Career Services and the Job Search
By Cathy Rollman
Director of Career Services
(News from the Nest, Winter 2010, “Career Help Is Here for a Tough Job Market”)
Concerned about the economy and the current job market? Is your son/daughter graduating this year, and you’re worried that he/she won’t find a job? R-MC’s Career Services Office is here to help!
Located on the first floor of Thomas Branch Hall, the friendly Career Services staff is ready to help your student prepare for the “real world” and the job search process. Preparation is key to a successful job search, which is why Career Services offers workshops on topics ranging from resume and cover letter preparation, to job search strategies, to interview tips.
Since networking is the #1 way to find a job, the Career Services Office coordinates many programs that include a networking component. Monthly career symposia allow students the opportunity to explore various career fields as well as network with alumni in those fields. Each semester an Etiquette/Networking Dinner is offered where students can learn proper dining etiquette and network with employers. New this semester will be a Speed Networking Event with alumni that will allow students to network with many alumni in a short period of time.
Jobs4YellowJackets, R-MC’s online job search database, provides a valuable resource for finding a job. Students have access to full-time listings as well as part-time, seasonal, and internship opportunities posted by employers who have contacted the Career Services Office because they specifically want to hire R-MC students/graduates.
The Career 15 website is another helpful tool for those seeking full-time employment. A unique offering from the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC), the Career 15 website connects students and employers about real job opportunities. Since R-MC is one of the member colleges of the VFIC, R-MC students are able to take advantage of this resource.
The Alumni Career Network is a wonderful way for students to expand their own networks and make connections with R-MC alumni. Found on the Career Services webpage, students need only to complete a simple form to get in contact with alumni in particular career fields all over the United States and even abroad. R-MC alumni are very responsive to students, helping them find internships/jobs as well as filling the role of mentor/role model.
These are just some of the many resources and ways that the Career Services Office can help your student. Parents can partner with the Career Services Office by encouraging their students to come in and speak with a Career Counselor about the ways we can help with their transition to the real world.