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Preparing for the job hunt
by Nathan Whalen
It's job hunting time, and what a mess to deal with. Not to mention the apprehension of the first job hunt, there's the avalanche of information to sort through. There's job search books, career books, skill discernment books -- many of which seem to get updated every year -- company information, company videos, career magazines, employment newsletters, interview books, resume books, thousands of job listings in what seems to be an infinite number of other publications; the list goes on and on. Above all, you have to take the time to wade through all of the information and find the job or internship that interests you the most.
Taking the time to properly prepare for the job hunt can make the process a lot easier. The job search 66 process can be less scary if you start early," says Sharon Kurtt, director of IT Career Services. Students should start thinking about jobs when they start college by talking with advisors, upperclassmen, friends, student organizations, anyone that can provide information on the various careers that would be of interest. Several groups, such as the Society of Women's Engineers and Plumb Bob, sponsor job fairs.
To help identify skills and intersts, take the various assessment tests, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and the Strong Interest Inventory.
Another tool to help identify skills is IT 1312, Exploring and Managing Careers in Science and Engineering, which will help students identify which technical career they would find interesting. Then students should develop an academic plan that focuses on attaining a job goal. One of the best tools to help a job hunt is an internship, or any other practical experience. Kurtt says that many employers are looking for students with experience because they not only need students who are knowledgeable, but they also want students who are willing to work.
IT Career Services, located in 50 Lind Hall, is one place to look for an internship. Of the 1,300 to 1,500 students that are registered in the office, Kurtt says that about 75 to 85 percent of those students receive internships. IT Career Services also provides help with resumes, has a wealth of company information, and information on companies that are inter viewing on campus.
Networking is yet another tool that helps locating an internship. Networking can be done through a professional group, contacts at school, a job fair, or even friends. Dorothea Czernik, a senior in aerospace engineering, heard through a friend that Boeing was having problems finding interns in their weight engineering department. Czernik, sent a resume and cover letter, and one month later had a telephone interview with a team leader of a project within the department.
"One thing that helped me get an interview was that I had previous experience," Czernik says, referring to her Undergraduate Research Opportunities project she had done. Using this experience, the team leader in the department she'd be working with could find a project that could use her experience and was related to her interests.
Another tool for networking is to conduct an informational interview with an employer. This is an opportunity to find out the demands, and requirements of a particular job field, and information about a company. It's important to note that this isn't a job interview, and that it isn't appropriate to ask about job openings when doing an informational interviews.
Now that Czernik is graduating in June, she finds herself looking for a job. Czernik says that she is trying to keep her options open. She has been researching companies that she would like to work for, checking into graduate schools, perusing job magazines relating to engineers, such as "Job choices 1999 in Science, Engineering and Technology," and checking jobs on a local and national level. In short she is not rushing through the job hunt, but giving herself the time to find the best possible job.
Preparing for a job hunt is a process that should be thought about throughout college, and the best way to prepare for the job hunt, is to take time, obtain experience, and have a good system of networking available.
For more information on job and internship opportunities, contact IT Career Services at 612-6244090 or visit 50 Lind Hall.
