Job searching

Job+searching

by Andrew Goodell

There are several key steps that all Simpson students can taketo obtain a decent job after graduation, whether one is a senior ornot.

This time of year, seniors who have not already began searchingfor their first occupation out of college ought to be doing so. Thewindow of opportunity is opening for them and now is the time totake action.

According to Lora Friedrich, department chair of SocialSciences, the first step seniors need to take in their job searchis to complete a resume that documents all of the student’s workand volunteer experience.

After stressing the importance of correct spelling and grammarin one’s resume, Friedrich said that a “comprehensive resume shouldget your foot in the door.”

The next step seniors should take to find a post-graduation jobis to talk with potential references and request letters ofrecommendation from these people. Friedrich said that thesereferences include current bosses or managers the senior inquestion is currently employed by.

Another important step in the quest for a decent occupation isto participate in practice job interviews with Career SpecialistKate Burrell, who works in the Counseling & Career Servicesoffice in BSC. This is intended to cut down on any anxiety seniorsmay be experiencing as a result of the pressure felt by the idea oftheir first out of school job interview(s).

One of the important things seniors ought to think about whenthey begin the job searching process is to consider where they wantto live and according to Friedrich. She said that seniors mustbegin to weigh out in their minds what is more important to them:where they work or what they do.

For students who are not graduating this year, Friedrich hadsome worthwhile advice as well.

“A lot of companies look for community involvement orcommitment,” said Friedrich.

This can be accomplished through internships and volunteer workwhile a student is still in college. Friedrich went on to note thatstudents who are involved with internships in their college careershave the opportunity to network with other employers and are morelikely to get a decent job after they graduate.

Friedrich also said that students who are still in their firstcouple years of college should keep their grades up and stay out oftrouble with the law.

The most frequent unlawful act that can come back to hauntstudents when they leave college is underage drinking. Friedrichurges students to remember that many employers do background checksand that any lawless behavior they find on a person’s record istaken into consideration during the hiring process.

Some students delay their search for a job by two or three yearsin order to attend graduate school or to participate in volunteerprograms such as the Peace Corps.

One such senior who is seriously considering involving herselfin the character-building world of volunteer work is Sara Neppl.Neppl recently completed the application process for a programcalled Q.U.E.S.T. (Quaker Experiential Service and Training) thatbegins in August.

Neppl would live in Seattle and work in a homeless or women’sshelter while housing with five or six other people involved in theprogram. With this volunteer program, her food and shelter would bepaid for.

Explaining her interest in this volunteer opportunity and otherslike it, as opposed to jumping right into a nine to five office jobafter graduation, she said that the word “career” is too permanentsounding.

Said Neppl, “I’m not looking for a career immediately becauseI’m so young.”