Hit the pavement running
Students find after-graduation employment
- posted: 27 Feb 2007
- scrollcampus@byui.edu
Some may think they need to be a senior to search for careers and jobs after graduation and that they should start in their second semester of being a senior. That is not necessarily true.
Actually, a year to six months before graduation is when anyone should start searching for a career, said James Gordon, BYU‑Idaho Internship and Career Placement coordinator.
It doesn’t hurt to have a job offer before you graduate, but it can hurt to not have one,
Gordon said.
If students don’t know where to start, they can go to Career Services in Kimball 230.
Career Services provide numerous services such as mock interviews, résumé and cover letter advice and critique, internship information, internship expeditions, national list of employers and job listings.
In mock interviews career service employees conduct job interviews for students who wish to prepare a real interview before they have a live interview.
If students want, their interview can be taped, and they can purchase the tape to see how they interview. The student can then use this to find strengths and weaknesses they need to improve upon.
The slots for interviews fill up quickly, so students should schedule their interviews at least a week to 10 days before their actual interview with a real employer.
I think it’s a good idea; a lot of people haven’t been in a real interview setting, and it is good experience so they’ll know what to expect,
said Michael Hiatt, a sophomore from Greensboro, N.C.
The number one thing to do before applying for any job is to build a network, Gordon said.
Networking is about knowing people that can help students get to where they want to be.
Start out with family and friends; ask them if they know anyone who works in the same job you wish to be in or if they do themselves,
Gordon said. Talking to people and finding out information about their jobs and their likes and dislikes is useful.
After making initial contact with employees, students should ask if they know two or three other people who can help them with job information.
This way, students aren’t making cold calls to employees or employers.
Career Services’ online database has 250-300 job listings and over 6,000 national employers listed for students to contact and talk with.
After talking with employees, the student can decide if they really want to submit their résumé to that company.
Tailor your résumé to a specific company and use the job title and company name in your objective if you choose to have one,
Gordon said.
Joseph Blackner, a sophomore from Federal Way, Wash., said he thought the appearance of a résumé is important because it is an employee’s initial impression of the applicant.
Follow-up a week or two after submitting a résumé and be professional about it, Gordon said.
At an interview, the interviewee should dress the part of the position.
Don’t be timid or shy, be confident, but not cocky [during an interview],
Blackner said.
To schedule an appointment with Career Services call 496-1167, or for more information go to www.byui.edu/advising. 
