Well, Spring Break has officially become an event of the past, and that means one thing: Every student must endure another time-constrained, stressful second half of the semester before summer arrives.
Students graduating this year, however, have realized that the last care-free experience of college life has come and gone. To some fourth years, this is a relieving, exhilarating feeling because they are well on their way to a successful future, knowing exactly where they will be and what they will be doing after graduation.
For most, however, the thought is a scary one. Students who are unsure about their futures and who aren't ready for the real world may fear graduation day and what it means. Fortunately, tips from academic advisors, financial experts and career service personnel can help answer some frequently asked questions by graduating students who just aren't sure.
Where can I go to receive help from a professional who knows how to guide me towards the path to success?
According to Ladd Flock, Director of College of Arts & Sciences at University Career Services in Bryant Hall, UCS provides a multitude of programs and services that guide students through their college years. Flock said programs geared toward fourth-year students are added after Spring Break, when services will be of greater need. One such program is "Power Up Your Job Search." It is a four-week seminar that begins Mar. 23 and teaches fourth years how to market themselves during the search for a job.
Another helpful program, "Still No Job: Last Ditch Tools and Tactics," teaches many of the same techniques. For more information about these programs and others offered at UCS, students can visit the Web site at www.career.virginia.edu.
I am a fourth-year student and have not even begun my search for a job. Is it too late for me to start looking?
Flock strongly advised fourth-year students to search actively for new jobs.
"Now is the time that employers are really looking for students," he said, adding that the search will last well into April or even until the beginning of May. He noted that over 400 new job listings were added to the HoosTRAK list of job openings during the week before Spring Break. This was an increase from the normal 200 additions, which he attributed to the fact that now is the prime time for employers searching for student employees.
I am a third year and am not really sure what field of work I am interested in. What kinds of things should I be doing now to help me decide where my interests lie?
Interning at local businesses is one of the most effective ways of deciding where interests lie and of potentially getting hired, Flock said. When asked about the importance of internships to third-year and fourth-year students, Flock could not overestimate their value.
"It's really important because over 70 percent of internships turn into full-time jobs," he said. "Therefore, it is a great way to get your foot in the door," because many companies only hire their employees by way of a prior internship. He also emphasized that third years must really take advantage of interning at job sites that capture their area of interest as a way of building a strong sense of how that field of work operates.
College Dean Rachel Most agreed with Flock and added that internships also allow students to "rule out what they think they don't like."
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