Talley: 'Your career search needs to begin when you’re a freshman'
Students spanning the spectrum from seniors with graduation on the near horizon to first-year students all benefited from Wilmington College’s Career Fair Wednesday (April 4).
PICTURED: Junior Dylan Voltz (LEFT), a sport management major from Mount Sterling, speaks with Shane Ramsey, district manager with Fastenal.
More than three-dozen recruiters from business, industry, higher education and non-profit organizations converged at WC’s Hermann Court for an event designed to introduce them to potential future employees, interns and graduate students, as well as provide students with an opportunity to get a foot in the door for landing jobs and internships.
Nina Talley, director of Career Services, said she impresses upon students that good grades and possessing impressive skill sets are important, but they shouldn’t overlook the necessity of “developing good communication and networking skills.”
That point should especially speak to freshmen and others for whom graduation is still years away. Attaining a fulfilling career is a long process in which preparation is a key to success.
“It is a myth and misconception your career search should start your junior year,” Talley said. “It needs to begin when you’re a freshman.”
She said students should research both their fields of interest and the most desirable employers in those areas in order to “really understand what you’re looking for and what companies are looking for.
“That way, they’ll be better prepared to land those good opportunities.”
Talley has been working with students on preparing resumes, cover letters and building bullet points that would distinguish them from others seeking the same job or internship. WC currently uses a cutting-edge tool called JobScan, which matches applicants’ skills and interests with employers’ needs.
She also noted that WC’s hallmark for hands-on learning experiences often gives students a leg up on applicants from many other schools.
Talley also urged students to not be dissuaded from speaking with certain employers by thinking its goods and services do not correspond to their academic major. Indeed, almost every organization, business and industry hires staff in areas ranging from human resources and accounting to communication, marketing, sales and government relations.
