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Show career fair MONDAY • JANUARY 22* 2007. Open road to success C3 Networking: a man's best friend Spencer Shell News Writer Keyra Kristoffersen News Writer "UVSC is our favorite place to recruit students," said Greg Preston of Convergys, a cal! center known for handling accounts like American Express and Cingular, and just one of the companies that has bought a space in this semester's Career Fair, taking place Tuesday, Jan. 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom. The semi-annual Career Fair, sponsored by UVSC's Career Center and Student Employment, will host companies such as Target, ARUP Laboratories, and the Utah State Tax Commission, in the quest to link students in need of a fulfilling career with employers in need of experiencecf, professional labor. The unemployment rates in Utah are so low right now, that while 98% of students are currently employed, many are not paid enough for their degrees. The Career Fair is an opportunity for students to peruse other opportunities they may not have previously thought possible, and many of the recruiters are hiring right now, so students can get that contact with actively seeking employers. Many companies, like Convergys offer tuition reimbursement while their employees are still in school. About $1 million last year went to UVSC and BYU students. Somethinghire.com is even giving away front row concert seats to the The Fray. The Career Fair is designed to network between students and employers. The face-toface contact is important when deciding both what you want from a company and knowing what they want from you. Getting one's name and skills out in the open is one of the most important things anyone searching for a job can do. While recruiting days happen about once a month at UVSC, the Career Fair happens only twice a year and is to help students find internships and degree specific jobs. Employers pay to have a spot in the Fair, so students should take advantage of this opportunity. Several things that students should be aware of in preparation for the Career Fair is that one of the biggest complaints of employers is that students do not dress the part. "Dress for success" meaning professionally, bring several resumes, and any and all letters of recommendation. Come prepared and with an understanding of what you can contribute to the company. Ask not what the company can do for you, but what you can do for the company, the employers will take note. The career center and Student Employment at UVSC have a wide variety of programs offered to students year round from counselors that will help write resumes to mock interviews, and the UV Job Board, which is an online database for students and employers to find one another. "It's a one stop place to shop for all your employment needs," said Melanie McDonald, Employer Relations Specialist, "It helps lead a student in the right direction to find the career they've spent all these years studying for." The UV Job Board can be accessed anytime, day or night, by employers and employees as a direct market to the most suitable match. Employers can target college students, and are already aware of the wacky schedules that will have to be worked around to get those students. It's user friendly and there's no waiting. Thus, winwin. The Career center has as up to date information on jobs and internships as possible, where students can look up, apply, and begin their working experience. There are always counselors there to work oneon-one to ensure the success of the student. "A career is something that is part of your life. A job is somewhere you go to just make money, but a career is a part of your everyday life," said McDonald. The truth of the matter is, if you are desperate enough you can get a job. The question then is, do you really want to be working in fast food, cleaning or at some minimum wage job? Right now that might be what is best for you as a student with the hours or qualifications that you have, but in the future a better job is needed, and those are not always the easiest to get. So what are you going to do to try and get hired? Just keep your eye out for your dream job and hope that your luck will turn? Look around on the internet for any openings? Perhaps you will keep an eye on miscellaneous job boards? While these things may be useful, there is a better, more effective way to get a job, and that is through networking. What exactly is networking? Networking is developing a broad list of contacts through friends, roommates, peers, teachers, neighbors, co-workers, bosses, people you've met at socials, etc. Then using those contacts to your advantage when you are looking for a job. This means that being anti-social will work against you when trying to network. According to about.com, 60% of people looking for a job find employment through networking. For example, you are talking to your friend about how you are trying to get a job as a circus clown, and it just happens that his sister's boyfriend's uncle's monkey is a performing artist in the local circus, and he has the connections you need to get the job. So you land the job, and it's basically as easy as that. These people need to want to help you. They can help in a number of ways: it could be as simple as them giving you a lead on a job, advice for a particular field or company, introducing you to others in the field, or to those responsible for hiring. Talk to everyone. You never know who or what each person knows. I am one of those 60 percent who found their job through networking. I was meeting with my insurance agent to get life insurance, and I mentioned to him that I was looking for a part time job that would work well with my college schedule, and said that I wasn't having the best of luck. He thought, and then asked me how I felt about drawing blood. It just so happens that he had a friend in the phlebotomy industry; he gave her a call, and told her how great he thought I was and though that she should hire me. She did, on his word, and it has been a great job to go along with school. You'll still need to be qualified, and have a good resume. But when it comes down to it, having the right connections is worth its weight in gold. Now is the time, if you are looking for a job, or want a better job. Start now to build your network. It's one of the best tools in your job-obtaining toolbox. Networking tips Know what you are looking for in a job Assess yourself to know your strengths and weaknesses Prepare a strong resume Figure out who will be in your network Communicate with your network frequently Follow up on any leads, and thank those who give information Don't give up; you never know if your network will pay out in the future Tuesday, J a n u a r y 30,2007 Grande Ballr 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Career Services a Student Employment www.uvsc.edu/csse |