Getting fired has never been so funny

Jeff Havens will teach you how to lose your job in no time.

In Havens' comedic presentation How to Get Fired!, he will present the top ten mistakes people make that lead to firing. He uses a humorous approach to give students advice about how to ease into the working world after graduation.

"I don't want them to think they're going to another lecture, they don't need another class," Havens said. "It's not the same kind of thing where you're sitting in organic chem[istry]. You'll laugh three-quarters of the time."

Films and Lectures Coordinator for Student Activities Council, Brandon Vance, arranged for Havens to visit Southeast Missouri State University.

"We thought that he would be interesting and fun to listen to over all," Vance said. "Some of our members in SAC actually saw him at our national convention in St. Louis this past spring and really enjoyed his presentation."

Havens' way of presenting is what makes the information he gives so easy to digest.

"It's a comedy show that has a lot of good information," Havens said. "I can't preach to people, the delivery is very important."

Havens worked as an English teacher before following his dad into stand-up comedy. He never lost the desire to teach, though, and created his presentations that teach and make audiences laugh at the same time. Originally, his shows were geared toward those who were already in the work force.

"The corporate world I had already made one for," Havens said. "It's more fun to tell you 'you suck at things.' I did it for corporations and I thought college students needed something like that. I had a chance to talk to a lot of companies and ask them how to retain people and why they fire people."

How to Get Fired! will take place at 8 p.m. on Nov. 2 in the University Center Ballroom. Vance said he hopes students remember more about the presentation than just laughs.

"We hope students take away from this event the meaning of professionalism and to learn basically what not to do in certain work related situations," he said.