Find a job with the help of Career Services

This year’s graduating class can expect to find more jobs available to them than last year’s graduates. That’s not to say that the job market is booming with jobs for new college graduates, but it’s definitely better than last year.

A survey conducted by CareerBuilder, an online career site, claims that while the total number of employers planning to hire recent graduates is only 44%, from last year’s 43 %, one in five of those employers plan to hire more graduates than they did last year.

This number is still down from previous years, however, and students will need a lot more in their bag of tricks to get the job they are looking for than in previous years.

Jeff Jackson, director of career services at IU South Bend, reminds students that Career Services is open to all students and graduates for assistance in job placement.

“We can get [their] resume into the hands of a hiring supervisor, but it takes them to convince the employer that they are the best person for this job,” Jackson said.

Career Services also assists with interviewing skills, resume writing, and offers a website with job postings sent to them. These services are available to all students and graduates.

According to Jackson, many students just aren’t applying to these jobs. Companies like Enterprise, Sherwin Williams and Frito-Lay have posted job openings on the Career Services site.

“Some of these students may be turned off by the employer,” he said. “You’re going to have to start somewhere.”

Jackson suggests finding the jobs you are interested in (and even some that you’re not, but can stand to be in for a few years) and bringing them a list, so that they can contact the company on your behalf as well.

“The goal is to get work experience. As this economy slowly comes out, at least you have work experience where you can transfer if you like.”

Try to have multiple contacts with the company you are applying with. Go online and apply, and go to Career Services and fill out a resume.

Once you finally get the interview, remember that you have to sell yourself.

“You’ve got to make sure that you exude that on that particular day,” Jackson said. “They’re looking for go-getters.”

Not only do you have to present yourself at an interview, you have to at least pretend like you know the company. Go to their website and find out what their values are, what they are looking for in employees, and make sure the employer knows that you are the best fit for their company.

“Even though companies are gradually starting to hire again, the job market will still be challenging for college graduates this year,” Brent Rasmussen, President of CareerBuilder North America, said.

If you can nail the interview, your chances of getting the job are much higher.

Remember also to include all of your experience, whether it’s internships, sports, school organizations, volunteer work, or even class work, as each of these things may make the difference for you in your job search.

For a listing of the jobs available through Career Services, visit IUSBcareers.com.