Florida Atlantic University's first student-run news source.

UNIVERSITY PRESS

Florida Atlantic University's first student-run news source.

UNIVERSITY PRESS

Florida Atlantic University's first student-run news source.

UNIVERSITY PRESS

Opportunity knocks on students’ door

As college students it seems like we have to worry about a billion things; including, but not limited to, stressful classes, rising tuition, and the creation of our future careers. The place to help you through this thorough process is the FAU Career Development Center. The CDCs offices are located on three of its campuses: Boca Raton, Davie, and MacArthur.

The CDC offers an array of valuable services like rí©sumí© critiques, salary negotiations, on-campus recruiting, the FAU Alumni mentor program, and tips on preparing for interviews and preparing cover letters. They also regularly offer workshops on job search strategies and applying for internships.

Career Day is one of the events they sponsor every fall and spring semesters.

For at least the last 10 years, the CDCs have been providing this event for FAU students and graduates. Last Wednesday, 94 companies and organizations gathered in the Boca Raton campus gym. Some of those included the prestigious Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Office Depot, Price Water House Coopers, The Breakers Hotel, and Bank Atlantic.

The companies send representatives that are there to provide students information about particular careers, answer profession related questions, and possibly offer immediate or future employment opportunities.

“The main goal for the career fair is for students to better acquaint themselves in the job search field,” said the associate director of Employer/Campus relations Matt Cardin. Students do not have to be in their last semester at FAU to attend. Through the last ten years, companies have displayed a tendency to look for future recruits that have had the experience in the field they seek.

Your experience is seen as an “edge” in your application over the competition. For that reason, the career development advisers will suggest that students attend when they are sophomores or juniors. Since, many of the employers present are also offering a wide array of positions including summer internships, co-opts, etc. It is estimated that 70% of interns are offered a job with that company at the time of their graduation.

In order to prepare wisely for this day, Cardin recommends students to attend the “Career Prep Week”. This consists of several rí©sumí© workshops and mock interviews, all conducted for students to be prepared, and as the CDC website describes, “demonstrate confidence, enthusiasm and professional maturity.”

Among other helpful tips the CDC recommends that when meeting with various representatives remember they are there to answer your career questions and will often ask for a rí©sumí©. Also, don’t forget to thank them for their presence at the Career Fair. They usually contact you first, but, if not, e-mail them one or two days after, depending on your level of interest in the job.

If you missed the career fair and think all is lost. “Don’t worry,” says Cardin, “several other local Universities offer career fairs as well. Students can go ahead and visit their websites or call for further information. State Universities’ career fairs are free, but private Universities often charge a fee.”

For any additional questions you may have, you can contact the CDC office at (561) 297-3533 or stop by the Student Services Building 220 during office hours: Mondays and Thursdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Lastly, you can always get in touch with them through their helpful website www.cdc.fau.edu.

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