February 2008

Greetings !

You are receiving this newsletter as a result of your registration with the office of Career & Counseling Services at West Texas A&M University.

We want to ensure that you take full advantage of the many services our office provides. Read through this newsletter to get a glimpse of upcoming activities and events as well as day-to-day services available to you as a WTAMU student.

Contact our office if we can assist you in ANY way in your job search or on a career-related matter. We look forward to working with you!

Good luck and call or come by at your convenience,

CCS Staff

What employers want

Do you ever wish you could read the mind of a potential employer to see what they are really looking for when hiring people for their business? If you could just know ahead of time how to prepare, you'd have a leg up on your competition. Right?

Well, wish no more! Your wish has been answered. The National Association of Colleges and Employers surveyed over 1,000 employers nationwide to see just exactly what it takes to impress them. We, your handy-dandy Career Services office, just happen to have the results for you to see and apply in you job search.

Before you click on the following link, click your heals together 3 times and say out loud, "I'm ready for the world-of-work. I'm ready for the world-of-work. I'm ready for the world-of-work."

NACE Survey Results

Tips for Smart Dating

in the Month of Love

Being a college student and dating can be exciting. It may be the easiest time for you to meet new people. This can also be a very challenging time as college students often feel overwhelmed by the amount of freedom, stress, and new found responsibilities that college life provides. There are some simple dating tips that can help prevent adding more drama to your life.

You can begin by looking for people in your class who may have similar interests. Being in the same class can make it easier to strike up a conversation. Try going on a date off campus. It will do your relationship good to get away from the college scene and experience a "real life" situation. Be patient with one another. College life can be stressful and difficult. It will be helpful to each other and your relationship if you are understanding and supportive of one another.

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By avoiding certain situations you can help keep dating life less stressful. Try to avoid dating people from your dorm. If the relationship does not work out, you will still have to live in the same dorm with that person. Be cautious about meeting people at parties and bars, especially if alcohol is involved. The people you meet in these situations are not always the type of people you want to get to know. It is also a good idea to monitor your alcohol consumption when on a date. Alcohol can impair your judgment and you may find yourself in a situation that can have negative affects on your relationship.

What Are You
Doing This Summer?

Have you considered an internship?

A summer internship can help you:

Gain relevant experience. Graduates who already have related experience on their résumé are much more marketable.
Make critical professional contacts. Employers hire people they know and internships provide the opportunity to meet key decision makers.
Improve your confidence. Internships clarify career choices, demonstrate that you're capable of success, and provide real-life experience to impress future full-time employers.

Check out this article from MonsterTrak for excellent advice on finding a summer internship.

Diving In The WTAMU Internship Program can also help you find a summer internship. We'll help you develop a quality résumé, polish your interviewing skills and learn effective job search strategies. We also connect you with internship opportunities we know about or help you apply for internships you discover on your own.

Learn more online or dive right in by attending an Internship Orientation. Orientations are held every Thursday at 11:30 a.m. in the Career & Counseling Services Office, VHAC 210.

NEW INTERNSHIP RESOURCE

Our office subscribes to Internships-usa.com. This is the largest internship site on the web with more than 3,000 organizations offering internships for students. Contact the Career & Counseling Services Office for the username and password to access this database

Spring Career EXPO &
Pre-Fair Reception

Join us Thursday, February 28th for the Spring Career EXPO job fair- 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM in the Virgil Henson Activities Center Ballroom.

The EXPO is an excellent opportunity:

To explore career fields in which you have an interest
To develop and make connections with employers
To secure leads on prospective job opportunities and internships

business handshake To be successful at the EXPO you must prepare ahead of time, be ready to communicate with recruiters and then follow up effectively!

Check out this article from employmentguide.com or go through this tutorial from quintessential careers for more details on how to ACE the fair.

Junior, Senior and Graduate level students are invited to join us the night before - Wednesday, February 27th from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM for the pre-fair reception. This event offers 100 upperclassmen the opportunity to network with recruiters here for the next day's job fair in advance of the fair.

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR THE RECEPTION - call 806.651.2345 to reserve your spot! We are limiting this to 100 students, so RSVP today to ensure your participation.

1 gigabyte flash drives will be given to the first 25 students who RSVP (and then attend) and all in attendance will be in a drawing to win a laptop computer.

EDUCATION majors - your chance to network with school districts is coming next month... EDUCATOR'S EXPO 2008 - March 26th.

Groundhog/JOB SHADOW DAY

It's time once again to sign up with CCS for a job shadowing experience. YOU tell us which career fields/industries you'd like to spend a day in and we find you a professional in that field willing to let you shadow for a day!

DEADLINE IS 2/8/08 - so ACT QUICKLY!

Visit our website for more info and an application form!