Career Profiles
“Find something you enjoy doing and find someone willing to pay you to do it.” These powerful words from legendary golfer Jack Nicolas, told to Messiah students during a Convocation chapel led by then-Messiah President D. Ray Hostetter, resonated with first-year student Jay McClymont, who was still undecided on a major. “I enjoy speaking and being in front of a group,” Jay explains, so he searched for an opportunity to pursue this interest. As an undeclared major he was required to take a career planning course, which was instrumental in his search and pointed him toward a communication major.
Jay was an actively involved student in the most physical sense of the word. He ran for three years on Messiah's cross country team and played intramural floor hockey. Additionally, he served on
Judicial Council in his junior and senior years and worked on campus in the Falcon Express and as a student manager. Jay also volunteered for different campus and community organizations and exercised his public speaking skills as a DJ for Messiah's radio station,
WVMM.
Honing basic, universal skills such as writing and public speaking will significantly benefit the applicant for most careers. Jay finds himself using these fundamentals of communication that he developed at Messiah every day, whether writing curriculum or making presentations. “These skills go a long way,” he remarks.
While at Messiah College, Jay found there was no shortage of opportunities for exploration. “I got involved with so many activities in my four years. Having a well-rounded education helped me decide to pursue jobs where I can exercise all my God-given gifts, and not just focus on one particular aspect,” Jay explains. He loved the options presented by a liberal arts education and “wanted to be at a place where these opportunities were equally available.”
After graduation Jay wasn’t sure what job would be a perfect fit. He began to figure out the best path for his vocation through the important process of prayer. “I went to a wedding right after college,” Jay relates, “I was driving from New Jersey to Williamsport, Pennsylvania in a car without a radio. So without any distractions I prayed the whole way: ‘Lord open and close doors for me; provide an opportunity to work wherever that may be.’” The first person Jay saw at the wedding was a former roommate who invited him to move back to Pennsylvania. Jay went back to the Career Center as a young alumnus and found doors kept opening, leading him to a job with EDS (Electronic Data Systems.) He currently works as a training and development specialist for the Rite Aid Corporation.
REMEMBER...
• "It’s not so important what you do, the important question is 'How am I going to do it?' - When you go for a job the company tells you what to do but not always how to do it. . . The job market really needs enthusiasm and creativity.”
• "Companies do not hire a resume, they hire a person. When they review applicants they are looking for character."
• "This is a growing trend; they’ll train you in the skills but want to know if you have the attitude and character they are looking for." |
Jay’s primary duties are “teaching a variety of classes to a variety of audiences.” He instructs associates in everything from computer applications to conflict management, and he devotes much of his time to this training. When not teaching, Jay performs ‘needs skills assessments’ on individuals. These assessments allow Jay to find out “where the person’s skill sets are and where they need to be.” Jay is then able to help find the most helpful tools available for further training-- be it in a class, at a computer, or with a tutor.
One of the classes Jay teaches regularly is called FISH. Using material based on the famous business model of Pike Place fish market in Seattle, Washington, Jay presents the key principles for success in the workplace. The principles discussed include playing at work, making the customer’s day, being there for the customer, and being aware of one’s overall attitude. Jay explains that this class in particular has a positive impact on the students. “I know I’m at the right place when I have students email and say ‘I can’t tell you what a difference your class has made in my life. Work used to be drudgery and I hated it, but your class has helped me to have fun and enjoy work.’ This feedback makes me know I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.”
By providing a positive example of Christianity in the business world, Jay finds many opportunities to ‘share hope that lies within.’ “When people ask where I get my optimism and positive perspective it gives me an opportunity to witness,” he says.
Jay has been questioned about his long- and short-term golas in countless job interviews and performance reviews, and ever the instructor, he finds that he can best explain his answer through a metaphor: "Some people know the job that they want and they focus all their attention on getting it. I don’t know what I want to be doing 5 years from now. I usually recap the 1st quarter on the 1997 Super Bowl to best illustrate my answer. New England Patriots and the Green Bay Packers were playing and the Patriots got the ball first and tried running to the left, up the middle and to the right.; if that worked they continued to do it. They strung together a couple of first downs by keeping the ball on the ground. They tried passing the ball and got a few more first downs. They kept the drive alive and advanced the ball over 80 yards. The goal was in sight. Eventually they were looking at a 1st and goal. The Packers on the other hand got the ball on the Patriot’s 30 yard line and Brett Farve’s first pass was designed to score a touchdown, and that’s just what they did.” Connecting the scenario to the search for vocation, Jay explains, “The touchdown is like your dream job. Some people see what they want and go for it right from the beginning. Others go for first down and move the chains, and ultimately know when they’ve arrived even though they didn’t see it 90 yards ago. They have to try out different jobs until they ultimately find the right one.” Jay believes that every job, not just a “dream job,” can be a valuable learning experience and can provide opportunites to realize one's fullest potential.
Profile by Tyler Baber, November 2005
Choosing a Major
Dreams Still Dreaming