Continuing on to a 4-year college

Many of you have intentions of transferring to a 4-year college after completing your studies at Trident Technical College.  Hopefully, you have done your research and know which school and what major you are going to pursue.  Each college and program has different requirements, so the earlier you map out your education plan, the better your advisor at TTC can assist you with course selection.

If you haven't made a decision yet, consider the following information.  7 out of the top 10 starting salaries for graduates from 4-year colleges in 2013 were in technical disciplines. This data was gathered in a survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Keep in mind that this data is from a national survey, not based on local area information.  The trend is a pretty safe bet however.  Technical disciplines seem to be much more in demand than other majors in just about every area of the country. 

Graduated...now what?

The search for a career can present many challenges and frustration. If you watch the national news programs, you may get the impression the economy is on the rise and finding a job should be no problem.  What isn't mentioned is "what type" of jobs are coming back and "where" the jobs are coming back.  National reports look at averages across the nation which include hundreds of cities and millions of people.  An analysis of that magnitude will not really help you locally since an "average" will include areas that are very prosperous and areas that are not doing well at all.  It is important to research your local area for data.  A good source for local information is SCWorks.

 

 

 

Identifying growing job markets will help you target your efforts in landing a position.  Do the research and learn about the Charleston job market.  It will help you land the job you have been hoping for.

Sell me on "you".

I work with people everyday that struggle with the interviewing process.  The majority have very similar problems.

• They have not thought about what they are going to say before they arrive
• They do not understand that interviewing is a sales presentation
• They have not thoroughly reviewed the job description

Each of these points is critical to conducting a successful interview.  First, you must have an understanding of the position you are interviewing for.  If you do not know what skills are required to perform the job functions, how will you convince the interviewer you are a good fit?  The job description is your key to developing your presentation.

Second.  You have to spend a good amount of time organizing your qualifications and deciding what skills/strengths/experience are the most important to present in the interview.  No, you should not develop a script to memorize, but you should have a strategy with areas that you want to highlight.  Knowing what you are going to present prior to arriving will give you confidence and make the interview much easier.  Make your presentation fit the job description.

Last.  Make no mistake, an interview is a sales presentation.  You are attempting to sell yourself to the interviewer.  Interviewing is a competition between you and anyone else who may be interviewed.  You need to be the best. 

Career Fair Update

As of this morning, we have reached our capacity of 121 employers registered for the Career Fair on April 3rd.  Be sure to plan your calendar to incorporate a visit to the College Center in building 920 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.  A current list of attending employers is found here.  The list will update on Tuesday, March 19th for the final time.

Final reminders for the fair:

• Open to current students, alumni and the public
• Employers are looking at you as a potential employee - present yourself accordingly
• Bring resumes even though some companies may not accept at the fair
• Do not bring children or other family members with you - does not make a good impression with employers
• Dress like you are seeking a job - leave the flip flops at home
• Prioritize the companies you want to speak with - there are over 100, so you can't speak to them all

Above all, enjoy the atmosphere and bring a positive attitude. This is a chance to find employment and learn about our local employers.

Career Fair 2013

2013 Spring Career Fair

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

10:00 - 1:00

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!

How to find the jobs.

Job openings will not find you.  It is up to you to locate the job openings.  The days of passively posting your resume on a job board and waiting for an employer to call are long gone.  You must be proactive in your search and use every resource you can find.

Internet searches
This must be a "part" of your plan, but not the entire plan.  The internet can be very useful in finding openings, but do not rely on job boards like monster.com or career builder.  You will only find postings that were sent to them and there are some dubious postings on these sites as well.  The same goes for craigslist.  Though much more time consuming, visit the websites of companies you would like to work for or that you think may have positions in your job field.  Many times this is the only place you will find these postings. A good place to start is with our web links.

Networking
You may hear this all the time, but what does it mean? Meeting people and establishing connections. The more professional people you know, the better chance of finding those "hidden" jobs.  Get involved with community organizations, professional groups, social groups, volunteering, etc.  Let the people in these groups know you are looking for employment and what your qualifications are.  A referral generally goes a lot farther than an application from an unknown source.

Personal Visits
Instead of mailing, or emailing your resume, put on your interview attire and deliver it in person.  Many managers are impressed with someone who shows up early in the morning with their resume and is ready to interview.  Even if you don't get an interview on the spot you have the chance to make a good first impression, get a feel for the business, and put names to faces.  This will help when they do call you.

Finding that next job is not easy.  You will be faced with many challenges and setbacks, but a dedicated and diverse approach will greatly improve your chances.

Use your resources

Your Student Employment office has a number of different assets for you to use in your search for employment. To increase your chances of getting a position you want, you should make use of these tools.

Web Resources
There are many Student Employment tools you can use on-line. Resume writing, interviewing tips, and job searching are just a few. There are also links to "Job Choices" which is an on-line magazine produced by a national organization working with colleges and employers. There are many articles that provide excellent suggestions for improving your ability to make yourself the best candidate possible. These resources can be found by clicking on the picture.

Make your resume effective

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.

Get the 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.

Competition

Landing the job you want is not always a matter of having a good resume and getting through an interview.  In today's economy, you might be "qualified" for a position, but you may not be the best candidate.  I work with many individuals who do not understand why they were not hired for position that they were qualified for.

The slower economy and high unemployment rate has put more people in the position of seeking a new job.  That means the competition for available openings is higher.  It isn't enough to be qualified, you must be the best applicant in the mind of the employer.  Everyone that is interviewed generally meets the qualifications for the position.  You need to stand out from the competition.

• Make sure your resume is in line with the job description. The employer has already told you what they are looking for in the ideal candidate!
• Every answer to interview questions should be tailored to show that you have the skills necessary to do the work.
• Be committed. Tell the employer you are looking for long-term employment with their company, not a stepping stone to something else.
• Talk at length about your experience in the work place. Even if you are lacking in actual experience, be sure to talk about anything you have done that might be related to the position.
• Be positive and have a great attitude in interviews. Who wants to hire someone who wouldn't be pleasant to work with?

These steps may seem simple and common sense, but so many applicants do not follow this plan of attack.  The majority of applicants create generic resumes and send to everyone, only talk about things they are comfortable with in interviews (as opposed to tailoring to job description), speak poorly of previous employers and talk about what they hope to gain from the position, not what they can do for the employer.