For many students college is the best time of their lives, but unfortunately that time must eventually come to an end and planning for the future must begin.
Job hunting can be a pain for some so here are some tips from Loyola’s Career Development Center to help prepare you for your job hunt.
START EARLY
Even though it may feel like you just started college, sophomore year is an ideal time to begin making contact with employers said Tamara Baker, associate director of Career Planning.
Job fairs are a great way to meet potential employers, she said.
“Ideally it starts in the sophomore and every year, your junior year your senior year you are maintaining those relationships with the employers you have met,” Baker said.
Sophomore year is a great time to start looking for internships during your college career.
Sometimes, you can learn more during your internship experience than what you learn in class, and at the very least, you can get a different perspective on your field.
Internships are also a great way of testing the waters in various different jobs to decide exactly what sort of career you want to choose.
PREPARE A RESUME
When attending a job fair, a prepared resume is one of the most important elements. Baker said your resume should be clear and concise, on one page with all of your information in an easy-to-read format.
“Your resume should highlight your skills and your abilities and not just be a list of duties and jobs you have done,” Baker said.
When you attend a job fair you should bring multiple copies of your resume ready to hand to potential employers.
If you need help with your resume, the Career Development Center will be holding rapid resume reviews Monday, Sept. 28 and Tuesday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
DRESS FOR SUCCESS
Dressing professionally for a job fair is a great way to leave a good impression with companies at job fairs.
Men should wear professional business suits with ties. It is also preferable for women to wear business suits with skirts at appropriate lengths and minimal jewelry.
Baker believes the best way to top of an outfit is with a smile and a good handshake.
LOOK AHEAD
Research the job fair before and get to know the companies that will be there. Loyola’s Career Development Center posts a list of all the employers that will be attendance ahead of time on their Web site.
They suggest researching more than just the companies that you have heard of or the ones that sound exciting because some of the best places to work are little known companies.
TALK ABOUT YOURSELF
Though most people balk at the idea of talking about themselves, Baker said you should be ready to talk yourself up to the companies.
Your spiel should be a short and concise overview of what is on your resume.
“Just two or three sentences about your education, interests and your skills and abilities as it relates to the industry as a whole not necessarily to a specific job title but an introduction of yourself and attaching your skills, abilities and accomplishments as it relates to that industry,” Baker said.
A great follow-up question for an interviewer is “How can someone with my skills and abilities be valuable to your organization?”
KEEP IN TOUCH
Baker said you should follow-up with the companies that you talked with at the career fair.
This keeps you in the forefront of the employers’ mind and can open the door for the possibility of an interview later on.
“I recommend you follow up pretty soon after you meet them at the career fair with just a statement ‘it was a pleasure meeting you, I’m interested in all of the opportunities your organization has, please let me know what information you need from me,'” said Baker.
This can be done in an E-mail or in a handwritten letter sent within a week of meeting with them said Baker.
BE OPEN
Even with the job market in a pinch right now, Baker believes students should not worry.
“Students should remember that even in this new economy, there are still jobs available,” Baker said.
Knowing this, do not expect to find a job paying $100,000 your first go-around.
Be willing to work an unpaid or low paying internship. These turn into great resume builders and can potentially lead to more permanent employment.
USE EVERY OPPORTUNITY
With the poor economy, do not pass up any opportunity to go job hunting. Attending as many job fairs as possible is one easy way you can do this. If none of the employers at a job fair are looking for employees in your field of study, the Career
Development Center encourages students to take the opportunity to get contact info in the event they are looking for the position later.
If you are unable to attend job fairs, the Career Development Center can help you individually with your job search.
The Loyola-Tulane job fair will be held Wednesday, Sept. 30 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m in Tulane’s Lavin-Bernick Center. As of Wednesday, Sept. 23, the career center’s Web site listed 28 attending potential employers.
John Adams can be reached at [email protected]
