Facing graduation can be both a scary and exciting time in any college student’s life.
Career Services can help give the extra boost needed to get that perfect job upon graduation.
Among the 2008 Top Entry Level employers listed by CollegeGrad.com, 60 percent anticipate hiring more college graduates in 2008 than in 2007, and those employers are looking at graduates of Winona State University.
From July 2007 to January 2008, Career Services had 544 one-on-one appointments with students, as well as 3,700 students who received in-classroom presentations. Vicki Decker, director of Career Services believes that students are unaware of the extent to which Career Services can help them.
Career Services helps students at all points in their college track, from choosing a major to developing a resume to even refining interviewing skills.
For hands-on training for a successful interview, Career Services has a computer-based interviewing program called InterviewStream, which was voted “Best New Product Introduction of the Year” in 2004 by Kiosk Magazine.
With the InterviewStream program, Winona State University students can choose up to six questions to be asked on-camera.
This mock interview only lasts 30 minutes, and once the interview is completed, the system will send the student a link by e-mail to review the interview.
Once students are prepared for the crucial first interview, they can get in touch with potential employers through Winona State sponsored job fairs.
The next job fair will be April 14, 2008 in Minneapolis for those looking for a teaching job. Over 200 school districts from all over the country will be present. Career Services will continue to register students interested in attending.
Decker suggests three tips to follow before attending a job fair.
1. Have an idea of what you want to do.
2. Research the companies/school districts you want to speak with: Know their history, what they do and who their competitors are.
3. Know your value, have realistic salary expectations and know the cost of living for the area you would like to live in.
Job fairs in the past have been highly successful for Winona State students. On Feb. 22, 2008, 122 students attended the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Job and Internship Fair at the Minneapolis Convention Center where over 150 employers were present looking for qualified individuals.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers developed a list of the top 10 skills that employers look for in a candidate, and number one on the list is good communication skills.
The etiquette dinner teaches students social skills that are appropriate for a professional eating occasion.
“You may be being tested while eating with a potential employer,” said Decker. “They will be judging what you order and how you season your food, it is part of the interview.”
The next etiquette dinner is scheduled for Thursday, March 27. The cost of the tickets is $14, and the purchase deadline is March 20.
The etiquette dinner is not the only event that works on students’ communication skills; Winona State often hosts on-campus interviews.
Career Services sponsors these interviews to let candidates interface with employers.
“It is the easiest way to get a job interview,” said Decker. “You just show up.”
Previous employers to recently host interviews at Winona State are: Fastenal, Federated Insurance, Target Stores, Hormel Foods and many more.
Most of what Career Services offers is free of charge, with the exception of small fees to attend the etiquette dinner and off-campus job fairs.
“We ultimately want to prepare you for that perfect job,” said Decker.