Jobs 2009: The Reality
In light of the tough economy, we realize that finding a summer co-op or internship, or a full-time job upon graduation, will be more of a challenge for your son or daughter this year. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) is predicting a 22% decline in the hiring of entry level graduates, while other sources estimate this decline at up to 30%, and obviously higher in certain majors, industries, and areas of the country. At RIT, overall job listings are down 24% from this same period last year, and our Spring Career Fair participation has dropped in both employers and expected interview schedules. Some of our co-op students are also experiencing shortened work weeks, cuts in salary, layoffs, and retraction of offers. We want you to know that we are making every effort to offset the impact of economic conditions, and help your student achieve their job goals.
For students, we offer:
• Extensive programming for students on critical aspects of the job search, presented in most cases by company representatives:
o Comprehensive workshop series prior to the Spring Career Fair
o Employer Mock Interview Day
o Workshops for international students, focusing on the realities of the job market, employment opportunities/resources, and an attorney specializing in immigration law (sponsored by the International Student Services Office)
o Workshops focusing on how to find a job in a tough economy
o Presentation on the state of the economy by the FBI
o Workshop on temporary agencies as an option in a career search
o Panel on networking and professional associations – the hidden job market
o Panel of recent alumni, discussing their strategies and tips
o A “Career Services Day”, where students can meet our staff all over campus
o Resume books that students can opt into, which will be sent to current and prospective employers in targeted industries
o “Reality Check” sessions in collaboration with academic departments, to increase student and faculty awareness of the current situation and provide success tips and resources
o Alumni speaker series, open to all students, on topics including rebranding, salary/offer negotiation, entrepreneurship, and networking
• Our Spring Career Fair, with over 160 companies
• The Creativity: Careers In Motion Conference, with career speakers, industry panels, and portfolio reviews
• Individual and continued advisement for all students, to develop and implement a personalized job search plan, with an emphasis on what a successful job search involves: qualifications and skills + effective communication of their value to prospective employers
With employers, we are:
• Reaching out to all companies, to assess their hiring status, post positions when available, and discuss options for sustaining their brand on campus
• Making special outreach to companies who list a job for the first time, as well as those companies with no recent activity, to further develop a recruiting relationship
• Utilizing students currently on co-op to advocate for re-listing jobs
• Calling on our Employer Advisory Board to provide tips for students seeking jobs in this economy, and referrals to their vendors and other customers
• Promoting special services for employers, including leveraging technology to help them conserve resources while maintaining an on-campus presence
• Strategic collaboration with other campus departments and individuals who have regular contact with employers
We remain committed to helping your son or daughter achieve career success during these turbulent economic times, and encourage you to contact us at any time at 585.475.2301 / 6905 TTY, should you have any questions or concerns.
How You Can Help
Here are some things you can do to assist in your son or daughter’s job search, as well as help our office during these challenging times.
• Encourage your son or daughter to make an appointment with their Program Coordinator to discuss their job search and any difficulties they’re having.
• Remind your student to attend the Spring Career Fair (Wednesday March 25th), as well as all employer information sessions and workshops scheduled during the spring quarter. A complete list of events is on our RIT Job Zone online system.
• Advise flexibility in your son/daughter’s job search. Applying to all posted positions and not limiting their search geographically will increase their visibility to more employers and job opportunities.
• Recommend any resources you may have, including local resources such as the Chamber of Commerce, business organizations, or a city web site, which may provide potential opportunities or companies to target.
• Help your son/daughter develop a list of potential networking contacts. Your student should connect with family, friends, personal and professional contacts to let them know he/she is looking for a job, and ask for any potential leads, opportunities, and additional referral connections. As 70% of all jobs are not advertised, networking can provide the necessary advantage in a student’s job search.
• Encourage your company to hire a co-op or intern for the summer, and to recruit students from RIT for any full-time positions at the new graduates or experienced hire level. Posting a position is a simple process; check out our employer web site for information, or email our office to discuss setting up a recruiting relationship with RIT.
• Provide advice and guidance for other RIT students through our Professional Network, where students connect with alumni, employers and parents for one-time informational interviews; email our office to get more information.
|
Spring Career Events
HOSPITALITY & SERVICE MANAGEMENT CAREER FAIR – Thursday, March 19th
1:00 – 3:00 pm, Building 78 (CIMS)
SPRING CAREER FAIR – Wednesday, March 25th
11 am – 4 pm, Gordon Field House
160+ companies, open to all majors, co-op and full-time jobs available
CREATIVITY: CAREERS IN MOTION – Thursday, April 16th
12:00 noon – 6:00 pm, Gordon Field House
Career Speakers l Portfolio Reviews l Industry Days
Social Networking
Employers
are using these once coveted sites to learn about potential candidates
Nearly 83 percent of the students responding to the National Association of Colleges and Employer’s 2008 Graduating Student Survey have a profile on a social networking site, and more than half (51.1 percent) say they expect employers to take a look at that profile.
Today, companies are using the internet to make sure they’re picking the best candidates. According to Careerbuilder.com, 24 percent of employers made hiring decisions based on Facebook profiles and 33 percent have decided not to hire someone after reviewing a profile’s content.
How can you help your student use this tool for good – become familiar with what is out there and how it can be viewed positively and negatively by potential employers? Speak to them about the fact that the Internet does not mean private. Pictures, blogs, interests once out on the Internet are available for everyone to see. Students should also Google themselves to see what is out there and what employers may see. This would include Googling their first and last names, and also email addresses or any online pseudonyms they use.
Here are some of the most common Social Networks:
Facebook: With over 175 million active users, it’s the most popular social network in the world. Students can share photos, videos, status updates with their “friends” and maybe potential employers.
LinkedIn: Very similar to Facebook but for working professionals. A very useful tool for students to begin building their professional network through individual contacts and groups in their areas of interest.
Twitter: A micro-blogging service that’s useful for quick text updates of 140 characters or less.
YouTube: The most popular video-sharing site on the Internet.
To learn more about the student perspective on social networking you can read a recent article published with our student magazine The Reporter http:/reportermag.com/article/03-13-2009/social-network-to-brand-yourself
Focus: Biotech Industry
Hot Jobs in a Cool Economy
Have you ever wondered, if it was possible…
To sleep on a pillow that stays cool through the night?
Write on re-useable paper over and over again?
Have access to a medical therapy that successfully combats Alzheimer’s or cancer?
Fuel your car with a green alternative to fossil fuels?
Grow stronger and healthier crops that use fewer natural resources?
Biotech is a word used to describe a collection of technologies, and the work around those technologies, that capitalize on the attributes of cells and the cells’ manufacturing capabilities. Biotech research puts biological molecules, such as DNA and proteins, to work for us and harness their potential to do great things.
The evolution of and interest in the biotech field has resulted in astounding developments and new technologies that are helping to feed, fuel and heal the world. From advanced therapies for debilitating diseases like cancer and HIV/AIDS to alternative, renewable fuels to more food crops per acre, biotechnology continues to address many of the great challenges facing the global community. These new innovations and challenges are creating a strong industry to consider for students in science, computing, engineering, business or liberal arts degrees.
You can find more information on this growing industry at: www.WhatCanBiotechDoForYou.com.
|
