Feeling a little blue because you did not get your dream job/co-op/ internship this summer because of the crumbling economy?
Don’t despair, you are definitely not alone. A new school year is a new beginning, and with it brings new opportunities to land that dream job.
A great place to start or continue your search is the Division of Professional Practice and Career Services.
The Division of Professional Practice can help those looking for a co-op, internship or a work abroad position.
Career Services can help provide resources for students also looking for an internship or work after they graduate.
The Division of Professional Practice and Career Services have databases, P2D2 and CareerBuzz, where students can look through employer job postings.
Both offices have countless resources about anything that might be necessary in finding a job including resume critiquing and interview tips.
“After tapping into these two offices, my two biggest pieces of job search advice are: A) network and B) be focused,” said Ann Blasick, Assistant Director of the GT Internship Program.
Networking can seem intimidating but can actually be accomplished anywhere.
Websites like LinkedIn and Facebook can often provide a great way to meet other people that your friends and contacts know who might be able to help you get an inside contact at a company that you are interested in.
Tina Payne, Assistant Director to the GT Co-op Program, suggests networking at career fairs, corporate information sessions and student professional organizations.
“In order to make it less overwhelming, think of it simply as talking to as many people as possible about your job search and tapping in to any connections they may have,” Blasick said.
Blasick explained that being focused means that you are very aware of what kind of work and the type of organization that you are looking for and that is especially important when so many people are looking for jobs right now. This might include a great deal of research but will help you in the future to when you are speaking with potential employers because they will see that you have specific goals for yourself.
“I would argue that being focused is more important than having a very high GPA or tons of leadership experience,” Blasick said.
“The first step to being focused is taking time to figure out what you want to do including the type of work, type of organization, location, and work environment,” Blasick said.
Also, never underestimate the power of a good resume; this advice is true even when the economy is doing well.
“Prepare a powerful resume that will give you a competitive edge when interviewing for co-op or internship opportunities,” Payne said.
“Highlight your academic achievements, leadership skills, employment history, computer skills and honors,” Payne said.
One of the best ways to make sure that you find a job is to begin your search early, apply to a variety of places and practice, practice, pracitce.
The earlier you begin your search and begin to build relationships the better off you are. Blasick suggests to start looking six months before you actually need or want the job.
“On average, employers start looking for candidates about six months in advance,” Blasick said.
“Most recruiters start recruiting in the fall at the Career Fair. It’s really easy to meet company representatives there to gain initial contacts that you can use to open doors,” said Becca Belka, third-year MGT, who has had a co-op at Canvas Systems since 2008.
For more information on how you can land your dream job, visit .