Kachelle Pratcher
Blue & White Flash / Staff Writer
The semester is coming to an end and with the pressure of being cleared for the graduation list, final exams, and ordering graduation material, seniors’ minds are all over the place. While handling everything else on the list, students must remember the ultimate goal is to receive an awesome job offer in ther career field.
Recently the National Association of College and Employers (NACE) released the Job Outlook 2013 survey and it states that the Class of 2013 should have a better chance of finding jobs than classes before them. In the report, half of the hiring managers surveyed indicate that they plan to hire new graduates this year, a 47.5 percent increase.
“At this day in time, any field in computer technology and/or business tends to always have a high demand for new graduates, and that was proven in this year’s outlook survey,” said Lashanda Jordan, director of the Jackson State University Career Services Center.
According to the Job Outlook report, the top undergraduate degrees in demand are business, engineering, computer information, sciences, communications, liberal arts, agriculture and natural resources. Business led with 85.7 percent and engineering with 74 percent of employers that look to hire.
“With the ratings in the Outlook, it’s definitely not too late to look for opportunities. It’s always good to start early but explore all additional options which will help land that great job opportunity,” said Jordan.
Nearly 49 percent of employers rate the overall job market for the Class of 2013 graduates as “good.”
“The biggest challenges this year when looking at jobs will be in the federal and state agencies. They will have a slow down in hiring because of financial difficulties in Washington and that will be one area in the industry that we will see a down turn in,” said Jordan.
The NACE 2013 outlook also states that 78.3 percent of employers will screen candidates GPA. The cutoff used by 63.5 percent of respondents is 3.0. Also employers look to see what skills and attributes a potential candidate has.
Well-rounded undergraduate participation, including campus involvement in academic honor societies, student government and social/networking groups can stand out on resumes.
Leadership positions held, major, high GPA, being involved in extracurricular activities, the school attended, volunteer work, and being fluent in another language also stand out on resumes. On a 5 point scale, the NACE listed the above components as having a major influence in getting the job.
“Being able to multi-task shows that you are a good candidate for a job, and it has a high influence on your application,” stated Jordan.
She added: “The Outlook also expresses that employers are going to recruit differently, using all forms of technology and social media. Students should create a LinkedIn account, a professional social media outlet. Employers will move to this method to discover what social networking presence you may have.”
Another way to snag that perfect J-O-B is to wow your interviewers and display proper etiquette during the interview. After submitting your resume to future employers, it is time to stand out during all aspects of the interview process.
“In addition to always being prepared for an interview, students need to bring a portfolio and bring extra copies of their resumes,” said Jordan. “On campus recruitment methods start in the fall and students can explore the multiple opportunities that we have available and some employers extend job offers.”
With the help of the JSU Career Services Center, students can be prepared for any interview.
According to the JSU Career Service Center online career guide, interviews allow employers to access you as a complete person, rather than just your qualifications on a printed page. Employers want to gauge whether or not you would be a good fit for their organization.
“Students should know about the employer they are interviewing with, that way they can ask the appropriate questions and show knowledge about the company they are hoping to work for,” said Jordan.
Keep in mind that employers look for several factors when determining the perfect candidate, which includes self-confidence, the ability to communicate, good work ethic, teamwork, and leadership.
“Companies can change their outlook within a year, based on industry employment changes. This seems to be a good year for new graduates,” said Jordan.
The DOs:
• Arrive 10-15 minutes early
• Maintain eye contact with the interviewer
• Use a firm and professional handshake
• Listen carefully to the interviewer’s question
• Be aware of your body language, maintain good posture while appearing relaxed and not fidgety
• Show confidence, courtesy, and honesty
• Keep a positive attitude about former employers, supervisors, and co-workers; be tactful, and do not criticize former employers even if discussing an unpleasant situation
• Maintain a professional image, don’t let the employer’s casual approach fool you
• At the close of the interview, establish a date for your next communication
• Always remember to thank the interviewer for his/her time.
The DON’Ts:
• Give terse or rambling answers to questions, find a balance
• Be too casual with language or use non-words (saying words like, umm, uh)
• Address the interviewer by his/her first name unless invited to do so
• Dominate the interview or appear arrogant; do not interrupt the interviewer when he/she is speaking
• Criticize yourself or your former employers
• Discuss your personal problems
While remembering these do’s and don’ts, also remember to dress for success because looking professional is an important part of landing a position.
“In the past there have been students that weren’t properly dressed for interviews. We want them to use it as a learning experience. Students can pick up a career guide from our office which explains the dos and don’ts for business professional attire,” said Jordan.
