Q: What services does the career center offer students who have just graduated?
A: For students who have just graduated, we offer pretty much all of our services just like we do our students who are currently in session.
So, that's everything from helping with resume writing, cover letters, grad school applications, mock interviews and job search strategies.
We can meet with students one- on-one to do this and then also our e-resume review service is available if the student is moving away.
Q: How often do students who have just graduated come in unemployed and what steps do you usually take to get them towards getting a job?
A: We have quite a few students who come in either right at graduation or right after who have not started their process at that point.
Unfortunately right now, it's taking an average of six to nine months to find a job. So we encourage students to come in early; however, for those who don't we just try to get them started in whatever way they are needing help.
Many of them already have a resume, for instance, but need help with how to look for a job. Or if they are relocating, how to start finding a job in a new place, and so we kind of meet them where they are and help them with whatever next step they need to be making to make them successful in that process.
We do set them up with the expectation that it will take some time and so as long as they know that and are willing to put in the work, they should be able to find something.
Q: To avoid coming into career services unemployed after graduation, when should someone typically begin their job search?
A: We usually recommend that they start the process in the fall if they are graduating in May.
Certain industries are a little bit different on their hiring timeline so that is kind of a depending factor, but a lot of the companies, especially larger ones, are recruiting in the fall for positions that begin in May, and so if you want a chance at those positions, starting in the fall, starting early.
By the earliest of their spring semester they should be hitting the ground.
Q: What do you think is the best service the career center has to offer?
A: The number one service that we offer is our resume reviews. That is definitely the most utilized service. Getting feedback on that can be extremely beneficial. However, I think one of our most valuable resources would be our job search strategy options, such as mock interviews.
Those aren't utilized quite as often but I think they could make a huge difference in the way a student looks for positions.
Most students who I talk to, before they use our services will just try to start googling positions and that is certainly one option out there, but there are a little bit more streamlined, more strategic ways of going out looking for work and finding positions that might be a better fit.
All of those other pieces can benefit and they don't tend to be utilized quite as often and I think students should be aware of them.
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