Utilizing Your University Resources
To some of us this may seem like a no brainer but a lot of students seem to avoid the career services department like the plague. It is a huge under utilized service that can be a big boost to your future. This is the number one resource for students and in most cases, alumni too.
Most university’s or college’s will provide assessment tests to help you find the right path if you’re unsure what route to go or need assistance in choosing a major. In my freshman year we had to take a new student seminar class which was designed to help students get adjusted to college life. Our professor invited a member of the career development office to administer an assement test and were given the results two weeks later. One of my top job listings was for public relations. It had been an area that I was thinking about getting into and after speaking to the chairman of the communication studies program, I found and declared my major a few days later.
Career fairs are usually organized by the department and can be a great way to meet some businesses in the area. I suggest stopping by the department in person and inquiring when the next fair will be and see if you can sign up for emails or newsletters about such events. Always be prepared with a resume which career development offices can usually review for you. Your attire should be professional even if you feel like it’s not appropriate. A recent friend of mine traveled from New Jersey to Boston for an interview with a bio-pharmaceutical company. She wore professional business attire and was surprised when her interviewer greeted her in a t-shirt and jeans. The interviewer encouraged her to go to the bathroom to change her clothes to be more comfortable. Was this instance rare? You bet. This will almost never happen (depending on the profession) and first impressions are always important.
Online job searches are another feature of university or college campuses. Most sites will have a detailed page with information about the services they offer and a log in page to view job listings that your school has compiled from local business and often times, in conjunction with a job listing site such as Monster. These searches may include great resources for internships as well.
Résumé critiquing is another great service offered and I highly suggest, if you go to the office for anything, have yours critiqued. Having the right structure, the right information and having it look professional is one of the most important first steps in landing a job. Through my internship during the summer of 2007, I met with the manager of talent acquisition whose department I work within and had lunch while talking about different ways to spruce up my résumé. It was a great meeting and really opened my eyes to what employers are looking for.
These are just a few examples of the many services that a career development office may provide and I hope students find useful. A lot of trial/error and time/effort can be saved if you ask for help from your school and you will most likely end up gaining some insight to the professional world. Visit your school’s website to find the link to your career development/services website and get information about what they can do for you.
For a good example of a website such as the one’s described in this post, visit NorthWestern’s Career Services site.
Tags: assessment tests, career development, careers out there, college resources, employment, job search, job tips, university resources
