On the Hunt: Career Center Director Mary Roberts gives her advice on getting a job

Q: What are some of the things that the career center specifically offers students to help them prepare for a job?

A: This Spring we are hosting a Health Sciences Fair Feb. 21 for nurses, pre-meds, and exercise science majors. Outdoor education majors can also attend because representatives from camps will be there besides the hospitals recruiting nurses. There is a new thing going on in the resident’s halls on Mondays. It’s called “career peer advisor” which will introduce students to the services the career center offers in a different atmosphere.

Q: Do you have any advice for freshman and other students that may have not picked their major yet?

A: As you are picking a major choose what you enjoy to do and what you are good at. It shouldn’t be all about the pay. You have to think beyond the entry-level job because you will eventually be moving up in your career.

Q: What was your major in college?

A: I was an English major because I like to write. I’m an example of someone who chose a major based on what they like. I didn’t end up becoming a teacher like most people think English majors are supposed to be.

Q: How did your major help your job?

A: My writing skills were really developed in my major and that’s an important part of my job. I help write the packets on resumes and cover letters that we give students to help them with the process.

Also you do a lot of researching in Literature classes, which is a skill I use in my job. If you like to write then pick a major where you can do a lot of that and then you can find a job where you need those skills. I learned the most from jobs that didn’t work out because I learned from what I didn’t like.

Q: What things can students do now on campus that will help them prepare for a job?

A: Join as many clubs as you can. If you work at The GIVE Center for example you might discover you want to work at a non-profit. Come to the career center because we have mock interviews with real companies.

We have a representative from Geico who comes often to give feedback on student’s body language and over all impression during the interview. We also offer resume workshops from time to time.

Q: What about off campus?

A: The most important thing students need to do is research about their career of choice. Look at websites of companies you are interested in and they will put up job descriptions there.

And even if your major doesn’t require you to get an internship try to find one any way. If you don’t have experience in the field you want to go into then you’ll have a harder time getting a job.

Posted by gcsunade on Feb 3 2011. Filed under Close Up, Special Sections. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.