With the lag in the current job market, the USFSP Career Center offers students ways to explore employment options before graduating.
“The beginning of senior year is when the job search process really kicks in,” said Barbra Higel, assistant director of the Career Center. “Communicate to your network about your career interests so they can forward any potential opportunities. Seek out events to meet employers and alumni such as career fairs and information sessions.”
Higel said it’s never too early to look up jobs on career searching websites such as Indeed.com or Monster.com to help better the chances of a guaranteed job after graduation.
But even though many students are majoring in the field of their interest, they’re not quite sure what to do with their major.
“Knowing your area of interest and the type of opportunity you want to pursue is key. The objective is what drives the process,” Higel said. “If you don’t know what you want to do, then it’s difficult to write a resume, target employers, and to effectively network.”
Higel suggested resources to learn about employers in the area, like The Book of Lists, published annually by the Tampa Bay Business Journal, or LinkedIn, which allows users to create a profile and research companies and career openings, and network with professionals and alumni.
Once an area of interest emerges, it’s time to start exploring. Internships or campus jobs can help students gain experience in a particular field.
Creating a resume is also a top priority.
“The goal of the resume is to secure an interview. Since a resume is a summary, the details should reflect your skills and experiences and how they relate to your objective,” Higel said. “The position, company or industry should be taken into account when determining key words.”
Employers can sometimes decide to hire a future employee within seconds. The Career Center can help tailor a resume to give students the best possible chance of securing a job. It’s best to limit resumes to one page, and create a separate reference page to allow more free space on the document.
The Career Center also has a new walk-in service, CareerNow, when students can come in without an appointment and meet with a career assistant, who can help with researching careers and writing resumes, Higel said. The center also has books with ideas to help with the job searching process.
Once students have pinpointed an area of interest and created a resume, reaching out to employers is next. Networking and attending job fairs are also beneficial for students about to graduate.
The Career Center will host a Career Exploration day on Nov. 2 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Harbor Hall, showcasing USFSP majors and career options, student organizations, and professional associations. Alumni will be at the event to discuss their career experiences.
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CareerNow
Mondays: 1 p.m. to 5p.m.
Tuesdays through Thursdays: 9 a.m. to noon
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Fridays: 9 a.m. to noon
For more information visit www.usfsp.edu/careercenter.
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Photo by Daniel Mutter
