Career Services relocates, offers many new services

At the start of the school year most students are focused on catching up with friends, figuring out if they like their classes and getting involved with activities around campus. However, students should also make a point of visiting Career Services once their semester is underway.

Since its relocation this summer, Career Services has been divided. The Department of Career Services: Center for Career Planning and Development can be found in the Wilbur Cross Building in Room 201. This office is the starting point for anything one might do with Career Services. In the Student Union Room 203 there is the Department of Career Services: Center for Internship and Employer Relations.

Michael Petro, Assistant Director for Employer Relations, explained that, “The spirit of Career Services hasn’t changed.”

Petro anticipates that there will be an adjustment period. He encourages students to call if they have questions.

The Wilbur Cross office is the first point of contact for anyone coming to Career Services. All walk in services, such as résumé critique and career counseling can be found there. Résumé critiques are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All other walk-in services are available Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. In Room 203 at the Student Union students can find information concerning internships and employer relations. Most of what happens at this location is appointment based, such as practice interviews and On-Campus Interviewing for jobs. Both offices have four professional full time staff.

Career Services has a large website with many opportunities that can be taken advantage of. New to the website this semester are the Optimal Résumé and Optimal Interview programs. Optimal Résumé helps students create their first résumé. Optimal Interview allows students to remain in their room and have a mock interview. A coach is available to help with answers, and students can use their computer cameras to record the interview so they can look back at it later. Although these programs do not replace meeting one on one with Career Services staff, they are an excellent place to get started.

Stephanie Shaw, a ninth-semester theatre studies major had the following to say about Career Services. “I’m not planning to visit them this semester, but I have visited them in the past. They were super helpful when I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after discovering I didn’t want to teach.”

Both Petro and Nancy Bilmes, Career Service’s Associate Director, had advice for UConn students.

Freshmen shouldn’t wait to connect with Career Services. They should allow themselves time to settle in, but by the end of their first semester or the beginning of their second semester they should start building their résumés so that they will have a foundation to work with over the next four years. They should also get involved with activities around campus.

Sophomores and juniors should start thinking about the internship process. They should continue to be involved in activities, move into more authoritative positions within their activities if they can and maybe find something new to try.

Seniors should start forming their post-graduation plan now. If they are planning on attending graduate school, now is the time to start looking. If they are looking for jobs now is also the time to start looking. Employers are hiring now for the summer, so it’s important that seniors have a strong résumé and take advantage of all the services Career Services has to offer.

Career Services also has a number of events coming up.

Sept. 14 is GE Day. General Electric will be at the Union from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They are looking in particular for business, math, statistics and engineering majors.

Sept. 15 is UConn’s first annual Professional Development Conference for seniors. Many seniors have signed up to attend workshops, make connections and meet potential employers.

Sept. 18 Altria will have tables in Fairfield Way. They will be looking for students who are interested in both internships and full time jobs.

Sept. 25 Traveler’s Insurance will have tables in Fairfield Way. They are looking for students of all majors.

Oct. 2 and 3 there will be a career fair in the Student Union Ballroom.