You choose your major. You pass your classes. You graduate. Now what?
By Lisa McMahan -- Copy Editor -- mcmahan11@up.edu, Caitlin Yilek -- Staff Writer -- yilek12@up.edu
Not sure where you're going with your degree? Are you just beginning to plan your future and career, or are you just ready to dive in? Regardless of where you are in the planning stage, here is some information on what you can do now...
Job hunting can be a scary thing for many college students, especially when you consider today's rough job market and the fact that over 3 million college graduates will join the "real" world this year.
Here to help students and alumni of The Bluff is the Office of Career Services.
"We help students identify their skills, interests and values while finding ways to teach students strategies to apply their experience to professional work life," Amy Cavanaugh, director of the Office of Career Services, said.
Located in the lower level of Orrico Hall, Career Services offers guidance in selecting majors and finding internships, as well as career counseling and advising.
Although the Office of Career Services assists students with their job searches, it does not match students to jobs.
"We facilitate networking by identifying people to talk with to help find positions, but finding a job is ultimately up to the student," Cavanaugh said.
Senior Katie Holman secured a paid summer internship at Fred Meyer's corporate office in the human resources department after learning of the opportunity through the Career Services website.
Holman, who is majoring in organizational communication and Spanish studies, signed up for updates from the website after working with staff at the Office of Career Services to refine her cover letter and résumé last year.
"It was valuable for me because I have obviously never worked in the human resources sector before," Holman said. "I have made connections with people in the company."
Holman went on a business trip with Fred Meyer President Michael Ellis on the company's private jet to collect information and photos for the website she helped update. The internship gave her extraordinary access.
"He and I have actually high-fived before," she said.
Senior electrical engineering major Emily McKaig also turned to the Office of Career Services for advice as she applied for internships.
McKaig had two interviews lined up, one in person and a phone interview.
"I went in (Career Services) and they helped me learn how to approach the interviews," she said. "I actually ended up being offered both positions."
McKaig remembers one of the most important pieces of advice she learned was to be prepared for her phone interview the night before.
The HR department called at 9 the next morning, instead of the scheduled 1 p.m. interview time.
"They were so surprised and impressed that I could think on my feet," McKaig said. "(Career Services) really gave me a lot of confidence before I went into the interview."
She accepted the paid avionics internship with Insitu Inc., a Hood River-based company that works on unmanned air vehicles.
Although internships are often reserved for upperclassmen and recent graduates, all students are encouraged to start preparing their résumés and polishing their interview skills.
According to Cavanaugh the average job search takes six to nine months.
"It is never too early or too late to take advantage of the Office of Career Services," she said. "When students come in they have a better sense of the time it takes to find a job and we can help refine their materials and give them feedback."
