Students Are You Ready to Get Hired? Career Development Centers Can Help

The job market for the class of 2015 graduates look bright! According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ Job Outlook 2015 survey, employers expect to hire 8.3 percent more new college graduates from the Class of 2015 for their U.S. operations than they did from the Class of 2014. Employers also expect to "sweeten the pot" some for their new hires. Overall, respondents said they plan to raise starting salaries for new college hires by 3.6 percent.

What does this means for the Class of 2015? It means there are more job opportunities as employers are looking to grow their work forces. What this doesn’t mean, however, is that students’ job search will be easier. Members of the Class of 2015 and subsequent college classes throughout the country are eager to land jobs and launch professional careers. Students will have plenty of competition. However, there are several key steps students can take to help them stand out in a competitive job market:

Visit career services offices. The U of A campus’ career services offices are an unmatched source of career and job-search information, where students can receive expert insight and guidance. Learn more by visiting our websites at career.uark.edu, ARKU 607, waltoncollege.uark.edu/career, Willard Walker Hall 226 and law.uark.edu/careers, WATR 191.

Begin job searching early. Students may be surprised to learn that a successful job search can take at least 6-12 months. So they should begin their search now. Razorback CareerLink is the U of A’s electronic job posting system that allows students to search for and apply to part-time, full-time jobs and internships. To begin searching for positions, students may login at: careerlink.uark.edu, and enter their U of A username and password. They will initially need to begin by updating their profile and uploading a copy of a resume. It is recommended that students have their resumes reviewed before uploading to the system.

Network to learn about job opportunities. Most students’ network is bigger than they think and working through it is a big part of conducting an effective job search. They never know who they might meet or who knows who. Begin by attending career fairs and career events provided by the U of A’s career centers. More information can be found at career.uark.edu, waltoncollege.uark.edu/career and law.uark.edu/careers.

Do research. Researching potential employers and industries and demonstrating what they have learned is a vital step. They should also tailor their resume and cover letter by using the language and keywords that the employer uses on its website and in its job postings. Then, from the information they collect, develop in-depth questions to ask during the interview. Their career centers can also assist with this.

Market yourself. Students should be sure to highlight their accomplishments in the classroom (high GPA, research they have conducted, and more), and quantify the impact they have made as a leaders of student organizations or as a part-time employee or intern.

Your Career Development Centers can help with all of these steps. Visit them today:

• University Career Development Center, ARKU 607
• Walton College Career Center, Willard Walker Hall 226
• Law School Career Center, WATR 191