Employer Visit

Coca-Cola Consolidated will be on campus Wednesday September 28th at 12:45 and September 29th at 1:00 p.m. Representatives will provide information on working for Coca-Cola as a career and discuss available openings at their distribution warehouse. This is a good opportunity to ask questions and possibly discuss a part-time opportunity while you attend college. To register, go to the Career Connection website, or send an email to stuemploy@tridenttech.edu.

Work-Study

Welcome to the 2011 Fall Semester!

Each new school year brings new students seeking employment opportunities through the work-study program. It also brings a lot of questions about the program. Here are answers to some of the most common questions.

What is work-study?

- The program is designed to allow students an opportunity to earn an hourly wage working part-time in either an on-campus or select off-campus position. These opportunities do not interfere with your class schedule.

What are the qualifications?

- There are two types of work-study, Institutional and Federal. Institutional positions are funded by the college and require enrollment in 6 hours or more and an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher. Federal positions are based on financial aid eligibility and require enrollment in 6 hours or more, GPA of 2.0 or higher, and the student cannot be on Financial Aid Probation.

How do I apply?

- You must complete an application with the Student Employment office so that your eligibility may be screened. You also must register on Career Connection, upload a resume, and then apply for work-study positions that are advertised. You will be contacted for an interview just as you would for any job you apply to. For more information, visit our work-study web page.

The Job Search

You may have heard that finding a job is a full-time job in itself. It can be. The market is very competitive for many industries and employers are searching for the "best" candidates instead of the only candidates.

What does this mean for the job seeker? First, you should make sure you are presenting yourself as a candidate who can fulfill the job description. Pay attention to the requirements of the position. Make sure you are clearly demonstrating your ability to perform required tasks.

Second, you should be prepared to apply for more positions than you may have anticipated. Competition is stiff and managers receive many applications/resumes for each opening. You may be qualified, but not "as qualified" as others who apply.

Third, use many methods of finding openings. On-line gives you the quickest method to find the most openings, but remember to network and use personal interaction as well. Many companies only accept resumes on-line so that should be your first resource.

Finally, do not be discouraged! It is easy to lose motivation, but your opportunity is out there. You just need to locate it. Many times you find the job you wanted in a place you didn't expect. Keep in mind that most companies need people in administration, information technology, accounting, marketing/sales, etc. Example: if you are a computer programmer, keep in mind that Food Lion has a computer network. Hidden jobs are some of the best sources of opportunity.

How to get noticed

Today's job market is extremely competitive. For every open position you can expect to compete with dozens of other applicants at a minimum. Sometimes even hundreds. Managers cannot afford to interview everyone, so they generally select 5 - 10 of the top candidates. How can you make the cut?

• Address the needs of the position rather than trying to list every accomplishment in your life
• Use key words from the position description in your resume
• Organize your resume so that the most important information for the position is listed first

Using a generic resume that you send out for every position is poor use of your time. You must convince the hiring manager that you are a good candidate for "their" position. The use of key words and addressing the position requirements will do just that.

Networking - What is it?

Most employment advisors will tell their clients that the most effective tool for finding a job is networking. Many times the conversation on that topic ends there and the student/client is left to wonder what "networking" is and how to go about it.

First of all, is it really the most effective means of landing the job you are seeking? Yes and no. The truth is that there is no one single most effective tool for the job seeker. Those that employ the most tools are generally the first to land a good position.

Networking is meeting people, introducing yourself, and letting them know you are seeking employment. Networking with people you already know allows you to develop several extended recruiters to look for opportunities for you. If you share your resume/skills with them and tell them what type of position you are looking for, you now have an advocate who in turn has many contacts. Meeting new people at community events, business luncheons, chamber events, alumni functions, job fairs, etc. provides you an opportunity to pass on your resume/business card and discuss your qualifications in person. Many times this can lead to an interview, which is your objective.

Professional Resume Services

Recently, I have been asked about the feasibility of using paid resume specialists to assist in creating a resume. My advice in most cases is to keep your money in your pocket. These professionals are not necessarily attempting to defraud you or are unscrupulous, but they are not providing a unique service. They refer to the same guides and examples available to anyone.

• There is no magic format for a resume that will instantly land you the job of your dreams!
  

The "trick" that professional resume writers use is to gather as much information about you as possible and then find out exactly what profession/position you are seeking. They then write a resume that puts your best relevant skills/qualities on paper that are most directly linked to the position you are seeking.

The format of your resume is never as important as the content. The format is how to arrange the content. A good resume shows the employer that your possess the skills and abilities to perform the job as advertised. Professional resume writers stick to that script. So should you, but with the extra money in your pocket!

Graduation!

Now that you are graduating, what next? Finding a job can be a daunting task. You have probably heard the phrase "finding a job is a full-time job itself". This is true in many cases. So how do you start?

1. Develop a plan. Just applying at random and mass mailing resumes is inefficient and less productive. Try to narrow your focus to the type of employer you would like to work for and conduct some in-depth research. Apply to the comapanies that meet your benchmarks first.


2. Create a high quality resume and cover letter. Do not try to create one generic resume to send to every employer. Review the position description carefully and use the key words the employer uses throughout your resume. Your resume/cover letter should show the employer that you have the skills/training that meets their needs.


3. Be aggressive in your search. Employers won't call you! You need to use the intenet, network with friends and contacts, and make personal visits. Employers appreciate someone with initiative!

There are jobs out there, but you must seek them out and show the employer that you are the best candidate. Do not discount temporary agencies as a first step. While they may not be in your plan, they can provide you with experience while your search continues. Many times they can lead to a full-time position as well.

Career Connection

What is Career Connection? It is an on-line job posting system managed by the Student Employment office. Similar to other tools (Monster, Career Builder, etc.) with the additional component of Student Employment staff screening the postings and approving employer accounts. The end result is postings that are true job offerings and not attempts at fraud or are misleading.

Students and alumni may create an account at no charge and keep the account as long as you like after graduation. The account has the convenience of allowing users to upload documents such as: resumes, cover letters, certificates, etc. These are then available to send electronically to employers in response to job postings. The system is also used to announce employer visits, events, and special opportunities.

Sign up today and use this as another tool to land the job you have been looking for!

Information Session by Verizon Wireless

Staff members from Verizon Wireless will host an Information Session on April 20th, 2011 in building 410 room 212. Take advantage of this opportunity to listen to their presentation on landing an interview and getting the job. These skills are valuable for any position you pursue, not just at Verizon Wireless.

• Wednesday, April 20th 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.


• Building 410 Room 212


• Resumes - "What an employer looks for"


• Interviewing - "How to be the best"

Be sure to RSVP through your Career Connection account (preferred) or send an email to the Student Employment office requesting a seat.

Career Fair Planning

Why attend the Spring Career Fair? To access approximately 100 employers in one location! This is one of the largest employer fairs in the area each year. All students and graduates should make an effort to attend if possible. Even if you are not presently looking for employment you will be able to speak with company representatives to prepare yourself once you are in the market for a career. Making the most of the career fair.

1. Dress accordingly. Showing up in shorts and flip flops does not make a favorable impression. You are meeting with company representatives, dress to impress! Your first meeting could leave a lasting impression (good or bad). You do not necessarily have to wear a suit, but dress to look professional. Example: Males - consider khaki's and a nice polo shirt or dress shirt and pants. Females - consider slacks and a blouse.


2. Come alone. Do not bring family members. This is a professional event, not a family outing. If you have children, arrange for care. An employer sees someone with a stroller as someone who may have child care issues and would not be a safe hire.


3. Bring copies of your resume. Not all employers will accept a resume at the fair, but those that do will be impressed that you are prepared. It will also be a chance to get some feedback for future resume updating.


4. Have some questions prepared. Don't just wander around! Know what you want to ask employers ahead of time. Prepare some questions to ask before you go.


5. Do not discount any employer based on their name. Too often I hear that there were no employers who represented "_________" industry. Most companies hire many different occupations. Example: Roper hospital not only needs medical personnel, but also computer technicians, accountants, office staff, air conditioning and refrigeration technicians, and many others.

Attend the Spring Career Fair and make the most of your opportunity!