visitors
    * Volunteers!
* The Color Q Personality Assessment
  * An introduction to Color Q 
  * Time to take Color Q
  * Discussion of Color Q results
  * Using Color Q
* Whatever's left

Admin:
* I expect to have a shorter class today than normal.  (Maybe an hour
  or so.)
* Please purchase (individually or with a group) a copy of _Career Match_.
  We'll talk about it more in a bit.
* Jeff Dickey-Chaisins '81 recommends the following books for those thinking 
  about careers.  I'll try to pick out selections and make them
  available before the next class (but probably not before Friday).
  a. _What Should I Do with My Life_ by Po Bronson. A great series of
     stories about people who have done unusual things that they didn't
     expect to do.
  b. _The Pathfinder_ by Nicholas Lore.  A workbook that
     makes you figure out what you do well or not, what you like to do,
     and where you might end up.
  c. _Career Renegade_ by Jonathan Fields.  A modern take on "do what
     you love, the money will follow."

Background: The course web
* Whoops.  Sam forgot to type anything.
* You'll use the Outlines, EBoards, and Schedule.

Background: Why do we have this course?  
* Our students want to learn more about their post-Grinnell life.
* CS faculty know about their careers
* Experience shows that you appreciate hearing from alums
* Our alums don't feel sufficiently utilized
* Model on Doug Caulkins' course
* Serious variations
  * Focus just on CS
  * Lots of Skype (or perhaps some alternatives)
  * Sam has MUCH less training that Doug in career
  * More involvement from alums in choosing readings
  * More active use of participants
  * Others

Background: Course structure
* Most days: Alumni visits
  * Five-ten minutes: Their "story"
  * Forty minutes (+/-): Focused presentation on some topic
  * Remaining time: Q&A
* A few other days
  * Today: Get started
  * Monday before spring break - pause and reflect
  * Last Monday: Debrief 
  * One other Monday: Sam out of town, no class

What do you want out of the course?

* "We're all freaked out about what we do next."  Learn about possible 
  futures.  Experience talking one-on-one with an alum is really useful.
* Get a perspective on how your interests and what you're studying right
  now can match with your job.
  * And learn more about the different kinds of jobs available to you
  * "I really like Scheme.  Can I really get a job using Scheme?"
* Hear more about what life is like in industry.  How can I find a niche
  that interests me?
* Every time I've talked to an alum, I've enjoyed it.
* Hear more about the paths people have chosen.
* Having connections with alums is useful, even if they are in different
  areas.
* How did you get your first job?
* Hear more about interesting companies.
* Where do they see industry going in the future?
* What concrete help can you provide NOW?

General expectations
* Show up to class and participate.
* Host visitors (details forthcoming)
* <= 1 page reflection

Hosting visitors
* About two weeks in advance
  * Contact alum
  * Tell about yourself and the class
  * Learn about them (so that you can introduce)
  * Negotiate a topic for their talk
  * Negotiate readings
  * Make them take color q
* About one week in advance
  * Title and abstract to Sam for publicity
  * Readings and other assignments to class
* The day of the visit
  * Make sure things are set up
    * Remote: Software and connection are working
    * In person: Computer works, coffee/water/etc. (only legal)
* During the visit
  * Introduce the visitor!
  * Manage Q&A.  (Have a reserve of questions for when your classmates
    fail you.)
* After the visit
  * Send thank-you note

Volunteers!
* Done

An introduction to Color Q 
* A personality inventory based on Jungian psychology
* Answer questions, put yourself in a bucket

Time to take Color Q
* Whee

Discussion of Color Q results
* As generic as horoscopes

Using Color Q
* Knowing more about yourself can help you select jobs.
* Related: We're going to ask the alums to take a color Q inventory too
* People are VERY different in how they approach the world.  Having
  some sense of what others care about and how to approach them can
  help you a lot.  

Whatever's left