Career Services Center open house helps students

Jamilah Vaughn, Sonni Casey and Liz Carroll
Guest Writers

For college students and recent college graduates, finding an internship or even an entry-level job isn’t easy to come by in this down economy. With the help of Jackson State University’s Career Services Center, the search may be a little easier.

The center held an open house Aug. 25 in Reddix Hall to help students register for Tigers2Work. The program started in 2006 as an online manager that allows JSU students and alumni to electronically submit resumes to employers, as well as search for internships, jobs and employer information.

“Tigers2Work is very important to take part in especially with the economy because it lends a helping hand,” said Brian Bland, a junior business administration major.

Being able to provide students with career opportunities is important to the Career Services Center staff.

“We’re not a placement center; we are a one-stop resource center,” said LaShanda Jordan, director. “Our job is to help students prepare, teach them interview skills and act as a virtual conduit between them and potential employers.”

LaVenita Cottrell, assistant director, said, “We have recruiters who are looking for them. We want students to take advantage of the services that we offer them.”

JSU senior John Rancifer, an aspiring attorney who attended the open house as part of a class assignment, said he didn’t know JSU had a career center.

“It’s like having a leg up,” he said of the opportunities the center offers. “I have a job but I’d like to find something which will help me with get further along in an actual career.”

Student Victor Gray said attending the open house was a new experience for him.

“This was my first time participating in anything like this,” he said. “I uploaded my resume and look forward to contacting employers on job opportunities.”

Terrence Johnson, coordinator for the Career Services Center, said opportunities for all majors are available. “As soon as we get job opportunities, we post them,” he said. “Students need to check their emails routinely to find the available opportunities in their field.”

The Career Services Center hosts many events throughout the year, including Graduate and Professional Schools Day, where junior, senior and graduate students gain knowledge about requirements for graduate schools.  At the Career/Internship Fair, students have a chance to network with recruiters and submit their resumes in person.

For more information, visit the Career Services Center on the first floor of Reddix Hall, call (601)-979-2477, log on to 10.14.12.245/careers, follow on Twitter @Tigers2Work, or become a friend on Facebook at JSUCareers.

Khadetra Payton and Lindsey Walker contributed to this story.