Employment Guide: A little preparation goes a long way

College is sometimes compared to a four-year job interview. Every course and activity are the… College is sometimes compared to a four-year job interview. Every course and activity are the questions to which the student must answer by excelling academically and socially. Then, of course, there are the actual interviews.

Usually undergraduates do not have to worry about jobs and internships until after they have declared their majors. But the increased competitiveness of the job market has changed things to the point where new applicants are inquiring about ways in which Pitt can prepare them for the daunting task, Pitt advisers said. Luckily, there are a plethora of hands-on offices offering the necessary resources for interview and resume prep and networking etiquette.

The Office of Student Employment and Placement Assistance, or SEPA, is the primary place students turn to for solutions. It opened in late 2008 and already SEPA has managed to fill a critical niche in the University of Pittsburgh’s network of student aid organizations.

Under director Cheryl Finlay, SEPA offers a variety of programs and sponsors many events over the course of the year to give students the chance to interact with local businesses. Job fairs including information on positions in nearly every field are dispersed throughout each semester. These also include an On-Campus Student Employment fair to highlight the many opportunities within the limits of the Pitt umbrella for professional achievement.

“Knowing that you have impacted the lives of students in such a tangible way by equipping them with the resources and services to help them connect with an employer and ultimately making their dreams a reality is the most fulfilling aspect of the work that we do,” Finlay said.

Other such programs include the Fall & Spring Career Kick-Off weeks and Fairs. They are akin to the orientation activities for freshmen, but instead of instructing students how to interact with their peers, these meetings focus on prospective employee-to-interviewer relations. Some workshops are targeted more towards the students at the graduate level and/or those of the pre-professional schools or those with very definite career goals,  but they are open to everyone.

The 2010 Fall Career Fair will happen in the Petersen Events Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this coming Thursday. The event is sponsored by many well-known companies like American Eagle Outfitters and the PNC Financial Services Group. It is with their help that this fair will include a higher number of employers and graduate and law schools in attendance than last year.

SEPA also champions the cause of making on-campus jobs accessible to everyone enrolled at Pitt, regardless of whether they qualify for federal Work Study. Positions include anything from a consultant in the campus computer labs to a receptionist in the William Pitt Union. The FutureLinks kiosks located around campus provide up-to-date info on openings at on- and immediately off-campus businesses.

The poor state of the economy, which has persisted of the past couple of years, has not been able to slow or even significantly alter SEPA’s grand efforts.

“Our office continues to build relationships with recruiters representing a wide variety of professions to give Pitt students the best opportunity for career success,” Finlay said.

She recognizes that students have to work harder to get ahead in today’s world. It is also necessary for them to apply to different employers that highlight any one of their strengths because they no long have the “luxury” of being choosy.

Sophomore Morgan Donovan became acquainted with the career service office at Pitt in the process of applying for work-study.

“I wish that my position prepared me more for my bigger career goals, but I do appreciate the experience in time management and budgeting that this job gives [me],” said Donovan, who works in the Religious Studies office in the Cathedral of Learning and is enrolled in the College of Business Administration.

The knowledge that members of the SEPA office have is something that they desire to pass on to Pitt students. It is also true that landing a job will not be as easy as mindlessly following a formula of etiquette. A nuanced sense of professionalism will hopefully bloom in time for that “big” interview. Until then, the work starts in the classroom and depends on every choice each student makes.

Other resources available to students include:

-Pitt’s Career Development Office, on the second floor of the William Pitt Union — This office teaches students how to search for jobs and internships and how to network. It also offers resume and cover letter critiques and reviews personal statements.

-The Career Development Center at Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Pittsburgh, in Squirrel Hill — This center offers workshops on resume writing and cover letter writing and offers counseling.