Use this Spring Break to brush up on your job seeking skills to land the career of dreams.
Maybe you’ve given yourself a pass on not having an updated resume or LinkedIn account because “you’re only a student.” But, finding—and keeping—the career of your dreams is a process that begins now rather than later. According to Kelley Wong, Program Coordinator for the TMCC Career Center, “You don’t want to graduate and then have to look for a career,” she said. “Ideally, you should find a career as you complete your degree, so you can make a seamless transition from student to professional.”
The Spring Break Bootcamp Workshops are designed to do precisely that. If you’re not headed somewhere warm for spring break, we highly recommend you drop by one—or all—of these hour-long workshops that will transform you into the candidate that employers can’t wait to hire.
The workshops will cover all aspects of the hiring process from how you present yourself on paper, to your networking skills and the all-important interview.
Create a Killer Resume
What’s in a resume? As it turns out, potential employers make a lot of assumptions about the kind of person you are based on that single-sided piece of paper that summarizes your experience, education and references. These inferences include: how seriously you take yourself; your ability to pay attention to detail and if you can concisely organize and summarize information.
“Students can learn a lot from each other in this workshop,” said Wong. “Especially when students attend who are switching industries completely, like going from HVAC to Nursing—and how they can make the skills they learned in one career relatable to another.”
Workshop Dates and Times:
- Monday, March 18, 10–11:30 a.m. in RDMT 307
- Tuesday, March 19, 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m. in RDMT 307
Create a Business Card and Learn How to Network
Wait... did we just tell you that you need a business card? Yes! This workshop, which focuses on the importance of networking, will have you thinking more strategically about the people around you. “I encourage students to start networking now,” said Wong. “Talk to the people in your classes, or at events on campus or in student clubs. It’s all about building professional relationships that can help you find a career later on.”
Business cards are a key ingredient to any networking event because they contain all your contact information—because, let’s be real here, are you seriously going to carry around a stack of resumes when you go to an on-campus event? You don’t want to rely on the odd-chance that someone will have paper and pen; business cards fit easily into a pocket or purse and can be that tangible reminder to a potential contact or employer that you are just the right person for the job.
* Note: in this workshop, you will be able to design and print actual business cards you can take with you.
Workshop Dates and Times:
- Wednesday, March 20, Noon–1 p.m. in RDMT 115
- Thursday, March 21, 10–11 a.m. in RDMT 115
Build a Standout LinkedIn Account
LinkedIn—that’s like Facebook for old people, right? No! This powerful social media platform can function as your electronic resume and portfolio... if you use it correctly. This workshop will review the basics of a LinkedIn profile, what options are available, how to use the various sections of a LinkedIn page, and how recruiters are using LinkedIn to look for potential candidates like you.
Wong will also cover other ways to use LinkedIn that you might not have thought about. “You can use it to find other people who work at the company you’re interested in, and you can ask them about the culture of the workplace—a topic that might not come up during the interview process. For example, are people able to communicate across departments, or is everyone stuck in silos? You can also find out what other alumni from your major are doing in the community. This can give you a realistic insight on what kinds of opportunities are waiting for you after you graduate.”
Workshop Dates and Times:
- Wednesday, March 20, 10–11:30 a.m. in RDMT 307
- Thursday, March 21, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. in RDMT 307
Ace the Interview
No matter how seasoned you look on paper (or online), whether you get the job offer or not comes down to how well you present yourself in the interview. This workshop will go over what you need to do to prepare for an interview, as well as common questions employers will ask you. Additionally, you will learn what kinds of questions to ask, and how to properly follow up with an employer after the interview has concluded.
Workshop Dates and Times:
- Monday, March 18, 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m. RDMT 307
- Tuesday, March 19, 10–11:30 a.m. in RMDT 307
Why You Should Attend Spring Break Bootcamp
These workshops are strategically scheduled a week in advance of TMCC’s Job Fair, which will be held on Wednesday, March 27 on the Dandini campus. If you can’t attend these workshops, the Career Center offers online versions of its Resume and Cover Letters and Interview Workshops through WebCollege. For more information, contact the Career Center at 775-674-7645.