The Marcolian Online

Mar. 1 , 2007

Start searching for your future

Spring Break is quickly approaching, and it’s never too late for students to begin their job or internship searches. The Marcolian has teamed up with Kathleen Powell, Career Center director, and Bill Fournier, associate director of the Career Center, for a Q&A session that can give helpful information to students searching for their future careers.

Jessie Schmac
schmacj@marietta.edu

Question: What is the first step students should take when they have absolutely no idea where to start for their job search?

Answer: Students do not come to the Career Center for two reasons: They do not know what they want to do and they do not know that we can help them.

We encourage students to begin thinking about what they want to do when they graduate, not just what they want to do for an internship. The first step is to help students map out the process.

Q: What does mapping out the process entail?

A: We find out what their interests are and what they like to do. We try to help students avoid the panic that develops from uncertainty. Some students believe that we at the Career Center cannot work miracles, but really we are here as career coaches, helping rather than doing.

We follow the same idea of if you give a man a fish he will eat for a day, but if you teach a man to fish he will eat for life. The same principle applies. We want to teach students how to create resumes, succeed in interviews, and land the job that they want.

After we find out what students like, we find out what they are good at, otherwise called their skill set. These skills do not just come from the classroom, but are skills they develop in doing just about anything.

Next we talk to the students about where they want to be geographically. We find out if they like big cities, small towns, coastal areas and a myriad of other places in order to narrow down their options according to their preferences.

After students have answered these questions and developed their skill set, then they can begin creating their resumes and cover letters.

Once they put their resume together, students feel more at ease about the whole process. Students are often told to ‘put your resume out there,’ but where is ‘out there’? Often they will come to the Career Center as ask us for a list of available jobs doing what they like and where they like it.
Students want instant gratification as soon as their resume is done because they are unaware of the next step to take. As career coaches, we give students the resources to find the job they are looking for ‘out there.’ The Career Center is connected to job listing websites and many alumni that are looking for students to hire.

We also have books giving detailed job descriptions in certain fields of interest or location, and our website even offers students lists of job ideas categorized by their majors. Before students can use these resources, however, they must have an idea of what job they want. The Career Center encourages students to research the places they want to work and check their job availability.

Q: Aside from Internet or print resources, what is another way for students to obtain a job or internship somewhere they want to work?

A: Students who have created their resume and are ready to be hired for an internship or a career can and should develop a network. Opportunities and beneficial contacts are everywhere. Students should talk to their parents, alumni, faculty, dentists, friends, etc., anyone who asks what they want to do after graduation.

People who know your job interests may know just the right person to talk to about finding the right career for you. Students can even do an information interview with a person in the industry that interests them. By doing this, students find out more about the job and the work environment and could potentially create a very good contact within the company.

Q: Aside from the Career Center offering a helping hand, what opportunities can students find right on campus?

A: The Career Center sponsors seven job fairs in the spring. Students have the opportunity to see almost 700 employers. That is a lot of opportunities to find potential employers in a field that interests you specifically. The job fairs are not just for business majors; they apply to all fields of study.

Sometimes students do not come to these job fairs because they are too specific and place too many restrictions on what they want their careers to be. What students need to realize is that you have to start somewhere.

You are not going to be hired into the CEO position of a company. It is much easier to relocate from within a company than from the outside. These job fairs may sometimes bring in employers from companies students have never heard of, but they offer a place for students to start.

Q: When should students begin looking for jobs or internships?

A: It is never too early or too late for a student to begin their career search. Obviously earlier is better, and therefore we encourage students at the freshman level to begin creating resumes and applying for internships.

Employers look for new hires that have a low level of risk. It is very costly to hire new employees. Therefore, employers are looking for students with experience, interest, and dedication. The earlier you start interning, the more experience you will gain and the easier it will be to narrow down what job interests you the most.

For students starting later on the job search, sometimes there are so many resources that it is like drinking water from a fire hose. It is really overwhelming. No matter when students begin, the Career Center is a service they paid for, and we are always willing to help.

Q: What should students do to follow up with an employer about a job they have applied for?

A: Students should first be very organized about when and how they sent their resumes. It may take a larger company a week to put the resume in the hands of the appropriate person.

Students should just make a follow-up call. It may take a few tries to actually speak to the right person, but once you do, just tell them you are interested in the position and are checking to see if it was already filled.

Q: What is the best advice you can give students searching for their careers?

A: Admit you do not know what to do, then come in and tell us you do not know what to do so we can help you. We will map it out with you from step one and help you make some progress in your quest.

Also, students should know that everyone working at the Career Center is their biggest fan. We want to see all MC students obtain a successful career doing what they love. Everyone gives students different opinions on job searching and resume writing. The Career Center is constantly in contact with the very people doing the hiring. We know what employers want to see.


• Campus News • Viewpoints • Sports • Arts & Living • Greek wrap-up • Ask Marc • Spotlight • New faces at MC • Meet our staff • Staff profiles • Letters to the editor policy • History of the newspaper • Benefits of advertising • Ad rates		Mar. 1 , 2007 Start searching for your future Spring Break is quickly approaching, and it’s never too late for students to begin their job or internship searches. The Marcolian has teamed up with Kathleen Powell, Career Center director, and Bill Fournier, associate director of the Career Center, for a Q&A session that can give helpful information to students searching for their future careers. Jessie Schmac schmacj@marietta.edu Question: What is the first step students should take when they have absolutely no idea where to start for their job search? Answer: Students do not come to the Career Center for two reasons: They do not know what they want to do and they do not know that we can help them. We encourage students to begin thinking about what they want to do when they graduate, not just what they want to do for an internship. The first step is to help students map out the process. Q: What does mapping out the process entail? A: We find out what their interests are and what they like to do. We try to help students avoid the panic that develops from uncertainty. Some students believe that we at the Career Center cannot work miracles, but really we are here as career coaches, helping rather than doing. We follow the same idea of if you give a man a fish he will eat for a day, but if you teach a man to fish he will eat for life. The same principle applies. We want to teach students how to create resumes, succeed in interviews, and land the job that they want. After we find out what students like, we find out what they are good at, otherwise called their skill set. These skills do not just come from the classroom, but are skills they develop in doing just about anything. Next we talk to the students about where they want to be geographically. We find out if they like big cities, small towns, coastal areas and a myriad of other places in order to narrow down their options according to their preferences. After students have answered these questions and developed their skill set, then they can begin creating their resumes and cover letters. Once they put their resume together, students feel more at ease about the whole process. Students are often told to ‘put your resume out there,’ but where is ‘out there’? Often they will come to the Career Center as ask us for a list of available jobs doing what they like and where they like it. Students want instant gratification as soon as their resume is done because they are unaware of the next step to take. As career coaches, we give students the resources to find the job they are looking for ‘out there.’ The Career Center is connected to job listing websites and many alumni that are looking for students to hire. We also have books giving detailed job descriptions in certain fields of interest or location, and our website even offers students lists of job ideas categorized by their majors. Before students can use these resources, however, they must have an idea of what job they want. The Career Center encourages students to research the places they want to work and check their job availability. Q: Aside from Internet or print resources, what is another way for students to obtain a job or internship somewhere they want to work? A: Students who have created their resume and are ready to be hired for an internship or a career can and should develop a network. Opportunities and beneficial contacts are everywhere. Students should talk to their parents, alumni, faculty, dentists, friends, etc., anyone who asks what they want to do after graduation. People who know your job interests may know just the right person to talk to about finding the right career for you. Students can even do an information interview with a person in the industry that interests them. By doing this, students find out more about the job and the work environment and could potentially create a very good contact within the company. Q: Aside from the Career Center offering a helping hand, what opportunities can students find right on campus? A: The Career Center sponsors seven job fairs in the spring. Students have the opportunity to see almost 700 employers. That is a lot of opportunities to find potential employers in a field that interests you specifically. The job fairs are not just for business majors; they apply to all fields of study. Sometimes students do not come to these job fairs because they are too specific and place too many restrictions on what they want their careers to be. What students need to realize is that you have to start somewhere. You are not going to be hired into the CEO position of a company. It is much easier to relocate from within a company than from the outside. These job fairs may sometimes bring in employers from companies students have never heard of, but they offer a place for students to start. Q: When should students begin looking for jobs or internships? A: It is never too early or too late for a student to begin their career search. Obviously earlier is better, and therefore we encourage students at the freshman level to begin creating resumes and applying for internships. Employers look for new hires that have a low level of risk. It is very costly to hire new employees. Therefore, employers are looking for students with experience, interest, and dedication. The earlier you start interning, the more experience you will gain and the easier it will be to narrow down what job interests you the most. For students starting later on the job search, sometimes there are so many resources that it is like drinking water from a fire hose. It is really overwhelming. No matter when students begin, the Career Center is a service they paid for, and we are always willing to help. Q: What should students do to follow up with an employer about a job they have applied for? A: Students should first be very organized about when and how they sent their resumes. It may take a larger company a week to put the resume in the hands of the appropriate person. Students should just make a follow-up call. It may take a few tries to actually speak to the right person, but once you do, just tell them you are interested in the position and are checking to see if it was already filled. Q: What is the best advice you can give students searching for their careers? A: Admit you do not know what to do, then come in and tell us you do not know what to do so we can help you. We will map it out with you from step one and help you make some progress in your quest. Also, students should know that everyone working at the Career Center is their biggest fan. We want to see all MC students obtain a successful career doing what they love. Everyone gives students different opinions on job searching and resume writing. The Career Center is constantly in contact with the very people doing the hiring. We know what employers want to see.
Mailing address: Marietta College Box A-20, Marietta, Ohio 45750-4000 Physical address: McKinney Media Center, 508 Putnam St, Marietta, Ohio Phone: (740) 376-4555 E-mail: marc@marietta.edu