So it’s Senior Year…

So it is the last year before the big hooray -- graduation. All that hard work, dedication, aggravating professors, and disrupted sleep cycles have led to this time and not a moment too soon. Are college seniors really prepared for this last year? Here are a few steps to help these students get better prepared for the challenge of finding a job.

Attend workshops: The career development and advancement office in the Maxine and Jack Lane Center for Academic Success provides workshops aimed to help students with interviewing, resume writing, and searching for a job. The CDA also hosts a career day, teacher job fair, and the part-time job fair each semester during which students are made aware of possible employment opportunities.

Professional employment services: Kean students may access professional full-time and part-time employment opportunities, internships, cooperative education opportunities, and part-time non-degree positions, using different websites. Using www.monsterTRAK.com, students may post and update their resumes, search for jobs, forward a resume, and take advantage of the other career related information available. The New Jersey Department of Labor  sponsors www.wnjpin.net includes information relating to employment opportunities and training, labor market, and job search.  The central web site for federal job opportunities is www.usajobs.opm.gov.

Do some research: USA Today suggests that calling a company to request informal interview is a useful means of learning about that company. The interviewee will not only learn more about the company; but this also shows that person has an interest in the company and, in turn, the interviewer may develop an interest in the interviewee.

Crafting a cover letter: According to USA Today, a cover letter should be written so that employers get an idea of the applicant's personality using a few words. It should not narrate what is on the resume, but rather highlight skills and accomplishments.

The CDA suggests the following career planning guide for seniors:

    •    Have resume and cover letter critiqued

    •    Consider values when selecting the companies to apply for employment

    •    Coordinate personal calendar with scheduled on-campus career activities

    •    Gather industry standard salary information

    •    Attend local professional association meetings and remain active in student associations

    •    Review interview video and schedule mock interview

    •    Develop a list of prospective employees

    •    Research prospective employers before an interview and develop a list of questions to ask                 them

    •    Take graduate school exams and complete applications

    •    Keep notes and records on all job search activities

    •    Be sure to follow-up each interview with a thank you note

Students may visit the career development and advancement office for additional information and to take advantage of the services offered. The office is located in the Maxine and Jack Lane Center for Academic Success room 123 or call

908-737 -0320.