With the nation in recession and unemployment rates at their highest levels since the Great Depression, job seekers need to be ahead of the game to be considered for job openings. College students everywhere are wondering what they need to do to build their resumes and set them apart from their peers.
Bernadette Rushmer, director of the Insalaco Center for Career Development, recommends students get as much hands-on experience as possible. She suggests that students participate in a minimum of one internship, clinical or fieldwork experience during college. Even if a clinical or fieldwork is built into a student’s curriculum, Rushmer suggests participating in additional opportunities during the summer months. “What you do with your summer can really set you apart within your field or major.” She also advises students to get involved in activities, whether on or off campus. Competing college graduates may have similar resumes, so volunteer work, leadership programs and club involvement could be the deciding factor that separates one resume from the rest.
Students hear the pitch ‘Get Involved!’ basically the minute they set foot on campus, whether they are merely looking into a university or attending freshmen orientation. But what extra-curricular activities grab the attention of future employers? Rushmer emphasized any clubs or organizations related to students’ majors and those that highlight professional experience would benefit any student. She said leadership roles are important, such as leadership conference attendance or positions within a club.
Lauren Wright, a junior nursing major, says she isn’t really worried about finding a job after graduation because nursing is a wide field with a lot of opportunities. She has also been involved in leadership conferences, including the Governor’s Conference for Women, and she works as an Resident Advisor in McHale Hall, a job that helps keep her certified in CPR and, she feels, keeps her grades up, too.
Rushmer points out that looking for a job is like a full-time job itself. Part of the search is deciding what factors are important to the job seeker, such as the geographic area. It’s also important to network with people who already have jobs within the field of interest because they will have knowledge about openings.
She also recommends researching businesses of interest in local areas by calling or visiting their websites. “Some companies may not post in the paper, but instead only on their own website to save money. If the websites receive enough qualified applicants, the business may not post in the paper or on another site,” she said.
Another word of advice: networking. Let everyone know that you’re looking for a job. Even get involved in professional organizations, which are a great way to network with people who are in the same field and who will know about job openings ahead of the game.
What about students who are merely looking for a part time job to pay for the costs of textbooks and saving up for loans? Carissa Smith, a student at King’s College, said her part-time job has been cutting people’s hours, even those who have been working full time for years. She mentioned that her employer has been hiring only enough people to fill in for students who left for college.
Rushmer said displaced workers are now competing for entry level and part time positions. She said jobs are out there, but they’re harder to find and require more research and preparation to land.
Wright agrees and advises students to keep plugging. “It can be tough for college students to get part-time jobs, but if you take the right steps and try your best, you can find something.”
MU’s Guaranteed Placement Program also helps give job seekers an edge. Students who are looking for ways to build impressive résumés can meet with professionals in the Insalaco Center, which offers several paid internship opportunities. “It’s great when you’re applying to a position if you can say, ‘I met you when you were visiting at Misericordia University.’ This shows that you have had an interest since you were a student and that you were taking the opportunity to meet them,” said Rushmer.
In addition to offering opportunities to meet with future employers, the GPP helps students learn how to build résumés and behave professionally during formal interviews. Even students who aren’t members of the GPP can take advantage of opportunities such as the mock interviews, which are offered to seniors. Wright said although she isn’t a participant in the GPP, she wants to take advantage of some of the workshops to help create her résumé and practice her interviewing skills.
The dates for some upcoming events offered by GPP include:
October 28:
- Allied Services - Nursing (N), Physical Therapy (PT), Occupational Therapy (OT), Speech/Language Pathology (SLP)
November 2:
- Genesis Health Care - PT, OT, SLP
- Rehab Care - PT, OT, SLP
November 9:
- Axiom Link (a division of Bilinguals Inc.) - PT, OT, SLP
November 11:
- Julia Edmunds Associates - N, PT, OT, SLP, Medical Imaging (MI)
Available for ALL majors:
10/26: RCN, 10/28: M&T Bank, 11/4: Inter Metro, 11/9: Social Security Administration, 11/18: Fastenal, 11/23: Sallie Mae; TBA Frontier Communications.
Be the first to comment on this article!