Ashley Miller
Assisstant Editor
In the 15 months since the start of the recession, employment has fallen by 3.7 percent, but unemployment continues to rise by nearly 0.5 percent every month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
WTAMU Career Services located on the second floor of the Virgil Henson Activities Center, offers a variety of resources and opportunities to help students who are nearing graduation.
The services include resume workshops/critics, interviewing resources, job search strategies, online database and career counseling.
Steve Sellars, Career Services experiential education coordinator, suggests five helpful tips to help graduates in their search for a career in the ever-fleeting job market.
Networking
Establishing strong, beneficial, mutual relationships with others in the job market is a great way to network.
Networking opens up opportunities since most people find jobs through direct recommendation.
“Networking is knowing how to talk to people about jobs,” Sellars said. “Networking is the best venue right now and people should utilize as many different sources as they can.”
It also opens up a knowledge base for potential graduates to gain knowledge from others to help them.
Whether through close relationships or connecting with others, networking is the main key in finding a job in today’s market.
Good Resume
Career Services now has a database, Buff Jobs, where students can post their resume so that employers can view them.
Former WT graduate and now Transocean operation support engineer, Tyson Welch, believes that a strong resume is essential.
“It’s the employers first impression of you,” Welch said. “It is also important to have work experience, even if it’s not in that related field.”
A resume speaks for itself and is one of the first things an employer will see.
Polished Interviewing Skills
Interviewing is always the toughest part in getting a job and it is not always easy.
“Employers constantly tell us that they want people who are polished,” Sellars said. “Interviewing doesn’t come naturally.”
On the Career Services Web site there are many resources and videos which can help out with polishing interviewing skills.
Some questions employers might ask are:
- Why should I hire you?
- What are your long tern goals or objectives?
- What is your best quality / greatest weakness?
The questions won’t always be easy, employers will ask some hard questions so always be prepared for anything and dress to impress.
Optimism
Having a positive attitude and a good outlook is important to searching for a job.
“Put yourself out there to as many companies as you can,” Welch said. “You never know which one will bite and you can always turn them down if a better opportunity comes along.”
Business is still operating and companies still need people.
“I think there still are jobs and people are hiring,” Sellars said. “Don’t take this bad economy for granted just look a little closer.”
Career Services is seeing more student interested in events and more participation since the economic downfall.
“Don’t get discouraged and buy into what your hear on the news,” Sellars said. “Always keep a positive attitude.”
Narrowing the search
Career Services offers couseling to help speed through the process of narrowing a student’s job search.
“Give any opportunity a chance then decide if it’s really what you want to do,” Welch said. “You will have a job that pays you and the experience will end up helping you in the long run.”
Having a narrow job search can help students find the employers that are more likely to call them for an interview.
“It’s very easy to get discouraged, but having a good outlook is the biggest thing,” Welch said.
The ability to get jobs hasn’t changed, you just have to keep on searching and find what’s right for you.”