Welcome to RecruitU Magazine

Click on cover above to view the Nov/Dec 2008 Digital Issue.

In the Nov/Dec 2008 Issue...

- Melissa Mitchell shares how her employer, Mohawk Industries, helped her pursue an MBA through Kennesaw State University to further her management career.

- Also, follow the stories of four Georgia college graduates who tell you what it's like working at Verizon Wireless, placement agency LocumTenens.com and Youth Villages, a nonprofit for children.

- This issue lists the 7 trickiest questions you could be asked in a job interview and what your answers reveal about you! You can also read about hiring trends for education majors and what business and management students need to know to ride out the recession.

Recruit U gives college students specific career strategies based on the jobs available for them after graduation. Recruit U works with career counselors and career directors at each of the 30 colleges and universities in our Georgia distribution as well as employers to make sure that our strategies are relevant to the job market and their career searches.

The World Awaits

A graduation checklist for seniors

For many, graduation looms near and thoughts of starting a career may bring apprehension about the future. If you're graduating soon, here's some advice for making the most of the time you have left...

Instead of simply focusing on your GPA, make sure your classes are relevant to your chosen profession. Your senior year should be a training ground for the workplace.

Use any electives available to take courses that apply to your profession, rather than "goof-off" classes. And be sure to add them to your resume.

Pursue any professional experience, whether it's an internship or part-time job. Find a job that gives you skills you can apply to your career search. If you can't find anything, consider a volunteer position that will put you in your desired environment.

Take the lead in any special projects within your major that apply to your chosen field.

Fine-tune your post-graduation resume. Get help from a career counselor while you're still in school!

Meet with an adviser to see you have fulfilled all your graduation requirements.

Master the art of presentation by scheduling a mock interview at your college Career Center. This should help you improve your soft skills.

Get at least three letters of reference from faculty members or employers past and present that you can use after graduation.

Enlist support from your personal and professional network (relatives, past employers and co-workers and school colleagues) in finding job opportunities and people you can talk to once you've left school.

Start interviewing with companies during your last year in school. Many employers make hiring decisions early and are willing to wait for you to graduate if you've made a commitment.

If you're planning on continuing your education, get letters of recommendation and sign up for any graduate admissions tests. Apply early and be sure to register for Graduate and Professional School Financial Aid Service (GSPSFAS). Consider applying for assistantships in teaching or research at the graduate level.

Make it your personal goal to find a job during your senior year, since the search becomes much harder when you're out on your own and detached from valuable campus resources like counselors, professors and the career center! |RU

How to Make the Most of a Career Fair

I. PREPARE (Preparation is critical)

With the help of Career Services, prepare your one-page resume(s). Proofread!
Obtain a list of participating employers from Career Services.
Determine the employers with which you will speak (mark your list).
Research those employers; become familiar with the company and the positions for which they are most likely to be recruiting.
Practice your introduction (name, school, major) and handshake.
Practice your 30-60 second sales pitch (don't memorize it but do rehearse). This should include why you are interested in the company, types of position(s) for which you are a good match and why. Talk about related jobs or internships and related classes or academic projects.
Determine one to three questions that you will ask each company (write these on your master list or on paper that you will have with you at the fair).
Determine what you will wear and take with you. Women: professional knee-length skirt suit in a conservative color, sheer hose, closed-toe and closed-heel pumps in a dark leather (low heel is fine), minimal jewelry, no perfume, natural looking makeup, conservative and polished hairstyle. Pantsuits with polished dark leather flats are acceptable although most employers still consider the traditional knee-length skirt suit most professional. Bring a purse or a briefcase (no backpacks). If you choose a purse, do bring a folder in which to keep your resumes etc. Men: professional suit in a conservative dark color, dark shoes and dark socks, an ironed white long-sleeve button-down, a conservative tie, no cologne, no necklaces/bracelets or earrings, conservative hairstyle, no backpacks.
Bring 25 resumes (or more) on nice resume paper, paper for your notes, a nice pen and a list of participating companies.

II. COMMUNICATE

Smile, introduce yourself and offer your hand for a firm, quick handshake. Give the recruiter a couple of seconds for an introduction.
Give the recruiter your 30-60 second sales pitch.
Ask questions about the company and available positions.
Present your resume.
Ask for a business card while thanking the recruiter for his or her time. Reaffirm your interest and ask to whom and when you should follow-up.

III. FOLLOW-UP

Send a typed thank you note to the recruiter with whom you spoke.
Send a cover letter and resume to the suggested follow-up contact. Mention the fair and the recruiter with whom you spoke. Reaffirm your interest.
If your follow-up contact is the person with whom you spoke at the fair, then send one letter expressing both your gratitude and reaffirming your interest in the company and job opportunities. For convenience, enclose another copy of your unfolded resume.

--Source: Georgia Careers Consortium

HAVE ON HAND

If you're interviewing for a position with a hospital or patient-care facility-directly at the site or through a staffing agency-you may be asked to provide verification of your license or certification, including special training like CPR, proof of current immunization and a negative reading on a Tuberculosis test. Those three things, in addition to a resume, complete with cover letter and letters of recommendation, will help you seal the deal. Research postings for similar jobs or call human resources to find out what will be needed from you. It could give you an edge over competition, even those with more experience, according to Jonathan Daniel, district manager for Atlanta's Kelly Healthcare Resources. "That will set (you) head and shoulders above any other candidate and can get you an offer."

NOT INTO NURSING?

View a list of in-demand allied health specialty occupations you might want to consider looking into. These positions reflect a broad range of interests and offer salaries competitive with nursing wages. For more information on a particular position and to view the list... Click Here.