Career Development Center

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Parents

Jobs, Careers, and Your Student

As you are probably aware, we are in the toughest job market since the early 1980s. Wendy Freeman, Director of Career Development at Evergreen, offers these tips that could help your student with a successful job search.

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  • Know yourself. Know what you are looking for and know what you have to offer. Be able to articulate your skills to your potential employer - both in writing and verbally. Evergreen career counselors are standing by this year to help you with your career planning.
  • Know what is out there and where to find it. Online job listings represent approximately 7% of the job market. You will need to augment your search with contacts by networking, professional associations, informational interviews, job postings, WorkSource (Washington employment department), personnel offices, classifieds and multiple Web sites, and professional journals. A great resource on campus is Job Club, which meets every Wednesday from 2-3 p.m. in Library 2151.
  • Stay focused and be organized. Keep track of all your contacts and all your job search activities. Use whatever record keeping system is most familiar and comfortable for you. Be sure to document your process so you don't drop a lead, lose a contact or miss a deadline, and thank people who help you along the way.
  • You are presenting your public and professional self and want to impress the prospective employer so research the companies, agencies and organizations you are pursuing before you engage interviews.
  • Determine if a particular organization is a good fit for you by asking questions before you apply. Use your well-earned research skills to line up the opportunities that match your skills, interests and values.
  • Use the resources available to you. The Career Development Center serves students and alumni free of charge.
  • Also, be sure your student attends the annual Career and Job Fair in April.

Please contact Career Development with any questions you may have, or if you'd like to offer your workplace for an internship.