Finding Employment

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 fill 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.

Verizon Wireless is back!

Sorry, but the session was canceled.  Not enough interest expressed to have them come to campus. We will try again in the summer.

Verizon Wireless is back on campus Wednesday, April 11th at 1:45.  They will be presenting their presentation called "Book bag to Briefcase".  The focus of this presentation will be on interviewing for your next position. Verizon has held many good sessions for students in the past and this one is very well timed with graduation around the corner. Plan to attend this session to help you with your next interview.

Seating is limited, so please RSVP by sending an email to the Student Employment office or registering on the Career Connection system.

Career Fair gone...What now?

If you attended the Career Fair last Wednesday, you had the opportunity to meet with over 100 employers. A lot of you did based on attendance numbers.  We had almost 900 people come through in the three hour time period!  Employers and attendees were both enthusiastic about the turnout.  Hopefully, you found a lead or two on potential employment, but what if you didn't?

A career fair is just one tool.  Do not despair if you did not find the job that fits your needs. You should be using as many search methods as possible. One possibility is Career Connection.

If you are not registered on the Student Employment Career Connection site, you are missing out on many jobs posted by local employers for TTC students and alumni. On any given day you will find between 90 - 120 active job postings.  Most of them will accept a resume submitted on-line through the system, and the few that do not give instructions on how to apply. Employers that advertise on Career Connection want TTC trained applicants.

Get your account setup today if you do not have one, upload a resume (or several versions if desired), and start searching for your opportunity.

Seeking Employment?

I am sure many of you will attend the Career Fair on Wednesday, however there is an immediate resource available to all students and alumni of TTC.  Career Connection is our on-line job posting system and is free for your use.  As of this morning, we have 158 openings advertised!  We generally average between 90 - 100 on any given day.  Why use Career Connection when there are many other sites available?

1. The site is monitored by your Student Employment staff.  All employers are reviewed by our staff before being approved.  Each job posting is reviewed as well.
2. Employers advertising through Career Connection are seeking TTC students or graduates.
3. Flexibility.  You may save several versions of your resume, cover letters, documents, etc. to your account. This allows you to pick and choose what to send to each employer.
4. Announcements and notifications.  Stay abreast of employer visits and workshops. Create a "Job Agent" to automatically notify you of positions you may be interested in.

Registration is free and you may keep your account upon graduation. There really is no reason not to register!  Registration tip:  use your personal email address rather than your TTC email. This way you will not encounter any problems once you graduate and lose your school email acount.

Career Fair 2012

We are now at 116 employers for the career fair! We have a very good mix of employers to speak with. If you are looking for a position now, or in the near future, please keep these tips in mind:

• You are making a first impression - make a good one.
• Dress appropriately; no shorts, flip-flops, t-shirts, etc. (turn off for employers).
• Bring copies of your resume.
• Do some research on any employers you may be interested in.
• Be able to verbalize what type of position you want.
• Come alone. Do not bring your children. If you cannot attend this event without bringing your children, employers will immediately assume childcare will be an issue in the future.

This event is one of the larger career fairs in the tri-county area and is designed with TTC students and alumni in mind. Take advantage of this opportunity and make it productive!

Elements of an Effective Resume

Not all resumes are created equal! A resume is designed to get the reader's attention and to land an interview.  The job market is very competitive and in order to be one of those chosen for an interview your resume must convince the employer that you have what they are looking for. Here are some points to keep in mind when creating your resume.

• Did you read the job description carefully? Your resume should address the requirements of the position you are applying for. Focus on key words from the job description to include in your resume.
• Your resume should support your ability to fulfill the duties of the position. Do not just create a list of all of your past accomplishments. Focus on those achievements/skills that support the position requirements.
• Keep your resume to one (1) page if at all possible. Your ability to be concise, but thorough is appreciated by a reviewer.
• Spelling, grammar, and formatting is important! All an employer has to judge you by is the document in front of them. This is also the first demonstration of the quality of your work.
• Lengthy paragraphs are not a good match for an effective resume. Bullets and short sentences that get your point across make for an easier read and allow the reviewer to quickly find relevant information.

Verizon Wireless On Campus

Staff members from Verizon Wireless will host an Information Session on March 20th at 1:15 and March 21st at 12:45. The sessions will be 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.

• Tuesday, March 20th 1:15 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 21st 12:45 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.

Planning for a Career Fair

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.  It also presents the image that you are not a serious candidate if you cannot dedicate all of your focus on the recruiter.
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!

Increase Your Chance for an Interview

With the unemployment rate at 8% or higher, the competition for vacant positions is very high. To improve your chances of landing an interview, here are a few suggestions:

1. Only apply for positions that you are actually qualified for. You should have either education or work experience to meet the position requirements. Applying for openings that you are not really qualified for will only increase your frustration when you do not receive a call for an interview.
2. Do not send generic resumes/cover letters/applications. Your package should be specific to the position requirements. Tailor your resume to address the skills and requirements as listed by the employer.  Write your cover letter for the position you are applying for, not a generic letter for all employers.
3. Read the position description! To improve your chances of landing that interview, you must address the needs of the employer. In most cases, the advertisement will tell you what the employer needs. Do not ignore this.

Keep in mind that you are trying to fill an employer's needs. Put yourself in their shoes and see if your application package addresses those needs. If it is not clear on paper that you are a good fit, you probably will not move to the interview phase.

How do I gain the experience employers want?

Good question.  When many students graduate from college, they only have their education to highlight on their resume.  Many employers are seeking work experience, so how do you get both?

1. Consider internships.  While you are completing your education, you may be able to work as an intern in your field of interest. Many times the work experience will count towards your degree (consult with your academic advisor about this).
• Positives - this is your chance to actually work in your field and learn from professionals in a real world environment.  This is actual experience you can document on a resume.
• Negatives - the only real negative is that many internships are not paid positions. Just consider that the time invested is as valuable as your degree and will pay off in the long run.
2. Volunteer.  There are many non-profit agencies that are very short-handed and rely on volunteers to support their efforts.  Similar to an internship, this counts as experience and can be listed on your resume.  The biggest difference is that there is usually not as much structure and you may be doing many tasks that are unrelated to your major as well as relevant work.