Campus Career Centers Key to Landing Post-Graduation Jobs
Indianapolis, IN (PRWEB) October 9, 2007 -- Between studying for exams, tailgating at football games, and juggling extracurricular activities, it can feel almost impossible for college students to squeeze time into their schedules for a visit to their college's career center. A new survey, however, indicates career centers offer some of the most rewarding opportunities for students destined for the job market.
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers' 2007 Graduating Student Survey, successful student applicants (those who had already secured a full-time job) relied far more heavily on job-search services offered through the career center--on-campus interviews, speaking with company representatives, and viewing employer presentations--than did unsuccessful applicants. Successful applicants were also more likely to have applied for jobs at a career fair.
Shawn Graham, author of the newly released book Courting Your Career, says one of the most effective ways to land a good job after graduation, is for college students to make time to visit their campus career center and its events--particularly career fairs.
"Career fairs are like clubbing for job seekers," says Graham. "They offer a great way to make contact with a large number of employers in a short period of time. They also allow you to practice your job search and conversational skills."
Too often, however, job seekers squander their career fair experience, leaving them with few legitimate job leads, and only a handful of free pens and brochures to show for their attendance. According to Graham, this scenario typically applies to passive and unprepared job seekers who lack the knowledge they need to make the most of the hour or two they have to speak with recruiters. In his new book, he offers the following tips to help job seekers maximize their career fair experience:
1. Determine target organizations. Job seekers should identify and research companies they'll want to speak with at the fair. This will help them determine how many resumes to bring and brainstorm questions to ask the company representative.
2. Don't monopolize a recruiter's time. Typically, job seekers will have about two to three minutes to spend talking with recruiters. To make the most of their time, job seekers should develop a brief introduction of themselves that highlights their interest in the organization as well as their skills and experience.
3. Avoid taking a lot of free stuff. Grabbing a handful of freebies teeters on appearing unprofessional and greedy. Job seekers also do not want to be seen carting a bag of goodies from table to table as though they were trick-or-treaters.
4. Collect business cards. If a recruiter doesn't give you his or her business card, check with the career center to see whether the recruiter's contact information is already on file.
5. Follow up with contacts after the fair. Whether it's a phone call, e-mail or cover letter to the recruiter after the career fair, it's important to reference the meeting at the fair. Notes taken during the career fair can also remind job seekers of key points to address in their follow-up as well.
Courting Your Career is available at all major bookstores and from the publisher (www.jist.com or 1.800.648.JIST). To speak with the author, contact Natalie Ostrom.
JIST, America's Career Publisher, is a division of EMC/Paradigm Publishing and is the leading publisher of job search, career, occupational information, life skills and character education books, workbooks, assessments, videos and software.
###
career aptitude test, careers, jobs, training, resumes, free career personality test
Related Articles:
Career Aptitude Test - Link Exchange
Exchanging Links with Free Career Personality Test Website
Resume Outline - Add Structure & Flow to Your Resume
Building your resume, based on a resume outline will give it structure and flow..
Art Of Resume Writing
Resume writing is an art You have to practice it until you become an expert in writing
Registration Open for CollegeWeekLive Fall Event "The Green College Road Trip" Announces Scholarship and YouTube Video Contest
CollegeWeekLive (www.collegeweeklive), the world's largest virtual college fair has opened registration for its upcoming Fall event, taking place online on November 12 and 13, 2008. To coincide with the opening of registration, CollegeWeekLIve has announced a $3500 cash scholarship and a $1000 cash prize for the winner of a YouTube Video Contest.
Where to Find Sample Resume Objectives
A resume objective is an option that some individuals choose to do when applying for a job A resume objective is exactly what it sounds like; you are putting down in writing your objective
Resume Software – Advantages Revealed
The various resume software offered, particularly on the internet, can seem very attractive to job seekers; especially to those not comfortable writing resumes. At first glance resume writing software can provide a number of perks and can appear to be the perfect solution to many job seekers.
How To Write A Job Winning Resume That Puts Yours On Top
Many people would love to get a better job. And most of these same people have the proper training and skills to achieve this goal.
Middle School LGBT Students Face Extreme Levels of Harassment, Higher than Their High School Peers, Research Brief Finds
Download GLSEN's research brief here (http://www.glsen.org/binary-data/GLSEN_ATTACHMENTS/file/000/001/1475-1.pdf).
The 10-Step Resume Critique
Your resume will generally receive a 15- to 30-second scan upon first review by an employer. With that in mind, it is critical that your resume -- your "paper handshake" -- makes a positive first impression and compels the reader to put your resume in the "yes" pile and possibly call you in for an interview.
The Ten Most Common Strategic Blunders People Make on Their Resume
A resume is essential when looking for a job. If you don't believe me, try conducting your job search without one. Even if your lucky enough get an interview without a resume, you will be faced with explaining why you do not have one when someone ask you for your resume at the interview. More than ever before, employers require resumes. And, more than ever before, employers will use your resume to determine whether not to grant you an interview.
Electronic Resume - 6 Popular Formats For Electronic Resumes
Your electronic resume
Resume Formats ... The Hidden Pitfalls
Deciding on a resume format is the first major decision to be made when creating your resume. The overall look of your resume depends on the resume format, font and outline you choose.
How to Find the Best Resume Writer
Your resume is the window to yourself and a well written resume will ensure that you have the best possible chance of getting the job that you are after While you may be the best at what you do you may not be the best at writing a resume and there is no shame in that fact, but fear not because there are plenty of well qualified professional resume writers who can write your resume for you in such an eloquent way and leave you with what you need to stand out from the rest of the crowd in the eyes of potential employers
beRecruited.com Announces December Commitments
High school athletes representing 15 sports and 30 states notify leading recruiting service of college choice.