Speaker advises students on job market

Iowa Workforce Development visited campus on Tuesday, Mar. 2 to provide students with information about the current job market. The session stressed the importance of beginning the job search as soon as possible.
According to Katie Clark, a 2007 BVU graduate and an advisor at Iowa Workforce Development, for every 400 resumes looked at in a bad economy, one person gets the interview for that position.
“In a good economy, it usually takes two to three months to be placed. In a bad economy, it can take anywhere from four up to 12 months,” Clark said.
According to Iowa Workforce Development, as of Dec. 2009 the unemployment rate was 6.6 percent. This is a small decrease from the 6.7 percent earlier in the year. Additionally in December there were 110,800 Iowans unemployed.
“I’ve been working with people who have been unemployed for two plus years; it’s a difficult situation,” Clark said.
According to information provided from a webinar to Carol Lytle, Director of Career Services, positions in small companies seem to be more available than in opportunities in large corporations. Students should also think outside of their majors and consider jobs that may not pertain to their studies, but will help them network and make connections. Clark stressed this during the presentation as well.
“If you start out in something not related to your major, that job may connect you somewhere down the road to the field you are interested in,” Clark said.
When applying for a job, it’s important to research the companies beforehand. Also, for every new job opening, revisit your resume and target the resume to fit each individual position. Communication, passion, drive, and respect are four main qualities that employers are focusing on when looking to fill a position.
The presentation gave students information about the interview process and what should be done once an employer gains interest.
During the interview process, be prepared for multiple interviewers. Many organizations have more than one employee sitting in on the interview to gather more information from the interviewee. Also, when asked to “tell a little bit about yourself” be sure to answer this question professionally, not personally.
The employer is looking for answers that connect to the job description.
Students who attended this presentation learned valuable tips and tricks to landing a career following graduation.
“The most important thing that I learned from the presentation is would be ‘it’s harder to lose hope, than to lose your job,”senior Kelsey Petersen said.
In today’s job market, it’s important to be able to express your skills set to an employer.
You should know what skills are related to your career choice.
“It’s not about your major, it’s about what skills you can identify and articulate to the position,” Lytle said.
Other recommendations Clark made include bringing extra resumes to the interview and asking for a business card at the closing.
“In reality it’s going to be tough, but do not to get discouraged,” Lytle said.
“Strategically look for jobs, and start right now,” Clark said.