Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Career Fair 2014!

The annual TTC Career Fair will be held on Wednesday, April 9th from 10:00 - 1:00 in the College Center, building 920 on the main campus.  We currently have over 100 employers registered and should easily reach our cap of 120.  This is always a great event to meet employers to discuss open positions or ask about future openings.

Suggestions for being successful at any career fair:

Dress appropriately!  This is the first impression you make with an employer so you should dress appropriately.  We hear many comments each year that students were not dressed appropriately. You do not need to wear a suit, but nice a nice pants and shirt combination would be fine.  What not to wear:
  • Shorts
  • Tank tops/t-shirts
  • Flip flops (probably #1 complaint)
  • Low cut tops
  • Dirty clothes

Come alone.  Do not bring family/children with you.  This is a business forum to discuss potential hiring.  You should demonstrate that you do not have child/family care issues that might keep you from being reliable.

Bring resumes.  Not all companies will accept them at a career fair, but you want to be prepared for those that do.  Make sure it looks professional (our office can help!).

Speak and act in a professional manner.  You are being evaluated for a potential hire so show that you are the kind of employee a company would like to hire.

Lastly, we get a few complaints each year that "X" company was not there, or there were not enough employers from "X" industry.  We send out over 2000 invitations to every industry in the area.  We cannot force an employer to attend though.  If you do not see a company that is in your industry, rest assured it was not because we did not invite any.  Sometimes they are just not hiring at that time or do not have personnel they can send. 

Friday, February 28, 2014

Hiring!

If you are looking for employment, be sure to check in with the Career Connection site!  We currently have over 200 jobs listed with 40 added in the last couple of days.  Several employers have visited with our staff this week looking for quality employees.  Some will schedule campus visits in the near future and most of them have already posted positions on Career Connection.

Monday, February 17, 2014

The Importance of Interviewing Well

I've recently completed interviews for an open position and thought I would share some important tips that may help you in the future.  It takes a lot of work just to get an interview, why would you not want to do your best? 

When an employer calls you for an interview, they are trying to see if you are a good fit for the position.  This screening begins with that initial phone conversation and continues until the hire is complete.  Convince them you are the best fit for the job.  Here is how:

  • Be professional and polite in all communications
  • Research the company and the position
  • Smile - who wants to work with someone who is not enthused about the job?
  • Know what skills/traits/abilities you have that are directly related to the position
  • Listen closely and be sure to answer the question
  • Match your skills to the job description

Here are some interview killers to avoid:

  • Be sure you want this job, not just a job - it is easy for the interviewer to tell and a bad signal to send; if you are just looking for a job, an employer will assume you will only be in the position long enough to find something better
  • Don't show up unprepared; if you were given directions/assignments for the interview, follow the instructions
  • Short, non-descriptive answers do not help the interviewer
  • Not understanding the requirements of the position, or knowledge of the employer, indicates you have not done your research and are probably not a strong candidate
  • Do not be rude or dismissive on the phone

Monday, January 6, 2014

Welcome to Spring 2014!

The holdays are behind us and we are beginning a new semester.  The spring semester is always a very busy time for the Student Employment office.  This is the time that employers start hiring for summer jobs and it is time for our Career Fair.

The annual Career Fair will be held on April 9th from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. in the 920 building.  Employers have already started registering and we anticipate 100+ once again.  Block off some time on your calendar so you have a chance to meet with hiring managers and recruiters.

Be sure to create an account on Career Connection, or update your account, so that you can add resumes and apply for open positions with some great companies.  Keeping your account updated is important so that you will receive any important information on jobs in your area of study.

As always, if you need assistance in the job search process, please contact our office!

Building 940 Suite D (main campus)
843-574-6302
stuemploy@tridenttech.edu

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Use all of your tools - Career Connection

As a current student or graduate of TTC, you have access to our Career Connection system.  This on-line job posting system allows employers the opportunity to advertise open positions directly to you.  The majority of employers are local and are looking for employees with the qualifications obtained in our degree programs.  Registration is free and you can upload multiple versions of your resume, cover letters and other documents.

Friday, October 25, 2013

How do I get hired at Boeing?

I hear this question at least once or twice a day.  The answer is:
  • Be qualified - carefully read the job description and evaluate your past training and experience
  • Be pro-active - do not wait for someone to do the work for you
  • Make sure your resume shows that you can perform the work described in the position description - employers can't read your mind so use "key words"
  • Look for contractors who work with Boeing in addition to applying to Boeing itself
  • Check the ReadySC website for open application periods.
  • Post your resume on the Boeing Talent Network site.  This allows Boeing staff to search for qualified applicants for new positions that become available.
At the time of this posting, at least two of these contractors (Yoh Aerospace and CDI) are trying to fill over 100 positions at the Charleston plant.  Please contact the Student Employment office if you are interested.  There is a job description on the Career Connection system.

574-6302
stuemploy@tridenttech.edu


Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Employer Vist To TTC

Spinx will be conducting interviews on November 6th and 7th for a new Summerville store location.  All interviews will be held in the Student Employment office in building 940 suite D on main campus.



Contact our office for an appointment (574-6302) or apply on-line at myspinx.com.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Student Employment Workspace

Come visit Student Employment Services and take advantage of the materials available to help you with creating a resume, job hunting, interviewing or browse the employer brochures.  We have two computer stations available for resume writing, job searching and employer research.



You may also schedule an appointment to meet with staff one-on-one in developing your resume or working on interview skills.

940 D
843-574-6302
stuemploy@tridenttech.edu

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Do Your Homework

Researching Employers

by Alicia Bervine, Anne Orange, and Jennifer Whetstone-Jackson
Researching employers is perhaps the single-most important activity you will undertake in your job search. The information you uncover can help you:
  • Discover organizations that are a good match for you,
  • Identify the organization’s goals and needs,
  • Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your skills and experiences that match the employer’s needs,
  • Know what questions to ask employers,
  • Demonstrate your interest in and enthusiasm for the organization,
  • Answer interview questions with confidence, and
  • Make an informed employment decision.


Unfortunately, many students overlook the importance of research when undertaking a job search or looking for an internship. In fact, it’s common for employers to complain that potential job candidates haven’t “done their homework,” and instead come into the interview with little or no knowledge about the organization. These candidates flounder, asking questions that could be easily answered by a cursory look at the company website or literature. Needless to say, they make a poor impression, because employers often assume lack of research means lack of interest.

Where should you begin?

Start by developing a list of organizations in which you might be interested—companies that have the types of jobs or do the type of work that interests you. These could be organizations that visit your campus for career fairs, information sessions, and interviews, or they might be companies you have identified on your own as potential employers. An added bonus: You may discover lesser-known organizations that might be a match for your skills and interests. (Having a problem with this step? Talk with a career counselor in your campus career center for direction.)
Research companies to obtain information in each of the following categories:
  • Organizational overview: age, size, financial outlook, growth, and structure
  • Trends/issues in the industry
  • Mission, philosophy, objectives
  • Public or private or foreign-owned
  • Location of plants, offices, stores, subsidiaries
  • Products and/or services
  • Names of key executives
  • Competitors
  • Sales, assets, earnings
  • Growth history and current growth activity
  • Current challenges
  • Major achievements and activity, issues, news
  • Career paths, training, benefits
  • Company culture
Alicia Bervine is Program Manager, College of Arts & Sciences; Anne Orange is Career Librarian; and Jennifer Whetstone-Jackson is Program Manager, College of Engineering & Computing, at the University of South Carolina, Columbia.

Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

A view from the employer's side of the table

Hiring a new employee is a big investment of time and money for an employer. If the person selected does not work out, it is a waste of both. This makes the selection process very important to an employer and is why resume review and the interview process can seem so grueling. So what is an employer looking for?

Job specific skills. Read the job description carefully and make sure you are selling yourself as the best person to fill the job. Your resume should be tailored with "key words" in the job description to make it easy for the employer to want to interview you. During the interview you should emphasize your qualifications that are a fit for the job description as well.

Soft skills. This is an area that many employers find to be very lacking in candidates. These are skills such as:
  • Strong work ethic
  • Initiative
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Teamwork
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Flexibility and adaptability
Be sure to give examples of your soft skills during an interview. This can go a long way towards convincing an employer that you are a good fit.