Plan early, plan now

By Katie Levans
Special to the Johnsonian

Though it may feel like the semester has barely just begun, for the seniors—December and May grads alike—graduation will be here before you know it. 

Are you ready for your first post-graduate step into the real world? Where will you be? More importantly, what will you do?

 And before the underclassmen take a sigh of relief and write this article off as a concern to upperclassmen only, understand you aren’t off the hook either. Ask any rising senior or recent graduate how quickly their college years flew by and you’ll see exactly why it’s never too early (or too late) to start planning your career path, be it a job hunt or graduate school application process.

The Center for Career and Civic Engagement is hosting its annual Fall Career and Graduate School Fair on Thursday, Oct. 6, but don’t wait until the day of the event to get ready. We’ve got all the insider information you need to start preparing now so you’ll be ahead of the pack before, during and after the event.

Before

• Write Your Resume – Visit the Center for Career and Civic Engagement in Crawford Building for a one-on-one resume critique, sample resumes and more

• Practice Interviewing Skills – InterviewStream on EagleLINK is a program that prompts you with interview questions, records your responses on a webcam and lets you play it back so you can see (and hear) exactly how you come across. It’s also available in the CCE office

• Online Research – A growing list of recruiters attending this year’s fair is available online at http://www.winthrop.edu/cce/. Review the list, research companies and programs of interest and even fill out applications ahead of time 

During

• Dress to Impress – As always, professional attire is required for entry into the Fall Career and Graduate School Fair so be sure to dress appropriately. Men and women alike should plan to wear a dark suit, minimal jewelry and comfortable shoes (you’ll be standing for a long time). 

• Leave a Lasting Impression – Bring multiple copies of your resume to leave with recruiters. More than 50 employers and universities will be present so plan accordingly. Be sure to collect business cards from recruiters, as well, so you can follow up later. Understand that some employers may have a policy not to accept resumes at fairs. Don’t be offended.

After

• Follow Up – Most companies and universities rely on online applications, but it’s a good idea to make a personal connection too. Follow up with recruiters you meet at the fair via email to thank them for their time and express your interest in their job opening or graduate program. 

• Send Thank You Notes – If you set up an interview as a result of meeting a recruiter at the fair, you should plan to send them a thank you note for taking time to consider you for the position.

Want more information? Visit the Center for Career and Civic Engagement in Crawford Building. And don’t forget: the Fall Career and Graduate School Fair will take place on Oct. 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the DiGiorgio Campus Center Richardson Ballroom.