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Show 8 FEATURE FORUMFORTNIGHTLY.COM On the Job: The Career Resource Center Westminsters Career Resource Center (CRC) offers assistance to students in all areas of life. The CRC also provides students with resources necessary for finding a job. These resources range from hosting mock interviews to offering job and internship panels. Michael Caldwell, CRC Director, explains that students constantly develop skills employers want in a new hire. The trick is being able to articulate that skill to an employer and convert that experience to a transferable skill, said Caldwell. We talk about present and past experiences as accomplishment statements. Rather than saying you were responsible for XYZ, talk about what you accomplished. Did you increase sales up to 30 or greet 30 customers on your shift? Include things your interviewer will want to know. Caldwell said many students develop these skills in their club participation and time in the classroom. Many local employers seek students in athletics because theyve been part of a team, said Caldwell. Employers also value students in leadership roles. Caldwell said employers search for a diverse student population across majors, backgrounds, interests and race. The CRC emphasizes coming as early as possible to learn how to market yourself. We see people in their junior or senior years, but their ability to add that involvement is more limited, said Caldwell. We encourage first-ye- ar students to come in with their blank slate of a resume and see how we can add to that. Its never too late, never too early, said Caldwell. We can talk to people at any point in the process. Students attend a career panel offered by the Career Resource Cen- - Who you know: Alumni hiring Grads In the job world, they say getting a job rests on who you know. Westminster alumni tend to hire other Westminster alumni because they know what kind of education theyve received. Meet two recent Alumni: Danielle Chard and Angie Fairbanks work together at Steals.com. After graduating six years ago, Fairbanks found out about the job at Steals.com through another friend. She gradually moved up to social media manager and took over the department. Earlier this year, Fairbanks hired Chard through connections to Westminster professors. Chard said in her portfolio class she told Kim Zarkin, a communication professor, that she wanted a job in social media. Zarkin stayed in touch with other alumni and received the perfect job opportunity for Chard at Steals.com. Chard said that Steals.com called her the same day she turned in her application. Only a week later, Fairbanks hired her for Social Media Coordinator. Being on both sides of the hiring process has given Fairbanks a new perspective on Westminster students. Seeing all those interns come through and comparing the quality of interns that we had at Westminster to other schools, I really wanted this position to be filled with someone I would click with and I would be able to work closely with, said Fairbanks. Fairbanks says that seeing Westminster students perform in internships demonstrated their value. When compared to students at other universities, alumni prefer Westminster students because of their dedicated and willing performance, said Fairbanks. Clearly its not going to go across the board, but' I think overall you get a standard of people that are dedicated and are really ambitious, said Fairbanks. Westminster alumni are best connected to current professors. Chard said they stay in touch with other alumni and therefore know what types of jobs are available and the people hiring for them. If I hadnt told Kim that I was interested in a social media position she would have just shared it with everyone, but because she knew she sent it to me and gave me a chance to jump on it because I had talked to her, said Chard. Fairbanks advises to network as much as possible while in school. When students graduate, they can reach out to people they met while at Westminster by using those networking skills. Fairbanks said that she felt daunted when networking as a student. But looking back shes glad she took the opportunity to reach out to those people available to her. Meet for Lunch: the Alumni House Westminsters Alumni House is for students, too. There are two programs based in the house at the west end of campus that help students prepare for after graduation. These programs connect current students and alumni. Westminsters alumni are unique, said Michelle Barber Lyhnakis, associate director of alumni and community relations, They want to be engaged in a much more meaningful way. Lyhnakis and other Alumni House staff have found that allowing the alumni to help the students directly gives alumni the meaningful connection they re seeking. When seeking alumni involvement, Lyhnakis doesnt simply put out a call for whoever may be interested. Only when students have been chosen does Lyhnakis look for alumni. Even then, she narrows her list to alumni whose professional interests match those of the student, and calls them personally to ask that they serve as a mentor. This process is used in both programs offered through the alumni house: the Alumni Mentoring Program and Take a Griffin to Lunch. Both programs offer students the opportunity to get involved with a network of those involved with the college. There is a whole community out there willing to help, Lyhnakis said but you have to invest in it. Its a relationship. Alumni Mei Each semester, sti nity to apply to the A (AMP). Through the p with college alumni wo are interested in. The . once a month to talk sional growth. In addition to meet dents meet with each calls the student meetir The students are m sues, like how to keep sional lives in agreenu nakis said. They have theyre saying is in coni The mission of AN ' to meet alumni who role models, and for, introspective and delil choices. Students who; can expect both person; ment. 1 ! I 1 i I I jT 1 4 K IB m- - j4ngie Fairbanks and Danielle Chard work together as social media experts after she graduated. - - - illlll at steals.com. Fairbanks, a I |