Getting started
Here are tips for preparing for a job search:
Start by doing an honest self-assessment of your skills.
Develop an effective résumé and then have someone in the career services office review and critique it.
Network. Use professional, academic and personal resources, as well as social media, to spread the word about your job search.
It’s never too early for college students to ponder the big question: What am I going to do after graduation? While making a definite decision may be a few years off, planning for the day when it’s time to go to work is easier if students start sooner than later.
“We even encourage our freshmen to come in and see us,” said Andre McKinney, director of career and professional development at Clark Atlanta University. “It’s never too early to start talking about their academic careers and skill sets. And it helps them get used to networking.”
McKinney’s department plans various events, workshops and activities to nudge students toward thinking about the future.
“Throughout the year, we have one-on-one sessions where we do mock interviews and coach them on those skills,” he said. “We also encourage recruiters from various industries to come in and do one-on-one critiques of interviewing skills. And we’ll work with students on résumé development, whether they’re freshmen or at the graduate level.”
Clark Atlanta’s approach goes beyond the basics, McKinney said. “We even do workshops on dressing for success, dining etiquette and how to navigate a career fair. It’s all part of our attack plan to get students ready.”
The school’s annual spring career fair recently brought more than 55 companies to the campus. Representatives from banking, mass media, finance, school systems, museums and more met with students face-to-face.
“They were all looking to meet our talent and give them information about full-time placements as well as internships,” McKinney said. “The event is free for students and alumni, and is always highly effective, even for those who are not offered employment on the spot. It’s a great way to prepare them for interviews.”
A global approach
Most of the 300 students at metro Atlanta’s three branches of Central Michigan University’s Global Campus are adults in their 30s and 40s who are already working but have decided to return to school. Their goal is to move up or change careers by earning advanced degrees in fields such as health services, human resources and public administration. At the branches in Atlanta, Tucker and Fayetteville, students can connect to a central career services office online, on the phone or over Skype.
“That’s a great way to do résumé critiques and to get them started on networking,” said Julia Barlow Sherlock, head of career services for CMU’s 52 global campus locations around the country. “One of the first things we ask them is, 'Why did you decide to pursue this program?’ Once they have a vision for their professional life, then we help them organize their skills, talents and abilities into a résumé that shows they’re climbing to that goal.”
Part of that process involves showcasing the experience students develop in the classroom.
“For instance, what coursework, research or case studies were you part of that demonstrates you have the knowledge to be successful in a certain position?” Sherlock asked. “We can leverage that for a stronger résumé.”
Because CMU students are spread out over so many locations, Sherlock said the school is working to set up a virtual job fair where student avatars will meet employer avatars to share information and interviews, just as they would during a physical fair.
“You can even virtually shake the hand of an employer,” Sherlock said. “It’s just another way to help students in their job search.”
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