As the spring semester comes to an end, seniors are coming to terms with the fact that they are about to enter the real world. This means finding a job, and in many cases, kissing parents’ financial support goodbye. How are seniors preparing for this next big step?
Chris Anderson is a senior lecturer in the department of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, and alumni of SMU. He notices that this year, more than ever, students are seeking his advice on everything from resume building to industry contacts.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said. “Students definitely seem more concerned about getting a job.”
Susan Smith, a senior history major with minors in CCPA and sociology said that she went to Anderson for advice on her resume.
“He’ll get back to you fast and give you an honest opinion,” said Smith. “He really stands out in the department because he is so energetic and efficient.”
Smith explained that students may seek his advice because he’s easy to talk to, and has been at SMU for a long time. People feel comfortable asking his advice because he remembers his students, and has experience in his field.
Jerry Alexander, director of the Hegi Family Career Center on campus attributes the recent influx to students’ economic concerns.
“The economy is recovering, which means more jobs,” explained Alexander. “When the economy is down, students are less concerned with finding a job.”
Anderson tells his students that the two most important aspects of job hunting are having a good resume and internship experience. However, he notes that students are not always jumping at internship opportunities.
“Students are short-sited,” he explains. “Nobody wants to make a three month commitment to do administrative work.”
But, at the same time, Anderson says that an internship is whatever the student chooses to make of it.
“At the very least, you get to observe the work environment,” he said. While some of the work an intern does is not necessarily the most intellectually challenging, sometimes students learn more by simply watching the way others work.
“Employers want to see real world experience more than anything,” explained Anderson. He noted that many times, an employer would skim a resume and jump right to work experience.
Laura Shumake, a senior accounting major agrees that internships are a great way to prepare for the working world. Shumake signed on for a full-time, nine-week internship at KPMG, a national accounting firm in the beginning of her spring semester.
“I learned more in those nine weeks than I’ve learned in three and a half years of school,” she explained. “It made me grow up, and in the end, they gave me a full-time offer.”
As for the resume, Anderson said that it has to be visually appealing. “People judge a book by its cover.” It’s all about perceptions and first impressions. The format should be simple and easy to read.
Anderson explained that it’s really important for students to do a good job articulating what they have done. The way things are worded in a resume can be the most influential.
He said that sometimes he has a really bright student, but their resume is lackluster. They have good substance, but it’s not presented in the right way. A lot of times this simply means re-formatting.
When writing a resume, it’s important to remember what the goal is – being hired.
“You’re trying to persuade someone to hire you,” said Anderson. “Good references are a selling point.” Also, relevant coursework can be a good thing to list.
Alexander says that the best resumes are more specific to the employer, not the industry. He explains that you should not always send out exactly the same resume, because it’s less personal, and employers can usually tell.
Generalizing a resume is not effective. Cater resumes to the specific job description for that company.
“The best advice I can offer students is to find an expert in your career field, and spend a day with them,” Alexander said. “Find out what they do, ask a lot of questions.”
Students should ask professionals in their industry to describe some characteristics of people who are successful in the field, and distinguish between what is important or irrelevant.
While all of this may sound overwhelming, there are many resources to guide students through this process.
The career center has four full-time career counselors on staff, who help students build resumes, prepare for interviews and find jobs in their field of interest.
Websites such as Mustang Track and peruna.net offer internship and full-time positions and descriptions, catered specifically to SMU students.
According to university statistics, the career center’s website receives an average of 18,000 hits each month.
Another feature of the website is career assessment tests. This is like a basic personality test, where test takers answer questions about personal interests and hobbies, as well as work style and ethic.
After completing the test, which is free of charge, participants receive an evaluation, which says what kind of jobs fit the best. It gives a personalized list of strengths and weaknesses, and describes what skills are required for the jobs that it says would be good fits.
The center averages 120 student visits a day. Alexander, who is in his sixth year, notices that the numbers always increase around graduation. Often, seniors get nervous, and realize that they don’t have a resume or any work experience. At the last minute, they go to the career center for help.
To reduce stress prior to graduation, Alexander encourages students to get an early start and be pro-active in their job search. While some industries recruit, such as business and engineering, most do not. This means that employers are not seeking future workers out. Instead, it is up to students to track them down and convince them.
Alexander notices that the biggest problem that students are faced with is confusion. “Kids usually don’t know what an employer is looking for,” he said.
Often, employers post a job description that in reality, is very different from what the person interviewing wants.
“It’s like dating,” said Alexander. “Both the student and the employer are testing each other, trying to see if the other would be a good fit for them.”
Shumake agreed with Alexander. “In the interview, they are trying to determine if you would be a positive asset to their firm.”
Alexander admits that it can be difficult to encourage students to do the work necessary to get a job. Mostly, students are un-prepared for the interview. In this case, Alexander advises students to tell stories about themselves in the interview that convince the employer that he or she is outgoing.
The career center also offers mock interviews, which provide constructive criticism and tips on how to improve your interviewing skills.
“I found the mock interview the most helpful service at the career center,” said senior advertising major Erica Peterson. “I got some great feedback.”
Other popular services include career fairs as well as workshops.
“Over 450 students attended this semester’s recruiting expo,” said Alexander. “Students have been finding the career fairs very useful in terms of networking.”
To schedule a mock interview, or a meeting with a career counselor, stop by the career center on the main floor of the Hughes-Trigg, or visit their website at www.smu.edu/career.
