Career Services: The Career Thing

If you are looking for assistance to help you land your first dream job, Career Services is providing a series of seminars entitled "The Career Thing" to help with networking skills, internships and interview etiquettes.

On Sept. 18, Career Services held its second seminar of the series entitled "Graduate School: What it is & What it isn't" in the program lounge of the University City. The seminar was instructed by the coordinator of career planning and assessment, CJ Yerington, and featured ways to help students get into graduate school and how to maintain a steady schedule.

The seminar emphasized the importance of completing your application so that it is competitive and attract the graduate programs that you are trying to get acceptance into. Another thing the seminar focused is how students need to make sure that they have relevant references, not only personal but professional. Student were also informed on how to obtain an official transcript from the registrar's office as well as making sure that the graduate program that you choose is one that is accredited.

Planning for this series started this past summer and though the series has just started, coordinator of outreach and events Joyce Hunter feels this is essential for students to attend.

"These are the most popular topics that we are always asked," Hunter said. "By putting it there in a program series it allow us to let people know that it's always going to be something out there for Thursdays to help them in their career."

Daveen Leomerd, a senior in the Child Development Department, said that she feel these seminars will help prepare students for today's work field.

"It prepares you mentally to go out in the world and find a job," Leomerd said. "It gives you a lot of information and educates you on what to expect to try to prepare you in order to succeed."

Hunter also added the importance of using Career Services to make sure that you are receiving the best help when it comes to proofreading your resume, among other things.

"Our department is an amazing resource for all of our students, that there is a little nugget of something special there for everybody," Hunter said. "Whether it's trying to decide a major or putting a fine polish on an application to a competitive graduate program."

There are 10 more seminars left in the series with the last seminar being a dinner, which teaches dining etiquette. Career Services is giving students an opportunity to receive a free meal at the dinner. Students wanting to receive a free dinner will have to attend at least five of the remaining seminars.

The seminars are free and open to all students and held at 3:30 p.m. every Thursday. The location varies depending on the seminar.

For more information on contact the Office of Career Services at (573) 651-2583 or careerservices@semo.edu.