It’s finally beginning to feel like fall. Not only because of the decreasing temperature, but also because of the many yearly events that are just beginning. Hockey tickets went on sale, football is off to a great start, and the NSBE/SHPE career fair is in the next coming weeks. The career fair is an excellent opportunity for all students, and I encourage you to attend no matter your class or interest in finding a job. The career fair offers every student the ability to practice your pitch, learn how to network, and prepares you for interviews down the road.
While this is such a great opportunity, many of us will find it also to be somewhat stressful. The need to dress professionally, have a great résumé, and present ourselves with confidence may build the stress of attending. Having gone through this myself, I would like to offer some resources that will help all of us with the job search process, from beginning to end. The Career Development Center, located downstairs in the DCC, offers a wealth of resources for any student seeking a job or graduate school. They offer résumé critiquing, interview practice, and will lead you in the direction of interesting jobs, but most importantly, they exist as a valuable networking tool. As sophomores found out last week during the Sophomore Career Experience BBQ, the CDC actively seeks to pair students with college recruiters and places them with jobs they would both love and excel at. I briefly attended the BBQ and was astonished to meet so many eager, enthusiastic students. I also met several college recruiters and the very helpful staff of the CDC. Within half an hour, I was able to begin networking and already felt that I had gained some valuable contacts, be it students or staff, who would help with the job search process down the road. I encourage you to stop by the CDC and meet some of the staff or visit their Web site.
There are also many other organizations on campus that will help you build valuable networks. Many of the Union’s 160+ clubs have begun to hold meetings and practices. It is never too late to join a club, and being around a group of students with the same interests as you offers a valuable networking experience. If you are interested in joining a club, please check on the Union Web site to find how you can get involved. Outside of the Union, there are a great number of honor societies and professional organizations that can help equip you with the right tools to succeed in your career path. Many of these organizations have held meetings, and again, I encourage you to peruse the many organizations that exist on campus. Greek recruitment is also off to a great start, and if you haven’t had the opportunity to visit a house, try to make some time and attend an event. Fraternities and sororities offer extremely valuable professional connections. Many greek students find their dream job simply through the relationships they made within their organization.
It’s not about what you know, but who you know. As Rensselaer students, we all perform very well at academics. Almost everyone here is involved in some club, organization, professional society, or community service group. Use the connections and friends you have made to help you find jobs. Equipped with our knowledge, and armed with our connections, there is nothing to hold us back from becoming leaders in our industries. I wish you all the best of luck at the upcoming career fair, and hope you will all find the opportunities to network with those around you. Like anything else, you get as much as you put in.
