Preparing For Life After Graduation

Contributing Writer

   Upper-level students should not simply look toward commencement as their final stop. Students should consider post-graduation life such as securing employment or graduate school as well.

Get Ready For The Workforce

   According to Laura Hughes, director of the University of Arkansas-Monticello Counseling, Testing and Career Services, there are several activities and programs on campus undergraduates can take advantage of to help prepare them for life after college.

   Hughes encourages all students about to graduate to attend the UAM Career Fair, held each spring semester.

   “The Career Fair gives them the opportunity to meet potential employers and practice job skills such as meeting employers,” Hughes said. “We also offer workshops to prepare them for the Career Fair on how to write a resume, how to dress for an interview and how to prepare for the interview.”

   Meeting a number of potential employers at one time is a benefit of the annual Career Fair, according to Hughes. It is an important way to build contacts with potential employers and introduces many students to the idea of competition for job openings. The event also provides students with the opportunity to consider jobs they may not have thought about in the past.

   Hughes said participating in the Career Fair offers undergraduates about to enter the workforce the chance to practice their job seeing skills. They put into practice how to present their resume and perform their interview skills in a more casual and comfortable atmosphere. In addition, students apply their networking skills and gather important contacts for future use.

   In preparation for the UAM Career Fair, or for any job interview, Hughes suggests the following to prepare a solid resume:

• Attend resume building workshop
• Schedule an appointment with Career Services to use the resume writer software
• Call Career Services, 460-1454 to schedule a resume critique
• Bring 50 copies of your prepared resume (on resume paper) to the Career Fair (one for an interview). Make sure it is neat, free of typographical errors and on cream or white paper.
• Consider having your own business card which includes your degree, date of graduation, contact information and university name. 

Dress For Success

   Hughes encourages all students to dress in business attire for the Career Fair, or any potential hiring or recruiting event.

   “This is very important,” Hughes said. “Each year we say ‘business attire required’ and we still have students who come in clothes that wouldn’t be appropriate for a job interview. This gives them some practice in what to wear.”

   Career Services offers a workshop on appropriate interview attire prior to the Career Fair, but for graduating students attending interviews prior to that date, Alison Doyle from About.com offers these suggestions:

• Wear solid color suits (navy, dark grey or black)
• Men should wear
• Long sleeve shirt in white or one which coordinates with the suit
• A belt and tie
• Dark socks with conservative shoes
• Little or no jewelry
• Limit the aftershave or cologne
• Have neatly trimmed nails and
• Carry a portfolio or briefcase
• Women should wear
• A suit skirt long enough to sit in comfortably
• Coordinated blouse and conservative shoes with neutral pantyhose
• Limited jewelry (no dangling earrings or arms full of bracelets)
• Professional hairstyle
• Light make-up and perfume
• Have neatly manicured clean nails and
• Carry a portfolio or briefcase.
• What not to bring to an interview
• Gum
• Cell phone
• IPod
• Coffee or soda
• Cover tattoos and
• If you have several piercings, leave some of your jewelry at home (earrings only, is a good rule).

Good Rule Of Thumb

   Hughes said all students, no matter what their year of undergraduate study, should take advantage of free services provided on campus.

   “So many students may have trouble in a class and they may not take advantage of free tutoring, or any services on campus,” Hughes said. “Or, often they don’t come until they’re in trouble in a class. Students shouldn’t wait until they are too far behind and then try to catch up.”

   UAM has a variety of programs in place on campus to ensure a student’s success and the opportunity to walk in commencement.  Many of the resources can be researched from the UAM webpage  to determine which would be most helpful. From Weevils at Work (a student mentoring program) to academic advising information, help with career services and interview skills as well as how to get in touch with a tutor for math, students need only to ask to receive the help they need and ultimately the degree they choose.

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©The Voice 2011